tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76590816588173615652024-02-20T10:16:48.256-06:00The Caveat Emptyer Wine ListWine Reviews for EveryoneWestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comBlogger326125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-38572801742368310512016-10-08T15:28:00.001-05:002016-10-08T15:28:12.545-05:00Obscure wisdom inspired by the spare kitchen of a Sufi.
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If you think mystics are full of shit, try making your
oatmeal without a measuring cup!</div>
WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-82094949238957871952015-12-06T19:14:00.000-06:002015-12-06T19:21:56.250-06:00Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve<a href="http://www.beringer.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beringer Vineyards</span></a><b> </b><br />
<b>Chardonnay</b><br />
<b>Private Reserve<br />
Napa Valley</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
St. Helena, California, USA<br />
</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">2012</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.7%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$29.99 -- The Still, Lincoln, NE</span><br />
<br />
Color: Medium gold<br />
Nose: Cedar, clementine-lime, toasted bread, tiny hint of menthol <br />
Body: Full<br />
Front: Salt, lime<br />
Middle: Honey and cream, Meyer lemon<br />
Back: Faint sage, apricot, a hint of Tate's chocolate chip cookie<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
Ain't a damn thing wrong with this wine. It's big and rich. But it is also nuanced, with flavors poking in and out with each sip. My face likes it better when it's at room temperature, or just below, than when it's straight out of the fridge. This is delicious with an appetizer of sweet pears and Gorgonzola verdi dolce.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-55094068356556760142015-11-16T18:49:00.000-06:002015-11-16T19:12:45.047-06:00Chateau des Jacques Moulin-À-Vent<a href="http://www.louisjadot.com/fr/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Maison Louis Jadot</span></a><br />
<b>Chateau des Jacques</b><br />
<b>Moulin-À-Vent </b><br />
<b>Gamay</b><br />
<b>Beaujolais</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Romanèche-Thorins, France</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2011</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">13%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$21.99 -- The Still, Lincoln, NE</span><br />
<br />
Color: Medium strawberry red<br />
Nose: Cherry, marijuana, nutmeggy cinnamony<br />
Body: Medium<br />
Front: Cherry licorice but not as sweet as Twizzlers<span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span><br />
Middle: Orange peel, coffee<br />
Back: Rocks, dust, thyme <br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
Shhh. I have changed my wine-reviewing strategy. I felt bad giving lukewarm or even tart reviews to wines, so I am only going to review ones I think offer a happy experience. Also, I felt bad reviewing wines nobody really could get (down here in the 99 percent), so I am going to try to stick to good values. That doesn't mean all inexpensive wines, exactly, but there won't be a whole lot of red Burgundy, let's just put it that way.<br />
<br />
I'm tasting this wine after it's been open a day, and it still has a delightful way about it. Not too heavy, not overpowering, it's about nuance and a few fresh, strong flavors. The aromas are beautiful; it tastes good with almonds, prosciutto, and fish. The feeling it gives you as you smell and drink it is that sense you sometimes get that it must surely be only the beginning of a wonderful evening.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-19037117328488650712011-04-30T23:57:00.001-05:002014-12-02T10:58:38.840-06:00Gran Viu Seleccion<a href="http://www.granviu.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vi</span>ñ<span style="font-weight: bold;">edos y Bodegas Pablo</span></a><br />
<b>Gran Viu</b><br />
<b>Selección </b><br />
<b>Grenache, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan</b> (or maybe Syrah?)<br />
<b>Cariñena DO</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Almonacid de la Sierra, Zaragoza, Spain</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2002</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.5%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$24.99 -- Spec's Liquors, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Obscure ruby<br />
Nose: Stewed fruit, tar, mushrooms, cherry smoke<br />
Body: Full<br />
Front: Creamy roasted plum<br />
Middle: Black pepper, black cherry<br />
Back: Coffee grounds, rocks, dusty tannins<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
This wine has length, depth, and sweetness, plus all of the herby, leathery stuff for which ageable Spanish wines are known. This was phenomenal with a <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chicken-thighs-with-spicy-tomato-pepper-sauce">chicken-in-píperade purée</a> and spinach and mushroom quiche. It might be hard to find this wine, but it's a well-priced example of what this region and producer can do, and much worth trying!WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-37594213014824162732011-04-30T23:23:00.002-05:002014-11-02T18:08:02.560-06:00Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Blanc<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.tablascreek.com/" target="_blank">Tablas Creek Vineyard</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Patelin de Tablas Blanc</span><br />
<b>Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne</b><br />
<b>Paso Robles, California, U.S.A.</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
2010<br />
13.5%<br />
$19.99 -- Tablas Creek Vineyard, CA</span><br />
<br />
Color: Light gold, almost a hint of peach?<br />
Nose: Charred flowers, honey, pear rind<br />
Body: Light<br />
Front: Peach, honey<br />
Middle: Creamy sage, orange<br />
Back: A hint of salted almonds<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
The nose on this wine is reminiscent of the Vin Soave I just reviewed, with a little more orangey action. The Tablas Creek folks, whose wines I generally love, have started making wines with bought fruit, not just their own; the "Patelin" series is the name for such wines, and this is the first release. 16% of the fruit for this wine is from Tablas Creek's land.<br />
