2015 Viña Zaco Albariño Rias Baixas Spain
I first tried a wine made from the Albariño grape about 15 years ago, I was reading an article in the Wine Enthusiast that highlighted wines from Spain, and the author described this grape as having a floral nose similar to a Riesling, with the flavor and crispness of a Sauvignon blanc.
I knew that I liked Riesling wines, whether off dry or sweet, and the Sauvignon blanc wines from New Zealand in a good vintage can be special. So I went looking for what I could find, and came home with 2 bottles. One was from Burgans, the other was from Martin Codax. One wine had a nice full mouthfeel, and was slightly off dry. The other was dryer, more crisp but still pleasant, and both had beautiful aromatics and flavors.
The Rias Baixas region is in the North west corner of Spain, on the Atlantic ocean. It seems to grow best here, and is a perfect match with the locally caught seafood. The grape has grown in popularity to the point that there is a risk of over production and losing the uniqueness that makes it special. Some producers have made it sweeter to apeal to some consumers. So do some homework and choose carefully.
This opens with apricot, peach, and citrus (white grapefruit) in the nose, the palate tastes first of the grapefruit, and the apricot/peach flavor follows. To me there's a hint of honeydew melon on the finish as well.... after 30 minutes the wine develops more of the stone fruits in the nose, along with a slight apple pie/cinnamon spice note. The palate echoes the nose and finishes with pleasant fruit/spice flavors. The acidity is not too sharp, but has a nice palate cleansing effect.
I would decant this wine and put it in the fridge for 30 to 40 minutes before serving....
Pan fried scallops come to mind as a pairing, grilled scallops wrapped in bacon, grilled shrimp marinated in a Tequila lime & garlic marinade would be fantastic with this wine. Swordfish finished with fresh squeezed lemon.... you get the picture. We tried it with a classic Ceasar salad (very good) and with a 3 year old NY state extra sharp Cheddar (also very good)
Available in the powerbuy section of the NH Liquor outlets for $7.99 per bottle, there is also 15% case discount on 12 or more powerbuy wines thru the end of the month, which makes this just $6.80 per bottle. So a case of this would only cost $82, In addition, if you spend $150.00 you also get a $25 gift card... this is a great time to stock up on wines for the upcoming patio/deck season.
I'll review a Chilean Cabernet that's also in the powerbuy section for $9.99 in a couple of days.
Cheers!
Ed
Sunday, March 8, 2020
2015 Lagar De Bezana Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Cachapoal Valley Chile
When the first wines from Chile and Argentina arrived on the shelves here in America they were good solid bottles at a great price. There are still good everyday bottles in the sub $10 range, and many wineries have now added a reserve bottling, and some offer a "Grande Reserve" or single vineyard bottling.
I can tell you from experience that not all of the "Reserve" or "Grande Reserve" bottles are worthy of that designation, I suspect the word is added to the label to make the consumer think he/she is purchasing a special bottle of wine. As always, do a little bit of research with a quick google search and see what you can find for reviews of that particular product. There are reputable wineries and some that are just pumping out wine to make a sale....
As demand for the wines from South America increased, wineries have branched out into more areas surrounding the original growing regions. They are figuring out which grapes to plant where, and which area will give them the characteristics in the grapes that the Winemaker is looking for.
The Cachapoal Valley is located between the Maipo Valley, and the Colchagua Valley. It is mostly sheltered from the cool breezes of the Pacific Ocean, the Carmenere grape is grown on the Pacific side of the valley as it likes the bit of cool air that comes in at night. Cabernet grows best on the west side of the valley at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the climate is more Mediterranean. Warm days and lots of sunshine combined with slight elevation make for smaller grapes with good flavor, balanced tannins, and acidity.
The Lagar opens with notes of mint/eucalyptus, cherry, mixed berries, and a bit of spice in the nose. The palate tastes like a mix of black and blue berries, I can taste the mint along with a plum note on the finish, the tannins are fine grained, and it has a slightly tart finish.
The second day offers a more integrated nose of all the initial scents, including a nice hint of mixed berry pie. The flavors have blended together on the palate, and it's smooth, there's a nice slightly thick feel to it, with the fruit notes fading pleasantly in the mouth.
This wine is 5 years old at this point, and could hold in your cellar for a couple of more years if you wanted to buy a case for drinking over this time. If you want to enjoy it now I recommend decanting it for an hour before serving. If you're going to pull the cork and serve it, try chilling it in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes, then pour it and see how it evolves in the glass...
