...translated as "sparkling wine", takes center stage this time of year as we all have plenty to celebrate. New Year's is just around the corner, so stock up on bubblies for the festivities. Here at Stimmel's Market, we offer dozens of great sparklers, and always have something for every taste and budget. Here are a few ideas:
Champagne:
We have the classics, such as Dom Perignon and Perrier-Jouet, and also feature other heavy hitters, like Moet and Chandon White Star, Henriot, Pol Roger, Delamotte and Duval-Leroy.
California:
Look for outstanding bottles from top producers like Mumm Napa, Schramsberg, Roederer Estate and Piper Sonoma.
Values:
Easy on the wallet, nice bubblies from Tosti, Korbel, Cook's and Domaine St. Michelle are all crowd-pleasers.
Cheers!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
New Beers of the Year
Sometime around 1991, maybe '92, while listening to Achtung Baby for the gazillionth time and watching re-runs of Get a Life, I remember thinking to myself that there had to be more to beer than just Natural Light, Busch Light, and their associated ilk. Rolling Rock represented the most dramatic departure from the same "flavors" that I'd experienced in all of those mass-produced light beers, and it only had a faint dryness that set it apart. I bought my first six-pack of Sam Adams Boston Lager a few days later, and was off and running into the world of craft beer.
My, how things have changed. I've personally tried over 3,000 beers in the last 15 years or so, including a couple hundred new ones this year. I've compiled a list of what I think to be the 10 best new American beers from 2007 - check them out below and let me know what you think!
10. Chicken Killer Barleywine (Santa Fe Brewing Co., Santa Fe, NM) - Great name, but an even better beer. Unlike many domestic barleywines that want to "kill" you with hops, this one is a malt lover's dream. Huge, malty, grainy sweetness with a touch of hoppiness for balance, it's one of the best barleywines I've ever had the pleasure to drink.
9. Backwoods Bastard (Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI) - Another malty gem, this is a barrel-aged version of their Scotch Ale. Incredibly smooth, almost velvety, it's a real treat.
8. Prohibition Pilsner (Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH) - A dead ringer for Pilsner Urquell, this brew reaffirmed my belief that Great Lakes truly has the midas touch.
7. BORIS The Crusher Imperial Oatmeal Stout (Hoppin' Frog Brewing Co., Akron, OH) - Incredible effort from a new brewery here in the buckeye state. The BORIS is a roasted, full-bodied, powerful dark ale that somehow manages to melt in your mouth. It's easily the best stout I drank this year.
6. Copper Kettle Weiss (New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI.) - Think of smoked bananas. Yeah, it does sound weird, but trust me, I couldn't get enough of this beer. A rich, dark wheat brew that hits the spot anytime of year. Highly addictive.
5. Mad Elf (Troegs Brewing Co., Harrisburg, PA) - I've been wanting to try this beer for years, and thanks to my friend Glenn, I finally got the chance a few weeks ago. Wow, it is like chocolate covered cherries dipped in a heavy liquid malt. Delicious, and strong - a perfect sipper on a cold winter night.
4. Boss Cox Dark IPA (Barrelhouse Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH) - A blast of caramel and toffee is followed by pleasant notes of spice and bitterness. An incredibly complex beer.
3. Dancing Man Wheat (New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI.) - Quite possibly the best American wheat beer that I've ever tried. Hints of banana and clove, crisp and easy to drink, it is the ultimate summertime beer, and gives the best German Hefeweizens a run for their money.
2. Pumking (Southern Tier Brewing Co., Lakewood, NY) - I've tried dozens of pumpkin beers over the years, many of which have been underwhelming, some just plain awful. Pumking is easily the best of the bunch, and stands out for its natural pumpkin flavor and amazing creaminess. It tastes exactly like a slice of pumpkin pie with melted vanilla ice cream. Amazing stuff.
1. Christmas Ale (Kuhnenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI) - Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee, this one has it all. A hedonistic pleasure as well as a beer to tickle the mind. One of the few beers I've had in my life that had me thinking about it every day for months.
Cheers!
My, how things have changed. I've personally tried over 3,000 beers in the last 15 years or so, including a couple hundred new ones this year. I've compiled a list of what I think to be the 10 best new American beers from 2007 - check them out below and let me know what you think!
10. Chicken Killer Barleywine (Santa Fe Brewing Co., Santa Fe, NM) - Great name, but an even better beer. Unlike many domestic barleywines that want to "kill" you with hops, this one is a malt lover's dream. Huge, malty, grainy sweetness with a touch of hoppiness for balance, it's one of the best barleywines I've ever had the pleasure to drink.
9. Backwoods Bastard (Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI) - Another malty gem, this is a barrel-aged version of their Scotch Ale. Incredibly smooth, almost velvety, it's a real treat.
8. Prohibition Pilsner (Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH) - A dead ringer for Pilsner Urquell, this brew reaffirmed my belief that Great Lakes truly has the midas touch.
