I'll admit this first wine probably deserves more space than I'm going to give it, because the 2000 Ciacci Piccolomini Fabius Sant'Antimo was incredible. Ciacci is best known for their Brunellos, but they also make a couple of other international styled wines, one of which is this Sant'Antimo. The Fabius is 100% Syrah, and is a great example of how this international varietal can reach great heights in Italy. I absolutely loved this wine, and would love to get more of other vintages. It had aged quite well, and in my opinion was at an optimal point in its life. I really, really recommend this wine.
The other Italian was also from Tuscany, but this time it was a blend. The 2004 Brancaia Tre is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet and from an exceptional vintage. This IGT Toscana is the entry-level wine from this producer and is a decent price that delivers some great quality. We got to taste the entire Brancaia lineup at Vinitaly, and they are making great wines all around. The Tre allows anyone to try their wines without spending too much.
I'll have one last catch-up entry coming soon that will detail the wines drank this past weekend when Loudoun came to visit for the UVa-GT football game. Needless to say, there were some good treats pulled from the cellar, especially to celebrate the big UVa win Saturday night.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Catching up - Spain
I've had two nice inexpensive wines from Spain recently - one an old favorite, and one a totally new choice.
The old favorite was the 2005 Las Rocas Calatayud Garnacha. A Robert Parker favorite, this winery burst onto the scene a few years ago with its Vinas Viejas earning mid-90's scores and priced under $15. This 2005 was their regular bottling, but it still delivers a great example of Spanish Garnacha for a small price. Not an overwhelming wine, it is a good everyday drinker much like the La Garrigue Cotes du Rhone I just wrote about.
The new wine was the 2005 Vilosell Costers del Segre. I was not familiar with this region or the wine, but once again it was an inexpensive Spanish selection from importer Eric Solomon that earned rave reviews from Parker. Made from mainly Tempranillo, this blend was more on the modern side, but not overly so. Again, for the price of about $15, it delivered plenty of pleasure for a nice weeknight quaffer.
The old favorite was the 2005 Las Rocas Calatayud Garnacha. A Robert Parker favorite, this winery burst onto the scene a few years ago with its Vinas Viejas earning mid-90's scores and priced under $15. This 2005 was their regular bottling, but it still delivers a great example of Spanish Garnacha for a small price. Not an overwhelming wine, it is a good everyday drinker much like the La Garrigue Cotes du Rhone I just wrote about.
The new wine was the 2005 Vilosell Costers del Segre. I was not familiar with this region or the wine, but once again it was an inexpensive Spanish selection from importer Eric Solomon that earned rave reviews from Parker. Made from mainly Tempranillo, this blend was more on the modern side, but not overly so. Again, for the price of about $15, it delivered plenty of pleasure for a nice weeknight quaffer.
Catching up - France
For those of you who are reading and checking this blog, my apologies for neglecting it the past few weeks. I've had plenty of good wine to drink, so I'm now going to do my best to start catching up. Instead of my single entries for each wine, I'll consolidate a bit. First up, a few French wines.
From the cellar, I pulled out the 2000 Tardieu-Laurent Rasteau Vieilles Vignes. Tardieu-Laurent's wines are know as being somewhat oaky and tannic, so giving this a few years seemed a wise move. I think it certainly was, as this wine was very balanced and delivered great flavors of a more traditional Southern Rhone wine. I was quite happy with it.
Next up was one of my favorite house wines - the 2003 Guigal Cotes du Rhone. This vintage was exceptional, and I've been drinking it over the past two years I think. It still holds plenty of great flavor with a higher Syrah component that gives it a darker color and more body. In any vintage this wine is good, and I've finally got some 2004 to try soon.
Finally, there was the 2006 Domaine La Garrigue Cotes du Rhone. This wine is a better example of the Southern Rhone compared to the Guigal that embodies the best of both North and South in my opinion. The winery is located in Vacqueyras, and the Cotes du Rhone is similar to what I expect from that appellation - a bit rustic, but overall pleasing. It is similar in price to the Guigal, and both are great everyday-type wines that show the breadth of possibilities from this region.
From the cellar, I pulled out the 2000 Tardieu-Laurent Rasteau Vieilles Vignes. Tardieu-Laurent's wines are know as being somewhat oaky and tannic, so giving this a few years seemed a wise move. I think it certainly was, as this wine was very balanced and delivered great flavors of a more traditional Southern Rhone wine. I was quite happy with it.
Next up was one of my favorite house wines - the 2003 Guigal Cotes du Rhone. This vintage was exceptional, and I've been drinking it over the past two years I think. It still holds plenty of great flavor with a higher Syrah component that gives it a darker color and more body. In any vintage this wine is good, and I've finally got some 2004 to try soon.
Finally, there was the 2006 Domaine La Garrigue Cotes du Rhone. This wine is a better example of the Southern Rhone compared to the Guigal that embodies the best of both North and South in my opinion. The winery is located in Vacqueyras, and the Cotes du Rhone is similar to what I expect from that appellation - a bit rustic, but overall pleasing. It is similar in price to the Guigal, and both are great everyday-type wines that show the breadth of possibilities from this region.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
1999 Chateau de St. Cosme Gigondas
I went back to the cellar over the weekend for another Rhone Valley wine, this time an older Gigondas from one of the top producers of the appellation. I have several bottles from various vintages and as this was the oldest I felt it was time to give it a try. The 1999 St Cosme Gigondas still has some life left in it, with much of the rustic earthiness that is a trait of the appellation. I enjoyed this wine over two nights and found that it still had plenty going for it even the second night. It's not an overwhelming wine, but a very good example of how the wines of Gigondas can age gracefully, but without losing their soul.
