Tag Archives: USA

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2012 Menage a Trois, California Red Wine, Folie a Deux Winery

Great ambiance this evening as we break into the 2012 Menage a Trois, California Red Wine from the Folie a Deux Winery in Napa, California.  Check out the lighting and the setting here as we close out a fun weekend…

2012 Menage a Trois, California Red Wine, Folie a Deux Winery, Napa Valley, California, USA.

2012 Menage a Trois, California Red Wine, Folie a Deux Winery, Napa Valley, California, USA.

…and thus makes me sad to report that the 2012 Menage a Trois California Red Wine was either mishandled by us or just failed to live up to its billing.  We had this red blend–a mix of Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cab–with steak, fresh asparagus, and “gourmet” potato crowns.  It was fruity–SO fruity.  There’s a definite red berry deluge in the Menage, one that is actually a bit too sweet for my taste.  The Menage I wouldn’t classify as a table wine, or a dessert wine, but it definitely overpowered my taste buds before and with dinner.

Here’s what the winery says of their Red Wine: “Fresh, ripe, jamlike fruit that is the calling card of California wine.  A delightful blend based on three varietals–Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.”

I’m not sure that I share the ‘delightful’ thinking.  I’m no wine snob and thus report that the 2012 Menage was purchased at Wal-Mart–even was double-charged for it, adding insult to injury–but I won’t be going back for another one of these.  As odd as it is to say, it’s just too fruity.

Postscript:  Given the above, I only had a single glass of the Menage upon first tasting.  When I revisited the following night, the 2012 Menage a Trois had “settled down” and was much easier to drink.  Lost some of the sugary vibe and made me rethink if I was at fault for the less favorable first tasting experience?

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2011 Zinfandel, Private Reserve, Sonoma County, Buena Vista

The 2011 Zinfandel, Private Reserve Sonoma County (Buena Vista) stayed over with us for a couple of nights.  On the first, this spicy Zin complemented a delicious meal of pork chops, deftly ployed with a savory mustard sauce, and some leftover mashed potatoes that were just as creamy as last Saturday night when we first enjoyed them.  I had passed on opening this bottle several times since receiving but finally broke down and gave it a go this week.

Many of you know of my unrefined palate, know that Notes is just a passing fancy, something to reference and steer me right when I’m next ordering from a wine list or in the store buying.  To you, I’ll say the 2011 Zinfandel Private Reserve had some immediately noticeable spices in it.  I thought the fruit flavor might be cranberry…some red berry that was a little heavier than the raspberry or strawberry of a Pinot Noir, a bit more peppery than a Bordeaux…but really good nevertheless…both with the pork chops and pepperoni pizza the following night.

If you’re a more serious visitor, I sort of wonder how you found this blog (or why you’re still reading!) but still share here the winemaker’s original intentions for the 2011 Zinfandel, Private Reserve: “A beautifully rich, ruby colored wine, the nose opens with expressive aromas of black plum, blueberry, and notes of freshly cracked pepper. Fine tannins, incredible structure, and stunning balance lead to a velvety mouthfeel and a long, satisfying finish.”

If you go with a Buena Vista, you’re bound to be on the right track…this one is no exception and you’ll enjoy.

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2009 Elenora’s Selection Chardonnay, Buena Vista

Any week that has Buena Vista in it is better than one without.  I’m much less a fan of white wines than I am reds, but when you’re going with a Chardonnay produced by one of the country’s most storied vineyards you’re in good hands throughout your tasting experience.  Our bottle was #1259, and she was drawn from one of 348 cases produced.  Here’s the playbook from the folks at Buena Vista:

2009 Elenora's Selection Chardonnay, Buena Vista, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2009 Elenora’s Selection Chardonnay, Buena Vista, Sonoma County, California, USA.

