Hunterdon Pinot Noir 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nose shows ripe plum and warm spices

Cherry on the palate

Finishes with an earthy touch that compliments the tapering fruit layers

For a $15 wine, this is nicely made. There's rich fruit, spices, and an earthy undertone. It paired extremely well with my crispy duck and dates. I recommend it at this price range because Pinot Noir is very hit-or-miss under $20.

The Santa Lucia Highlands area of California is producing some nice wines and we'll be seeing that designation on the front of labels more and more. Raise a glass!

Greg Norman Cabernet Merlot Limestone Coast 2004 wine review by (PB)

The PGA Tour golf pro Greg Norman scores an "Eagle" on this lovely wine that is rich black cherry color with deep black berry fruit, ripe plums, and a spicy cedar nose with a bitter chocolate tail.

This wine is full and robust with flavors of ripe dark fruit, cedar and baker's chocolate. the structure is quite nice with sweet tannins and a finish that says, sit back and enjoy.

At $15, this is about as good a wine you can hope for. Worth seeking out and buying up several bottles. Raise a glass and clean your short stick--the season of golf tis upon us, even in Maine.

Wine Blogging Wednesday #32: April 11

Hey Gang!
The Wine Cask Blog is happy to be hosting Wine Blogging Wednesday #32.
Reviews will be posted/hosted starting on Wednesday April 11, 2007 for any early birds. Please get your reviews to us as early as possible so posting can begin on April 11. (send URLs of your reviews to serona -at- gmail -dot- com and include a subject of WBW 32)

And now for the theme:
SHOWDOWN: Regular vs Reserve

It's time to determine if the "reserves" are really that much better. So get two bottles, same vineyard/winery same vintage but have one be the "regular" version and have one be the "reserve" label (different "levels" of the wine are fine as many "reserves" are not actually labeled as such). Compare them. What makes the reserve wine better? Is it even worth it? Please don't go overboard on pricing as some reserves can get spendy. The Wine Cask Blog is about accessibility to the world of wine and part of accessibility is price. You could even pair up with another wine blogger and one of you do the regular and the other do the reserve.

Reviews should include:
The wines reviewed (name, region, vintage)
Price
Characteristics of the wines
An opinion of which was "better" based on whatever criteria you want

I will have a synopsis of the reviews and links to your blog posted starting Wednesday April 11.

Raise A Glass!

Covey Run Riesling 2004 wine review by (PB)

This reliable producer out of Washington State is a pretty pale golden with a gentle apple nose.

It is slightly effervescent on the tongue with lively flavors of light peach and apple. It has lost some of its zesty structure this wine had 8 months ago or so but is still a nice value wine. The finish carries on a bit. Tasty and a good value at $6. Raise a glass but raise it now; it is fading!

Grand Ardeche Chardonnay 2003 wine review by (PB)

This inexpensive wine by Louis Latour is made from grapes out of the Coteaux De L'Dardeche is a light yellow with loads of vanilla pudding and a citrus, sunny fruit filling the room.

The palate is tasty with a creamy texture and creamy notes of pudding with a citrus back bone. It finishes with popcorn. The palate is a bit dull though due to a lack of structure and back bone. We have to get real here, this wine cost only $8 and is worth the price. Raise a glass.

Valtier Utiel-Requena 1997 Reserva wine review by (PB)

I picked this wine up on a previous trip down to (NW’s) in Boston. I grabbed it because it was ten years old, I wasn’t familiar with it all and it was cheap–$10!

There is some slight *“bricking” a t the rim but the color is holding. It is a little earthy with a very gentle bouquet and a lot of alcohol in the nose-ick.

In the mouth this wine is understated but very drinkable with cherry highlights. With some air, the alcohol burns off and the bouquet is great even if hard to describe.

It’s just more dried fruit with an herbal finish. This wine is perfectly mature so raise a glass.

*Bricking is the term used for the change in color of a red wine that is aging. As oxidation occurs the nice brilliant red color turns to a reddish orange, then to brown as it gets old.

Benuara Cusumano 2005 wine review by (PB)

This is a Sicilian blend of Nero D’Avola and Syrah and it is a really interesting wine. In the glass it is a beautiful deep cherry red which you just don’t expect and the bouquet is wonderful yet I had a difficult time pinning down a description. I think there is some caraway and floral aromas with a fleeting come what milk choclatey under layer.

In the mouth, it is obviously a nicely made wine with rich flavors of dark berries but that doesn’t do it justice. It is just nice with an under layer of dark baker’s chocolate. This wine is unique and hard to describe it but I like it! I was at (NW’s) and we had it with a nice dish of risotto and chicken breasts courtesy of my daughter. At $16, raise a glass all the way around!

