Seven Heavenly Chards - 2007 Chardonnay

I've been enjoying the releases from the Michael David Family of  Wines, for quite a few years now. I find that in general, the wines are accessible, widely available and tend to please a crowd. Seven Deadly Zins is the one I've had the most over the years. So I was quite curious to try Seven Heavenly Chards, which is its counterpart. The 2007 Seven Deadly Chards is 100% Lodi Chardonnay. This wine was aged in seven different types of French oak barrels for 10 months. 10,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $17.

Mango, pineapple and vanilla dominate the nose of this wine. They're underscored by a subtler, but present, touch of caramel. Throughout the fairly extravagant and creamy palate, guava, kiwi and pineapple notes are prominent. The finish features a hint of citrus peel along with nutmeg and white pepper. The oak treatment on this wine is apparent, but not obtrusive or over the top. Seven Heavenly Chards is a well balanced wine with firm acidic structure. This wine will be a good match for a creamy four cheese Risotto.

While this wine retails for $17, it's often available for under $15. At that price point, given the host of flavors it offers, it's going to satisfy the masses. This is a great choice to bring to a large gathering. This wine is consistent, in style and intent, with the other offerings from The Michael David Family of Wines that I've had in the past.

Starting Later this Week: 12 Days of Cabernet Franc!

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Graffigna - Two Cabernet Sauvignons

Having looked at two Malbecs from Graffigna the other day, my attention now shifts to Cabernet Sauvignon. When I first started experimenting with and discovering South American wines, Cabernet was my focus. I was amazed early on at some of the real bargains that could be had. I'm happy to report, that's still true. Of course there are many more South American wines on our store shelves these days, so the options, quality and varietal wise are pretty wide. First up is the 2006 Graffigna Centanario Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is 100% varietal. It was aged in a 50/50 split of French and American oak for 12 months, followed by 6 months of bottle aging, prior to release. The suggested retail price for this wine is $13.

As soon as you pour this wine you'll notice a burnt cherry apple red hue. The nose is filled with aromas of bright red fruit. Wild strawberry and red raspberry dominate. Throughout the palate, which is remarkably smooth, for such an inexpensive, young Cabernet, lots of berry fruit, and a touch of earthiness, come to the forefront. This is a gentle, but fully flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon with a pretty long, persistent, lingering finish. This wine has easy, soft tannins and good acidity.

What I like best about the Graffigna Centanario is that it's a steal. This wine over delivers and reminds me of precisely the sort of bargains that turned me on to South American wines to begin with. Is it the best Cabernet I've had in 2009? That it's not, but it's easily the best Cabernet value I've tasted thus far this year.

The second wine is the 2005 Graffigna grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. As with the Centanario it's also 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Oak treatment and bottle aging prior to release are also identical. The suggested retail price is $20.

Dark fruit, in the form of black cherries, raspberries, blueberries and plum fill the nose of this Grand Reserve Cabernet. The palate features more cherry, cedar, and chicory, along with eucalyptus and tobacco. A hint of dark bitter chocolate emerges on the finish, joined by copious earth notes. The finish is long, lush, and smooth. This wine has soft, approachable tannins and good acidity.

After tasting the Centanario, I wondered how the Grand Reserve would compare value wise. As it should be, the Grand Reserve is a bit more complex with a longer finish. That makes the Grand Reserve a good deal in its price category.

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Graffigna - A Couple of Malbecs

Continuing the South American trend that I've been on the last week, I'm going to look at four more Argentine wines. These are from Graffigna, located in the San Juan Valley of Argentina. San Juan is an area, a bit less known than Mendoza, but also producing some fine wines. Graffigna has been around as a producer from more than 100 years. I'll look at two Malbecs today, and two Cabernet Sauvignons later in the week. First up is the 2006 Graffigna Centenario Malbec. This wine is 100% Malbec. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks. Aging was done in a 50/50 split of French and American oak for 12 months, followed by 6 months of bottle aging. The suggested retail price for this offering is $13.