<br />
It's a charming, light wine, with persistence on the palate and a summery lift to it--very drinkable. This will go well with food, especially seafood. It doesn't have the strong orangey, gassy quality that some southern Rhone whites have, but it's not a pushover, either.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-26843644119147693062011-04-29T21:39:00.002-05:002014-11-02T18:08:43.544-06:00Pagos del Moncayo Garnacha<a href="http://www.axialvinos.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pagos del Moncayo</span></a><br />
<b>Garnacha </b><br />
<b>Grenache</b><br />
<b>Campo de Borja DO</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Spain</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2007</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.5%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$17.99 -- Costco, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Dark ruby<br />
Nose: Fishmarket, blueberry, firecracker, cream, cherry<br />
Body: Medium to full<br />
Front: Creamy cherry<br />
Middle: Orange peel, plum, licorice<br />
Back: Coffee grounds, rocks, dusty tannins<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
The "Tinto Joven" made by this label gave me about the worst hangover I've had in a long time. Why, then, did I pick up a bottle of their Grenache?<br />
<br />
Well, for one thing, I love Grenache; for another, the Tinto Joven was quite vibrant and fascinating. This one is not quite as multilayered as that one was. But it's big, yet excellently stocked with both fruit and secondary, herby flavors. While I suspect the alcohol level is actually higher than the label claims, it's better with food, as the end of it kind of waters out: I'm drinking it with an open jar of pickles, as it happens.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-11637160901405565222011-04-28T23:24:00.005-05:002014-11-02T18:09:13.532-06:00Freemark Abbey Merlot<a href="http://www.freemarkabbey.com/index.cfm" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Freemark Abbey</span></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Merlot</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Napa Valley</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">St. Helena, California</span><b>, U.S.A.</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2007</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.5%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$19.98 at Twin Liquors, Bee Cave, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Dark ruby<br />
Nose: Sour cherry, sage, a hint of orange peel<br />
Body: Medium<br />
Front: Cherry<br />
Middle: Cassis, salt, coffee <br />
Back: Hint of pepper, soft tannins<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
I am a fan of Freemark Abbey wines, which I think are underrated. To the company's credit, they've priced their wines realistically, and this is a particularly good bargain (though I did get it on sale).<br />
<br />
This is a Merlot, not a Cab, to be sure: it doesn't have the beefy body, but the herby aromatics are pronounced and interesting. The fruit is from Rutherford, and you can tell by the haunting, microfine tannins. My guess is that in two years this wine will be even more interesting on the palate than it is now. <br />
<br />WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-65731081331390630512011-04-28T23:06:00.003-05:002014-11-30T15:50:53.620-06:00Inama Soave Classico<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.inamaaziendaagricola.it/" target="_blank">Azienda Agricol<b>a </b></a></span><b><a href="http://www.inamaaziendaagricola.it/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><a href="http://www.inamaaziendaagricola.it/" target="_blank">Inama </a></b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Vin Soave</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Garganega </span><br />
<b>Soave Classico DOC</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Verona, Veneto, Italy<br />
2009<br />
12%<br />
$11.99 -- Twin Liquors, Bee Cave, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Medium gold<br />
Nose: Charred wood, honey, pear rind<br />
Body: Light<br />
Front: Honey<br />
Middle: Sea air, honeysuckle<br />
Back: A hint of hazelnut<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
Secretly, inside my overarching Washington wine tasting mission, the Italian white experimentation continues.<br />
<br />
Ok, it's not secret, 'cause there you are reading this, but look: Pinot Grigio, perhaps the best known Italian white wine, mostly sucks. Largely, it tastes like acrylic with lime juice, no salt on the rim. Whereas by contrast the Greco di Tufo and Falanghina <a href="http://caveatemptyer.blogspot.com/2011/03/feudi-di-san-gregorio-greco-di-tufo.html">I've tasted lately</a>--wines I'd never heard of before last year--have changed my life forever.<br />
<br />
Now this wine didn't do that, but it wasn't bad. This bottle's a little disjointed and watery on the midpalate. But it's ruthlessly refreshing, and way, way better than the Soave I associate with my childhood. That's right, <i>childhood, </i>America; that is how we rolled in the backcountry in the early 80s, with the Soave Bolla.<br />
<br />
If you like a delicate but not too complex wine, this will delight you; pair it with salty or shellfishy items, sweet nuts, or lemon vinaigrette-containing things.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-50172922559740440272011-04-24T21:28:00.002-05:002014-11-02T18:10:43.171-06:00Mendelson Pinot Noir<a href="http://www.mendelsonwines.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mendelson Wines</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Pinot Noir</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sleepy Hollow Vineyard<br />
Santa Lucia Highlands</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Napa, California, U.S.A.<br />
</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">2007</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.5%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$34.29 [$48.99] -- Twin Liquors, Bee Cave, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Dark brick<br />
Nose: Stewed plum, wet gravel, sour sage cigarettes, heat<br />
Body: Full<br />
Front: Fruit soup, orange<br />
Middle: Plum licorice, espresso grounds<br />
Back: Thyme, a little heat, burned popcorn<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
