Montes - 2006 Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon / Carménère

I've been drinking wines from Montes in Chile for many years now. They have many different tiers of wines.  I've personally gone back to those in the Alpha and Classic series most often. But I've found that there is value to be had in each of their categories.  In addition to the various tiers they also have properties in other countries, under their umbrella, that produce wine. Over the next couple of days I'll look at two wines from Montes in Chile and two from Kaiken their Argentine operation. First up is a blend. The 2006 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon/Carménère is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carménère. 70% of the wine was separately aged in American oak for 6 months. This wine, is one of three, in the Montes Limited Selection series Each of them has a suggested retail price of $17.

Cedar and blackberry notes are prominent in the nose of this wine. Throughout the palate red and black berry fruit notes star alongside, subtle but present, spice notes. Sweet dark chocolate leads the finish, followed by espresso, black pepper and earth notes. The finish is above average in length. This offering is well balanced with good acidity.

I found this wine to be fairly open and accessible from the word go. But it really opened up, and hit a new plateau of expressiveness, after about 45 minutes in the decanter. What I like best about this wine is how the 2 components in the blend work off of each other. The Cabernet provides structure and bright berry fruit. The Carménère softens things up and chips in a round, lush, slightly jammy mouth-feel. Combined together, they form a nice package. This offering should drink well for the next 4-5 years at minimum. While the retail price is $17, wine-searcher shows that it's often available for less than $15.  It pairs well with full flavored foods and drinks nicely on it's own. Taking everything into account, this is a pretty nice value.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

O'Brien Estate - Napa Valley - Romantic Trio

I wasn't very familiar with O'Brien Estate in Napa Valley until recently. However after reading about them, and more importantly their wines on-line, I was intrigued. So I set out to taste some of their offerings and see if the juice in the bottle lived up to all I'd read. They're a small (4,000 cases) Family Winery whose portfolio includes Chardonnay, Merlot and Seduction a Bordeaux style blend. They also make reserve or barrel selections of some of these offerings and have several gift pack options as well. Packaging isn't something I write about very often when it comes to wine. However the "Romantic Trio" I tasted this weekend is packed in such a beautiful and stunning manner that it demands mentioning. The trio is comprised of "Attraction" Chardonnay, "Romance of The Heart" Merlot and the aforementioned Bordeaux Blend called "Seduction." They are housed in a gorgeous lacquered wood box whose lettering has been branded in. Each set is numbered and signed by Bart O'Brien. Production is limited to 400 sets per Vintage year. The back of each bottle has a poem written by owner Bart O'Brien. Each varietal has its own poem. There is no question the set is a dazzling and dramatic presentation. The obvious question for me, would the wine in the bottle taste as good as the set looked? This set sells for $199 through their website.

The 2007 Attraction Chardonnay is sourced from Estate fruit on their Oak Knoll Vineyard. 50 Cases of Attraction were produced.

This Chardonnay opens with a nose of apple, vanilla and light toast notes. Throughout the palate stone and orchard fruit notes are plentiful along with some apple pie crust spices and a gentle touch of citrus peel. There is a purity of fruit throughout that is enhanced and complemented by oak aging. The finish of Attraction is impressively long with Crème Brule, caramel, cream, white pepper and just the right amount of toast.

There are two things that stand out to me about Attraction. First of all it's very much a California Chardonnay, but in the best sense of that description. Secondly the finish is complex and lingers forever. I'm very finicky when it comes to California Chardonnay; Attraction is one of the best I've tried in awhile.

The 2006 Romance of the Heart Merlot is also sourced from fruit on their Oak Knoll Vineyard. 75 cases of this wine were produced.

Cherry and pomegranate notes highlight the expressive nose of this Merlot. Taking the first sip, I found it to be tight. In decanting it I found that about an hour of air did the trick to let this wine blossom. Once it did open up this Merlot proved to filled with blueberry and blackberry through the rich, mouth-filling palate. Tannins are clearly present and firm, but certainly approachable. Chicory and earth notes came out in the finish which is above average in length with lingering spice notes. This wine, with its solid core of fruit is balanced by fine acidity. It's closer in structure to Cabernet Sauvignon then what many people unfortunately let pass for Merlot. This wine would be a perfect match for Filet Mignon topped with Gorgonzola.