Plum and violet aromas are prominent on the nose of this wine. Ripe berry, along with an undercurrent of espresso are present throughout the palate, along with black pepper. The finish features lots of earth, black tea, bramble and a hint of pencil lead.

This Malbec is medium bodied, with soft, approachable tannins and an easy drinking style. It'll match well with a wide array of foods. For a suggested retail price of $13, this wine offers bang for buck in its category.

The second Malbec from Graffigna is the 2005 Grand Reserve. This selection is also 100% varietal. Fermentation and oak aging are identical to the Centenario. The suggested retail price for this wine is $20.

The Grand Reserve has a huge nose, filled with wild blueberry aromas, and a touch of jasmine. The palate is big, rich, and expansive, featuring cedar notes that intermingle nicely with a solid core of fruit. The lengthy finish brings on sour berry notes, vanilla and a hint of black tea. This wine has a firm, but yielding tannic structure, and nice acidity.

This offering will stand up to hearty, full flavored foods, such as roast leg of lamb, or Pernil. While the suggested retail price is $20, checking wine-searcher reveals it's often available for closer to $17. As with the Centenario, it's a good value in its price category.

Both of these wines from Graffigna are fine examples of Malbec. The Centenario is often available for around $10, and represents an everyday value. The Grand Reserve is smoother, and more complex, with a longer finish. It's certainly a step up and priced accordingly.

Up Next: Two Cabernet Sauvignons from Graffigna

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Nothing "petite" about this trio

Petite Sirah is a grape that absolutely fascinates me. Popularity-wise, it’s a bit of a fringe player in the wine world. Often it’s blended in with other grapes, most commonly Zinfandel. While there are quite a number of them out there, a look at most wine or liquor store shelves won’t often reveal more than a handful of Petite Sirah selections. So at times, it can be hit or miss to find exactly what you’re looking for. Yet there are cult bottlings of this grape and a group, PS I love you, dedicated to advocating its greatness. There are a few things that really get my attention when it comes to Petite Sirah. First, it’s often so dark, brooding and massively intense in flavor. Second, these wines -- at almost any price point -- seem to age in an interesting manner. Frequently they become earthier and mellower with a decade or more in the bottle. Petite Sirah is also, more often than not, an excellent value. I’m going to look at three different Petite Sirahs in varying price categories. Head over to Bullz-eye.com to read the rest.

Montes - 2006 Late Harvest Gewürztraminer

The last wine I'm looking at, this week, from Montes is a Dessert wine. As much as I enjoy South American wines, my experience with Dessert wines from that region is a little limited. That made me very curious and excited to try a Late Harvest wine from a producer I was already fond of. The Montes 2006 Late  Harvest Gewürztraminer is 100% varietal. Grapes for this offering are from a Montes Estate vineyard in Curicó Valley. This wine saw no oak treatment at all, and was fermented in stainless steel. The suggested retail price for a 375 ml bottle, the predominate size for late harvest wines, is $27.

Apricot and honey followed by subtle vanilla and hazelnut aromas are the most dominate characteristics in the nose of this Late Harvest wine. Gewürztraminer tends to be an exceptionally floral varietal, and this is no exception. Throughout a nicely balanced palate, apricot dominates along with honey and hibiscus notes. The joyful sweetness of this wine is balanced by crisp acidity, which keeps things in check. This offering never crosses the line to become cloying, too often the downfall of Late Harvest wines. White peach emerges on the finish along with a touch of mango, but the honey  notes keep on coming, and pleasingly coat the back of the throat. This wine will be an excellent match for a diverse array of desserts. Cheesecake and Hazelnut Biscotti are the first two that come to mind. However it's balanced enough to be dessert in and of itself.

What I like best about this wine is that's a great value. Late Harvest wines are quite often priced out of most people price ranges. Take a look at what the prices are for some better known Late Harvest Wines. You'll see that this Gewürztraminer from Montes is a bargain. Taste it and you might not care what the price is. While I've looked at four wines from Montes over the last few days, I feel it's important to mention that I find their portfolio to be loaded with well made, appropriately priced wines. I consider them a go to name for value. I encourage everyone to give them a shot.

