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Most Popular: 100 Top Wine Blogs 100 Great Wines Bargain WinesTuesday, February 28, 2006
Chardonnay
International
success for Morton Estate
Morton Estates Private Reserve 2002 Chardonnay won Best Non-Australian
Wine and Best 'Fuller Bodied' Dry White Table Wine. The winery is
internationally renowned for the quality of its Chardonnay wines.
Harewood
Estate Chardonnay 2002
This 2002 chardonnay sits light pale gold in the glass and shows aromas
of citrus fruits predominately, lemon and grapefruit with hints of
peach.
Finca
La Nina Mendoza Chardonnay 2004
La Nina Mendoza Chardonnay 2004 is produced by Latinfina*, S.A., an
Argentina formed corporation owned by the Lapania Vandenbalck family.
The composition is Chardonnay, sourced from the La Pinta vineyard.
Bring
on the Steel -- The Chardonnay Shift is On
Heavy, over-manipulated chardonnay is one of the wine community’s least
appealing members, at least in the eyes, and palate, of this wine
lover. Of course, chardonnay is a key chameleon variety, with a
seemingly endless array of styles.
WTN:
Channing Daughters Winery 2005 Scuttlehole Chardonnay
This is what chardonnay actually tastes like – and it's delicious.
Like
chardonnay buttery? Then check out this listing
To our surprise, here is a question we have been asked with increasing
frequency over the past six months: Where can I get a buttery American
chardonnay? Or, as Jacqueline Jenkins of Riverside, Calif., put it: The
long-lost buttery chardonnay of yesteryear – oh, how we miss them.
Joseph
Phelps Ovation Chardonnay (Napa Valley) 2002
This is a highly sophisticated and refined American chardonnay that can
credibly compete with anything out of Burgundy.
Napa
Valley Chardonnay
Since then, we have seen the stylistic pendulum swing back toward
center in Napa Valley Chardonnay. While many Napa producers get their
Chardonnay grapes from the Carneros appellation -- where Chardonnay
finds a comfy home amid the cooling breezes off San Pablo Bay -- those
using fruit from more northern, warmer areas in Napa Valley today are
making Chardonnays with more fruit character and palate-cleansing
acidity.
Western
Australias Leeuwin Estate masters the art of fine ...
Although the winery produces cabernet -- very good cabernet, in fact --
Leeuwin Estate is renowned for its outstanding chardonnay. It's not all
smooth sailing, however: Salty spring winds and storms off the ocean
can lash the early-budding chardonnay shoots as they flower, which
affects the vine's ability to set a crop.
Crispy
latkes for crisply acidic Chardonnay
The trout echoes the Chardonnay's smoke and the crispy potato latkes
play up the toastiness of the wine.
February
Whites (10): Chile Chard, Spain Blend, France Gewurz, Australia Ries,
Italy Prosecco, NZ SB(2), Australia, Australia SB, Australia Chard
The aroma displays classic Chardonnay with peach and fig characters and
subtle oak integration. This strikes me as a chardonnay that wouldn't
be rejected by even a non-chardonnay drinker.
2003
Plum Creek Chardonnay – Colorado
In the last year, a half-dozen wines from the 2002, 2003, and 2004
vintages justify the comment “nice wine,” without the attached
qualifier “for Colorado.” The Plum Creek Chardonnay, from vineyards in
the West Elks area near Paonia and the Grand Valley area in Palisades,
proves this point. This Chardonnay has crisp apple and pear flavors,
with a nice kick of minerality and acidity on the finish.
Mines
a chardonnay: White wine was Tuts afterlife tipple
King Tutankhamen, the teenage king of ancient Egypt, headed into the
afterlife with the help of a rather decent white wine, the British
weekly New ...
Kobe
beef and a lovely, young Chardonnay; its not all beer and ...
She was drinking a "lovely, young Chardonnay" in a crystal glass.
Rene
Mure Cremant d'Alsace (degorgement 12.03.04)
Cremant d'Alsace is sparkling wine from Alsace, made in the same way
that Champagne is made ("methode champenois"), but from varietals
indigenous to Alsace -- Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Sylvaner, etc.) --
rather than the main Champagne varietals Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Move
Over Chardonnay-CA Senator Prefers Zinfandel
Chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon fans, especially those in Napa Valley
where chardonnay is king, may beg to differ, Seghesio said.
A great California Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay
For better or worse, I have a tendency to let wines sit around for a
while – sometimes quite a while – before I try them. ...
Louis
Jadot Macôn-Villages Chardonnay 2004
Louis Jadot Macôn-Villages Chardonnay 2004 Enotheque Wine Reviews
Nevertheless, at $8.99, it is worthy of trying perhaps with a basic
grilled herb chicken.The aroma seemed too tart for my taste, though
others may revel in this Chardonnay’s crisp lemon zest.
Silver
Coast Winery is Proud to Announce
At the Florida State Fair International Wine and Grape Juice
Competition a gold medal was awarded for our 2002 Premium Oak
Chardonnay along with bronze medals for the 2002 Reserve Merlot, 2002
Rose and 2003 Seyval Blanc. At the “Wines of the South” Competition
silver medals were awarded for our 2002 Premium Oak Chardonnay, 2002
American Oak Chardonnay and the 2002 Seyval Blanc.
Sugarloaf Ridge
cellar door
Both the 2004 Chardonnay and 2004 Pinot Noir have recently picked up
Silver Medals at the Tasmanian Wine Show and Royal Hobart Wine Show
respectively.
Riesling on the
Rise
You've probably heard the saying that if you don't like Chardonnay,
it's because you haven't found the right one. Tongue and cheek
sentiment aside, it bears witness to the great variety of different
wines that all masquerade under the single title of Chardonnay, some so
disparate as to hardly be recognizable as coming from the same grape.
Clos
Du Val to Participate in Oscar Week Festivities
Additionally, Clos Du Val will serve the 2003 Carneros Chardonnay and
the 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at a luncheon celebrating women
in Hollywood. After traveling the world for two years in search of
winegrowing regions of great potential, Portet selected two sites in
the Napa Valley -- 150 acres in the Stags Leap District for growing
Bordeaux varieties and 180 acres in the cooler Carneros region to
launch Clos Du Val's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay program.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Sauvignon Blanc
Blind
River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2004
Billington Imports brings Blind River Sauvignon Blanc to the US market,
having forged a relationship with John Belsham back in 2000. Fruit for
Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2004 was sourced from two Marlborough
vineyards, the Avery and the Radich, both on the Wairau Plains.
In
the spirit of Mardi Gras
She often sips wine - a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc or a Saintsbury
Pinot Noir - with her Mardi Gras meals. I plucked four bottles: a 2005
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ($15), a 2003 Saintsbury Carneros Pinot
Noir ($22), a 2003 Greg Norman Estates Limestone Coast Shiraz ($11) and
a 2003 (2002 was not available) Franciscan Oakville Estate Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon ($20) from the shelves.
Kunde
Estate Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2003
Kunde* Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2003 has already been replaced by
the now current release 2004.
Montes
Estate Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc 2004
Montes* Sauvignon Blanc/Fumé Blanc is Sauvignon Blanc, estate
grown in the Curicó Valley. Here is a Sauvignon Blanc with
significant body, tart green fruit flavors, somewhat rounded off in the
crisp, extended finish.
