Sunday, November 23, 2008

#108 Garganega














"Garganega
is a variety of white Italian wine grape widely grown in the Veneto (wine) region of North East Italy, particularly in the provinces of Verona and Vicenza. It is Italy's 6th most widely planted white grape. It forms the basis of Venetian white wine Soave."

Another crisp white wine but I can't really remember if there were any real defining characteristics that set it apart from ohhhh say a sauv blanc... Good value though near $10.

#107 Pecorino














"The Pecorino grape is legendary story of a variety that was literally brought back from the brink of extinction. Not too long ago, just a few vines were discovered in a nearly wild state in a narrow canyon in Italy’s Marche region. Clippings were cut, and identified as the historic Pecorino grape, which was long thought to have been extinct. Cantina Tollo took the torch of re-establishing the variety as a missing piece of the local Abruzzese viticultural history. The origin of the name is that the grape variety was once a favorite snack of the sheep that were often driven through vineyard lands on their way to lower pastures. In Italian “Pecora” means sheep." (for some reason I cannot credit the author of the above www.enotec.net)

This was a bright and lively and I hate to say sauv blanc like white wine. It is not terribly easy to find but is well worth the effort. I think I paid well under $20 for it and will buy it again soon.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

#106 Cortese

How can you resist a wine which has the owner's dog on the label? This is a Gavi from the north of Italy. Since tonight's dinner is salmon on the grill a Cortese di Gavi is called for.

This straw colored wine has surprising sweetness while having such bracing acidity. The nose is reminds me of a sauvignon blanc but it has a lot more fruit. Maybe apple? Melon? Lychee? (I will stop making up stuff there).

At $15 or so its a decent value that I might just buy again.... I mean look at those puppy dog eyes!

Friday, August 22, 2008

#105 Corvina!

Feeling a bit too tired to blog but not too tired to open up a bottle of wine (which is quite good) I will leave the review to Mr. Parker's operation....

Vintage 2004
Wine Advocate - Issue #173 / October 2007
- 90 points - Exploring the Best of Northern Italy

"Allegrini's Palazzo della Torre (70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese) has long been one of my favorite ripasso-style wines and the 2004 is another winner. It reveals a plump, juicy personality loaded with perfumed, jammy fruit, roasted coffee beans and new leather. Although it is absolutely irresistible today, a few additional months of bottle age should help soften the wine further. It is a gorgeous effort at this level and a terrific value. Allegrini employs a unique variation of the ripasso technique for its Palazzo della Torre. The traditional method calls for the wine to undergo a second fermentation on the skins that are leftover from the vinification of the Amarone. The estate believes that this method leads to oxidized wines. Instead Allegrini dries a portion of the grapes (around 30%) and ferments them separately in the same style as an Amarone, then adds that wine to the larger portion of the wine, which is fermented in the conventional manner. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2010."

Monday, July 7, 2008

Little guy taking a swing at politics

I suppose raising kids is a challenge. But things get a little more complicated when you find out that your newest family member has begun a campaign without consulting you first.

(all credit for this image to Eric M... thanks!)

#104 Nerello Mascalese

How does this blogging thing work again? It's been a very long time since my last post so please bear with me as I catch up on my wine quest.

About a month ago I tried a bottle of Nerello Mascalese from Di Giovanna and I remember it as great value and very drinkable. It is a Sicilian grape which is widely used as a blending grape. In this case it stood by itself quite well.

I am due for another trip to the wine shops soon and have my eye on a few more varietals to extend this quest further into the 100's. Soon I will be submitting my paperwork to officially become a member of the "Wine Century Club".... (at that point this will become a quite expensive pay site so please be prepared.... in these times of economic uncertainty it is important to be thoroughly advised on peripheral wine varietals)

Monday, April 14, 2008

#103 Coda di Volpe

From a distributor: "Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio is so named for the legend of Christ's ascension into heaven and his emotion upon seeing the beauty of the Bay of Naples beneath him. The grape, Coda di Volpe, refers to the foxtail shape of the grape bunches."

