Pelz On Wine

2007 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove (Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri)

2012-01-26T05:46:00.000-06:00

I really enjoyed this wine. Opened and poured it and it was immediately a pleasure to drink. That said, aeration over the following two night filled out this wine substantially. There's tons of cherry and dark berry fruit with chocolate, spice, earth, and a touch of cigar box. Good structure and acidity, solid finish, pleasing mid-palate. Really the perfect wine to pair with a steak. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is reminiscent of very good Napa blends in my opinion, except for much less expensive. Love this wine.

2009 Tenuta San Guido Le Difese Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

I continue to be amazed by this wine. It delivers an incredible amount of flavor and complexity, especially considering the price. Dark cherry and chocolate with some dried herbs, earth, and that tell-tale Italian funk (in a good way). It's juicy and plump right out of the bottle (no decanting needed although air helps a little over time), but it's far from flabby. Lots of freshness and even structure in this bottling. One ofmy favorite wines to open on a weeknight right now.

2000 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

I was in the mood for something good. Very good. And this didn't disappoint. I don't know how Henri Bonneau does it, but I always marvel at the intensity he achieves in his wines while simultaneously wrapping them in a sheath of elegance and finesse. It manages to be deep and complex while staying lithe. This is textbook Grenache in that it shows kirsch, earth, and spice, and very fine and ripe tannins. Finish won't quit, the mid-palate is explosive, and the depth and complexity is captivating. The 2001 version of this wine (when one has a good bottle) is slightly better, but anyone who's never had CdP that's blown them away should try this. One of the very few expensive CdPs that is unequivocally worth every penny. Went well with food, but this is so good that I think it's best consumed while being contemplated over in perfect solitude.

2006 Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino (Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino)

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Pretty disappointing wine. Popped an poured initially and the wine was thin, rough, overoaked and nothing like Brunello. Felt very modern in a bad way. I followed it over the course of two nights and although the wine filled out slightly and began to show some more charm, the rough tannins and oak remained prominent. There are some herb and anise flavors in this wine with a little bitter chocolate, but the fruit is just disappointing. How this wine's fruit turned out so hollow given the amazing vintage conditions is beyond me. It's an OK drinker of a wine, but nothing special.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

I wish all of you very happy and peaceful Holidays, and a fulfilling and successful 2012. Thanks for following my blog. I truly appreciate your interest in my writing and wine adventures.

As always, "A Sante".

Steffen Pelz

P.S. If you don't do so already, feel free to follow me on twitter and/or facebook if it is convenient for you.

2006 Franck Bonville Champagne Brut Millésimé Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru (France, Champagne, Avize, Champagne)

2011-12-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

A very tasty Blanc de Blancs. 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay from the village of Avize, this is sternly structured, and shows the somewhat typical citrus, apple peel and baked bread characteristics that I love about BdBs. Fine mousse, solid finish, and lovely acidity. It held up well against many more famous BdBs. One to buy a bunch of at the very modest $40 price tag.

2005 Fattoria Galardi Terra di Lavoro Roccamonfina IGT (Italy, Campania, Roccamonfina IGT)

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

This might be my "island wine". A profound effort, it comes out of the bottle pitch black. 80% Aglianico, 20% Piedirosso, this is one imposingly structured red that is perfectly balanced by lip smacking acidity and supple, fruit. All blackberry, dark chocolate, tobacco, leather and earth on the palate with a hint of aromatic coffee grinds. This wine's finish won't quit and it lingers with truffle flavors on the back of the finish. This is as good as it gets for me and the wine obviously "speaks to me". Run, don't walk to the next store that sells this for a reasonable price.

2007 Domaine Monpertuis (Paul Jeune) Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-12-21T04:52:00.000-06:00

This is really good. When I first poured this, the wine was completely shut down. It took a day in the cellar with gentle aeration before the wine started unfurling. It's a pretty traditionally made CdP that shows off kirsch, earth, undergrowth, and licorice. Zero brett. Imposing structure and strong finish. This one will be in its prime in 10 to 15 years. Before then, I recommend generous decanting.

2008 Château Latour à Pomerol (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol)

2011-12-16T09:13:00.000-06:00

Excellent bottle of wine. Surprisingly approachable right out of the bottle. Wonderfully soft cherry and black currant fruit with a touch of plum. Earthy sandalwood in the background and some dark chocolate. Despite being soft, there's a subtle yet forceful structure behind the generous fruit that should ensure this having 15-20+ years ageing potential. A classic Moueix wine. Elegance and finesse. Finishes well, drinks fantastically with food (especially a nice steak, duck, goose, or lamb). Highly recommended.

2006 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rùfina Riserva Bucerchiale (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rùfina)

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

Sensational wine. Served this with assorted cheeses, prosciuttos, and appetizers. Beautiful, velvety texture, fantastic earthiness, outstanding character. Ripe black and red cherry flavors all the way laced with dark chocolate and juicy acidity. Drinks well with some air right now, but has the structure to age for quite a number of years. At the lower end of its price range, this wine is a world-beater QPR. Highly recommended.

2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

Oh boy...not sure what to think about this one. There's tremendous potential here. Dense, laser focused red and black fruit, leather, earth, and an imposing structure and magnificent finish. The fruit is in the black currant spectrum and mildly conjures up thoughts of Cabernet Sauvignon with respect to its taste, while the texture is textbook Tempranillo from Rioja. The marring issue with this wine is its intense flavor of dill pickle, which I assume is a direct byproduct of its American Oak treatment. Matter of fact, this wine reminds me a lot of 80s era Silver Oak Napa Valley bottlings. I didn't really enjoy drinking this wine (save for its educational value), so given that I have quite a few more, I pray that the oak will resolve over the next 10 or so years. If it won't, this might turn out one of the most tragic wastes of world-class grapes ever.

N.V. Ariston Aspasie Champagne Blanc de Blancs (France, Champagne)

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Another day, another Champagne. Tasted this on two separate occasions. Once as an aperitif and with appetizers, and once (a separate bottle a few days later) with a main course of grilled Mahi Mahi. Outstanding Champagne. 100% Chardonnay. Right after being poured, the mousse is somewhat coarse, but this settles nicely with even just a minute or two of air time. The wine shows fresh, with citrus, apple peel and doughy notes. Finish is solid, and the Champagne performed nearly identical on day two after having been corked and put back into the fridge. My only complaint is that it lacks a little in the complexity department. More of a straight-laced, open knit Champagne, but it plays to its strengths.

N.V. Michel Arnould & Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé (France, Champagne, Verzenay, Champagne)

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

Wonderful Champagne. 100% Grand Cru Pinot Noir. Strawberries, rose water and marzipane all the way. Lovely fine bead/mousse, admirable structure, lip-smacking acidity and terrific finish. Could be enjoyed with appetizers, main courses, or as an aperitif. Absolutely love this.

2007 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

This one is interesting. 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre and Cinsault. A huge, dark, brawny wine that has a very interesting and intriguing nose. Black fruit, iodine notes, leather, earth. Massive on the palate and very plush in its style. Despite the massive fruit, there is zero heat in the wine, and it's drinking well, although it clearly needs either a lot of air or a few years in bottle. Finish is just a touch clipped for my taste. All in all, a good value it it can be found for less than $25.

2001 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja)

2011-12-07T05:32:00.000-06:00

As pleased as I was about the 2001 Lopez Heredia Bosconia Reserva yesterday, this wine is at a whole different level. It's large, it's dark, it's deep, it's layered, and it has nuance...tons of it. It is both full of pleasure yet amazingly restrained. It is deeply fruited, yet light on its feet. It has bracing acidity, and a nearly monolithic structure. One thing is for sure...this wine will live for a very, very long time. Did I mention it goes phenomenally with food? And last but not least, this is a truly intellectual wine. You can sip it on its own in front of a fireplace, drink it alongside grilled lamb chops, or share it over appetizers. I don't care what the occasion is, this wine will always keep me spellbound. When I drank it I found myself meditating over it...it's that good. It can also give top-notch Bordeaux a run for its money, in my humble opinion. If I see it again offered at one of my preferred merchants, I will buy as much as I can.

