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Buena Vista 2010 Pinot Noir, Otelia’s Selection

Almost a month ago, Notes covered the 2008 Otelia and it’s a pleasure to taste today the 2010 vintage.  I have a tendency to save Buena Vista offerings for big occasions, but this one fell into “grip it and rip territory” and figured it was a much better option than the French Pinot Noir I had (briefly) considered as an alternative.  Live for today, right?

OteliaThe 2010 Otelia arrived as part of our February 2013 shipment (interesting comparison to the 2008, which arrived as part of our February 2012 shipment) and was pretty notable itself.  Our tasting notes from the winery read, “The 2010 Otelia’s Selection Pinot Noir offers alluring aromas of cherry, black cardamom [note: this always reminds me of classic Cheers bar wars], plum, and Mandarin orange peel.  Cranberry and dark chocolate truffle mingle seamlessly with a delicious carmelized toastiness on the palate, while the wine’s balanced acidity and structure lead to a long, lasting finish.”

This Otelia first kept company with a simple meal of ground beef and pasta, its red-berried goodness working as an effective complement to the salt and spice of the dinner.  The darker berries were evident on the nose, but I cannot say either my wife or I detected the orange referenced by the Buena Vista team.  It is indeed smooth, however, and definitely finds an easy finish in your palate.  Tonight the 2010 Otelia Pinot Noir will be served with barbecued chicken breast, crispy crown potatoes, and fresh corn off the cob.  I’m confident it will play well with the carbs and spices, engendering not heartburn but a fruity mouthfeel that results in smiles all around.  It has less of the earthy tone that I admire in Cabernets, but has the underpinnings of “velvet berries” that I often prefer in domestic Pinot Noirs.

We’re finishing bottle number 0367 of only 280 cases, and that exclusivity helps me–whether artificial or actual–feel like we’re onto something special.  Thanks to Buena Vista, you’re in good hands either way.  Be sure to enjoy one of these for yourself.

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2010 Tormaresca Neprica Red Blend Puglia

Memory does interesting things to us.  For some, it’s the process by which we as humans (certain animals too, I suppose) react to the world around us, encoding, storing, and later retrieving some stimulus to our consciousness.  To those of us grape fans, it either builds up a great bottle or dismantles some less-than-stellar bottle of something you had years ago.  Memory is many things, and fickle prime among them.

2010 Tormaresca Neprica Red Blend Puglia, Italy.

2010 Tormaresca Neprica Red Blend Puglia, Italy.

Take this 2010 Tormaresca Neprica Red Blend Puglia, for example.  I know we had many bottles of the Neprica over the last couple years–perhaps even a case?–and I had always thought it very equal to the task.  Better than equal, even, and bet you could find earlier posts here in Notes that substantiate this vibe.  But that’s just my memory of the Neprica, as I haven’t had one in almost a full calendar year.

This week, however, I uncorked this last bottle of red blend to sample after work.  On one or two occasions, the glass may have even carried over to our dinner meal, but I think it was mostly consumed just on its own merits.  A good beverage, to be sure, but not quite up to all the praise I had offered in 2012.

To some extent, I think wine tasting is about context.  That great Cabernet goes to another level when you have it with great company and/or a great steak dinner.  The amazing Pinot Noir works well in part because of your food pairing, but perhaps in part too because you had a less worthwhile red the last time out.  That’s sort of the case here too with the 2010 Tormaresca Neprica: I’d now call it average, partly because my palate is slightly more attuned than last year, and in part owing to the great wines we’ve recently enjoyed and cataloged in this blog.  The Neprica is still full and delicious…I’d just say that it perhaps lacks some of the nuances and subtle spice notes that I’m enjoying in the Bordeauxs, Cabs, and Pinots we have sampled more recently.  Last thought–I’ll like my next one, and it’s a good value.

