Hi folks, here's the June update of Rogue Valley golfer.  On the golf front both Eagle Point and Centennial are in excellent shape.  I haven't had time to play RVCC yet but I hear it also is in fine shape.  No news on Stoneridge, news from the coast says the new old MacDonald course is great at the Bandon Dunes gold resort.  I'm going to get over to Bend a drop in on the Tetherow  course soon.

 

This update I'm going to tout the wines of a local vineyard/winery called Cowhorn.  They produce Rhone style wines from their Biodynamic vineyard and winery in the Applegate Valley.  If you get a chance to try their wines dive in.  Some of the best Syrah and Grenache in not only Oregon but the west coast.  Check out their website, they make small quantities but represent some of the best of Southern Oregon.  Below are reviews of the Reds I've had, I've also had their Grenache Rose and will try their whites when released this month. They have a lovely vinyard and winery on the right bank of the Applegate river gorge.  My visit there they were in the midst of planting more vines.  The location and site is lovely and they take their organic status very seriously. 

 

Cheers

 

Ted

 

2007 Cowhorn Vineyard and Garden Syrah
USA > Oregon > Southern Oregon > Applegate Valley

 

Saturday, June 26, 2010 - One of the best Syrahs I've had this year. Cowhorn is a biodynamic certified organic winery on the applegate river in Southern Oregon. A inky red with subtle nose of black cherry, barnyard, herbs and earth. The taste wows you a big sweet fruit, strawberry, citrus, a tart bold tannin. 94 best of the 2007 syrahs.

 

2008 Cowhorn Grenache 74
USA > Oregon > Southern Oregon > Applegate Valley 

 

Saturday, June 19, 2010 - This my favorite Grenache ever since I had it at 38 Central here in Medford. It is and unfiltered, unfined grenache from a organic bio-dynamic winery in the Applegate area of the Rogue Valley. Cowhorn is a must visit if you come to southern oregon. The wine is full bodied, inky purple. The nose, strawberry, raspberry, pepper, and vanilla. The taste is powerful full fruit with an acidic and chewy finish. 94 my favorite Grenache.
 
2007 Cowhorn Grenache
USA > Oregon > Southern Oregon > Applegate Valley

 

Friday, May 21, 2010 - A wonderful grenache, gets better everytime I taste it. The nose is a raspberry, cherry and citrus. The taste is a sweet fruit with acidic structured middle. The finish is a light tannic one but long lasting and memorable. 92 one of the best of southern Oregon.

 

  

New syrah tastings this week with the winners being a Oregon Syrah from Sarah Powell and the 2005 Trenton estate from Joseph Swan, and a wonderful Rhone Gigaondas.  We've also tried a few others that had previous tastings also below.

 

Cheers

 

2005 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas
Red Rhone Blend France > Rhône > Southern Rhône > Gigondas 

 

Tuesday, May 04, 2010 - Dark and Inky with good legs and a denotation of full body. The nose is fragrant, expressive of cherry, tar, earth, cedar, graphite. A nice blackberry on the tongue, acidic with a still very chewy tannin. Its fresh, well made and very tasty. 92 a big Rhone red.
 

 

2004 Tamarack Cellars Syrah
USA > Washington > Columbia Valley 

 

Sunday, May 02, 2010 - This is a very dark, full bodied syrah. The nose is herbal,tight with a a hint of berry. The taste is blackberry cherry with an acidic tannin filled finish. You could hope for more complexity, but a fine drink 88, a Washington Syrah

 
2004 Sarah Powell Syrah
USA > Oregon > Southern Oregon > Rogue Valley 

 

Saturday, May 01, 2010 - This syrah appears lighter than it is, inky medium body good legs. A nose is floral, berry, alcohol. A taste of cherry, berry, lasting finish. 89 delightful syrah

 
2005 Joseph Swan Vineyards Syrah Trenton Estate
USA > California > Sonoma County > Russian River Valley 

 

Monday, April 26, 2010 - I've been waiting for this one to be in the bottle. I loved the 2004 it was one of my favorite syrahs last year. The nose is fragrant, floral, olives, blackberry and a hint of citrus. The taste is sweet cherry to a acidic structure and numbing tannin. The finish is very log and dry. This is a very complex red wine with a lot going on, full bodied with long legs. 91, will get better and better.