2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

After my last bottle was corked, this one fortunately showed well. 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, and the rest Mazuelo and Graciano. Lovely wine that I opened to go with a dinner of Spanish Cheeses, Serrano Ham, and broiled Shrimp. What makes this wine so good with cheese and Serrano ham is its amazing acidity. Dark plum and red berry fruit with tons of earth, crushed rock, and tree bark on the palate. Silky texture and long finish. Textbook Lopez de Heredia style that emphasizes finesse and elegance, but (at least in this case) does not neglect power, concentration, and laser focus of fruit. A bottle of Rioja that I could never quite own enough of. Although I don't think this is a truly intellectual wine (to drink by itself and be in awe of), I do think this wine begs to be served with food and shows its best in exactly that way.

2007 Rhys Pinot Noir Home Vineyard (USA, California, San Francisco Bay)

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

Had this on Thanksgiving Day alongside the St. Innocent Shea, and this simply eviscerated the Shea...wiped the floor with it. Although this also shows very dark fruit, there is more focus, cut, sappiness, and plain goodness than in the Shea. It's a big Pinot, but it has character. Dark cherry and blackberry fruit, earth, pine resin and a touch of spice. Great texture and finish. I have recently seen folks compare Rhys to DRC and other standard bearers of Burgundy, but I personally think that's a bit of a reach. The wine is fantastic California Pinot though, and the best California has to offer these days in my opinion.

2003 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley)

2011-12-02T07:00:00.001-06:00

Had this the day after Thanksgiving. Just as with the Shea, the 2003 Freedom Hill is not my favorite vintage, although Freedom Hill is a vineyard that I have traditionally liked (although not a much as the Seven Springs). Fortunately, the Freedom Hill showed more elegance than the Shea the day before, and the fruit was not nearly as unctuous, yet the vintage character seems to be that of very dark plum and berry fruit. The secondary and tertiary characteristics are still amiss in this wine though, so for now, it seems tightly knit and somewhat simple.

2003 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton)

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

Probably my least favorite wine among the St. Innocent Single Vineyard Pinots, and probably my least favorite vintage in the 2000s from St. I....that said, this isn't bad. The fruit is pure and focused, and there's a hint of minerality and spice to it. The bad news is that the fruit is also very big and brawny, unctuous even (without being cloying), so there is very little elegance to this wine at this stage. More of a sledgehammer of a wine. Worked well with the rich Thanksgiving meal, but would have been out of place with more traditional food pairings for Pinot (Salmon, Duck, etc).

2009 Tenuta San Guido Le Difese Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)

2011-11-29T18:28:00.001-06:00

A wonderful wine for the money. Bought this for $25 and it is a tremendous wine to boot. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese. Drinkable right out of the bottle, but can cellar for a few years. Bright, dark cherry fruit and chocolate, leather and roasted coffee beans. Nice structure, nice acidity and perfectly balanced. Finishes well and is just about the perfect wine to go with any roasted/grilled red meat dinner on a weeknight. I bought 6 and I'm already down 3. This is one you should absolutely buy if you like well-made IGTs.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

2006 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Hillside (USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains)

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

For a California Pinot, this is as good as it gets for my tastes. In a very dry style with dense, essence of cherry and blackberry fruit and a hint of stoniness. Shows some tree bark/moss, but is overall very clean and centered around the focused fruit. Solid structure and plush texture. Can be drunk now or held for a few years.

2006 Dominique Laurent Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Argillieres (France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru)

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Seriously an amazing wine. I opened this to go with duck breast for dinner and did it ever deliver...Wonderful red fruit, forest floor, intense red berry and cherry fruit, sturdy structure, silky texture and great finish. This is a wine I wish I owned more of. As an aside, recent experiences with Dominique Laurent wines have been very impressive.

2001 Fossacolle Brunello di Montalcino (Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino)

2011-11-21T07:04:00.001-06:00

This was just OK. Felt a little "modern" for my taste with some very clean black fruit and an odd acidity that seemed almost contrived. A weird, angular structure, too. The good news is that it's still very well made, and that it goes well with food. But it would be hard to pick out as a Brunello in a blind tasting.

2005 Travaglini Gattinara (Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara)

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

Had this at Three Forks in Chicago with a NY Strip Steak. Very nice wine that shows nice intensity without massive extraction or obtrusive wood flavors. Has nice acidity that helps cut through the fatty meat. Typical Nebbiolo with roses, cherry and red berries, tobacco and earth. Lovely balance and a nice food wine. I probably wouldn't seek this out, but it's a value on wine lists.

2008 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Stylistically, very close to the 2006, but maybe not quite as spectacular. Also shows the pure cherry and plum fruit that the 2006 did, and it does have most of the same flavor components including dried herbs, a ripasso dried fruit flavor, and earthy, dusty tannins. The only caveat is that the fruit isn't as generous as in the 2006, and the oak thusly is a touch more noticeable (not in an obtrusive way, though). Overall, this was a great match for a grilled NY Strip steak, and at $30, it is a world-beater QPR. I didn't mention it in my post about the 2006, but for those of you not yet in the know, Guidalberto is usually 45% Cabernet Sauvignon (the fruit that didn't make it into the Sassicaia) 45% Merlot, and 10% Sangiovese (neither of which are ever included in Sassicaia). It gets 12 months oak ageing, in 30% new French and American oak barriques and 70% in used Sassicaia barrels. A stunning wine and perennial value from the makers of Sassicaia.

2006 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)

2011-11-16T05:45:00.000-06:00

Brilliant wine. Dark garnet red color, and nose of cherry and brambly berry with spice, earth, and dried herbs. Velvety and silky texture at the same time is a nod to the wine's balance between its fruit and its acidity. Dark cherry, earth, and a hint of a dried fruit component (fig paste or raisins) not unlike a flavor I often find in Amarone or Ripassos. Finishes strong, has structure to last for many more years, but it is drinking absolutely spectacularly already.

Champagne: My Key Decisions

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

2003 Château Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru)

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

Very nice. This shows typically elegant and finessed. Blackberry and cherry fruit with plenty of earth, saddle leather, and a solid structure/backbone. What's perhaps most impressive, is that this wine managed to retain wonderful freshness despite 2003 being one of the hottest and driest years in Bordeaux, ever. Certainly a wine that will do well with another 10+ years in the cellar. One of my favorite producers from the right bank of Bordeaux. That said, this BSD is less exciting than it often is in other vintages. In the last two years, the baby fat has really disappeared from this bottling, and it is effectively a very different wine from the one that I tasted two years ago.

2002 Château Malescot St. Exupéry (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux)

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

Really a very nice wine. Popped and poured and followed over the course of two nights. Deep, dark garnet red color. Shy nose that didn't give much on night one, but blossomed on night two. Classic black currant and blackberry fruit with a hint of earth, cigar box, chocolate, and a pronounced smokiness. Velvety texture and a solid finish. Went great with two separate dinners (roast chicken and grilled lamb) and showed some versatility. I'm not sure today's going rate is worth it, but I paid less than $30 en primeur for these and at that price, this wine is a steal.

2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru)

2011-11-10T07:00:00.001-06:00

This is definitely nice. Typical Volnay 1er Cru. Red fruited, sappy on the palate with essence of cherry, some nice spice, forest floor, and a very decent finish. Ultra-clean fruit in this wine. My only complaint is that it seems a little non-descript and lacking in character. Maybe the fruit is a little too clean? Either way, good wine, but nothing spectacular, and in my opinion, not worth the roughly $50 it is going for these days. This wine continues my streak of Bouchard Burgs that are good, but no more than that.

2008 California Cabernets - Awful QPR?

2011-11-08T22:06:00.001-06:00

2008 Le Grand Noir Vin de Pays d'Oc GSM (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc)

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

It's drinkable, pleasant at most, but that's where my positive assessment ends. This wine could be really good...Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from the Languedoc. The right grapes, the right part of the world to grow them. Yet, this tasted incredibly spoofed. The fruit was overblown and showed the typical fake violet flavors. Acidity was low and coarse, as though the wine had been artificially acidified. Mid-palate hollow and finish unremarkable. This has won multiple Gold Medals at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, which has me questioning the validity of this competition in a big way.

