Giant Wine Sale & Tasting Cellar on Greene 1/26/2013

This bi weekly event is becoming hugely popular. The room is always crowded with people who know a lot about wine. The staff is well trained and motivated. There are 30 plus wines to taste at your own speed with re-tastes if needed. We even see strangers from places unknown who visit Columbia just for this event. The regulars buy by the case. The reserve wines are always interesting. Rarely is there a wine I would hesitate to buy.

• 2011 Domaine Saint André de Figuière Côtes de Provence Atmosphère Extra Brut Methode Traditionelle - France, Provence, Côtes de Provence
  As a lover of Rose from Provence, this one did not disappoint. Super pure and red raspberry nose. Light rose red color. Very soft and easy on the palate, sure they did not break the skins. Lots of strawberry and red raspberry flavors all the way through the finish. (87 pts.)
• 2010 Tangent Albariño Paragon Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
  When I first tasted this wine, I was unaware it was produced in California. I thought it was somewhat light in viscosity, but tasty. When I realized it was a New World wine, and my first taste of this varietal outside of Spain, I got pretty excited. Though not a spectacular wine, there is lots to admire. The nose has a nice combination of green garden vegetative aromas, with spicy, tangy, citrus, especially tangerine. The fruit across the palate is fairly light and dry in style, citrus, melon and guava. Nicely balanced with moderate yet refreshing acidity. Fairly short finish. (86 pts.)
• 2011 Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Wairau Valley
  Been tasting this for several vintages. Though tasty and correct, not necessarily exciting. We get the grassy herbaceous stuff expected from New Zealand. Green golden color. Lemongrass, squeezed grapefruit and green garden on the nose. The fruit is a little less exotic and slightly more subdued than some Kiwi offerings with unmistakable gooseberry, lemon, grapefruit and green garden leafy tastes. Plenty of acidity. Decent dry finish with some green flavors with citrus and just a touch of minerality. (86 pts.)
• 2011 Cantina del Taburno Falanghina del Sannio Taburno - Italy, Campania, Falanghina del Sannio
  One of those balanced and complete wines that sneaks up on you with soft and correct flavor and aromas without being overpowering. That is the gift of the Old World style with equal parts fruit, and other earthy mineral flavors. The nose is kind of shy. The color is light golden. Has a touch of that flavor of lanolin. The lemon, pear and nectarine fruit is influenced by a taste of white pepper and some nuttiness. Quite crisp acidity, but still on the mild side. Solid tasting experience from a relatively light wine. (88 pts.)
• 2011 King Estate Pinot Gris Acrobat - USA, Oregon
  I really love this wine. Thank You King Estate and Oregon for bringing us this little jewel. This is not a high scoring blockbuster. Actually, it is kind of clear, and light like a stunning petite girl wearing a designer, sparkling ball dress in a formal room full of tall people. You have to stand back and compare to previous sensory remembrances to appreciate what is in front of you. The color is almost clear. The nose is soft and elegant combining small amounts of fresh cut pears with citrus aromas. Pure, elegant silk across the palate with pear and citrus that mimic the nose. The balancing acidity is super smooth and in the background. The finish refreshes, then slips away, almost like a sparkling wine. Only in Oregon do we get this kind of soft silky style of Pinot Gris. Depending on your palate, this wine could score any where from 85 to 93 points. (88 pts.)
• 2011 Guffens-Heynen Viognier Verget au Sud - France, Vin de France
  This is delightful. Not your typical Viognier. Somehow they provided the usual highly fruity style in a very elegant, light on the palate package. There is a certain crispness that to me is unusual for this varietal. Light, whitish color. The nose has orange blossom, peach and pear. The fruit is expressive but controlled nectarine, honeysuckle, and apricot with some white pepper spice. Very approachable. Nice acid balance. Soft, memorable though not particularly long finish. (88 pts.)
• 2011 Domaine de Martinolles Chardonnay Aude - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Aude
  Another relatively light bodied, but varietally correct and generally tasty Chardonnay from the south of France. Pretty sleek and fruity. Not rich and concentrated like it's cousins from farther north. Fairly simple in an easy tasting way. Maybe a touch rustic. Balanced and elegant in it's own way. (85 pts.)
• 2011 Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  I'm just here to describe what I taste in the glass on the day I taste it. This is an above the lower tier priced Chardonnay, that basically delivers what you pay for. It is a ripe, rich, California style fruit forward Chardonnay that actually displays a little restraint. This is a blend of several vineyards that ends up being rather smooth and rounded while still fresh and vibrant. The color is a glistening light golden yellow. The nose has some serious ginger spice with citrus and a touch of oak. Full bodied and rich across the palate. There is plenty of oak, full malo lactic, and some lees treatment affecting the broad array of lifted, expressive fruit, starting with citrus, like lemon, continuing with ripe pear, spicy apple, and then getting exotic like rhubarb. This is real Chardonnay. It is very mouth coating, balanced and expressive. Smooth long finish. (89 pts.)
• 2011 Stoneleigh Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
  This is really pretty good. No doubt about the Pinot style flavors and aromas. The nose, in a good way, is plums, alcohol and oak. Rich and creamy from the lees. Across the palate, there is a spiciness, that enrichens the red and black fruit. Quick hitting, persistent, red and black fruit. Acid, and more acid, on the palate. Blueberry and blackberry on the finish, which the nose did not indicate, probably means this relatively young wine is still coming together, and has a nice reward if you decide to cellar it for a year or two. More ripe plum skins on the finish. (87 pts.)
