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2011 Beaujolais-Villages, Georges Duboeuf

Broke out the Beaujolais tonight, Christmas Eve, in part to help usher in Christmas and in part to blunt the disappointment of a holiday flight unexpectedly cancelled because of a wayward US Airways crew. Beaujolais is a favorite of my father’s and often part of our Christmas Eve celebration at his home; my wife picked out this specific vintage and bottle and sampled alongside me tonight as we think of friends and family.

2011 Beaujolais-Villages, Georges Duboeuf, France.

2011 Beaujolais-Villages, Georges Duboeuf, France.

The 2011 Beaujolais-Villages, Georges Duboeuf first came out during our cocktail hour, one filled with good tunes, jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce, and a rousing game of Monopoly—the Star Wars version. The “reds” were the differentiating factor in that game, and thankfully the Beaujolais carried over from game time to our dinner hour.

We had emptied much of the fridge in anticipation of holiday travel and didn’t have on hand the special foodstuffs we would typically have for such an occasion. Coming home from the airport, however, we did get not only those shrimp but also a couple of great NY strip steaks (no, love, not “shells”), fresh Brussell Sprouts, and some garlic mashed potatoes to brighten our holiday plates. The grill was good to us, and meat just red enough to keep us content.

So what of the Beaujolais? We didn’t quite let it breathe, but I can report the bottle pours pretty quickly. Must be a bigger opening on this bottle or something…seriously, now, my brain remembered previous Beaujolais as having more of a fruit-forward vibe, a less tannic finish. The 2011 was a bit more tart–though admittedly we may have rushed the bottle just a tad.

Frequent readers know my tastes run more toward Bordeaux-style reds and certainly California Cabernet Sauvignon, so know your audience for sure. But know too that the 2011 Beaujolais-Villages, Georges Duboeuf was a good port in a frustrating storm of flight cancellation too.

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2010 Marques de Caceres Rioja Crianza Red

The Marques de Caceres was introduced to me some time ago by great friends, friends with a penchant for amazing food and great fondness for Spanish reds. They love the Riojas and served us a 2008 at their house in Raleigh; this 2010 we opened at our place to help usher in some Christmas merriment.

2010 Marques de Caceres Crianza Red, Rioja, Spain.

2010 Marques de Caceres Crianza Red, Rioja, Spain.

Like the 2008, this 2010 Crianza is deep ruby red and packs in a hearty berry burst that you’ll really enjoy if you like reds even a little. There’s some cherry here, or maybe even red raspberry flavor, but the truth is you really won’t much care. This one is not about the notes as much as the emotional response it will create for you. It’s delicious, easy to drink, and sure to cheer up the occasion you’ve decided to celebrate with this fruity Spanish gem.

Forgive the brevity of this particular entry; I’ve offered all the praise that I can for both this vintage and the 2008 Marques de Caceres. Pick one up today and start enjoying for yourself.

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2012 Red Blend, Bell Canyon Napa Reserve

It’s the profile of the winemaker that originally drew me to the first reserve–the 2012 Red Blend–from Bell Canyon in Napa. We’ll revisit that idea in a later post on the 2012. For the time being, let’s focus instead on the wine itself.

2012 Red Blend, Bell Canyon Cellars Napa Reserve, Napa, California, USA.

2012 Red Blend, Bell Canyon Cellars Napa Reserve, Napa, California, USA.

You have some big, juicy grapes in play here. It’s easy to think cherries in some dominant way, with other dark berries in the mix, and just a hint of vanilla (less desired by this taster) too. I detect some spice accents, particularly as you swirl it in red waves around the glass, that come through in the taste too. It’s yards from a Pinot Noir, and more seasoned than a Merlot. The 2012 Red Blend Bell Canyon Napa Reserve is probably described by experts as a ‘Bordeaux-style’ red; I think of it more like a Cabernet Sauvignon that has a shallower tone to it. Is it wrong to talk about wine as a tone? I just mean a true Cabernet can have similar accents but is somehow deeper in its profile.