2008 Black Cat Vineyard Family Cuvee (USA, California, Napa Valley)

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah. This was surprisingly good. Given my skepticism with regards to California wine, this far exceeded my expectations. Black pit fruit and cherry framed by dusty tannins and surprisingly bright acidity, this drank exceptionally well after a short splash decant. Some chocolate and leather add some interesting nuance. This screams 'Napa' all the way, is not spoofed and drinks great. Only limitation of this wine is likely to be its ageing curve. Drinking phenomenal right now, and given that it lacks deep structure and backbone, I believe it is a wine for consumption in the next year or so.

2004 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Reserva (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Opened to accompany the Spanish Tapas I made for dinner. Excellent choice. Still young, but already drinking exceptionally well. Ripe black cherry, tobacco and dried herbs. Lovely balance, texture,and length. Tremendously tasty wine irrespective of its price, but a killer QPR to boot at about $22 per bottle. CVNE may very well be my favorite Rioja producer.

Restaurant Review - Estadio in Washington, DC

2011-11-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

Maybe it was my awesome meal at Zaytinya or possibly some other force of nature, but I felt like Tapas. Ever since my brush with Tapas greatness in Barcelona's Cerveceria Catalan (on Calle Mallorca), I have been craving good Tapas stateside.

Consulting Tripadvisor yielded "Estadio" as the most favorably reviewed Tapas restaurant in DC. So I walked a good ways to the Logan neighborhood of DC to try out their Tapas.

First impression was that the restaurant was appointed nicely, and that the atmosphere was inviting. The staff was friendly, and after I sat down at the bar, the staff helped me choose some food options.

I started out with a Pintxos of grilled fig, almonds, Cabral, and red peppers wrapped in Jamon. The flavors were excellent, but the Jamon was sliced too thickly, which made the texture somewhat unexpected.

I then went with grilled Octopus on a Spanish Potato Salad and Pimento Pepper Puree. Again, the flavors were absolutely magnificent, but the texture was off. When you grill Octopus, there's only one way to do it in my opinion...and that's grilling the octopus raw (without pre-cooking it). It does make the Octopus more chewy, but the texture and flavor are better preserved that way. I'm guessing Estadio pre-cooks (most probably by boiling) the Octopus, which softened the Octopus too much in my opinion, and made the surrounding membrane gelatin-like. This, in my humble opinion, really distracted from the otherwise excellent preparation.

To finish, I ordered a roasted beet salad with belgian endive, orange, and Idiazabal Cheese. Of the three dishes I ordered, this was definitely my favorite. The flavors worked well together, the crunchiness of the endive perfectly complimented the softer texture of the slow-roasted beets, and the sweet and zingy orange nicely contrasted the salty and creamy Idiazabal.

All things considered, the price for dinner was very fair, and the flavors excellent across the board. My only concern is the lack of execution regarding the texture of some of the dishes, so if you're a texture freak, I suspect this one might be one to avoid. Otherwise, if you emphasize flavor over texture, this one might be for you. That makes this a restaurant I cannot recommend for everyone.

Restaurant Review - Bistrot du Coin in Washington, DC

2011-11-02T07:41:00.000-05:00

On my second night in DC, I had a business dinner, and since my longtime friend and business associate Scott, didn't have a lot of time, we decided to eat at Bistrot du Coin on Connecticut Ave (near Dupont Circle). Both of us had eaten at the Bistro, and both of us like the place.

Last night. Bistrot did not disappoint. When we got to the restaurant at 7:30pm, the place was a mob scene with all tables occupied and a line out the yingyang to get seated. Unfortunately, the bar didn't look much better. Fortunately for us, one person left, and we were able to convince a couple to move one seat, so within 5 minutes we were seated.

Bistrot du Coin seemingly aspires to be a reincarnation of the famous Les Halles in New York (of Anthony Bourdain fame). Open, rustic seating, loud atmosphere, and fun/young crowd.

As I often do in Bistros, I started the meal with a Frisee au Lardons Salad and followed it with an Onglet A L'Echalotte. Both dishes were excellent. The steak was incredibly tender, especially considering the cut, and the shallot demi glace served with it was flavorful. The only minor point reduction would be made on account of the fries which were not crispy, and that's just not a top-notch french frie.

With the meal, I enjoyed a bottle of Duvel beer, which was a better fit than any wine I saw being served by the glass.

All in all, although Bistro du Coin falls short of the quality of its Anthony Bourdain owned New York French Bistro brethren "Les Halles", I think this is a very solid, tasty, and fairly priced neighborhood dining option in DC. I can definitely recommend it.

Disclaimer: The pictures are not mine, but were taken from online travel/food guides.

Update on 2009 and 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2011-11-01T20:46:00.000-05:00

Restaurant Review - MaiTai in Washington, DC

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

So on my first night in DC, I didn't feel like walking around all over the place to get to eat anywhere special, so I looked at what was close to my hotel (near Dupont Circle). And right around the corner (M and 19th Street) was MaiTai, a Thai restaurant that was favorably reviewed on Tripadvisor.

After sitting down near the bar, I ordered a couple of happy hour appetizers: Green Papaya Salad and a Thai version of Shumai. The Shumai were tasty although eerily familiar to the Chinese version my kids love so much. The Papaya Salad was excellent and certainly distinct...it was so spicy that I could have sworn my cranial pressure seemed to increase as I was eating my way through the salad. Nothing some water couldn't fix though.

For my entree, I chose the Crispy Sweet Chili Duck which was a duck breast, that was lightly breaded and fried to perfection, then laid on top of some baby bok choy and covered in a sweet and spicy chili/honey sauce (with white rice as a side). To say that this dish was amazing could be an understatement.

Although the menu at first glance doesn't look like typically authentic Thai food menus look like in Thailand, I can definitely recommend MaiTai wholeheartedly. The food was excellent and the cooking was definitely authentic in taste and preparation despite the slightly Americanized menu.

A Letter from Robert Parker and a Prize

2011-10-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

If you had told me years ago that I would get a letter and a prize from Robert Parker, I'd have laughed you out of the building. But this week, that's exactly what happened.

A few weeks ago, I entered a contest that RP sponsored on eBob. The idea was to write a 250 word essay on what might be driving discord in the wine industry. My submission along with about 25-30 more, won a pair of hand-blown Italian Brunello glasses.

Don't get me wrong...the glasses are nice, but the letter from RP is worth more to me in many ways since it validates the extreme effort I have given to the hobby of wine. From the early days of reading eBob for hours each night, to the tasting groups I used to run, to the wine tasting trips in Europe I took, to writing this blog nowadays.

It is incredibly gratifying to think that one of the most widely read wine critics in the world saw value in my opinion on the state of the industry.

Here's the letter:

And here's the prize:

Here's to another few decades of learning and writing about wine.

A Sante.

Restaurant Review - Zaytinya in Washington, DC

2011-10-28T06:18:00.000-05:00

So I was in DC for a conference this week and was on the lookout for a nice, reasonably priced place to eat that would give me an experience I couldn't get in Austin. After a little online research, I decided to go to Zaytinya for lunch.

Zaytinya is part of the fast growing Jose Andres empire of restaurants and uses Turkish/Lebanese dishes served in Tapas style portions. And the food was every bit as fantastic as I had hoped.

I sat down at the bar and ordered the lunch menu for $22 all in that provided a four course meal. Here's what I had the pleasure of eating (the pictures are from the restaurant's website...not my own pics).

1) Fattoush (Salad)

2) Garides Me Anitho (Shrimp in Saffron Sauce)

3) Adana Kebab (Grilled Lamb Skewer)

4) Greek Yogurt and Apricots

I am not the kind of guy that likes overly complicated and pretentious meals, so I was pleased that Zaytinya provided good food made from top-notch/ultra-fresh ingredients in decent portions without pretense...in a pleasant, even chic atmosphere...all at a very fair price. Certainly a restaurant I will return to next time I am in DC. Highly recommended.

