Thursday Walk Around Tasting Without a Theme 2/9/2012

We don't need a theme do we? All we want is to taste some good wines, and do our best to write and review what we found in the glass. This Thursday tasting was by no means typical for WineStyles. Robert started us with an upscale Prosecco, continued with 3 well known California offerings, then ended with a delightful, effervescent Moscato from Spain. Normally, I arrive and taste in the first hour, today however, I arrived just before closing. The 8PM crowd was much more lively than the typical 5PM crowd. Nice job Robert.

• NV Umberto Bortolotti Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut 87 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG

  I guess this is the upscale level of Prosecco. At retail $20, this is considerably above what we usually pay. There are definitely several reasons to consider paying this premium. It just smells, tastes, and feels, like a level above what we buy (and extremely enjoy) at Kroger for Friday 5 PM "Happy hour". The nose is fresh with fresh cut white flowers, citrus, and yeast. There are super concentrated, very active, small bubbles. We have the typical pear, apple, and citrus, but this time accented with banana. Refreshing. Tasty. Refined. More yeast on the crisp finish.

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• 2009 Decoy Chardonnay 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  This is definitely an upscale Sonoma Coast sourced Chardonnay. It has that bold grip that makes you want to take another taste. It hits your senses from all sides. The nose is floral first, but then expands into a flinty, earthy influenced, citrus and orchard fruit profile. The color is somewhat uncharacteristically clear. The fruit seems cold climate, substantial, but subdued baked apple, grapefruit, guava, and pear. The mid palate is a very lifted, shale and wet rock, earthy steeliness. There is an active vibrancy to the mouth feel, that we wish a lot more wines could exhibit. Smooth with power. Very nice job integrating the oak and alcohol to keep them in the background. There is plenty of thirst quenching acidity that would show a little better with some bottle age. Steely minerality on an intriguing, soft tropical fruit finish.

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• 2009 Artesa Meritage Napa / Sonoma 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  To me, this wine balances out real well. By that I mean, outside of the typical wine review stuff like acid, fruit, tannins, finish etc, 3 things are happening here 1, big new oak 2, focused, uplifting, fresh dark fruit 3, definite and enjoyable non fruit flavors and aromas. The color even starts out different than expected from a heavy duty Bordeaux blend, although more on the magenta side than a Pinot Noir, it's opacity is just slightly more than a big Pinot. Lots of big, New World style blue and black fruit, surrounded with all kinds of spices like cinnamon, sage, and black pepper, enhanced with some earthy tree bark, and fresh cut root flavors. The big oak is kind of a bully, but the other elements have ganged up to equalize him, and allow the complex, multi dimensional side of the wine make it's statement. Very refined in the mouth. The tannins, acid, and alcohol all are doing their job anonymously but competently. The finish is very refined black cherry with cedar, cinnamon, tobacco, and graphite.

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• 2008 Decoy Red Wine 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Made in their ready to drink style, this one is a little more austere and less inviting than some of the other vintages. Still a very decent wine, it does a good job of showcasing what Napa Valley Cabernet tastes like. The color is textbook Cabernet, possibly a little on the light side. The nose has a slight greenness with some green olive, vanilla, and cranberry. The fruit leans toward red with more cranberry and strawberry. Very smooth, subtle, and soft in the mouth. Might be on the end of it's "dumb stage" where things are just starting to wake up. Nice touch with the oak. Silky smooth tannis. Soft, supple finish with graphite, red fruit, and a hint of cocoa.

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• 2010 Besitos Moscato 87 Points

  Spain

  Not something that I would buy to drink every day, but I sure enjoyed the opportunity to taste this. Light is the word. Slightly effervescent, just enough to keep things fresh and moving. Golden yellow color. Peaches and floral nose. Very low in alcohol. Very fruit driven, you almost think there are fresh peaches in the bottle. After the explosion of peaches, some soft expressive honeysuckle takes over. No doubt about the residual sugar, but this time it works, keeping the viscosity high from lips through the finish. The little bubbles are like icing on the cake to an already tasty wine.

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