Just The Wine

Italian Producer Josko Gravner

2009-11-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

Reading Passion on the Vine by Sergio Esposito. He was just described an interesting winemaker in Fruili, Josko Gravner. Was first known for his innovative use of modern technology, then he went very old school, using old Roman methods. Would like to try one of his wines now after reading!

2004 Trentadue Petite Sirah

2008-07-20T05:09:00.000-07:00

Pleasant enough drinking wine with lush fruit, but rather unremarkable for the price point ($20). Guess one shouldn't expect too much with grapes generic grapes sourced from Lake and Mendocino Counties. I'd chosen this to go with the earthiness of the morels in the pasta primavera I was making but it didn't really have the depth I was looking for.

2006 Conquista Malbec

2008-06-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

From Argentina's Mendoza region...good structure, moderate tannins. Paired well with our burgers!

2007 Marques de Caceres White Rioja

2008-05-25T04:27:00.001-07:00

Crisp, clean taste with a hint of lemon. A nice match for seafood such as the scallops I made with arugala cream sauce. A good buy!

Price: $10
Grape: Viura
Region: Rioja, Spain
Food: Seafood, such as scallops
QPR: Very good

2007 Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec

2008-05-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

Deep purple color. Dusky blackberry taste. Pretty nice match for our ribeye, with Mexican spices.

Price: $15
QPR: Good
Food: Grilled steak
Region: Mendoza, Argentina

2006 Coli Chianti

2008-05-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

Blackberry and leather taste, with some tartness and medium tannins. Decent with a tomato-based Italian meal such as the chicken cacciatore I made. Will be interesting to compate to a chianti classico. $9.

2006 Cantina Terre Del Barolo Barbera D'Alba

2008-05-04T17:47:00.000-07:00

Licorice bouquet and taste of of cherry. The acidity was striking at first but softend after breathing. This acidity made it work as a pair for the pork ragu with its tomato based sauce, definitely more of a food wine than something to sip by itself.

2006 Strozzi Chianti

2008-03-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Chianti is the natural choice for spaghetti, with enough acidity to match the tomatoes. I had a good bargain recommended to me at the wine shop, the 2006 Strozzi Chianti ($10). Seeing it was young, I let it breathe for a solid hour, after which it showed soft, lush plummy fruit and just a bit of leathiness to give it some backbone. If you find this one in the store, pick up a few bottles for simply pasta or pizza meals!

Price: $10
QPR: Excellent
Food: pasta, pizza
Region: Chianti

Beaux Freres

2008-03-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

Just finished reading this month's Food & Wine article on Oregeon pinot noirs, and the Beaux Freres sounds like one I'd like to try!

2006 McManis Petite Sirah

2008-03-09T04:15:00.000-07:00

I'll break my silence of a few weeks here with the suggestion that you pick up a bottle of the 2006 McManis Petite Sirah ($13) if you come across it. I was busy finishing dinner prep when I was first tasting it, so I didn't take notes. But the big fruit forwardness of the wine with good structure stand out the next morning here. Definitely a good find at this price.

This wine hails from a newly named California wine region, the River Junction appellation. It's south of Lodi in the San Joaquin Valley. I've also previously enjoyed one of their cabs, also at a good price.The petite sirah was a great match for the roasted porterhouse steak, served with creamed spinach and a baked potato. I'd say this would also be a great wine to keep in mind for grilling season. I can't claim credit for the simple but tasty recipe; it comes from my Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Roasting which is a great go-to resource in the cold weather.

Price: $13
QPR: Excellent
Region: River Junction, California
Food: beef, grilling

2003 Meeker Zinfandel

2008-02-03T04:59:00.000-08:00

Strawberry bouquet, taste of cherry, still fairly tannic. Not quite as good as some others I've had from Meeker. Was a pretty good match with the chili.

Price: $15
QPR: good
Pair with: spicy meat dishes, such as my chili
Region: Mendocino, California

2006 Terre di Ricaldone-Piemonte Cortese

2007-12-26T15:15:00.000-08:00

A good reminder there's a lot more to Italian whites than pinot grigio! This is an interesting, food friendly wine from the Piemonte region. Light hibiscus nose, taste of lemon and a bit of grassiness. Fresh tasting.