2001 Hospices de Nuits Nuits St. Georges Les Didiers Cuvée Jacques Duret Méo-Camuzet (France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges)

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Very dark color. Needed some air before it came alive. Dark plum and red stone fruit, tree bark, earth, and some all spice. Sappy and fresh. A little bit of cold smoke flavors. Finish is long and strong, but the wine seems a little heavy handed in every aspect...fruit, oak treatment, and structure. Very masculine and clean expression of burgundy. Not really my favorite style, but I can appreciate it anyway. Will last for many years, so no hurry to drink this.

Recent exciting cooking and excellent, inexpensive wine pairings

2011-10-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Lately, I have been drinking very modest wines. I sometimes go through phases where the food I cook doesn't invite a very exciting or expensive wine at all. On the contrary, some dishes demand a very simple yet well-matched wine. For some reason, the last week or so has been in that mode, so it's worth reviewing what I cooked and how I chose to paired the wines I did.

- Grilled Sockeye Salmon with a brown sugar/paprika/cayenne pepper rub served with wild rice and grilled Asparagus (with olive oil, garlic and lemon zest): To serve an expensive wine with this meal would probably be waste in my opinion. The rub that's on the salmon is both sweet, salty and spicy, and therefore pretty powerful. Asparagus is pretty difficult for any wine pairing. So what did I decide? 2007 Sella & Mosca Cannonau Riserva (from Sardinia). Perfect match for the food. The Cannonau has nice and sweet fruit and tannins, and its relatively minimal structure allows the food flavors to dominate. But its nice acidity still cuts through the salmon flavors and does OK with the asparagus.

- Linguini with Seafood (shrimp, little neck clams and baby octopus) in a white wine / tomato broth: Again, strong flavors here thanks to the seafood. A white wine like Trebbiano or Vermentino would have worked well (but I didn't have any of those), so would a prosecco (again...no dice), so I again chose the same Cannonau as with the Salmon. The Cannonau works well with the tomato base and is just fresh enough to stand up to the seafood. Can it get any more Sardinian than this?

- Lamb Burgers with Israeli Feta, Greek Salad, and grilled local Zucchini: This is a pretty rustic meal. The fatty and flavorful lamb combined with the flavorful feta and strong greek salad are begging for a big wine. Preferably for one that shows some dried herb flavors (to stay with the mediterranean flavors), one that has structure, yet the fruit to hang with the meal. My choice? 2007 Chante le Cigale Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This wine ticks all the boxes for this meal and is a great companion for the lamb a well as the herbs used in cooking (Mint, thyme, and rosemary).

The Cannonau is a $12 bottle of wine, and the CdP is a $25 bottle of wine. Despite their low price, they deliver multiples the pleasure with the simple mediterranean meals I prepared. And because I believe that music rounds out the experience, I try to add music that thematically fits the food and wine. Greek music with greek wine, Spanish flamenco with Spanish tapas and Rioja, Edith Piaf with French Bistro fare, Eros Ramazotti with Italian food....I try to transport myself to these other locales to give myself a better overall sensory experience. If you haven't tried this, I suggest you do. It's truly one of life's great pleasures...great food, great wine, great music, great company.

Sunday 10/23/2011: Wine Salon (Long Post)

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, a bunch of us Austin wine folks convened to taste through a whopping number of wines. Each tasting group was assigned two flights to taste through before tasting through a third flight double-blind. The theme of the salon was "Great Vintage + Average Producer or Great Producer + Average Vintage. The results were very interesting.

Flight 1: Burgundy

Wine 1: 2002 Albert Morot Beaune 1er Cru "Les Teurons"

Wine 2: 2002 Jean Marc Pavelot Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru "Les Guettes"

Wine 3: 2001 Michel Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru "Les Chenes"

Wine 4: 2001 Maison Leroy Volnay 1er Cru

The Morot came across as very masculine, very stuctured, very deeply fruited, yet slightly overoaked. The Pavelot was frankly a bizarre wine to me. Shrill acidity, surprisingly thin fruit, and (at least to me), a very strange flavor profile. The Lafarge was the shining star for me in this flight. Feminine, silky, sappy, complex and red fruited. Perfumed nose and lovely intensity of the palate. This delivered the goods for me. The Leroy should have been great, but it just wasn't. Perfectly pleasant and drinkable wine, but lacking the intensity and excitement of the Lafarge. Overall, I liked the Lafarge best, followed by the Morot, then the Leroy and the Pavelot in last position.

Flight 2: Antinori Tignanello

Wine 1: 1996 Antinori Tignanello
Wine 2: 1997 Antinori Tignanello
Wine 3: 1998 Antinori Tignanello
Wine 4: 1999 Antinori Tignanello

We all knew that '96 and '98 were the inferior vintages, we just didn't know how that might manifest itself in the wines. As soon as I started tasting the wines, it became very clear to me what the difference was. Although Antinori is clearly very consistent from vintage to vintage with the fruit profile in this blend (usually about 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon), the oak regime seems to not change much from vintage to vintage, which accounts for the fact that I was tasting lots of coffee and tar flavors in the '96 and '98. Too much coffee and tar flavors, especially the burnt kind were present in the "off-vintage" renditions for me to really like them. The 1997 and '99 on the other hand were extremely balanced and didn't show any of the flavors I associate with overuse of new oak. The 1999 in particular is in my opinion, the better wine than the 1997 and it will drink well for quite some time. The 1997 won't be quite as long lived as the 1999 and drank maybe a smidge better than the '99 did yesterday. While the '96 was pleasant, I really didn't love the '98...very cool, hollow, and ungiving. Definitely drinkable, but no more.

Flight 3: Double Blind Bordeaux with a CA Cab ringer

Wine 1: Totally madeirized and oxidized. Could be anything, but because it showed restraint and dry flavors, I guessed Bordeaux. Mid-1970s to be exact (given that it was doa). Thought this would be a great producer from a so-so vintage.

Wine 2: Very nice wine. Showed great classic Bordeaux flavors of cigar box, lead pencil and cassis. I guessed Bordeaux. Thought great producer from average vintage.

Wine 3: Pretty horrible stuff. Immediately recognizable as CA Cab. Ultra sweet on the mid-plate with a weird jolly rancher twist. Every group identified this correctly as CA Cab.

Wine 4: Another really nice wine. Clearly Bordeaux. Gravelly, stoney dark red fruit flavors. Many thought Pauillac, but I didn't think so. Wasn't sure what it was, but thought average vintage great producer.

Wine 5: Wonderful wine. Stereotypical Bordeaux from a great vintage. Structure, stuffing, black currant, cigar box/tobacco, and lots of earthiness.

My favorites were #5 followed by #2, then #4.

Here's what the wines were:

Wine 1: 1982 La Lagune (+ Vintage / - Producer)

Wine 2: 1997 Leoville Las Cases (- Vintage / + Producer)

Wine 3: 1991 Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (+ Vintage / - Producer)

Wine 4: 1994 La Mission Haut-Brion (- Vintage / + Producer)

Wine 5: Clerc Milon (2000?) (+ Vintage / - Producer)

After and during the tasting I also tasted through another bunch of wines that were no longer being tasted by their groups. A few of the standouts were:

- 1997 Barbi Brunello di Montalcino: Tuscan sun in a bottle. Wonderfully rich yest restrained, nuanced, complex and with just enough animale to make it very interesting.

- 1998 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino: Cleaner than the Barbi and not as opulent (vintage-related), but still outstanding balance, intensity, complexity, and plum flavors.

- 2004 Drouhin Laroze Chambertin Grand Cru "Clos de Beze": Everything I want top-notch burgundy to be. Feminine, finessed, structured and cherry and raspberry fruit with incredible perfume. Ever so slight greenness that didn't bother me. A winner.

- 2000 Chateau Figeac: Lovely wine. Deep, elegant, dark fruited, balanced, classic St. Emilion.

One surprisingly poor wine I tasted was the 2000 Sloan Cabernet Sauvignon. An awful wine that tasted like a hypothetical blend of Welch's grape juice and cherry flavored cough syrup. For a wine well North of $200 on auction, this was a shocking showing.

