Thursday, July 30, 2009

gazzoli imports

a large tasting of kacher wines, an importer of fine french wines...too many to mention but they will be coming in shortly in small increments.

Domaine Ehrhart Pinot Auxerrois 2007...my favorite white wine in a long time...round, wonderfully so.. viscous soft almost like liquid cotton candy but not nearly that sweet.. from the alsace..an offshoot of Pinot Blanc an offshoot of Pinot Noir...

Cote de Jardin Cotes du rhone 2008 soft, easy drinking but not exciting.

Domaine Gournier Viognier 2008 banana on the nose and palate..soft..not overly floral like Viognier can be...

Wellington Cabernet 2005 California juicy black fruit through out...long finish.. nice bottle for the cost

Domaine Danta Duc Cotes du rhone 2006 lots of savage or earthy flavors...typical of cotes...but not the 2007 which everyone is asking for.

pinnacle with craig rohner

2007 Prinz Tradition Trocken Riesling Rheingau sweet for a drier style..green apples..another riesling

2006 Araldica Barbera d'asti soft nose, ripe fruit...bing cherry big time...kind of a one note wonder

Colosi Nero d'Avola which I must have tasted before because I had some in the store but this time it really made an impression...ripe dark fruit on the nose, long supple finish...a perfumed nose...it is now in the corner with good buys for the store.

2007 Vinum Pets Petite Sirah dark purple color, steak sauce smells in a bottle..gamey and dark berry fruit

Friday, July 24, 2009

dry creek with don wallace

president of dry creek winery don wallace invited me to pierponts for lunch and a taste through of some of their wines. dry creek has always been in my wine consciousness. they have paired down their offerings though, concentrating on doing a few things really well

chenin blanc from california can be a bit too sweet and flabby but the 2007 and 08 versions of Dry Creeks was crisp and acidic and just enough fruit to not be confused with vouvray.

dry creek sauvignon blanc, not to be confused with their fume blanc that will still be made. loads of stone fruit, melon and juicy, made with the musque clone of sb

heritage zinfandel 2006 vibrant purple in the glass, although it could be the light in the restaurant, juicy, dark berry and just a little dusty finish..all the bells and whistles you expect from zin

cabernet sauvignon 2005 dark purple, cassis and lead pencil nose, acid and just a little heat on the tongue...not a fruit bomb but not overly tannic either

mariner 2005 a bordeaux blend..i have to be honest I hated the 2004 version of this wine...thought it was too much oak and no fruit. this vintage is much softer...very pretty nose, juicy finish.

endeavor 2004 sweet maple nose, deep color and juicy..was surprised how supple and velvety it was for a 2004...mostly cab with 10% petite verdot

Thursday, July 23, 2009

rhone wines from Appellation

If these are any indication of the rhone vintage 07 its going to be very very good.

Domaine la Font d'estevanas Cairanne cote du rhone village rich bose, very rich and full bodied on the palate...a touch of alcohol but overall very enjoyable...parker said 89+

Domaine la Font d'estavanas La Grange Daniel a blend of rhone red varietals..pleasant a little earthy, softer finish but still very engaging.

Domaine les aphillanthes Cuvee tres cepages.(three grapes) wow...rich, full bodied and luscious...91pts parker

Domaine St damien Gigondas VV 2006 earth, spice, cinnamon...

Domaine st damien Gigondas Les Soutyrades 2006 93 parker...again with the rich and cinnamon...long full finish..very nice

Domaine gardies mas las cabes rouge syrah,grenache and carignane soft, juicy and yet a little rustic on the finish...will match nicely with meats and stews for cooler weather.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Pine Ridge Vineyards with Tony Fabiano

Pine Ridge long a staple on my wine lists and in the store.

Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2008 started out a little tart to me..rhubarb and then the Viognier kicked in and smoothed everything out. all stainless steel and this bottling makes up more than 50% of all their production. Located just south of Stags Leap District in napa.

Chardonnay Dijon Clones 2006 creamy, buttery and lots of ml on the nose, surprisingly clean on the palate..long finish

Crimson Creek Merlot 2006 a touch green on the nose, some cab and petite verdot built in to give it a little more complexity

Napa Valley Cabernet 2006,...this bottling was known as the Rutherford-Oakville bottling until this vintage. dark purple in the glass...blueberry on the nose, soft tannins but nice long lasting flavors..napa valley cab for the cab lovers.

ridge watson of Joullian winery

On the week that his brother was playing in the british open ridge watson was in town promoting his wine. The wines are consistently good in quality and his hometown connection doesnt hurt either. Tasted through Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Cabernet. All in the store.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Somerset Ridge with Tricia Zirker

A pretty new but prolific winery from Kansas. the wines are made from mostly hybrid grapes with some Cab and Cab Franc showing up.

Flyboy Red a blend of Cabernet and Chancellor which is a hybrid of merlot and ?, a touch grapey and then juicy..not a dry wine but not sweet either..just juicy.

Buffalo Red Semi Sweet...made with Chambercin.. sweet but not cloyingly so..a tart finish..

Ambrosia, Late Harvest Traminette...when thinking of ambrosia salad there is a lushness, with a hint of nuts and obviously sweet.. this wine has all those except the sweet..or at least not overly sweet...and for a dessert wine thats what I want..seems a little restrained..

Aphrodite..goddess of love..color of desert sunset...musky nose but not a musky wine...strawberry