Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 10/4/2014 Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC.
Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC
Tasted Saturday, October 4, 2014 by Mike Kopanski with 490 views
Introduction
Another stellar line-up and presentation by Kaitlin and staff. More than usual I found the white wine offerings to be similar in their profile of being on the earthy side. For Columbia, SC, this was really the first Saturday of Fall with the weather not in the 90's with 90% humidity, so many of the regulars pursued other endeavors this day, their loss. I actually arrived only a half hour after opening, but still barely managed to try half the wines. I took copious note, read every label, and tried many wines twice. On the innovative side, this is the first time I have ever tried or heard of a Kerner. Also they somehow discovered a delightful rose of Merlot from Virginia, and a truly unique tasting Chardonnay from New York.
NV Kim Crawford Small Parcels Fizz 87 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
I'm OK with, but not totally in love with this sparkler. It is easy to love crisp clean aggressive little bubbles, but I was disappointed with the lack of some of those structured flavors and mouth feel we should expect from a Chardonnay based sparkler. I guess what I am trying to say is this, to me, tasted more like a Prosecco than a Champaign. The color is pretty clear. There is some nice pear, peach and citrus flavors. It is very crisp and clean. As I drank down the flute, and as the wine got a little warmer, I became more of a believer with some of the honeyed and earthy peach flavors on the finish.
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NV Pere Ventura Cava Tresor Brut Rosé 87 Points
Spain, Cava
If you like Cava Rose' this one is for you. I'm pretty sure most of the base wine was bleed wine from the red wine program, or at least that the skins had been broken. The significant, quick hitting red fruit, mostly strawberry helped with red raspberry and cranberry, has some depth and mouth feel. The cute little bubbles bring a nice refreshing crispness. Very smooth and tasty.
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2013 Early Mountain Vineyards Rosé 87 Points
USA, Virginia, Central Virginia, Madison County
What a pleasant surprise. We don't get enough chances to taste wines from Viginia. This is simply delightful. It is 100% Merlot, but very light and elegant. There are some typical to Merlot secondary flavors and aromas of olive brine, light green pepper and herb behind the soft and expressive strawberry fruit. Just a hint of sweetness. Appropriate balancing acidity. Tasty, special, and unique.
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2013 Can Feixes Penedès Blanc Selecció 90 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
This is definitely an "Old World" style wine. To say the least, the flavors and aromas are very unique. There is plenty of fruit, but the overall taste impression leans toward a savory, earthy rustic style. Comes in at 12% alcohol with a very dry and crisp mouth feel. The flavors are hard to describe but kind of remind me of the taste of biting into peach skin, or maybe even biting into an apricot pit. The fruit flavor is mostly slightly unripe green apple. The acid is somehow assertive and smooth at the same time. Remarkably clean finish for a special wine that would be killer with seafood.
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2013 Biohof Pratsch Grüner Veltliner 89 Points
Austria, Niederösterreich, Weinviertel
I find this totally delightful, and close to a 90 point wine. There is an underlying clarity and freshness to all the aromas and flavors. The nose is very unique with some ginger spice, molasses, wet shale, and fresh crushed lime. Refreshing totally dry palate of lemon/lime citrus, green apple, plenty of minerals and white pepper. A touch of rusticity with the taste of seeds and skins. Crisp but balanced with a mineral citrus finish.
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2013 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Kerner 89 Points
Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler
This was a complete and total surprise. I've never tasted a Kerner before, so have been really missing out, as this is something special. The nose is awesome with a brash hit of earth, spice, a touch of green garden. There is a greenish tinge to the light gold color. The palate is lively and explosive in fruity rustic way that reminds me of a combination of Albarino and Gruber Veltliner. Ripe but not over the top, almost layered and complex, melon to apple to mango and other tropical citrus fruit flavors. Solid medium full bodied mouth feel that may be reflecting some lees treatment. The long finish lingers with emergence of a dominant peachy flavor and plenty of minerals.
