The Winehound's annual European import tasting

Who says Santa Barbara is always provincial about its wine? On July 20th, while The Chardonnay Symposium and Bacon & Barrels were in full swing to the north, the Winehound in Santa Barbara featured its annual import tasting. Held at the SoHo nightclub, it featured a vast selection of Spanish, French and Italian wines. There were some heavy hitters, but this was also highlighted by a nice selection of good value wines in the $15-30 range featuring regions throughout Spain, France and Italy. Featured importers included Martin Scott Wines, Eric Solomon Imports and Bedford International, among others.

I posted a full list of tasting notes on Cellartracker, but a few quick highlights included the 2010 Château de Puligny-Montrachet Puligny-Montrachet for its earthy bright citrus fruit and nice richness and structure; the 2012 AziendaAgricola Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore for its silky forward white floral fruit and massive structure; the 2010 Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape for its layers of complex floral, earthy mineral and cherry flavors; and the 2009 Hacienda Monasterio Ribera del Duero Crianza for its wonderful depth, structure, and notes of cherry, leather, tea and spice.

It was tough missing the events that day in Santa Barbara Wine Country, but I enjoyed catching up with some great wines from the old world!

Wine freezing fallout, rosé tasted blind, & a nifty Mersault pairing

It's been a busy week at the world headquarters of Wine I Like! I think I bummed some folks out on Linked In with my wine freezing... My three commenters there seemed genuinely offended, although I'm not sure they actually read the blog post or checked the links. It's funny what gets people riled up.

Elsewhere, I participated in the latest installment of the Central Coast Wine Press Tasting Panel. We enjoyed  a couple of rosé wines tasted blind and paired with cheeses, charcuterie and pulled pork. One was Central Coast and the other Provence. The group opinions were mixed, but I definitely leaned toward the 2012 Domaine de la Fourquette Cotes du Provence Cuvee Rosee d'Aurore over the 2011 Carhartt Grenache Rosé Santa Ynez Valley. It was a contrast in styles - crisp, dry and aromatic newly released Provence vs round, full and luscious Central Coast with a year of bottle age. At any rate it was great fun with good folks. Click here to read Laurie's full notes on the evening.

Finally, I decided it was time to "close the deal" on a purchase I made from Wines 'Till Sold Out two years ago. I wanted to open my second and final bottle of 2007 Louis Latour Mersault-Blagny 1er Cru Château de Blagny ($37 each with free shipping), so I decided to search on Google for good Chardonnay pairings. What I found was a simple recipe of chicken leg quarters roasted in white wine, marjoram, cream & butter that was recommended for "medium oak-influenced Chardonnay" - the rich dark meat of the chicken alights the fruit and richness of the wine. It was a solid pairing and the wine showed well otherwise- Austere and nutty upon opening, it really came alive after an hour or two. Light gold in color with aromas of toasted almond, river rock and lemon zest. Bright citrus and stone fruit flavors framed with dried herb, mineral and nutty notes. Richly layered and brightly polished, with a full 45 second finish of spice, herb and citrus. It continued to improve until the end of the bottle. Very nice. Drink/short term hold. It was so good I didn't even have to freeze it!

Wine of the mid-week- MontGras Reserva Cab Franc

A Monday jaunt into BevMo to pick up beer netted nice results.

MontGras is a reliably good Chilean producer - their wines are widely available, good quality, and generally well-priced. A great portion is estate-grown in Chile's Colchagua Valley, a grand valley nestled between the coastal ranges near the Pacific to the west and the Andes Mountains to the east. There the abundant valley warmth coupled with the coastal influence, along with the clay loamy soils, make for friendly ground for Bordeaux varietals.

The MontGras 2010 Reserva Cabernet Franc comes from the Colchagua Valley. Online it appears to be a BevMo exclusive - there's little info about the wine online other than references to BevMo. Typically the red wines of the MontGras Reserva line are hand-harvested with about half their blends aged for 8 months in French & American oak. This yields wines that show generous fruit along with nice varietal and regional character.

The Reserva Cab Franc is more than that. It's dark ruby color in the glass makes way for notes of rose petal, mossy earth, black tea, and generous black currant and cherry. On the palate it shows ample fruit and body with nicely integrated depth, and just a hint of the oak. Nice silken tannins and juicy acidity highlight the finish. The regular retail is $17.99, but this was on sale for an amazing $10.79. It's good either way, but crazy good at $10.79. Definitely a standout from this producer.

