Saturday, March 27, 2010

Wines I want to find and try!

* Bodegas Botani ’09 Botani. Muscat, Spain. 91 points, Wine Advocate
* Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009. Marlborough, New Zealand. 91 points, Wine Spectator
* Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler Riesling QbA 2009. Mosel, Germany. 91 points, Wine Spectator
* River Road Chardonnay Hopkins RRV 2008. Russian River Valley, Sonoma, CA. 92 points, Beverage Dynamics
* Louis Bouillot Rosé (sparkling). Burgundy, France. 91 points, Beverage Dynamics
* Georges Duboeuf Morgon Jean Descombes 2009. Gamay Beaujolais, Burgundy, France. 93 points, Wine Spectator
* Dom Mas du Bouquet Vacqueyras 2008. Vacqueyras, Rhône, France. 91 points, Wine Spectator
* Saladini Pilastri Monteprandone 2006. Marche, Italy. 91 points, Wine Advocate
* Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2008. Limestone Coast, Australia. 91 points, Australian Wine Showcase
* Emilio Moro Ribera Del Duero 2006. Tempranillo, Ribera Del Duero, Spain. 92 points. Wine Advocate Also 92 points in Wine Spectator, and #99 on their 2009 Top 100 listchateau maris old vine syrah 2006


Thursday, December 31, 2009

Winston's Favorate Wines

AWS Wine Evaluation Chart

The American Wine Society has created its own 20-point scale for use in evaluating wines. Basically, AWS urges members to evaluate wines at monthly tastings using the following scale:

  • Appearance (3 points)
  • Aroma/Bouquet (6 points)
  • Taste/Texture (6 points)
  • Aftertaste (3 points)
  • Overall Impression (2 points)

As you examine and drink a wine, you score each category above from zero to the maximum number of points indicated (using guidelines provided here), then total, for a maximum score of 20. For example, wines rated 18-20 are considered Extraordinary, 15-17 Excellent, and 12-14 Good.

AWS Wine Evaluation Chart

AWS Wine Evaluation Chart

Hints for Using the Chart

  1. Unless you see discoloration or particles floating in the wine (for example), you should generally give Appearance a 3. Just because you like to see dark red wines or golden yellow wines doesn't mean a lighter shade of red or a pale yellow is a defect! Consider the type of wine carefully when downgrading here, if doing so on color alone.
  2. Remember that you are evaluating a wine against a theoretical standard. When rating Aroma, for example, a bit of "barnyard" aroma might be characteristic of a certain style of wine and isn't necessarily a bad characteristic, even if you don't prefer it yourself. Try to be objective. Another example: some of us don't like the grassiness typical of many sauvignon blancs, but that doesn't make a given wine bad. Be a little restrained in your negative evaluations when your personal tastes wouldn't typically include a given style of wine.
  3. When entering a numeric rating, we recommend that the Total Score not be recorded by fractions less than ½; that is, please don't record Total Scores like 17.3 or 17¼. A 17.5 or 17½ is OK. How you record your individual ratings leading up to a Total Score is up to you. For instance, you may wish to use a plus (+) and minus (-) notation for individual scores or fractional ratings, but stick with increments of ½ for the Total Scores.
  4. When you are done, if you have rated a wine a 20, this is like Robert Parker rating it 95-100! Is it really one of the finest wines you have ever tasted, extraordinary and flawless? On the other hand, if you have rated a wine below 12, you are saying it's a real dog (with apologies to our canine friends), and below 9 it's a disaster. If you find yourself disagreeing with your own overall rating, go back and seek the best categories for minor adjustments.

Beaujolais (boh-zhoh-lay): A light, fruity red wine from the Beaujolais region in southern Burgundy.

Bordeaux (bore-doh): A region of southwestern France and home to what many consider some of the world’s greatest wines. Bordeaux wines are usually a blend of grapes including cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc. (See also claret and meritage.)

