I keep telling my friends I'm not a big fan of Cabernet Sauvignon. A lot of Cabs from the Southern hemisphere are a bit vegetal to me, as are some of the lower priced cabs I've had here and there. They don't have enough fruit, or the tannins are overwhelming and sometimes bitter. California Cab has the reputation of being too expensive, and so I don't usually bother - there are a lot of wines I like better at the price I'm willing to pay.
I now confess I was wrong. The Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon 'The Ranch' 2007 is outstanding and is reasonably priced (see California Cab prices!) at about $40. It's a big wine, with great fruit, excellent structure, an outstanding nose and beautiful color. Dark, deep purple, very opaque, very slow to show legs it coats the entire inside of the glass. Licorice is right at the front, along with dark blackberry, cassis, chocolate, pencil lead, and some smokiness. The flavors are intense, dark cherry, dark berries, spicy, with good flavor on the side and tip of the tongue that lasts and lasts. Good acidity, goes well with food (in this case pizza and wings, but I'd love it with a steak!) The tannins are certainly present, but they're not intrusive, and again, balanced with the fruit.
Parker rated it 95 points, and I have to agree that it's up there in the stratosphere of great wines I've tasted. Definitely a classic, but low production, and probably quite hard to find most places. Tasted December, 2009.
This is the third time I've had the El Puntido over two years. The first time I was absolutely enamored with it. It was complex, evolved in the glass as we discussed it, charmed me completely. At the time it was one of the most expensive wines I put in my cellar, and I bought a few bottles as it was one of the best wines from Spain I had ever tasted. Wine Enthusiast agreed with a 96, Wine Advocate did too, with a 94, and even said it would go to 2025 and continue to evolve.
I opened another bottle on my 40th birthday last year. I still liked it, but I thought perhaps it had entered a closed period as it wasn't as complex, didn't evolve in the glass, and the aromatics weren't as strong (and they were opulent before!). So, I left the next bottle in the cellar (where it still is today) thinking I'd open it in a year or two.
Fortunately a friend opened one and I got to try it again. I still like it. It's dark red, opaque, what I expect from a Rioja. But, it's still simple. When I had it the first time it had been decanted for an hour and a half. The second time it wasn't decanted, but various glasses stayed in the glass for 15 minutes to an hour to see what would happen. The third time it had been decanted an hour.
It's about $65, but I now find myself like Cenit Tempranillo better for about half the price. Tasted December, 2009.
Priorat. One of the wonderful regions of Spain. The Miserre is a blend of Cab, Carignan, Grenache, Merlot, and Tempranillo. The nose had anise, clove, licorice, and black pepper. The wine was bright ruby colored, and somewhat translucent. It was thinner than I expected based on what's in it, and had a really elegant, finesse to the wine. The flavors were dark berries, dark cherries, and menthol. Nice wine. $80. Tasted December, 2009.
It's a monopole of Clos de la Chapelle in Morgeot, a Premier Cru, in the Cote d' Beaune, Burgundy. Light color, very perfumed and floral, subtle oak. It's full bodied Burgundy, very enjoyable. About $65. Tasted December, 2009.
Chardonnay from the Ritchie Vineyard in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, CA. Nice color, some oak and mild malo, acidic, good structure, some lemon notes. About $65. Tasted December, 2009
Interesting nose of burnt toast, with peach, floral, and some other stone fruits. Good acidity, dry, but still excellent on its own. The toasty oak was unexpected. Somewhere between $65 and $95 depending where you find it. Tasted December 2009.
What needs to be said? Pol Roger is terrific Champagne, a favorite of Winston Churchill, it's Chard, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Muenier. http://www.polroger.com/english/champagne/brut-reserve-champagne-5.php if you want to read their notes. They're accurate. Great champagne, and stylistically if you like it, you like it. (I still prefer Veuve.) About $40.
Purple, opaque, bright. It had dark fruit and earth components, good tannins (if a little early for them to be fully integrated) and some acidity to balance the wine. About $85. Good Italian Cab for Cab lovers. Tasted November 2009.
