Giant Wine Sale & Tasting Cellar on Greene Columbia,SC 4/23/2011
Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC
Tasted Saturday, April 23, 2011 by Mike Kopanski with 605 views
Introduction
Every other Saturday, the good folks at Cellar on Greene open about 30 bottles of wine to taste, and buy at ultra discount prices. They have about 5 stations set up with knowledgeable enthusiasts pouring. Almost all of the wines are valued under $20. They always have a couple of premier wines to try at the end. Almost everyone buys by the mixed case. The atmosphere is very jovial. This may be one of the best venues any where to try wines from all over the world.
NV Conde de Subirats Cava Brut Rosé 86 Points
Spain, Cava
As a big fan of Rose wine. I am an even bigger fan of Cava Rose. I never know what to write about sparkling wines. They usually are not complicated. Rose's like this one seem to bring a little complexity, with addition of a small amount of tannin, and a couple of layers red fruit. There is nice feeling of cherry juice at the top of the palate, and on the finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Reginato CJR Blanc de Blancs 87 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
A delightful little sparkler from Argentina, I'm sure the first I've ever tasted. Very golden in color. Great nectarine flavor on the nose and palate. Little bubbles that melt in the mouth with a lemon peel finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Avinyó Penedès Petillant vi d'agulla 89 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
This is very good. Not really designed to be a complex wine to be over evaluated. It just tastes good. The fruit practically jumps out of the glass to the nose and palate. There is a delightful little spritz. The focused lemon fruit is wrapped in honeysuckle. Super refreshing. Just enough acid to keep it interesting. Might be the ultimate pool wine.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Charles Smith Riesling Kung Fu Girl 86 Points
USA, Washington
I have lots to learn about drinking and reviewing Washington State Riesling. This is a good place to start. This is not a complex, contemplative wine. It is simply a venue to bring pure drinking pleasure to the palate. You have to respect the nobleness of the Riesling grape that has this characteristic heavy viscosity in the mouth. The style of this wine is slightly sweet, and it wears that well. It brings peaches and nectarines, and some melon. There is plenty of acid to back up the sweetness. What it does best is bring some slate like minerality, that really sets it apart from most of the domestic Riesling.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Marquis Philips Riesling 44 86 Points
Australia, South Australia
As opposed to the new world Riesling we get domestically, this one is packed with all the non fruit, earthy, mineral, slate, and barnyard flavors and aromas. There is plenty of citrus and tropical fruit, but the non fruit components are at least equal to the taste profile. Not that this is bad, this really is a very tasty wine, but not for everyone. There is lots of acid that cuts right through the palate. And, the finish brings flavors, not bad, that I have very rarely tasted before.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Notro Bodega INV Torrontés 85 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
I am a big fan of Torrontes, and drink them as often as possible. I love how it just gives up the fruit on the nose and first sip. And I especially love the tangerine flavors. This one, though by no means bad, is a little different. I sense they are trying to build a little structure into the flavor profile, and it only partially works. I get some spicy gooseberry that I would call pretty atypical, which is welcome, but I also get what we used to call a "stemmy" bitterness that doesn't work too good. There is plenty of ripe soft fruit. It is balanced and easy drinking. But There are others I like to recommend better.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontés 89 Points
Argentina
In these parts, this is by far the most popular Torrontes. Almost every one who has wine in stock has at least one bottle of this. Obviously we all believe this deserves the accolades. As soon as you open the bottle, all kinds of floral, tropical fruit jumps out before you even pour some in the glass. When it hits the palate, there is a mouth coating explosion of soft, sweet, and at the same time crisp, tropical fruit, guava, pear, peaches, tangerine, and apple. Distinctively refreshing while still being a little more than medium bodied. A lot more acid than the heavy duty fruit profile and nose would indicate. Soft fruity finish that makes you want to take another sip.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Panther Creek Pinot Gris 88 Points
USA, Oregon
They added 4% Viognier, which really made a difference. When it first crossed my lips, I thought the heavier than usual Pinot Gris viscosity was going to tell me there was some residual sugar. This was not the case. They also blended Pinot Gris grapes grown in both the Willamette and the warmer, more sunny Rogue River Valley. This blending helps this wine have a pretty unique identity. It is almost straw in color. It does not have that palate puckering blinding acidity of some of it's neighbors. There still is plenty of malic acid, but it is balanced out with some tropical fruit and honey flavors. On the finish they bring us a welcome mineral taste along with the honeyed fruit and acid.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Sombras Del Sol Chardonnay 88 Points