I love Merlot but as I hinted above there's a boatload of sub-par ones out there. For years now my standard bearer for Estate Merlot in Napa has been the outstanding one Swanson Vineyards makes year after year. Romance of the Heart from O'Brien Estate is comparable in quality, varietal correctness and overall drinking enjoyment. And for me that says a lot. This is an impressive effort.

The 2005 Seduction Bordeaux style blend is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot. 2,500 cases of this wine were produced. This is the largest production in the O'Brien portfolio.

The nose of this blend leads with explosive cherry followed by cedar which is underscored by a touch of bramble. While I fould it slightly more immediately accessible than the Merlot, an hour in the decanter proved to be a revelation. Once it came to life, there is a solid core of berry and cassis notes through the palate. The finish features a multitude of earth notes that simply increase as it opens up. These are joined by some dark coffee and mineral notes in a long, lingering, lusty finish that beckons you back to the glass again and again for further sips.

What impressed me most about Seduction is how well it's balanced. The Cabernet Franc elevates the nose and the Merlot provides nice structure. While it's drinking well now I expect this blend to improve over the next 5 or so years and drink well for several after that.

All three wines in the Romantic Trio are well made and very enjoyable to drink. Along with the wonderful packaging this makes for an excellent gift, romantic or otherwise. I look forward to following the O'Brien Estate going forward and hope they continue to make wines as pure and compelling as these.

Please take a moment to vote for my blog.

Don Valentin Bianchi Lacrado 2005

Over the last year I've revisited the wines of Valentin Bianchi on several occasions. There are a couple of reasons for that. For one, Argentine wines are of particular interest to me.  Additionally I have found the Valentin Bianchi wines to be well made and good values across different tiers and price levels. Today I'll look at one of their blends. The 2005 Don Valentin Bianchi Lacrado is a composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Malbec (33%), and Merlot (33%). This offering sees no wood and is aged completely in stainless steel, then filtered and bottled. The suggested retail price for this wine is $11.99.

I found the nose of this wine to be exceedingly fragrant. Plum, anise and subtle lavender notes amomgst the most prominent characteristics. While this wine is slightly tight out of the bottle, it opens up quickly. 30 minutes in the decanter really does the trick.  The palate of this blend mixes in an impressive smoothness for it's price range with some rustic charm that brings to mind old world field blends. Berry characteristics abound along with some light coffee notes on the finish as well as  earth and pepper spice. It's a rich, mouth-filling wine, offering plenty of drinking pleasure. This will match nicely with grilled meats. Chorizo comes to mind as a perfect accompaniment. Aged, better, Parmesan cheese would work nicely as well.

This is a wine made to drink in it's youth. It's priced to be affordable everyday. Another solid value from Valentin Bianchi.

Imported by Quintessential Wines

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Volteo - 2006 Tempranillo/Shiraz

When it comes to Spanish wines, Tempranillo is naturally the first grape varietal I think of. In addition to being the primary grape used in Rioja, perhaps Spain's best known region, it's used all over the country in a variety of different wines. Often times other varietals typical to Spain are blended in. Today I'm looking at a wine from the La Mancha region with more than a dollop of another varietal. The 2006 Volteo Tempranillo/Shiraz from Bodegas Rozam is 60% Tempranillo and the balance Shiraz. This wine has a modest alcohol level of 13.5, typical of European wines. This offering is finished with a synthetic cork closure and the suggested retail price is under $15.

Cherry jam along with vanilla fills the nose of this wine. The palate is medium bodied with both back and sour cherry notes intermingling throughout. Some bright raspberry notes emerge in the mid-palate. The finish brings out mocha, clove, mineral and earth notes. This wine has good acidity and nice balance. It'll match paella, roast chicken or a dish of pasta quite well.

The combination of Tempranillo and Shiraz in this wine works very well in my opinion. Each varietal brings distinct elements to the party. For the approximately $10 this wine can commonly be found for it's a nice everyday selection.

Imported by Quintessential Wines

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog

Locatelli Vineyards & Winery - 2006 Melodia

The final wine I'm looking at this week from Locatelli Vineyards & Wineryis a blend. They make several other blends as well. The other red blends are more focused on Bordeaux varietals. Melodia is a distinctly California style blend. Locatelli Vineyards 2006 Melodia is a 50/50 blend of Zinfandel & Petite Sirah. Only 59 cases of this wine were produced and it sells for $35.