I enjoyed this with homemade beef stew, I think it would pair well with grilled meats, meat lasagna, red sauce pizza, grilled Italian sausage with peppersand onions, herb crusted pork roast also comes to mind.
Available at the NH Liquor outlets for $9.99 per bottle in the powerbuy section, and there is a 15% case discount this month on powerbuy wines. That makes each bottle $8.50... Additionally, for every $150.00 you spend you also get a $25 gift card..... this is a good time to stock up on some wines for enjoying out on the deck or patio this summer.
Cheers!
Ed
When the first wines from Chile and Argentina arrived on the shelves here in America they were good solid bottles at a great price. There are still good everyday bottles in the sub $10 range, and many wineries have now added a reserve bottling, and some offer a "Grande Reserve" or single vineyard bottling.
I can tell you from experience that not all of the "Reserve" or "Grande Reserve" bottles are worthy of that designation, I suspect the word is added to the label to make the consumer think he/she is purchasing a special bottle of wine. As always, do a little bit of research with a quick google search and see what you can find for reviews of that particular product. There are reputable wineries and some that are just pumping out wine to make a sale....
As demand for the wines from South America increased, wineries have branched out into more areas surrounding the original growing regions. They are figuring out which grapes to plant where, and which area will give them the characteristics in the grapes that the Winemaker is looking for.
The Cachapoal Valley is located between the Maipo Valley, and the Colchagua Valley. It is mostly sheltered from the cool breezes of the Pacific Ocean, the Carmenere grape is grown on the Pacific side of the valley as it likes the bit of cool air that comes in at night. Cabernet grows best on the west side of the valley at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the climate is more Mediterranean. Warm days and lots of sunshine combined with slight elevation make for smaller grapes with good flavor, balanced tannins, and acidity.
The Lagar opens with notes of mint/eucalyptus, cherry, mixed berries, and a bit of spice in the nose. The palate tastes like a mix of black and blue berries, I can taste the mint along with a plum note on the finish, the tannins are fine grained, and it has a slightly tart finish.
The second day offers a more integrated nose of all the initial scents, including a nice hint of mixed berry pie. The flavors have blended together on the palate, and it's smooth, there's a nice slightly thick feel to it, with the fruit notes fading pleasantly in the mouth.
This wine is 5 years old at this point, and could hold in your cellar for a couple of more years if you wanted to buy a case for drinking over this time. If you want to enjoy it now I recommend decanting it for an hour before serving. If you're going to pull the cork and serve it, try chilling it in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes, then pour it and see how it evolves in the glass...
I enjoyed this with homemade beef stew, I think it would pair well with grilled meats, meat lasagna, red sauce pizza, grilled Italian sausage with peppersand onions, herb crusted pork roast also comes to mind.
Available at the NH Liquor outlets for $9.99 per bottle in the powerbuy section, and there is a 15% case discount this month on powerbuy wines. That makes each bottle $8.50... Additionally, for every $150.00 you spend you also get a $25 gift card..... this is a good time to stock up on some wines for enjoying out on the deck or patio this summer.
Cheers!
Ed
Sunday, February 9, 2020
2015 Ranch 32 Cooper's Blend Red Wine Montery County CA
This is a new wine in the powerbuy section of the West Lebanon Liquor outlet, I always walk through this section of the store regardless of what I'm in there for. You never know what you're going to see on the shelves or in the stacks of cases on the floor there.
When I read the label and saw it was from Monterey Countey, I decided to try a bottle. In the last 10 to 15 years the vintners in this area realized that they couldn't grow all of the same grapes that Napa and Sonoma can. So they have replanted their vineyards to varieties that do better in the cooler climate with a maritime influence, with better results.
This wine is a blend of Petite Verdot, Cinsault, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Petite Syrah.
This wine opens with notes of red fruit in nose, red plums, a hint of raspberries, red currants and some other scents I couldn't quite pinpoint. You can taste the red plums, red currants, with a hint of blueberry. It has an initial sensation of almost sweet when first sipped, but it finishes dry. It's very dark red, almost black in color.
After 30 minutes of being open, the black fruits show up. Notes of blackberries, a mix of black and red plums, blueberries, and black raspberries are in the nose, the palate has matching flavors, especially the black raspberries, and the wine has more of a plush feel in the mouth. The acidity and tannins provide a good balance, and makes you want another sip.