 

2005 Bergevin Lane "Oui Deux"
USA > Washington > Columbia Valley > Wahluke Slope

 

Monday, April 05, 2010 - A Inky full bodied Syrah from Washington State, with a loam and Menthol nose with good solid fruit, nice structure and complex tannin layers. This needs another year or two to really balance out and be excellent. 90, hold for another year or two.
  
2007 Jim Barry Shiraz The Lodge Hill
Australia > South Australia > Mount Lofty Ranges > Clare Valley

 

Saturday, April 03, 2010 - A perfume nose of a shiraz with great legs, perfume of berry, tight, dense body. Full body with a fruit forward taste, long acidic finish 91, dink it where you find it.

 

2007 Domaine de Verquiere Vacqueyras
France > Rhône > Southern Rhône > VacqueyrasSaturday,

 

March 06, 2010 - This a Rhone blend of Grenache and Syrah with wonderful legs and a purple dense wine. The nose suppressed with slight berry, menthol and loam. The flavor is where the impact of this wine is, sweet fruit, chewy , berry fruit, a structured mid section that fades into a acidic and tannic finish which is long lasting and tongue numbing. 93, really nice Rhone
 

 
 

This variatal is rare by itself and mostly used for blending, below is what Wikipedia has to say: 

 

"Mourvèdre, Mataró, or Monastrell is variety of wine grape used to make both strong, dark red wines and rosés. It is an international variety grown in many regions around the world.

 

Mourvèdre produces tannic wines that can be high in alcohol, and is most successful in Rhone-style blends. It has a particular affinity for Grenache, softening it and giving it structure. Its taste varies greatly according to area, but often has a wild, gamey or earthy flavour, with soft red fruit flavours.

 

Here's the review of my one bottle of Mourvedre

 

2006 Joseph Swan Vineyards Mourvedre
Mourvedre USA > California > Sonoma County > Russian River Valley  

 

Monday, May 03, 2010 - I've been waiting to drink this Mourvedre, I got this from the last case at the winery. Usually used for blending in Syrah, Grenache or Cabernet this is a real treat. It's a lighter bodied red with a purple tinge to the edges. The nose is floral, prune, raspberry and pie cherry tart. The taste is a very smooth, mineral, cherry and raspberry fruit, acidic middle with a smooth tannin. I love this varietal 93, wish I had more.
 

Here's what we've tasted so far:

 

2008 Brick House Pinot Noir Select
Pinot Noir  USA > Oregon > Willamette Valley 

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - This is the regular pinot from Brick House, the cuvee is not out yet but based on this wine it should be a blockbuster. The color is garnet with a nose of strawberry, cherry, rich earth maybe a hint of oak. The flavor is a sweet berry mixed fruit, nice acidic undertone with a nice finish if you hold it. 90, Willamette Pinot Rules.

 

2008 Bergström Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir USA > Oregon > Willamette Valley 

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - A rather dark ruby pinot, with a fuller body than usual. The nose is slightly closed, herbal, barnyard, and mint. The tasting shows a acidic fruit, and long tannic finish. not a complex wine but well made. 85 waiting for the vineyard wines.

 

Also had this little gem from Sonoma:

 

2004 Suncé Nebbiolo St. Olof Vineyards
Nebbiolo USA > California > North Coast > Clear Lake 

 

Thursday, April 22, 2010 - I liked this Californian Nobbiolo when we tasted at the winery this January and bought a couple of bottles only because they wouldn't sell me a case. A well aged wine which is capable of more aging, The nose is floral, raspberry, and cherry. The taste is fresh fruit with acid and long numbing tannin. 91, really nice
 
 

The weather has finally turned to spring.  Golf is in the air so I'm very committed to sharpening my game up for the next few weeks.  Even though I play golf all winter Spring and summer golf needs are a little different.  I need to take a better divot now that the ground is not soggy, work on my sand game from dry sand, more work on lower trajectory to get runners, higher trajectory to stop the ball more.  But on to wine,

 

My wife and I tried a few new things last week, here they are. 

 

Monday, April 19, 2010 - A dark ruby with fine legs and a nose of Blackberry, alcohol, a herbal note on the end. The taste is a full body fruit, acidity is mild, and the tannin smooth andlasting. 88, nice napa cab.
 

