Argentina

I've found many delicious gems from Argentina. Here are a few of the top:

*Bodega Lurton
Pinot Gris 2007
Mendoza Argentina
(this one was one of my absolute faves!!!)

*Silvertop
Torrentes 2008
Mendoza
(Definitely check out this special grape varietal which is THE characteristic white wine of Argentina)

*Dona Paula Estate
Malbec 2007
Mendoza

*Trapiche
Syrah 2006 (Oak Cask)
Mendoza
(I've also had the Malbec from this vineyard--it's excellent, too!)

Wines of 2009

So, I haven't posted for MONTHS, and my only excuse is that I've been focusing on a business venture, one that actually pays me. I've still been drinking some delicious, inexpensive wine, and have been tracking them, but not writing. Now, much to my husband and I's delight, I am pregnant, so that puts the wine writing venture on even more of a hiatus as I won't be drinking any for quite a long while. Therefore, I am going to make the rest of this blog for the time being short and sweet. I will be posting a list of the fabulous wines that I have been drinking the past few months without all the details, glitz, and glamour. They will be divided by region. Here we go...

Gran Cru's Oregon Wine Experience a.k.a. the land of fabulous Pinots

While we're on the topic of Pinot Noir, I have to share my amazing experience at the Gran Cru's Oregon Wine Experience located in Orlando, FL in March. If you love Pinot Noir, or are like me, and want to know where to find the really good ones, because typically they are somewhat expensive and you don't want to waste your money on a not so good one, then this is the event for you! We tasted over 100 wines, and couldn't believe how we were tasting Pinot after excellent Pinot. Some of our favorites with approximate prices: Daedalus Cellars "Labyrinth" Pinot Noir, 2004, $41.20; Domaine Meriwether Pinot Noir, $25.20; Foris Pinot Noir, $31.90; The Four Graces Pinot Noir, $31.25 and "Reserve" Pinot Noir $43.99; Henry Estate Pinot Noir, $21.99 and "Barrel Select" Pinot Noir, $27.75; La Cadeau "Rocheux" Pinot Noir; Sokol Blosser, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $28.40; Torii Mor "Deux Verres Reserve, $52.25" and "Hawks View" $64.75; and Willamette Valley Vineyards, "Estate" Pinot Noir $34.75.

Our 1st place prize went to Panther Creek Cellars for the most outstanding Pinot Noir of the night! "Winemaker's Cuvee ($35.99), "Temperance Vineyard" ($47.50), and "Freedom Hill" ($47.50) were all excellent, and the "Shea Vineyard" 2006 ($47.50) actually eared a 10 on our rating scale! All bottles at the tasting were 20% off, so we bought one for $38.00.

Also, these vineyards had fabulous Pinot Gris and white blends. For under $20, try Foris Pinot Gris, Sokol Blosser "Evolution" white blend, and Willamette Valley Vineyards Riesling. Yum!

A fantastic Pinot under $20?!

I tend to have low expectations of Pinot Noir under $20, so when I tried the 2007 Chalone Vineyard, Monterey County, Pinot Noir, I was pleasantly surprised! It came from Costco, and while I don't remember the exact price, on-line it ranges from $12-19. It is velvety, smooth, and elegant with cherries and other bright fruit. Exactly what I want from a Pinot without the acidic taste that I typically find in inexpensive Pinots, and it had unexpected depth. If I can find it at Costco again, I will definitely be buying more!

Crios Rose

At the Hammock Wine and Cheese Shop in Palm Coast, FL, I also purchased the Crios de Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec (2007). The shop owner warned me that this is not your typical Rose but would be appreciated by an adventurous palate. Indeed, this is a rich, spicy Rose (for around $10) that I enjoyed immensely. I paired it with a curry dish and it complemented it quite well.

Nieto Senetiner

On the way back from an excursion to the St. Augustine, FL area, we stopped at a little wine and cheese shop that I'd been wanting to visit for awhile, the Hammock Wine and Cheese shop (the address is actually in Palm Coast). I was very impressed at the vast array of wine confined in such a small space but arranged in a way that was not crowded or overwhelming. After sampling some wine and a bit of cheese (the owner was very accommodating), I decided I was in a Chilean mood. I selected the Nieto Senetiner Reserva (2005) Cab/Shiraz blend from Mendoza. Blackberries, cocoa, and vanilla with a smokiness on the nose, delicious and worth well above its $10 price tag.

