winewaves

Hendry Ranch Napa Pinot Gris 2005

This Napa Benchlands Pinot Gris is an individual; a bit more like an Oregon than Northern Italian version. You may feel compelled to have a glass in the rain - clothing optional.

Hendry Pinot Gris is a relatively new offering from the family vineyard and winery, produced from Blocks 1 and 2 vines which are nearing 10 years old. These blocks are located in a cool area between the winding main road and Redwood Creek, less than 3 acres altogether. Fermentation and aging were all stainless steel. Tasting Notes. Color: Very pale straw. Aromas: Lemon drop, nectarine, hints of green tea, sweet basil and cold blossoms. On the tongue, citrusy flavors are light. lively, tart and finish crisp and clean. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($17). Food pairing: Turkey Club Sandwich.

Koves-Newlan Napa Valley Pinot Noir 2002

This is the kind of bottle you're happy to open for yourself: warm, decadent, and discovered at a closeout price. 

In January, Wine Business Online announced that investor John Bourassa purchased the Hillview Vineyard from Koves-Newlan, paying $190,000 per acre, or $2.5 million.  The Koves-Newlan website is currently down.

Impressively, the source of the fruit for Pinot Noir 2002 was the 30-acre Koves-Newlan estate in the Oak Knoll District. Aging was in French oak. Tasting Notes. Color: Deep ruby red. Aromas: Strawberry jam, black cherry, chocolate, a bit of smoke and a caramel note. This is a middleweight with moderate polished tannins. Jammy fruit, cocoa, spice and oak evolve in the warm generous finish. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($15 - closeout, was $25-$30).  Food pairing: Steelhead trout.

Hendry Ranch Napa Valley Rosé 2005

What to do with an abundance of high quality - make that exceptional - fruit, when there are only so many barrels available for aging? In 2005, this be the case, why not make a remarkable rosé priced for everyday?

Hendry's 2005 Rosé is pretty big, at 13.9% alcohol. The blend is a saignée, or "bleeding", of Primitivo and kissing cousin Zinfandel. Fermentation was long, cool, in small bins, and the aging was 4 months in stainless. Mike Hendry's vineyard management and winemaking skills are really together with this vintage. Tasting Notes:  Color: Watermelon pink transparent. Aromas: Delicate mixed fruit; strawberry, watermelon, apricot, grapefruit, and cold blossoms. On the tongue, this zippy rose is light-bodied with lightly extracted structure. Grapefruity tart assorted fruits, especially sour cherry, grow on you and then make you take notice in the finish. Closure: Real cork.

Excellent value ($14). Food pairing: Steelhead trout almondine and dirty rice.

Borgo Maddalena Venezie Pinot Grigio 2005

The first 2005 Italian Pinot Grigio spotted in Nashville turns out to be a sipper that's fresh, modern and sophisticated. Yet, like all good Pinot Grigio, it makes you want to run around in the cool rain.

The source of the fruit for Borgo Maddalena 2005 Pinot Grigio was Colli Orientali del Friuli or the eastern hills of Friuli, in northeastern Italy. Winemaker Massimo Vidoni, who also works with the Fantinel family's more upscale La Roncaia cellars label, vinified the lots in stainless steel. Tasting Notes. Color: Pale straw. Aromas: Cool honeysuckle, mixed tree fruit and lemon. Dry and light-bodied on the tongue, the very tartly elegant tree fruit and mineral flavors finish crisp and clean. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($12).  Food pairing: By itself or with crostini or biscotti.

Imported by Domaine Select Wine Estates.

Marqués de Cáceres Rioja White 2004

With the changeover to screw cap closures in the 2004 vintage, there is no reason not to keep this fresh easy drinking white wine chilled and waiting.

The Forner family have fine winemaking in their blood, and have helped fuel the renaissance of Rioja*. Today, Henri and his daughter Christine Forner, with the consulting help of Michel Rolland, produce fine Riojas using Bordeaux methods.

Marqués de Cáceres Rioja White 2004 is 100% Viura, the most popular white wine grape in Rioja. The vinification was all stainless steel. Tasting Notes:  Color: Light lemon straw. Aromas: Pear, apple, cold blossoms and citrus fruit. The mouthfeel is light-bodied, juicy and round. Tart green apple and citrusy flavors plus traces of herbs, finish cleanly and crisply. Closure: Screw cap. Excellent value ($8). Drink up, this is a wine meant to be consumed young, and the 2005 is coming.

