by

2012 Doña Dominga Merlot

We’re at cruising altitude over the East Coast and I sip the 2012 Merlot offered by Dona Dominga, a Chilean wine from the Colchagua Valley region. This leg of the journey home is but a short hop, so allowing this red to breathe is not really much of an option. Even now I think the captain is pinging the bell that signifies the start of our descent but I am determined to enjoy the beautiful sky, sunny here above the clouds, until we pivot for the ground…

2012 Dona Dominga Merlot, Chile.

2012 Dona Dominga Merlot, Colchagua Valley, Chile.

…And to enjoy too the Dominga. This clever little bottle displays the Chilean “Huaso” dance and, while the bottle itself shows some signs of wear, the grapes inside have kept comfortable; ready and ripe for sampling they swirl around this fancy US Airways plastic cup and beg for a better venue—and better glassware.

This Merlot, despite going immediately from bottle to taste buds, holds up reasonably well. It’s fragrant enough to send notes throughout my personal space, both lighter than a Cab and heavier than a Pinot Noir. As I swirl my glass here in the sunlight streaming through the window, the Dona Dominga almost looks like a blood offering to this weary traveler. On the palate the Dominga is surprisingly gentle and its scent a plum/berry combination. Just 187ML to sample and it’s nearly gone already.

Definitely not blackberries here; almost a cherry/strawberry vibe that I might not pick if I read it on a label…but a treat nonetheless as we streak homeward. I do like Meomi and know that US Airways doesn’t offer it on flights this short, so your choices for red are essentially the Tunupa and the Dominga. Twice previously I’ve gone with the former yet think I’ll repeat the Dominga on the next such occasion. I’m in good spirits (no pun intended) and hope you are too, wherever you’re reading this. Thanks for your continued interest and kind regards.

by

2011 Vintage of the 1448, Jeff Runquist Winery

The family winery of Jeff Runquist is located in the Amador County foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains – 1,448 feet above sea level, where this zesty red blend gets its name. Runquist has seemingly made his bones on Zin and Barbera wines (I have yet to try myself) but saves the leftovers of these premiere bottlings for the 1448 – called a “kitchen sink” blend by our local wine store staff.

2011 vintage of Jeff Rundquist's 1448; Sierra Nevada California USA

The 2011 vintage of Jeff Rundquist’s 1448; Sierra Nevada, California, USA.

Originally purchased for our weekend on Lake Gaston, the 1448 actually lasted until this week when we knocked it down with grilled chicken and my 2014 summer favorite: orzo arugula salad, with roasted red peppers.  This red blend lines up really well with the grilled stuff, believe me. It’s a red–nearly purple–medley of Petite Syrah, Barbera, and Zinfandel, with a few other (his Verdot perhaps?) thrown in for good measure too. This red has some depth to it, and a smoky underpinning that plays well with your grillwork.

The winemaker remarks, “1448 – an assembly of wines from throughout California that delivers fruit-forward flavors with a rich texture sure to delight every palate.”

And so it does. With some after-the-fact-research I can offer this breakdown of the 1448’s composition: 54% Petite Sirah; 31% Petit Verdot; 4% Barbera; 3% Syrah; 2% Zinfandel; 2% Carignane; 2% Souzao. Seems like I was headed in the right direction, and can share now as well that the 2011 is barrel aged to create its nuances and robust mouth feel.

I picked this bottle to share with lifelong friends and was perhaps a little disappointed we didn’t get into it together last weekend. On the other hand, it meant more of the 1448 for yours truly and I was appreciative of the Runquist touch here. Not only would I move swiftly to seize another 1448, but it put the premiere reds of this winery squarely in the cross hairs too.

by

2011 Boom Boom! Syrah, Charles Smith Wines

Didn’t get a photo of the 2011 Boom Boom! showing the bottle or the fantastic spread of food (a consistent theme all weekend) that accompanied this wine, but suffice it to say children and adults alike had plenty to eat.  This Syrah too was a recent favorite and earned a second showing among our lake friends this weekend, following closely on the heels of the 2011 Petite Petit, and it received similar praise from the gathered company.

2011 Boom Boom! Syrah Charles Smith, Columbia Valley Washington USA.

2011 Boom Boom! Syrah, Charles Smith, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA.

The Boom Boom! Syrah is a Columbia Valley wine, the largest in Washington State and covering an area of nearly 11 million acres. Now that is a lot of grapes (and I hear their vine rows are often more spread out there than in other regions around the grape-growing world).  Several smaller pockets–Yakima Valley, Walla Walla, and others–are encompassed in this great region for winemaking, where Charles Smith Wines makes its living.