This is so easy to sip on, but it also pairs well with food. I tried it at lunch with leftover roast chicken, rice pilaf, and mixed vegetables. I saved a glass to try with grilled beef tenderloin from the Warden Meat and Maple farm in Barnet Center, VT. What a great pairing, their beef is grass fed, no antibiotics, and delicious. 802-633-4959 they also have pork products (the bacon is great)
You can find the wine in West Lebanon, and at some of the other NH Liquor outlets for $7.99 per bottle, regular price is $16.99 or online at some websites for normal retail.
This will be a great wine to have with bbq this summer, or enjoy it now with a number of other foods. I liked it enough to buy a case, at this price it could be your house wine....
Cheers!
Ed
This is a new wine in the powerbuy section of the West Lebanon Liquor outlet, I always walk through this section of the store regardless of what I'm in there for. You never know what you're going to see on the shelves or in the stacks of cases on the floor there.
When I read the label and saw it was from Monterey Countey, I decided to try a bottle. In the last 10 to 15 years the vintners in this area realized that they couldn't grow all of the same grapes that Napa and Sonoma can. So they have replanted their vineyards to varieties that do better in the cooler climate with a maritime influence, with better results.
This wine is a blend of Petite Verdot, Cinsault, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Petite Syrah.
This wine opens with notes of red fruit in nose, red plums, a hint of raspberries, red currants and some other scents I couldn't quite pinpoint. You can taste the red plums, red currants, with a hint of blueberry. It has an initial sensation of almost sweet when first sipped, but it finishes dry. It's very dark red, almost black in color.
After 30 minutes of being open, the black fruits show up. Notes of blackberries, a mix of black and red plums, blueberries, and black raspberries are in the nose, the palate has matching flavors, especially the black raspberries, and the wine has more of a plush feel in the mouth. The acidity and tannins provide a good balance, and makes you want another sip.
This is so easy to sip on, but it also pairs well with food. I tried it at lunch with leftover roast chicken, rice pilaf, and mixed vegetables. I saved a glass to try with grilled beef tenderloin from the Warden Meat and Maple farm in Barnet Center, VT. What a great pairing, their beef is grass fed, no antibiotics, and delicious. 802-633-4959 they also have pork products (the bacon is great)
You can find the wine in West Lebanon, and at some of the other NH Liquor outlets for $7.99 per bottle, regular price is $16.99 or online at some websites for normal retail.
This will be a great wine to have with bbq this summer, or enjoy it now with a number of other foods. I liked it enough to buy a case, at this price it could be your house wine....
Cheers!
Ed
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
2017 Salmon Run Chardonnay-Riesling Finger Lakes NY (Dr Konstantin Frank) Est.1962
I first visited this winery about 25 years ago, along with a half dozen other wineries that I had read about at the beginning of my journey of learning about wine. I was inspired by the writings of Hugh Johnson and a few other journalists who spoke highly of the white wines coming out this area. And it was a place I could drive to, and afford to stay out there for a few days.
At the time they offered around 7 or 8 wines, and it was still low key as people hadn't really heard about the area yet. More often than not if you were there during mid week the Winemaker or owner would be pouring your sample, and you could really ask some in depth questions like which vine clones they were using, what type of soils, how they fermented different grapes etc.
These days they offer 45 different bottlings including sparkling... all quality wines.
These days the Finger Lakes wine region is on a lot of people's radar, when wines from this area are poured at the White House for various functions, it's noticed.... several wine magazines now routinely include this area in their reviews of wines from around America.
Good for the region, but now during the summer months there are a lot of visitors, at times it's downright crowded in the tasting rooms. But it's still fun to go if you're interested in seeing the process of how a wine is made from the vineyard to when it's bottled. And it's less busy in the morning, (most wineries open by 9:30 am, so eat a good breakfast) or go visit after the Labor Day weekend, much less people and the weather is still nice. There are a ton of other things to see and do in that area as well.
This wine opens with a distinct note of pear, a hint of melon, and a hint of citrus that makes me think of tangerines in the nose, the palate has the melon, a mix of tangerine and white grapefruit, and the pear comes through on the finish. There is a nice level of palate cleansing acidity that is just right, it makes you want another sip.... all of these components of the wine were even better on day 2.
I would pair this wine with grilled seafood with fresh lemon or lime squeezed over it, bacon wrapped scallops, cheese fondue, fettuccine alfredo, maybe even grilled stuffed pork chops...
Available currently on sale at the NH Liquor outlets for $9.99 per bottle, there's also a case discount of 15% thru this Saturday, that drops the price to $8.49 per bottle. A great deal from a good producer that's in our region. They also have other Salmon Run wines in West Lebanon, along with the best selection of Finger Lakes wines I've seen in this area, go in and ask one of the staff where they are.
