This is a wine I bought sometime, and now have gotten around to drinking it!

It has a deep garnet color and long legs.

Aromas of dark plum, smoke, and spice, with a nice spicy, woody, earthy taste that is just enough oak for me.Rich, full flavored, smooth and mellow with somewhat of a vanilla finish.

It is aged 10 months in french oak, and sustainably farmed.

It is from the Maipu region of Mendoza, Argentina. Wine Spectator only gave it 85 points, but it is a good-tasting bottle of wine for the reasonable price of $11.

March 31st, Longmeadow with Patrick Smith (The Country Vintner) - Patrick just returned from a trip to Spain, so it was good to talk with him about his travels.

Conde Villar Vinho Verde 2010 (Portugal) - $10.99

Notes: 50% Loureiro, 40% Arinto, 10% Trajadura. Bright and clear, light citrus color. Evident tropical aromas (pineapple, mango, citrines); fruity with interesting floral notes, well balanced, medium structure. Ideal with fish, seafood, salad, and asian food.

My take: Very freshly fruity, tangy and citrus; tastes like spring!

Milbrandt Traditions Pinot Gris 2010 (Columbia Valley, WA) -$12.99

Notes: 100% Pinot Gris, aged in stainless steel. Bright fruit aromas (Anjou pear, white peach); fresh and lively with nicely balanced fruit. Pairs well with antipasto, ripe white cheeses, and steamed clams or oysters.

My take: definitely fresh and fruity, honeysuckle and peach abundant.

Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc 2010 (Columbia Valley, WA) - $11.99

Notes: 78.8% Sauvignon Blanc, 21.2$ Semillon from 3 different vineyards; cool fermented in stainless steel to retain fruit intensity. Mineral infused citrus fruit with twinge of pineapple and melon; clean on palate; delicious as aperitif or with shellfish.

My take: semi-dry, but fresh and a bit tart; I think it would be amazing with a spicy shrimp.

Conde Villar Tinto 2010 Alentejano (Portugal) - $10.99

Notes: blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira, Allicante Bouchet, and Touriga Nacional.

My take: soft, juicy deep fruits, mellow table wine.

Rio Madre Rioja Graciano 2010 (Spain) - $9.99

Notes: 100% Graciano, stainless steel fermented. Exuberant aromas, luscious flavors of blackberry and cherry.

My take: lots of legs, bold deep fruity flavor. Almost perfumed aroma, but in a good way.

Le Rouge De La Garreliere (Loire, France) - $18.99

100% Cabernet Franc from the Touraine Appellation; beautiful perfume and very low in sulfur. Certified organic by Ecocert and bio-dynamic by Biodyvin.

My take: Big, spicy, and oaky nose, yet smooth and full of bold flavor. Delicious!!

I picked this up at C&R Liquors just for the sheer curiosity of it. The label and name were intriguing and for only $9.99, it was a bargain.

It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Primitivo from Hopland, CA.

The bottle said it had hints of raspberry and spice.

Upon opening: I found it to have a bold and spicy nose, decent legs, and a definite raspberry taste. It was nicely dry, but not overly so. Very mellow with a hint of earthiness.

Next day: it had mellowed out even more, and had very light tannins. A good smooth kicking back kind of wine.

This was the third tasting I have attended of this excellent at home business in as many months, so there was only one new wine I hadn’t tasted.

Table Red - (Lodi, CA)

Color: light garnet

Aromas and flavors: raspberry, light spice, nuttier and mellow with cheese

Serve with: grilled cheese, pasta salad, mild cheeses (Parmesan), alfredo sauce

Notes: light legs, not a heavy red, light tannins. Blend of: Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, and Merlot; all were fermented separately and then blended.

My friend Wendy enjoys finding me wines to try apparently, and pretty much knows my tastes, but likes to mix it up too. I tried these three at her house.

Nostrada Tarragona Tempranillo 2010 - (Spain)

Black currant and ripe red berries, ruby/garnet in color, spicy and peppery on the nose but with heavy alcohol as well. Heavy and peppery black currant flavor. With salsa, still very peppery, but better.

