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Schweiger Vineyards & Winery 2006 Chardonnay If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day ? and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today?s wine from Schweiger Vineyards. SUPERIOR WINE ALERT!: Today?s Napa Valley Chardonnay is ultra-unique and ultra-delicious. This 100% barrel aged, zero malolactic Chard is a stunner. NO BORING CHARDONNAY here! ALLOCATION ALERT!: We were only
I've consumed a handful of cheaper wines this weekend, and whilst the 2005 Wyndam Bin 555 Shiraz was quite good, this puts them all to shame.
Charles Sturt University (home to Australia's leading wine school) sounds like a progressive and interesting place to study. This incredibly cheap but delightful chardonnay is compellingly direct and brisk. Pale with a flash of green, this is pert and laden with stonefruit and crisp acidity.
Another Thanksgiving day is quickly upon us. Below is a re-post by (NW) that is helpful as you navigate the vast choices upon you for this festive day of food and reflection.
With all the gloom and doom in the news one might think there isn't much for which to be thankful. That couldn't be further from the truth. My nation and the indeed the world have been through challenging times; even despairing times and yet, acknowledged or not, understood or not, we manage--by God's grace to come out on the other side smelling like a rose (or a Sauternes if you prefer.)
We of the WCB hope that whatever country you are in, (I know Thanksgiving Day is uniquely American) whatever your situation, you will be able to raise a glass with a thankful heart to the God who is there. (PB)
(NW) writes--
Thanksgiving day meals, whether traditional or uniquely creative, offer a terrific opportunity to showcase the marriage of wine and food. A lot of people fret over the wine pairings because there's a lot of time and money invested in the meal. Let me suggest that the pairings don't need to be exacting and a wide variety of wines will suffice.
Some general categories of wine tend to be very good pairings for Thanksgiving. This is partly due to that fact that most meals have a number of dishes and a wide variety for flavors. Wines that do well in this situation are wines that naturally accompany food, both red and white. The red wines that are often viewed as traditional Thanksgiving meal accompaniments include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a great way to enhance the meal. Is it too red- meaning too full-bodied and powerful? I say no. Cabernet Sauvignon does well with meats, even poultry, especially when accompanied by sauces, gravy, and starches. To refine this selection, try a Cab with a little bit of age on it. The age will likely have mellowed the wine's tannins and softened its edges.
Pinot Noir can be a stunning accompaniment to a Thanksgiving meal! It's really an amazing varietal that has the capability of total success and total failure. Therefore, it's the riskiest choice. For example, I paired a highly regarded Oregon Pinot Noir with the meal two years ago, but it didn't work at all. It was an amazing wine, for sure, but too exotic and smokey. It just didn't work. If you know you've got a good one, then go for it. Otherwise, be careful because Pinot Noir is the most unpredictable varietal.
Zinfandel is often considered a perfect pairing for Thanksgiving. After all, it's the most American grape. Stick with a traditional Zinfandel if you're going this route. Some of the newer single vineyard bottlings are highly ripe, alcoholic, and overpowering. They won't work well. Make sure you are serving a traditional, balanced wine. A good wine merchant can help you find the right wine. For example, Ridge produces Zinfandel blends that are very elegant and balanced.
On the other side of the spectrum, if you're looking for white wine, consider Riesling, Chardonnay, or Chenin Blanc. Riesling can be an amazing food wine, but you'll have to stick with the dry versions. These dry Rieslings are produced the world over, but if you're shopping in the German aisle look for kabinett or spatlese bottlings.
Chardonnay can be a nice choice, especially if you're unsure of your guests' preferences. Because Chardonnay comes in so many forms, look for a wine that has the reputation of ripe tropical fruit and enough acidity for food.
Chenin Blanc could deliver a nice pairing if you're looking for something on the lighter side. It can be very crisp, so get the help of a good wine merchant if you'd like to find one with a little more body.
Obviously, you can find success with a number of wines and, therefore, have some flexibility. In fact, not only do you have some flexibility in wine selections, you have an opportunity to present multiple wines. I always recommend this as a way to satisfy different palates and make the meal more festive. Multiple pairings give people the chance to figure out what they like and go back for more of the same. If you have the means, I recommend placing two glasses at each place setting- either one red and one white or two red glasses.
Also, when considering multiple pairings, use finger food and appetizers as a way to offer up other wine options. Before the meal, consider opening a sparkling wine or use this as a chance to offer a white wine if you're only offering reds with the meal. Rose can also be a nice pairing for appetizers. And don't forget about dessert wines. For example, this year we are having three small dessert courses. With the first two, we'll have a dessert wine and with the last one we'll have coffee.
Wine can enhance a Thanksgiving meal in many different ways. Realize that you have many options and don't fret over exacting your wine pairings. With all the flavors and various dishes, a number of different wines will work. Just enjoy making wine a part of the festivities. Raise a glass!