I’d also offer the analogy that the 2012 Red Blend is to (just one recent example) the 2012 Carnivore Cab as a tenor is to a bass. Does that make sense to you now?

Additional context–I’m having the Bell Canyon tonight during the cocktail hour but opened it earlier this week when having ground beef, a cheeeesy macaroni and cheese, and some broccoli. I was caught in some work-related time constraints at that time, but this evening it’s more about relaxing and mulling over this fine red wine from the country’s best known region. More on this bottle in the future!

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2012 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the deepest, darkest-colored wine I’ve ever seen, this carnivor loved the Carnivor this weekend. We pulled the cork last night and started working through it with some well-seasoned steaks, as the day was unseasonably temperate here for December and begged for some outdoor grilling. That was a vintage Cabernet Sauvignon meal, and I polished off the bottle tonight with some pasta and chicken. Also pretty damn good.

2012 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon California USA

2012 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA.

Seriously, this wine isn’t red in the glass. It’s nearly purple. It’s got a fantastic bouquet for an affordable California cab. It’s virtually opaque in the glass, not even a little translucency as you swirl the 2012 vintage around. I’d more appropriately describe the 2012 Carnivor’s color by referencing the elevators of blood at the end of Kubrick’s The Shining–to the delight of the winemaker I’m sure. And it’s packed with dark fruits…cherry, most certainly, blackberry, maybe even one of those exotic type brambleberry deals…but all well balanced and with a smooth, easy finish.

At first the bottle/label design seemed familiar to me, but I’m thinking now I’m mistaken. My wife picked out this winner and, though it reminded me of a Vampire-themed wine I’d bought for a neighborhood Halloween party some years ago (not 2014), this is actually the first bottle of Carnivor I’ve had the pleasure of consuming. It’s an excellent buy for the money, and we’ll surely have others to write about in future posts for Note. Hoping you’ll enjoy it too.

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2013 Mark West Pinot Noir

A Friday night beverage, one that I sorely wanted after a work week that left me battered, bruised, and extremely tired. I’m sure that feeling is not unique and was a holdover from an extra-long Thursday that had fewer wins than I’d hoped.

2013 Mark West Pinot Noir, California USA

2013 Mark West Pinot Noir, California, USA.

Mark West, particularly the Pinot, is no stranger in our home. The Pinot Noir is slightly overpriced in NJ and better here in NC–but the 2013 is still not a bargain. It’s ususally fruit-forward but this one just feels rushed. Less nuanced, less undertones. Less distinguished, and generally underwhelming.

To be clear, we did knock this bottle right back. In retrospect, I chalk that up more to having great food, conversation, and company than to the wine itself. With all the great grapes from which we can choose, Mark West–at least the 2013–will not be on our table again until the calendar (or vintage) flips.

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2012 Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Great meal tonight, a mustard-coated pork chop with our favorite orzo pasta and arugula salad, and featuring brussel sprouts as our vegetable. The sprouts were slow cooked in a pan with butter, holdovers from our Thanksgiving, and perfect for popping as we talked about the day’s challenges, and still delicious when we ate them with our dinner and the 2012 Josh Cellars Cab.

2012 Josh Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon California USA

2012 Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA.

Judging by the “Josh” story I’m pretty sure I’ve had the Josh Cellar experience at least once previously. That time it was the 2011 Merlot; this time it was an enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon with a warm, home-cooked meal. There’s some smoke in the works here, some spice–a couple of my favorite accents–and an enticing interplay of dusky fruits and berries.

It’s a work night, however, so less time to ramble on here about the effect of the Josh or the meal itself. Suffice it to say we’re full, heart healthy here for tonight, and looking forward to the weekend and fun guests.

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2012 Count’s Selection Syrah – Old WInery Road, Buena Vista

Two glasses, two eager, excited glasses drinking from the 2012 Count’s Selection Syrah – Old WInery Road, and two glasses that we could not keep filled this Saturday evening as we gnosh on pan-seared steaks, asparagus, and mashed potatoes. The steaks were excellent, lean and delicious, and left us just a healthy bite for the dog as well. The mashed potatoes were fluffed and had just enough lumps in ’em. The asparagus–were they organic?–were really good but perhaps a bit thin or young.

