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Kenwood Vineyards Russian River Pinot Noir 2004

The description sounds like the beginning of a personal ad; "Attractive, muscular and refined Russian River Valley gentleman..."

Kenwood's 2004 RRV Pinot Noir is 100% varietal, and 95% Russian River Valley fruit. A quarter of the grapes were estate grown. 1/10 of the grapes were whole berry fermented. The lots were aged 11 months in 1 to 3-year-old French oak. Alcohol content: 14.9%. Tasting Notes:  Color: Ruby red, translucent. Aromas: Black cherry and essences of Tennessee whisky, plus a touch of forest floor. On the tongue, it's a middleweight, smooth like suede. Tart citrusy flavors quickly evolve into serious red fruit and spice, and the finish is warm, dry, polished and persistent. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($18).

Production: 35,900 cases. Pat Henderson is Kenwood's veteran winemaker.

Nashville Predators Wine Tasting 2006

Are Nashville hockey fans likely to show up and support their community with a $60 wine tasting?  It turns out, yes, they are.

A lively crowd of 350+ wine enthusiasts turned out Wednesday night for this Spring's big wine tasting at Gaylord Entertainment Center. About 150 wines were available for tasting, all represented by co-sponsor Lipman Brothers distributing. Ed Sbragio of Beringer was in town and hosted an optional wine dinner for about 100 patrons. Frugal MacDoogal Wine & Liquor Warehouse and the Predators were also sponsors.

As you might expect, all the tables were crowded, but action was especially heavy around the Caymus (for the Cabernet) and Hendry (to meet Mike Hendry) tables. Jack Daniels also had a crowd at their table where they provided tastes if their fine Tennessee whisky, including Single Barrel.  See the entire wine list for this event.

Nashvillian Ed Young's observations of this event have been posted at the Frugal MacDoogal website.

See the entire photo album here.

Château de la Ragotière Muscadet Sèvre Et Maine Sur Lie Black Label 2004

Muscadet may not be on your wine radar, yet. But this Loire Valley appellation is growing in popularity due to its unique qualities and excellent value.

Ragotière's 60+ acres of muscadet vineyards are located near where the Sèvre and Maine rivers converge into the Loire, before flowing to the nearby sea.

Owned by the three Couillaud brothers, Ragotière Muscadet Sèvre Et Maine 2004 was bottled directly off the lees (yeast bodies), without racking, allowing trace amounts of carbon dioxide to remain. This black label bottling is the top quality of the three Ragotière muscadets. Tasting Notes. Color: Pale straw with a greenish tint. Aromas: Citrus and minerals. On the tongue, this wine is light and tart, with lime and green herbal flavors that come across a bit salty, with a hint of capers present. The finish is palate cleansing and refreshing. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($11). Food pairing: Traditionally shellfish.

My current favorite pairing is with lightly salted Kettle potato chips.

Imported by Vineyard Brands of Birmingham, Alabama.

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fumé Blanc 2004

The current vintage of this iconic wild white is rich, classic, versatile, and has a kick of a finish (14.5% alcohol). Genevieve Janssens is Director of Winemaking.

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fumé Blanc 2004 is 91% Sauvignon Blanc and 9% Semillon.  The source of the fruit is impressive.  4/10 of the grapes came from

Wappo Hill Vineyard in Stags Leap District, 3/10 To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, and the balance from Rutherford and other Napa vineyards. Over half the lots were barrel fermented, the balance in stainless. Aging was 4 months in French oak. Tasting Notes:  Color: Pale straw with a greenish tint. Aromas: Pear, pineapple, melon, grapefruit, lemon, hints of butter and flinty minerality. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, tart and well rounded off. Ripe melon and peach merge with crisp green apple and mineral flavors, and the finish kicks. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($15).

Emeterio Fernandez La Legua Cigales Red 2003

Unbridled dark fruit will get your attention in this unoaked red from the Cigales* wine growing region in Spain.

Emeterio Fernandez's winery is located on his family's ancestral land where wine has been made for centuries. just 5 miles north of Valladolid (the capital of Castella-León). However, the Principal Winemaker, Adolfo Gonzalez is one of the youngest in the area.