Berrywine Plantations Plum Wine - (Maryland)

Bitter fruit aroma, tastes like mead without honey. Not very plumlike to me :(

$13.99

2009 Mezzacorona Moscato Vigneti delle Dolomiti - (Italy)

Light green color, aroma very much like that of a Pinot Grigio, with ripe tropical fruits. A subtle semi sweet, lightly dry flavor, not at all like most Moscato. Serve with pumpkin and white meats with rich sauces. (Mmm, Thanksgiving!)

Longmeadow Wine and Liquors

Tony Detrick, Mondo Vino

Two whites, one Rose, and three reds.

Vignale Pinot Grigio 2010 (Veneto, Italy)

Notes: light straw, typical Pinot bouquet, dry and velvety.

Tasting: pleasant, fresh, not overly acidic or sweet. Great wine to welcome spring!

$10 - $12

Fritz Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (Russian River Valley/Sonoma County, CA)

Notes: clear/pale color, pear and white fruit and minerality, bright and herbaceous.

Tasting: semi-sweet and fresh, perfect patio wine. The Russian River Valley is one of my new favorite wine regions!

$14 - $18

Laurent-Miquel Rose 2010 (Languedoc-Roussillon, France)

Notes: 80% Cinsault, 20% Syrah. Crafted as a “testament to the ‘terroir’ to reveal a wine bursting with fresh fruit character”.

Tasting: fresh, mellow and light. Would be great for picnic, and even to make into a fantastic white sangria!

$7 - $9

Petraio Sangiovese 2010 (Puglia, Italy)

Notes: deep and intense purple, spicy and bright, full-bodied, perfect with Meditteranean-style cooking.

Tasting: deep and lightly smoky, dark cherry/berry, “tongue-snapping”, bold; would be good with roast meats and pasta dishes.

$8 - $10

Fritz Zinfandel 2008 (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA)

Notes: 100% Zinfandel. Garnet-hued, aromas of blackberries, red currants, and spices, with undertones of cocoa. Pairs with BBQ, pizza, and chocolate desserts.

Tasting: cherries, black fruits, anise. Big and tasty.

$16 - $19

Signargues Cotes-Du-Rhone Villages 2008 (France)

Notes: From winemaker Pierre Henri Morel. 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre. Pairs well with Meditteranean dishes. 89 points, Wine Spectator.

Tasting: ripe black fruit, spicy finish. Plump and juicy.

$16 - $22

The Cellar Wine and Spirits, March 10th

Lauren Overberger with Constantine Wines

Proprietor Tom Potts remarked during this tasting that Constantine does not offer bad wines. He is 100% correct, at least based on the ones we tasted today!

Two whites, five reds.

Perlage ‘Riva Moretta’ Prosecco 2010 (Italy)

Notes: single vineyard, organically grown, 55 year old vines, 100% Prosecco.

Tasting: fresh light citrus and orchard fruit, some light minerality; tasted great with spicy shrimp!

$17 - $19

Valckenberg Graff Piesporter Reisling 2009 (Germany)

Notes: grown in steep vineyards of Middle Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer valleys, 100% Riesling.

Tasting: off dry, citrusy green; serve with salads and light fish, spicy dishes.

$12 - $15

Masciarelli Montepulciano ‘Marina Cvetic’ 2007 (Italy)

Notes: sourced from three vineyard sites mostly around 30 years old, 100% Montepulciano. 92 points Wine Advocate, Winemaker of the year award. Drink now through 2016.

Tasting: big but balanced, earthy and deeply dark fruity with ripe tannins.

$29 - $32

Robert Craig Affinity 2008 (Napa, CA)

Notes: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. 96 points, Robert Parker; 89 points, Wine Advocate. Drink over the next 15 or possibly 20 years.

Tasting: Big and bold, deep black fruits, espresso and spice. A lovely warm fuzzy great tasting wine!

$40 - $55

Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Santa Cruz, CA)

Notes: a true Bordeaux blend - 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. 95 points Wine and Spirits.

Tasting: big and complex, currant, sage and sweet oak. Very drinkable early. 