 

Saturday, April 17, 2010 - A lovely color of garnet slightly orange tinged. The nose is strawberry, leather, coffee, smoked meat. The taste is a reserved fruit with complex tastes both citric, berry and vanilla, solid long finish. 92, good cote du rhone
 

 

Syrah Blend, Syrah
France > Languedoc Roussillon > Roussillon > Côtes du Roussillon Villages

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - This wine is best decanted or allowed to breath for up to 4 housrs before drinking for it shows any nose. The wine is a inky dark purple with good legs. The nose reveals Blackberry, a slight barnyard odor, Black Pepper and loam. The taste is a reserved fruit, high acidity and big tannin running out well over a minute.
85, Interesting, need time.

 
2008 Jean-Charles Pivot Pouilly-Fuissé
Chardonnay
France > Burgundy > Mâconnais > Pouilly-Fuissé

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - A light golden straw colored white wine with a crisp nose of citrus, peach that is slightly herbal. A complex taste with a nice fruit, acidic layers with a tannin and long finish.

92. great example of a fine White Burgundy. 
 
2007 Rutherford Ranch Merlot
Merlot
USA > California > Napa Valley 

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - Good Body and legs with a dark ruby color and good legs. The nose is Black fruit, glycerin, and loam. The taste is a full bodied fruit forward merlot with nice tannic finish. 88, Great Value.

2005 Campo di Sasso Insoglio del Cinghiale Toscana IGT
Red Blend
Italy > Tuscany > Toscana IGT 

Monday, April 12, 2010 - A dark inky red blend, with nice legs. The nose is cherry and blackberry, and vanilla. The taste on the pallete is fully extracted fruit, acid and tannin filled finish that releases well with very small amounts of fat.

92 very tasty.

 
2001 Calbello (Costanti) Brunello di Montalcino
Sangiovese
Italy > Tuscany > Montalcino > Brunello di Montalcino 

Monday, April 12, 2010 - This is a well aged Brunello, translucent with a orange tint to the edge, with good legs. The nose is of dried flowers, pecans, almonds, and smoke. Tasting shows a still fresh prune fruit, a solid acidic structure, and still a quite frim tannin.

90, had to wait for it

 
2006 Spangler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon
USA > Oregon > Southern Oregon > Umpqua Valley 

Friday, April 09, 2010 - Inky almost purple color, with a berry, alcohol , loam nose. The taste is an acidic sweet berry with Tannin filed finish. A good Cabernet for Southern Oregon, well crafted and tasty. I don't believe much more age will improve it, but very noce right now.
85, a little pricey but a good drink.

 
2007 Dry Creek Vineyard Zinfandel Heritage
Zinfandel
USA > California > Sonoma County

Thursday, April 08, 2010 - The wine looks Crimson colored.
The legs are Medium.
It smells like Strawberry, Raspberry, Black Pepper, and Alcohol/Hot.
It tastes like Red Currant, Mineral, and Black Pepper.

The body is Medium.
The wine is textured Silky.
The wine finishes Long.
 

Tasting Notes from these last few days:

 

A Inky full bodied Syrah from Washington State, with a loam and Menthol nose with good solid fruit, nice structure and complex tannin layers. This needs another year or two to really balance out and be excellent. 90, hold for another year or two.
 

Thursday, April 01, 2010 - This is a wine from just over the border from Oregon in Siskyou county. The most northern vineyard on California. The bottle is corked and sealed with wax. Color is a light ornage cast garnet, the nose is expressive, acidic berry, graphite, menthol, and cedar. It has good legs. The taste fruit upfront , acidic and tannin finish very nice. 90, this is a sleeper.

 

The nose is Blackberry, Vanilla, and chocolate. This is a Blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot. It has nice dense fruit fronend, a acidic structure throughour with a very soft Tannin. 91, very tasty, Finally my long wait for a really good Southern orgeon wine has been answered.
 
2006 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Signature Reserve

This is great bottle of Cabernet, a nose of Licorice, Menthol, berry, coffee. The taste is a fruit forward sparkle in your mouth, A acidic base with a tannin finish. It will get better and better with time. 94 Drink me.

 

A perfume nose of a shiraz with great legs, perfume of berry, tight, dense body. Full body with a fruit forward taste, long acidic finish 91, dink it where you find it.
 
