winewaves

Norman Vineyards Paso Robles Zinfandel 2003

Paso Robles is known for very fruity Zins and Syrahs, and Norman Vineyards* "Classic" Zin definitely lives up to this classic style. The 2003 vintage is 92% Zinfandel and 8% Syrah.

Fruit was sourced from three Paso Robles vineyards. Aging was 14 months, 90% in neutral oak uprights and 10% in new American oak barrels. Alcohol content is a modest 13.8%. Steve Felten is Winemaker. Cases produced: 2,595. Tasting Notes:  Color: Deep candy apple red, translucent. Fruity dried cherry and plum aromas combine with baking spice and background notes of smoky fruitwood bacon. On the tongue, this Zin is tart, juicy, then dry and nicely tannic; jammy but with some backbone. The cherry, apricot, cola and cocoa flavors are warm and linger in the finish. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($12).

*Art & Lei Norman founded their Vineyards in the early 1970's, growing grapes on 40 acres in Paso Robles, to sell to other wineries. In 1992, they began making wine under their own label. Now they have to buy grapes from other Westside Paso Robles growers, as well as from growers in Edna Valley and Cucamonga Valley to meet the demand for their wine.

Meridian Central Coast Pinot Noir 2004

Signe Zoller is Winemaker for Meridian Pinot Noir, which sources fruit from Santa Barbara County and areas further north.

Oak aging was about 1/2 year in a variety of tight-grained French barrels. Meridian is owned by Beringer Blass, now part of Foster's. Tasting Notes. Color: Ruby red, translucent. Aromas: Black cherry and cassis, backed by sweet pie spice, and hints of coffee and vanilla. Here is a middleweight Pinot Noir, tart and dry with light smooth tannins. Dark red fruit and lightly oaky, spicy flavors are straightforward and easy going, as is the finish. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($9).

Smoking Loon California Pinot Noir 2004

Don and Sons' mass produced Pinot Noir by Smoking Loon is a very likeable, available, and affordable light dry red. Richard Bruno* is a very busy Winemaker, so one figures he isn't overthinking or overworking his wines. 90,000 cases of 2004 Pinot Noir were bottled under the Smoking Loon label.

There is a podcast on Don and Sons' website, which says, "we get most of our grapes from coastal areas like Monterey and Mendocino." Tasting Notes:  Color: Light strawberry/cherry red, transparent. Aromas: Cherry, strawberry, raspberry, plus hints of clove spice, smoky oak, gravelly earth and cedar. On the tongue, this is a lightweight Pinot Noir. Jammy cherry and raspberry, plus pie spice flavors resolve quickly in the easy dry finish. Closure: Composite artificial "neocork". Very nice value ($8.50).

*Bruno is taking responsibility for a sizeable array of wines, including Don and Sons' Smoking Loon and Pepperwood Grove, and his nearly ten-year-old partnership venture, Vinum Cellars.

Alamos Mendoza Pinot Noir 2004

Alamos Mendoza Pinot Noir 2004 is 100% Pinot Noir, from Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina, made by José Galante. Winemaker José makes good use of the fruit, grown at 5000 foot elevation.

The aging was 9 months French. Native Italian Nicola Catena was the founder of Catena*, the Argentine Wine concern which produces the Alamos label. Tasting Notes. Color: Bright ruby red, transparent. Cherry, pomegranate, cinnamon and coffee aromas are backed by hints of vanilla. The mouthfeel is tart, a middleweight Pinot Noir, with moderate dusty tannins. The cherry and raspberry flavors are followed by oak spice as the wine finishes with a dry polished texture. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($9).

*Catena's website lists some interesting Argentina Wine Facts. For example, Argentina has the third largest wine consumption in the word, per capita.

Lincourt Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2003

The buzz about Lincourt Pinot Noir is that it's long and silky. Trite, yes, but such overt wine speak can be accurate.

Lincourt* Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2003 is 100% Pinot Noir, sourced from Solomon Hills Vineyard (64%) and Rancho Santa Rosa (36%). Solomon is located in Santa Maria Valley. Rancho Santa Rosa is home to Foley* Vineyards & Winery in the Santa Rita Hills, west of Buellton.

Aging was 14 months in French oak, 1/4 new. Twenty-five year veteran Winemaker Alan Phillips, assisted by Maurice Boyd, form the winemaking team. Tasting Notes:  Color: Deep dark ruby, somewhat opaque. Sweet nutmeg, clove, cassia spice, plus hints of expresso wake the senses for the cherry berry expressions. This is a middleweight Pinot Noir, with polished tannins. The sweet spice and lush red fruit finish long and silky. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($20). Food pairing: Wild Norwegian Salmon, Wood Fire Grilled, with Orzo and Wild Rice.

*Bill Foley founded Lincourt in 1996, and Foley Vineyards in 1998. Lincourt, named after daughters Lindsay and Courtney, is located along Alamo Pintado Road, just north of Solvang, in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Foley Vineyards Rancho Santa Rosa is just a few miles West of Lincourt, on CA-246. Alan Phillips is Winemaker at Foley as well as Lincourt.

