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Archive for June, 2009

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Firesteed – 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir

Posted by Gabe on June 11, 2009

firesteedWhen it comes to Pinot Noir, outside of a handful of exceptions Oregon really has it all over California. Their climate, especially in Willamette Valley is prime Pinot real estate. For those of us who love Pinot Noir made with Burgundian intent there are many examples available. Today I’m looking at one from Firesteed. They make approximately 60,000 cases of wine and acquire their fruit from a host of growers, mostly through long term contracts.

The Firesteed 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir is composed of fruit sourced from Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla Valleys. A small percentage of the wine was barrel aged. This offering commonly sells for less than $15.

Upon first opening this Pinot Noir is slightly reticent. A bit of time in the glass or decanter helps. Once it has opened up, bing cherry and earth notes are present in the nose. Sour cherry, mushroom and wild strawberry are apparent throughout the palate. Tea, mineral and cola reference points are all part of the finish which is noticeably lengthy and lingering. Good acidity frames the structure of this wine and keeps everything even keeled and balanced.

What I like most about this Pinot Noir is that it’s gentle, soft and elegant, while also being nicely layered and complex. This is an offering that will really develop in your glass or decanter over a long meal or evening. It’s one to savor. The combination of Oregon terroir and Burgundian intent when it comes to wine-making style, make for a winner, not to mention nice value.

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Toast Of The Town 2009 Is Coming !

Posted by Gabe on June 10, 2009

logo_tott09Each year Wine Enthusiast’s Toast of the Town is one of the most impressive tastings in Manhattan. In addition to the bevy of fine wines and spirits poured annually, key New York City restaurants come out and each prepares a signature dish at the event. All of this is set against the backdrop of a tremendous venue, Lincoln Center. Over the years Toast Of The Town has grown and in 2009 it’s being held in 4 different cities. Next year Dallas will be added and it’s expanding to 5.

This years Toast Of The Town in New York City is Monday June 15th, just a few days away. Over 500 wines and other spirits will be poured there. The main event starts at 7:00 PM and lasts until 10:00 PM. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased through their official site. There is also a VIP tasting that begins at 5:00 PM. During those first couple of hours quite a few reserve and limited production wines are poured. The ticket price for the VIP tasting, which also includes the main tasting, is $195.

Each year I get to many wine tasting events of every shape, size and scope. I’ve attended Toast Of The Town a number of times and highly recommend it. It is without question one of the most complete premier tastings year after year. If you can swing it, the VIP tasting ticket is the way to go in my opinion. If not, the main event is still quite excellent. I hope to see you there!

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Martin & Weyrich – 2004 Nebbiolo

Posted by Gabe on June 6, 2009

There are a growing number of wineries in California growing Italian varietals. Martin & Weyrich had been doing so almost as long as anyone. 04_nebbioloSome grapes are notoriously hard to grow. Pinot Noir as an example is famously fickle about where it’s grown. One that’s at least as difficult, but less talked about is Nebbiolo. While it may be the second most famous red grape from Italy after Sangiovese, the wines it makes are often legendary. It all depends on taste but Barolo (which is made from Nebbiolo) is right up there with Brunello (made from Sangiovese) in every regard. There are very few California Wineries taking a stab at this grape. The two best I’ve had come from Paso Robles. One comes from Caparone Winery, the other is a Martin & Weyrich release and I’ll look at it today.

The Martin & Weyrich 2004 Nebbiolo is made from fruit sourced at 3 Paso Robles vineyards. This offering was aged in French oak for 15 months; 20% of the barrels were new. 1,645 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $18.

The nose of this Nebbiolo is incredibly perfumed. Cherry and cinnamon are the standout characteristics. Throughout the palate dried cherry notes are prominent and distinct. Light vanilla and spice accompany these. The finish is rich, lengthy and gloriously dry. Mushroom, earth and a touch of chicory, are all part of the equation. This wine is well structured with pleasing tannins and terrific acidity. Like Italian wines, this baby wants to be paired with food. The good thing is it will pair well with a host of full flavored Italian dishes.

There are two things that stand out most to me about this Nebbiolo. First is the fact that this wine displays all the classic characteristics of a Barolo. It certainly has some California in it two, but first and foremost the pure Nebbiolo fruit shines through. Secondly for $18 this wine is an absolute steal. Great, even good Barolo is very expensive. This wine tastes like a California version of a baby Barolo. It’s worth every penny and then some. It should also easily age well for at least another 7-8 years. At this price I recommend socking some away.

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Root: 1 – 2007 Carmenere

Posted by Gabe on June 3, 2009

wines_carm_bottleA few years ago at a large scale tasting I had the opportunity to try the Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon. After that I’ve had it from time to time and find it to be a very solid and consistent value in Chilean Cabernet. So when I discovered that they had also released a Carmenere I was pretty interested in tasting it.

The 2007 Root: 1 Carmenere is produced from fruit sourced in the Colchagua Valley. Since Chile has been unaffected by phylloxera the vines are original, ungrafted rootstock. In addition to Carmenere (75%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Syrah (10%) are part of the final blend. This offering spent 10 months in American oak. This wine routinely sells for around $10.99.

The nose of this Carmenere is very intense and features eucalyptus, dark vibrant blueberry, vanilla and subtle cedar notes. The dark berry continues on the palate which is just loaded with deep, delicious fruit accompanied by light crème brûlée and white pepper characteristics. Some brighter berry fruit notes intermingle throughout the palate and provide a nice counterpoint.  The finish which is of medium length has kirsch liqueur and continued spice. This wine has soft tannins and sufficient acidity.

What I like most about this Carmenere is that it’ll pair well with a very wide variety of foods. I found that it went very well with Sausage & Peppers. But I wouldn’t hesitate to pair it with a dish of pasta or just about anything that comes off the grill. For a price that hovers right near $10 this wine offers varietal character and good value. Another solid entry from Root: 1.

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Bodega Septima – 2007 Malbec

Posted by Gabe on June 2, 2009

A few years ago Malbec was little known to casual wine drinkers in the US. Thankfully, due to larger and larger quantities of Argentine Wines on MALBEC 2007 (3)US shelves this has changed.

The 2007 Bodega Septima Malbec is a 40,000 case production. This wine normally sells for right around $10, often a little less.

Dark plum, blueberry and vanilla notes are the most prominent characteristics of this Malbec’s nose. The palate is loaded with juicy black fruit that’s got a nice jam quality to it. Pepper and vanilla spice notes are also quite lively. This offering has a solid finish that features, espresso bean earth, and continued pepper. This wine has approachable tannins, good structure and firm acidity.

What I like best about this wine is that its a solid example of Malbec. It displays many of the characteristics that have helped make Malbec a very appealing varietal whose popularity has grown in the US over the last few years. One of those characteristics is approachability. This release is tasty and appealing from the word go. That said 45 minutes in the decanter helps it really blossom and smooths out a couple of little rough edges it has at the start. This is also a very versatile release. It’ll pair equally well with a burger or a chicken cesar wrap. It also drinks quite well on its own. All around this is a solid value and a good bet as an every day house wine.

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