N/V Lisennes Cremant de Bordeaux Brut

We’ve never had a sparkling Bordeaux before, so I gave this one a shot at $14.

On the nose I get yeast and it took me over an hour to place it, but now that I hit it: marzipan.

Citrus on the palate - lemon, lime, orange, tangerine...whether it’s a legitimate taste or an influence from the nose or not, I taste marzipan as well. I’m one of these strange people that love marzipan.

A bit of yeast on the finish as well as some lemon zest.

It seems to me there is a strange line....if a sparkling wine is under $12 it’s probably not great....$13 to $25 and it’s remarkably better....and I’m sure there are higher levels but I can’t afford to learn those. At $14 this is clearly in that medium level - nice complexity, long lasting bubbles, smooth texture, goes with anything - a great wine and one I’d recommend.

2005 Turning Leaf Riesling

I’m a sucker who was drawn in by the $5 pricetag even thought I was looking for beer, not wine.

The nose brings out some white grapefruit, grapes,

The palate is a bit flabby - there is some acid, some spice, grapes, and orange zest.

The finish is grapey....like the yellow grapes you see in the grocery store.

It’s $5 and it tastes like it. I can’t recommend it other than I can say that Riesling is a difficult wine to completely botch - it’s certainly drinkable, but you can just do so much better for just a bit more.

1977 Dow's SIlver Jubilee Vintage Port

Here it is....the crown jewel of the wine rack, the one I’ve had sitting around for a year, a gift from the missus–and not one of those “look at this great bottle of Champagne I bought ‘us’”....no, a Port...a wine she hates, bought for me. This is the first triple digit bottle of wine ever reviewed here, and probably the last for some time.

Since Port lasts weeks, even months, after opening, I’ve decided to hold off this review and give you a full review from the first pour to the last.

First impressions - (The first hour)

Not much of a nose.

The palate is honestly a bit harsh–lots of alcohol....some raisin, some walnut, a bit of space, some slightly dried plum, borderline prune. Fran gets the distinct taste of black walnut.

A slight burn starts off the finish and it fades to a nutty, musty taste....strange in a way. The finish I first thought didn’t seem to last long, until I took a sip, swallowed it, and moved away from the glass...quite literally five minutes later I still was getting some funky tastes....impressive. I look forward to giving this some more time to aerate.


A bit longer - (The second and third hour)

I decided to do some serious swirling and this astounded me....I swirled this standing up with the glass at a waist level counter and after just a few seconds of swirling I could smell the wine.....that is to say, not with my nose in the glass, but with the glass on the counter and me standing....easily three feet away.

The nose begins to develop....a bit of must, but definitely more on the nuttier side....walnuts mainly.

The palate has already smoothed out a bit...a big burst of raisin and dried pineapple and fig immediately, some prune,

The finish has more of that strange must...it’s not necessarily bad, it’s just weird. *Long* lingering walnut.


The next day - (24 hours later)

Thankfully, the must has faded.

The palate brings rich brown sugar, caramel, and dried cherry.

The finish is long lasting and nutty.


Day 3 -
The nose certainly isn’t going anywhere...powerful raisin, prune, and tobacco.

The palate seems to have grown more complex...caramel, raisin, black walnut, prune, oak, tobacco, even just the faintest bit of blueberry...all at once and then separate. Strong and rich.

The must is gone...excellent news. The finish still lasts for a long time and brings out some nice nutty flavors.

Day 5 -
Skipped a day....the nose is straight up prune and maple syrup.

The palate has the brown sugar, caramel, walnut, prune, raisin, fig—dried fruit...maybe even some dried pineapple.

There’s an earthiness that’s coming through that I haven’t noticed before, but the finish is certainly nutty.

Day 8 -
Dirty socks on the nose - yeah, I don’t know, but it’s what I get.

Brown sugar, maple syrup, walnut, prunes, fig, and some striking tobacco.

The finish really brings out the dried cherry, walnut, pecan, and brown sugar.

Day 16 (or so) -
I’ve done some research and it seems the mild musty essence I’m getting may very well be a flaw with the bottle. If it is, it is mild enough to not be a deal breaker. I had Fran smell the glass and she said “it smells like a basement.”

Firm alcohol on the nose.

Rich strawberry, prune, walnut, and cola.

The finish is tobacco and dried fruit - raisin, prunes, etc.

And that, sadly, ends the bottle. If you have the money, I’d suggest drinking some Ruby’s and Tawny’s first so you can really appreciate the quality in a bottle like this. If that sounds like too much work, I’ll gladly take a donation.

2004 Coppola Diamond Reserve Claret

We last had this wine a few years ago after I read an extremely strong review of it...we were underwhelmed, but I figured I’d give it another shot since it was on sale for $11.

The nose has oak and berry.

When I first opened the bottle, I was shocked at how completely bland it was. After opening for two hours, it’s come to life. Cherry, blueberry, oak, nice tannins, a bit of spice, and some red fruit - plums mainly.