Burgundy (ber-gun-dee): Many consider France’s Burgundy region to be the home of the world’s best wines, and the Burgundy versus Bordeaux thing is a big catfight among wine snobs. White Burgundies usually come from chardonnay grapes and red Burgundies from pinot noir. Inexpensive American wines labeled “Burgundy” are fakes.

cabernet sauvignon (ca-ber-nay soh-vin-yon): Considered one of the “noble” red wine grapes because of its high quality, “cab” is usually dark and full-bodied.

Chablis (sha-blee): White wine made from chardonnay grapes in the Chablis region of northern Burgundy, France. Any wine labeled Chablis that doesn’t actually come from Chablis is not a true Chablis.

Champagne (sham-pain): Sparkling or bubbly wine made in the Champagne region of France. Other types of bubbly include cava (Spain), prosecco (Italy), spumante (Italy), and sekt (Germany). Most others are just sparkling wine.

chardonnay (shar-doh-nay): The world’s most-produced white wine. Robust and highly versatile, this grape can pick up all kinds of flavors. In general, French chardonnays, such as Chablis, have a simpler taste, while California-style “chards” are full of fruit and oak.

2007 Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvee Alexandre Atalayas Vineyard Casablanca Valley

Average Price: $19.76


About Casa Lapostolle

With consultation from renowned Bordeaux enologist Michel Rolland, Casa Lapostolle is an outstanding source for rich, full-bodied wines with expressive fruit, lush texture and better concentration than most Chilean reds. Their Clos Apalta 2005 was selected as Wine Spectator's 2008 wine of the year. Casa Lapostolle also produces modern, fruit-forward white wines, often showing ample use of spicy oak. This is another instance where French-ownership equals very promising results in Chile.

With consultation from renowned Bordeaux enologist Michel Rolland, Casa Lapostolle is an outstanding source for rich, full-bodied wines with expressive fruit, lush texture and better concentration than most Chilean reds. Their Clos Apalta 2005 was selected as Wine Spectator's 2008... more

Expert Reviews


Rated: 89 by Josh Raynolds, Mar/Apr 09

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Light gold. Exotic aromas of smoked meat, poached pear, yellow plum and oak spices. Weighty but precise on the palate, offering lively citrus and pit fruit flavors and a jolt of candied licorice. The oak spice repeats on the finish, which is broad and gently sweet.

Expert Ratings

Wine Spectator: 91 points


APPEARANCE

3 - Excellent - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.

AROMA AND BOUQUET

5 - Excellent - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Well balanced.

TASTE AND TEXTURE

5 - Excellent - All of the above but a little less. Excellent but not

AFTERTASTE

2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

2 - Excellent


Total Score

17 Excellent

Chateauneuf-du-Pape (sha-toh-noof-doo-pop): Literally “new castle of the Pope” (it’s a medieval thing), Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines are usually made from a blend of grapes and can be either red or white. Considered quite fine (Ernest Hemingway was a big fan), they can be identified by the papal coat of arms on the bottle.

Chianti (kee-ahn-tee): A dry red wine from Tuscany, in northern Italy, made from sangiovese and other grapes.

Da Vinci Chianti Classico 2008

Sangiovese from Tuscany, Italy

winemaker's notes:

95% Sangiovese, 5% Colovino

Color: Clear, purple-red
Bouquet: Spicy, cedary oak with aromas of black cherries and dark plum fruit.
Palate: Well balanced, medium to full bodied wine, ripe with flavors of plum, black cherries and dark fruit. A well structured wine that is ripe and elegant with a silky mouth-feel that lingers in a long earthy, peppery finish

This Chianti Classico has enough structure to stand up to robust main courses like Lasagna, Chicken Cacciatore or Osso Bucco but is also excellent with firm and hard cheeses. Serve slightly below room temperature (16°C–20°C).


APPEARANCE

2 - Good - Clear with characteristic color.

AROMA AND BOUQUET

3 - Acceptable - Slight aroma and bouquet. Pleasant.

TASTE AND TEXTURE

4 - Good - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good

balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.

