Good wine tastes even better when made by great people: An interview with Paul Romero of Stefania Wine

One of life’s simplest pleasures is a well made glass of wine. A single glass of wine exemplifies the hard work put into the vineyard and winery, as well as the personality and passion of its winemaker. When it comes to making good wines that express love and appreciation of both the vineyard and the wine, not many folks do it as good as Paul (and Stefani) Romero of Stefania Wine. Read more

Friday Wine Roundup: Best QPR (Quality to Price) Wines This Week- June 20, 2008

QPR is a measure of a wines Quality to Price Ratio. QPR is used to determine whether or not a wine is worth its price. Each Friday I put up a list of wines that I have recently tasted, that I feel offer great “bang for their buck.” With gas at $4.00 a gallon or more, it’s good to know that you can continue to enjoy great wines even when the budget tightens up. The wines listed here are wines that I feel offer you, the consumer, a great wine that is both well priced, and succeeds at providing a great wine experience. I try to introduce new grape varieties or wine regions to keep things interesting and recommend keeping an eye out for these good QPR’s next time you’re out wine shopping. Most, if not all are available throughout Baltimore. Read more

Ordering wine in a restaurant: “By-the-glass” offers a fun learning experience (4 wines with steak)

After a few hours of working on the kitchen Saturday, Kim and I were getting hungry and it was getting late. 8:00 PM rolled around and we decided we wanted good steaks. Our favorite steakhouse in town is Fleming’s Primes Steakhouse and Wine Bar which offers 100 wines by the glass, an extensive reserve wine list and a variety of meats and seafood to satisfy any appetite. Beware that the wine prices are a bit high, but their by-the-glass list offers many good values, the food is always good, and the service is outstanding. So we called, squeezed in a 9:30 reservation and excitedly hurried over anticipating a great meal.  (Image from dreamstime.com)

Now, normally at a nice dinner I order a bottle of Champagne and a bottle of red wine at the beginning of the meal. This gives the wine time to sit in a decanter if necessary and helps us decide on what we are going to eat. At a steakhouse, it’s almost always a Cabernet or Bordeaux-blend, with the occasional Malbec or other miscellaneous varietal wine. On this night, though, we decided to try something different. SO we started our meal with a round of white wines by the glass, a Riesling and a Gewurztraminer to be precise. Both were quite good and perfect with our fried calamari appetizer. Read more

20 Great Value Wines: How to drink good wine when gas is $5.00 a gallon or more

The current economy has most of us cutting back on non-essentials, driving less, and trying to find ways to save a few bucks. Below is a list of wines that you can afford by cutting back on two gallons of gas or less (most are under $10!). For specific recommendations on wines, wine regions, wine pairings, or anything related to value wines, leave a comment. Have a favorite wine under $10 that I missed? Let us know about it! (Image: WINE AND MONEY© Kvkirillov | Dreamstime.com)

Here are my top picks for value wines, producers, and wine regions. Keep in mind that an 85 is a “Very Good” wine and shouldn’t be overlooked. Too often reviewers and magazines want you to think that only 90 point wines are worth drinking…this isn’t the case and can become quite expensive! An 85 point wine is a wine that I consider to be very good, and would buy again.

Keep an eye out for my report next week on the best wineries and wine regions when it comes to quality and value!

Twenty Great Value Wines: (Click here to download this as a shopping list in PDF Form)

Sparkling

N.V. Riondo Prosecco Veneto IGT -$12 (Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT): Sealed with a traditional cork requiring a cork-screw. A little sweet, hint of yeast, a little fruity, not a lot of fizz but quite refreshing. Overall good appertif, nice flavors. My rating: 87 pts, GV (Good Value)

N.V. Roederer Estate Brut -$21 (USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley): This is the most expensive wine I put on the list, with all the others being $12 or less. But for the price, you get good value here. Apples and citrus on the palate, a very crisp wine with subtle nuttiness and caramel. Nice finish- a great bottle of a special dinner on a budget. My rating: 89 pts, GV Read more

“Washington’s Largest and Most Prestigious Wine Recognition Program Announces 2008 Award Winning Wines”

Press Release:  (Seattle) The Seattle Wine Awards announces the winners of the 2008 Grand Awards of Excellence and the winners of the 2008 Vintner’s Honor ~ Outstanding Wine Awards. These awards represent the culmination of the largest and most comprehensive review of Washington wines in the world. On April 26th & 27th, a panel of 16 of the region’s most prominent wine professionals evaluated 613 Washington wines to determine by consensus the finest Washington wines in 2008. This wine recognition program provides an equal opportunity for new and established wineries to earn the highest level of critical acclaim. A complete history of the event and listing of current and past results is available on-line at www.seattlewineawards.com.