The finish lingers with oak, cinnamon, and a bit of that miscellaneous red fruit.

Basically, it’s not bad. Actually, this isn’t a half bad wine to bring to a dinner party or to serve to guests because it’s easy to drink and is a conversation piece - it’s called “Claret” - a British term for Bordeaux, it has a classy label, and yes, it’s that Coppola. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this one go for as high as $20 and it’s certainly not worth it, but closer to $10 and I’d say give it a shot.

2004 Nachtgold Eiswein

We had this one at a family function, so I'm not sure what it costs, but a brief search found some places selling it for $20 for a 500 ml bottle.

The nose has hints of orange and floral notes.

The palate has an interesting mix of fruit: papaya, pear, orange, nectarine, with a bit of honey and some floral - rose, mainly - essence as well.

The finish is all stone fruit...nectarine, apricot, and fuzzy peach.

If you can find this for $20, it's a steal....grab it.

2003 Chateau Talbot Caillou Blanc

We haven’t much experience with White Bordeaux, or oaked whites in general for that matter. This one was on sale and I figured it would be an learning experience.

The nose has hints of vanilla and gasoline...viscous.

Tropical fruit - pineapple, papaya - vanilla. There’s some buttery notes as well. Viscous mouthfeel.

A touch of oak on the finish with some more tropical fruit.

This is very new to me....a clearly oaked white, that’s not Chardonnay, and that doesn’t really offend me. Interesting depth, and thoroughly enjoyable. I would have no idea, as a vegetarian, how to pair this...maybe a French style pasta with a white sauce...for now, I’m enjoying it alone.

N/V Rotari Rose

I figure I keep referring to Rotari I should try the third available bottle I have access to - the Rose.

Golden apple, berry, and peach with some tart notes. The bubbles faded, but are still present - if slightly - after an hour.

Doughy finish.

This is probably the worst of the Rotari label we’ve had and I’d still recommend it - strongly, in fact. We’ve had many cheap sparkling wines, none this good.

N/V Gruet Blanc de Noirs

I picked up this half bottle for about $7 and figured I’d give it a shot since it’s from a strange area.

Yeast and doughy notes on the nose.

A bit of toast on the palate with some raspberry...a decent bottle of wine.

The finish has some mineral tones.

Not bad, when I think sparkling wine I sure don’t think New Mexico - this is a great surprise and an excellent wine all around at this price point.

N/V Henkell Trocken Dry-Sec

I honestly don’t recall having a German sparkling wine before. This one was about $10 at the local shop.

The palate has a fair amount of lime, yeast, a bit of Granny Smith apple, and some dough. Sweet - but not offensively so.

The finish brings out a strange green Skittles sort of taste that lingers for quite some time. Lots of candied lime in this one.

This is a strange wine and one that I’d have to recommend. You wouldn’t confuse it for a Champagne, but it’s certainly more interesting than most sparklers at this price. Give it a shot.

2004 Villa Maria Pinot Noir Private Bin

I don’t think we’ve ever had a Pinot Noir from New Zealand...and the more I think about it, the more I’m not sure if we’ve ever really had anything from New Zealand. I’m sure we have in tastings, but I’ve never bought anything from that fine country.

Berry, earth, and funk on the nose.

Cherry, oak, chocolate, and plenty of earth. A fair amount of acid and nice, firm tannins - nicely structured all around.

The finish really brings out the oak and some blackberry.

If there’s an under $15 Pinot Noir from the States that’s this good, I want recommendations. This is a great buy and is recommended.

2005 La Crema Pinot Noir

We paid right around $15 for this one.

Earth, raspberry, and cola notes on the nose.

Smooth, raspberry, cola, earth, and cherry. Tannins are so low we’re hovering on the flabby line.

The finish is watery, but has some slight herb, earth, and a lot of raspberry. It’s a very mild finish but it lasts for quite some time.

This is a dangerous wine, nice fruit, good depth, and such low tannins that it’s all too easy to gulp down. I could use some more structure and acid, but for a $15 Pinot Noir this is a good one if you like the fruitier style.

2004 Firefly Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Berry on the nose.

Fruit, fruit and more fruit...blueberry and prunes (and not in a good, Port way)...the slightest hint of oak, not much in terms of tannins and virtually no structure.

Not much in terms of a finish. Right after being opened this had a strange, battery acid taste at the end of it....but at hour two that faded thankfully.

The bottle says this can be aged for up to ten years....it would be a curious experiment...by the taste of it, I couldn’t imagine letting this cellar for more than a year or two. For this price, in fact for less money, you can do better.

2005 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages

Strawberries on the nose.

Tart strawberries, raspberry, and earth on the palate.

No finish except for a medium drying tannic effect.

This is a cheap, simple wine and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Tart, drinkable, acidic, fruity - a crowd pleaser. Drink with anything simple - burgers, pizza, whatever.
Definitely a step up from Jadot’s Nouveau.

