Grilling season is one of my favorite times of year and nothing complements grilled foods better than Zinfandel. My early days of wine reviewing and my passion for wine started with big and bold Zinfandels. I fondly remember heading to Dry Creek with my cousin, to cover as many Zins as we could try in a day. We would always finish the day with a Cline “Live Oak” on the way back to San Francisco. Cline was always open one hour later than everyone else, to catch the weary tasters on the way out of the valley. Those were the days. These days, there are some new players at the top of the Zinfandel scene. They are reviving the grape and making a name for themselves as well. I hope you take the time to explore this unique and exciting grape, along with a big messy rack of barbecue ribs.
Our winner this year was a late entry and quite frankly the last Zinfandel based wine I covered. It is a bit of a blend, but was by far the best Zin option that I covered. The 2009 Paraduxx “Z Blend” from Napa for $48 is Excellent. I awarded it 95 points. This wine is a blend of 62% Zinfandel, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Merlot. This wine opens with an inviting mild blueberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is very impressive. It is full-bodied, ridiculously smooth and silky. I loved its delicious blueberry flavors with nicely integrated mild oak and notes of black cherry, plum, and a dash of black pepper. The finish is dry and its fine tannins are subtle and linger slightly. This terrific wine is very food-friendly and it would pair perfectly with a filet mignon. I loved this wine and drank every drop of it. You will love it too!!
Our top 100% Zinfandel this year is the 2009 Robert Biale “Black Chicken” Zinfandel from Oak Knoll in California. This wine is also impressive. I award this offering 93 points. It was a huge hit with our dinner group at Del Frisco’s in Boston a while back. So much so, that we ordered a second bottle. It is fruit-forward, rich and balanced with delicious extracted black raspberry and boysenberry flavors. It finishes dry and its fruit flavors linger for quite some time after the wine is gone. I would suggest pairing it with veal marsala.
Next up are the top two finishers in our Big Blind tasting. Both wines scored 92 points from the panel. The 2008 Shannon Ridge “Home Ranch Two Bud Block” Zinfandel for $24 opens with a mild and attractive boysenberry bouquet with notes of cedar in the background. On the palate, it was full-bodied, very well balanced, and quite smooth. I personally thought this Zin was delicious and the panel voted similarly. Its flavor profile is a blueberry and boysenberry blend with nicely integrated black pepper, spice and a touch of oak. It finishes dry; its flavors and mild tannins sail away nicely. The panel agreed that this Zin was built for a filet mignon.
The 2009 Mauritson “Dry Creek Valley” Zinfandel for $27 also drew some 1st place votes from the panel. As mentioned before it also scored 92 points. This offering opens with a fragrant boysenberry bouquet with a touch of blackberry, strawberry, and smoky oak. It is full-bodied, nicely balanced, and quite smooth. The panel loved its very tasty mild blueberry flavors with nicely integrated old oak and dark cherries. They also detected a dash of black pepper as well. It finishes with dry fine tannins that are a touch sticky. Yet at the same time they are elegant and land softly. The panel suggested that this Zin would also be perfect with filet mignon.
This 92 pointer is still available and I covered it a while ago, before its actual release. I would bet it is showing even better than the score I gave it back then. The 2008 Ravenswood “Teldeschi’ Zin from Dry Creek Valley is one of Joel Petersons Single Vineyard blends. This offering comes in at $35 and is made from 75% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 3% Carignane, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. It was full-bodied, balanced, and very smooth. I enjoyed its tasty mild black cherry flavors with notes of gentle oak. Its dry and sturdy tannins are sticky and show very good length. If you are looking for a little bolder Zin, give this one a try with a dry-aged ribeye from Grill 23 restaurant in Boston.
Our next wine is another Zin based blend. The 2009 Orin Swift “Prisoner” for $35 is always popular with our tasting panel. This year’s blend is comprised of 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Grenache, and 1% Malbec. The panel scored this wine 91 points. They described it as full-bodied, balanced, and savory with tasty black raspberry and plum flavors. They also detected notes of black pepper and a hint of cherry vanilla as well. It finishes with dry and building gentle dusty tannins which are a little bit sticky. The panel suggested pairing this wine with several meals. Garlic pork roast, venison or buffalo burgers topped the list.
Our next winner is from one of the top Zin producers in the Dry Creek Valley. The 2009 Seghesio “Cortina” Zinfandel was my favorite from their portfolio this year. It costs $38 per bottle and I scored it 91 points. There were 2,500 cases made, so you should be able to find some. This 100% Zin is medium-bodied, balanced, and fruity. I really liked its classic black raspberry flavors with notes of plum, gentle old oak and a touch of black pepper. It closes with moderate sticky tannins that linger for some time. Those tannins and its flavor profile make it a good match for slow cooked beef brisket.
Our last 91 pointer is the 2008 Robert Biale “Black Chicken” Zinfandel for $40. This vintage is medium-bodied, balanced, and fruit-forward blackberry jam flavors. What added to its intrigue were the notes of black pepper, black cherry, and black currant that were so nicely integrated. It finishes dry with dusty vanilla oak tannins that linger for quite some time. I feel that this big fruit bomb Zin would be a perfect choice for big rack of barbecue ribs this summer.
Speaking of a wine that would be perfect with a messy rack of barbecue ribs and some moist corn bread. Our top 90 pointer comes from one of our favorite Zin producers. The 2009 Four Vines “Biker” Zinfandel from Paso Robles is our top scoring Four Vines Zin this year. This fruit bomb opens with a classic fragrant blackberry jam bouquet with a hint of licorice. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very fruit-forward. I really liked its ripe blackberry jam flavors with notes of plum and a hint of oak and black pepper. It finishes dry and its fruit flavors linger for quite a while. If you love fruity Zins give this one a whirl.
The 2010 Seghesio “Sonoma County” Zinfandel is Seghesio’s entry level Zin offering. It is always very good and consistently gets high marks from the trade. This vintage continues those winning ways as I awarded this wine 90 points. It is medium-bodied, juicy and fruit-forward with very tasty black raspberry flavors. I also got notes of boysenberry, black pepper and blackberry mixed in as well. It closes with dry, moderate tannins that are quite sticky. Its fruit flavors also linger for a while making this just another very Good Zin to consider with messy barbecue ribs you are grilling up this summer.
Ballentine Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel “Old Vines” (Napa) $21 (90)
This Zinfandel opens with a heavenly blueberry and plum bouquet. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and fruit forward with tasty blueberry and black cherry flavors and notes of old oak. Serve this rich Zin with roasted duck breast with a reduced blackberry sauce.
Ferrari Carano 2009 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $28 (90)
This Zinfandel Ferrari Carano is quite a fruit bomb. It opens with a fragrant black raspberry jam bouquet. It is medium-bodied, fruit forward, and very jammy. We really liked it ripe black raspberry flavors with notes of red currant jelly and black plum. Its juicy fruit flavors linger making it a perfect wine to pair with meat lasagna.
Miro 2010 Zinfandel “Old Vine Grist Vineyard” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $28 (90)
This Zinfandel opens with a very fragrant blueberry bouquet with a hint of cranberry. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very fruit forward. It displays extracted plum flavors with notes of boysenberry and a hint of red raspberry. I would pair this very rich Zin with cherry amaretto chicken.
Hartford 2009 Zinfandel “Old Vine” (Russian River Valley, CA) $35 (90)
This fruit bomb from Hartford is full-bodied, slightly acidic, juicy and very fruit forward. The fruit flavors are a red currant and black raspberry blend with notes of black pepper and spice. The panel suggested pairing this wine with venison stew and a manchengo cheese platter by the fireplace.
Alysian 2009 Zinfandel “Block Three Bradford Mountain” (Sonoma County) $36 (90)
This Zinfandel opens up and improves a great deal after some time in the glass and a few swirls. It is medium-bodied, balanced and juicy. It shows off juicy plum flavors with notes of strawberry licorice and a touch of black cherry. Its mild and slightly dusty tannins are well controlled. Pair it with thyme seasoned pork tenderloin.
Seghesio 2009 Zinfandel “Old Vine” (Sonoma County) $38 (90)
Another treat from Seghesio. This offering is medium-bodied, slightly acidic, lush and savory. The panel liked its mild plum flavors with notes of blackberry, black pepper and spice. The panel suggested that this Zin would pair well with barbecue beef ribs.
Cakebread 2009 Zinfandel (Red Hills, CA) $41 (90)
This Zinfandel from Cakebread is medium-bodied, balanced, and smooth. Its flavor profile is an oak-infused plum with notes of blackberry, blueberry and hint of cola. It finishes dry and its mild tannins are friendly. The panel suggested pairing this Zin with a juicy Angus bacon burger or a flank steak.
Our 89 Point Zins:
Four Vines 2009 Zinfandel “Maverick” (Amador County, CA) $15 (89)
This Zinfandel was deemed to be a friendly Zin by the panel. It is medium-bodied and soft. Its displays gentle plum flavors with hints of black licorice. The panel suggested pairing this friendly Zin with pork tenderloin.
Bradford 2007 Zinfandel “Dry Creek Vineyard” $18 (89)
This Zinfandel opens with a pretty blueberry and mild blackberry bouquet. It is medium-bodied, smooth and easy to drink. I liked its tasty black cherry flavors with hints of juicy blueberry, mild vanilla oak and dark chocolate.
Four Vines 2009 Zinfandel “The Sophisticate” (Sonoma County) $20 (89)
Consistently a reader’s favorite. The 2009 is medium-bodied, balanced and juicy with tasty red currant and plum flavors with notes of pomegranate mixed in. Perfect to pair with lamb kabobs.
Duckhorn 2009 Zinfandel “Decoy” (Sonoma Country) $22 (89)
This is a very nice Zin from the folks at Duckhorn. They also made our top scoring wine. The Decoy is medium-bodied, fruit-forward and displays nice flavors. Those flavors are a black cherry and black raspberry blend with notes of nicely integrated black pepper and some old oak. The finish is dry and it is nicely prolonged.
Dry Creek Vineyard 2008 Zinfandel “Old Vine” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $28 (89)
Our last highlighted 89 pointer is the “Old Vine” Zin from Dry Creek. This offering is medium-bodied, balanced, and round. The panel liked its oak-infused plum flavors with a hint of black currant. It finishes with dry dusty tannins that are nicely prolonged. The panel thought this Zin would pair well with beef bourguignon or Coq au Vin.
Other 89 Pointers To Consider:
Murphy Goode 2006 Zinfandel “Snake Eyes” (Alexander Valley) $35 (89)
Sebastiani 2009 Zinfandel “Dry Creek Valley” (CA) $30 (89)
Grgich Hills 2008 Zinfandel “Estate Grown” (Napa Valley, CA) $35 (89)
Acorn 2008 Zinfandel “Heritage Vines” (Russian River Valley, CA) $35 (89)
V. Sattui 2009 Zinfandel “Crow Ridge Vineyard” (Russian River Valley, CA) $37 (89)
Tres Sabores 2008 Zinfandel “Rutherford” (CA) $35 (Organic) (89)
Our Other Very Good Zins recommendations:
Navarro Vineyards 2009 Zinfandel “Mendocino” (CA) $19 (88)
Truett Hurst 2009 Zinfandel “Red Rooster” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $28 (88)
Dashe 2008 Zinfandel “Louvau Vineyard Old Vines” (Dry Creek Valley, CA) $32 (88)
Murphy Goode 2008 Zinfandel “Liar’s Dice” (Sonoma County, CA) $21 (87)
A Good Value Zin to keep on your radar:
The 2009 Four Vines “Old Vine Cuvee” Zinfandel for $12 is a Good bulk purchase wine to consider. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very easy to drink. Its flavor profile is a mild plum and mild oak blend with a hint of black cherry and a dash of black pepper in the background. It is a pleasant everyday Zin that would pair well with a burger, pizza or even lasagna. They made 50,000 cases so stock up with this affordable Zin for all your summer barbecues.
I hope you have as much fun exploring Zinfandels this summer as I did covering them this winter. Zinfandel is such a fun grape. Please feel free to post a comment and tell me and my readers about your favorite Zinfandel discoveries.
Cheers – Ken
Our annual Syrah and Shiraz tastings are some of my favorite tastings of the year. The flavor profiles I like the best include blueberry, blackberry, and boysenberry. This is a grape that frequently delivers these flavors. Overall, you are going to find the best Syrah and Shiraz offerings are a bit on the expensive side. However, there are a few deals sprinkled in here as well. I hope you find and enjoy some of these gems. I know we enjoyed them!
The highest scoring Syrah, which was the winner of our Big Blind tasting is the 2009 Paul Hobbs “Kick Ranch Vineyard” Syrah for $50. It is outstanding. The panel rewarded it by assigning it 93 points. This wine is full-bodied, balanced, and silky smooth. The panel loved its ripe blackberry flavors with notes of integrated oak. They also detected secondary flavors, like minerality and plum. It is a pretty complex Syrah. The finish is rather dry and its dusty tannins are sticky and sail on for quite some time. The panel suggested that this is a sipping Syrah. Sit back with some sharp cheddar cheese and enjoy! Also note, there were only 193 cases were made, so call the winery and beg.
Our next wine always seems to be near the top of our Syrah results each year. Perhaps it is because it is a blend and they sneak in some Petite Sirah. (Another favorite grape of the panel). The 2008 Shafer “Relentless” for $60 was award 92 points. It is pitch black colored and finished in second place in our big blind tasting. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied, very well balanced, and super smooth. The flavor profile is a delicious mild blackberry and black currant blend with nicely integrated black licorice. There are hints of black pepper as well. It finishes very dry and its tannins are very sticky and quite prolonged. The panel suggested serving this wine with duck. This wine will be easier to find as 3,300 cases were made.
Our next Syrah is a great deal. So much of a deal, that my panel bought up the few remaining cases left in our state. So after your read this, you will need to call your favorite retailer right away to see if you can get some. The 2007 Bradford Mountain “Grist Vineyard” Syrah for $25 is a steal. The panel rewarded it with 91 points and immediately ordered it once they heard the price. There were only 500 cases of this organic gem made, so you will have to hurry to get some. This wine was full-bodied, balanced, and savory. It displayed boysenberry flavors wrapped in a blanket of smoky oak. The panel also detected notes of plum, black cherry, and a dash of black pepper that added to the complexity and intrigue. The panel loved this wine and suggested pairing it with beef bourguignon or venison stew.
Next up is a single vineyard offering from Andrew Murray. His 2008 “Terra Bella Vineyard” for $36 is initially a bit in your face and over the top. It fooled many on the panel who thought it was from Australia. It opens with a fragrant blackberry liquor bouquet with a hint of plum. On the palate, this wine is intense, rich and concentrated with very extracted blackberry flavors. We also detected notes of integrated oak, plum, spice, and black pepper. The panel suggested bringing this wine up to the ski lodge and serving it with sharp cheddar cheese or creole shrimp scampi. Hurry if you want to try it. Only 240 cases were made.
If you want to try the real McCoy from down under, then give the 2009 Brokenwood “Hunter Valley” Shiraz a try. At $40 it is a bit pricey, but it is an impressive offering and received 91 points. It opens with an inviting blackberry jam and blueberry bouquet. It is full-bodied, initially a little acidic, mouthwatering and juicy, but does smooth out with some aeration. I really enjoyed its mild oak-infused ripe blackberry flavors with notes of black raspberry and a hint of black cherry. This wine is built for Mr. P’s barbecue ribs and boy was it a perfect match.
Krupp Brothers has always been a leader in the Syrah category. Their 2007 “Black Bart’s Bount” Syrah is just another example of how good they are. This $45 offering from the Napa Valley is a gem. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied, balanced, fruit forward, and rich. The flavor profile is a dark chocolate and black currant blend with notes of blackberry, blueberry and oak. It was rather complex. It finishes dry, chewy and its dusty tannins stick around for quite a while.
The next two 91 pointers both come with a big step up in price. Both are from Kilikanoon. However, they originate from two different valleys in Australia. The first one is the 2008 Kilikanoon “M” Shiraz for $70. This offering hails from the McLaren Vale. The panel described it as medium-bodied, balanced, and smooth. We enjoyed its very tasty mild boysenberry flavors with notes of blueberry and a touch of mild oak and blackberry. It finishes dry and its fine tannins are nicely prolonged. The group suggested that this Shiraz would pair well with a prime rib.
Next up is the Kilikanoon 2008 “Green Vineyard” Shiraz also for $70. This one comes from the famous Barossa Valley. I personally found this Shiraz to be quite impressive! It is full-bodied, well balanced, and rather smooth. The flavor profile is a very tasty mild blackberry with notes of oak and hints of plum, blueberry, and vanilla. It is quite complex. This wine is the bigger one of the two. The panel suggested pairing it with duck breast, braised short ribs or a veal chop. There were only 50 cases of each of these wines imported into the US. Go right to the folks at Old Bridge Cellars if you want to try some.
We will start off our 90 pointers with one of the best deals in this report. The 2009 Hope Estate “The Ripper” Shiraz for $15 is a steal. This Western Australian gem is full-bodied, balanced, rich and very fruit forward. Its flavor profile is a concentrated blackberry and boysenberry blend with nicely integrated vanilla oak. It finishes dry and its fine tannins are gentle and friendly. I would pair this wine with braised barbecue short ribs.
The next two 90 pointers are also from down under. I will present each briefly. The 2008 Plantagenet “Mount Barker” Shiraz for $29 gets real interesting on the palate. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very easy to drink. I really liked its very tasty mild red raspberry flavors with hints of red cherry. There is a touch of pomegranate and a dash of pepper mixed in. Pair it with grilled salmon. The 2010 Two Hands “Gnarly Dudes” Shiraz from the Barossa Valley is full-bodied, well balanced, and smooth. We enjoyed its plum and blackberry flavors with notes of mild oak. It would be nice with sharp cheddar cheese by the fireplace on a cold winter night.
John Duval Wines 2009 Shiraz “Entity” (Barossa Valley, Australia) $40 (90)
Reininger 2008 Syrah “Walla Walla Valley” (Washington) $43 (90)
Maisonry 2009 Syrah “Proprietary Red” (Napa Valley, CA) $48 (90)
Cakebread 2009 Syrah “Napa Valley” (Napa Valley, CA) $55 (90)
Krupp Brothers 2008 Syrah “Black Bart Stagecoach Vineyard” (Napa Valley, CA) $60 (90)
Kilikanoon 2008 Shiraz “Oracle” (Clare Valley, Australia) $70 (90)
Donelan 2009 Syrah “Cuvee Keltie” (Sonoma County, CA) $75 (90)
Other Very Good Shiraz And Syrahs To Consider
Shoofly 2010 Shiraz (South Australia) $14 (89)
A great value Shiraz that is medium-bodied, nicely balanced, smooth and fruit-forward. I really enjoyed its tasty black-raspberry jam flavors with hints of integrated mild oak. Pair it with a pulled pork sandwich.
Andrew Murray 2008 Syrah “Tous les Jours” (Central Coast, CA) $16 (89)
This is another good value California Syrah that is light enough to appeal to Pinot lover. It is medium-bodied, smooth, and very approachable. It displays pleasant black plum flavors with hints of blackberry and red currant.
Acorn 2008 Syrah “Axiom” (Russian River Valley, CA) $33 (89)
Montes 2007 Syrah “StarAngel” (Paso Robles, CA) $35 (89)
Sequel 2007 Syrah (Columbia Valley, WA) $55 (89)
Turtle Creek 2009 Syrah (Grass Valley, CA) $18 (88)
Leeuwin Estate 2008 Shiraz “Siblings” (Margaret River, Australia) $20 (88)
Stark Conde 2008 Syrah (Stellenbosch, South Africa) $27 (88)
Leeuwin Estate 2008 Shiraz “Art Series” (Margaret River, Australia) $35 (88)
Plantagenet 2008 Shiraz “Hazard Hill” (Western Australia) $13 (87)
A Couple Of Good Entry Level Options
Mandolin 2009 Syrah “Central Coast” (CA) $10 (86)
D’Arenberg 2010 Shiraz “The Stump Jump” (McLaren Vale, Australia) $12 (86)
As many readers know, Petite Sirah is one of my favorite wines. The panel loves it as well. So every March we try to do a mini-tasting to find some gems for our readers. Here are this year’s results.
I’m going to start with the clear winner from our most recent blind tasting for this grape category. The 2009 Tres Sabores Petite Sirah “Calistoga” for $45 Rocks! The panel scored it 92 points. On the palate, this wine is so inviting. It is full-bodied, very well balanced, and really smooth. The panel loved its flavor profile of very tasty mild black plum and gentle oak with hints of blueberry, chocolate, and coffee. It finishes very dry and its dusty moderate tannins drift away quite nicely. The panel suggested pairing this gorgeous Petite Sirah with a dry-aged rib-eye.
Our only 91 pointer is a hybrid. The 2009 Robert Foley “The Griffin” is made up of 50% Petite Sirah and the rest Cab and Merlot. However, it is a good value and will be enjoyed by all Petite Sirah lovers. It is full-bodied, very well balanced, and super smooth. The panel loved its delicious cherry vanilla flavors with notes of blueberry and plum with a touch of black licorice. Its finish is dry and its bold tannins are dusty and very sticky. This wine is always very consistent and for $35, it is a lot of wine for the money!
Four Vines has always crafted Very Good Petite Sirah. The 2009 Petite Sirah from Paso Robles was well received by the panel and scored 90 points from the panel. At $18 it is the best deal we found. It opens with a blueberry and mild oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full-bodied, slightly acidic, and juicy. The panel enjoyed its mild red raspberry and plum flavors with hints of cherry-cola, black pepper and oak. Unlike many Petite Sirahs this offering displays moderate tannins which are slightly prolonged and food-friendly. The panel suggested pairing this wine with barbecue steak tips or meatballs.
The next offering is a new one for us and for Ferrari Carano. Their 2009 Petite Sirah from the Dry Creek Valley is pretty impressive for a first time offering. It is 100% Petite Sirah, costs $34 and scored 90 points from the panel. We found it to be full-bodied, round and juicy. Its flavor profile is a black cherry and plum blend with hints of blueberry and black pepper. Like the Four Vines, it displays friendly moderate tannins that are nicely prolonged. The panel thought this one would be best with slow cooked barbecue beef brisket or veal marsala.
Other Petite Sirahs to consider:
1) Shannon Ridge 2009 Petite Sirah “Ranch Collection” (Lake County, CA) $24 (88 points)
2) Vina Robles 2008 Petite Sirah “Jardine Estate” (Paso Robles, CA) $26 (88 points)
As you can see, there are very few Petite Sirahs that qualify as Very Good or better. Those that do make the cut are extraordinary wines. We hope you enjoy the above gems as much as we did. Cheers and Enjoy! - Ken
This year was a very interesting year for Cabernets under $50. The reason it was so interesting is that the 2008 Cabs at this level were such fruit bombs. Many could be confused with a very good Zinfandel in a blind tasting. We also tried some 2007s and a few 2009s as well. In general, the 2007s are very tasty and ready to go right away. However, they tend to lack the structure or tannins that we found in the 2006 and 2008 vintages. 2008s as I mentioned are fruit bombs with a decent amount of tannins. 2009 is a vintage that I think we are really going to like a lot, but it is too early to make a broad based statement on the vintage.
So what Cabs did well? Our top scoring wines tended to cost between $30 and $50 with a couple of exceptions. Our top 91 pointer is the 2008 Paul Hobbs “Crossbarn” Cabernet for $35. This 100% Cabernet oozes with very fragrant ripe black raspberry and blackberry jam aromas. Like many 2008 Cabs at this level, it is juicy and loaded with extracted fruit. Those fruits are ripe black currant and blackberry with complex hints of dark chocolate, oak, boysenberry, and plum. This Cab is ideal for drinking on its own as its complex and robust flavors will likely overwhelm many foods. Sit back by the fireplace on a cold winter’s night and enjoy.
Our next 91 pointer isn’t exactly a pure Cab but a cuvee of mostly Cab with some Merlot & Cabernet Franc. However, it was so good and well received, that I had to include it in the post. The 2008 Monticello Vineyards “Jefferson Cuvee” for $38 was one of our top scorers in our fall blind tasting. The panel thought it was a lot of wine for the money. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and very suave. The panel loved its tasty mild plum flavors with notes of cinnamon and holiday spices. We suggested drinking this in the near term with a beef wellington or sesame encrusted seared tuna.
Our sole 2007 91 pointer was the Ladera from Napa Valley. This $39 offering was balanced and smooth. Its flavor profile was a mild black currant with hints of black cherry and gentle oak. It finishes dry and its moderate tannins are a bit sticky and linger nicely. This wine would be perfect with a thick porterhouse steak
Our next offering is consistently at the top of our list for this category. The 2008 Chappellet “Signature” Cabernet from the Napa Valley cost $48 per bottle. It opens with a fragrant ripe black currant bouquet with hints of black cherry. It displays juicy ripe black currant flavors with integrated oak notes. I also detected hints of anise and black cherry as well. Its moderate and fine tannins are friendly and would pair well with a messy batch of braised short ribs.
Our final 91 pointer is one of our top organic wines of the year. The 2008 Volker Eisele “Family Estate” Cabernet for $48 hails from the Napa Valley. It is medium-bodied, balanced and very approachable. The panel really liked its oak-influenced black raspberry flavors with notes of black currant and a touch of black pepper. Its big tannins are rather sticky and ripe fruit also sticks around for quite a while. This organic wine will benefit from air and cellar time. If you can’t resist, you could pair it with braised short ribs as well.
Our next grouping is our 90 pointers. We had 8 wines that qualified at this level. Our top choice is the 2008 Shannon Ridge “Home Ranch” Cabernet. This Cab is from the High Valley in California. At $25 it is one of the best value Cabs that I covered from the 2008 vintage. It is balanced, smooth, and fruit forward. It is also quite complex with several different flavors including ripe blackberry, pomegranate and a touch of vanilla, black cherry, and oak. It finishes with dusty tannins that are rather sticky and linger for quite some time after the wine is gone. This wine has lots of flavor and needs some fat in the near term. I would serve this very good Cabernet with barbecue grilled Angus steak tips. There were only 337 cases of this wine made. Seek it out soon before it is all gone!
Our next 90 pointer is our first 2009 vintage Cabernet. The 2009 Cameron Hughes “Lot 300″ Cabernet for $28 is very impressive. I am sure it was a hit at the Boston Wine Expo. It is medium-bodied, very well balanced, and quite smooth. I loved its tasty blueberry and black cherry flavors with notes of vanilla oak. It is quite dry and its sticky fine tannins linger for quite some time. This Cab from Cameron would pair perfectly with pulled pork sliders.
Kendall Jackson has really stepped up its red program over that last few years. Their success continues with the 2008 “Grand Reserve” Cabernet. This $30 Cab opens with an inviting mild black currant and blackberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium-bodied, balanced, savory and shows off its fruit. The flavor profile is a tasty mild blackberry with an interesting peppermint flavor nicely intertwined. I would pair this friendly Cab with a Colorado lamb chop.
Our next Cab is the 2007 Matanzas Creek “Helena Montana” Cabernet from the Knights Valley. It is a nice reflection of the 2007 vintage. It is a very friendly and elegant. It is designed to be consumed in the near term. I enjoyed its tasty mild black cherry flavors with hints of oak and a splash of anise and dash of black pepper. Its dry fine tannins drift away nicely and make it a good choice with a filet mignon.
Another elegant and food friendly Cabernet Sauvignon is the 2007 “Elodian” Cab from Tom Eddy. It is medium-bodied, rather smooth and very approachable. I liked its tasty mild black currant flavors with notes of oak and hints of blueberry and blackberry. It finishes with moderate dusty oak tannins that are well managed and nicely prolonged. It comes in at $40 and would be ideal with a thick ribeye steak.
Sebastiani’s white label Cabernet from the “Alexander Valley” has consistently been one of my favorite Cabs at this level over the years. The price has crept up a bit and it is now $40 a bottle. But given its 90 point status for the 2008 vintage and the fact that it was a real crowd pleaser at a Christmas party we attended makes it a worthwhile investment. Its flavor profile is a very tasty black currant and plum blend with notes of nicely integrated old oak and a hint of black pepper and black cherry. This food-friendly Cab with perfect beef stroganoff.
Our next two 90 pointers come from the same producer. Both the 2007 and 2008 vintages scored 90 points. Who is this consistent producer? Clos Pegase. Their 2007 “Estate Bottled” Cab for $40 is medium-bodied, nicely balanced, savory and fruit forward. The panel enjoyed its tasty classic black currant flavors with hints of black pepper and blackberry. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins make it food-friendly. The panel suggested pairing it with a New York Strip steak or braised short ribs. The 2008 Clos Pegase “Estate Bottled” Cab is is full-bodied, lush, juicy and shows pleasant acidity. It displays interesting blackberry flavors with notes of black licorice, dark chocolate and hints of black currant and gentle oak. It finishes dry and its fruit flavors linger with just a bit of sticky mild tannins. This wine is one of those fruit bombs that will appeal to readers who like fruity Cabs and Zins alike. I would pair it with Mr. P’s beef brisket.
Our final 90 point wine less than $50 is the 2008 Robert Mondavi “Oakville” Cabernet Sauvignon. This popular Cab costs $45 a bottle and there is plenty of it as 7,700 cases were made. It opens with a fragrant black currant and blueberry pie bouquet with hints of mint. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, balanced, and very smooth. The panel liked its tasty black cherry flavors with notes of oak and plum. It finishes dry and its moderate dusty tannins show moderate length. The panel suggested pairing this very nice Cab with a venison steak or red wine braised lamb shanks.
Our first three 89 pointers are all under $20, so they are worthy of some fanfare and highlighting. Our first one is the 2009 Columbia Crest “H3″ Cabernet from the Horse Heaven Hills in Washington State. I often get asked for a really good value Cabernet. Here it is! This is a lot of Cab for the money. It is an impressive and affordable at $15. It is balanced and smooth and displays gentle black cherry and plum flavors with a hint of black currant and oak. Its very mild tannins that barely show up in the end which makes it very food-friendly and it would be perfect with meatloaf. It should be easy to find with 69,000 cases made. You might want to stock up and make it your weekday Cab.
Joe Carr is known for his Very Good reasonably priced wines. His 2009 “Josh” Cabernet for $14 is another food-friendly wine. It is medium-bodied and very approachable. The flavor profile is a plum and black currant blend with hints oak of blueberry. It would pair well with veal parmigianna.
Our final highlighted 89 pointer is the 2008 Merryvale “Starmont” Cabernet. This Napa Valley Cabernet is a deal at $18 per bottle. It is mediu-bodied and juicy with tasty black cherry flavors. I also detected notes of black plum with hints of black currant and a touch of old oak mixed in. Its dusty tannins are sticky and slightly prolonged. I would suggest that this Cab would be a nice glass pour option paired with a grilled barbecue chicken sandwich.
4. Zuccardi 2007 Cabernet “Q” (Mendoza, Argentina) $22
5. Charles Krug 2008 Cabernet (Napa Valley, California) $27
6. Chateau Ste. Michelle 2008 Cabernet “Canoe Ridge Estate” (Horse Heaven Hills, WA) $28
7. Reininger 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon “Walla Walla” (Washington) $33
8. Francois Lurton 2008 Cabernet “Gran Araucano” (Colchagua Valley, Chile) $35
9. Freemark Abbey 2007 Cabernet “Napa Valley” (California) $40
At the 88 point level I am going to tell you about another Columbia Crest Cab. Their 2008 “Grand Estates” Cabernet for $12 is a steal. It is medium-bodied and smooth. I really like its tasty black cherry and blueberry flavors with nicely integrated mild vanilla oak. This wine is a Very Good option for a $12 bottle of wine. It is also a great glass pour and it would be perfect with a thick Angus burger smothered in sautéed mushrooms and barbecue sauce. There are 225,000 cases of this wine made so it should not be hard to find. Buy it by the case.
2. Oberon 2009 Cabernet “Napa Valley” (California) $20
3. Vina Robles 2008 Cabernet “Huerhuero Estate” (Paso Robles, CA) $22
4. Franciscan 2008 Cabernet “Napa Valley” (California) $27
5. Plantagenet 2008 Cabernet “Mount Barker” (Australia) $29
Another $12 Cab to consider is the Aquinas 2009 from Napa Valley and it tops our 87 point Cabs list. It opens with an attractive oak and mild black cherry bouquet with hints of inviting plum and floral notes. Its flavor profile is an interesting blend of dark chocolate, mild black cherry and black currant. I also detected some old oak as well. It’s pretty interesting for a $12 wine. It finishes with mild sticky tannins that linger for quite a while. It’s a nice pub wine to enjoy with a big and juicy burger.
1. Kendall Jackson 2008 Cabernet “Vintners Reserve” (California) $18
2. Shannon Ridge 2008 Cabernet “Ranch Collection” (Lake Country, CA) $19
Our 86 point Cabs are all Good options. Three of them only cost $10. Check out the reviews and give a couple a try. They are all nice wines for the money.
1. Valentin Bianchi 2009 Cabernet “Sensual” (Mendoza, Argentina) $10
2. Cono Sur 2009 Cabernet “Bicycle” (Central Valley, Chile) $10
3. Fairview 2010 Cabernet “La Capra” (Coastal Region, South Africa) $10
4. Mandolin 2009 Cabernet “Central Coast” (California) $12
We hope you enjoy thes Cabs as much as we did. Please be sure to post your favorite Cabs for all our readers to see. Cheers! – Ken
Our review of miscellaneous White Wines in the fall is always one of my favorite tastings. We are able to taste all the uncommon grapes. These wines will probably not be your household names, but they offer unique flavors and opportunities to try something new. This is a treat for those of us who enjoy wine tasting and wine reviewing because with each new vintage there is a new treasure hunt! This tasting always offers me a great opportunity to discover many gems. Below is the list of the best white wine blends that I discovered over the last couple of months. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Our first wine and highest scoring of the evening, is a Chenin Blanc from South Africa. This wine is 2 for 2 with me. The 2009 is a great follow up to the Excellent 2008 vintage. What is this mystery 93 point gem? It is the 2009 Ken Forrester “The FMC” Chenin Blanc for $65. I have found it to consistently be the best Chenin Blanc that I have covered from South Africa. This year’s vintage opens with a rich banana cream pie bouquet. On the palate, it is full-bodied, balanced, and creamy with delicious mild oak-infused pear flavors. I also detected hints of green apple and honey that added to its intrigue. This wine is so good that I would pair it with one of my favorite meals: Chicken St. Timothy.
Next up is a white blend from Italy: the 2009 Fontana Candida “Luna Mater” received 92 points from me and was quite popular at a family gathering that we attended. This wine did not last very long. It is made from 70% Malvasia, 10% Greco, 10% Bombino, and 10% Trebbiano grapes. If you have never tried any of these grapes, this would be a perfect place to start. The wine is medium-bodied, balanced, and fruit forward. I really enjoyed its ripe Bosc pear flavors with notes of red apple and a hint of almond. The wine finishes semi-dry and is very refreshing. This wine is very food-friendly and unique. Try it with shrimp scampi or rainbow trout almandine. You can thank me later.
Another 92 pointer is the 2009 Maisonry “Stagecoach Vineyard” Marsanne. This offering comes is at $38, but is worth every penny. It is very impressive. This wine is full-bodied, well balanced, and displays a very round mouthfeel. Its flavor profile is a spiced pear and vanilla oak blend with a hint of toffee. It was yummy! This Marsanne will appeal to readers who like classic California-styled Chardonnay. If you are lucky enough to snag a bottle or two of this gem, I would pair it with chicken cordon bleu. Hurry, there were only 313 cases made and now everyone knows how good it is!
Our next wine is the steal of the year in this category. The 2010 Navarro “Edelzwicker” for $13 is an amazing wine for the money. I awarded it 91 points. This special wine is a very unique blend of 35% Riesling, 33% Pinot Gris, 28% Gewurztraminer, and 4% Muscat Blanc. As you might suspect, given the grape blend, it opens with a fragrant peach and lychee bouquet. On the palate, this wine is nicely balanced and slightly sweet. Its flavors are a very tasty blend of peach and ripe lychee with a hint of minerality and apricot. It’s finish is semi-dry and drifts away so nicely. This white wine blend is a terrific Friday night wine to pair with take-out chicken lo-mein after a very long work week.
Our other 91 pointer is the 2009 Robert Foley 100% Semillon from the Napa Valley. I have to say that this is perhaps the best Semillon that I have covered recently. That tends to happen a lot with Bob’s wines! This offering is light-bodied and very friendly on the palate. Our group really enjoyed its very tasty and pleasant gentle Anjou pear flavors with hints of stony minerality and apple. Like many of these unique white wines, it is very food-friendly and would pair well with many foods. I personally would choose the grilled trout from Les Z’s. There was not much of this gem made, so call the winery to improve your chances of getting some. Only 200 cases were made. It is $25 per bottle.
OK, are you ready for another steal? Try the 2010 Bodegas Campante “Vina Reboreda” from Ribeiro in Spain. I scored this impressive $11 quaffer 90 points. Here is the best news: they made 25,000 cases so you should easily be able to find it. This wine is light to medium-bodied and is made from 40% Treixadura, 20% Godello, 20% Torrontes & 20% Palomino grapes. We really liked its pleasant Anjou pear flavors with nicely infused mineral notes. This offering is dry and quite refreshing with just a touch of lingering residual acidity. We enjoyed this white wine blend from Spain. We found it to be very easy to drink. I would pair it with swordfish skewers or steamed mussels. Buy it by the case!
Our next two 90 pointers are also really good values. We will start with the 2010 Principessa Gavia “Gavi” for $14. I like Gavi wines in general, but I really like this one. The 2010 vintage is almost clear colored and opens with a mild lemon and Anjou pear bouquet with notes of wet stone. 
On the palate, it is slightly crispy and mouthwatering. I was drawn in by its mineral-infused Bosc pear flavors with notes of lime. While I was drinking it, all I could think of was how good it would be with Emeril’s pan fried Maryland crab cakes or a seafood casserole. Next up is the 2010 Vina Robles “White 4″ for $16. This white wine from Paso Robles is an interesting blend of 29% Viognier, 28% Verdelho, 27% Sauvignon Blanc & 18% Vermentino. It opens with a fragrant apple and pear-like bouquet. On the palate, it is slightly acidic and crisp with very tasty grapefruit and clementine flavors. I also detected notes of white pepper and a hint of lemon which added to its complexity. This is a very impressive wine for the money. As a matter of fact, it is a steal in my opinion. I would serve it as an opening wine with shrimp cocktail. Your friends will constantly keep asking you, what is this white wine? It’s really good!
The 2010 d’Arenberg “Hermit Crab” from the McLaren Vale is consistently Very Good. I found this vintage to be the best Hermit Crab that I have covered for as long as I can remember. I scored it 90 points, and quite frankly could not get enough of it. This year’s blend is 68% Viognier & 32% Marsanne. It opens with mild candied orange bouquet and displays pleasant Anjou pear and green apple flavors with a hint of minerality. I would pair this Very Good $16 wine with shrimp scampi. Stock up soon.
Our next 90 pointer is another interesting white blend from Spain. The 2009 Adega Cachin “Peza do Rei Blanco” costs $19 a bottle, but is well worth trying. It is made up of 70% Godello, 20% Treixadura & 10% Albarino. If you have never had these grapes before, this would be a great place to start. You will find tasty mild mineral-infused green pear flavors on the palate. Its finishes is dry, elegant and nicely refreshing. It is very versatile and food-friendly and would pair well with broiled halibut stuffed with crab. It might be tough to find as only 300 cases were imported. But it is definitely worth a quick online search.
An easier wine to find would be the 2010 Elk Cove Pinot Gris which also costs $19 and received 90 points. This wine is consistently one of my favorite Pinot Gris out of Oregon. It opens with an attractive peach and mild apricot bouquet. It slightly viscous and shows pleasant acidity. Its tangerine flavor profile with notes of mild minerality and hints of apricot and green pear is very appealing. This Pinot Gris would be prefect with grilled swordfish.
Another 90 pointer is the 2009 Shannon Ridge Viognier from the “Morine Ranch” in High Valley, CA. It comes in at $19. On the palate, this wine is full bodied and creamy with tasty mild peach flavors with hints of cantaloupe and a hint of oak towards the back palate. This wine is very food-friendly and it would pair well with wild mushroom risotto.
Another very consistent 90 point wine is the 2010 Morgadio Albarino from Rias Baixas, Spain. At $20 it is a bit more than many Albarinos but it is consistently very good. This vintage opens with a mild pilsner beer bouquet with a hint of green apple. On the palate, it is light-bodied and slightly acidic. Its flavor profile is a mineral-infused Anjou pear with a hint of gentle lime and saline. This Albarino is a perfect pairing for shellfish. I would recommend Alaskan king crab legs or broiled scallops.
Another interesting blend that we discovered was this Rhone-styled wine from Arrowood Winery in the Russian River Valley. Their 2008 “Cote de Lune Blanc” for $25 is a blend of 41% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne, and 19% Viognier. It is full-bodied, nicely balanced and displays a pleasant round mouth feel. I really enjoyed it very tasty Bosc Pear flavors with notes of anise spice. I also detected hints of minerality and white pepper towards the end. It finishes in a crispy, dry style, while its flavors linger for a little while after the wine is gone. This wine is food-friendly and would pair well with linguine in a white wine clam sauce.
Here is another Spanish blend. The 2009 Herdade do Esporao “Private Selection White” for $25 is a blend of 90% Semillon, 10% Marsanne, and Roussanne. I referr to this wine as a “winter white,” as it is a little heavier than most. Also, readers who like aged white wines will appreciate this offering. It is full-bodied, slightly viscous, round and balanced. Its favor profile is a tasty ripe pear and honey blend with hints of oak and a touch of butterscotch towards the end. This offering would be perfect with squab with truffled mashed potatoes.
The following 90 Pointers cost $30 or more and are worth a peak. Enjoy.
Kendall Jackson 2008 Viognier “Alisos Hill” (Santa Barbara County, CA) $30
John Duval 2010 “Plexus MRV” (61% Marsanne, 26% Roussanne, & 13% Voignier) (Barossa Valley) $35
Tablas Creek 2009 “Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc” (62% Roussanne, 26% Grenache Blanc, & 12% Picpoul Blanc) (Paso Robles, CA) $40
Cantina Terlano 2007 “Lunare Gewurztraminer” (Alto Adige, Italy) $55
These wines are our 89 Pointers. There are some values in the range.
Pine Ridge 2009 (80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Viognier) (California) $14
Cantina Tramin 2010 Pinot Bianco (Alto Adige, Italy) $14
Tiefenbrunner 2010 Pinot Bianco “Weissburgunder” (Alto Adige, Italy) $15
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2010 Gewurztraminer (Finger Lakes, NY) $15
J Vineyards 2010 Pinot Gris “California” $16
Navarro 2010 Gewurztraminer “Dry Estate Bottled” (Anderson Valley, CA) $19
Cadaretta 2010 “SBS” (Columbia Valley, WA) $23
Skylite Cellars 2009 Viognier “Upland Vineyard Snipes Mountain” (Walla Walla, WA) $19
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2009 Gewurztraminer “Reserve” (Finger Lakes, NY) $25
Freemark Abbey 2010 Viognier “Napa Valley” (CA) $27
Tramin 2009 Pinot Grigio “Unterebner” (Alto Adige, Italy) $31
Our 88 point list also includes several Very Good deals. Check it out!
Esporao 2010 “Duas Castas” (Portugal) $13
Stickybeak 2009 “72% Semillon & 28% Sauvignon Blanc” (Sonoma County, CA) $15
Paco and Lola 2009 “Estate Grown Albarino” (Rias Baixas, Spain) $15
Ferrari Carano 2010 “Bella Luce” (Sonoma County, CA) $16
Adegas Morgadio 2010 “Legado del Conde Albarino” (Rias Baixas, Spain) $18
Chehalem 2009 Pinot Gris “3 Vineyard” (Willamette Valley, OR) $19
Novy 2009 Viognier “Russian River Valley” (CA) $19
Adega dos Eidos 2010 “Eidos de Padrinan Albarino” (Rias Baixas, Spain) $24
Benessere 2009 Pinot Grigio “Carneros” (CA) $24
Robert Foley 2009 Pinot Blanc “Napa Valley” (CA) $25
Greyscale Wines 2009 (Sauvignon Blanc and Rousanne) “Cuvee Blanc” (Napa Valley, CA) $34
Don’t rule out our 87 pointers. There are some good values here as well.
D’Arenberg 2009 (Riesling, Marsanne, & Sauvignon Blanc) “The Stump Jump” (McLaren Vale, Aust.) $10
Big House 2010 “Big House White” (CA) $10
Ken Forrester 2010 Chenin Blanc “Petit” (Western Cape, South Africa) $12
St. Michael Eppan 2009 Gewurztraminer “Alto Adige” (Italy) $16
St. Michael Eppan 2009 Pinot Grigio “Alto Adige” (Italy) $16
Biohof Pratsch 2010 Gruner Veltliner “Rotenpullen” (Niederosterreich, Austria) $20
Leeuwin Estate 2009 (62% Sauvignon Blanc & 38% Semillon) “Siblings” (Margaret River, Aust.) $20
We hope you enjoy exploring these tasty white wines as much as we did. Please leave a comment with your opinion on your favorite discovery. We would love to hear from you. Cheers! – Ken
This year was a challenging year when it came to reviewing Merlot. The best Merlots were really good, but they were few and far between. If you like Merlot, you needed to try several options before you found the best ones. That is a challenge for the average consumer. I have done the dirty work and below I provide you with a list of the best ones I have found over the past year. The best ones will cost you some coin, but are well worth it if you like the grape as much as I do. There are a few bargains, but they might be hard to find once the word is out on how good they are. It is my hope that winemakers can do a better job in the future this with very important grape. I hope you like our selections below.
My top 2 selections come from one of my favorite Merlot producers, Robert Foley. Bob makes Merlot for Cab drinkers. They both are solid offerings and show off how well this grape can be made. The first option and our top choice is his most recent release. The 2009 Robert Foley “Napa Valley” Merlot for $52 scored an Excellent 94 points. This vintage is more refined and elegant than Mr. Foley’s previous Merlot vintages. It is full-bodied, well balanced, and silky. I loved its delicious blueberry, spice, and plum flavors with a hint of black pepper. It finishes with ultra-fine tannins that show nice length. This is a terrific Merlot to pair with a filet mignon and a very good friend. Next up is the 2008 Robert Foley “Napa Valley” Merlot for $52. This wine scored 92 points and it is a nice predecessor to the 2009. However, it is a very different wine as well. This vintage is more full-bodied and rich. It displays extracted black cherry flavors with notes of beet, dark chocolate and red currant. Its moderate tannins linger for a while and show a touch of heat. This is a big boy Merlot that would pair nicely with a grilled New York Strip Steak that has a bit more fat.
Next up is the winner of our big blind tasting of mid-tier Merlots. It was the 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle “Canoe Ridge” Merlot for $22. This wine received 91 points from the panel. I think the 2008 was recently released, so if you see this vintage on the shelf or online, buy all that you can. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and rather silky. The flavor profile is a tasty plum with notes of black cherry. The panel also detected hints of cinnamon and coffee which added to its complexity. Its moderate tannins are sticky and nicely prolonged which led the panel to suggest pairing it with a New York strip steak.
Another leader in the Merlot biz is Shafer. Their 2008 “Napa Valley” Merlot for $48 also scored 91 points. This Merlot opens with an attractive blueberry bouquet with a hint of peppermint. It was medium-bodied, nicely balanced, and smooth. I loved its tasty blueberry flavors with notes of red cherry and a hint of plum and minerality. This Merlot is very food-friendly, and is well worth the investment and would pair perfectly with Kobe bacon burger sliders at your favorite bistro.
Our next Merlot finished in 2nd place in our mid-tier priced blind tasting and comes from a producer who has been making Very Good, well priced Merlot for years. The White Oak Winery’s 2007 “Napa Valley” Merlot for $26 was awarded 90 points from the panel. It is made up of 84% Merlot & 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, but you would not guess that it has that much Cab in it. As it is medium-bodied and so silky, like Merlot is supposed to be. Its flavor profile is a gentle oak-infused black cherry with hints of plum. Its finish is rather dry (perhaps the Cab is noted here) and its tannins are sticky and linger. The panel thought this would pair very well with a messy rack of fatty Memphis styled ribs.
We also liked the 2007 Peju Napa Valley Merlot for $35. This wine also scored 90 points. It is medium-bodied and a little juicy with black currant flavors and notes of integrated oak and black pepper. There was also a hint of black cherry detected as well. Because of its well-managed, moderate tannins, it was food-friendly and it would .pair nicely with veal marsala.
Our last 90 point Merlot is another well respected Merlot. The 2007 Pedestal hails from the Columbia Valley in Washington. It is initially tight, but it improves quickly with some swirling and air. At $55, this wine is a little bit more money than some of the others, but it has been a consistent top Merlot over the years. The ’07 is medium-bodied and smooth with mild black currant flavors along with hints of anise, black pepper, minerality and boysenberry. Based on its dry and very mild tannins, I suggest pairing this wine with a filet mignon after decanting it to release its fruit flavors.
At the 89 point level I wanted to highlight one Merlot that was well received by the panel and is available for less than $20. The Gainey 2007 Merlot from Santa Ynez Valley in California comes in at $19. It opens with an intriguing blueberry and blackberry bouquet with hints of campfire and earth. The panel enjoyed its smooth gentle oak-infused plum flavors with hints of blackberry and black cherry. It finishes rather dry and its moderate tannins stick around for quite some time. The panel thought this wine would pair well with a cigar and a ribeye. If you like an occasional cigar, light it up and sit back and enjoy.
Other 89 Point Recommended Merlots
2. Ferrari Carano 2009 Merlot (Sonoma County, CA) $23
3. Charles Krug 2008 Merlot “Napa Valley” (CA) $24
4. Thelema 2007 Merlot (Stellenbosch, South Africa) $29
5. Merryvale 2008 Merlot “Napa Valley” (CA) $48
At the 88 point level we have two value Merlots that qualify for what I call the Practical Party Case. First is the 2009 Charles Smith “The Velvet Devil” for $12. This offering is light to medium-bodied, balanced and easy going. It is a perfect everyday Merlot. It displays gentle black raspberry flavors with hints of black currant, oak, and blueberry. It finishes with dry fine tannins that are friendly. It would pair well with thyme seasoned pork tenderloin or just shepherd’s pie and many other dishes as well. At this price, you can easily buy it by the case.
Our final highlighted wine is the 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle “Columbia Valley” Merlot for $16. However, if you are looking for a soft and wimpy Merlot, then you should look elsewhere, because this Merlot is packed with jammy flavors. It is full-bodied, rich and very concentrated for a Merlot. You will find its flavor profile to be an extracted blackberry with notes of anise, black pepper and a hint of oak. It closes rather dry and its fruit flavors linger along with its sticky tannins. This offering will appeal to Aussie Shiraz fans and it would pair well with a messy rack of barbecue ribs. It’s a good deal, but not your typical Merlot styled wine. With 120,000 case made, it should be very easy to find.
Other 88 Point Recommended Merlots
3. Chateau Ste. Michelle 2008 Merlot “Indian Wells” (Columbia Valley, WA) $18
4. Chateau Ste. Michelle 2009 Merlot “Indian Wells” (Columbia Valley) $18
5. Oberon 2009 Merlot “Napa Valley” (CA) $22
6. Freemark Abbey 2008 Merlot “Napa Valley” (CA) $30
Very Good Merlots that scored 87 points
1. Columbia Crest 2009 Merlot “H3″ (Horse Heaven Hills, WA) $15
2. Ken Forrester 2008 Merlot (Stellenbosch, South Africa) $22
A Good 86 Point Merlot
1. Columbia Crest 2008 Merlot “Grand Estates” (Columbia Valley, WA) $12
I hope you can find some of these very nice Merlots. Be sure to let us know about your favorite Merlot discoveries. Posts and recommendations are always welcome.
Cheers – Ken
Enjoying Sparklers and Champagnes at a New Year’s Celebration is a fun way to ring in the new year. We open the list with a couple of very consistent winners that appear near the top of our recommended list every year.
We start with the 2008 Schramsberg “Blanc de Blanc” from California’s North Coast. The panel awarded this sparkler 92 points and found it to be fairly priced at $36. We found it to be medium-bodied, balanced and rich for a sparkler. Its flavor profile is green apple with notes of minerality and a hint of lime. It finishes rather dry and its flavors linger for quite some time. The panel suggested pairing this gem with coquilles St. Jacques or stuffed mushrooms.
Our second wine is the non-vintage Louis Roederer “Brut Premier” Champagne for $43. This offering also scored 92 points with the panel. It is a top performer with the panel every year. It is medium-bodied, balanced, and rather elegant. They enjoyed its mint green tea flavors with notes of minerality, green apple, and bread dough. The finish is dry and refreshing. The panel suggested pairing this very nice Champagne with chicken piccatta.
Our sole 91 pointer is another entry from Champagne. It is the 2002 Besserat de Bellefon “Cuvee des Moisnes Brut Millesime.” This is classic Champagne. The only downside to this Champagne is that it costs $70 and only 150 cases were imported. This Champagne displays beautiful deep yellow colors and has tons of tiny bubbles. It is full-bodied, lush, rich, and creamy. Its flavor profile is very traditional with bread dough and toasted almond flavors. We also detected a touch of minerality, oak, and lemon as well. This Champagne is very traditional and elegant. It would pair well fresh smoked salmon or trout almandine.
Our next recommendation brings us to Alsace, France for something completely different. The non-vintage Gustave Lorentz “Cremant D’Alsace” for $24 rolled in with 90 points. This sparkler made from 34% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 33% Pinot Blanc should be relatively easy to find as 4,000 cases were made. This sparkler displays crisp apple flavors with a pleasant hint of lime and mild minerality. The finish is dry and rather refreshing. If you are looking for a Very Good and different kind of sparkler to show off to your friends, consider this reasonably priced Cremant D’Alsace from Gustave Lorentz.
The next three offerings are all from Gloria Ferrer and all received 90 points from the panel. The 2006 “Blanc de Blancs” for $26 from the Carneros region is light-bodied, slightly acidic and effervescent. Its flavor profile is apple with hints of white pepper and lemon. The panel suggested that this one would pair well with grilled trout or with warm brie with a blueberry spread on French bread slices. Next up is the 2004 “Royal Cuvee Brut” from Carneros for $32. This one is for readers who like a mineral infused bread dough styled sparkler. We also detected notes of mild apple, lemon, and white pepper. This offering finishes very dry and the panel suggested pairing it with spinach salad with a warm bacon dressing. Finally, we conclude our 90 pointers with the always elegant Gloria Ferrer “Carneros Cuvee Late Disgorged” from the 2000 vintage. This offering costs a bit more at $50, but delivers a level of refinement not found in the other two. It is medium-bodied, nicely balanced, and smooth. Its flavor profile is a mild mineral infused green pear with tart grapefruit and white pepper notes. It finishes dry and rather refreshing. The panel suggested pairing this sparkler with swordfish skewers. It is a nice follow up to the remarkable 1999, but not quite as good.
Our final 90 pointer is the non-vintage Besserat de Bellefon “Cuvee des Moines Blanc de Blancs Champagne Brut” for $62. This Champagne also displays lots of bubbles and opens with a mild bread dough bouquet with a hint of lemon. On the palate, this offering is medium-bodied and slightly acidic. Its flavor profile is a lively lemon with notes of minerality and a touch of green apple. Our mini group thought it would be very nice with broiled scallops.
We covered one 89 pointer of note. The non-vintage Delamotte “Bru” Champagne for $39 opens with a mild green apple bouquet with hints of cantaloupe. This offering is medium-bodied, balanced, and crisp with mild tart green pear and bread dough flavors. We also detected nicely integrated minerality and a dash of white pepper. It is s classic-styled champagne and it is food-friendly as well. The panel suggested pairing it with brick pressed chicken breast with a mushroom risotto.
Other Recommended Sparklers
Fitz non-vintage “Extra Trocken Sekt” (Pfalz, Germany) $22 (87)
This German sparkler called a Sekt is made from 100% Riesling. This is very unique. It opens with a mild green apple and mild bread dough bouquet. On the palate, this wine is quite dry, balanced, and easy going. The flavor profile is a mineral-infused green apple with notes Anjou pear and a hint of apricot. It finishes dry and refreshing. If you are looking for something new and different, give this one a try!
We have two 90 point Rose sparklers we want to highlight. The first one is the 2008 Schramsberg “Brut Rose” for $41. This sparkler is an impressive wine that the panel suggested serving with chicken lo-mein on New Year’s Eve. They found this it to be medium-bodied and slightly acidic with nutty mild strawberry flavors with notes of minerality and white pepper. It finishes dry and refreshing.
The second highlighted sparkler is the 2007 Gloria Ferrer “Brut Rose” for $42. This orangish pink colored sparkler was my personal favorite Sparkling Rose entry this year. The panel had it tied with the Schramsberg. This offering opens with a mild strawberry bouquet with a hint of wet stone. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and balanced with mild mineral-infused strawberry and apple flavors. We found this offering to be rather pleasant. It would be a very nice way to kick off the new year.
Other Recommended Rose Sparklers
Gloria Ferrer NV “Blanc de Noirs” (Carneros, CA) $20 (88)
Roederer Estate NV “Brut Rose” (Anderson Valley, CA) $27 (87)
Dessert wines tend to score high as they are so delicious when made well. As you will see below, we found some of these gems. I look forward to sharing some details of these big scoring winners just in time for the holiday season. You also might be surprised to discover that our top three recommendations come from the Finger Lakes in upstate New York.
Our top dessert wine is phenomenal. That is the good news. The bad news is it is a bit expensive at $70 for a 375 ml bottle and only 98 cases were made. So if you want to buy some delicious wine for the wine lover in your life, give the winery a call right away if you want to get some. So what is this great wine? It is the 2008 Dr. Konstantin Frank “Bunch Select Late Harvest” Riesling. We scored this wine 97 points. It is full-bodied, ultra smooth and very lush. The flavor profile is an absolutely delicious blend of pear, apple and apricot with a hint of mango. It was clearly the best dessert wine that we covered in quite a while. Theresa called it awesome! We think you will agree!
Our next two Excellent choices are Riesling Ice-styled wines from the Finger Lakes. Both wines scored 94 points. The first is the 2010 Standing Stone “Riesling Ice” for $25 It is full-bodied, balanced, rich and very concentrated. The flavor profile is a very tasty and sweet ripe apricot with a touch of peach and hint of raisin. This wine is a dessert all by itself. You could also serve it with sliced green apples and sharp cheddar cheese.
Next up is the 2009 Lamoreaux Landing “Riesling Ice.” This offering is also pretty good deal at $36 for a 375 ml bottle. You should be a able to find it as 400 cases were made. This offering is sweet, viscous, and displays lots of ripe fruit flavors. Those flavors are a very tasty blend of apricot and honey with just a touch of golden delicious apple. Like the Standing Stone, we decided that this was one to serve on its own.
Another rocking offering is the 2009 Freemark Abbey “Edelwein Gold Late Harvest Riesling”. This offering scored 93 points and cost $45 for 375 ml bottle. It is made from 100% White Riesling and only 121 cases were made. This offering is full bodied, viscous, and rather smooth. We loved it very tasty peach tea and fig flavors. I also detected hints of honey, apricot, raisin, and sprinkled brown sugar that added to its intrigue and complexity. It would go perfectly with toasted baguette slices with Great Hill Blue cheese to contrast the sweetness.
Our final 93 pointer is another great deal from Standing Stone. Their 2008 “Chardonnay Ice” from the Finger Lakes is a heck of a deal for $25. It is also a 375 ml bottle and only 186 cases were made. It is full-bodied, viscous and very smooth. I loved its very tasty apricot and ripe pear flavors with notes of honey and pineapple. This is an excellent dessert wine that can be consumed on its own and it would be a perfect choice to finish off a romantic evening.
The next four dessert wines are all 92 pointers. These winners were all made from very unique and different grapes. You might find this set of wines to be a great place to explore different kinds of dessert wines. Our first 92 pointer is the 2010 Navarro Vineyards “Cluster Select Late Harvest Muscat Blanc” from the Anderson Valley in California. We found it to be medium to full-bodied, syrupy, and very sweet. Its flavors were like the best orange marmalade jam you have ever tried. There were also notes of honey and a dash of brown sugar as well. This offering like some of the others is a dessert all by itself and does not need anything else to make it special.
Next up is what they call a “Sticky.” It is from down under in the McLaren Vale region of Australia. This particular one is from D’Arenberg. Their 2010 “The Noble Mud Pie” is made from Viognier and Roussanne. It opens with a fragrant tangerine, apricot, and honey bouquet. I found it to be viscous and display’s pleasant honey and ripe pear flavors with hints of golden raisins towards the back of the palate. It finishes sweet and it would pair well with sharp cheddar cheese.
This next offering from Joseph Phelps and it is a fantastic example of the Scheurebe grape. Their 2010 “Eisrebe” for $50 opens with a very appealing fig, pineapple, and quince bouquet. We enjoyed its pleasantly sweet green apple jelly flavors with notes of mango, dried apricot, and honey. The panel suggested pairing this gem with blueberry cobbler or a French vanilla cheesecake.
For our final 92 pointer, we return to Standing Stone for one of my favorite dessert wines. Every year we find to “Vidal Ice” to be one of our top performers and the 2009 turned out to be another winner. The panel found this wine to be full-bodied, lush, and rich. Those rich flavors were ripe quince with notes of apricot. We also detected hints of raisins, honey and orange marmalade mixed in as well. The panel suggested drinking this one on its own or with bread pudding. They also liked the price ($25) and the value it delivers.
Our sole 91 pointer is true Vidal Blanc Ice Wine. This one also comes from the Finger Lakes. The 2008 Casa Larga “Fiori Vidal Ice Wine” for $45 opens with a very fragrant and attractive apricot and tangerine bouquet with hints of rose petals. It displays classic Vidal apricot flavors with hints of raisin, honey, and molasses throughout. This offering would pair well with bread pudding or a rum cake and be a very good choice for the holidays.
Our 90 Pointers
Every year we cover some late harvest Zins and this one from Edmeades was one of the best ones we covered this year. Their 2006 “Perli Vineyard Late Harvest Zinfandel” for $15 is also a very good value. I found it to be medium-bodied and refined while displaying tasty rich plum and boysenberry flavors. The finish is dry, controlled and shows a touch of delicate sweetness. This wine is extremely approachable and elegant when compared to many Late Harvest Zins. It is food-friendly and versatile. It would pair well with many foods and is not just limited to dessert. Personally, I would suggest serving it with mini pulled pork sliders.
Hermann Wiemer submitted his 2009 “Late Harvest Riesling.” This wine, like many of their wines impressed our tasting panel. This years version is medium-bodied and rather sweet. Its flavor profile is appealing pineapple and apricot blend with a touch of honey and honeydew melon. The finish remains sweet and lasts for about a minute. The panel thought this wine would pair well with baked brie or peach cobbler.
Our final 90-pointer is the 2007 G & M Machmer “Eiswein Bechtheimer Rosengarten” Riesling for $35. This offering was rather viscous and pleasantly sweet. I liked its unique very ripe apricot and brown sugar flavors with notes of apple and a hint of tangerine and raisin mixed in. This wine would be perfect for readers who like richer styled desert wines. I would suggest serving it with an assorted cheese platter.
Our High Scoring Very Good Options
V. Sattui Winery 2010 ”Moscato” (CA) $26 (89)
Macari 2008 “Block E” (Long Island, NY) $40 (88)
EOS 2006 “Zinfandel Port” (Paso Robles, CA) $30 (87)
We think that Dessert wines are a great way to finish off a meal. Try a few of the above and impress your family and friends this holiday season. They are guaranteed to make your evening finish on a positive note.
Cheers,
Ken
This year we received many Rieslings samples to review. That is fine with us. We love Riesling! It is one of the most diverse of the noble grapes. It can be made well in a variety of styles. It ranges from dry, semi-dry, sweet and dessert-styled. Fortunately, I got to try all of them before Thanksgiving and the holidays. The top offerings still do come from Germany. But there are a few US offerings that did sneak into the 90 point range. We hope you enjoy these wines as much as we did.
We start off with an Excellent offering from S.A. Prum. I scored this wine 95 points and it was my favorite Riesling of the year. Their 2009 “Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese” Riesling for $31 is a steal. There are only 1,500 cases of this wine, so you should hurry up and secure some. this wine opens with a mild lime and gentle wet stone bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced between its pleasant sweetness and perfectly integrated acidity. I loved its tasty ripe Anjou pear flavors with notes of peach and a hint of apricot and lime. This wine paired perfectly with my Jonah crab cakes at the Sea Grille. Grab some today, this wine is better than most of the Rieslings you will encounter.
My second favorite Riesling is also Excellent. It is the 2010 Robert Weil “Kiedrich Grafenberg Spatlese” Riesling from the Rheingau. We scored this wine 94 points. It is a lot more expensive at $88. However, it is the best Rheingau wine that we covered, so it is definitely worth exploring if you prefer wines from that region. It displays very tasty apricot and Anjou pear flavors with a hint of minerality. The finish remains sweet and its flavors linger for quite some time. This Spatlese styled wine is very close to a dessert wine. It is also very refined and classy. I suggest serving it with sliced green apples and sharp cheddar cheese to finish off a perfect meal.
Our next offering is the first of many from Dr. Loosen. The 2009 “Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese” Riesling for $32 received 93 points. This impressive wine opens with an attractive mild apricot bouquet. It displays delicious orange flavors with hints of apricot and pear. The finish is sweet and lingers nicely. Our mini-tasting group agreed that this wine was sweet enough to be a dessert wine and did not require or warrant any additional food. At the same price point, ($32) is the 2010 St Urbans Hof “Bockstein Ockfein Spatlese.” This Riesling is another 93 pointer and a great introduction to the 2010 vintage. It is pleasantly sweet and very friendly. It opens with a mild and attractive ripe apple bouquet. It is light-bodied, delicate and slightly crisp with delicious ripe Anjou pear and pineapple flavors. I found it to be a very versatile wine to consider for many occasions.
The 2010 Robert Weil “Trocken Kiedrich Grafenberg Erstes Gewachs” Riesling from the Rheingau is one of the most refined dry styled Rieslings that I have covered this year. It is a first growth wine; like the Spatlese above, it carries an $88 price tag. However, I did score it 93 points and it was the highest rated dry-styled Riesling that I covered. On the palate, this wine is medium-bodied, slightly crisp, and shows off a touch of effervescence with very tasty mild green apple flavors. I also detected notes of gentle minerality, a hint of white pepper and a bit of pilsner beer in the aftertaste. This wine is pleasantly dry, elegant and very food-friendly. It would be a perfect match with Weisswurst and Sauerkraut.
The next two Rieslings both scored 92 points and were made by Dr. Pauly Bergweiler. The first one is his 2009 “Bernkasteler alte Badstube am Doctorberg Kabinett” for $25. This wine is light-bodied, balanced, soft, and sweet. Its flavor profile is a very tasty lemon iced tea with notes of tangerine and a touch of apricot. If you are looking for a very elegant and food-friendly Riesling, then look no further, this one is for you! I would personally pair it with spinach salad with poached pear and Great Hill blue cheese. The second Dr. Pauly 92 pointer is the 2009 “Bernkasteler Badstube Spatlese” for $28. This Riesling is very nicely balanced, between its sweetness and acidity. I really liked its very tasty tangerine and ripe apple flavors with a hint of lime. This would be my top choice for Thanksgiving turkey dinner with cranberry and stuffing.
Before we continue with the bevy of additional German wines, I will introduce you to one of the best deals in this report. The 2009 Navarro Riesling from the Anderson Valley in California kicks off our list of 91 pointers. At $18, this wine is a steal. It is one of the best Dry styled Rieslings that I have covered this summer. It is medium-bodied, crisp, and friendly. The flavor profile is a tasty and slightly tart green pear with notes of minerality and a hint of lime. I thought it would be perfect with steamers with drawn butter.
The next four 91 point wines all hale from the Mosel region in Germany. The first three are Kabinett level wines and the final one is a Spatlese. Our first offering comes from the very consistent Dr. Loosen. His 2009 “Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett” Riesling for $26 was one of our favorites from our recent blind tasting flights. It is light to medium-bodied and exquisitely balanced between its fruit and acidity. The panel lauded this wine’s delicate sweetness with delicious gentle apricot flavors. They also detected a touch of tangerine and pineapple as well. The finish remains delicately sweet and elegant and makes it a perfect pairing for Coquilles St. Jacques.
Next up is a really impressive Kabinett from Dr. Thanish. His 2009 “Bernkasteler Badstube Kabinett” for $29 was one of our top finishers in our recent blind tasting. It is light-bodied, nicely balanced, elegant and pleasantly sweet. The panel was enamored by its very tasty tangerine flavors with a touch of honey, apricot and Bartlett pear. Most of the panel agreed that this Riesling would be a perfect wine to enjoy on its own. Our final 91 Kabinett is the 2009 Joh Jos Prum “Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett” for $33. It is light-bodied and nicely balanced between its sweetness and crisp acidity. It displays ripe Anjou pear and peach flavors with notes of green apple towards the end. The finish is sweet, quite refreshing, and would pair well with broiled scallops.
Staying in Mosel we have one Spatlese that scored 91 points. It was the 2009 Dr. Pauly Bergweiler “Bernkastler alte Badstube am Doctorberg Spatlese” for $33. This Riesling is light-bodied, slightly acidic, lively and pleasantly sweet. Its tasty green apple and Bartlett pear flavors with nicely integrated minerality make it a perfect option to consider with shrimp scampi.
We conclude our 91 pointers with a Finger Lakes single vineyard offering from Hermann Wiemer. The 2009 “Magdalena Vineyard” Riesling for $36 is consistently Very Good. It opens with an Anjou pear and quince like bouquet. On the palate, it is slightly acidic with tasty tart green apple flavors with integrated minerality. It finishes semi-dry and would be a good option with warm Brie with stone wheat crackers.
Our first 90 pointer also comes from the Finger Lakes and is a terrific deal. The 2009 Fox Run Riesling for $14 is medium-bodied, very well balanced, and delicate. It displays very tasty gentle lime flavors with hints of peach and pear. It is semi-dry and extremely food-friendly. It would be perfect with spicy Thai food or Mexican dishes.
We return to Germany for the remainder of the 90 pointers. We will start with the 2009 Bollig Lehnert “Trittheimer Apotheke Kabinett” for $18. This offering is light-bodied, slightly sweet and shows pleasant crisp acidity. The panel enjoyed its light clementine flavors with hints of pear, lime and a touch of minerality. Every panel member gave this wine a 90 point score. Let me point out, that never happens! They suggested pairing it with Chilean sea bass or a ham dish. Next up we return to Dr. H. Thanisch for his 2009 “Kabinett” from Mosel. This wine also costs only $18. It is a Sam’s Club exclusive. It is a must buy if you are a member. You will find it to be nicely balanced, friendly and pleasantly sweet. The flavor profile is a tasty peach with notes of quince and touch of minerality and tangerine. It is a perfect match for chicken lo-mein.
The next three 90 pointers all come from St Urbans Hof. Their 2010 “Estate QbA” for $16 is an absolute steal. This impressive entry level offering, opens with an over ripe pear and green apple bouquet. It is semi-sweet, approachable and slightly acidic. We had this wine on the beach this summer and found its key lime flavors with hints of green apple, honey, and white pepper to be quite tasty. It is a rather refreshing wine and was enjoyed by everyone who got a chance to try it. Next up is their 2009 “Piesporter Goldtropfchen Kabinett” for $22. This offering is pleasantly sweet and nicely balanced between its fruit and acidity. Its ripe lime and mild tangerine flavors with hints of iced tea and touch of lemon make it a perfect choice to serve with your ham and sliced pineapple at your holiday dinner. Our final St Urbans Hof Riesling is their 2010 “Piesportor Goldtropfchen Spatlese” for $35. It is light-bodied and very sweet. Much sweeter than the Kabinett. Its flavor profile is a ripe apricot and green apple blend with notes of pineapple and a touch of minerality. This offering is a nice sipper and would even pair well with lemon meringue pie.
The next 90 pointer is the 2009 Dr. Pauly Bergweiler “Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett” for $23. It is medium-bodied, sweet, and approachable. The panel enjoyed its white peach and tangerine flavors with a touch of honey, tea and minerality. The finish remains very sweet for a Kabinett. The panel suggested pairing this dessert-like Riesling with ginger sesame chicken or Dancing Deer molasses and clove cookies.
The last two 90 pointers come from Dr. Loosen. Their 2009 “Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese” for $30 is light-bodied, slightly acidic and graceful. I found its peach flavors to be mild, while notes of apple and touch of minerality were detected as well. Another 90 point Loosen offering is the 2009 “Urziger Wurzgarten GG Alte Reben” for $42. This Riesling is light-bodied, lively and crisp. Fans of semi-dry styled Rieslings will like this one. Its profile is a mineral infused pear with a hint of apple and peach. Both of these wines are food-friendly. Although different, both these Loosen offerings would go well with baked ham with a brown sugar glaze and pineapple.
Of our 89 point wines, I am going to showcase two of them because they are great values. Both are definitely worth seeking out for your holiday parties. The first discovery is the 2010 Nik Weis Selection “Urban” Riesling for $11. This almost clear colored Riesling is slightly sweet and has a round mouthfeel. It displays tasty lime and tangerine flavors with hints of apricot and minerality mixed it. It finishes semi-dry and lingers quite nicely. It’s a terrific entry level Riesling and it would pair well with General Gau’s Chicken.
Our final highlighted 89 pointer is the 2010 Dr. Konstantin Frank “Dry Riesling” from the Finger Lakes. At $15 this wine is quite a bargain. It is light-bodied, slightly acidic, and also displays a round mouthfeel. Similar to the Urban it displays tasty tangerine flavors with hints of green apple and pear. This wine finishes dry and is food-friendly. It would pair perfectly with bacon wrapped broiled scallops at your holiday party.
The Rest of Our Very Good 89 Pointers:
Red Newt Cellars 2009 Riesling “Lahoma Vineyard” (Finger Lakes, NY) $20
Red Newt Cellars 2009 Riesling “Davis Farm Vineyard” (Finger Lakes, NY) $20
Dr. Pauly Bergweiler 2009 Riesling “Bernkasteler Badstube Kabinett” (Mosel, Germany) $21
Leeuwin Estate 2008 Riesling “Art Series” (Margaret River, Australia) $22
Gustave Lorentz 2008 Riesling “Reserve” (Alsace, France) $23
Dr. Loosen 2009 Riesling “Bernkasteler Lay Kabinett” (Mosel, Germany) $26
Robert Weil 2010 Riesling “Tradition” (Rheingau, Germany) $30
Robert Weil 2010 Riesling “Estate Riesling Dry” (Rheingau, Germany) $30
Dr. Pauly Bergweiler 2009 Riesling “Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese” (Mosel, Germany) $31
The 88 Point Rieslings:
S.A. Prum 2009 Riesling “Essence” (Mosel, Germany) $12
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2009 Riesling “Cold Creek Vineyard” (Columbia Valley, WA) $15
Dr. Konstantin Frank 2010 Riesling “Semi-Dry” (Finger Lakes, NY) $15
Red Newt 2009 Riesling “Dry Riesling” (Finger Lakes, NY) $16
Hermann Wiemer 2009 Riesling “Semi-Dry” (Finger Lakes, NY) $17
Hermann Wiemer 2009 Riesling “Dry” (Finger Lakes, NY) $18
St. Urbans Hof 2010 Riesling “Bockstein Ockfen Kabinett” (Mosel, Germany) $20
Red Newt Cellars 2009 Riesling “Sawmill Creek Vineyards” (Finger Lakes, NY) $20
Fox Run 2008 Riesling “Reserve” (Seneca Lake, NY) $30
Finally, Our 87 Point Rieslings:
Gainey Vineyard 2009 Riesling (Santa Ynez Valley, CA) $13
Dr. Loosen 2009 Riesling “Red Slate” (Mosel, Germany) $15
Lamoreaux Landing 2009 Riesling “Round Rock Vineyard” (Finger Lakes, NY) $20
Macari 2010 Riesling (Finger Lakes, NY) $27
True and Daring 2007 Riesling (Nelson, New Zealand) $35
Please share this post with all of your Riesling loving friends. Be sure to suggest your favorites to our readers. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Enjoy your upcoming holiday meals with some terrific Rieslings!
Cheers – Ken
This year I have tried many Pinot Noirs. One consistent theme you will find is the best Pinots are not inexpensive. I am sure that fact does not surprise many Pinot lovers. However, there is a little good news from this list. At least the high prices of these recommendations are not as crazy as the best Burgundies or cult Cabernets that I recommend in the fall. Lovers of the Pinot Noir grape will have to spend between $30 and $70 to drink the best Pinots that I covered. But compare that to the top Cabs and it will seem inexpensive. For those looking for real bargains, I will also highlight some Pinots that are Very Good and cost less than $20. But none of these options crossed over into the 90 point range.
So let’s start with my favorite Pinot that scored Excellent and received 95 points. The 2008 Donum “West Slope” Pinot Noir from Carneros is fantastic! That is the good news. The bad news is that it costs $80 and only 170 cases were made, so finding a bottle will likely be a challenge. It was medium-bodied, very well-balanced, and smooth as silk. I loved its delicious mild red-raspberry flavors with notes of red currant with hints of red beet and cola. It finishes dry and its fine tannins fade away nicely. It was a great Pinot and one that is worth the search.
Our next Pinot is from J Vineyards. It was my favorite from their portfolio this year and perhaps since I have been covering their wines. The 2008 “Nicole’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir for $50 is Excellent. I scored it 94 points. There were also 720 cases made so it should be easier to find than the Donum. This offering is full-bodied, extremely smooth and elegant. It displays delicious mild black cherry flavors with hints of black-raspberry and just a kiss of licorice. I loved its very refined finish. It would be perfect with filet mignon.
The 2009 Siduri “Russian River Valley” Pinot Noir for $30 is the best deal amongst the highly rated Pinots. It scored 93 points and is even more plentiful with 1,350 cases made. It won our blind tasting of mid-tier priced Pinot Noirs. The panel described this Pinot as medium-bodied and lip smacking with very tasty black-raspberry flavors. They also detected hints of cherry, oak, pepper, and spice. They concluded that its well managed moderate tannins are food-friendly and would allow it to pair well with grilled salmon or roasted pheasant with sage.
This next wine was my favorite from the 2009 vintage releases from Dutton Goldfield. Their 2009 “Devil’s Gulch Vineyard” Pinot Noir from the not-so-famous AVA of Marin County will make a lasting impression on you. I awarded this Pinot 93 points. It is balanced, savory, and fruit-forward. I really enjoyed its complex blend of very tasty black cherry and cola flavors with additional notes of black-raspberry, oak, and milk chocolate mixed in as well. It’s a very flavorful and special Pinot that would pair well with cherry amaretto chicken.
The next two 93-pointers come from Merry Edwards. You will find most of Merry’s Pinots in this report and consistently near the top of the list. The Coopersmith offering seems to consistently top my list of Merry’s wines each year and the 2008 is no exception. This Pinot costs $57 and is worth every penny. It opens with an attractive boysenberry bouquet with hints of musty oak and blueberry. I really liked its very tasty mild black-raspberry flavors with some gently integrated smoky oak. Its mild fine tannins make it food-friendly and a perfect companion for pork tenderloin. Merry’s other 93-pointer is the 2008 “Klopp Ranch” Pinot for $57. This offering is full-bodied, very well balanced and smooth. It displays delicious black currant flavors with notes of black-raspberry, black licorice, and a touch of oak towards the end. Its well managed tannins are pleasantly prolonged and make it a very good fit to pair with filet mignon.
The 92-pointers are all pretty pricey. But the first one I am going to cover is a steal for $38. The 2009 Benovia “Sonoma Coast” Pinot Noir is a very impressive offering. It opens with an attractive strawberry and black raspberry bouquet. On the palate, it is very well balanced and smooth. I really liked its very tasty black cherry flavors with notes of beautifully integrated oak and black-raspberry. Its fine tannins make this a rather elegant Pinot to consider for many meals and occasions.
The next group of Pinots was my favorites from Oregon. We will start with the 2009 Elk Cove “Five Mountain” Pinot Noir for $48. It originates from the Willamette Valley. It is medium-bodied, smooth, and quite savory. Its flavor profile is a very tasty black-raspberry with hints of oak, black-cherry, and black pepper. It paired perfectly with my fresh sweet potato ravioli smothered in a brown butter sage sauce.
The next 3 Pinots are all 92-pointers from Cristom. They all cost $50 and come from Eola-Amity Hills in Oregon. We will start with the 2007 “Louise Vineyard” Pinot Noir. It was clearly one of the top Pinots that I have covered from the 2007 Oregon vintage. It was medium to full-bodied and smooth. I was impressed by its delicious black-raspberry flavors with notes of very pleasant and nicely integrated oak. This yummy Pinot would be a perfect match with a seasoned pork tenderloin. Next up is the 2008 “Eileen Vineyard” Pinot Noir. This Pinot is a little different in that it is medium-bodied, very well balanced, and a little more fruit-forward. Its flavor profile is a tasty mild black currant with hints of gentle black-raspberry, smoky oak and some minerals. Its very refined tannins allow it to finish smooth and leave an elegant impression. It would be good match for filet mignon. The final Cristom offering is the 2008 “Jessie Vineyard” Pinot Noir. It is medium-bodied, slightly acidic, and juicy. I really enjoyed its very tasty plum and mild black-raspberry flavors blended with a hint of blueberry and gentle oak. It would be very nice with a thick cut of prime rib. These three Cristoms are all quite different and really show what a difference terroir and vintage can make.
The next 92-pointer is from J Vineyards. Their varietal program is taking off and you should definitely check out their Pinots and Chards. I would start with the sensuous 2008 “Barrel 16″ Pinot Noir for $50. There were only 300 cases made so I would start looking soon. This offering is rather refined and displays tasty and gentle black cherry flavors with a hint of black-raspberry. This Pinot is delicate, feminine, and elegant. You could easily drink a bottle with a companion and enjoy a memorable romantic evening.
Tom Eddy tells a great story about this vineyard. You should ask him next time you see him. Better than the story is the wine that is produced from this wonderful vineyard. The 2009 “Manchester Ridge Vineyard” Pinot Noir from Mendocino County is a fantastic Pinot. It opens with an attractive mild raspberry bouquet that leads to a very well balanced and elegant palate presence. Its flavor profile is a delicious gentle black cherry with a hint of black-raspberry and cola. This terrific Pinot Noir is very food-friendly and would be a perfect companion with grilled salmon.
Our final 92-pointer is from Alysian. Alysian is Gary Farrell’s new project. His 2008 “Rochioli Vineyard River Block” Pinot Noir for $65 is medium-bodied, well-balanced, juicy, and suave. It displays a blend of tasty mild red-raspberry and strawberry flavors with hints of cinnamon, plum and oak. Like the two above, it is refined and elegant. It would pair perfectly with Colorado rack of lamb.
At the 91-point level we have five Pinots to tell you about. The first two are bargains in terms of price to quality. We will start with the 2009 Paul Hobbs “CrossBarn” for $35. This Pinot is from the Sonoma Coast. It is full-bodied, balanced, and fruit-forward. It shows off its tasty red-raspberry jam flavors right away. It also has notes of black cherry and cranberry mixed in. It finishes with fine tannins are elegant and allow it to be very food-friendly. We would recommend good value Pinot with sliced pork tenderloin with a wild mushroom risotto.
Our next deal is from Merry Edwards. Her 2008 “Sonoma Coast” Pinot Noir for $36 is a lot of wine for the money. The other good news is she made 4,450 cases of it, so you should be able to find it. It is medium-bodied and savory with tasty oak infused tart black plum flavors with notes of chocolate and black cherry mixed in. Our panel suggested pairing this gem with a veal chop.
Our next Pinot comes from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The 2009 Elk Cove “Mount Richmon” Pinot Noir is a perfect match for grilled salmon. It is elegant in style, medium-bodied, and shows mild fruit forward flavors. I really enjoyed is very tasty mild red currant flavors with notes of black-raspberry and a hint of oak. This Pinot finishes gently because of its fine tannins. Enjoy it with the salmon. It costs $48 per bottle.
The next 91-pointPinot is my second favorite Pinot offering from Dutton Goldfield. Their 2009 “McDougall Vineyard” Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast opens with fragrant black currant bouquet with notes of black-raspberry and beets. Yes, beets. It is slightly acidic, rather juicy and fruit forward. It displays tasty mild raspberry flavors with hints of oak and strawberry. It would go well with veal scallopini.
Our last 91-pointer is another Pinot from Merry Edwards. Her 2008 “Flax Vineyard” Pinot Noir for $54 is nicely balanced and quite savory with moderate oak-infused plum flavors. I also picked up some notes of black pepper and black-raspberry as well. This Pinot really smoothes out with some air and would be perfect with roasted pork tenderloin with an apple chutney. Also, for those of you counting, Merry does win the portfolio award with 4 Pinots at 91 points or more. Congrats to her!
But that is not all. There are thirteen 90-point Pinots listed below. Merry Edwards has 3 more in this bunch. There are several additional gems on this list as well. Check out these 90-point reviews and start tasting!
1. Chehalem 2009 Pinot Noir “3 Vineyard” (Willamette Valley, OR) $27
2. Giant Steps 2008 Pinot Noir “Sexton Vineyard”(Yarra Valley, Australia) $30
3. Stemmler 2008 Pinot Noir “Estate Grown”(Carneros, CA) $36
4. Dutton Goldfield 2009 Pinot Noir “Dutton Ranch” (Russian River, CA) $38
5. Merry Edwards 2008 Pinot Noir “Russian River Valley” (CA) $42
6. Hamilton Russell 2008 Pinot Noir (Hemel en Aarde, South Africa) $44
7. Stemmler 2008 Pinot Noir “Ferguson Block”(Carneros, CA) $44
8. Siduri 2009 Pinot Noir “Keefer Ranch Vineyard” (Russian River Valley, CA) $48
9. J Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir “Robert Thomas Vineyard” (RRV, CA) $50
10. Fess Parker 2008 Pinot Noir “Ashley’s” (Santa Rita Hills, CA) $50
11. Merry Edwards 2008 Pinot Noir “Meredith Estate” (Russian River, CA) $54
12. Freestone 2008 Pinot Noir “Sonoma Coast” (CA) $55
13. Merry Edwards 2008 Pinot Noir “Olivet Lane” (Russian River Valley, CA) $60
Our 89-point Pinots are led by the 2009 Navarro “Mendocino” and the 2009 Duckhorn “Decoy.”Both Pinots are Very Good and are a bit of a bargain price at $19 and $22 respectively.
1. Navarro 2009 Pinot Noir “Mendocino” (CA) $19
2. Duckhorn 2009 Pinot Noir “Decoy” (Anderson Valley, CA) $22
3. La Crema 2009 Pinot Noir “Sonoma Coast” (CA) $24
4. Siduri 2009 Pinot Noir “Sonoma Coast” (CA) $30
5. Bjornstad 2008 Pinot Noir “Hellenthal Vineyard” (Sonoma Coast, CA) $40
6. Cristom 2008 Pinot Noir “Sommers Reserve” (Willamette Valley, OR) $41
7. Alysian 2008 Pinot Noir “Russian River Selection” (CA) $40
8. Paul Hobbs 2009 Pinot Noir “Russian Viver Valley” (CA) $45
9. Cristom 2007 Pinot Noir “Margorie Vineyard”(Eola-Amilty Hills, Oregon) $50
10. Dutton Goldfield 2009 Pinot Noir “Freestone Hill Vineyard” (RRV, CA) $58
11. Dutton Goldfield 2009 Pinot Noir “Fox Den Vineyard” (Green Valley, CA) $58
Siduri leads our 88-pointers with a solid “Sonoma County” entry. There are several others in the mid-twenties that are also worth some exploration.
1. Siduri 2009 Pinot Noir “Sonoma County” (CA) $20
2. Whitehaven 2007 Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand) $20
3. La Crema 2009 Pinot Noir “Monterey” (CA) $24
4. Charles Krug 2008 Pinot Noir “Carneros” (CA) $25
5. Cristom 2009 Pinot Noir “Mt. Jefferson Cuvee” (Willamette Valley, OR) $30
6. Carabella 2008 Pinot Noir “Chehalem Mountains” (Oregon) $35
7. Bjornstad 2008 Pinot Noir “Van der Kamp Vineyard”(Sonoma Mtn, CA) $40
8. Chehalem 2008 Pinot Noir “Stoller” (Dundee Hills, OR) $44
Some of our best Pinot bargains came in at the 87-point level. Be sure to check out this list if you are on a tight budget.
1. Aquinas 2009 Pinot Noir “Napa Valley” (CA) $14
2. Cupcake 2008 Pinot Noir “Central Coast” (CA) $14
3. Plantagenet 2008 Pinot Noir “Omrah” (Australia) $17
4. Kendall Jackson 2009 Pinot Noir “Vintner’s Reserve” (CA) $18
5. RouteStock Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir “99W” (Willamette Valley, OR) $19
6. Waterstone 2008 Pinot Noir “Carneros” (CA) $19
7. Stoller 2008 Pinot Noir “JV” (Dundee Hills, OR) $25
Finally, here are a few 86-point, “Good” Pinots that cost less than $10. Check them out. They present real value.
1. Redwood Creek 2009 Pinot Noir “Califonia” $8
2. McWilliams 2008 Pinot Noir “Hanwood Estate” (South Eastern Australia) $9
3. Mirassou 2009 Pinot Noir “California” $9
We hope you enjoy the plenty of Pinot this fall. Many of these will make for excellent choices at your Thanksgiving dinner. If you find a great one that we missed, please leave a comment below. If you also want to give a second shout out to one that we listed, please also comment below. We can’t wait to tackle this grape again next year!
Cheers – Ken
