Wine Weekly

Wine Reviews Tasting Notes and Education for the Non-Snob

You are here: Home / Archives for Wine Reviews / Weekend Wines

Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir

by

Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir Carneros 2005

Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir Carneros wine labelMany people just getting into wine find their way to Robert Mondavi — particularly the under-$10 bottles tabbed “Private Selection” and the soda-pop formulas packaged under the Woodbridge label.

As such, I’ve avoided everything “Mondavi” on the priniciple that if its made by a mass production giant, it can’t be good.

But then, that would make ME a snob, wouldn’t it? And we can’t have that.

So herewith a review of Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir – Carneros, part of the entry level line of the “serious” Mondavi wines.

Open nose filled with forward, ripe raspberry fruit, touch of spice, and hint of earth. Smooth texture on the palate, with slightly green / unripe red berry fruit showing upfront. A good dose of spice and mild sweet earth arrives in the midpalate to even out the flavor, followed by mild tannins and decent acidity that carries the wine through the finish. The intent of this wine seems to be somewhere between Burgundian and New World in character, and if that’s the case then the wine is a success. It has just enough upfront fruit and spice to please a New World palate, yet also harks back to Old World Pinot Noir. It may benefit from a year in the cellar — but don’t hold it for more than that. Polished and clean, with a pleasant aftertaste, and enough structure to be compatible with lean dishes. Try it with mildly seasoned chicken and pork chops, fish (salmon, trout, snapper), turkey, and vegetarian dishes (lentils and other legumes). Aside from the low-production beauties from esoteric producers, it will be difficult to find a better Pinot Noir at this price point.

a-8 t-7 b-8 fc-7 v-7 ~ 87 Points

Winery website: Robert Mondavi

Find this wine at a local retailer through WineZap or Wine-Searcher

Vinum Cellars PETS Petite Sirah

by

Vinum Cellars Wilson Vineyards PETS Petite Sirah wine bottleWith the label featuring a black and white photo of a sweet Labrador Retriever, how could one possibly leave this bottle on the shelf?

I’m not clear on exactly who makes this wine — the label lists both Vinum Cellars and Wilson Vineyards, and states that the wine is from Clarksburg, California. I’m guessing that Vinum Cellars is the producer, and Wilson Vineyards is the winegrower?

Anyway, who or where it comes from matters not … it is a very enjoyable wine: polished, smooth, well-structured, and ready to drink.

The nose is fairly closed at first, but if you let the wine sit in the glass it will eventually offer inviting aromas of sweet black raspberry, blueberry, a touch of tar and hints of black cassis and prune. In the mouth the first thing you notice is a smooth-as-glass texture, which carries forward, ripe red and black fruits — plum, raspberry, some touches of herb, earth, and pepper, as well as a delicious spicy component that resembles cardamom, cocoa or vanilla. Acidity and tannins are at medium to medium-high levels, and in good proportion to the juicy, almost jammy flavors. Fairly enjoyable on its own, this wine really finds its potential next to a ribeye or skirt steak. Will also do well with other grilled meats, dry cheeses, and short ribs. Added bonus: a portion of the profits for this wine go to the winery’s local animal shelter. At somewhere between 10 and 13 dollars, this is a very good value.

a-8 t-9 b-9 fc-7 v-8 ~ 91 Points

Website: Vinum Cellars

Find this wine at a local retailer through WineZap or Wine-Searcher

Review: Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre

by

Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre Apalta VineyardRed Wine Review:
Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre
Apalta Vineyard

Dirty nose belies the rich ripe red and black berry fruits in the mouth. Don’t get me wrong, this wine is definitely earthy, but has equal amounts of sweet fruit to balance out. More complex than I expected, but then I didn’t look closely enough at the label. I have long been a big fan of Casa Lapostolle’s Merlot “Cuvee Alexandre” labeled as being simply from “Rapel Valley”, and never paid more than maybe twelve bucks for it. This bottle was right around that price but I’m sure it was mislabeled, as I’ve seen it elsewhere for twice as much. That’s fine … as a ten dollar wine, it is an outstanding value, and at around $22-25, it is appropriately priced for the quality inside the bottle.