Dark plum, violet and vanilla notes comprise the expressive nose of this wine. From the very first sip Melodia proves itself to be a full, mouth-filling wine at both the high and low end of the flavor spectrum. Tons of berry fruit present throughout. On the mid-palate they're accompanied by fruitcake spices. The finish of this wine is long and persistent with copious dark chocolate and spice notes dominating along with subtle earthiness. The wine would be an excellent accompaniment to roast leg of lamb or other substantial foods.

Melodia is alternately layered, complex, big and beefy. Decanting this wine for at least an hour is recommended to get the best out of it now. I imagine a year or so down the road it'll be drinking even better than it is at this time. Towards that end I re-tasted this wine after it had been open for a full 24 hours. What I found is a wine that was even more open expressive and ultimately impressive  than it was on the first night.

Zinfandel and Petite Sirah blended together in California are as natural as grape partners come.  Often times It's a small percentage of one of the other blended into a varietal bottling. In this case they get equal billing. It works tremendously well. I enjoyed all three Locatelli wines I tasted through this week, but Melodia was my favorite. I suspect with that Petite Sirah backbone it might age the best as well. If you're interested, grab them now I understand the already small production is dwindling.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Sebeka - 2006 Shiraz-Pinotage "Cape Blend"

Sebeka Wines is a South African brand, launched with the 2006 vintage. Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay are amongst their varietal offerings. Today I'm going to look at one of their blends, the 2007 Shiraz/Pinotage "Cape Blend." More and more wines from South Africa are popping up on American shelves. For people like me, who love to taste something new and different whenever I have the chance, this is a great development. The 2006 Sebeka Cape Blend is 60% Shiraz and 40% Pinotage. Each varietal underwent malolactic fermentation separately before being blended. This suggested retail price for this wine is $8.99.

Aromas of dark berry, cherry, vanilla and subtle mocha are all featured in the nose along with a light underpinning of smoke. The first sip reveals some tartness. Decanting for about 30 minutes is recommended as it really allows this offering to blossom. Once it has opened up there is plenty of cherry and jammy berry fruit throughout. Earthiness, spice and a touch more mocha come out in the mid-palate and linger through a nice finish.

Even though this wine is only 40% Pinotage, the grape makes it's presence felt with characteristic spice, smoke, earth and cherry flavors starring in this budget priced offering. At its more than reasonable price tag this wine over delivers in it's category, making it a solid contender for an everyday red. This is the kind of red wine you'll want to bring to BBQ's all summer long. It's complex enough to satisfy red wine drinkers and approachable enough to please and perhaps convert the white wine crowd. Their wide availability also helps make them a go to choice.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Kiamie Wine Cellars - 2006 White Kuvée

The last wine I'm looking at from Kiamie WIne Cellars is their White Kuvée. This wine is the only White currently in their portfolio. The reputation that Paso Robles has made as a wine-producing region is largely predicated on their reds. However, more and more, there are some noteworthy whites emerging from this region too. Whether it's the quartet of distinct Chardonnays produced by Carmody Mcknight, the lovely Viognier being crafted year after year by Victor Hugo or the host of Rhone varietals being produced by Garretson Wine Company, Paso Robles is more of a player when it comes to excellent whites than I think the average consumer has been led to believe. The Kiamie White Kuvée is 64% Roussanne and 35% Viognier. Fruit for this wine was sourced from the Derby Vineyard. A mere 250 cases of this blend were produced and the suggested retail price is $24.

Citrus fruits, white peach, vanilla and a soft almond note fill the nose of the White Kuvée. This wine has a round, smooth mouth feel. It's full in the mid-palate with mango notes and clings to he back of the throat a little like honey does. Lemon Zest, mineral notes and nutmeg spice are featured in the long, lingering finish. This wine is balance with nice acidity and will match up very well with a wide array of light summer fare. It drinks well on it's own as well.

With the White Kuvée, I must say that Kiamie Wine Cellars is three for three in solid and enjoyable wines. This blend in particular is well layered with good complexity. It should drink well through 2009. As with the other 2 wines it's impressive what they've done with their debut releases. I look forward to watching where they go next.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Kiamie Wine Cellars - Kiamie Kuvée

The Cabernet Sauvignon I've already looked at from Kiamie Wine Cellars is currently their lone varietal bottling. Their other two releases are both blends. The Kiamie Kuvée I'm looking at today is the flagship offering of their young brand. The 2005 Kiamie Kuvée is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Syrah, 8% Malbec & 5% Zinfandel. Grapes were sourced from four distinct vineyards on the Westside of Paso Robles. The wine was aged for 18-20 months in 40% new French and Hungarian Oak. 1000 cases of the Kiamie Kuvée were produced and the suggested retail price is $44.

