Wine Pick of the Week
2013 Rosé of Pinot Noir Mira Napa Valley Alcohol: 14.2% Suggested Retail: $27 “At one time wine drinkers in this country dismissed rosé as soda pop for adults. Given the style American wineries were producing, this was probably fair comment. Most of them were sweet, soft and inexpensive—pretty much White Zinfandels of a slightly darker hue. "This was not the case in France, where rosé made in a dry style was quite popular in the south of the country, especially in Provence. Today rosés are bigger than ever there. Gerard Bertrand, a Pays d’Oc producer is quoted today…
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1999 Chateau Magnol Chateau Magnol (Barton & Guestier) Haut-Médoc Contrôlée Alcohol: 12.5% Suggested Retail: About $25 for the current release This 1999 Chateau Magnol was comprised of Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (45%) and Cabernet Franc (5%). Such a wine made in the US from these grapes would be called a “Bordeaux Blend,” or possibly be put into the “Meritage” category.Taste California Travel found this bottle in the “cellar” a few days ago and decided to make it our Pick of the Week before we opened it. Pulling the cork on a 16-year old wine stored in less than…
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2012 Napa Valley Chardonnay Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $42 “Croatian immigrant Miljenko “Mike” Grgich secured his reputation for all time when a Chardonnay he made as winemaker at Napa’s Chateau Montelena bested several top-quality French white Burgundies. That event is now known as the Judgement of Paris, which is also the name of a book by George Taber, a Time magazine reporter who attended the 1976 tasting. Soon after this triumph Mike opened his own winery in a partnership with Austin Hills of the Hills Bros. coffee family. Though Grgich Hills Estate makes several other…
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2013 Rivestone Chardonnay J.Lohr Arroyo Seco/Monterey Co. Alcohol: 13.88% Suggested Retail: $14 “Sourced from grapes grown in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County, renown for its Chardonnay. Aromas and tastes of tropical fruits (pineapple, mangos, papaya), pears and peaches. Soma vanilla and buttered toast aspects. Substantial feeling in the mouth and a long finish. Creamy and substantial, this is a good example of the lusher style of California Chardonnay at a bargain price.” Food Affinity: “Veal medallions in a sage cream sauce. Sliced Portabella mushrooms sautéed in butter and parsley."
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2013 Rosé of Sangiovese Maryhill Winery Columbia Valley (Washington) Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $14 “Pink in color—watermelon to coral in hue. Aromas of strawberries, raspberries and maybe a bit of honeysuckle. More strawberry and raspberry in the flavor with a nice roundness in the mouth. Sangiovese is popular grape variety for Northwest rosé winemakers. There’s lot of lively fruit and the good natural acidity of Sangiovese to balance the slight sweetness (measured at .8 residual sugar). An altogether pleasant rosé wine.” Food Affinity: “Reviewer enjoyed the Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese with grilled pork chops and sweet onions. This…
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2013 Bin 99 Pinot Noir Lindeman's South Eastern Australia Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $6 (estimated) “Immediately recognizable as Pinot Noir from the nose, this bargain-basement example of the variety is a very pleasant surprise. The fruit echoes cherry, strawberry and raspberry qualities, is clean tasting and shows no negatives. The 2013 Bin 99 is a good example of the vibrancy that light and young editions of Pinot Noir can achieve. Of course, it doesn’t have the complexities of more sophisticated—and way more expensive—examples of this variety (including Burgundies), but it’s a very nice wine in its own definition. A rare example of Pinot Noir that is priced…
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2013 Sofia Red Francis Ford Coppola Winery Paso Robles Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $17 Named for the daughter of the famous filmmaker and winery owner, Sofia Red is put up in an unusual, and undeniably beautiful, bottle. This is the debut vintage for the red wine, though there have been earlier releases of two sparkling wines, one of them non-alcoholic, a rosé, a Riesling and a Chardonnay. Sofia Red’s composition is the trendy ‘GSM’ blend of Grenache (62%), Syrah (37%) and Mouvèdre (1%). These are grape varieties native to the Rhône Valley of France, though they are popular in…
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2012 Pinot Noir SeaGlass Santa Barbara County Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $12* “The 2012 SeaGlass is clearly a Pinot Noir. You wouldn’t mistake it for anything else. Lighter in color than most California red wines, it shows aromas and flavors reminiscent of plums and cherries in a way that no other variety would. We bought it in a supermarket for $9.99, which is a little less than the average pricing nationally.* While there are examples of Pinot Noir for ten dollars and less, most of them have just the generic ‘California’ appellation listed on the labels. One could…