I'm going to go buy another bottle of this wine, because it has a combination of characteristics that I find absolutely enchanting. The heat on the nose and in the glass is a little unfortunate, especially five years out, but it's not overwhelming. Oddly, there aren't many reviews of this wine, perhaps because the maker is best known for dessert wines. Then again, maybe he just pissed everybody off. <br />
<br />
Either way, here's the thing: this tastes almost exactly like two other high-tone Pinots I've had, that had a little age on 'em. Stewed fruit, then some earthy or beefy or smoky secondary flavors, and a burned popcorn type of ending. And the flavor profile didn't evolve in any of these cases either: an hour later, they basically tasted the same as after 15 minutes. Two hours, same deal: still delicious, but still the same flavors in the same structure.<br />
<br />
This puts me in a quandary. One of the things I love about wine as opposed to, say, Dr. Pepper<span style="font-size: x-small;">TM</span>, is that it sometimes evolves as it opens. A single wine can be delicious in five or twelve different ways over the course of a few hours. Then again, I love Dr. Pepper<span style="font-size: x-small;">TM</span>! And this tastes a lot like it.<br />
<br />
So I'm going to get another bottle, as I said. And I'm going to be flexible about what I imagine the unfolding of a wine that I enjoy might be like. At $35, I think this is an absolute steal in Pinot, unless you hate sour sage cigarettes.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-91861911271870484872011-04-23T21:40:00.003-05:002014-11-02T18:11:37.304-06:00Andrew Will Cabernet Franc<a href="http://www.andrewwill.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Will Cellars</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
<b>Cabernet Franc</b><br />
<b>Columbia Valley</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Vashon, Washington</span>, <b>U.S.A.</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2009</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.2%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$25.99 at Twin Liquors, Bee Cave, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Dark ruby<br />
Nose: Ass coffee, fresh berries and cream, roasted orange, faint nutmeg<br />
Body: Medium to full<br />
Front: Red cassis, cherry<br />
Middle: Cherry-flavored coffee, with a touch of cream<br />
Back: Currant tea, soft tannins<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
Andrew Will makes some phenomenal wine. But it's hard times, and now they're making a sort of second-label wine. Mind you, it's $30 a bottle, so perhaps the concept didn't quite sink in. The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the initial release of the value series, is a total <a href="http://caveatemptyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/melville-estate-chardonnay.html">Pottery Barn Wine</a>. But this one is different.<br />
<br />
Now, you could ask, If you're going to try to make a more popular wine, with a wider reach, why make a Cabernet Franc? Americans don't know what Cabernet Franc is any more than they know what ass coffee is, even though both are in a lot of reds they drink. But the balance of bright, tart fruit with coffee-cream goodness in this bottle will erase such questions. If there was ever a Cab Franc that might convert average wine buyers, this is it. I'm guessing, however, that the black label Andrew Will series is going to rotate varietals, and that's all good as far as I'm concerned. Much though I want this house to succeed, I don't want too many people getting into these wines.<br />
<br />
This lacks the power of their more senior wines--has a shorter finish and less body. But with any kind of food, it's great; it opens fast, and if this were $50 at a restaurant, I'd order it and be delighted. And second rank though it might be, this will age a bit, without question: the tannins are soft and polite, but they are insistent, balancing the acid of the fruit, and promising some deeper harmony in a few years.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-75676433707145066172011-04-23T19:35:00.003-05:002014-11-02T18:14:01.144-06:00Melville Estate Chardonnay<a href="http://www.melvillewinery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Melville Winery</span></a><b> </b><br />
<b>Chardonnay<br />
Santa Rita Hills</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Lompoc, California, USA<br />
</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">2007</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.9%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$22.39 -- Bee Cave, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Medium gold<br />
Nose: Cedar, salt, clementine-lime <br />
Body: Full<br />
Front: Salt, Meyer lemon<br />
Middle: Honey and cream, lime<br />
Back: Oak, white pepper<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
I'm increasingly a fan of Sta. Rita Hills wines. This one is delightful, though without the 20% off sale, I'm not sure if I'd go for it again. I had the same experience with one of Melville's Pinot Noirs awhile back.<br />
<br />
This deserves a brief but perhaps important digression. There's a threshold of cost and interestingness that I want to give a name to, because I think it actually influences the drinking experience (assuming you paid for the wine--if you didn't, this isn't a factor, except for you misers out there). If the wine is expensive and tastes beautiful, you don't shy away from buying another bottle. If it's cheap and tastes really good to you, maybe you buy a case, or make it a regular. But if it's really good, yet not quite priced right, you say, I'll take my $23 to a new wine, hoping to find one that's fantastic at that price.<br />
<br />
I always have this same feeling at Pottery Barn. That <a href="http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=rattan+side+table&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=bce1d2c2cef6738f">rattan side-table</a> is fantastic! But it's $300. Target has a rattan side-table that's really good, and it's $45. Restoration hardware has one with a secret compartment, that's much sturdier, for $400. Whatever happens next, it's not going to happen at Pottery Barn. Thenceforth, wines that provoke this feeling I will call "Pottery Barn Wines." I look forward to ireful comments from either Pottery Barn execs or Soccer Moms and Dads who love their Pottery Barn for Kids wines.<br />
