26 August 2015 1994 Chateau Troplong Mondot Grand Cru

1994 Chateau Troplong Mondot Grand Cru

August 26, 2015 By

1994 Chateau Troplong Mondot Grand CruIn the glass, the 1994 Chateau Troplong Mondot Grand Cru is the darkest of ruby with a bit of brick notes from the age of the wine. It was difficult to stop sniffing the spice-laced berry aromas to move on to take a sip – lovely, lovely nose. The palate offers berry, plummy and licorice driven with a roundness on the finish which offers just a bit of minerality.

This medium-bodied wine is likely near its peak with great structure and balance. I thank my friend Harry for sharing this beauty with us.

Pairings: Grilled meat, cheese course.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Red Bordeaux Blend

Region: Bordeaux, France

Price: $65

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
19 August 2015 2014 Jean Edwards Cellars Dalla Gasperina Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

2014 Jean Edwards Cellars Dalla Gasperina Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

August 19, 2015 By

2014 Jean Edwards Cellars Sauvignon BlancI had the pleasure of sampling this brand new Sauvignon Blanc by Napa’s Cabernet Sauvignon experts – Jean Edwards Cellars, at the James Beard House. This is the first white by these masters of reds and it’s a winner.

In the glass, the 2014 Jean Edwards Cellars Sauvignon Blanc is straw color. This wine is a little un-Sauvignon Blanc like on the nose (a good thing where I’m concerned) with rich tropical fruit aromas and lots of juicy citrus. Love at first sniff. The tropical fruit aromas carry on to the palate with Meyer lemon notes. I really enjoyed the richness the Semillon brought to this wine and the minerality on the finish is outstanding.

A very food-friendly wine and a pleasant departure from other Sauvignon Blancs with little to no flavor. Unoaked Chardonnay fans – take note of this lovely wine.

Pairings: Grilled fish or seafood, raw oysters/clams, pear salad with citrusy vinaigrette.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 92% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Semillon

Region: Napa Valley, California, USA

Price: $32

Filed Under: Sauvignon Blanc, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
22 July 2015 2012 Esporao Late Harvest White

2012 Esporao Late Harvest White

July 22, 2015 By

2012 Esporao Late HarvestI’m a fan of wines produced by Esporao and at a recent luncheon hosted by David Baverstock, Chief Winemaker of Esporao, I learned a late harvest wine is produced by the famed winery. I love sweet wines and was intrigued by this Semillon-based late harvest.

In the glass, the color is a medium straw color. The nose is of intense tropical fruit with sweet citrus notes. The fruitiness continues on the palate with a bit of honey on the long finish. The wine is rich without being heavy on the palate. There’s great acidity on this nicely-balanced wine. Not cloyingly sweet as many of the more affordable wines can be.

Pairings: Foie gras, blue cheese, desserts that aren’t overly sweet – stone fruit tarts, roasted figs.

Style: Dessert Wine

Grape Type(s): Semillon

Region: Alentejo, Portugal

Price: $17 (375 ml bottle)

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Dessert Wine, Portugal, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,

5 Affordable Wines for 4th of July Parties

July 1, 2015 By

Wine in ParcSummer’s here and so are warm days and humidity. What summer also means is fun-filled gatherings, including 4th of July get-togethers.

Here is a list of five wines to pour during your 4th of July celebrations that are affordable and certain to please your guests:

Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé Cremant D’Alsace ($22): This lovely bubbly is coral/pink in color with the tiniest of bubbles. Light strawberry aromas with juicy, slightly sweet strawberry flavors that’s balanced by bright acidity. Serve this bubbly as your guests arrive to create a festive atmosphere.

2014 Two Lands Pinot Grigio ($14): Light and crisp with Meyer lemon flavors that finish on a zesty note. Nice summer sipper and great as an aperitif and with crudités.

2013 Esporao Vinha da Defesa Rosé ($15): This festive, bright pink wine is super food-friendly. Intense red berry and cherry aromas with bright fruity flavors. Perfect for a seafood boil and the cornucopia of flavors at a BBQ.

2013 Egger Ramer Schiava Gentile ($15): Fragrant with red berry aromas with ripe strawberry and cherry flavors. Great acidity making this wine very versatile with summer foods. Pair with charcuterie platter or even hot dogs.

Montes 2012 Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon ($15): Deep ruby in the glass, this wine offers blackberry aromas with notes of mocha and leather. It’s full-bodied and big on dark fruit and ripe raspberries with a nice touch of oak. This is your steaks/ribs/burgers wine.

Enjoy these summer wines and let me know if you try any of them!