$30 - $40

Edge Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Silverado Trail area, Napa, CA)

Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 92 points Wine Enthusiast. Drinks well now, and for five to eight years.

Tasting: blackberry, currant, cedar. Smooth with firm tannins. Good wine, good price.

$17 - $25

And the special taste, and well worth the wait:

Axios 2006 (Napa, CA)

Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 90 points Robert Parker.

Tasting: one word: AMAZING! If only this wine was in my price range, I would buy a case or two of it! However, it appears that it was limited to 750 cases. If you get the chance to taste it or buy it, do it!

$100 - $130

C&R Liquors tasting March 10th

Three wines.

Silver Creek Vineyard 2010 Chardonnay (Fresno, CA)

fresh, clean, and smooth, green apple, not buttery, hardly any oak, fifth generation vineyard. $10-14

www.silvercreekvineyard.com

Gettysburg Winery Tears of Gettysburg (Ortanna, PA)

This Niagra blend is fruity and sweet, but not overly so. Good picnic wine, and timely to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg next year in July. Though the Battle of Antietam’s anniversary is this September, so could work for that too. $12.98

Gettysburg Winery Rebel Red (Ortanna, PA)

Semi-sweet, very light and fruity red, somewhat dry finish. Fresh, would probably do well chilled. $12.98

(These and several others are bottled under the Gettysburg label, but Adams County Winery has several others under their own label.)

www.adamscountywinery.com

This was my second tasting with this company, and there were more delightful wines at great prices. This time it was held at my home, with a fun bunch of my crazy wine-loving friends. We had a great time, and kept my friend Laura (the consultant) in laughter!

Three whites, three reds (my choice to keep it varied). All around $20. All of these wines are only available through WineShop at Home. Here’s the link to Laura’s site:

http://www.wineshopathome.com/laurafrye

Petit Cadeau Semi-Seco Sparkling

Aromas: green apple, pear, flowers

Taste: fresh and fruity

Serve with: chocolate and fruit truffle, sushi, fruit based desserts, spicy Asian food

Lumiere de Vie 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Mendocino)

Color: pear green

Aromas: grapefruit, apple

Taste: lightly nutty, orange blossom, perfect patio wine

Serve with: mozzarella, baked fish, mild cheeses, turkey burgers

More notes: 55 degree fermented

Talmage Cellars 2010 Chardonnay (Monterey)

Color: green straw

Aromas: green apple and pear

Taste: lightly nutty, very light butter, aftertaste is very smoked “herb” (yes, THAT one), crispy

Serve with: crab cakes, scallops, chicken salad

More notes: aged in stainless steel

Halcyon Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (Lodi)

Color: crimson

Aromas: plum, blackberry

Taste: leather, dark berry, pepper

Serve with: Tuscan chicken and pasta, strong cheeses (Gouda and Blue)

More notes: good for next 4 to 6 years, 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah to mellow it out

Lumiere de Vie Merlot 2010 

Color: garnet

Aromas: toasted oak

Taste: oaky, rather dry and not exciting :(

Serve with: chicken Marsala, stuffed mushrooms, medium cheeses

More notes: 100% Merlot, lots of legs, wasn’t bad when blended with Dolcetto

Milano Cellars 2011 Dolcetto

Color: purple-ish

Aromas: sweet fruit, soft spice

Taste: vanilla, chocolate covered cherries. Sweet but not overly so, delicious with dark chocolate and goat cheese.

Serve with: mushroom ravioli, ham and cheese calzones

More notes: made in the style of wines from Piedmont region of Italy, dolcetto means “little sweet one”.

It was good to see Patrick Smith (Country Vintner) after my time away from tastings. Always good knowledge of his product, and always a smile and a funny story or two.

He was tasting two whites and four reds.

