Tag Archives: USA

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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.

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2010 Buena Vista Ida’s Selection Pinot Noir

Broke open this bottle of Buena Vista pinot in the stretch run toward Christmas and a much-deserved vacation. You could tell the difference between this bottle and others as soon as it was uncorked–the fragrance of this Pinot Noir was immediate and stunning. I had it with a medium-rare Omaha steak, a great green salad with onion, bleu cheese, and apple, and a baked potato that had in it bits of bacon. Perfect pairing. I know the coming week will be packed full of great wine, delicious food, and plenty of good company, but this sets a pretty good standard to measure against.

2010 Buena Vista Ida's Selection Pinot Noir, Sonoma, California, USA.

2010 Buena Vista Ida’s Selection Pinot Noir, Sonoma, California, USA.

Here’s the skinny from the guys at Buena Vista: “The 2010 Ida’s Selection Pinot Noir is a beautiful deep plum color, with concentrated aromas and flavors of raspberry, chocolate, and just a hint of toastiness. With a balanced structure, medium acidity, and an overall plush mouthfeel, this wine finishes with a medium to long, silky finish.”

This numbered bottle (#2741) is from just 247 total cases and the varietal is named for the fourth child (first daughter) 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.”

All I could say is that it was the perfect end to a crazy work year…or perfect start to an enjoyable holiday season.

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2010 Michael Pozzan Special Selection Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon

This fantastic cab we purchased from one of our favorite wine stores in Ridgewood, NJ, based on its display and it hit the mark in every which way.  A very affordable Napa County cab, it served in part as a “test” sample for a Christmas gift that we’ll be sharing with my folks in a few weeks.  This 2010 is actually a blend of 75% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Napa Valley Merlot, 5% Sonoma Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s aged in French oak for 16 months.

2010 Michael Pozzan Special Selection Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa County, USA.

2010 Michael Pozzan Special Selection Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa County, USA.

Rich in its color, you could tell the Annabella was going to be great as soon as you started to pour it. It smelled fantastic…a mix of dark berries and hearty spices that were a knockout.  Already I want another…and here some initial thoughts from its producer:

“This medium plum-colored Cabernet Sauvignon is from one of the best places in the world for producing the varietal–Napa. The aromas are textbook Cab, from the fruit profile being dark cherry with ripe cassis notes…”

It would absolutely kill if served with a nice medium rare steak, but I simply had a single glass(ish) on several nights this week rather than a meal.  Next time it’s served with blood and will be part of the night’s highlights.  If you have a chance to pick this up I strongly recommend–you will NOT be disappointed.

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Eclipse 2006 Heron Hill Red Blend

Starting off this cool yet sunny Fall weekend was this red blend – a 49% Cabernet Franc, 48% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon from New York’s Finger Lakes (Keuka Lake) region.  Labeled as a “table wine” I was concerned it would be more of a dessert wine and overly sweet but as soon as we opened the bottle you could smell that wasn’t the case.

Eclipse 2006 Heron Hill Red Blend, Finger Lakes region, New York, USA.

Eclipse 2006 Heron Hill Red Blend, Finger Lakes region, New York, USA.

The Eclipse–a Christmas gift from my wine-loving folks–was pretty excellent.  Settled in like a good cab once it had a chance to breathe for a few minutes and was ample accompaniment for an iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese and a perfectly cooked steak.  Dark berries, tannins that provided initial bitterness before settling into a nice warm comfort, and an easy aftertaste.

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2008 Buena Vista Ramal Vineyard Merlot

Fantastic.  Perhaps the best merlot I’ve ever had, and by no means an overstatement.  I hadn’t pulled a merlot since we started logging these tastings, and that’s a mistake when it comes to grapes this good.  As soon as the cork was out you could smell the dark berries wafting up…scents of blackberry and spice all mixing together.  It tasted even better–rich, fruity (and yet not too sweet), and almost cabernet-like in its composition.  The spice was a great undertone and made me pull the label to see what my taste buds were experiencing.  This merlot could have been perfectly paired with everything or nothing, but I had it with a great steak, covered with a butter/wine reduction sauce, and sides that included broccoli and a mixed white and wild rice combo.  Here’s what the winemaker offered:

“With 112 small vineyard blocks, the 564-acre Carneros Ramal Vineyard Estate offers a gorgeous palette of aroma, flavor, and texture.  Winemaker Jeff Stewart layers wine selected from individual barrels to create this elegant Merlot.  Alluring aromas of blackberry, plum, and cherry introduce concentrated flavors of black cherry, spice, green tea, and tobacco that linger on round, soft tannins.”

Just amazing.

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2000 Hayman & Hill Meritage

The second bottle of wine that we killed on the occasion of George’s move to the west coast was this one–the 2000 Hayman & Hill Meritage, a red bordeaux blend from Monterey County on the Central Coast region of California.  It followed a great bordeaux from France and had little trouble muscling up for our taste buds.

2000 Hayman & Hill Meritage – Monterey County, from the Central Coast of California, USA.

My brother from another mother always picks great vino for every event, and this one was right on point.  Most had pasta entres and I think this worked well for them; it definitely went well with my fish special and my garlic mashed.  I haven’t included any winemakers notes in this particular summary but will look forward to having another bottle in the future–and at that time I’ll be sure to add that info to our NON.

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Hanzell Pinot Noir 2006

Once we put away that amazing d’Issan bordeaux, the three of us turned our attention to this Hanzell Pinot Noir and our entres.  Of course we had a couple filets on the table, and a New York Strip graced the plate of my pal–who also brought this tasty gem for our consumption.  The steaks–to the usual impeccable standards of Morton’s–were perfectly cooked and a great backdrop for this berry-tinged treat.  We did some family style brussell sprouts and creamed corn too as part of a heart-unhealthy dinner.

Hanzell 2006 Pinot Noir, Sonoma, California, USA.

The pinot was a part of our dinner courtesy of Hanzell, a Sonoma County vineyard from our favorite region in California.  Here a few of the winemaker’s notes:

“Blackberry, strawberry compote, and blueberry pie give this vintage a very prominent fruit character, but there is the darkness of tea leaf, humid forest, and a feral quality, like the fur of an animal or the nape of a neck. Clove and cardamom are warm spice notes that give the impression of sweetness to balance the firm presence of ripe tannins.”

Great accompaniment for the great steaks.

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Blanc de Blanc – Brotherhood Winery

Today we’re embarking on a wine tour by boat, circling the island of Manhattan with a group of fellow passengers ready for some vino.  As we steam out of Pier 62 and head north on the Hudson, we’re kicking things off with a Blanc de Blanc from the Brotherhood Winery in New York–just a quick thirst-quencher to get things started.  This is the basic sparkling white on which we’ll be layering the world’s wines this gorgeous afternoon!