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Kaiken - 2006 Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon

The third wine I'm looking at from the Montes family of wines is the Kaiken 2006 Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon. Even before discovering the wider breadth of terrific wines coming from Argentina, a few Argentine Cabernet's hit my radar. Now I seek out wines from this country, as I find that they are both distinct and full of value. The 2006 Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon is 96% varietal and 4% Malbec. The grapes come mostly from vines over 50 years of age. 80% of the wine was aged in French oak for 12 months. The suggested retail price for this Cab is $25.

Red raspberry, Bing cherry and vanilla notes are most prominent on the nose of this wine. Throughout the persistent palate, berry, tobacco, cassis and a touch of eucalyptus emerges. This wine has a firm tannic structure. It benefited greatly from decanting. An hour, at minimum is recommended to get the most from this Cabernet right now. The finish, which is pretty lengthy, features black fruit, espresso and mocha notes, along with earth and white pepper, that become more prominent as the wine continues to evolve in the glass.

What I like best about this Cabernet from Kaiken is that it does a fine job of showcasing how good well made Cabernet from Argentina can be, The characteristics such as dark fruit and earthiness that first made me a fan of Argentine Cabs are present here. While it's suggested retail price is $25, this wine is often available for less than $20. This wine will improve in the bottle for at least 5 or 6, years and should drink well for a few after that. All things considered, this is definitely a Cabernet I can happily recommend.

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Kaiken - 2006 Ultra Malbec

Like many wine lovers I suppose, the wins of Argentina hit my radar after those of Chile. Most likely, that has a lot to do with them penetrating the US market a bit later. That said, these days I drink and enjoy the wines of Argentina as much as I do those of Chile. There is a sense of place in the better made Argentine wines that really hits my sweet spot. While other varietals certainly flourish there as well, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec are the first two that come to mind for me. As I mentioned yesterday Kaiken is Montes Wines Chilean operation. I'll look at their Ultra Malbec today and their Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon tomorrow. The 2006 Kaiken Ultra Malbec is 100% varietal. All of the fruit is from Mendoza.  80% of the wine was aged in French oak for twelve months. 32,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $25.00.

Black raspberries, plum and light vanilla fills the nose of this wine. The palate is loaded with sweet, rich, dark berry fruit and an undercurrent of spice notes. The finish has some dusty cocoa notes, a hint of chicory and a touch of tingly white pepper that hits the back of the throat on the way out. This wine is balanced by good acidity. It will be an excellent match for full flavored foods such as marinated, grilled meats.

What I like best about this wine is that it's a classic example of Malbec. It's intense, and full of bold fruit, but never over the top. This wine should improve over the short term (3-5 years) and drink well for several after that. While there are many Malbecs on the shelf well under this price point, the quality of the Ultra by Kaiken, along with its ability to age for several years,  easily justifies the extra dollars.

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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.

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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.

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Have A Sweet Valentine's Day

There is something about the cold winter months that draws me to Dessert Wines more frequently than in warmer months. With Valentine's Day right in the middle of winter, I think something sweet, and perhaps a bit sticky, could be the right way to go for your holiday libation. Over the last few weeks I tasted well over a dozen Dessert wines. I'll present six of my favorites here today. Two of the selections I picked are from Clos La Chance Winery. These are distinctly different wines. First up is Nectar. This 2006 Semillion is made in a true late harvest style with botrytized grapes. Fruit was sourced from Clos La Chance Estate Vineyards.  This selection was aged in French oak for 12 months. The suggested retail price for this wine, available in 375 mil bottles is $19.

Nectar from Clos la Chance, is for me a classic California take on late harvest Semillon. The nose is filled with honey and tea notes. The palate has apricot, peach and light mango throughout. All of these characteristics ride above a base of more tea elements. Nectar coats the back of the throat and finishes with a bit of toast and a touch of vanilla. The finish is long and lingering.

The bottom line for me in liking and recommending this wine from Clos La Chance is that it's a sweet, lovely and in a word balanced. Nectar is the sort of Late Harvest wine that for me IS dessert. Sure it can be paired with soft, stinky cheeses and work wonderfully, but there is no need this is a beautiful expression of Late harvest Semillion, and a bargain at $19. If you don't believe that, check the prices on some of the better known offerings.