Next up...Rhone wine Salon in November. That one should be very interesting.

The Case For 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Many of you who have been following me for some time, know that I am an enormous fan of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. CdP is, for me, the ultimate expression of Grenache in the world. Sure, there are other good Grenache-based wines from around the world, but I can't think of another region in the world that has succeeded in making wines of this pedigree, this level of purity of fruit, and yet retain this much freshness and an unmistakable sense of place.

CdP is thus very unique in my opinion. Not just because it's generally making wines that I consider the pinnacle of what Grenache is capable of, but also because of the diversity of styles that one can find in CdP.

The pure Grenache cuvees like Bosquet des Papes A la Gloire de mon Grandpere or Giraud's Grenache de Pierres are singular expressions of the glory of pure Grenache. As a contrast, let's consider CdPs that have large proportions of Mourvedre or Syrah blended in, which often gives them a very different flavor profile. Darker, more brooding, denser, and often more long-lived.

Or how about the different sectors of CdP that make significantly different wines...the lighter, more perfumed wines of the sandy soils of Pignan and Rayas compared to the darker and more brooding wines of the La Crau district?

Then of course we have different styles of winemaking. Although I am not a huge fan of "modern" CdP, which is to say highly extracted, high in alcohol, low in acid, I do think that old-school producers like Pegau or Vieux Telegraphe are one end of the spectrum while domaines like Boisrenard are at the other end of that spectrum.

Let's cut to the chase...I believe that 2009 is a vintage to buy. For one thing the critics have universally loved the vintage. Maybe not as much as 2005 and 2001 and certainly not as much as 2007, but certainly better than any of the other vintages on this decade. Also, 2008 was a dud in the Southern Rhone, and 2010 is reportedly a tiny crop.

What does that mean for CdP afficionados? Higher prices, in my opinion. With 2008 basically being a loss for CdP and 2010 a tiny crop, prices for the 2010s will likely rise substantially (barring similar economic collapses seen in 2008 and 2009) and prices for 2009s will likely creep up, as well as more buyers chase after less and less wine.

Prices are still very reasonable for the 2009s. With the exception of a few producers, there are still tons of top-notch CdP producers selling their highly rated wines with very good track records for really no more than the 2005s and 2007s cost at release. That makes the 2009 vintage worth taking a look at if you love CdP. Here are some of the wines that are usually on my short list that I have seen at very reasonable prices:

Beaucastel

Bosquet des Papes A la Gloire de Mon Grandpere

Bosquet des Papes Chante le Merle

Clos du Mont Olivet Cuvee Papet

Grand Veneur Origines

La Bastide St. Dominique Secrets de Pignan

Raymond Usseglio Imperiale

Roger Sabon Prestige

St. Prefert Auguste Favier

St. Prefert Charles Guiraud

Vieux Telegraphe

Vieux Donjon

Robert Parker came out last October with his barrel samples. I suspect he may publish bottle scores either later this month or in February next year. That obviously carries a level of risk with it if you consider buying. For me personally, whatever happens with bottle scores, really doesn't matter as I plan on drinking the wines I end up purchasing. That said, waiting to purchase could turn out to be costly if bottle scores end up being at the high end of the range for many of the wines.

In the end, it's whatever you are comfortable with. I do recommend looking at the fine 2009s though. It seems to be a vintage that warrants serious attention.

2004 Dominique Laurent Clos Vougeot Vieilles Vignes (France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru)

2011-10-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Very nice. Berries, forest floor, mushrooms and tree bark on the nose. Red cherry and berry fruit, great sappiness, leather, spice, and ample earth and mushroom flavors. Solid finish that shows backbone and structure to last. I can definitely recommend this.

2008 Di Majo Norante Biferno Ramitello (Italy, Molise, Biferno)

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is only OK. Very thick, very fruit forward, very sweet tannins and fruit, yet still somewhat bitter and rough around the edges. A sledgehammer of a wine that lacks charm and complexity. Definitely drinkable, preferably with strongly flavored food using tomato bases, such as Pizza and Pasta, but I don't know that anything can be done as a good food pairing outside of those options. A disappointing wine despite its low price of $11 per bottle. I recommend looking at other options if you're considering buying this.

N.V. Mionetto Prosecco Organic Treviso (Italy)

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Very pleasant Prosecco. It's drier than most Proseccos, which is a must for me, and it is just pretty and clean without any rough edges. Apple, pear, and peaches with medium mousse/bead. Nice and light yet serious enough to enjoy with appetizers/cheese. A great buy at $15 locally in Austin at Whole Foods. Thanks for the find, Shannon. Just one word of caution...this does not keep well in the fridge. As nice as it is on night one, it is pretty flat and boring after a day in the fridge.

1997 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage)

2011-10-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

It just doesn't get any better than this. Random wednesday night with a wonderful dinner of seared duck breast. This La Chapelle needed some air right after coming out of the bottle as the fruit kept becoming more plush and velvety as the wine aerated. Tremendously complex nose of earth, blackberry, tobacco, and camphor. On the palate, it is silky in texture and delivers some amazingly focused and precise blackberry and black currant fruit while also delivering the tell-tale La Chapelle pepperiness and roast meat juice. Finish goes on and on. My wife was equally impressed. I wish these were still available at the same prices I used to be able to get them for.

2007 Fattoria Viticcio Chianti Classico Riserva (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Amazing value. And a fantastic wine regardless of its price. Cherry and black currants in spades with chocolate, earth, dried herbs, and tobacco. Superb finish. Despite being aged in a combination of medium sized oak barrels and small oak barriques, there are zero obtrusive oak flavors. Wonderful silky/velvety texture and there's even some nice structure underneath the fruit. Drinking great right now, but should last for quite some time. Purchased in Austin at Costco for $20/bottle. At that price, buying this wine almost feels like robbery. A wine to purchase by the case.

2010 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Vermentino Casanova della Spinetta Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Pleasant white that's perfect for sipping on a hot day. 100% Vermentino, 13% alc, 4 months fermented in 100% steel. Citrus, apple peel, peach and honey. Came out of the bottle with a little spritziness and needed a few minutes of air before showing its best. Simple, yet good. $15 at our local Costco in Austin. At that price, I can definitely recommend it.

2001 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, this wasn't what prior bottles have been. As is usual for Henri Bonneau's bottlings, this was filled very high into the neck (right below the cork), and as a result, it had seeped. I am not sure if heat was involved, or if slight oxidation from the seeping was the culprit, but the wine seemed prematurely aged. The fruit had less depth than usual, but the wine was still showing hints of greatness. Tell-tale balance and freshness, wonderful red cherry fruit, garrigue, and milk chocolate. Tons of earth and dried herbs. Finish and fruit lacked the intensity and verve I usually adore in this wine. Alas...one more left.

2007 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-10-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Popped and poured and then followed over the course of two nights. It's been exactly one year since my last bottle and this is just now beginning to drink reasonably well. Very fruit-forward, still, but it is settling down. No longer leaves me with impressions of heat and over-extraction. Instead, lots of dark cherry and blackberry fruit, earth, tree bark, and fig jam. Nose is brooding and earthy, and finish is very nice. This might just turn out to be a very good wine that was a laughable $19 when I purchased it.

2007 Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva (Italy, Sardinia, Cannonau di Sardegna)

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Sensational quality for the money. Can be had for less than $12 per bottle locally in Austin. This is a Cannonau (Grenache) from Sardinia and it is like no other Grenache I've ever had. Medium-bodied with silky (rather than velvety) texture, this shows lots of interesting nuance. Red licorice, earth, leather, dried herbs and cherry. Not something I would cellar, but it's terrific with all kinds of Italian food including Pizza and Pasta.

2007 Ormanni Chianti Classico (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

This was a purchase I made locally over the weekend. A Chianti that has the maximum amount of non-Sangiovese (Cannaiolo I believe) blended in to still be allowed to call it Chianti Classico. Made with the assistance of Giulio Gambelli (of Montevertine and Soldera fame), and highly recommended by my local wine merchant, I thought this would be a great bargain. Unfortunately, all the hype doesn't compare to what's in the bottle. Although the wine has considerable concentration of fruit for a simple Chianti Classico, it lacks intensity and seems slightly hollow on the mid-palate and short on the finish. The wine seems fairly simple with very dusty tannins, that I found to be distracting. Even at $15, I cannot recommend this.

