Jun

24

simon-hackett-grenache-2005.jpgOn Sunday, we visited a winery in the Stag’s Leap district of Napa whose Cabernets were out of this world — we’re talking layers and layers of interesting scents, including coffee, tobacco, chocolate, caramel, smoke, and molasses.  The catch was, of course, a hugely steep price tag, which meant that we would return home empty-handed. 

On the bright side of things, later that night we popped open our bottle of Simon Hackett’s 2005 Old Vine Grenache from Australia’s Mclaren Vale region, and, happily, it reminded us that excellent wine need not always cost a Benjamin (or even close to it…)  

At $12, the Simon Hackett is a tip top value – we found aromas of coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, and dark cherry, and in the mouth, the coffee and cherry paved the way for a slightly tingly, cinnamon-and-spice finish.  As for texture, it was light (but not too much so) on tannin and acid, which translated to a slightly silky, but soothing, mouthfeel not unlike that of last week’s Weekend Wine.

Add to the above a screw top and the exotic appeal of a Grenache from Down Under, and we were ready to start buying this stuff in bulk.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Mill Valley Market.  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. 

Jun

17

les-galets-rouges.jpgWe’re huge fans of Syrah these days.  Recently, we drank a privately produced bottle of an Israeli version, and it was off-the-charts delicious.  That prompted us to seek out more of the varietal for today’s posting, this time from France. 

Why France, you ask? Well, we’ve found that Syrah from warmer climates in the $10-$20 price range have a tendency to be a bit too heavy-bodied for our palates, and though there must be plenty of exceptions, we felt that the safe bet for today was on a Rhone red.   

Fortunately, we weren’t disappointed with our choice, the Chateau Mourgues du Gres Les Galets Rouges 2006, which hails from the Costières de Nîmes AOC of the Rhone Valley (the link is to Wikipedia).  The Chateau Mourgues du Gres – a blend predominantly of Syrah with Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Carignan – shares one important quality with the last French Syrah that we reviewed: meatiness.  We loved that aspect of the Domaine de la Bastide, and we felt no differently about the Chateau Mourgues du Gres. 

Curiously, the meat that we found was steak, and we also picked up dark cherry and spice in the nose and mouth.  The wine’s texture was only slightly tannic and had relatively soft acidity.

Granted, this was notin the league of the Israeli Syrah that originally had us craving another Syrah.  Pay more money, and ye shall surely find better.  But for the price, it’s great knowing that a wine like the Chateau Mourgues du Gres, with its unique character, exists.

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. 

May

22

We’ve been traveling in the Northeast for the past few days to spend time with family, and due to all of the flying and driving, we are surely wiped.  Fortunately, we will be staying with my folks for the next couple of days, which to our minds means only one thing: party time!  While they monitor the baby monitor tonight, we’re heading out for a big night on the town, during which we will dine on Italian food and stay out past our normal bed time of 9 p.m.  By the time we return back to where my folks’ place at 9:30, we will surely have polished off an unusually solid bottle of wine (which we have already started drinking) to mark the occasion of our first date night since our son was born.

Frankly, the Domaine Paul Autard Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2004 (a mix of Grenache, Syrah, and Counoise) is one of those bottles that reminds us that it really is worth shelling out a few extra dollars for a truly exquisite bottle of wine when the moment calls for it.  

We each took a few whiffs of this wine and with nearly every breath came away with a different aroma.  Figs… spice… honey… lasagna (!)  There’s just so much to enjoy about a wine that challenges the senses the way this one did, making the arrival at our final tasting notes — primarily sweet pipe tobacco (or dried fruit and nuts… in fact, cinnamon babka came to my mind at one point), along with black currant, in the nose and mouth, firm tannins, medium-to-large body, and smooth finish with a little bit of spice — all the more satisfying.  

Just wonderful!  We can’t wait to finish the rest…      

Where to get it: Use the Snooth search function under the heading “Wine Locator” on the right side of this screen, or visit wine-searcher.com or winezap.com, to locate a bottle near you.

Mar

6

Inadvertently, I let this one sit for an hour or so in my glass, and when I came back to it I was enormously surprised at how much the wine had opened up.  The Féraud-Brunel Côtes du Rhône Villages consists of a high percentage of Grenache, a grape typically found in southern Rhône-style wines.  When I first popped open the bottle, I got a nose full of black pepper and wood with raspberry in the background, but after an hour or so of the wine’s sitting in my glass, the aroma of raspberry jam really came alive. 

Once in my mouth, this wine’s scents carried through as flavors, but interestingly, the spiciness turned out to be quite a bit less tingly to the tongue than my sense of smell would have predicted — this was a plus, because I think that too much spiciness would have distracted from the lengthy, juicy finish.   As to mouthfeel, I found light tannins and medium acidity and body, all of which made this wine easy to please.

This one is yet another strong performer for $15, and while it might not be meant for much time in the cellar, it may benefit from another six months on the rack.

Jan

18

Try this wine and you are guaranteed at least a “hmmmm.”  Think dark berries, must, tobacco, even a little bit of old leather; picture an old library, close your eyes and take a deep breath.  There are no tropical fruits or florals here. 

I was drawn to seek out a Rhône for today because I recently heard a bit about 2005’s having been a killer year for the region, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed when the time came to taste. 

For the price, it’s a great value – if anything, I’m tempted to buy yet another bottle, stick it into a cellar for a few years and then give it another whirl.  For now, though, this firmly structured, full-bodied wine is definitely a good bottle for cozying up to on a cool winter’s evening.   

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