Thursday, June 25th, 2009

A great day of interesting wines

Corte Gardini, Bardolino, Italy, 2006
Sesti, Monteleccio, Montalcino, Italy, 2007
Sesti, Rosso di Montalcino, Italy, 2007
Guido Porro, Barolo, Italy, 2004
Cantine Valpane, Barbera, 2006
Cantine Valpane, Valpane, 2001*
Domaine Fontsainte, Corbieres, France, 2006
Domaine Gallety, Cotes du Vivarais, France, 2006

Casa Mendes Vinho Verde, Portugal, 2008 (Smoking deal!)
Kopke, Vinho Branco, Douro, Portugal, 2008
Quinta das Maias, Malvasia Fina/Encruzado/Verdelho/Cercial, Portugal, 2005
Quinta das Roques, Encruzado Reserva, Portugal, 2007
Quinta do Correio Tinto, 2006
Maias Tinto, 2007
Quinta dos Roques Tinto, 2006
Kopke Fine Ruby Port
Kopke Vintage Port, 2007

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Great Wines and Horrible Wines

-Quinta das Maias, Malvasia-Fina, Dao, Portugal, 2006
-Marchesi Alfieri, Sansoero, Grignolino, Piedmonte, 2006
-Montelvini, Rosso Piceno, Marche, 2005
-Montelvini, S. Osvaldo, Refosco, Lison-Pramaggiore, 2006
-Quinta das Roques, Vinho Tinto, Dao, Portugal, 2005
-Quinta das Roques, Vinho Tinto Reserva, Dao, Portugal, 2000
-Marchesi Alfieri, Barbera d'Asti, La Tota, 2005
-Marchesi Alfieri, San Germano, Pinot Noir, Monferato, 2005

-Stuart Cellars, Chardonnay, Temecula, 2006 (oaked, herbaceous aromas)
-Acorn, Alegria Rosato, Russian River Valley, 2007
-Stuart Cellars, Cabernet Franc, Temecula, 2005 (overripe, candied, lacked structure, crap)
-Stuart Cellars, Long Ranch Vineyard, 2005 (okay, but far over-priced at $49, serious crap)
-Stuart Cellars, Tatria, Temecula, 2005 (better, but still had no depth. A very simple wine.)
-Stuart Cellars, Petite Sirah, Temecula, 2005 (the best of the line-up. Textural and rich with clean acidity. A very good wine.)
-JR, Merlot, Cork Tree Vineyard, Napa, 2005 (good)
-JR, Zinfandel, Georges Vineyard, 2004 (mediocre)
-JR, Zinfandel, Big Dave's Vineyard, 2004 (mediocre)
-JR, Zinfandel, Boscetti Vineyard, 2005 (mediocre)

-Aquinas, Chardonnay, Napa, 2006 (heavily oaked, rich, but still had fruit)
-Mia's Playground, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, 2006 (leaner, fresher, but still not enjoyable)
-Aquinas, Pinot Noir, Napa, 2006 (lame)
-Aquinas, Merlot, Napa, 2006 (can't even remember what this tasted like)
-Aquinas, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2006 (mushroomy, oaked, no soul)

I'm sad that I had to taste the Aquinas wines. While not as bad as the Stuart Cellars Temecula wines, they offered less character and were the prime example of innocuous, nameless, souless wines that fit a very broad market. A sad expression and a sad tasting.

-Scherrer, Rose, Sonoma, 2007
-Homefire Cellars, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, 2006 (excellent)

-Waters, Interlude, Walla Walla, 2005 (very good, perfectly ripe, balanced, nice length)
-Culler, Syrah, Napa, 2005 (excellent. Bacon-fatty aroma and beautiful opulence)
-O'Reilly's, Pinot Noir, Oregon, 2007 (really bright red fruit, plenty of acid, mid-palate spicyness, and sailing length. A stellar value!)