winewaves

Twin Fin California Merlot 2002

This really is a fun $7.99 bottle of red. This Merlot just arrived and is our first bottle. It combines a good everyday wine with a great presentation and an easy retail price. Nothing overly complex here - Just lots of dark cherry fruit and oak plus a bit of mocha - A successful version of one-size-fits-all red. And it has a screw cap too! Like several new Cali wine labels, this one was bottled in Graton, CA. At $7.99 (Nashville price), this is a good candidate for a house or party wine.

Marques de Caceres Rioja White 2003

This is a very nice crisp, dry and fruity white wine made from 100% Viura grapes, in the Rioja, Alta region of Spain. The aromas and flavors range from peach and apple, with some lime, herbal and floral notes. Plastic synthetic cork closure. At $7.99 (Nashville price), this is a really good buy for everyday enjoyment.

Chateau Malbat Bordeaux Red 2003

This red Bordeaux just arrived, imported by International Gourmet Corp. For a $10 red Bordeaux, this one could be a good house wine, if you like Bordeaux. It has a modest amount of fruit and tannins. It is simple for a Bordeaux, but drinks well now. The closure is a genuine cork. At $9.99 (Nashville), here is a decent red Bordeaux priced for the typical everyday budget. The Dollar vs. Euro situation has made French wine more expensive recently.

Renwood Zinfandel Fiddletown 2002

Renwood, of Plymouth (Amador County), California, is an outstanding winery for Zinfandel. The Fiddletown appellation is at higher elevation and is cooler than the rest of Amador. This is a dark hued zin, oaky vanilla in the nose, with blackberry fruit, some spice, and good acidity in the finish.  We drank this bottle with grilled Buffalo Sirloin Steaks. The closure is a genuine cork. At $18.99 (Nashville), it's not priced for the typical everyday budget, but it it definitely is a good candidate for occasional enjoyment.

Gruet Blanc de Noirs Brut NV

Gruet Winery is located in Engle, New Mexico, near Truth or Consequences. The Pinot Noir for this sparkler was grown at altitude where cool night temperatures slow the maturation process of the grapes. This wine exhibits a very light salmon color, lots of bubbles, a fruity aroma (apple and raspberry), with toast and citrus on the palate. At approx. $14.99 retail, this is something different to enjoy in an American bubbly, and the price is reasonable.

Leth Gruner Veltliner Steinagrund Lagenreserve 2003

This complex dry white wine has lots of mineral and a fair amount of pepper in the nose and on the palate, with some limey citrus and apple fruit notes underneath, nicely balanced with refreshing tart acidity. This is a medium-bodied white with good mouthfeel and lingering finish. The closure is a genuine cork. (A screw cap would be better.) Imported by Domaine Select Wine Estates, New York. At $15.99, this is an Austrian white worthy of including in a mixed case of crisp whites.

Allan Scott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2004

Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2004 arrived Friday, and this was the first time for me to try this wine. This is a delicious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, which has tropical fruit (pineapple, melon, passionfruit) and tart acidity, plus some herbal and green notes, nice body and a crisp lively finish. This bottle had a screw cap. At approx. $16.99 retail, this is a good buy in New Zealand whites, and should be included in a case of mixed crisp white wines.

76 Point "Best of Class" Winner

Grgich Hills Napa Valley Chardonnay 2002 was voted the best Chardonnay in the “over $30” Chardonnnay Category in the 2005 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.  http://www.sfgate.com/bestofclass/
The March 31st 2005 issue of the Wine Spectator rated Grgich Hills Napa Valley Chardonnay 2002 as follows:  “76 Points.  Stale, with sour, tinny fruit cocktail flavors.  37,000 cases made. –JL”

Goats do Roam in Villages 2003

This blend of Shiraz and Pinotage is from the Coastal Region of South Africa, and produced by the goat-friendly folks at Fairview. We were lucky to get a bottle of this wine, because it sold out very quickly at Frugal MacDoogal in Nashville. This would be an excellent wine for anything barbeque-like, or anything off the grill. Dark fruit, roasted notes, and smoky notes, are all integrated into this wine, which is chewy for its price. The closure is a real cork. James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, rated the wine 90 points: “Solid, modern-style wine here, with dark, racy blackberry and boysenberry fruit, ample toast and cocoa notes, and a long, plush, fruit-filled finish. Solid acidity keeps it all honest too. Delicious. Drink now through 2006. 12,000 cases made. (Feb 28, 2005)” At $13.99 retail (Nashville), this is a wine worth buying if you can find it. Enjoy a great glass of South Africa at a great price.

Castle Rock Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2002

Castle Rock Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2002. Hmmm, can one buy a good cheap Pinot Noir? Castle Rock delivers a likeable berry/cherry-flavored, light-bodied red.  It's not as spicy or as complex as two years in oak would suggest, and it is a bit tannic (for its fruitiness).  Do not expect a Burgundian style masterpiece, but it is real drinkable now. This bottle had a real cork closure. At $10.99 retail (Nashville), this Pinot Noir isn't expensive, yet it does provide enough attractive varietal character, to consider it for everyday enjoyment.