It has a dry minerality and a layer of lemon rind which adds a level of tartness to the dry finish. It is a $12 steal.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

#102 Roussanne

Roussanne is not an easy grape to find on its own (or to grow). It is most widely used as one of the accepted grapes for the production of white Chateauneuf du Pape. This one from Renard, a California grower of French Rhone varietals, exhibits the characteristics that make this a better blending grape than a stand alone varietal.

It has a slight barnyard nose (not a fault) strong acidity a floral mid-palate and a dry empty finish. It has its strengths but it needs help rounding out the overall experience. The website goes into great depth describing the fruits that are to be found by analytical tasting but sadly I just didn't sense them. I appreciate the growers effort but I would save the $20 and use it on a white CDP.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

#101 Petit Verdot from Lapis Luna

Tonight we tried a 1991 California Cabernet that was excellent on a number of levels. Unfairly we followed that wonderful bottle with this Lapis Luna Petit Verdot. (label reads "petite" verdot)

Primarily a blending grape in Bordeaux, Petit Verdot is used globally to add backbone to many blends. It has also found a following as a single varietal. This example shows berries, smooth tannins and a woody finish. At first taste it was "undrinkable" due to the wine that preceded it. Two days later it was more approachable but still a far too simple $21 wine.

Friday, April 11, 2008

#100 Furmint from Limerick Lane

Limerick Lane Furmint is our official wine #100. The little guy is home and the first visitors have trickled in as we have finally gotten over our colds. Of course this gives me an excuse to sneak in a few more quest wines. In this case this wine has been beckoning to be opened for many months now.

Furmint is the principal grape of the famous Tokaji dessert wines from Hungary. This one is made in California by an excellent Zinfandel producer. Hint of apples on the nose. Sweet on the palate but not at all cloying. Nice warm finish. The winery recommends serving this with non-sweet deserts. Now our quest has reached a milestone but it has not reached its conclusion!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

#99 Brachetto

From Wine Geeks: "A grape that produces a truly distinctive red wine that is a treasure to behold but seldom seen outside of Italy. Brachetto d'Acqui is a fizzy and fragrant red made from Brachetto grown in the hills of the DOCG Acqui in the Piemonte region in northwestern Italy. Low in alcohol and slightly frizzante (sparkling) Brachetto d'Acqui is famous for its light and elegant body and heavily perfumed foam. Production is low, so this highly sought after dessert wine is hard to find. This grape produces wines of a light body but heavy in strawberries, cherries and raspberries."

$21, fruity, slightly effervescent and sweet but with a dry finish. This would be a fun wine to pour as the first round at a wine party and at 5.5% alcohol it won't put your guests under the table too early.

Friday, March 28, 2008

#98 Marzemino

The wine is most noted for its mention in the opera Don Giovanni of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ("Versa il vino! Eccellente Marzemino!"). It is said to have been Mozart's favorite wine.

This has a lot of acidity but almost no tannins. Its very dry, slightly metallic and has a fast clean finish. No fruit. At $16 I probably wouldn't buy it again but it does have a cool back story.

Friday, March 21, 2008

#97 Loxton Shiraz

Another widely planted and very popular grape is the wine of choice this evening. Loxton Cellars one of my favorite Sonoma wineries produced this bottle of Shiraz. Chris Loxton is a genius so I will let him describe this bottle.

2005 SHIRAZ (Sonoma Valley) $17
The Shiraz is a selection from the barrels of Syrah that I make, looking for wines that I can bottle earlier than the more age-worthy Syrah. While this year’s wine is bigger than previous versions, it is meant for consuming earlier than the Syrah. In 2005 the wine comes from the Australian Shiraz clone grown at the Salmina vineyard in Kenwood (50%), Rubaiyat vineyard on Sonoma Mountain (25%) and from some of the vines planted in front of the winery (25%). Somewhat Australian in inspiration with it’s ripe fruit, soft tannin, low acid and nice touch of oak on the finish. 262 cases produced.

#96 Norton

What we have before us is America's first red wine grape Norton. It has been used to make wines in North America as far back as the colonial days. Prohibition ended the reign of Norton as America's grape of choice and the fruity concord grape took over. This is another bottle from "Illinois Cellars" and at $7 and from Midwestern grapes I am not expecting fireworks.