Imports
keep flocking in
You realise Australians are squeezing New Zealand dry of every drop of
its sauvignon blanc when three people independently turn up to a summer
barbie toting Marlborough sauvignon blanc. New Zealand sauvignon blanc
is the blockbuster of Nelson's non-European stable, with Seresin Estate
($24 under the Nelson portfolio) and Lawson's Dry Hills ($20 under his
Winestock range) the top performers.
A
crisp sip: Sauvignon blanc
New Zealand sauvignon blanc belongs in that same esteemed grouping, and
as the accompanying article by my colleague Jolene Thym points out, the
Kiwis may only now be becoming big-time players in the wine world, but
their sauvignon blancs have been recognized from the beginning as
special. New Zealand wine geography is important, and there is no
better example of that than the concentration of sauvignon blanc in the
Marlborough area.
Coopers
Creek Cat's Phee on a Gooseberry Bush Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Coopers Creek Cat's Phee on a Gooseberry Bush Sauvignon Blanc 2005 is
produced by the Coopers Creek Winery, begun in 1980 and still owned and
operated by founders Andrew and Cynthia Hendry. Cat's Phee is a blend
of Sauvignon Blanc from a number of vineyards.
Several
wines complement Mardi Gras menus
When I serve that at home, my wife and I usually do one of two things:
I'm really partial to Merryvale Sauvignon Blanc. Merryvale wrote the
book on Sauvignon Blanc, if your budget can allow it -- it's about $20
or $22.
newswire.co.nz
And finally our hot new property the Clos Marguerite Sauvignon Blanc is
another example that Marlborough can produce world class wines not just
your usual upfront fruit salad white wine. Frankly it puts many other
Sauvignon Blanc to shame.
2005
Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc
The 2005 Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc — * * * * — is bright and racy,
crisp and clean, with no oak intrusions, no malolactic heaviness.
Looks
like 1865, tastes like heaven
When I chose the Sauvignon Blanc ($7 the glass) from the Oyster Bay
winery in New Zealand, a choice made mostly because I haven't tried
much wine from that part of the Down Under, our waiter retrieved a
bottle with a flourish, opened it on the spot and poured a taste for my
approval.
Climate
threat to Marlborough wine.
Marlborough's world-renowned sauvignon blanc wines could lose their
distinctive flavours in the next 50 years as temperatures rise through
climate change.
Danbury
News Times
KRT Many chateaux in the Bordeaux region of France make distinctive and
tasty white wines from a blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon grapes.
Yet many chateaux make distinctive and tasty white wines using one of
the most popular varietals, sauvignon blanc, as part of a blend with
the regions other white grape, semillon.
Jordan
Winery Releases 2005 Sauvignon Blanc
The Jordan Sauvignon Blanc 2005, released late last year, has a number
of outstanding features. Secondly, the grapes that went into this
vintage were harvested from our top new vineyard, adding extra
intensity and a complex fruit structure that blended well with the
grapes from our older sauvignon blanc vineyards.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Pinot Noir
Pinot
noir difficult to grow, but worth it
Other wine minds think the Mediterranean area of Europe already had its
own wild vines and that pinot noir was always its as an indigenous
grape. Pinot noir has the reputation of being brutally difficult to
grow.
Pinot
noir thrives in Oregon
Pinot noir thrives in Oregon: South Florida Sun-Sentinel Those who have
joined the pinot noir bandwagon should turn their attention to Oregon.
Chocolate
and pinot noir ... a perfect pair
But there are plenty of chocolate preparations that compliment a fine
Oregon pinot noir. Of course, starting from the other direction the
wine consider wines that are sweeter in nature than the classic, dry
pinot noir.
A great California Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay
As I often do, I brought along several wines that I had been meaning to
try, including the Fort Ross Pinot Noir (the wine critic in me will
never leave home without a few bottles for the road). This was evident
immediately on tasting the pinot noir.
Wine:
Pioneering spirit flourishes
Queenstown, although not strictly in Central Otago, is the centre of
this most southern of all wine regions and that was where the Central
Otago Pinot Noir Celebration was held. Surprisingly, they also agreed
that the region is far too reliant on pinot noir.
Wine
Legend Remington Norman to Host Twentieth International Pinot ...
On July 28-30, 2006, the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC)
celebrates two decades of bringing together Pinot lovers from all
corners of the world. To honor the IPNC's long and fruitful partnership
with Burgundy, an entire day of the weekend's program will be devoted
to the birthplace of Pinot noir.
WBW
#17 Day Old Red Kiwis
There were a few Pinot Noir's and one Zinfandel to choose from, so I
decided to grab the 2003 Mt. Difficulty Pinot Noir, Central Otago, NZ.
This was the most expensive of the Pinot's I saw, at $26 USD, and
sported a handsome screw cap, so I decided to indulge.
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.
Wine: Pinot
Noir
PINOT Noir has always been regarded as the most difficult and
temperamental of the great red varieties. The reaction was little
different from many in Australia, where equally adventurous growers
tried their hand at Pinot Noir in the cooler sites of Victoria.
Grape
expectations
A few may also know about Viognier, Clairette, Muscat and Semillon (all
white) and Pinotage, Pinot Noir and Sangiovese (reds). This is the
grape used to make Chablis, the famous steely, dry, white wine of
Burgundy in north-east France, and is also one of the grapes used in
French Champagnes (along with Pinot Noir).
Stonier
Wines (Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Aus...
Described (in their own advertising) as “Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Specialists” Stonier was established in 1978 by the Stonier Family. The
entry level 2004 Pinot Noir (Screwcap) (French oak) $24AUD, was light
cherry in color with a pink edge.
On
the Wild Side at Moorooduc Estate (Mornington P...
My first impression of Moorooduc wines was the 2001 The Moorooduc Pinot
Noir (French oak) that I had with lunch. Cherry red in color with an
orange tinged edge, my glass gave waves and waves of spicy Pinot Noir
notes over stewed quince and an appealing earthy, meaty bouquet.
Tastings:
Belle Pente and Cameron
Episode
#18: Wine Blogging Wednesday #17 - (or Have you ever seen a Red Kiwi?)
I chose a 2002 MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR from Kim Crawford Wineries and
felt better. The cool dry conditions experienced in 2002 were ideal for
the ripening of Pinot Noir.
The
first tasting notes of 2006
Vincor is also producing a super-premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in
partnership with Burgundy’s Boisset. Following their success with
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz, the folks at Little Penguin are
trying their luck with Pinot Noir.
A
Couple of Wines From the Southwest
After a bad experience the night before with Erath Pinot Noir, I
thought I wouldn't be drinking Pinots for awhile. Much richer in color
and body than a lot of Pinots, but with the fruitiness typical of a
California Pinot Noir.
New
Zealand wine: A primer for the beginner
Exceptional wines made here include Brancott rieslings and Millton
Vineyards, which grows organic chardonnay, pinot noir, chenin blanc,
viognier and others. It's a bit too warm for pinot noir, but just right
for Bordeaux varietals such as merlot, cabernet and malbec.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
California Wine
A
Very Good Year: A Wine Book You Should Read
A Very Good Year: The Journey of a California Wine from Vine to Table.
Harvest
brought larger volumes, higher prices
They look even smaller compared with the estimated 15 billion market
for California wine sold in the nation's restaurants, supermarkets and
package stores.