Santa Julia Viognier 2011 - Mendoza, Argentina

100% Viognier. Greenish yellow, tropical fruits and flowers on nose, green apples. Fresh but tart. A patio wine, or with salads and fish or grilled chicken. $9.99

Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2010 - Santa Barbara County, California

100% Chardonnay from 5 vineyards. Oldest winery in the county, established in 1962. Pressed as whole clusters and 30% fermented in stainless steel, 70% in barrel. Definitely light butter taste, smooth and fresh, light citrus nose. $14.99

Santa Julia Tempranillo 2010 - Mendoza, Argentina

100% organically grown Tempranillo. Red-violet color, black fruits on nose (blackberries, figs) and tobacco. Soft tannins, well balanced. Yum! $10.99

Santa Julia Reserva Malbec 2010 - Mendoza, Argentina

100% Malbec from Maipu and Uco valleys. 10 months in French oak. Dark violet, complex, ripe dark fruits and warm spices and cocoa. Full-bodied, sweet tannins. $12.99

Ventisquero “Grey” Carmenere 2008 - Maipo Valley, Chile

85% Carmenere, 7.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.5% Syrah. Intense berry aromas, hints of herbs. Somewhat smoky, spicy, very ripe tannins. $19.99

Ventisquero “Grey” Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - Maipo Valley, Chile

97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petite Verdot. Big, but mellowed by the Petite Verdot. Deep and fruity, black currant and cranberry, hints of creamy spice, and a faintly smoky nose. Balanced with soft tannins. $19.99

Today we had a new wine rep at Gordon’s. Her name was Lauren Overberger from Constantine Wines. She’s a redhead, so I instantly liked her! She formerly worked at Knob Hall Winery, so congratulations to her on this new endeavor! She was tasting three whites and three reds.

Perlage Pinot Grigio 2010 - Veneto, Italy

100% Pinot Grigio. Citrus aromas, fresh and fruity as all Italian Pinot Grigio tend to be. No acidity that I could taste, nicely dry. $14.99

Foxglove Chardonnay 2009 - California

100% Chardonnay. 90 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Non-oaked, stainless steel-fermented and aged, no malolactic fermentation. Crisp, not buttery, hint of pineapple. Zesty acidity. Enjoy over the next year. $16.99

Leese-Fitch Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - California

90 points, Wine Enthusiast. Citrus/tropical nose, fresh and summery, bit of creaminess. Limited production, 8200 cases produced. $14.99

Moobuzz Pinot Noir 2009 - Monterey, California

90 points, Beverage Dynamics 2011. Nose is wild, earthy, and fruity. Dramatic taste blends, earth, mushroom, roasted nuts, and herbs. Should be enjoyed with earthy foods. Delicious! $19.99

Le Lapin Zinfandel - Paso Robles, California

85% Zinfandel, 8% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah. Deep berry, full-flavored, not spicy. Full of fruit all around. Supple tannins. $8.99

75 Beckstoffer “The Sum” 2008 - Lake County, California

90 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah. Deep fruity and spicy nose, good blend, smooth but big at the same time. A hint of bacon fat, full-bodied. Good over the next 4-5 years. Limited production, 5200 cases produced. $23.99

This was a Valentine’s gift from a good friend. I love that a majority of the proceeds from the sale of Newman’s Own products goes to charity.

This wine was fresh deep berry fruits upon opening. It became more mellow and smooth with a slight earthiness on the second day. Not a bad choice.

If anyone else wants to buy me wine, I am ready to taste!  :)

In case you have never heard of it, WineShop at Home is a business that will bring the wine to you for private tastings! My friend Laura Frye is now a consultant, and is taking bookings. I have one booked for February 25th.

www.wineshopathome.com/laurafrye

Here are the ones we tasted at this past tasting. They change for every one, but they will always be wines from California. (notes are my own, not from tasting notes)

Petit Cadeau Semi-Seco Sparkling - light straw color bubbly, aroma/taste is fruity and fresh, off-dry, with tart fruit aftertaste. Fruitiness comes from Viognier and Muscat; good with mozzarella cheese. $19.50

Milano Cellars 2011 Misti Bianco - greenish-straw color, citrus and tropical nose and flavor with a light mouthfeel, fresh and mellow, semi-sweet and light. Serve with yellow curry, Asian dishes, mild cheese. $18

Table White Wine - straw color, apricot, starfruit, golden raisin, heavier mouthfeel. Blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat, and Riesling. Good with Gouda. Semi-sweet, a little too much of the Chardonnay and Muscat, a little grassy, with lots of legs. $13

