Saturday Tasting at The Gourmet Shop Columbia, SC 11/8/2014

On a perfect Fall Saturday with full sunshine, but temperatures only in the 60's, and a bye week for South Carolina Gamecock football, the Five Points shopping district was crawling with shoppers and tasters. Justin from Aleph was our host, and he earned his pay today. There was a steady stream of groups of 2 to 5 people trying these 4 wines. The Montelena Riesling was superb. The rose was a little tired and almost disappointing. The Bordeaux was on point and affordable. The big Washington State red blend made us try it a few times.

• 2012 Chateau Montelena Riesling 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Potter Valley

  This is a real treat, I'm going to give it a full 90 points for some parallel layers of flavor and structure. It is definitely unique, showing some of it's cool climate Califorbia roots, but also some European steely minerality. The aromas just jump out of the glass with pear peel, peach, honeysuckle, mandarin orange and melon surrounded by a shale, wet steel aroma. There is a slight amount of sweetness that is very aptly balanced by solid core of minerality, and some serious but well behaved acidity. The flavor changes as it slides down the palate from melon type sweetness to crisp and steely. There is always some lingering secondary stuff like orange rind and orchard fruit skin. Does not have quite the lifted viscosity of it's German cousins, and also does not have a streak of honeyed fruit we often associate with great Riesling. Has some resemblance to the dry Rieslings we get from some of the top producers in New York State. Very tasty.

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• 2012 Château la Tour de l'Évêque Côtes de Provence Pétale de Rosé 87 Points

  France, Provence, Côtes de Provence

  Reviewing this rose for the second time in about 4 months, I was quite surprised how lean and tight it was, this time tasting along some much bigger wines. I had to think this 2012 might be slightly past it's peak. It still had a clean precise red raspberry and strawberry fruit profile we so much enjoyed not so long ago. Today it seems super dry and crisp and lacks the pop of red fruit on the roof of the mouth. Just shows how different tasting situations change your perspective about a wine.

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• 2012 Maison Nicolas Merlot Reserve 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Ready to drink easy on the palate mostly Merlot from Bordeaux. The color is deep purple. The nose has a little barnyard with a slight floral component and ripe brooding blackberry and black cherry. Solid mouth feel, completely coats the palate with "Old World" style refined dark fruit. Supple and juicy while maintaining it's elegance. Has enough structure to last a while.

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• 2010 Pomum Cellars Red Wine 89 Points

  USA, Washington

  Already 4 years old, this kitchen sink red blend from Washington State is showing a nice cross between Washington State ripe fruit, and Bordeaux style blended earthy balance. Rich dark color. Deep nose that builds up from floral to dark fruit then wet leather and other earthy aromas. Complete and full bodied. Mostly dark fruit on the palate, the flavors are still integrating into something the blend is more interesting and complex than the individual varietals could accomplish alone. So smooth and tasty it makes you want to ask for another glass. The finish is developing with each sip showing some wet earth, leather, graphite and heavy duty black fruit.

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