THE “WHITES”

Chardonnay
$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 L’Ecole No. 41, Columbia Valley
SILVER 2006 DaMa Wines, Columbia Valley
BRONZE 2005 Hogue Cellars “Reserve” Columbia Valley

$15.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 Gordon Brothers, Columbia Valley

Outstanding Chardonnay Award
2006 Ch. Ste. Michelle “Canoe Ridge Estate”
2006 Columbia Crest “Grand Estates”
2003 Columbia Winery “Otis Vineyard”
2006 Gorman Winery “Big Sissy”
2006 Milbrandt Legacy “Sundance”
2006 Olsen Estates, Columbia Valley

White Bordeaux Style
$15.01 / $30.00
GOLD 2007 Ash Hollow Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley

$15.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc, Columbia Valley

Pinot Gris/Grigio
GOLD 2007 Tsillan Cellars “Estate”

Outstanding Pinot Gris/Grigio Award
2007 Mercer Estates, Columbia Valley
2007 Vin Du Lac Winery “Grisant!”
2007 Waterbrook Winery, Columbia Valley

Sauvignon Blanc
GOLD 2007 Maryhill Winery “Classic”
SILVER 2006 Gordon Brothers “Estate”

Riesling
$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 Tsillan Cellars Dry Riesling “Estate”
SILVER 2007 O-S Winery, Horse Heaven Hills
BRONZE 2007 Trio Vintners “Lewis Vineyard”

$15.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 Columbia Winery “Cellarmaster”
SILVER 2007 Martin-Scott, Columbia Valley
BRONZE 2007 Ch. Ste. Michelle, “Cold Creek Vineyard”

Outstanding Riesling Award
2007 Ch. Ste. Michelle “Dry Riesling”
2006 Covey Run “Quail Series”
2006 Hogue Cellars “Genesis”
2006 Latah Creek Wine Cellars, WA State
2007 Patit Creek Cellars, Columbia Valley
2006 Sagelands Vineyards, Columbia Valley
2007 Snoqualmie Vineyards “Naked Riesling”

Viognier
GOLD 2006 Prosser Wine Co. Farm Boy, “Lawrence Vineyard”

White Proprietary
$15.00 / Under
GOLD NV Townshend Cellars “White Table”
SILVER 2006 Gordon Brothers, “Kamiak White” Cellar Select

White Varietals
GOLD 2006 Doyenne Rousanne
GOLD 2007 San Juan Vineyards Siegerrebe
GOLD 2006 Hogue Cellars Gewurztraminer

Outstanding White Varietals / Rosé Award
2007 Kyra Wines Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley
2007 Pontin Del Roza Chenin Blanc, Yakima
2006 Steppe Cellars Gewurztraminer, Yakima
2007 Cana’s Feast Winery Bricco Rosato
2006 Saint Laurent Estate Winery Rosé of Syrah

Dessert Style Ice Wines
GOLD 2006 Eroica ~ White Riesling Ice Wine
SILVER 2005 Covey Run ~ Semillon Reserve Ice Wine

Dessert Style Late Harvest
GOLD 2006 Ethos Late Harvest ~ White Riesling
SILVER 2006 Northwest Totem Cellars Late Harvest ~ Viognier
BRONZE 2006 Bainbridge Island Vineyards ~ Late Harvest Siegerrebe

THE “REDS”

Merlot
$30.01 / Up
GOLD 2005 Cougar Crest, Walla Walla
SILVER 2004 Northstar, Columbia Valley
BRONZE 2005 Fielding Hills “Riverbend Vineyard”
BRONZE 2005 L’Ecole No. 41 “Seven Hills Vineyard Estate”

$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2005 Gamache Vintners “Gamache Vineyard”
SILVER 2005 Fidelitas, Columbia Valley
BRONZE 2004 Red Sky Winery, Columbia Valley

$15.00 / Under
GOLD 2005 Northwest Cellars
SILVER 2004 Hyatt Vineyards “Roza Ridge”
BRONZE 2004 Dusted Valley Vintners “Boomtown”

Outstanding Merlot Award
2006 Airfield Estates, Yakima
2005 Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Horse Heaven Hills
2005 Basel Cellars Estate “Pheasant Run Vineyard”