The second wine I'm recommending is from Cyprus. This area which makes the Commandaria Dessert Wines, is one I have come to have great appreciation for in the last year. The St. John Commandaria from Keo has a suggested retail price of $20.

The nose of this Commandaria has a ton of apricot and a light, subtle touch of balsamic vinegar. The palate features toffee, candies apricot and hazelnut notes. This thick, slightly syrupy wine coats the back of the throat and has an avalanche of honey on the finish. This will be a great match for a ricotta based cheesecake.

What I like best about this Commandaria is that it's a steal. I've had selections from Cyprus that sold for less and quite a few that sold for a lot more. The St John provides tremendous bang for the buck. As these wines from Cyprus are a bit under the radar to the average person you'll definitely make an impression if you pull this out on Valentine's Day.

There are some tremendous dessert wines coming out of Italy. Most of them aren't quite as famous as their French counterparts and thus Italy isn't as often thought of for after dinner libations. And for my money that's a shame. The wines of Italy are as good as those anywhere. The dessert wine from there I'm compelled to recommend is from La Tunella.

The 2005 La TunellaVerduzzo Friulano is 100% varietal. The wine was aged in 1-3 year old French barriques for 10 months. 2,000 cases of this selection were produced and the suggested retail price, for a 500 ml bottle, is $22.99.

The nose of this wine is filled with both honey and chamomile tea notes. The palate features candies apricot, date and subtle almond notes. The oak on this selection, more than the average dessert wine is apparent. It provides a fascinating and unexpected touch of tartness on the finish. The end result is a firmer, more structured dessert wine than average. I found this wine to be an excellent match for Macadamia nuts that had a touch of sea salt on them.

What I like best about the selection from La Tunella is how unique it is. Yes, it's sweet, but never over the top. As a result of that it'll pair well with a very large array of dessert items.

Shifting back to California, the next selection is from Truett Hurst Winery in Dry Creek Valley. This is a region I feel so strongly about, I've launched an entire site dedicated to it.

The 2006 Dessert wine from Truett Hurst is for all intents and purposes a Port. Labelling laws however forbid them from calling it that. This wine was produced from the same grape varieties used in Portugal for Port. 450 375 ml bottle cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $35.99.

When I popped the cork and poured this wine into my glass I was hit with an avalanche of chocolate covered cherry notes. The palate is filled with more cherry, both red and black. Kirsch liqueur notes kick in around mid-palate and carry on through the finish which also features lots of black pepper and a touch of bramble.

The highlight of this wine for me, and the reason it's on my recommendation list is that it finds the happy place that bridges Portuguese and California Dessert wines. Elements of both styles are readily evident and they work wonderfully. Pour your Valentine this wine, match it with some high quality dark chocolate, and she (or he) is bound to melt in your arms.

I started with a wine from Clos La Chance and I'm including a second one here as well. Stylistically and content wise they couldn't be more different. This second selection from Clos La Chance is made from Zinfandel.

This Late Harvest Zinfandel is of the Non-Vintage variety. Grapes come from both the 2005 and 2006 vintages. This wine was fermented in stainless steel. 750 ml bottles have a suggested retail price of $25.

The nose of this Late Harvest Zin is filled with Maraschino Cherries. Red and black cherry notes are prominent throughout the palate along with sweet, dark chocolate. A touch of pencil lead also appears. The finish has both white and black pepper, along with nutmeg and a bit of dust. This wine has a firm but approachable tannic structure and is quite sweet, but not over the top.

Clos La Chance has become a favorite producer for me. This Non-Vintage, Late Harvest Zin is as good of an example of why that is as any of their other selections. There is a purity of fruit and a balance here, despite it being very sweet, that some Dessert wine simply don't have. At $25 for a 750 ml bottle this is a steal.

The sixth and final dessert wine I'm recommending this Valentine's Day is from Locatelli Winery  in Paso Robles. This selection is a Late harvest Merlot. This isn't the first varietal I think of when Late harvest wines come to mind and thus I was particularly curious about it.