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2012 Red Mountain Lemberger Kiona Vineyards Red Mountain (Washington) Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $15 “Lemberger has the reputation in the wine industry as being ‘a tough sell.’ That’s a shame, because it’s really a worthy option among red wines. Just as Zinfandel and Merlot are names of grape varieties, so, too, is Lemberger. It has no relationship to that pungent cheese bearing a similar identity, but somehow there’s a negative connection for the consumer. Lemberger is a variety known by other names, notably Blaufrȁnkisch in Austria and some eastern European countries. Wineries in New York state also produce this variety as does at…
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N/V Che é Amore Blue Mountain Cellars Walla Walla, Washington Alcohol: 13.8% Suggested Retail: $15 “Unless you live in southeastern Washington, you’re not likely to find this wine. The relatively small production (1200 cases) is sold mostly through restaurants and retailers in the Walla Walla and Tri-Cities areas (though it’s also available via the winery website). We selected it as this week’s ‘Pick’ not to tease you, but to illustrate an unusual approach to winemaking and marketing. That, and the fact that we really liked this wine and would like to encourage more producers to try something similar “Though…
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2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Two Rivers Winery Grand Valley (Colorado) Alcohol: 13.2% Suggested Retail: $16.50 “Our reviewer discovered the wines of Colorado a decade ago. He enjoyed the 2002 Cabernet from Two Rivers Winery when tasting it as a new wine on its release in 2005. A recently uncovered bottle from that same vintage proved to be a pleasant surprise. “Two Rivers is located in Mesa County, near the city of Grand Junction. Its vineyards lie within the Grand Valley appellation, where grapes are grown at very high altitude (averaging about 4700-feet in elevation). Some of Colorado’s wines are…
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NV Red Blend Sutter Home California Alcohol: 13.8% Suggested Retail: $6 “We didn't particularly like this wine, though others will. Sometimes we select a wine for this weekly feature because it allows us to address a more diverse view of wine than just our own preferences. This non-vintage (NV) red wine is such a case. Wineries are discovering that there's a substantial audience for red table wines sweeter than the traditional style. The Sutter Home Red Blend is well-made; not flawed in any technical way, but it's just too soft and sweet for us. It's comprised of quality…
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2011 Merlot Kendall-Jackson Sonoma County Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $23 “A lot of fruit showing here. Black cherries and dark plums. Berries, but more blackberries than raspberries. There's some tea and black olive and an intriguing dusty, mocha quality in the background that lingers in the finish. An overall richness, yet good balance in this Merlot.” Food Affinity: “Most red meat dishes would work, but well-seasoned dark meat from chicken and turkey could be appealing, as would most preparations of duck or goose.”
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2012 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Crest Winery Horse Heaven Hills (Washington) Alcohol: 14% Suggested retail: $15 “Primarily comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%), there's also a touch of Merlot (4%) and Syrah (2%) in this solid value from Columbia Crest, which has a long history of turning out high quality Cabernet Sauvignon from this part of southeastern Washington. Aromas of cassis, cola and black tea precede flavors of blackberries and cherries. There's a richness that stops well short of viscosity, but gives a nice roundness in the mouth.” Food Affinity: “Would brighten a drizzly afternoon if enjoyed with some…
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2013 Willakia Chardonnay Erath Eola-Amity Hills (Oregon) Alcohol: 13% Suggested Retail: $34 “With all the great Pinot Gris Oregon has been producing, Chardonnay sometimes seems the state's forgotten white wine. That's a shame, especially when there are such delights as this offering from the Willakia Vineyard in the Willamete Valley. For those used to the more florid California style, the Willakia Chardonnay might seem a bit restrained. We find plenty to like, though, and think subtlety and nuance are exhibited here. The winery says this very small production wine (238 cases) was given eight months of sur lie…
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2003 La Castellana Castello di Amorosa Napa Valley Alcohol: 14.4% Suggested Retail: $95 (for current 2010 vintage) “This is an 'archival selection' pulled from the cellar on Christmas Day. It's a blended red wine from Dario Sattui's Castello di Amorosa in the Napa Valley and is more-or-less in the Super-Tuscan style, though the composition is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (74%), augmented by Sangiovese (14%) and Merlot (12%). We thought it primarily Cabernet in personality, with blackberry, dark plum and cranberry aspects most prominent. There was some light chocolate or mocha there, along with subtle herbal and spice notes. Red…