Wingnut Zinfandel

I love, love, love California Zinfandels. I was seriously craving one as I visited with my friend at the Elusive Grape in historic downtown Deland, FL a few evenings ago. I chose the Wingnut Zinfandel (2006) from Napa County (retails between $10 and $15). The owner of the wine shop, Bill, said, "Really, you haven't tried this yet?! I thought for sure you had; it's great." If I had tried it before, I definitely would have remembered. Dark, rich, bold, fruit-forward with spice. The back of the bottle is great, it reads: "Draw your own lines. Stand out in the crowd. We Wingnuts settle for nothing but the extraordinary. True to its muse, this Zinfandel is full-on in every way, arousing all the senses. It pairs well with bold living. Hang on!"

Chocolate Amore

A dessert wine is an excellent way to entice your sweetie on Valentines Day, and so is chocolate. The beauty of the Trentadue Chocolate Amore dessert wine is that it has both. It is a Merlot based, Port style dessert wine infused with chocolate. This romantic and succulent treat is a little more than you may normally invest, but is still very reasonable (around $25). It's what you might say is more of a "special occasion" wine, like for Valentines Day, perhaps. I discovered it at a tasting a few years ago, and it opened up my palate to dessert wines. Absolutely delicious! I'm planning on pairing mine with dark chocolate truffles...

OR

If you're looking for something pink and sparkling for V-Day, don't forget the Cristalino Brut Rose Cava (see my previous entry, Thanksgiving Wines 11-28-08, for details). At around $8, it's the best! I may indulge in this one before the Chocolate Amore...

Carmenere

I am a huge fan of Chilean wines! They are amazing and usually a fraction of the price of comparable wines. I've been drinking Chilean Cabs for awhile now, but recently discovered the Carmenere grape at a wine tasting at the Wine Warehouse in Port Orange, FL. Chile is the only significant source of this unique grape. After the tasting, I was on a mission to find more Carmenere, and surprisingly found the MontGras "Reserva" Carmenere, Colchagua Valley, Chile (2007) at Costco for under $10. It is rated at 90 points by Wine Enthusiast--that is a HUGE rating for an under $10 wine! Upon further research, I discovered that it earned a "Best Buy" designation and is#50 in "The Best Buys of 2008" from Wine Enthusiast. But more importantly, you ask, how does it taste?! This wine is phenomenal, and what really stood out to me was the smokiness that was deliciously balanced with the rich and juicy dark fruit. It is soft on the palate and finish with mocha and subtle hints of vanilla. I paired this wine with barbecued ribs, and it was an excellent match!

Wedding Wine 10: SIMI

The LAST wedding wine is the SIMI Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (2005). This wine defines everything I love in a California Cab. Bold and fruit-forward, but also elegant.

The details from the wine maker:

Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot

Appearance: Dark red with a ruby cast

Aroma: Blackberry, cassis, and plum laced with cedar, spice and rose petals

Flavor: Lush black cherry and black berry are highlighted with vanilla and a dusting of cocoa and herbs

Wedding Wines 9: Marietta

Marietta Old Vine Red Lot #47, oh how I do savor this wine. This may be my favorite of all the Wedding Wines. This old vine red is primarily Zinfandel, blended with Carignane, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Cabernet. Luscious dark fruit and plenty of peppery spice to balance it, both on the nose and palate. The color is a dark ruby purple, and the body can only be described as BIG (and complex). I tried this wine for the first time at The Elusive Grape in downtown Deland, FL, and have been drinking it ever since. This is not a wine that you only drink once; you will crave it again and again. You can find it at wine warehouses for the shocking price of $11.99!

Wedding Wines 8: Murphy-Goode Liar's Dice

Finally, on to one of my favorite subjects, Zinfandels! The next wedding wine is the Murphy-Goode Liar's Dice Zinfandel. Surprisingly, I discovered this wine in my home town in KS at a liquor store when we were back in town visiting. My husband and I read the back of the bottle, it sounded good, and the price sounded good, too. Then, after we left the store, I suspiciously checked the receipt, it sounded like more than we had thought. And so, we discovered that this wine was $22 instead of $12 (although we have since found that you can buy it at wine warehouses for under $20). This turned out to be a lucky turn of events because we probably never would have tried it after looking at the real price tag. We uncorked the wine while watching a Chiefs game, and it knocked our socks off! For me, this is what a perfect Zin should be--plums, raspberries, dark cherries, an explosion of fruit on the palate without forgetting the spice. I'm pretty sure I have measured every Zin in comparison to this one ever since.