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Italy, Pinot Grigio, Portugal, Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
19 June 2015 Unexpected Napa Valley Wine Tasting

Unexpected Napa Valley Wine Tasting

June 19, 2015 By

Unexpected NapaThis week, I was invited to explore unexpected wines from Napa Valley via a virtual tasting. I’ve explained the idea of virtual wine tastings in previous posts but for those who are new to the concept, here’s how they go:

  • Get wine in the varietal or brand being sampled.
  • Invite some friends to try the wine(s) and experience with you (or do as I typically do – put some yoga pants on and enjoy from the couch with iPad, iPhone and laptop handy).
  • Drink and share your thoughts about the wine(s) with other wine fans from around the world using the established hashtag on Twitter and/or Facebook (in this case #SipWithKaren).

In this case, the Karen mentioned in the hashtag was wine expert, Karen MacNeil. The virtual tasting was of six unexpected Napa Valley wines, including unoaked Chardonnay, Albariño from Carneros, an affordable Cabernet Sauvignon, and more.

Here are the wines sampled:

2013 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Chenin Blanc ($25)

Varieties: 100% Chenin Blanc

Pale yellow in appearance. Offers an Asian pear nose with a bit of sweetness. Offers tropical fruit flavors with citrus notes on the palate. Would be great served as an aperitif but also with shellfish on a warm summer evening. Only 187 cases produced – get your hands on this wine quickly.

2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Fumé Blanc ($17)

Varieties: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Sémillon

Fragrant ripe cantaloupe and juicy mandarin aromas. Lightly grassy, lime flavors with more cantaloupe on the palate. Long finish with the 10% Semillon making this wine interesting and complex.

2014 Artesa Napa Valley Albariño ($28)

Varieties: 100% Albariño

Less “in your face” with minerality than its Spanish kin. Lovely bright peach and Meyer lemon aromas with some floral notes. Peach and a bit of plum on the palate. Light oaky notes on a long finish.

2013 Alpha Omega Unoaked Napa Valley Chardonnay ($33)

Varieties: 100% Chardonnay

Wish they’d make more than 500 cases! Clean, crisp, not your daddy’s Cali Chard (in a good way). Slightly creamy mouthfeel. I need to remember this wine when I host this year’s lobsterfest.

2012 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($29)

Varieties: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec

Truly a classic Cali Cab and the stuff that made Robert Mondavi famous in the wine world. Enticing dark berry nose. Rich ripe berry flavors with a long, chocolate-kissed finish. 30% is from historic To Kalon vineyard in and 14% comes from Wappo Hill Vineyard in the Stag’s Leap district.

2010 St. Supéry Estate Vineyard & Winery Dollarhide Ranch Napa Valley

Petit Verdot ($50)

Varieties: 97% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark purple-red in the glass. Slightly tart berries and stone fruit nose. Big blackberry flavors with peppery notes. Get the grill out, this is what steaks are made to be paired with. 590 cases made.

For those of you who have stereotyped California wines as fruit bombs and butter in a glass (silly people), these are great examples of the unexpected, vibrant and delicious wines California has to offer.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Albarino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
3 June 2015 Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé Cremant D’Alsace

Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé Cremant D’Alsace

June 3, 2015 By

Lucien Albrecht Cremant D'Alsace Brut RoseI’m a big fan of anything Lucien Albrecht wines and highly-recommend you familiarize yourself with them.

Appearance: Coral/pink in color with fine and small bubbles.

Nose: Light strawberry intensity with a hint of yeast.

Palate: Juicy strawberry continues with a hint of sweetness that’s balanced by bright acidity. Creamy yet crisp mouthfeel.

Assessment of quality: Lovely wine with a good balance of sweetness and acidity with a medium finish.

Readiness for drinking/potential for ageing: drink now, not intended for ageing.

Approximate retail price: $22.

Region of origin Alsace, France

Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir

Pairings: Grilled chicken. Spicy dishes. Seafood.

Style: Rosé Wine

Region: Alsace, France

Price: $22

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: France, Pinot Noir, Rose, Blush Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
27 May 2015 2013 Domaine Barons de Rothschild Aruma Malbec

2013 Domaine Barons de Rothschild Aruma Malbec

May 27, 2015 By

2013 Aruma MalbecAruma means “night” in the language of the Quechua, the native Indian population of the Mendoza region. The name is appropriate for this deep purple/red wine from Mendoza. Big floral and red fruit aromas. In the mouth, this medium-bodied Malbec is velvety with licorice and dried cherry flavors and peppery notes. Long finish with firm tannins.

Nice, drinkable-now Malbec for a great price.

Pairings: Barbecued ribs and chicken. Red pasta sauce. Burgers or pizza.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Malbec

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Price: $15

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Argentina, Malbec, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
29 April 2015 Harper Voit – Obsessively Crafted Willamette Valley Wines

Harper Voit – Obsessively Crafted Willamette Valley Wines

April 29, 2015 By

Harper VoitA couple weeks ago, I attended Pinot in the City in Manhattan, a gathering of top Oregon wineries where consumers were treated to fantastic wines from well-known producers and upcoming wineries.