N/V Chateau Ste Michelle Brut Columbia Valley Sparkling Wine

The well known brand that's available anywhere for under $9.

No nose.

The palate is lemony....no toast, a slightest hint of yeast....just some generic citrus...I actually am having flashbacks to my childhood and that drink “Five Alive.” Large, flimsy bubbles that dissipate quickly.

The finish leaves the mouth with a strange syrupy coating....some interesting floral notes but just an unsettle honey feel.

Quaffable and just a touch too sweet. We’ve had some good bottles right around this price range, this is fine, but after we’ve tried a bunch of sparklers right at this price point I’d put this low on my list. It just tastes cheap, sadly.

2003 Castello D'Albola Chianti Classico

This one was right about $10, which is somewhat low for a Classico, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

Earth and plum on the nose.

Cherry, earth, blackberry, plum, smokey oak, spice, and that good ol’ funk that is in most Chiantis. A touch of sweetness, and lots and lots of acid make food a requirement for this.

The finish fades quickly and starts with some cherry but fades to spice...cinnamon mainly.

Not a wine I’d say should be consumed by itself, but it would make almost any type of Italian faire taste better.

2004 75 Amber Knolls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

We had this at a tasting a while back and enjoyed it thoroughly...I believe it ran around $16.

I get berries–blackberry and raspberry–on the nose with some oak.

The palate is smooth....medium tannins, lots of blackberry, oak, and vanilla notes. This is a wine that is really blended...nothing really sticks out but it’s certainly flavorful. Balanced nicely and everything being is in such harmony that it almost detracts.

The finish brings a bit of anise and wood with blackberry.

I hate to say it, but I’d almost call it a good red wine beginner’s “quality” bottle....not a fruit bomb - smooth, tasty with a lot of character. I would serve to guests in a heartbeat.

2004 Domaine Bernhard & Reibel Vin D’Alace Gewurztraminer

Gewurz from Alsace is normally not our style but we really enjoyed this one at a recent tasting. The cost was about $16 or so.

A very spicy and floral nose, not much in terms of fruit, but plenty there.

The palate is very aromatic....lots of rose water and orange blossom, crisp acidity, a touch of sweetness, some light pink grapefruit and apricot.

The finish doesn’t bring all that much...it fades somewhat quickly but there is a lingering floral essence - more of that orange blossom - almost like a tea.

This is the type of wine I’d bet you’ll either appreciate or you’ll just hate....personally I don’t think I like it enough to buy again, but I’d have a glass at a wine bar because I appreciate what it brings...strange tastes and a nice complexity. It’s certainly not “quaffable”....it is a “wine drinker’s wine” to be sure.

2004 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Chardonnay

Do not adjust your monitor, this is a bottle of Chardonnay on The Wineauxs. Why? I had a strange urge to try a Chardonnay. This is, I believe the lowest end wine from Louis Jadot, it’s from Burgundy and ran us just about $14.

Buttery, creamy, pineapple nose.

Citrus, pineapple, vanilla...I don’t know if this has seen oak but I seem to detect some–not really a good thing. There are some nice layers in this and it has a decent complexity to it...nothing too deep in the grand scheme of things I'm sure, but it's not a dumb wine.

The finish brings out some more vanilla and pineapple.

I wasn’t really sure I’d be a fan of this and I can’t say I am...but we’re not offended and that’s really the nicest thing we can say about a Chardonnay. I certainly won’t be buying it again, but I’m glad I experienced it. I think the next Chardonnay I try will be a New World unoaked one.

N/V Duval-Leroy Brut Paris Champagne

I found this on sale for under $30 so I figured I’d give it a shot. The bottle design would make this perfect for a celebration of almost any sort.

The nose is mainly dough with a bit of walnut.

Green apple, yeast, a bit of toast, all nicely layered with just a hint of raspberry. Firm acidic backbone brings an almost sea salt quality that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced. As I have come to expect from a true Champagne–small, long lasting bubbles that add a very nice texture.

The raspberry is really more on the finish I suppose with some more doughy notes coming through.

Yet another excellent Champagne....a bit on the pricey side for daily drinking, but well worth the occasional splurge.

2003 Whitman Cellars Narcissa Red Wine

The is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc and ran us right around $15. We let it open for around two hours and to me the Cabernet Sauvignon was the dominant grape but as it opens further into hour four the Syrah has really come through.

Alcohol, oak, spice, and black fruit on the nose.

This is starts off very smooth and the tannins only kick in towards the end. Tobacco, chocolate covered cherries, oak, a bit of bell pepper, and some plum are all on the palate. Fran gets tart blueberry and black pepper....I see the pepper, but I get no berry fruit at all.

The finish has a slight burn and lots of oak with some plum and cinnamon.

An excellent bottle of wine, and one I’d gladly buy again.