This really tickles my funny bone. Deidre Woollard (luxist.com) writes:
We may all be cutting back, but at the the White House dinner Friday night for foreign leaders to discuss the global financial crisis, the meal was anything but spare.
The menu for around 24 global leaders gathered in the White House State Dining Room included, according to the AP, fruitwood-smoked quail? with quince gastrique; quinoa risotto?; thyme?-roasted rack of lamb?; tomato?, fennel? and eggplant? fondue?; a salad? course of endive?, baked Brie and walnuts?; and a pear torte. What's raising some eyebrows though is one of the wine selections, the Shafer Cabernet Hillside Select 2003, which runs for around $300 a bottle, if you can find it. This wine was served with the main course will more modest wines such as the Landmark Chardonnay Damaris Reserve? 2006 (around $40 a bottle, served with the appetizer) and the Chandon Étoile Rosé? sparkling wine? (about $30 a bottle, served with dessert) rounded out the rest of the meal.
The President pays for his own groceries in the White House but state dinners such as this one are paid for with taxpayer dollars. It is perhaps some comfort in this case? that at least two of those attending: President Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are said to be teetotalers. Others in attendance included Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Chinese President Hu Jintao; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
I went to South Africa to learn about South African wine, and the primary way for me to do that is to taste. So taste I did -- probably more than 500 wines by the end of the week -- spending two full days going from booth to booth at the Cape Wine 2008 expo trying to taste a wide cross section of South African wine while at the same time making sure to hit some of the producers I knew were among South Africa's best.
The end result? Scores for more than 350 wines, and a very rapid education indeed. I got a sense of which varietals seemed to shine (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux Blends, and some Syrahs) and which were struggling to find proper expression (Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Merlot, among others). I also began to get a sense of the various wine growing regions and the range of styles that winemakers were using.
I've provided my detailed conclusions in a previous post, which I encourage you to read if you haven't followed the entire series of my posts from South Africa. But to summarize, South Africa falls somewhere between up-and-coming and world-class. There are some excellent wines being made in the country (along with a lot of just mediocre stuff), but few wines that I found to be knock-my-socks-off good.
Having said that, however, South Africa seems to me to be one of the major sources of wine values left on the planet. As you can see by some of the prices with my notes below, there are some tremendous wines to be had in the $20-30 price range, at a level of quality that would result in prices at least twice that high were the wines from Napa, for instance.
In addition to my usual lineup of scores, I have included tasting notes for some of the wines that I found most interesting or compelling, and provided links to purchase some of my favorites. Many of these wines are sadly not yet imported into the United States, or imported very selectively, so I apologize in advance for any you may get excited about only to find that they are not available to you.
Without further ado, here are my scores and tasting notes for the more than 350 wines I tasted at the Cape Wine 2008 event, which it took me more than a month to write up here. Please note that the price ranges are rough guidelines provided by the producers, not the actual range of pricing for a given wine.
White Wines
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5
2007 Sequillo Cellars White Blend. Light gold in the glass, this unusual blend of Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and Roussanne has a surprising nose of white peaches, star fruit, and greenish tropical fruit aromas that are tough to pin down. In the mouth the wine is nothing short of gorgeous. Lovely, silky texture carries flavors of peaches and honeysuckle that are balanced perfectly with a mineral acidity so that the whole wine resonates through a long finish that leaves a simple, lowercase, "wow" at the end of my scribbled notes from the day. $35. Where to buy?
2007 Ken Forrester Wines "T Noble Late Harvest" Chenin Blanc. Amber gold in the glass, this wine has an explosive nose of apricots and honey that you can smell from three feet away. On the tongue it is liquid satin gold, draping itself like a discarded negligee over the palate and oozing flavors of orange blossom, apricots and honey. Oozing might not be the right word, however, as this wine has amazing acidity that puckers the cheeks and juices the tastebuds until they cry out for more. Incredibly limited production means that this is made in quantities approaching 50 cases each year. $55. Where to buy?
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5 2007 Kleinood "Tamboerskloof" Viognier. Pale gold in the glass, this wine has a very mineral nose of peaches, gold cream and wet granite aromas. In the mouth it is bright and luscious with great acidity and flavors of white peaches crushed minerals and hints of white flowers and citrus zest. Delicious and well balanced with none of the clunky characteristics that are so often found in New World Viognier. $5-7.
2008 Graham Beck Wines "Gamekeeper's Reserve" Chenin Blanc. Pale gold in the glass this wine has a nose of freshly cut pears and apples. In the mouth it is bright and lean with flavors of pears, caramel apples, and hints of cinnamon. Remarkable and delicious. $30-50.