The winery I was most impressed with was a new player in the New York market – Harper Voit.

Winemaker/Proprietor, Drew Voit, was in attendance and fascinated us with both his tales of his winery’s evolution and with the very fine juice he poured for us. Voit is a veteran of the Oregon wine industry with winemaker stints at Domaine Serene Winery and at Shea Wine Cellars.

Harper Voit’s motto is “Obsessively Crafted Willamette Valley Wines” and after two pours of Drew’s wines, I get it. Here are two wines we sampled:

2012 Harper Voit Strandline Pinot Noir – $35

Red with purple hues in the glass, the 2012 Strandline Pinot Noir offers ripe raspberry aromas with earthy notes. It took me a while to get my nose out of the glass to take a sip but when I did – wow.  Big mouthful of juicy dark fruit and stone fruit with apple pie spice and mocha-ish undertones. Long fruity finish.

2014 Harper Voit Maresh Vineyard Old Vine Riesling – $25

This outstanding, and I mean outstanding Riesling is made from vines planted back in the ‘70s in the legendary Maresh Vineyard. Expressive tropical fruit aromas that continue on the palate for a hint of sweetness followed by a perfect level of minerality and acidity. Thai food please!!

I’m very much looking forward to finding these small batch wines and trying others from previous vintages. I’m also looking forward to what Harper Voit has in store for us new fans.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, Riesling, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
22 April 2015 2012 Salinia Twenty Five Reasons Petillant Naturel

2012 Salinia Twenty Five Reasons Petillant Naturel

April 22, 2015 By

Salinia Twenty Five ReasonsThe 2012 Salinia, Twenty Five Reasons is a skin-fermented petillant Sauvignon Blanc. For those not familiar with “petillant” is a sparkling wine that contains only half the pressure of champagne.

In the glass, this natural wine is nearly cloudy with fine bubbles. On the nose, it’s light with citrusy and yeasty notes. On the palate, it’s Meyer lemons and a touch of a just slightly sweet fruit, maybe pear. The finish is dry with good balance of acidity and minerality.

Only 420 bottles of this vintage were produced and, as of most wines with cult-like followers, sold out before the labels were printed.

About the name: “In each bottle there are 25 ounces, each ounce, a reason to be passionate”. I’ll buy that. 

Pairings: Lightly-prepared fish or seafood. Perfect as an aperitif.

Style: Sparkling Wine

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Sonoma, CA, USA

Price: $22

Filed Under: Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
17 April 2015 Virtual Tasting – Montes Winery

Virtual Tasting – Montes Winery

April 17, 2015 By

Montes PantoneSince it was founded in 1988, Montes Winery, the celebrated Chilean winery well-known for 25 years of innovation, has shown a steadfast commitment to sustainability. Montes Winery is certified under the Wines of Chile Sustainable Code, which addresses the wine region’s needs for sustainable practices in three areas – vineyard, winery and community.

In 2009, Montes Winery began studying the impact of differing levels of vine irrigation on the growth of grapes knowing water is a valuable resource that requires responsible usage.

In September 2014, nearly five years after it began studying dry farming, Montes introduced its 2012 line of Alpha wines, comprised of single varietal wines and produced from its Colchagua dry-farmed vineyards.

Through its dry farming techniques, Montes leaves the watering of vines up to Mother Nature. For instances where rainfall is inadequate for proper vine development, Montes supplements with minimal irrigation. Monitoring has shown Montes winemakers that less irrigation results in lower yields of much higher quality grapes.

During the 2013-2014 season, Montes was able to reduce water usage in its vineyards by 65%, an applause-worthy feat.

This week, I was invited to participate in a virtual tasting of three Montes Alpha wines with Montes Chief Winemaker Aurelio Montes. Here are my tasting notes (all three wines are in the $15 range):

Montes WinesMontes 2012 Alpha Carmenère

I sampled the 2012 Montes Alpha Carmenère after decanting for about an hour. Bright red in the glass. Raspberry nose with peppery notes. In the mouth, it’s silky in texture with ripe berry flavors and chocolate undertones.

Montes 2012 Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep ruby in the glass, the 2012 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon offers blackberry aromas with notes of mocha and leather. In the mouth, this full-bodied Cab is big on dark fruit and ripe raspberries with a nice touch of oak from having spent 12 months in French oak barrels.

Montes 2012 Alpha Syrah

This Syrah is blended with 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Viognier. Inky red in the glass, the 2012 Montes Alpha Syrah offers big fruity/floral aromas with earthy, chocolate notes. Straight out of the glass, it’s bold and full-bodied but an hour of decanting produced a silky texture with plummy/dark fruit flavors and a long, smooth finish.

Over the decades since it was founded, Montes Winery has played a crucial role in enhancing awareness of quality Chilean wines and for raising the bar with regards to premium wines of the region.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chile, Syrah / Shiraz, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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