Bright berry fruit and vanilla notes fill the nose of the Kiamie Kuvée. The first sip reveals some tartness. This subsides after some time in the glass. Decanting this one for an hour or even two would be hugely beneficial at this point in this young wines life. Once it opens up dark jammy berry fruit and black pepper emerge. Black Cherry is the main story in the mid-palate with spice underpinning it. Subtle earthiness emerges in the finish, which is fairly lengthy.

I enjoy proprietary blends that go outside of he box. In this case what I mean is that they chose not to stick with just either Bordeaux or Rhone varietals. Kiamie Wine Cellars uses varietals from each of those areas. And in addition to that, the inclusion of Zinfandel seems like a nod not only to California, but specifically Paso Robles, which is known for some tremendously exciting Zinfandels.

The Kiame Wine Cellars Kuvée is a very good wine that needs some time to reach it's full potential. Right now it's a little tight. A year or so in the bottle should do wonders for this blend and it's cohesiveness. After that it should drink nicely for 6 or more years. As with the Cabernet Sauvignon this is another solid effort, particularly for a premiere vintage. I'm looking forward to revisiting Kiamie Wine Cellars Kuvée in future vintages to see the strides and growth it experiences as time and vintages pass

Up Next: Kiamie Wine Cellars: White Kuvée..

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Dinner With Winemaker Bob Pepi

Wednesday night at Brasserie 8 ½ I had the opportunity to have dinner with Winemaker Bob Pepi. Along with his father he founded, grew and later sold Pepi Winery and the name. He now acts as a consultant for other producers as well as recently jumping back into the ring with his own label, Eponymous. Since the mid 1990's one of his main projects has been Bodegas Valentin Bianchi in Argentina, which is in its 3rd generation as a Family Winery. I looked at a trio of wines from Valentin Bianchi back in April. That only touched on their portfolio, which includes a wide array of wines in several tiers. Sitting at the very top of the Valentin Bianchi Family of Wines is Enzo Bianchi. This wine is named after one of the founder's sons. The dinner with Bob Pepi was a rare opportunity to sample 7 vintages of Enzo side by side.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this tasting was the first and last wine in the vertical. The 1992 Enzo predates Bob Pepi's involvement and was actually never released. It was their first attempt at a serious barrel aged Bordeaux blend wine. No one is really sure what the exact blend for this is but it's likely close to all Cabernet Sauvignon. For a 16-year old wine it was drinking quite nicely. Spice, leather and earthiness were the most prominent characteristics. It's a highly perfumed Cabernet and the first sign that Enzo is an age-worthy wine. At the opposite end of the spectrum was the 2005 Enzo. This wine won't be released until the fall. The 2005 is nicely structured and the biggest of the Enzo's but still tight at this point in its very young life. After some time in the decanter it began to open up. When it comes out in the fall it'll be a wine to lay down for a few years to reach maximum appeal.

Over dinner Bob discussed some of his thoughts on wine making and what he attempts to do. Hi attitude towards oak is that he believes in using as much oak as will benefit a wine without overshadowing the fruit. One of the biggest changes he's made with the production of Enzo over the years is the barrel mix. He's a firm believer that some barrels are specifically better for aromatics while other exude greater influence on the mouth feel. Each vintage he strives to find the perfect mix of barrels for the wine he's making.

There were eight of us at dinner. While I'm not sure it was unanimous, the clear favorite for most of us was the 1997 Enzo. At least on Wednesday night that vintage showed the best. It was a layered wine, still showing nice tannic structure at 11 years of age with spice mocha and a lingering finish. Its nose was still big and youthful, belying its age.

The 1999 Enzo represented the first year Merlot was include in the blend. As Bob explained it was simply the first year he had suitable Merlot fruit to include in their flagship blend. After the 1997 I was most fond of the 1999 which had a nice round mouth-feel and plenty of dark fruit.

The other Enzo's we tasted through were the 1995, 2000 and 2003. Each wine certainly had its standout characteristics. For instance the 1995 featured prominent mocha notes and the 2003 the darkest fruit. The most impressive hallmark of the Enzo's as a whole was their consistency. Each wine was at a different place in its drinking window but they all are part of a continuing story. On the one hand that story is the wonderful wines that Valentin Bianchi and Bob Pepi are making year in and year out. But the more specific point for me with Enzo is the fact that this is a benchmark South American wine. Every region has the wines that are looked at to gauge quality. For Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile they have Don Melchor as one example. It's clear to me after tasting 7 vintages of Enzo side by side that Enzo Bianchi is a reference point in Argentine wine.