2007 Ataraxia Wines Chardonnay. Light green-gold in the glass, this wine has a pungent nose of warm leather and cold cream aromas. In the mouth it is crystalline with acidity which serves up mouth puckering flavors of lemon curd, lemon zest and grapefruit juice -- a concoction of refreshing, delicious flavors that swirls through a long finish. Outstanding. $38. Where to buy?
2007 Vins D'Orrance "Cuvee Anais" Chardonnay. Light gold in the glass, this wine smells of cold cream and lemon custard, making my mouth water before I even taste it. On the palate it is firm and weighty, smooth and bright with lemon curd, cold cream, and a strong mineral quality that is as surprising as it is delicious. $30. Where to buy?
2007 Sadie Family Wines "Palladius" White Blend. Light gold in color, this wine has a nose of wet granite, clover honey, and lemon blossom scents. In the mouth it is angular and explosively bright with juicy lemon-flavored acidity and lean mineral qualities that mellow into cold cream and soft texture as the wine finishes lovely and long. $40. Where to buy?
2007 Ken Forrester Wines "The FMC" Chenin Blanc. Light gold in color, this wine has a gorgeous nose of white flowers, honey, and fresh, ripe pear aromas. In the mouth it is crisp and just slightly off-dry, with lightly sweet flavors of poached pear and flowers that linger in a long, long finish. Likely a beautiful cheese wine. $49. Where to buy?
2007 Ses'fikile Wines "Matriarch" Sauvignon Blanc. $??. 2006 Cape Point Vineyards "Isliedh" Sauvignon Blanc. $30. Where to buy? 2007 Cape Point Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. $7-14. Where to buy?
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9 2006 Mulderbosch Vineyards "Barrel Fermented" Chardonnay. $50 or more 2007 Mulderbosch Vineyards "Steen op Hout" Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2006 Simonsig Wine Estate "Kaapse Vonkel" Pinot Noir. $14-30 2008 Avondale Bio-LOGIC & Organic Wines Chenin Blanc. $7-14 2007 Avondale Bio-LOGIC & Organic Wines "The Weir" Chardonnay. $14-30 2008 Painted Wolf Wines "Castle View" Viognier. $30-50 2007 La Motte Chardonnay. $14-30 2006 De Wetshof Estate "Estate Bateleur" Chardonnay. $50 or more 2008 Graham Beck Wines "Pheasants Run" Sauvignon Blanc. $30-50 2003 Graham Beck Wines "Cuvee Clive Sparkling Wine" Chardonnay. $?? 2005 Springfield Estate "Wild Yeast" Chardonnay. $14-30 2008 Vergelegen "Reserve" Sauvignon Blanc. $30-50 2008 Franschhoek Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. $7-14 NV Quando Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay. $22 2008 Mischa Estate "Eventide Cellar" Viognier. $14-30 2008 Cederberg Private Cellars Bukettraube. $?? 2006 Cederberg Private Cellars "Five Generations" Chenin Blanc. $?? 2008 Cederberg Private Cellars "Ghost Corner David Nieuwoudt" Sauvignon Blanc. $?? 2008 Beyerskloof Sauvignon Blanc. $?? 2007 Hartenberg Estate Sauvignon Blanc. $7-14 2007 Hartenberg Estate Weisser Riesling. $7-14 2007 Paul Cluver Wine Estate Chardonnay. $30-50 2007 The Winery of Good Hope "Black Rock White Blend" Chenin Blanc. $30-50 2004 Cape Point Vineyards Sauvingon Blanc. $?? 2005 Cape Point Vineyards "Isliedh" Sauvingon Blanc. $?? 2007 L'Avenir Chardonnay. $14-30 2007 L'Avenir Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2008 Ken Forrester Wines Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 AND 9 2007 Rudera Wines Chenin Blanc. $?? 2005 Mulderbosch Vineyards Chardonnay. $30-50 2007 Mulderbosch Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. $30-50 2008 Simonsig Wine Estate "Sunbird" Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Avondale Bio-LOGIC & Organic Wines "Green Duck - The Dutchess" Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2008 Avondale Bio-LOGIC & Organic Wines Sauvignon Blanc. $7-14 2008 Painted Wolf Wines White Blend. $?? 2008 La Motte "Pierneef" Sauvignon Blanc. $30-50 2008 De Wetshof Estate "Danie de Wet Limestone Hill" Chardonnay. $14-30 2005 De Wetshof Estate "D'Honneur" Chardonnay. $30-50 2008 Graham Beck Wines Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2005 Graham Beck Wines "Brut Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine" Chardonnay. $?? NV Graham Beck Wines "Bliss Demi-Sec Sparkling Wine". $?? 2005 Springfield Estate "Methode Ancienne" Chardonnay. $30-50 2008 Springfield Estate "Special Cuvee" Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2008 Klein Constantia Estate Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Steenberg Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Barton Vineyards Chenin Blanc. $?? 