Beaulieus
`Georges Sets Standard for US Wine: John Mariani
More than any other California wine I know, Georges achieves a balance
of fruit, acid, tannin and complexity year after year, through
successive winemakers, that clearly expresses both the terroir of the
region and the commitment of the winery. Nevertheless, there is no
question that Georges is a California wine, not an imitation Bordeaux.
A
heady idea: ballot initiative on a state wine
The Great California Wine Debate of 2006 is under way, thanks to state
Sen. Carole Migden. ``California is known all over the world for our
superior wines, and the zinfandel is the quintessential California wine.
Some
labels get all the grins
Did you know there's a California wine called Amplexus (the clasp of a
male frog during mating)? Alas, not mentioned is one of my favorites, a
California wine with a French name.
$1,850,000
for Wine-Marking at Cornell
According to the Wine Institute, a public policy advocacy association
of California wineries, there has been a steady long-term growth curve
for California wine sales . . . The wine market is poised for growth.
Western
Australias Leeuwin Estate masters the art of fine ...
The Leeuwin story starts with a familiar face to California wine lovers
-- Robert Mondavi.
Lawmaker
hails zinfandel
State Sen. Carole Migden introduced the bill last week, saying the
heady varietal is a "quintessential" California wine dating back to
Gold Rush days and versatile enough to stand up to the spicy diversity
of California cuisine.
Lawmaker
Presses Case for Zinfandel
Ultimately, zin came to symbolize California wine.
Zin
or sin?: Official state wine idea uncorks skepticism
California is known all over the world for our superior wines, and
Zinfandel is the quintessential California wine, Migden said in a Feb.
9 press release.
Others
say picking an official state varietal isnt wise
The entire California wine industry should be celebrated, they say, and
the state Legislature shouldn't venture down the path of endorsing one
product over another. The San Francisco-based Wine Institute, the
self-described "voice for California wine," is taking a more cautious
approach to Migden's legislation.
UP
AND DOWN THE WINE ROADS
As serious wine drinkers now know, a California wine was picked as the
top wine in both the red (Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet
Sauvignon ) and white (Chateau Montelena 1973 Chardonnay) categories.
Paris
Wine Bars : Willi's
California wine people had staged this one-day event in Paris on their
way to Bordeaux's Vinexpo.
US
wine market: Big and soon to be the biggest
Wine drinkers bought an estimated 187 million cases of California wine
last year, 6.5 million more than 2004 and a 4 percent increase.
Environmentalists
fight spread of vineyards to California coastal ...
As demand for California wine grows, vintners are looking for new
terrain beyond traditional wine-growing regions such as the Napa and
Sonoma valleys, where available land is scarce and expensive.
Wild wines
Helping people navigate the wild new wine territory of New Zealand are
Bay Area wine experts such as Charles Olken and Stephen Eliot of the
Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine, an encyclopedic evaluation of
wines published each month.
Dan
Berger
Cabernet franc is also a superb grape variety in New York's Finger
Lakes district, and it has been made into an attractive wine by a
number of California wine makers, from Cosentino and Clos du Val in the
Napa Valley to Raymond Burr in Sonoma. Murchie's two-person march
through California wine country with the Virginia wines (his wife,
Anita, was an integral part of his passionate trek) shows him to be
extremely knowledgeable about wine in general, and he doesn't tout
Virginia the way Sheldon Leonard touted horses to Jack Benny.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Petite Sirah
Petite
sirah is a red wine small in name only
The best is still in hiding, a century-old wine called petite sirah,
the most overlooked value in California. Petite sirah is not syrah or
shiraz, although it is a direct descendant straight from the Rhone.
Vinum
Cellars PETS Clarksburg Petite Sirah 2004
Vinum Cellars PETS 2004 is Petite Sirah from Wilson Farms in Clarksburg.
Bogle
Vineyards California Petite Sirah 2003
Bogle* wines sell well in Nashville, and Petite Sirah is a best seller.
Bogle Petite Sirah 2003 was sourced from Clarksburg and Lodi.
Wine
Reports: Concannon 2003 Central Coast Petite Sirah ($10.99)
This excellent, good-value Petite Sirah fits our Wine Tasting 101 theme
for January. FOOD MATCH: Rare red meat is the standard pairing, but I
like Petite Sirah with the beefy, earthy flavors of duck.
Wine
By the Seat of My Pants
Bogle 2003 Petite Sirah (California) $9.99 – I happen to love Petite
Sirah.
2003
Montes Alpha Syrah 93 Points
The palate is luscious and reminds me a bit of a high-end California
Petite Sirah.
Bishops
Peak Paso Robles Rock Solid Red 2003
Bishop's Peak Rock Solid Red 2003 is a blend of 40% Syrah, 25% Cabernet
Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petite Sirah.
Peirano
Vineyards The Other Red 2004
Peirano's The Other Red 2004, a blend of 70% Syrah, 20% Petite Sirah
and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi, has recently been released. I
have tasted and enjoyed the Viognier, the Barbera, the Cab and the
Petite Sirah.
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.
Cline
Cellars Red Truck Red 2004
Red Truck Red 2004 is a blend of Syrah (37%), Petite Sirah (27%),
Cabernet Franc (23%), Grenache, and Mourvedre. The Petite Sirah is from
southeastern Sacramento County.
Love affair
between merlot, cabernet
Sauvignon, 6 percent Syrah, 4 percent Petite Sirah. If not classic by
today's Bordeaux standards, there was a time when Syrah was grown in
Bordeaux, and Syrah-Cabernet
Creating fine
wines: a successful frontier for Fess Parker
varietals, including syrah, viognier, chardonnay, grenache, petite
sirah, pinot noir, pinot blanc, pinot gris, roussane and mourvedre. The
Santa Barbara County winegrape growing ...
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Valentine's Day and Wine
Zinfandel: The big, red
Valentine wine
Recommendations, food recipes and other tips for buying that perfect
wine. Some of this may be the result of a $25 price cap, though as one
friend recently quipped, “Shouldn’t all zins be under $25?” For a
Valentine wine, zinfandel seems to have a cruel side.
Spirited
Glass: Valentines wine
But the brief experience begged the ultimate question of finding the
perfect Valentines Day wine. For that we needed a more learned opinion.
...
Wine
A Big Hit During Valentines Day
Sparkling wine remains a staple of many Valentine's Day celebrations,
and wine makers say they're noticing other trends in holiday demand.
Supermarket consultants say it appears that more women buy wine as a
Valentine's gift for men than vice versa.
Exercise
your heart on Valentines Day
And, believe it or not, some of your Valentine's Day favorites --
chocolate, wine and romance -- may set you on the right track. Red wine
in particular contains high levels of antioxidants that benefit the
cardiovascular system by increasing the amount of good cholesterol, or
high-density lipoproteins (HDL), in the blood.
Complete Valentine's Day
guide
Check out these Valentine's Day gifts for everyone in your family, even
the dog!
Eatery
offers Valentines wine advice
The Grape’s specialty is wine, and customers said the restaurant and
retail shop at Northlake Mall is making the drink more user-friendly.
Like many who float into the store, Shumsky came in for some
Valentine’s Day inspiration.
