Water into Wino

Anthony Road Cabernet Franc-Lemberger

Cabernet Franc-Lemberger 2006
Finger Lakes, New York ($18)

Every once in a while I find a wine that seems like its been grown, made and marketed towards people like myself. On a recent trip to basically the only wine store I go to these days, I found a wine that simply made its purchase mandatory. No questions. No doubts. No checking of my finances before hand.

There are only a few grapes that could induce this kind of reaction. And if this isn't your first trip to my site, you probably know the that I'm talking about cabernet franc. But this bottle had even more going for it... 30% lemberger! And from the Finger Lakes to boot.

Anthony Road Winery is located on the west side of Seneca Lake. I've stopped in quickly on my way down to NYC in the past and was mildly impressed with the reds, which were really the only wines I tasted there. The fact is nothing really stood out compared to the other FL reds I tried that day. I had pretty much forgotten about them until last week when I found this bottle.

Why am I so thrilled about this wine? I just think these two grapes are suited for cool climate viticulture up here in the FL and Niagara USA Region. Rarely do you see them together and I'm not sure why that's the case. I know Fox Run Vineyards also bottled a blend of the two that won an award or two, but it wasn't available when I visited. So this bottle is my first introduction to the cab franc/lemberger wines of the FL.

Dark red color with aromas of raspberry and cherry. Lively mouth feel with decent weight to it for a cool climate red. Spicy tones of cherry and vanilla linger on the finish. I drank this with my meat ragu (and used it in sauce as well) the other night and loved every sip. I don't think it's big enough to just hang out with as it begs for food with its acidity. It also benefitted with decanting and/or a good rest over night. My grade: A-

Wino Getting All Classy on Your Arse

It's been five years since I've classed it up at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. The event has ballooned into a huge success with tickets becoming more and more elusive every year since its inception some seven years ago. Aside from the Grand Tasting Tent which is actually on the sand of south beach both saturday and sunday, there are several other wine and culinary events, seminars, demonstrations, and tastings all over Miami over the course of four days.

Tonight's event is the Wine Spectator "Best of the Best" tasting at the suites of the American Airlines Arena in Miami. My fiance and I were lucky enough to get tickets and I can't wait to test my palate on what should be the cream of the crop reserve and estate selections of the show. I'm prepared to push and shove my way through well dressed wine snobs and their trophy wives to get samples but I just don't know where I'm going to spit yet.

Movia Vila Marija Merlot 2005

Movia Vila Marija 2005
Brda, Slovenia ($15)

Shortly after Long Island turned me on to merlot, a friend mentioned a bottle he had had while dining at Felidia restaurant in NYC. The sommelier recommended a merlot from the Friuli region of northern Italy. Having been blown away by the wine, he managed to salvage the label and pass along the good word to me. I have since-found a couple other producers from that area which make merlot in the same minerally, lightly tannic, and vibrant style.

These wines aren't easy to locate as even wine boutiques that only carry Italian wines may only have one such bottle to choose from if any, with retail prices in the mid twenty dollar range. Movia, the Slovenian producer of this bottle is situated on the border of Friuli and Slovenia. They practice organic and biodynamic winemaking while producing only about 13,000 cases a year. This bottle was on sale for $11 (from $15) at my favorite local wine store. This 2005 bottling is a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir, surprising since it is labeled as merlot.

Ruby red color and bursting with cherry and raspberry aromas. This wine jumps out of the glass and greets you with a big hello. It has a silky mouth-feel that dances on the tongue while gaining the attention of every taste bud on my palate. What makes this wine so memorable is a streak of minerality that quickens the pulse and sharpens the senses. The finish is clean and satisfying albeit not all that long. It leaves me thirsting for another sip and wondering what a case discount would come to. My Grade: A-

J.P. Tinto 2003

J.P. Tinto 2003
Setubul Peninsula, Portugal ($6)

It's not much of a secret anymore that Portuguese reds can be quite satisfying for a fraction of the cost of the competition. I figure that these wineries never became obsessed with single varietal releases, never spent the big bucks on marketing, and never got into the Parker influenced over the top fruit flavors that people seem to look for these days. On a recent trip to a wine "outlet" the other day I found an inexpensive bottle all alone on the shelf. Psychologically speaking when I see the last bottle on a shelf I feel one of two things. One, it must be good if the rest have already been bought. Two, what if I like it and now I know I can't get anymore?

For six bucks, I had nothing to lose. This bottle is not your average Portuguese red. It comes from the Setubal Peninsula, an area I don't see often and instead of being a carefully crafted blend of indigenous grapes, it one one single varietal called Castelao or Periquita.

