2012 Biltmore Estate Merlot Limited Release, North Carolina, USA; 2013 Relax Riesling, Schmitt Sohne GmbH, Germany; 2007 Virgen de Aguila Artigazo, Edicion Limitada, Carinena, Spain; 2013 Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA; 2012 Red Blend, Bell Canyon Napa Reserve, Napa Valley, California, USA; 2012 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Private Reserve, Sonoma Valley, California, USA.
Notes Of Note shared feedback on all kinds of wine in 2014. Some, like any Buena Vista offering or the Laurent-Perrier, are great grapes and would class up any occasion or event. This is not a “best of” list, though, but instead a quick thumbnail of several beverages that exceeded expectations or earned a raised eyebrow upon consuming. Put any of these on your “to do” lists and enjoy the year ahead:
Thanks to everyone who shared bottles and good times over our glasses in 2014. Hoping your own celebrations tonight include good grapes and cheers to you all for a happy, healthy 2015.
2011 Script and Seal Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA
This summer I’ve been interested in Cabernet Sauvignon. You might have seen firsthand if you’ve followed Notes in any real capacity, or even browsed through old posts on the site. Domestic, primarily, but international Cabs are fair game too. And most have been worth the chase, particularly those that range closer to the $20+ mark rather than the $10s. Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not a wine snob in any capacity and I believe in affordable wine but I think Cabernets are one grape where “affordable” is telling.
2012 Radius Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, USA.
And the 2012 Radius is yet another brick in this wall. More proof positive of this theory. In a blind taste test, even my unrefined, inexperienced palate can differentiate between a robust Cabernet and a pretender. I know the 2012 is one of the latter. Don’t be misguided, because the distressed label–cool branding that definitely (along with its Washington pedigree) grabbed my attention and made the first sale–is not indicative of your tasting experience. We had the 2012 Radius with cheese ravioli, and the pasta was the highlight of the evening. My wife is a magician in the kitchen, and fresh basil puts the ravioli into a new stratosphere, but the wine didn’t hold up to this same standard.
This vineyard is located in Walla Walla, Washington, and promoted the 2012 Radius for its “Hints of toasty oak lead to a long finish in this bold red wine.” Not an accurate description, believe me. I love to try new wine, to explore grapes from regions that I’ve visited and hope to later visit, but this one I could skip in the future. Had enough already!
Didn’t get a photo of the 2011 Boom Boom! showing the bottle or the fantastic spread of food (a consistent theme all weekend) that accompanied this wine, but suffice it to say children and adults alike had plenty to eat. This Syrah too was a recent favorite and earned a second showing among our lake friends this weekend, following closely on the heels of the 2011 Petite Petit, and it received similar praise from the gathered company.
2011 Boom Boom! Syrah, Charles Smith, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA.
The Boom Boom! Syrah is a Columbia Valley wine, the largest in Washington State and covering an area of nearly 11 million acres. Now that is a lot of grapes (and I hear their vine rows are often more spread out there than in other regions around the grape-growing world). Several smaller pockets–Yakima Valley, Walla Walla, and others–are encompassed in this great region for winemaking, where Charles Smith Wines makes its living.
We poured this dark beauty into a plastic “lake glass” and passed it around, swirling its deep purples and sipping contentedly with the onset of the evening. It’s not just the grape itself that intrigues here, but a little something spicy that lingers in the background. It’s there for sure, but I’m not savvy enough a taster to identify its specific details for you.
Syrah is sent to us once or twice yearly as part of a recurring wine club shipment, and we always enjoy it on those occasions…but the 2011 Boom Boom! from Charles Smith is the only Syrah I’ve gone out of my way to purchase. There’s an obvious “boom” quip waiting in the wings here but you’ll have to taste it for yourself to get it.
A long work day in frigid Chicago culminated at the Capital Grill bar, with the Hurricanes vs. Blue Devils basketball game on the bar TV and bright-colored bottles beckoning. I was tired and well beyond the point of banal small talk, and thus encouraged to see the familiar H3 label behind the bartender.
2011 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Crest, Washington, USA.
I knew that Horse Heaven Hills had been part of Notes in the past and selected the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon to help warm up my freezing hands and insides. This Columbia Crest cab quickly ingratiated itself to me, its peppery and spicy undertones doing well to prop up its jammy fruit flavors. The 2011 Horse Heaven Hills, in my humble estimation, had a deep, earthy taste and an easy finish. Really enjoyed this.
The H3 accompanied assorted breads and a classic steakhouse meal–a 10oz filet mignon (grilled “medium rare plus”) with creamed corn. My tired self skipped the wedge salad and just swirled this ruby red around an oversized glass, finally content for the day…glad that I’d selected this Washington-based bargain.
I’ve previously remarked that sometimes an enjoyable bottle of wine is less about the grapes and more about the company or the ambiance. This could be one of those occasions, as the 14 Hands was a featured red served this evening during the Wedding Reception for my cousin and his new bride.
Held at the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the reception was really one-of-a-kind. Guests had private access to stroll through the Aquarium prior to the cocktail hour, taking in the amazing creatures (e.g., puffins, rays, sharks, and fish of SO many varieties) and flora of the sea. Windows overlooking the lights of the Inner Harbor granted us great views as we sipped and socialized with one another.
This was my first tasting of the 14 Hands, and it did the heavy lifting. If you read Notes with any frequency you’ll know that we don’t often pull a Merlot, but this one would definitely work. Serviceable, savory, and fruity, the 14 Hands–from the Columbia Valley in Washington–carries that rich ruby coloring and promising scents on your nose. I definitely enjoyed and will always remember it as “the Merlot from David and Charci’s wedding”.
Based on some online recommendations, this Columbia Valley Riesling I picked to accompany the veal saltimbocca, french fries, and broccoli raab that I had in celebration of our anniversary. One glass carried me through a tasty garden salad; the second was paired with my entre. In this respect it was more valuable, a light and sweetish Riesling that played off both the saltiness of the veal and the bitterness of the broccoli.
Great evening that far outshines this Washington white wine. Much of it’s personal, so let me simply say the 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle is probably better in a food pairing (some good ideas noted above) unless you enjoy its innate oaky sweetness.
NotesOfNote 