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

Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year - What I thought!

This month The Wine Spectator released it’s top 100 wines of the year. Without getting into what I thought of their selections, and with 2008 a few days away, I thought I’d recap my tasting notes on the wines that made Wine Spectator’s top 100 that I was lucky enough to try. Unfortunately, the high prices of those wines in the top 50 were too much for me to taste more than a few! Maybe next year we’ll see more value wines making the top 50! NOTE - I’ve listed Wine Spectator’s ratings (WS Rating) and rank. For information on my Value Rating System, check out my ratings page.

Without further ado:

8. Mollydooker Shiraz McLaren Vale Carnival of Love 2006 ($80): Opened and tasted immediately: Mushroom, plum, cherry, big fruits, big yet soft tannins. Decanted. 2 hour decant: Great color. Still tight on the nose. The initial mushroom note is gone with the appearance of a musty-forest floor with a touch of pepper and bacon. On the palette it’s toasted cedar, vanilla, plum, pretty solid through the middle with a long, complex finish that goes on and on. At this point I’m definitely seeing 96 pts or more. 3 hour decant: Again showing better, more buttery now with a bit more spice. The fruits in this wine just don’t stop. Quite pleasing and still 96+ points. 4 hour decant: Just as elegant as before. I’m quite impressed with the structure of this wine and overall quality. Very good. A very solid 96 points. My rating: 96 pts, GV. WS Rating: 95 pts

12. Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2001 ($175): I have yet to try this wine, but it’s in the cellar and will be opened in 10 years or so!

16. Schild Shiraz Barossa 2005 ($25): Decanted - big dark fruits, spice, tobacco on the nose. On the palate the wine is explosive with big, dark fruit, leather, plum, tar. Smooth tannins, long finish - pretty straight forward big Aussie Shiraz if that’s your style, you’ll like this wine (the 2004 was a better wine overall). We had this twice and it was consistently good. My rating: 90 pts, GV. WS Rating: 93 pts

37. Navarro Zinfandel Mendocino 2004 ($19): Blueberry, blackberry, cherry and some spice notes on the nose, as well as a small petrol component. Very good balance given the amount of alcohol, smooth tannins and a medium-long finish. A good Zin and great value. Tasted 3 times with consistent notes and evaluation. My rating: : 93 pts, VGV. WS Rating: 92 pts

62. Louis Jadot Moulin-à-Vent Château des Jacques 2005 ($22): Decanted 1 hour. Earthy tones, cherry, raspberry and other bright fruits. On the palate the wine was very well balanced, with dusty tannins and a earthy, medium-length finish. Should get better with a couple years, drinking nice now with a long decant. My rating: 93 pts, VGV. WS Rating: 91 pts

71. Columbia Crest Merlot Columbia Valley Grand Estates ($11): Deep reddish plum in color with notes of plum, raspberry, vanilla and blueberry on the nose. The body is surprisingly creamy with soft tannins layered with good fruit and tar flavors. Long finish accented by a subtle chocolate note - well made bargain Merlot. Buy a case and enjoy one of the best values out there. My rating: 89 pts, OV. WS Rating: 90 pts

72. Yellow Tail Shiraz South Eastern Australia The Reserve 2005 ($11): With all the hype about the Yellowtail reserve Shiraz, I felt it would be fun to grab a bottle and see for myself whether it was warranted. I did not taste this blind, but I wish I had, it was very good. The wine was filled with dark fruits and spice with surprising balance and really smooth tannins. The finish fell apart a bit, but overall the wine is a great value and highly recommended as a daily drinker. My rating: 88 pts, OV. WS Rating: 90pts

77. Heidsieck Monopole Brut Champagne Blu Top NV ($35). Tasted from 375 mL bottle. Pale yellow color with plenty of tiny bubbles. Apple, pear, buttered toast with good balance. Light, crisp, and very refreshing. My rating: 90 pts, VGV. WS Rating: 91 pts.

92. Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch 2006($14): Pale yellow color. On the nose is wet stone, pear, honey and a touch of lemon rind with citrus, pear and some more honey on the palate. This wine has some wild acidity but it’s not overwhelming and makes it a great spring/summer wine served with spicy cuisine. The finish is crisp and very refreshing. A great value wine from an outstanding producer. My rating: 91 pts, OV. WS Rating: 90pts

100. Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2004 ($70): Tasted twice. August 2007 - Filled with dark fruits, berry, currant, chocolate, touch of oak. Firm tannins, long finish. Another great wine from a great producer with good aging potential. My rating: 93 pts, CV. WS Rating: 92 pts

Caymus tasted again 12/26/07: Decanted 30 minutes at a wine bar. Real tight nose, blackberry, black currant, leather. On the palate the wine was a bit off from the other time I’ve had this and rated it 93 pts…the tannins were rough with a medium-long finish. Not corked, but maybe an off bottle. My rating: 87 pts (PV, poor value as it showed this time around).