Outstanding Merlot Award
2004 Camaraderie Cellars, Columbia Valley
2005 Ch. Ste. Michelle “Canoe Ridge Estate”
2005 Columbia Crest “Grand Estates”
2005 Desert Wind Vineyards “Desert Wind Vineyard”
2005 Frenchman’s Gulch, WA State
2005 Helix by Reininger, Columbia Valley
2005 Hogue Cellars “Genesis” Columbia Valley
2005 Jones of Washington, Wahluke Slope
2003 Kalamar Winery, Yakima Valley
2005 Lost River Winery, Columbia Valley
2005 Maryhill Winery “Propreitor’s Reserve”
2005 Maryhill Winery “Classic” Columbia Valley
2005 Milbrandt Vineyards “Legacy” Wahluke Slope
2005 Otis Kenyon, Walla Walla
2004 Patit Creek Cellars, Walla Walla
2005 Patit Creek Cellars, Walla Walla
2005 Sagelands Vineyards “Select” Columba Valley
2005 Saint Laurent Estate Winery, Wahluke Slope
2005 Vin Du Lac Winery “Barrel Select”
2005 Waterbrook “Reserve” Columbia Valley
2005 Whitestone Winery, Columbia Valley
2004 Whitman Cellars, Columbia Valley
2005 Woodinville Wine Cellars, Stillwater Creek
2005 Zerba Cellars, Columbia Valley

Sangiovese
$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 Covington Cellars, Red Mountain
SILVER 2004 Zefina, Horse Heaven Hills

Outstanding Sangiovese Award
2005 Cana’s Feast Winery Bricco “Ciel du Cheval”

Red Proprietary Blends
$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2005 Walla Walla Vintners “Cuvée”
SILVER 2006 Merry Cellars “Crimson”
BRONZE 2005 Totem Cellars “Lowman Red” $15.00 / Under SILVER 2005 Six Prong Red Wine

Outstanding Red Proprietary Blends Award
2005 Brian Carter Cellars “Tuttorosso”
2006 Des Voigne Cellars “Untitled”
2005 Dunham Cellars “Trutina”
2005 Efeste “Final-Final”
2006 Martin Scott Winery “Raven Ridge Red”
2005 Northwest Cellars “Intrigue”
2004 Whitman Cellars “Narcissa Red”
2005 Yellow Hawk Cellars “Solstice”

Red Bordeaux Style Blends
$30.01 / Up
GOLD 2004 Cote Bonneville “Carriage House”
SILVER 2005 DeLille “Chaleur Estate”
BRONZE 2005 àMaurice Red Blend “The Callahan”

$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2005 Ash Hollow “Nine Mile Estate”
SILVER 2004 Northstar “Stella Maris”
BRONZE 2006 Waters Winery “Interlude”

$15.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 Maryhill “Winemaker’s Red”
SILVER 2005 Hogue Cellars “Cabernet / Merlot”

Outstanding Red Bordeaux Style Blends Award
2005 Andrew Will Winery “Two Blondes”
2005 Ash Hollow “Terassa Estate Reserve”
2006 Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon “Reserve”
2005 Barnard Griffin Merlot “Reserve”
2005 Basalt Cellars “Perimeter Red”
2005 Basel Cellars “Inspired”
2004 Brian Carter Cellars “Solesce”
2004 Brian Carter Cellars “L’Etalon”
2006 Buty Winery “Merlot/Cabernet Franc”
2004 Fidelitas “Optu Red Wine”
2005 Fielding Hills “Riverbend Red”
2005 Hence Cellars “Cultivar”
2005 Kyra Wines “PSV Red Wine”
2005 L’Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla
2005 Lost River Winery “Cedarosa”
2005 Robert Karl Cellars “Claret”
2005 Ryan Patrick “Rock Island Red”
2005 Saviah “Big Sky Cuvée”

Outstanding Red Bordeaux Style Blends Award
2005 Spring Valley Vineyards “Frederick”
2005 Spring Valley Vineyards “Uriah”
2005 Three Rivers “Meritage Red”
2005 Woodinville Wine Cellars “Little Bear Creek”

Cabernet Sauvignon
$30.01 / Up
GOLD 2004 Dunham Cellars “X” Columbia Valley
SILVER 2004 Gamache Vintners “Champoux / Gamache Vineyard Reserve”
BRONZE 2005 Tamarack Cellars, Columbia valley

$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2005 DaMa Wines, Columbia Valley

Outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon Award
2005 Alder Ridge Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills
2005 Anelare, Columbia Valley
2004 Boudreaux Cellars Reserve “Champoux Vineyard”
2005 Boudreaux Cellars, WA State
2004 Camaraderie Cellars, Columbia Valley
2005 Fidelitas, Columbia Valley
2005 Fielding Hills “Riverbend Vineyard”
2005 Gorman Winery “Bully” Red Mountain
2005 Milbrandt Vineyards “Legacy” Wahluke Slope
2005 Soos Creek “Champoux Vineyard”
2005 Three Rivers Winery “Champoux Vineyard”
2005 Thurston Wolfe, WA State
2005 Vin Du Lac Winery “Barrel Select” Columbia Valley
2005 Walla Walla Vintners “Sagemoor Vineyard”
2005 Waters Winery, Walla Walla
2005 Wedge Mountain Winery, Red Mountain
2004 Whitman Cellars, Columbia Valley
2005 Woodinville Wine Cellars Reserve “Stillwater Creek”
2005 Woodward Canyon “Artist Series” Columbia Valley
2005 Woodward Canyon “Old Vines” Columbia Valley