Price: $12
QPR: very good
Region: Piemonte, Italy
Food: getting ready to serve it with pesto lasagne!

2001 Boisrenard Chateauneuf du Pape

2007-12-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

A friend brought this bottle over and it was a special treat! It's been a few days since tasting, but I recall violet bouquet with a lot of complexity on the first taste. Smoothed out after a bit of breathing, excellent wine.

2006 Vigna La Morara Bardolino

2007-12-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

Violet plummy bouquet. First taste raw and powerful. Tastes of cherry and leather. Smoothed out after some breathing, more velvety. Imagine this would improve with some aging.

Price: $15 (appx.)
QPR: good
Region: Italy
Pair with: Had with penne & pork ragu, would go with other rich meat or pasta dishes

Merry Edwards Olivet Lange Pinot Noir 2005

2007-11-25T13:35:00.000-08:00

I've heard Merry Edwards referenced twice recently as being one of the best California pinots, so I thought I'd add this one to my wish list. Goes for around $60/bottle.

2005 Number One Berberana Tempranillo

2007-11-22T10:23:00.000-08:00

Deep berry flavor with hints of chocolate. First tasted this during our Spanish wine & tapas party earlier this fall, it got a bit lost in the shuffle. But when I realize this was only $8, I realized what a great find this is!

Price: $8
QPR: Excellent
Region: Spain
Pair with: Went nicely with the chicken & cheese quesidillas we had last night.

Wish List

2007-11-21T03:39:00.000-08:00

I make notes of wine I'd like to try. I'm thinking I'll start migrating my "wish list" to this blog. I've set the site up as a way to organize my wine info, and who knows, some benevolent genie might come along and grant a wish.

I'll start the wish list with the 2003 Clos Saint Jean Deues Ex Machina, which Lettie Teague mentions in her latest wine matters article as "Robert Parker's new deathbed wine". This Chateaneuf-du-Pape sounds like one to try.

2004 Four Vines Biker Zinfandel

2007-10-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

The winemaker notes that the name suggests that it is big, bold and outrageous. OK, I'd give it big and bold at least--enough to stand up to the spicy pork dish. Ripe berry bouquet, velvety texture with a well-balanced cherry taste and clean finish. A very good wine for $20.

Price: $20
QPR: very good
Region: Paso Robles, California
Pair with: I paired with pork chops with a spicy sauce, a good match.

2006 Poppy Pinot Noir

2007-10-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Tried this as part of my sampling for Thanksgiving recommendations--don't think this will make my short list, largely because I think this could use more aging. It starts a bit rough around the edges, but does start opening up with some nice silky fruit taste after breathing for awhile (about 30 minutes). Thanksgiving 2008 perhaps?

Price: $15
QPR: good
Pair with: roast chicken, other poultry
Region: Monterey County, California

2005 Samantha Starr Pinot Noir

2007-10-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

This medium bodied pinot from Monterey County is a nice solid wine. Earthy bouquet, cherries and light spice taste, with a clean finish.

Price: $20
QPR: good
Region: Monterey County, California
Pair with: I had it with beef roasted with vegetables and used a bit of the wine in the cooking liquid, the pairing worked well--earthiness of the wine matched the root vegetables. Would also work with poultry.

2004 Renwood Zinfandel

2007-09-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

Nice blackberry taste with smooth finish, a good find!

Price: $11
QPR: excellent
Pair with: beef, pizza, grilled food
Region: Sierra Foothills, California

2005 Samantha Starr Chardonnay

2007-09-15T03:59:00.000-07:00

California chard style with some restraint. Gentle butter and vanilla taste with a hint of lemon. Clean finish. Pleasant drinking wine.