<br />
That said, this wine is really good! It's tasty with the appetizers of chorizo, mustard, cornichon, and triple-creme cheese I'm having; and it brings a sea-side reminiscence with its mineraliness, which suggests it would be phenomenal with seafood.<br />
<br />
P.S.: I got one of my rattan wine-storage chests from Pottery Barn, and it's fantastic! It was on sale, 25% off.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-68867435615850851422011-04-17T20:58:00.004-05:002014-11-30T15:51:19.187-06:00When heavily medicated for allergies......<span style="font-size: x-small;">IT'S NO USE</span>. I can't really taste anything. It's like there's a hole in my palate; things that are strongly acidic, spicy, or salty come through, but that's all. Mouthfeel is all I really have left--an inordinate sensitivity to temperature and texture.<br />
<br />
So it seems like a good moment to make tiny comments on two scientific essays that involve the wine world. They come from the seemingly antipodal realms of linguistics and biology. I read academic essays all the time, so perhaps this is one small way to contribute to the gargantuan conversation online about wine.<br />
<br />
I've mentioned elsewhere the results of the first paper, "The Taste of Carbonation," by Chandrashekar, et al (<i>Science</i> 326, 16 Oct 2009), sent to me by an overeducated reader. Carbonation in beverages tastes sour, they conclude, after a battery of quite convincing tests, checking to see if it tasted more salty, more sweet, and so on. There are <a href="http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/drink/interview-jancis-robinson-first-lady-wine-387623">stories about folks in China</a>, a rapidly expanding wine market, putting Coke or Sprite into wine; this study suggests that they're not just making it sweeter, but rather, something more complex might be going on. And recall that the Greeks mixed water and wine, before ye judge the Chinese!<br />
<br />
The second paper, Michael Silverstein's "Old Wine, New Ethnographic Lexicography" (<i>Annual Review of Anthropology</i> 35, 2006, 481-96), was suggested by an equally overeducated friend who ought to be reading this blog, if he knows what's good for him. This article was less useful. Coining the term <i>oinoglossia</i>, meaning "wine talk," the article discusses how learning the insider lingo of the wine world helps you signal yourself as being part of the wine-interested community. It uses wine talk as an example of how linguistic anthropologists need to understand how language divides up groups in culture.<br />
<br />
But Silverstein insists that we have to understand both the words people use and the grammar in which they're used--even what I would call a <i>cultural grammar</i>, of using certain constructions or words in certain situations where you know you're being judged in some way, or want to win someone over and convince them you're in the "in" crowd. You don't just use certain words when you're trying to convince your boss you know what you're talking about--you <i>talk in a certain way</i>.<br />
<br />
This is good, so far as it goes, but I didn't learn anything at all about the wine world from this article. It doesn't actually cite any examples! It's like linguistic anthropology without any actual drinking human beings.<br />
<br />
In short: if I were out drinking some bubbly, which is about the only thing I can taste right now, I'd probably rather do it with Jayaram Chandrashekar, et al (there are seven authors on the paper, so you'd need a couple of bottles at least) than Silverstein. But the more the merrier!WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-38286029750937428622011-04-15T22:45:00.003-05:002014-11-02T18:19:04.837-06:00Hedges Red Mountain<a href="http://www.hedgesfamilyestate.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hedges Family Estate</span></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Mountain</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Benton City, Washington, U.S.A.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2007</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">13.6%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$19.84</span> -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Twin Liquors, Bee Cave, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Deep strawberry jam<br />
Nose: Cherry, sage, hint of orange, vanilla<br />
Body: Medium<br />
Front: Tart cherries<br />
Middle: Caramelly cedar<br />
Back: Spice, chocolate<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
It's time to figure out which Washington reds I like. This one is great for the money. It's phenomenal with a pepper steak, not bad with a romaine-and-egg salad. It doesn't seem to evolve much as it opens--the tannins soften considerably, suggesting the wisdom of a year or two of patience (I'm going to get a couple of bottles to lay down). <i></i>But the cherry-and-oak driven profile stays true for hours.<br />
<br />
I reckon some folks will say this is <i>over</i>-oaked, but I'm not sure, as the fruit and acid still come through; others might think it one-dimensional, but that doesn't tally for me either, because of the herby dimensions. Whoever made this wine seems to me to be wondering, How can I make a Merlot-based blend that tastes like serious Bordeaux, yet also tastes like the Pacific Northwest? (If I learned that they fudged down a half-point on the alcohol level, however, I'd not be surprised.)<br />
<br />
I think that it's nicely balanced, and that with a little time--or the right pairing--it'll be more interesting than many wines at this price. (My latest thing is to try all wines with pickles: this one tastes like a McDonald's cheeseburger when paired with pickles, and that is just awesome.) <i>{Note, in 2014: Much, much better. Haunting, rich, and delicious.}</i>WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-68941466959901643732011-04-15T21:20:00.020-05:002014-11-02T18:20:15.854-06:00Terredora Dipaolo Falanghina<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.terredora.com/" target="_blank">Terredora Dipaolo Viticoltori</a><br />
Falaghina</span><br />
<b>Irpinia DOC</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Montefesco, Campagnia, Italy<br />
2008<br />
13%<br />
$10.49 -- Whole Foods, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Medium gold<br />
