Mouton Cadet Bordeaux 2008 (Baron Philippe de Rothchild)

I always look for a good value and this wine is just that.  Bordeaux is usually synonymous with astronomical wine prices and big bold reds. Well this one is a little different, at $10 a bottle it makes a stand that balanced, palatable wine does not have to cost an arm and a leg.  This wine is a red blend (Merlot 65% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% and Cabernet Franc 15%) of very traditional grape varietals of the Bordeaux region.  It's a very well balanced wine with notes of cherries and hint of smoke.  I  made a Rib Eye steak on the grill to go with this wine.  Any sort of red meat would do with this wine, but don't over season the steak.  Let the meat and the wine talk to each other and enjoy the conversation.    You should be able to find this wine at your local BevMo, which makes it a very accessible wine.

As always if you have any suggestions or comments please feel free to contact me at:

anoseforwineblog@gmail.com 

Sumertime is here - Rosé reviews.

So we have closed in on summer time here in Southern California, and whats more perfect than sitting  outside at the end of the day with a glass of wine.  The question always is what wine is great for the hotter climates.  One choice is a nice Rosé.  Usually pink in color with a more subtle flavor than a full red, tends to be easy to drink for most palates.

I was able to pick out two Rosés to try and was quite impressed:

The first was Simi 2007 Roseto Sonoma County. 97% Syrah 3% Viongnier.  Had  a lot of depth for a lighter wine and was still refreshing. Has a very fruity bouquet and a nice deep pink color.  This wine would be great for a summer night and some turkey burgers and a side of  cilantro potato salad.


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The second wine we tried  was Chateau de Campuget Costieres de Nimes Tradition Rose 2009. 70% Syrah 30% Grenache Noir  This wine had a lighter pink color and was a bit more acidic than the Simi. Still a nice refreshing Rosé, with a floral bouquet and hints of red fruit in its taste.  Perfect for some nice grilled salmon and fresh mixed baby greens.



What is nice is that these wines come through in the $10-$15 range which is very affordable and great value for money.

Let me know if there is a wine you think i should check out.

Tuesday Night is Meatloaf Night. featuring Cruz Alta Reserve Malbec 2008

I always look forward to Tuesday night, grandma picks up the kids and takes them to dance class and brings them back along with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and some sort of veg plate.  Tonight was no different . . . well except the kids didn't have dance class, and tonight i decided to pull a wine out of our growing wine closet.

For tonight I chose Cruz Alta Reserve Malbec 2008 from Argentina. As I have read the Argentine have perfected the Malbec, especially in the region of Mendoza.  Well for my introduction to Malbec I think this was a good place to start.  It wasn't as deep and heavy as i thought it would be, it had a surprising delicateness and refinement that made the experience very pleasurable.   It went very well with the quality store bought meatloaf.  

I think I would like to try some more Malbecs, and maybe throw in some great empanadas or and nice fillet mignon. Hmm do i see an Argentine night in the future?

Found Wine - Blackstone Sonoma Reserve 2007 Rubric

I thought I had account of all the wine in my house.  Little did I know a long forgotten gift from some holiday past was living in my liquor cabinet.  So brought the bottle out of its inadequate cellar location.  Realizing I broke two cardinal rules of wine storage. never store a bottle upright  and keep it in a cool dry place (I don't know how cool it could be above the oven) ,  I quickly removed it from its hiding space and brought it down to cellar temperature.

After a quick meal of sweet potato fries (from a frozen package of course, nothing fancy around here), turkey chili, and  cheese.  I made a break for it and decided to open the bottle of Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Rubric 2007.  For those who have not heard of the Rubric grape, its not a surprise, it doesn't exist. This wine is a blend of grapes. To be exact its 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec,
8% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petite Verdot, 7% Tannat, 5% Merlot, 3% Petite Sirah.  Did everyone catch all that? Good.  So to the wino's in the know, this is very much a red wine.  A pretty big one as i was to find out.

I pulled the cork on this surprise wine, and poured.  The aroma was very deep indeed, and one could understand the dominance of the Cabernet Sauvignon.  It sat in my glass for a minute, and then I took a smell. There were heavy wood notes and even pencil lead. The taste was of very dark fruits, lots of plum.

Very much the touch of a Sonoma red, this is an enjoyable, deep, hefty wine.  This is defiantly a red meat wine. If you like a big red this is something worth trying. 88pts

 How am i to know that the storage did any damage to the taste of the wine, I don't.  The fact that this wine tasted, pretty much how i expected makes me think I got away with my storage faux pas unscathed.

Writing in Anticipation

Waiting is a very difficult thing,  especially when one is waiting for wine.  We made our order of 12 wines from a wine company that will send out mixed cases.  I am hoping that this will be a good way to introduce myself to wines that I would not normally have taken off of a wine shop shelf.  At the very least it will occupy this blog with at least 12 more posts, a rare feet for myself as my last attempet at a blog many years ago capped out a half a post (I hit the publish button about half way through a paragraph).

So in anticipation I will share a review of a wine my wife and I had at a dinner this passed week.  Dr. L 2009 Riesling was a delightful wine with very crisp fruit flavors like green apple and pear. Its slight sweetness and fruity character made it a very refreshing wine.  Rieslings from the Mosel region in Germany are very good at being approachable for those new to wine and eases one into bigger, grander wines. Score: 87 pts.

A Note on Scores:
I have decided to use the 100 point wine scoring system to give my overall opinions about wines that i try. The scoring system is designed to have scores between 50-100 (think of the scores like grades in school; 100-90 =A 89-80 = B etc, and the varying degrees within each range).   I debated very highly with using scores but figured it would be and easy way to compare wines that I have had.  Please remember that these points reflect my tasting of the wine and I will try to be as objective as possible.

As always if you have a question, a wine you want me to try and review or a feature you would like to see then please e-mail me at anoseforwineblog@gmail.com

Cheers

Coastline - Chardonnay 2009 Chardonnay California Monterey - VinCellar, powered by Vinfolio

VinCellar - Coastline - Chardonnay 2009 Chardonnay California Monterey - VinCellar, powered by Vinfolio

My short report on one of the wines recently bought at Total Wine

2007 Ledson - Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Ancient Vine: The Very First Wine Review

I bought this wine during our recent Napa trip.  The Ledson winery came highly recommended to us by friends and locals alike.  I experienced this wine during our tasting flights and was enamored with it.  I felt it had a great character and boldness. So of course I purchased a bottle that we schlepped back down.  Tonight after the trials and tribulations of this weekend I ended up opening the bottle.  That first sip did the job and pulled me back to Sonoma and the Ledson tasting room. While I remember a big hit of boldness at the tasting bar, I got a more mellow feel on the mouth and could taste more of the underling fruit at my home. That combined with and earthy nose and hints of black fruits, this is a very nice relaxing wine.

If you find yourself in the Napa/Sonoma area i do recomend the Ledson winery, very good wines, a deli and a lovely picnic area. They are a direct to consumer winery so check them out http://www.ledsonwinery.com/. 

Cheers.