Price: $14
QPR: very good
Pair with: I paired with leftover chicken with a bit of pesto and an orzo salad (recipe to be posted soon on Gather)
Region: Monterey County, California

2004 Simonnet-Febvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons

2007-09-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Picked this up at a tasting last weekend, figured $20 (before discount!) for a premiere cru Chablis was not to be passed up! Definitely a great value. Floral bouquet with hints of lemon. Dry with just a hint of grapefruit. Nice full bodied finsih. A bit of mineral undertones detected sipping it a bit more.

Price: $20
QPR: very good
Region: Burgundy
Pair with: I paired with linguine with pesto & roasted potatoes and a bit of grilled salmon with, yes, more pesto. A nice match!

2005 Pierre Sparr Alsace Gewurztraminer

2007-09-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

Bouquet of honeysuckle and taste of lemon and honey. This is a bit sweet for me, could almost be a dessert wine. But a little glass was refreshing on a warm day. Would also work with spicy food. This winery has been is business since 1680.

Price: $15
QPR: good
Region: Alsace
Pair with: spicy food, possibly dessert or as an aperetif

2002 Oberon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2007-09-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

A blend of cab grapes from throughout Napa Valley. A pleasant enough drinking wine with a big fruit taste, but for a cab at this price I'd like a bit more structure and complexity. Perhaps it's passed it's prime?

Price: $20
QPR: fair
Region: Napa
Pairing: beef, especially with a mushroom sauce. Had it with grilled ribeye with mixed mushroom sauce.

2005 Saint-Esprit Delas Cotes Du Rhone

2007-09-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

Violet on the bouquet. Lively jammy fruit, with some good structure for a wine in this price range.

Price: $11
QPR: excellent
Region: Cote du Rhone
Food: Grilled chicken, lamb

2004 I'M Sonoma County Chardonnay

2007-09-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

Restrained bouquet, taste of lemon and pear. Crisp, clean taste. Naked chard style makes it pair well with food.

I came across the previous year of this chard by Isabel Mondavi last year, and really enjoyed it, especially for the price (think it was about $13). This is still a good wine, but don't know if it's $5/bottle better...

Price: $18
QPR: Good
Region: Sonoma County
Pair with: pasta with creamy sauce

2005 Winner's Tank Shiraz Langhorne Creek

2007-08-29T03:09:00.000-07:00

I tasted this one a few times. Enjoyed it quite a bit when I first had it this winter (2007) so bought a couple more bottles. So last night had a bottle that had been in our cellar for 6 monts or so.

Original notes
This shiraz had a deep purple hue, giving the look of a dense wine. I got a heady bouquet of violets; a whiff of spring despite being the heart of winter. My first taste I picked up tones of vanilla, and noted the smooth, velvety finish. Sipping a bit more, I was struck by the BIG FRUIT taste of this wine. The fruit taste was so powerful it was a bit hard to place what fruit I was tasting, berry I suppose. Served with beef brisket.

Recent tasting
Still had a bouquet of violets but more subtle. Interestingly, the initial taste was rough around the edges, like a wine that needs to age more. It did open up after breathing bi, and the berry fruit flavor came through. But it was definitely smoother the first time. Not sure if this wine was just meant to be drunk young or if the storage conditions in my basement aren't good; going to need to check on that.

Price: $18
QPR: good
Pair with: beef or grilled chicken
Region: Austrailia

2005 Sebastiani Chardonnay

2007-08-18T05:16:00.000-07:00

Definitely a chard in the California style. Toasted butter and a bit of oak, smooth finish. If you like this style, which I do from time to time, it's good; but not the thing if you're looking for more of a "naked" fruit forward style.

Price: $12
QPR: very good
Food: pasta with creamy sauce
Region: sonoma

2005 Heritage du Chateau Sauvignon Blanc

2007-08-18T05:05:00.000-07:00

A bit of tart grapefruit taste, softened after breathing. Drinkable wine, OK for the price, but wouldn't buy again.

Price: $12
QPR: fair
Food: pesto
Region: Touraine, Loire Valley

2006 Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc

2007-08-18T04:58:00.000-07:00

Lemony bouquet. Taste has strong floral elements--notes of hibiscus--along with melon. Smooth, pleasant drinking wine. From the first Napa Valley winery established in 1861.