Nose: A fire in the apple-flavored graham cracker factory <br />
Body: Medium to full<br />
Front: Meyer lemon<br />
Middle: Apple-flavored tobacco<br />
Back: Cedar, thyme<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Fake cork<br />
<br />
A couple of days ago I lamented the passing of a 2007 Falanghina. Remembering that there was some more of this, one of my absolute favorite Italian whites, around, I reckoned I'd better move it up on the ol' Asmodeus food chain.<br />
<br />
I'm glad I did: not only is it damn tasty, but it's palpably right on the edge of oblivion. The maderization is coming through (how could it be, since this isn't aged in oak?), flattening out the acid and the focused apple (I've had an 09 of this wine, and it's applerific); but it's still delightful, full, complex, and balanced. To folks who like fruity American whites, the nose on this will be almost alienating, reminiscent of a red wine.<br />
<br />
Indeed, I'd expect Americans to divide seriously on whether or not they like this wine, because it doesn't play ball the way they're used to. But with food--even spicy food; I'm having it with cherry peppers, a spicy cheese (<i>Oregonzola</i>!), and paprika-laden chorizo--it's fantastic. <br />
<br />
Just don't wait too long before you drink it!WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-2707354554120238912011-04-14T00:00:00.003-05:002014-11-02T18:21:13.718-06:00Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir<a href="http://www.siduriwines.com/" target="_blank"><b>Siduri Wines</b></a><br />
<b>Santa Lucia Highlands</b><br />
<b>Pinot Noir</b><br />
<b>Central Coast</b><br />
<b>Santa Rosa, California, U.S.A. </b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2008</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.1% </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$29.98 -- Twin Liquors, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Medium garnet<br />
Nose: Strawberry jam, cherry, a little herb<br />
Body: Medium <br />
Front: Strawberry-cherry cola<br />
Middle: Raspberry, banana<br />
Back: A <i>little</i> sage, soft tannins<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Screwcap<br />
<br />
This is a tasty, food-friendly, almost too-easy-drinking wine. It's rich, but not terrifically complex or deep or long on the palate. It was splendid paired with roasted chicken and a little avocado and tomato salad. Again, perhaps a tad overpriced for what you get, as is often the case with Pinot--I might try a circa-$20 Central Otago wine before this one, in the future. I don't think this is made to age particularly long, given the tannin structure, but it wouldn't hurt to wait another year, I reckon, before drinking it.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-5666967626633456232011-04-13T19:56:00.000-05:002014-11-02T18:21:47.666-06:00Lacrimus Rioja<b>Valsanzo (</b>Bodegas Sendero Royal?<b>)</b><br />
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<b>Lacrimus</b></div>
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<b>Crianza </b></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
<b>Tempranillo</b><b>, Graciano<br />
Rioja DOCa</b><br />
<b>Rincon de Soto, La Rioja, Spain</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2008</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">13.5%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$13.89 -- Costco, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Dark ruby</div>
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Nose: Cherry, blackberry bramble, orange grove</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
Body: Medium to full<br />
Front: Cherry</div>
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Middle: Leather, spice, blackberry</div>
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Back: Licorice, gas </div>
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Burns clean?: Yes</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
A tasty Rioja, well worth the money. It'll age, I reckon, too. Good with food (pizza, in this case) and a bit brooding. It's a big wine, and I suppose one might say it's a "modern" style, but it's still plenty Spanish--the dark and herby aspects of it are to be reckoned. Hmm. Rosemaried lamb or potatoes would be awesome with this, come to think of it.</div>
WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-63522373340434464222011-04-13T19:00:00.002-05:002014-11-02T18:24:57.291-06:00Lange Reserve Pinot Noir<a href="http://www.langewinery.com/"><b>Lange Winery</b></a><br />
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<b>Pinot Noir</b></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
<b>Reserve </b><b><br />
Willamette Valley</b><br />
<b>Dundee, Oregon, U.S.A.</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2008</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">13.5%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$30.99 -- Twin Liquors, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Medium reddish purple<br />
Nose: Cherry candy, a hint of earth and smoke, a spritz of bug spray</div>
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Body: Medium<br />
Front: Cherry</div>
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Middle: A hint of cassis, cinnamon, spiciness<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div>
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Back: Cherry again, creamy this time</div>
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Burns clean?: Yes</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
This is a tremendously elegant wine--so elegant that I think I didn't really notice much <i>flavor</i> in the tail end of it. It's smooth and balanced, and perhaps in a year or two might become more intense. But at the moment, this is exactly the sort of bottle that has me scratching my head at Pinot Noir prices. For my palate, it's not as interesting as <a href="http://caveatemptyer.blogspot.com/2010/05/innocent-bystander-pinot-noir.html">the Innocent Bystander</a>, yet costs twice as much. Had I bought two bottles of this (as I did with the <a href="http://caveatemptyer.blogspot.com/2010/03/pessagno-lucia-highlands-pinot-noir.html">Pessagno</a>), I'd put the other in the closet and wait for a couple of years before opening it. I'm not sure time <i>does</i> heal all things, but I reckon in this case it can't hurt.</div>