2008 Barton Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. $?? 2007 Uva Mira Vineyards "Single Vineyard" Chardonnay. $30-50 2007 Vergelegen Chardonnay. $14-30 2007 Vergelegen Chardonnay. $30-50 2008 Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Vergelegen Semillon. $30-50 2007 Franschhoek Vineyards Chenin Blanc. $7-14 2008 Waterford Estate Sauvignon Blanc. $20 2007 Lammershoek Winery Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2007 Lammershoek Winery "Roulette Blanc" Chenin Blanc. $14-30 NV Iona Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2008 Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Bouchard Finlayson "Crocodile's Lair / Kaaimansgat" Chardonnay. $30-50 2008 Cederberg Private Cellars Chenin Blanc. $?? 2005 Hartenberg Estate "The Elanor" Chardonnay. $30-50 2008 Ataraxia Wines Sauvignon Blanc. $?? 2008 Paul Cluver Wine Estate Gewurztraminer. $14-30 2008 Paul Cluver Wine Estate Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2008 The Winery of Good Hope "Land of Hope" Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2006 Cape Point Vineyards Semillon. $14-30 2008 Cape Point Vineyards "Stonehaven" Sauvignon Blanc. $5-7 2008 Ken Forrester Wines "Petit" Chenin Blanc. $5-7 2007 Jordan Winery Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2007 Jordan Winery "Nine Yards" Chardonnay. $30-50
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8.5 2007 Rudera Wines Chenin Blanc. $?? 2007 Simonsig Wine Estate Chardonnay. $14-30 2008 Simonsig Wine Estate Chenin Blanc. $7-14 NV Avondale Bio-LOGIC & Organic Wines "Brut Methode Cap Classique" Chardonnay. $14-30 2008 La Motte Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2008 De Wetshof Estate "Lesca" Chardonnay. $14-30 2008 Springfield Estate "Life From Stone" Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Klein Constantia Estate "Rhine Riesling" Riesling. $14-30 2007 Steenberg Vineyards Semillon. $30-50 2006 Barton Vineyards Chenin Blanc. $?? 2006 Ses'fikile Wines "Rain Song" Chenin Blanc. $?? 2008 Uva Mira Vineyards "Cellar Selection" Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2008 M'hudi Sauvignon Blanc. $16 2007 Meerlust Estate Chardonnay. $30-50 2007 Dombeya Wines Chardonnay. $7-14 2008 Franschhoek Vineyards Chardonnay. $7-14 2007 Fairview Viognier. $?? 2008 Waterford Estate "Pecan Stream" Chenin Blanc. $12 2007 Waterford Estate Chardonnay. $24 2005 Bon Cap Organic Wines "MCC" Chardonnay. $7-14 2007 Jason's Hill Private Cellar Viognier. $5 2007 Iona Vineyards Chardonnay. $14-30 2008 Bouchard Finlayson "Blanc de Mer" Weisser Riesling. $7-14 2007 Bouchard Finlayson "Sans Barrique" Chardonnay. $14-30 2008 Bouchard Finlayson "Walker Bay" Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2008 Mischa Estate "Eventide Cellar" Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Cederberg Private Cellars "Ghost Corner David Nieuwoudt" Semillon. $?? 2007 The Winery of Good Hope "Vinum" Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2007 The Winery of Good Hope" Radford Dale" Viognier. $?? 2008 L'Avenir Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2008 Ken Forrester Wines "Petit" Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2008 Jordan Winery "Chameleon" Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2007 Jordan Winery Chardonnay. $14-30 2008 Jordan Winery Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8 AND 8.5 2008 De Wetshof Estate "Estate Bon Vallon" Chardonnay. $14-30 2007 Scali Chenin Blanc. $24 2008 Dombeya Wines Sauvignon Blanc. $5-7 NV Bon Cap Organic Wines "The Ruins" Sauvignon Blanc. $5 NV Quando Chenin Blanc. $14-30 2008 Cederberg Private Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. $?? 2008 Beyerskloof Chenin Blanc. $5-7
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8 2008 RAKA Chenin Blanc. $??
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 7.5 AND 8 2008 Teddy Hall Wines Chenin Blanc. $?? 7.75 NV Bon Cap Organic Wines "The Ruins" Chardonnay. $5 7.75 2008 Jordan Winery "Bradgate" Sauvignon Blanc. $?? 7.75
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE UNDER 7.5 2008 Springfield Estate "Firefinch" Sauvignon Blanc. $7-14 2008 Barton Vineyards White Blend. $?? 2008 Bon Cap Organic Wines Viognier. $7-14 2008 RAKA Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30 2005 Wedderwill Wine Estate Sauvignon Blanc. $14-30
Pink Wines
PINK WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5 2008 Glen Carlou Vineyards "Tortoise Hill" Pinotage Rosé. $7-14 Where to buy?
