Gloria Ferrer Sparkling Brut

Carneros district, Sonoma. $20, $14 Safeway

Golden, translucent color. Macintosh apples and pear on the nose. Medium body, fairly sweet for a 'brut.' Nice effervescence that doesn't overwhelm the subtle flavors. I enjoyed this wine more than the Chandon which I had a few nights ago. It won't "wow" anyone, but I'll purchase again and for the price it is a great go-to Sparkling wine.

Congrats to Zac for whipping out the first Bordeaux post (although I'm not sure if you even knew that was a Bordeaux)---glad you loved it! I believe it was made with grapes affected by the bacteria botrytis cinerea...which makes wines very sweet (and amazing.) You should look more into these types of wines, but they get extremely expensive (Sauternès is the big one.)

Espiral - Vinho Verde

I initially had my heart set on a Casillero del Diablo as recommended by Tim, but I ended up just about as far off the mark as possible. While I did purchase the Casillero Del Diablo, a Chilean carmenere, I was coerced into a bottle of $3.99 Fizzy White, known as the Vihno Verde brought to us by the infamous Trader Joe. I promised a write up, so here goes...

This light bodied white from Portugal pours a very pale yellow, almost like strong lemon water. The pour reveals a slight effervescence, which is even more apparent on the first sip. The aroma reminds me of a a crisp green apple savignon blanc that has been watered down. The carbonation helps to liven up the sweetness of the green apple while downplaying the tartness that is so often found in a savignon blanc. The flavor is crisp and light, just like a fresh granny smith, while the bubbles leave your palate feeling clean and refreshed. There is very little lingering taste.

This wine is nice for light hearted sipping on a hot day. While it may not be the most complex or challenging wine, for $3.99 its great Yellow Tail or generic critter wine alternative. This would be a good bottle for large parties of undiscriminating wine drinkers or for that girl who just needs a litte convincing.

Saint-Croix-du Mont, Château La Rame 1998

Dessert Wine

A light golden color, with a fruity aroma that I was not able to place. I was in love at first sip. It lightly hit my tongue, with a medium weight. And it had a wet texture, I'm not sure how to describe it, but it is opposite of a sec red. It kinda bounced in your mouth. After swallowed, it left very little after taste, which I felt for a stand alone dessert wine it leaves something to be desired. But I paired it with my favorite dessert Creme Brulee and it was a great match. Where relatively little after taste and sweet flavor complemented well with the dessert
4/5 Fleur de Lis

In short a great compliment to a sweet dessert, not a bitter dessert such as a dark chocolate or tiramisu, but not strong enough to be a lone dessert

Chandon Reserve Brut

Sparkling Wine, Napa & Sonoma, $18 BevMo

71%PN, 27% Chardonnay, 2% Pinot Meunier

Beautiful golden color, fairly strong effervescence. Not a very strong aroma (I think I have a tough time smelling sparkling wines.)

Very luscious, cream soda comes to mind. Finishes with a bit of fig newton/graham cracker.
It's a wine that makes me wonder why I don't drink sparkling wines more often and luckily I'm by myself so I don't need to share it.

Pascual Toso Malbec

06, Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina

Color: dark red, maroon
Aroma: fruity, plum, bleu cheese?
Body: medium, quaffable
Finish: very smooth
Overall: delicious, definite repurchase, complex

Domaine Roger Perrin, Cuvée Prestige

05, Vielles Vignes, Côtes du Rhône

color: Very dark red, almost black
aroma: cracked pepper, fig, smoky
body: full body, harsh, heavy
finish: could use some time, very tannic
overall: needs refinement. possibly would've been better if I decanted it and let it breathe for a bit.

Shingleback Shiraz

2004, McLaren Vale, Australia

One of the best Shiraz I've ever had. Comes from the McLaren Vale region of Australia. Had a deep red color with blackberry and a hint of strawberries. Held its own with a spicy Kale Soup. Can't speak highly enough of this wine.

http://www.shingleback.com.au/wines/PDF/SB_WMN_2004_SHZ_AU.pdf

Stephen Vincent - Crimson 2005

This California red pours a inky purple glass. Initially there is a rather harsh oak nose with hints on alcohol, though as it is left to breath the wine takes on a much sweeter almost port aroma. On first taste there is a surprising amount of dried fruit flavor, think figs, dates and raisins. Its a nice departure from the standard dark berry and plum I've come to expect in most bigger reds. The taste quickly filled my mouth and the tip of my tongue with a slightly sweet, tanic undertone. The wine's flavors mellow, leaving my palate almost a quickly as they come. My mouth was left feeling wet and sated, though still searching for a little more body. Overall this was a very pleasant evening wine to sip by itself or with some lighter fair.

