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Domaine Meyer-Fonne Gentil D'Alsace 2005

Near the border of France and Germany (near Switzerland), Alsace is the origin of the most exotic white wine variety in the world, Gewürztraminer. Spicy pungent and dry, it is not to be confused with American Gewürztraminer which is often sweet and rarely as perfumed. A fine Alsatian Gewürztraminer can be pricey and overpowering for an everyday appetizer, but you can get a sense of the region with a well made blend from the area like this one.

François & Félix Meyer farm and make a full line of boutique wines from their estate of less than 30 acres near Katzenthal. Gentil D'Alsace is their entry level cuveé but the quality is excellent and the wine charismatic. The blend is centered on Muscat and Pinot Blanc with Riesling and Gewürztraminer providing its signature.

Excellent value ($14). Closure: real cork. Alcohol content: 12%.

Style: Light, fruity, some spice, somewhat exotic, crisp.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Light golden straw. Aromas: Apple, apricot, ginger and clove. Light to medium bodied for a white wine, and showing just a slight ray of honeyed sweetness, the slightly spicy fruit tart flavors lean exotic and finish with a nice question mark which asks: what is this?

Comment: It's like getting bumped up to first class. Enjoy it with a good view and give a nice hand to the Meyers and importer Kermit Lynch.

Hahn Central Coast Meritage 2005

The 2005 harvest was late and great all up and down the California winegrowing coast. Almost everywhere it looked like vineyards on Viagra, with abundant fruit lasting with incredible hang time and producing lots of sweet juice. In capable hands those grapes produced equally arousing wines capable of bringing a smile to any wino with a heartbeat.

Adam LaZarre reports Hahn Central Coast Merlot Meritage is a blend centered on Merlot but encompassing significant minor portions of Malbec (15%), Petit Verdot (13%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The lots were aged an average of 11 months employing a complex algorithm of new, 1-year-old and neutral French oak barrels.

Outstanding value ($14, sale price). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 13.5%.

Style: Fruit forward, lush, with some oak spice.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep dark purple ruby, translucent. Aromas: A full spectrum of red to black fruit framed by background notes of cassia spice and cedary oak. The mouth feel is medium bodied, softly tannic and lightly tart. Loads of voluptuous plummy black cherry, loganberry, blueberry, cassis and cola flavors are accompanied by a brush of caramelized oak in the warm dry finish.

Comment: This new world Bordeaux blend is "hot to go right now"; there's no need to wait on it. If you find it under $20 like I did, don't hesitate.

Winewaves recently reviewed Hahn's new brand, Cycles Gladiator (Syrah 2005). Hahn, with the trio of Nicholas Hahn, Bell Leigon and Adam LaZarre, is a modern wine "tour de force".

Armand Roux Verdillac Sauvignon Blanc 2005

This simply elegant and really affordable Bordeaux Blanc sports a change to its label with the 2005 vintage, namely the addition of the words "Sauvignon Blanc". All White Bordeaux is composed of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon so this addition just clarifies the matter. Verdillac is typically 70+% Sauvignon Blanc.

Excellent value ($10). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 11.5%.

Style: Light, elegant, minerally, crisp.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Pale golden straw. Aromas: Elegant melon, lemon and wafts of cold blossoms and green herbs. Light-bodied and softly textured, showing just a slight touch of sweetness on the palate, the lemon-lime, green apple and mineral flavors finish crisp, tart and refreshing.

Comment: Pair it with salade de poulet (chicken salad).

Zaca Mesa Santa Ynez Valley Viognier 2005

Zaca Mesa is thirty-something now and has developed into a very well managed and focused wine estate that practices "sustainable winegrowing". Through a winnowing process they found Rhône varietals (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, and Roussanne) grow best on their sprawling property north of Solvang. Although they also produce Chardonnay from vines planted in the 1970's.

Clay Brock follows a string of highly successful Winemakers. He reports Viognier 2005 was fermented in stainless steel and neutral oak barrels, aged 3 months on the lees but not allowed to go through malolactic fermentation. Filtering was "gentle".

Excellent value ($15). Closure: Neocork. Alcohol content: 14.5%.

Style: Aromatic fruit, lightly floral, round body, crisp finish.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Light golden straw. Aromas: Peach, mandarin orange and cold blossoms. The mouthfeel is nicely round and juicy tart. Layers of citrus fruit, peaches and cream reverberate in the crisp dry finish.

Comment: Chill gently; this natural beauty will easily form "wine diamonds", or tartaric acid crystals. This is considered by many a good sign for a white wine. If you're bothered by them, you can filter them out.

Red Diamond Washington Merlot 2003

Put out by Stimson Lane,  the parent company of Chateau Ste. Michelle and Erath, Red Diamond's current release is a bountiful and well-crafted Merlot that is hard to touch for the price.

Winemaker Juan Muñoz Oca reports the composition of Red Diamond Merlot 2003 is 94% Merlot and 6% Cab Franc, aged in French and American oak barrels. Oca is from Mendoza and is best known for his generous Columbia Crest reds.

Excellent value ($9). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 13.5%.

Style: Fruit forward, lush, with some oak spice.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep cranberry ruby with a slight haze, semi-opaque. Aromas: Cherry, black cherry, plum, redcurrant, and sweet pie spice. Medium bodied, lightly tart with soft tannins, plenty of jammy red fruit is layered over oak spice that evolves in the polished dry finish.

