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Monte Degli Angeli Piemonte Pinot Noir 2011

The last bottle of our Monte Degli case, this 2011 Angeli Piemonte Pinot Noir escorted us into our weekend here in NJ.   Looking back on the Monte Degli, I think it might be the only Pinot Noir I’ve ever had from Italy.  As chronicled here, I have enjoyed many grapes from Italy but this isn’t one I’m likely to repeat.

We’d left this on the shelf, not to age it or anything so grand, but to see if absence would make the heart any fonder.  I think the Angeli is best described as “adequate” and leaves us excited to try other–and better–wines currently on our shelf.  Onward and upward, friends.

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2010 Buena Vista Attila’s Selection, Dry Creek Zinfandel

This bottle of Buena Vista Zinfandel graced our table Sunday…either because we’re heart healthy or putting off the Sunday night blues just a while longer.  Or, as my wife would say, “Probably some of Column A an some of Column B.”  Light, red berries were immediately evident, and this was one of the milder zins that I’ve had–even immediately upon uncorking.  I had it with a rare Omaha(?) steak and some sides that now escape my memory.  Not an unusual occurrence for me, when I’m having a Buena Vista, to forget what else the menu held for us.

Additional information here from the winemaker: “Harvested in early October, the must was then fermented in separate, open-top vats for each vineyard block and aged separately in French oak barrels for 11 months before final blending.”

This numbered bottle (#2261) is from just 250 total cases and the varietal is named for the son of Count Agoston Haraszthy–the founder of Buena Vista and the Buena Vista Vinicultural Society, which he formed in 1863 to advance the winemaking prowess and expand its vineyards. The BVVS has been restored as a collection of small-production wines that, according to their press, “honor the winery’s pioneering spirit and contribution to California winemaking.  Available only at the winery and for club-members, the diverse selection of Vinicultural Society wines explores clonal selections, varietals, vineyards and the incredible terroir of Sonoma County.”

The steak was good; the Zin was better.

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Chateau Potelle 2005 V.G.S. Cabernet Sauvignon

Dear friends of my folks, upon hearing of our love of things Napa, sent us home from their beautiful Massachusetts lake house with this bottle of red last summer.  Our host pulled me aside, saying “The V.G.S. stands for ‘very good shit'” and advising that we break out this Cabernet Sauvignon for a special occasion.  We held this in check for the better part of a year before deciding to open in conjunction with our Valentine’s Day (which we celebrated on Friday the 15th instead).  It flat-out blew me away!

Chateau Potelle 2005 V.G.S. Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA

Chateau Potelle 2005 V.G.S. Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA

By no means is my nose or vocabulary for wine worldly, but I’ve had enough grapes to know this was the real deal.  So smooth and easy, it vaulted immediately into my all-time top five wines, trailing a Bordeaux or two and some Pinots of particular note.  You can look up its “points” some other place; just know you’d crawl across broken glass for just one more good pull from the V.G.S.  We had it with a combination of four-cheese and spicy ravioli, and every bite was almost…odd.  I usually love this pasta but on this occasion it was just a distraction keeping me from more of the killer Cab.

“Nine different soil types high up on Mt. Veeder, sustainable farming, natural yeast fermentation, unfiltered bottling, and gentle traditional winemaking shape these mountain wines with great personality.”  That’s straight from the winery, which produced just 895 cases of this heavenly stuff.

I sometimes wonder if I’ve learned any damn thing after all these bottles, but if I look closer the lessons are more easily discerned.  (I find lessons all the time by bottom’s up.)  The V.G.S. taught me–or at least restated in loud, proud lettering–that sometimes it is the opening of a good wine itself that is the cause for celebration.  A big thank you to the Lewandowski family for the amazing gift/memory!

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2006 Chateau Grand-Maison Grand Vin Bordeaux

The 2006 Chateau Grand-Maison Grand Vin Bordeaux is a show-stopping red blend, a powerhouse combination of Merlot (84%), Malbec (12%), and Cabernet Franc (4%) from the Cotes de Bourg region of France.  It was also an amazing drink with which to celebrate Winter Storm Nemo as it bracketed the region with nearly a foot of snow, wind, and wintery madness.  A gift from my oenophile brother, I pulled the cork and was blown away by the mix of blackberries, plums, and spice contained in this pale green bottle (special thanks to my lovely and talented photographer for the photo here).

