Tag Archives: California

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2008 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir

A 2008–haven’t had the pleasure in some time, and a good one to be sure. This wine gets great marks for its smooth, velvety finish as well as the killer dish that accompanied the Mondavi Pinot.

2008 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir

2008 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir, California, USA.

The food was important to the overall picture, so let me paint in some details for you. You start with garlic, breaking that down in a small sauce pan, then you add some reconstituted sun dried tomatoes. Add some mushrooms into the mix, and then scallops.  When those are nice and opaque, add some lemon juice (and corn starch, itself mixed with a little water from the reconstituted tomatoes), and finally some chopped green onions. Voila. This fantastic pile of goodness goes on top of fettuccine pasta and next to a lovely green salad (bacon, egg, and blue cheese dressing–there are a LOT of likes in this meal).

So what about the vino, you ask? Really enjoyed it. It’s wild cherries on the nose and on the taste buds. The 2008 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir is supple and has no tart to it…yet it avoids the sticky sweet of a dessert wine. There are some spices in the mix too, a little hint or accent that winds throughout the red and plays well with the generous foodstuffs gracing our plates.

The winemaker states, “An enticing wine with alluring aromas and flavors of wild blackberries, sweet red cherries, a zing of fresh cranberry and a hint of graphite. Well-structured tannins are fine-grained and silky, and the wine ends with a long, smooth finish. Delicious and distinctive.”

In reading their summary now, I’m pretty happy with the takeaways I’d previously offered. I noted many of the flavors and smells they’d pointed out, and now I know it was ‘graphite’ that I sensed in my tasting. Hoping yours is good too and thanks for reading.

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2013 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay

Change of pace from all the reds and my love of them is the 2013 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay, a California-bottled citrusy white that we picked up…well…obviously. Selected and opened by family earlier in the week, I only revisited it myself as our meals lined up as fish and chicken over the last couple days.

2013 Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay Napa California USA

2013 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay, Napa, California, USA.

There’s definitely some floral stuff happening here; some pear and peach perhaps too, all working together in oak to produce a light, buttery taste. I know my folks are fans of both oak and the buttery effect, and that they left some of this bottle for us means they either had their fill of spirits (all good!) this weekend or simply ran out of time. I’m betting the latter.

The Lot 51 Chardonnay first accompanied tuna steaks (slightly more well done than intended, but expertly seasoned) with white rice and steamed broccoli. I liked the role of this Carneros chardonnay within this meal as I thought it mixed well between bites of our fish and its spices. I enjoyed it so much that I reached eagerly for it tonight as well, both to ease my nerves after a pressure-filled work day and to complement one of my favorite meals–chicken piccata with penne pasta. This meal was my go-to for some time at Rosario’s, our favorite NJ neighborhood Italian jaunt. Regrettably, the webcast I was moderating took a bit longer than anticipated and let the white wine and caper sauce lock up just a bit, but it still made for a nice little feast by the time our speaker finished up her presentation.

The 2013 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay is bottled by BC Sellers of Napa, California, and would be an acceptable if not spectacular white gracing your table one of these future evenings.

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Summer Reds

The summer is nearing its end, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t share several reds that we sampled along the way. Some scored high marks (like the Atilla’s Selection from Buena Vista); others like the Toro or Navardia will probably fall into the “been there done that” camp. The real fun is in discovering which is which. Here’s a fly-by for your consideration:

2011 Cairanne La Cigalette, Rhone Villages, France.
2010 Solanera, vinas viejas, Yecla, Spain.
2012 Navardia, Rioja, Spain.
2012 Buena Vista Atilla’s Selection Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA.
2012 Cruz Alba Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina.
2011 Insomnia Red Wine Blend, California, USA.
2013 Toro Tempranillo, Spain.
2011 Mannara Primitivo, Puglia, Italy.
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2010 Dry Creek Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon

Nothing like a trip to our favorite wine region to finish up the week. A Friday evening replete with a big red, a bold Cabernet Sauvignon, and a delicious meal with my bride. We celebrated our 4th anniversary just last night (stay tuned for the recap of the amazing champagne that involved) and followed that up with steaks–just the perfect thickness and grill marks–and baked potato with a side of asparagus slathered in a burnt butter lemon sauce. Instant classic.