La Legua Cigales Red 2003 is 96% Tempranillo, 4% Garnacha, from 25-year-old mostly head-pruned vines. Vinification included a 20 day maceration, followed by 5 months tank aging. Tasting Notes. Color: Deep purplish ruby, semi-opaque. Aromas: Lots of cassis, plus hints of sweet spice and forest floor. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, with a touch of sweetness on the front of the tongue, then turning tart and dry. Black fruit flavors linger in the dusty warm and rustic finish. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($10). Food pairing: Beef chuck stew.

*Cigales lies just north of the well known Ribera del Duero wine growing region. The altitude is high and the conditions are dry.

Imported by Eric Solomon European Cellars.

Mas Que Vinos Ercavio Tempranillo 2003

Eric Solomon keeps our wine stores from getting monotonous. His European Cellars consistently brings fun, bold, affordable Spanish reds to market.

Ercavio Tierra de Castilla 2003 is 100% Tempranillo, or Cencibel as it is called in this part of Spain, fermented in restored clay tanks and aged 5 months in French and American oak. The region of origin is also called La Mancha, and is about 40 miles south of Madrid in the arid plains. Tasting Notes:  Color: Deep purplish ruby, semi-opaque. Aromas: Cherry, candied orange rind, baking spice, fruitcake, and earth. A middleweight on the tongue, this is a tart red, peppery, with young tannins. Cherry, plum, spice, citrus and oak flavors finish rather firmly. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($11).

Nashville Predators Foundation Wine Tasting 2006

If you're in Nashville this week, here is your event. The Nashville Predators Foundation Wine Tasting & Festival 2006 is Wednesday March 29th at Gaylord Entertainment Center. Taste 150 wines, averaging $20+ per bottle, for $65, including food, and it benefits the Predators Foundation. See the Frugal MacDoogal Wine & Liquor Warehouse or Nashville Predators websites for details on how to reserve your space. Lipman Brothers, distributors, is co-sponsoring this event, as well as the many wineries they represent.

Winewaves will be there photographing the event. If you see me with and my camera, smile!

A to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir 2004

Blended to be broadly appealing, there is more than enough complexity and concentration here for Pinotphiles.

A to Z* Pinot Noir 2004 was blended from 40+ lots of wine purchased from 12+ Oregon estates. Aging was 11 months in 100% French oak. Tasting Notes. Color: Deep warm crimson, translucent. Aromas: Sweet cherry, raspberry, cassia/spice, citrus rind, and cold blossoms. The mouthfeel is velvety smooth, a middleweight, with polished tannins. Jammy red fruit and spice reverberate in the warm dry finish. Closure: Screw cap. Very nice value ($18). Production: 18,000 cases.

*Founded in 2001 by wine industry friends, Deb and Bill Hatcher, plus Sam Tannahill and Cheryl Francis, A to Z Wineworks operate as "negociants", specializing in blending wines purchased from quality Oregon wineries.

Muirwood Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir 2004

With Pinot Noir sales and interest continuing to strengthen, there can seem to be a shortage of good $10-$15 Pinot Noirs.  This one was recommended by the staff at Tampa's Total Wine & More.

ASV* Wines, a grape and wine supplier since 1982, began bottling their own wines in 2001. Muirfield Pinot Noir is one of their labels. The source of the grapes: Arroyo Seco, a central coast appellation.  Winemaker is Phil Franscioni. Tasting Notes:  Color: Red plum, transparent. Aromas: Earthy, with red berries, orange peel, sour cherry, and hints of vanilla and spice. On the tongue, this is a tart, dusty, light middleweight. The fruit flavors try to hide behind the gravelly structure, as the finish evolves clove spice and tartness. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($13).

Silverwing Barossa Shiraz 2004

This ten buck Shiraz might be a focus group favorite. The Silverwing label "landed" in the USA in early 2005.  Imported by the Country Vintner, Silverwing is a private label created "specially for our demanding USA markets".

The dragonfly on the label pays homage to the beneficial insect, a predator to vineyard parasites. About all we know is the fruit for Silverwing Shiraz 2004 was sourced from Barossa, and aging was 18 months in used oak barrels. Tasting Notes. Color: Deep purple ruby, semi-opaque. Aromas: Blueberry, pomegranate, nutmeg, with hints of cola. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with peppery dry tannins. The dark fruit flavors are tart, chocolatey, with oak spice evolving in the finish. Closure: Screw cap. Very nice value ($10, Total Wine & More, Tampa).

This bottle of wine doesn't have a romantic story attached to it, but the quality is fine for the "house wine" price.