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<div class="post-body entry-content">
After a long hiatus thanks to work, Asmodeus is BACK. I'd have dropped <i>four</i> wines on you today instead of three, if only the Falanghina hadn't been maderized. Believe it: <i>four years may be too long</i> for Falanghina.</div>
WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-84293371846079978132011-03-09T22:18:00.005-06:002014-11-02T18:26:36.476-06:00Margerum M5<h3 class="post-title entry-title">
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
<a href="http://www.margerumwinecompany.com/"><b>Margerum Wine Company</b></a><br />
<b>M5 </b><br />
<b>Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Counoise, Cinsault<br />
Santa Barbara County</b><br />
<b>Los Olivos, California, U.S.A.</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2008</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.1%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$19.94 -- Twin Liquors, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Medium reddish purple<br />
Nose: Cherry candy, orange, green apple, a hint of paprika</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
Body: Medium<br />
Front: Cherry, plum, orange peel</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
Middle: Watermelon Jolly Rancher<span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
Back: Caramel espresso, soft tannins</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
Burns clean?: Yes</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
Finally, I think, I'm starting to see the core differences between French and California Rhone-style blends. The brightness of the mid-palate fruit in this wine--whose structure and flavors are otherwise very similar to a CDP--is distinctive. The tannins aren't as cultured as the CDP, either, but they're not the brutish ones of Napa Valley.<br />
<br />
I've had earlier vintages of this wine and also liked them; it's much better with some decanting, as the fruit comes out more. Crucially, this wine is fantastic with a range of foods. </div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
(Tonight I'm alternating sips of this with tastes of day 2 of Soos Creek's Sundance Merlot, which is fantastic, but which I won't review here because I want it all.)<br />
<br />
A note on the notable, and to me suspect, glass ceiling of 90 points on Cellartracker for this wine: I fear that its questionable longevity is making folks rate it lower than their taste experience justifies, especially if they're drinking it with food. Cellartracker folks--knock me down if I'm wrong! </div>
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</div>
WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-53706255764950037292011-03-07T22:56:00.001-06:002014-11-02T18:27:08.697-06:00Vineyard Block Estate Block 939 Cabernet<b>Vineyard Block Estate</b><br />
<b>Block 939 </b><br />
<b>Cabernet Sauvignon <br />
Napa Valley</b><br />
<b>Calistoga, California, U.S.A.</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2008</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.2%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$19.94 -- Spec's Liquors, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Deep reddish purple<br />
Nose: Plums, stewed black cherry, orange, a little heat<br />
Body: Full<br />
Front: Plum, vanilla<br />
Middle: Cherry, coffee, orange rind<br />
Back: Chocolate, soft tannins<br />
Burns clean?: No -- almost immediate headache after glass 2.<br />
Cap: Recycled cork<br />
<br />
This is pretty good for negociant wine. It's full on the palate, but not too cloying; great with grilled rack of lamb and almost as good with a tomato-basil soup. There's a lot of oak, so if you like that, you will be thrilled--there's not much spice or weird earthy flavor, which I prefer, but it's a hedonistic wine at a slightly less-than-indulgent price. WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-37327073498082736712011-03-07T22:41:00.001-06:002014-11-02T18:27:56.166-06:00Feudi di San Gregorio Greco di Tufo<span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.feudi.it/" target="_blank">Feudi di San Gregorio</a><br />
Greco di Tufo</span><br />
<b>Campagna</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Serpico, Avellino, Italy<br />
2008<br />
13%<br />
$15.49 -- Twin Liquors, Bee Cave, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Light gold<br />
Nose: Grass, pear, honey<br />
Body: Medium to full<br />
Front: Lemony pear<br />
Middle: Apple, banana<br />
Back: White pepper, honey<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
Wow. This is a phenomenal wine, to my taste. Acid up front, interesting fruit and secondary flavors battling it out in the middle, and a long, long finish with minerals and honeysuckle. This might be on the old side for Greco, at three years, but it's still seductive, like a good conversation. There may be a lot more of these appearing on the ol' Caveat Emptyer. I think would be fantastic with many, many things, especially seafood.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-49512490659910873802011-02-25T23:10:00.002-06:002014-11-02T18:28:29.005-06:00Kinton Syrah<a href="http://www.kinton.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kinton Vineyards</span></a><br />
<b>Syrah</b><br />
<b>Santa Barbara County</b><br />
<b>Sta. Maria, California</b><span style="font-weight: bold;">, U.S.A.</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2004</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">14.3%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$13.39 -- Twin Liquors, Bee Cave, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Beautiful, dark ruby<br />
Nose: Blueberry, petrol, cherry, <br />
Body: Medium to full<br />
Front: Cherry, lime<br />
Middle: Orange peel, plum, apple<br />
Back: Coffee grounds, firm tannins<br />
Burns clean?: Mostly<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