Actually I can see why this grape was popular at one time. It has solid fruit upfront and a warming yet dry finish but there is a rustic rough edge and it is a bit foxy. I would love to try a few other wine maker's versions of this grape.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

#95 Pinot Meunier

I have been looking forward to this wine for a while now. Pinot Meunier is one of the three grapes found in Champagne the others being pinot noir and chardonnay. Pinot Meunier is often a major component in non vintage champagnes but is neglected in vintage bottles. It is the wine world's version of the underdog.

I couldn't find a 100% Meunier bubbly but I was able to find a still red from Domaine Chandon in Carneros. It is very much like a pinot noir. Translucent on the pour with lush fruit and solid acidity. I feel like I can isolate the elements that I find in most champagnes but that might be because I am now finishing the last of this bottle. Its not cheap at $26 but its a must try for fans of champagne.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

#94 Has it come to this? a Chardonnay!

Well the home stretch allows me to go with some of the more mainstream varietals that have been avoided so far. In retrospect perhaps I should have started with them as I refer to their characteristics so often. Tonight we re-cork the prosecco and advance to Chardonnay from Stryker.

Often times the grape itself is a blank canvas and if it hasn't enjoyed a hard life in tasty soil (thus introducing its "terroir") it is often barreled in oak to introduce a buttery vanilla component. Far too often the oak exceeds the grape but many producers make what the public are drinking and these days, oak it is. Though I normally admire Stryker's wines I happen to be one who prefers no oak at all and the 2005 Russian River Valley Chardonnay exudes those vanilla honeysuckle notes that the oak introduces. Still, I won't cancel my membership!

#93 Prosecco

Ahhhh Prosecco. In some ways this Italian bubbly might be compared to Champagne. But unlike the Spanish cousin Cava which goes to great lengths to mimic the champagne process. Prosecco wines are more easily mass produced due to their not needing a second fermentation in the bottle. (instead it is allowed to ferment in steel). This saves a labor intensive process of riddling and allows the prosecco to flow quickly and cheaply. This bottle is less than $10.

Prosecco is a key ingredient in the famous Bellini. (just add peach juice). It also makes an admirable Mimosa. (just add orange juice). By itself it is a bubbly off-dry white with a hint of bitter on the finish. This is a nice introduction to the world of sparkling wines but I found that it leads to a dangerous attraction to the much more expensive wines of Champagne.... Drinkers beware.

Monday, March 17, 2008

#92 Bogle Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah is one of the most deceptively named wines for there is nothing petite about it. It is dark in the glass, strongly tannic and jammy. This Bogle effort is a 90 pointer for $12 so I had to give it a shot.

This bottle is a step back from the three desriptors above. Its nice but its not as powerful as other efforts I have had which I suppose makes this wine more approachable. Petite Sirah remains one of my "under the radar" favorites.

#91 Concord from Illinois

Another old time American grape, this time a red... the good old Concord grape. Think Welches....

This grape is not often made into wine (except for kosher) according to the wiki "due to the strong "foxy" (sometimes described as candied-strawberry/musky) flavor." This non-vintage red suffers from that "foxy" flavor. Not easy to drink.

#90 Niagara from Oswego Illinois

As we get into the home stretch of the quest we come across our first Illinois wine. Some may scoff but the American wines we drink now are a far cry from the earliest American grapes. One of these early grapes is Niagara.

You can see the lovely color of this wine but what you cannot sense on these pages is the powerful sweet grape candy nose. The taste is of Welch's grape juice. Which isn't surprising as the Niagara is derived from the Concord grape. Its a sweet simple grape juice with the pleasing warming effect of a 12% abv. I would enjoy serving this as an aperitif for discussions sake.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

#89 and finally... a Riesling

The wine quest has been a long road. Recent stretches have been cratered with potholes. Today this city celebrates Saint Patrick's Day. So in honor of this grand Irish day I had a Mexican breakfast, an Indian dinner and a German Riesling from Wagner Stempel. (In addition to buying a new Japanese AVR... setup to follow dinner)

Cloyingly sweet this $13 wine lacks backbone and acidity but finishes with a clean mild tartness. Fans of sweet wines will enjoy this one as it is a spätlese (late harvest) which tends to concentrate the sweetness. Personally I am confused by the absence of acidity but at 8% abv this may not have been the winemaker's desire.

