Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet France 2005

The Lovely Young Lady and I opened a bottle of the Detert Cab. Franc for no real reason other than to enjoy some wine while we relaxed last night. I'm still impressed with this wine from when I first tried it about half a year ago.

Inky purple color, and chocolate, cassis and olives on the nose. The palate had chalky, lip-smacking tannins and very strong fruit structure. Initially, there was some heat on the finish. Fortunately, a little aeration helped to smooth it out. A very delicious sipping wine -- about the only food that could stand up to it would be a juicy steak. Still needs a few years to mellow out. Three and a half stars out of five.

Wine Spectator's credibility called into doubt?

Check out this post from Vinography, and the links within the post, regarding Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards. If true, this is damning.

UPDATE: See the additional comments to the Vinography post. Also, see here for Wine Spectator's response.

Warre Otima 10 Year Tawny Port

I love the Lovely Young Lady. One of the vices she tolerates -- nay, encourages -- is a monthly cigar in the apartment. After a busy weekend (which basically went from us celebrating our anniversary to me working all day on Sunday) and a busy week, I was in need of my mid-month cigar. Stopping at the local grocery store for some victuals, I picked up a bottle of the Warre Otima 10 Year Tawny Port. I have not had a Tawny in a long time, and I was about due. [Oh, and by the way, I am still amazed, after growing up in Pennsylvania, that I can buy decent wine at a Safeway.]

Solid red color with amber hues, with caramel, plum and licorice nose. The palate is smooth, fruity, and sweet, but also powerful enough to remind me of Dr. Johnson's famous quote: "Claret for boys, port for men but brandy for heroes." Pleasantly little heat on the finish (unlike way too many rubies worth mentioning), the Port makes for a pleasant nightcap. And being a 10 Year Tawny, the open bottle will keep for the next few days, allowing me to polish it off. Three and a half stars out of five.

Napa: elegance vs. fruit bombs.

For an excellent discussion on the ability to make a great Napa wine that is not a fruit bomb, check out this article by Eric Asimov appearing in the August 20 New York Times.

For my own experience with a wine that was amazingly elegant, but also panned by a critic, check out my review of the 2004 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon.

Yes, Napa can do elegance, and I think Mr. Asimov is right that the market is due for a correction on this point -- after all, too many of the once heralded fruit bombs of the 1997 vintage are proving to be... well, flat.

Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Montesodi 2003

I opened this chianti with the Lovely Young Lady to drink with with my Italian-themed dinner on Friday night. Eh. Lush, dark fruit aromas on the nose with not-so-subtle touches of smokey oak. The palate was opulent and still tannic. Over all, not really what I expected from a Chianti -- it shows more power than grace or elegance. In fact, it seemed like a Cali Cab. YMMV. Two and a half stars out of five.

Alpha Omega "Era" 2006

Today was the first anniversary for the lovely young lady and I, and so we went to Napa to celebrate. Overall, it was a great day for the trip. We left behind a cold and foggy San Francisco for warm and sunny Napa. We finally got in a visit to Mustards Grill, and followed that up with tastings at two wineries. Because we enjoyed it so much when we went there to celebrate Valentine's Day, we had to go to Alpha Omega again. I am glad we did.

First, Alpha Omega is great for treating everyone there like family. The pourers are clearly excited to work there, eager to discuss almost anything having to do with the winery. While the winery is still under construction, an outdoor patio is complete along with a working fountain. Once all of the construction is done, I hope A/O will get all of the business it deserves.

But, even better, they eagerly offer barrel samples. Today, our pourer, Pauline, pointed us to a barrel sample of the soon to be released "Era" proprietary red from 2006. Wow, wow, wow. Already, this wine shows some excellent craftsmanship. The wine has a nice, balanced red color, and the nose contained almost every element of a Bordeaux-style blend that I love: cherries, raspberries and sweet tobacco were most pronounced. These sensations carried on into the flavors, which also hinted at a touch of mint. The tannins were sturdy but not overpowering -- this is a wine to age for a decade because it will develop, not to round out its edges. Even the lovely young lady said that this was my type of wine. This wine epitomizes class. Easily four and a half out of five stars -- and maybe it will reach five once it gets in the bottle.

So, okay, I bought a few futures -- and now I cannot wait for spring!

A to Z Pinot noir 2006

Cherries, Asian spices and toast dominated on the nose (the Lovely Young Lady also picked up on the toast). The palate was fruity and a little more tannic than acidic. Not a bad wine, and one the Lovely Young Lady and I may serve at the wedding. Three out of five stars.

Trefethen Estate Merlot 2004

For good or bad, this wine reflects the really big, powerful California style of wine making. Dark fruits of plum and blackberry combined with toast on the nose. The palate coats the mouth with rich, chewy and chalky tannins. Maybe a little too powerful for my taste -- it lacks a certain degree of elegance at the end of the day. Two and a half stars out of five.

Chateau Branaire-Ducru 2001

A lovely St. Julien wine that combined blackberry, leather and cedar on the nose. Tannins were not too pronounced on the palate, though it made an excellent pairing with lamb. Three and a half out of five stars.

Turly "Dusi Vineyard" Zinfandel 2006

A very powerful wine with strong, fruit forward aromas and deep purple color. At 16% alcohol, it was surprisingly even-keeled. Rich and plump. Three and a half out of five stars.

Chateau de la Maltroye, Chassagne-Montrachet 2005

Apple and butter notes, with a full body texture. Three out of five stars.

Castellroig, "Terroja," Penedes, Spain 2006

Reminded me of a Sauvignon blanc both in terms of color and aroma. Light citrus and steel on the nose, followed by excellent acidity. Two and a half out of five stars.

Chateau Pradeaux, Rose, Bandol, Provence 2007

This Rose was marked with strong hints of watermelon with undercurrents of strawberry. However, the wine became a bit flabby and could have used some acidity. Two and a half out of five stars.

Pierre Gimonnet, Blanc de Blancs, Cuis, 1er Cru, Champagne NV

Delicious aromas of apple and dough on the nose, and great, zesty acidity on the palate made this a fun and carefree wine. Easy three out of five stars.

Alpha Omega Proprietary Red 2004

Dark red to purple color. The fruit was initially very powerful but poorly defined -- additional decanting brought out cherry and jam, and revealed touches of cedar. The tannins were ripe and coated the mouth. Definitely wait a few years to drink. Three and a half stars out of five.