Tag Archives: USA

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2010 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay

The 2010 Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay, California, USA.

We stayed up at Lake Monomonac an extra night for an opportunity to relax after the family picnic, and it was time very well spent.  After saying goodbye to the departing guests and rafting leisurely in the humid summer afternoon, it was time to head out on our hosts’ party boat for a relaxing cruise in Vermont and New Hampshire waters.  Six of us–plus Finn the dog–checked out the amazing waterfront properties and felt the lake breezes in our faces to great effect.

Already I’ve forgotten the good champagne that immediately preceded this bottle, but I recall it being a lovely, light way to celebrate the coming of dusk.  Next up was the 2010 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay.  We’re no strangers to KJ and this one was definitely on point.   California is easy territory for us and never disappoints.  I don’t know if it was the great company or surroundings (how can you have an unsatisfactory bottle, away from the pressures of work and with family on the lake?) but had to be certain to document this label for the blog.

I’m sure there are some taster’s notes available to assist you if you’re looking for a professional’s writeup of the Kendall-Jackson.  But if you’re looking for plain speak, just know this varietal is affordable, a light citrus dynamite, and entirely pleasurable–even if you’re not enjoying it in scenic boating spot like we were.  You can thank me later!

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2009 Buena Vista Pinot Noir – Clone 5 Pommard

Tonight was a good livin’ night.  Broke out a new pinot noir–this 2009 Clone 5 Pommard–to celebrate the end of the work week from the comfort of our deck.  We snacked on some favorites (e.g., olives stuffed with jalapeno peppers, cheddar/colby cheese) and broke out this red and some Miller Lites to enjoy the sunset and great temperature here in New Jersey.  Buena Vista remains one of our favorite Sonoma wineries, and it’s in no small part due to great pinots like this Clone 5 Pommard.  Perfect for a barbecue and outdoor grillin’.

2009 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Clone 5

2009 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Clone 5 Pommard, Buena Vista, Carneros, California.

This bottle was a screw top (still getting used to this trend) and was promising even from the first pour.   A deep lovely red, and all kinds of great berry smells wafting up even as it splashed down, inviting, into a stemless glass.  I didn’t let it sit at all, simply swirled it around the Reidel for a quick second, and then took a first sip.  Great stuff!  I’m pretty sure I got a feel for some cherry in this mouthful, and all kinds of amazing undercurrents that you know I don’t have the palate or experience to better describe.

I can say that we enjoyed this bottle with a lovely salad (arugula, onion, corn, real bacon [and cooked perfectly], blue cheese, and pepper) that didn’t even need dressing it was so good.  Our main course were grilled filets that helped bring out some of the character of our pinot.  Wish we could enjoy ambiance and tasty treats like this every night!

Not being familiar with this Clone 5 varietal, I thought I would share with you here the winemaker’s comments on it:  “Our Ramal Vineyard Estate in Carneros includes 112 vineyard blocks and 13 Pinot Noir clones.  Each vintage, winemaker Jeff Steward crafts small bottlings of clones that display distinct style and character.  The Clone 5 Pommard shows intense aromas of red cheery, black plum, and jasmine over opulent red and black fruity with a forest floor base.  Note the depth of color and remarkable intensity.”  If you’re reading this post because you’re thinking about grabbing this bottle for yourself, know that I am nodding vigorously.  Enjoy!

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2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling

A rare miss.  Sometimes it seems that every entry here is a raving success, an unmistakable masterpiece that has to be enjoyed time and time again.  This is not one of those times.  This 2010, from the highly regarded Columbia Valley in Washington, is described by some as “refreshing” and “off-dry”.  It may be those things, but even more so it is sticky sweet.

2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling

The 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, from Woodinville, in the Columbia Valley region of Washington state.

If memory serves, we pulled the cork on this to accompany a lovely pasta dish, penne with peas and bacon in a delicious white sauce. The food was very much the highlight of the meal, as my unrefined taste buds could only handle a single glass without needing some water chaser for the sugary taste of the Riesling (which I normally enjoy immensely come the summer months).

What else can I say here?  One, that it tasted better after we left the bottle sitting uncorked in the fridge overnight; and two, it was better when used as a cooking wine later that week.  As I said at the start, this one was a rare miss for us.  But give it a shot and let us know what you thought!

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2008 Smoking Loon Pinot Noir

It’s the Memorial Day weekend and no better time to barbecue.  Fired up the grill and some fun snacks while we readied some steaks with Mediterranean sea salt and fresh ground pepper, and filled up our glasses with some 2008 Smoking Loon Pinot Noir.  This California pinot was in our ‘regular’ rotation of pinot noirs a few summers ago and was like an old friend stopping by to visit.   We didn’t allow it to sit upon uncorking but went straight to the pour.

2008 Smoking Loon Pinot Noir

2009 Smoking Loon Pinot Noir, from California, USA.

Very consumable, with a soft fruity red that left you an enjoyable berry aftertaste. I’m sure the experts have more erudite comments about the wine so I’ll simply remark that the second bottle always tastes just as great as the first. That should be testament enough.