N/V Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay/Pinot Noir Sparkling Brut

I realized what one of my problems is today....our local Binny’s (local chain liquor store that’s about the size of Walgreens) is right next to Taco Bell. Fran and I work lousy hours so sometimes after a 14 hour day we just want some comfort food and I typically stop and buy a bottle of cheap wine or beer to go along. Today was an Australian sparkling wine that I seem to recall reading a decent review of but can’t place where.

Yeasty and doughy nose, not much else.

For an $8 wine it’s pretty impressive...dry, yeast and white bread notes, mainly grapefruit, but a bit of Granny Smith apple and a touch of orange zest. The only gripe, no shock here, is the bubbles...this one flatlined after a mere half hour or so.

The finish really shows the dryness....no sweetness at all and a slight yeasty drying effect.

If you like dry sparkling wines, you can do far worse at the price and not much better. It’s certainly not on par with even a low quality Champagne but we’re not even halfway to the price of a Champagne...perhaps not as good as Rotari, but still enjoyable.

2004 Finca Flichman Paisagie de Tupungato

This blend from Argentina has Cabernet Sauvingnon, Malbec, and Merlot and ran us around $16.

A smokey nose with a bit cherry.

Cherry and lots of blueberry on the palate with plenty of smoke as well. Lots of fruit and medium tannins–nicely balanced. Fran thinks this tastes cheap...I tend to disagree as there’s a fair amount of complexity you wouldn’t get in a $7 range wine.

The finish brings out some smooth oak.

It’s a decent bottle, perhaps not for over $15 but I can’t really say anything bad about it.

2002 X Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

We received this bottle as a gift for Christmas. I was happy to see it as we’ve enjoyed some of X’s wines before. I haven’t looked this one up, but I’m sure it’s priced somewhere in the mid-teens.

I opened this one figuring it wouldn’t need much time to since it’s 2002, and while it steadily improved after a few hours, after a mere twenty minutes I found it to be quite enjoyable.

Oak, blackberry, and sweet tobacco on the nose.

Lots of black cherry on the palate with smooth oak. Tobacco, plum, currant, chocolate, solid acidity, and medium-low tannins. Very nice complexity for the price and enjoyable all around.

The finish starts with nice cherry flavors and fades to chocolate and tobacco.

X is a consistent producer and I wouldn’t hesitate buying or recommending any of their wine, this one is no exception.

2005 Bald Knobb Owl Creek Vineyard

I was at a wine shop and this one caught my eye. We visited this winery about two years ago on a little Midwest wine weekend trip.

Owl Creek is part of the Shawnee Valley Wine Trail and it was one of the best in the region, which is why I jumped on this. If you’re in the mood for a weekend trip, that particular area isn’t bad (I’m assuming you’re within a few hours from Southern Illinois) but don’t expect much in terms of good quality red wine...lots of sweeter white dominates the area.

I think that’s why we liked Owl Creek–they had two excellent dry red wines. This particular one was not available when we visited. It’s made from Chambourcin and ran us about $15 (though it’s cheaper from the winery direct). I was hesitant because the label says “semi dry” but I figured it was worth a shot.

I typically find Chambourcin to be a strange wine and this one is no exception. The nose: big and weird. I can’t really place it...I’ll settle for raspberry jam and there’s also some spice.

The palate is more strangeness: almost effervescent with acid, big plum, peach, blueberry fruit, maybe some honey, and a touch of black pepper. I’m not sure if this has seen oak, I don’t really taste any, but there’s a lot going on here if it hasn’t. I think “semi dry” is an accurate description as it’s not dry, but it’s not terribly sweet either. No tannins, but the acidity which is interesting at first gets to be a bit overbearing after a while. I think this could benefit from a slight chill, so throw it in the fridge for fifteen minutes or so before drinking.

The finish fades quickly and leaves nothing discernable with perhaps a little bit of black pepper residue.

I’d compare it to a Beaujolais, but I’ve never had a Beaujolais this interesting. If you’ve never had Chambourcin and want to try one, I’d put this one as one of my top recommendations.

2003 Red Flyer Red Table Wine

Looking at this winery’s site, they apparently have an exclusive distribution deal with Trader Joe’s...however, we bought this one at a small wine shop in the area.

Blackberry and oak on the nose.

Plums, blackberry, and blueberry for fruit on the palate with plenty of oak and firm, though smooth tannins. A fair amount of spice–anise, cinnamon, even some basil

The finish has some plums and fades away with a hint of anise remaining.

Fruit and oak give it a nice balance, but there’s not a lot of depth–which isn’t necessarily a bad thing and is to be expected at a $9 range wine. If this really is a Trader Joe’s exclusive, it's one of the better ones we've had.

N.V Domaine de Martinolles Le Berceau Blanquette de Limoux

This is a sparkling wine from France, though not a Champagne. The next time you’re at a cocktail party you can share this tidbit: sparkling wine was being produced in Limoux over a century before the Bendedictine monks began producing it in Champagne. This ran us around $13.

