Sep

23

We’ve taken it as a good omen that the first Weekday Wine post from our new home relates to a truly outstanding pick.  Folks, for the money, we could not possibly expect a better deal than the 2006 Qupé Syrah.  It’s just that good.Why?  Stunning aromatics of berry, flowers and smoked meat deceived us into thinking that the wine would be heavy, but we were delightfully surprised to find a gorgeously elegant body.

To put it the way our local merchant did: this is easily a $25 or $30 wine.  I mean, honestly, it really is.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Wine Impression in the Laurel Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.  You can also find one using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Sep

3

For six bucks, our threshold for what constitutes a recommendable wine is very, very low.  However, with that being the case, the Viu Manent Malbec 2007 exceeded our expectations by quite a bit.  In the nose we found blackberry and hints of oak along with herbal scents — the combination seemed slightly strange at first, but we eventually found ourselves more intrigued than anything else.  In the mouth, we found more of the same with a bit of tea flavor in the finish.  The medium tannin and light acidity matched the body nicely.

The Viu Manent was hardly as fruit-forward or heavy as the Malbecs that we’ve had from Argentina (which is more famous for the varietal), and the alcohol content of 14% reflected the lighter style.

Overall, we felt that our money was well spent.  Heck, we’ve paid twice as much for other wines that weren’t half as good!

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Aug

28

The notion that Chateau Bellefont-Belcier 1998 (a combination of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Bordeaux’s “right bank” region of St. Emilion) was produced in the same year that I graduated from college made me feel a bit like I was opening a time-capsule when I popped the cork…. not to mention, old.  But anyway, the effect of ten years’ time in a barrel/bottle was unmistakable from first whiff (a gorgeous whiff at that) through to swish and swallow.

We found the wine to be wonderfully complex, with layered aromas of green pepper, nutmeg, mellowed cherry, and hard apple cider, and flavors of apple, cherry, and nutmeg.   The acidity was remarkably brisk given the ageing, and that convinced us that this wine was probably still relatively young.

The merchant that sold us our bottle was adamant that it constituted one of the best values that he had in his shop.  Quite honestly, it was very easy for us to understand why.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley, but note that the store was running out quickly.  You might also try using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Aug

21

This is the bottle we drank during our anniversary dinner last Saturday at One Market (see last Monday’s post for our thoughts on the restaurant’s memorable wine list).  The restaurant’s price tag was $98, about twice as much as it would have been in a shop.

We selected Domaine Drouhin’s 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir as our wine of the evening for two reasons: first, we were familiar with the winery’s excellent reputation as one of the elite producers in Oregon, and second, we were in the mood for the lighter, Burgundian style of Pinot Noir, as compared with the more fruit-forward, extracted versions produced in many parts of California.

Thanks to the wine’s brisk acidity, which instantly cleansed our palates between bites, it complimented our food perfectly.  Also, the leathery and strawberry aromas and elegant, light-intensity ruby color were candy for the senses — both caught our attention from the get-go.

This was certainly the most expensive bottle of wine that we’ve ever purchased at a restaurant (thank heavens for our gift certificate!), but it was also by far the best, as it proved itself to be an ideal companion for an exquisite meal.

Where to get it: As noted above, we bought our bottle at One Market Restaurant.  You can purchase it by visiting the winery’s web site, by using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Aug

19

img_3049.JPGWe know… a fifty dollar price tag doesn’t exactly fit the typical profile of a Weekday Wine.  But because we had a lot to celebrate last week, we were inspired to pop open one of our cellared bottles.

We bought our bottle of B.R. Cohn’s 2003 Olive Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon last year during a visit to the winery’s picturesque location in Sonoma Valley.  The Olive Hill Cab made a strong impression on us back then, and we were relieved to learn a couple of nights ago that our tastes haven’t changed much over time.  Overall, this rich and approachable wine was outstanding.

The complex nose consisted of a core of olive, cedar, herb, and chocolate notes set against a backdrop of black cherry.  In the mouth, cherry, olive and a significant degree of spice shone through, and the finish was more of the same.  The flavor was absolutely huge — that alone justified the price.

Where to get it: As noted above, we bought our bottle at the winery.  You can purchase it (or a later vintage) by visiting the winery’s web site or, by using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Aug

7

mckenzie-mueller-pinot-noir-2005.jpegThis is thirty-six dollars worth of Pinot Noir, pure and simple.  In our minds, to spend that kind of money on a wine demands something wicked good, and this stuff was definitely up to snuff.

The first thing that caught our attention when pouring out glasses of McKenzie-Mueller’s Los Carneros Pinot Noir 2005 was the light intensity of its exquisite ruby color.  This is not the stereotypically (and fashionably) heavily extracted California style of Pinot Noir, but rather the lighter, European style that we tend to prefer.

Upon sniffing our glasses, we picked up vanilla, wood, berry, and cherry scents, along with a touch of marzipan, and in the mouth we found smokey cherry and berry flavors.  The finish lingered on for a while.  Best of all was the near perfect balance, with light tannin and medium acidity that gave this wine a silky smooth texture.  It was simply a pleasure to drink.

As you might have guessed from the name, the region of origin is Carneros, which straddles the southernmost Sonoma/Napa border.  We bought our bottle at the winery, and we highly, highly recommend a visit.

Where to get it: As noted above, we bought our bottle at the winery.  You can buy it directly through McKenzie-Mueller’s web site, but you can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Jul

24

la-grande-vignolle-2005.jpgFor today’s posting, I thought I’d switch things up a bit and write down my thoughts about our Weekend Wine as I’m tasting it.  Today’s bottle is Domaine Filliatreau’s La Grande Vignolle 2005, a Cabernet Franc from the Saumur-Champigny region of the Loire Valley.  Here goes…

I’m sitting next to my glass right now, and as I tilt it and look in I’m seeing a fairly dense ruby red, which is surprisingly only slightly lighter in color than the Ed’s Red from Tuesday’s posting.  With the first sniff, I’m picking up dark cherry and a bit of leafy greenness.  Now for a sip…. wow, as I swish it around, I’m getting a strong blast of leafy greenness with only a touch of the dark cherry.  The green flavor is lasting all the way through the finish, which is lingering as I type. 

Nice balance: it’s light on acidity but also fairly light in alcohol, and the tannin gives it good backbone.  I’m really liking the soft, fruit-juicy texture.

Not bad at all!!

This is an unfiltered wine, so there’s a little bit of expected sediment.  

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.   

Jul

22

eds-red-napa-valley-2005.jpgEd’s Red Napa Valley 2005 is a mixture of Bordeaux varietals (47% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon) with Syrah (16%) and Petite Sirah (13%), and in  stereotypical California style, it is enormous.  The intensity of its purplish ruby red color – it’s practically opaque – was a nice clue as to its large body, but we only experienced the full effect when we took a sip.  Aside from the filling texture, we could easily feel the heat of the high alcohol content (15%), which was fortunately moderated by plenty of acidity.  In the nose, we found a mixture of spice, prune, and cranberry, and after taking a sip, we found flavors that were more of the same.  

As we’ve mentioned before, huge “new world” wines aren’t typically our thing, but in our bottle of Ed’s Red Napa Valley we were happy to have deviated from the lighter style that we usually prefer.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com. 

  

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