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Most Popular: Bargain Wines 100 Top Wine Blogs Value WinesTuesday, January 31, 2006
Chenin Blanc
Tasting
Wine: Chenin Blanc
Also called pineau de la Loire, chenin blancs story mainly focuses on
the Loire Valley. Chenin blanc is grown elsewhere, notably in South
Africa, where it is also called steen.
Wine and
Spirits / A fine Finnish
Swartland, Chenin Blanc, Swartland, 2005: Call the grape from which the
wine was made by its French name of Chenin Blanc or by its South
African name of Steen as you like.
Winecast
33 Chenin Blanc
This podcast focuses on the grape from the Loire Valley: Chenin Blanc.
Makers
of West Country Farmhouse Cheddar defend the pleasures of ...
With the mellower West Country cheeses such as Denhays Mature Cheddar
or Beltons Red Leicester try whites such as Muscadet, Sancerre, Chenin
Blanc or Vouvray, or a lighter red such as Loire (Chinon or Bourgeuil),
a Beaujolais or Côtes de Duras.
The
Chronicles Top Bargain Wines of 2005
Chenin Blanc has been South Africa's workhorse grape for many years,
and this bottling shows why.
2002
Gaston Huet "Le Mont Sec"
However this bottle of wine changed the way I will forever look at the
possibilities of Chenin Blanc. Chenin Blanc has a natural tendency to
produce bubbles which is fixed by adding a little sulfur.
Groote
Post continues its search for excellence in vineyards and ...
South African Wine News, South Africa - Jan 26, 2006... Groote Post also
has vineyards planted to chardonnay, chenin blanc, merlot, cabernet
sauvignon, shiraz, pinot noir and cabernet franc. ...
2005
Dry Creek Vineyard Chenin Blanc – Clarksburg, CA
The Vail Trail, Colorado - Jan 11, 2006 His 2005 Chenin Blanc improves
on the French model, showing dry peach, orange peel, Fuji apple, and a
touch of pink grapefruit. ...
British
trade told Chenin Blanc is South Africas USP
South African Wine News, South Africa - Jan 23, 2006 Chenin Blanc is
South Africas Unique Selling Point, claims Joanne Simon in her column
for UK trade weekly Harpers. Joanne Simon ...
Wine: Tops
At Spar Chenin Blanc Challenge
AllAfrica.com, Washington - Jan 26, 2006 THE annual Tops at Spar Chenin
Blanc Challenge produced an unsurprising first-time winner in a
category that has long been dominated by a couple of wine makers ...
Feminine
touch makes for historic Chenin Blanc win
South African Wine News, South Africa - Jan 18, 2006 The 2006 WINE
magazine TOPS at SPAR Chenin Blanc Challenge may well become a talking
point for some time. Line honours went to the ...
Juice
Every so often you taste a wine that shocks you because it
expands your own vocabulary for wine. Vouvray is made from the Chenin
Blanc or Pineau de...
2006
Harvest shows early promise at Winecorp
South African Wine News, South Africa - Jan 29, 2006 Warm, even
temperatures have produced outstanding results in the white grape
vineyards, with Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc showing particular
promise. ...
Sampling
South African sips
Baltimore Sun, United States - Jan 25, 2006... For whites, those
turned out to be Kanu Chenin Blanc 2004 ($10), Mulderbosch Sauvignon
Blanc 2005 ($24) and Neil Ellis Groenekloof Sauvignon Blanc 2004 ($17).
...
Beaumont
Chenin shines in USA
South African Wine News, South Africa - Jan 16, 2006 In a November
tasting of South African Chenin Blancs by the influential American
magazine, Wine Enthusiast, Beaumonts Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc 2004
was ...
Spier
reaches for the stars
Bizcommunity.com, South Africa - Jan 23, 2006 Spier Private Collection
Chenin Blanc 2004 has won South Africas premier Chenin Blanc
competition; the WINE magazine Tops at Spar Chenin Blanc Challenge
2006. ...
First
woman wins Chenin challenge
iAfrica.com, South Africa - Jan 18, 2006 Eleanor Visser on Tuesday
became the first woman ever to claim victory in the WINE magazine TOPS
at SPAR Chenin Blanc Challenge, while line honours went to the ...
2004
Château Soucherie Anjou Blanc
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jan 4, 2006 A classic Chenin Blanc from the
Loire Valley from Domaine de la Soucherie. A brilliant pale gold, the
2004 Anjou blanc has a hint ...
The Wine
List
News NC - Jan 25, 2006... retail. ANYTIME WINES, CARY Deal: Saumur
Blanc, 2004, $7.99. All Chenin Blanc from the Loire River Valley of
France. Totally dry
Time
for wines
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - Jan 11, 2006... And how about spicy shrimps
with a pick of the Californian Bogle Chenin Blanc. I chose this bottle
for several reasons, he shared. ...
Raats
Family Wines get the nod from JR and then some
South African Wine News, South Africa - Jan 10, 2006 The prominent
British wine writer Jancis Robinson awarded the Raats Original Chenin
Blanc 2004 the coveted title of Wine of the Week on her website in
early ...
Bot
River white wine shines in USA
Hermanus Times, South Africa - Jan 12, 2006 Beaumonts Hope Marguerite
chenin blanc 2004 was recently selected by the influential American
magazine, Wine Enthusiast, as one of their top six wines in the ...
Boston
Bruins Academy - Wine Tasting
Boston Bruins, USA - Jan 23, 2006... Those wines were a 2004 Ken
Forrester Chenin Blanc, a white wine from a restaurateur turned wine
maker, based out of Stellenbosch, South Africa; a 2002 Calera ...
Nederburg
auction public tasting in Cape Town
South African Wine News, South Africa - Jan 26, 2006... Not to be
missed, of course, will be Nederburgs signature dessert wine - the
golden luscious Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur (Chenin Blanc Noble Late
Harvest ...
Thats
the spirit from KZN vintner
Independent Online, South Africa - Jan 21, 2006... He has started
producing white wines - sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc. Depending on
their success he will move on to producing reds. ...
Hawkes
Bay vineyards, complete with winery contracts, on market
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - Jan 20, 2006... The Moteo Terrace
vineyard encompasses 3.7ha of merlot, 2.1ha of cabernet sauvignon and
1.5ha of chenin blanc, all planted in the late 1990s. ... New! Get the
Monday, January 30, 2006
Cabernet Sauvignon
Joseph
Phelps Vineyards Innisfree Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Stags' Leap Winery Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Cabernet
Sauvignon San Rafael Elsa 2001
The
King of King Cabs
The cabernet sauvignon, or "King Cab" as it is sometimes referred to
because of its popularity, grape is one of the most drank, desired and
abused wines being drank by Americans today.
Stags'
Leap Winery Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 is 92% Cabernet, 6% Cab
Franc, and 2% Merlot, sourced from Napa, and aged 22 months in half new
French oak barrels.
2002
Dona Sol Cabernet Sauvignon ($5)
Baltimore Sun, United States - Jan 18, 2006 This is not a
great wine, but it is cheap and palatable - a California red for the
struggling graduate student or skinflint in all of us. ...
Montes
Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (Chile)
Nederburg
to auction 156 wines
These are Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon 1966, the Nederburg Cabernet
Sauvignon 1976 commemorating 32 years of the Nederburg Auction, and the
Nederburg Auction Selection Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 1986.
They are De Wetshof’s Danie de Wet Merlot 2004, Grangehurst Cabernet
Sauvignon Reserve 2002 and Plaisir de Merle Cabernet Franc Cellar
Master’s Release 2004.
Bigger and
better
Golan Heights Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon, Yarden, 2002: Dark garnet
toward royal purple in color, full-bodied, with firm tannins and spicy
oak that yield nicely to reveal flavors and aromas of red currants and
berries on first attack. Golan Heights Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Gamla, 2003: Always reliable, this oak aged medium to full-bodied blend
of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc shows good balance
between tannins, wood and black fruits, all with hints of vanilla and
an appealing spicy finish.
