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

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.

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. 

  

Apr

22

Recently, we were watching an episode of In Wine Country that reported that an increasing number of new wineries have set up shop in Oakland, California – rather than in the more usual, but pricier, wine producing areas like Napa or Sonoma – in hopes of keeping costs (and prices) down.  These wineries typically source (i.e., purchase) their grapes from vineyards across California and then produce and bottle their wines inside the city limits.   

Cannonball Wine Company, which also sources its grapes, may not be making its wine in a large city, but it has clearly managed to keep its costs low enough to offer a quality Cab for sale at $13.  We found Cannonball’s 2005 Cab to be delightfully juicy all the way through from sip to swallow, with aromas and flavors of dark cherry and the sweet tobaccoey smell of a newly opened pack of cigarettes.  The balance was quite good, even if it tended a little bit toward sweet – but seriously, for $13, good luck finding a better California Cab.  In fact, ditto for even $20!

Where to get it: We bought our bottle over at K&L Wines in San Francisco.  Of course, we tell you this only for your convenience – as you would expect, we don’t see a single cent from sales of any wines we review! 

Jan

31

While at drinks last night with a couple of friends at a swanky San Francisco bar, I drank a glass of wine that was utterly horrible.  Although it certainly didn’t ruin my evening — I had a great time catching up with my buddies — the purchase of this glass at $9 represented to me a waste of more than half the money I needed to buy another bottle of the fabulous Cab referenced above.  It’s wines like these, a steal at $17, that could make me swear off rolling the dice on 9 dollar mystery-glasses-of-wine for good.

On the nose, it’s marked by dark red fruits like dark cherry, blackberry and currant, and once in the mouth, these flavors are accompanied by charred wood and a hint of chocolate from the oak aging.  Also, the tannins in this wine are firm without being overbearing — you’ll recognize them from the drying sensation you’ll feel around your gums and in the back of your throat — which ought to result in this wine’s pairing well with cheese or other foods rich in fat and proteins.

This is the first bottle of wine we’ve reviewed from Chile, but for the money, it had us thinking “yo quiero mas!”

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