2012 Count's Selection Syrah - Old WInery Road, Buena Vista, California, USA.

2012 Count’s Selection Syrah – Old WInery Road, Buena Vista, California, USA.

 

But for me? You know the highlight of the meal for this guy was the 2012 Count’s Selection Syrah – Old WInery Road from the team at Buena Vista. My favorite winery and one of Sonoma’s most storied vineyards, tonight they offered our family a fantastic dark, fruity, and spiced syrah. Killer beverage. I’d say plain and simple, but this wine is way too special for that trite phrase. This syrah is fragrant, it’s got one of my favorite pepper flavors, a deep purple color, and amazing taste.

If my phrasing doesn’t convey enough for you, he winemaker describes thusly: “Our 2012 Count’s Selection Sonoma Valley Syrah is a richly colored wine with a dense core of dark fruit flavors, notes of black pepper and touches of leather and chocolate that impresses immediately but expressly opens after a brief decant.”

I can tell you we did not decant for any period, and the Count was still a really great beverage. We had bottle 1886 of the 325 cases that the winemaker produced. Perhaps one that we should reorder while Buena VIsta will offer a 30% discount?

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2012 White Mountain Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke’s Bay

Sauvignon Blanc is not often our wine choice, and less often still in these chillier months of the year. Nevertheless, it’s what we were pouring this evening for a casual Friday after a long work week(s). Unless I’m mistaken, this is our first New Zealand wine (maybe the first Blanc, too) on Notes, and it acquitted itself well. How did we find the White Mountain, you ask?

2012 White Mountain Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

2012 White Mountain Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.

Actually, this was a second bottle that my wife picked out after a fun tasting party here in the neighborhood; she enjoyed it enough to order a bottle from Wines For Humanity so that we could share together. It was aromatic, fragrant, and packed with tangy smells. Am I crazy to detect some grapefruit here in the mix? Not overpowering but definitely present.
Our food was still simple, just an easy mac-and-cheese that warmed our bellies like the wine did. It needed a little salt, and sometimes a little Frank’s Red Hot, but when you have some good grapes working sometimes the meal is less critical. This is one of those times.
The 2012 White Mountain Sauvignon Blanc from Hawke’s Bay is really enjoyable and encourage you to pull one for yourself if the opportunity presents itself.

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2012 Penascal Estate Tempranillo

Okay, the conditions for this Penascal are not ideal but hopefully give you an interesting read nevertheless. I’m on the road for work, hoteled tonight and making my way through the remainder of this 2012 Tempranillo from Penascal Estate. I picked it up after a long day at a Javits Center trade show, popping into a little bodega off 11th Avenue in search of some interesting bottle. I’m as non-judgmental as anyone, but it says something about your wine evening when the big requirement isn’t a region, a vintage, or a grape but rather a twist top.

2012 Penascal Estate Tempranillo, Castilla y Leon, Spain.

2012 Penascal Estate Tempranillo, Castilla y Leon, Spain.

But y’know what? This warm red is pretty welcoming, if not extravagant. The Penascal has a nice foundation of red fruit and has a little spice undertone as well. I’m drinking it out of a stupid paper cup, and it’s so red, so deep and inky red, that it almost looks black. This Tempranillo has an easy, tannin-free finish that is ingratiating and smooth on the tongue.

Already I’ve forgotten what the wine accompanied over the last couple evenings. Tonight, however, I had the 2012 Tempranillo with a simple salad, mixed greens with crumbles of baked ham, turkey, egg, tomato, and a few black olives. This meal is not that glamorous, but it is probably healthier, even with some light buttermilk ranch sprinkled about, than other options I had wrestled with this evening.

The Dallas Cowboys are on the radio, and I’m looking forward to the trip back home. One more night before heading out of the tri-state area…but one that’s better than expected thanks to the 2012 Penascal Estate Tempranillo.