2010 Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County California USA

2010 Dry Creek Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, California, USA.

The 2010 Dry Creek Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a good one. It’s got some smoke, some dried tobacco, and some cherry fruits swirling all about it. Nice, even finish too. I have absolutely no recollection of where we bought this bottle–online? a local store? mail order? but it was a good call. Dark grapes, big taste, and some of that spice that I always like in a cab. Was that an afterthought, some artificial additive, or inherent in the grapes? The folks at Dry Creek make it seem as though it’s all about the climate (which I love) in that specific region so I’ll abide. Here’s their take:

“On the palate, the wine is extremely well balanced with silky tannins that carefully weave together the earthy, dusty nuances of this Bordeaux-esque wine. With some airing, the wine flushes out providing even more dimension and depth. The finish lingers with fine tannins that are very elegant and structured.”

It is very enjoyable in your glass, however, short lived that time may be. I was pretty casual opening it and yet wish we had a little more of this 2010 in store. We’re heading out tomorrow because we are down to our last couple bottles of red–never a good sign but one we’re willing to take swift steps to resolve.

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2012 The Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon

Having heard vague news somewhere of Dave Matthews’ interest in wine, when we saw this 2012 The Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon in the store an impulse buy quickly resulted. It was my first sighting of the offering, but over the past several weeks have encountered the Dreaming Tree several more times–including at concert venues, appropriately enough.

Upon tasting, my first thought was of the big fruit flavor. You have a lot of blackberry feeling right off the bat, ample and sweet with an easy finish. Its dark fruit notes waft up out of your glass, nice and gently like a solo Leroi Moore might share with his band mates and assembled fans some night on stage. The first night the 2012 Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon accompanied grilled red meat; it made a curtain call two nights later with grilled chicken breasts that were expertly seasoned to taste. I think I may have preferred the main event?

Comments Dave’s partner, winemaker Steve Reeder, “The rhythm of our North Coast Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon highlights class aromas of blackberry, cherry, and herbal notes wrapped by toasted vanilla. It’s an easy-drinking wine with a lot of character.”

The guys age the 2012 for 18 months in oak barrels before blending–the 2012 actually is a blend of Cab (82%), Merlot (14%), and “other” (4%).  Some of the grapes in play here originate from our favorite region of Sonoma and do the area proud. The wine is pretty good; the story you tell your friends about drinking with Dave is even better.

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2011 Josh Cellars Merlot

Jackpot here in the 2011 Josh Cellars Merlot. At the end of a hot summer Saturday we broke out this purple Merlot, serving it in stemless glassware during a patio feast. This photo doesn’t quite do justice to this easy-finishing vintage, but it does capture some of the ambiance of our evening. Food, flick, and fun on the deck.

2011 Josh Cellars Merlot, Sonoma, California, USA.

2011 Josh Cellars Merlot, Sonoma, California, USA.

You correctly see a bountiful salad, mixed greens with fresh cucumbers harvested from my wife’s carefully managed garden (and bacon!), onions, assorted dressings, and seasoned steaks fresh from the grill. We were indeed hooked up for a patio viewing of The Grand Budapest Hotel and worked through the movie and bottle with equal effectiveness.

It tastes purple, definitely cherry and violet in big portions, and is actually a Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). Among other facts, the winemaker remarks “A wine that is bold and expressive but unassuming and approachable.” Maybe that’s why it struck a great chord for this reviewer–it’s the way I might describe the overarching objectives of Notes Of Note.

My better half brought the 2011 Josh Cellars Merlot into my life and I’m grateful. It was luscious–such an easy finish too–and fruit-filled in an encouraging way. Merlot I usually consider a winter treat but good grapes apparently transcend the season.

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2012 Dead Bolt Winemaker’s Blend

A California red that comes together in an interesting tumble of red and black fruits, the Dead Bolt makes its mark on you as a consumer. We opened this bottle over the weekend but only finished it this evening with ground beef soup, tortilla corn chips, and buttered rolls. How did it take two sittings to partake of this 2012?

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The winemaker remarks, “Dead Bolt is a rich, round, and opulent California red of dark origins. A generous blend full of rich fruit flavors with a long textured finish.” Is that a little overstated for this working man’s red? Maybe a little, but it is a drink that’ll leave a smile on your face. Partially from this succulent wine; partially from the clever branding.
The 2012 Dead Bolt is the creation of Philip Laffer and brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petit Sirah, and Shiraz–might be a kitchen sink in there too–into one helluva smooth red. And it works. We’ve got several interesting bottles awaiting us, but I will look forward to the chance to circle back to this one again soon.