1996, 1997, 1999 Labegorce Margaux

A friend who is looking to better understand french wines asked me about an email from K&L with these wines. I said I thought for the price they would be worth a taste and he paid so we could drink. No better friend than that. We both agreed the 1996 was the best "deal" price to taste. The great thing about a french chateaux is that you can count on the wine being the same wine year after year. Tasting three of four vintages, each vintage with quite a bit of variation gives a very clear indication. Each of the wines had a classic Margaux nose, soft, flowery, perfume flavors. The taste of each was similar, but with distinct differences across the three. The 1996 was the most robust, even today, more fruit, more tannins, nicely sweetened. Very good structure, good to drink now, just as good in five years would be my guess. The 1997 was more subtle. The fruit came up more slowly, but was smooth. The 1999 was between the two, but had more tannin and bit less fruit. In each case it was blackberry flavored with earth/dirt type flavor. I know that does not sound great, who after all likes the flavor of dirt, but the blend is pleasing.

I would/will definitely buy more of the 1996 for the price, $40. The 97 is $30, which is a pretty good price for a ready to drink ten year old Bordeaux.


Back in awhile.

leh

2003 Domaine Carneros Vermeil "Ver May"

What a delightful Sparkling Wine (Champagne for the non-french). I was not expecting much. I got this quite awhile back as a member of their Sparkling Wine Club, where I have been a member for a long time. I enjoy their sparkling wines and their Pinot Noir which they send often is very respectable. In any case this sparkler is a Demi-Sec, or a "sweeter" sparkling wine, reminiscent of the fine over sweetened Korbel of my misspent youth. Thus I was in no hurry to open it.

That is so not fair with this wine. It is sweeter, but still a true sparkling wine. Great yeasty nose and wonderful subtle/sweet on the tongue. Really a very nice taste treat. With the tiny bubbles that is a Domaine trademark, there are all of the fine Champagne tastes and flavors in a California Sparkling wine. Pick this up if you can find it. (Note, just found out it is only available to wine club members.)

Back in awhile.

leh

2001 Vall Llach Priorat

I sure wish I had bought more of this a couple of years back. It was $70 a bottle or so, but it is a dynamite wine. Not sure why I opened this tonight to be honest, just seemed like a good idea after a difficult day. It goes down beautifully. Smooth, long finish, lovely aroma and fully blended flavors of black cherry, burnt tobacco (the good kind of taste) and sweet tannins. A great wine from an up and coming area of Spain. Truth be told a now well discovered part of Spain but in 2003, not so much. Just outside of Barcelona. If you can get this wine, any year in the last five years, even if it seems steep in price, you will not regret it. I still have a couple of the 2001 and I will be delighted to open the next one in an other two years.

It is a blend, half Carignan, then Merlot and Cabernet. Great tasting wine.

Back in awhile.

leh

2000 Sausal Zinfandel Alexander Valley Private Reserve

I drink almost no Zin anymore. I went through a phase where I drank quite a bit, all the Amador county zins, the finer Napa zins, even got my hands on a Turly or two. When I do drink it, I always wonder why it ends up being second choice whenever I am standing in the isle trying to decide what to pick out. It just does. I like it, but it does not give the wow! feeling that you get with other varietals. At least, that is me.

The Sausal, was picked up at the winery awhile ago. It was good in the tasting at the winery and so I bought a bottle to go with a couple of cabs. Drinking it now was fun. It went well with the BBQ ribs and potato salad. Strong taste of plum, almost port like. It was ready to drink, but not over the hill at all.

All in all a pretty good evening of wine. Not too much, but nice variety and most importantly pleasant company.

Back in awhile.

leh

2001 Quinault l'Enclos

Yet another Merlot, over 80% in this Bordeaux. It seems to me to be still a bit young to drink. The tannins are still showing and the fruit is buried a bit underneath it all until they come through in the finish. Rasberry and plum were the most notable flavors. I had this right after the Jayson (see other note) and then had the Jayson again right after this. The Quinault was a classical French Bordeaux style and showed some structure and balance and I believe will improve for another five years. The Jayson, it may be good in five years, but I would not expect much chance of better.

Back in awhile.

leh

2005 Jayson Red Wine (Pahlmeyer)

Big smooth creamy merlot, with enough elements to make for a very nice experience. I will admit that most merlot dominant wines are not in my wheel house. I like things dry and the trend in California making merlot more "drinkable" moved it from dry to a sweeter and in my mind less complex and ultimately less enjoyable wine. All that said, one of my favorite French Bordeaux is Angleus, which is almost always 60% or more Merlot. This is a move back in the right direction, although not as far as I as an individual would hope. It is better than just a drinkable wine. It has some nuance to it with a nice nose.

Another new add to the site, I put a label in. Not sure I will have the ambition to do this everytime, but it does make it look more professional.

Back in awhile.

leh

Collard-Picard Cuvée Selection Brut Champagne

This came in a K&L Wine Club shipment a month or so ago. We took it to a friends house for Memorial Day BBQ. I just had a quick taste, since as you will see with the next three posts I was trying new things. Not at all what I am used to in finer French sparkling wine. This one did not have the refined yeast that I am used to and very much like. Nonetheless, it was a very nice style and I would say excellent for a warm spring/summer evening sipping occasion. K&L has some fine wine notes in their club newsletter, located here: K&L Wines.

Apparently it is the meunier that dominates the wine, so it has a very refreshing splash of taste combined with the bubbles, it is excellent.

FYI, I am not an advertiser for anyone, so if I refer to anyone or anyplace as a place where I shop, it is for information only, not an advertisement.

Back in awhile.

leh

1983 Joseph Phelps Cabernet

Phelps Cabs have been great, see my earlier post on the 2005. The Insignia, Phelps top end Bordeaux style, is a signature wine from Napa and even with the volume produced it is a consistently great wine. This 1983 should have been drunk 10 years ago (just a guess). Today it exists only as tannin, acid and the remnants of flavor beaten out of existence for the most part. Kind of a sour port. A friend shared it with me, it had been kept in good storage conditions since purchase and did not taste as though the bottle had turned. It was just well past any prime and unlike some older wines where everything has faded and leaves a subtle pleasing flavor, this is just the bitter elements. It was only $13 back in the day.

Back in awhile.

leh

1996 Beaulieu Vinyards Tapestry

This was a deal of a wine when it came out. A Bordeaux style blend from Napa. A $30 wine that tasted like a $75 wine back in the day. It has not held up as well as I would have liked. It was a very strong fruit forward wine but with good balance and a very nice long finish. Today, it has lost some fruit and still has some of the tanin, so it has not really resolved as much as one would like. This is one that would have been better drunk sooner.

Back in awhile.

leh

2002 Louis Martini Cabernet Monte Rosso Vineyard

Upon first opening, it came with a nose of mocha and tabacco. Then ten minutes later there was a spice flavor added, which was almost curry like (perhaps a trick of my own nose but I was not around any curry). It settled in with a lovely flavorful scent with the fruit of currant and cherries. Very nice nose. Drinking the wine was equally enjoyable. Solid structure of fruit, moderate tannin and acid which gave a very nice finish. This is a very nice wine, and I bought it at Safeway yesterday for under $50 at the club price. I have had many $100 plus California cabs that were not at the quality level of this wine.

Back in awhile.

leh

2005 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru, Vergers, Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard

My wife likes dry minerally white wines. While she has had her share of big buttery California Chardonays, about ten years ago she developed a taste for French Chardonays. This one is a great representation of what makes these wines enjoyable. It is dry yet bold in its steely gravely taste. Any yet, somewhere in the palate is a hint of apple and and lighter tastes. Very light oak and a slightly bitter finish. Hit the spot with some chicken last weekend.

Been very busy, will be adding a couple more wines over the Memorial Day weekend. Some better wines, pulled from storage for a taste.

Back in awhile.

leh

2005 Trefethen Double T Red

This went with a ribeye steak last night. It was serviceable. The fruit seemed a bit lost in the structure. It might be better in a couple of years, or the fruit might be completely gone. Difficult to be sure at this stage. More currant flavor than anything else. I think it is more or less a classic Bordeaux blend.


Back in awhile.

leh

2006 Terredora Falanghina

A great afternoon or evening sip, especially on the very hot days we have had in NorCal the last couple of days. It is sweet, refreshing and fruity. Pear, citrus and apple combine for a very agreeable wine. Also, the price for this is very reasonable at under $20. I bought it awhile ago so I am not sure where. Highly recommended as a way to cool down on a hot day.


Back in awhile.

leh

2003 Leoville Barton

Wow, this has some real punch to it, almost opulent in its structure and style. I have been drinking softer wines lately and all the sudden, bam. This one has a good balance of acid and tannin. It is too young to drink now and the fruit hangs back. I was just sipping it without food. Would be great with a BBQ hamburger or juicy steak. The main fruit flavor for me is currant, but restrained under all the structure of the wine. I bought this off winebid for about $100 all in. Parker rates it a 95. He says it will not be ready for another five years. I think he may be optimistic. It is built for the long haul. Check back in 2013.

Back in awhile.

leh

J Champagne

This was a very light, well crafted Champagne. However, I like a lot more depth in my champagne, more yeast nose, stronger bite from the acid. On the whole I think that I would not choose this again. It was served at a friends house prior to dinner. It was nice, pleasantly light and as I noted well crafted, but not really memorable. However, the evening was very relaxed an enjoyable.

Back in awhile.

leh

2006 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River

What a nice refined pinot. This wine is not the dark cherry type but rather the lighter, almost pale style that you often find in French Burgundy pinots. The flavor is nearly sweet, but the acid and light tannins give it a complete and refined finish with a wonderful understated berry, cherry flavor. California has been moving in the direction of the much fully pinot, which is a style that I enjoy as well. But it is nice to have the contrast with a very well crafted wine that really hits the tongue with defined but not overpowering flavor. Really nicely put together. I have a bottle of one of the other vineyards, which I tried one of a month or so back and it is the more full flavored, equally enjoyable.

Bought from a friend on their list for about $40, I think.

Back in awhile.

leh

1998 Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva

Parker says "earth, cedar, tobacco, spice box, and red currants" which is pretty accurate. Mostly Tempranillo grape, and has aged very nicely. I really like the way this grape can be a very fruit forward vibrant wine or a much more refined wine depending on the winemaker's choices. This bottle with the oak treatment and aging is quite smooth, but still balanced with acid, tannin and fruit. A very nice finish as well with the spice droppig way and leaving a nice currant flavor.

Bought at Beltramo's about a week ago for under $50. Not bad for a well scored wine with ten years of age. Another great thing about the Spanish wines, price.

Back in awhile.

leh

2005 Shafer Cabernet One Point Five (Stags Leap)

Shafer a king in Napa with some very fine wines. I have tried a variety of them. They are consistently excellent, even with the relatively steep price points. A couple years back when they introduced Firebreak it was a real revelation.

The One Point Five is complex, currant, lite oak and yet quite lively on the tongue. It is the kind of wine that you can drink right now, although at the price, you may want to see what it is like when it reaches its estimated (mythical?) maturity in a couple of years. Really pleasant. I have to run off and eat some tacos. Will definitely have some more when I come back.

Back in awhile.

leh

Beautiful Day in Norcal

Could not let the day go by without noting that we are having a very nice day here in Northern California. Lovely spring weather. I will need some antihistamines tonight, but completely worth it.

Back in awhile.

leh

2005 Numanthia Termes

Opened this tonight to sip after getting home from a sushi dinner. A two wine night. Had it with a couple of those single bite candy bars, Baby Ruth and Butterfinger. It was more dry and a bit more acidic than I remember from prior Termes, maybe earlier years. Also the flavor of the grape was musty, not as fruit forward as this grape often displays. I enjoy tempranillo wines or the "Tinto de Toro" as identified by the Numanthia folks. They are very drinkable at any age, go nicely with food (or chocolate in this case) and yet have a distinctive style. They go very nicely with zesty tamales or enchiladas.

Picked this up today at Beltramo's for $23.

Back in awhile.

leh

2005 Joseph Phelps Cabernet

Opened this four nights ago. It was a power packed fruit rush. Many flavors blending very naturally like a bowl of perfectly ripened fresh fruit. Nice finish, very enjoyable to drink, even this young. Bought at Safeway for something under $50.

Tonight I am trying another glass. I leave reds on the counter at room temp after opening. I come back to them after a day or two or four. If they are turned, they end up in the sink, if not I try them again. This one has evolved into something complex, almost Bordeaux like in acid and fruit and tannin which must have been overpowered by the fruit when fresh. Another very nice glass of wine.

Back in awhile.

leh

First Post

The first post needs to be something different. So this will be different. I did not drink wine last night. I do most nights, but not last night. I had a gin and tonic. It was a new gin from the Anchor Steam Gin folks called "Genevieve." It was very unique as I have never had a gin of this type, apparently the predominant type of gin from the 18th Century (I read the bottle).

Worth a try, but I think that I like the now more "traditional" (odd to say but after more than a 100 years as the standard it does seem more traditional) than something much older made new again.

So why start a wine blog with a post about gin. Good query for anyone who stumbles upon this little experiment. It is because my enjoyment of wine is about trying new things, avoiding dogmatic views and remembering it is about a beverage primarily designed to enhance a meal. It is not about points, dollars per bottle, auction values, QPR or any of those other things. They come along with wine. I will write about them, noting points, how much something costs, etc. They are useful to inform about wine, but they do not define wine. You define wine. Yes, you! Why you? Because it is about enjoying a beverage, hopefully with friends and a meal.

Welcome to my experiment. I will be trying to post on what I drink mostly. I may add other thoughts from time to time, but success will be defined by those of you who read what I post, and maybe even comment if you choose.

Back in awhile.

leh