AFTERTASTE

2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES

1 - Good

Total Score

12 Good

claret (clar-ette, not clar-ay): A peculiar term used in England for red Bordeaux wines or wines in the same style. It comes from a misunderstanding that stems back to the Middle Ages. Don’t ask.

Cotes-du-Rhone (coat-doo-roan): Red and white wines made from the French Cotes-du-Rhone region made from a blend of varietals.

gewurztraminer (gah-vert-strah-mee-ner): A white grape grown in Alsace, Germany; New York; and on the west coast of the U.S. “Gewurz” wines tend toward the sweet and fruity end of the spectrum.

Name of Wine Columbia Winery

Type Gewürztraminer Vintage 2007

Price 15.99 Date Jan 2010

Purchased/Received From Weigman

A light straw color with delicate aromas of spice and lychee flavors with hints of cinnamon and flowers gives way to a good balance between sweetness and acidity on the palate. The Columbia Winery 2007 Gewurztraminer is an excellent match for fresh fruit and cheeses as well as complementing simple fish and chicken dishes and recipes that include oriental flavors and curry.

APPEARANCE

2 – Good – Clear with characteristic color

AROMA AND BOUQUET

4 – Good – characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Exceptional balance

TASTE AND TEXTURE

4 – Good – Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.

AFFERTASTE.

2 – Good – Pleasant aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

2 – Excellent

TOTAL SCORE

14 Good

meritage (like “heritage” but with an “m”): A term used to distinguish wines made in the style of Bordeaux blends outside the Bordeaux region. They’re basically clarets made in the U.S., Australia, or South Africa.

merlot (mer-loh): The ever-popular red grape, second only to cabernet. Merlot varies from medium- to full-bodied and can sometimes be mistaken for cab.

pinot blanc (French: pee-noh blahnk), pinot grigio (Italian: pee-noh gree-zhee-oh): A white grape that produces a dry, full-bodied white wine.

Purchased/Received From La Grange


Vintage 2005 Price $19.00 Date July 2008


Serve With - Pinot Grigio's saving grace is its bone-dry and sprightly acidity that makes it a natural companion to seafood, particularly shellfish, fowl, light pastas, and cheese. Depending on the acidity of the wine, it would be best to avoid high acid foods, pastas with tomato or citrus. Serve well-chilled. This wine makes great Sangrias!

APPEARANCE

2 – Good – Clear with characteristic color

AROMA AND BOUQUET

4 – Good – characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Exceptional balance

TASTE AND TEXTURE

4 – Good – Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good balance. Smooth.

AFFERTASTE

3 – Excellent – Lingering outstanding aftertastes.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

2 – Excellent

TOTAL SCORE

15 or Excellent

Additional Comments and Tasting notes:

Hints of aromatic citrus and fresh lemongrass create a fruit forward and assertive table wine with a full palate and well balanced finish making it a softer and more flavorful Pinot Gris than any you may have tried.

Gold Medal, 2008 Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition
Gary Vaynerchuk Rated 85

Italian Reds

APPEARANCE

Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d' Abruzzo "Tralcetto" Riserva 2007 WA 90


"Deep garnet-purple colour. Ripe cherry and tobacco leaf aromas with a touch of game. Medium-full body with good concentration of fruit and a medium to high level of balancing acidity. Medium+ level of grainy tannins. Long finish. Tasted July 2009" Lisa Perrotti-Brown

APPEARANCE

3 - Excellent - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.

AROMA AND BOUQUET

4 - Good - Characteristic aroma. Distinguishable bouquet.

TASTE AND TEXTURE

4 - Good - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good

balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.

AFTERTASTE

2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES

2 - Excellent

TOTAL SCORES

15 Excellent

pinot noir(pee-noh nwar): A red grape originally from the Burgundy region of France but now grown in California, Oregon, and elsewhere. It can make highly complex wines, often described as earthy and velvety.

Pouilly-Fuisse (poo-yee fwee-say): A white Burgundy made from chardonnay grapes.

riesling (reez-ling): A German white grape from the Rhine and Mosel regions that makes a slightly sweet, somewhat acidic wine.