2004 Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker's Reserve

See first note on this wine. Its a bit more tasty now, developing nicely and is around 90 the tannin very soft now and supportive of the structure of the wine

 

2008 Argyle Pinot Noir
This years Pinot from Argyle is quite light bodied, translucent light ruby colored. The nose is berry and loam, the taste fruit, very little acid or tannin. Not a very complex Pinot, drinkable but not memorable. I'm looking forward to the reserve and Nuthouse.
85, on the light side.
 
   

Out to Jacksonville Inn Wine shop today buying grenache and syrah .

What I bought Today:

2005 Bergevin Lane "Oui Deux" (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope)
 
2007 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley)
 
2007 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour)
 
2008 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Vignes de Bila-Haut (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages)
 
2007 Dry Creek Vineyard Zinfandel Heritage (USA, California, Sonoma County)
 
2006 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône)
 
2007 Jim Barry Shiraz The Lodge Hill (Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley)
 
2007 Rutherford Ranch Merlot (USA, California, Napa Valley)
 

2006 Spangler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Umpqua Valley) 

 

What I'm Drinking tonight:

This is a wine from just over the border from Oregon in Siskyou county. The most northern vineyard on California. The bottle is corked and sealed with wax. Color is a light ornage cast garnet, the nose is expressive, acidic berry, graphite, menthol, and cedar. It has good legs. The taste fruit upfront , acidic and tannin finish very nice. 90, this is a sleeper

Juat back from florida, drank a lot of different wines there, so quickly here are the reviews as well as one for Chateau Montelena Zinfandel from tonight:

 

2007 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel Estate

Sunday, March 28, 2010 - We just got this in two weeks ago and have let it rest a week. The color is a light garnet with fine legs and a light look. The nose is medicinal with loam, berry and pepper. The taste is fruit forward and acidic with a lighter style than some other Zins with a tannic lengthy finish. I think a year in the bottle will firm it up and release more of the nose. 90, buy but hold for 2011-2014

 

 

Thursday, March 25, 2010 - I like this Napa Valley Zinfandel from Frank Family very much, I've drank many of their cabernets over time and they have a very earthy quality. The Zinfandel has a loamy blackberry and herbal nose. On the pallette this wine has very expressive fruit without being flabby or too jammy. There is a tang of acidity from the beginning, with marked middle fruit highlights to a tannin finish that lasts and lasts. It has great legs and deep ruby color. 92, find it buy a case and drink it now.

 

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - A very good year for Napa, this one is good but not a real performer for such a good year. The nose loamy, raspberry, oak, coffee. The taste is fruit forward with an acidic transistion to a still very tannic finish. Will this wine improve for the next few year? 87, I wouldn't bet on it, have with hearty red suaces and red meat to soften the tannin and release it.

 

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - A young Zinfandel with a fairly closed nose, tart tangy yet sweet fruit flavor with good legs and very long tannin finish. 85, good in a pinch but you can do better.

 

 

Saturday, March 20, 2010 - The wine looks Ruby colored.
It smells like Red Currant, and Mineral.
It tastes like Red Currant, and Burnt.
The body is Medium.
The wine is textured Smooth.
The wine finishes Medium.
Above are the general thoughts on the Tillerman, I had this wine at the winery tasting room in January and again today in Orlando while on vacation. Its a very nice Cabernet that could use a little more time in the bottle to soften the tanin and let it develope just a little more. I like the blend very much. 88, old firemen red wine

 

 

Thursday, March 18, 2010 - The wine looks Purple colored.
The legs are Fast.
It smells like Black currant (cassis), and Forest floor.
It tastes like Raisin, Burnt, and Cedar.
The body is Medium/Full.
The wine is textured Coarse.
The wine finishes Medium.

 

 

So on Friday this next week we are off to Orlando, Disney beckons and we will answer.  This weekend we've had a Sbragia Gino's Vinyard Zinfandel, A Château Le Pin Beausoleil Mivida, and another Joseph Swan Zinfandel.  A dinner at Bella Union along the way.

Here's the reviews:

 

This Chateau only re-started their vineyard in 1997, the 2005 offering is a very dark full bodied wine.  The nose is very tight as the wine is still young, you get blackberry, loam.  The taste is a subtle fruit with a acidic long finish and edgy hard tannin.  A good effort may get better in a few years.  87, good but okay.