Yalumba Viognier

06, South Australia

Paired w/goat cheese

Yellow/Pale green color. Off-dry w/aromas of raisins and mango. Quite zippy, high residual sugar/alcohol and a longer finish. Flavors of guava, mango, lychee. This wine was quite alive and extremely aromatic, but the sweetness wasn't countered with enough acidity and overwhelmed the wine. I haven't had a lot of viogniers, so this will tempt me to purchase a different one because I think it could be an attractive wine.

EOS Sauvignon Blanc

05 Paso Robles

Golden-yellow color. dry w/a faint aroma of melon. Medium body, didn't have the acidity expected in a SB. Extremely quaffable although I would've liked more of a zippy finish. Flavors were pear, green apple, and canned peaches. Overall it was very subtle, not overly vivacious but quite enjoyable. I would repurchase, but I've had better.

PepperwoodGrove

Riesling 2006 

South Eastern Australia

A better name for this gold colored beverage would be Pepperpiss.  It was terrible.  Very light body with a difficult to find flavor as it was covered by the taste of ethanol.

0/5 fleur des lis

Only serve to your enemies, and only after they are dead or I guess to any democrats especially Mrs. Clinton

My first late harvest

Concha y Toro

Savignon Blanc

Out of Maule Chile

This is a late harvest with a light golden color, aromatically with a touch a fruit, but not citrus. 

It is surprisingly heavy, with a full fruit flavor, but low acidity so it doesn't sit on the side and back of your tongue.  

Due to my wife's love of New Orleans I am going to do a ranking system out of 5 fleur des lis.

I give it 4/5 fleur des lis

I had creme brulee with this but I would not recommend it with a sweet dessert.  A cheese or a dark chocolate would compliment nicely.  It is good enough to stand alone at the end of a meal.

Dr. Bechermann Liebfraumilch

Qualitäatswein. 06

Very sweet. I tried it as an apéritif and also as an after-dinner drink. Very yellow in color and not very translucent. Very sweet on the nose. Seriously lacking acidity which makes the sugar just sit in the bottom of my stomach. I think if it had more zippiness, it would be a delicious wine. I certainly enjoyed it more as an apéritif than as a dessert wine. It would match fairly well with some light cheeses or seafood.

Graham's 10 yr Tawny Porto

Disclaimer: This tasting may be impaired due to the amount/quantity of different wines I have drank tonight.

Dark brown/mahogany color. Nose has aromas of walnuts and berries. This seems to have a larger presence of fruity characteristics than woody characteristics. Certainly a good value at $23.
Not as sweet as a ruby and shows characteristics of aging in wood. This has a cedar/maple finish; the last sensation is similar to crème brûlée. Very smooth, but clearly leaves that burnt quality on your tongue. In fact, although I prefer madeira for cb, I think this would go quite well with it.

Distinction Porto

Croft, Special Reserve

Ruby color. Shows a little evidence of being aged for a while, but certainly not a tawny. It is slightly better than the Quarles Harris Ruby, but was significantly more in price. Slightly sweeter with a bit of butterscotch. I'm not overly impressed and would rather buy the Harris instead.

Quarles Harris Porto

Ruby

After chilling for a while, this is the perfect late-night port. It lasts at least 2 weeks refrigerated and never lost it's raspberry/blackberry flavor which comes close to hazelnut on the finish. I believe it was very cheap and it has surprising depth for such a youthful wine. It's not something I would show-off or drink as an aperitif, but it's great after 4-5 glasses of tannic red wine. It is bright and fruity.

Arrocal

Ribera del Duero, Cuatro meses en barrica. 05 ; $12 BevMo

Paired with a bleu cheese (Denmark's Finest). A little black fruit on the nose. Med-Full body with a lingering finish. Tastes very similar to a zinfandel or petit syrah. Not overwhelmingly fruity, more spicy. Paired very well with the cheese and I'd purchase again although it's not a wine that I'd recommend to others unless a strong cheese were involved.

Bocca di Lupo

Castel del Monte, 03, Aglianico

My first wine from the Aglianico grape. I ordered a Rhône at Alexander's steakhouse (which they didn't have) and the sommelier brought this gem out. It was amazingly complex and exactly what I was looking for. It had a little spice on the nose, good acidity, and a full body. I'm not sure how much it costs, but it's certainly comparable to a $50 CdP. I will definitely drink again

Sinister Hand

06 Columbia Valley. $23 Whole Foods

Very dark and brawny. Some smokiness on the nose, black fruits throughout with a long finish. I drank this by itself and should've paired it with a bleu cheese or steak.

Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel

06. $20 ($15 at Whole Foods)
-Bold, but not overwhelming. Sweeter than I expected. Some black fruit on the nose that quickly gives way to plums and then a finish of spice. Seems like it isn't pure zinfandel. I enjoyed it and it was very drinkable. In general, I prefer something with more character but this was a great everyday wine. In retrospect, I think I'd purchase 2 Clines instead.

Update: I bought another bottle just to make sure since this is widely viewed as great...

Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel 06

$18. Very dark, almost black color. Dark berries on the nose; definitely more fruit than spice. During sip, the spices come out and sit for a while. Not extremely tannic, but definitely present. A bit jammy, but still well structured. Lacking in acidity, which creates a bit of imbalance. Would probably taste perfect next to a bleu or gorgonzola. Definitely a nice wine, but not outstanding and you can get better zins at this price point.

Côtes du Rhône Vintages

From: Wine Spectator, 11/15/07

Northern:
05-06: NYR, 05 expected to be great
04: good
03: some great, wide-ranging quality
02: DON'T BUY (except whites)
00-01: good
99: GREAT; Côte Rôtie especially
94-98: good


Southern:
05-06: NYR, 05 may be best in 20 yrs
04: consistently good quality
03: hold; rugged tannins
02: DON"T BUY
00-01: great, especially Chât-du-Pape
99: Grenache not great, others decent
98: GREAT
96-97: soft, not very good
94-95: good
91-93: DON'T BUY

Les Champauvins

05 Domaine Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône Villages; Alain Jaume & Fils. ~$25?

Very deep, dark color. Leathery aroma is very noticeable and consistent throughout the swallow. Slight jammy aftertaste; very bold and meaty. Would pair well with a rib-eye or game. The 20% syrah overpowers the 70% grenache and 10% mourvédre. It certainly isn't as tannic as Australian syrah, but bolder than Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Plan on saving for tomorrow to pair with dinner. Note: the vineyard lies next to Chât-du-Pape (S. Rhône)

Réserve de l'Oriflamme

06 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Seemed almost 100% grenache. Not a very aromatic nose, but the aftertaste was quite fruity. Full-bodied, amd quaffable, but doesn't have a lot of structure. Not a wine I would repurchase (price ~$20). Too light and didn't have the impact I expected/wanted from a Rhône.

Gruet brut Sparkling

$14, New Mexico. Decent dry sparkling wine. Nothing spectacular. Much better than most cheaper sparkling wines though.

Gruet blanc-de-noirs

New Mexico, $14

Excellent purchase. Aromas of strawberries, raspberries, and a near-overwhelming floral finish. Quite fantastic and I will purchase again.

E Guigal Chateneuf du Pape

$45. Outstanding. One of the top wines I've ever drank. This is my first Chat du Pape and I wasn't let down at all. Made from mostly Grenache and Syrah, it has a soft, drinkable quality with an amazingly strong tannic backbone and peppery spiciness. I could drink this everyday for the rest of my life. Definitely some tar and blackberry flavor. Considering the price, I'm nervous to try the great producers of CdP...wine is quickly becoming an expensive habit.

Georges Du Boeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

07

My first time buying Beaujolais Nouveau on its release date and I'm not impressed. It's just not good. I don't find it complex or even drinkable. I'll buy another from a different producer, but I don't have very high expectations. I think this is just a wine that I don't like. It reminded my date of "church wine" and I think it's an apt comparison. It tastes extremely "grapey" and there isn't any softness. I drank it after chilling for about a half hour.

Update: I drank the same bottle a week later and it seemed better. A little more flavor and definitely more drinkable. Still not impressed and I probably won't even finish the bottle.

Paul Joboulet Aîné

03. Crozes Hermitage. Domaine Raymond Roure

Very dark color, almost black. The easiness is amazing. It's hard to believe that it's made from mostly syrah. Nose is currants and raspberries. Medium body with only a small amount of tannins. A very nice sipping wine and doesn't need a full meal to accompany it. A bit of spiciness is left on the palate but not very strong. A very delicious wine that I will purchase again and recommend.