Candy, wine guard
against broken heart
You can't shrug off chocolates - the right kind, anyway - as a
thoughtless Valentine's Day gift anymore, now that studies show the
delectable treat might actually protect your heart. "There are some
observational studies that seem to show that people who drink a glass
of red wine a day have less heart attacks than those who don't," says
Brent Muhlestein, director of cardiology research at LDS Hospital and
professor of medicine at the University of Utah.
Red
wine is a matter of the heart
At 18, she spent a year in France where she developed a passion
for good wine. Happy Valentine's Day to all, with wishes for lots of
love and resveratrol!
if
you insist on pairing wine and chocolate
Most sparkling wines and most chocolates don't belong on the
same table, but on Valentine's Day, they're virtually inseparable. A
better match with sparkling wine would be the petals of the
long-stemmed roses that join in forming the classic tripod supporting
romantic impulses.
Ingenuity
and ingénue make a Valentines date
We knew the pressure was on because this date would fall on
Valentine's Day and some of you would wonder what romantic shenanigans
we'd have in store. The idea was simple, yet classically romantic:
fruit, chocolate for a fondue dip, a bottle of wine and a typical date
movie (or so we were told).
Hearts desire
Valentine's Day is made for more than sweethearts and romantics.
A 375-milliliter bottle retails for $100 and is available at Woodland
Hills Wine Co., Wally's in Los Angeles, Duke of Bourbon in Canoga Park
and Mission Wines in Pasadena.
Valentines
Day Inc.
On the day before Valentine's Day, the Vermont Teddy Bear
Company ships 4,500 bears an hour from morning to night. For $199, The
Wine Tailor picks up couples in limousines and brings them to the
historic Thomas Winery for a private tasting while a guitar player
serenades them.
Bulgarians
Meet Feast of Love and Wine
As lovers celebrate St Valentines Day, many Bulgarians insist
February 14 should be ... feast of St Trifon Zarezan, the patron of
vine growing and wine producing ...
No
Valentine today? Youre no Solomon
Delano Massey | Valentine's Day! Just what does she expect? Together,
the various trade associations reckon that last year, we let 180
million roses, 180 million greeting cards, 36 million boxes of
heart-shaped chocolates, mounds of jewelry and vats of wine do much of
our Valentine talking for us.
Hate
Valentines Day? Youre Not Alone
Plenty of Valentines Day scrooges despise what they say is the
corny, forced sentimentalism of a contrived, overly commercialized
holiday. The lifestyle and pop culture fad Web site DailyCandy
publishes an annual anti-Valentine's Day guide, called "My Bloody
Valentine" this year, for those who feel edgy about the day of wine and
roses.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Wine Blogs
Today's About Valentine
Recipe: Homemade Truffles
Wine Wine Blog February 11, 2006 Check out this excellent step-by-step
guide (with pictures!) of how to make homemade chocolate truffles ...
Wine
Scoring - " Seems Simple Enough To Me The Febru...
The Auswine Forum Australian Wine Reviews Wine
Blogs AlaWine Wine Blog Watch Appellation Australia FERMENTATION Grape
Vine Blog Lenndevours Pinot Island Ultimate California Wine ...
Valentine's Day Gift
Idea: Wine Lover's Chocolate Tins
Wine Wine Blog February 09, 2006 At last it has been done! An easy way
to perfectly pair wine and chocolate , the San Francisco Chocolate ...
Wine
Blogging Wednesday 18: wine shops that feel the love
Episode #18: Wine Blogging Wednesday #17 - (or Have you ever seen a Red
Kiwi?)
Critics'
Arrested Development
Untangled Vine ...over at Fermentation: The
Daily Wine Blog , has again, stumbled on an interesting trueism,
something that really hit home for me. And he used Arrested Development
as his ...
Wine
Blogging #18 -- Vintage Wines LTD, San Diego,...
Top 100 Wine BlogsWine Blogging Wednesday 18: wine shops that feel the
love
Top
100 Wine Blogs
~Through The Grape Vine~ made the top 100 wine blog list - - coming in
at 50!
Wine
Blogging Wednesday #18: Wine Shops.
The Next Wine Blogging Wednesday announced.
Wine Blogging
Wednesday #18
Dr Vinos Wine Blog hosts Wine Blogging Wednesday #18 with a theme that
asks us to talk about a wine store that feels the love.
The next
Wine Blogging Wednesday announced.
Where's
Huge Johnson?
Normally, when I talk about a wine blog, I link to it...
Wine
Blogging Wednesday 18 Announced
Wine Blogging Wednesday #18: Wine Shops.
Episode
#18: Wine Blogging Wednesday #17 - (or Have you ever seen a Red Kiwi?)
Wine Blogging Wednesday 18 Announced
Friday, February 10, 2006
Tasting Notes
Vineland
Estates Baco Noir 2002
This Baco Noir had a nice nose--the tasting notes that came with it
suggested leather and tobacco, but while Ed will grant them leather, he
didn't get any tobacco. Margaret Anne felt the wine tasted "young,"
which may be the same thing Ed called "a certain tartness, almost
sourness." The aftertaste "lingers for a little while, then goes flat,"
says our tasting notes.
2003
Georges Duboeuf Pouilly-Fuissé
Tasting notes: The Duboeuf Viognier I was recently impressed with
convinced me that perhaps tasting one of his white Beaujolais cru
varietals wouldn’t be taking a terrible dive.
Rex
Goliath 47 Pound Rooster Pinot Grigio 2004
Tasting Notes : Color: Pale straw. Light apricot, honeysuckle, and
rocky mineral aromas lead to a very light mouthfeel, with mild acidity.
...
Wine
Lovers Page Offline
Andrew Hall's write up of the tasting notes is very thorough although I
might disagree with some of his final comments on particular wines, but
his overall take on the evening was perfect. I am not sure if you can
get to his tasting notes without registering, so you might try going
through Wine Lovers Page first.
On
the Road to Boston
Tasting Notes 11/05/1998, at the Wine Spectator Grand Tasting in San
Francisco - This very well integrated wine includes sweet spice and
forward fruit, herbs, vanilla, smoke, and a French oak feel (velvety
without overt wood).
Spann
Vineyards "Mo Zin" Russian River Valley Zinfandel 2002
price tag was a modest $13? Tasting Notes .
Color: Deep candy apple red, semi-opaque. Jammy, plummy red fruit
(cherry, raspberry) dominate the aromatic nose, with hints of ...
Wine
Blogging #18 -- Vintage Wines LTD, San Diego
No I don’t have a tasting note to go with this WBW commentary. But if you link to Tasting Notes you will find a bunch of notes on $5 and Third Thursday tastings from Vintage Wines.
2004
Robert Perroud Brouilly l'Enfer des Balloquets Vieilles Vignes
2004 Robert Perroud Brouilly l'Enfer
des Balloquets Vieilles Vignes
Flights
of wine, wines in flight…
We upgraded to business class, and the printed menus included the list
of wines available, with tasting notes.
A
fine guide to Aussie wines
If you want tasting notes for grocery-store brands such as Yellow Tail
or Little Penguin, look elsewhere. If you want an insider's look at
Australia's best ...
CellarTracker
CT then shows you all the other users who also hold that wine; browse
their holdings for a while, read their tasting notes, and you can very
quickly find other wines you're likely to enjoy trying.
