Tag: Wine

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2014 Pinot Noir by Bulgariana

Tonight’s occasion: 2014 Pinot Noir by Bulgariana. This one comes from the Danube Plain in Bulgaria. Yes, you read that right!

Wine is an art form. To truly appreciate it you have to constantly seek it out. You have to venture off the beaten path. You can’t just stagnate with what seems popular. You will miss out on some of the greatest wines you never knew about.

I’m impressed with this wine. It has an aromatic nose rich in cherry, plum, a hint of leather and tobacco. A subtle bitter reminiscent of cocoa. The body is fairly full for a Pinot, introducing more plum and a hint of licorice on the front. Earthy terroir and tobacco conspire to create an intriguing expression in the back. Once opened up, bold creamy tannins dominate a long lasting finish capped with a healthy note of spice.

I picked this wine up at out of curiosity. I wanted to explore that corner of the world and I certainly am surprised. Furthermore at $14 a bottle it definitely punches above it’s weight. This is how you find good value. It is far superior to some of the Pinot I had last weekend in Napa and Sonoma, for a fraction of the price.

What’s the most obscure region you have explored?

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Guest Review: 2015 Grand Vin De Bordeaux by Chateau Joly

Guest Review: Saint-Emilion Chateau Joly 2015 Grand Vin De Bordeaux.

Saint-Emilion is the home of great Merlot, and, Chateau Joly – owned by one of the three eldest negociants in France – showcases that. Horeau-Beylot is the négociant and supplier of wine across many regions of Bordeaux, including a large range of grand crus! This wine is composed of different vineyards aging 25years old on average. The expertise and wisdom that is build from these wines shows.

It was a pleasure to drink this wine! It’s got a smooth and velvety feel, a nice balance that won’t make your mouth water too much, nor dry it out. As a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend it’s quite fruity, lots of fresh cherry and raspberry. It was complex, and the terroir of Saint-Emilion shines through this wine. I would recommend this wine to anyone interested in a great Bordeaux blend that is fruit forward.

🌟: 9/10, 3 – Preference, 2- Complexity, 1 Pairability, 1 Convenience, 2 Drinkability
💲: 29.99USD (@totalwine)
🥐: Could be paired well with a cherry pie actually, or a nice pork shank!

Salut! 😁🍷🍷🍷

About our guest

Ethan Turner is author of today’s Guest Review. All the way from Scottsdale Arizona, Ethan is a certified Level 1 Sommelier actively working in the service industry where he gets to sharpen his palate on a daily basis. In his own words.

“Going to a wine shop is like going to a library. Each wine has its own story, flavor profile, and shelf life. Some wines are popular and become classics, some wines are trendy and go out of style within a few years. That makes it really hard to find the right wine. I love helping find what’s perfect for them.”

You can follow Ethan’s journey via his Instagram page @ineedsommehelp

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Reserve: 2017 Langhe Nebbiolo by Nada Fiorenzo

Tonight’s occasion: 2017 Langhe Nebbiolo by Nada Fiorenzo.

Nose of leather and berry. Swirl it a little and out comes oak and cherry. Dry, structured and fairly balanced body features tart plum and a hint of vanilla in the back. Big, dry tannic finish leaves you parched and going for another sip.

This is a definitely Nebbiolo. Unapologetic. Unpretentious. Not unnecessarily complex or complicated. It is a well made quality wine. Although surprisingly mature for a nebbiolo this age, it is also very young and will show very nicely, given ample time. This Nebbiolo is very young but presents a unique value proposition. You can pick up a few bottles at @totalwine fairly inexpensively and forget about them for another 5 to 8 years when it should be showing marvelously. Salute! 🍷😁👌🏽

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2015 Nebbiolo by Travaglini Gattinara

