Liberty School Cabernet Sauv. Paso Robles 2006

Marietta Old Vine Red (Lot 48)

I can't believe we never posted this because we have had it many times and it's consistently good.

Released in August 2008, Old Vine Red Lot 48 is predominantly Zinfandel. Lot 48 coats the palate with luscious blackberry fruit and is balanced by peppery spice both on the palate and aromatically. Aged in French and American oak, this wine should drink well over the next few years (best in 1-3). The dominant varieties in Lot 48 are Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Cabernet.

About $12-13.

Wal-Mart wine

Wal-Mart announced that, sometime in 2009, it will begin offering customers a new discount item ... Wal-Mart's own brand of wine.

The world's largest retail chain is rumored to be teaming up with Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery of California to produce the spirits at an affordable price -- in the $2 to $5 range.

Wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to put a bottle of the Wal-Mart brand into their shopping carts, but "There is a market for inexpensive wine." said Kathy Micken, professor of marketing at University of Arkansas, Bentonville. "However, branding will be very important."

Customer surveys were conducted to determine the most attractive name for the Wal-Mart wine brand.

The top surveyed names in order of popularity were:

- Chateau Traileur Parc
- White Trashfindel
- Big Red Gulp
- World Championship Riesling
- NASCARbernet
- Chef Boyardeaux
- Peanut Noir
- I Can't Believe it's not Vinegar
- Grape Expectations
- Nasti Spumante

The beauty of Wal-Mart wine is that it can be served with either whitemeat (Possum) or red meat (Squirrel).

By the way: Wal-Mart is evil - www.walmartmoveie.com

Mouton Cadet 2005 Bordeaux

In the mouth this wine is tannic with tight fruit and bread. Lots of potential in this 65% Merlot 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc; your basic Bordeaux blend.

The palate is smooth and full-bodied, with full tannins enhancing ripe berry flavors. Fruit is still stingy but it is there. This is actually a very nice wine at this price point and a typical old world wine in all the great ways. This is a far superior wine than what you normally get for this price from any country.

Garnacha de Fuego 2007

I bought this recently at Overton and Vine to serve at book club. I thought it was very good both in taste and value.

The 2007 Garnacha de Fuego is 100% old-vine Garnacha sourced from 60-80 year old vineyards offering tiny yields. Dark ruby/purple-colored the nose exhibits spice box, earth notes, and wild cherry. On the palate it is slightly compact albeit with excellent flavors and good length. It is a steal at the asking price. Drink it over the next two years. -Robert Parker

Snoqualmie Sauvignon Blanc 2007

This was my Thanksgiving wine for 2008 and it turned out to be a good pairing. From the winemaker: "Bold and bright aromas fill the nose followed by a rich mouthful of citrus and melon which linger on the palate. This is a very crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc that will pair well with a variety of foods."

From the Columbia Valley in Washington State. $10 at Western.

Liberty School Chardonnay Central Coast 2006

Nuances of Bartlett pear, pineapple and green apples in the nose. The finish is long, balanced and never cloying, due to its healthy acidity.

Parducci Petite Sirah 2005

It's medium to full-bodied with nice peppery spice. From the grower: "This wine has aromas of black cherry, plum and black pepper, with hints of leather and oak spice. The lush flavors on the palate are of black fruits, smoke and chocolate, complemented by supple tannins. This is the perfect full-bodied wine for summer barbecues, blue cheeses, and blackened anything."

And if that's not good enough for you they are the first winery in the USA to be carbon neutral!

2 stars, 9.99 at Western

McManis Petite Sirah 2006

We have enjoyed other McManis products in the past (although I was surprised I never blogged them). However, this one is an over the top fruit bomb. Fruit can be good but this is too much. I expect some body and spice in a Syrah.

So, this is not bad, it's just not what you want. One star.

Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel 2004

Good Zin at a good price. If there was some left and I could think about it I might say something like "Ripe and a trifle on the jammy side with evident, slightly dry but focused varietal aromas of blackberries and a hint of spicy peppercorns, this one is full on the palate and slightly fleshy in feel at entry before its tannins kick in and rough up the latter going. Its tilt to gruffness suggests service with savory meats." Note this is the Sonoma Heritage Vines. $8 at Whole Foods.

2006 Costa de Oro Pinot Noir

A Toast! 

On the penultimate eve of the birth of my second son Ethan, I wish to toast those who came before him in 2008. To Sarah Grace Ervin, a toast. To Sam Eagan, a toast. To Jackson Oliver, a toast. And to all of their parents, a toast.