Ruby red in color, this wine is noticeably lighter than any red I've had from Portugal. On the nose I got dark cherry, blackberry, and black pepper. There was a noticeable element of funk coming through as well, with manure being the best word to describe it. Luckily it didn't show on my palate as this wine was quite pleasing. The word balanced comes to mind because this wine just simply went down well. Simple yet charming, it was a perfect week night match for that pizza or pasta dish. The finish was adequate, with little or no sign of oak lingering. For six bucks, I'd pick up a couple more if I can ever find it again. Grade: B-

Abad Don Bueno Roble 2003

I've been seduced by the Mencia grape in the past. It was probably the comparisons to Cabernet Franc that motivated earlier purchases. My Spanish wine kick also fueled my interest in an unpopular grape that hails from Bierzo, Spain. It generally grows on high altitude hillsides and has been known to bring spicy notes as well as gentle red fruit flavors.

This Mencia wine was just begging to leave the shelf last week at Premier Wines in Buffalo. With a price under $10 and a 90 point review by one of those magazines, it seemed to be a good pick. In appearance this wine wasn't what I was expecting, the purple hue was inky and dark. The aroma was mainly of plum, blackberry and clove, with little else to mention. I got some nice dark fruit flavors that quickly faded and gave way to just a mouth full of palate killing tannins. Just to dry and clumsy for my taste. Damn I miss the selection of NYC wine stores. My grade: C-

Monarchia Cellars Noir 2003

Monarchia Cellars Noir 2003
Eger, Hungary ($9)

Every once in a while I get motivated. If you read the date of my last post on this site, you might think it's been a long time coming. I think the downside of geeking out on wine is that your taste may get more expensive with time. In my case, the desire to try New York State wines and boutique winery offerings has led to less wine consumed at a higher price point. Now I admit that this weblog was meant to find those best buy gems from anywhere, so tonight I'm going back to the roots of this blog because I found one of those intriguing under $10 wines.

Lately I've been seeking out cool climate wines that would do well in NYS. I know Cab Franc does well throughout the state of New York, and I've tasted a hell of a lot of it over the last two years. So now I'm tasting Lemberger, aka Blaufrankish, aka Kekfrankos, aka ect... I've tried some Washington State examples, some NYS, as well as some from its home in Austria. Most are in the $15- $20 range and they have been hit or miss. Well this time I found an under $10 bottle from Hungary at Premier Wines in Buffalo.

This is a 100% Kekfrankos (Lemberger) wine is bursting with blackberry aromas. I also get a pinch of bell pepper and smoke on the nose as well. Medium bodied with ample acidity, it stood up well to my hot sausage and peppers hoagie, and the next day it even complimented my meat ragu I've perfected thanks to Mr. Batali. This wine doesn't bring a lengthy finish, but I think it's as long as any Lemberger wines I've had from NY or Austria. For under $10 it's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned. If your into Cab Franc, Lemberger, Zweigelt, or even Gamay, this should impress for the cost. Not so much a sipping wine, but with dinner, it rocks with a style of its own. My grade: B

Corey Creek Cabernet Franc 2002

Corey Creek Cabernet Franc 2002
Northfork, New York USA ($20)

The 2002 growing season must have been a good one for North Fork red grape growers. It was the 02' Osprey's Dominion Cabernet Franc that motivated a spending spree on Cab Franc that me to having a the franc filled wine fridge I have today. I've enjoyed a few others from the same vintage but nothing that excited me as much as the Osprey's. A few days ago I was reminded of my first innocent experiences with great Cab Franc.

Black raspberry and cherry aromas. I thought the color is slightly lighter than the Osprey's 02' and overall the tannins seem a bit smoother. The supple mouth-feel was simply delightful. It reminded me of the 04' Jamesport Cab Franc that critics went gaga over last year. The lengthy finish had a bit of vanilla and cedar and it just left a great impression. My grade: A

Wino has a baby! (website that is)

Even though this site hasn't seen many updates recently, my passion for wine hasn't diminished. I've learned that a home is a lot of work, and a home with 10 acres of land is a hell of a lot of work. In my spare time though I've been getting to know that the Niagara Escarpment area with fresh eyes and an open mind. There's so much to tell you about up here I could never put it in this blog. That's why I created NiagaraEscarpment.net. It's essential reading for anyone coming to the Niagara Falls area that appreciates wine, agriculture, and natural beauty.

Finger Lakes Dining at its Best

During my last trip to the finger lakes I was confronted with several important decisions. What lake are we gonna do today? East or west side? Start north, head back south towards the cottage? Bring lunch? Stop for lunch? Where to eat dinner? Are reservations needed? When choosing a wine country dinner they are a few musts. The restaurant must have an ecletic menu. A heavy Italian cuisine focused place will not cut it after a long day of drinking. It must have farm fresh ingredients since after all we are in the country. Lastly, the wine menu must have extensive local wine options at fair prices. After considering a few winery restaurants for our first night's dinner, I ended up taking some advice from the owner of Catherine Cottages, the place we stayed at in Montour Falls, just south of Seneca lake.

