misc wines

Image via WikipediaVina Collado Macabeo Campo de Borja Spain 2009.. there is always something about spanish  cava that I didnt like.. and now I know its Macabeo.. one of the white grapes allowed... this wine has a spritz to it.. but a very rustic rough finish.. a little like aspirin. cute label though

Vina Collado Garnacha 2009  a little better wine but still rustic.. raspberry jam and light bodied on the finish.. pleasant enough for the price..

From Massandra..out of st louis

Seven Hills Cabernet Klipsun Vineyard 2007 deep fruit flavors but light finish. not overly tannic or heavy.. definitely more about fruit than texture..

Beckman Cuvee le Bec Santa Ynez 2009  lots of fruit.. no subtle rhone flavors.. in your face.. strong midpalate with a softer ending.. good dark berry fruits though.

Bill Smith with Bommarito

2009 Eric Chevalier Muscadet  light straw color, and soft stone fruit. almost sweet.. gives way to a pleasant minerality.. long finish for muscadet

Zind Humbrecht Riesling 2009  sweet nose and pretty fruit.. medium viscosity.. and doesnt finish quite a sweet as expected.. not bone dry either like Trimbachs can be.

willi loth appellations

L'Ancienne Mercerie Les Petites Mains Faugeres bright purple in the glass.. good fruit.. a touch earthy on the finish. maybe heading past its prime.

Le Mas des Flauzieres Cotes du Ventoux 2007  a bit green, young vines, fruit is good.

Le Mas des Flauzieres Cotes du Ventoux 2007  iron, iodine, band aid.. raspberry.. soft.

Celeste Cotes du Rhone Village Visan 2005.. same flavors of iron and iodine... but a little red apple undertones. 

Stephen Vincent WInery with Golden Barrel

Image of Stephen Vincent via SnoothStephen Vincent had not been available to me because it was a berbiglia exclusive through the defunct premier cru distributors. I will now carry all the varietals they distribute to Missouri and got a chance to taste 3 . All of them have California designations. I  believe Stephen Vincent is a negotiant buyer who owns no actual vineyard sites.

Chardonnay 2008  soft and lightly oaked. a little dull on the finish which would go away when slightly chilled.

Pinot Noir 2009 light garnet color.. briary tight nose, cranberry and rhubarb fruit.. earth...

Zinfandel 2007  briary nose, good fruit, mid palate fruit.. best of the bunch for me.

Bethel Heights and Penner Ash

Image of Bethel Heights Vineyard via SnoothJosepha  from Northwest Wine Alliance or somesuch,... her last week with them. and also Craig from Pinnacle

Bethel Heights one of the better longer lived wineries from Oregon. When I went to Pinot Camp two years ago they had my favorite wine of the tasting. Pinot Blanc... yummy

2009 Gruner Veltliner.. normally found in Austria a new varietal for the Oregon, may be a little creamier and rounder than the Austrian version but tasty non the less. nice minerality and just enough acidity...

2008 Estate Chardonnay soft and easy.. a light touch of creaminess and oak.. almost a little too creamy.. maybe a little more acidity..

2008 Bethel Estate Pinot Noir.. dark color, dense and concentrated.. a little cool so not as much coming on the palate... also very young.

2007 Casteel Reserve Pinot Noir... dried fruits and a little candy... lighter in color than the 2008 and missing some middle ground.  pretty nose though of roses and dried fruit.


2008 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley  tight tight tight.. either from the cold or from being young.. I think with some time in bottle or glass it may open up ... light tannins that really didnt show off any.. and some pretty fruit but too cool to be complex...

willi loth appellations

Image of Château Mourgues du Gres via SnoothTasting through some french today.. usually enjoy the regions but the wines today didnt show well.. may be the cold weather has stunted their growth?

Domaine Plouzeau Savignon Touraine 2008... loire white, mostly sauv  blanc.. lots of minerality but not much fruit on the finish.. a little tang.. not a winner

Domaine de Poulvarel Red Rhone 2007  grenache/syrah blend that I really like.. the cold seems to make the Iodine more pronounced. some black fruits but not enough to really shine through

Domaine de Poulvarel Costieres de Nimes Les Perrottes.. sweet fruit nose and juicy red fruit on the palate but blunted somewhat.. not rich... a little coffee on the finish but overall disappointing for the vintage.

Chateau Mourgues du gres Capitelles des Mourgues 2007... dark color and the chill made the fruit seem overripe,, almost like a port without the richness that usually is associated with this wine.. again a great producer, we have had rose from this before and I think I will need to retaste once it gets warmer..

First post of the new year

Happy New Year.

2010 Isabel Sauvignon Blanc , good varietal flavors.. not grapefruity and full bodied. round.

2008 Vega Sindoa El Chapparal Garnacha... very rustic some dark berry fruit but definitely more about the earth.. not as happy with it as before.. maybe too young

2007 Cartlidge and Brown Merlot California... tart and quickk.. not too exciting

2007 Castillo di Meleto Rosso Toscana.. mostly sangiovese with some bing cherry fruit... but lean and linear and not as inviting as others in this price.

2008 Turn 4 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa... turn 4 is the finishing turn on a racetrack... to me it seems like how do you know the front or the back of the bottle or an egg? anyway.. pretty ruby color and LOTS of cassis both in the palate and nose.. may smooth out over time...