Rhone Style Blends
$30.01 / Up
GOLD 2006 Olsen Estates “Rouges des Coteaux”

Outstanding Rhone Style Blends Award
2004 Brian Carter Cellars “Byzance,” Columbia Valley
2005 Doyenne “Metier,” Red Mountain
2004 Zefina Winery “Serience Red” Horse Heaven Hills

Syrah
$30.01 / Up
GOLD 2005 Dunham Cellars “Lewis Vineyard”
SILVER 2005 Skylite Cellars, Columbia Valley
BRONZE 2005 Fielding Hills “Riverbend Vineyard”

$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2005 Basel Cellars, Walla Walla
SILVER 2005 Ch. Ste. Michelle “Ethos”
BRONZE 2004 C.R. Sandidge “Klingele Vineyard”

$15.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 Dusted Valley Vintners “Boomtown”
SILVER 2004 Hyatt Vineyards “Roza Ridge”

Outstanding Syrah Award
2005 Alexandria Nicole Cellars “Block 17”
2005 Amavi Cellars, Walla Walla
2006 Barnard Griffin, Columbia Valley
2005 Bergevin Lane Vineyards “Barrel Select”
2005 Columbia Crest “Reserve” Columbia Valley
2005 Covington Cellars, Walla Walla
2005 Doyenne Cellars, Yakima Valley
2004 Duck Pond Cellars “Desert Wind Vineyard”
2005 Gamache Vintners “Gamache Vineyard”
2005 Gorman Winery “Pixie” Red Mountain
2005 Helix by Reininger, Columba Valley
2005 Hence Cellars, Walla Walla
2005 Jones of Washington, Wahluke Slope
2003 Kiona Winery “Reserve” Red Mountain
2005 L’Ecole No. 41 “Seven Hills Vineyard Estate”
2005 Maryhill Winery “Proprietor’s Reserve”
2005 Maryhill Winery “Classic” Columbia Valley
2006 Merry Cellars, Stillwater Creek
2005 Nicholas Cole Cellars “Dauphine” Walla Walla
2005 Northwest Totem Cellars, Columbia Valley
2005 Olympic Cellars Winery “La Dolce Vita”
2005 Page Cellars “Klipsun Vineyard”
2005 Red Sky Winery, Red. Mtn. / Yakima Valley
2005 Reininger Winery “Ash Hollow Vineyard”
2006 Robert Karl Cellars, Horse Heaven Hills
2005 Saint Laurent Estate Winery “Reserve”
2005 Saint Laurent Estate Winery, Wahluke Slope

Outstanding Syrah Award
2005 Spring Valley Vineyard “Nina Lee”
2005 Three Rivers Winery “Boushey Vinyeyard”
2006 Va Piano Vineyards, Walla Walla & CV
2005 Woodinville Wine Cellars, Columbia Valley
2005 Zerba Cellars, Columbia Valley

Red Varietals
$30.01 / Up
GOLD 2005 Maryhill Zinfandel “Proprietors Reserve”
GOLD 2005 Maryhill Malbec “Proprietor’s Reserve”
SILVER 2005 Waving Tree Nebbiolo

$30.00 / Under
GOLD 2006 Northwest Wine Academy Petit Verdot, Yakima
SILVER 2006 Balsamroot Zinfandel, Wahluke Slope

Outstanding Red Varietals Award
2005 Ash Hollow Estate Malbec, Walla Walla
2006 Kyra Wines Pinot Noir, WA State
2005 Lake Crest Winery Pinot Noir, N. Okanogan
2006 Martin Scott Winery Zinfandel, Columbia Valley
2005 Sagelands Vineyard Malbec, Columbia Valley
2006 Tamarack Cellars Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley
2005 Walla Walla Vintners Malbec, Columbia Valley
2006 William Church Winery Malbec, Wahluke Slope
2005 Wilridge Nebbiolo di Klipsun, Klipsun Vineyard

May 16th, 2008 - Robert Mondavi Day

Today the wine world lost one of it’s most loved and influential members. Robert Mondavi died at the age of 94 in his Napa Valley home. Mondavi launched his own wine label at the age of 52 back in 1966. He aimed to produce high quality wines at a time when the US was just beginning to open up to the idea of fine wine. Into his late eighties and even early nineties, Mondavi spent his days traveling the world promoting American wines. Further, in more recent years, Mondavi was well known for his philanthropy and contributions to American wine education.

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“Cellar Notes” on WYPR: Great programming, but not always great advice!