Architect
crafts European-style wines at Godspeed
His 1,200-case winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines
designed to be food-friendly and age-worthy. According to Canadian-born
and Los Angeles area-raised Stricker, the vineyard is almost equally
divided between Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Schweiger
Vineyards 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
In Write it down, or I’ll forget ...
Rodney
Strong Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Meritage
wines such as Bordeaux are of superior quality
Cabernet sauvignon and merlot top the list, along with cabernet franc,
Malbec, and petite verdot.
Jordan,
Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Jordan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2001 ($42) - Dark ruby in
color with currant, eucalyptus and cassis aromas; ripe blackberry and
black cherry fruit flavors with moderate tannins.
J.
Davies Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District (Napa Valley) 2001
Tasting: Cabernet
Sauvignon
White Oak, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001, ~$28 (Avg: 6.5; 4 and
8 ). Michel-Schlumberger, Dry Creek Valley, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon,
2000, ~$35 (Avg: 6.5; 5 and 7).
Heitz
Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) 1998
Smoking
Loon Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Smoking Loon 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon recently arrived.
Confessions
of a Dancefloor Cabernet Sauvignon
With artwork from her recent hit album Confessions On A Dancefloor and
images of the star, Madonnas wines will include a Barbera, a Cabernet
Sauvignon, and a Pinot Grigio (I wont comment on the alcohol-free red
table wine).
Leconfield Cabernet
Sauvignon 2003
Supermarkets
bargain bandwagon still rolling
Tabali 2003 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (£6.99, Sainsbury's)
showers the senses with vast draughts of blackcurrant, cedar wood and
plum in a Chilean red of immense structure.
Vintage
2004 - Cabernet Sauvignon - The Vanhotzker Winery
Vintage 2004 - Cabernet Sauvignon - The Vanhotzker Winery In the high
hills of Galilee, at the foot of Mt. Meron, nearly 2400 ft.
Does
anybody fancy cracking open a carton of cabernet sauvignon?
Scotsman.com News - International - Does anybody fancy cracking open a
carton of cabernet sauvignon? Does anybody fancy cracking open a carton
of cabernet sauvignon?
2003
Barnard Griffin Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($14
Seattle Post Intelligencer- Jan 10, 2006 With more than half of
Washingtons nearly 400 wineries less than 5 years old, the Barnard
Griffin winery, at 22, is one of the oldest in the state. ...
Ingoldby
McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Red Bordeaux
Ready, but will keep, Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc/Merlot, 12.5% alc.
Valley’s
ripe with inexpensive delights
Valley Views Chardonnay is harder to find below the 10 mark, but two of
its older reds, 2001 Merlot (8.39) and 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon (6.99),
are still out there.Similar prices are usually the case at stores like
Food 4 Less and Winco. When last checked, several older Ashland
Vineyards wines were on the shelves at Shop N Kart in Ashland:
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shakespeares Love white blend, Merlot and
Cabernet Sauvignon priced from 6.25 to 9.98.
From
a Volvo to a sports car: Chile revs up
At the other end of the price and flavour spectrum, the structured,
more traditional 2002 Santa Rita Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon (19.99,
Berkmann Wine Cellars, 020 7609 4711; everywine.co.uk) was my favourite
Bordeaux-style red.
Overachieving
Down Under
On a recent visit to Canada, Gago brought his newest friends -- the Bin
60A Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Shiraz 2004 and the Block 42
Kalimna Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 -- as well as the other mates in
Penfolds' stable of ultra premium wines. Penfolds Bin 60A Coonawarra
Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Shiraz 2004 ($330, contact Vintages):
Tightly wound but oozing blackberry fruit, warm black cherry, plum and
violet on the nose.
Jarhead
Red, The Wine For Marines
The vintage is a 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon and net proceeds from the sale
of the wine benefit the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Czech Business
Weekly
We tried a nice domestic Cabernet Sauvignon, and a white Trebbiano
d’Abruzzo, which was, as usual, very pleasant.
Crus
et Saveurs
Lastly, I attended a vertical tasting with 23 Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet
Sauvignon from 1954 to 2002. The tasting was amazing and to my
surprise, I did not expect a $20 Australian Cabernet Sauvignon to keep
its freshness for such a long time.
Shopoholics:
9 things to buy this year
2) Get into the Sprits: Two excellent wines recommended by Vinapolis,
London – Carmel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Israel.
Dream
of new winery stems from 2004 airplane crash
Harbinger Winery, the seventh and newest winery on the North Olympic
Peninsula, is bottling its first wines this weekend -- a 2004 Syrah and
a 2004 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah called Dynamo Red,
the winery's signature label.
Tasting
Wine: Bargains from the South of France
The Spanish grapes, Grenache (Garnacha), Mourvedre and Carignan
(Cariñena) along with Syrah are the most prevalent, yet there
are a host of other grapes grown, including Cabernet Sauvignon and
Merlot. Made from a blend of 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 50
percent Merlot, this little Vin de Pays has plenty of fruit and spice
with a taste of chocolate and moderate tannins.
Jim
Neal, Chariot, “Diana” 2002
Jim Neal, Chariot, Diana, California 2002 ($15) – An interesting blend
of Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
WTN:
Laurel Lakes Vineyards New Releases
The Laurel Lake Vineyards 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($23)
represents the lighter, more refined style of Cabernet. 2001 was a
tremendous growing year on Long Island, but Cabernet Sauvignon is hard
to grow and make well here in most cases due to the long hang time the
grapes need on the vine.
Simon
Gilbert 2005 Card Collection Cabernet S...
Bordeaux
faces off against Canada
All of the wines were sculpted from the major grapes that go into
Bordeaux-style blends — that is, mainly cabernet sauvignon and merlot,
with a smattering of cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. As things
turned out, that wine, Newton Forrest 2002 Cornerstone Cabernet
Sauvignon/Merlot/Malbec ($42.75) from New Zealand won the day once the
140 votes were tabulated.
Beringer Stone Cellars Shiraz/Cabernet
Sauvignon 1999 wine review by (PB)
Jordan, Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Short Sips
New York Sun, NY- Jan 25, 2006... 2002 ($100). Both wines are mainly
cabernet sauvignon. Mountain-grown wines are supposed to be on the dark
and brooding side. Sure ...
Casa
Lapostolle Rapel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Wine Review
The Wine Cask | Friday Jan 27 Beautiful dark color Blackberry and
raspberry bouquet on the nose Dark
Sebastiani
Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Wine Review
Raspberry, blackberry, and milk
January
Tasting: Texas Reds; Winner is 2002 Parker Cabernet Sauvignon (94
Points)
Joseph Phelps Vineyards Innisfree Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Friday, January 27, 2006
Merlot
MERLOT
Seriously, though; reflecting on past voyages through galaxies of wine,
I realize that Merlot, in its single-varietal form, is one grape, which
I've woefully overlooked. I believe the cause is several off-putting
trysts with mediocre poor Merlot early in my wine experimenting life.
Sebastiani
Merlot, Handley Pinot Noir
This is My Quest: To Find a Great Merlot
Quest
for a Great Merlot The Tilting Begins
(I am an aspiring wine geek after all.) I found myself wondering if I
was trying to turn Merlot into something it just wasn’t meant to be.
Merlot started out primarily as a blending grape for the much sought
after red wines of Bordeaux.
Simi,
Merlot, Sonoma County 2002
Simi, Merlot, Sonoma County 2002 ($16) - Deep ruby color with
blackberry, cassis and menthol aromas; plum and black cherry fruit
flavors combine with some pepper and moderate tannins.
Flavour
Country: BC Merlot Grows Up
I've been saying this for quite some time now, but I feel as though
this perhaps elementary point requires elaboration for the rest of the
snooty wine world: BC is Merlot country.