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2012 Valle de la Puerta Torrontés La Puerta 86 Points
Argentina, La Rioja, Famatina Valley
This Argentinian white comes from a different area than typical for most of the Torrontes we taste; the Famatina Valley of the La Rioja region. The taste is also a little different. There is a lot less of the typical, upfront, almost overpowering flavor of tangerine, actually with this Torrontes offering, the tangerine is almost subdued. There is still a lot of expressive fruit, it is just more evenly distributed among peach, mango, melon, orange, tangerine and lemon/lime flavors. Barely medium bodied. Only a small hint of bitterness, it is a little rustic with a hint of the taste of skins, stems and seeds. The acid is balancing without being overly dry.
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2012 Steinhaus Riesling 85 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
It may be the vintage, or maybe just the wine making, but this is the most crisp Riesling I have ever tasted. It has almost the same crisp flavor in the mouth I usually taste with a Prosecco. The color is quite clear. The nose has a lot of petrol, which does not transfer to the palate, and the aroma of crushed pear skin. Doesn't quite have the typical Riesling viscosity. Big taste of slightly unripe green apple. Some of the crisp flavor may come from what to me is as much the flavor of minerals I have ever tasted. Not exactly typical, but not really bad tasting. I miss some of those enhancing honeyed peach and ripe tropical fruit flavors we often enjoy from Mosel Riesling.
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2012 Château Pilet Bordeaux Blanc 86 Points
France, Bordeaux
Pretty typical Bordeaux style Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon blend. You have to give them credit for how well the flavors integrate. For example, the nose and the palate show a certain amount of grassiness, but it seems woven into the structure of the wine, not just on the surface. The same is true for the herbal and citrus flavors that fit seamlessly into the flavor profile. There is a certain amount of underlying earthiness from the extraction of the skins and stems. Nice solid mouth feel. Balanced, integrated acidity. Just a little more refined than a lot of the Sauvignon's we drink.
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2013 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris 89 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
This is really representative of what is going on with Oregon Pinot Gris these days. First and foremost, there is a lifted, vibrant, clean attack of fruitiness. Then, on the other hand, is a lean and linear elegance that just reeks of class. Has a nice combination of medium plus bodied, oily peach and pear orchard fruit, with appropriately crisp citrus and pineapple. Superb balance. Even some minerality on the fruity finish.
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2013 Pine Ridge Vineyards Chenin Blanc Viognier 87 Points
USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg
A really trusted old friend, we try several of these every vintage, especially during pool season. They have been producing this wine since before wines from Clarksburg were fashionable. It is remarkable how consistent they seem from vintage to vintage. This is not supposed to be a complicated wine. Designed for easy drinking, it does an excellent job delivering an expressive floral and fruity nose, with a fruity palate, solid mouth feel, and refreshing balancing acidity. They have the experience and track record combining these two relatively atypical varietals in just the right percentages, and we the public get to enjoy.
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2012 Dalliance Lake County White 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Lake County
This is a tasty, approachable blend of 40% Viognier, 32% Roussanne, and 28% Muscat. The nose is easily identifiable as Viognier with a floral, honeysuckle influence to the peachy melon fruit. It has a touch of sweetness. Definitely a blend, these combination of flavors would never be available from a single varietal. Has a serious, Riesling like viscosity. Soft and fruity, this is sipping wine while well chilled. Peach, pear, melon and honey. The acid is balancing, but not necessarily crisp. Nice mouth coating fruity melon finish,
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2010 On-The-Spot Chardonnay Johnny 88 Points
USA, New York, Finger Lakes
When this Chardonnay first crossed my lips, I did not know it was from New York State. The label is kind of Hollywood, the nose was a little rustic, but what crossed the palate was totally distinctive. This wine is really different. It resembles the Chardonnay's we get from North Carolina more than those from California, or even France. The nose has a spicy, ginger meets nutmeg and sandalwood aroma before the apricot, peach and grapefruit aromas. The palate is quite rustic, in a good way, with tree sap, tree leaf, kind of scuppernong thick skin flavor. This is a 2010, so there is some bottle age that has helped the fruit integrate into what is a very European combination of about half fruit and half non fruit flavors. Doesn't seem to have much oak. The finish is clean and remarkable enough to merit a high 80's score. Would love to try this with some white cheese.