The Locatelli Winery Late Harvest Merlot is 100% varietal. It was aged in American Oak for two years. A mere 70 cases of this wine were produced and it sells for $30.

I found the nose of this wine to be particularly expressive. Cherry, leather and apricot notes co-mingle to form an alluring aroma. Taking the first sip I found the wine to be a bit lighter on the palate than I had expected. It was full flavored with cherry pie and honey notes. Hints of apple seeped through as well. The finish brought out Cinnamon, nutmeg and white pepper as well as a touch of sour cherry. This wine will be an excellent match for sharp cheeses as well as dark chocolate.

What I like best about the Late Harvest Merlot from Locatelli is the fact that it showed me a side and style of Merlot I've rarely seen.Interestingly it features some of the elements of Late harvest Zin, but in a lighter stylistic package. A really enjoyable and interesting wine that's well worth making the extra effort to obtain.

You really can't go wrong with any of the wines above. Each of them is well crafted and delicious. So grab one or more of them, and sweeten things up this Valentine's Day and beyond.

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2009 New York Wine Expo

The 2nd annual New York Wine Expo is just two weeks away. I attended the premiere event last year and wrote about it here. This years event takes place from February 27th through March 1st. Once again the event is being held at the Jakob Javitz Convention Center. I found last years Expo to be a good one, especially for a first year event. There were a wide range of wine to taste from many corners of the world. The event was also well organized out by region. I'll be attending it again this year and writing about it.

Campo Viejo - 2004 Rioja Reserva

Rioja is the region in Spain that first got my attention. Since that time, I've discovered wines from many other parts of Spain. But Rioja is still, easily, my favorite. Today I'll look at a selection from Camp Viejo. The 2004 Campo Viejo Reserva is made entirely from fruit sourced in Rioja. 85% is Temparanillo, 10% Graciano and the final 5% is Mazuelo. This wine was aged for 18 months in a 50/50 split of American and French oak casks. This selection underwent an additional 18 months of aging once it was bottled. The suggested retail price for this Rioja is $13.

The nose of this wine is dominated by vibrant cherry notes. Cedar is present as well, but slightly less obvious. The palate is filled with red and black cherry notes as well as vanilla and white pepper spice. There is a solid core of pure fruit that drives through the entire palate and leads to the finish. Both earth and mineral notes emerge on what is a smooth, elegant, lush and slightly lusty finish. Good acidity helps keep this wine in balance.

What I like best about this wine is that it displays classic characteristics of a Rioja Reserva, in a modestly priced package. While fairly expressive immediately upon pouring, this wine really came to life after being decanted for an hour. This Rioja is priced well enough for both everyday drinking, and for those looking for a gateway into this region.

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Solaire by Robert Mondavi - 2007 Chardonnay

Over the many years since Robert Mondavi founded his groundbreaking Napa Valley Winery he acquired numerous other properties. These ranged in size, intent and vision. In the 90' that included purchasing prime parcels in the Central Coast of California. Among the results of this investment in the Central Coast are the Solaire Wines. I'll look at their Chardonnay today. I love this grape when it's well made and it leaves me cold, to say the least, when it's poorly made and/or over oaked. The 2007 Solaire by Robert Mondavi Chardonnay is 100% varietal. The fruit is from Santa Lucia Highlands. The wine was aged for 8 months in a combination of both used and new French and American oak. Alcohol is a modest 13.5% and the suggested retail price for this offering is $15.

Apple aromas, underscored by some lighter tropical notes such as pineapple fill the nose of this Chardonnay. A touch of vanilla wafts in gently as you take the first sip. More pineapple, lemon zest and a touch of grapefruit ride through the juicy palate. White pepper, apple pie crust spices and a touch of creaminess make up the finish. This wine is well balanced with generous acidity. While it drinks OK on its own, it'll work best with white meats or dishes that feature cream based sauces.

There is no question, what I like best about this Chardonnay from Solaire by Robert Mondavi is that it's varietally correct. The Chardonnay fruit shines through, enhanced, not encumbered by the oak treatment. Though it retails for $15, checking wine-searcher shows it's often available for closer to $11. In that price category this Chardonnay offers value.