Briar
Ridge Merlot 2003
We found it good, but not outstanding, so if we were shopping for a
Merlot, would probably look elsewhere first.
Long
Island Merlot?
A group of LI vintners posits that Merlot Long Island wine go together
like Sonny Cher, like death taxes, like the Patriots spanking the
Steelers! Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Long Island
+ Merlot?
J.
Lohr Cypress Merlot 2002
Lohr Cypress Merlot at the new Crushed Grape restaurant here in Regina,
whose claim to fame (aside from a very nice ambiance and pretty good
food) is that it offers a very wide selection of wines by the glass.
Marquis
De Chasse 2003 Merlot wine review by (PB)
Hollick Sparkling
Merlot
2004
You dont see much sparkling Merlot but I think it works just as well as
Shiraz.
FishEye
Merlot 2003
FishEye Merlot caught my eye at the supermarket yesterday when trying
to find a good cheap wine to pair with my pasta and chicken dinner. If
youre looking for a good cheap wine that will really surprise your
palate and your wine sob frineds - try the Target Wine in a Cube Merlot.
Waterbrook
2003 Merlot
In VancouverWine.com
Fortant
White Merlot 2003
I really wasnt sure what to make about this whole white Merlot thing.
Great Wine
Books
From Sauvignon Blanc to Chenin Blanc, Merlot to Malbec, and pink wines
to dessert wines, Leslie Sbrocco makes her enormous knowledge of wine
entertaining enough for the serious wine lover and accessible enough so
any novice can feel like an expert.
I'm
The Magnificent
Syrah in America." "Pinot Noir and Merlot are first-rate wines." "His
Syrahs are focused, pure and abounding with character." "I recently
tasted Smith's Syrah and it sent my taste ...
Bogle
Merlot (California) 2003
At a price of under $12, this Merlot is hard to beat.
Duckhorn
Merlot Estate Grown (Napa Valley) 2002
Yet, it is not significantly better than Duckhorn's 2002 Napa Valley
Merlot. Indeed, given its smooth tannins and soft acids, I'm not sure
it has the aging potential of the basic Merlot.
Minister
brings a new touch to winemaking
Last year Staten made 1,200 cases of Convivio, 600 cabernet sauvignon
and 600 merlot. Now we should not be nervous about planting merlot, the
predominant grape in Saint Emilion.
January
Reds (8): Italy Valpol, Canada Meritage, Chile Merlot, Australia
Shiraz(3), Chile Blend, South Africa Blend,
Francis Coppola Blue Label Diamond Series California Merlot 2003
CCC to
Offer
Wine Appreciation Course
The program will explore many of the worlds top classic wines and grape
varieties including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and
Cabernet Sauvignon.
Francis
Coppola Blue Label Diamond Series California Merlot 2003
Francis Coppola Diamond Merlot 2003 is a blend of 93% Merlot and 7%
Syrah, from fruit grown in Napa, Sonoma and Monterey.
Berrys'Own Selection
Medium Bodied, Dry, Drink now, Cab-Sauv/Merlot, 12% alc. Medium Bodied,
Dry, Drink now, Cab-Sauv/Merlot, 12% alc.
Snoqualmie
Cabernet Merlot 2000
This Columbia Valley blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot is
from Snoqualmie Vinyards in Washington State. Definitely the picture of
Merlot varietal perfection.
Valley’s
ripe with inexpensive delights
One of the companies affiliated with Eden Valley Orchards of Medford
has an inexpensive merlot on the market. Checking the wine rack at the
east Medford Bi-Mart recently, I saw Bridgeviews 2002 Cabernet-Merlot,
2002 Chardonnay, and 2004 Gewurztraminer, each for 7.49.
On
a mission... WBW 17 - 1998 NZ Mission Estate Cab Merlot
They did have, however, one Hawkes Bay Cab/Merlot blend. So the Mission
Estate Cab Merlot I had set aside was going to be it.
Bordeaux
faces off against Canada
All of the wines were sculpted from the major grapes that go into
Bordeaux-style blends — that is, mainly cabernet sauvignon and merlot,
with a smattering of cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. As things
turned out, that wine, Newton Forrest 2002 Cornerstone Cabernet
Sauvignon/Merlot/Malbec ($42.75) from New Zealand won the day once the
140 votes were tabulated.
The Merlot
Magician
Flicking through the Telegraph Magazine over breakfast
on boxing day brought me face to face with a wonderful article entitled
‘The Merlot Magician’ by Richard Grant
Merlot
gratifies, Periquita warms
Merlot is an easy wine to enjoy because it offers instant gratification
-- heart- gladdening richness, sweetness and a warm, good-all-over
feeling. Mood/food ideas: The rich feeling in Merlot is a natural
partner for beef or lamb dishes.
Wine:
Rockbridge Vineyards 2002 DeChiel Merlot
Review: I am not usually a Merlot fan, but this particular vintage was
recommended to me by a friend, and it is pretty good. It has a
complexity that seems to indicate it is more than just a Merlot -- the
bottle doesn't indicate anything other than Merlot, but previous
vintages contained 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Clairault
Estate Cabernet Merlot 2002
Marvelous
Merlot of Washington
Mike Wylie, the evening's guest speaker from Chateau Ste Michelle, will
present three Washington Merlot with unique styles and talk about why
this state has become one of the world's premier areas for the Merlot
grape.
U.S.
forecast to become world's No. 1 wine market
The popularity of the movie "Sideways" continues to boost pinot noir
sales and dog merlot.
Fine Wine Fridays
Medium-Full Bodied, Dry, Ready, but will keep, Cabernet
Sauvignon/Franc/Merlot, 12.5% alc. Medium-Full Bodied, Dry, Ready, but
will improve, Cab-Sauv/Merlot, 13% alc.
Wine,
Food ... and More Wine and Food
I believe Steve's reed was merlot-flavored Saturday night. The second
plate of baked manicotti stuffed with confit of Sonoma duckling, exotic
wild mushrooms and merlot-infused fig sauce paired perfectly with the
Laird merlot.
Aurora’s
wine
list hits province’s top notes
(The wines are arranged on the list in ascending order of
lighter/fruitier to heavier/bolder.) Hester Creek’s Cabernet/ Merlot is
here and the glorious Sandhill Small Lots “One”, a Bordeaux blend.
Speaking of Merlots, there’s another from Golden Mile, the “King”
Merlot from Kettle Valley, and the astonishing Orofino Merlot/Cabernet
with which this tiny Keremeos winery launched itself into the
stratosphere of great home-grown reds last summer.
Hogue
Columbia Valley Merlot 2003
Hogue* Columbia Valley Merlot 2003 is a blend of 82% Merlot (Wahluke
Slope 42%, Horse Heaven Hills 27%, Yakima Valley 30%), 9% Syrah, 7%
Lemberger, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cant
finish the wine? Merlot to go bill in the works
Maybe people might not want to drink the whole bottle of wine and yet
at the same time, they've already paid for it, said Rep. Matthew J.
McHugh, D-South Kingstown, sponsor of the so-called Merlot to go bill.
Whats
in a name? A lot where wine is concerned
Carneros, he said, was identified as an AVA in 1983, and is known for
its pinot noirs and chardonnays, although some wineries are making
merlot and syrah from Carneros grapes. It resembles Napa Valley
somewhat in grapes, too, as cabernet sauvignon and merlot wines from
Alexander Valley have achieved some very high scores and are highly
regarded by many critics.
Share
the Passion with Da Luca WIne this Valentines
As this is Valentine’s the wine for the meal must be a red and nothing
could be better than the delicious Da Luca Primitivo Merlot: With its
smooth and velvety plum flavours the Primitivo Merlot is a little bit
of luxury for less than £5. The Primitivo Merlot is not only at
home on the dinner table, it is also perfect for enjoying during the
third stage of the evening – the flirty, post dinner conversation.