2006 Graham Beck Wines Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine (Pinot Noir). Pale rose pink in the glass with medium bubbles, this wine has a nose of bright citrus and warm brioche aromas. In the mouth it has a very fine mousse foam with beautiful flavors of rosehips, melon, and floral notes that creep in towards the back of the throat. Delicious. $20. Where to buy?
PINK WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9 2008 Beyerskloof Pinotage Rosé. Pale salmon in color, this wine has a nose of wet leaves, rosehips, and orange peel aromas. In the mouth it is tangy and lively with acidity that wraps around flavors of orange peel, raspberry, and rosehips. Crisp, clean, and delightful, this wine makes me wonder if maybe the destiny of Pinotage is to make pink wines. $10. Where to buy?
PINK WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 AND 9 2008 Graham Beck Wines Malbec Rosé. $7-14 2008 Golden Kaan Limited Pinotage Rosé. $7-14
PINK WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8.5 2008 Mulderbosch Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé. $14-30
PINK WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8 AND 8.5 NV Bon Cap Organic Wines "The Ruins" Shiraz Rosé. $5
PINK WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8 2008 RAKA Rosé. $7-14 2008 Jordan Winery "Chameleon" Shiraz Rosé. $14-30
Red Wines
RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5 2005 Sequillo Cellars Red Blend. Inky garnet in color, this blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre has a beautiful dark nose of mulberry, earth, and cassis aromas. In the mouth it is the wine equivalent of Valentino in his prime -- utterly seductive, dark, and just exotic enough to be mysterious. Rich, textured, complex flavors of cassis, mulberry, and other dark fruits, juicy with great acidity, linger into a long finish where the faintest hint of tannins emerge, but only for those paying close attention. And it's hard to pay attention when all this wine makes you want to do is swallow, swallow, and swallow some more. $35. Where to buy?
2006 Sadie Family Wines "Columella" Red Rhone Blend. Dark ruby in the glass, this blend of Syrah and Mourvedre has a nose of bright cassis, blackberry, and grape aromas. In the mouth it is...there's no other way to put it....rockin' with flavor: cassis, blackberry, black cherry, and other rich ripe dark fruits swirl in a concoction that is shot through with a dry minerality and deep complex texture that evokes some of the best wines of the Northern Rhone. If I am reading my sloppy tasting note correctly, I believe the finish was described in the moment as "hot damn." $85. Where to buy?
RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5 2007 De Wetshof Estate "Danie de Wet Nature in Concert" Pinot Noir $7-14 Medium garnet in the glass, this wine has a bright nose of pomegranate and cranberry aromas with hints of herbs. In the mouth it is juicy and bright with great acidity that carries flavors of cranberry, cherry, and a woody cedar note that carries through the very long finish. Tasty. $??
2005 Stellekaya Winery "Orion" Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense, inky ruby in color, this wine has an intruiging nose of piney, savory, almost chewy aromas that include black pepper, dirt, and a hint of green bell pepper. On the palate the wine is classic cherry, cedar, and pipe tobacco flavors, with a nice balance and hints of espresso on the moderate finish. Complex, nuanced, and yummy. $7-14.
2003 Meerlust Estate "Rubicon" Cabernet Sauvignon. Poured out of a 1.5 liter bottle, this wine is bright medium ruby colored in the glass, with aromas of cedar, cherry, and fresh pine. In the mouth it is beautifully textured, perfectly balanced and juicy with flavors of cherry, sandalwood, plum, and hints of sawdust among the light tannins that emerge as the wine finishes long and lovely. $25. Where to buy?
2005 Lammershoek Winery "Roulette" Shiraz. Medium garnet in color, this wine has a bright, fruity nose of pure cassis. In the mouth it is beatifully dry and smooth with deep earth, leather, and cassis flavors tinged by herbs. The finish is long, lean and resonant. $21. Where to buy?
2004 Kanonkop Wine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium garnet in color, this wine has a nose of cherry, tobacco and espresso aromas. In the mouth it offers primary flavors of espresso, cherry, and tobacco, knt together with fine grained tannins and nice acidity. The wine has an elegance that is exemplified by its long finish. $25.
2005 Kanonkop Wine Estate "Paul Sauer" Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark garnet in color, this wine has a rich nose of cedar and black cherry aromas. On the tongue it is a velvet caress of black cherry, earth and tobacco flavors. The tannnins are soft and beautifully structured, balanced perfectly with the wines acidity and weight. The overall quality of this wine that sticks in the mind is its smoothness. Outstanding. $40. Where to buy?
2006 Cederberg Private Cellars Shiraz. Medium to dark garnet in color, this wine has a luscious nose of blackberry fruit with a spicy, meaty undertone that leans the aromas distinctly towards the savory end of the spectrum. In the mouth it is bright and round and full of cassis and blackberry flavors with a hint of leather on the finish. Delicious. $25. Where to buy?