Kung Fu Girl Reisling 2009
Bottle Price: 14:99


The grapes used in Charles Smith's "Kung Fu Girl" Riesling are harvested from a single rocky vineyard, resulting in a wine with lush aromatics and tons of flavors. On the nose, Kung Fu Girl is bursting with Asian pear, white peach and spring flowers. Apricot, pear, lime, and a pleasant minerality keep this off-dry wine at the perfect level of subtle sweetness. This is a great wine for a summer picnic.
Product of Washington State
Alcohol by Volume: 12.5%

89 points Wine Enthusiast: "This 2009 is the fourth vintage for this extraordinarily popular Riesling, again showing bright, vivid, punch citrus fruit and juicy acids. Residual sugar is about 1.5% and once again it is sourced from the Evergreen vineyard. With production climbing to 20,000 cases.

APPEARANCE

2 - Good - Clear with characteristic color.

AROMA AND BOUQUET

4 - Good - Characteristic aroma. Distinguishable bouquet.

TASTE AND TEXTURE

4 - Good - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good

balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.

AFTERTASTE

2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES

1 - Good

Total Overall

13 Good


APPEARANCE

APPEARANCE

Schloss Walhausen "Two Princes" Riesling 2008 (Nahe, Germany)

The subtle sweetness and fruity characteristics of Two Princes Riesling are balanced by both vibrant acidity and pleasant minerality that allows for easy pairing with a wide range of meals; it is particularly well-suited for seafood, but also pleasant alone.

Product of Germany
Alcohol by Volume: 10.5%

APPEARANCE

2 - Good - Clear with characteristic color.

AROMA AND BOUQUET

3 - Acceptable - Slight aroma and bouquet - Pleasant.

TASTE AND TEXTURE

4 - Good - Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.

AFTERTASTE

2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES

1 - Good

Total Score 12 – Good


2007 S.A. Prüm "Wehlener Sonnenuhr" Riesling Kabinett , Mosel-Saar-Ruwer,

Germany

Wine & Spirits 91 point ratingWine & Spirits 91 point rating
Wine Enthusiast 91 point ratingWine Enthusiast 91 point rating
Wine Spectator 90 point ratingWine Spectator 90 point rating


APPEARANCE

2 - Good - Clear with characteristic color.

AROMA AND BOUQUET

5 - Excellent - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Well balanced.

TASTE AND TEXTURE

5 - Excellent - All of the above but a little less. Excellent but not

overwhelming.

AFTERTASTE

3 - Excellent - Lingering outstanding aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES

2 - Excellent

Total Score

17 Excellent

Tasting Notes:
Palest gold in the glass, this wine has a heady nose of candle wax, candied tangerine zest, and honeysuckle aromas. In the mouth it is soft and lovely, with less acidity than I would expect (or desire), but nice flavors of beeswax, honeysuckle, ripe pears, and hints of lychee on the finish. Almost completely dry, with a touch of sugar, it is delicate and delicious.

APPEARANCE APPEARANCE

rose (roh-zay): Pink wine made from red grapes, with the skins left in just long enough to tint the juice. There are many good roses, but steer clear of white zinfandel, white shiraz, or blush wines. They’re strictly for rookies.

sauvignon blanc (soh-vin-yon blahnk): A white grape from the Loire and Bordeaux regions of France. Now grown just about everywhere, it makes a light, refreshing wine.


Nyakas Budai


Type Sauvignon Blanc Vintage 2006

Price $12.00 Date Aug 2008

Purchased/Received From on line

Serve With

APPEARANCE

2 – Good – Clear with characteristic color

AROMA AND BOUQUET

4 – Good – characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Exceptional balance

TASTE AND TEXTURE

4 – Good – Characteristic grape-variety or wine-type flavor. Good balance. Smooth. May have minor imperfections.

AFFERTASTE

3 – Excellent – Lingering outstanding aftertastes.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

1 – Good

TOTAL SCORE

14 Good

Additional Comments and Tasting notes

Grass dominates its smell and its taste, besides wet hay. Plus lot of unripe peach. Loads of acid.