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Haut-Medoc 2010 Chateau Dasvin-Bel-Air Cru Bourgeois

Having tonight another go at the Haut Medoc Bordeaux (a 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot blend), this time with pasta and fresh fruit.  Again the Bordeaux held up well, meeting expectations and providing a nice escort into the weekend.  We served this red blend with meat-filled ravioli and fresh wedges of red tomatoes, and there was certainly an interesting mix between the grapes, the sweetness of the wedges, and the spices of the pasta.

Haut-Medoc 2010 Chateau Dasvin-Bel-Air Cru Bourgeois, France.

Haut-Medoc 2010 Chateau Dasvin-Bel-Air Cru Bourgeois, France.

In previous posts regarding the Chateau Dasvin Bel Air 2010 Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois we conveyed some details on the vineyard; this time let’s talk about their vibe for the wine itself:

“The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 16 months (70%), with the rest aging in vats. Twenty percent of the barrels are replaced by new ones at the start of the vintage.  This combination of a unique diverse terroir and careful attention during winemaking and aging reveals itself in the final wine.  The nose is fresh, redolent of dark berries, with hints of cherry and spice.  A palate of blackberries and generously portioned raspberry puree offers a full-bodied, well-rounded feel.  A fresh and lively jaunt through delicious tannins and structured elegance leads into the long finish.”

An apt description, to be sure.  This wine is rich with dark berry flavor and so easy on the way down.  It borders on crude to say it’s smooth, but all the berries combine in a fantastic finish that you’ll enjoy for sure.

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Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir 2011

The Russian River Valley is famous for its great wines and, like other notable regions in California wine country, the unique climates and soils that make grape growing so fascinating and rewarding for the vineyards located here.  Years ago on an amazing summer vacation, my wife and I learned that it’s the cool evenings and perfect year-round weather that make for effective growing seasons and the maturity of the grapes in this part of the country.  The Rodney Strong Vineyards is one such beneficiary, and those of us who sample its work from time to time are winners as well.

Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir 2011, Russian River Valley, California, USA.

Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir 2011, Russian River Valley, California, USA.

Even though we had a great Pinot Noir already open and beckoning, we vaulted this 2011 to the head of the class to accompany our Sunday dinner.  Our pork tenderloin, sliced into heavenly slabs each about an inch thick, had basked all afternoon in a great marinade of olive oil, basil, garlic, and lemon juice, and was grilled (thermometer-aided) to a tender finish.  Accompanying this was a delicious medley of Israeli couscous and quinoa that my mother magicked up with some roasted red pepper, feta cheese, calamatta olives, cucumbers, and white balsamic vinegar–as well as the Rodney Strong Estate Pinot Noir 2011.

Here’s the rundown from the winemakers at Strong: “Soft and silky, with intriguing floral and crushed pomegranate aromas, this medium-bodied wine was aged for nine months in small, French oak barrels which added a hint of toasty vanilla and spice complexity.  Ideal for current enjoyment, this Pinot Noir will age nicely over the next two to four years.”

If you read NotesOfNote with any regularity, you know that vanilla notes doesn’t usually play too highly in this house.  This scent is more locked away in the 2011 Pinot Noir from Rodney Strong, though, and I don’t think I would even have noticed if not for the prompt from the winemaker.  I think that’s a good thing but try it for yourself and see if you agree.

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Meiomi 2011 Pinot Noir

Okay, you saw the name and immediately made your guess on its pronunciation.  It’s the word “coast” (phonetically ‘May-OH-mee‘) in the language of California’s Wappo tribe and an apt title for this blend of grapes from three of California’s leading regions–Sonoma County (26%), Santa Barbara County (23%), and Monterrey County (51%).  Many of their best qualities are swirled together in this winner, which we’ve luckily sampled over the course of the last three evenings.

Meiomi 2011 Pinot Noir, Rutherford, California, USA.

Meiomi 2011 Pinot Noir, Rutherford, California, USA.