Tasting Sonoma County in a virtual tasting room

I looked forward to working on this post for two reasons. First, I've been interested from afar in the TastingRoom.com product and packaging. Additionally, I had a lineup of Russian River and Alexander Valley wines to taste through. Trione Vineyards & Winery put together a tasting kit of their current release wines through the TastingRoom.com packaging system (disclaimer- I received as a press sample).

I recently saw a Twitter post about TastingRoom.com, and have been curious about the concept. Basically they repackage wine into 50ml and 100ml bottles, to then market themed tasting kits (50ml), and by the glass bottles (100ml). The ultimate goal is to sell the featured wines at full retail, but to me the value of the program is in the tasting kits. Wines sold on the site cover a range of price points, and there are plenty of well-known and premium brands. Most of the wine is domestic, with some international available as well.

The Trione kit came in a black recyclable box. The 50ml bottles are glass with high-quality re-creations of the labels. The transfer of the wine happens in an anaerobic chamber, and the bottling date is listed on the label. Basically the wine is packaged well and the integrity of the wine is intact.

Yes, that's a Pac Man lunchbox in the background

Trione’s wines come from their estate vineyards in the Russian River and Alexander Valleys. Previously growers in Sonoma County dating back four decades, the family began producing wines beginning with the 2005 vintage. I tasted four Russian River wines, all from the clay loamy soils of their River Road Ranch vineyard located in the middle reach area of the valley – 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay, 2008 Pinot Noir and 2008 Syrah. The red Bordeaux varietals are grown in their vineyards in Alexander Valley. The 2007 Block 21 Cabernet Sauvignon features Cab grapes from a single block at Cloverdale Ranch, with small percentages of Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec coming from Geyserville Ranch. The 2007 Geyserville Ranch Red is a blend of Bordeaux grapes.

If there’s a thread that runs through these wines, it’s accessibility. The whites are nicely balanced with ample fruit, richness and acid, along with good Sonoma character - well priced too. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Geyserville Ranch Red are like big bear-hugs of wine - ripe and mellow dark fruits with roasted coffee, anise and cocoa notes across a stately warm & welcoming structure - totally Alexander Valley. The Russian River Syrah is a smooth drinker of ripe dark fruits along with nice-enough cool-climate savory notes. Click here for individual notes on all the wines.

However, the standout of the group is the Trione 2008 River Road Ranch Pinot Noir, Russian River. This is a blend of clones 115, 667 and 777. It’s made using traditional techniques such as open top fermentation with partial whole clusters and daily hand punch-downs. It’s pretty prototypical Russian River Pinot on the nose with fruitcake aromas of cherry, raspberry and plum. Things get interesting as this hits the palate with darker fruit, earthy forest and mushroom notes, and just hints of spice - all well balanced and nicely layered. It’s sharply textured with fine tannin and nice length on the finish. This is really enjoyable Russian River Pinot with good depth and interest priced below $30 – highly recommended!

Mmmmm Champagne!

It wasn’t a tough decision to make time after work on a Thursday to attend the 6^th Annual Holiday Champagne Tasting at Renegade Wines in Santa Barbara. This was a treasure trove of hors d'oeuvres and Champagne, including smaller production and grower-producer bottlings. The selection consisted of non-vintage cuvees, showcasing the house styles of the featured producers.

Between bites and with mostly one hand, I managed to scratchout a few notes while enjoying the wine. Overall it was a tight group from a quality standpoint; but with a nice range of styles. In the end I was able to pick out a few favorites.

The house of Alfred Gratien has been producing Champagne since 1864. They employ traditional production techniques in the primary fermentation such as fermenting in barrel, while inhibiting secondary malolactic fermentation. These methods build a base wine of great depth and character, while retaining focus and purity of fruit. All of the fruit comes from the Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims terroirs. Each of Alfred Gratien’s Champagnes is aged in bottle for at least three years. The Alfred Gratien NV Cuvée Classique Brut is a blend that features Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. It’s full of yeast and chalk on the bouquet, but the fruit beams through on the palate with much focused apple and lime. It’s bright with good depth and nice mouthwatering length on the finish. This is very enjoyable and highly recommended. $45-$50.

Champagne Le Mesnil is a coop-owned production coming from the chalk soils of grand-cru vineyards in the famous Le Mesnil-sur-Oger village in the Côte des Blancs. The Champagne Le Mesnil NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is fine in appearance and full of aromas of yeast & chalk and caramel-candied apple. It’s a big wine that is rich and sharp to the palate with bright fruit and mineral-driven spice. It’s got lots of body and structure throughout and has a solid finish. This is also very nice and highly recommended. $45-$50.