 

This is a young dense zinfandel from Ed Sbragia's Family winery.  The color is a deep ruby with a translucent edge.  The nose is expressive, blackberry jam, graphite, oak and cherry fruit.  The wine has sweet forward fruit with tart acidic middle and lingering tannin finish, it is very full bodied and luscious.  90, really good, drink it now. 

 

This is a wonderful Russian River Valley Zinfandel from one of my favorite winery/vineyards in Sonoma county.  The nose berry, cedar, coffee, loam.  A dense perfume not overpowering, it develops as the wine opens up.  The taste is a bright fruit with nice tart acidic middle, numbing tannin that lasts and lasts.  90, Zin aging well.

 

Good weekend day, flat iron steak, grilled and sliced for dinner.  I stopped by Harry and David on the way home, I bought a French Rhone Blend and a Syrah from the Rogue Valley.  The Rhone was $23 and the Syrah Cost $30.  I opened the syrah, the bottle did not seem flawed, was not corked but the wine was horrible, very tart to the point of bitter, the nose was fregrant but the wine very poor.  Paula and I poured the rest out and moved on.  The Rhone was just the opposite, an awesome wine, great drink and wonderful match with dinner.  So I'll not review the Syrah, I still search very ahrd for the best of the rogue valley wines.  But here is the Rhone.

 

This a Rhone blend of Grenache and Syrah with wonderful legs and a purple dense wine.  The nose suppressed  with slight berry, menthol and loam.  The flavor is where the impact of this wine is, sweet fruit, chewy , berry fruit, a structured mid section  that fades into a acidic and tannic finish which is long lasting and tongue numbing.  93, really nice Rhone

Had a great lunch at Sammys today with some friends two bottles of Italian wine and wonderful cuisine.  Cracked open a California Cab for dinner tonight here' the tail:

 

This is an inky dark California Cabernet, still young.  The nose very open with menthol, raspberry and strawberry.  The taste show a cranberry fruit with a decent tannin but not to acidic.  Tasty but lacks complexity to age and will drink well for the next couple of years.  86, drink it now

Hope you like the new color scheme and theme for the website, a little change is nice.  We put a lot of information out there so we're trying to make it a little more readable.

 

Tonights dinner was seared scallops, sauted zucini and squash.  Fried sliced Portabello muschroom.  With was a lovely white Burgundy.  Here you go, cheers:

 

The wine looks Light gold colored with medium legs.
It smells like Grapefruit, Strawberry, and Stoniness.
It tastes like Grapefruit, Apple, Stoniness, and Dill.
The body is Light the texture is Silky with a long finishe Long, tart and acidic.
89, very nice white burgundy

I opened my first bottle of 2007 Shafer Merlot tonight, it's still very young but went great with flank steaked grilled over rosemary with a Béarnaise sauce.  Here's what I thought of the wine, Cheers.

 

Inky dark ruby full bodied merlot with a fragrant blackberry jam nose, graphite, loam.  The taste sweet fruit, very tangy acidic middle with tannic finish, oaky.  The Shafer Merlots are one of my favorite each year and the 2007 is of the same quality, will be even better next year.  93, Shafer Rocks

Good evening, dinner was what we like to call a light affair here, 3 large seared scallops, sliced Apples, Peppered Smoked Salmon, Itallian Salami, smoked white Cheddar and crackers.  The wine match was a nice Montrachet.

 

 

This mature white burgundy is straw colored, very light, with an herbal and grass nose.  The flavor is tart and acidic with lingering finish with a apple and citric overtone.  A nice effort and very enjoyable chardonnay.  87, pretty good Montrachet.

I'm just back from a four day trip to Seattle to visit my daughter at UW, known as udub locally.  Ate some great food, Sausages, kraut and german Potato salad at Shultzy's by UW.  A fine dinner at the Space Needle resturant Sky City.  Though a touch spendy the view was worth it.  Had the 2007 Torii Mor Pinot for Dinner, a Zinfandel from Murphey-Goode, and tonight at home I had a Ridge Zinfandel from Paso Robles 2007. This wine was with:

 

A peppercorn marinated pork loin its grilled on high heat for 20 minutes per side along with yellow squash sliced. The squash is chopped then sautéed with garlic, butter, and Montrachet white burgundy.  The pork loin is rested then sliced into thin portions arranged on the bed of squash. 

