Category Archives: Red Wines

Beaujolais Nouveau 2007 Notes

Following are the notes sent to me by Georges Duboeuf regarding the 2007 vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau. We’ll find out tomorrow if the tasting notes are true.

As other producers send me their notes, I’ll post them here.

Vintage Notes

2007 was a very atypical year. The quality came from a blistering month of April which accelerated the flowering of the vine. Then the weather during the summer months was quite erratic. On the other hand, the last days of August were very sunny and in the end, the North wind came in September, concentrating the juice in the berries and maintaining a healthy state.
The Beaujolais harvest was fortunate to take place under excellent weather conditions during the first three weeks of September, while most everywhere else in France the weather turned disagreeable towards the end of the month.

Tasting Notes

The colors of the 2007 Beaujolais Nouveau range from a crimson red to red tinged with violet purple. On the nose it is bright, fruity and lively, with red cherry, fresh raspberry and with crushed strawberries. “My initial impression on the palate is of fresh grapes with crisp and delicious flavors of red cherry, fresh plum and sweet pomegranate that mimic the light-hearted aromatics,” explained Duboeuf. “This is a Beaujolais Nouveau that shows the purity of the Gamay grape and the brilliance of a pleasant and delicious young wine.”

Red Wine Review: Renwood Zin

Renwood Zinfandel 2004 Sierra Foothills

Renwood Zinfandel wine labelIn reference to Zinfandel, when in doubt, find one from a winery beginning with the letter “R”. Renwood, Ravenswood, Ridge, Rosenblum, and Rabbit Ridge, for example, all offer fine examples of California Zinfandel, at various price points.

While perusing the local Total Wine & More — which is kind of like the Home Depot of wine shops — I came upon a shelf with a number of 2004 Zins at unusually lower-than-normal prices. Not crazy low, but a few dollars and enough to make me notice. This told me one of three things: 1. the retailer was running a special sale; 2. the distributor needed to clear out some old inventory; 3. 2004 was a poor vintage for California Zin; or 4. all of the above.

I figured, what the heck, and picked up this red-labeled bottle with the cute little bird.

What I found out later is that Robert Parker Jr. rated 2004 Zinfandel as merely an 82 in his venerable snob scribe The Wine Advocate (interestingly, the Wine Enthusiast lists ’04 Zin as between 87 and 90). According to Parker, “82” falls in the range of “above average to excellent”. Luckily for us bargain hunters, the nose-turned-upward crowd rarely pick up a wine that is scored less than 90, so these “above average” bottles can often be had at rock-bottom prices. Generally, this bottle can be found for somewhere between $10-12, but I found it for less than nine bucks.

Tasting Notes

Nose is fairly open, showing dirty earth, some black fruit, and a smoky element. Texture is very smooth, carrying black cassis fruit, significant earth, tar, and tobacco flavors. Acidity is mild, tannins are medium, alcohol is refreshingly low for a Zinfandel. Overall, this wine is OK on its own, a soft style of Zin without the over-the-top, jammy fruit you may find in other California Zinfandels. Enjoy it with food, particularly simple bistro fare such as chicken pot pie, mac and cheese, turkey burgers, shepherd’s pie, lean meat loaf. Reminds me of an easydrinking Cotes du Rhone.

a-7 t-7 b-7 fc-7 v-7 ~ 85 Points

Renwood website (WJ Deutsch)

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Merlot Review: Merryvale Reserve

Merryvale Reserve Merlot 2003 Napa Valley

Merryvale Merlot Reserve wine bottleDid you watch Sideways? And did you buy into the whole idea that Merlot is for “pedestrian” wine drinkers, and otherwise not worthy of your attention?

OK, then, move on … nothing to see here. (And more Merlot for me!)

For those who remain, following is my opinion of Merryvale Merlot Reserve 2003. Merryvale is a brand I’ve found to have a consistently strong price:value ratio — and once in a while deliver a knockout. This particular bottle is excellent, made from 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot grapes from four of Merryvale’s vineyards in Napa Valley.

Tasting Notes

Nose is fairly open, showing ripe, deep aromas of black berry fruit, sweet and bitter earth, mild hint of licorice. On the palate the texture is as smooth as glass, carrying ripe, luscious red and black raspberry, blueberry, a touch of mulberry, hint of vanilla, some sweet earth, black pepper, and the slightest bit of green bell pepper. In other words, very complex, and enjoyable. Both tannins and acidity are medium to medium high, and hold the fruit together well. Some alcohol is apparent on the finish, heating things up a bit, but not so much that it is overbearing. The finish is lengthy and enjoyable, with plenty of fruit giving way to ripe tannins after around a minute. Overall this is an excellent example of a ripe Napa Valley Merlot fruit, bordering on a jammy fruit bomb – but staying just below that to be a polished, well balanced wine for enjoyment on its own or with food. Best with steak, roasted or grilled game, and fine cheeses. A kick ass wine that is hitting on all cylinders right now. Note that this is not the “Starmont” line – which is also a good value – but rather a “Reserve”, which is $10-15 more and more difficult to find, but well worth the search. Even at $39 this is a good value, and a fantastic choice for steak.

