Wines
April 7, 2009
April 7th, 2009
Now you can legally take your open bottle of wine home with you
CHAMPAGNE AND SPARKLING WINES
Brut Champagne NV Rene Geoffroy 58.
Formerly known as Prestige, this blend of 25% Meunier, 65% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay with flavors of black currant and a meaty, almost floral character just blew me away when I first tasted it. A blockbuster red wine based Champagne!
Brut Champagne Oeil de Perdrix à Bouzy Jean Vesselle 48.
Oeil de Perdrix is French for Partridge’s eye. This creamy big-boned Champagne with Red Burgundy characteristics has wild berry flavors and an underlying minerality.
Brut NV Scharffenberger Cellars 31.
This California sparkler is made in Anderson Valley where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir exudes a creamy, citrus characteristic usually found only in authentic Champagne.
Espumoso de Moscato Reymos 21.
This is the Spanish version of Moscato d’Asti with a little less sweetness than it’s Italian cousin. Made around Valencia, this low alcohol sparkler has soft bubbles and a clean, refreshing sweetness.
Grand Cru Brut NV Champagne Maison Alain Soutiran 56.
In 1970 Alain Soutiran took a daring step. He stopped selling his grapes, deciding to make his own Champagne. This is an astonishingly, powerful blend of 60% Pinot Noir/40% Chardonnay.
Grand Cru Brut Tradition Champagne Egly-Ouriet 72.
Egly-Ouriet is the biggest, fleshiest Champagne of all my offerings. It’s mostly Pinot Noir and a smidge of Chardonnay with aromas of fresh biscuits or baking pie dough with earthy, red fruit flavors.
Gran Cru Reserve Brut Champagne 1998 Henri Billiot 71.
Serge Billiot is friend and neighbor of the Eglys. This is Ambonnay and the name of the game is Pinot Noir. The two winemakers produce very different Champagnes. This wine is bubbling over with enthusiastic fruit with an appealing smokiness.
ROSÉ
Rosé Côtes du Provence 2007 Commanderie de Peyrassol 34.
The Commandarie is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. The estate’s emphasis is on juicy, watermelon and strawberry fruit with more body than you’d imagine from rosé.
DOMESTIC WHITES
Chardonnay CH 2006 Adelsheim 29.
This recent addition to the Adelsheim lineup is a 100% unoaked Chardonnay. It is an unusual style for the area, but really works.
Chardonnay Estate 2006 Baileyana 27.
When I first started drinking wine in the early 80’s one of my favorite Chardonnays was Edna Valley. It has a creamy texture with a
zingy citrus component.
Chardonnay 2007 LIOCO 28.
This is 100% unoaked Sonoma Chardonnay that’s harvested early to retain a natural acidity. The wine has beautiful lemon peel and tangerine elements along with a deliciously creamy finish.
Chardonnay Le Nude 2007 Summers 31.
The Chardonnay is all stainless, steel fermented i.e. no oak...le nude and very Burgundian in style. Full of fresh citrus with a crisp, lively acidity.
Sauvignon Blanc L’Artiste 2007 Robert Pecota 27.
This Sauvignon Blanc is pure and crisp as an Ohio winter night. 100% stainless steel fermented with a lushness of fruit that pairs nicely with substantial winter dishes.
IMPORT WHITES
Chablis 2006 Boudin 33.
It’s flinty and full of citrusy, ginger fruit and that quality you only find in Chablis that David Schildknecht describes as chicken broth. This isn’t California Chardonnay. If you are looking for pineapple and mango, go to Kroger.
Furmint 2007 Heidi Schröck 38.
If you love Chenin Blanc from the Loire, then you’re going to love this dry Furmint from Austria. It’s full of juicy pear and quince fruit with a stony minerality and a lovely floral finish.
Gewürtziminer 2007 The Furst 27.
This aromatic Alsatian wine is sourced from grapes grown at the foothills of some of Alsace’s most prestigious vineyards. The wine is full of white peach and apricot fruit with a creamy texture and a smoky finish.