Bonneau de Martray
1989 and the tasting notes search
Fine Wine Writing
Rosé and NY Steak
When thinking of Valentine's Day red and pink are two colors that spring to mind.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Red Wine
Terrazas
de los Andes, Malbec, 2004
Since polyphenols occur naturally in red wines, enthusiasts and the
producers of red wine have been quick to make tout the health benefits
of red wine (yes, something we enjoy doing may actually be good for us).
Resveratrol
Combats Flu.
Health claims for red wine are a regular occurance; but research in
Italy indicates that resveratrol, one component in red wine grape skins
stopped a flue virus from mutating. " Red wine has been found to be
good for combating cardiovascular conditions and diseases like
Alzheimer's disease.
Red
Wine Good Against Flu
Red Wine Also Good Against Flu - Molecule in grape skin can keep virus from mutating
Drink
different
Although I would have loved to have had a good bottle of red wine at
the restaurant, until restaurants and shops in the tropics make a
better effort at wine selection, storage and serving, I’m drinking
local. When visiting hot spots, I’ll leave even the thought of red wine
at home.
WBW
#17 Day Old Red Kiwis
I ran out last night, and picked up a red wine from New Zealand. This
is just the beginning for my New Zealand red wine affair.
SESTRIERE:
Village Vibe
Don’t get me wrong, we are lucky, and do have some of the best jobs in
the world, but quaint Italian villas, long red wine lunches on the sun
deck and private ice skating lessons with Sasha Cohen are not part of
the program. We hope that our words make you feel like you are here,
drinking fine red wine on the deck of our villa.
Trentadue
Old Patch Red 2003 Sonoma County Red wine
Red wine may help flu from mutating
(Too)
Many Wines from a Weekend in New England
2000 Grachino Alberto Nebbiolo d'Alba (Piemonte, Italy) -- The red wine
of the evening.
Red, red wine
... of alcohol, namely a good stiff red wine. And as we've discussed
before it's difficult to get red wine to the right degree, room temp
seems too cold, and microwaving it makes a ...
The Hardware
Grill is well equipped for romance
I skipped past bubblies and the debate over old-versus new-world Chardonnays to consider “50 Red Wines Under $50.”
Putting
A Price On Love
Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it gets its appealing color from red wine blended into the cuvee. If you've planned pizza or pork, you'll need a red wine for the table.
Wine: Smart shoppers can find a bargain Bordeaux
Smart shoppers can find a bargain Bordeaux Red wines from the Bordeaux
region of France are considered by many aficionados to be the greatest
wines in the world. Made primarily from ...
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Wine Review
Wine:
No License Required
...has dipped his toe into the wine review pool. Matt's post on
Red Knot Cabernet goes to show that one needn't be a 'licensed' wine
expert to articulate the wine drinking experience: ...
Make
Mine Italian
This contributed wine review comes to us from Eve C. White at
PersonalCellar.com Make Mine Italian Wines from Tuscany and Piedmont by
Eve C. White
Details
details (billy)
We now link to all the wine review blogs listed in the "Top 10
Sources for wine reviews" listings (here).
Final
Score: The End of Wine-Ranking Inflation
Nobody changes the rankings or description, but I defy you to
find a wine review of a C wine, a 65.
Posapiano
Chianti Classico 2003 ...
Posapiano Chianti Classico 2003 wine review by (PB) On the pour
this wine is rich in both color and bouquet. It is a deep purple garnet
showing its youthfulness and a depth
Golden
Gate Cabernet Sauvignon...
Golden Gate Cabernet Sauvignon (NV) wine review by (PB) I tasted
this $2.99 wine blind against a bargain bin $5 Cabernet Sauvignon and
picked the $5 wine as the $5 varietal...
Feudo
Arancio Nero D'Avola 2003 Wine Review
Cherry and earthy nose Plum and spice on the palate Somewhat
weak finish I've grown to enjoy Nero D'Avola, the quintessential
Sicilian red wine varietal.
Jordan
Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Wine Review
Nice nose of dark berries Juicy core on the palate Good finish
with moderate tannins Jordan delivers again! The 2001 is a wine I've
enjoyed quite a few times now.
KWV
Steen 2004 wine review by (PB)
KWV Steen 2004 wine review by (PB) Belfast (Maine) is about an
hour's ride east so I don't get out there as much as I would like. But
this Saturday found me with a bad case of ...
Sumarroca
Brut Reserva Cava wine review by (PB)
Sumarroca Brut Reserva Cava wine review by (PB) This non-vintage
sparkler was on sale for $10. From the Penedes region of Spain. This
wine is painstakingly made with meticulous ...
On the menu:
Cocoliquot a-go-go
Other comments about Cocoliquot include a wine review from Jim
Eastman, photos of cheese and chocolate plates in a Flickr set of a
visit to Madison, and a brief review from a ...
Joan
Gine Gine Priorat 2000 Wine Review
Very inviting nose full of soft fruit, vanilla, and white
chocolate Raspberry and cream on the palate Long finish that is creamy
and smooth This is the best wine I had in the month ...
Searidge
Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 wine review
Searidge Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 wine review by (PB) This
"bargain bin" wine which was bought for $5 actually has varietal
characteristics. I tasted this wine blind against another ...
Ray
Len Carolinius Red Wine 2003 Wine Review
Light, fruity nose with some watermelon aroma An odd plastic
taste on the palate Some chocolate on the finish Well, this wine is
juicy but somewhat odd. I just couldn't get over ...
Finding
fine wine online
For a free, solid resource of wine reviews and price-accuracy
within $3-$4, give or take, try Wine Enthusiast. It's a for-the-masses
version of Wine Spectator, Robert Parker
Wine Tasting
Note: Balbi Malbec, 2004, Mendoza, Argentina.
Wine Tasting Note: Balbi
Malbec, 2004, Mendoza, Argentina.
DEMO--Meet
Blurb
The way I see it I can blog my wine bar visits, do the wine
reviews and then publish first to my blog and then to the book.. Neat
idea! February 07, 2006
Port
Phillip Estate and Kooyong
Wine News The Auswine Forum Australian Wine Reviews Wine Blogs
Wine Blog Watch Appellation Australia Fermentation Grape Vine Blog
Lenndevours Pinot Island Ultimate California Wine ...
Matua
Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2004 Wine Review
Spicy cherry nose Some tobacco on the palate Simple, smooth
finish This wine has a nice, fresh taste and is simple and smooth. It
can usually be found for $9-10 a bottle. If you ...
Kuentz-Bas
Alsace 2004 Wine Review
The fascinating thing about this $16 bottle is that I can find
next to nothing about it. The varietal is not listed on the bottle and
it is not an AOC wine. It is simply a 2004 ...
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Napa Valley
Welcome
to the "TWCCBlogNET."
This subblog contains histories about the different owners associated
to the old, elegant and gracious wineries of Napa Valley. I am
signed-up for receipt of either e-mails or postal mail, or both, from
419 wineries claiming Napa Valley as their wine origin.
Napa
and the Supremes
After being forced to fight a far too long battle by the makers of Two
Buck Chuck, the Napa Valley Vintners have finally secured protection of
the name Napa Valley for wines only from Napa.