Friday it accompanied hors d’oeuvres–cheeses and olives and whatnot–and struck such a chord with us that the Meiomi actually stuck around for our fabulous salmon dinner.  Peppered perfectly, the salmon had baked just to taste.  It wasn’t so dry that it flaked at fork touch, nor so rare that it resembled sashimi (which I do love).  A vegetable medley of red peppers, green onions, broccoli, and baby potatoes rounded out the meal and was a great backdrop for the Pinot Noir.  This may seem like an unlikely pairing to some but it worked very effectively.

Meiomi must be shaped in part by Joseph J. Wagner, a fifth-generation winemaker whose family has deep roots in Napa Valley.  He did a great job if he had a hand in this one.  Dark, pungent, and earthy, this spicy Pinot Noir has genuine oomph to it.  It’s not some weak-bellied Pinot that goes easy on the flavor.  To the contrary, it’s muscular.  It’s substantive.  It announces its presence as soon as the bottle is uncorked, and you can tell just from the initial waft of dark cherry or blackberry (or the like) and its spicy undertones that you are in for a treat.  If you are more biased toward vanilla hints and strawberry-tasting Pinots this is not really your bag but if you like your reds to give a good shot in the arm this is it.

The Meiomi worked just as effectively the next night accompanying a local pizza pie, and again the next with a marinated pork loin that was grilled in the hot July evening.  I’d put it in my top 10 for sure and have to think about a larger move if I had the good fortune to sample another bottle.  Get yours today.

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Buena Vista 2008 Pinot Noir, Otelia’s Selection

Buena Vista 2008 Pinot Noir, Otelia's Selection, Sonoma, California, USA.

Buena Vista 2008 Pinot Noir, Otelia’s Selection, Sonoma, California, USA.

The good folks at Buena Vista had sent the 2008 Otelia as our February 2012 club shipment, and we finally pulled it this hot and uncomfortable July weekend.  Here’s their thinking on its composition: “Named for the Count’s youngest daughter, the 2008 Otelia’s Selection Pinot Noir is plum in color, with wonderful aromas of dark fruits, black raspberry, chocolate, and white peppercorn that delights the nose.  On the palate, rich grilled flavors emerge with a core of currant, raspberry, and hints of coco [sic] bean.  The wine shows excellent balance with a nice tannin structure and smooth texture.”

Part of the reason the Buena Vista Pinots strike such a chord in our house is because they are more dark fruits (e.g., black raspberry, currant) and earthy spices (e.g., peppercorn) as opposed to strawberry and vanillas that I find a bit too cloying.  The 2008 Otelia hits a whole of lot of marks for us and will for you too, if you can find it.  The winery seems to have moved on to the 2010, which too sounds fantastic but we have yet to taste it.

I’m savoring the last glass of the bottle just now as we usher in Sunday evening, but it was a key to a great Friday night meal of grilled steak (seasoned with pepper and salt if memory serves), fresh corn from the cob, and some potato salad.  Even though it was probably still 90+ degrees by dinner time, the Pinot Noir was enjoyable and worked well with the flavors of the grilled steak.  Definitely smooth and probably even better for you if you are pulling it from some place with better temperature control than we have in our basement.

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Buena Vista 2010 Carneros Merlot

Buena Vista 2010 Carneros Merlot, Sonoma, California, USA.

Buena Vista 2010 Carneros Merlot, Sonoma, California, USA.

Over the last several nights, this bottle accompanied many a fine meal–including a home-made chicken scarpiello and a light, summer chicken salad.  This Buena Vista Carneros Merlot was possibly best, however, accompanying just a pizza from our favorite local joint.  Half pepperoni and half pepperoni – black olive, the pie seemed to work well with the cherry and peppery vibe of this 2010 red.  It really looks and smells the part too:  it’s unmistakably Merlot, a deep purple color that wafts dark fruits up at you even as you pour your first glass.