2006 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Ermitage Les Varonniers (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage)

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Somewhat disappointing. Very fruit-forward, thick and unctuous. Rather simple and pleasant wine that at the current point in time does not show the level of class, polish, and complexity that I'd like to see. All black fruit and chocolate with a lack of earthiness and soul. Seems more "modern" in style than I like my wines, and not enough acidity to balance out the massive fruit. I'd love to be able to say that age will make this a lot better, but I just don't see it. This simply lacks the precision and complexity of a top-notch Crozes-Hermitage like Alain Graillot's.

N.V. André Clouet Champagne Silver Brut (France, Champagne, Bouzy, Champagne)

2011-10-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Purchased locally for what I thought was a good price, this Champagne was pleasant. As a non-dosage Champagne, this was predictably dry and packed with both toasted nut and citrus flavors. Nice mid-palate and finish. Only minor issue for me was that the bead was too coarse, which made the texture a little too rough for me, but that might be splitting hairs. Very nice drink, but in the $40 price range, one can do better with other producers.

2004 Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Rocca di Montegrossi is simply one of my favorite Chianti producers. This wine delivers so much flavor and complexity for the price that it is almost laughable. And the wines are singular in their expression to boot. Lovely cherry, leather and dark chocolate fruit balanced with bracing freshness. This wine manages to deliver dense, ripe (but not overripe) fruit while simultaneously remaining vervy and cool. Although it's a fairly clean wine, it does provide a little funk/animale. Not sure I can put this producer into a stylistic bucket such as "traditional" or "modernist"...it seems they combine a traditional feel with more "modern" fruit in terms of style. I can definitely recommend this wine highly.

Available at:
Sokolin: $49.95/bottle. Click here for product page.

2000 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

As good as the Beaucastel was, this Pegau was at least equally as good. Totally different style of wine. Red fruited with classic red cherry fruit, kirsch liqueur, licorice and garrigue flavors. Tremendous intensity, voluptuous/velvety texture, and a killer finish. Shows some brett, but I love that about Pegau. Another one that went tremendously well with the lamb, and also my last bottle...although more should be purchased when the opportunity presents itself. Half our table liked the Beaucastel better than the Pegau, and the other half (my wife included) liked the Pegau slightly better. Although that's like arguing whether Muhammad Ali or Jack Nicklaus dominated their sports more decisively at their peak.
Available at:

Zachy's: $90.00/bottle. Click here for product page.

1999 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-10-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness...this was so outstanding that the hairs on my neck stood up. Opened this to celebrate my Uncle's birthday while he was visiting from Germany. This wine was so outrageously good that it is actually hard to put into words. Dark, dark blackberry and cherry fruit with loads of spice and a certain saline note. Earthiness in spades along with dried lavender. The nose was perfumed and could be smelled all the way across the kitchen. Finish sails through to the next sip. Had to be tasted to be believed. Unfortunately my last bottle, but one worth re-purchasing if the opportunity arises. Had this with herb marinated and grilled lamb and it was a dream pairing.
Available at:

Zachy's: $60.00/bottle. Click here for product page.

Wine Hunter Alert: 2008 Latour a Pomerol (great price)

2011-10-02T15:02:00.000-05:00

The 2008 Latour a Pomerol can currently be purchased for $39.99 per bottle. That is a terrific price for a wine of this caliber.

For one, 2008 was a banner vintage in Pomerol. Slightly better than 2005, and slightly inferior only to 2009. Beyond that, one would have to go back all the way to 1998 for a vintage like this in Pomerol.

Second, Latour a Pomerol is part of the Moueix portfolio, which includes some of my favorite right bank wines: Magdelaine, Belair, La Fleur Petrus, and (of course Latour a Pomerol). The reason I like these wines is that they have managed to remain focused being made in an elegant and restrained style without the massive use of oak, alcohol, and extraction.

Third...as a price comparison, the 2005 and 2009 are selling much, much higher right now (all around $100), so the $40 for a bottle from a top Pomerol vintage is a steal in the current marketplace.

If my past encounters with Latour a Pomerol are any indication, I would expect this to have the legs to be a 20 year wine, delivering tons of complexity and food-friendly drinking from 2018 on.

The wine is in stock at: http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=44163 .

Happy hunting.

P.S. As always, I am not affiliated with the merchant, nor do I stand to gain financially in any way from alerting you to this wine/price. And of course, you'll have to figure out the legality of shipping if/when you purchase this wine at this merchant.

1998 Château Clinet (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol)

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

An incredibly pleasant wine at this point. No hard edges, utterly round and smooth. All elegance and finesse. Dark cherry and black plum fruit with a hint of chocolate, leather and a nice dose of earthiness. Wonderful acidity and a terrific wine to drink with hard cheeses (such as Cantalet / aged English Cheddar). Strong finish. As far as ageability goes, I am not sure this needs much more time, if any. It is drinking squarely in its window for me right now and although the wine has terrific balance, I am not sure the fruit in it is allowing it to be a 30 year wine. I would drink this between now and 2018. Tonight, it also lacked the Wow-factor a bottle of 1999 Beaucastel and 2000 Pegau delivered.

1998 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Gran Reserva (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)

2011-09-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

A fun Rioja. You won't drink this and reflect upon your life and famous literary works, but you can drink this with some grilled lamb or beef or even a nice light mediterranean dinner and admire the perfumed aroma of this wine, the wonderful blackberry and currant fruit, the leather and pronounced earthiness, with a hint of dill pickle. Superb finish and no flaws. Text-book Rioja with some nice age on it that is simply begging to be consumed right now.
Available at:

K&L Wines: $41.99/bottle. Click here for product page.

New Blog Design / Look & Feel

2011-09-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

If you're visiting Pelz on Wine this morning, you'll notice that the look and feel have gotten a much needed facelift. The major change is a new, cleaner, and more user-friendly template. As for more minor changes, I retooled some of the interactive and social media features, as well as the branding of the emails. I hope you like the changes to the blog and please know that I am looking to migrate to an even more interactive format still. Unfortunately, the dynamic features I want are not yet possible using blogger without having to give up other important features, so I will have to wait until the dynamic sites can support some of those features.

Until then, all the best and continued enjoyment of Pelz on Wine. A Sante.

Steffen Pelz

2008 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT)

2011-09-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Yes. This had everything the Avignonesi didn't have the day before. Dark, brooding wine that delivers wonderfully rich blackberry and cherry fruit, chocolate, leather, dried herbs, earth and amazing freshness/acidity. It is lip-smackingly good, has a finish that won't quit, and the price is right. This is truly one to buy by the case load. Some wine maker as Sassicaia, same geography, same wine-making regime, just different vineyards and younger vines. Maybe one of the very best IGTs out there fore the money.
Available at:
Sokolin: $34.99/bottle. Click here for product page.
Brown Derby: $37.45/bottle. Click here for product page.

(Italy, Tuscany, Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano)

2011-09-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, the wine did not deliver. A rather simple and straight-forward wine that shows rusticity, dark cherry and plum fruit, and nothing much else I find interesting. It lacks some intensity of flavor and feels just a little hollow on the mid-palate. Finish is fine, but not exciting. At $30, I expect wine to deliver more complexity and more of a sense of place / typicity.

1998 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco)

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Classy stuff. Silky red berry and plum, floral notes, garbed leather, earth, and scents of wet leaves in autumn. On the palate, red fruit, orange zest, earth and dried herbs. Wonderful intensity while remaining cool and sappy. Orange bricking around the rim. Tremendous finish and a great wine for a variety of food pairings. This is why Giacosa is a true master.

2007 Domaine Chante Cigale Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Yes please. This is a very good wine that delivers solid CdP flavors for a song. Dark cherry and blackberry fruit, earth, dried herbs, saddle leather and a touch of chocolate. Great finish. Even my wife liked this. Can be had for about $25/bottle. At that price, I recommend buying a case. At least, that's what I will be doing.