Apple and pear on the nose.

Apples, pear, and peach on the palate with some yeast. No toast or citrus that I frequently find in sparkling wine. A very nice constant stream of bubbles that last for a long time in the glass and kept on fizzing in the bottle even after well over an hour.

A light, crisp stone fruit finish fades slowly.

On the one hand the palate isn’t all that complex, on the other hand the bubbles are superb and the flavors are bold and long lasting. Immensely quaffable, this is a wine you can drink an entire bottle of in one sitting and enjoy thoroughly yet not think all that much about because everything is just so right.

2003 Girard Petite Sirah

This has been sitting on the ol’ rack for some time. We tried this at a tasting and didn’t hesitate with a $20 pricetag. I gave this one about three hours in the decanter. The very bottom of the bottle did begin to throw sediment so be careful with this one.

A bit of oak and plenty of earth on the nose along with some deep, ripe raspberry.

The palate is big–lots of black fruit, lots of oak, big chewy tannins. Blackberry, plums, and some spice as well–mint, cinnamon, and black pepper. Everything it big, but it’s all nicely balanced...you’re assaulted equally by everything.

The finish fades with lingering earth, black pepper, anise, oak, and vanilla....not much in terms of fruit....and it lasts for quite some time with the black pepper lasting for close to a minute.

At hour seven, this wine really began to change a bit...new fruit began coming through—strawberry and cherry, the tannins are still firm but much smoother. Personally, I think it’s better now than it was earlier, so either drink this one over a long evening or open it as early as possible.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a Petite Sirah and I have to admit I was hesitant to open this bottle since I felt strongly about it at the tasting and feared it wouldn’t hold up–well, it has. This is an excellent wine and one that I’d recommend if you don’t mind having your teeth stained purple.

N/V Jacquesson Cuvee No. 730 Champagne

It’s bottles like this that make me almost giddy. It ran me $40, but mah boy, it was worth it.

The palate brings a nice mix of blueberry, red apple, vanilla, and toast. I don’t recall ever getting a berry in a Champagne before but it’s certainly here---it’s not quite pure fruit, almost like blueberry waffle–yeast, dough, and a bit of strong, perhaps reconstituted berry...which may sound odd, but trust me–it’s a good thing.

After well over an hour this still has a steady stream of bubbles that aren’t going anywhere.

The finish lingers with some yeast and apple for a fair amount of time.

To me, $40 is special occasion level (we drank this on Valentine’s Day) and this surely won’t disappoint. Nice complexity, smooth all around, strong bubbles...really, this has everything I’m looking for a Champagne and then some. Strongly recommended.

2004 L’hiver Shiraz

This has been sitting on the rack for quite a while, but I recall it costing around $18. We had this at a tasting and enjoyed it quite a bit. I decided to give this one about three hours to open since it seemed a bit tight on first pour.

Lots of fruit, but a bit of spice and earth on the nose.

The palate has lots of plum and cherry, perhaps raspberry and is accompanied by a bit of black pepper and oak. Nice medium tannins give this some great structure and prevent it from being too jammy.

Certainly worth the $18 pricetag. Recommended.

2003 Vinum Cellars Red Dirt Red

This blend is 53% Syrah, 32% Mouvedre, and 15% Grenache. This is a Rhone blend, but you may hear it referred to as a GSM if it’s from the New World.

The nose has strawberry and some earth in it.

Black fruit, ripe black and raspberries, anise, oak, earth, tar, and spice all with medium tannins.

The finish starts with some strawberry and fades away to oak.

I enjoy this one, it’s an interesting blend that we don’t normally drink a lot of and I think it works well. A solid wine and an interesting label would probably make this a reasonable gift to the wine fan in your life.

N/V Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rutherglen Muscadelle

This half bottle was $13. It’s a dessert wine and the label claims it won’t deteriorate once opened so it can be stored for a long time after opening...I’ve been drinking this over the past three weeks or so.

When I asked if this wine was like Port, I was told it’s really more like a Sherry....unfortunately, I don’t know anything about Sherry so I can’t tell you if that’s true. I do know that this has changed very little, as far as my palate can tell anyway, from day one to day twenty.

Honey and raisins on the nose...plenty of sugar.

The palate hits me with fermented orange. Lots of honey, some raisins, a slight hint of nuttiness, but overall I get citrus.

The finish lingers with more of an orange zest and raisin taste than anything else.

It’s lighter than a Port, but still is in that family, so if you hate Port you probably won’t be into this, but it’s certainly worth a shot if you do. This is a nice after dinner wine and drinks very nicely as I sit one wall away from negative 35 degree windchills.

2005 Lily Pinot Noir

My advice is you need to give this one at least thirty minutes of air time for it to be drinkable, and could use a few hours to really come to life. I was thoroughly disappointed at first, but it’s opened to a rather delightful wine. This one ran me about $20.

Earth, funk, and tar on the nose.