This has much of the style of Australian syrahs: big, bold, fruity, but dark and multilayered notwithstanding. I like this style, especially on a cold night and with old-school cooking. Some might find it too oaky, but it's getting reasonably old at this point, and I found the balance of fruit, acid, and secondary flavors pretty delightful. It's neither the smoothest nor the biggest Syrah out there; in the midpalate it backs off, a little, but I like the acidic fruit that you can taste when it does, so it doesn't bother me much, and the alcohol is reasonably under control.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-44819879361934967492011-02-25T22:44:00.003-06:002014-11-30T15:50:31.609-06:00On the Nature of Wine BlogsF<span style="font-size: x-small;">AITHFUL READERS, HAVE PATIENCE</span> with me. Normally on a Friday night I'd be drinking wine and listening to Wilco and relaxing in front of a fire or within a pool. Instead I'm doing all of those things while composing a minor reflection spurred by a post at one of the best wine blogs out there, <i>Vinography</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vinography.com/archives/2011/02/why_trust_a_wine_blogger.html">http://www.vinography.com/archives/2011/02/why_trust_a_wine_blogger.html</a><br />
<br />
The gist of it is that there was a survey conducted asking winos what source they trust for wine information, concluding that wine blogs weren't really trusted. And more importantly, <i>Vinography</i> reflects thoughtfully on the circumstances of such surveying (including the fact that the surveyors spun their press release so that bloggers would react to, and thus propagate it) and offers data from his own site's survey and access statistics.<br />
<br />
What <i>Vinography</i> doesn't do with this post is reflect on the relationship between bloggers and the wine industry--the elephant in the room when we talk about authority and consumer trust. The blogosphere's reputation as a third party has changed over the last few years, and will continue to change. It used to be that blogs were pretty radical and DIY, and now they're often co-opted (and we always suspect them of being so first, and look for clues of genuineness, a moving target). Look at how <a href="http://tv.winelibrary.com/2011/02/21/five-year-anniversary-tasting-episode-989/">Gary Vaynerchuk massages his commercial interests</a> in his video blog--it's an evolving, difficult issue, because the wine market changes, even as the media marketplace morphs at the same time.<br />
<br />
On the one hand, if you buy a lot of wine over the $15 mark, you probably consult more than one source when buying something you've never tasted. So an industry insider--that is, one who has any kind of commercial stake in any part of the wine creation-and-circulation chain, including journalists and software designers--is never your only potential source.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, <i>no</i> source or combination of sources is reliable. It's not the marketplace for reviews or wine itself that matters, but the palate and its aggregate shiftiness. Get Vaynerchuk, Parker, Galloni, and Asher together and get 'em drunk, and have them all agree, in that freewheeling ecstatic state, on five wines that they think are phenomenal. I'll bet you'll find at least one of those bottles pretty mundane, if not icky. I will never forget the disgusted look on the face of one of my guests a couple of years ago when I served her a glass of 2003 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel--not because I regret a faux pas, but because of how immediately I thought, <a href="http://www.spanish-learning-corner.com/mexican-sayings-food.html"><i>menos burros, mas olotes</i></a>.<br />
<br />
But we can't do without wine writing and reporting. (Ranking we <i>can</i> do without.) Sure, we don't buy as much mail-order wine as we used to, and so the necessity to write about wines may be coming from other sources--perhaps, the explosion of an international trade market (in the U.S. anyway; the wine selections in Ireland, for example, are at the moment comparatively narrow); the diversification of the wine-drinking demographic; or the flood of Internet-vectored information about wines that comes from vendors or vintners, very little of which will actually make us pull the trigger on a bottle unless we're drinking it alone and can smother the shame of having been taken, if it turns out to suck.<br />
<br />
Now, I don't know much about wine, partly because I'm not a wine industry person. But among the things I study is the relationship among writing, authority, and evidence. There is decent evidence of what makes a wine terrible, but not much about what makes one good. Time, temperature, terroir, temperament, mood, and mold all make a difference when we're talking about individual bottles, which I suspect is the way most of us buy. And all those factors can be taken into account in a written description of a wine: its social connections, food compatability, trajectory and history, all of these things that give life and richness can be conveyed.<br />
<br />
That, to me, is the role of the wine blog. My title suggests that they have a nature, but frankly, the title is an essayistic affectation designed to attract the attention of wine bloggers (who will find much to complain about here, if they have any acuity or self-esteem). But what one does in a media outlet changes when its context changes. And the variety of social embeddings of wine that responsible wine blogs create (the jury is out for me on whether James Suckling's new project is responsible or not) is salutary.<br />
<br />
That said, I really appreciate writers who make clear their relationship to the wine industry, even if only to say their role is just that of a verbose consumer. And it can catalyze fascinating interactions among readers, writers, and wineries, when you do: check out what I think is <a href="http://winepeeps.com/2009/11/25/soos-creek-and-quilceda-creek-a-contrast-in-customer-service/">an astonishing and rare exchange at Wine Peeps</a>, when a blogger had a tough time at a 2009 tasting at Soos Creek. (Also, please do NOT buy Soos Creek wines, because I want them all.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VeD8C_AJiEBrghcsPvNAnrhB6gAhKJjQdMArm_7hp1S0EnrL2426HJEHpeBPj9nkNITufLLYQzTu-3sPCU-Nvvo3nVE9GDK7iQTQMLuXWWIsc7wK3IoeeujI68i0rx9b8XsveQQCxLA/s1600/106544l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VeD8C_AJiEBrghcsPvNAnrhB6gAhKJjQdMArm_7hp1S0EnrL2426HJEHpeBPj9nkNITufLLYQzTu-3sPCU-Nvvo3nVE9GDK7iQTQMLuXWWIsc7wK3IoeeujI68i0rx9b8XsveQQCxLA/s1600/106544l.jpg" /></a>At this point what irritates me most--and see Siva Vaidhyanathan's <i>The Googlization of Everything</i> for a much more detailed rant--is Google's algorithm and the search engine optimization industry. When I search for any particular bottle of wine, it's very difficult to find blog posts reviewing the wine, particularly if those blog posts aren't on massively linked sites like Vinography. There are thousands and thousands of wine blogs, and you can't tell me that a CDP I buy at Costco hasn't been reviewed on one of them. But it's gotten harder and harder over the last year, thanks to the Cork'd-Winesearcher-Snooth-Wine.com formations, to find blogger reviews unless they're brand new. If you want reviews that aren't trusted, it's the ones on these sites. StreetMarine says he found the Hello Kitty Brut Rose disappointing...<i>say it ain't so!</i><br />
