Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 1/23/2016
Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC
Tasted Saturday, January 23, 2016 by Mike Kopanski with 310 views
Introduction
As usual great job by the staff. Such a wonderful and varied selection of tasty affordable wines. There is something from almost every region. Regulars and new comers buy by the case.
NV Domaine Meriwether Celebration Cuvee Brut 83 Points
USA, Oregon
It says Brut, but is noticeably sweet. Very light in color. At first you get bubbles, then a burst of honey, which is not so bad. The base wines seems thick and syrupy. The finish seems artificial and sugary. Some will like this, I don't.
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NV Candoni Prosecco Brut 87 Points
Italy, Veneto / Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Prosecco
Really a pretty decent bottle of Prosecco. Maybe just a little heavier viscosity than typical. Tropical fruit nose with a hint of melon. Pretty mild little bubbles. Maybe a touch of sweetness that seems to work. A touch of honey with the peach, melon and citrus fruit. Pleasant, not overly acidic. The honey and the mouth feel give this an edge over many other Prosecco's.
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NV Charles de Fère Cuvée Jean Louis, Blanc de Blancs Brut 86 Points
France
With all the resources of the Boissette conglomerate behind this label, we the general public get to enjoy some pretty decent bubbles for a very palatable price. The base wine has a nice shale influenced, earthy concentration. Has a Loire style, heavier than Champaign mouth feel. Very crisp, solid mouth coating acidity. Not powerful, explosive or overly concentrated, but fresh, tasty and affordable.
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2014 Massaya Classic Rosé 88 Points
Lebanon, Bekaa Valley
The very clear salmon color is no indication of the cornucopia of intense and unique aromas and flavors to follow. Almost everything about this rose from Lebanon is slightly different. The nose is expressive dirty, unwashed, fresh picked strawberries still in the basket. The palate continues with the raw, fresh strawberry theme supported with a plethora of earthy, mineral enhanced flavors that are unique to the world of rose. The mouth feel is rather rich and full while maintaining an overall dainty elegance. The finish is very strong for wine this light in color with a range of tastes from light vegetable and apple skin to even a hint of mint.
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2014 Villa Wolf Riesling 89 Points
Germany, Pfalz
This offshoot of Dr. Loosen features wines made in the Pfalz. They have a certain amount of terroir driven distinction typical to the Pfalz even at the value price range. We have been tasting several varietals for many vintages from this producer and they have all been clean and well made. There is a lot going on here for under $20. The nose has distinctive mineral and slate with the orchard and citrus fruit. Inspired fruit flavors like apricot, mango, grapefruit, apple, pear and citrus are precise and individually discernible. Pretty moderate acidity for German Riesling capably balance the fruit without being overpowering. Doesn't have many of those hard to describe earthy, mineral flavors. A clean, dry, crisp wine of vitality and depth. No wonder the Enthusiast gave it a 91
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2013 Famille Sichel Sauvignon Blanc Bordeaux Les Hauts de Bel Air 86 Points
France, Bordeaux
Very "Old World" Bordeaux in style. There is a noticeable stink on the nose that fortunately mostly dissipates as it slides down then palate. Unquestionably rustic and earthy in a stemy, seedy way. This is Sauvignon Blanc as only the French can do it. There is a slight amount of grass and grapefruit, but this one is more identified by the spicy, herbal, wet dirt, tree bark and wet stone flavors.
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2015 Rayun Sauvignon Blanc 84 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley
Only about 10 months off the vine, we expect and get a very crisp, evolving, young white wine. The nose starts out fantastic with expressive and lively citrus and fresh cut apple aromas. The flavor profile is not quite up to the tease of the nose. The fruit and enhancing flavors don't quite develop to the level of even basic Sauvignon Blanc, but there also are no off flavors. Raw acid. Lemon drop and not much else on the finish.
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2014 Valley Vineyards Chenin Blanc The Royal 88 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
This is one of those wines so incredibly smooth and balanced it just melts in your mouth. Until the relatively crisp acidic finish, the flavor and aroma characteristics work in harmony. The initial fruit is the smoother heavier stuff like melon, mango and guava. It builds with apple and pear and on to crisp citrus fruits. Definitely some "Old World" mineral earthiness. Saw some scores as high as 90 so others seem to like it.
