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2011 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, Noble Vines

With fall temperatures shifting, it’s the full-bodied reds that seem to make their way to our evenings and dinner tables with greater frequency.  Tonight it was the 337 Cabernet Sauvignon from Nobel Vines, the Menteca, California winemaker.  My wife picked this one and sipped from a stemmed glass; I from a Riedel Bordeaux stemless glass.  No real intention there as much as what was handy as we uncorked the bottle.

2011 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California, USA.

2011 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California, USA.

We picked the 337 primarily because our meal consisted of wax beans, peas, garlic mashed potatoes, and killer steaks.  The latter, selected fresh from the deli, held in a ton of flavor and juice.  Great seasoning too, much like our Cabernet selection.  The 2011 vintage contains a slew of red fruit scents; some spice as well, and those combinations always seem to work well for me.  I can see this complementing pasta just as effectively as it did our steaks.

The winemaker claims, “Noble Vines 337 is the most coveted Cabernet Sauvignon vine stock in Bordeaux, France.  These rare vines are prized for their concentrated flavor and thrive in the red soils and cobblestones of our Lodi vineyard.”  Okay, some self-aggrandizing in that label, but the results do stand up favorably to the Bordeauxs and Cabs we have sampled as of late.

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Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux, 2009

Sorry to say this is our last (at least currently) bottle of the Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux, 2009.  On a beautiful fall Friday, this Bordeaux was a perfect option for one of our favorite meals–accompanying well-seasoned steaks, tender red baby potatoes, and blue cheese salads with the crumble, freshly ground pepper, and blue cheese dressing.

Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux, 2009, France.

Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux, 2009, France.

Created by winemaker Jean-Luc Thunevin and named for his daughter, this Bordeaux combines Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), and Cabernet Franc (10%).  It’s excellent when working alongside a medium rare, salted steak–and my lovely and talented chef (photographer too!) knows how to tease all the flavors out of a great cut.

From a tasting standpoint, the 2009 Domaine Virginie Thunevin AOC Bordeaux is fruity and aromatic.  The berries waft up, juicy and full on the nose, and–despite a hint of tannin in your first smell–it has a surprisingly smooth and easy finish.  My wife thought much the same in her sampling.  It is very drinkable to say the least.

I think we’ve now had this Bordeaux with steaks on a few occasions, pizza on another, and I forget the other time.  Thinking back (enviously, I must say) now, the 2009 Virginie seems to be very functional–you can drink it upscale with steaks or downscale with a casual pie and it complements both effectively.  Wish we had another and you should too.

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2009 Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon Private Selection

This Private Selection Lyeth bundles together so many facets of a good wine–it’s a special gift from dear friends, it tastes fantastic, and we appreciated the hell out of it.  Originating from a quiet pocket of northern Sonoma County, this 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon comes at you silky smooth…it’s got an easy way about it that reminds you of a favorite Bordeaux and just engenders a great tasting experience.

2009 Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon Private Selection, Sonoma, California, USA.

2009 Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon Private Selection, Sonoma, California, USA.

Lyeth Estates was established some 30 years ago by a winemaker who purportedly aspired to the red blends of Bordeaux, and the 2009 Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon is very much in this style.  My unrefined palate can’t quite break down the profile of this wine, but its finish has less tannins than other Cabs I’ve sampled, and of course I wonder if the Private Selection adds splashes of Pinot Noir, Verdot, or perhaps Merlot to calm down the aftertaste.  I think I get some blackberry in this deep, red beauty from the Alexander Valley, but it could be some other dark fruit and I really can’t be sure–except to say that it’s very enjoyable.  There’s some spice aroma here too…not quite tobacco, vanilla, or some dominant earthiness, but something.  You’ll have to taste it for yourself to hone in further.

As far as the foodstuffs go, you can see that we  paired up the 2009 Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon Private Selection with ravioli, seasoned with olive oil, fresh basil, and tomato.  Sort of a traditional combination but one that worked well for the two of us.  So thank you, friends, for your generosity and your taste.  We’ll see you soon and send our very best regards in the interim.

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2010 Santa Barbara Winery Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills

Visiting Drago’s Restaurant in New Orleans, my selection of this good red was less orthodox than a white might have been.  I was actually in the mood for a Spanish red of some kind, smelling charbroil in the air, but their wine menu was brief and showed no real international options.