2006 Chateau Grand-Maison Grand Vin Bordeaux, Cotes de Bourg, France

2006 Chateau Grand-Maison Grand Vin Bordeaux, Cotes de Bourg, France

This Bordeaux (a chateau’s top wine) we opened not only to celebrate warmth and comfort in the middle of the storm, but also a visit from a dear friend who was in town with us for the evening.  You don’t need a special occasion like this to open the Chateau Grand-Maison (at least the 2006); you make a special occasion when you open this gem.  We had it first with fun appetizers (e.g., shrimp shumai and spicy California roll) and then with fist-sized top sirloins, served with a mushroom and pan-seared butter sauce along with spring greens and a citrus vinaigrette.  Rosemary roasted potatoes completed this fantastic feast and made for the perfect blend of herbs and rare-cooked cow–and red wine.

This 40-year-old vineyard apparently has its roots in the 19th century, when it was first linked together from disparate vineyards renowned for their chalky-clay soils and gravelly clay.  Chateau Grand-Maison is located on the north short of the Gironde estuary and situated on the southern slope of a high plateau.   Here are the tasting notes from master sommelier Janine Lettieri: “Notes of black fruits, currant, berries and plum are layered with notes of sweet vanilla spice, a result of aging in 50% new French oak barrels.  A few years in bottle have benefited this wine, allowing the tannins to soften and oak flavors to integrate.  A great candidate for cellaring, this wine can age for a decade.  A lovely pairing for heartier fare, this wine gave great pleasure when I served it alongside rare beef tenderloin with roast fingerling potatoes finished with a red-wine reduction.”

Ironically, that was very close to the meal we were enjoying too.  The clear highlight of the night, though–other than the great company–was the 2006 Chateau Grand-Maison Grand Vin.

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Wente Vineyards Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Heritage Block

With dear friends I’ve been to Wente out in the Livermore Valley–it’s in the San Francisco Bay area–and took part in a fun vineyard event this past fall.  I didn’t have the opportunity to sample this Cabernet Sauvignon at the time, and I definitely would have remembered it–it’s spectacular.  I cheated toward the weekend with the Cab on Thursday evening, opening the bottle to accompany a fantastic salmon that was slathered in a grape jelly/barbeque sauce mixture.  We had it with spiced and salted potatoes and an “antioxidant blend” of mixed vegetables.  The food was great; this dark, berry-tinged Cabernet Sauvignon was even better.  My wife nodded and asked right away about the potential of more bottles.

Wente Vineyards Charles Whitmore 2010 Heritage Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, CA, USA.

Wente Vineyards Charles Whitmore 2010 Heritage Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, California, USA.

Friday night we had “Happy Hour”, with the Wente Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Heritage Block again playing a great role. This red didn’t have the spicy undertones that I often enjoy in a Pinot Noir or other Cabs, but there was plenty of red berry and something else (oak? earth?) that rang true for me. With spicy sausage ravioli (accented by basil and olive oil), this was great. A highlight of the week…bought this $20ish bottle for $15 and it was a steal. A must-have for sure.

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Cambria Julia’s Vineyard 2010 Pinot Noir

A Christmas gift from my folks, the Cambria Julia’s Vineyard 2010 Pinot Noir was the red of our birthday weekend.  Friday night, the date of my wife’s celebration, we started this velvety red–decanted–with cheese, cracker, and veggie snacks.  It meandered for a time and ultimately found its way over to our pizza dinner.  She enjoyed a slice or two of pepperoni and mushroom (and a birthday Miller Lite kicker), and I with a straight-up pepperoni.  The Cambria went well and we were, quite literally, in good spirits.

Tonight this Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir accompanied a meal I’d never had before: sweet and sour pork with pineapple, over jasmine rice.  The breading on the pork was interesting–I really liked its taste, but its texture didn’t hit as high a mark for me.  The pineapple, peppers, and onions were great, and jasmine rice is always a favorite of mine.  The Cambria rolled with the punches throughout, and was a great nightcap as we watched a flick.  Here’s what the Cambria folks offer:

“While this Pinot Noir may seem innocent at first, wit bright, fruit-forward flavors of cherry and strawberry; it gives way to its seductive side with velvety layers of blueberry and blackberry and subtle hints of delicate vanilla and spicy cinnamon.  Located in the cool climate of Santa Barbara, my family’s vineyard produces an elegant Pinot Noir with a silky mouthfeel that I hope you enjoy.”

That’s obviously a bit of marketingspeak at play, but the light berry layers are fairly well described.  As cataloged in this blog, however, I’m usually a fan of darker berried-Pinots, and darker spices too.  If you’re a strawberry or vanilla fan, this is going to be a hit for you.