I toast you all with a bottle of Costa de Oro Pinot Noir that was recommended highly by Village Wines. It runs in the $20 range but is well worth it. I tend to like the bigger reds such as zinfandel but I want to drink more Pinot Noir this summer. I wish I could compare it to another but I can't you will have to take my word for it. It's Great! And besides I am in a much more reflective mood about family than to think if it smells like berries or licorice. My future will smell of much more exotic things. 

A toast to the adventure we are all on!

2005 Steele Shooting Star Barbera

Smooth. That was the first thing that went through my mind when I took my first sip. I have really enjoyed Steele wine before and if I am correct the Shooting Star label is their reasonably priced wine. This one cost about $12. This is a great wine to just drink or have with food. One blogger said this was a good version of the wine you would get at a pizza parlor. I believe it is much better than that but it would be mighty tasty with a pizza. I recommend you give this a try.

Château Saint Martin De La Garrigue Bronzinelle (2004)

I am still looking for the Cave Des Papes Coted du Rhone Heritage and ask for it at the wine shops I visit. They did not have it at Village Wines but it was suggested I try this Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue Bronzinelle from the Languedoc region of France. The wine is a blend of 34% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre, 22% Grenache, and 17% Carignan. The blend is somewhat similar to the Cave Des Papes.

This wine was very good and it only cost $12.99. This is a Kermit Lynch wine so my streak of really good KL wines continues.

Kermit Lynch

I mentioned this in an earlier post but I was once told that if you see that the importer was Kermit Lynch then buy it. It has served me well over the years. I just bought a few bottles with my birthday gift certificate. We'll see if that holds up.

Editors Note: The white wine Graves Chateau Gravile-Lacoste 2006 doesn't live up to Kermit Lynch quality in my opinion. The vineyard has an aol.com email address. That should have tipped me off.

In Praise Of: Bogle Vineyards

As I am posting about wines I had at Hot and Hot I am drinking a bottle of Bogle Old Vine Zinfindel. I have posted about this before and I really like this wine. It is in the $10 or so range and is one of those wines I grab when I want something cheap. And there is nothing cheap tasting about it. It has been over a year but I have had their whites and all have been very good.

I suggest that the next time you are looking for a bottle of white or red. Try something from Bogle Vineyards.

45th Birthday Wines: Vincent Delaporte’s 2004 Sancerre & 2005 Maysara Pinot Noir, Oregon and

Luckily my birthday was not missed by family members seeing as how we have so many March birthdays and with the new baby just making it to April (we hope). Leigh took me to Hot and Hot fish club where I had the Fudge Farms Pork Trio: Seared Loin on Collard Greens, Crispy Belly on Homemade Sauerkraut and Grilled Leg with Mashed Sweet Potatoes. The crispy belly was like a crispy bacon meatball. Yumm!


Going in I didn't know if I was going to have the red or white so I got both. I started the evening with a glass of the ’04 Sancerre, Delaporte, France. A very nice glass of wine. Sancerre is new to me but I have thrown myself into it. The waiter quickly showed me the bottle so I am not sure this label is correct but I believe it is from Domain Vincent Delaporte. The Wine Advocate wrote that the Vincent Delaporte’s 2005 Sancerre is juicy and engaging on the palate, not especially gripping, but instead discrete and well-balanced, with succulent melon, apple and herbs carrying into a gentle finish (Score: 88). I would agree with that. The importer is Birminghams own Vineyard Brands.


After deciding on the pork I was directed to the ’05 Maysara Pinot Noir, Oregon. What a great wine. I have made it a point to drink more Pinot Noirs this summer and this was a good place to start. The waiter opened a new bottle and I could tell that the wine was opening up more with every sip. It was very good by itself and held its own with the strong crispy belly. I never saw the label but i am assuming it may be the less expensive of the two that Maysara vineyards bottles.

This was a nice way to start out my new year and with the Village Wine gift certificate given to me by Miles and Amy I now have the money to try more Sancerres and Pinots. But after Ethan comes I am going to have to share the bottle with Leigh.

What I Did On My Winter Vacation

It's been awhile since I have posted to this blog. Not because I gave up drinking, far from it! It is because I have been drinking the same wines listed here. I have not gone out and tried something new and instead went for the familiar and the inexpensive. You see I have been living with a pregnant woman during my winter vacation and while she is a very pleasant and beautiful mommy to be, she's not much of a drinker. So logic tells me not to buy an expensive wine that I may not finish or a new wine that she will not enjoy with me. Just stay with the tried and true. Here are some of the wines that I have been enjoying.

