Joseph Phelps Merlot 2001

Mmmm. Blackberry, cedar and tobacco on the nose, with a burst of spices of the palate. The aftertaste lingers, and this wine would make a great companion to a juicy steak. This is a tough call between being either a four or three and a half star wine... but I think I'm going to be generous and give it four stars out of five (as a note, the Joseph Phelps Merlot 2002 is an easy four star, maybe even earning four and a half stars).

Tria Fermentation School

Tonight, I attended my first "class" at the Tria Fermentation School. The theme was "Lafite-Rotchschild Around the World" -- essentially, the wines produce by Lafite-Rothschild outside of their first growth estate in Bordeaux. Seven wines were opened tonight, and it made for a great chance to try a lot of different wines. It was a great night, and I learned some new and interesting things. Plus, I couldn't help but smile at the instructor's frequent digs at California wine -- while I enjoy a good California Cabernet, those wines sometimes focus too much on power, and not enough on finesse.

Bordeaux Blanc "Reserve Speciale," Lafite-Rothschild 2005
A Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend, with an excellent aroma of lemon and tropical fruits on the nose. The palate was smooth with some crispness. Three and a half out of five stars, with an extra half star for value. The Reserve Speciale makes for a great party wine.

Moulin de Duhart 2002
Awful and vegetal, though it may have been a bad bottle given Wine Spectator's tasting notes. Nonetheless, I would have drunk it if I was in a pinch. As it was, I took a single sip and moved on. One and a half out of five stars.

Chateau d'Aussieres 2004
A delicious blend of Syrah and Grenache, with a nice touch of spice and smoke on the nose, followed by a well-rounded palate. The aftertaste lingered without losing flavor or quality. Four out of five stars. I will buy a bottle of this wine!

Quinta do Carmo Reserva 2003
A fresh do Carmo Reserva and, as expected, delightful. Blackberries and coffee on the nose, with a light palate (the instructor claimed that this was a big wine -- I would beg to differ). This Reserva would be great as a purchase to go with an evening dinner. But, like other do Carmo's I've tried, I would not store this wine out of hope that it would improve. Three out of five stars, loosing a half star for price and another half star for lack of aging potential.

Vina Los Vasco "Le Dix De Los Vascos" 2003
Black fruits, cherries and oak on the nose, and the palate showed strong, lasting tannins. Great now, but I have to wonder how delightful it will be in a year or two. . . . Four stars out of five. Another wine that I will buy if I find it!

Bodegas Caro 2003
A Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, it had a great touch of what I call the Malbec punch -- that element of spice (though not like a Rhone) that a nice Malbec has. The Cabernet helped add some dark fruit flavors. Three and a half out of five stars. Another wine I will buy if I find it....

Chateau de Cosse 1999
While no d'Yquem (but, that's never a fair comparison), this was still a delightful wine to finish the night with. Honey, apricot and pineapple on the nose, and a very smooth palate. Nonetheless, it seemed cloying. Three out of five stars.

Daniel Rion Bourgogne 2005

Lightly colored, with spice and cherry on the nose. Very smooth on the palate. Drinkable with dinner or on its own. Also, a great value if you can find it. Three and a half stars out of five.

Lesson learned....

Do not give bottles of wine as a Christmas present if the recipient's interest is mild or limited. The bottles will end up in interesting spots -- such as on a shelf, in direct sunlight and in the kitchen.

Groan....

Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Strong vanilla on the nose, with additional elements of herb on the palate. This wine was so heavily oaked that the fruit was drowned out by the strong vanilla flavors. The tannins were nicely balanced, and the wine was very enjoyable with a hearty dried angus New York strip steak. However, upon further thought, the quality of the wine did not justify the price -- causing me to discount what rating I would normally give this wine. Three and a half out of five stars.

The search for a special bottle of wine.

There is no doubt that I am a huge fan of Joseph Phelps Insignia wines. Until today, I owned a 1999, 2001 and 2003. I have tried all of them, and enjoyed each of them thoroughly. However, for the past year, I have been trying to track down a Joseph Phelps Insignia 2002. Every description of this wine has captivated me... this sounded like a wine that I had to try. When I have bought Insignias from other vintages at various stores, I would always ask if they had a 2002. The typical response was laughter. It seems that, when a certain magazine named the 2002 as wine of the year, the stock of 2002s on the market dried up.