“The 2009 Elenora’s Selection Chardonnay displays a spicy bouquet of citrus and ripe pear while bright fruit flavors and great acidity give the wine depth and balance.  A creamy texture and rich flavors of Golden Delicious apples and peaches are brilliantly showcased in this distinctive wine.”

Elenora was with us for meals both divine (i.e., salmon with a dijon mustard and oregano sauce) and homespun (i.e., PB&J with chicken noodle soup), and acquitted herself with grace and dignity in each.  The 2009 Elenora’s Selection Chardonnay from Buena Vista is rich in color, more like apple juice than the glassy spring color of a Pinot Gris, and definitely packs in the pear/citrus combination in equal measures.  It’s easy to drink and easier to appreciate.

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Schug 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Fantastic meal to finish off this freezing January week–and featuring the Schug 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.  The wine is great, packed with red fruit smells that have to include some cherries for sure.  We cracked it to precede a fresh fish, a salmon that my wife selected right from the market, and she dressed it with a lip-smacking dijon mustard sauce that added just the right amount of zip.  A little fresh green beans and voila!

I know you’re raising an eyebrow on the Schug with a fish.  Not quite the usual approach, but then again we’re not usual.  And truth be told, the red was really dead by the time we finished hors d’oeuvres anyways.  Stay tuned for more information on the Chardonnay that followed closely on its heals.

The wine seller remarked, “Fresh aromas of primarily red fruit, especially cherries and raspberries…on the palette, dark raspberries, cranberry, pomegranate, and nutmeg.”  I don’t detect any strawberries in here (glad) and am pleased that I got at least a light sniff right on the cherries.  Still, the nutmeg escapes me…

…but a very easy-going Friday night standard.  Last one of this series.

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Schug 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, California, USA.

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2009 Madonna Estate Reserve, Pinot Noir

Glad to include the 2009 Madonna Estate Reserve in this year’s list of holiday treats.  This delicious Pinot Noir, crafted in Napa Valley, we busted out to accompany soup and salads–a much-needed change of pace after all the rich foods of the Christmas celebration.  Harvest vegetables, mixed with a rich blend of seasonings and spices, simmered in a big soup pot with some tender chicken; the soup accompanied a light salad (I had mine without dressing) of greens, fresh pears, and dried fruit–and the Madonna Estate Reserve.

2009 Madonna Estate Reserve, Pinot Noir, Napa, California, USA.

2009 Madonna Estate Reserve, Pinot Noir, Napa, California, USA.

I’ve read some unflattering remarks about the 2008 vintage, but the 2009 seemed excellent.  It was light, nuanced, and easy on the tongue.  This Carneros Pinot Noir helped flush a less-than-great (apologies for failing to document it here in Notes) Cab/Merlot blend from my Christmas Day memories and instilled itself as my favorite from our Rochester trip.  It’s hues were deeper red than those of my Buena Vista favorites; while I prefer those Sonoma options that’s a tough comparison for many varietals so no stone throwing against the Madonna Estate.

I’d love to link you to the winemaker’s website for additional details but seems like a non-functioning URL so you’ll have to double back again sometime soon.  Just as I hope to with this Pinot.  Enjoy…

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Schug 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

The first bottle in a new Pinot Noir series, the Schug 2011 we opened Friday for a “sneak peek” and then polished off the rest this Saturday evening.  It’s a lovely Pinot, a light red delight that contrasted in fascinating ways to the heavier Bordeauxs and Cabs that we have favored more recently.

Friday the Schug accompanied tuna and salmon sushi, and Saturday it was matched up with pepperoni pizza.  It complemented both favorably; this Pinot filled in tastes missing in the raw food yesterday and blunted some of the Italian red vibe of our pie today.  The Schug definitely has red fruit berries as dominant flavors, but with a hint of subtle spices too.  Though it’s the holiday season and our home smells of all kinds of warm, inviting scents, I cannot place what’s in the 2011 varietal.

The next one will be a treat and encourage you to find one for yourself.

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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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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…