For more informative notes by ‘real’ tasters or even the winemaker you can click here any time.  The description of how this varietal came to bear is worth the read.  Someone with more expertise (or perhaps promotional inkling) gave this a 91 and I think that seems about right in comparison to other reds I’ve had occasion to enjoy.  Always love a Buena Vista and look forward to the next!

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Camino de Navaherreros, 2011

Camino de Navaherreros, Madrid, Spain.

Camino de Navaherreros, Madrid, Spain.

The last of the three wines we tasted at Wine Therapy was the 2011 Camino de Navaherreros.  You read this label and feel like you should be able to find a good Spanish-to-English translation for “navaherreros” but it escapes both Google and me.  Regardless, this high-alcohol (14.5%) grenache packs a helluva punch and you should grab one for your next barbecue.

It bites back; a spicy cherry red that wants you to notice it from the very first tangy sip.  Borne from 80-year-old vineyards outside of Madrid, grapes for the Navaherreros are grown from granitic soils and macerated for 25 days in wood, stainless steel, and concrete tanks before being aged in wooden vats.  Some tasters have described this wine as, “The aromatic nose reveals fresh, acidity driven red fruit.  In the mouth there are lifted flavors of dry, red fruit, cranberry and pomegranate, a little powdery quality, but definitely fresh with a hint of red pepper.  Definitely lovely.”  My thoughts echo not only the above, which I found spot on, but this gent whose review proceed mine too.

Swirling the Camino de Navaherreros showed its depth; it is definitely not a Pinot Noir but far more in the Cabernet or Cabernet blend camp.  We partook of this grape at the last stop of our food/wine tour and I wished I had a robust antipasta or steak to accompany it.  Lately I’ve been all about Bordeaux but the Navaherreros presents a compelling argument for the Spanish reds.

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Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet 2011

Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet 2011, France.

Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet 2011, France.

Our second tasting at Wine Therapy was the Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet 2011.  This lovely, light import from the Loire Valley region of France was, for me, a clear winner.  It followed on the heels of the sparkling Rosé and had all kinds of citrus undertones that were enjoyable on the nose and the palate.  If, like me, you’re less a fan of oak or Chardonnay, this might be right up your alley.

Our knowledgeable host remarked that the Muscadet, made from the melon grape, “stayed crisp on the finish” and showcased its “minerally structure“, which I’m sure (quick bit of Internet research confirms this) is attributed to the soils in this region.  The Muscadet appellation lies just below Nantes on the western end of the Loire Valley.

We passed several restaurants in SoHo and Lolita on the walking tour that placed us in this little wine shop, and I would have gladly taken the Muscadet into any of them to accompany a seafood appetizer–maybe some mussels or clams?–or a light salad or pasta entree.  If you can already envision this bottle in your wine sleeve, chilling and perspiring in the warm summer sun, then I’ve done my job here.  You’d be smiling with your friends and enjoying a nice, affordable bottle of Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet.

 

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You Are So Bubbly, Sparkling Rosé

You Are So Bubbly, Sparkling Rose, France.

You Are So Bubbly, Sparkling Rose, France.

Our first tasting at Wine Therapy in Manhattan was You Are So Bubbly, a sparkling Rosé from the Louis/Dressner vineyards.  Imported from France, this Rosé engendered two different responses from my wife and I.  On one hand it was a refreshing cool beverage on a hot June day and slaked our thirsts; on the other I found it similar to other Rosés I’ve tasted.  Not my favorite grape or process, even in as a sparkling option.

I’m not a wine snob, but swirling this Rosé around a paper cup as we did isn’t the way you might enjoy this on your patio or poolside.  If you’re a fan of Rosé, You Are So Bubbly will probably strike a favorable chord for you.  I’m obviously more a fan of reds than whites, Rosé, or sparkling, but on a sultry summer day in the city you might appreciate the soft floral notes offered by this option.

Ultimately, I’d rate this sparkling Rosé higher for the ambiance and adventure and less for its taste, but check it out for yourself next time you have a cheese platter lining up for a gathering or summer picnic.