Friday, March 14, 2008

#88 Chenin Blanc

As I turn off all the lights and pray that the city of Chicago doesn't come knocking at my door for dumping toxic substances down the drain. With a withering rotten cheese smell fixed in my nose I desperately change gears and come back to California for a Chenin Blanc.

I am somewhat saved. This is a simple clean wine its a native French varietal made in Healdsburg California. $12 saves my palate from the previous disasters but its not an exciting wine and it leaves an aftertaste of raisins.

#87 Savatiano

We are back from dinner and ready to try another bottle. Since the previous Boutari effort was so shocking its time to try the next on we have. Its a Savatiano from... yes.. Greece.

We are going cheaper on this bottle... $8. I am afraid... very afraid. Its a thin insipid effort. Even icing it down isn't going to help. This one also has that stale cheese nose. No thanks. If I wasn't on a wine quest I might be pissed off.

#86 Vilana from Crete

Oh lets stay in the Mediterranean shall we? We just finished watching the absolutely delightful "Ratatouille" on Blu-Ray. Now watching the extra features and deciding that another bottle opened before dinner seems a wise choice!

So popping a $9 bottle of Vilana, one for the road, we get started. OY! Particle board cork and a horrendous nose of bad cheese. Oh its a vile creation. Put a check mark next to Vilana and end this nightmare. This one is going down the drain fast and I am going back to #85 immediately.

#85 Assyrtiko from Santorini

A long week has finally come to a close and its time for a nice glass of wine. I have been saving this bottle of Assyrtiko for a time when I could relax and enjoy it and tonight is the night.

Crisp clean and with bone dry minerality, its a cool refreshing $17 wine. Now if you will excuse me I need to enjoy this... nothing left to see here.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

#84 Chasselas from Albert Boxler

One of my favorite labels so far in this quest is from Domaine Albert Boxler. This is an Alsatian Chasselas. Once again the long slender bottle usually indicates a riesling like wine.

Here we have what might be considered a cross between a riesling and a chardonnay. Not too sweet and with perfect balance. I really am enjoying this bottle. Even at $20 I consider this excellent value.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

#83 Pinotage

Pinotage tonight... South Africa's very own grape. This is a $10 bottle from Niel Joubert.

Remarkably like a Pinot Noir, it has solid fruit and surprising structure. This is a great value compared to today's Pinot Noir prices. If I were to point out a weakness perhaps the finish is a bit sour. Overall, my brevity here is a compliment.

Monday, March 10, 2008

#82 Cabernet Franc

Desperate for a solid red for dinner I decide to go with a $16 Alexander Valley Cabernet Franc.

This is usually a huge fruity lush wine. Its an important blending grape in Bordeaux and in California (among other places I am sure) and it makes a marvelous wine all on its own. Alexander Valley Vineyards did a real nice job with this wine. A slightly perfumed nose (this time its a good thing), big fruit and a solid tannic backbone. This is a wine I can settle in with for the evening.

#81 Sangiovese from Falesco

Sangiovese the grand Italian grape is the dinner wine this evening. Paired with homemade lasagna. This is a $10 bottle which is a far cry from $50+ you usually see from its more fashionable older brother Brunello di Montalcino.

This wine is reported to have been scored a 90. It has an oddly and highly perfumed nose which reminds me of baby powder (not a plus). The palate is a confused and shallow melange of tart fruit. It all ends too soon and leaves a bit of a metallic aftertaste. I should have opened one of my Brunellos.

#80 Müller-Thurgau

Some telecom issues turn a work night into a wine tasting night and the first bottle we have is an absurdly priced $4 Müller-Thurgau. (on clearance from $12).