He emailed us a list of restaurants and luckily I read it in time to get reservations at the Stonecat Cafe in Hector, NY. What sold me on this place was its use of organic ingredients across the board. It's located on the east side of Seneca Lake and the view is spectacular. I had some short ribs and a triple cream on crostini appetizer. My fiance and our friends loved it and it was somewhat of a relief as we are used it to gourmet eats from our new york city days. This restaurant was spot on in everyway and satisfied all the must-haves I previously mentioned. I highly recommend this place to anyone that wants a delicious thought provoking meal when they are winding down from a days worth of wine tasting in the Finger Lakes.

Revived by the New York Times and Austria

Zweigelt in the nude.

When I think of exciting grapes currently being experimented with in the Finger Lakes and Niagara Wine countries, there are three or four that get my blood flowing. The first is Syrah. Not those jammified Syrahs that you can find anywhere. I'm talking about cool climate ones that combine good acidity with pepper and light tannins.

The other two grapes are the Austrian grapes Gruner Veltliner, Blaufrankisch, and Zweigelt. Spelling them is tough enough let alone pronouncing them. I know Hermann Wiemer is growing Blaufrankisch and Gruner Veltliner, funny enough cause I picked up a couple of each last time I visited the winery. Currently I believe they are just blending grapes in his arsenal. I've tried Lemberger, our not much friendlier name for Blaufrankisch, from Fox Run Vineyards, Goosewatch, and Seneca Shore Vineyards in the Finger Lakes. The latter of the three was surprisingly my favorite. As for Zweigelt, a cross of St. Laurent and Blaufrankisch, I know Konzelmann Winery in Ontario makes it as well as a few others wineries in Canada.

All this wine geek banter takes me to my point and the reason I got excited enough to update my site while I run around in circles of sh*t to do in my new country home. The New York Times done did an article and an interactive feature on Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch the other day. Cheers to that. The reviews were obviously Austria intensive as they should have been, while fascinating at the same time. Too bad I'm not in NYC anymore cause I don't think I'll find these wines in my area. So if you can, try some of them for me.

Marques de Gelida 2002

Marques de Gelida 2002 Reserva
Penedes, Spain ($13)

In the past few months, I've gotten engaged, bought a house, and have managed to find a great value sparkling wine to toast the afore mentioned achievements. When you can't afford champagne for every celebratory uncorking, I find cava to be just what the doctor ordered. Generally less expensive than California sparklers and drier than most proseccos I've tasted, I'm rarely disappointed with the Spanish bubbly.

This particular bottle has an eye catching label, the stamp of quality from Jorge Ordonez, and it breaks the boring non vintage stereotype of cava. This 2002 is a reserva blend of 35% Maccabeo, 30% Xarel-lo, 20% Parellada, and 15% Chardonnay. There was 3000 cases produced and I assume there's not much left floating around by now.

Aromas of green apple and bread. Tight little bubbles with a pale yellow color. this wine wakes up my whole palate and refreshes with a complex spectrum of earth tones. The finish is lengthy and stimulating. By far my favorite sparkler under $15.
My grade: A-

Home Sweet Home....

My futile attempts to update this site have failed repeatedly in the past few weeks during which my life and the life of my fiance have changed drastically. Seizing on an opportunity we felt would not be so easily attainable in the future, we took a giant step into adulthood and became home owners. This is where the story gets interesting because we didn't just buy any home, we bought a farmhouse in the Niagara Escarpment AVA on 10 acres of well drained gravelly loam in hopes of some day being able to live and work in a fledgling wine country.

Leaving the city life and our friends who are more like family has not been and will never be easy. We have had some of the happiest time in our life living in New York and crazy is the word I might describe our sudden decision to leave but my family lives in the area and we've been interested in what's been going on agriculturally here for a couple years.

The farmhouse predates the 1870's and it lies just south of Lake Ontario. There is a rather large vineyard and winery opening across the street and the area in general is packed with historical sites, farm stands, and sleepy cottage towns with harbors and parks. There is a creek that runs through the north west corner of our property in which trout make there way up to spawn and there is never a moment where we aren't without some geese or wildlife in view.

In the coming weeks I'm going to share my experiences in what may be the most foreign environment I've ever lived as well as touch on what's happening locally here. I'm truly excited to be close to Niagara, Ontario too because it has much to offer in terms of culinary options and a maturing wine industry. My internet is not hooked up yet as I am waiting for the satellite company, that's right I said satellite company, to install it. Oh my... what have we gotten ourselves into?

A tasting and two bottles...

I managed to motivate myself to Astor Wines last Saturday for a 10 winemaker event representing the natural wines of Jenny and Francios. This store has thrown down some large tastings in the past and I was looking forward to this one. While I'm not one to complain or tell a store how they should run their business, but I thought that Astor just didn't take advantage of the colossal space they have. They put three winemakers at their new tasting bar and the other seven shoulder to shoulder at one not so long table. It wasn't a recipe for a personable wine tasting that invites questions and conversation. Anyway since I don't speak French I probably wouldn't have learned much anyway.