If you try some of these, let me know what you think of them....
Cheers!
Ed
I first visited this winery about 25 years ago, along with a half dozen other wineries that I had read about at the beginning of my journey of learning about wine. I was inspired by the writings of Hugh Johnson and a few other journalists who spoke highly of the white wines coming out this area. And it was a place I could drive to, and afford to stay out there for a few days.
At the time they offered around 7 or 8 wines, and it was still low key as people hadn't really heard about the area yet. More often than not if you were there during mid week the Winemaker or owner would be pouring your sample, and you could really ask some in depth questions like which vine clones they were using, what type of soils, how they fermented different grapes etc.
These days they offer 45 different bottlings including sparkling... all quality wines.
These days the Finger Lakes wine region is on a lot of people's radar, when wines from this area are poured at the White House for various functions, it's noticed.... several wine magazines now routinely include this area in their reviews of wines from around America.
Good for the region, but now during the summer months there are a lot of visitors, at times it's downright crowded in the tasting rooms. But it's still fun to go if you're interested in seeing the process of how a wine is made from the vineyard to when it's bottled. And it's less busy in the morning, (most wineries open by 9:30 am, so eat a good breakfast) or go visit after the Labor Day weekend, much less people and the weather is still nice. There are a ton of other things to see and do in that area as well.
This wine opens with a distinct note of pear, a hint of melon, and a hint of citrus that makes me think of tangerines in the nose, the palate has the melon, a mix of tangerine and white grapefruit, and the pear comes through on the finish. There is a nice level of palate cleansing acidity that is just right, it makes you want another sip.... all of these components of the wine were even better on day 2.
I would pair this wine with grilled seafood with fresh lemon or lime squeezed over it, bacon wrapped scallops, cheese fondue, fettuccine alfredo, maybe even grilled stuffed pork chops...
Available currently on sale at the NH Liquor outlets for $9.99 per bottle, there's also a case discount of 15% thru this Saturday, that drops the price to $8.49 per bottle. A great deal from a good producer that's in our region. They also have other Salmon Run wines in West Lebanon, along with the best selection of Finger Lakes wines I've seen in this area, go in and ask one of the staff where they are.
If you try some of these, let me know what you think of them....
Cheers!
Ed
Saturday, January 18, 2020
The Catena family has been producing wine in Argentina since 1902, and had a pioneering role in high altitude grape growing. They also had the conviction that Malbec could produce good wines in the combination of sandy soils and the intense sunlight that comes with vineyards above 2500'. This particular area is at 3300' in elevation.
The wine opens with notes of blueberry, plum, cherry and a hint of black licorice in the nose, the palate has matching flavors with a nice spicy note that fades pleasantly into a mixed berry finish.
After an hour the fruit notes evolve into a mixed berry pie nose along with a brightness that is quite attractive, and the wine develops a nice medium to full mouthfeel with similar berry pie flavors. The tannins are fine grained and compliment the wine beautifully, and there is just the right amount of acidity to keep it balanced.
This is a very good Malbec at a great price. I recommend you try a bottle of this to guage for yourself the difference between the $8 Malbec you can find everywhere, and a well made wine from an area with a long history of producing great fruit.
This wine begs for a thick cut steak, grilled medium, finished with a dollop of garlic herb butter. Grilled garlic Rosemary lamb chops would also work, dry rubbed ribs cooked low and slow sound like a good match too...
Available at most of the NH Liquor outlets for $13.99, it qualifies for the January sale of 15% off 12 bottles or more. That makes it $11.89 per bottle.... a steal at that price, and a wine you could drink over the next couple of years..... if you can leave it alone.
Let me know what you think of it, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this wine.
Cheers!
Ed
This is a very interesting red wine, most of the grapes are sourced from the William Hill estate vineyard, with additional grapes coming from Monte Rosso, Thomann Station, Sage Canyon, and Snows Lake vineyards. These vineyards all have distinctive soils which add to the complexity of this wine.
William Hill Estate is part of the Gallo Group, which gives the winemakers access to over 3000 acres of vineyards. The website says Bordeaux varieties make up the blend, but I could only find data on 2 of the grapes used to make this wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, and 24% Petite Syrah.
So I'm not really sure what they used to create this wine, but it's tasty.