The first day I opened this wine, the aroma was fairly closed, showing only a lot of earth – as in dirt. I drank about a glass and a half and re-corked it, leaving it at room temperature. The next evening, I poured it again and the aroma really opened up, showing deep, rich, ripe black fruits — cassis, black raspberry, black cherry — integrated with the bitter earthy notes, leather, black pepper, green bell pepper, dark chocolate, and a hint of tobacco. This wine is very complex both on the nose and the palate — the flavors are similar to the aromas: black fruits, earthy tones, hints of sweet tobacco, black licorice, vanilla spice. The tannins are rather aggressive, but not to the point of killing the fruit, and the acidity is also medium to medium-high. It is a fine wine for food matching, particularly for beefy, cheesy, and fatty dishes. On its own it is enjoyable but maybe a bit too aggressive; if you must drink it away from the dinner table I suggest you at least have a hunk of cheese to go with it. Complex, enjoyable, and worthy of cellaring for 2-4 years.

a-8 t-8 b-8 fc-8 v-7 ~ 89 points

Imported by Schieffelin-Somerset

Casa Lapostolle Winery – official website

Find this wine at a local wine shop through WineZap or Wine-Searcher

White Wine Review: Edna Valley Chardonnay 2005

by

White Wine Review: Edna Valley Chardonnay 2005

Edna Valley Chardonnay bottle imageEvery once in a while I do something crazy. Most of the time, the end result confirms I’m crazy. Once in a blue moon, however, I hit on a wonderful idea, or a match made in heaven.

I live in the Northeast United States, where right now it is cold. Not cold compared to Minnesota, but cold compared to most parts; it’s about 12 degrees right now, negative 15 with the wind chill. Appropriately, I’m warming up a bowl of homemade chili (turkey and bean). And I’ve decided to open up a bottle of … Edna Valley Chardonnay.

Huh? Who drinks white wine in the middle of winter? And who matches white wine with chili?

Well, I’ll try to explain …

First of all, I built up a sweat while moving wine bottles from one side of the condo to the other. Secondly, my chili is made from ground turkey — a white meat — plus beans and corn. There are of course tomatoes in the recipe, which would make it more conducive to a red wine, but the only other red thing in the pot are red kidney beans, which go well with either white or red. Finally, I’ve had this bottle of Chardonnay hanging around since my Thanksgiving tastings (never got to match it with turkey dinner), and it was sitting near the door so it was already cold. What the hey, I say …

While it wasn’t a match made in heaven, it certainly wasn’t bad. In fact, the Chardonnay worked very well thank you with my lean chili. The oaky sweetness of the Edna Valley played nicely against the moderate heat (not much, it came from adding a few pickled hot peppers). And since the wine is a bit on the fat side — not too much acidity — it is a better match for leaner dishes such as my chili. If I tried to put this wine up against a fish in a creamy or buttery (i.e., fatty) sauce, for example, it would fall flat on its face. Instead, it works fine against the lean turkey and high protein beans that dominate the dish. Also, understand that my chili has only moderate heat — I don’t make it so spicy that perspiration beads on my forehead. If I did, I might consider going with a low-alcohol, perceptively sweet German Riesling.

On its own, the Edna Valley Chardonnay is round and full with a creamy texture, forward fruit (pear, apple, banana), and a good dose of spicy vanilla oak. As mentioned, the acidity is on the low side, so don’t try it with fatty or acidic dishes; stick with leaner plates such as mildly prepared but gamey flavored fish (salmon) or better yet chicken, turkey, or lean pork. It’s more of a cocktail drinker — in other words, enjoyable by itself.

a-8 t-8 b-7 fc-7 v-7 ~ 87 Points

Red Wine Review: 2-Up Shiraz 2005

by

2-up Shiraz wine bottleaverage retail price: $14

The previously reviewed Mad Dogs & Englishmen really threw me for a loop … I thought for sure it was an Aussie Shiraz. So I figured that if importer Peter Click could find a top-rate Australian Shiraz in Spain, imagine what a legitimate bottle from “down under” might taste like? That led me to try this wine: 2-Up Shiraz, from vineyards in McLaren Vale and Southern Fleurieu, Australia. Get it? Two vineyards = Two Up.

By the way, this bottle has a twist cap, which I love, for so many reasons. First, they�re easy to open. Second, they�re easy to close for storing for the next evening. Third, they�re virtually guaranteed from suffering cork taint. But I digress …

This twist-off Australian Shiraz has many more positives in addition to its closure. Right off the bat, your nose is smacked with wide open aromas of grape jelly, jam, ripe mulberry, blueberry, and raspberry, with hints of black pepper and earth. On the palate it is equally fruit-forward and jammy, as you would expect an Aussie Shiraz to be. Robust flavors of ripe and overripe red raspberry, black raspberry, blueberry. Later on, hints of earth, spice, vanilla, and sweet licorice add to the complexity. This is a fairly big wine, with ample acidity and raw tannins, but does not finish hot with alcohol like many similarly wide-open fruit bombs. Instead, it finishes with good balance and proper length, and in a pleasing style. A yummy, delectable wine by itself, it has plenty of structure to match up against foods. It�s great with stews, burgers, steaks � all things beef � and equally enjoyable with fine cheeses. A kickass, mouthfilling fruit bomb for people who like this sort of wine.

a-8 t-9 b-8 fc-7 v-8 ~ 90 Points

Imported by the Click Wine Group

Buy 2-Up Shiraz from Wine.com