While I was there I had to pick up a couple bottles. In my search for cool climate grape based wines, I chose a Lemberger from Washington State vineyards that Dr. Vino has recommended in the past. My addiction to south american wines lured me into buying a cheap Syrah from Uraguay as well. It wasn't more than two days later I had gone through both and now I can't wait to get my hands on one of them again.

Shooting Star Blue Franc 2004
Yakima Valley, Washington ($15)

Jed Steele bottles his Yakima Valley Lemberger (aka Blaufrankisch) in California under his Shooting Star label. Finding the name to be lacking in marketability, he choose the Blue Franc title and included a French Franc note to grace the bottle. I've had a couple bottles of Lemberger recently, one from Austria and another from the Fox Run Winery in the Finger Lakes.

Ruby red color. Earthy aromas of red berries and spice. Juicy mouth feel with supple tannins. Very soft and round. This really reminded me of Cab Franc on the nose and Syrah in flavor with Carmenere like sweet tannins. Anyone who reads this blog should know this is the kind of wine I would get excited about. The finish is average, and I think the lack of oak limits the length, but the ripe fruit and spice make up for it. My grade: A-

Monte De Luz Syrah 2005
San Jose, Uruguay ($7)

Only my second wine from Uruguay, this bottle was only $7 and I figured it was worth a shot. The other wine I had from this country was a Tannat and Cab Franc based blend. It wasn't anything to write home about so my expectations for this one in the same price range weren't high.

Smoky dark fruit aroma and purple in color. The flavor was similar to an over ripe Merlot and extremely one dimensional. Slightly acidic with obvious heat on the finish. I didn't even come close to finishing this wine. My grade: C-

Update on last post

I found this link the day after my last post on Pinot Noir on the Niagara Escarpment, USA. Business must be booming for Warm Lake Estate to be expanding its plantings by 50%.

Quick taste of Warm Lake

Warm Lake Estate has literally put the Niagara Escarpment AVA on the map. Banking on a climate that has been compared to Burgandy, they have found investors from around the globe to plant 45 acres of pinot noir. The winery has been open for only a few years but has been successful at distributing their wine throughout the state and beyond. Their location on the sloping bench of the escarpment was meticulously picked to provide an ideal terroir for pinot.

My first visit to this winery was almost two years ago and was regrettably not a memorable event. Last friday we stopped by while driving through the area and I'm glad I did cause it was an eye opening experience. Along with the tasty 2005 vintage were three single vineyard wines available to taste and buy. The point of course is to showcase the differences of each vineyard separated by soil type. I've studied up on the area's geography enough to know that the Otis and Rhinebeck wines are named after the loam soil on which they are planted. The other bottle, whose name escapes me at the moment, consisted of their newest planting and was my favorite despite the vines only being 3 years old. Each was extremely Burgundian in style and worth the hefty penny they are charging, and I only say that because the area is young and the other wines tend to be inexpensive.

Overall it was an inspiring day driving around the country up in good ole Niagara County, south of Lake Ontario. Even with snow covered roads and blustery winds this wino wasn't slowed down enough not to get a few tastes in with his new fiance and soon to be mother in law.

Fairview Goat Roti 2003

Fairview Charles Back Goat Roti 2003
Western Cape, South Africa ($16)

Funny critters and puns make for a a powerful marketing ploy. Fairview, the South African creator of Goats do Roam, makes a more expensive wine that salutes the Cote Rotie Syrah based wines of France. Since I've been getting in touch with my inner Syrah I could not resist this attempt at an affordable new world version.

I got some red berry aromas and a generous whiff of bacon fat....yum! It took a while for this one to open up though. Fully rustic in texture and sultry in taste this one had me confused. It came hard with a mouthful of fruit, but I also was stunned by an unflattering acidity. Turns out it came hard with fruit, acid, and tannins that i compare to being slapped in the face. It cleared up to a long spicy finish but the middle palate just wasn't pleasant. I don't know if it will calm down over some time in the bottle or what. Not worth the $16 I shelled out. My grade: C

Avila Pinot Noir 2003

Avila Pinot Noir 2003
Arroyo Grande AVA, San Luis Obisbo, California ($13)

Most serious pinot drinkers would be horrified to drink a $13 bottle of that little thin skinned grape. I, on the other hand, am thrilled to experiment with these hit but most commonly miss bottles. I don't often find interesting bottles under $15 from California but it took my local store being sold out of my favorite cheap Chilean pinot for myself to buy this one I knew nothing about.

Avila is the second label of the Arroyo Grande producer Laetitia. The appellation of Arroyo Grande Valley includes a 16 mile long valley in San Luis Obisbo County. The climate is moderated by coastal fog and Pacific breezes and Avila lies at the colder northern region of the AVA. This winery focuses on value wines and offerings include Chardonnay, Merlot, a Rhone Blend, Syrah, and a Cabernet. There were 10,000 cases of this Pinot produced.