Lastly, a couple of rosés from two of Champagne’s oldest houses were great highlights of the tasting.

The house of Ruinart, established by the monk Dom Ruinart in 1729, was the first established Champagne house. Its wines showcase Chardonnay coming from Côtes des Blancs and Montagne de Reims. The non-vintage wines are aged up to three years in bottle. The Ruinart NV Brut Rosé is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, mostly classified Premier Cru, and is fermented in stainless steel before undergoing full malolactic fermentation. This rosé was clean and pure, with a floral nose and aromas of rose petal, strawberry and slate. It brought rocky notes to the palate, along with spice and strawberry. It’s rich and lush through the finish and focused throughout. Excellent overall. $60-$65.

Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne, established in 1584 in Aÿ. Its wines are made up almost entirely of grapes coming from Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards, and are known for their structure and longevity. They avoid malolactic fermentation in their winemaking, and age their wines in bottle between 3 and 5 years. The Gosset NV Grand Rosé Brut is made up of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, blending three vintages and including 10% reserve wines. It’s tightly wound with soft wheat aromas and big structure on the palate with flavors of wheat, red berry and spice. Richly polished in feel and with a full finish, this is beautifully complex, and good for cellaring. $70-$75. 

THE SEARCH IS OVER! (for your next "interesting white")

Renegade Wines is one of the more unique wine stores that I've been to. It’s like the underground speakeasy of wine shops – unassumingly located in a warehouse complex in Santa Barbara. They offer a smart selection specializing primarily in California and French wines – as well as little idiosyncrasies like maybe or maybe not being there when you drop by (they’re sometimes off making local deliveries). But when you can get in the door, you’re sure to have an interesting conversation about wine and be turned on to some cool stuff.

Last week was their monthly Friday tasting, which featured Spanish, French and Italian wines from an area wine distributor. While there was a nice assortment of quality wines at attractive price points throughout the selection, what really stood out to me was a vibrant white from the Apulia (the heel) region of Southern Italy. This Apulia white comes from the Verdeca grape, a varietal native to Southern Italy that shows vibrant mineral and acid alongside its fruit despite it thriving in the warmer climates of Southern Italy.

While Apulia may not have the same caché that Italy’s regions to the north and northwest have, it does produce more wine than any other region in Italy. It is known more for its reds than whites – namely the juicy reds made from Primitivo and the more structured reds made from Negro Amaro. And while whites take a back seat to reds in almost every region of Italy (with the exception of Pinot Grigios from Alto-Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia), I believe that Italy is a treasure trove for those wines you often see listed as “interesting whites” on wine lists and in wine shops.

Masseria Li Veli’s 2011 Askos, Valle d’Itria IGT comes from eastern oriented 1000+ feet elevations in the Salento region of Apulia, between the Ionic and Adriatic Seas. The maritime location allows for a cooling evening influence tempering the hot dry summers. It comes from 32 year old vineyards and calcareous & sedimentary soils. Fermentation is on the skins and takes place in cold temperature-controlled tanks with malolactic fermentation inhibited.

The profile is bright, full and lively – with floral, honeyed and tropical aromas. There are vibrant tropical and citrus flavors on the palate. It’s crisp with strong mineral notes, and fully textured with a juicy finish. It has the vibrancy for mussels, but the weight for heavier seafood pasta. It doesn’t need food though – it has plenty of pure bright tropical fruit to sit and enjoy. The retail is about $25, and it certainly hits the mark as a white bringing something special and different to the table.

If you can’t find the Masseria Li Veli Askos, do a little research on some other good options from the Verdeca grape in Apulia. It’s an obscure Italian white worth seeking out. 

Good stuff from the weekend

Friends were in town. Bottles were opened. Highlights below:

Morgan 2011 Pinot Gris R&D Franscioni Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands-

I picked this up as part of a wine club shipment from the Winehound in Santa Barbara. It comes from the R&D Franscioni Vineyard, a cool site across from Rosella's Vineyard. Grown in gravely and sandy loam soils, this is fermented in chilled tanks and aged for 3 months in neutral French oak. 

The wine showed expressive white floral, mineral and Juicy Fruit gum notes. Bright and opulent on the palate with hints of spice. Medium bodied with a full juicy finish. Very enjoyable. It's on the high-end at $18 for domestic Pinot Gris, but it's also nicely expressive and perfect as an aperitif or with sushi or grilled ahi.