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Locatelli Vineyards & Winery - 2006 Petite Sirah

Dear Petite Sirah, Have I told you lately that I love you? Well if I haven't I apologize. All kidding aside I realize how much I love this varietal every time I open a fine example of it. The reason being that each and every time that happens I think to myself that I don't drink Petite Sirah nearly as often as I should. If you take into account the fact that Petite Sirah already accounts for more than 10% of the reviews I've posted here, you get the idea. Last year I looked at a few releases from Locatelli Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles. Their current release of Petite wasn't ready for release at that time and therefore I didn't review it then. The Locatelli 2006 Petite Sirah was made from Estate Fruit. Production was limited. The suggested retail price for this wine is $35.

When you pour this wine, the dark, inky hue often associated with Petite Sirah is quite evident. This wine, like the band, is Deep Purple. This Petite is a bit tight out of the bottle and decanting is definitely recommended. Once it opens up, this offering is shot out of a cannon and full of big, bold, juicy flavors. The nose features apricot notes, which quite honestly threw me for a bit of a loop at first. Strangely when you take the first sip, plum and dark berry characteristics take over, the apricot makes sense. This wine is big and rich, full of boisterous dark fruit notes. The finish, especially once this wine has had a chance to breathe, shows explosive earth characteristics that linger in your mouth along with spice notes for a nice long while. As big and bold as this Petite Sirah is, it is has good acidity that keeps it balanced. A wine this big and extroverted wants to be paired with an equally full flavored meal. Braised short ribs or barbecue are two things that come to mind.

What I like best about the Locatelli Petite Sirah is that it reminds me of all the things I love about both Petite Sirah and Paso Robles wines. This is a great example of both and well worth the $35 price tag. Some time in the bottle will likely allow the earthiness to become more prominent. However, this wine is irresitable now .

Look out for another wine from Locatelli next week when I reccoemend Dessert wines for Valentines Day!

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Pedroncelli - 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Pedroncelli Winery in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley has been around since 1927. In all that time they're still a family business. In today's world of corporate takeovers, the wine industry has not gone unaffected. Yet Pedroncelli keeps on keeping on generation after generation. Today I'll look at one of their Cabernet Sauvignon's.

The 2006 Pedroncelli Three Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from all Estate, Dry Creek fruit. This wine is composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. This wine was aged in oak for 12 months. The suggested retail price is $15.

Blueberry and cherry along with undertones of cedar form the core of this Cabernet's nose. Subtle eucalyptus also creeps in and makes its presence known. Throughout the palate a rich core of berry and plum fruit notes are the stars. The finish shows black tea, mineral notes and close spice. The tannins are firm but approachable and this wine has fine acidity and balance. This wine will pair with a wider range of foods than the average Cabernet Sauvignon.

What I like best about this 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from Pedroncelli is how smooth and accessible it is right now. Its lush mouth-feel makes it easy to drink. Meanwhile it still has a firm enough structure to hold onto and drink nicely for the next 3-4 years. This wine is a fine example of some of the offerings coming out of Dry Creek Valley.

Please Note:

Dry Creek Valley has been a amongst my favorite regions for many years. With that in mind, along with a business partner and friend, I've now launched Drink Dry Creek. That site will be dedicated exclusively to everything Dry Creek Valley. Please check it out. Gabe's View, will of course continue forward in the same manner it has in the past.

Make Your Valentine's Day Sparkle

Wine wise there are two ways I'd recommend going this year for Valentine's Day, sparkling or sweet. I recently tasted through a dozen Sparkling Wines, and I'm going to cover my three favorites here today. Next week I'm going to do look at the dessert wines I recommend. However if a cocktail is more your speed, take a look at Gabe's Cocktail View, where I've got a recommendation for one of those too. The first Sparkler is from Schug Carneros Estate. I've tasted and written about a number of their wines in the past. I was excited to find out what their Sparkling Wine was like as they have impressed me across the board in the past.