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2012 Dusted Valley Vintners Chardonnay Boomtown 87 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
This is a very nice rendition of Washington state Chardonnay. Without over doing it, they have found just the right combination of barrel fermentation, lees treatment, and malo lactic fermentation. Of course they started out with really good grapes. It is fairly rich and creamy on the palate without being the slightest bit flabby or buttery. The fruit shows some northern latitude long sunshine days ripeness. Just the right amount of crisp acidity.
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2012 Acrobat Pinot Noir 87 Points
USA, Oregon
This is one of those Pinot's that keeps seductively enticing you to take another sip. It really is kind of simple in a "New World" fruit forward way that is simply delicious. Not, expensive, and not trying to be anything more than an every day drinker. If you can believe it, the nose smells like grapes, with a little vanilla, that also appears across the palate. The fruit is mostly ripe dark cherry. Nice soft acidity keeps things balanced and smooth.
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2012 Walnut City Wineworks Pinot Noir Ginger Wine Ninjas 87 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
This is one of those wines where the story may take precedence to what is in the glass. This wine was produced to commemorate 3 astute wine retail professionals in my current hometown, Columbia, SC. All 3 are redhead, workaholic wine geeks, very well known in the wine drinking community. My favorite wine is Pinot Noir, as is that of almost a majority of the wine buying public here in Columbia, so what a better tribute. We have to commend Walnut City Wine Works for what must mostly be labor of love. The wine is typical Oregon Pinot. By that I mean there is a combination of ""Old World" earthiness with signature, Oregon, easily approachable fruitiness. There is cherry on the nose and palate. Not explosive, just solid and tasty with some emerging secondary flavors of evergreen on the finish.
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2013 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir 87 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
This is pretty serious Pinot. Also one of those whose relatively light color is not indicative of what is going to pass over the palate. There is a core of very young gritty tannins and acid giving support to some concentrated, also young, and emerging but potentially pretty inspiring red fruits from cranberry to red currant. Some light cedar or evergreen flavors on the finish.
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2010 Pax The Vicar 93 Points
USA, California, North Coast
This is a really interesting wine. I have tried it a couple of times, and read much about it's origin before I was ready to explain what I think. The first look, and the first sniff are tell tale of what we finally conclude. For a premium California blend, the color is remarkably clear reddish, or least surprisingly not opaque. The nose is rich almost candied mostly red fruit, with plenty of nuanced other rocky earth, spicy and mineral flavors. The lightish color, and the super approachable mouth feel is mostly the result of 100% whole cluster fermentation which means the skins were not broken. The vineyards are mostly in volcanic soils which really enhances the exuberance of the red fruits all the way from cranberry to strawberry. Though totally approachable, this wine will easily get better for many more years. I would love to have a taste of this in 10 more years expecting some really nice red licorice and strawberry preserves. There are so many different flavors to mention. Though there is probably not a lot of new oak, there is considerable vanilla taste. There is a smokey component. Does not leave much indication of tannis because of the whole cluster fermentation. The acid is so balanced, you don't notice it, which is the key to a 93 point score.
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2013 San Pedro Apostol Rioja Campellares 86 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
I really liked the aroma as we poured into the decanter. There was as much fresh red cherry and red raspberry as any wine I have seen in a while. The color is moderately purple, by no means close to opaque. The palate is a little disappointing, after that awesome nose. This is a godd quality well made wine, but the tasting experience across the lips and palate does not match the potential of the nose. We are still going to tremendously enjoy the rest of this bottle. There is a commendable, if not super concentrated, persistent flavor or ripe plum and black cherry that lingers around the palate for a few minutes. I get the impression there may have been some whole cluster fermentation. They did not extract a lot of tannins. I think they produced this wine to be drunk young for which it does an admirable job at a very decent price.
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