 

Here's the wine scoop.

 

2007 Murphy-Goode Zinfandel Liar's Dice

Fairly expressive nose for a very young wine, to bad the taste is not so expressive, a failry astringent fruit and tart finnish move onto to something better. 82

 

A good nose of raspberry, cirtus and a slight loamy scent. Though not near as full body as the 2005, still a decent drink with a sweet and elegant taste and nice finish. 88

 

A lighter style Zinfandel than we have been having lately.  The body is much lighter, the color of garnet to ruby.  The nose is herbal, raspberry, graphite,  with a touch of cranberry.  The taste is smooth tart berry, acidic middle with a softer tannin.  Though this wine will make you pucker if you swish it around it is quite smooth.  A different style it reminds me of Pinot Noir, 87 a lighter Zin

 

Added Tuesday:

 

Picked this wine up at the Kendall-Jackson tasting room in Healdsburg over winter wine road.  It's inky purple and full bodied but needs to breath for a while to open up.  You may wish to decant this wine or aerate it before drinking.  The nose is blackberry and loam.  The taste is a softened fruit with a tart middle, smooth finish with very little tannin.  This wine releases with food, and will drink well with heavier fair.  86, a good Cab but not a keeper

 

 

Opened a nice bottle of Nozzole Chniti Classico 2003 that was corked tonight, a shame its one of my favorites and my last one.  So I opened the last bottle of Novy Cellars syrah 2005.  This was 91 in 08 but has gone the other way, here's the not for tonight.

 

The wine is an inky purple with long legs, a nose of licorice, a touch herbal, cedar.  The fruit is shy on this wine develops on the tongue, tart finish with numbing tannin.  The body is very full and chewy.  Over all a less complex wine than I prefer, Syrah should speak to you when the glass goes down "wow'  should escape your lips. 85, wish more defined.

 

If you are looking for a great syrah, check out 2004 Trenton Estate from Joseph Swan, it has been the best Syrah I've had this year or last. 

 

I've also spent quite a bit of time moving my cellar and tasting data over to Cellar Trackers site, I think the new version due out at the end of the month will be great

 

We lost our Jack Russell Riley today, he was never the perfect dog be we loved him just the same and will miss him dearly.  The Picture of the week, which I seem to change about once a month is my wife Paula and myself.  Here's tonights wine:

 

This is a young cabernet, the nose is slightly closed still but should develop with time.  We bought this bottle on the winter wine road at the winery along with some nice chardonnay.  The taste is a tart fruit with a tannic structure to the finish.  It's quite young but is has a layered structure of fruit, oak, that should develop into a very nice wine in the next few years.  87, try me again 2012.

From My friend Eric Pena, this delightful big boned Spanish blend:

 

This inky red wine from Jumillo Spain, it is very dark with a jammy sweet blackberry nose.  The taste will grab you with a fruit bomb start, but a structure filled with acidic tannin.  Excellent with a bite of dark chocolate, the finish rides out up to 60 seconds.  93, a wine to remember

 

Picked up this bottle on the Winter Wine road in Sonoma:

 

Kokomo Pauline's Vineyard Merlot 2007
This young merlot is a light ruby color, nose a light black berry, pepper and spice.  The taste is a subtle fruit forward with tart structure and a deep tannin with a long tangy finish.  Nice with beef, dark chocolate, and sharp cheese.  89, unique elegant merlot.

From tonight:

 

Sbragia Gino's Vineyard Zinfandel 2006
This is a young dense zinfandel from Ed Sbragia's Family winery.  The color is a deep ruby with a translucent edge.  The nose is expressive, blackberry jam, graphite, oak and cherry fruit.  The wine has sweet forward fruit with tart acidic middle and lingering tannin finish, it is very full bodied and luscious.  90, really good, drink it now. 

Many a happy drunk soul in New Oreleans tonight, but here in Oregon we are just finishing dinner, seared scallops, butternut squash soup.  The matching wine tonight is a killer white Burgandy, (chardonnay).