As a PhD student, I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer that is attached to electrophysiology equipment, a big microscope equipped with a CCD camera, and a giant laser used to stimulate neurons in rat brain tissue. I spend hours and hours recording electrical activity of neurons with the hope that I’ll positive data so I can graduate some time before the 2005 Bordeaux’s are at their peak (in the next 20-40 years). The advantage to my day is that I can listen to music, podcasts, and watch videos while my experiments are running. Most of the day, though, I am just simply listening to National Public Radio (NPR) trying to keep up on the news, politics and other things going on in Baltimore and the rest of the world.

I think it’s fair to say that I’m slightly addicted to NPR. I listen at all hours of the day and night and home. I am really impressed with our local NPR station (WYPR in Baltimore). One program I really enjoy is a short (5 minutes or so) segment called Cellar Notes. Each day around 5:30 PM Al Spoler and Hugh Sisson discuss wine topics ranging from wine pairing advice and wine events, to recently to the new up and coming varietal.I really enjoy and appreciate the programming, and try to catch it at least a few times a week. I think it’s a great way to get people excited about wines and is very informative and well produced.

In the last few weeks though, two comments were made that I completely disagree with. One, involving American Pinot Noir versus those of Burgundy. The second, being a comment on foods that go better with beer (rather than wine).

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6 Reasons to Sneak Away From Lab For Lunch: Tasting Notes on Wines from Shafer Vineyards

Some lunches are good, others just OK. Today’s lunch was, well..outstanding.

I was invited by a friend (thanks Dae!) to join in on a tasting at Kali’s Court in Fells Point. The wines being poured were all from the California producer, Shafer, which are represented locally by Bacchus. This was quite the treat as Shafer is one of California’s premier producers. Located in Napa Valley’s Stag Leap District, Shafer produces some of the most highly sought-after California wines (especially their “Hillside Select” Cabernet). Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the wines. Although they aren’t priced to be daily drinkers, these wines (with the exception of the Merlot) are worth their price and are a provide value for a special occasion.

Without further ado, the tasting notes: Read more

Tasting Note: 1978 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Bosche Vineyard

After a weekend involving ripping out the kitchen (we’re doing a complete renovation, image below shows new washer/dryer!). it was nice to open a 30 year old wine in a pre-celebration for Kim’s upcoming birthday! Here are a few pics of the renovation, as well as the tasting note on the wine. Explanations for the tasting note are at the end!

1978 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Bosche Vineyard: Stood up for two weeks in the cellar to let the sediment collect. Light seepage which worried me. The cork came out perfectly in one piece. Decanted very gently only to remove sediment of which there was a significant amount. In the glass the wine reddish with some bricking. The nose had sweet scents with some rhubarb and earth. Surprisingly the wine wasn’t maderized or gone. After 10 minutes in the glass fruits emerged, although very subtle, blackberry. The wine begins actually quite nice, but falls apart near the finish when the tannins that survived show up as well as a big mouthful of coffee. Long over the hill but still drinkable. Overall I was happy with the bottle! My Rating: 85 pts

• Standing the wine up: When you are preparing to drink an older wine, it’s always recommended you stand the bottle up for a few weeks to allow the sediment to collect at the bottom of the bottle.
• Decanting very gently over candlelight, will allow you to pour only the wine into the decanter while keeping the sediment where it belongs, in the bottle!
• A wine that is “maderized” has been “baked” (oxidized) and suffers from a tangy, acidic profile.
• Wines that are “over the hill” have surpassed their suggested drinking window and can be either drinkable or far beyond anything palatable.

Recipe: Cinghale (Wild-Boar) Sausage and Shrimp on Greens

A very easy and quick appetizer I came up with one night while figuring out a new way to make shrimp. Any mild sausage could be used as a substitute if cinghale is not available.

Ingredients

• 8-10 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 Tablespoons Shallots, chopped fine
• 1 large clove garlic, chopped fine
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 3 oz wild boar sausage, chopped roughly
• salt/pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups arugula, spinach or other preferred green

1. Saute garlic and shallot in olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage after 2-3 minutes and cook for 3 additional minutes.
2. Deglaze pan with sherry - allow to reduce for 3 minutes. Add butter.
3. Once melted, add shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side. Coat well with sauce while cooking.
4. Plate on bed of greens and serve with sauce as a dressing.

Wine Pairing: 2004 Dutton Estate Chardonnay Dutton Ranch

A glimpse of summer…Fresh Maine Lobster, Scallops and a Chilled California Chardonnay

What better way to welcome warm summer nights than to chill some Corona’s and Sparkling wines? Kim and I recently decided that we have had enough of the cold and picked up some Live Maine Lobsters and sea scallops.

The pairing of the night was the 2004 Dutton Estate Chardonnay, which was very buttery and a great match for both the lobster and the scallops.

