Ridge California Sonoma County "Three Valleys" 2004

"Three Valleys" is the Ridge proprietary name for its only wine blended from multiple vineyard sites. To make it, Ridge selected softer, more accessible lots from single vineyards, combining them to create the character that is most immediately appealing. Younger vines on the Lytton Springs Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley provided roughly half the fruit; a third came from Geyserville, Mazzoni, and Stone Ranch Vineyards in Alexander Valley; the balance is from Pagani Ranch in the cool Sonoma Valley.

Yeah, I didn't write that but it is some good info. Rob originally posted this below as part of the Man Trip wines. I brought this on the suggestion of the wine guy at Piggly Wiggly in Homewood. I have got to get this guys name one day. I told him we needed something good to go with our steak. He strongly recommended this wine. I was very impressed with this wine. It runs in the low $20s. Notice the picture says 2002. We had the 2004.

Colterenzio Lagrein Grieser 2005

It has been a while since I have posted. The whites of summer did nothing for me and I haven't been in the mood for reds. Until now. I went to my favorite wine shop, Village Wines in English Village and purchased a very expensive bottle of wine for a friend. While there I asked for a cheap bottle of red for myself. Something to drink and not think much about. I was told that this wine was very popular and I believe it only cost $12.99. I wish I had more of a wine imagination so I could describe the scent but all I can settle on is "very good!" Trust me, it is a great bottle and you should try it.

Man Trip 2006 Wines

Website to visit

Each day, USA TODAY's Jerry Shriver recommends a a wine that costs $15 or less in his Cheers! blog at http://cheers.usatoday.com.

Sounds like a good source for us Bham Winos.

A recent suggestion:

2004 Dry Creek Vineyard Heritage Zinfandel, Sonoma County, about $15. For more than 30 years this Sonoma County producer has turned out some of California's most reliable zinfandels (along with some of its very best Sauvignon Blancs), and this bottling upholds that tradition. It's packed with juicy blackberry flavors and spice notes, and the alcohol comes in at a very manageable 13.5%. This isn't a trophy wine, just a well-made, classic California Zin, and I wish more wineries would stick to this style. Try it with either a hunk of sourdough bread and some hard cheese or with barbecued ribs.

Chalone Vineyard 2003 Merlot

Officially it's the Monterey County Merlot.
I'm on a mission to save Merlot. It has gone out of favor because of the rantings of some bald guy in a weird movie. So who do you want to believe, him - or your taste buds? Seriously, Merlot is good stuff and don't forget it.

This one was very good. I have had good success with both reds and whites from the Monterey region and that was one thing that caught my eye on the label. It has rich cherry flavors and aromas and some hints of oak vanilla. Try it. $18 at Western.

Orleans Hill Viognier 2005

This white uses organically grown grapes. From the website: "Most California wineries make a Viognier like they style chardonnay-- big, oaky, clumsy, and non-distinctive.

Our Viognier is more along the styling of an Italian Pinot Grigio, crisp, dry and non-oaked with a kiss of CO2 left over from primary fermentation. This keeps the alluring melon and floral aromas in the forefront and makes a wine which is great summer quaffing or with light fare."

Online tasting notes: Clear light gold. Peach nectar and vanilla aromas, ripe and full. Luscious texture and a hint of sweetness on the first taste segues to a finish that's more dry and tart, with medium body and a hint of alcohol (it's listed at 13.5%).

Our opinion - pretty good. Served with salmon poached in a rich sauce of tahini and tomatillo salsa. About $11.

Alexander Valley Vineyards Merlot 2004

We had this last night with steaks. Flavors of blackberry, cassis, and sweet oak. Not too fruity (it has a bit of Cabernet blended in) - we thought it was very good. Label also notes Alexander Valley / Wetzel Family Estate. About $15.

Keltie Brook Pinot Noir 2004

Hey Shawn - a screw top Pinot from Carneros. We drank it and blogged it so it must not have been terrible. No notes available. 9/30/06

Wine dinner at John's City Diner

Tuesday night we did something we wanted to do for a while by attending one of the bi-monthly wine dinners at John's City Diner downtown. After a Bellini made with Rotari Sparking Chef Paul Clark gave an overview of the food to come. First course - 3 cheese ravioli with sauteed crabmeat and toasted sweet corn ragout. Second course - Pasta rustica with chicken, sausage, onion, herbs, lemon. Entree - Stuffed center cut pork chop with grilled polenta, wilted greens, and port wine jus. Dessert - 2 assorted sorbetos.

As for the wines:
Rotari Sparking
Libio Felluga, Tocai Friolano, Collio (white)
Masi Campofiorin Ripasso, Veneto (red)
Ceretto Barolo, Piemonte (red)

Jennifer Horner of MBC United Wines did a nice talk about what we drinking and had some geographic reference material on each table.

Rotari
Not an "asti" but a champagne-method sparking. Made from chardonnay and pinot noir grapes.

Libio Felluga
This white reminded me of a French Loire Valley white, very little or no oak.

Masi
This specialty of Masi, resulting from the refermentation of wine from fresh Veronese red grapes with a percentage of semi-dried grapes of the same varietals, splendidly encompasses the qualities of the Verona area: the excellence of the zone, the highly individual style of the indigenous Veronese grape varieties, and the originality of the techniques of "appassimento" (semi-drying) and double fermentation by Masi. It combines simplicity and grace with power and majesty. It is rich, full-bodied, round and velvety, and has an aging potential of 10 to 15 years.

Ceretto
The star of the evening (we don't get to enjoy Barolo very often). Great with the pork.

Wishing Tree 2005 Unoaked Chardonnay

This inexpensive Australian is quite drinkable although a bit sharp around the edges for my taste. The fruit overtones are on the tart and acidic side, like grapefruit or tart apple.

