Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 4/7/2012

Another great Saturday for wine tasting. Got enough work done to get there almost in time enough to try them all. About half the wines were new to this tasting. Many were new vintages of wines we have tasted in the past. Most of the crowd was buying by the case.

• NV Greg Norman Australia Estates Sparkling Pinot Noir-Chardonnay 86 Points

  Australia, South Eastern

  Maybe not for everyone, this is a classy, but possibly somewhat controversial sparkler. What makes it different, is the almost complete flavor dominance by the the dosage. It has all kinds of brown spice, and ginger root that coat the palate with non fruit flavors. Maybe some of the non fruit flavors are the result of a large percentage of Pinot Noir, and Pinot Menier. There is some citrus, pear, and apple but mostly in the background. Very active little bubbles. Nicely balanced acidity. Long yeasty finish.

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• 2011 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé 88 Points

  Germany, Pfalz

  My experience with Pinot Noir from Germany has taught me to expect light, but very expressive wines. I would like to taste the Pinot Noir from which this rose was drawn. Whatever magic the Germans have with Pinot Noir is doubled with this rose. True, it is not totally dry, so the sweetness helps the mouth feel, but still there is so much going on here. The nose is intense straight forward cherries, strawberry, red raspberry, and light red flowers. The palate has llemon and oranges at the start, but finishes with solid bing cherry. They were bold enough to let the sweetness rule without an overpowering dose of balancing acid, leaving a very soft and approachable, but not cloying wine. More cherry on the finish.

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• 2010 Montepio Torrontés 87 Points

  Argentina, La Rioja

  Very nice. Balanced and complete, this is not your one dimensional Torrontes. Of course there is a quick hit of bright tropical fruit, and a very nice hit of tangerine peel. Has that golden color. Floral and tropical nose. Mineral laced, fairly intense, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, lychee, and a touch of apricot fruit. Not overly acidic. No hint of bitterness. Has a touch of that lanolin flavor. Refined, soft and easy drinking. Makes you want to take another sip. Leaves a tangerine flavor on the finish for a couple of minutes.

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• 2010 Pazos de Lusco Albariño Rías Baixas Zios 87 Points

  Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas

  I'm becomming a big fan of Albarion. I really like the oily body and medium heavy viscosity of the mouth feel. This one is quite typical. You get the impression from the nose and the palate there is some sort of limestone, or maybe granite in the soil. The color is green golden. The nose has lemon/lime and some grass with minerals. The fruit is mineral laced lemon and pear. Kind of thick and brooding. Plenty of zesty acid. There is some creamy richness from lees treatment. Slight taste of white grape skin on the lemony finish.

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• 2010 Nik Weis / St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Kabinett 87 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  This is really pretty good. They say 2010 was a low yield vintage in Germany, and it shows with this wine being quite concentrated. Very golden color. The nose is lemon, peach, and tropical fruit. Really nice concentrated viscosity. Slight sweetness. More lemon and peach on the palate with a smokey, slate background. Zesty acidity holds everything together with a rounded, lip smacking desire to take another sip quickly. Finish leaves mineral, apricot, lemon, and earth.

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• 2010 Four Vines Chardonnay Naked Chardonnay 86 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  To my palate, this comes across as sharp. No malo lactic, and no oak, to me equals a raw grapefruit flavor that is by no means unwelcome, but somewhat incomplete. This wine has developed a following around here, that deserves some respect. It seems very dry, and steely. Nice color. Lemon and grapefruit on the nose. Apple and pear on the just short of ripe fruit flavor. Kind of balanced in a natural sort of way. To someone who prefers "real Chardonnay" this one doesn't quite "get it" but is very well conceived, and well made. Nice job.

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• 2010 Saintsbury Chardonnay Unfiltered Carneros 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  This is classic "real chardonnay". Barrel fermented, some of them new. Full malo lactic fermentation. Lots of contact with the lees. Ripe. Rich. Deep. Full flavored. Not for everyone, but I could put this on my corn flakes for breakfast. The color is Chardonnay golden. The nose has some shale minerality with citrus and brown spice. Across the palate enough complexity to approach the 90 point glass ceiling. The tropical flavors are complimented with orchard fruits that bring crisp acidity. Tasty, silky smooth, long finish, enough said.