Chile, Central Valley
This Chardonnay only cost $8, that blows my mind. This is one of those Chilean wines that has flavors and aromas that I have never experienced before, and am going to have difficulty describing. Not everyone is going to like this, and I'm not sure I do, the flavor profile is so foreign to me. To me, the fruit tastes caramelized, like the flavors have been enhanced by being heated. Don't know if that is good or bad. I smell and taste fresh rubber. I think I smell talcum powder, after it has been in the room for a few hours. I think I smell and taste what seems to be fresh dug up tree roots. And, there is some decent tropical fruit, and some French oak (for $8). It is pretty balanced, and quite drinkable. Maybe we should age it for 10 years, or try the vinturi, but we should give it a try, and respect the people who made it.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Anne Amie Pinot Noir Cuvée A 88 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
I was a little surprised by this one. I did not know what to expect. On the nose I got a candied fruit, which I would not consider typical. When I got to the palate, though very ripe, I don't think the word "candied" works. You have to give them credit for getting some flavor depth out of what is a pretty light colored wine. It shows a slightly floral nose. The black cherry and red raspberry fruits are working together with some non fruit, sandalwood and wet ground flavors in harmony. Very light touch with the tannins. The oak is also minimal, or least very well integrated. Slightly less than medium bodied. Has that sweet tobacco finish. This would not be considered a value wine, but well worth giving a try.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 87 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
A little rustic, but all in all a pretty decent Malbec. I like the lead pencil on the nose that continues through th the palate. Maybe even a touch of violets on the nose. Very typical high altitude, Argentinian dark fruit tones, like blueberry and blackberry. Almost complex. Medium bodied, and easy on the palate with just enough tannins to bring some complexity. Not bad.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Artisan Winery Merlot 86 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
A very ripe Merlot, mostly typical for the 2007 vintage. At first on the palate we get some brown sugar, which I am not sure how to evaluate. When we get to the palate, there is some focused, cranberry and red raspberry fruit. The ripeness brings out some dark plum. Quite medium bodied. Silky tannins. Balanced and not over the top. Adequate acid. Nice finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Marquis Philips Merlot 88 Points
Australia, South Eastern
This wine came in at 16.5% alcohol, and somehow they almost pulled off a complete and balanced wine. At this ripeness, flavors tend to become unusual. For example the fruit goes beyond roasted, all the way to carmelized. And, it still tastes a little sweet. Almost black it is so inky dark. A very pleasant sandalwood aroma. I almost can't describe the flavors of this fruit, other to say it is concentrated, almost like brown sugar. There are some very decent, ripe silky, slightly grainy tannins that help in the balance. Close to enough oak and acid to help out. Actually feels pretty good in the mouth, if possibly a little thin. All in all more tasty than that big would seem to indicate.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2005 Buried Cane Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points
USA, Washington
To me this is very typical of Washington state Cabernet Sauvignon. It is smooth, elegant and sophisticated, They take advantage of all that sunlight and hang time, in what is basically a desert environment. There is a structured complexity that belies the $10 price. The extra bottle age only helped things integrate. Lots of controlled, ripe blackberry fruit. Nicely balanced, although there is a hint of that sour milk acidity. The vanilla from the oak shows up on the finish, with some tannin and dark cherry fruit. Great $10 bottle.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Primus The Blend 90 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta
To me the nose and flavor profile were typically Chilean. This is a pretty good wine. Seems unusually concentrated, partially from the vintage, and partially from good wine making, especially for a $16 wine. It was inky dark. Very structured, and quite full bodied. It seems Syrah has found a very compatible home in Chile, and has the ability to help build structured blends with other varieties. Lots of dark blueberry and blackberry fruit, enough to make your teeth purple. A nice combination of non fruit flavors like licorice, tar, earth, tea, mushrooms and herbs. I catch some pretty heavy toast oak. Respectable finish with dark cherry, licorice. and menthol.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue