Clay Station Viognier 2006

Here's a review from Iron Chef that fits with our recent discussion regarding the tasting machine:

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I tried this wine at the Tasting Machine at Prospect and thought it had aromas, so I got one for the weekend. Paired it up with Scallops and Shrimp with a Cilantro sauce. The wine was hugely fragrant- wild flowers and with hot alcohol. Nice scent of carmel and baked spices were the high points of the wine. But the wine was not balanced- low levels of acidity- the term is Flabby or Fat. It just was not what I was looking for in a white wine, it felt like I had drank a Scented Candle- soapy mouth finish.

Price: $21.99
Score: 77
Value: 1/5- too too expensive
Region: California
Grape: Viognier
UPC #082242229432

Penfolds Bin 2 2004

This wine has unmistakeable Aussie character, though not in a good way. It has some reasonable fruit in the blackberry range that is smothered by a thick blanket of vanilla. Smooth and sweetish feel. Kelly and I had it with a couple of friends and the consensus score was 87, but I think we were being polite.

Price: $24.79
Score: 85
Value: 2/5
Region: Australia
Grape: Shiraz 80%, Mourvèdre 20%
Tasted: Jan 2009
UPC: 012354071995

The Tasting Machine

The topic of the tasting machine seems to have generated a lot of interest - well, I'm interested at least. I should have started a discussion about it on a separate thread, but since it's too late for that, I'll collect links to all the comments in this post.

It started when I said I tried a wine out of the tasting machine and liked it, but it was a small sip.

tancred agreed and complained about the price

Iron Chef likes the tasting machine and Luke loves it.

Kelly likes the machine, but not the price / quantity ratio.

tancred said the price should be lowered to encourage people to try and then buy.

Chris says someone has to pay for the wine.

I said, yes someone has to pay, but the price could be cut in half and still cover the cost of the wine.

tancred thinks the machine would generate more sales if the price were lower.

I said that I think it's fun, but not useful for making purchase decisions.

Any more thoughts? Let's continue the discussion in this thread.

Loredona Pinot Noir 2005

Sometimes it seems that all the scores on this blog are pretty high. For the wines that I taste, that's because I don't just plunk down my money at random - sure I like to try different wines, but different and good is a lot better than different and bad. So I usually try to do some kind of research on the wine before I decide to buy, and as a result, most of the wines I buy and blog about are pretty good. But just to prove the good scores mean something, we'll have a couple of ... well, not exactly 'bad' scores, but let's say, not so good scores. I'll start with one from Iron Chef. Stay tuned for my own "not too great" wine pick on Thursday.

Here is Iron Chef's review:

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I can’t remember a Monterey PN I have had off the top of my head, so it was good to try. The wine was fragrant notes of Raspberry and cranberry cocktail. Unmistakable New World PN. The taste was light and lively with a very appealing Vanilla Core. But beyond that it was very unremarkable and forgettable.

Price: $24.79
Score: 82
Value: 2/5
Region: USA, California
Grape: Pinot Noir
Alcool 13.5%
UPC #0822420323435

Farnese Edizione Cinque Autoctoni 2004

I wrote up this review before I realized that I'd already reviewed this wine. (Yes, I'm getting to the age that Kelly knows never to start a sentence with the word "remember...") It's a bit repetitious of the earlier post - which I think is a good thing. At least I'm consistent. But since I've written this review, I might as well use it. Here it is...

Farnese made its name with very inexpensive Sangiovese, so most people might hesitate before shelling out more than $40 for a Farnese wine - but this is undoubtedly a very well made distinctly Italian wine. the "Cinque Autoctoni" refers to the five native Italian grapes used to make the wine - Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Primitivo, Malvasia Nera, and Negroamaro. The blend works very well. It has a certain full lushness that I associate particularly with Italian wine. While it is lush, it is not at all a fruit bomb - the flavours are more on the chocolate end of the spectrum.

Here is Kelly's note:

"The first thing that strikes me is coffee on the nose. I don't often detect coffee, or even mocha, so this is interesting to me. Coffee, plum, berries, spruce on the nose, then very smooth and spicy on palate, with just a hint of apparent sweetness (I say "apparent" because I know it's not really sweet) and a fine edge of underlying tannins. Lush, but just a bit on the reserved (in a way that I tend to associate with cool climate, although I'm not sure I'm right about that). Very long. Nicely balanced. There was a lot of wrong guessing and mockery involved in this tasting."

At this price I can't give this wine top marks for value, but it is reasonable value at the price and it is quite different and worth buying for that reason - or at least the '04 was. We tried the currently available 2006 "number" at the Wine Expo. Unfortunately, we didn't find it to be nearly as good. It seemed to be a much more generic "international" fruit bomb style. Perfectly good, but nothing special, especially at the price. I don't want to judge too harshly on a single glass, especially from the Wine Expo atmosphere - I'd love to hear from someone else who has tried the '06.

Incidentally, Wine Spectator also gave the 2004 at 90. The '06 hasn't been rated.

Price: $43.78
Score: 90
Value: 3/5
Region: Italy (southern)
Grapes: Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Primitivo, Malvasia Nera, and Negroamaro
Tasted: Jan 2009
UPC: 8019873924407

Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2000

Iron Chef has built up a big backlog of reviews, so here's another one from him:

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Another class of wine that I have been disappointed about over and over. For the most part I fine these Amarones to be expensive and a waste of time. I find them to smell very plastic-y and industrial - a high octane, cheap tasting Valpolicella.

Its always refreshing to say I am wrong and the Tommasi proved that.
Age was visible on the rim, orangish hue. The nose was dominated by Leather, Tobacco, and cocoa powder. Smelled like a real classy wine. The taste was hot berries, minerals, dried cloves, and apple pie spices. Drying tannins and good acidity was a welcomed sense after all that alcohol. Really liked this wine, maybe the age calmed down the volatile aspects and rounded the edges. I have had the Sartori (sucked) and the Masi (not much better) and the Tommasi was dramatically better. Of the three at ANBL now, there is only one worth buying.

UPC #8004645402108
Retail Price: $50.79
Region: Italy, Valpolicella
Grapes:Corvina Veronese 50%, Corvinone 15%, Rondinella 30%, Molinara 5%
Alcool 15%
Score 91
Value 3.5/5

Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay 2006

it's not really white wine weather, but we seem to have a white wine theme this week. I do drink more white in the summer and more (and heavier) red in the winter, but sometimes the food - or the mood - just calls for a white, no matter what the temperature is outside.

So here's a white wine review from Iron Chef that I lifted from the Make a Suggestion thread. And remember, while you can post reviews on that thread, if you want you can send me a review at nbwines /at/ gmail /dot/ com - that will keep up the suspense before I post it.

Ok, here's Iron Chef's review:

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The nose was full of malolactic Treatment (from Wikipedia- Malolactic fermentation (or sometimes malolactic conversion) is a process of a change used in winemaking where tart-tasting malic acid, naturally present in grape must, is converted to softer-tasting lactic acid). Aromas of Pears + Peaches reminded me of elementary school lunches of Del Monte Fruit Cocktail. Other than that the alcohol was front and centre on the nose- Hot Hot Hot.
On the Palate -again the Pears in heavy sauce and a smooth texture- like milk. Some spicy wood favours emerged- nutmeg maybe. I found that baking spice characteristic to be something that separated the wine from its peers that I have had in the past. Complex- a lot going on. And Hot Alcohol. A really enjoyable glass of wine. But not your unoaked version of the grape 4 sure.

Retail Price: $22.99
Score: 91
Value: 4/5
Region: Chile
Grape: Chardonnay
Alcool: 14.5%
Tasted: Jan 2009
UPC: 089419007213

Ribeauville Andante 2007

Cave de Ribeauville was one of the big 'finds' of the Wine Expo. Their Pinot Gris and Gewurz are both delicious and great value (we've tried a second bottle of the Pinot Gris and liked it as well as or better that when we initially reviewed it). The Andante is an off-dry Gewürz / Muscat blend (I think 80/20) and the powerful nose of both those grapes jumps out of the glass, followed by a round smooth mouthfeel. Maybe I wouldn't call it complex or elegant, but I would call it delicious. If you can beat this wine in a white for less than $20, let me know.

Here are Kelly's notes:

Fresh, spicy citrus on the nose, and maybe a faint undertone of grape jelly and maybe turpentine, and also minerals. Crisp and light on the palate, with good acidity, body, and length. Beautifully balanced. Delicious. Not 'over the top' with sweet fruitiness like some wines of this style.

Price: $18.79
Score: 89
Value: 5 /5
Region: France, Alsace
Grape: Gewürztraminer, Muscat
Tasted: Jan 2009
UPC: 3156099224630

Carmen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Welcome to another contirbutor! Here is review from Peanutman that I've lifted from the "Make a Suggestion" thread. And by the way, if you have a review that you wouldn't mind having me post, you can either post it as a comment on the "Make a Suggestion" thread, or you can e-mail it directly to me at nbwines /at/ gmail /dot/ com.

Here is Peanutman's review:

During the holidays, I've tried two bottles of Carmen Reserve Cab Sauv 2005. It is around $20. The bottle states intense bouquet. I agree. I'd go a little further and state wonderful bouquet. Blackberries were evident. My better half indicated coffee and cherry, and we both thought we smelled vanilla (not totally certain) The taste; somewhat complex but evidently cab sauv with oak. Pretty good finish with an intense first minute on the palate. We never got to the second day on either bottle. Value 4.5 out of 5. My score would be an 88 and when I looked it up in Wine Spectator they also had it as an 88. I will be buying at least half a case and leaving it to rest for at least a year. My conclusion is very good for the price.

Price: $19.99
Value: 4.5/5
Score: 88
Region: Chile, Maipo
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
UPC: 083300097512

E&J Gallo Barrelli Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

The good news: this is a great value cab at $22. Classic cab flavour in a perfectly balanced wine. The bad news: it's all gone. Which is to say Kelly and I tried a bottle last night and we liked it so much that we went right back up to Prospect St and bought the last case. I've been trying to avoid bulk buying - with the blog going I want to try as many wines as possible. But for everyday drinking it's great to have a reasonably priced wine that is truly enjoyable rather than just drinkable.

Wine Spectator gave this an 86 when they tasted it in 2003. That's not a bad score, but I feel pretty confident that it's better than that now. It seems to have aged well - one more reason to try a wine rather than rely on WS.

This wine was on sale - it had a yellow sticker - but I'm not sure about the original price. I vaguely recall that it was about $35+. It wouldn't have been great value at that price, but it is at $22.

Price: $22
Value: 4/5
Score: 88
Region: USA, California
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasted: Jan 2009
UPC: No longer available

Donnafugata Anthilia 2006

Iron Chef gave this an enthusiastic review in the Make a Suggestion thread, so we decided to give it a try. While I agreed with Iron Chef on the Travaglini Gattinara, I'm afraid we don't really see eye to eye on this wine. I found relatively non-descript but acidic with a distinctly sour finish. On the bright side, I can add two obscure grapes to my grape variety 'life list.'

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Here is Iron Chef's review:

I had this wine recently at the Muriel McQueen Ferguson Wine and Food event at the Delta sponsored by ANBL and it stole the show in front of Brunellos and massive super Tuscans. But I was skeptical as wine Tastes/Values can be unfairly influenced by exterior elements, such as friends, fun and such. I had to try it again. What initially struck me as impressive was the way this Sicily wine was able to draw out and accent the Salt favours of a Blue Cheese and Tomato appetizer at the event prepared masterfully by Chef Gower at the Delta. I wanted to recreate that experience by having an equally salty dish, a Lobster Risotto with homemade chicken stock with lots of fresh herbs, especially Tarragon made with a combination of Parmesan and Goats cheese. The Anthilia did not disappoint. The wine displayed notes of sherry, its dryness and nuttiness. Lots of dried fruits like apricots. Fresh acidity that worked to focus the saltiness of dish and an underlying crisp acidity that livened the palate. A really special wine. It was just as I had remembered, maybe better. I believe this to be the best white wine I have had in 2008.

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Here's what Kelly had to say. Note that she tried it after it the bottle had been open in the fridge for a week:

Sweaty socks, petrol, plastic, and dried apricots and floral notes on the nose and following through on the palate, which is full and creamy and ends with a bit of a kick. Nicely balanced. There's a sour, plasticy edge, but otherwise this is a very enjoyable wine. I'd say this is a dry, substantial, manly white rather than a sweet, fruity, light, floral one.

My experience with whites is limited, and I'm also not excellent with food pairing. So it quite interests me that Iron Chef seems to be onto something with his comments about salt. We drank this with green Thai curry, and then on its own. It did seem to bring out the saltiness of the fish curry, and the pairing also seemed to muffle that sour edge that bothered me in the wine alone.

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As you can see, lots of disagreement on this one, so don't be shy with the comments.

Price: $17.79
Value: 5/5 (Iron Chef); 2/5 (Norman); 3/5 (Kelly)
Score: 95 (Iron Chef); 83 (Norman); 85 (Kelly)
Region: Italy, Sicily
Grape: Ansonica, Catarratto
Tasted: Jan 2009
UPC #8000852000113

Arrowood Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

From Luke:

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Last night we had the Arrowood Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004. Blended with merlot, petit verdot, and malbec, this meritage was deep purple in color and at 15.2% it stuck to the sides of the glass.

The nose was packed with dark, ripe fruit, as well as cedar, vanilla, and black licorice. The palate was similar, and had good tannin and acidity which should allow this wine to age nicely.

We had this wine with striploin and shitake demi. It was nice, but due to the alcohol the finish became a bit hot with the food, so I sipped one glass with dinner and we had the rest of the bottle after. The mouthfeel was fantastic and the long finish could be enjoyed more on its own.

Price: $49.98 (liquidation)
Value: 4/5
Score: 91
Region: USA, California, Sonoma
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Alchool: 15.2%
UPC: 009385205017

Box of Wine!

Here is a review from Michelle, on a very interesting topic. As she points out, there are a lot of advantages for boxed wine, at least for wine that is intended to be drunk young.

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In this environmentally conscious age, I want to bring to the forefront an often over looked and under appreciated section of our beloved ANBL store. The "Large Format" section.

Back in our parents’ day, the large format or box'o wine (or as it will now be known, the BOW), was usually filled with what some would call "the bottom of the barrel skunge." It was the cheapest, foulest liquid that I would be embarrassed to call "wine" Today however some of the world's largest producers are jumping on board. I have noticed, since I started to purchase BOW that the selection has grown. Jackson Triggs has a lovely "Proprietors" Shiraz. Also, wine experts believe that this is not only economical but environmentally friendly as well. The BOW has many advantages. The wine stays fresh, up to six weeks (although I have yet to keep a box up to six weeks) and there is plenty to go around when unexpected guests drop by. Sure you can whip out an impressive bottle from the cellar, but why not save those to enjoy at a tasting or alone on the sofa.

Seriously though, the BOW is a great value. Most are under $40 for a 4 litre box. Do the math, people, that's over 5 bottles! The reason I got on board with the BOW was the fact that it’s cheap, you can get a decent sipping wine and believe me, less recyclables. I was running out of room in the porch for my empties at one point . So give one a try and if you don't like the one you picked, serve it to unexpected guests. Remember, it stays fresh up to six weeks.

These are three I have tried.
1. Jackson-Triggs Proprietors Shiraz (3 L) $35.29
2. Naked Grape Shiraz (3 L) $36.29
3. Calballero Cabernet Sauv. (4 L) $36.29

Château Bouscassé Vieilles Vignes 2000 Redux

We've reviewed this wine before and it's also on my Top 10 list, but we had another bottle last night, and once again I thought "Why are there 8 bottles sitting at Prospect St!!?? Why isn't anyone buying this wine!!??" Ok, it's $50, so you wouldn't just pick it up on a whim. But if it's a special occasion, this is as good as anything at ANBL at this price, and better than most. Great stuff if you're in the mood for something powerful but elegant.

Here is what Kelly has to say: "Wet wool on the nose, and also dried flowers, leather, stewed dark fruit and evergreen. Reserved fruit on palate. Smooth with firm tannins throughout. Long, chewy and gamey. This is a manly sort of wine. I think it's evolved for the better since we last tasted it, as I don't recall noticing all of the subtler flavours such dried flowers and such last tasting."

(She swears she really gets wet wool - I don't. But we both love it.)

Price: $49.55
Score: 94
Value: 4/5
Region: France, Madiran
Grape: Tannat
Tasted: October 2007
ANBL UPC: 3372220020029

Travaglini Gattinara 2001

Iron Chef posted a review on this wine in the Make a Suggestion thread a few days ago - as it happened we had opened a bottle but hadn't finished drinking it or writing our own review when Iron Chef posted. So here's a chance for two reviews for the price of one! (Ok, they're free, but still...) As you will see, everyone loved this wine - and we all agree it was great value. Unfortunately, it is already sold out. If we're lucky we'll see more of it next year.

Here is Kelly's review:

Nose of licorice root, menthol, herbs, violets, cranberries, tar, follows through on palate. Nicely balanced. Clear and long, ending with grippy tannins. Delicious.

I would say it exhibits characteristic nebbiolo traits, as I identified it right away. People tend to describe nebbiolo as resembling roses and tar, and that really does describe this wine. It did very well in the half-bottle. I don't think it deteriorated at all. We've had this wine before (got it in Ontario) and loved it then too.

Price: $33
Value: 5/5
Score: 93
Region: Italy, Piedmont
Tasted: Dec 2008
UPC: No longer available

And here is what Iron Chef had to say:

Thanks to Luke for getting me a couple. This was a fantastic example of Nebbiolo at its best- the low rent district of Piedmont in northern Italy. We had it New Yrs eve with Surf and turf witha a nice Lavit Rosado Brut from Spain UPC #033293653004 Retail Price: $16.29 BTW 88 pts for the Lavit. The Gattinara looked to be 25 yrs old by sight, and by tannin seemed to be 6 months old. High Bricking on the Rim with a smell of dried Roses and Liqorish. A scent of old world oak with a distinctive class of a Great Great Wine. I am tempted to call this the best Red of 2008 but it was too young and we had a Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echézeaux. A dried Clove and Bay leaves enhanced the aromas and brought the senses in focus. The palate was Tannic with subdued friut with that "Fine Wine" quality first discribed to me as that sense of being in the presence of greatness. A true wine experience.

Value 5/5
Score 96

Kenwood Russian River Pinot Noir 2006

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I'm going to post some reviews from the "Make a Suggestion" on a more frequent schedule for a few days. And remember, the point of this blog isn't to have the last word - it's just to get the conversation going with these reviews. I'm posting these reviews from Make a Suggestion as separate posts in order make the wine searchable (the blog search function at the top of the page only searches posts, not comments) and to get a separate discussion going on this particular wine. If anyone has tried this wine, please post a comment and let everyone know what you think.

Here's Iron Chef's review:

I was anxious to buy this PN because of the AVA – Russian River, we do not tend to see many in this neck of the woods. I remember a quote from one of the Wine mags calling Russian River PNs as a Dark Chocolate in comparison to the milk chocolate PNs from Coastal areas of Cali. Anyways I digress. This wine was definitely fuller with a high octane edge. Aromas of Strawberry/ rhubarb pie, some creamy oak notes. Finish was Caramilk bar with cherry coke. But all the while an under current of florals and berries. A very nice example of a fuller style PN with balanced acidity.

I think this is on sale if my memory is correct, I was also able to buy a few 2005s to go along with the 2006s, I will try to contrast them someday.

Retail Price: $19.99
Score: 89
Value: 4/5
Region: California, Russian River
Grape: Pinot Noir
Alcool: 14.5%
UPC #010986002813

Chateau Fuissé Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Brulés" 2006

Here is a review from Chris Macdonald taken from the "New Year's Wine" thread:

Our New Year wine was the Chateau Fuissé Pouilly-Fuissé "Les Brulés" 2006. A bit outside our normal snack bracket at $54.29 but the lobster was cheap.

Clear, clean and mildly golden appearance. Reltively intense nose for a Burgundy with a mix of ripe apples, melon and mild cumin? It became more tropical as it opened up. Very tasty and enjoyable. Med-bodied, good fruit/acid balance with a long finish.

Price: $54.29
Score: 88
Value: 3/5
Region: Macon, Burgundy
Grape: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.5%
UPC: 3760113386060

Concha y Toro Don Melchor 2001

I picked this wine out of the cellar - even though it is no longer available, Kelly is pretty sure we got it at ANBL, so I'll post a note on it.

I'll cut right to the point - this wine is great. Structure, fruit, complexity, length - it's got everything. The flavours are generally on the dark side of the spectrum - I get chocolate, for example, though Kelly doesn't. Here are her notes:

"Lush, dark nose of anise, blackberries, cedar, minerals, spices, earth, vanilla on nose follows through on palate, plus tar. Smooth and round on palate. Tannins are firm but not obtrusive. Beautifully balanced and very long. Delicious."

Wine Spectator gave this a 95, but Kelly "only" gave it a 93. I'll split the difference and call it 94. My records (yes, I have records for my cellared wine) show I paid about $49 when I bought it. I expect the price has gone up since then, but it would be great value even at a higher price. Wine Spectator has rated recent vintages consistently in same range. If we're luckly we'll see a new vintage on the shelves again.

Price: $49
Value: 4.5/5
Score: 94
Alcohol: 14%
Region: Chile, Puente Alto
Tasted: Nov 2008
UPC: No longer available

Palo Alto Reserva Red 2007

The "Make a Suggestion" thread has been very active, so I thought I'd depart from the usual every other day posting schedule in order to catch up on posting some of those reviews. Here's one from Iron Chef, who put this wine on his "Top 10" list:

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

Since the 2007s were on the shelf, I had to get it a try. The Cab/Syrah/ Carmenere blend is an annual All-Value nomination for me and the 2007 is again very good. The nose was dominated by Cracked White Pepper, some Vegetable notes – Red Peppers maybe and Black currants. The Eucalyptus was followed quickly by a nice warm vanilla wood smells to round out the aromas. The Palate was Black fruits mixed with tobacco and heady alcohol. The palate was a touch thinner than I remember but the white pepper was stronger than I had recalled maybe to even it all out. A really enjoyable wine. I can’t think of a better value at ANBL at this time.

Price: $13.49
Score: 85
Value: 5/5
Region: Chile, Maule Valley
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Syrah
Tasted: Dec 2008
UPC: 7804320214085

Trapiche Viña Victorio Coletto Malbec 2004

Malbec is one of the six grape varieties permitted in Bordeaux, although it has declined in popularity in France, apparently because its susceptibility to frost and disease makes it difficult to produce well there.

In recent years, Malbec has been gaining traction as a varietal, particularly in Argentina. Malbec is the most planted red grape variety in there, even thought its plantings were reduced by more than tenfold during the 1980's through a vine pull program (that is, a scheme in which growers receive incentives to pull out vines, usually instituted to counter overproduction or encourage growth of more popular varieties).

I usually think of Malbec as South America's version of Australian Shiraz: fruity, smooth, and flavourful, but not usually very complex or interesting. I'm not sure if that's what Malbec is typically like, but that has been my experience. But this wine is not at all like that. Rather, it's fairly complex, well structured, and full of interesting flavours. The nose is lush, yet elegant, with blackberries, coniferous forest, tobacco, licorice, pepper, cloves, and tar. There is isn't quite as much on the palate as the nose, but it also is fruity, yet structured, and also clear and long, finishing with puckeringly firm tannins.

There is a lot to like about this wine. Also, it goes nicely with dark chocolate.

Price: $40.43
Value: 3.5/5
Score: 91
Alcohol: 15%
Grape: Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Tasted: Dec 21 2008
UPC: 7790240091625

New Year's Wine!

This thread is a great suggestion from Luke: what was / is your New Year's wine - either the wine you celebrated New Year's with, or your first bottle of the new year.