Lenore Columbia Valley Syrah 2006

Here's a new world Syrah from Washington state that certainly gives forth the flavor you want at it's $12.99 price point. Now I'm a big fan of Rhone Valley Syrah, but you can't touch good ones for less than 25 smackers. This version doesn't yield the kind of barnyard, bacon and dark fruit aromatic complexity of it's French cousins, but it is sure to please those who favor purity of fruit and new world size. Made by the Corvidae Wine Company and repped by one of my favorites, Polaner Selections, this everyday quaffer puts forth plenty of blueberry, blackberry and petrol in the nose, along with some alcoholic heat. It's got all the size and stuffing you expect from new world Syrah and it finishes ripe and smooth with a note of pepper. It's not exactly my style, but fans of new world fruit bombs will find a lot to like here. Washington State wines can be quite attractive as they are frequently fruitier than European wines, but at the same time a bit more restrained and balanced than wines from the hotter areas of California. In addition, I know this is an '06 but it was really quite fresh and showed no signs of falling apart. Cheers.

Menguante '08 - Old Vines Grenache

Here's another wonderful Spanish bargain that delivers more quality than it's price point might indicate. This nice little wine made from organically grown old vines Grenache hails from the lesser known DO Carinena, whose vineyards lie in stony soils at 400 to 800 meters in northeastern Spain. In Spain of course, Grenache is known as Garnacha. The family run winery that produces this food friendly quaffer is called Vinedos y Bodegas Pablo and is imported by Frontier Wine Imports. Though not as complex as the Guimaro Ribeira Sacra I wrote up last week, this $9.99 bargain gives forth plenty of enjoyment. Forthcoming aromas of baked cherry, blackberry and a bit of that Grenache pepper greet you, along with a little bit of alcohol heat. In the mouth it's nicely balanced, with dark berry flavors, a generous mid-palate and a lightly tannic finish. Carinena is a centuries old viticultural area that is the origin of Carignan, a grape most common in southern France. There, it is found chiefly in Corbieres and as a blending grape in more well known wines such as Chateauneuf du Pape. In Carinena though, it is known as Mazuelo. Cheers!

I've sold out!!...but not too much.

Yes - I've become an Amazon affiliate but the news isn't all bad. Yes, I've put an Amazon widget on the blog but I can pick the products displayed, so the widget will always display something I think is worthwhile. In this case, it's Kevin Zraly's great wine book for neophytes, Windows on the World Complete Wine Course. It's a great book that explains the European wine system, where wines are named most often for the places they come from and what grapes are grown in those places. It's absolutely a must have for those of you embarking on your wine journey. It's also interesting to note that, having just passed the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, Windows on the World was the name of the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center's north tower and Mr. Zraly was the wine director for 25 years or so. He is still active in wine education and his book was my introduction also. Oh yeah. Amazon does pay me a commission on sales, as long as you get there via this humble blog - and even if you buy a different product. Might I suggest a 50" TV? Cheers!
 

Guimaro '09 - Indigenous Grapes, Inimitable Terroir Spanish Style

On the whole, most Spanish wines deliver the goods for everyday drinking when it comes to unabashed fruitiness. But there aren't that many in the low cost category that deliver the kind of complexity that I search for. In 2009, Eric Asimov of the New York Times posted a feature on Rebeira Sacra, a little known area of Galacia in northwestern Spain. It's a fascinating article that documents the historical abandonment of vineyards on terraced land that goes back 2000 years and the recent rebirth of those same vineyards. These wines, made from grapes grown on incredibly steep, terraced hillsides, can really deliver flavors that showcase the slate and granite laden soils that they come from. Made primarily from Mencia and other indigenous grapes such as brancellao, mouratón and garnacha, the idea that wine can deliver a "sense of place" is evident in these wines. Which brings me to a great example of that idea for a mere $12.99. You're met right away with soil driven, mineral aromas that give way to blackberry and baked cherry. In the mouth, the Guimaro puts forth wonderful medium-bodied earthy, red fruit flavors and a long sweet finish. It's really balanced nicely and keeps you coming back for more. This is imported by one of my favorites, David Bowler. Don't miss it. Cheers.