Comment: Keep it a secret. No, on second thought let your friends in on it.

Goats Do Roam Red 2005

Goats Do Roam Red was the first of this namesake casual wine company's offerings created by Charles Back in 1999. The venerable owner/vintner of Fairview has built his Goat symbol into the single best-selling South African wine label in the U.S.

Here is a great example of using a "critter" to weave together a wine, winery and wine region's story in a way that resonates with consumers. Long story short, the goats that live in the tower are let out into the vineyards and find the sweetest grapes. The humble goat, likeable to all and a worldly beast, is believable. And the name is among the cleverest in the field, Back's play on Côte du Rhône.

"The grapes are vinified in Fairview’s cellar in Paarl by Charles Back and resident winemaker Anthony de Jager, also responsible for the Fairview range." The blend is heavy on the Shiraz and Pinotage, with Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Merlot, Carignan, Gamay and Cabernet added to give it a unique "Western Cape field blend" style; a lovely patchwork quilt of grapes.

Most of the fruit comes from dry farmed old bush vines in and around Paarl and Malmesbury. A smidgen of oak seasoning is provided prior to blending the individual lots.

Excellent value ($10). Closure: Screw cap. Alcohol content: 14%.

Style: Fruit forward, low tannins, with easy spice.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep ruby translucent. Aromas: Plum, pomegranate, cinnamon and bacon. Light to medium bodied and tangy sweet and sour on the palate, the red purple fruit and barbecue-esque flavors are warming in the easy dry finish.

Comment: You could say it has a Pinot Noir body and a Syrah personality. Try it with Chicken Cordon Bleu.

Peirano Estate Lodi The "Other Other" 2005

After I reviewed Peirano The Other (Syrah blend) 2005 in February on Winewaves, "Grace" received a bottle from Wine Library and noted hers is a different blend - very different. The previously reviewed Other is labeled 70% Syrah, and Grace received one labeled 60% Cabernet. The Cab-heavy bottle arrived in Nashville and my tasting notes on it are different.

Both versions are fine wines for the price, so don't hesitate to pick up whichever is in your local store. Interestingly, both bottles claim to be the same 13.8% alcohol level and carry the same UPC.

Peirano Estate The "Other Other" 2005 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Syrah.

Excellent value ($11). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 13.8%.

Style: Balanced, food-friendly, fruit-forward, some oak.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep ruby, translucent. Aromas: Cherry, cassis, chocolate and hints of cedar and earth. A medium body and nice dusty dry tannins frame the fruit, providing good balance, and the finish leans more towards restrained than over the top.

Comment: Contemplate the mystery of this "Other" and that "Other" while devouring a big juicy cheeseburger dragged through the garden.

Michael-David Incognito Lodi Viognier 2005

A tip off from a friend is a great way to discover a new wine. Already familiar with the big earth shattering reds from Michael-David Vineyards, I had not yet picked up a bottle of Incognito Viognier until musician Tony Vincent tipped me off. "Quite a lovely Viognier" he said and I must agree.

Incognito Viognier was once believed to be Roussanne, until DNA testing proved it is Viognier. Never mind that, it is a big robust white wine made from a "fat" and happy grape, and the result is a blockbuster.

Excellent value ($15). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 15%.

Style: Fruit forward, round, weighty, juicy, potent, dry.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Light straw, with a greenish tint. Aromas: Peach, cold blossoms, and noble apricot. The mouth feel is creamy, smooth, weighty, medium-bodied and tart, and the mouth filling peaches and cream flavors are joined by a big warm kick in the glass.

Comment: Drink it like a martini, shaken not stirred. Thanks for the tip, Tony!

Slideshow | Napa Valley Petite Sirah Harvest

Harvest came late and abundant in 2005. On October 13th, I went driving up Silverado Trail looking for a harvest crew to photograph and found one at this vineyard across from Picket Road. It turns out this is an old Petite Sirah vineyard under contract to Stags' Leap Winery. It took only a few minutes for the crew to hand pick a load of grapes. The whole thing was like a dance in the afternoon sun.

The slideshow format is a new feature here at Winewaves. You may click here or any picture above to be transported to a slightly larger version of the same slide show.

Château Campuget Nîmes Tradition Blanc 2005

If you haven't tasted Roussanne, here is an affordable and beautiful introduction made by a house which is considered a specialist in hearty reds. The French tradition is well captured in this everyday cuvée.

At the point where the Languedoc meets the Rhone, Costières de Nîmes is a wine growing area known for its "gress" soil which is composed of round pebbles deposited by the Rhône River. There is ample sun and little rain in this southernmost Rhône outpost 10 miles south of Nimes, just north and west of Arles.

Château de Campuget Winemaker Delphine Crouzet reports Tradition Blanc is a blend of 60% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc and 10% Marsanne. Vinification is all stainless steel.

Excellent value ($14). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 13%.

Style: Elegant, complex, flowery, round, citrusy, vibrant, clean.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Light golden straw. Aromas: Cold blossoms, green apple, white peach and hints of oregano. Medium bodied, tangy and nicely rounded off, the mandarin orage, grapefruit and lime flavors are persistent in the clean finish.

Comment: Here's one of the great white wine values from France that offers volumes of expression and complexity for the price. A find!

Imported by Dreyfus, Ashby and Company.