• 2010 Shooting Star (Jed Steele) Pinot Noir - USA, California
  Another winner from the Jed Steele stable of wines. This is a surprisingly affordable Pinot Noir considering the pedigree of the grapes. Guess those 40 year vineyard relationships really benefit us Pinot lovers. My nose told me "Burgundian" because of the rustic, barnyard aromas. As it crossed the palate, the fruit is silky smooth with flavors, mostly red, like cranberry and red raspberry, but also some darker blackberry and even plum flavors. Deft use of oak helps round everything out. Very balanced and complete in terms of the tannins, acid, and alcohol. Not big, but still quite memorable from nose to finish. (88 pts.)
• 2011 Folonari Chianti - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti
  Every once in a while everything clicks. This 2011 Chianti had just that happen. Super harmonious flavors and aromas. The color is very light magenta. The nose is fresh and bright red raspberry and blackberry with violets and some earthy wet ground aromas. The red fruit is so soft and expressive as it dances across the palate. There is a really nice fruity start with maraschino cherry, impressive red raspberry and some black fruit. Designed to drink young, don't think they used much oak, or intended to show much in the way of tannins. The finish reminds us this Chianti with some secondary earthy, leather, and mineral flavors behind the serious soft fruit. (88 pts.)
• 2010 Tikveš Vranec Special Selection - North Macedonia, Povardarie, Tikveš
  I've seen this sitting on the retailers shelf for the past few months wondering what it tastes like. It is definitely a unique experience. The nose is not giving up much. The color is inky, purple teeth black. The immediate impression on tasting is big tannins. This is not a fruit forward wine as at least 60% of the flavor profile is from non fruit flavors all over the park like green tea, coffee bean, vanilla, wet earth and mushroom. The fruit is dark and brooding like oxidized blackberry if that is possible. I'm sure a decant, a vinturi, or lots of swirling would help things open up. Not a bad wine just very different. (86 pts.)
• 2010 Faustino Rioja Crianza - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
  Not my cup of tea, but can see why many would like this. To me this is the epitome of Old World style. The flavors and aromas seem oxidized in non fruit forward style. There are all kinds of flavors of metal and mineral that control the palate, practically drowning out the fruit. I guess this style has merit, and it does grow on you as you drink down the glass. The almost hidden fruit is black and brooding and hangs in there through the finish. (86 pts.)
• 2010 Sivas-Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel - USA, California, Sonoma County
  Another winner from Don Sebastiani & Sons. This is a complete Zinfandel that excels in most of the areas we expect. My first impression was cinnamon which was a very good start. The flavor and aroma profiles are sharp and defined, especially at this price point (approx $15) We drink Zin for the instant gratification of upfront fruit, and sometimes have to miss out on some secondary supporting flavors. This one has enough layers to continue the satisfaction all the way through the finish. They used 80% American oak, included small amounts of Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Barbera. The fruit enters with a briary plum and blackberry that has nicely controlled jaminess. There is a nice cinnamon and white pepper spiciness. Smooth and integrated. Sophisticated finish. (88 pts.)
• 2011 Ernesto Catena Malbec Padrillos - Argentina, Mendoza
  This is soft and smooth and really fruity, but a little thin and non distinctive. I do like what is there. The fruit is clean and ripe black cherry and blackberry. The nose has a hint of sweetness that does not follow through the palate. There are some secondary flavors of cocoa and minerals in the background. Only medium bodied. Definitely properly balanced. Wish there was more stuff in the package. A touch of leather and chocolate on the finish. (85 pts.)
• 2008 Yalumba Shiraz Patchwork - Australia, South Australia, Barossa
  This is a big rich Aussie Shiraz still acting pretty young at almost age 5, with lots of things going on. Not exactly my favorite style, there are all kinds of hard to describe, brooding, secondary flavors like wet earth, tree roots and leather. Almost opaque purple color. Briary nose of blackberry and minerals. Not exactly fruit forward, the black currant and blackberry flavors are surrounded by non fruit components. The acid is still quite youthful and could age a couple more years. To their credit, it is not over oaked. The tannins have smoothed out. To me this is a more rustic style that I may need a few tastes to fully appreciate. (87 pts.)
• 2010 Seven Falls Cellars Merlot - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope
  This wine is a good example of why we are so fond of wines from Washington State. My first impression was sunshine. We can just feel those northern exposure longer days. The resulting wine is so balanced, it almost tastes sweet even though it is totally dry. Solid dark purple color. The nose has plenty of black cherry and blackberry with a good hit of oak, and the 14.5% alcohol. They did not spare the oak, but the fruit and structural backbone can handle it. One of those Merlot's that tastes of chocolate on the finish. Nicely balanced and integrated. Not rich enough for a really big score, but quite respectable. (87 pts.)
• 2009 Goedhart Family Syrah Bel’ Villa Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain
  We have stumbled onto something here. This is not your everyday Washington State Syrah offering. Beside the usual desert conditions, and long hours of northern exposure sunshine, you can just feel the love from nose to finish. They only made 385 cases, and we are glad a few bottles somehow made it all the way to South Carolina.This 2009 is still a baby, needing several more years. A decanting would have been a big help. The color is almost as dark as used motor oil. The nose is complex to say the least with all kinds of stuff going on from red meat to bright blueberry and dark black cherry to wet minerals and pepper spice, and some medium heavy tost oak. The fruit keeps on coming, expressive and sweet on the palate without being jammy. Every dark fruit you can think of, with some red fruit thrown in. Almost perfectly ripe tannins. Plenty of youngish new oak. There is an oily richness to the fruit, graphite, leather and minerals on the finish. (92 pts.)