2003 Château Simone Palette (France, Provence, Palette)

2011-09-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Essence of Provence. Raspberry, strawberry, and cherry fruit with heaps of grilled/dried herbs. Lovely balance and wonderful rusticity. This is one of the most singular red wines of Southern France in my opinion.

2006 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese (Germany, Nahe)

2011-09-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Very good wine in and of itself. The night we drank it, it got spanked by an amazing 2007 Zind Humbrecht Brand Riesling, 2002 Dom Perignon, and the 1999 La Chapelle. Fair amount of residual sugar in this dictates that this be aged for quite some time, as food pairings are somewhat difficult at this stage. Apple, honey, melon and peach orchard flavors. Nice acidity, but maybe a touch too plump for me at this stage.

1999 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage)

2011-09-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

So good...This wine had it all...Intense, yet restrained. Wonderful fruit yet amazing acidity. Tons of nuances like leather, olive tapenade, roasted meat juice, underbrush, gaminess. Layers upon layers of flavors and aromas. Blackberry, cherry, black pepper. Finish won't quit. My favorite La Chapelle after the mind blowing 1990.

2000 Fontanafredda Barolo Paiagallo La Villa (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo)

2011-09-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Very pleasant. Shows fairly typical for Barolo. Tar, rose petal, orange peel, dark cherry and red berry. Maybe a little brawnier than other Barolos and fairly impressive structure. texture is missing a little finesse, and although the finish is good, it feels a little too overpowering. A very clean wine that shows zero Brett or autumnal leafiness that I personally like in my Barolos. All things considered a good wine, but not something I'd run out and buy more of.

2002 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage)

2011-09-16T07:00:00.004-05:00

Fascinating wine. On night 1, it started out thin and rough with a chalky, almost CA Syrah-esque texture that I didn't particularly care for. Over the next couple of days in the cellar, this opened up tremendously, and the fruit filled out, the texture got to be more silky and the fruit became perfumed and almost exotic. Lots of earth and olive tapenade/fig paste. Finishes strong. To think that this wine was made in the wash-out vintage of 2002 gives me pause on two counts. If this wine is as good a it is in 2002, how good a winemaker does Michel Chapoutier have to be, and I cannot help but wonder how good this wine must be in top vintages like 1999. I can highly recommend this wine.

Available at:
Hart Davis Hart: $82.50/bottle. Click here for product page.

2006 Dönnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese (Germany, Nahe)

2011-09-14T07:00:00.006-05:00

Not bad. Took this to an afternoon/early evening BBQ as an aperitif. Shows nice fruit, acidity, and lemon, peach, and crushed rocks. The wine in this bottle seemed a little too fat and voluptuous for my taste. Not one of the banner Doennhoffs I've had so many times. That said, it is still a very pleasant drink and I can see it getting better with some age. How much I am not sure since the wine seemed a little simple, but medium term cellaring could be in order.

Available at:
Chicago Wine Company: $36.50/bottle. Click here for product page.

2005 Collazzi Chianti Classico I Bastioni (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

2011-09-13T07:00:00.008-05:00

Surprisingly good, but not too terribly complex. The wine started out slow with a fairly dry finish and straightforward nature, but it developed well with some air. Nice cherry and dried herbs with fairly plush red and black fruit and a hint of leather and tobacco. The finish is this wine's weak point. Somewhat short/clipped and hollow. But for around $20, this is actually a pretty good buy in my opinion.

2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard (USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County)

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Not as good as the 2008 Rhys Alpine Vineyard, but a good CA Pinot nonetheless. This shows some restraint, minerality, and bright fruit. That said, the fruit is very dark with blackberry and plum, and the texture is slightly chalky and chewy. I don't know what the whole cluster percentage of this is, but my guess is that it is high...the wine has a pretty impressive structure that I believe will reward medium to long term cellaring. My only complaint is that it is missing the silkiness that some of the Santa Cruz Mountain Rhys wines have. A very good CA Pinot by today's standards.

2008 Simon Bize Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Les Marconnets (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru)

2011-09-09T07:00:00.001-05:00

Sensational Red Burgundy. Started out rough the first night with the fruit seemingly slightly closed down. Needed a day in the cellar to open up. Once it was in the zone, this delivered in spades. Red and black berry and plum, silky texture, earth and very sappy. Outstanding finish. Could be paired well with a wide variety of foods. Filet to fowl to game. I love these Bize 1er Crus. There may be no better value for the quality in Burgundy right now.

Available at:
Woodland Hills Wine Company: $41.95/bottle. Click here for product page.

1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)

2011-09-07T07:00:00.007-05:00

As always, an outstanding wine that is just pure fun to drink. Light ruby red color with some orange bricking around the rim. Elegance and finesse. Pure red berry fruit and loads of earth, underbrush, grilled herbs and autumn leaves. Slight orange peel/citrus on the finish. Very nice wine that is now drinking at peak. Finishes well and needs a few hours of air to show its best. Texturally, this is slightly reminiscent of aged Burgundy, but the flavor profile is entirely different. One of the go-to traditional Riojas.

2005 Château Lafon-Rochet (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe)

2011-09-05T07:00:00.003-05:00

Good, solid Bordeaux, but nothing to swoon over. Nice enough nose of black currant and a good dose of espresso, burnt toast and cigar box. Ultra dark fruit that is both rich yet restrained. Took a day or two to open up fully and then showed cassis, cigar box and spice. Finish is medium length. The good news is that the wine delivers at its price point. The fruit and acid balance is very nice and shows the strength of the 2005 vintage. Where this wine falls short is with its seemingly slightly heavy-handed use of oak which is represented by the burnt toast and espresso aromas. I think a little less oak might have gone a long way to make this a much better wine.

Available at:

PremierCru: $49.99/bottle. Click here for the product page.

2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard (USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains)

2011-09-02T07:00:00.003-05:00

The best domestic Pinot Noir I've ever tasted. I have said many times in the past that Rhys is sometimes overhyped, but based on this wine alone, I would have to retract my prior statements. The wine has structure, it has a perfumed nose, it shows earth, it has terrific fruit that never gets dull or flabby. It's wonderfully rich yet nervy at the same time. Never crossed into a zone where I detected even a hint of sweetness. Rather, the wine had a rocky, saline note to it. The fruit is darker and shows dark cherry, plum, and blackberry. I can see this ageing beautifully for many years. A true masterpiece that I am glad to own a couple more bottles of.

Wine Hunter: Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo Monprivato

2011-08-31T21:09:00.001-05:00

A quick heads-up for all you lovers of traditional Barolo...the 2006 and 2007 Mascarello Monprivatos just landed here in the US.

Although they are clearly not cheap, these wines will never be cheaper, especially because 2006 and 2007 both received majestic scores from the critics both as overall vintages and as individual wines.

What I am saying is that if you want to own them, now's not a bad time. Take a look at the prices of the 2001 (and to some extent 2004) to get a feel for how prices will likely escalate.

PremierCru has good prices, but so do many other retailers like The Chicago Wine Company, and Crush.

2006 Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico)

2011-08-31T07:00:00.003-05:00

Intriguing wine. Keeps changing every 10 minutes in the glass for days on end. Started off as a dry red wine with dark saline and savory flavors and morphed into a more typical Amarone that showed sweet cherry flavors and hints of game meat. Dried flowers, spices, earth and fig paste. Intensely floral on the nose and tons of complexity. Medium body but very intense finish. The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. I really loved this.

Available at:

MacArthur Beverages: $43.99/bottle. Click here for product page.

K&L Wine Merchants: $48.99/bottle. Click here for product page.

2007 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape A la Gloire de mon Grand-Père (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-08-28T07:00:00.005-05:00

One of the best red wines I have had in the last few years. Old school, traditional CdP that is 98% Grenache grown on loamy sandy soil and fermented in old wood foudres so there's nothing that masks and obstructs the natural expression of the fruit. Very Rayas-like in its style with wonderful red fruit, kirsch liqueur, spice, fig paste, and black olives. Silky, elegant texture and a finish that won't quit. The nose is so beautifully perfumed and the wine has so many layers and so much finesse that it's borderline absurd. Maybe the best part is that the wine achieves tremendous intensity while still remaining perfectly restrained. I don't normally own more than 3 bottles of anything, but I truly regret not having bought a case of this. If I see it on sale somewhere, I'll pick up a case...This is as good as CdP gets for me and it will age effortlessly for a good decade and beyond.

