Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 2/4/2012
Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC
Tasted Saturday, February 4, 2012 by Mike Kopanski with 652 views
Introduction
Every other Saturday, Cellar on Greene holds offers about 30 wines to taste and buy at very reasonable prices. They set up 5 stations with dedicated knowledgeable people pouring. They always have one or two treasures at the reserve table. Sometimes the crowd is so large and noisy you have trouble hearing the descriptions. I always take notes and have trouble finding a place to write. This is an excellent way to learn about wines from all over the world.
NV Poema Cava Extra Dry 86 Points
Spain, Cava
I'm pretty sure this is a different batch from we tasted last summer. I was mildly unenthused with what was in the glass last year. This one seems a lot more lively. It still has a color that is as close to clear as any type of wine can get. The nose and palate have a pretty concentrated and intense aroma and flavor of sweet apples. There was enough crisp freshness to keep your attention. Little tiny bubbles. The finish is mostly pear, and does a fine job of cleansing the palate. No disappointment here.
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2010 Pacific Rim Dry Riesling 86 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
This probably is not my favorite style of Riesling. It was just a little too sweet, without all of the enhancing non fruit stuff we have learned to expect from this varietal. But, still not bad. Feels real big, almost commanding in the mouth. Lots of people would like this. Pretty clear in color. Has a very prominent hint of tangerine on the nose, which continues on to the palate. I get a hint of that oily feeling across the palate that I really like. I'm just expecting more (maybe I'm asking too much).
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2011 Diseño Torrontés 88 Points
Argentina, Valles Calchaquíes, Salta
As Torrontes goes, this one is on the more exciting side. They all taste fresh and smooth, that is why we like them so much, but often once you get past the big fruity floral nose and entry to the palate, they can fall off. I also judge Torrontes by whether or not there is a broken tangerine peel bitterness on the finish or not. This is a god one. Lots of tangerine, apricot, and jasmine on the nose. Focused tangerine, apricot, pear, pineapple, and lemon on the palate. Nice touch of minerality. Deceptively more than medium bodied. Sharp, but perfectly balanced acidity. Coats the mouth with tangerine and tropical fruit that does not quit. No bitter after taste. Nice
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2010 Domaine Haut-Marin Grande Cuvée de la Mer 87 Points
France, Southwest France, Gascony, Côtes de Gascogne
We have had the privilege of tasting several vintages of this wine, and always feel satisfied. There are some well bred, unique flavors and aromas that I am sure with more public exposure, would become extremely popular. Over all, this wine has a very pleasing, kind of oily, almost heavy richness in the mouth, a viscosity very reminiscent of Chardonnay. The color is very golden. The nose has rustic, earthy pineapple, lemon, and some kind of nut, like maybe almond. The rich palate is very Old World, with plenty of pineapple, apricot, peach, and pear fruit, that are wrapped in an earthy texture, as opposed to being in your face fruit only. So there are some of those hard to describe, enhancing, non fruit, maybe tree root flavors. The acid is adequate, and so well integrated, and in harmony with the other components. More of that nutty richness on finish. I'm really beginning to become a fan French white wines.
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2010 Bodegas Valdesil Valdeorras MonteNovo 89 Points
Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras
This is a very tasty little white wine. The overwhelming influence on the both the nose and palate is a very pronounced shale/slate earth. I referred to this wine as very busy. There is lots going on. The nose starts with lemon and crushed shale, but has plenty of help from peach, pear, pineapple, and even some floral notes. The focused, vibrant pear, pineapple, and other tropical fruit are swimming in crushed rock and tangerine peel. There is some white pepper spiciness. Big and full in the mouth. Fresh and balanced. Earthy active finish.
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2009 Faraway Farm Chenin Blanc Bosmans Crossing 87 Points
South Africa, Western Cape
This is a solid effort that once again encourages us to try bottles of South African Chenin Blanc. There is a nice combination of Old World earthy minerality, with some serious, upfront New World style fruit. It seems the soil composition, and the ability to ripen the grapes work well where this wine was produced. I get shale and wet rock on the nose. Rich golden yellow color. Nice combination of sweet tropical fruits like pineapple and guava, backed up with white pear, and of course some lemon. Nice viscosity, feels full and rounded in the mouth . Some brown spice at the back of the palate. Good job with the acid. More shale with lemon on the finish.