Imported by Quintessential Wines.

Please take a moment to vote for my blog.

Spier - 2005 Malbec/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot

The last wine I'm looking at this week from Spier is a blend of Malbec (57%), Cabernet Franc (32%) & Petit Verdot (11%). The lots for this wine were aged separately in a combination of American and French oak before blending and bottling. As with the Shiraz I looked at yesterday this wine is part of Spier's Vintage Selection series. It's suggested retail is $20 but i can be located for closer to $15. The Cabernet Franc in this blend is the first varietal that makes it's presence known due to the big nose it provides. The Bouquet is one of leather and tobacco with subtler berry notes underneath. The first couple of sips find this wine to be tight and tart out of the bottle. Decanting is a necessity with this wine right now to get the most out of it. An hour at minimum is recommended. Once it has a chance to open though you'll be rewarded with a huge burst of bright cherry fruit. The finish is long and spicy featuring white pepper and hints of nutmeg.

With this wine Spier presents an intriguing blend. From the Cabernet Franc's strong aromatic nose, the Malbec's meaty and chewy mid-palate to the solid backbone supplied by the Petit Verdot this is a diverse wine. It probably needs another 8-12 months in the bottle to fully resolves itself and come together as one. It's enjoyable right now, especially after decanting a long while. But If you have the patience to hold on to it for a year or two you'll be happy when you pop the cork. After that it should drink well until about 2013.

In general I found the Spier Wines I tasted to be well balanced and food friendly.

Up Next: Lunch with Pieter Malan of Simonsig Family Winery

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Boggy Creek Vineyards - 2004 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

The last wine I'm looking at from Boggy Creek Vineayrds this week is also the only blend. The 2004 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon is 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's worth noting that blending these two varietals is as traditional to Australia as the blending of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is to Bordeaux. This wine was aged in a combination of American and French Oak. The suggested retail price is $26. As with the other Boggy Creek Wines it's finished in screw top.

Dark plum and raspberry jam notes emerge immediately in the nose. From the first taste a tremendous sense of spice character is revealed. It's as strong and impressive as the fruit throughout the palate of this wine. One of the spices that comes out of the gate and stays with the wine is white pepper. The finish which is long and lingering reveals a significant undertone of earthiness which is the last thing from this one that stays with you. This wine drinks very well on it's own due in part to it's inherent silkiness. That said it'll pair with a broad range of foods.

The 2004 Boggy Creek Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon is the most elegant of the Boggy Creek wines I tasted. The combination of the two varietals presents a very smooth wine that at first blush seems mellower than the stand alone Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon. In reality this wine is more subtle and complex than the stand alone varietals. Certainly a case of the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts.

For $26 this wine offers a good value due to it's combination of complexity and easy drink ability. It'll last in the cellar for a few years, at least, but it's ready to drink now. Boggy Creek Vineyards is making some fairly priced, well balanced wines. This is a producer to seek out for something outside the average from Australia.

Up Next: The wines of South Africa's Spier.

 PLEASE take a moment to vote for my blog.

Brutocao Cellars - Quadriga - 2005

Quadriga is the third releases from Brutocao Cellars I'm looking at this week. Considering the Italian heritage that is a huge part of the winery's history it's not surprising that Italian varietals play a sizeable role in their portfolio. They make another blend in addition to this one as well as several stand alone varietals. Quadriga is a blend of Sangiovese, Primitivo, Barbera and Dolcetto. Just under 1,200 cases were produced and it was bottled unfiltered. The retail price on this wine is $24.

Dried cherry, cedar, tobacco and leather fill the nose of Quadriga. A terrific earthiness is immediately apparent with the first sips of this wine. The mid palate is dominated by spice and sour cherry notes. A potpourri of white and black pepper, earthiness and black cherry are all part of the finish which is substantial in length.

Quadriga is somewhere between a medium and full bodied wine. It features excellent acidity and is terrific to drink on it's own as well as with food. I had it with Beef Stroganoff, but it would also be a great match for a dish of pasta.