Goldwater – Wairau Valley

Type Sauvignon Blanc Vintage 2008

Price $16.99 Date Gift 11/17/2009

Purchased/Received From

Serve With Afghan kabobs was delicious

APPEARANCE

2 – Good – Clear with characteristic color

AROMA AND BOUQUET

4 – Good – characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Exceptional balance

TASTE AND TEXTURE

5 – Excellent – All of the above but a little less, Excellent but not overwhelming.

May have minor imperfections.

3 – Acceptable – Undistinguished wine but pleasant. May have minor off flavors.

AFFERTASTE

3 – Excellent – Lingering outstanding aftertastes.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

2 – Excellent

TOTAL SCORE 17 Excellent

Additional Comments and Tasting notes: Pale straw gold. Intensely aromatic and fragrant aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit, and rock melon with subtle citrus notes providing a further lift. This wine displays real fruit intensity without being aggressive. Rich ripe flavors meld with tropical and citrus nuances. It has a crisp mouth feel, is well balanced with an elegant, long finish.

shiraz (shih-raz): Syrah from Australia or South Africa.

2006 Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz Padthaway South Australia


RP 90 WS 89


(Was $11.99)


Five generations of Brysons have been involved in South Australian agriculture, establishing the Jip Jip Rocks vineyards in the Limestone Coast region back in the early 1990s. Specializing in shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, the family focuses on low yields for the best fruit quality from their vineyards. The Padthaway Valley's rich Terra Rossa soils combine with great sun exposure and cool coastal winds in the afternoon, leading to balanced, small, ripe grape clusters with intense flavors. On the 2006, spice and blackberry aromas meld with chocolate, cedar and cinnamon on the nose with well-integrated new oak tannins (35-40 percent new American oak) that add clove flavors and supple texture to complement the plum, blackberry and mocha notes on the palate. Ripe and delicious! 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advote: "The 2006 Shiraz is purple-colored with aromas of black pepper, spice box, blueberry, and blackberry. Savory and ripe on the palate with layers of flavor, this nicely balanced wine will drink well for 4-6 years." A Wine Spectator "SMART BUY" 9/30/07 "Bright and jazzy, with lively raspberry and cherry fruit, lifted with juicy acidity that lets the fruit and cream notes mingle nicely on the extended finish. H.S.

APPEARANCE

3 - Excellent - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.

AROMA AND BOUQUET

5 - Excellent - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Well balanced.

TASTE AND TEXTURE

5 - Excellent - All of the above but a little less. Excellent but not

overwhelming.

AFTERTASTE

2 - Good - Pleasant aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES

1 - Good

Total Score

16 Excellent

syrah (sir-ah): A red grape from the Rhone region of France, often used in Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. Now grown all over the world, syrah is a popular varietal on its own.

Jim Barry Price $19.49

Wine Spectator 90 points




Winemaker’s notes:

The color is a deep, intense purple. On the nose it is aromatic and complex, with a combination of fruit and spice, cinnamon, white pepper, cajun spices, mocha, liquorice and blackberry. On the palate it is immensely approachable with hints of menthol, spearmint, violets and boysenberry, with soft supple tannins.

APPEARANCE

3 - Excellent - Brilliant with outstanding characteristic color.

AROMA AND BOUQUET

5 - Excellent - Characteristic aroma. Complex bouquet. Well balanced.

TASTE AND TEXTURE

6 - Extraordinary - Unmistakable characteristic flavor of grape-variety or wine-

type. Extraordinary balance. Smooth, full-bodied and

overwhelming.

AFTERTASTE

3 - Excellent - Lingering outstanding aftertaste.

OVERALL IMPRESSION TOTAL SCORES

2 - Excellent

Total Score

19 Extraordinary

zinfandel (just as it is spelled): California’s special wine, noted for its raisin and jam flavors. Initially believed to be an indigenous grape, DNA sourcing has shown it to be identical to grapes grown in Italy and Eastern Europe. The California climate renders these wines unique, which just goes to show that region can trump varietal in wine-making.