We poured this dark beauty into a plastic “lake glass” and passed it around, swirling its deep purples and sipping contentedly with the onset of the evening. It’s not just the grape itself that intrigues here, but a little something spicy that lingers in the background. It’s there for sure, but I’m not savvy enough a taster to identify its specific details for you.

Syrah is sent to us once or twice yearly as part of a recurring wine club shipment, and we always enjoy it on those occasions…but the 2011 Boom Boom! from Charles Smith is the only Syrah I’ve gone out of my way to purchase. There’s an obvious “boom” quip waiting in the wings here but you’ll have to taste it for yourself to get it.

 

by

2011 Petite Petit, Michael David Winery

As part of a (long overdue!) Lake Gaston weekend with lifelong friends, I planned to swing out and pick up several wines that had earned recent accolades in our home. One of them was the 2011 Petite Petit from Michael David Winery, a veritable juice bomb hidden in these cheery elephant-decorated bottles. Thankfully I pulled this last bottle–and several other fun options–from the shelves at Winestore and couldn’t wait to share.

2011 Petite Petit Michael David Winery Lodi California USA.

2011 Petite Petit, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA.

The weather was not cooperative by the dinner hour (as shown in this photo) but the 2011 Petite Petit was a burst of sun and flavor against the thundering skies and rain-spattered windows of our weekend rental. We poured a first glass, passed tastings around, and saw lots of nodding heads as each taster caught a whiff then a taste of all dark fruits of this Syrah/Verdot blend. Multiple glasses followed in swift succession. I’m not sure if everyone could taste the hint of charcoal that I described, but I’d enjoyed a bottle previously and sort of knew what to expect from this deep, rich red. I also knew we’d kill the bottle quickly, and indeed we did, our tanned faces smiling in enjoyment.

The Petite Petit was essentially gone before the dinner hour–grilled fare and delicious cold salads of pasta and potato–but it did give us ample opportunity to delve into other new favorites. Lots of new fans of the 2011 vintage after this evening!

by

2012 Braxton Hall Merlot

The 2012 Braxton Hall Merlot graced our table on two different evenings this week: the first with a casual cheeseburger; the second tonight with a grilled boneless NY strip steak.  Guiltily I confess potatoes – either one a “death row” choice for me – were the accompanying sides, and this red kept without issue over the four days between samplings.

2012 Braxton Hall Merlot, Santa Rosa, California, USA.

2012 Braxton Hall Merlot, Santa Rosa, California, USA.

Is it unusual for Merlot to be our grape of choice? Are we unnecessarily biased against Merlot after watching Sideways (2004)? Look at the numbers here in Notes and decide for yourself.  Pinot Noir, Cab, and Bordeaux are obvious favorites if you look strictly to the math, tasting notes, or our top-rated reds.  As over 19 million cases of California Merlot were sold in the U.S. alone in 2009, however, we are definitely swimming against the current if we have any such bias.

“This easy drinking wine offers aromas and flavors of cassis, black olive, and assorted berries.” That’s how the wine seller described the Braxton. I’d call it safe and right down the middle. The Braxton Hall is approachable, even, and mild. This vintage was solid – if unremarkable – and would be a fine option any time. Just not for a special occasion.

by

2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella

Several years ago–perhaps even a decade–I had occasion to join colleagues and clients at a high-end working dinner in Manhattan (or Boston?) in discussion of potential collaboration.  No longer can I remember on what fare we dined, or how I enjoyed the meal, but I can remember with stark clarity the two wines that we enjoyed.  One was Bogle, and the first time I’d been exposed to that winemaker, and the featured twin was an Amarone–also a first for me.  The Amarone was remarkable and a grape that I set out to find nearly a month ago, off and on, with no tangible outcome.

2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella, DOCG, Veneto, Italy.

2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella, DOCG, Veneto, Italy.

Wine stores here in town didn’t seem to carry Amarone, and it hadn’t appeared on any of the online sites we frequent.  And then, unexpectedly, we stumbled across this intensely flavored red at a high-end grocery store in the city and absolutely snapped it up–unsure of what to expect in the 2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella.  It was first sampled together with home made sliders that were so large they strained toward “burger” classification in their size and substance. Topped with crispy dill pickles and just the right amount of mustard, the sliders were a perfect way to kick off a Memorial Day of grilled treats and a perfect companion for the Amarone.