Bear
deaths stir up hornets nest
Others point out that Maroons choice to shoot the grape-eating bears is
by far the exception to the norm among hillside vineyards, which are
among Napa Countys oldest, some dating back to pre-prohibition days,
according to Jennifer Kopp, executive director of the Napa Valley
Grapegrowers.
Rutherford
Ranch Napa Valley Chardonnay 2004
The grapes were sourced from all over the Napa Valley appellation.
Duckhorn
Merlot Estate Grown (Napa Valley) 2002
Their Estate Grown series thus fills a niche between their generic Napa
Valley wines and their vineyard-designated wines. In general, the
Estate Grown and vineyard-designated wines tend to demand 60-higher
prices than do the standard Napa Valley AVA-designated wines; but IMHO
they rarely deserve it.
Napa
Valley Vintners rope in Bronco
Riding the Bronco has been a five-year, 1 million-plus bounce for the
Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) and their supporters, but they all managed
to stay in the saddle throughout the ride. The U.S. Supreme Court's
refusal on Monday to accept the legal appeals of the Ceres-based Bronco
Wine Company (BWC) against the state's truth in lending law may bring
the curtain down on the longest rodeo in the Napa Valley.
Discarded
Ashes Likely Caused Napa Valley Winery Fire
The California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection reported today that ashes discarded in a garbage bin two
days ago started the fire that destroyed a ...
Robert
Mondavi Winery Raises $95,000 for Napa Valley music ...
The Robert Mondavi Winery's Summer Festivals have been music to the
ears of Napa Valley residents and visitors since 1969, but its
contribution to life in the valley has always been more than just
entertainment. In 2005, the festival raised a record 95,000 to benefit
the Napa Valley Symphony and the Napa Valley Unified School District.
Flights
of wine, wines in flight…
In first and business classes, where drinks are still free, the quality
and quantity is dropping aboard some carriers: Starting this past June,
US Airways stopped serving Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which
costs about $70, to its international business class passengers.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Wine Tasting
Winetasting
Primer
WBW#18 - My Favorite Wine Store(s)
WIne
Tasting Note: Porter Mill Station Chardonnay, 2004, South Africa.
Spittoon - WIne Tasting Note: Porter Mill Station Chardonnay, 2004,
South Africa. WIne Tasting Note: Porter Mill Station Chardonnay, 2004,
South Africa.
Wine tasting
notes, Feb. 01
This month, I am offering you wines from Cupids chest. February is the
month of love, so I thought it would be fitting to select
Wine Tasting
Note: Balbi Malbec, 2004, Mendoza, Argentina.
Spittoon - Wine Tasting Note: Balbi Malbec, 2004, Mendoza, Argentina.
Wine Tasting Note: Balbi Malbec, 2004, Mendoza, Argentina.
WBW#18
- My Favorite Wine Store(s)
I went to the Spanish wine tasting a couple of weeks ago that showcased
the portfolio of wines from Jorge Ordonez and went home with a bottle
of Naiades 2003 made of Verdejo grapes.
Wine Tasting
Note: Domaine de Lavabre Rouge, 2001, Pic Saint-Loup, France.
Spittoon - Wine Tasting Note: Domaine de Lavabre Rouge, 2001, Pic
Saint-Loup, France. Wine Tasting Note: Domaine de Lavabre Rouge, 2001,
Pic Saint-Loup, France.
Wine
tasting becoming a lucrative career for Indian youth
As the custom of drinking wine gains popularity in India, an increasing
number of Indian youth are finding that wine tasting is becoming a
lucrative career in the country.
Wine Tasting
Note: Alejandro Fernández El Vínculo Crianza, 2002, La
Mancha, Spain
Wine Tasting Note: Alejandro Fernández El Vínculo
Crianza, 2002, La Mancha, Spain. Catching Up. ¦ WIne Tasting
Note: Porter Mill Station Chardonnay, 2004, South Africa.
Wine
Tasting Events Appeal To Singles
A chance to meet new people and learn about wines is a unique come-on
for a series of singles-style wine tasting parties set for New York
City.
Wine Tasting
Note: Trevor Mast Four Sisters Shiraz, 2002, Australia.
Spittoon - Wine Tasting Note: Trevor Mast Four Sisters Shiraz, 2002,
Australia. Wine Tasting Note: Trevor Mast Four Sisters Shiraz, 2002,
Australia.
Wine:
Chocolate meets its match in rich reds
the strong tastes involved. We asked the wine-tasting group to compare
five wines with the chocolate. Aroma: We smelled bright
New Zealand
Wine Tasting.
Catching Up. ¦ WIne Tasting Note: Porter Mill Station
Chardonnay, 2004, South Africa.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio
The
Age
Winemakers are going gaga over pinot grigio, reports Jeni Port. Leave
it longer on the vine, get the alcohols up and the flavour profile
changes and so does the name, to pinot gris (see box).
Pinot
Grigio Tickles the Taste Buds with Light Zing
However, this column is going to focus on the "other pinot" - pinot
grigio. Pinot grigio, or pinot gris as it is known in France, is the
most popular imported wine in the United States.
Try
something different
PINOT GRIGIO – In Alsace, France, the grape is known as Tokay Pinot
Gris. TOCAI FRIULANO – Tocai Friulano is Italian and should not be
confused with the Hungarian wine called Tokaji or Tokay Pinot Gris.
Alsace
in Anderson Valley
Anderson Valley has 64.6 acres of Gewurztraminer
(ga-VERTZ-tra-meen-er), 25 acres of Pinot Gris and less than 10 acres
each of Muscat Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Riesling, according to Glenn
McGourty, the UC farm adviser for Mendocino County. Alsace winemakers
often assert that Pinot Gris (the same grape the Italians call Pinot
Grigio) is every bit the equal of Riesling in terms of potential for
greatness.
Sample
some simplicity
Pinot Grigio is a phenomenon in the U.S. wine industry; its 22.9
percent sales increase over the past year makes it the fastest-growing
white varietal, according to ACNielsen. The 2004 Columbia Winery Yakima
Valley Pinot Gris ($10) from Washington state stands slightly apart
from the other five because of a mineral note and a tad less pepper.
New
years best wines – and dregs
Toronto Star, Canada - Jan 18, 2006... at a beat-the-winter-blahs
party: Cuttaway Hill Estate 2005 Pinot Gris ($14.95, 89, J21 ... a
crisp clean white; and from Italy, Lungarotti Pinot Grigio 2004 $13.95
A
to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Gris 2004
The mouthfeel is creamy, round, with nice body for a Pinot Gris
and well-balanced acidity.
And
more January Whites (7): Australia Chard, France Ries, Australia
Chard/PN, Canada Chard Musq, France Pin Gris, Canada Pin Blan,
Australia Pin Gris
Its aromas suggest honeyed fruit, including peach and pear,
plus a texture of smoke and mineral, this Pinot Gris is just off-dry,
round and soft, full-bodied and quite rich. Look for pear and fig
aromas and a generous mouthfeel from this rich Pinot Gris." Gord
Stimmell writes: "...fresh lime, ripe pear flavours" and rates it an 89.
Simon
Gilbert Pinot Grigio 2005
The Pinot Grigio is definitely a winner for me, a lovely white
with all the qualities I enjoy in my young white wine: smooth but with
a bit of bite, a lingering finish, crisp, a lovely balance of flavours
with a reasonable dollop of milder fruit flavours like apple and pear.