Montes Estate Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc 2004

Montes* Sauvignon Blanc/Fumé Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, estate grown in the Curicó Valley. About 1/5 of the final blend was wooded 2-3 months in American oak. Curicó Valley is located just south of Colchagua Valley, about 100 miles south of Santiago. Tasting Notes. Color: Light lemon straw. Aromas: Gooseberry, peach, grapefruit, asparagus, and faint hints of flint and smoke. Here is a Sauvignon Blanc with significant body, tart green fruit flavors, somewhat rounded off in the crisp, extended finish. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($10) for a Sauvignon Blanc with some oak influence.

*Aurelio Montes is President and Winemaker of Montes, S.A.

Hahn Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

A good Cab is hard to find at a good price, but about Hahn Cab 2004, don't think twice.  The composition is 88% Cab, with 5% or less each Malbec, Merlot and Cab Franc. Winemaker Adam LaZarre says the oak aging was 10 months in 6/10 new French oak, 3/10 one-year-old, and 1/10 neutral French oak.

The fruit was sourced from three vineyards: Smith (Santa Lucia Highlands - cooler climate, later harvest), and two Paso Robles locations: Big Red, and Serena Vista (warmer, earlier harvested). Tasting Notes:  Sweet, dusty cherry and cola aromas indicate Hahn Cab 2004 is going to be easy to like. And on the tongue, there is nothing to bite. There are soft dusty tannins and the acidity is mild. Flavorwise, the aromas didn't lie, the wine is rich yet dry, red fruit abounds with cassia spice. The finish is lush for a Cab, with echoes of fruit. Nice. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($10).

Food pairing: Call it the power of suggestion. Smoky roasted and herbed chicken wih all the trimmings.

*Hahn is German for Rooster. Hahn Estates is owned and operated by the Nicolaus "Nicky" Hahn Family. Hahn made wine headlines in the Fall of 2005, when they sold their upstart phenom "HRM Rex Goliath" Brand to Constellation Brands.

Coppola Bianco California Pinot Grigio 2004

Coppola Bianco Pinot Grigio 2004 was an all stainless steel affair. The grapes were sourced from Monterey, and 3% Sauvignon Blanc was blended in. Corey Beck is Winemaker. Tasting Notes. Color: Light lemon straw. Aromas: Rainwater, light honeysuckle, and apricot, with slight hints of almonds. This is a lightweight white, tart and dry. Round apricot essence is framed by a nice balance between acidity and minerality. The finish is palate cleansing. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($9). Drink up!

Flying Fish Washington State Merlot 2003

Flying Fish* is bottled by American Wine Growers for Big Fluke Wine Company**, and distributed by Click Wine Group. Click, founded by Peter Click in 1987, is based in Seattle, and brings some very popular $10-$15 labels to market, including Fat Bastard and Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Peter Click's interest and knowledge of Australian wines was the initial basis for launching his Company, but he has since very successfully broadened his offerings.

The composition of Flying Fish Merlot 2003 is 80% Merlot, 20% Cab Franc, from Columbia Valley. The aging program was 9 months in 40% "newer" American and French oak. Tasting Notes:  Color: Deep ruby red, with a purplish tint, semi-opaque. Blueberry, cherry, sweet spice, mocha, and vanilla give this Merlot a lush sweet nose. On the tongue, this is a middleweight Merlot, with polished dry tannins. Tart red and blue fruit flavors are supported by tart acidity, and plenty of vanilla oak evolves as the wine finishes. Closure: Real cork. Nice value ($13), and a portion of the profits go to The Ocean Conservancy.

*The label features a painting by Northwest artist, Blaine Billman.

**Big Fluke Wine Company was founded in September, 2004.

Blind River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2004

Billington Imports brings Blind River Sauvignon Blanc to the US market, having forged a relationship with John Belsham back in 2000. Belsham has been involved in making wine since 1977, and has worked at Nobilo and been sole Winemaker at Matua Valley and Hunter's. Today, John is focused on Marlborough.

Fruit for Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2004 was sourced from two Marlborough vineyards, the Avery and the Radich, both on the Wairau Plains. Avery, owned by Richard and Linda Avery, is warm and dry, located on a old riverbed, planted back in 1987. The vines for Blind River were planted in 1994.

Radich vineyard, owned by Peter and Steph Radich, is very close to Avery, was planted in 1998 and has more silt in the topsoil than Avery. Like most New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, this one was vinified in all stainless steel. Tasting Notes. Color: Pale straw, with a greenish tint. Gooseberry aromas predominate with grapefruit, light floral and flint rock background notes. Racy tart on the tongue, the grapefruit and gooseberry flavors play vibrantly with accents of cilantro. The finish is dry, crsip, palate cleansing. Closure: Screw cap. Very Nice value ($14).