The Schug 2005 Rouge de Noirs is 100% Carneros Pinot Noir. After fermentation, this wine was aged for 18 months before being disgorged. 617 cases were produced and the suggested retail price is $30.

Black cherry is the dominant fruit in this wine. It makes its presence known from the first whiff you take through the palate. Yeasty brioche like notes also play a significant role and really add to the texture and appeal of this wine. In the finish the cherry notes take a turn and add a pleasing sour bite along with an undercurrent of creaminess.

What impressed me most about the Schug Rouge de Noirs is that it provides a fine balance of elegance and substance. It manages to be both delicate and firm. I found it to be good to pair with more substantial foods than the average sparkling wine. I had it with Veal Valdastano and was quite pleased with how well they worked together.

The second Sparkling Wine is from Clos La Chance. This San Martin California producer is another whose wines I've looked at several times with consistently satisfying results.

The Clos La Chance 2005 Amber's Cuveé is produced with  a 50/50 split of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from Legan Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The grapes were grown specifically for the production of Sparkling Wine. This wine was aged for close to 2 years before being disgorged. 350 cases of Amber's Cuveé were produced. The suggested retail price is $40.

Pouring Amber's Cuveé into a Champagne Flute I was immediately hit with strong aromas of orchard fruit. Those flavors along with a bit of nectarine and lemon peel continue through the palate where they are also complemented by an intense yeasty biscuit undertone. This wines finish is long and filled with varied nut and pie crust notes. These are also accompanied by nutmeg spice and mineral notes.

What I like best about Amber's Cuveé is that it's precisely the style of Sparkling Wine I enjoy drinking either alone or with breakfast foods. The yeast and pie crust components really provide the sort of complexity that excites my palate when I sip Sparkling Wine by itself. I also feel it'll provide a nice complement if you decide to prepare a Brunch for your Valentine this year. The 14^th does fall on a Saturday.

Taking a sharp turn away from California, the third sparkling wine I'm recommending is from South Africa. Simonsig Family Vineyards is based in Stellenbosch.

The 2007 Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brute Rosé  was produced from a combination of Pinotage (90%) and Pinot Noir (10%).  10,000 cases of this wine were made and the suggested retail price is $29.99.

The Simonsig Brut Rosé  has a lovely salmon hue. The nose brings to mind both raspberry and mineral characteristics. Throughout the palate both raspberry and wild strawberry come to the forefront, underscored by white pepper spice notes. Fruit tart shell notes emerge in the dry finish which is lengthy and ends with a tingly flourish. All of these characteristics are framed by good acidity.

My lasting impression of the Simonsig Brut Rosé  is that it's a delicate wine layered with subtle elegance. Here's a wine I would pair with lighter foods. White meats, entrée salads, and soft mild cheeses are all good bets.

This trio of Sparkling wines stood out to me for a variety of reasons. Each of them is unique. The Schug will pair with the more substantial foods, and to my palate benefits the most from being paired. The Clos La Chance is the choice for drinking on its own. And finally the Simonsig is somewhere in the middle. It'll be a nice match for lighter fare and also drinks pretty well by itself. In each case, I enthusiastically recommend them.

Coming Next Week: A Look at Dessert Wines for Valentine's Day!

Del Carlo Winery - 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

Having tasted and enjoyed the Del Carlo Zinfandel a few months ago I was looking forward to seeing how their Cabernet Sauvignon was. After Zinfandel, Cabernet is the varietal from Dry Creek Valley that first comes to mind. The better Cabernets from this region have unique characteristics which display a real sense of place. The 2005 Del Carlo Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal. This offering was aged in new French oak for 18 months. Just 240 cases of this wine were made and it sells for $45. This wine was just released last month.

Plum, cedar and vanilla notes dominate a fragrant nose. From the very first sip, red fruit, particularly cherry notes lead the palate. These are followed by tobacco, leather and dark, dusty baker's chocolate characteristics. Excellent mineral notes lead the finish which also has classic Dry Creek dust, bramble, earth and copious spice elements. This wine has good acidity and solid but approachable tannins. An hour in the decanter is recommended for this wine to drink to its potential right now. A marbled steak is also recommended as a classic match.