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2012 Hot to Trot Red Blend 14 Hands Winery Columbia Valley, Washington Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $12 “Blended wine from Washington's Columbia Valley appellation is an appealing combination that offers reasonable sophistication at decent price. Winery says it's mostly Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a little boost from other unidentified grapes. We found aromas of raspberry and blackberry with maybe a bit of spice in the background. Flavors tend toward blackberry, plum and Bing cherry. Nice feel in the mouth—decent tannins without being too obvious. The finish is reasonably long, but clean. Overall, we found this blend…
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2013 Chardonnay Bonterra Mendocino County Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $16 “We liked this wine more a day after first opening it. As this organic Chard 'opened up' it showed a very floral aroma. Lots of orange blossom in the nose. Both the aroma and subsequent tastes revealed a rich, creamy personality. Some vanilla from from aging in relatively small percentage of new oak. Evokes memories of a frozen treat that was variously packaged as Creamsicles or Dreamsicles. These had a vanilla ice cream center enveloped by an icy orange coating, and were a staple of the reviewer's childhood.”…
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2013 Viognier Bonterra Mendocino County Alcohol: 14.5% Suggested Retail: $16 “Another Bonterra wine from certified organic vineyards, this Viognier contains an unspecified amount of Muscat in the blend to amplify the Viognier's natural floral quotient. Peaches and citrus greet the nose, followed by (deeper) flavors of peach and apricot backed by just a hint of brown spice. At 14-and-half alcohol there is substantial weight and viscosity to make this wine substantial enough to pair with heartier foods. Clean, long finish. Would be an interesting alternative to the Chardonnay-as-cocktail order at happy hour.” Food Affinity: “Veal or poultry with…
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2012 Zinfandel Bonterra Mendocino County Alcohol: 14.5% Suggested Retail: $16 “Some may be drawn to Bonterra's Zinfandel because it's made from organic grapes. Nothing wrong with that, but we've encountered some products—wine and otherwise—that taste lousy, however pure, green and organic they might be. Happily, that isn't the case with this wine. We think it's a fine example of the variety and a good value, to boot. While the 2012 Bonterra Zinfandel is packed with plenty of power, it hasn't lost its sense of what this varietal should be all about. We find aromas and flavors of blueberry,…
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2009 Vin de Glacière Riesling Pacific Rim Columbia Valley (Washington) Alcohol: 9.% (approx.) Suggested Retail: $ 14 (375ml) “Too few Americans are familiar with quality dessert wines. Among these are Sauternes, which are made in the southwest of France from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle grapes. They are very sweet and low in alcohol. A classic pairing is foie gras, but cheeses and fresh fruit are also good companions. (Apparently, some Brits are also unfamiliar with them, as author Ian Fleming once had his otherwise sophisticated spy character, James Bond, order a bottle of the most famous of…
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2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Bumgarner Winery El Dorado County Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $35 “Sourced from two El Dorado County Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards at 3000-foot elevation. Blend includes 3% Merlot. Traditional Cabernet attributes evoking cassis, dark cherries and some cedar, with a bit of black olive in the background. “Accepted wisdom is that mountain-grown grapes yield flavors of greater intensity, which would seem to be evidenced here. But what's even more appealing about this small-production wine (396 cases), is its sophistication and elegance. Winemaker Brian Bumgarner has crafted an extraordinary wine at a bargain price. His 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon…
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2011 Sagrantino Nello Olivo El Dorado County Alcohol: 13.5% Suggested Retail: $100 “To our knowledge, Rancho Olivo Vineyards in El Dorado County is one of (at most) a handlful of California growers of the Sagarantino grape variety, which is native to the north of Italy. Nello Olivo of the eponymously-named winery traces his ancestral roots to Montefalco in Umbria and believes that the Sagrantino grape will do as well in El Dorado County as it does there. “The 2011 Nello Olivo Sagrantino is deep, dark and full of intensity, though such qualities do not come from its alcoholic…
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2007 Cabernet Franc Pride Mountain Vineyards Sonoma County Alcohol: 14.2% Suggested Retail: $60 “Cabernet Franc is vinified on its own in the wines of Chinon from France's Loire Valley. It's also included in blended red wines from Bordeaux. Though less familiar to American consumers than its cousin, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc is becoming a more popular option for California winemakers. “Pride Mountain is in the Mayacamas Mountain Range. It is situated at 2,000-feet elevation on Spring Mountain and includes property in both Napa and Sonoma Counties. Though the current release of this winery's Cabernet Franc is the 2012…
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