Caymus Conundrum White Wine Table’03, CA, USA

November 27th, 2005 Posted in Sweet Wines, USA, White Wines
Nov, 27 2005
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A sweet White Wine Table from all around California.

Technical Data:White Wine Table made from 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, the 10% remaining are divided between Semillon, Muscat and Viognier.

Description:Pale golden color. On the nose, fruity aromas infused with floral one. On the palate sweet fruits such as pineapple, apricot and pear are prevailing at the entrance but quickly the palate evolves and shows lemon zest flavors melted with white blossom like acacia and honey. This wine combines sweet flavors with fresh and crisp ones; good acidity and nice balance finishes its description.

Food Pairing & Service:Asian food, spicy dishes. Serve lightly chilled.

Score:8/10

Suggested Retail Price:$25.99

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Rosemount GSM’01, McLaren Valle, Southern Autralia

November 27th, 2005 Posted in Australia, Dry Wines, Red Wines
Nov, 27 2005
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Premium wine from the Epicurean Collection of the famous Rosemount Estate from McLaren Vale, Australia. Rich, dense and spicy yet smooth and not weighty!

Technical Data:Named GSM after the composition of its blend, Grenache ( 50%), Syrah (40%) and Mourvedre(10%). Aged for 18 months in American oak barrels.

Description:Bright inky-red color. Concentrated and powerful nose expressing dark ripe fruits laced with spice. Generous fruity flavors such as plum, blackberry and raspberry infused with spice, woody notes and earthiness. This wine is full-bodied yet not weighty at all, rich, concentrated, focused and almost chewy. Dusty long finish enticed with soft tannins. This wine is all about balance, generous fruits from its Syrah part, spice “kicks” from its Grenache softened by the Mourvedre which add some structure and balance to the blend .

Food Pairing & Service:Try it with beef, lamb, venison and game, grilled sausages, mushroom dishes or matured cheeses. Up to 10 years cellaring potential.

Score:8/10

Suggested Retail Price:$26.99

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Brochelle Paso Robles Zinfandel’03, CA, USA

November 27th, 2005 Posted in Dry Wines, Red Wines, USA
Nov, 27 2005
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jammy and juicy blended Zinfandel from Paso Robles region.

Technical Data:98.5% Zinfandel, 1.5% Petite Syrah aged 17 months in 80% French oak barrels and 20% American oak, unfined and unfiltered. Estate located in Paso Robles.

Description:: Intense bright ruby red color. Spice and red fruits aromas prevails on the nose. On the palate, full-bodied yet smooth. Jammy raspberry flavors and juicy ripe cherries melted with some spice and woody notes. A rich and velvety texture, a long clean finish and smooth tannins complements its description. Clearly a wine focused on fruity flavors all the way long, quite tasty!

Food Pairing & Service:Because of its spice my choice will be to have red meat with that kind of wine, tenderloin beef steak or even Angus will be perfect. Don’t hesitate also to pair it with less conventional meal like a spicy Thai beef dish.

Score:9/10

Suggested Retail Price:$29.98

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Brochelle Napa Cabernet Sauvignon’02, Napa Valley, CA, USA

November 27th, 2005 Posted in Dry Wines, Red Wines, USA
Nov, 27 2005
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An elegant and fine Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa.

Technical Data:100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 30 months in French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. Estate located in Paso Robles.

Description:Bright cherry color. Wonderful nose, very complex showing red fruits and oaky aromas. In the mouth, full-bodied wine, very rich with a silky texture. Smooth strawberry, ripe cherries, violets and roses flavors prevails on the palate, melted with chocolate powder flavors. Woody long lasting finish laced with silky tannins. Very elegant and fine wine.

Food Pairing & Service:Personally I will go on elegant food with this one, something sophisticated nice and mild. A red meat finely cooked will be the must, or even better try it with a chocolate mousse!

Score:9/10

Suggested Retail Price:$46.99

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Fattoria di Lucignano, Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG’03, Tuscany, Italy

November 26th, 2005 Posted in Dry Wines, Italy, Red Wines
Nov, 26 2005
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A smooth and fine Chianti not from the original area of production. This one is from one of the 7 other sub-areas allowed to produce Chianti, that’s why it’s not a called a Classico but a Colli Fiorentini from the name of its sub-area of production. Chianti Colli Fiorentini’s area of production was first established in 1932.

Technical Data:Fattoria ( that mean Estate) di Lucignano’s vineyard is surrounding the medieval town of Lucignano, located only a mile outside the western border of the Chianti Classico zone. The Chianti Colli Fiorentini from Lucignano Estate is considered one of the best if not the best of this Appellation! Made from 80% Sangiovese with addition of 10% Canaiolo Nero and 10% of other local varietals depending of the vintage. Traditional maceration on the skins for 12-18 days in cement vats, maturing in glazed cement vats for 12-18 months.