The tall slender bottle says "Riesling". The nose has a trace of alcohol but not much else. The first sip reveals a hint of fruit and then nothing. I think that this grape should be an off-dry Riesling but this example while very drinkable is not distinctive.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

#79 Grenache - Casa De La Vega

Spanish Grenache tonight, possibly one of the widest planted grapes on the planet. It is also a major component in my favorite wines Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This one from Casa De La Vega is an $8 effort.

It has the distinctive Grenache earthiness but without much of the round fruit found in better made wines. Lots of tannins and a healthy dose of acidity keep this one feeling like it has a lot more alcohol than it actually does.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

#78 Muscadel from Rietvallei

Muscadel = Red Muscadel = Muscadet de Frontignan = Muscat Blanc. So many names for the same grape sometimes it is difficult to sort out what is in the bottle. In South Africa Red Muscadel is Muscat Blanc and so another varietal bites the dust. According to wiki, "Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is considered one of the oldest grape varieties still in existence."

This one is a dessert wine weighing in at 16% abv. and it will be the final bottle of the evening. Rietvallei has been making these for almost 150 years so I am looking forward to this $16 bottle. The wine looks like a rose'. Its syrupy sweet approaching cough syrup. Its not bad at all sort of a Lambrusco on steroids. The label recommends serving it over crushed ice in summer. I'd say that sounds about right.

#77 Lambrusco!

Putting the Nebbiolo away for a while to see how it handles a few more hours of air I decide to try a few of the cheaper bottles that I assume won't be very interesting. Lambrusco was the biggest selling import in the United States throughout the 1970's and 1980's before becoming (at least to me) almost impossible to find.

This $7 bottle is a mere 5.5% abv and looks like cherry Kool Aid in the bottle. Wasting no more time, its opened. And... it tastes just like cherry Kool Aid! Other than that it has the tiniest hint of carbonation. Way too sweet for me but tasting this allows me to see how the American wine palate has changed. Still, I can see how many might enjoy this one.

#76 Nebbiolo from Langhe

Moving right along and staying in the same general region, we visit one of the world's greatest grapes, Nebbiolo. From this grape comes the famed Barolo. For our purposes though we will try a wine that shares the same grape but should be more approachable in its youth. Barolos can crush you with tannins if you don't let them age for a decade or more.

The wine pours nicely fresh and is remarkably transparent. The tannins are strong but under control. Dry, austere and nicely balanced this $15 bottle is reminiscent of its much more expensive older brother Barolo. This wine appears to be produced by a collective and bottled at a Riuniti facility.

#75 Freisa by Casalone

A morning trip to the wine store replenished my supply of varietals. Whew, that was close. I now have enough here to get me to 90. However since I am returning to work in the evenings my quest will slow.... That said, today is Saturday and most of these wines ran about $10. I will consider today a celebration and see if I can get through a few of these.

First bottle today is a Freisa from Casalone. Popping the cork reveals a strong dose of musty alcohol and the wine pours quite brown. This is a 2004 so my fear is that we have a damaged wine. It is extremely dry with absolutely no fruit and it dances across the tongue like a seltzer (though no bubbles are visible). I am not sure how to approach this bottle but a little research indicates that this wine should be effervescent but it also should have fruit. Sadly this one is over the hill.... $13 gone, next bottle please.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

#74 Sauvignon Blanc

The final varietal I have here that hasn't yet made the list is tonight's bottle of Sauvignon Blanc a Vie Di Romans 2004. In an era where most (and the best) Sauvignon Blanc we see is from New Zealand and is typically drunk very young, I thought it would be interesting to try an older Italian wine.

Sauvignon Blanc is usually very bright and lively with tangy tropical fruit overtones. As it ages it loses that refreshing edge. In this case it might have lost more than that. When well chilled the wine was interesting but as it warmed up its faults became clear. This is a winery owned by the Gallo family for about 100 years. $15 spent, lets consider it an experiment and move along.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

#73 Cabernet Sauvignon from Stryker

Most of this quest so far has been a pursuit of the harder to find grapes. Today however it is time to open a Stryker Cab. All I need to say is that this is a producer you will not find in stores, they sell every bottle to wine club members and visitors and they make a wide variety of great wines from some of the best sites in the Sonoma area.