Stonehedge Reserve Petite Syrah

Outstanding. I think I got it at TJs so it was probably relatively cheap. If I had to guess, I'd say around $15, but I really can't remember. A floral, almost sweet sensation on the nose. Medium body, surprisingly so for a PS, but so smooth... each glass begs for another and I'm so happy with this wine. Finish is a bit quick, but pleasant. Definitely purchase again and recommend.

Mirrasou Cab 04

Nothing. This was a Wine Spectator top value CS. It was so brawny and rough that I couldn't detect any delicacies whatsoever. Really let down.

Casillero del Diablo Carmenere

06 Carmenere Chile (Concha y Toro) $7 TJs

This has become my favorite line for decently priced wines. The CS is good, and this is great.

Light purple. A little spice on the nose-not very strong though. light-med body, very smooth, low tannins. Midway through is where it really shines. Some blackberries at first and finishes with chocolate/mocha. Amazingly balanced. Note: Drank it w/Goat Cheese-bruschetta...perfect. I will definitely buy again...probably a case

Purple Moon Merlot

05 Merlot, CA (Monteca) $4 TJs

-Cherry on the nose. Fairly dark for a merlot. A bit zippy, which I liked. For the price, It's a great party wine. Light body w/a pretty decent finish. Not usually a merlot fan, but I was in the right state of mind to drink this. Would recommend, but wouldn't talk too much about it until i tried it again.

Centine Banfi

05, Tuscany
-Sangiovese, CS, Merlot

-chocolate finish. Blackberry. Medium body. Very quaffable and enjoyable. First wine in almost a week that I'd recommend to another. More flavor than a typical chianti-I think this is called a "super tuscan" but I'm not positive. I'll just call it a "chianti w/balls"

Update: finished the bottle 4 days later: lost the balls, but still pretty good.

Peachy Canyon Zinfandel

Paso Robles, 05, "Incredible Red"
-Very little on the nose. Definitely missing the high-impact feeling that I like Zins for. Slight black pepper taste, but nothing in-your-face. Also some blackberry/black cherry flavor. Decent finish. Enjoyable, but not if you're in the mood for a powerful Zin.

Update: Tried it a few days later w/dark chocolate--kept the smoothness; a few days helped it a bit. Still missing the impact, but the blackberry flavor came more to the front. Almost more like a Cab.

Trader Joe's Syrah

~$6, CA 06
-full body, very dark color. Tobacco on the nose, slight sweetness. very smooth for a syrah. almost too smooth-leaves very quickly and doesn't leave any happiness in your mouth. not awful, but wouldn't repurchase

Louis Bouillot

Rose Sparkling Wine
Brut
Cremant de Bourgogne
15.99

Very smooth, slightly dry, sweet with a berry overtone.
Probally best with a dessert or as any sparkling celebration

Cline Syrah 05

Sonoma. $9

Some black pepper up front. Needs to sit for a while before drinking, probably be better if I decanted it. A bit too intense, very little balance. Long finish. Hints of blueberry, but strongly outweighed by the black pepper.

I much prefer their Zinfandel. Won't buy the Syrah again unless eating I'm spicy sausage or very flavorful meat.

Torre Dei Gesuiti

Primitivo, Puglia: Stornara, 04

Nice spice up front. blackberries up front, mellows out with black cherry and pepper. med body. slightly jammy, wish it was a bit more crisp

Le Grand Noir

France, nonvintage; 8.99
25% viognier, 75% chardonnay

enjoyable, very quaffable. upfront oaky flavors with a light body and crisp acidity. honeydew. not a perfect finish. good for a cheaper, lighter chardonnay. definitely not a typical old-world chardonnay...far cry from bordeaux

Concannon Chardonnay 04

Pale yellow color. nothing spectacular. wouldn't buy again

Black Swan

Shiraz, Mclaren Vale, Australia. 04
plums, black cherries, woodsy, not a great finish, med body, a little too smooth-missing something,

Shenandoah Vineyards, Special Reserve, 2005

Amador County, CA Zinfandel

butterscotch up front, finishes with a hazelnut-honey taste. slight espresso and cocoa flavors also.

$9, Total Wine & Spirits

Montpezat, Polombières, 2004

Rhône Valley. 80% grenache, 20% petit verdot

very strong in alcohol, port-like. full-body,

$15 Total Wine & Spirits (Tampa)

St. Supery Elu, 2003

Very smoky, tobacco-like, toasted oak, almost similar to a syrah. nice earthy flavors, almost dusty.

82% CS, 14% merlot, 4% petit verdot

$18 glass at Grille 116 (Tampa).