The prices for these wines have unfortunately increased over the past few years, but I still recommend St. Cosme Gigondas for a value from the Southern Rhone. The base cuvee is much less than most Chateauneufs now, and at $25-$30 will deliver great pleasure over several years.
The prices for these wines have unfortunately increased over the past few years, but I still recommend St. Cosme Gigondas for a value from the Southern Rhone. The base cuvee is much less than most Chateauneufs now, and at $25-$30 will deliver great pleasure over several years.
2004 Jean-Luc Colombo Cotes du Rhone Les Abeilles
Jean-Luc Colombo is one of the newer breed of winemakers in the Cornas appellation of the Northern Rhone, but he also makes a great negociant Cotes du Rhone as well. I've enjoyed this wine in prior vintages, and the 2004 has been solid as well. Made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, this is a Southern Rhone wine, but with a bit of the elegance of a Northern Rhone.
What makes this wine even better is the price. Typically available in the $10-$12 range of many similar Cotes du Rhones, I've been getting this recently for just $7 a bottle, which makes it an absolute steal. There are very few wines that can deliver such pleasure at this price, so if you see it in that price range, I definitely recommend picking up a bottle or 2.
What makes this wine even better is the price. Typically available in the $10-$12 range of many similar Cotes du Rhones, I've been getting this recently for just $7 a bottle, which makes it an absolute steal. There are very few wines that can deliver such pleasure at this price, so if you see it in that price range, I definitely recommend picking up a bottle or 2.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
2004 Turley Pesenti Zinfandel
My latest Turley bottle was the 2004 Pesenti, a wine I have had a couple of times previously and quite enjoyed. This bottle was no different, offering up plenty of typical Turley brawn, but not overpowering. Flavors of berries and dark fruit led the way, and the finish was not alcoholic despite the 16% alcohol level.
Of all the Turleys I've tried I'd say that the Pesenti has consistently delivered great quality for its price (in the mid-range of the Turley lineup). I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who wants to see what great Zinfandel is all about.
Of all the Turleys I've tried I'd say that the Pesenti has consistently delivered great quality for its price (in the mid-range of the Turley lineup). I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who wants to see what great Zinfandel is all about.
2001 Domaine Bois de Boursan Chateauneuf du Pape
My Dad had just mentioned that he was able to get some bottles of Bois de Boursan's high-end Cuvee Felix for a great price, so when I went looking for a Chateauneuf to drink last week, I decided to see how the winery's regular cuvee was holding up. 2001 was a very good vintage in Chateauneuf du Pape, and the wines should now be coming out of their dormancy and entering into their prime drinking window.
The first night, the 2001 Bois de Boursan started a bit slowly, but opened up to reveal some great Grenache characteristics with cherry flavors leading the way. On the second night though, the wine had really reched another level, offering not only the cherry, but a more complex mix of flavors and a longer finish. I was quite pleased with the wine and look forward to seeing how the Cuvee Felix is evolving, but I will certainly give it a few years (I have a bottle of the 2001 as well as 2003 and the 2004 my Dad has procured). For folks looking for a good Chateauneuf to try without breaking the bank, I'd recommend this base-level wine from Bois de Boursan, which should be available most anywhere for $30-$40, a very reasonable price for Chateauneuf du Pape in today's market.
The first night, the 2001 Bois de Boursan started a bit slowly, but opened up to reveal some great Grenache characteristics with cherry flavors leading the way. On the second night though, the wine had really reched another level, offering not only the cherry, but a more complex mix of flavors and a longer finish. I was quite pleased with the wine and look forward to seeing how the Cuvee Felix is evolving, but I will certainly give it a few years (I have a bottle of the 2001 as well as 2003 and the 2004 my Dad has procured). For folks looking for a good Chateauneuf to try without breaking the bank, I'd recommend this base-level wine from Bois de Boursan, which should be available most anywhere for $30-$40, a very reasonable price for Chateauneuf du Pape in today's market.
2000 Domaine Mercouri Red
Over the past week or two, I've begun going to my cellar for wines, figuring there are plenty of choices there that probably are peaking (and hopefully not past). One of the first I noticed was a Greek wine, the 2000 Domaine Mercouri, and truthfully I was afraid it may be over the hill. I was pleasantly surprised though to find that this wine still had plenty to offer. There was still ample fruit that made this a nice red ideal for drinking with dinner.
I first had this wine one summer in Greece, and have found it to be one of the better wines coming out of Greece. This wine is mainly Refosco, with some Mavrodaphne blended in, and offers a great look at what is possible from Greece with commitment to make top quality wines. I highly recommend this producer if you are looking to sample the wines from this region.
I first had this wine one summer in Greece, and have found it to be one of the better wines coming out of Greece. This wine is mainly Refosco, with some Mavrodaphne blended in, and offers a great look at what is possible from Greece with commitment to make top quality wines. I highly recommend this producer if you are looking to sample the wines from this region.
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