Best Of The Best

A Local Wine Add Freshness to this Edition

Friday, March 5th, 2010

We have four wines for you on this segment: two from California, one from the Mendoza region of Argentina and one from our own backyard.

Orin Swift Papillon Napa Valley , 2005: Comprised of the classic Bordeaux blend of grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec this wine is very well structured with fruits of dark cherry and currant and some spicy and cedary notes. Tannins are soft leading the way for a smooth and elegant finish. Enjoy now or cellar for the next few years….runs ~$55-60.

St. Supery Dollarhide Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 2005: This is another elegant and refined wine with flavors of dark cherry and currant and a hint of vanilla and cinnamon. You can enjoy this now or over the next 5 years. $80

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Tags: Arizona, Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Catena, Malbec, Pillsbury
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Three French Winners Plus an Oregon Pinot Noir

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Shea Wine Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard, 2006:

This is an enjoyable wine from the Willamette Valley. Flavors of blackberry, dark cherry and plum, some cedary scents and tobacco. While I enjoyed the wine with a salmon dish, it felt a little pricey in light of its middle of the road personality….runs around $60. I think that you could do as well with a less expensive Pinot such as Caldwell Hills.

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Tags: Callaghan Vineyards, Chenin Blanc, Cotes du Rhone, Loire, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
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President’s Day Best

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Ciacci Piccolomini Pianrossa Brunello, 2001:

Just a beautiful wine from a great vintage. Deep berry aromas intermingle with earthy scents of tobacco and cedar. A lovely hint of spice and fine tannins make this wine a true winner. Not available in Tucson (as far I know) but can be accessed online at ~$70. This wine is made to pair with a hearty lamb dish, roasted or braised meats, roasted game birds, stewed game (boar, venison), roasted duck and steak.

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Tags: Brunello, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cotes du Rhone, Northern Rhone, Southern Rhone
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Two Domestics, Two International Choices

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Orin Swift The Prisoner Napa Valley, 2006:

This is a lovely blend of Zin, Cabernet Sauvignon, Charbono, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah. Not a big wine; well balanced with deep fruits of plum and berry, rustic notes of herbs, tobacco and a peppery spice. Pricing runs in the mid $30’s and can be enjoyed over the next year or two.

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Tags: Catena, Chenin Blanc, Domaine des Baumard, Ken Wright, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Savennieres
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Perfect Playoff Picture

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

This is one of my favorite times during the year: football playoffs. The excitement rises as we move through the preliminaries on our way to “the Big Game.” I’m watching & waiting to see if a “Cindarella” team emerges toward the end. Right now, that would be the NY Jets. As an aside, the Cardinals should give the Saints all that they can handle, especially if Boldin and Rogers-Cromartie are back.

Watching these games on a big screen is just an invitation for friends, food, wine and beer. That being the case and never to ignore the opportunity for food and wine, we got together with some friends last weekend to watch the Cards (what a game!!). Here’s what we cobbled together.

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Tags: AJ's Fine Foods
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Holiday Tastings

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Mas du Soleilla Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Les Bartelles 2006:

This is a dark, full bodied expression of the southern region of France, blended with 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache. The combination yields a wine that is simply luscious with aromas and flavors of kirsch, dark cherry, chocolate and spice and finishes smoothly. The vineyard lies along the Mediterranean Sea on the hills of the La Clape Peninsula. The soil tends to be of calcareous gravel, limestone, and marl. The wine’s alcohol, at 14.5%, plays perfectly against the fruit and spice. While I have not located the wine locally, this is one that’ worth every penny if you are resourceful. It’s priced around $45. One added note here, the ’07 looks to be just as superb and at a price no more than the ’06. Either vintage could be enjoyed now or over the next few years.

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Tags: biodynamic, Cotes du Rhone, Grenache, Languedoc, Southern Rhone, spain, Syrah, Tempranillo, Vacqueyras
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Pinot Noir Face Off: Part II

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Here are four additional Pinot Noirs from around the globe that made themselves felt at our November tasting.

Pisoni Estate, Santa Lucia Highlands, 2006:

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Tags: Pinot Noir
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PINOT FACEOFF

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

I had the opportunity, recently, to participate in a Pinot Noir tasting at the home of friends who are die hard Pinot collectors. We blindly tasted four flights of Pinots, each flight containing a wine from California, Oregon and Burgundy. This get together was particularly enjoyable for me and my wife as our focus over the years has been more on Bordeaux, Rhone and Tuscany. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to resource the expertise of those who have immersed themselves in the terroir of this lovely variety. Here are four of the Pinots that we tasted with the results.

Thomas Pinot Noir, Oregon 2006:

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Tags: Pinot Noir
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Four Wines Stand in the Winner’s Circle

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

All four of these wines are winners in their own right. But one clearly stands at the top of the heap.

This edition’s Best of the Best features an affordable and quality Northern Rhone, a well recognized Australian Shiraz, a German Riesling (at a great price), and a first growth Bordeaux.

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Tags: Bordeaux, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Jean Louis Chave, Kabinett, Monchhof, Northern Rhone, Riesling, Shiraz
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