A taste of South Africa

South Africa has become one of the better “new world” wine regions producing a wide variety of both white and red wines.  The wines are both exciting and elegant and at their best can be not only great bargains, but also magnificent wines.  Lacking from the list below is the trademark grape of South Africa, Pinotage, which makes wines with balanced fruit and a recognizable earthiness.  Here I give you six reasons to branch out and try a wine from South Africa next time you’re at a wine shop. Wines were tasted in the following progression and were not “blind” tasted. Tasted on 09/28/07

• 2007 Southern Right - Sauvignon Blanc -Walker Bay -$13.99: This was a very pleasant wine with apple and citrus on the nose with a touch of citrus. The body was a little light but carried with it some nice fruits and a crisp and refreshing acidity. A nice, mineral finish left a good impression. A good wine to serve with bacon wrapped scallops! My rating: 87 pts

• 2006 Fairview - Goats do Roam White -Paarl-$9.99: A blend with some Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Viognier and a few other varieties. The stainless steel fermentation preserved great fruit flavors in this wine. I tasted tropical fruits and apple as well as a touch of cinnamin. The finish was medium but not as crisp as I had hoped. My rating: 84 pts

• 2006 Fairview - Viognier - Paarl-$18.99: Big floral bouquet. A lot of nice fruit including apricot and pear with good structure and richness. I’d love to have this with some Thai food - a perfect balance with the spicy Thai food and the big, lively fruits in this wine. My rating: 89 pts

• 2006 Boekenhoutskloof - Wolf trap Red - Franschhoek-$13.99: Cherry, plum on the nose with chocolate, anise and more cherry on the palette. Unrefinded tannins but a good acidity. My rating: 85 pts

• 2006 Fairview - Goat-Roti - Paarl-$18.99: Nose showed black cherry, blackberry and pepper. Spicy with good fruits and a sound earthiness. Medium finish with well structured tannins and good overall integration. My rating: 89 pts

• 2003 Stark-Conde - Syrah - Stellenbosch-$24.99: Wow. Great nose of dark fruits and currant, thyme, and a bit of spice. The wine starts off with good fruits and a touch of oak, and develops nicely on the palette with ripe acidity and medium tannins. Long finish with lasting spice notes. My rating: 91 pts

Credits: Image from: © Juana Van Burg | Dreamstime.com

Wines for $10 (or less)

Inspired by my Argentinian friend, Carlos, I thought I should add a few more wines to the $1-$10 category. Without further ado, here are a few bargain wines that are surprisingly good.
La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon Blanc 2006 (France) - A crisp white wine from the Rhone area of France, this 2006 Grenache Blanc blend is very pleasing on the nose. Good fruit and balanced acidity make this an easy choice for a bargain wine. ($8) - My Rating - 88 pts

Wolf Blass Brut Sparkling Yellow Label (Australia) - This sparkling is a remarkaable find at only $9. It has plenty of bubbles and a crisp, refreshing acidity that is well balanced with the citrus and pear fruits. Buy this by the case and have it on hand to wow your guests or for a nice quiet night with someone special! My Rating - 87 pts
Goats do Roam Red 2005 (South Africa) - A Cotes du Rhone blend of wine with a very creative and cute name (South African Vineyards always come up with good names for their wines!). This blend has very vibrant fruits and is well structured. A little bit at the end gives it a kick into a medium length, smooth finish. Another amazing wine for the price ($8) - My rating - 88 pts.

*Finally to save space, I’m going to say if you want a quality wine from the United States for less than $10, try the Columbia Crest wines. They make a very good Merlot (which I reviewed already) as well as a Merlot-Cabernet blend that scored high in the Wine Spectator tasting (I haven’t had it yet). Their whites are also high quality for the price! A constant reminder that you don’t have to pay premium prices for premium wines.

South Africa - Pinotage

This staple of South African wines is the result of crossing the Pinot Noir and Cinsault grapes. This viticultural cross was first bred in 1925 and wasn’t made into wine until the mid 1930’s. The immediate reaction to the wines was not very good, but perseverence by Stellenbosch University (view from Stellenbosch seen in image) Professor A.I. Peroldt, the varietals creator, led to some quality wines being produced by the 1950’s. These wines finally became recognized in the wine world in 1961 when a 1959 Pinotage took top prize a the Cape Young Wine Show. Today Pinotage can be found planted in many wine regions across the world.

Pinotage was created in an attempt to balance the delicacy and finesse of the Pinot noir with the strength and sturdiness of the Cinsault grape vines. The result is a very balanced wine with depth and unique fruits. The wine goes well with food but can be enjoyed very much by itself. Some note banana in the wine (article from winepros.com), but I haven’t picked it out in any of the 10 or so Pinotage’s I’ve had. The grape is quite unique and can produce a wide variety of flavors and textures.

A few Pinotage’s to try:

• Kanonkop Kadette Stellenbosch Pinotage - 2004
• Warwick Pinotage - 2004
• Bellevue Estate Tumara Pinotage - 2005

A very good Sauvignon Blanc for $10.

South Africa is really producing some nice wines these days, at very good prices. I recently tried a sauvignon blanc form producer Southern Right (2006 vintage). Near the Cape of Good Hope, Southern Right benefits from a maritime climate which brings cool nights and long seasons both of which are ideal for the sauvignon blanc grape. At the Southern Right winery, two varieties are the focus: sauvignon blanc, and pinotage, the latter being the signature grape of South Africa.

This 2006 Southern Right was very good. The wine had nice color and a lot of fruit on the nose. The wine itself began with a good amount of fruit and then settled down showing mineral notes, as well as citrus. The finish was long and memorable. I paired this wine with a pork tenderloin stir fry, which included snap peas, green apples, and a thyme and white wine (Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc) reduction. The wine would be great with something spicy, like Thai food.

The price was great, the wine was very good. I look forward to trying their Pinotage.