Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau,” 2004:
The back label displays words spoken by Thomas Jefferson: “Good wine is a necessity of life for me.” This is one wine that certainly fits that description with an outstanding balance of raspberry fruit, fresh acidity and minerality, classic Southern Rhone garrigue, and notes of cocoa and truffle. The finish is gorgeously long and smooth and should set the stage for a long aging wine for at least another 10-15 years. Pair this with game such as duck, rabbit and lamb. Runs around $70.
F Il Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Bochis Vigna San Giuseppe, 2001:
From a truly hidden gem in the Castiglione Falletto region in Barolo, this outstanding wine derives from 100% Nebbiolo grown in the San Giuseppe vineyard in the Bricco Boschis estate. The wine marries muscle with richness to yield a wine displaying sweet dark cherry, smoke, tar, spices and a hint of the traditional menthol. You can start to drink this now but it clearly has a long life still ahead, perhaps another good ten years. Runs ~$80 and is worth the money as a cellared collection. The 2004 is equally as powerful and age worthy. Pair with meats, poultry, game, hard cheeses, white truffles, and pasta with a rich meat sauce.
Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, 2001:
Here’s a deep and brooding Northern Rhone from a top producer. Full bodied, dense and muscular, this displays an inky/purple color and a rich bouquet of creme de cassis, crushed flowers, truffles, and licorice. Here’s another age worthy wine, capable of cellaring for the next 10-15 years! Pairs with meats and game and will run you ~$140.
Pillsbury Cochise County Red Roan, 2009:
Sam’s Roan Red tends to take on a Cotes du Rhone personality, a blend of 63% Grenache, 25% Mouvedre, and 12% Syrah. I tasted this wine recently to see how it was evolving and it’s simply beautiful, offering up rich red fruits and candied aromas, hints of nutmeg and cinnamon and fresh flowers. The wine finishes clean with soft tannins and a hint of oak reflecting its aging for 12 months in neutral American oak. Runs ~$26 and would pair well with a rich fish such as salmon or seabass, pasta, or roasted chicken and barbecued meats such as burgers or ribs. This is sweet and yummy……….I would enjoy this now.
Posts Tagged ‘Arizona’
One Homegrown Wine and Three Internationals in this Edition of Best of the Best
Friday, February 18th, 2011Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier, Victoria, Australia, 2008:
You might blink twice when you see the name Chapoutier and Victoria, Australia. Working in tandem with Napa Valley vintner Anthony Terlato, the two have teamed up to produce this wonderful Shiraz-Viognier blend. In the classic northern Rhone style, with 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier, this wine catapults its aromatic profile out of the glass with a wave of dark berry and spice leading you to think that it’s going to be a “blow your socks off” alcoholic and tannic wine. But with 14.5% alcohol, the blast of fruit suddenly subsides and softens with nuances of coffee and wet earth seeping into the profile. With tannins that are present yet restrained, everything is in balance here and should allow the wine to age for a good 5-7 years. But wait……there’s more (sorry, I couldn’t resist being trite). The wine is outrageously affordable at ~$20. Pair this as you would any Shiraz/Syrah, with beefy and grilled meat dishes, game, poultry, mushrooms and aged cheeses. Really, this wine is a steal for the quality and age worthiness.
The Many Faces of Pinot Gris
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010Pinot Gris (Grigio in Italy) is a highly food friendly and versatile grape, displaying varying nuances depending upon the terroir. While the Alsatian and Oregon versions are most notable, don’t overlook those from California, France, Australia and yes………….Arizona.
Pinot Gris is a variant clone of the well known Pinot Noir varietal and tends to mature easily with high sugar levels. This opens the door to everything from sweet wines to dry versions with higher alcohol if fully fermented. The colors of any vine cluster can range from a blue grey to a pinkish brown. Like so many of its European cousins, the grape has a long and storied history which dates back to the Middle ages in Burgundy. The grape was originally called Tokay d’Alsace but was changed to Tokay Pinot Gris as an intermediate step in the 1990’s as Hungary prepared for EU membership. It has been changed subsequently to the now familiar Pinot Gris. If there’s one standout region that most identifies with Pinot Gris, it’s Alsace in northeast France. This is a region that traditionally produces rich and sometimes sweet wines. Cut off from the rest of France by the Vosges mountains and bordering Germany, the Alsace displays a mixture of both French and German cultures. The soil composition is one of the more complex in France and ranges from limestone to silicone to alluvial deposits. You’re likely to find clay, granite and volcanic rock as well as sandy calcareous soils and sandstone. In addition to the favorable soil profiles, the cool and relatively dry climate makes for an ideal terroir. Usual long and dry autumns will mild afternoons extend the hang time for the grapes, allowing them to fully mature.
A Local Vintner Makes it on to the List
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010It’s always heartening to me when one of our locals makes its way on to the Best of the Best. This issue, it’s Sam Pillsbury and he’s produced a remarkably delicious and fresh Cochise County, Arizona Viognier.
Pillsbury Cochise County Viognier, 2009:
A Local Wine Add Freshness to this Edition
Friday, March 5th, 2010We 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.
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