If you are looking for a solid young white with a bit more class than
your lower price range wine, its hard to look past the Simon Gilbert
Pinot Grigio.
More
January Whites(8): France Chenin Blanc, Canada Chard, Australia SB,
Canada Blush, Canada Pinot Gris, USA Chard, NZ Sauv Blanc, France SB
Voga Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio 2004
Voga
Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio 2004
Voga Pinot Grigio seems to be a fast growing label in the world of
Italian Pinot Grigio, and the Brand has captured a lot of attention
with the signature bottle, which has been described as a giant shampoo
or perfume bottle.
Tastings:
Belle Pente and Cameron
I took the opportunity recently to taste new releases from two of Oregon’s top wine producers, Belle Pente Vineyard and Cameron Winery.
On
the Wild Side at Moorooduc Estate
First up was the 2004 Pinot Gris (Screwcap) (French oak).
Mornington
Peninsula Wine Region
The Mornington Peninsula, just south of Melbourne is the home of Pinot
gris/gigio in Australia.
Beauty
and the Beast at the Pied What Exactly does...
In general the Gewurztraminers and Pinot Gris’ are some of the best
that Alsace has to offer while I must admit I tend to buy my Riesling
from others.
New Zealand
Wine Tasting.
Just been reading through last Tuesday's scribbled notes; some
stunningly good Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminers kick off the list.
Wine:
Red Dragon or Chinese Wall?
In such a vast country, there is a wide variety of regional cuisines,
but since the dishes are invariably spiced, it is best to opt for spicy
grapes - muscat, pinot gris, Austrian gruner veltlinger and
gewurztraminer. New Zealand and the cooler regions of Australia,
especially Tasmania, are producing pure fruited pinot gris with way out
class Italian pinot grigio at similar prices, while Hungarian 'Simply
Gewurztraminer' at the bigger Tesco stores packs a lot of flavour for
3.50.
Teldeschi
vintner believes in aging its Zinfandel
DetNews.com, MI - Jan 5, 2006... "Pinot Grigio" is the Italian name for the grape Pinot Gris. It's most famous in Italy's northeast, specifically the province Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, though Tuscany is producing fine Pinot Grigio, too.
HAPPY
HOLIDAYS!
Holiday Mixed Bag I put together an interesting ta...
Brimming
with pioneering spirit
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - Jan 18, 2006... with new and
different grape varieties is as important at this winery as their
ever-expanding production of pinot grigio and pinot gris (two different
wine ...
Penn Live, PA - Jan 11, 2006... $9.99 2. Masis very pretty and quaffable Masianco, a pinot grigio with an ... refreshing, slightly flowery and delicious, $14.99 5. Trimbachs Pinot Gris 2003, a ...
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Syrah / Shiraz
Wine
| Phillips shiraz fruity with a hint of spice
The tanginess of the meat and sauce will tame the fruit flavors and
work perfectly with this shiraz. Some people have asked what the
difference between shiraz and syrah is, and the answer is none, the
grapes are the same and the only difference is the spelling of the name
and sometimes where it comes from, being Australia or the United States.
some
good Aussie wines
The reds were mostly GSMs, or grenache, shiraz (syrah) and mourvedre -
plus some cabernet - while the whites were viognier, marsanne and
roussanne, plus some chardonnay. • 2004 d'Arenberg "Stump Jump" (red -
grenache, syrah, mourvedre) - 4 stars - yummy, spicy, medium-bodied;
think lamb or even a pork crown roast; excellent price - $11.99.
My
Round: Great wines are not just rare but fragile - so enjoy ...
Castillo de Molina Shiraz 2003 (5.99, Morrisons) Shiraz (or Syrah) is
an up-and-coming star in Chile, and this is a good example.
Que
Syrah, Sirah
Que Syrah, Sirah Our interactive wine-education forum, Wine Tasting
101, reprises one of last year's most popular topics. Hayman A whack of
oak dominates the nose, but bright and sunny Syrah fruit comes through
in this robust California wine's flavor.
Tasting
Categories
Tasting Categories
winter
whites, sleek reds
Australia is home to countless wines in the bargain category, but
contrary to popular belief, they aren't all Shiraz. For a lighter style
of Syrah (otherwise known as Shiraz), reach for the 2004 Red Bicyclette
Vin de Pays d'Oc Syrah ($9) from the South of France.
Star
Buys 28.01.06
2003 Graffigna Shiraz Reserve, Argentina, Co-op, down 1 to 3.99 until
February 12. This fine, gamey, chocolatey syrah, or shiraz, with lots
of this grapes robust, earthy oomph, hits the spot.
2004
Tisdale Shiraz
Continuing with the Tisdale line--which doesn't appear to have much of
a web presence--I tried the 2004 Tisdale Shiraz tonight. And while it's
the same grape as Syrah, I've come to think of Shiraz as somehow fun
and exotic, no doubt fueled by the fruit-forward, spicy wines from
South Africa and Australia.
Que
Syrah, Syrah?
Shiraz, Australia's No. 1 red wine grape, is experiencing a personality
split and increasingly calling itself syrah. Anyway, syrah is French
and belongs in the Rhone Valley, doesn't it?
New
years best wines – and dregs
SYRAH CELEBRATION: Call it syrah or shiraz, this red grape has become
the darling of consumers and connoisseurs alike. But there are lots of
goodies two weeks from now, including the French Thierry ($14.95, 89,
J21).
Ultimate
Makeover: Wine Edition
Danny Brager, vice president of the ACNielsen(R) Beverage Alcohol team,
says, "Wine marketers are driving renewed interest in cask wine by
focusing on the smaller three-liter package, offering premium varietals
such as Shiraz/Syrah and Pinot Grigio in that size.
St.
Petersburg Times
Cline Cellars Red Truck is a blend of syrah, petite sirah and cabernet
franc. Petite sirah is not syrah or shiraz, although it is a direct
descendant straight from the Rhone.
Move
over Sideways, its time for Syrahiana
Of course, so much of what syrah is about is purple teeth and wine
power so I am at least part of the way there to my screenplay. Syrah
will star in the title role somehow, and the wine will be no shrinking
violet.
Drink
delicious reds for $20 a bottle or less
There are tons of reasonably priced syrahs (also known as shiraz) on
store shelves today. For example, there's the 2003 Clos LaChance
Hummingbird Series Syrah ($17), which has lovely blackberry fruit,
notes of mocha and spice, and fine tannins.
Financial
Times
Slow to mature, very deep in colour, magnificently and hauntingly
savoury rather than sweet and flirtatious, the quintessential Syrah -
cuttings from which now flourish all over Australia in very different
forms labelled Shiraz.
Australian
Wine Notes
But a few winemakers have short memories – a stroll through retail
liquor aisles will reveal the increasing usage on Australian labels of
the Frenchified term syrah (Ooh bloody la la) instead of the good ol’
Aussie shiraz. Consumers beware, Australian wines labelled syrah will
undoubtedly carry a premium price.
Cline
Cellars Red Truck Red 2004
Red Truck Red 2004 is a blend of Syrah (37%), Petite Sirah (27%),
Cabernet Franc (23%), Grenache, and Mourvedre. The Syrah was sourced
chiefly from Sonoma Coast, with minor portions from Paso Robles and
Shandon.