The palate has raspberry and lots of earth and oak. A touch of cola, maybe some plum, perhaps blackberry, all with an herbal background.

The finish lingers with anise and earth.

Not bad at all. At $20, you certainly won’t do better.

N/V Castillo Perelada Brut Reserva Cava

This ran us about $10 and was bought on a whim due to a craving for sparkling wine.

The nose reminds me of white bread.

Some grapes and yeast, but not much else except perhaps maybe some lemon. Very little fruit really and not a lot going on.

A somewhat toasty finish fades slowly.

I wouldn’t call it great, but I have nothing against it. There are plenty of solid sparkling wines at this price point and this one is merely passable. My advice is to find something more interesting.

2005 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

This one ran us $27, which is in our “special occasion” range...what’s the occasion? Well, we’ve both decided a need to slow down on this blog, wine consumption, and caloric intake.

I’ve said this before...and I’ve tried it before. One excellent plan was to go out and fill the wine rack with $20+ bottles of wines since I refuse to open those on a whim....of course that only led me to stop at the grocery store on the way home every night and pick up bottles of things like “Andre Champagne.” The thing that pushed me over the edge was trying on my wedding suit (which was less than two years ago) only to find it fit like something from when I was twelve...and I wasn’t exactly thin at the ceremony.

This means that the number of reviews will go down to about once a week, they will also become far more positive as I’ll insist on only things we’ve tried and enjoyed at tastings or those that came with strong praise from reliable sources.

So, here we are. I recently read an article, I believe in Wine Spectator, about the Russian River Valley being the strongest region for Pinot Noir in the US so I grabbed the most affordable bottle from the region I could find...and it was still nearly thirty bucks.

The nose is funky, earthy, and a bit musty with perhaps a hint of raspberry...imagine a forest with wild berries glistening in the morning dew. (This blog is getting better already, eh?)

The first few sips were a bit harsh, but with a bit of air it eased up. Lots of earth and funk–tobacco, maybe smoke?--with just the slightest hint of green. Some raspberry and cherry for fruit and plenty of acid. My advice is to give it at least an hour of air (or some time in the cellar I suppose).

The finish has a sassafrasy sort of taste

The greenness hurts my overall opinion, but sadly Pinot Noir is going up in price, especially from highly sought after areas like this. You can certainly do worse. I look forward to trying more Pinot Noir from this area to compare.

2004 M. Cosentino The Zin Zinfandel

Calling a wine “The Zin” seems somewhat boastful, but I will refrain from holding this to a higher standard than other Zinfandel. This one ran us around $14 on sale, I don’t recall the regular price but it did strike me as a deal.

The nose is black fruit...dark berries and plums.

Lots of berries on the palate, blackberry, raspberry, plus cherries, medium tannins, and a fair amount of oak. I’m also getting some anise which isn’t really working in this.

The finish lingers with raspberry and cherry.

Certainly not bad, but it’s not really grabbing me. I can’t say I’d buy it again but I also wouldn’t dissuade someone from buying it if they wanted a Zinfandel for under $15.

2005 Little Boomey Cabernet Sauvignon

A friend of mine picked this up for me and then almost apologized suggesting that my palate may be too sophistimicated for it. I tend to keep an open mind mainly because some of these popular wines (Little Penguin, Gnarly Head, etc) are actually pretty damn good.

A bit of spice on the nose, but not a whole lot.

A fruity palate, somewhat jammy...strawberry, blackberry, even some blueberry, with just a hint of oak. I wouldn’t think this is a Cabernet, perhaps a Merlot or more likely a Zinfandel.

The finish suggests chocolate and fades with some jammy flavors.

I have to say, if you’re reaching for a bottle of Yellow Tail just move down a few feet and pick this up. Ultimately it’s simple, jammy wine, but it has some subtleties just not present in many others of this caliber. If you want a cutesy Australian wine this one and Little Penguin are safe bets.

N/V Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut

You may have noticed this popular Spanish sparkling wine because of it’s unique black bottle. I picked this one up for around $7.

I get a bit of citron on the nose.

A crisp palate with some citrus and green apple and some nice toast plus long lasting bubbles.

The finish leaves a bit of lemon.

A good one for the price, simple, dry, crisp, and refreshing...perhaps the best we’ve had in the under $10 range.

N/V Stones Throw Winery Red Table Wine (MAM edition)

We recently took a trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum and I noticed they had two wines for sale. I picked up the bottle and noticed it was produce by Stone’s Throw Winery, which we’ve had some good luck with, so I picked it up at $16. This is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignane.

The nose is a bit funky, lots of earth, tobacco, tar, plus alcohol and a bit of blackberry.

The palate has a strange funk to it—perhaps from the Carignane–but it’s not a bad thing. I’d almost refer to this as “muddy”....there’s a lot going on, but it’s all just sort blending together, not much is really jumping out. Imagine putting black pepper in boysenberry jam, spreading it on toast, dropping it on the floor, picking it up, and licking it.