In a lot of ways Quadriga reminds me of a traditional field blend. It's an easy drinking wine that has more than enough complexity to keep pulling you back in for another sip, another glass and yes probably a second bottle. At $24 this is another excellent value from Brutocao Cellars. I'd expect this wine to age nicely for the next 5 or 6 years at minimum, and drink well for a couple after that. If you like Italian varietals, this is a good wine to grab a few bottles of.

Up next: Brutocao Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon 

Please take a second to vote for my blog

Smidge Wines - 2005 - The Houdini

Smidge Wines is one of a handful of wineries that really stood out for me back in January at the Wine Australia Festival. That in mind, I decided, their wines were well worth a closer look. Over the next couple of days I'll examine three of their current releases. While Smidge Wines in Australia is a relatively new project, it's headed by some solid experience in the industry. Matt Wenk who founded Smidge Wines with his Wife Trish is the head winemaker at Barossa's highly regarded Two Hands. That he decided to focus some of his attention on his own boutique project is a boon for lovers of Australian Wine. First up from Smidge Wines is The Houdini. This wine is a blend of 50% Shiraz, 25% Zinfandel and 25% Merlot. Each varietal was aged separately in neutral oak and blended right before bottling. 330 Cases were produced.

The Houdini's nose reveals big, rich, dark berry fruit along with some subtler spice notes. As soon as I took the first sip I was hit with cassis and big jammy fruit. The mid-palate has a ton more dark berry fruit accompanied by mocha notes that become more prominent as The Houdini opens up. The finish on this wine is solid and filled with lots of spice and lingering mocha characteristics. This is a well balanced wine with good acidity.

The Houdini drinks pretty well right out of the bottle, but a solid hour in the decanter allows it sufficient time to reveal many of it's more complex qualities. The 25% Merlot that was blended in provides a solid backbone and some silky textures for this wine, allowing the brighter fruit of the Shiraz and Zinfandel to really shine up front. It pairs well with grilled meats and strong cheeses.

Smidge Wines The Houdini is an easy drinking wine with relatively soft tannins. I wouldn't expect it to improve much in the bottle, but 2-5 years of enjoyable drinking certainly seem plausible. The Houdini's most impressive trick is how quickly it disappears from your glass.

The suggested retail price for The Houdini is $24. At that price, this wine is delivers a lot of pleasure.

Up Next from Smidge Wines: The Adamo Barossa Valley Shiraz 

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

La Tunella - 2006 BiancoSesto

One of the best whites I had at the Gambero Rosso Italian Wines Roadshow was BiancoSesto by La Tunella. The wine is a 50/50 blend of Ribolla Gialla and Tocai Friulano. Fermentation for this wine was in oak followed by aging in stainless steel vats before bottling. I found the nose of the wine to be incredibly fresh with a touch of vanilla in it. Mostly it smelled like summer to me. Tasting it was an eyeopener. BiancoSesto is very middle of the road in its taste. And I mean that in the best way possible. It has some of the citrus and crisp freshness associated with Sauvignon Blanc without the tartness some of them feature. The wine is substantial and complex like a fine Chardonnay but does not possess the characters that some overdone Chardonnays sometimes do. Most of all I found La Tunella BiancoSesto to be an impeccably balanced wine with good acidity.

In short BiancoSesto is a very appealing wine to drink both on it's own and with lighter foods such as soft cheeses, an entree salad or appetizers. If you're having a dinner party or friends and family over for any event this is a perfect "welcome wine" to greet people with at the door when they walk in. That said it's also a wine worth pairing with and contemplating over a thoughtfully prepared meal

BiancoSesto by La Tunella retails for approximately $20. For that price it provides a good deal of complexity in such an easy drinking wine. This is a unique experience well worth the money.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Bodegas Cerresol Palma Real Rueda 2006

The Rueda area of Spain brings us this fifth wine for Spanish Wine week. As this area is primarily known for white wine it's appropriate that today's selection is just that. Verdejo, Viura and Sauvignon Blanc are the primary white varietals planted in Rueda. Tempranillo, Grenache, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are the red varietals planted there. However the reds take a back seat in Rueda. The Bodegas Cerresol Palma Real Rueda 2006 is a blend of Verdejo and Viura. The retail on this wine is right around $8-$9. The nose reveals pineapple and subtle hints of guava and peach. The mid-palate features a bevy of citrus notes and more pineapple. The wine is medium bodied and has a round, fairly rich mouth-feel. It has excellent acidity and is well balanced. The finish reveals a touch of tartness along with white peach. The finish is average in length.