2010 Santa Barbara Winery Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA.

2010 Santa Barbara Winery Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA.

Most interesting about this meal is not the wine—which was enjoyable—but the hors d’oeuvres.  For more than 40 years, Drago’s has been whipping together this KILLER dish.  It’s fantastic, and I think it goes something like this: fist-sized oysters, charbroiled on the grill with butter, garlic, breadcrumbs(?), and some Parmesan cheese all melted together.  I had four of these before I knew what happened, not even minding the small pearl that I had to remove.

With their smell in the air (more so than even the seafood), the red was actually on point.  The oysters smelled like grill, like fire, like meat—and thus the 2010 Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara Winery was the real deal.  Rich in taste, ruby in color, and both smooth and fruity on the palate.  Alternating between bites of lobster and sips of this Pinot made for a pretty decent food adventure after a long day of trade show work.

This Pinot Noir was good, but completely overshadowed by the oysters.  Make those your priority instead.

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Chasing Lions 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast

The final bottle of our Chasing Lions 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast, shipment brought a wistful smile to my face as we pulled its cork.  Lions had a good run for our family, and it will for yours too.  For us, it accompanied pepperoni pizza on this occasion and has worked well with steaks and the like with previous bottles.

Chasing Lions 2010 Cabernet Sauvigon, North Coast, California, USA

Chasing Lions 2010 Cabernet Sauvigon, North Coast, California, USA

As with previous tastings, you get the initial impression of cherry/berry and some dark hint of something…in reading about an Amarone today I encountered the description “fresh leather” but that’s not quite the right fit for the earthiness here in the Chasing Lions 2010.  It’s got a pleasant smell and an easy finish.  Unless you’re prone to heartburn, you’ll find the Lions a simple, delicious complement to your grilled meat.  We have a couple of great Pinot Noirs and Bordeauxs from which to select but tonight the Cabernet Sauvignon was the right move.

Grower James Harder was advised years ago by his grandfather to “get off the [family] ranch and ‘go chase lions'”.  The 2010, at least, shows a worthwhile pursuit.  Time for yours now…

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2011 Carignane, The Count’s Selection, Mendocino County, Buena Vista

Until this evening, we had never heard of a Carignane.  Given its Buena Vista pedigree, though, it felt like an easy selection as my wife and I enjoyed our first weekend together in our new home in the South.  Plus, some of our other options are still packed so the choice is as much about accessibility as it is our favorite Sonoma winery.

2011 Carignane, The Count's Selection, Mendocino County, Buena Vista, California, USA.

2011 Carignane, The Count’s Selection, Mendocino County, Buena Vista, California, USA.

Right away you get a whiff full of red berries (cherry? strawberry? raspberry?), very Pinot Noir-like in its nose.  The 2011 Carignane had that medium-red color of a Pinot as well.  We paired this red with steaks (skillet-style but expertly seasoned), potatoes, and broccoli.  This Buena Vista was very smooth yet had a very subtle tannin feel to it, perhaps a bit more pronounced than with a Pinot Noir but perhaps because of its age at the time of consumption too.

Here’s what the folks at Buena Vista offer: “This medium-bodied wine opens with a nose of wild strawberries and red raspberries, a touch of anise and a very distinct minerality that rounds out the bright fruit and allows for a long finish.  With lighter tannins and nice acidity, hints of dried orange peel and herbs bring a delightful depth to the full-fruit contents.”

I didn’t catch any of the orange hints, and I’m not sure what anise brings to the table here, but the fruity underpinnings do ring through loud and clear.  We’re talking limited production run, as Buena Vista only output 250 cases of the Carignane but I’d be a willing consumer of another such bottle.

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Chateau Citran Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2000, Bordeaux

This special Bordeaux was a 2012 Christmas gift, a promising red deluge of grape goodness that lasted unopened until tonight, when we decided to open it in celebration of our new (rental) home.  In face of great change, one constant in our lives should be excellent wine and an effort to savor some of the finer things in life–and that’s the Chateau Citran Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2000, for sure.

Chateau Citran Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2000, Bordeaux, France.

Chateau Citran Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2000, Bordeaux, France.

This is a wine where I wish my palate was more sophisticated; it would make for a better description here for you.  At first pour, I could smell the rich, deep–but not earthy or minerally–cherry scent of this Bordeaux.  It poured clean, a treat for the eyes too.  Note in the accompanying visual that the Citran is so deep in chroma that you can’t see through the glass to the watermelon (harvested from our new garden…inedible…but still a great visual!) behind it.  It’s dark but not peppery or spicy, and has more tannins that I generally think of for a Bordeaux.  Part of me wanted to decant to see what impact that would have on the wine, but I skipped that step here.