Buccia Nera "Donna Patrizia" Toscana Bianco '09

I know what you're thinking..."what the heck is a Toscana Bianco?" Okay, it's from Tuscany, but wines like this have a very generic sound to them. We all like to know what grapes have gone into the wine we are drinking. Often the varietal(s) are listed in small print on the back label, but how many folks know that? When they don't see it on the front, they move on. But hey, since I've touted the portfolios of certain importers a lot, the readers of this blog should be checking out the back label anyway. Then, when you see that a wine like the Donna Patrizia is from a reputable importer like the Maximum Wine Co., you should not be afraid to check out a $9.99 value like this. And when you do, you will love this wine. This beauty is an indigenous 3 grape blend comprised of 40% Malvasia, 40% Trebbiano and 20% Grechetto. It features soaring, exotic aromas of pink grapefruit, white flowers and a nutty nuance. It's flavors and textures are bolder than you expect at this price point, and put forth citrus, pear and mineral flavors that keep on coming. It finishes long with bright, balancing acidity. It is produced with organically grown grapes and is fermented entirely in stainless steel. This should pair nicely with lighter fish dishes or a simple grilled chicken. The Donna Patrizia is the sister wine of Buccia Nera's wonderful Guarniente Chianti, which I wrote up in April. Cheers.

Colosi Nero d'Avola '09

Colosi is a producer whose wines I have been drinking for years. It's a name that is synonymous with quality year in and year out. Their '09 Nero d'Avola from Sicily is a case in point. This wine features beautiful cherry and violet aromas, bright, juicy red fruit flavors and a touch of minerality in the finish. It's fairly large in the mid-palate, quite smooth in texture and exhibits none of the baked fruit aromas and flavors that can sometimes accompany wines from hot climates. There's no over-ripeness here. And, at $11.99 it won't hurt your wallet. Nero d'Avola is the most important grape of Sicily and it comes in a range of styles. The style of this wine however is really easy to like. It's also a nice package. Imported by one of my favorites, Vias, their portfolio is one you should seek out. Cheers.

No power, No Water....Get Out the Corkscew.

    I know it's been awhile since my last post but I was set back a bit by Hurricane Irene, which dumped about 7 inches of rain in our area. We were without power for a couple of days, a small number compared to folks just over the hill from me who still haven't had the lights turned back on. Our hearts go out to those folks in upstate New York and Vermont, areas hit especially hard. Wilmington, VT, a town we know intimately due to many years of skiing was destroyed. It's just too sad.
   We did get to enjoy some great wines by candlelight. One was a delicious Pinot Noir that is a private label project of Polaner Selections called Wyatt. It sports typical pinot aromas of bright cherry and cinnamon. In the mouth it has a very lush feel with bold cherry fruit, excellent concentration and good balancing acidity. It sells for around $15.99 and though I know it's a little expensive to be an everyday wine in these pages, it's a good one for Saturday night.

   Another delicious wine we tried was a fantastic and very affordable Vouvray from Domaine d'Orfeuilles. Good Vouvray has gotten so expensive so finding this $11.99 beauty made me very happy. Vouvray comes from the Loire Valley of France and is made from the Chenin Blanc grape. These wines are fantastic with seafood of all kinds, especially lobster, but they have the body to stand up to heavily sauced chicken dishes as well. This beauty features aromas of pear, lemon zest and a distinct stony element. Pear and mineral flavors are balanced by typical Vouvray acidity that keeps it fresh and lively feeling. These wines can easily age 10 or more years and develop more nuance along the way. I'm a big fan.

Santa Vincenza "Ventoso" Morellino di Scansano '09

Here is a lovely though obscure wine from the Tuscan coast called Morellino di Scansano. Morellino is actually an ancient name for Sangiovese, the most important grape of Tuscany. It's origins in the region go back to Etruscan times and here it's proximity to the sea, elevation and volcanic soils make very good and under appreciated wines. They can be riper and more monolithic than their more famous relatives from the region that Chianti comes from, but this wine is at once delicate and complex - and it sells for $12.99. This is a blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo and 5% Alicante. It features very outgoing aromas of smoky cherry, violets and leather. In the mouth, it has bright medium-bodied cherryish fruit and finishes very long. I'm not really sure, but the bottler Santa Vincenza appears to be a negociant or a broker of some sort. Perhaps this is a private label of theirs. Either way, this is a beautiful wine for the price, especially if you favor finesse over size like I do. Enjoy it with grilled chicken, pizza or a light tomato sauce over you favorite pasta. Cheers!

Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec '09 - Balanced and Beautiful

It's been awhile since I've posted as I was in Wisconsin for a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation fund-raising century bike ride. I had a great time but it's good to get back to the east coast where the wine choices are much wider. I've already written up the Crios Torrontes. It's one of the most interesting whites I've had this year and the red wine brother of that wine is the Crios Malbec. Argentinian Malbecs continue to impress me and the Crios is one of the best everyday examples I've had. It leads with complex aromas of chocolatey cherry, licorice and a distinct earthy note. In the mouth it's quite flavorful with fairly large-scaled dark fruit flavors and a long spicy, lightly tannic finish. This is a very nicely balanced wine that comes in at a very moderate 13.9% alcohol. When new world reds start creeping up into that 14.8 or 15% range I start to lose interest. For me, wines that are that high in alcohol can taste over-ripe, raisiny and hot on the back end. Plus, you can end up being kind of blotto by the time you are done with dinner. A great value, this beauty cost me $12.99. Cheers.

Our garden has been yielding a very nice bounty thanks to Janet - and she made us a wonderful meal. We enjoyed the Crios Malbec with sauteed chicken thighs with spicy cherry peppers and escarole (from the garden), a fantastic heirloom tomato (from the garden) salad with feta, olives and basil and zucchini with toasted almonds and parmesan. . The Crios went very well with the spicy chicken. Yum.

Pushing the "Reset" Button on California Chardonnay - Foxglove '09

As someone who has spent some time talking to customers in a retail operation, it has become apparent that Chardonnay lovers are becoming more and more enamored of unoaked versions all the time. The days of Chardonnay bottlings dominated by vanilla flavors and buttery textures appear to be waning. They are heavy handed wines that are low enough in acidity that they do not pair well with food and can in fact get "lost in the sauce". This entry level Chardonnay bottling of Varner Wines called Foxglove is a completely unoaked version that has garnered fully deserved accolades from wine writers much more important than me, and I have to agree. It sees no barrel and no malolactic fermentation whatsoever. Malolactic fermentation is a secondary fermentation that happens naturally and you either allow it to happen or you stop it. It converts the harsher malic acid into the softer lactic acid and it is what gives some California Chardonnays their buttery characteristics. I prefer the style that the Foxglove represents and it sells for an affordable $14.99. It has typical Chardonnay aromas of pear, apple and a note of honey. In the mouth the pear flavors really leap to the front and this lovely wine has a creamy, medium-bodied, somewhat oily texture and wonderful acidity that keeps it lively and fresh. It's bold enough to stand up to grilled chicken and delicate enough to pair with pan seared salmon or grilled shrimp. Cheers!

Indigenous Grapes, Inimitable Terroir....Di Giovanna Nerello Mascalese

Easy for me to say....call me crazy but I am a fan of grapes that only seem to grow in one or just a few places, and Sicilian wine is certainly not at the forefront of wine consciousness. Yes, everyone grows international grapes like Cab and Merlot but it is from wild places like this that you find great pleasure in wines like Di Giovanna's Nerello Mascalese. It's listed everywhere as a grape that is usually blended with other grapes. But here, it shines all by itself. No costars necessary. This is one of my favorite $12.99 wines. Beautiful aromas of smoky black cherry, nutmeg and a volcanic stoniness mesh with lingering dark berry fruit in the mouth. With excellent lift, it finishes lightly tannic with a note of coffee. I'm sorry, I can't get enough of it. Very few wines of such character can be found at this price point. Pairs great with a roast chicken, some lamb chops, burgers...you name it. The label says it is produced with organic grapes though the website doesn't mention it. Oh yeah, this was the 2008 but I bet they have very few bad vintages in Sicily. Either way, it's really good. Cheers!!

Zenato Pinot Grigio '09

I know it's been awhile since the last post, so humblest apologies. Whenever we think of Italian white wine, Pinot Grigio may be first on the synapses. Let's face it, it's everywhere and I don't think I've ever heard anyone say...."oh I don't like Pinot Grigio". I mean really, what's not to like. It's everywhere yes, but you do see the same factory versions over and over again...and there are differences. If I go to a restaurant and I see oh I don't know, Ecco Domani on the wine list I say, "nobody cares here". If I go to a restaurant and I see Santa Margherita on the wine list (for $45) I say, "they're taking the easy way out." There are versions of this taken-for-granted grape that are delicious and they are recession busting values. Case in point: the '09 Pinot Grigio from Zenato from top importer Leonardo LoCasio. This $9.99 beauty has wonderful pear and apple aromas along with a note of honey. The pear flavors really flow through on the palate along with a slight nutty nuance. It finishes with medium body and excellent balancing acidity. It's an excellent value.

We enjoyed this beauty with herb-stuffed whole grilled branzini, potato salad with curry and peas and grilled escarole with crispy onions. Yum! As Dizzy Dean once said, "It ain't braggin' if you really done it" Cheers!