Solid purple color that caught me by surprise. Floral aromas, but strawberry and cherry aromas dominate. The silky texture was another surprise and made me think the wine was under priced. There were some funky earth flavors that complimented as well. This wine had enough structure to stand up to my mustard crusted pork tenderloin and I wish I hadn't used a cup of it for my red wine reduction because it was that good for the dough. My grade: B

Castano Monastrell 2005

Castano Monastrell 2005
Yecla, Spain ($9)

Talk about a easy drinking wine. This is a quintessential new world fruit driven bargain wine that should please a most of the people all of the time. My first experience with Yecla and Eric Soloman brand imports is this 100% Monastrell. Bodegas Castano has been bottling wines since 1980 and its vineyards benefit from around 3000 hours of sunlight a season. This is one of the most inexpensive wines from this family which seems to really concentrate on this varietal. I picked it up after I read Mr. Parker had praised its value and snatched up the last one at my store.

Every now and then I come away with the aroma of birthday cake. Maybe it's the frosting or fruit filling but something reminds me of it in certain wines. This one reminds me of a red cherry frosting you might get on a white cake. Along with that unconventional smell I did get some cranberry notes as well. Very aromatic overall. Medium bodied and well balanced, this wine isn't complex but certainly tasty. The finish is short but sweet. I'd bring this wine to a party or dinner.
My grade: B

International Night Portuguese Style

Portugal was the destination of choice for my girlfriend's weekend "International Night" extravaganza. I was stoked by the possibility of finding inexpensive wines that most people would never bother drinking, and in most cases, never even locate. I also like to geek out on music for these dinners and this time I sparred no expense and abused my itunes account with another impulsive purchase. The music of the night was Guitarra Portuguesa by Carlos Paredes.

Quinta de Pancas Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Portugal ($12)

The evening started with some olives, breadsticks, and dates accompanied with this Portuguese Cabernet. Old world comes to mind when describing this bottle. Medium body and well balanced with dark fruit. While lacking in the common overripeness of most cabs, it secured my attention with rustic earth accents and a graceful finish. Since most of the Portuguese reds I've had are native grape intensive, this was new to me.

Senorio de Sarria Crianza 1999
Navarra, Spain ($12)

The soup course, sopa de couves, was from Leite's Culinaria, a website run by David Leite which features some tasty Portuguese recipes as well as other cuisine. It is mainly chorizo, kale, and potatoes. My pairing reference book suggested, amongst others things, a Spanish red from Navarra. This tempranillo based crianza boasted soft as a baby's ass tannins and an extremely gentle structure of red berry fruit and cedar. Along with the chorizo, it was pairing perfection. This wine whispered old world and I loved every sip with the soup.

Esporao Reserva 2005
Alentejo, Portugal ($10)

From the same website came Porco con Ameijoas a Alenteniana, or in gringo terms, pork with clams. Vinho Verde would have been satisfactory, but my friend went above and beyond again with a couple bottles of a Portuguese blend of native Roupeiro, Arinto, and Anttao Vaz. Living in the Portuguese capitol of Long Island, or Mineola, has payed off several times over. This white was delicious as well. Full bodied with a sexy buttery oak flavor that added depth and complexity, this wine finished was a hint of sweetness. Another perfect pairing.

Dessert included Pasteis de Coco, coconut-custard tarts. What's Portuguese night without Port? I didn't want to find out so we ended with an Osprey's Dominion Port. Not bad at all.

Osprey's Dominion Cabernet Franc 2002

Osprey's Dominion can take much of the credit for my awakening to Long Island's North Fork wine country. Sure it took a couple of my good friends to pour there for a few seasons to find it, but it really did open me up to several new things. It all started with the 2000 vintage Cabernet Franc and evolved into day long picnics with live music, friends, and a huge selection of wine.

Last season Osprey's was building a new tasting room so we didn't hang out there for their live music and tranquil scenery as much as I'd like to. This didn't stop us from stopping by to taste how their Meritage blends were evolving and to pick up more Cab Franc. They probably have the widest selection of reds and whites on the Island, with about 90 acres of grapes planted. In 2005 they were declared winery of the year at the NY State Wine and Food Classic and they are no stranger to double gold and best in show awards.

The standouts for me have been the reds of course, the rose, Fume Blanc, the Sauvignon Blanc, and maybe even the Johannisberg Riesling. The list goes on and on and something they have should satisfy anyone that goes. They welcome picnics on their property and it's as easy as walking up to the outdoor bar and bringing an open bottle back to your group. On busy weekends, it may get crowded with families and kids playing, but its always relaxing.