Goosecross Cellars Napa Valley Sparkling Rose NV Real-time Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Rich, red color for a rose
Cranberry and strawberry on the nose
Lively, acidic core on the palate, with grapefruit tones
Big strawberry on the finish, with a lingering flavor of roses

As rose bubblies go, this one packs a punch with color and flavor. It's relatively intense in every way. The color is particularly eye-catching, and the flavors range from grapefruit to roses.

I've had two small glasses so far tonight, and I've enjoyed the wine. It hasn't paired particularly well with the appetizers, but I didn't have any prior experience with it in order to make a proper pairing. Also, this was a gift, so I wasn't sure what the reference price was until I checked the Goosecross website. After a little research, it turns out the wine is priced at $35.

If you're looking for an interesting bubbly out of Napa Valley, this wine is a lot of fun. Make sure to enjoy it with family or friends! And raise a glass!

Beni di Batasiolo Gavi Granee 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Perfumy nose of flowers and pears

Soapy texture, and more floral on the palate

Tart finish with lemons and sour apple

I like the floral qualities in this wine, but I think the finish is too tart. It detracts from the overall appeal.

At a recent dinner party, I paired this with an onion tart. While it did okay, I think a more full-bodied white would have been better. Still, I'm attracted to the Italian whites that have this soapy, floral quality. I just wish the finish was a little softer on this Gavi.

It was worth the experiment, considering the sale price on the wine was just $8, marked down from $11. Find a Gavi you like and raise a glass!

Bolla Amarone della Valpolicella 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Raisins, cherry, and rich spices on the nose
Medium-bodied and fruity core, tightly wound
Somewhat tannic, youthful finish with more spice

I had the pleasure of drinking this wine three times in the past month. My tasting notes are fairly consistent from bottle to bottle. In general, I think this wine is a nice "entry level" Amarone. It's entry level in price and in quality. While it has some of the characteristics of the better Amarone's priced from $60-$120, you don't have to break the bank. This wine costs around $40, which is towards the lower end of the Amarone prices.

My conclusion from each tasting is that this wine is too young to drink right now. It needs at least a couple more years to soften and become more integrated. However, don't miss the opportunity to try it now in order to make your own assessment- especially if someone else is paying as was the case with two of my bottles. Raise a glass!

Hedges Cellars CMS Red 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Rich nose of spicy cherry and cola
Smooth on the palate, with berries
Moderately silky tannins, fruit and vanilla notes to finish

It's always great when a wine is better than I remember it. I've always like this wine from Hedges Cellars in Washington state, but this was definitely the best experience.

Not only does it show fruit, spices, and other layers, it also has nice texture and a silky finish. I can't argue with that for a mere $12. If you often see this wine but haven't given it a try, you ought to. It should impress you, and maybe even lead you to other Washington state red blends. This bottling is a blend of Cabernet(s), Merlot, and Syrah. Raise a glass!

Falesco Vitiano 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Shows cherry and red licorice on the nose, but not sweet

Some anise on the medium-bodied palate, nice texture

Earthy finish with more cherry accents

I don't see what all the fuss is about. To me, this is a decent, well-made wine. But it got big scores from some of the critics and I'm not sure why. I've had it twice now, with consistent notes.

The core flavors are nothing impressive and it shows no signs of the voluptous characteristics of small oak barrels that are used to finish off other red blends in Tuscany and Umbria. Maybe this is asking too much for a wine that retails for $11, but the wine critics are the ones who drew attention to it.

With that said, it does have nice texture and appears to be well-made overall. For a traditional-style Italian red, raise a glass!

Columbia Crest Grant Estates Merlot 2001 Real-Time Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Opens on the nose with black cherry, then blueberry and some earthiness
Rich and smoot on the palate, with some anise
Smooth finish, with lingering cherry and vanilla

I am sipping on this wine as I post this review. Interestingly, it has evolved while sitting in my cellar. I bought a case about two years ago and have taken notes on each bottle. For a while, they were very consistent reviews from bottle to bottle. Because it's been six months or more since I last opened one, I decided to give it a try with Swedish meatballs (heavy on the carroway). The pairng was pretty good, but what struck me was how the wine has changed.

While this wine used to show lots of black cherry and vanilla, it now shows some added blueberry and an interesting earthiness on the nose. Another layer that is more pronounced than it used to be is the anise on the palate. I find this really intriguing, partly because I wouldn't assume this wine has much ageing potential. Actually, it might be starting to fade just a little but is showing a smooth integration of layers that makes it seem more elegant on its way out.

I still have a couple of bottles, and will wait a while on those to see what happens. You just never know. Right now, this is a really nice wine that I wouldn't guess to be just $11 (actually, I paid a case price of $8.50 per bottle). Raise a glass!

Chateau Larose Trintaudon 1999 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nose of red berries and tobacco

An elegant dry, fruitiness on the palate

Drying finish of dusty earth, some anise, and more tobacco and red berries

For an interesting comparison, read my review of this wine I posted 18 months ago on this blog. At the time, I was disappointed because the wine wasn't very good. I ordered it at a high-end and very reputable restaurant, but it tasted really flat. How is this possible?