Bigger
and
better
Golan Heights Winery, Merlot, Gamla, 2003: Deep garnet, medium to
full-bodied, with still firm tannins but with balance and structure
that bode well for the future. Golan Heights Winery, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Gamla, 2003: Always reliable, this oak aged medium to
full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
shows good balance between tannins, wood and black fruits, all with
hints of vanilla and an appealing spicy finish.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Chardonnay
1999
Arrowood Chardonnay Rserve Spciale, Cuve Michel Berthoud
I have never tasted a Chardonnay this complex and rewarding. This
Chardonnay’s impeccable balance is marked by this smooth richness of
flavor as reflected in its irresistible texture–a flawless creaminess
always being accompanied by the supple yet never overwhelming tannin
structures which drape nicely around the glass.
Monterey
County Chardonnay
2004 Bernardus Monterey County Chardonnay ($20) Balance is the key to
this wine, with its red apple, vanilla and toast aromas melding
seamlessly with pear, apple, lemon curd and toast flavors. 2002 Carmel
Road Arroyo Seco Chardonnay ($35) Yes, you can have richness, bold
flavor and elegance in one wine and this Chardonnay pulls it off.
2003
Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay Reserve
Enotheque: 2003 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay Reserve Enotheque Wine
Reviews This Ferrari-Carano Reserve is yet another spectacular
California Chardonnay that I've had the fortune to taste recently.
Simi
2004 Sonoma County Chardonnay
Enotheque: Simi 2004 Sonoma County Chardonnay Enotheque Wine Reviews
Whether you want to drink this delicious California Chardonnay by
itself (it is most certainly worthy), or maybe you will have a dish
with a cream-based sauce to accompany it (use your imagination), this
is the most delicious 2004 Chardonnay I have tasted.
Wine
Events
"Vines to Wine" educational series at Kendall-Jackson begins with
"Chardonnay" on Feb. 11. Menu pairs duck confit with 2003 SyrCab,
Sonoma Valley and Dungeness crab risotto with 2004 Chardonnay, Carneros.
2003
Kesner Chardonnay, Hudson Vineyards Carneros, Napa
Working with some of the great Chardonnay producers in the Napa Valley
(Kistler, Kongsgaard, Ramey) as Vineyard Manager at Hudson Vineyards,
he decided it was his turn to stamp his name on a label. At a little
over $70 USD a bottle (including tax and shipping), this isn't a cheap
Chardonnay, and one could find many fine White Burgundy and Chablis' at
the same price point.
2001
Louis Latour Grand Ardche ChardonnayVin de Pays des Cteaux de lArdche
Made by a premier cru classé producer, whose vineyards boasts
vine patches that reach back into the Middle Ages, this Grand
Ardèche Chardonnay offers a nose with perfectly discernable
lemon curd, vanilla and ripe pear. Suggesting meal pairing options for
this masterful Chardonnay is a challenge, given that its flavors are so
enjoyable and well balanced that it is spectacular on a stand-alone
basis; yet, I would love an artichoke risotto with this–or perhaps a
pan-seared red snapper with a tropical fruit salsa.
Woop
Woop Australia Chardonnay 2005
Woop Woop Chardonnay 2005 was made by Ben Riggs (Winemaker at Penny's
Hill), from Southeastern Australia contract-grown Chardonnay, and
imported by Epicurean.
Lincourt
Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2004
Lincourt Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2004 is Chardonnay, 86% from Santa
Maria Valley (65% Bien Nacido vineyard, 21% Solomon Hills Vineyard),
and 14% from Rancho Santa Rosa in the Santa Rita Hills.
Meridian
Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2004
Meridian* Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2004 has been released a
while, but this new label just arrived, mid-vintage.
Rutherford
Ranch Napa Valley Chardonnay 2004
Rutherford Ranch Chardonnay 2004 is blended with other white varietals
for increased structure.
Columbia
Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay 2003 wine review by (PB)
This Chardonnay is beautiful gold with a spectacular bouquet and nose
of–-I kid you not–-Creme Brulee.
Bannockburn Vertical
Tasting - Chardonnay, Pinot
The tasting offered 10 wines in each category, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
and Shiraz. Bannockburn also produce four single vineyard wines, the
SRH Chardonnay ($110), the Stuart ($75) and Serre ($120) Pinot Noir and
the Range Shiraz ($55).
Thompson Estate
Chardonnay 2003
Good
wine doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag
One thing I need is the Domaine Talmard, 2003 Macon-Chardonnay, $10.
Now, indeed it is chardonnay, but the grapes that make up this wine
actually come from the village of Chardonnay.
Brisbane
Courier Mail
The Courier-Mail: Run your car on chardonnay why not? Leaded or
unleaded petrol could be laced with ethanol produced from excess
chardonnay or pinot noir, according to Granite Belt wine grower Angelo
Puglisi.
Reviews:
Cape Campbell Limited Edition Reserv...
Santa
Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
2003 Beauregard Trout Gulch Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
($25) Here is a wine for those who love their Chardonnays unctuous and
oaky. 2002 Byington Quennevillle Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains
Chardonnay ($26) The nose offers toast, spice and mineral notes, with a
hint of green herb.
Go
nutty over Chardonnay and Italian-style chicken
California Chardonnay can be a challenge for food. Because of this
intensity, Chardonnay pairs best with food that doesn't fight it, but
attempts to match its richness and personality.
A
Tale of 2 Chardonnays
In my opinion, they are one of the top tier producers of Chardonnay in
California.
2005
Finca El Portillo Chardonnay
The 2005 Finca El Portillo Chardonnay, from Bodegas Salentein, is clean
and crisp, with no oak aging, and lovely pear and apple flavors. This
means only stainless steel on the chardonnay, no oak aging at all.
winter
whites, sleek reds
Another overachieving white, the 2004 Casa Lapostolle Casablanca Valley
Chardonnay ($10), shares a similar French lineage. Though partially
fermented and aged in oak barrels, this Chardonnay's ripe, oaky
character is tempered by a zesty quality because the grapes were grown
in Chile's cool, coastal Casablanca Valley.
Good
wine doesnt have to come with a hefty price tag
One thing I need is the Domaine Talmard, 2003 Macon-Chardonnay, $10.
Now, indeed it is chardonnay, but the grapes that make up this wine
actually come from the village of Chardonnay.
PASTA
WINE
But I gotta think it would be twice that if I didn't love my angel hair
and chardonnay so damn much.
Winecast
44 The Big Three Whites
I taste the Big Three Whites, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
live on the show and invite listeners to taste these wines as they
listen.
Architect
crafts European-style wines at Godspeed
His 1,200-case winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines
designed to be food-friendly and age-worthy. According to Canadian-born
and Los Angeles area-raised Stricker, the vineyard is almost equally
divided between Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Many
names for chardonnay
If you're just looking for the punch line, though, it's all just
chardonnay. Most of the white Burgundy you'll find on store shelves
ranges from $15 to $35 a bottle, and while the cost is comparable to
American chardonnay, the flavor can be refreshingly different.
QA
with the man whos buying the wine world
Because Estancia was primarily a Chardonnay brand and Monterey-based,
it could not demand the price that Alexander Valley Cabernet could and
should get.
Valley’s
ripe with inexpensive delights
Checking the wine rack at the east Medford Bi-Mart recently, I saw
Bridgeviews 2002 Cabernet-Merlot, 2002 Chardonnay, and 2004
Gewurztraminer, each for 7.49. Valley Views Chardonnay is harder to
find below the 10 mark, but two of its older reds, 2001 Merlot (8.39)
and 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon (6.99), are still out there.Similar prices
are usually the case at stores like Food 4 Less and Winco.
Charles
Olkens Connoisseurs Corner: Russian River
One would not think that an area so perfectly suited to cold-weather
varieties like pinot noir and chardonnay could also make good
zinfandel, but that is just what happens. Sometimes it is only a matter
of a sheltered hillside, while for other grapes, and to some great
surprise, zin can flourish alongside pinot and chardonnay in the
Russian River Valley.