Milano Cellars 2010 Misti Rosso - garnet color, berry and cherry and licorice. Serve with Shepherd’s Pie and lamb dishes. 60% Pinotage, 20% Zinfandel, 20% Dolcetto. Very little tannins, smooth and deep fruity with lots of legs. $21

Tilden Peak 2009 Syrah - ruby/purple color, smoky nose, deep dark fruit, complex. Serve with sage cornbread stuffing, ham and cheese sandwiches. Aged in neutral oak for 2 years, light legs. This one was my favorite of the seven we tasted. $19

Talmage T Cellars 2010 Merlot - ruby color, leather and smoke, deep dark fruit forward. Serve with chocolate (preferably dark) and blue cheese. $19.50

Ceres Moonlight - deep purple, Port-style. Spicy (allspice), light pepper, smoke, and leather. Bing cherry and currant? Very sweet, though only slightly cloyingly so, and very heavy with some added brandy. Good if you like Port (not me!). $26

I’m a little behind, but here’s what I tasted at The Cellar on January 7th with Greg from Kysela (cool guy!). I didn’t take any notes of my own, but luckily he brought tasting notes (which I will summarize, and take important notes from for you, dear reader).

2009 Bastgen Kestener Paulinshofberg, Reisling, Kabinett, Weingut (Germany)- yellow color with green highlights, peach aroma, fresh fruit mouthfeel. 50 year old vines, 80% of the vineyards 11.11 acres is Reisling!

2009 Guillemot-Michel, Macon-Villages, Quintaine (France) - 100% Chardonnay, 100% Malolactic fermentation with no oak. Ripe passion fruit and pineapple on nose, rich and well balanced on the palate with honey and tropical fruit flavors. Biodynamically farmed for 20 years. Wine Advocate 91 points (June 2011)

2008 Definitive, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast (California) - Cherry, cola, raspberry, strawberry fruit flavors layered upon denser flavors of spice, smoke, slight meatiness, darker blackberry and black cherry. Also notes of dark chocolate, sandalwood, and violets. Drink now or age 5 to 9 years. Vineyards planted in 1973.

2010 Reserve Grand Veneur, Cotes du Rhone Rouge (France) - 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault). Black cherry liquer, lavender, licorice, spice box. Full bodied, intense, great to drink over next 4-5 years. purple-tinged color, aromas of fresh dark berries and spices. Full flavored with smooth tannins. Wine Advocate 91 points (June 2011).

2005 Valsacro, Dioro, Rioja (Spain) - aged in new French oak for 12-14 months, saturated purple color. Wood smoke, pencil lead, espresso, truffle, and blackberry. Loaded with ripe black fruit, excellent balance. Has a drinking window from 2014 to 2025. Wine Advocate 92 points (April 2010)

2007 Paradigm, Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville (California) - 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Aged 20 months in French oak (1/3 that is new) and 20 more months in bottle before release. Black cherry and blackberry aromas, also mocha, red licorice, and spice. Big round mouthful of flavor, black cherry, berry, toasty oak, and well balanced. Enjoy now, but will age for twenty years.

**Just in case you are wondering: I bought the Cotes du Rhone! It is definitely worth a taste! And it was only $14.99!

Just watched “Bottleshock” for the first time and it makes me want to drink more California/Napa wines, just to prove a point really. As you all may know from my previous posts (maybe?), I am not in love with California/Napa Valley wines. However, I will make an exception if they are free… cheap date I know :)

That being said, I am willing to give them a try because I know there are great Napa Wines out there, but YOU need to steer me toward them. I have found a minute few, but there must be more, right, dear reader??

Also, “Bottleshock” is a pretty good movie, with (possibly) some historical fact about 1976 and the way Napa Valley made France stand up and pay attention!!

So, I say, drink and be merry, especially if the wines you are choosing are American-made! Apparently, I am a quiet wineaux-patriot, but not of the New England variety!!!

(currently having a lovely Claret…”Newton Claret 2008 Napa County” from Yountville, CA…) - 53% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot!)

More to come….