<br />
So to those big four, and others that aspire to them: hear me. Start linking up blogger reviews. Do what Google can't, because your SEO specialists are hammering away at it, and give us links to blogger reviews of the wines, not just links to Cellartracker and some Parker scores.<br />
<br />
And now, back to our regularly biased wine reviews!WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-20802985552048347002011-02-22T20:35:00.002-06:002014-11-02T18:36:03.305-06:00Ornellaia Le Volte<a href="http://www.ornellaia.com/it/prodotti/levolte.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tenuta dell'Ornellaia</span></a><br />
<b>Le Volte<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
Toscana</b><br />
<b>Sangiovese, Cabernet, Merlot</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bolgheri, Italy</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2006</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">13.5%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$23.39 -- Twin Liquors, Bee Cave, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Dark ruby with tiny brown tinge<br />
Nose: Cherry, olive, rose, wet earth; mint and raspberry after a couple of hours<br />
Body: Medium<br />
Front: Cherry tea, or possibly cherry-flavored tobacco smoke<br />
Middle: Licorice, black olive, coffee bean<br />
Back: Thyme, soft but graphitic tannins<br />
Burns clean?: Immaculately<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
This is an entry-level red for the famous Ornellaia brand. It's an odd blend, in my experience; this one is delightfully complex, with a beautiful nose. I'm no fan of Sangiovese in general, but the layers in this wine are seductive and ceaselessly changing. I've had the 2005, which was also delightful, but a little age seems to have benefited this. The texture is largely smooth, with some tannins still noticeable at the end, and it's light-bodied but complex-flavored.<br />
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Now, here is a thing: I think this is sort of a wine-geek wine. You'll find it on restaurant menus, I know, and if it's really old or really young, my guess is, it's a good call. But even this, at 5 years old, really only came into its own after a couple of hours open. So make 'em decant it, or aerate it, or something, just in case. And though it's made from varietals with legendary presence, the combination of them is quite fascinating and subtle. Some wines taste the same, each time you take a sip (within the first couple of hours after they're open, anyway). This one changes, and next to the fascinating aromas of the wine, it's the best part of the show.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-1808831767923944082011-02-19T21:27:00.001-06:002014-11-02T18:36:45.190-06:00Ferrer Bobet Priorat<a href="http://www.ferrerbobet.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ferrer Bobet</span></a><br />
<b>Priorat</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Carignane, Grenache</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Falset, Tarragona, Spain</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2006</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">15%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$33.99 -- Costco, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Dark ruby<br />
Nose: Cherry, plum, orange<br />
Body: Medium<br />
Front: Steely blackberry<br />
Middle: Licorice, smoke, peppery spice<br />
Back: Soft tannins, char, coffee bean<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
Priorat: it's trendy, overpriced, and sometimes fantastic. This is pretty good, but I still think overpriced. It may be that in ten years (which it can certainly handle) it'll be awesome. Or, given the unevenness of the delivery on the palate, it may be that in six months it'll be fabulous, terrible in two years, and awesome again in five.<br />
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I suppose the moral of the story is: If you decide to go for this, get more than one bottle, and try to find it on sale! And don't try it with fondue. Terrible combination; shame on me!WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659081658817361565.post-29364839276195885092011-02-19T19:14:00.002-06:002014-11-02T18:37:15.813-06:00Vincent Pouilly-Fuissé Marie-Antoinette<a href="http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=764277"><span style="font-weight: bold;">J.J. Vincent</span></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Marie-Antoinette</span><br />
<b>Pouilly-Fuissé</b><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Chardonnay</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Fuissé, Burgundy, France</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2008</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">13%</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">$15.99 -- Costco, Austin, TX</span><br />
<br />
Color: Light gold<br />
Nose: Smoke, lemon, wet earth<br />
Body: Light<br />
Front: Salty peach<br />
Middle: Lemony tang<br />
Back: Oak, wet rocks<br />
Burns clean?: Yes<br />
Cap: Cork<br />
<br />
I'm on a quest for a cheap Costco star Chardonnay, and it's not going well. So far, the <a href="http://caveatemptyer.blogspot.com/2010/12/kumeu-river-estate-chardonnay.html">Kumeu River</a> and the Gary Farrell (which I see I did not review, but will next time!) are leading the pack, but they're not really cheap at around $20. Come through for me, France!<br />
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This is close. The nose isn't exciting, but on the palate, the wine is balanced, smooth, and has some nice layers of acid, fruit, and oak. It's great with the impromptu antipasto I'm having: cornichons, cherry peppers, a little salami, and mustard.WestonBoyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14913942603395159119noreply@blogger.com