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2014 Villadonna Piemonte Pinot Grigio 87 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC
Let's just call them as we taste them. Overall, this is generally not a distinct Italian Pinot Grigio. But, to it's credit it is competent, complete and easily compares to others from this region and price range. The grape growing and wine making is smooth and polished. There is an accompanying, enhancing, mineral and wet stone influence that the Italians do best. Apple and pear upfront, but more puckering lemon type fruit on the finish.
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2014 Maysara Winery Pinot Gris Arsheen 90 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville
One of those wines so balanced, it leaves a small impression of sweetness even though it is most likely totally dry. Enough structure, combined with lively and spicy fruit to have gained a 90 point rating from a major publication, and I agree. Really solid mouth feel. Lifted and expressive guava, grapefruit and orchard fruit. This structure and fruit is superbly balanced with big acid.
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2012 Dalliance Lake County White 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Lake County
Trying this again 15 months later, interestingly the extra bottle age and maturity have allowed the Roussanne to more clearly exhibit it's typical nutty influence to the flavor. Still quite thick viscosity for a white wine. The fruit has dropped off a bit, but the acid remains vibrant, so this really shows better than previously.
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2014 Saint Cosme Little James' Basket Press White 89 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Alert! I think we have something here; a maverick, rogue wine maker gone wild. It did not hit me at first. The wine at first, is Viognier like with big viscosity, getting ready to be flabby, then, quick hitting, crisp, citrus and orchard fruit just show up. Almost like a sparkling wine the flavors hit the palate then dissipate, leaving things clean and refreshed, which to me means things are totally balanced. There really is nothing else like this. The color is way more golden than Viognier. The finish leaves something nutty that I suspect may be a hint of terroir.
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2012 10 Span Vineyards Chardonnay 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
This is a pretty decent approximate $10 Chardonnay. The nose has a touch of butterscotch, ginger and fig. The palate tastes like a cool climate, rustic, Chablis style, not necessarily fruit forward, secondary flavors first, apple, pear and citrus. Only a touch of oak, and not full malo lactic. Ginger and other brown spice flavors.
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2012 Waterstone Chardonnay 88 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Lucky us. By now this 2012 should be mostly sold and drunk. Definitely benefited from a bit of extended bottle age. For a basically ridiculous price we get to drink a Carneros grown, barrel fermented, minimal malo lactic Chardonnay. Really creamy and smooth on the entry. Nice traditional Chardonnay, spicy, ginger. nectarine, pear, apple and citrus flavors. Still crisp and vibrant.
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2014 Lioco Chardonnay 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Though not necessarily my favorite style, this is definitely one of the most Burgundian of all California Chardonnay's. Very mineral driven, but also some annoying tastes of medicine. Not at all fruit forward in an "Old World" style of half fruit and half non fruit flavors. Still interesting and downright tasty in it's own way. Loads of mineral infused fresh squeezed lemon on the finish.
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2013 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir 86 Points
USA, California
Sort of a middle of the road Pinot made to a price point by a respected Sonoma house. Made in the very ripe, fruit forward style of California, but with just enough true Pinot Noir flavors and aromas to satisfy. Very bright cherry and red raspberry on the nose and palate. It is deep, almost rich, but not necessarily layered. Made to be smooth and approachable. Ready to drink. Balanced, but not very tannic or acidic. Spice and vanilla join the fruit on a juicy finish.
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2013 Altos Las Hormigas Bonarda Colonia las Liebres Clasica 87 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Just when you thought it was safe to never bother giving Argentinian Bonarda another serious taste, someone hands you a glass that tastes at least 25% better than typical. Very concentrated for a Bonarda. Has that earthy rusticity we expect, but this time backed up with some layers of solid fruit and secondary flavors. By no means one dimensional, but also not ready to hang with the big dogs. Evidence of ripe plum, decent tannins and nice oak along with the earthy, leafy, barky flavors. Not for everyone, but this is the best Bonarda we have tried in a while.
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2013 Montebuena Rioja 87 Points
Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
After having the experience of tasting the 2012 previously, knew what to expect. This is a basic, young, ready to drink Tempranillo that is what it is. There is lots of lively, somewhat simple strawberry fruit on the entry. Surprising viscosity. By the finish a more sophisticated dark cherry joins the strawberry.