Jordan 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

From the cellar. I enjoy Jordan's commitment to balance and elegance and have grown to appreciate the depth and nuance of these wines. The 2004 is 76% cab and 18% merlot with a dash of petit verdot and cab franc. It spent 12 months in French and American oak barrels and 4 months in American oak tanks. Retail is listed at $59 on Jordan's website.

I decanted for one hour. The wine showed dense clear ruby color. Initial aged notes on the bouquet develop into aromas of cherry and red currant with licorice, violet and hints of cedar & leather. Bright and open fruit on the palate- more red cherry and currant with rocky mineral, violet and also hints of leather, cedar and white pepper. Medium bodied with smooth fine tannins. Finished with juicy mouthwatering fruit and medium length. I don't think this is built to last quite as long as the 2002, but it's in a good place right now. Drink up. Very good. 

Wine club to the rescue.

Thanks to The Winehound in Santa Barbara for actually getting me out of Santa Barbara wine for a minute. As much as I love the SBC, it's nice to refresh the palate with a little bit of the outside world. I joined their "Premier Cru" wine club which each month nets me two hand-selected $20 bottles of wine from around the world. To me it sounds like a great solution to those wine ruts that we all fall victim to from time to time.

My first May wine was a 2010 Farnese Casale Vecchio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. This is a step up from Farnese's entry-level Montepulciano- from the Casale Vecchio terroir in the Chieti province in Abruzzo and aged in barrique for about 6 months. It is imported by Empson. It featured rich color with tons of blueberry & plum notes and hints of cracked pepper and mint. Forward bright fruit on the palate with plush tannin and a full juicy finish. Good value and perfect for what it is- a full juicy Italian red with forward fruit and just enough rusticity (Rating- I like!). A great pasta wine that can work with a heavier meat dish like a braised short rib.

The second May wine was a Napa white- 2010 Round Pond Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley. This comes from Round Pond's estate vineyards in Rutherford. There's no oak, malo or lees stirring on this wine. A very pale color with aromas of melon, grapefruit, wheat straw and river stone. Round on the palate with medium acid and a touch of leesy spice and a slight heat/astringency. The finish featured a lingering fruit tartness on the front palate. I liked this more as the days wore on- special kudos for it drinking so well on day 4 (rating- I like!). Better with seafood than spicy Asian fare.

Not a wine club wine, but a nice little 2005 Mosel Riesling I had laying around- the 2005 Bert Simon Serriger Herrenberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel Saar Ruwer. This comes from the monopole Serriger Herrenberg vineyard on severe slopes with red and blue slate soils. The importer is Rudi Wiest Selections. Bright and full gold in color, this has notes of nectarine, guava, orange and lime with subtle mineral and botanicals. Weighty on the palate with the sweet fruit coming across very bright and profound. A little short of perfect on acid, making the sweetness slightly aggressive, but one can really ponder on the profoundness of the fruit. Medium length finish (+/- $30) (rating- I like+!)

More good luck with Incredible Red

I've had good luck with Peachy Canyon's Incredible Red Zinfandel as a very solid everyday red wine showing great value. The wine is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah from Peachy Canyon's various estate vineyards in Paso Robles. The 2010 features a striking new red label that stood out from the Albertson's deli case. At $8.99 the deal was sealed.

Peachy Canyon 2010 Incredible Red Zinfandel, Paso Robles- Bouquet and palate of mulberry, blueberry, black pepper and mulled spice. The ripe fruit on the palate is pleasantly bright and not overly jammy. Medium bodied, clean tannins and a peppery finish. This is a pleasant and enjoyable quaffer- it offers hints of depth without belying its juicy simplicity. Solid value. (rating- I like!)

Guilt-free bubbles

my only complaint was that the bottle was not photogenic

I took a day-trip to Hollywood last weekend and by chance found myself perusing the floor at K&L Wine Merchants. It was mostly fantasizing about wines that I can't afford to buy right now... Literally in every direction! Luckily the solution for all of the fantasies was in a good selection of half bottles on the shelves in front of the check out lanes. On those shelves was a magical guilt-free half bottle of Fleury NV Champagne Carte Rouge Brut for $21.99.

Fleury is well known as a grower-producer from the department of Aube in the south of the Champagne region. Early practitioners of organic viticulture, the estate began a conversion to biodynamic farming in 1989. Fleury is planted to 90% Pinot Noir with the balance being Chardonnay. The vineyards are located on steep slopes with soils of mostly calcareous clay. The Carte Rouge is a non-vintage Blanc de Noirs Brut. 