What stood out to me most about this wine is the solid core of berry fruit that shines throughout the palate. Once the wine opens up the fruit is rich and bright but never over the top and bombastic. This Cabernet Sauvignon is both another solid effort from Del Carlo Winery as well as a fine example of Dry Creek. I for one plan to keep my eye on their future releases and I recommend that you do too.

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Lang Wines - 2006 Amador County Barbera

I've previously looked at Zinfandel and Syrah from Amador County's Lang Wines. Both of those proved to be excellent examples of the varietal and good values to boot. Today I'll look at their Barbera. This varietal is of course a native of Italy. More recently it's been showing up in California with mixed results. The 2006 Lang Wines Barbera was sourced from Amador County. The wine was aged in Hungarian Oak. The production of this wine was limited and it sells through their website for $216 per case which works out to $18 per bottle.

I found this wine to be a bit closed up at first and I would definitely recommend decanting this selection for 1-2 hours if you're drinking it in the short term. Once it had opened up both the nose and the palate are loaded with a ton of dark fruit, particularly black cherry, which is prominent throughout. Those characteristics are joined by a fair amount of pepper, nutmeg and other more subtle spice notes such as vanilla. All of these come into play in the finish along with light mineral notes and a hint of black tea. Firm tannins and good acidity provide the framework for this wine.

What I like best about this wine is that it's undeniably built to pair up with food. Aged cheeses would work perfectly. For $18 a bottle this is a fine example of what can be achieved with Barbera in California.

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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.

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Ravenswood - 3 Sonoma County Wines

Intent is something that I always consider when tasting wine. What was the producer looking to do when they created the offerings in question? All wines are certainly not created equally and they should be looked at through the lens of their purpose. With that said today I'm looking at three releases from Ravensood in Sonoma. They're best known for Zinfandel of course. The bevy of selections they offer in that category ranges from single vineyard offerings to selections made from fruit sourced state wide. The selections I'm covering today are part of their County series. First up is the 2006 Sonoma County Chardonnay. This wine is 97% Chardonnay and 3% Muscat. It was aged for 12 months in French oak, 40% of it was new. 25,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.

The nose of this Chardonnay is quite expressive, showing pineapple, vanilla, hazelnut and hints of spice.The palate is loaded with apple and pear notes along with an underlying touch of citrus peel. The finish features apple pie crust notes, lots of nutmeg, clove, allspice and a touch of creamy butter and toast. This is a clean, crisp wine with good acidity and nice balance. It shows fine varietal character and is well proportioned.

The 2006 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is 95% varietal, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. This offering spent 22 months in French oak, 30% of it new. 14,000 cases of this Cabernet were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.

A touch of eucalyptus and cassis underscore a nose filled with rich berry fruit aromas. The palate is filled with a solid core of many of those same berry fruit elements. Black and red cherry notes dominate and are accompanied by vanilla spice notes. Copious black tea, earth, bramble, allspice, and star anise emerge and star in the finish which is more than lengthy enough for the price range of this wine. This wine has firm but approachable tannins and good acidity.

The last wine today is the 2005 Sonoma County Syrah. This wine is 87% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 5% Carignane, and 3% Viognier. The wine spent between 20 and 24 months in French oak, 30% of it new. 11,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.

Plum and boysenberry notes dominate the nose of this Syrah along with lighter but present cedar and vanilla notes. Berry fruit is accompanied by black tea, white pepper  and dusty baker's chocolate throughout the palate. Bramble, continued berry fruit along with earth and spice notes make up a lingering finish. This wine has more in common style-wise with the of world Syrah than most new world Syrah.

What I like about these three wines from Ravenswood is that they each provide good varietal character as well as balance and proportion. They're well made wines that sell for a reasonable price. While the suggested retail price for each of these is $15, they are often available for closer to $11. For that price these are fine for everyday drinking. The Cabernet Sauvignon seems to have the legs for some aging. It should improve in the short term and drink well for at least 5 or 6 years after that. A pretty good achievement for an everyday, widely available wine.

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