a-8 t-9 b-10 fc-9 v-8 ~ 94 Points

Merryvale Vineyards Website

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Pinot Noir Review: Vicar’s Choice

Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Pinot Noir 2006

Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Pinot Noir wine bottleSince the Sideways-induced boom of Pinot Noir, a number of affordable bottlings have been emerging from down under — meaning New Zealand rather than Australia. And it makes sense, as the most prominent wine region in Kiwi land is Marlborough, which just so happens to have the ideal climate for growing Pinot Noir vines — dry, sunny, and cool.

Tasting Notes

From the Marlborough region of New Zealand comes this bottle, dubbed “Vicar’s Choice” by the producer Saint Clair. As you might expect, Saint Clair also makes a fine Sauvignon Blanc, which we may review at a later date. For now, let’s talk about the Pinot Noir.

The color is very light — it could be mistaken for a deep rose — but the paleness belies its bigness. Open nose of stemmy green fruit, ripe cherry and raspberry, some hints of earth. Flavors are similar — ripe cherry, raspberry, and cranberry, with touches of earth, mild tobacco, mineral, and a hint of green / unripe fruit. Acidity is surprisingly medium-high, and appropriate for the fruit concentration. Tannins are medium, and also in good balance. The wine finishes with sour cranberry and cherry flavors, ripe tannins, and mouthwatering acidity.

Overall this is an excellent under-$20 Pinot Noir, showing good complexity and polish. Its subtle greenness and minerality reminds one more of an Alsace Pinot Noir than a jammy example from the New World — which is a good thing. It is enjoyable on its own but really finds its potential on the table. Match it with simply prepared chicken, complex fish, turkey, vegetarian dishes, roast pork (pork loin), mild cheeses.

I’ve seen this at various price points between $12 and $18; even at the higher end, it’s a fair value (and a great one at the lower point). Whatever the cost, it’s a good choice as a “weekend wine”.

a-8 t-8 b-8 fc-9 v-9 ~ 92 Points

Importer: Winesellers Ltd.

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Red Wine Review: Andezon CDR

Domaine d’ Andezon Cotes du Rhone 2004

Domaine Andezon Cotes du Rhone wine bottleIt’s autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and that means it’s time to start transitioning from the heat of summer to the cold of winter. Oh, and from the light, crisp, cold white wines to the heavier bodied, warm red wines — to match the richer, warmer dishes and “comfort foods” people tend to enjoy more as the weather gets chilly. One wine that seems to go hand in hand with the fall season is Cotes du Rhone, a hearty red wine from the southern Rhone region of France.

Cotes-du-Rhone (COAT- duh – RONE) — or “CDR” for short — is found under many brand names, and usually a blend dominated by the grapes Syrah and Grenache (although several other grapes can be contained, including but not limited to Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Carignane). The grapes can be harvested from all over the Rhone region, though most come from the southern part of the region. Many wineries make both a red version and a white version (the white usually includes Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, and/or Grenache Blanc), but the reds are much more popular in the States.

It used to be that CDRs were heavy, fairly tannic wines that would match well only with high-protein foods. However, the Cotes-du-Rhones on the shelf today are for the most part more lively, fruity, and fun compared to their ancestors. You may hear some Frenchmen refer to CDR as a “bistro wine”, because it will go with a number of simple dishes you might find on the menu of a French bistro — such as hamburger, mac and cheese, meat pies, stews, braises, roast chicken, etc.

Tasting Notes

This particular bottle is from Domaine d’Andezon, which is a 25-acre estate in the village of Estezargues, situated on the southwestern edge of the Rhone Valley delta. Included in the vineyards are low-yielding Syrah vines that are up to 100 years old (that’s a big deal; old vines mean longer roots, which many people think deliver more complexity to the fruit).

Fresh, bright, ripe red berry flavors dominate the nose and palate, along with some black berry, earth, and pepper. Red raspberry, black raspberry, black cherry, a touch of red licorice are some of the flavors I get. Very clean, with a smooth texture. Acidity and tannins are equal, and somewhere between mild and medium intensity. This wine is rich and mouthfilling enough to be very appealing on its own, and is even better with food.

Drink this with burgers, stews, shepherd’s pie, pot roast, and similar “bistro” dishes.

A solid wine, a good choice as an everyday red for the dinner table. At less than ten bucks, a good value.

a-7 t-7 b-8 fc-8 v-8 ~ 88 Points

Importer: Eric Solomon Selections / European Wine Cellars

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