And the odd thing about it all.....that’s a good thing. Some nice tannins come through on the back palate and there’s quite a bit of acid. It’s skirting the fine line between balanced and too acidic though so I’d say serve it with food.

The finish immediately hits you with currants and then fades with some dirt, but does fade fairly quickly.

Is it worth $16? Seeing as some portion of the price went to the art museum, I say yes. Bravo to the Milwaukee Art Museum and Stone’s Throw for making a decent and real wine (I’d bet a White Zinfandel would sell better but standards are important). If you’re at the museum, give this a whirl.

2001 Domaine de la Charbonnière Vacqueyras

This Châteauneuf-du-Pape ran me just around $20.

Earth and barnyard on the nose...not much fruit, perhaps a hint of some overripe blackberry.

Smooth tannins, medium bodied–lighter than I expected–black fruit: blackberry, plum, currant, a bit of funk, and lots of herbs.

The finish has an interesting smokey taste to it. The more it opens, the more a blueberry taste comes through on the back end of the palate and finish, but all behind strong herbal notes.

Not bad at all...I’m not sure how much wine at this price is available from France with this level of complexity, I'm guessing not much. I like it.

N.V. Warre’s Otima 20 Year Old Tawny Porto

I opened this bottle around two weeks back and have found that I prefer my Port after it’s had some time with air. Not long ago we reviewed a Warre’s 10 Year Tawny, so this should be interesting to compare.

The nose has some plums, or is it prunes? Somewhere in the middle. Dark, rich fruit.

The palate hits me with raisins and prunes, dried fruit–maybe dried cherry, maybe cranberry, and just a touch of orange peel.

The finish is all nuts....walnuts...and leaves sort of an oily mouthfeel, even after the bottle had been open for some time, I found this improved in the glass...at first pour, it had a pretty striking burn, but after sitting in the glass for 40 minutes or so, it disappeared.

The interesting thing with Port is how it changes over time...there’s still quite a bit left in this bottle so I may write more about this in coming weeks. For now, I think it’s okay, but the 10 year was around $15 cheaper and far smoother and easier on the palate.

N/V Conde de Velazquez Extra Dry Sparkling Wine

I saw this one for $10 and figured it would be interesting to try a sparkling wine from Chile. This is a blend of Semillon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

White bread on the nose.

A bit of yeast and toast on the palate with some nice crisp apple and just a hint of citrus–lemon zest maybe.

The bubbles went flat on this quickly...the bottle has been open for around 20 minutes and within five minutes the glass I poured was flat.

The flavor on this isn’t bad, but the fact that it’s completely flat in under 30 minutes means I just can’t recommend it. You can do far better for $10.

2003 Bruno Sorg Muscat d’Alsace

We tend to avoid Alsatian wines...I like them more than Fran and I find some of them absolutely fascinating, but she can’t stand them. I noticed this at the local shop for $13 and I figured it would be interesting since, even if it’s bone dry, I’ve never had a bone dry Muscat, so why not?

Stone fruit on the nose, peaches, and some mineral as well.

The palate has more stone fruit. It’s not bone dry, but it’s certainly not sweet...hovering right on the edge I’d say. A touch, just a touch of honey and perhaps some green apple and even some strawberry. It certainly has a buttery feel, but I'm not sure if this has seen oak or not.

The finish fades quickly...I get some grapey flavors and that’s about it.

I wouldn’t buy it again, but if you are a fan of Muscat I would say it’s an interesting wine to try because you can clearly taste the varietal yet it’s different than any other one I’ve tried. I suppose the best way to put it is that I like this more for academic reasons than pure enjoyment.

N/V Guillaume Brut De Peche

We had this at a tasting some time ago and I was convinced we liked it. The need to take and keep detailed notes rather than trying to remember vague things like “yeah, this was...this was good” is becoming more and more clear.

This is sparkling wine, from France–but not Champagne–with peach nectar added. If I’m not mistaken, since this has added peach it does not meet any specific appelation’s rules, so all we know about it is that it’s from France.

Peachy nose, peachy palate, peachy finish. Should I say more? It’s not all that different from one of those Bartles and James drinks except that I’m drinking it out of a flute that’s a pain to clean versus a bottle I’d just throw out. The big difference is the alcohol content, this one has 12% versus a wine cooler’s 4%. Even the bubbles are low-fi....many Champagnes can sit in the glass for an hour and still have a stream of bubbles, this one looks flat after five minutes.

This one was $10 and while it’s fine...it’s basically a French Fuzzy Navel. It is what it is, it’s a peach wine and no one is pretending it’s anything else. I think we’ve reached a somewhat depressing point where we just can’t enjoy things like this anymore...

2005 Layer Cake Shiraz

Why the large photo? Read on, friends.

I picked this one up for $15 without trying it, but with a recommendation from the woman at our local wine shop. I let this open for around four hours before even trying it, and as I approach hour six it only improves.

