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. 

  

Jul

3

macon-bussieres2006.jpgThe Manciat-Poncet Mâcon Bussières Rouge 2006 is half Pinot Noir and half Gamay (the grape of Beaujolais, in the south of Burgundy), and it hails from the Mâcon Bussières AOC of Burgundy. 

On first sniff, we found the scent of leather and a little bit of cherry emanating from our glasses, and when we sipped, we picked up cherry and raspberry flavor and felt a nice zing of acidity, with spice coming through on the finish.  We dug the filling texture.  

If you’re looking for a Pinot Noir under $20, we think it’s actually worth considering this as a solid alternative (being as it is, a blend).

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. 

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. 

Jun

3

The Domaine de la Pépière Cuvée Granit 2006 is classified as a Vin de Pays (the link is to Wikipedia), which is a classfication level below that of the French wines, appellation d’origine contrôlée, that we’ve reviewed in the past, and the wine hails from a poducer known more for its whites — Muscadet, to be precise — than reds.     

Still, we found this blend of Cab Franc, Merlot, and Malbec from the Loire Valley to be so very nicely balanced, flavorful, and light as a feather in terms of body that we felt it was a perfect Weekday Wine candidate.

We picked up two flavors that dominated our glasses: green bell pepper and smoke.  But what this wine lacked in complexity was more than made up for in terms of its simple, easy-drinking character.  This is a crowd-pleaser that would be an excellent companion to a home-cooked meal.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at K&L Wines in San Francisco.  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

6

We were in the mood for something different when we purchased the Olaia Dehesa de Rubiales 2004, and different is certainly what we ended up with.  This wine bears very little resemblance to any of the others we’ve reviewed previously.

The Olaia is composed mostly of Prieto Picudo (50%) – a darkly colored, nearly extinct grape that is grown almost exclusively in Spain and seems to be experiencing a recent surge in popularity – 45% Tempranillo, and 5% Merlot.

We found blackberries and vanilla on the nose and palate, along with the luscious scent of plush green forest (as you’d find in, say, North Carolina).  We also picked up lots of hot pepper on the finish, which we really enjoyed.

This well-structured, medium bodied wine might not be one meant for much aging, nor would it be one that we’d call complex.  But it is something that we think is both unusual and pleasing to the senses all at the same time – at $11, it’s a textbook Weekday Wine.

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship. 

Apr

1

Two weeks ago, a couple of old friends from our New York days, whom we met on vacation in Argentina but haven’t seen since we left NYC, dropped by our place in San Francisco to say hello.  It had been almost exactly three years since we had first met at our charming little bed and breakfast in Buenos Aires and, later that week, shared delicious, traditionally Argentine steak and wine dinners. 

While everyone seemed to enjoy catching up after being so long out of touch, I found it slightly ironic that we ended up with a wine like Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap 2006, which was so meaty that it almost tasted like having steak and wine all in one glass.  Ah, it was like reliving the good old days in B.A.!

The Wolftrap is made up of a mixture of 50% Syrah, 48% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier (yes, white grapes!).  This is the first South African wine that we’ve reviewed, and it was quite unique.  We detected smoke and red bell pepper aromas on the nose, a blast of smoked meat on the palate, and then a finish that left our tongues tingly — in fact, the finish gave me the same sensation I get when I’m chewing cinnamon gum.  And finally, while I expected a full bodied wine given the varietals involved, the alcohol content of this one was only in the medium range, complimenting the acidity nicely.

For the money, this wine was yet another winner.  Vegetarians out there, here’s your chance to experience meat without all of the guilt!

Blogroll

WP Themes