Godello 2006 Vina Godeval 27.
I absolutely love this delicious mineral laden white wine from Godeval. It’s possesses great acidity along with distinctive floral elements. The Godello grape was nearly extinct when Godeval decided to make it a mission to bring the varietal back.
Grüner Veltliner Hefeabzug 2007 Nikolaihof 38.
Biodynamic producer, Nikolaihof’s wines reflect the care and love they feel for the environment. The Hefeabzug is a stingingly dry wine with saline, oystery elements. In an interview with owner Christine Saahs and she called this wine a natural energy drink.
Grüner Veltliner Wieden 2004 Salomon Undhof 25.
This is a beautiful example of the lentily characteristics of Grüner Veltliner. I know it sounds strange but the comparison is inescapable. Stern to the point of being terse, this dry Austrian wine is hopping with minerality and green herbs.
Macon-Villages 2007 Verget 27.
Macon-Villages can be a delicious little quaffer or flat and watery…basically not so hot. Verget’s version is definitely on the delicious side with vibrant, crisp fruit. Ready to pair up with just about any fish or vegetable dish you’ll choose.
Meursault Les Chaumes 2006 Boyer-Martenot 47.
The wines of Boyer-Martenot are filled with power and elegance. The family is fanatical about low yields, wild yeasts and not pesticides. Les Chaumes is a richly styled wine with unexpected tropical fruit flavors followed by a mineral laden finish.
Roussanne 2007 Verget du Sud 22.
This beautiful Rhone varietal offers tropical fruit flavors…juicy pineapple and mango and inserts a sparkling acidity. The ending kick of alcohol at first gave me pause, but it evaporates quickly giving way to a deliciously inexpensive wine.
Vouvray Le Mont Sec 2004 Huet 32.
Chenin Blanc is the most alluring varietal you’ll ever taste. There’s nothing like it. The style can vary from dry to sweet. Le Mont is a drier style with gorgeous floral aromas and a flinty mineral laden finish.
Weissburgunder 2007 Heidi Schröck 35.
Heidi Schröck was my favorite stop when I was touring Austrian wine country. I always anxiously await the arrival of her Pinot Blanc. It’s a big wine at 13.5% alcohol that has an aromatic fennel and orange peel quality with a stony, saline finish.
DOMESTIC REDS
Blend Firehouse Red 2006 Tamarack Cellars 29.
This Washington State wine is an eclectic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Carmenere and Malbec. Despite it’s many components the wine is full-bodied with with black raspberry fruit with a smoky finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Chateau Smith 29.
This is a new wine from one of our favorite winemakers, Charles Smith, owner/winemaker of K Vintners. From the cooler climate of Washington State, the wine has flavors of red cherry and dark chocolate with a cedary finish.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Field Stone 28.
A European styled wine from Alexander Valley, Field Stone fashions one of the best affordable Cabernets produced in California. Rich, extracted fruit is followed by undertones of plum and black cherry. This is my “go to” Cabernet these days.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Joel Gott 27.
Still in his 30’s, Joel Gott is one of California’s hottest rising winemakers. This deep ruby, full-bodied 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is bright and assertive with rich flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, plums and mocha.
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Cuvee 12 2006 Michael Pozzan 28.
This is a solidly, delicious wine from California native Michael Pozzan. Rich, plum flavors with an elegance and grace known in Napa Cabernet.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Selby Winery 37.
This full-bodied Sonoma Cabernet is blended with 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec. Lush black fruit flavors along with bittersweet chocolate the price is extremely reasonable in relationship to the quality.
Pinot Noir Napa Valley 2007 DE-FIN-I-TIVE 28.
Ken Bernards, owner and winemaker at Ancien has crafted some of best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in California. Now with a new project and a wealth of connections he’s crafting a delicious Pinot Noir that is simply too good to be true for the price.
Zinfandel 2007 McManis 19.
The Zinfandel is full of black fruit components...blackberry, black cherry and blueberries. The wine is lush on the palate and finishes with a nutmeg and clove spiciness.