Of the whites posted here in recent months I would prefer the CMS or the Cusumono Insolia. However, both of those cost more than this one which runs about $9. Shawn will dig the screw cap. All in all, a good everyday white.

Sacred Stone Master's Red Blend

Another recent find from Western. From the winery (Pietra Santa - 25 miles east of Monterey):

"Ripe, juicy, and expressive, this unique blend features cherry and plum flavors with hints of earth and spice. Sacred Stone is soft and supple with attractive forward fruit and crisp acidity that makes it an ideal match for a wide-range of food. Merlot and Sangiovese from our estate vineyards provide the backbone of the wine, but the Syrah, Carignane, and Grenache add interesting spice and mineral notes. An excellent value with loads of complexity and flavor.

Blend: 26% Merlot, 24% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah and small amounts of Carignane and Grenache"

The label says it will cellar for 2-8 years. However, there is no vintage year on the bottle; it only says "cask 008". Curious. $10

2 French Red Values

We found some good values at Western recently. First is Chateau la Casenove Côtes du Roussillon 'La Garrigue' 2003. Description: Flavors of pure-tasting blackberry and chocolate. Excellent texture, and levels of fruit, with a long elegant feel.

$9.99


Second is the 2002 Chateau Pesquie Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Terrasses.

From the winery:

Grape varieties: Blend of 70 % Grenache and 30 % Syrah.

Aging: 35 % of this vintage is aged in oak barrels, 19 % of which are new and 16 % of which have been used two or three times previously.

Tasting: Dark red color, with a nose blossoming into jammy berry aromas set off by a touch of spice. The well-structured, powerful mouthfeel with elegant tannins is enhanced by slightly woody licorice notes. Long finish.

$8.99

Alsace Gentil "Hugel" 2003

Here's another French white as an alternative to California whites. Mary says "fruity but not too" ... we both agree on the grapefruit note below. $12

Wine Spectator (85 points) - Fragrant, evoking floral and spice aromas and flavors, this is rich and soft, yet gets a boost from a grapefruit note on the finish. Drink now.

Simi Sauvignon Blanc 2004

At first taste this Sonoma county wine starts out oaky but as it warms & opens in the glass other flavors emerge. I pick up some pear and tart apple. Still working on my sensors. It contains 9% Semillon.

The website says
Appearance: Brilliant straw with hints of green
Aroma: Bursts of grapefruit, Meyer lemon and orange blossoms are laced with lemon grass and mineral notes.
Taste and Texture: Intense flavors of tangerine, melon and fig accented with green tea and hints of mineral on the finish.

$10

Los Planos Syrah 2004

A French wine with a Spanish title ... sort of suspicious like the Japanese waitress bearing a fortune cookie. More to come.

$10 at Western.

2004 Tir Na N'og Old Vines Grenache (McLaren Vale)

This Australian red was recommended to us by the folks at Village Wine Market when we were there for a tasting. It's a nicely balanced wine with medium fruit - very tasty. We opened it last night after consuming the French Pinot Noir in the previous post.

The tasting notes from the website: "The 2004 harvest of these old vines yielded some of the most intensely flavored Grenache you are ever likely to taste. Beautiful fruit and spice notes waft from the glass, and on the palate the wine is lush and intense yet exhibits great balance and extraordinary mouthfeel. This is sexy wine that is sure to provide drinking pleasure for years to come."

Definitely worth a try! About $25.

2002 Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Jean-Luc Joillot

Our friends Tom and Tyler served this last night with sea scallops and risotto. I am used to drinking fruity American PNs and this has a very different character. Mary describes it as bright, perhaps a little thin with a hint of spice. We may have to get a bottle and do some additional research. Tom said it came from Western Supermarket.

Addendum: Mary picked up a bottle today ($20) so I'm trying it anew. I wouldn't call it bright, but not dull either. See Tom's comment. All in all, decent to drink but there are better wines for less money. I would like to try more of this type so please comment with suggestions if you have any.

CMS White by Hedges 2005

This is a Washington State wine from Columbia Valley that is 54% Sauvignon Blanc, 44% Chardonnay, and 2% Marsanne. Rearrange the first letters of those grapes and you get the name.

This wine has seen no oak and is consequently crisp and fruity. Easy drinking by itself or with food (the winemaker suggests shellfish). Excellent choice for summer drinking - more interesting than Pinot Grigio and lower end Sauvignon Blancs. I found it at Western when looking for something already cold. $10.99

Luce della Vite Toscano Lucente

We were celebrating 06/06/06 with Scott and Kay at Gianmarco's and I ordered a bottle of this Tuscan red blend after tasting Kay's glass. (It was much better than a Pinot Noir I tried.) This turned out to be very good and was reasonable by restaurant standards. I found out later that the 2003 scored a 90 from Wine Spectator.

From a web review: Big, rich aromas of crushed blackberries, licorice and minerals with just a hint of lemongrass. Full-bodied with thick, luscious tannins and a long, smoky tar and berry finish. A full-throttle wine. This is really excellent for the money. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Interesting story behind this wine: In 1995, the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi family of Florence and the Robert Mondavi family of Napa Valley joined forces to achieve a common goal: to create a world class Italian wine. And thus Luce was created.

We'll look for it locally. Price range retail is low 20's.

Chateau Potelle 2004 Sauvignon Blanc

Here we go with a "nearly" realtime post! We are sitting at the Belsers after dinner finishing a bottle recommended by Scott at Overton & Vine. We brought it along to match up with shrimp scampi. This one is smooth - start to finish - and very balanced. I don't think it would conflict with any seafood dish and it also drinks nicely without any food. About $13.

William said "It's a white wine I don't mind drinking". (Apparently there's only one color in his Crayola box.)