The 2004 Sonoma County Cabernet is a big fleshy lush effort with a sharp backbone. It is not one of their many single vineyard wines yet it still has that Sonoma character. Do yourself a favor and make sure this is one winery you visit the next time you are in the area.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

#72 Cividin from Emilio Bulfon

I am sure you recognize this label by now. Yes its another extremely rare varietal from Emilio Bulfon.

This one is called Cividin and its another winner. Nice perfumed nose and clean on the palate this finishes with a flash of its 12.5% abv. It would pair perfectly with a risotto and is another tremendous deal at $19.

Monday, March 3, 2008

#71 Sciaglin from Emilio Bulfon

Another gorgeous wine from Emilio Bulfon a winery that focuses on obscure Italian varietals at times seemingly saving grapes from extinction.

This grape, Sciaglin (Scjaglin) is an ancient Friulin varietal. It is delicate, delicious, refreshing and finishes with a chalky minerality. This wine (as well as all others from this maker) is well worth the $19 I paid and one of the finest white wines in this quest.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

#70 Pinot Gris (Grigio) from Italy

Sunday night is leftover night and there aren't many varietals left here. I guess tonight is Pinot Gris (in Italy Pinot Grigio) night.

I have had a few Pinot Grigio and have typically found them to be simple but refreshing wines, perfect ice cold on a warm summer day. Unfortunately tonight's bottle has an unusual nose, a funky (almost corked) taste and a strong sour finish. 3 months ago I would have written this off as "just another $8 bottle" but this quest has proven to me that a sub $10 bottle can be excellent. My glass will not be refilled tonight (at least with this wine).

Saturday, March 1, 2008

#69 Kerner fro Abbazia di Novacella

An Italian Kerner here. Its a fascinating story, you must read this. Then you must got out and find a bottle of this $20 wine the next time you are in the mood for a Riesling.

Since you ignored my demand to read that link I will summarize. Kerner is a cross between Riesling and a RED grape and was created in 1929. I hadn't heard of it but by now it might be the 2nd most planted grape in Germany. The winery, Abbazia di Novacella nestled into the Alps near the Austrian border is one of the oldest in the world, dating to 1142. Not only is this a wine I would buy again but it is enticing enough that I seriously want to visit the winery.

Friday, February 29, 2008

#68 Loxton Zinfandel


From one of my favorite producers in Sonoma Chris Loxton, comes a reprieve from a series of unfortunate bottles (Hey! a real cork!). This Zinfandel is far more subtle than most you come across these days. Weighing in at 14.3% ABV this wine brings back a flood of aromas from Loxton Cellars. I have finally found a bottle to settle in with for the evening.

This 2005 is a beautifully crafted wine, elegant and with great structure. I can't remember how much this wine will run you but I think it must be in the $25 area. If you find yourself in Sonoma you absolutely would be doing yourself a huge favor by dropping in on Loxton. You have my personal guarantee!

#67 Barbera from Sartirano

If you read the previous post you noticed I closed with "so let's not complain." So I won't and I will rapidly move along to the next bottle of the evening and leave the dolcetto alone. This bottle was acquired at a wine tasting here this summer. We stay in Piedmont but move over to a more distinguished grape.... Barbera.

I have had many wonderful Barberas over the years. The best, Barbara di Asti are well rounded enjoyable wines with some aging potential. The lesser bottles can be insipid plonk. This one falls in the middle but it was a door prize so.... I wont complain.

#66 Dolcetto by Veglio

Friday night is pizza night. (well its a leap year so its okay). The last red varietal from my recent purchase is a Dolcetto. I hate to continue using other's words to describe wines but once again, the wiki hits it right on the nose.

Dolcetto is a black wine grape variety widely grown in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. The name means "little sweet one," though it is nearly always a dry wine. Dolcetto wines can be tannic and fruit driven with moderate levels of acidity. They are typically meant to be consumed one to two years after release.

That is precisely what we have here. Extremely dry with just the slightest hint of fruit. It is drinkable but it doesn't have much structure. Hey but its $8 so lets not complain.