Since we are still unpacking kitchen boxes, the Citran accompanied two simple meals; one a macaroni-beef mashup and one consisting of a perfectly seasoned pork loin, “Golden Jewel” blend, and cooked broccoli.  My favorite effect was the combination of the pork’s spices with the Citran–really fun.

Thanks, Ma, I really enjoyed the Chateau Citran Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2000 Bordeaux.  Great wine; even better celebration.

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2012 Tunupa Dios De Los Andes, Cabernet Sauvignon

Rarely do I consume an adult beverage mid-flight, even one across the country as today, because of some overarching need to be stone cold and ready to drive, meet, or present upon landing.  Tonight, though, none of those considerations stands in the way of me and the Tunupa Cabernet Sauvignon.

2012 Tunupa Dios Los Andes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

2012 Tunupa Dios Los Andes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

Granted, it’s an airline offering, chosen by the folks at U.S. Airways, but surprisingly enjoyable.  I’m not sure if that’s due to the low expectations I had going in or the long days I’ve kept as of late, but this red is better than adequate and keeps me content as we streak across the country toward L.A.  My back is less achy, my eyelids heavier—what else are you really looking for?

Tunupa offers a fruity and fragrant bouquet, possibly with some oak aging herein, more than a spicy or earthy nose.  (Not quite sure on the oak barrels but positive a Google search could easily verify if the spirit takes you.)  The berry scent I can’t quite pinpoint despite multiple attempts but it is good…more cherry but perhaps a hint of strawberry in here somewhere as well?  Fragrant and easy in its finish, too.

I have no real pairings to offer on this occasion; I’m just snacking on salted peanuts and hoping for real food on the other leg of this journey.  An Airbus is not exactly a skyborne bar but if it was I’d probably grab another 175ml of the Tunupa on the double-hop.

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BV Coastal Estates 2007 Riesling, California, USA

Several summers ago this amateur oenophile was on a verifiable Riesling kick.  The warm temperatures and the opportunity to unwind Friday nights on the patio seemed to propel me toward Riesling–at that time it was Twisted River.  I’m no longer sure if it was the amazing environment or the wine that was the real draw, as I’ve since tried multiple Rieslings and many seem far too sugary for my palate.

BV Coastal Estates 2007 Riesling, California, USA

BV Coastal Estates 2007 Riesling, California, USA

Earlier this week, however, I packed up many of the reds and some Chardonnays and shipped them south toward our new digs.  The 2007 BV Riesling did stay close at hand and tipped into our remaining glassware on several nights this week.  That in and of itself is interesting–in part for its rich, apple-pear scent and in part for its apple juice coloring.  It’s much deeper than a Grigio or Chardonnay, both of which rate much higher in our house in overall taste.

The BV is so sweet.  It could accompany a dessert, it could accompany a dry cheese, but it really needs to be offset with something to take the edge off the sugar.  Granted, we did finish the bottle (though it took three days)…but I really regretted failing to keep a Bordeaux or a Pinot Noir on hand to get through the last of the packing, particularly with the evening temperatures cooling.

The BV 2007 Riesling will have its fans, but I’m unfortunately not one.  At this point, I’m more interested in learning if it’s the grape itself that I’ve moved past.   We’ll see.

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2012 Casillero del Diablo Pinot Noir

The other bottle I’ll remember from my cousin’s wedding reception at the National Aquarium in Baltimore is the 2012 Casillero del Diablo Pinot Noir.  I’ve seen the brand previously–always reminds me of the “Face Painter” episode of Seinfeld–but don’t think I had ever sampled prior to this fun weekend in the Inner Harbor.

2012 Casillero del Diablo Pinot Noir, Chile

2012 Casillero del Diablo Pinot Noir, Chile

It’s not unusual for someone to drift from Merlot to Pinot Noir as I did this evening, but I do recognize it’s not quite the game plan.  But sometimes you have to mix it up and just go for it.  Most of the Pinot Noirs we drink come from California, and would generally advocate them as my favorites to others from (in some semblance of order) Oregon, South America, or Europe.  I’m not sure if this is based on the regions themselves or the quality of the wines originating therein, but the Diablo held up well in this light.

Since we were caught up in all the merriment, I barely remembered to shoot the label and certainly don’t recall any specifics I might offer you.  That I stopped the bartender to photograph the Diablo is an endorsement in some small way–not exactly of assistance if you’re looking to match this up with some great steak or get a feel for its composition, but a positive note nevertheless.