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2014 Castelvero Piemonte Barbera 86 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC
Uncharacteristically, the palate does not come close to having a small fraction of the considerable cherry and plum we get on the nose. Still very adequate and downright tasty and also quite a bargain. A bit dry and lackluster on the mid palate. Mild tannins. Good but not great.
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2013 Domaine d'Aupilhac Languedoc Lou Maset 88 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc
Another little pearl of red wine goodness from Kermit Lynch. This one's reason to be is a very subtle elegance. The color is pretty dark magenta, but not even close to opaque. The nose is rose petals, lilacs and red sweet cherry. The entry and the whole overall tasting experience needs small sips and paying attention to experience the mild cherry, mint and spice flavor nuances that really grow on you. Just a hint of rustic gaminess. Mild burn from alcohol. Little or no oak. A minor streak of slate and other minerality. Strawberry and spice on the finish.
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2012 Wine Men of Gotham Shiraz-Grenache 87 Points
Australia, South Australia
So the 2011 was surprisingly lively in 2015, as is this 2012 in 2016. Evidently this stuff does not sell too good, because we seem to get it towards the end of it's fresh life. This one starts off with a nose of dirty sweat socks. The color is Shiraz purple, but not close to opaque. The fruit is leafy and rustic and takes a minute to get used to. There is a savory aspect. Mostly matured in stainless. Not big and robust, but tasty nonetheless.
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2011 Di Majo Norante Molise Ramitello 89 Points
Italy, Molise
This is one of the very few wines I have ever tasted from Molise. It certainly got plenty of attention from both Parker and the Spectator. This is definitely an "Old World" style wine with at least half the flavor characteristics comming from non fruit flavors. It is rustic, tannic and earthy. The fruit part really deserves some credit. Both the nose and the palate have a sharp, aggressive cranberry meets Mount Morency cherry streak. Secondary flavors like slate, shale and vanilla. Lingering lively cranberry and cherry with big tannins and wet earth.
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2012 Hope Estate Shiraz Basalt Block 86 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Very similar to their 2011 version we tasted about six weeks ago. Their style seems to be somewhat austere and subdued by Aussie standards. At this time the nose is mostly muted and ungiving. The color is typically moderate dark purple. The fruit is lively and spicy with a green garden influenced blackberry, dark cherry and mulberry. Kind of rustic and a bit tight, this one could use a decant or the vinturi. Medium plus bodied. Soft, relatively nondescript finish.
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2011 Donati Family Vineyard sisters forever sorelle per sempre 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
I am becoming a big fan of this producer, their technical expertise is capably equal to their marketing imagination. It also takes a little bravery to produce a Grenache in California. This is one of those wines, kind of like a Nebbiolo, that has dark purple color, but is really quite opaque. Unashamed herbaceous nose and entry. Lots of green garden and green pepper influence to the heavily extracted dry red fruit of currant and maraschino cherry. The over three years of age off the vine has nicely integrated, balanced and rounded the flavors. Big oak. Big alcohol. Well conceived and well made. Plenty of graphite and wet tree bark flavored with the considerable fruit on the finish. Think this is in it's sweet spot for drinking right now as the fruit is showing some maturity and just now allowing the secondary stuff to match it.
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2013 Michael-David Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Freakshow 88 Points
USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
I have been pretty critical of this label over the years for being gimmicky over the top fruit bombs. Have to retrace my criticism and applause them for this a very serious attempt at good Cabernet, although I did sense a bit of residual sugar. Super dark color. Big, buttery vanilla and oak with loads of ripe fruit like blueberry, cherry and currant. Full bodied and ready to drink now. Some raw acidity and a big hit of new oak. Hedonistic, but layered, but not quite enough for a big score. Solid fruity finish.
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2011 Tenuta Il Palagio Sister Moon Toscana IGT 89 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
I did not taste the mid 90 point euphoria others reviewed with this Super Tuscan wine. Solid from top to bottom. Lots of press for the famous owners. Some nice things to report like a likable vanilla with the red and dark fruit on the nose. Solid, lingering mid palate with blue fruit and really civilized tannins. Have a suspicion there is some bottle variation, and bet this could really use a decant.
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