#65 Xarel-Lo

A long week has passed and its time for a Friday afternoon reward. First I would like to award this wine the title of "Coolest name so far". Xarel-Lo is a Spanish grape and one of the 3 most common grapes you bubbly fans will find in Cava the generally excellent version of France's Champagne.

Now while I really do enjoy trying this varietal unblended and in non-bubbly form. I can see that it is suited to blending. It has a fruity presence on the front palate but leaves the back of your throat high and dry. For $9.50 its probably not one that I would buy in this form again but I am quite happy to have had the chance to try it and certainly look forward to my next bottle of Cava perhaps from Albet i Noya.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

#64 Xinomavro from Greece

The first bottled wine available in Greece and the benchmark among Greek red wines, Naoussa Boutari has won many awards over the last 50 years both in Greece and internationally.
REGION: Naoussa.
VARIETY: Xinomavro.
TYPE: Red, dry.
AGING: Aged one year in French oak barrels.
CHARACTERISTICS: A classic Naoussa wine. Deep red in colour, with a strong personality. It gives off a rich bouquet of ripe red fruit that comes with aging (cinnamon, wood). Full-bodied, well- balanced, with good structure and soft tannins in its finish.
FOOD PAIRING: Served with red meat, sauces and yellow cheeses.

I am really enjoying this wine. Very dry and almost amber in color. It has the feel of a well aged bottle but this is only a 2004. It's $11.50 and I would serve it with any nice Greek meat dish. I will certainly buy this one again.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

#63 Greek Roditis

Almost 2/3rds done with the quest and my white wine palate is in agony. Here we find another bottle from the Allegro group in Greece. This one is a blend of Roditis and an earlier credited Moschofilero.

I won't bore you with the grizzly details. It's a white wine that gets a little funky when it warms up. Serve it ice cold with seafood and drink your $9 good bye.

#62 MollyDooker Verdelho

In his book Varietal Wines, James Halliday says

"The success of Verdelho as a table wine in Australia is an extraordinary phenomenon without any obvious explanation"

At first sip this wine shows vanilla sweet fruit then quickly turns to heavy acidity. Its a $20 wine with 15% ABV and as an amateur wine taster I am going to call this one clumsy and I completely disagree with reviews calling this a refreshing wine. There is a reason this grape is used to make Madeira. Chardonnay fear not, Verdelho isn't going to unseat you any time soon.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

#61 Semillon from Torbreck

The previous red wasn't going to cut it with dinner so I decided to go with a Semillon from a big name in Australian wines, Torbreck.

Here we have a crisp white with a sauvignon blanc nose and a chardonnay mouth feel. For $13 we get structure and character. Its a very nice and I must say, slightly sophisticated wine. Well done!

#60 a Schales Dornfelder "Classic"

Tonight's dinner, celebrating the end of winter (allow me this delusion) is roast chicken with whole grain rice and green beans. Organic shallots and pancetta accent the whole lot. Its a big feel good meal that begs for a hearty red.

With great trepidation I reach for a German varietal called Dornfelder. Its got a label that says beer and a nose that warns "sweet." Light on acidity but with firm tannins and yep, sweet fruit this is an easily approachable wine. It has a bit too much of that prune on the finish though for me. Pair this $10 bottle with a big German meal.... mmmm bratwurst.....

Monday, February 25, 2008

#59 Verdejo from Bodegas Cerrosol

Another lovely wine from Northwest Spain and another steal at $8 a bottle. This area of Spain has been an absolute hot spot in the wine quest. I am looking forward to finishing this marathon and being able to further explore this region's wines. A number of websites proclaim verdejo as "Arguably Spain's finest white grape variety." If this bottle is an indication then I must agree.

Like the Albarino we had earlier in the quest this one reminds me of sauvignon blanc but with a few important distinctions. This bottle, while having plenty of acidity doesn't go over the top like many recent sauv blancs I have tried. Also, this wine is rounder and creamier with a balanced almost lush finish. I had no problem drinking a few glasses of this on an empty stomach while preparing dinner.