Making
wine in a hostile climate
They have also planted chardonnay, and, notably, a bit of syrah too,
though the temperature is too cool for grapes like cabernet sauvignon
and merlot. "AVAs are pretty useless," said Ted Lemon, who makes pinot
noir and chardonnay under the Littorai label.
The
Opera Grapevine: Beyond the Chardonnay
Chardonnay, wine lovers will tell you, is a very pernicious wine,
embodying all the evils of commercialization, globalization and the
banality of contemporary taste. Chardonnay is everywhere, and
everywhere it is oaky, creamy, smooth and undistinguished.
Delicate
crab needs a light touch and a sleek Chardonnay
Chardonnay from Monterey County makes a perfect partner.
The
big gulp
Gallo spokesman Tim McDonald says, "Large retailers want to have a
Cabernet or Chardonnay or Merlot that nobody else has," and his company
is large enough to create retailer-specific brands like Winking Owl for
them. Ken Brown founded Byron Vineyard and Winery, a high-end Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay specialist in Santa Barbara County, in 1984.
Whats
in a name? A lot where wine is concerned
"The style depends on the location -- we couldn't make chardonnay like
(those in) the Russian River Valley." His winery is in the Alexander
Valley appellation. Sonoma County has cooler climates toward the west
(near the ocean) and to the north, and varietals such as pinot noir and
chardonnay grow well there, while the areas toward the east and south
tend to be warmer, and varietals lean toward the standard Bordeaux
grapes.
The
prince of pinot noir
Examples include blending chardonnay with pinot blanc; making luscious
low alcohol riesling and attempting, against the odds, to move pinot
gris beyond boring.
Wines
for Thanksgiving
A wine to go with roast turkey is easy enough: go with a
mild-to-medium-bodied red, such as a Pinot Noir from Burgundy, or try a
full-flavored white, such as a white Burgundy, a Califoakian
Chardonnay, or a Pinot Gris from Alsace.
Ode to the
Russian River Valley
Lewis has won its fair share of accolades from me over the years, and
this head-turning chardonnay only adds to its many successes. One would
not think that an area so perfectly suited to cold-weather varieties
like pinot noir and chardonnay could also make good zinfandel, but that
is just what happens.
Savvy
Living - Jan. 26, 2006
The Finger Lakes are best known for their world-class Rieslings, but
with a cool grape-growing climate, the region is well suited for other
classic varieties, chardonnay included. This bottling–a good value at
$13–is a nice example of cool-weather chardonnay.
Best
of 2005 Wine, Food, Travel
Coming
Up - Weekly calendar of events
Titus Vineyards will pour red wines and Chappelet Winery and Vineyards
will pour chardonnay.
Southern Wine Journal
A rich and intense wine but not a blockbuster. The relatively light
colour gives no hint of the powerful melon fruit and vanilla oak that
dominate the...
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Zinfandel
A fine zinfandel is a
tribute to small producer
For full disclosure, Ravenswood has sent me its wines for review over
the last couple of years, but since I am not an avid drinker of
zinfandel - I find many of them too big and too alcoholic - the wines
have not been a priority. That is, until I picked out Ravenswood's 2003
"Dickerson Vineyard" Zinfandel for a taste not long ago...
New
Favorite Zinfandel for the New Year
2002 Lake Sonoma Winery Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
Cline
Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2003
Renwood Zinfandel 2001
Renwood
Zinfandel 2001
New Favorite Zinfandel for the New Year
Cheers
to Cheap and Affordable New Wine Blends
A blend of syrah, petite sirah, zinfandel, carignane, barbera, and
malbec with a pleasantly simple nose of cherries and wet rocks and an
equally simple flavor of dried sour cherries and smoke.
2002
Lake Sonoma Winery Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
1998 Gary Farrell Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
1998
Gary Farrell Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
My bud Robert brought this over for dinner last night, and it was a
real refresher course in Zinfandel's aging curve.
Mayo
Family Winery 2001 Ricci Vineyard Zinfandel Port (Russian River Valley)
2003 Leaping Lizard Napa Valley Zinfandel
Renwood
Zinfandel 2002 Sierra Series
Ally thought it was a bit too tart for a Zinfandel.
2003
Leaping Lizard Napa Valley Zinfandel
7 Deadly Zins Lodi Zinfandel 2004
Winter
produces a sweet delicacy in rare ice wines
We then tried Renwood 2004 Zinfandel Amador Ice ($35.99 at Cap N Cork
for a half-size bottle). The Zinfandel smelled instantly of raspberries
and blueberries, which followed through in the taste along with hints
of honey.
7
Deadly Zins Lodi Zinfandel 2004
Michael and David Phillips produce this popularly priced Zin from a
blend of primarily (not specified) old vine Zinfandel from 7 contract
growers in the Lodi Appellation.
Hollywood
and Vine
Zinfandel Watch your wallet--and your man--when Zinfandel's on the
prowl. Exotic and mysterious, Zinfandel is a jealous lover, pairing
only with a few other grapes, but dominating the relationship.
Earthquake
Lodi Zinfandel 2004
Earthquake Lodi Zinfandel 2004 is primarily Zinfandel (last year's 2003
was 84%, with some Petite Sirah, Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon).
Zin Alley
They specialize in Red Zinfandel and Zinfandel port. The Red Zinfandel
sells for $42 and the Port costs $40.
Cline
Cellars California Zinfandel 2004
Cline California Zinfandel 2004 was made from fruit sourced primarily
from Contra Costa County near Oakley, and Lodi.
Rosenblum
Cellars Paso Robles Zinfandel 2004
Rosenblum Appellation Series Paso Robles Zinfandel 2004 is a blend of
86% Zinfandel, 7% Carignane, 5% Petite Sirah, and 2% Syrah.
Rosenblum
San Francisco Bay Zinfandel 2004
Montevina Zinfandel 2001
Montevina
Zinfandel 2001
I choose a Zinfandel for only $9. Overall a well balanced Zinfandel.
January
is time for zinfandel
But, when Zinfandel Advocates and Associates came into being, created
the single best tasting of the year and scheduled it for January,
things changed. Check out their Web site (www.zinfandel.org) for
seminars, food and wine tastings, fancy dinners and the biggest bash of
the year and all are open to the public.
Turley
Grist Vineyard Zinfandel 2002
Tiny
Soquel winerys journey to top state honor
San Jose Mercury News, USA- Hellenthal Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($35),
which displays ripe cherry flavors and a bit of heat on the finish; and
a 2003 old vine zinfandel from Schulenberg ...
Winecast
50 - Zinfandel 2
Todays podcast is my first of 2006 and my second take on my favorite
red varietal: Zinfandel, and I interview Alan Baker, the Cellar Rat.
Reminder: the ZAP festival, Zinfandel Advocates and Producers is
1/28/06 in San Francisco.
Foxhorn
White Zinfandel
I usually drink it when it is mistakingly brought to me after ordering
a Zinfandel.
10
tips to being a smarter, thriftier wine buyer
2001 Rancho Zabaco Dancing Bull Zinfandel: With its fruit backed up by
some tannic muscle, this sassy California wine was a fast favorite of
the panel.
Vancouver
North Shore News
Indeed, there are worse ways to spend a rainy afternoon than working
through some 30 appetizers made to match with gently peppery,
well-berried Fetzer Valley Oaks Zinfandel 2002.
St.
Petersburg Times
Even if you don't know the name, I'll bet you've tasted it and loved
it, sometimes as a bit of extra gumption, ripeness and deep purple
blended into zinfandel and even big-shot cabernets. "It was the the
perfect "complexing' complement for zinfandel," he says.
Teldeschi
vintner believes in aging its Zinfandel
Don't miss:Teldeschi Zinfandel "Lot #1" 1994, Dry Creek Valley, Calif.;
$23. Most of the estate is planted to Zinfandel, their late father's
favorite.
Want
to get Zapped?
The annual Zinfandel Advocates Producers (ZAP) Festival is taking place
in San Francisco on January 25-28, 2006. For those who havent made
plans yet, head over to www.zinfandel.org or call (415) 345-7575 for
ticket information.
Bold
burger and wild red are easy on the wallet
The wine is an uncomplicated, young and slightly wild red wine blend
made from zinfandel, merlot, sangiovese and grenache grapes grown here
and there in Sonoma County.
Cefalo
has 6 wines that score points
Howell Mountain Vineyards "Black Sears Vineyard" Zinfandel 2001.
Growing up, Sunday afternoons meant manicotti, homemade pasta and
zinfandel.
MSNBC
hidden charms of riesling MSNBC- It’s a tall order to ask
a wine drinker who’s finally straightened out zinfandel from merlot to
comprehend the difference between kabinett and spätlese ...
Chocolate
and wine are sweet combination
This means cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel for those rich, decadent
restaurant desserts that also spotlight dark berry flavors, such as a
cherry sauce.
Zinfandels
that are beauties - but don’t call them ‘blushes ...
If one more person uses the word "blush" in reference to California’s
majestic red zinfandel grape, I am going to scream. Yes, white
zinfandel is made from zinfandel grapes, a red variety, but it is
indeed a far cry from the rich, robust stuff zin fans covet.
Tasty
Pairings
The pizza was paired with RagApple Lassie's red zinfandel, a
medium-bodied, spicy wine, and the first zinfandel produced in the
Yadkin Valley. This pizza was paired with RagApple Zinfandel, the first
and only red zinfandel made in the Yadkin Valley.
Sip
of the Week
The fruitiness of zinfandel usually makes us think of summer and
lighter fare.
Ode
to the Russian River Valley
One would not think that an area so perfectly suited to cold-weather
varieties like pinot noir and chardonnay could also make good
zinfandel, but that is just what happens.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Sauvignon Blanc, News and Views
Rodney
Strong Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma County) 2004*
Joseph Phelps Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) 2003
Cloudy
Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Wine Review (NW)
Cloudy Bay quickly became the benchmark New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
with excellent offerings year after year.
Wine
Tasting
Note: Saints Selection Sauvignon Blanc, 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand.
Spittoon - Wine Tasting Note: Saints Selection Sauvignon Blanc, 2005,
Marlborough, New Zealand. Wine Tasting Note: Saints Selection Sauvignon
Blanc, 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand.
2003
Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Fume Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc)
Wine Tasting Note: Saints Selection Sauvignon Blanc, 2005, Marlborough,
New Zealand.
X
Winery ES Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2004
X Winery ES Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from Lake County.
Time
for wines
Feanny's second pick of New Zealand's Waipara Hills, Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc, 2004, provides enough of a fruity edge to complement
many of our dishes. As the New Zealanders have made their name over the
last five years with the Sauvignon Blanc, so have the Argentines
developed a world-beating reputation with the robust Malbec.
Casa
Lapostolle Rapel Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2004
Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc 2004 is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc
and 10% Semillon, grown on the Las Kuras Estate. There are about 100
acres of Sauvignon Blanc, planted in 1992.
Joseph
Phelps Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) 2003
At the top end, it's hard to think of a wine that's routinely as
amazing as Insignia, while their basic varietal level wines, such as
this Sauvignon Blanc ($22), are excellent. This wine is towards the
melon and green apple end of the SB flavor spectrum, but there is still
enough grass and herbs (cilantro?) to let you know you're dealing with
Sauvignon Blanc.
Paso
Robles Offers New Adventures in Wine
It combines viognier, marsanne, roussanne and sauvignon blanc to
produce a fragrant wine that is less than $12.
Stormhoek
Sauvignon
Blanc yum!
My free bottle of Stormhoek Sauvignon Blanc has arrived.
New
Zealand or Bust
(Once you try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc you'll never go back.) But
you can only learn so much about a country by drinking their wine,
reading books, and watching Lord of the Rings.
50
Connect
Australia had Shiraz and New Zealand was the first and last word in
Sauvignon Blanc, albeit in a guise that had most of the traditional
Loire producers stating that it was not Sauvignon at all, but cunningly
fermented gooseberry juice. As I mentioned earlier, New Zealand first
won renown for Sauvignon Blanc.
The
Chronicles Top Bargain Wines of 2005
This wine takes advantage of the fact that the world center of great
Sauvignon Blanc is now that country's Marlborough region. In its cool
climate, the grape develops strong, pungent aromas and flavors of
tropical fruit and fresh-mown grass that were shocking 20 years ago to
fans of the more austere, mineral-driven wines made from Sauvignon
Blanc in France's Loire region.
Austrian
dry white lights up palate with intriguing scents
Imagine an expressive character somewhere between Viognier (floral,
perfumed, fruity) and Sauvignon Blanc (grassy, herbal, flinty).
Sauvignon
Blanc goes with everything, including pesto
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most versatile and food-friendly wines,
complementing everything from briny oysters to creamy, fresh goat
cheese to spicy Thai noodle dishes. However, the wide range of
Sauvignon Blanc styles produced in Sonoma County can make food pairing
a challenge.
Seeing
Rojo
Each of the valleys near Ensenada has a slightly different
microclimate, and the grape varietals that fare best are Sauvignon
Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Pair
Mexican fare with Sauvignon Blanc
In a perfect world, you couldn't go wrong by pairing Mexican fare with
Sauvignon Blanc. Surprisingly, however, the only Sauvignon Blanc on
this restaurant's wine list was a selection from New Zealand.
10
tips to being a smarter, thriftier wine buyer
• 2004 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc: A spritz of acid burst lightly on
the tongue, followed by rounded fruit flavors and an herbal finish.
Vintage
Year
Both Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($7.95) and Tohu Sauvignon Blanc
($12.95) are crisp, clean and loaded with tropical fruit flavors. They
are good alternatives to the overpriced Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
everyone loves.
Another
year, another 700 bottles to get through - all in the line ...
Tariquet Famille Grassa Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (£6.99, Somerfield)
is beautifully floral and so spring-like you'll hear bees a buzzin'.
Trapiche Falling Star Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (£3.99, Morrisons).
Cape Campbell
2004
Sauvignon Blanc
This is a fuller bodied style of Sauvignon Blanc with clean racy
acidity and a long lingering finish.
Livermore
Valley:
A new wine-tasting experience
Livermore garnered recognition for California's wine-making
capabilities when Wetmore won America's first international gold medal
at the 1889 Paris Exposition for his Cresta Blanca Sauvignon Blanc.
Before making our way to the visitors center, we wandered along a
walkway lined with different grape vines, each labeled to help us
distinguish the cabernet from the sauvignon blanc clusters.
On
your
Marks if you want to bag some bargain bottles
Well-kent supermarket face is Kumala Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2004
(£3.99, was £4.99, Sainsbury's, until Jan 24). Similar
blend grapes, but Jacob's Creek Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2004
(£3.99, was £4.99, Sainsbury's, until Jan 24) is less
demonstrative - in fact nondescript.
Winecast
44 The Big Three Whites
I taste the Big Three Whites, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
live on the show and invite listeners to taste these wines as they
listen.
Fast
Track to Fine Wine?
Similar treatment to a Sauvignon Blanc 2004 resulted in a drier
aftertaste.
Central
California Coast overflowing with wineries
Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot and sauvignon blanc
are also prominent throughout the Central Coast and coastal valleys.
Meridian 2004 Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc: You really cannot expect
more for $10.
Food
Drink Value vino
Produced by Chiles Veramonte, which is run by father-and-son pioneers
Agustin and Agustin Francisco Huneeus, Duo is the ideal expression of
two varietals, sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon, and two growing
regions, the Casablanca and Maipo valleys. The 05 Sauvignon Blanc from
Casablanca epitomizes grassy gooseberry and citrus-peel crispness, yet
it nicely warms to a mellow expression in the glass.
Sydney
Morning Herald
Similar treatment to a Sauvignon Blanc 2004 resulted in a drier
aftertaste.
Las
Brisas: Rueda Wine Review
The chalky soils there are conducive to dry, minerally whites; the main
grapes grown are Verdejo (or Verdeho), Viura, and to a lesser extent,
Sauvignon Blanc.
Swirl
n Spit
Like most other whites, Sauvignon Blanc doesn't need a lot of oak or
other heavy makeup to shine; in fact, she's at her very finest
completely nude. Sauvignon Blanc damsels: Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett.
Cool
Australian region produces some lovely wines
There's also some cabernet sauvignon and smaller amounts of sauvignon
blanc, shiraz, merlot and cabernet franc. Portet makes a fresh,
slightly grassy sauvignon blanc ($18) with flavors of grapefruit and
stone fruits.
Stand
up for semillon
Jim Barry 'Silly Mid On' Sauvignon Blanc Semillion. In Bordeaux which
like all French winemaking areas is strictly controlled by the Institut
National des Appellations d'Origine semillon, sauvignon blanc and
muscadelle are the only grapes approved for making white wine
(sauternes is made with semillon and sauviugnon blanc, for example).
Tis
the season for oysters: Pair em with a pearl
Geyser Peak Winery 2004 California Sauvignon Blanc ($12): Like the Dry
Creek Vineyard chenin blanc, the assertively grassy and fruity Geyser
Peak sauvignon blanc is a repeat winner at the oyster-and-wine
competition. A somewhat more aromatic and heftier version of this wine
also fitting for oysters is the Geyser Peak Winery 2004 Block
Collection Russian River Valley River Road Ranch Sauvignon Blanc ($19),
which tied for best interpretation of the varietal at this year's
California State Fair.
Affordable
reds, whites available
From California, the 2005 Chateau Souverain Sauvignon Blanc and the
2004 Ferrari-Carano Fum Blanc are winners with their clean, crisp
finishes and user-friendly tastes.
Grocery
store passes first taste test
2003 Mirassou Sauvignon Blanc, California ($9) - It's a dry white
with good, fresh lemon-lime flavor and texture. The aroma has some of
the usual Sauvignon Blanc straw and hay.
Well-made
receptacles bring outa good wines best qualities
There is no mistaking the grassy, herbaceous aromas of a Sauvignon
Blanc when put next to an oaky, tropical fruity Chardonnay or the cola
nut aromas of a Pinot Noir when compared to the cassis of a Cabernet
Sauvignon. Thus, a tallish (and smallish) tapered glass made for
Sauvignon Blanc required you to tilt your head farther back than the
balloon-shaped Chardonnay glass.
Chimney
Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2004
The Spice Must Flow | Friday Jan 20 A very good find for the lovely
price of around $10. From the Marlborough region of New Zealand. I'm
not very accomplished at reviewing wines. I know what tastes good to
me. This ... Tags:
No-name
Eponymous label has a big name behind it
Pepi and Booth are also now making wine under the Two Angels label for
a Lake County, Calif., couple -- nicely priced sauvignon blanc, syrah
and petite sirah. 2004 Two Angels Sauvignon Blanc, Shannon Ridge
Vineyards, Lake County (Calif.): ripe melon flavors, a hint of flint,
crisp, tart and dry; $15.
Screw
tops are a wonderful twist
2005 Omaka Springs Estates Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
($15-$17) - 2005 was only two weeks ago and, wow, here it is the first
of the vintage I've tasted. 2004 Whitehall Lane Winery Sauvignon Blanc,
Napa Valley, Calif.
Richard
and Judy help sweet wine get its just desserts
Dona Paula Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (£5.99, Oddbins) is a
savoury, herbaceous Argentinian white giving off peapod-like aromas,
and having an audacious acidity that will cope with goat's cheese, or
shellfish. Trio Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (£5.99, Oddbins) explodes on
the nose with nettle-clump aromas, but quietens down to a dry, "green"
drop that's perfect for shellfish.
Tastings
back in WSJ free RSS feed
While checking my blogroll this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to
see todays column about Sauvignon Blanc in the feed. If you want some
more information on the varietal, check out my Sauvignon Blanc and
Sancerre shows.
Thirteen
toasts to the finest wines of 2005
Tohu Mugwi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2004 ($22.95) The first on the
list, from way back in early January, hasnt even arrived yet; this was
to have been here in the spring, in a mind-numbing allotmentfor the
whole country! For my palate its the best Sauvignon Blanc out of New
Zealand, or most other places, I got to taste yet.
Paradise
lost to greed and fear
The Age, Australia- Settling back with a few
SSBs, are ya? said the Hertz guy. Semillon sauvignon blanc. Not so
many. Our party of ...
Monday, January 23, 2006
Pinot Noir, News and Views
MacRostie
Winery, “Keltie Brook”, Pinot Noir ...
MacRostie Winery, Keltie Brook, Pinot Noir, Carneros 2002 ($15) -
Garnet color with strong black cherry, raspberry and vanilla aromas.
Wine Tasting
Note: Dashwood Pinot Noir, 2004, Marlborough, New Zealand.
Spittoon - Wine Tasting Note: Dashwood Pinot Noir, 2004, Marlborough,
New Zealand.
Medici
2000 Pinot Noir, Block I and II, Estate Reserve, Willamette Valley
(Oregon) $20
When it’s good, Pinot Noir is one of my favorite wines but it’s not a
wine that holds up well to mediocrity. Medici’s Pinot Noir came highly
recommended by the owner of a wine shop/restaurant that I frequent.
From one of the oldest vineyards in the Willamette Valley and
winemaker, Peter Rosback, Medici 2000 Pinot Noir, Block I and II,
Estate Reserve will turn you into a true believer of Oregon Pinot
prowess.
WBW
#17: Borthwick Vineyard 2003 Pinot Noir
Personally, I had only tried one New Zealand red, a pinot noir from Spy
Valley. So, after some consideration, I selected this bottle of
Borthwick Vineyard 2003 Pinot Noir. Comments: While not offensive, this
wine was underwhelming At this price point, I expect to get a little
more -- even from the sometimes-pricey pinot noir.
The
Dining Room, Spencer on Byron, Takapuna
The wine list is sound — and excludes the stratospheric price levels —
with our mainstream choices of the Chard Farm chardonnay, C.J. Pask
Gimblett Road merlot and the excellent-value Rabbit Ranch pinot noir
all doing the job.
Sebastiani
Merlot, Handley Pinot Noir
I had a glass of Handley Pinot Noir, which by itself was pretty good,
but even better when paired with the pomegranate glazed pork ribeye. It
didn't impress me quite as much as Taft Street's bargain Pinot Noir
(also about $15) but I'd be willing to try it again.
A
to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir 2003
A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir '03 is a blend of 20+ wines from 16 estates,
aged in 40% new French oak. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied for a Pinot
Noir, fleshy with tart acidity.
Benton-Lane
Oregon Pinot Noir 2003
Benton-Lane Oregon Pinot Noir 2003 is a blend of seven clones grown on
estate vineyards in the southern Willamette Valley, between Corvallis
and Eugene.
Martin
Ray Angeline Mendocino Pinot Noir 2004
Martin Ray Angeline* Mendocino Pinot Noir 2004 is 96% Pinot Noir, 4%
Sangiovese. Courtney took Martin Ray, while Derek became proprietor of
the Purple Wine Company, which markets the popular Mark West Pinot
Noir, as well as Avalon and Rock Rabbit labels.
Oregon
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is recognized worlwide as a great wine grape. It can be a
difficult grape to grow prone to almost every affliction know to affect
the vine. It is also a difficult wine during the fermentatio process
prone to acetification and problems with color retention. Oregon
wineries produce prize-winning Pinot Noir with surprising regularity.