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2010 Villa Wolf Pinot Gris 90 Points
Germany, Pfalz
This is really good. At first taste I had no idea this Pinot Gris was made in Germany. There were some familiar flavors and aromas, but the package was full of little surprises. This wine is very lively on the palate, at first I thought it might be a slight spritz, but the second and third taste expelled that theory. I also thought there was a woody, out doors sort of flavors and aromas. Come to find out, half the batch is fermented in large oak casks, which may also explain what I thought was some hard to describe brown spice on the back of the palate. The fruit is, lush, tropical, very fresh with a solid entry. There are little nuances like orange rind, pear peel, and even a hint of almond or some other nut. Lots of soft rock or shale minerality. The combination of fresh fruit flavors and aromas, with some earthy, spicy , out doors, herbal expressions is amazing enough to break the 90 point glass ceiling. So balanced you don't even notice the alcohol. Soft, lingering finish.
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2009 Quasar Wines Chardonnay 86 Points
Chile, Curico Valley, Lontué Valley, Molina
A decent, competent, if not overwhelming, value priced offering from Chile. It is always challenging, at least for this California trained palate, to describe the somewhat unique flavors and aromas of the wines from Chile. Starting off, you can easily recognize the typical Chardonnay aromas on the nose, but then you have to step back and try to process the other things going on. To me, the smell was like fresh tree sap, or the maybe the smell you get when you crush a young leaf in the spring. A little smokey too. This is one of those Chardonnay's that is not dominated by fruit, it has enough, just barely, but all the other stuff works itself into the profile. We get subtle, but noticeable,spicy baked pear, citrus, peach, and melon, with brown spice, earthy slate, and wet rocks. Solid medium plus bodied. Whatever oak is well integrated seems to work. That tree sap re appears on the finish.
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2008 Flora Springs Chardonnay Napa Valley 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Another solid effort from one of my favorite wineries to visit. By no means a blockbuster, this one is on the subtle side. Most of the good stuff we expect from Napa Chardonnay is here. And, there is even a uniqueness in how the nectarine, tangerine, and melon flavors seem to able to exhibit themselves individually, while still maintain harmony. Nice golden color. The nose has some oak, basically controlled and civilized. There is also a nice floral expression along with citrus, pineapple and mango. On the entry, the fruit is subtle but complete and relatively complex with the sweeter fruits like mango and pineapple mingling well with fig, citrus, and a touch of ripe apple. Smooth and easy drinking, there are a minimum of those hard to describe non fruit flavors. Enough oak, and for that matter, acid, to round, balance, and keep things fresh. Could age a little. The finish is a little short.
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2009 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Chardonnay Anderson Valley 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
This is very good chardonnay. This little section of ground at the confluence of Dry Creek, Russian River, and Alexander Valley, is grape growing paradise. This wine is made in sort of a half New World and half Old World style. Kind of austere, like Chablis, but no mistaking the California ripeness. There is excellent viscosity, with a big mouth feel, that does not come from big oak, or lees treatment, but from the concentration of the grapes. The nose has an earthy mineral over tone that we expect from Chablis, but rarely occurs in California. When the fruit hits the palate, it is pineapple and melon first and foremost, then lemon, peach, and apple. Does not have much noticeable oak influence. Very subdued, controlled, and integrated acidity. I think this is still rather young and may show even better next year. Has some of that ginger spiciness on the finish.
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2010 Louis Jadot Beaujolais 87 Points
France, Burgundy, Beaujolais
So what else can we add to the story of Louis Jadot Beaujolais? We have been enjoying this wine for more than 20 years, and would be glad to have a glass in hand at almost any time. This wine is typical, almost boring, in a very good way. It does not change all that much from vintage to vintage. Probably the grape growing, winemaking, and equipment improvements have made consistency even easier to obtain. This wine always has a nice soft entry. The fruit is focused and almost juicy. The color leans toward red. On the entry, the fruit also leans toward red raspberry. Fruity. Medium bodied. Balanced. Very smooth civilized tannins. Always just a touch gamey. Seems to get more flavor full as it fills the palate. Has some of that rhubarb flavor on the finish.
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2008 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
I'm beginning to think this is one of my favorite Oregon Pinot Noir producers. There is an earthy, concentrated intensity to this wine that really shouts out uniqueness. My notes called it smelly peat, they call it pungent. Very dark color for a Pinot. Smokey, peat on the nose with vanilla and of course black cherry. Not quite chunky, but certainly fleshy weight as it crosses the lips. There is a lively vibrancy to the black cherry and blueberry fruit as it coats the palate. Spicy, earthy. Decent structure across the mid palate. Noticeable, and well integrated oak. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed the concentrated New World meets Old World style of earthiness with almost in your face fruit.