Notes- The mousse is foamy with a consistent medium-sized bead. Full golden color. Slightly maderized notes of baked apple and honey; with stone fruit and winter wheat aromas. Ripe and opulent on the palate with a depth of flavors consistent with the bouquet. Adds a tinge of mineral on the mid palate and finish. Ends crisp, dry and full. Very nice. $40 (rating- I like+!) 

Eric Solomon Imports tasting in Santa Barbara, and an homage to Richard Jennings

Richard Jennings is the most prolific taster in the wine blogosphere. It's not even close. On Cellartracker he's posted over 27,000 tasting notes- his closest competition is just north of 11,000. His blog, RJonwine.com, covers wine tasting events and other wine information with comprehensive detail. His tasting notes are short and succinct, but presented in a manner that gets to the heart of the wine. They give you a good idea of what the wine's all about, whether or not your tastes align with Mr. Jennings. 

When he covers a wine tasting event on his blog, he'll post notes on every wine poured with photos from every table or producer. I've read these accounts in wonderment. It seems like a Herculean effort putting these reports out as he does.

I've started to think about RJonwine.com when I find myself at a wine tasting. As I think about how I might want to write about an event, the Jennings blogs become the impossible benchmark to attain. I don't have the time, resources, work ethic, attention to detail, or the will to cover an event in that manner- as much as I might like to. And it blows my mind to think about how many wines that Jennings tastes as an amateur blogger, 

I think the essence of blogging on any subject is being willing to be comfortable in your niche, realizing you're just one voice among many, and that the many may be well ahead of you. Maybe from that tiny place in crowd a gap can be filled with unique perspective, if not the highest expertise.

**********

Before I got sidetracked thinking about Richard Jennings' tasting acumen and in-depth coverage of wine tastings, I was thinking about how to put together this piece on a recent Eric Solomon Imports tasting that I attended in Santa Barbara. At this late stage I'll just give the basic info- it was presented by The Winehound retail store this past Saturday Feb 25. It was held at the Soho Restaurant and Music Club and featured a broad selection of wines from Eric Solomon's Spanish and French Portfolio. I tasted 31 wines over the course of 2 hours. Overall it was excellent quality and interesting wines, many if not most of which were organic or biodynamically farmed and handled mininally in the cellar. I've set aside some of the wines to highlight- great ones (epic), excellent wines/values (smart), and wines that disappointed (oh well). 

 EPIC-

Ossian Blanco 2009 Old Vine Verdejo, Rueda- Slate, earth, spice and stone fruit bouquet. Fine and silky with added tropical and citrus and hints of spice. Aromatic and profound with a full finish. (rating- I love!) $49.99

L'Esprit de la Fontaine 2006, Languedoc- 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Carignan. Wow- nose of meaty blueberry and white pepper along with perfumey cherry. Rich on the palate- notes of slate and blue fruit with peppery, meaty and savory depth. Brambly and wild feel yet fine and polished at the same time. Lengthy finish. (rating- I love!) $82.99

Aalto 2008 Ribera del Duero- Brooding bouquet with tobacco & leather, red & blue fruit, spice and earth. Full lush fruit on the palate with hints of sage and spice and cocoa. Super-polished with fine tannins and long savory and tea finishing notes. (rating- I love!) $59.99

Quinta Sardonia 2007 Sardon del Duero- Blend of Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Verdot, Cab Franc and Malbec. Meaty notes of the nose with cassis and bold dark fruit. More leathery meaty fruit on the palate with cracked pepper, sage and spice. Firm tannins and a full finish. (rating- I like+!) $67.99

Domaine de la Janasse 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes- Primarily Grenache and Mourvedré. Cracked pepper, candied red fruit and spice aromas. The fruit evens out on the palate still carrying spice. Impactful with a serious presence. Gamey feel with round tannins and full fruit on the finish. Looking for more flavor development. (rating- I like+!) $78.99

SMART-

Pazo de Senorans 2010 Albariño, Rias Baixas- Expansive aromas- everything from nectarine and guava, to mineral and floral, all the way to fine cheeses. Round feel with focused crisp highlights- opulently precise. Full finish. (rating- I like+!) $24.99

Roger Champault 2009 Sancerre Les Pierris- Rocky lime and lemon aromas; furthered with spice, floral, mineral, citrus and stone fruit flavors... a little bit of everything. Focused and lean but impactful. Full finish. (rating- I like+!) $18.99

Izadi 2006 Rioja Reserva- Earth, red cherry and spice; growing to cassis, leather, red berry and tea on the palate. Silky and polished spice on the finish. Good length. (rating- I like!) $20.99

Chateau Puech Haut 2010 Prestige Rouge, Languedoc- Grenache and Syrah. Licorice, mineral, red berry and pepper. Focused flavors on a mineral-driven palate. Firm tannins and medium finish. (rating- I like!) $21.99

Domaine La Garrigue 2009 Vacqueyras- Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault. Gamey and meaty red/blue fruit. Pure fruit on the palate with red berry and mineral flavors with dried herb depth. Firm tannins and full finish. (rating- I like+!) $22.99

OH WELL-

Mas Alta 2005 La Bassetta Priorat- Lots of candied, jammy red fruit and spice. Out of balance. Full finish. $42.99

Espelt 2009 Garnacha Old Vine, Emporda- Chocolate, espresso and licorice with jammy red fruit and pepper. Out of balance. Inexpensive, but similarly priced and more well rounded Monastrells were available in comparison. $11.99.

Gramona 2008 Cava Gran Cuvee- Nice aromas- butterscotch, brioche and stone fruit. Goes totally austere on the palate with tart fruit and minerality. Finishes clean. I wanted to love this, but it was too cold (figuratively) and angular. $20.99

Also of interest- Two dry sherries were poured from Equipos Navasos (NV La Bote De Fino, Jerez- $47.99; and NV La Bote De Manzanilla, Jerez- $67.99). I don't consider myself able to properly evaluate fine sherry, but I did note that the Fino was full of nutty-almond and briny notes with a rich silky texture. The Manzanilla was fuller and richer on the bouquet, with lightly candied and nutty hints of fruit. The palate showed dried fruit and almond with notes of brine, and was very polished in structure.

Overall the tasting was a great trip throughout Spain and the South of France. My favorite regions on this day were Rhône, Languedoc, Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Cheers!

A great deal on a great Cab with an already great price.

There's plenty to debate about Napa Cabernet Sauvignon pricing. It's a weird and ahistorical caste system held together by ratings, real-estate prices, production levels, mailing lists and the latest greatest high-priced winemakers.

Where Napa Valley wine really becomes cool is when you find the producers making great Napa Cabernet off of that grid. Here you can break off of the main drag and visit a Napa Valley winery while having a laid-back and down-to-earth experience. And after you're through you can pay 40 or 50 bucks for a bottle of Napa Cab that amazes you. One that you know is as good as wines priced much higher. And one that gives you the essence of the place you just visited.

A couple of names that fit the description for me are Smith-Madrone and White Rock Vineyards. What got me going on this was seeing White Rock's 2005 Laureate on Lot 18 yesterday. Lot 18 is offering 6 packs for 179.94 through mid-March. The winery's price is listed at $45, so in my book it's a steal. If you like classically-styled Napa Cab with hillside tannins, focused fruit and the ability to age- it's a great deal. And if you're planning a visit to Napa Valley, head down to Soda Canyon and check out the vineyards and underground winery.

White Rock Vineyards

Here's a note I wrote when I visited the winery last year-

Tasted at the winery. Vanilla, cedar, toffee, minerals, currant, and cassis are introduced on the bouquet. A beautiful satiny feel in the palate, with added notes of black tea, iron, red currant, and cherry. Nice weight throughout. Firm, gripping tannins. Big finish with spice and currant. Multi-layered, it's outstanding now and but will continue to benefit with time. (rating- I love!)

One to indulge on!

Corkd.com Tasting Notes at Retail

If you write wine reviews on corkd.com, you might start seeing your reviews on a wine display at a store near you. I'm working Augusta, GA this week, and saw accolades on wines for sale at the White Horse Beer & Ale store attributing ratings and tasting notes to corkd.com. Big Vine Napa Cabernet Sauvignon was allegedly rated a 94 on corkd (I couldn't find it on the site), and Red Hawk Winery Cabernet Sauvignon was rated a 92. The Red Hawk review and score came from the user "winewriter", the actual average score was 91. The wholesaler in GA for these wines is LaFayette Distributors. They obviously are scouring the web far and wide for ratings to help sell their wines....

I've read others in the blogosphere speculating as to how long it might be before we start to see wine accolades quoting blogs. This is an interesting development in that regard. As someone who blogs about wine on corkd.com and on this site, I'm not sure that my tasting notes would belong on a retail shelf when compared to a professional wine writer/taster, but it's an interesting development nonetheless.