Available at:

WineBid (Auction): $50/bottle (+ 14% buyer's commission). Click here for Winebid product page.

2002 Château Lascombes (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux)

2011-08-26T07:00:00.003-05:00

This one really feel more like a California Cab than a Bordeaux. Oak is noticeable, and the fruit is very dark and brambly. Velvet texture and dark, tarry cherry and cassis. Some leather, tobaco, and earth, but at present, the fruit is overpowering the rest of the wine. The only good news is that the fruit will most certainly outlive the ripe and serious tannins. Not in love with this wine, but I can see this pairing well with grilled beef. The fattier the cut, the better.

Available at:

Zachys: $46.99/bottle - Click here to redirect to Zachys product page.

Added Value Content - Wine Availability and Pricing

2011-08-24T12:58:00.000-05:00

One of the most common questions I field from my roughly 200 subscribers and readers beyond that (as a reply to my tasting notes) is "Where can I find this wine and for how much?"

Going forward, I have decided to add to tasting notes where a given wine can be purchased (if still available t retail) and how much for.

As part of this effort, I will list the lowest 1-3 prices at the wine retailers I have personally had good experiences with in the past or that have a great reputation among collectors all over the US.

That said, I would like to point out a few items for full disclosure:

1) I don't benefit financially or in any other way from listing any particular retailer or wine rather than another one.

2) I don't necessarily buy the same wine from the same retailer.

3) I don't endorse any retailer unquestioningly. Not every retailer is right for every consumer. Please still perform your own due diligence.

4) I don't know where all my readers reside, work, and drink wine, so be aware that I am not an expert on whether you are legally able to ship wine into your State. Please do this research carefully on your own to come to a decision about whether to buy wine in-state, out-of-state, or not at all.

Hopefully most of you will find this new added content useful and maybe you'll even score a deal here and there that you would have otherwise missed.

All the best and a sante.

Steffen Pelz

2009 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling (France, Alsace, Alsace AOC)

2011-08-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

Very solid white. Fresh, clean, apple and minerality. Not overly layered or deep, but a terrific wine to drink as an aperitif with appetizers or on its own. Will work well with strong cheeses, too.

2009 Marramiero Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Dama (Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo)

2011-08-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

Not my favorite. The good news is that it is 100% Montepulciano fermented entirely in steel, so there's no oak and no other obtrusive flavors. The bad news is that the fruit seems slightly high pitched, ultra-dry, and it seems ever so slightly underripe. Fairly simple wine that is stereotypical for inexpensive Italian tablewine. Next time, I'll try the single-vineyard cuvee that sees some oak. I unfortunately can't recommend this wine.

2009 San Michele Appiano (St. Michael-Eppan) Pinot Bianco Weissburgunder Schulthauser (Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol)

2011-08-19T07:00:00.002-05:00

Another inexpensive white that I really liked. Clean, fresh, floral and showing citrus, peach and honeysuckle. Not terribly complex, but a very nice food wine that is exactly what the doctor orders in this summer Texas heat.

2005 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Grézeaux (France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon)

2011-08-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

If this isn't one of the finest values in red wine, then I don't know what is. Purchased for $16, this delivers multiple times the pleasure. Although it shows the typical tannic black currant, green bell pepper, earth and violets flavors one expects from Chinon, the 2005 vintage influenced this wine in that it is fully ripe, velvety in its texture, and rounder than usual. If I had drunk this blind, I might have even guessed it to be a Bordeaux. Goes great with any kind of red meat dish, and anything grilled. Should be purchased by the case.

2010 Marramiero Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Anima (Italy, Abruzzi, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo)

2011-08-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

One of the best white wines I have had in a long time. And the price tag of about $18 is really awesome, too. Layered, floral, fresh, peach and lemon fruit. Finishes well and kept my attention the whole way. Just a terrific wine and value to boot. Should be bought by the case.

2006 Sportoletti Rosso Villa Fidelia Umbria IGT (Italy, Umbria, Umbria IGT)

2011-08-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

As always, a reliably good bottle of wine. Fruity in a good way with plush Cabernet black currant and tobacco flavors, but also with earth, funk, and plenty of acidity. Velvety texture and long finish. Can be cellared for quite some time, but why wait when the wine is drinking so well right now?

2000 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja)

2011-08-10T07:00:00.003-05:00

Had this with grilled filet and vegetables, and french lentils for dinner. Tremendous pairing. That said, the 2000 Ardanza is a stunning wine on its own. All finesse and elegance. Spice, red fruit, earth, tobacco, rose petals and orange peel. Burgundian texture. This is the stereotypical old school Rioja. Long on the palate and finish. One can't have enough of this in the cellar.

2010 Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Réserve Spéciale (France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Contrôlée)

2011-07-24T12:14:00.001-05:00

Good wine for the money. At $12, this delivers clean, fresh, unoaked Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon flavors. Not the most complex bottle of white wine one can buy, but a very good match for oysters, white fish, shrimp and other saefood. Not something to go and seek out but a wine can buy with good conscience if it avails itself and the occasion asks for an unpretentious white to go with a light lunch or dinner.

2004 Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

2011-07-22T07:00:00.005-05:00

Killer bottle of wine. Popped and poured to be consumed with some of my homemade Pizza. Stunning nose. Dark red color and a soaring nose of dark plum, cherry, earth, mediterranean brush, dried herbs and violets. Just as stunning on the palate as on the nose. Cherry, chocolate, earth, leather. Finish is sensational. A total home run Chianti Classico.

2001 Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino (Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino)

2011-07-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Excellent Brunello in a more traditional style. Garnet red color and very nice nose of berry, spice, and earth. Good weight on the palate and silky texture. Finishes strong and has years of ageing potential. Really a great bottle of wine.

2007 Cave des Producteurs de Vouvray Vouvray Tête de Cuvée Brut (France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray)

2011-07-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is so good it blows my mind. 100% Chenin Blanc from Vouvray. This has everything I expect from decent Champagne. Dry, check. Depth, check. Toasted brioche flavors, check. Apple and citrus, check. At $18, this is better than many Champagnes costing 2x or 3x as much. Finishes long and is a real pleasure to drink. At less than $18, this is worthy of multi-case buys and an incredible value.

N.V. Miguel Pons Penedès Cava Brut Nature (Spain, Catalunya, Penedès)

2011-06-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

This is aged 21 months on its lees, gets zero-dosage, and the price is right (~$15). It's bright, it's clean, it's got lemon zest and spring water flavors. The bad news is that the finish seems slightly clipped and the mid-palate is a bit hollow. Great quaffer for parties though. Not mind-blowing, but good.

2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

2011-06-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

A reliable bottle of wine. Dark garnet red color. Seems tight on night 1. More generous with some air. Dark chocolate, cherry, earth, and dried herbs. Solid finish. Just about a perfect "pizza wine" at the $18 I paid for it.

2000 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Sixtine (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-06-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

As much as I have been an outspoken dissident of other vintages of this wine, this 2000 Sixtine is really showing well. Although I still think it is rather "modern" in style, the 2000 shows roundness, softness, and red fruit. Earth, aromas and flavors of provencal herb, and red licorice on the palate. Nice length and good finish. No Pegau, but it has typicity and character. I like this one.

2001 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Sixtine (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

2011-06-24T07:00:00.004-05:00

I continue to be disappointed by this wine. It had so much promise in its youth, but time has not been kind to it. It still seems over-extracted and shrill to me. It lacks typicity for me. It, a little like the Usseglio from a few nights before, seems "modern" in style and devoid of the smells and flavors of CdP. No kirsch, no garrigue, no earth, no brett...just tons of blackberry and licorice (the black kind) which seems too one-dimensional. It is definitely still a good wine, but it isn't a great wine or great CdP/example of its appellation.