Big, fruity nose....think raspberry or blackberry jam.

Lots of big berry fruit...blueberry and sweet blackberry. Smooth tannins with just a hint of oak that’s suggesting chocolate, but make no mistake this is a huge fruity wine. The back of the palate brings black pepper.

The finish has a drawn out, lingering taste of Twizzlers. When I say lingering, I’m talking I stopped the clock at 75 seconds and I still taste it.

The more Fran and I discuss this wine, the more we are becoming a bit nuts about it....this is one of the finest wines we’ve had in some time, unbelievable balance, strong fruit, nice smooth oak to balance it....it doesn’t get much better and for $15 it’s incredible—and we don’t even like Shiraz! If you see this, and you pass it up, you are a fool. Seriously.

If we did the whole “best of the year” wines, I can tell you right now this would be in our top five of 2007, and we’re barely two weeks in.

2005 Goats Do Roam Red

This label has picked up some wider distribution in recent months. I remember trying this at a tasting a few months back, but don’t recall much about it....I think I need to start making better notes at tastings. This one was $8 at Trader Joe’s and is from South Africa.

One would think this would be a Cotes du Rhone blend with the punny label, but it’s actually Shiraz, Cinsault, Grenache, Gamay, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot...not quite a Cotes blend.

The nose is fruit filled, blueberries mainly, with a bit of oak.

More blueberry on the palate, this is definitely fruit forward, with light oak and mild tannins.

The fruit on the finish fades quickly but some oak lingers.

Strongly recommended. We’re drinking this by itself and it’s excellent, but I’d certainly call this food friendly and would work well with almost anything. Go for it.

2005 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spätlese

This will be our first new vintage/repeat wine. I made a point not to reread what we wrote about the 2003, so it should be interesting to see what we think of this one.

Nothing but peach on the nose.

The palate is mostly apricot, though I’m getting some peach as well with some spice...I’m thinking white pepper. Nice, crisp acidity balances out some sweetness. There’s a nice mineral, wet stone quality as well,

The spice lingers for quite a while on the finish and I’m getting some mild pink grapefruit as well.

Overall, a strong wine and one I’d recommend to fans of Riesling. This one was around $17 and it was certainly worth it.

N/V Cordon Rouge G.H. Mumm Brut Champagne

We picked this bottle up for $25

Nice strawberry essence on the nose.

More strawberry on the palate...a fair amount of yeast and some crisp red apple, citrus, with a bit of toast and vanilla. There’s just a bit too much acid which makes it somewhat harsh, but it’s hardly bad and if you’re serving it with food, not noticeable at all.

And the finish...you guessed it, lingering strawberry and toast and quite of a bit of vanilla.

Not bad at all.

2005 Carmel Road Pinot Noir

Some time ago we bought a few bottles of this wine, I forget the vintage but it was either 2003 or 2004...I just stumbled on the 2005 and based on its past vintages I decided to give it a shot. This one goes for $15.

Alcohol, raspberry, and cola on the nose.

A bit of cola, some cherry, and a lot of harshness on this one...lots of acid, and lots of green....bell pepper, even spinach soaked in cedar.

The finish is lingering but unpleasant...seriously, I’m getting collard greens and asphalt.

I thought it may need some air, but even after three hours this is still not working.

A bad bottle of wine is no big deal, but a bad bottle when I know I’ve enjoyed it before is depressing. This is disappointing to say the least. Perhaps it’s the bottle, perhaps it’s the vintage...all I know is we loved this before and if I didn’t have such strong memories of previous bottles I wouldn’t even consider buying this again. I’ll give it another shot after some time passes.

2005 Murphy’s Law Red Wine

I’m not sure what’s in this one, but the 2004 has Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Sangiovesse. I’m going to guess it’s some blend of those, though this winery also has vineyard which produce Syrah, Grenache, and Blaufrankish.

Oak, spice, and berries...blackberry it seems...on the nose.

Smooth and medium bodied...I think I can actually taste the Sangiovesse. Blackberry, raspberry, cherry, mild oak, a hint of anise, and mild tannins.

The finish has oak and cherry...it fades somewhat quickly but is pleasant.

Not bad at all. It's light enough and well balanced so this can really be paired with anything. Give it a shot.

N/V Andre Brut

This one cost a whopping $4 a bottle...I thought it would be interesting to try the cheapest sparkling wine I could find.

Lemony with a bit of pineapple. The bubbles are soda style...no softness to them, you pour a glass and a huge head forms, yet within a few minutes the glass is flat.

The label calls this Brut, which is false advertising to the hundredth degree. I’d call it sweet, think a moscato with some added sugar.

One thing I’ve learned with this one and Cook’s is that a terrible still wine isn’t remotely as offensive as a terrible sparkling. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this but if you’re on a plane and your choice is some sort of White Zinfandel or this, pick this one up.