Another dark red, opaque, red wine from Italy. This one had dried fruits, figs, raisins, and such, on the nose. It was very typical old world, with nothing fruit forward, but absolutely delicious, and with thick, velvety tannins. A blend of Carignan(85%), Cab at 10% and Merlot for the balance. About $50. Tasted in November 2009.
Dark red and opaque, the nose had smoke, leather, tar and mocha. The wine has a spicy acidity, with good fruit components. About $55.
Tar, minerals, and herbs on the nose, the wine was a burnt red in color (not as though past its prime, but the overall color). The taste had an element of cinnamon hot tamales candy if you can believe that. $70, so I'd probably pass on it in the future, but if you like Brunello this was good.
It's done in stainless steel, cold fermented. A terrific cranberry red, deep in color, bright. It has mild spices and florals on the nose. Flavor has an interesting raspberry pie characteristic. 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet. About $40, and a nice wine.
This is from an estate in Umbria, Italy, south of Tuscany. The owners are the San Guido family, who also own the famous Sassicaia. This is a blend, 30% Trebbiano, 30% Grechetto, 20% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. It's done in stainless steel, so no oak present on the nose. It's light straw in color, bright wine. It has a bit of acid, and an interesting nutty taste from the Grechetto. About $15, and worth a try.
It's a rainy, miserable day in upstate New York. Probably soon to be freezing rain and then snow. So, I'm going to do some quick updates. The first is from a tasting done in October with about 30 wines. I'm just going to give the quick notes I jotted down, as this was a quick tasting, not an extended discussion session. I'm also only going to give notes for ones I liked. All wines can be found at The Wine House in Manlius, NY. Tell Tim and Matt you read it here if you go stock up for a holiday party.
3 Brooms Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - Good. About $15. Typical Sauvignon Blanc.
Ledgewood Creek Merlot 2006. Suisun Valley. About $17.
Ledgewood Creek Cabernet Sauvigon 2006. Napa Valley. About $25. Not a bad, inexpensive California Cab. But I wouldn't pick it up for myself.
Scott Harvey Zinfandel 2006. Amador County. $16, it was a light-bodied, light colored zinfandel, had little spice on the front, but had a long finish. Great at the price.
Chiarito Zinfandel 2006. Mendocino County. $25. Darker that the Scott Harvey, had lost of fruit, some spice, and no brambly component that typifies some Zins. Good Zin at the price, though there are a few I like more.
Crane Brothers Syrah 2005. Napa Valley. $29 due to a great deal. I've reviewed this before, I still like it, it's a dark red, medium mouth weight, some nice spice and very typical of the Syrah I like. Great at this price.
Changing distributors now:
Buehler Chardonnay 2008. Russian River Valley. $17. Mildly oaky, some malo apparent, fairly typical California Chardonnay, and while it's OK, it's not my style. Others loved it though.
King Estate Pinot Gris 2007. Lorane Valley, Oregon. $17. I noted it's "A good Pinot Gris." I guess that says all that needed to be said.
Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz 2006. Australia. $17. Peppery, spicy, SHIRAZ. Good price, typical Aussie Shiraz. Would buy it for parties, or casual get togethers.
Nardi Rosso Di Montalcino 2007. Italy. $27. Light red, essentially a baby Brunellow, from the second pressing, it would be great with dinner, and it had great balance.
Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. California. $25. Nice fruit, balanced, little acidity, and it's a nice Cab if you buy California Cab at this price. Take it to a friend as a gift.
Another grouping:
Stuhlmuller Chardonnay 2008. Napa Valley. $25. Nice fruit, not too oaky, good acidity, balanced and another bottle to take to friends who like California Chard.
Montinore Pinot Noir 2008. Willamette Valley, Oregon. $19. Great little Pinot for the price, peppery, light color and mouth weight, interesting in a good way. Did I mention Pinot at under $20?
Hedges Red Mountain Estate 2006. Washington State, Red Mountain. $28. It's a little lighter than most Red Mountain blends I've had, 51% Merlot, the balance Cab. It's a terrific bottle at about half the price of my favorite (Cadence Ciel du Cheval). Might have had a bit of bramble on the nose. Recommended.