Description:Dark red color, distinctive Sangiovese characters on the nose with lots of red fruits aromas. Ripe cherries and berry flavors prevails on a velvety mouth with a touch of violets appearing on the mid-palate. Dry wine yet a very smooth finish showing soft tannins laced with woody notes in a long lasting finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Will go well with a wide range of food, my favourites will be mild cheeses and hearty pasta dishes.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$13.98

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Chianti’s different area of production?

November 26th, 2005 Posted in Italy, Red Wines, What is ...?
Nov, 26 2005
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Historically, the production of chianti was limited to the surrounding of San Gimignano city, but was after decades of production extended to a wider area of production.

In order to differenciate each sub-areas from the original area, they have been called differently, each after the exact name of the location where the new production take place, they are: Chianti Colli Aretini, Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Chianti colli Senesi, Chianti Coline Pisane, Chianti Montalbano, Chianti Montespertoli and Chianti Rufina.

All these sub-areas are located not so far away from the original one, so the borderline is sometimes hard to undestand.

Something interesting to mention, to ease the regnonition of Chianti Classico from the others type of Chianti, they have had on the neck of Chianti Classico’s bottle a Black Rooster.

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Chehalem Pinot Gris’04, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

November 26th, 2005 Posted in Dry Wines, USA, White Wines
Nov, 26 2005
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Off-dry floral Pinot Gris from Oregon.

Technical Data:100% Pinot Gris aged in stainless steel only.

Description:Bright light golden color. Fresh and sweet distinctive Pinot Gris nose loaded with floral aromas such as acacia, lime-tree and honey with a touch of peach and melon too. Crisp off-dry wine with a good acidity and balance. The palate echoing its nose with white blossom flavors and a touch of pear. A nice minerality in the mid-palate and a fresh clean finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Will accompany perfectly a wide range of dishes from vegetarian food, to shellfish, sausages and meat like pork. Serve chilled.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$17.98

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Cantina del Taburno Greco di Tufo DOC’03, Campania, Italy

November 26th, 2005 Posted in Dry Wines, Italy, White Wines
Nov, 26 2005
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A nice refreshing wine from Italy to enjoy with “wine-killers” like asparagus and artichokes.

Technical Data:100% Greco Bianco, aged in stainless steel tanks only, no oak. The vines are growing up nearby Naples on volcanic soil, more particularly on the slopes of the Vesuvio.

Description:Bright pale golden yellow color. Quite a nose! Typical nose of Greco wine concentrated on floral aromas with just a hint of apricot. Medium-bodied palate expressing candied apricot and citrus fruits flavors melted with acacia, honey and some fresh almond. Creamy style wine with a refreshing dry entrance, some sweetness on the mid-palate and a really earthy dry finish reminiscent from the place where the vine was growing up.

Food Pairing & Service:Will pair wonderfully with “wine-killers” like asparagus or artichokes! A nice accompaniment to “creme-brule” too. Serve chilled.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$17.98

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Solera System, Spain

November 26th, 2005 Posted in Fortified Wines, Spain, What is ...?
Nov, 26 2005
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Basically a solera is a collection of barrels of the same wine of differing ages, the older ones (called Solera) being nourished by the new wines each year. The wines are aged together in oak for other years to marry the flavors and add complexity, then fortified.

So the first level of barrel, the ones holding the older wine is called Solera, the level on the top of the Solera is called 1rst Criadera (Criadera= harvest), the level on the top of the 1rst Criadera is the second Criadera and so on…This system of production is proper to Spain and is called the Solera System.

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Lustau East India Solera Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

November 26th, 2005 Posted in Dessert Wines, Fortified Wines, Spain, Sweet Wines, White Wines
Nov, 26 2005
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A “must-have” Fortified Wine, specially for the coming holidays, a great sweet one to share with friend and family, from the very best producer of that type of wine!

Technical Data:From the South of Spain ( Andalucia), produced between Sevilla and Cadix. Like Jerez and Madeira wines it’s a white fortified wine made mainly from Palomino Fino ( 85%) sweetened by Pedro Jimenez( 15%). A blend of Soleras averaging 15 to 50 years of age.

Description:Bright amber color. Rich and concentrated nose focused on toffee and nutty aromas. Sweet, luscious almost weighty wine yet very balanced. The palate is complex, extremely voluptuous and enjoyable showing up flavors such as roasted nuts and toasted almond enticed with caramel and candied apricot peel. Clean lingering finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Perfect accompaniment to light desserts, chocolate cake, can also be served with cheeses like blue cheese or as a sweet digestif. Personally I prefer it at room temperature but most people like it chilled.

Score:9/10

Suggested Retail Price:$24.99 ( considering the time this wine spent in ageing prior bottling it’s trully a great value)

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