It was sweet, it was deep, it was ridiculously purple, and its berry scent swelled from the glass to greet your nose.  The 2010 vintage from Corte Majoli had a long finish and immediately made me wish we had additional bottles to savor.  As I now research, Amarone della Valpolicella is made from dried grapes in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy and is one of the region’s most recognized and prestigious reds. It results from the efforts of Veneto winemakers who sought out ways “to increase the body, complexity, and alcohol content of their wines” by concentrating the natural sugars and aromatics in Valpolicella wines.

These grapes are picked in whole bunches and kept in drying rooms (via the “appassimento” process) for 3 to 12 weeks until they are gently pressed and the “must” is fermented to dry. Their high sugar content translates to a stronger wine (15% to 16% alcohol) after fermentation, one that is barrel-aged for a minimum of two years prior to commercial release.

Our 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella from Tezza Corte Majoli was remarkable upon its debut and again the following evening when we polished it off with grilled steaks, blue cheese salads (yes a staple on our table), and some miscellaneous crispy crowns, onion rings, and the like. As I contemplate good vino options for an upcoming weekend with friends at a lake getaway, the 2010 Tezza Corte Majoli Amarone della Valpolicella makes a compelling case for inclusion.  The only tragedy one encounters with this rich red is when it’s gone.

 

Note: Special acknowledgment to Wine Searcher for assistance on the profile and process associated with the amarone style.

 

by

2011 Stemmari Cabernet Sauvignon, Feudo Arancio

No photo of our meal this time, friends, but hopefully still an informative synopsis of the 2011 Stemmari Cabernet Sauvignon from the good folks at Feudo Arancio.  Is this our first Cabernet Sauvignon from Italy? That’s a distinct possibility and, if the Stemmari is any indication, a trip we’ll look forward to repeating.

Two different meals we ultimately enjoyed with the graces of the 2011 Stemmari–1) tender, spice-seasoned pork chops that retained all their innate juices thanks to our Char-Broil grill, and 2) a small feast of tacos, a deft mixture of crisp vegetables and spicy fillings, each possessing similar characteristics that rolled together with the Italian Cab and made for nodding heads in our home.

This is how the winemaker outlined goals for the 2011 Stemmari: “Intense and aromatic wine with violet red color and characteristic hints of cranberry that are accompanied by spicy oak notes. Ideal with grilled red meats, game, charcuterie, and aged cheeses.”

We obviously prioritized the grilled meat aspect of this recommendation, and to good effect.  Even after repeated recorking and revisiting over subsequent evenings, the wine held its own. It was never too sharp, too tart, or too tannin-laden to savor. To the contrary, it was one of those bottles that you tip and look into, questioning your eyes, even after the last drop is drained into your glass. It leaves you wanting more. This delicious red was recommended to us by the staff of a fun wine store that we sought out based on a review from a Charlotte native–and one we’re excited to revisit soon.

 

by

2011 Petite Petit, Michael David Winery

The 2011 Petite Petit from Michael Davis Winery is bursting at the seams with fruit flavor. It packs a wallop of dark fruits and has a subtle underpinning of charcoal that leads to a rich, enjoyable finish. We opened this red late on a Saturday evening, with the sun’s light fading in the distance and smell of  T-bone steaks wafting in the still air.

2011 Petite Petit, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA.

2011 Petite Petit, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA.

So much fruit here! It pours purple so deep and dark that it looks almost like chocolate tumbling into your glass, and its earthiness is fragrant, big, and lush. According to the team at Michael Davis Winery, this is a blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot and offers a “joyous explosion of color and fun!” I’m here to confirm they are not exaggerating with such claims.  The Petite Petit is full-bodied and almost like jam on the finish.

We had the 2011 Petite Petit with those grilled steaks, baby fingerling potatoes, and blue cheese salads on the side. You almost want to bite, to chew this wine just like the delicious foodstuffs gracing our plates. Here’s what Robert Parker offered about this vino: “This soft, opaque purple-colored wine exhibits impressive density as well as lots of blueberry fruit intermixed with graphite, licorice, and a hint of tar.“

I’m not a fraction of the experienced taster that Parker is, but the flavors here stand up to be counted and I was able–even with my humble palate–to identify several of the most developed layers. Hadn’t had a glass of wine in more than a week and this one is a great means of breaking that unwelcome streak. Be sure to try the 2011 Petite Petit for yourself.