2004 Dutton Estate Chardonnay - $35: Pale gold color. Good weight in the glass, with aromas of apple, peach, buttered popcorn, oak, vanilla bean. Bubblegum, dried apricot, apple, cotton candy, with a hint of grass on the medium body. Good acidity, good balance, nice crispness on the finish. Bordering on “too much oak” but it pulls it off nicely. I’d recommend an hour decant (yes I know it’s a white wine). My rating: 90 pts, GV (good value)
A great place to get live Maine Lobsters any time of year:

I love it when friends come to visit - Cheeses, scallops, shrimp, ribeyes, Cabernet, Syrah and more!

I love it when a good friend comes to visit. It’s a great excuse to open a few nice bottles of wine and make a big dinner. Last night my friend Brandon drove down from Michigan for dinner and a 4 day mini-vacation. About 10 minutes after pulling into the driveway, we went to a local wine store for a wine tasting and to stock up for the weekend. From there we hit Whole Foods where we found some cheese, sweet potato’s, scallops, collosal shrimp, beef ribeye steak and a bison New York strip steak.
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Wine Club March ‘08 Meetup: The Recap!

This past weekend the F&WB Wine Club met up for an Easter-eve wine tasting. We had a good turnout this month with 13 attendees including 5 (two of which I am pictured with below near our bar) new people who haven’t been to any previous tastings. There were more than 10 cheeses, multiple salmon-based finger foods, grilled chicken and a bunch of other treats on hand. The theme was to bring a bottle of wine under $20 that was something you have had before and enjoyed. The hope was to find a handful of great value wines that would be outstanding for every-day consumption. About half of the wines fell into this category while the other half were randomly picked. The wines were all brown bagged and tasted blind and rated. We voted on our favorites at the end of the night before removing the bags. Below is a list of the wines on hand in descending order of how they were rated (I present the sparkling wines first which were tasted non-blind). The unanimous winner was the 2006 Fat Catz Cat Amongst Pigeons Syrah/Cabernet blend which I scored blind 91 pts and is an outstanding value.
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MD Cru February 2008 Recap: Traditional Pairing of French Cuisine and Big Cali Wines!

On Sunday February 24, 2008 the MD-Cru (previous events: Big Wines, Chateauneuf du Pape) met up for it’s monthly gathering of friends, new and old, to talk wine, catch up on politics, and drink a few bottles of wine with a light meal. This month’s venue was familiar to many of us in the “Cru” - Cafe de Paris in Columbia, Maryland with the wine theme familiar to any serious wine enthusiast: California Wine.

When I say “few bottles of wine”, I mean 20 outstanding wines, including 2 barrel samples from Stefania Winery. And by a “light meal” I mean onion soup, fois gras, ratatouille on crustini, ribeyes, lamb chops and duck breast finished off with decadent chocolate moouse and other delectable desserts. Classic French Cuisine with the traditional pairing of big Cali wines…at least we started the evening with Champagne!
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Tasting Notes: Chameleon Cellars and Bravante

Notes from a recent tasting. Overall, there wasn’t a “bad” wine in the bunch. Some were good, some were great. A few outstanding! The Chameleon Cellars wines are styled to let the fruit express itself and would be best consumed any night of the week with a good, simple food pairing. In contrast, the Bravante wines are complex, elegant examples of the potential of the fruits with good blends and the right amount of oak. These wines are built to stand up to big steaks, rich dishes, and for the most part are structured to last a few years in the cellar. Both producers are highly recommended - at least a few wines from each! In fact, I recommend that you go out and find a wine from either (or both) producer(s), drink it, write what you think, and e-mail them to me or post a comment! (These wines can be found online or at shops throughout Baltimore)

Without further ado, in the order we drank them:

2006 Chameleon Cellars Sauvignon Blanc North Coast: Tropical fruits and some mineral on the nose - honeydew, peach, apple, and jasmine on the palate - good acidity, nice crisp finish. My rating: 89 pts, GV (Good value)

2005 Chameleon Cellars Grenache - Mendocino: Nose filled with cherry and raspberry, a touch of smoke and a mild wet dirt component. Lot’s of black cherry on the palate, light then becoming fuller with medium tannins. Would be great with rabbit. My rating: 87 pts, OKV

2003 Chameleon Cellars Charbono: Nose of spruce, herbs, eucalyptus, with cherry and white pepper on the palate. Overall good balance but could benefit from a touch more acidity. The finish is medium length and brings back a hint of herbs. My rating: 87 pts, GV

2005 Chameleon Cellars Carignane: The most widely planted grape in southeastern France, this Salono County Carignane was made from hillside vines and fruit from a warm growing season. The result is an earthy nose with a touch of chocolate. Good acidity with cherry notes, light in style with a smooth finish - very interesting wine that would pair nicely with a variety of wild game. My rating: 87 pts, GV