Osprey's Dominion Cabernet Franc 2002
North Fork, Long Island, New York, USA ($24)

The 2000, 2001, and 2002 Cabernet Francs have been among the best in the region. They have been known to mix in a splash of Merlot to round it out some but the 2002 is pure Franc. The wine spends 12 months in French oak and the alcohol weighs in at 13%.

Dark ruby red color. Aromas of cherry, raspberry, and bell pepper. Textbook mouth feel as far as I'm concerned. A slightly tart food friendly acidity is obvious and welcome. This is not for the fruit bomb lovers out there as the fruit is subtle and in lockstep with the spice and herbal qualities. What really separates this wine from similar ones is its long delicate spicy finish. My grade: B+

WBW #30 New World Syrah

I must sound like a broken record. It seems like every wine I write about lately is from Chile. Well I just can't help it. The price to quality ratio of these wines is impressive. The Carmeneres are basically free. The Cab Sauvignon and Merlots are usually half of what I'd pay for a comparable domestic version. The Pinot Noir can be satisfying while still accessible under $20. For some reason Chilean Syrah is undeniably more expensive then the other varietals. While the bargain wines I've had before are consistently a pleasant surprise, at $20 I'm expecting a $35 flavor profile that will rock my palate.

Casa Lapostolle Winery was founded in 1994 by the Marnier Lapostolle family from France and the Rabat family from Chile. The French connection are founders and owners of Grand Marnier ( of the Spirit fame) and have been winegrowers in the Loire Valley. They own 300 hectacres and produce 150,000 cases, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, and Syrah.

Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Syrah 2004
Cachapoal Valley, Chile ($22)

This Syrah is grown in rocky Las Kuras Vineyard of Requinoa, in the Cachapoal Valley, and it's from their midlevel Cuvee Alexandre series. It's made from 100% Syrah grapes grown after a dry 2003 season which resulted in budding some 10 days earlier than average. What's really crazy is that there was no rain registered that summer at all. The wine was aged for 21 months in new French oak barrels and it weighs in at 14.5% alcohol.

Dark purple in color. The nose took a while to open up, but when it did it revealed definite meat aromas with ripe dark fruits. This wine feels very fleshy and full bodied. I get some complex notes that include chocolate and cigar box. Overall, it's well balanced and persistent on the finish. While I do find this wine to be worth the $20 I paid, it's not as intriguing as the Montes Alpha Syrah I tasted a few weeks ago. It went extremely well with the sausage and peppers I had for dinner and got better with every sip I took. My grade: A-

Concannon Petite Sirah 2004

Concannon Petite Sirah 2004
Central Coast, California ($12)

This wine looks and tastes purple. Come to think of it, smells like a purple magic marker. On the palate it tastes like a smokey, spicy concord wine. It's big and slightly hot. To be honest, it does have some olive notes that evolved after some time, but it never really hit the mark or showed any complexity. It's similar to a Spanish Monestrell in body and punch, and I think its worth it to save a couple bucks and drink Monestrell. Better than the Bogel Petite Syrah at the same price point though. All in all not my style at this point, maybe I would have dug it a few years ago or some 120 bottles ago.

Typical friday story...

I picked up a bottle of Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005 last night on my way to a friends house. The wine store was tasting a few wines so I couldn't resist trying a couple even though I was running late. Good thing I did cause the Oregon A to Z Vineyards Night & Day 2005 red was delicious. Mostly Merlot, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauvignon, it was ripe and fruit forward, with some earth and spice. The 2004 vintage was sprinkled with a bit of Dolcetto and Syrah as well as other grapes, but I'm not sure about this one. Nothing too complex but just a naturally enjoyable wine. They didn't have any to sell because I think the employees were tasting to decide on stocking it. If they do, I'm going to buy a couple... even if it is a screw cap closure.

As far as the Chilean Montes Cabernet went, it was OK. The aromas were sexy as hell but the tannins were very immature and bitter. The 2004 was voted best of tasting by the WSJ not too long ago in their Chilean Cab article. This vintage should mellow out with bottle age, but since I'm nothing close to an expert, I'm totally guessing.

Wine Quote of the Week

Karen McNeil
Author of The Wine Bible

I received her book as a gift a while back before my channel flipping discovered her "Wine, Food, and Friends" Show on public television. She's kind of old school in the wine world. A few days ago I caught another random wine show she was on and heard this memorable quote:

"A dainty swirl gets you nowhere in life."

I couldn't agree with her more.

Rooster vs Quail > Syrah under $10

From time to time I am called upon to bring a couple bottles to a social event with friends. In our circle we average about 3/4 bottle per person, down from the careless one bottle average of 2005. My unmatched enthusiasm encourages purchases of similar wines at the same price point. Let's face it... side by side tastings are the best way to really pinpoint what we like about a particular wine.

Since the wines are drank with dinner, we don't really spend a lot of time analyzing, but I do try to get a general consensus on which one was preferred. These wines most likely aren't decanted, and the order I drink them may not be ideal. Some may have been paired dreadfully or followed a whiskey or two.