2006 L'Avenir" Grand Vin" Pinotage. Inky garnet in color, this wine has a very pretty nose of floral and ripe plum aromas. In the mouth it offers rich flavors of cherry, cocoa powder, raspberry and cranberry all swirling around on silk textures. Faint tannins, nice acidit, and a long beautiful finish round out one of the best Pinotages I have ever had. $30-50.
2006 The Winery of Good Hope "Radford Dale" Shiraz. $30-50. 2007 Mischa Estate "Not yet named" Bordeaux Blend. $N/A 2004 Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards Shiraz. $50. Where to buy? 2006 Stark-Condé "Three Pines" Shiraz. $35.
RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9 2006 Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards "Theta" Shiraz. $50 2005 Kleinood (Tamboerskloof Syrah/Viognier) Shiraz. $7-14 2006 Stark-Condé "Stellenbosch" Cabernet Sauvignon. $25 2006 Stellekaya Winery Shiraz. $7-14 2005 Glen Carlou Vineyards "Grand Classique" Cabernet Sauvignon. $30-50 2006 Glen Carlou Vineyards "Gravel Quarr" Cabernet Sauvignon. $50 or more 2003 Avondale Bio-LOGIC & Organic Wines "Les Pleurs" Shiraz. $30-50 2006 Painted Wolf Wines "Borg Family" Shiraz. $14-30 2007 Painted Wolf Wines "Cape Blend" Shiraz. $14-30 2007 Painted Wolf Wines Pinotage. $14-30 2007 Painted Wolf Wines Shiraz. $?? 2004 Morgenster Estate Merlot. $?? 2004 Morgenster Estate "Lourens River Valley" Merlot. $?? 2006 Morgenster Estate "Tosca" Sangiovese. $?? 2002 Springfield Estate "Methode Ancienne" Cabernet Sauvignon. $50 or more 2003 Vergelegen "Red" Cabernet Sauvignon. $50 or more 2004 Vergelegen "V" Cabernet Sauvignon. $50 or more 2004 Meerlust Estate "Rubicon" Cabernet Sauvignon. $30-50 2005 Dombeya Wines "Samara" Cabernet Sauvignon. $14-30 2006 Mvemve Raats "De Compostella" Cabernet Sauvignon. $50 or more 2007 Waboomsrivier Wine Cellar Pinotage. $5 2007 Iona Vineyards Shiraz. $30-50 2006 Kanonkop Wine Estate Pinotage. $14-30 2006 Vins D'Orrance "Cuvee Ameena" Shiraz. $?? 2005 Cederberg Private Cellars "Five Generations" Cabernet Sauvignon. $?? 2008 Cederberg Private Cellars "Teen Die Hoog - Cape Winemakers Guild" Shiraz. $?? 2004 Beyerskloof "Field Blend" Cape Blend. $?? 2005 Hartenberg Estate "The Stork" Shiraz. $?? 2006 Ataraxia Wines "Serenity" Shiraz. $?? 2005 Luddite Wines Shiraz. $?? 2006 The Winery of Good Hope "Black Rock Red Blend" Shiraz. $30-50 2008 The Winery of Good Hope "Radford Dale Gravity" Bordeaux Blend. $50 or more 2006 Cape Point Vineyards "Scarborough" Cabernet Sauvignon. $5-7 2006 L'Avenir Pinotage. $14-30 2005 Ken Forrester Wines "The Gypsy" Shiraz. $30-50 2004 Jordan Winery "Cobblers Hill" Cabernet Sauvignon. $30-50
Terra Alta, meaning high ground, is a Spanish wine region situated in the south-western tip of Catalonia, where low mountains and valleys extend south to the border with the Teruel province. This is a geographically diverse region, but with two very prominent features: the eastern end of the province, which is layered with craggy mountainous terrain highlighted with peaks of the Espina, Pàndols and Cavalls mountain ranges rising between 600 and 1200 meters. The western side shows its rich rolling valleys filled with olive, almond and hazelnut orchards intermixed among expansive vineyards.
Additionally worth noting is that the western end of Terra Alta is the precursor to the Ebre Depression. I trust you have no idea what the Ebre Depression is? No worries, nor did I before this article. The Ebre Depression is an orographic barrier which acts as a solid wall, forbidding the Mediterranean air to flow through. The benefit of this natural barricade for vines is that it creates extreme climate conditions in both the summer and winter; in addition to a lack of rain. Limestone and clay, low in organic matter, allow for good aeration and drainage.