 

Olivier Leflaive Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly 2006
This is a great example 1er cru wine versus a villiae wine, the appellation is Saint-Aubin. 
The premier cru vineyards of Saint Aubin are to the villages of Chassagne and Puligny.  It is 2 steps up from the Village wines of Puligny for about $20 more.  The wine is a pale sparkling straw color.  The nose is expressive, citrus, oak and brine.  The taste will grab you with sweet, citric, peach and tangerine fruit a good structure changes as you keep it on the tongue.  The finish is tart and acidic it went well with scallops, and butternut squash soup.  I'll be looking for other Saint-Aubin 2006 as well as the Puligny-Montrachet of the same vintage.  Of note this wine is sealed with a technical cork that seems to have worked quite well.  95 Best Chardonnay so far in 2010

 

Tonight was a slow roasted Buffalo Chuck Roast.  Cooked over 6 hours with shallots, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, in Cabernet Sauvignon.  Reduce the wine broth from the roast, saute sliced portabello mushooms and add the reduction.  To serve with this rich fair a bold full bodied well aged Zin.

 

This is a wonderful Russian River Valley Zinfandel from one of my favorite winery/vineyards in Sonoma county.  The nose berry, cedar, coffee, loam.  A dense perfume not overpowering, it develops as the wine opens up.  The taste is a bright fruit with nice tart acidic middle, numbing tannin that lasts and lasts.  94, Zin aging well.

 

Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
he nose is a soft blackberry with a herbal overtone, charcoal.  The taste runs to a tart fruit with long tannin finish.  85 not my favorite silver oak.

Italian Sausage, shallots, asperegus:

 

The wines:

 

The Trimbach is a wine that grows on you as you drink it, the nose is very citric and tight, you can smell the tartness and acidic flavor to come.  The taste is citric and tart, long acidic finish, best drank with a rich food, or sweet fruit.  90 tart, interesting, fresh.

 

Those nose on this still young Zin is huge,  Blackberry, White Pepper, ripe fruit, Tobacco.  But the taste will wow you, sweet vibrant fruit, tart structure and solid finish that is long lasting and memorable.  93 My favorite Wilson Zin

 

The 2005 vintage of this cabernet is one of my favorite value Cabernet Sauvignons so little surprise that the 2006 is even better.  The nose is a light raspberry, loam and fresh fruit.  The taste is solid fruit, structured from beginning to end with a long tannin finish.  93, great value wine

The next night couple of new ones:

 

Avalon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
The nose is rather closed , but the taste is not a nice full fruit, middle and tannin filled finish.  This value Cabernet is solid 88, drink it now and enjoy.

 

This is a light un-oaked chardonnay from Burgundy, very light colored with a nose of citrus, grass, acid.  The taste is sweet fruit to acidic finish tart and refreshing.  87, nice white burgundy value.

Dinner was Pork tenderlion and a old friend:

 

Argyle Spirit House Pinot Noir 2005. 

2nd taste 2/2/2010, this wine has cellared well, is well into the 94 rnage now.  Its taste sweet and suductive, ample fruit, chewey middle and long finish.

This Pinot Noir is suppose to be the best reserve Argyle makes.  The pour show a well aged wine with and orangish tint.  The nose is blackberry and cherry fruit, earth and dried flowers.  The taste is fruit forward, cherry and  , a tart middle with a long pepper finish. 

94, you'll like this if you can find it.

 

After dinner a Swanson Merlot rounded out the eveing

 

This Napa Merlot is inky purple with a thick and heavy body.  The nose floats to blackberry, cassis,  with a touch of pepper.  The taste is a full flavored fruit with an acidic middle, mild tannin but lasting finish running onto 30 seconds.  92, good buy, good flavors

Tonight was a bright villages White Burgundy

 

This is a nice French Village white Burgundy from the Southern Maccinnais area is un-oaked and very tasty.  The nose is citrus and tart sweet fruit.  Its taste is a tart acidic fruit, fresh, citrus, grapefruit.  This would be wonderful with shellfish, fruit, rich sweet white sauces.  88, nice inexpensive white Burgundy.

Lamb chops with a really nice Shiraz from down under

 

This is the upper end of the Penfolds Shiraz line, the wine is inky with a brown cast to it.  It has aged well and ready for drinking.  The nose is fruit, loam, berry, it is strong a vibrant.  The tasting shows a spicy tart fruit and a very long acidic finish with a mellow tannin.  It gets better and more open with each moment out of the bottle. 93 well worth a taste