 

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Chateau Peyredon Lagravette Haut Medoc 2009

Friday night I pulled the cork holding back the treat that is the Chateau Peyredon Lagravette Bordeaux.  Nice!  This full, rich red accompanied only a local pizza (half pepperoni and half pepperoni and mushroom) but really represented itself well.  My wife, who hasn’t sniffed a red that she’s enjoyed in some time, was encouraged upon her first noseful and sampled with an approving nod.

Chateau Peyredon Lagravette 2009, Haut Medoc, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, France.

Chateau Peyredon Lagravette 2009, Haut Medoc, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, France.

My simple palate detected spicy undertones in this fruity red, possibly the “grippy” vibe recognized by the experts as outlined below.  Earthy, too.  The Chateau Peyredon Lagravette is a 63% cabernet sauvignon and 37% merlot blend (made of grapes harvested on the 8th and 13th of October), and I think I enjoyed this more than other bordeaux blends that bring more syrah or the like to the table.  I polished off the second half of this Cru tonight while watching the NFL Championship games between the Falcons/Nincrs and the Patriots/Ravens–a worthy beverage.

I think one of Parker’s guys is Neil Martin, and here’s what he had to offer: “Has a very fragrant bouquet with a lot of oak but sufficient fruit underneath to support it.  The palate is medium-bodied with a fine, grippy entry and a nice fleshy mouthfeel towards the cohesive, grippy finish.  A complete Cru Bourgeois that should drink well over 5-8 years.  Good stuff!”

This was a pickup from our local Bottle King and I should grab several others just like this while the success is fresh in my mind!

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Clarendelle 2005 Red Bordeaux, Clarence Dillon

Again it’s been my pleasure to sample, over the past several evenings, a new bottle of the Clarendelle 2005 Red Bordeaux from Clarence Dillon.  On the first night I definitely erred in not letting the Clarendelle sit long enough…was a tad on the bitter side and had not had an opportunity to sufficiently breathe.  Thank you tannins!

I recorked it and sampled several more glasses over this brisk January week and was increasingly pleased with the additional time.  Photos I’ve captured several times previously in this blog, and more detailed tasting notes too.  Still a good value but my excitement isn’t as great as when I’m exploring something new for the first time.

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Apothic Red Blend 2011

First wine of the new year, and one that had always caught my eye while looking for new ideas…particularly California red ideas, which always do well in our house.  I started this bottle earlier in the weekend and was surprised at how tart it was initially.  Definitely did not give it enough time to settle into itself when I had the first glass, which was so tart that I almost put it down and switched over to a beer instead.  Let’s say that false start doesn’t show the true colors of the Apothic Red.

Apothic Red Blend, 2011, California, USA.

Apothic Red Blend, 2011, California, USA.

When I gave it another shot on Sunday afternoon, the Apothic came full circle.  I raised an eyebrow and gave it an approving nod.  I didn’t know the breakdown of the blend, or what grapes ultimately make the cut in this dark ruby red, but it had a lovely, deep mouthy feel and engendered a big smile.

Curious, I checked its profile with the winemaker and learned they worked to bring in red jam flavors inclusive of Syrah, Zin, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, and some undertones of mocha and vanilla.  I could definitely detect both those spices amid all the fruity reds, and preferred the mocha to the vanilla for this bottle.

I liked it for sure but, given all the wonderful reds there are out there, and even in our rack at the moment, I think I got my initial fill of the Apothic for now.  Maybe more later?

 

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2008 Buena Vista Swan Selection Pinot Noir

Big debate for the evening was whether to ring in 2013 with an old favorite (i.e., a Buena Vista Pinot Noir as we did last year) or a new Bordeaux favorite…either possible just because we decided to hold the champagne for New Year’s Day.  After some waffling, it was the pinot that made the cut–specifically the 2008 Buena Vista Swan Selection Pinot Noir.  I uncorked it while enjoying some monstrous shrimp shumai, continued to savor it with some delicious steaks and potatoes (pan seared to perfection), and ultimately polished it off after dinner.  Make no mistake; this baby was dry long before the ball dropped at Midnight.

2008 Buena Vista Swan Selection Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2008 Buena Vista Swan Selection Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, California, USA.

This from the folks at Buena Vista: “This Swan Selection Pinot Noir offers aromas of bing cherries and pomegranate, along with spice and floral characters.  Notice the candied cherry flavors and delicacy balanced by broad structure and a long finish.”

Now, I can’t express all that headsy analysis but I can confirm it.  Seems like a very appropriate description of a fun drink.  Buena Vista has always been great and this is no exception.