Historically, the road from Zaragoza to Totosa meandered its way directly through this region during Roman Times allowing for settlements, which in turn, let to the first planting of vineyards. Later, in the medieval times, it is suspected that the Knights of Templar also grew vines in Terra Alta, but as result of the long distance between the vines and local markets and the sea, they were most replaced with olive trees. However, in the 19th century, this upcoming wine region had gained fame for its ‘amber blanc’ oxidised wines, that was until phylloxera wiped them out, as it did the majority of vines throughout Europe. It wasn’t until the 1920’s through the 50’s when vines were replanted, and later exploited positively by cooperatives, many of which only began bottling in the last few decades. Consequently, it hasn’t been until last few years, that Terra Alta has slowly begun to obtain a name for itself as a high quality wine producing area, despite its natural predisposition to craft incredible wine.
Although not the first Terra Alta we’ve fallen in love with, the Mudèfer 2004 from Sat la Botera Vins was an great recommendation from our friend Juan Manuel at Neyras Vins. Located in the town of Batea, located approximately 50 km northwest of Tortosa, the winery grows Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah, among their indigenous varietals Samso, Garntaxa Blanca and Negra an Macabeu. The Mudèfer, however, is crafted only with 25-30 years old vines of Syrah, Samso and Garnatxa Negra, fermented at 20 degrees with continual remontage and aged for 20 months in both French and American oak, followed by an additional 4 to 6 months in barrel.
The wine itself was a breath of fresh air. Dark burgundy red in color with a brilliant light purple sheen, this wine bursts with dark cherry and boysenberry on the nose, supported by perfectly integrated notes of dark chocolate, eucalyptus and slate. The aroma was so tantalizing that I found myself tasting the wine before I even drew the glass to my lips. The intense flavors immediately awoke my senses, followed by a gentle wash of silky fine tannins and layers of rich black cherry, under a veil of green earth embodied in a medium long finish. This is a big wine, but a perfectly elegant wine, with great balance and structure.
In the early months of last year, in an interview with Tim Elliot from Winecast, Ryan voiced his interest in Terra Alta wines, sensing a promising future for this region. And although Terra Alta is still unknown to the majority of the world, if this wine is any indicator of what’s currently being produced, I truly hope that more people take note.
Have you tried a wine from Terra Alta, and if so, what is your prediction for the wines of this region?
As some of you know, there was a time when I didn't really care for Champagne. But like so many preferences formed early in our lives, it turns out that I just hadn't had the good stuff. Unfortunately for my pocketbook, I eventually did find out what all the fuss was about, and now I enjoy it immensely. That is, as long as it is good.
And good Champagne, invariably means expensive. I run the risk of coming off as snobbish, or at the very least elitist by saying this, but more so than most wines, you really get what you pay for when it comes to Champagne. It's hard to find a really great bottle under $30, and even harder to find an amazing one under $60. I'm not sure about the $200-$300 range -- I've tasted a few, but only recent vintages -- but I do know that if you're willing to pay $100 for a bottle of Champagne, you can get something truly excellent.
Which brings me to this wine.
The house of Perrier-Jouet was formed in 1811 with the marriage of Pierre Nicolas Perrier and Adele Jouet. He came from a family with many generations of grape growing experience, she, from a well-to-do family in Normandy. The Perrier family's vineyard holdings in the region that would later become known as Champagne were as impressive as they were extensive. Some of the vineyards would eventually be classified as Grand Cru, and a few are still owned by the family, more than eight generations later.
Because of Perrier's wealth in land and experience, the couple wouldn't move far to settle down after they were married. They purchased an estate at the address 28 on the main avenue of Epernay, a street that would eventually be known as Avenue de Champagne. In that stone building they built what has become of the wine world's most successful brands (thanks to its latter day owners, which included at one point the larger Champagne house Mumm). The house continues to operate out of the same building, at the very same address.
Perrier-Jouet is certainly not the oldest Champagne house in existence -- it's a young pup compared to some houses that can claim to have been in operation since as early as the 16th century -- but it has several ties to history that make for good stories. One of my favorites being the tale that Oscar Wilde ordered bottles of the 1874 vintage of his favorite Champagne to his prison cell. Presumably because he couldn't bear to drink the inferior stuff they were serving him at the time? Perhaps a more important story would be the fact that in 1854 Perrier-Jouet effectively pioneered the Brut, dry style of Champagne, departing from the sweeter profiles of the times to create a wine that quickly became a standard in the region.
Perrier-Jouet, now a brand in the portfolio of drinks giant Pernot Ricard, currently owns and operates about 161 acres of vineyards in the Champagne region, of which, quite impressively, nearly all are Grand Cru classified. This is an achievement that should not be underestimated, as Champagne is famously fragmented among many, many different farmers, estates, and large Champagne houses.
The estate produces several vintage and non-vintage wines, of which this Cuvee Belle Epoque is their top bottling. Made from 50% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier, it is made through careful blending and barrel selection of the winery's best fruit by winemaker Hervé Deschamps.