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2010 Root:1 Carménère [The Original Ungrafted] 86 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Although this one seems to avoid most of those earthy, tree root, and black tea flavors we sometimes find in Carmenere from Chile, it still rough and rustic, in a good way. You are not going to confuse this with say a California Merlot, or an Australian Shiraz. These flavors and aromas are distinct to Chile and that is all right. I get vanilla, lead pencil,red raspberry, and alcohol on the nose. The color is basically purple. This is a pretty big wine with good grip, structure, and a decent mouth feel. Not exactly layered, there are still some interesting combinations of smoky, black pepper spiced, deep dark blackberry, and plum fruit, backed up with some red cherry, red raspberry, and some nuanced non fruit flavors associated with spices and earth. This one gives us a hint of what Carmenere can be, without all the hard to describe secondary flavors. Balanced. Drinkable. Civilized tannins before some more graphite and blackberry on the finish.
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2009 TerraSur Bonarda Fingerprints 85 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Tried this wine again almost 8 months later with basically the same notes. Relatively light bodied for a wine this dark purple in color. The fruit is sharp and focused, but on the simple side. Has a very nice boysenberry flavor on the top of the palate. Light, but tasty little tannins give it some structure in the mouth. Just barely enough acid to keep things rounded and balanced. Pleasant and easy drinking. Don't notice much oak. The finish is a little light with some rubbery blackberry.
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2008 Faraway Farm Shiraz 83 Points
South Africa, Western Cape
Not my favorite style of Shiraz, this one had that tell tail aroma of petrol on the nose. That is not always bad, but is the beginning of an indication of things not starting out well. When it hits the palate, things are not so out of wack, but who needs this problem? I have seen plenty of people who actually like this flavor, and I have seen it swirl out to a blackberry and black licorice thing. This wine did not swirl out the petrol flavor, but it did start to neutralize it. There is an underlying core of deep blackberry that has some potential. Once you get past the petrol, it is fruit forward while still being balanced. But, you can better spend your money elsewhere.
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2011 Cigar Box Malbec Reserve 85 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Although this is the third vintage we have tried this wine, and we would have to call it relatively complete, I still think there is something missing. Maybe they designed it to please the PC crowd, or maybe they had to filter out some of the good stuff. Possibly they used some whole cluster fermentation to preserve the freshness, giving up some color in the process. I am inclined to think there may be a touch of residual sugar influencing the fruit profile. The color is pretty light. The nose is earthy brown spice, and sweet red raspberry. Maybe I was spooked by the relatively light color, because the palate, though by no means overwhelming, exhibits a smoky, meaty, if subdued red and black fruit moderate intensity. It is very smooth, with those kind of tannins that sneak up on you on the finish. Soft on the palate. Fruity finish. Maybe we should try another bottle.
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2010 Viña Amalia Malbec Reservado Finca la Amalia 90 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
This is one of the richest, most complete Malbecs I have tasted lately. Everything we expect from a well made Malbec is here in enhanced quantities. Typically Malbec is smooth, ripe and easy to drink. This one has some vibrant "grip" from skins and tannins that sets it apart. The color is as dark as any Malbec I have seen . The nose has a beautiful hint of chocolate, with cassis, smoke, earth, and vanilla. The fruit is super ripe, but still sharp and focused, blackberry, plum, and other dark fruits. It completely coats the palate just after the first sip. The balancing acid is delightful. Unusually full on the mid palate. Big tannins, as smooth as they can get. Very few Malbecs taste and feel this complete, the texture, mouth feel, and viscosity remind me more of Syrah than Malbec. Silky long fruity finish.
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2010 Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon Palermo 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
This is delicious. Maybe not for everybody, but if you want a big thick juicy wine, this is it. Their style of ripe, high alcohol, fruit forward, deep, brooding wines is somewhat like an Australian Shiraz. There is definitely a time and a place for these wine, like steak time. There is a lot going on here. Whether you like it or not, we can spend several minutes talking about the flavors, aromas, and mouth feel of this wine. It starts out with deep rick purple color. The nose is almost crowded with all the good stuff we expect from Cabernet, starting with super ripe and rich big black fruit, then there is big vanilla, lead pencil, toasty oak, brown spice, herbs, green pepper, and cassis. The fruit is what you expect from 15.5% alcohol wine, very ripe, explosive black berry and black cherry. Rich and full in the mouth, but still surprisingly elegant. This is kind of young, I suspect the oak will integrate more with bottle time. Very civilized tannins. Moderate acidity. The finish is a little candied with big black fruit, hints of caramel, licorice, graphite, and black pepper.
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