My every day wine (just a figure of speech, not a drinking problem) is in that $10 and less sweet spot. It has to be an easy drink and cheap so if it goes back in the fridge and goes bad before I can get to it, so be it. I'll just open up another bottle of cheap wine. The wines in my bandoleer are:

Big House Red -- a long time favorite with a screw top for longevity in the fridge.
Ten Mile -- I think this has a screw top.
Cellar No. 8 Zinfandel
Castono Hecula Monastrelli -- I like to think of this as my Spanish Big House Red.
Casono Monastrelli -- same place, cheaper wine. David and Rachel gave this to us as hosts gift and I am drinking this as I type. A lovely bottle even if it makes me sound gay. Happy gay not, um, you know, oh never mind.

When I want to break out of my cheap bottle and go for something extravagant I have been opening two of my favorites.

Ridge Three Valleys -- a man trip favorite
Seghesio Zinfandel -- a consumer reports favorite

While each of these costs $20+ at the local wine shoppes (note fancy spelling) I can get them for about $16 at Costco. And while I am there I grab a few big house reds and ten miles. And maybe a large jar of Atomic Fire Balls, a 4 family size box of Cheerios and the latest Family Guy season out on DVD. Damn you Costco!

I can't go any further without giving a "shout out" to my new friend, the off-brand 8 bottle wine cooler. Leigh bought this for me at Lowes and I tried to mount it in a cabinet but it never would get cool. So that's why you can't cover up the vents. It now lives on the floor under Leighs sewing table and does a wonderful job of keeping my wine at lovely 58 degrees. There's that word again.

I keep the corks from the wine I drink. Not because I have any hording issues but I know one day I will be able to do something with them all like float down the Cahaba River. It IS a little disturbing that the bowl has been filling up and Leigh has not been drinking for at least 8 months. Oh well, I guess she just needs to catch up.

That's all for now. I'll probably keep up this routine for a few months more and at least until Pinot Grigio season gets here. I might even tone it down because newborns don't care if you drank a bottle two hours ago, they want to be changed, NOW!

So, what did you do on your winter vacation?

Shawn

Beringer Founders' Estate 2005 Old Vine Zinfandel

I haven't had anything by Beringer in quite a while but they have a very good reputation in my mind. We found this to be an easy drinking Zin. Not really a peppery Zin.

Tasting Notes from the winery: Historically, a vineyard like this often has multiple varieties mixed-in among the Zinfandel vines, so it seemed fitting that the wine be made in that traditional and crowd-pleasing ‘American-Zin’ style. The resulting wines showcases clove, white pepper and jammy black fruit aromas that lead into a mouth full of black berries and sweet spice.

Found this at Bruno's on sale for about $9.

Cave Des Papes Côtes du Rhône Héritage

Charlie Elmer brought this wine to our supper club. We were very surprised at how smooth and good this wine was. It made the Syrah we had been drinking just a tad bit harsh even though they where very good. This wine was was made from 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Charlie pointed out that wines with this mix of grapes are always good and smooth. This wine was in the $10-$13 range. Not sure of the vintage. I give it 3 stars. The description from the web site follows.

Ogier-Caves des Papes, *The Cellars of the Popes* was founded in 1859 and is the proprietor of the oldest and largest wine cellars in the ancient town of Chateauneuf du Pape (summer residence of Popes), in the heart of the Rhone Valley. For 140 years, the Caves des Papes name has symbolized the finest wines from the vast Rhone Valley.

Our red wines are concentrated, full-bodied and are based on the regions best grape varieties, Grenache and Syrah. Caves des Papes wines are recognized the world over and annually garner high acclaim for their exceptional quality.

To create “HERITAGE “ Côtes du Rhône, the Caves des Papes winemakers challenged the wine estates which were known to have produced the most consistent wines of high quality to surpass their previous best. The wines from 13 estates, the majority located in the area close to Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas, were selected as the finest expression of red wines from the Côtes du Rhône. Classic Rhone varietals, dominated by 65% Grenache, 35% Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre.

Aging 12 months in casks and tapered oak upright vats. Deep ruby color. Expressive, elegant nose with complex flavours of ripe fruit, spice, and a touch of oak. Attractive bouquet and soft tannins. Accompanies red meat, such as roast beef or steak but best with anything off the barbecue.

Napa Cellars Zinfandel 2005

I found this yesterday while picking up a few bottles at Village Wine Market. The winery is not one I'm familiar with but will remember it now! This wine struck me as un-Zin-like during the first glass. It had more of a syrah character - smooth and refined fruit. In later glasses more of the expected spice came out. It's a really good wine, easy to drink on its own and delicious with food (steak in our case).

The winery website sums it up well: "Napa Cellars Zinfandel is the perfect middle ground between the spicy Zinfandels of the Sierra Foothills and the fruity jammy Zinfandels of Sonoma. Both characteristics can be found in moderation with this wine. You can expect a swirl of the glass to reveal intense, sweet ripe berries, cinnamon and black pepper spice with elements of sun-baked earth."

$14.99 (sale price)