It's not often that a wine's label begs to be commented upon. In a world where many wines are indistinguishable from one another at a distance of 10 feet, the Perrier-Jouet bottle makes an immediate, striking impression. Whether it is the most beautiful Champagne bottle in the world I cannot say with authority, having not seen them all, but it is certainly one of the nicest pieces of packaging design that I know of in the wine industry.
The bottle is adorned with an enameled image of anenomes, the work of the artist Emile Gallé in the Art Nouveau style, which he created as a work of art in 1902 for the family, and which has been their signature bottle ever since they put it into production for their top cuvee starting in 1969.
Full disclosure: I received this wine as a press sample.
Tasting Notes: Bright gold in the glass with very fine bubbles, this wine smells of citrus oil, yeast, and the skin of yellow apples. In the mouth it is sunshine bright with a velvet soft mousse that supports flavors of lemon zest, toasted oats, and freshly baked brioche. Great acidity makes it a joy to drink, as the wine sings the whole way down. Delicious.
Food Pairing: This wine is quite bright and airy, making it a slam dunk with oysters, goat cheese, or egg dishes of all kinds. I'm not sure I can think of anything I wouldn't drink this with, to be honest.
Looks like a piece of news slipped by me a couple of months ago. Every year I look forward to a report, which more than any other single piece of news, speaks the truth about the state of wine in America. Restaurant Wine magazine commissions and publishes a report every year on the top 100 wines and top 100 wine brands sold in restaurants around the country, from family diners to fine dining restaurants.
Based on the simple measure of how many cases of each wine were sold at these restaurants, we get a picture of the most important person in America when it comes to wine: the average American wine consumer.
And why is this person so important? Because they are the bread and butter of the wine industry. They are the fuel for the wine engine. They are the bottom 95%, so to speak, whose spending habits make (or break) the market and who make up the pool of wine drinkers from which true wine lovers slowly graduate to more expensive wines and esoteric habits like...reading wine blogs.
I like knowing what the rest of America drinks when it comes to wine. Here at Vinography, here in San Francisco, here in my group of friends, I live in a bubble of unreality when it comes to wine. In this bubble, $40 bottles of really good wine are a steal and most everyone I hang out with knows how to pronounce Viognier ("vee-own-yay"). But that doesn't represent wine drinking America any more than San Francisco represents the political tenor of the rest of the country.
This is what wine drinkers in America drink:
1 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay USA 2 Beringer Vineyards White Zinfandel USA 3 Cavit Pinot Grigio Italy 4 Sutter Home White Zinfandel USA 5 Inglenook Chablis USA 6 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio Italy 7 Yellow Tail Chardonnay Australia 8 Copperidge Chardonnay USA 9 Yellow Tail Shiraz Australia 10 Franzia Winetaps Vintner Select White Zinfandel USA
Those are the top 10 wines consumed by Americans (by volume) in 2007.
And here are the top 10 wine brands sold in American restaurants in 2007:
1 Beringer Vineyards, Foster's Wine Estates Americas 2 Kendall-Jackson, USA, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates 3 Franzia Winetaps, USA, The Wine Group 4 Yellow Tail, Australia, W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. 5 Sutter Home, USA, Trinchero Family Estates 6 Inglenook, USA, The Wine Group 7 Copperidge, USA, E. & J. Gallo Winery 8 Cavit, Italy, Palm Bay Imports 9 Woodbridge, USA, VineOne (Constellation) 10 Foxhorn Vineyards, USA, The Wine Group
For me and for the wine lovers that I hang out with (and no doubt the folks that read this blog) these are somewhat sobering lists, if only because for most of us, these are wines we generally don't, and wouldn't, consume given the choice. The average retail price of these wines is well below $8 per bottle, and the last time I asked you readers what you spend on average per bottle it was somewhere around $20.
And some of you probably didn't think that you were all that sophisticated when it came to wine, did you? Notice how the top 10 wines only includes a single red wine? If you're a Cabernet drinker you're a member of the wine elite. And I'm only partially kidding.
Here are some additional interesting facts about this year's list:
- White Zinfandel sales are down 15% - Chardonnay was more popular than Pinot Grigio for the first time - Pinot Noir sales were up (again) by 89% - Merlot sales were down (again) by 9% - Sauvignon Blanc and Sangiovese wines appeared for the first time on the top 100 list (bravo!)
So what to make of all this? I take a number of things away from this list every year. The first is appreciation for how lucky I am to be able to drink the quality of wine that I do regularly. The second is humility -- a reminder that while I may not choose to drink them, these wines, the companies that make them, and the people that drink them are what really make the wine world go 'round. And finally, I always finish my perusal of these numbers with hope. The amount of wine America drinks continues to go up, and slowly, but surely, the diversity of that wine continues to expand.
Tecnorati