My first head to head review is influenced by my recent interest in new world Syrah. I've had a couple $20 bottles that I'd drink again, but I can't afford that regularly. So I'm on the look out for a cheap Syrah in which I can rely. I want to stay away from obvious high alcohol stuff and the Aussie stuff for now. Both of the following wines are $10 or under.

Covey Run Syrah 2003
Columbia Valley, Washington State USA ($9)

I keep getting pleasant surprises from Washington wine. This Syrah was balanced and juicy. The nose didn't impress but it was overall a satisfying table wine that I can drink without frowning. The combination of a quick finish and moderate acidity makes for a good food wine. This winery is a mega producer and their $6 and $7 Merlots and Cab Suavignons are quaffable and easily found.

Hahn Estates Syrah 2003
Monterey County, California USA ($10)

Concentrated plum and toasty oak on the nose. This deep dark purple wine has lip smacking tannins and and some plum fruit. The oak steals the show as the fruit struggles to compete for tongue time. The finish is much longer than the Covey Run with a spice that ads complexity to an otherwise dull wine. It also seemed to dish up a little more heat. I remain on the look out for those "cool climate" Syrahs in California under $15.

My preference was for the Covey Run Syrah. Its juiciness and overall balance leaves nothing to regret for $9. A good friend of mine was moved by the finish of the Hahn Syrah though. She has been preferring bigger wines lately and her favorite was the the Monterey wine.

Vina Porta Pinot Noir 2005

I'm back on my Chile kick after a few short days. This time it's Pinot Noir that I'm hunting down. Seems like every time I go to the wine store, there's another Pinot selection from Chile. Most of the decent ones I've seen are from the Bio-Bio Valley which is considered one of the most southern regions in Chile. Because of it's cool climate, Pinot seems to do well along with Sauvignon Blanc.

Vina Porta was established in 1954 by the Gutierrez family who arrived from Spain and it evolved into one of the first boutique wineries in the area. After a larger company acquired the winery in 1997, the winery developed a plan to utilize the different growing regions and plant accordingly to the terroir. This includes the Aconcagua, Maipo, Rapel and Bio-Bio valleys. Among the grapes planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Carmenere, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. This bottle I drank is grown at the Negrete Estate Vineyard.

Porta Winemaker Reserve Pinot Noir 2005
Bio-Bio Valley, Chile ($13)

Bright ruby color with delicate aromas of strawberrys and roses. Light bodied and supple with soft red berry flavors. There is a pleasing tart cherry note that really rounds out the flavor. The mouth feel is very elegant for such an inexpensive wine. For some reason the shape of a diamond comes to mind when I think of the flavor of this wine. This is the first Pinot I've drink for under $20 that I want to buy again. Luckily my random around the corner liquor store has a few bottles. My grade: B+

Alsatian International Night

This past Monday was my night to cook our weekly "International Night." After numerous warnings that another Italian inspired menu wouldn't get a welcome reception, I chose an Alsatian French Country Comfort menu from Bon Appetite Magazine. In the past, my girlfriend had made croque monsieur for a French dinner and it went over well enough to start our weekly dinner tradition. The menu I chose was pretty straight forward without any crazy hard to find ingredients. As far as wine pairings are concerned, it doesn't get any easier to match these dishes, plus the folks over at Bon Appetite listed some as well.

The first course was the most challenging part of this meal. I've never made anything that resembled a muenster cheese souffle. Luckily my girlfriend is a natural in the kitchen so it worked out well in the end. The tomato and red pepper salad didn't excite me but I stuck with the recipe and pulled it off. I could have easily had another souffle serving if there was extra, which there wasn't, and I couldn't help but noticed every finished their souffle as well.

Blanck Gewurztraminer 2005
Alsace, France ($20)

I have to thank my friend that brought this bottle. He stopped by Chambers St Wines and asked for an Alsatian Gewurtztraminer and got a good one at that. This Blanck Family wine is made from "environmentally friendly" vineyards. This producer has about 90 acres in total and releases around 18,000 cases a year. This was one of the best Gewurztraminers I've had. It's not sweet although the aromas are of sweet ripe fruit. Supple texture and balanced acidity. It paired extremely well with the souffle, as from what I've read, muenster cheese and Gewurztraminer is a classic pairing.

The main course was Chicken in Riesling with prunes and cabbage with fresh herb spaetzle on the side. The chicken was extremely aromatic and fall of the bone tender. The herb spaetzle was an adventure to make without the proper equipment. Speaking of equipment, our Le Creuset Dutch oven makes a dish like this a pleasure to put together.

Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling 2005
Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York

Instead of searching out an Alsatian Riesling, I went with the Governor's Cup award winning Wiemer Riesling 2005 from the Finger Lakes. I not sure that I can find another New World Riesling this good for the price. An elegant combination of apple, pear, and lime refresh the palate and stimulates every taste bud. This dry Riesling is case-worthy, and I think it will get some people hooked on Finger Lakes wines if they haven't tried them already. The last time I was in the Finger Lakes I stopped by their winery and was impressed by everything I tasted. The staff was very serious and informative...pretty classy for it all being in a barn.