Argyle
Pinot Noir 2003
Could be due to the fact that I've never spent over $20 on a bottle of
Pinot Noir.
so
then Pinot Noir goes to Grenache: You bring me downstream
Here we have a wine made from Pinot Noir and a Côte du
Rhône wine. And as for contrast, what could establish a greater
gap than comparing the humble descriptive record of Grenache to the
storied accomplishments of Pinot Noir. The Laroche Pinot Noir Vin de
Pays D'Oc 2003 is juicy, round and refreshing.
2003
Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir
The girl I'm dating went home to California for Christmas and returned
with a bottle of the 2003 Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir from the
Anderson Valley in Mendocino. It was an excellent Pinot Noir, and even
more fun to serve because I'd started out the evening with my old
favorite, the sparkling pinot noir from Domaine Ste. Michelle.
Fermenting
Change
Casual wine drinkers don't associate Corralitos, Calif., with premium,
coastal pinot noir production. It's a classic "slow and steady wins the
race" scenario, and with pinot noir, a notoriously fickle grower and
thin-skinned grape, ideal conditions become that much more important in
producing consistent fruit.
WBW
#17: Kim Crawford Marlborough Pinot Noir
The 2004 Kim Crawford Marlborough Pinot Noir displays a smokey nose
which shrouds the fruit hidden beneath, strawberry and cherry combine
with earthy tones on the palate, a light mouth weight that finishes
with a little peppery tannin.
Cool
Australian region produces some lovely wines
You'll find some shiraz here, sure, but the dominant grape varieties in
the Yarra are pinot noir and chardonnay. Pinot noir is now the most
widely planted grape in the valley, followed closely by chardonnay.
2003
Dry Gully Central Otago Pinot Noir
It’s dramatically beautiful, isolated and also happens to make some of
the world’s best Pinot Noir. The typical style for the region is much
like Oregon’s only cleaner and brighter (Oregon Pinot Noir is mainly
made in a Burgundian style). Being from Oregon, I’m naturally quite
partial to its local wines, but really enjoy Central Otago Pinot Noir.
Barringwood
Park Pinot Noir 2003
I tasted the 2003 Pinot Noir blind in a line up of three and was not
surprised to find it the best.
Is
this the perfect excuse for missing next doors cheese and wine ...
Research by a team at the University of California, Davis, suggests
that wine buffs should avoid pairing cabernet sauvignon with camembert
or pinot noir with Pont l'Evque if they want to appreciate their cellars
to the full. The researchers selected two bottles each of pinot noir,
cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah.
Tutored Tasting
- Tasmanian Pinot Noir Terroir
Migration Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley) 2002
Texas-size
talent to make West Coast Pinot Noir
How else to explain how three Texans, whose only wine experience came
as salesmen in Austin bottle shops, became winemakers 1,800 miles away,
wrangling with the most cantankerous wine to make, Pinot Noir? The two
stores helped create a fan base for Pinot Noir in Austin.
Migration
Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley) 2002
2002 Huia Marlborough Pinot Noir
Sonoma
Coast winemakers living on the edge
Mostly they are planted with pinot noir, a grape that is finicky and
difficult to grow in the best of conditions. Thomas Brown, who in 2001
bought 40 acres, or 16 hectares, near Annapolis, north of here toward
Mendocino County, is one of many who found inspiration from the 1988
Williams Selyem Summa Vineyard pinot noir.
Fell forests to make
wine?
In the fog-shrouded forests of California’s remote North Coast,
winemakers believe they’ve found the perfect terrain to grow the
notoriously fickle pinot noir grape prized by connoisseurs. “If you’ve
seen the movie, you’ve seen the glassy-eyed stare they have when they
talk about their plans to produce pinot noir up here,” said resident
Chris Poehlmann, who opposes vineyard conversions.
Lincourt
2002 Santa Barbera County Pinot Noir
For the Pinot Noir lover this should be a must taste.
2002
Huia Marlborough Pinot Noir
Anyway, thanks to the Whole Foods Palo Alto, purveyor of soups far
superior to the Whole Foods San Franciscos, I found a couple of bottles
of New Zealand Pinot Noir, any one of which would do for the Kiwi Red
theme this month.
Vintage
Wine Trust nabs Central Coast winery
The newly acquired winery on Corbett Canyon Road is located in San Luis
Obispo County's Edna Valley appellation, known for producing
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rhone varietals.
de
Loach 2003 California Pinot Noir
In Red wines | The Wine Tasting
Cono
Sur Pinot noir Chile Rapel Valley 2005
In Red wines | The Wine Tasting S...
Wave
Magazine
Testarossa Palazzio, Pinot Noir, $40 Wave Magazine,CA- Jan 11,
2006Anyone who fancies themselves a bit of a wine connoisseur knows
that you don’t pronounce the “T” at the end of cabernet or merlot. ...
Vache
Pinot Noir honors its roots in Burgundy
The Vache Pinot Noir 2001 is sophisticated and tender. Don't miss:Vache
Pinot Noir 2001 Cienega Valley, California, $39. There's nothing more
seductive, exotic and elusive than the fragrance of superlative Pinot
Noir.
Cefalo
has 6 wines that score points
"This is from our good friend and favorite pinot noir maker Donald Patz.
Fire up
the grill -- and your imagination
A California Pinot Noir would be my choice, although an un-oaked
Chardonnay would be interesting.
Pooley,
Home Hill are top drops
The Home Hill Pinot Noir 2003 is our best red, according to the well
respected judges. Other prominent awards went to Crosswinds BBD
Chardonnay Pinot Noir 1999 for Best Sparkling Wine, Moorilla Estate
Riesling 1989 for Best Museum Wine, Bass Strait Pinot Noir 2004 for
Best Value Wine and Craigrow Riesling 2003 as the Chairman's Selection.
Grape
growers hoping for good harvest
Don Petrie from Petrie Vineyard checks out the progress of pinot noir
grapes on his vineyard near Chertsey. “The yields are looking good,”
said Paul Philips, owner of Sirocco Wines in Rakaia, who grows three
hectares of pinot noir, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and riesling
grapes.
Wine
Concierges Rescue Messy Collectors With Scanners, Bar Code
When someone from Merry Edwards winery called recently to offer him
2002 Olivet Lane Pinot Noir, Day quickly discovered he already had six
bottles.
Beyond Burgundy
"Sir, I may have to confiscate your three bottles of Central Otago
pinot noir," said the security officer at Auckland airport, as I
prepared to fly home last Friday after two winefocused weeks of touring
New Zealand.
Pinot
craze sows seeds of conflict
Residents of Annapolis, a small town about 100 miles north-west of the
famous wine area of Napa, are fighting the conversion of nearby coastal
areas into pinot noir vineyards, which they claim destroys forests and
wildlife habitat, erodes soil and pollutes rivers. In the film
Sideways, the central character extols the virtues of the pinot noir
grape and lambasts merlot.
Red
wines | The Wine Tasting S...
Aroma - earth and mushrroms - smells lilke a pinot noir!
San
Mateo Daily Journal
He spends most of his time in Hillsborough, but his true love rests in
hills of Rutherford where he produces about 5,000 cases a year of
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Corks
Vancouver Courier | Friday Jan 20 ... 1), Alsace at Le Crocodile -
Pinot Noir: Thinking, Drinking Tags:
Heartbreak
grape for Feb. 14
Vancouver North Shore News,Canada- Jan 16, 2006... everywhere. Esser
Pinot Noir 2004. Manfred ... notes. Plenty of bang for the buck at
$16.49 (BCLS). Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Noir 2004. This ...
Worthy
Wines for Thai With Di
His recommendation was that we try some Sauvignon Blanc, a dry Riesling
(he mentioned Bonny Doon Pacific Rim Dry Riesling as “specifically
created for that kind of f