Zinfandel Saldo 2007 Orin Swift 38.
This a new wine for us from Orin Swift. It’s Zinfandel sourced from many AVA’s in northern California with small additions of Syrah and Petite Syrah. The wine is lush on the palate with delicious red fruit flavors and a smokey finish.
IMPORT REDS
Bandol 2004 Bastide Blanche 40.
I always think there’s something primal about Bandol. Perhaps it’s the way the wine picks up elements of the Provence countryside. This vintage is full of dark fruit flavors - plum, blackberry and aromas of the wild Provence herbs.
Barbaresco Fausoni 2002 Sottimano 59.
I love Nebbiolo, but as someone who is neither patient or loaded with cash, my love is raredly indulged. If you’ve never tried Barbaresco, but are curious, Sottimano offers a very accessible version with sweet cherry and dried fruit flavors.
Barolo Pajana 2000 Clerico 87.
Truly a gem of a Barolo from producer, Domenico Clerico. Flavors of red currant and red raspberry are followed by aromas of sandalwood and spice. The best thing is it’s just now ready to drink and the price reflects a better economic time.
Blaüfrankisch Johanneshöhe 2006 Prieler 31.
Prieler fashions a substantial red wine with dark, black fruit flavors that’s seductively perfumed with light floral elements along with a lush, silky mouthfeel. This is the best vintage produced by this estate.
Blend 2007 Clos de los Siete 27.
This Argentine blend of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah is made by globe trotting winemaker, Michel Rolland. Love him or hate him, this a delicious wine. It’s rich and extracted with soft tannins. Very satisfying.
Bourgogne 2006 Anne Gros 44.
It’s a real powerhouse for a French Burgundy but also exudes a deliciously elegant red fruit profile...strawberry, raspberry and red currant. For those naysayers about 2006, you better give this a try.
Cote Rotie 2005 Rene Rostaing 89.
This is the entry level Cote Rotie from Rostaing, if you can call any Cote Rotie entry level. 100% Syrah from the Northern Rhone the wine is rich and extracted with plum fruit and a licorice eucylyptus finish.
Marsannay Clos du Roy 2005 Fournier 39.
The region of Marsannay may not make you take much notice, your mind is about to be changed with the wines of Fournier. The Clos du Roy is youthful with a depth of juicy cherry fruit and a stony minerality that’s just out of this world.
Pinot Noir Permutations 2008 R Wines 23.
The wine is full of rich dark cherry flavors but retains a minerality and elegance that belies it’s bargain price. Don’t let the Walmart price fool you...this is best Pinot Noir I’ve tasted in this price range.
Rioja 2001 Remelluri 33.
This has everything I love…rich berry fruit, cedar and an intense leather finish. Contrary to what you might think, traditional Rioja is considered a lighter red wine and this Remelluri bottling, with a little bottle age, is reminicient of a Burgundian wine.
Shiraz Alice’s 2003 Greenock Creek 70.
This is a massive wine from one of the Barossa Valley’s most sought after wineries. The wine possesses a little bottle age that helps integrate the alcohol, but fruit is still forward, showing absolutely no sign of slowing down. Aside from that 97 points WA.
Savigny-les-Beaune 2005 Nicolas Potel 45.
Nicolas Potel is a modern negociant who selects fruit from the best areas of Burgundy. The Savigny-les-Beaune is a redolent of black cherries with a smoky finish.
Shiraz First Class 2006 R Winery 39.
This Shiraz from the McLaren Vale region of South Australia offers a rich decadent wine with dark blueberry/blackberry fruit and a dark chocolate and cocoa powder finish. This wine has a luxurious creamy finish. Definitely Shiraz to the 10th power.
Tempranillo 2005 Bodegas Volver 29.
From La Mancha this will be just the wine to get you through those last few dreary Ohio nights. The lushly textured wine is full of dark cherry fruit with soft tannins, made for the American palate. Think Napa Cabernet made with Tempranillo.