Palma Real has a fresh, breezy summery feel to it. It's a good match for entree salads or roast chicken dishes. Will also work well as an aperitif. For the price it's a pretty decent buy and an enjoyable sipper.

Imported by Saranty Imports

Next up is another wine in the Bodega y Vinedo Fuentecen portfolio

Please take a moment to vote for my blog

Victor Hugo Winery - The Hunchback 2005

Victor Hugo Winery in Paso Robles is a family run operation with a focus on red wines. The one exception is an elegant Viogner that they make each year. They work with all of the red Bordeaux varietals in addition to Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah. In addition to being rich and  lush what is most readily apparent about their wines is that they are well balanced. Alcohol, acidity and upfront fruit are all in check with each other. In addition to their varietal bottlings Victor Hugo Winery makes two blends. One is Opulence a Meritage/Bordeaux style blend and the other is The Hunchback. Both of these vary each year as they strive to find the best blends to make a great wine. The Hunchback blend seems to vary more significantly from year to year. The 2005 version is 50% Merlot, 20% Syrah, 15% Petite Verdot and 15% Cabernet Franc.

Even though it's only 15% of the blend the Cabernet Franc is the first thing that stood out to me in the 2005 Hunchback. As is often the case, Cabernet Franc lends itself to a big, inviting nose. In this case it comes in the form of candied blueberry and plum aromas. The first sip reveals a potpourri of spice along with dark berry fruit notes. There are soft but firm tannins on the mid-palate which soften further with 30 minutes or so of decanting. Once the Hunchback opens up further it reveals some mouth filling black cherry flavors and a finish laced with tingly white pepper. Once it breathes a bit the Hunchback has no hard edges, just smooth enjoyable drink-ability. The Hunchback is built for food. it's a medium bodied red that will stand up to meats and cheeses but won't overwhelm lighter fare either.The tannic structure it does have suggests to me that it will improve even more over the next couple of years and drink well for three to five. At a retail price of $15.00 the Hunchback is well worth every penny.

I'm a huge fan of the Victor Hugo Winery offerings and encourage anyone who has a chance to seek their wines out.

Linne Calodo - The Outsider - 2004

Linne Calodo has an impressive lineup of wines. Based in the Paso Robles area they focus on an array of blends. Many of them are either Zinfandel or Syrah based. At 68% The Outsider is mostly Zinfandel with 20% Syrah and 12% Mouvedre making up the rest. Although the Linne Calodo wines tend to be big and bold, often with high alcohol content they don't drink hot. They are in fact, incredibly well balanced wines for all their size and heft. Also impressive is their ability to age. Often wines this big and bold don't have the stuffing to age. The tendency is for that big up front fruit to dissipate and leave not much more than the alcohol behind. This is not at all the case with the Linne Calodo wines. They are sufficiently tempered with acidity and a solid backbone to have staying power. The 2004 Outsider has at least 7 or 8 years of life ahead of it, with a decade not seeming out of the question to me.

Big spice and berries from the Zinfandel are the first notes that hit you when sipping The Outsider. The Mid palate has a touch of pepper and tons more dark fruit. The finish is long and luxurious as the wine tingles your tongue for a noticeable length of time after you swallow. While it performed well right out of the bottle, The Outsider seemed to hit it's stride about 45 minutes after decanting.

The Linne Calodo wines are by and large impressive, memorable and worth seeking out.

2005 Chamán de Santa Cruz

The 2005 Chaman de Santa Cruz is a 50/50 blend of Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Carmenere grape has been making some noise in Chile over the last decade. Prior to that it had been sometimes confused in the vineyard with Merlot. This after it was wiped out in Europe in the late 1800's due to Phylloxera. Carmenere  is softer with less tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon and is thus often used to blend. Some wineries will bottle it as a varietal, but more often than not it plays a supporting role.

In this case Carmenere is the equal partner of Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is pretty big, once this wine has had some time to breathe. The initial hit is blueberry pie. Chaman is rich and mouth-filling with a lush texture. The mid palate features some white pepper to go along with copious berry fruit notes. The finish has a slight, almost imperceptible tannic bite. Mocha notes however dominate the finish which is a pretty lengthy one cosnidering this wine is selling for around $12.00. Chaman is unlikely to improve at all in the bottle as it's built to drink young. It should hold and remain enjoyable for a couple of years.