It opens with notes of cherry, blueberries, black cherry with a spicy note in the nose. The palate is a bit restrained at first, but after 30 minutes developed matching flavors along with hints of blackberries. The nose developed a hint of tobacco leaf, maybe licorice. And the wine has some tannins on the finish, but nothing that a food with some fat in it wouldn't offset.
I tried some extra sharp Cheddar and good Parmesan with this, both were good but I liked the Cheddar better. Meat lasagna, red sauce pasta, grilled steak, beef stew, oven roasted chicken dinner, and prime rib would all be good with this wine.
There is a limited amount of this wine available in the NH Liquor system, the West Lebanon Liquor outlet has 12 bottles, and there are a few other stores that have it.
The price is $17.49 per bottle, there is also a case sale that gives you an additional 15% off on 12 or more bottles, which drops the price to $14.87.... a great price for a wine that normally retails for $35.00.
Cheers!
Ed
Sunday, January 12, 2020
2017 Cape Mentelle White blend Australia
This blend of Sauvignon blanc and Semillion comes from the Margaret river region of Southwest Australia, the winery was one of the first to plant grapes in this area. They started with 15 hectares of vines, not far from the coast, and today the vineyards total about 150 hectares (300 US acres) planted to a number of grape varieties.
The wine opens with notes of grass, citrus (grapefruit) honeydew melon, and hint of flowers in the nose, the palate has flavors of lime juice, tangerine, nectarine, gooseberries, and there's a slight creaminess to the mouthfeel due to a percentage of the wine being fermented on the lees.
The wine opened up after 10 minutes or so in the glass, the nose and flavors became more complex. This is one of those white wines that I would decant into a carafe, put it back into the fridge and wait 30 to 40 minutes before serving with the meal.
We paired this wine with grilled chicken breasts that had been marinated in Price Choppers house recipe, (pre packaged and in the marinade) red and white baby potatoes seasoned with fresh Rosemary, Thyme, crushed garlic, onions, salt, pepper, and some olive oil cooked in a foil pack on the grill, and steamed broccoli.
The wine was a good match with all the flavors of the food, but didn't overpower the food. It had enough acidity to cleanse the palate after a bite or two, and make you want another sip.
I would also pair this wine with garlic lime grilled shrimp, the Tortelloni Brunelle dish from Lui Lui that has a lemon caper sauce, grilled scallops wrapped in bacon, pork roast, I might even try it with baked boneless chicken breasts stuffed with a mixture of cheddar and prosciutto....
Available at most of the NH Liquor outlets on sale for $9.99, and with the case sale of 15% on 12 or more bottles you pay only $8.49 per bottle! Now is the time to stock up on summer wines if you can, there are a number of red and white wines marked down, and when you add the discount on top of that, it's a win win situation.
Cheers!
Ed
This blend of Sauvignon blanc and Semillion comes from the Margaret river region of Southwest Australia, the winery was one of the first to plant grapes in this area. They started with 15 hectares of vines, not far from the coast, and today the vineyards total about 150 hectares (300 US acres) planted to a number of grape varieties.
The wine opens with notes of grass, citrus (grapefruit) honeydew melon, and hint of flowers in the nose, the palate has flavors of lime juice, tangerine, nectarine, gooseberries, and there's a slight creaminess to the mouthfeel due to a percentage of the wine being fermented on the lees.
The wine opened up after 10 minutes or so in the glass, the nose and flavors became more complex. This is one of those white wines that I would decant into a carafe, put it back into the fridge and wait 30 to 40 minutes before serving with the meal.
We paired this wine with grilled chicken breasts that had been marinated in Price Choppers house recipe, (pre packaged and in the marinade) red and white baby potatoes seasoned with fresh Rosemary, Thyme, crushed garlic, onions, salt, pepper, and some olive oil cooked in a foil pack on the grill, and steamed broccoli.
The wine was a good match with all the flavors of the food, but didn't overpower the food. It had enough acidity to cleanse the palate after a bite or two, and make you want another sip.
I would also pair this wine with garlic lime grilled shrimp, the Tortelloni Brunelle dish from Lui Lui that has a lemon caper sauce, grilled scallops wrapped in bacon, pork roast, I might even try it with baked boneless chicken breasts stuffed with a mixture of cheddar and prosciutto....
Available at most of the NH Liquor outlets on sale for $9.99, and with the case sale of 15% on 12 or more bottles you pay only $8.49 per bottle! Now is the time to stock up on summer wines if you can, there are a number of red and white wines marked down, and when you add the discount on top of that, it's a win win situation.
Cheers!
Ed
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