Valley’s
ripe with inexpensive delights
Friday, Jan. 27, at the Jacksonville Inn. Theyll include Cliff
Creek 2003 Syrah, which won best of show. WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE of
Australia has some new wines out, the best of which is its 2002
Cabernet Shiraz Merlot.
for
frugal Francophiles
But I usually taste by varietal, not by country, meaning I
taste, for example, French Cotes du Rhones against Shiraz-based wines
from Australia and the United States. Made from 80 percent Grenache and
20 percent Syrah, this wine has flavors and aromas of black cherry,
earth and pepper, and will go well with meat stews.
Francis
Coppola Rosso California 2004
Coppola Rosso 2004 is 47% Zinfandel (Lodi), 32% Cabernet and 21%
Syrah. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are from Lodi and Paso Robles.
Walla
Walla Winners at San Francisco Competition
Good news for Walla Walla Valley Wineries! They fared pretty well at the 2006 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Episode
16 - Hallcrest Vineyards
Episode 16 - Hallcrest Vineyards
Wine Tasting
Note: Trevor Mast Four Sisters Shiraz, 2002, Australia.
Spittoon - Wine Tasting Note: Trevor Mast Four Sisters Shiraz, 2002,
Australia. Wine Tasting Note: Trevor Mast Four Sisters Shiraz, 2002,
Australia.
2003
Qupe' Syrah
This Syrah from California has been one of my recent favorites.
Actually, it's not just Syrah, it's 84% Syrah, 6% Grenache, 4%
Counoise, 3% Mourvedre and a bit of Mondeuse, Cinsault, Cabernet
Sauvignon, and Tempranillo.
Wine
Rundown
The tag at Whole Foods said something like "Austin's Favorite Shiraz".
I mentioned this to Todd who said "Austin sure has bad taste in Shiraz".
December
Tasting: Potluck; Winner is 2002 Chateau Reynella Shiraz (93 Points)
Surprisingly, for a Shiraz, it wasn't peppery at all, which allowed the
cherry and dark berry flavors to really stand out.
Possums
Vineyard Willunga Shiraz 2004
Possums Vineyard Willunga Shiraz is Shiraz, fermented in stainless
steel and aged half in American oak and half in stainless.
Does
Terroir or appellation sell? Never more than ...
It tells you what to expect from that particular Shiraz or Sauvignon
Blanc, fruit or grass, jammy or spicy. And then you get the odd ones
like good Pinot Noir from Wellington or elegant Shiraz from Paarl
(instead of blockbusters), that confuses the whole concept of Terroir
as it can't be placed as easily.
2002
Parker Station Syrah
Without further ado, I present the 2002 Parker Station Syrah. This
Santa Barbera Syrah is touted as "The best Syrah you can afford to
drink daily".
Peter
Lehman Barossa Shiraz 2002 wine review by (PB)
This Shiraz from the Barossa region of Australia has a nice rich color
that is youthful and rich to the rim.
Purple
Moon Shiraz 2004
Cheap Wine Reviews Purple Moon Shiraz 2004 - Cheap red wine, Cheap
white wine, Good Cheap Wine from all over the world! I picked up a nice
bottle of good cheap wine: Purple Moon Shiraz from Trader Joes.
On
the Wild Side at Moorooduc Estate (Mornington P...
The 2004 Moorooduc Shiraz (Screwcap) (French Oak) (Not released at time
of tasting) was cherry red with pink edge. To most Barossa Shiraz
drinkers this wine will probably seem thin but for me there was a
softness and elegance that was both appealing and distinctive.
Would
you, could you, with these 10?
For folks name of Kelly, you're part of a crowd, and the 2003 Kelly's
Revenge South Eastern Australia Shiraz ($6) lets you tout it aloud.
Rare
gems from a personal favorite-mobile blogging
But I digress- The Upslope Syrah, which is a blend of Thompson, Melville
Ratcast
#20, Pax Wine Cellars
These full-stem clusters of Syrah in the Pax winery were tread by foot
to release some juice. At right, Pax Mahle opens a bottle of 2003
Castelli-Knight Ranch Syrah.
Wine
Blogging #18 -- Vintage Wines LTD, San Diego,...
Shiraz available – Tod Dexter is winemaker for both Yabby Lake and
Heathcote Estate and I’d tasted wines from both vineyards with him last
December.
If
There's a Chicken on the Label…
Recently, our grocery store featured other Rex Goliath wines, so I
loaded up on their Cab, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Shiraz. (I haven’t had
the Merlot or Shiraz yet.) These wines are solid, everyday sort of
wines that are good enough to serve to your friends.
Trumpeter
Malbec-Syrah 2004 Wine Review (NW)
This wine is a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Syrah, which are both widely
planted in the South America.
MLCC
sale again!
And I got a bottle of the Hardy’s “Nottage Hill” Cabernet-Shiraz for
$8.99 too. If you want a cheap-and-cheerful Shiraz, it’s hard to find
one at a better price.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Riesling
Cool
classics under the scorching sun
The most undervalued but successful Australian combination is the Clare
Valley and riesling. Taylors now has 25 vintages under its belt, and
its 2004 vintage ($16.95 at Woolworths but often on special) is yet
another refined and racy Clare riesling.
2004
Cousino-Macul Riesling Dona Isadora" (Maipo Valley, Chile)
It's a really good value in an Alsace-style Riesling.
Vineland
Estates Dry Riesling 2004
Leo Buring 2005 Clare Valley Riesling
Washington
has a champ in its wines
For Riesling fans, the 2004 Eroica is a must try (and a little splurge
at $23). It's uncomplicated for Riesling rookies and beautifully
balanced for Riesling aficionados.
Leo
Buring 2005 Leonay Riesling
In a nut shell, this is a more refined and exceptionally well balanced
version of the 2005 Eden Valley Riesling. My advice, try the standard
Eden Valley Riesling and if it tickles your fancy, put a bottle or two
of the Leonay away for a few years.
Annies
Lane Riesling04, Mc Clare Valley, South-Eastern Australia
Technical Data:: Riesling from South-eastern Australia.
Lucien
Albrecht Riesling Reserve04, Alsace, France
National Riesling Challenge 2005 - Aus
National Riesling
Challenge 2005 - Aus
National Riesling Challenge 2005 - Aus
National Riesling
Challenge 2005 - European Classes
National Riesling Challenge 2005 - Euro - Class 1
Alsace
in Anderson Valley
The starring grapes of Alsatian wines are Riesling, Gewurztraminer,
Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Muscat. Anderson Valley has 64.6 acres of
Gewurztraminer (ga-VERTZ-tra-meen-er), 25 acres of Pinot Gris and less
than 10 acres each of Muscat Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Riesling, according
to Glenn McGourty, the UC farm adviser for Mendocino County.
National Riesling
Challenge 2005 - Euro - Class 1
National Riesling Challenge 2005 - Euro - Class 2
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 food”), and perhaps a Pinot Noir. We tasted
three wines with our meal: 2004 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, 2002
Bonny Doon Pacific Rim Dry Riesling, and 2001 Byron Central Coast Pinot
Noir.
National Riesling
Challenge 2005 - Euro - Class 3
National Riesling Challenge 2005 - N.America - Class 1
National Riesling
Challenge 2005 - Euro - Class 2
National Riesling Challenge 2005 - Euro - Class 3