2005 Chameleon Cellars Syrah: Brilliant color and weight to this wine. Just approaching the glass with your nose you are bombarded with red pepper and spice. A lot of fruits stand out in the wine and the medium tannins are well integrated. More Old-World in style which is a good thing! My rating: 90 pts, VGV (Very Good Value)

2005 Chameleon Cellars Petit Sirah: Coming from 112 year old vines, this Petit Sirah is very good (tasted from 3 bottles). Dark purple color, aromas of dark cherry, spice and cigar box. Big, dark fruits and black pepper on the palate - great structure, big, chewy tannins and a 30 second finish. Drink one now and lay a few down for the next 5 years when it should peak. My rating: 91 pts, OV (Outstanding Value)

2005 Chameleon Cellars Barbera Mendocino: Beautiful bright color, vibrant red fruits, tightly wound but explosive - the wine is balanced and finishes crisp - a great pizza wine. My rating: 86 pts, GV

2004 Chameleon Cellars Zinfandel, Gordon Valley (Napa): Concentrated flavors, blackberry, blueberry, earth, spice, medium tannins. My rating: 87 pts, GV

2004 Chameleon Cellars Merlot: Plum, cherry, raspberry notes. As with many of the other Chameleon wines, the fruits really stand out, but this one lacks balance of the other wines. My rating: 86 pts, OKV (OK Value)

2005 Chameleon Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon: In this first effort at a Cabernet, Chameleon did a fine job. Don’t expect the creamy, oakiness of many other Cabs as this was designed to let the fruit shine. Earth notes, blackberry, black cherry, bell pepper, medium tannins with a bite. No formal rating was recorded during my tasting but from memory it was good. At the price, it’s worth trying to see if it’s your style. NR (No rating)

2004 Bravante Merlot - $38: Plum, cherry, touch of thyme. Good mid-palate filled with fruits and some acidity that becomes balanced into soft tannins. A touch of sweet fruit returns on the finish and is highlighted with black pepper. My rating: 88 pts, GV

2004 Bravante Trio, $40: This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc is quite good. Lot’s of black fruits and buttered toast, dried herbs on the nose. The wine is complex with chocolate, blackberry, and some sweet cedar, has great structure and balance and finishes with layers of flavors and big tannins - I’d lay a few bottles down (if you can find them!) for 3 or more years. My rating: 93 pts, VGV

2004 Bravante Cabernet Sauvignon - $50: Consistent with my previous notes: dark fruits, deep color, herb, vanilla. Not decanted this time around, but it drank nicely. My rating: 92 pts, GV

2003 Bravante Simpatico - $75: This was my wine of the night - layers and layers of dark fruits, earth, cherry, cigar box, anise, spice. Huge body, big tannins, a Cadillac among Fiats. Big, long finish, did I mention this wine is big? Pricey but worth it if you like big California Cabs (wine is roughly 80% Cab Sauvignon and 20% Cab Franc) can find a few bottles of this very limited release. For best enjoyment, lay it down for at least 5 years maybe 10 or more! My rating: 94 pts, CV (this wine has “cellar” or “collectible” value - meaning if you can afford it, definitely go for it!).

Two California producers to look for: Chameleon Cellars and Bravante

I recently had the great opportunity of joining in a small group of winemakers, collectors and friends to taste through the portfolio’s of two exciting California wineries. Included in the group were representatives from both wineries: Jeffery Poppick of Chameleon, and Michelle Hunt of Bravante.

The evening started with a Chameleon Sauvignon Blanc. Jeff noted that to really appreciate the wine, one must overlook the frigid outdoor temperatures and imagine sitting outside on a warm, June evening in Maryland, enjoying the chilled, crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. I didn’t record formal notes on the wine, but a lot of tropical fruit jumped out and the wine had very good acidity and a nice finish. This wine is an easy choice at around $15 and being an 89 point wine.

From the lone white wine, we moved through the progression of reds getting details on the winemaking involved in each wine, as well as where the grapes were sourced. The passion that Jeff has for his wines was evident in his voice as he talked with excitement about his unique varietals such as Carignan and Charbono.

Overall the Chameleon wines were quite good and some were great. As a producer, Chameleon Cellars sources its fruits from vineyards across the Central and North Coasts of California. Whereas other wineries that produce their own fruit are stuck with low quality grapes in low quality vintages, Chameleon can choose to produce or not produce certain types of wines in any given year depending on the quality of the fruit.