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• 2009 Mountain View Vintners Pinot Noir Front Porch 85 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey

  Not bad for an $8 Pinot. It tastes a little manipulated, but is still very drinkable. My first impression was the alcohol was a little hot. The color is pretty light. The nose was black fruit, vanilla , and some pretty serious oak. Medium bodied. Adequate, but not overly impressive fruit intensity. Has a touch of that lanolin flavor after the fruit. A minimal of those hard to describe non fruit, earthy flavors. Nicely rounded and balanced. More oak and blue fruit on the finish.

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• 2010 Meiomi Pinot Noir 90 Points

  USA, California

  We now have had several vintages of this stellar wine to enjoy, and this may be the best. This is a big, dark Pinot, packed with flavor and richness. Very California in style, the fruit is dominant in the flavor profile, but there is a lot more going on. The color is very dark for a Pinot. The style is bold and heavy. The nose has big blueberry, fresh broken twig tree sap, herbal spiciness, wet earth, and black cherry. Expressive, but soft, rounded, and ready to drink concentrated blueberry, blackberry and plum fruit. Plenty of new French oak. For a Pinot, the viscosity is almost syrupy. There is a cool climate, what I thought was Sonoma Coast, but obviously includes Monterrey and Santa Barbara, rustic, earthy, evergreen with caramel flavor. Quite well integrated considering it's relative youth. You get the alcohol on the palate, but it is not intrusive. The heavy duty finish is oakey, earthy, vanilla and black cherry.

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• 2009 Domaine de Nizas Vin de Pays d'Oc Le Mas 86 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc

  This is kind of a New World meets Old World blend of varietals and character. The Cabernet, Syrah, and Petit Verdot fruit comes across big and fresh, like New World. On the other hand is an Old World style tannic, sharp edged, earthy, and mineral profile. Nice dark color. Floral, earthy, mineral, and red raspberry nose. Surprisingly supple and aggressive, but still elegant red fruit, especially red raspberry, coats the palate. Not much influence from oak. About medium bodied. A nice drinkable wine that has some backbone.

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• 2011 Bodegas Callia Malbec Alta 87 Points

  Argentina, San Juan, Tulum Valley

  This is pretty good Malbec. You can tell from the color this is going to be a rich concentrated wine. The nose is extremely fruity, both red and black fruit, but especially black cherry. Typical Argentinian fruit forward appeal on the entry. Solid ripe black fruit all the way through the finish. Nice job on the mid palate which is not like a Cabernet or Syrah, but still commendable for a Malbec. Silky little tannins. Surprisingly integrated for 2011. Pretty light touch with the oak helps make things soft and approachable right now. This one will make your teeth purple.

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• 2009 Michael-David Vineyards Zinfandel 7 Deadly Zins 87 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

  They make 250,000 cases of this, and have found a way to entice all of us to taste and buy a few bottles. I get some, but not all of the flavors and aromas we expect from Zinfandel. This is typically ripe and fruity, but shows some nice supporting flavors like caramel, licorice, and vanilla along side the ripe plum and blackberry. Light purple color. Some spicy cinnamon and blackberry on the nose. Typical and reliable plums, blackberry, and ripe blueberry fruit. Nicely balanced. We can feel some oak, but not enough to overpower. I like the caramel and mineral taste on the finish.

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• 2007 Kilikanoon Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  So here we have an Australian Cabernet that is just about 5 years off the vine, and around 3 years in the bottle. I like it. It has the typical 14+% alcohol, and the super ripe nose, but it does not seem candied and over the top. True, you are not going to confuse this for a Bordeaux. or a Napa Cabernet, but more like a Central Coast offering. The color is very dark. The nose has some sweetness with strawberry and cherry. The fruit is big, thick and brooding, but not over done. This is a solid effort that seems to have benefited from some aging at the winery and in the bottle. Balanced. Pretty nice job with the alcohol integration. Not particularly tannic. Fruity finish accompanied by some graphite, lead pencil, tobacco, and vanilla.

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• 2010 Renegade Wine Co. Reserve Red Wine 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  This is all you can ask for a Washington State value wine. It is big, rich, ripe, fruity, and creamy. I am becoming a big fan of Washington red wines. This one is 80% Cabernet with lots of depth and structure. Big, deep purple color. The nose is so ripe that the aroma profile is grapes. Almost full bodied. Lots of ripe, sweet, black and red fruit that coats the palate, and the glass, without being overpowering. The extra hours of sunshine make these Washington reds big while still soft and delicate. None of those hard to describe secondary, non fruit flavors. The fruit just keeps coming, all the way to the finish. The acid is in the background, just barely keeping things refreshing and interesting. Nice job integrating the oak program. Long grapy finish.

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