One explanation is that the bottle was corked and I didn't know enough to send it back. Another explanation is that the wine was in an early "dumb phase" where the fruit was obscured and the layers weren't really coming together. This can happen with Bordeaux and other fine reds, but this is usually something that's discussed in reference to really expensive wines.

In this case, the bottle I had recently was very enjoyable. It had a dry, classy quality and showed nice layers. While I was wandering through a local wine shop, I noticed a few half bottles of this stashed on an end cap. I picked one up for just $9 and I'm glad I did. If you happen to see a 1999 hanging aroud, check it out for yourself. I hope you get a good bottle, because if you do you're in for a treat. And raise a glass!

VF Rose 2004 wine review by (PB)

This rose is from the Costieres De Nimes, Rhone Valley Vineyard and Lavielle Ferme is the producer. It is--as the label says--75% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 10% Syrah and 0% cork. (it is a crew cap bottle)

This rose has a red/orange/yellow hue with a beautiful bouquet of candied red fruit.

The flavors are subdued, but what is there is pleasant and fresh. The wine is a bit acidic and somewhat unremarkable. I prefer the old label rose "La Vielle Ferme." I paid $8.50 for this which is a fair price although their previously produced rose from the Cotes Du Ventoux was much better and cost around $6. This is a good aperitif wine. Raise a glass.

Poggio Al Tufo Rompicollo 2004 wine review by (PB)

Decided away from seafood for our Friday night repast and went with a homemade version of mostaciolli. Enter a bottle of Tuscan wine I had never heard of and am not sure why I bought it.

It is youthfully purple on the pour a nice but really sparse bouquet of a little spice and dried cherries.

In the mouth it is steely (classic Sangiovese flavor) with light fruit but the wine is really closed and needs to be decanted. Seems promising.

After 40 minutes or so, this wine opens wonderfully to a beautiful big bouquet of raspberry and cherry notes. In the mouth this wine is just wonderfully tangy with solid fruit and balance all around. A couple different layers emerge with some anise and espresso. This is a really nice wine and for $13 it is even better. Worth searching out but be sure to let it air out! Raise a glass.

Chateau De Montpezat Les Enclos 2003 wine review by (PB)

I had this wine about a year ago and enjoyed it then and bought another bottle to lay down for another year. this is THAT bottle. Wow! This is a Vin De Pays D'oc wine called Merlot Prestige. (The label at left is NOT the exact label. Where the word "Palombieres" appears, would be the words "Les Enclos.")

It is purple and a pretty black garnet with a bouquet of black cherry and a touch of cedar.

In the mouth this wine is really well made with bold tannins, a touch of spiciness, and dark fruit right out of the gate but benefits from breathing an hour or so.

There is a layer of black licorice with 15 minutes of air and an under layer of dark chocolate that is ever so slight. This is really a very nice wine and especially for $14. It is balanced through out and delicious! This is a wine worth hunting down. Raise a glass!

Fleurie Domaine De Quatre Vents 2005 wine review by (PB)

Remember the progression of Beaujolais wines? They go (increasing in price and quality) from Beaujolais to Beaujolais Villages, Beaujolais Cru and Beaujolais Nouveau which is in a class by itself.

This is one of the Beaujolais Cru named "Fleurie." This wine was $13, has a nice clear garnet hue with light Gamay aromas with gentle raspberry and strawberry kool-aid bouquet.

In the mouth this wine was really kind of unremarkable which is not the case for most Cru wines. It was okay but really not memorable. Try a differnt year and raise a glass.

Charles Joguet Chinon Cuvee Terroir 2003 wine review by (PB)

This Chinon wine is 100% Cabernet Franc with a big bouquet that reminds of a high end Chianti but only at the surface. Then this wine is absolutely unique. It smells like there is aftershave on the glass but we (NW) and I tasted this wine together and we are very careful about such extraneous odors. Rather the fragrance was just powdery and unreal.

In the mouth, this wine is tart, bitter with a Sangiovese-like similarity but not. It is short on the finish. I think (NW) paid around $17 for this. If you are not experienced with wines from the Chinon which is located in the heart of the Loire, this would be a fun wine to try. Raise a glass to new adventures through new regions!

Greg Norman Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Limestone Coast 2003 wine review by (PB)

This is a nice ruby red with cherry bouquet and a unique nose that is hard to pin down but seems like spice, leather and tobacco perhaps with a subtle under layer of dill.

In the mouth the wine is nicely made with a nice initial impression of cinnamon and spice, a with a medium body of bready fruit and fine tannins.

With a couple hours of breathing it is a wine presenting with balance of acid, tannins dried cherry flavors with black cherry highlights and cola to the finish which is is okay. I think I paid around $15 for this wine. It is a tasty, well made wine. Raise a glass.