It was a treat to taste all the wines side-by-side as I developed a great understanding of the style of wines Jeff likes to make as well as what he’s trying to express with his creations. For the most part, each wine had great structure and balance, and benefited from the right amount of time in barrel. Jeff’s philosophy of “let the fruit express itself” was evident from the start. In a blind tasting, I would not have guessed some of the wines to be from California as there was no tendency to let oak overshadow the finesse of many of this varietals. The best wines of the Chameleon bunch were a Grenache that was very bright and displayed good balance, a 2005 Syrah that gets a lot of points for being very unique and how it evolved nicely in the glass, and a Petit Sirah that had outstanding structure and tannins. Each are highly recommended (tasting notes to come).

After tasting through the Chameleon wines, we moved on to the wines of Bravante. Bravante may sound familiar as I have reviewed one of their wines in the past (see the review here). Represented by Michelle Hunt, of Bravante Vineyards, the four wines we had were quite different in every aspect as compared to the Chameleon wines. For starters, Bravante produces its own fruits at its two vineyards in the outstanding Howell Mountain appellation. This results in wines with very similar flavor profiles coming from incredible fruits. The amount of oak in the Bravante wines was right on and overall the wines were perfectly balanced and structured to stand up to a nice meal. Of the four wines we tasted, three were at least 90 points, with one being an outstanding 94 points (Bravante Simpatico, 2003). Michelle Hunt was very knowledgeable and passionate about her wines as well, and it was a pleasure to have the chance to get her input on their wines while we tasted.

I’d highly recommend looking into wines form both of these wineries. I’d characterize the wines of Chameleon as unique, everyday, food-friendly wines that are for the most part approachable at release and are moderately priced ($15-$30). Bravante’s wines are rich, luscious wines that can be approached now but for the most part are structured to last 5 years or more in the cellar. The Bravante wines are great for their price point, considering the price of other California wines of their caliber and would be great for a special dinner at home or a nice night dining out. In any event, both are worth taking the time to seek them out (Grand Cru and Diwine both carry these wines) as well as the money you’ll spend on them. Great thanks to both Michelle and Jeff for letting me taste their wines, as well as the host of the tasting and distributor of these wines, Rich at The Cult Wine Group. If you’re ever out in Napa and looking for something to do, check out the tasting room at Chameleon, as well as the tasting-room in progress at Bravante (picture here is of Bravante)!

Note: Tasting notes to follow.

TN: 2004 Ecluse Syrah - Paso Robles Vineyard - $23

2004 Ecluse Syrah - Paso Robles Vineyard - $23:  Decanted and poured.  Creamy melon nose with dried cherry and some spice…very aromatic and complex - quite nice.  Lot’s of cherry and some dark fruits on the palate, medium-big tannins and a good amount of alcohol which was in harmony with good acidity.  Opened up great after two hours…some of the initial oak subsided while the fruits stood out and tobacco appeared on the nose.  If you like Syrah, this one is highly recommended.   My rating: 92 pts, VGV (very good value)

I paired this with grilled veal chops, grilled parsnips and Bruschetta - overall was a good to very good pairing!   Recipes on the veal chops and Bruschetta will follow in the next day or two.

TN: 2006 Standing Stone Vineyards Riesling (New York State, Finger Lakes)

2006 Standing Stone Vineyards Riesling- $12:  Pale yellowish color. Floral bouquet with some apple and pear. Light body with pear, apricot and mineral notes. Medium-light acidity with a crisp finish.  My rating: 86 pts, GV

TN: 2004 Bravante Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Those of you who have been reading this site for some time, know that I don’t review too many California Cabernets. But, with all the hype of the 2004 vintage I am trying to get my hands on as many as possible to see if they are really worth all the excitement. The problem is, the prices are astronomical! With many of the better wines well over $50 and some even into the $150 or more range, there are a lot better ways to spend your money!

Today’s wine is the 2004 Bravante Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. It’s reasonably priced for the vintage at around $50, but again, I could get 2-3 good bottles of wine from Chile, Argentina, Portugal, etc…for that same price. Nonetheless, California Cabernet’s are America’s premier and most highly celebrated wine and can be quite great. Heck, some are even worth the money. This Bravante is one of them.

2004 Bravante Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain : Decanted. Dark purple color - possesses big dark berry and currant, herb, vanilla, and spice notes. The body is medium to big with integrated and refined tannins that finish with a touch of spice and chocolate. Lovely with a medium-rare ribeye - drinking very nice now. Re-corked and drank great on Day 2 as well. My rating: 92 pts, GV (Good Value for a California Cabernet)

TN: Burrton Pinot Noir - Sonoma 2004

Burrton 2004 Pinot Noir - Sonoma - $24- Decanted and poured. Bright, light ruby in color. Nose of sour/black cherry, dark raspberry, cinnamon, misc spices. Good balance on the palette with more raspberry and a touch of rhubarb. Light in style, with a touch of minerals and a medium, refreshing finish and mild tannins. Got better over an hour and a half. Good value Pinot from Sonoma. My rating: 90 pts, VGV (Very good value).

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