Today, I found my 2002. I decided on a spur of the moment to go to a wine store that I frequent about once a month. I went into the back -- into the climate controlled environment -- and reviewed the racks. There, I saw the telltale signs of an Insignia bottle and almost overlooked it. Fortunately, I looked closer and saw that it was a 2002. Needless to say, I had to ignore my monthly wine budget and grab that bottle. I was so excited for the find that my heart was racing when I brought it down from the rack and carried it to the cash register!

Searching for that one, special bottle is one of the joys of being passionate about wine. It requires persistence -- sometimes bordering on obsession -- and yet the joy of finding that bottle you've been searching for and eventually opening it with a special someone, family or great friends makes that search worthwhile. I cannot wait to enjoy this wine under the right circumstances and with the right person.

Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2005

A lovely light straw color. The nose had mango or peachy notes, with a perfect touch of spice. The palate has a nice zing, picking up some herb. Three and a half out of five stars (extra half star for value).

Dr. Konstantin Frank Riesling Reserve 2005

Very pronounced mineral notes on the nose, with some apple underneath. On the palate, the mineral stood out though the fruit characteristics were hidden by the acidic nature of the wine. It was almost necessary to have this wine with a meal -- the acid was so strong, that I could not imagine having it alone. I also suspect that it would have been fantastic if I waited a few more years before opening. Three and a half out of five stars (and wishing that I had bought another bottle).

Does wine require an advanced degree?

I often hear other people say "I like wine, but all I know is what I like or don't like." This view reflects a fallacy, I think, that is sadly encouraged by many wine advocates and marketers. One easily knows of people who encourage such a view -- anyone who eagerly plays up their knowledge of a subject. Someone who likes to make others feel inferior by what they don't know. Such a person deters others from learning about a subject because of that person's desire to play up their knowledge or to say "no" too often without saying "yes." Such hubris has no place in life (whether it's wine or any other subject), and simply deters others from learning about all the wonderful things that wine has to offer.

All that one needs to know about wine is what one likes and does not like. First, it starts with the varietals one likes. From there, it turns into what characteristics of those varietals one likes. For example, I prefer older Cabernet to younger Cabernet. While fruit is important, I also want tobacco and other flavors. Fruit bombs, while tasty, are not preferred. All this knowledge comes from experience -- no classes, no professional training. Just simple experience.

So the lesson, if there is one, is to try what one can, and to avoid anyone who feels like he or she must make themselves important by making one feel insignificant.

Quinta do Carmo Alentejo 2001 and Faded Wine

I had a Quinta do Carmo Alentejo 2001 when it was first released. At the time, it seemed mature and balanced. The wine had a nice touch of dark fruits with minimum tannins, and went very well with a meal. In short, the wine was delightful.

I opened another bottle of this wine tonight, and something seemed off. While still present, the fruit was diminished. Whatever tannins had been present seemed inconsequential. While still recognizing the wine I loved, it wasn't how I remembered it. Like a former lover whom one sees after many years, the wine had lost the charm that once made it attractive.

Wine is a living, breathing thing. It rewards those who are passionate about what the world has to offer. Some wines, when treated lovingly, will grow and expand through out an entire life. Others are only short lived -- leaving their best behind in their youth. What's more, one can never really be sure how long a wine will last. So what is one to do? For me, I'll always hope -- and try to avoid regretting waiting too long.

Renwood Viognier 2005

Orange and honey on the nose, continuing through the palate. Little to no acidity, making the wine cloying. Drinkable, but not much else going for it. Two and a half stars out of five (with a half star bonus from the almost plonk-ish value of the wine).

Grgich Hills Napa Valley Chardonnay 2003

Nicely acidic and crisp, with strong citrus on the nose. Definite tree fruits on the palate bringing to mind a golden delicious apple, and nice spice on the finish adding a great punch. This Chardonnay was not made with malolactic fermentation, meaning that there was no buttery texture and that it would probably last for at least another year. Further, the acidity would help it accompany any meal, but it was so balanced that it could go down on its own. Three out of five stars -- which would have been higher if the bottle did not cost approximately $50.