Price: $21
QPR: very good
Food: pesto, appetizers
Region: Napa Valley

2004 Inspiration Vineyards Zinfandel

2007-08-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

More subtle and light than many zins. Taste of leather and raspberries, with notes of chocolate after it had breathed a bit. In a blind test I might have guessed it was a pinot with depth.

Price: $20
QPR: good
Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
Pair with: beef, grilled or roasted chicken

2005 Henri Bourgeios Sancerre

2007-08-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

This sauvignon blanc from Chavignol has a medium straw color in the glass. The steely bouquet is very restrained. Tastes grassy, with light hints of lemon and a subtle mineral undertone. I expected a drier, more mineral based taste than the grassiness, based on my general experience and expectation of sauvignon from the Loire Valley area. In fact, I was surprised to note that a sauvignon from New Zealand I had tasted recently was more subtle than this bottle. I did then read in The Wine Access Buyer's guide that wines from Chavignol tend to be more bold than others in Sancerre, which might explain what I noted a bit.

Price: $21
QPR: good
Region: Chavignol, a Sancerre in the Loire Valley
Pair with: pesto, such as Caprese Salad with Pesto (recipe coming soon!)

2006 Dutton Estate Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc

2007-08-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

The wine has a clean taste, with a hint of citrus. It has just a bit of tartness on the aftertaste, which helps it combine well with gruyere cheese.

Price: $20
QPR: good
Region: Russian River, Sonoma, California
Pair with: gruyere cheese; salmon, such as this Grilled Salmon with Sesame Soy Sauce

2005 Baletto Vineyards Sonoma Coast Estate Pinot Gris

2007-08-11T11:46:00.001-07:00

This white has light herbal tones and is fairly dry.

Price: $14
QPR: good
Pair with: Pesto, such as this Orzo Salad with Pesto. Probably would work with light seafood.
Region: Sonoma Coast, California

2006 Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

2007-08-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Crisp taste with just enough citrus taste to make it refreshing. Clean finish. A very good example of the NZ version of the varietal, without overdoing the citrus.

Price: $13
QPR: very good
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Pair with: pesto, such as this orzo salad with pesto; or salmon, such as this Grilled Salmon with Sesame Soy Sauce

2006 Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

2007-08-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Citrus bouquet. Effervescence on the tongue. Taste of grapefruit causes a slight pucker…but this has a refreshing quality. I prefer sauv blancs a bit more restrained on the citrus, but still a good wine.

Price: $15
QPR: Good
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Pair with: rich creamy cheese, spicy food

Jim Jim Shiraz

2007-08-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

Oops, no year here as the bottle has been recycled before typing in these notes! I think it was 2004 or 2005. This one has some pluck, deep cherry flavors with a bit of spice. Peppery on the finish.

Price: $12
QPR: very good
Pair with: beef, especially grilled beef with a spicy barbecue sauce

2003 Chateau La Nerthe

2007-08-11T05:55:00.000-07:00

Uses all 13 allowable varietals, and it showed in the complex flavors of the wine. With its heady bouquet of fresh violets, I could have just sniffed this wine all night (OK, not true, it needed to be drunk too). I generally use some type of fruit to describe a wine from California; a Rhone red like this requires a broader vocabulary. I tasted a bit of leather and bark, along with a dark blackberry flavor. This wine got better as it breathed, opening up with more fruitiness.

QPR: very good
Price: $40
Pair with: grilled beef, root vegetables
More info: Tasted at an Aujourd'hui Epicurean Evening. Read more about it.

2004 Andezon Cotes du Rhone

2007-08-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

Features a big bouquet evoking summer roses. Black cherry on the taste, with a bit of woodiness and hints of violet. The spicy sweet finish made it seem a bit like zin. A very complex and good quality wine for the price.

QPR: Very good.
Price: $12
Pair with: lamb, such Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto

2004 Perolla Maremma Toscana

2007-08-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

Smooth, cherry fruit taste. Blend of sangiovese, merlot, syrah. This blend softer than a chianti or other versions of sangiovese.

QPR: Good
Price: $9
Pair with: Pizza, roast chicken