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2009 Buena Vista Syrah

It’s no secret that our favorite winery out in Sonoma is Buena Vista.  This syrah was one of their wine club selections that I was exciting to break out over the past week.  In addition to providing a heart-healthy welcome home from work, it accompanied dinners that included 1) sushi, 2) a pork tenderloin with green beans and cous cous, and 3) chicken piccata with penne noodles in a white wine caper sauce.  All were delicious regardless of what wine one was supposed to have with the fish, fowl, or pig in order to complement the various tastes involved.

2009 Buena Vista Syrah

2009 Buena Vista Carneros Syrah

I’m sure finer and more experienced palates would offer a discerning analysis of this 2009 red…some pithy commentary regarding the bouquet, the nose, the fullness, and certainly the flavor.  From our time in California I know this wine is possible due to the unique temperatures of the days and nights out in the Carneros region, and the vineyard’s proximity to the oceans and mountains alike.  My taste buds simply offer a round of applause, and my eager hands reach for another glass.  The wine club shipments typically include both reds and whites but I’m always more interested in the reds; this 2009 is worthy of that same legacy.

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2008 Buenva Vista Carneros – Ramal Vineyards Chardonnay (Musque Clone)

2008 Buena Vista Carneros Chardonnay - Ramal Vineyards Musque Clone

A delicious chardonnay from the Ramal Vineyards at Buena Vista, our favorite Sonoma winery, we broke this open on a Tuesday evening as we prepared dinner together. Buttery and fruity smelling, this gentle white was sweeter than expected–but readily enjoyed.  It accompanied a delicious filet mignon (with french fries because my tastes are highbrow) and put us in a merry mood.  Here are some thoughts offered by our friends at Buena Vista:

“The Ramal Estate clonal wines give us the opportunity to showcase individual clones or blocks that perform exceptionally well in any given vintage. The 2008 Musque Clone selection showcases our most aromatic expression of Carneros Chardonnay with aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossom and floral notes. The aromatic fruit and muscat-like characters carry through with a rich, oily texture that pairs well with intensely flavored foods. The grapes were hand harvested at night from the Ramal Estate in September and whole cluster pressed. The wine was 100% barrel fermented; aged sur lies with lees stirring every two weeks for 9 months. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in Dargaud et Jaegle, Cadus and Francois Frères French oak barrels (38% new, balance one to five year old) and remained in barrel for nine months.”

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2010 Castle Rock Pinot Noir

A nondescript part of Mom’s birthday celebration was enjoyment of this 2010 Pinot Noir…nondescript in part because I was the only one tasting and in part because it just…blended in with the evening’s fair.  It wasn’t stellar, and it wasn’t a disappointment.  It was just a solid, dependable red.  This California (North Coast) pinot from Mendocino County accompanied a meal that was indeed memorable–a light arugula and pear salad finished with a light honey/EVOO/mustard vinaigrette; an orange-tinted quinoa; sesame ginger snap peas, and roasted scallops on skewers.  All of those were great, so maybe it’s just in comparison that the pinot was just adequate?

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Gnarly Head Zinfandel – 2009 Old Vine

We cracked open the Gnarly Head Zinfandel about a week ago as an alternative to a pinot noir or cabernet.  It had a sharp aftertaste on that first evening, but subsequent glasses over the week tasted better and better.  Most evenings it was consumed just in small glasses prior to whatever dinner we had in mind; at least once it accompanied pork loin, purple roasted potatoes, and a killer apple-blue cheese-lettuce salad.  Here’s what the winemaker says about this wine:

Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel makes a bold statement at first sip. Our quest for outstanding Zinfandel led us down a country road into the heart of Lodi, California revealing a sea of gnarled, 35 – 80 year-old vines pruned in a special, mop-topped way called “head trained”. True gnarly heads, these old vines yield fewer grape clusters with smaller berries than trellised vines. These mighty little berries produce intense, bold wines that are deep in color with concentrated dark fruit flavors. Our Old Vine Zinfandel has a gnarly core of rich, dark berry flavors with layers of spice, plum, pepper and vanilla balanced by light hint of toasted oak. 

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Horse Heavens Hills 2009 Les Chevaux Red Wine

This deep, rich red blend caught our attention at our local Bottle King, where its 90 point Wine Spectator rating was being promoted.  We uncorked and, not waiting even five minutes for the wine to breathe, sipped immediately–it was really heavy by comparison to the pinot noir that usually appeals to us.  And here’s why:

34% Cabernet Sauvignon
34% Merlot
18% Syrah
10% Malbec
3% Cabernet Franc

And it is aged in both French and American oak barrels for 18 months.  We sipped while enjoying shrimp cocktail and then gourmet grilled cheese (mozzarella cheese, basil, and roasted red peppers) sandwiches with seasoned potato wedges.  Kicked up comfort food to ease us into the weekend.

Horse Heaven Hills 2009 Red Wine

Horse Heaven Hills 2009 Les Chevaux Red Wine.

Not sure how much of this is marketing and how much the actual truth, but this is the brief summary of the wine and the region from the bottle itself: “Washington state’s famed Horse Heaven Hills, named for the wild horses that once roamed this area, have been home to the Columbia Crest winery for over two decades.  Our winemaker blends innovation and tradition to capture this unique basalt and bedrock terroir creating wines that highlight the intensity of these grapes. Les Chevaux (French for ‘the horses’) is a special blend of varietals from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA and personifies the legacy of the wild horses that once roamed this fabled area.”

Was fun and would be a treat to serve, but we would probably opt for something a little lighter in this situation next time.