*Prior to founding Marqués de Cáceres, the Forners purchased and renovated two abandoned Bordeaux properties: Château Camensac and Château Larose-Trintaudon.

Imported by Vineyard Brands.

Rock Rabbit Central Coast Syrah 2003

Here's a reason to not automatically go to the Australian aisle for an under $10 Shiraz. Derek Benham, owner and one half of the founding brother team of Blackstone, and winemaker Alex Cose, make producing good Syrah look easy.

Rock Rabbit 2003 Syrah is 87% Syrah, 12% Cab, and 1% Petite Sirah purchased from Central Coast. The oak aging was a combination of French and American, 30% new barrels. 40,000 cases were produced. Tasting Notes. Color: Deep purple tinted ruby, translucent. Aromas: Cherry, blueberry, plum and hints of smoky bacon and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, very smooth and dry without being drying. Red fruit, cinammon spice and oak flavors roll on through the finish. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($10).

Pairs well with marinated grilled Skirt Steak, fajita-style.

Fairvalley South Africa Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Out of Africa comes this refreshing wild white with continental character, a fair price, and an uplifting story. Fairvalley is owned and operated by a group of black farmworkers from Fairview, on adjacent land donated by Fairview (Charles Back). The group received a government grant upon their founding in 1997.

With winery proceeds, workers' homes have already been built on the property, and there are plans for further development. Awie Adolf, Fairvalley's Winemaker, uses all stainless steel to vinify the Coastal Region fruit for Fairvalley Sauvignon Blanc 2005. Tasting Notes:  Color: Pale straw with a greenish tint. Aromas: Green apple, lime, melon and grass. The body is very light, and the citrusy green apple flavors finish quickly and cleanly. Closure: Screw cap. Excellent value ($8). Imported by Vinnovative.

Solaris Napa Zinfandel 2003

Forgive me, but this zin begs like a dog to accompany the mastication of anything. Maybe Diageo, the label owner, is teasing us with the first vintage, trying to get us hooked. Solaris Napa Zinfandel 2003 is 99% Zin, from vineyards located between St Helena and Calistoga.  Aging was 8 months.  Cases produced: 5500.  Winemaker: Bob Masyczek. Tasting Notes. Color: Deep candy apple red translucent. Aromas: Plums, dried cherries, blueberries, licorice, baking spice, pepper and earth. Firm peppery tannins frame this medium-bodied rustic zin. Extracted, tart fruit flavors and pepper complement the dusty firm finish. Closure: Real cork.

Outstanding value ($14).  Really good by itself or with spicy mini meat loafs.

Hogue Fume Blanc 2005

Here's a big-volume, big-Corporate-owned*, mass-produced success! While priced at the bottom of the everyday wine range, it delivers a high-quality broadly-appealing white wine experience at a leadership price. And it is easily available.

Hogue Fume Blanc 2005 is a blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon. The fruit was sourced from the Rattlesnake, Zephyr Ridge, Olsen, Foothill Farms and Andrews Vineyards.  Co Dinn & Jordan Ferrier are the winemakers. Tasting Notes:  Color: Pale straw. Aromas: Tropical fruit cocktail and whiffs of smoky vanilla, plus traces of flinty minerality. Here's a light bodied apperitif, with grapefruit and melon on the palate, cleansing with tartness and a dry finish. Closure: Screw cap. Outstanding value ($7). Food pairing: Chicken Salad.

*Vincor International has owned Hogue since 2001.

Domaine De Fontsainte Corbiéres Rosé 2004

Kermit Lynch is serious about French Rosé, and he imports several choices in the under $15 range.  Kermit has been credited with helping revive interest in quality rosés, by continuing to import them even when they were very much out of favor a number of years back.

Domaine De Fontsainte Gris de Gris Rosé  is from Corbiéres, in southern France, The blend is of 40% Grenache Gris, 30% Carignan and 30% Cinsault. Tasting Notes. Color: Salmon orange transparent. Aromas: Strawberry, citrusy orange, cold blossoms, melon and hints of herbs. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, very tart, dry and a bit tannic. The citrusy, cherry/berry and spiced tea flavors reverberate in the firm dry finish. Closure: Real cork. Very nice value ($13).   Drink up!  The 2005 is coming soon.  Great by itself or with chicken salad.