Tonight’s occasion: 2015 Nebbiolo by Travaglini Gattinara. Clear, ruby red color. Unconventional for most Nebbiolo. Crisp nose with slightly earthy mineral terroir. A suggestion of tart plum, and at least another very faint floral aroma I cannot pinpoint. Body is dry, crisp plum, with lots of structure. A noticeable melange of leather and mineral rock emerges towards the back end of the body. An increasingly dominating tannic grip only gets stronger and more intense as it transitions to the finish by the end of which your lips and entire palate are held hostage by its intense, dry, ironclad grip. A spicy heat joins in the bold, forceful, dramatic expression and lingers long after. This vintage is powerful and shows great potential. While it may be barely approachable now, it is nowhere near ready. I last opened a 2010 last year and reviewed it on here. This wine needs at least another 5 years. TotalWine stopped carrying it in California but I found some in Seattle this weekend. Unfortunately I am unable to continue building a vertical of it in my cellar. [UPDATE] Wine.com carries this wine so I will resume building my vertical. See links below. To the folks at Travaglini, I most certainly hope to see you when I visit Italy. Molto bene! 🍷😁👌🏽 Explore more Travaglini Gattinara wine on WineSnob.
Wine.com affiliate links are provided for your convenience. WineSnob.blog may receive a commission when you use the affiliate link below. See Affiliate Disclosure page for more info. Shop Travaglini Gattinara wines on Wine.com
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Guest Review: Chassagne-Montrachet Montagny Premier Cru

Au Pied du Mont Chauve’s 2015 Burgundy White is one of my favorite wines, so much so that I had this wine with the first dinner I ever cooked for my girlfriend. It was aged wonderfully! The wine has a mouth-watering acidity, that makes you crave a butter or cream-based sauce. Each sip is smooth and silky. It has hints of juicy pineapple, crisp green apple, and creamy vanilla on the nose and palate. I would definitely recommend this wine to any burgundy lover, but also suggest it to those who are looking for a fun break from an Oregon Chardonnay.

The Domaine Au Pied du Mont Chauve, is operated by Francine Picard, daughter of one of the biggest winemaking families in Burgundy. Francine, daughter of Michel Picard, grows beautiful grapes on the hills of Chassagne-Montrachet. Her wines are normally characterized by their limestone minerality, and supple fruits. Her calling has been to remain true to the tradition, and this is what any Burgundy drinker searches for. This wine, a premier cru, was selected for excellence, and lives up to that standard.

🌟: 9/10, 3 Preference, 2 Complexity, 1 Pairability, 1 Convenience, 2 Drinkability
💲: 30.00 USD (TotalWine)
🥐: I paired this with a braised chicken with a creamy mushroom reduction.

About our guest

Ethan Turner is author of today’s Guest Review. All the way from Scottsdale Arizona, Ethan is a certified Level 1 Sommelier actively working in the service industry where he gets to sharpen his palate on a daily basis. In his own words.

“Going to a wine shop is like going to a library. Each wine has its own story, flavor profile, and shelf life. Some wines are popular and become classics, some wines are trendy and go out of style within a few years. That makes it really hard to find the right wine. I love helping find what’s perfect for them.”

You can follow Ethan’s journey via his Instagram page @ineedsommehelp

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Reserve: 2017 Pinot Noir by Bumgarner

Tonight’s occasion: 2017 Pinot Noir (El Dorado) by Bumgarner.

Bright ruby color. Upon opening there’s a noticeable burst of sweet licorice on the nose. Sweet cherry joins in the ensemble. A hint of oak and at least one other floral aroma I cannot pinpoint at the moment. Body is moderately acidic, dry, tart plum, slightly tannic, showing good structure and balance. Once it’s opened up, the transition turns creamy. A slight mineral leather makes an appearance right before transitioning to a subtly floral finish. A gentle, spicy tannic grip caps the whole experience. This is a clean, well executed Pinot Noir.

While very approachable right now, it is nowhere near it’s fullest expression. I would give this Pinot at least another 5-10 years. I have been following this winemaker’s work for the better part of the past two decades. I have never seen him make a Pinot before. As a matter of fact I have never seen a Pinot Noir from the El Dorado region. I couldn’t think of a better craftsman to undertake this task. His style is more traditional old world wines that lend themselves to graceful aging. Pick up a few bottles and forget about them. Thank me later. I’m looking forward to more amazing Pinot Noir Brian!🍷😁👌🏽

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2016 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) by Bailarin Cellars, California

Tonight’s occasion: 2016 Pinot Noir (Black Knight Vineyard, Sonoma Coast) by Bailarin Cellars.