I diverted off the written menu for the dessert and went with a red wine poached pear with cream and lemon zest. It's also funny that Dr. Vino had a discussion about red wine and citrus recently. The lemon zest and Bordeaux red paired well. For it being such a simple recipe, it was pretty damn good. The reduced wine with pair essence poured over some whipped cream was a good followup to the pear with cream as well.

My first Syrah from Chile

Chile. Chile. Chile. I find myself thinking that every time I enter a wine store. Do I splurge on a $20 Chilean bottle or just get three bottles of a $6 Carmenere or Cab Sauvignon? Well now that I'm on a Syrah kick, that question becomes an easy one.

My interest In Vina Montes wines began when my friend pointed out a Wall Street Journal review of bargain Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Their Montes Reserve Cabernet won best of tasting at only $9 a bottle. I've since tried their limited series Cabernet and Carmenere blend. For only $13 it is a huge wine. The fruit of the Cab and the smoky and herbaceous Carmenere balances well with its toasty finish.

Montes Alpha Syrah 2003
Colchagua Valley, Chile ($20)

The Alpha Series is a mid level range wines which include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Syrah. The Syrah grapes are grown at the Apalta Vineyard, in the Colchagua Valley, an area of steep hillsides in the higher elevations. The wine is aged in French Oak for one year and about 7000 cases imported into the USA. I picked this one up for $20 but I'm sure it can be found for as little as $16 online.

Ruby red color with concentrated aromas of black cherries and tobacco. Earth and floral aromas as well. Big and soft on the palate with some spice, some vanilla, as well as bitter chocalate. The finish is excellent in its length but the fruit fades a bit to fast. The 10% Cabernet Sauvignon gives this some power but it remains generous and elegant in the end. It's not as masculine as the Columbia Winery Syrah I tried recently, but just as delicious and more exotic. My grade: A-

Wines of Chile Awards

The results are in for the 4th annual Wines of Chile Awards a WinesofChile.org. If you are like me than you love a good bottle under ten bucks and you are willing to spend irrational amounts of time searching through the Chilean wines at your local wine shop. The most exciting catagories for myself these days are the award winning Syrahs and Carmeneres. Here is an interesting site about Carmenere in Chile. Oh that reminds me that I just picked up a 2005 vintage of my favorite $6 table wine, the Vina Calina Carmenere Reserve. I should be dropping $20 on a Syrah soon...perhaps the Montes Alpha 2003, Porta Winemaker's Reserva 2005, or the Casa Lapostolle Las Kuras 2004. Stay tuned...

WBW #29 Biodynamic Wines

I'm not a regular participant in the now infamous WBW (wine blogging wednesday). My tendency to procrastinate in combination with my impulsive wine consumption makes it hard to plan and execute such a time coordinated review. I find myself reading the other WBW blogs though and thinking that there's always next month. This month's topic, Biodynamic wines, hosted by The Fork and Bottle, is an interesting one because it seems that it's definitely a buzz word in the industry these days. One can walk into most wine boutiques here in NYC and find an ever expanding selection of organic, sustainable, or biodynamic farmed wines. I'm all for it unless it doubles the cost of a bottle.

This week I got lucky. Yesterday I was reading the master list of certified biodynamic producers and found one that I was already planning on mentioning this week. I did not even know it was a biodynamic wine. Once again I must give a hat tip to Jay over at the Wine Chicks for the recommendation. I was going to give you some background on the winery and winemaker but it's easier just to point you to Vinography's recent article on one of Nigl's Rieslings.

Nigl Gruner Veltliner Kremser Freiheit 2005
Kremstal, Austria ($15)

Pale straw color. Faint aromas of citrus and green vegetables. The palate is fairly neutral with that textbook minerality of a gruner veltliner. The flavor isn't too citrus based as it lacks the acidity I would expect from a dry white wine. Apricots and peaches come to mind but in a diluted fashion that takes a back seat to the stoniness. The finish is pleasant and extremely food friendly. It is the "cleanest" wine I've ever tasted. I can only assume that the practice of biodynamic or organic farming only contributed to the fresh and natural flavors here. For around $15, this is a total bargain. My grade: A-

So far my experience with environmentally friendly wines has been positive. I wrote about an organic Cab Franc from Loire last year that was like no other I've had. The sustainable Shinn Estates on Long Island has become one of my favorite wineries to visit when I'm out east. My trip to the only certified organic winery in Ontario, Frogpond Farm Winery, was an epiphany in which I realized how well a small 10 acre farm could produce wine up in the Niagara area. I'm pretty much sold on the sustainable farming theory and someday I hope I can be a part of the movement.