Beautiful floral aromas accompanied by sweet cherry, a hint of oak and mineral terroir on the back (clay comes to mind). Once opened up, there is an unmistakable cigar-like tobacco on the nose. A well balanced body characterized by slightly tart plum. The fruit forward nose does not translate into a fruit forward body however. I like that. A hint of leather lingers in the background. Once opened up, a subtle black currant emerges. Creamy transition leads into a smooth finish capped with gentle spice. This is a high quality, well built wine. It is a classy medium bodied Pinot Noir. It is very interesting now and should be even more so given a few more years to rest.

Their tasting room is in the heat of downtown Sacramento. A refreshing option for the discerning palate looking for something a bit more refined. I will be posting more on them soon. Well done Bailarin! 🍷😁👌🏽

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Reserve: 2014 Pinot Noir by Dierberg * Star Lane

Tonight’s occasion: 2014 Pinot Noir by Dierberg * Star Lane Vinyards, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California. Light ruby color. Very restrained and delicate nose characterized by sweet berry, hint of cherry, oak and the faintest slightly mineral terroir. The melange creates a subtle and unmistakable slightly caramelized marshmallow essence. It is rich, clean, crisp, layered, highly delineated. Body is just as restrained, very subtle, delicate balance of mild, berry, faint oak and leather as the terroir becomes slightly more expressed. Body makes a subtly tannic transition into the finish which quickly turns creamy and dissipates into the very gentle finish capped by a restrained spice. This is a traditional Pinot and it is showing perfectly right now! My goodness this is an amazing Pinot!!! After weeks of bold big bodied wines, it is a breath of fresh air upon the palate. It is a reminder that some of the best Pinot in the world is crafted here in California. You won’t find this at the store. You will have to make the journey of a lifetime to this understated region. I wrote about my visit to this winery on my blog (see link in bio). Well done Dierberg * Star Lane! Hope to see you again soon. 🍷😁👌🏽 Read more about my first visit to Dierberg * StarLane here. Explore more Dierberg Star Lane on WineSnob.
Wine.com affiliate links are provided for your convenience. WineSnob.blog may receive a commission when you use the affiliate link below. See Affiliate Disclosure page for more info. Shop Dierberg Star Lane wines on Wine.com
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Reserve: 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon by Louis Martini

Tonight’s occasion: 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon by Louis Martini, Napa Valley. A textbook Big Napa Cab. Deep rich color. Clean, crisp nose characterized by tart plum and a hint of cherry on the back which quickly dissipates giving way to a neutral terroir undertone. There is a noticeable absence of any heat in the nose. Surprising for a wine with 15.1% ABV. The full, chewy, fruit forward body follows, with lots of blackberry, and buttery tannin. This massive Napa Cab is surprisingly balanced. A testament of the winemaker’s craft. A creamy transition to a smooth, moderately tannic finish. An enduring spicy heat finally keeps the palate warm long after. This wine must have started out as a real beast to tame. It is very approachable now and should further develop nicely over the next few years. Well done guys🍷😁👌🏽 Explore more Louis Martini on WineSnob.
Wine.com affiliate links are provided for your convenience. WineSnob.blog may receive a commission when you use the affiliate link below. See Affiliate Disclosure page for more info. Shop Louis Martini wines on Wine.com
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Reserve: 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon by Sterling Vineyards

Tonight’s occasion: 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon by Sterling Vineyards, Calistoga, Napa Valley. Dark rich color. Upon opening, I am hit with an intense bouquet of floral notes (lavender comes to mind) that quickly vanishes, giving way to intense plum, berry and mineral terroir. As it opens, a sweet cherry vanilla emerges then vanishes. I get the feeling this wine did not appreciate being disturbed this early in its journey. Body is big, heavy, dry, very spicy. None of the nose carries over other than the mineral terroir. Transition to finish is seamless as tannins turn slightly creamy just before infusing the palate with a lasting spicy grip. At 14.9% ABV, this is a big Napa Cab by all accounts. Despite this it still exhibits good balance. This wine has a long road ahead, on its journey to its fullest expression. I probably won’t be opening anymore of this vintage for another 5 years or so. I look forward to seeing how it develops over time. This is a well built wine.🍷😁👌🏽 Thanks to wine.com and their extensive library, you can now access most of the wines I review on here. You can use the link below to have Sterling wines delivered to your doorstep. Shop Sterling wines on Wine.com