7. BORIS The Crusher Imperial Oatmeal Stout (Hoppin' Frog Brewing Co., Akron, OH) - Incredible effort from a new brewery here in the buckeye state. The BORIS is a roasted, full-bodied, powerful dark ale that somehow manages to melt in your mouth. It's easily the best stout I drank this year.
6. Copper Kettle Weiss (New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI.) - Think of smoked bananas. Yeah, it does sound weird, but trust me, I couldn't get enough of this beer. A rich, dark wheat brew that hits the spot anytime of year. Highly addictive.
5. Mad Elf (Troegs Brewing Co., Harrisburg, PA) - I've been wanting to try this beer for years, and thanks to my friend Glenn, I finally got the chance a few weeks ago. Wow, it is like chocolate covered cherries dipped in a heavy liquid malt. Delicious, and strong - a perfect sipper on a cold winter night.
4. Boss Cox Dark IPA (Barrelhouse Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH) - A blast of caramel and toffee is followed by pleasant notes of spice and bitterness. An incredibly complex beer.
3. Dancing Man Wheat (New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI.) - Quite possibly the best American wheat beer that I've ever tried. Hints of banana and clove, crisp and easy to drink, it is the ultimate summertime beer, and gives the best German Hefeweizens a run for their money.
2. Pumking (Southern Tier Brewing Co., Lakewood, NY) - I've tried dozens of pumpkin beers over the years, many of which have been underwhelming, some just plain awful. Pumking is easily the best of the bunch, and stands out for its natural pumpkin flavor and amazing creaminess. It tastes exactly like a slice of pumpkin pie with melted vanilla ice cream. Amazing stuff.
1. Christmas Ale (Kuhnenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI) - Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, vanilla, coffee, this one has it all. A hedonistic pleasure as well as a beer to tickle the mind. One of the few beers I've had in my life that had me thinking about it every day for months.
Cheers!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Blind Tasting Notes (Dec. 17): Aromas of Humble Pie
Last night was the last blind tasting of 2007, and let's just say I'm looking forward to the first one of 2008. My score of 1 out of 7 wines correctly identified was statistically no more accurate than if I had just shouted out the wines one at a time and let a trained chicken peck its way through the anonymous bottles. Still, the evening wasn't a total wash.
First, there's the fact that everybody present got to taste a bunch of very nice wines. (So how bad could it have been, really?)
Second, I can still rely on my old friends, the Rhones. Southern or northern--it doesn't seem to matter: for whatever reason, they're as easy for me to identify in a lineup as an olive in a box of chocolates. It's nice to have something one can count on, no?
Finally, as I look back at my notes, I see clues in my descriptions that, had I just not thought so much, might have led me to the right choice. That is--and I suspect that the same is true for most devoted amateur tasters--it seems not to have been my senses that failed me but, rather, my ability to use the information they provided to correctly identify the wine I was tasting. Indeed, that's a truly difficult thing to do, in part because most of us who taste wines at Stimmel's just don't have a deep well of experience to draw on (I've probably only tried two or three pinotages in my life, for example, and only a handful more malbecs). But it's also difficult because it's a big jump from being able to articulate a linearly-experienced series of sensory impressions to being able to synthesize those impressions into a coherent whole that allows one to say, with authority, "This wine comes from Priorat."
I'll leave the question of just how important the power of suggestion is in interpreting wines' qualities (and quality!) for another time, though the short answer has to be that it certainly comes into play for all but the most naturally gifted and independently-minded tasters (and maybe even still for them). For the rest of us, though, we'll have to accept the occasionally pronounced and concentrated aroma of humble pie in our wines.
Now, the notes, with my guess (with a line through it) followed by the correct answer (including winery, vintage, and price, which was only supplied with the answers; beforehand, all that was supplied was the kind of wine, either by varietal or region):
1.Shiraz Famiglia Bianchi Malbec 2005 ($18.99/bottle)
Oaky, jammy nose, with aromas of black and red berries and some spice. Dark red, this medium-full bodied wine offers flavors of tart blackberry, spice, and licorice.
2. (I got this one right.) Domaine Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003 ($29.99/bottle)
The tasting sheet listed "France Southern Rhone" as an option, but I knew this was a CdP. Medium-red tinged with brown, the wine boldly and without shame puts out aromas of manure/barnyard layered with loads of pencil shavings (graphite and woody aromas) and a slight brininess. Very smooth, with drying tannins that could still soften with another year or two in the bottle, the wine offers flavors of blackberry, cedar, graphite, and barnyard.
3.Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Torres Salmos Priorat 2005 ($32.99/bottle)
Dark purple/garnet, with notes of plum, cassis, and vanilla on the nose. Sweet cherry fruit, lots of spice, and toasty oak on the palate.
4.Pinotage Zenato Ripassa 2004 ($26.99/bottle)
Inky purple, with aromas of big, bold, grapey fruit layered with mineral and some slightly green, woody notes. Flavors of superripe blackberry and black plum, oak, spice, and stewed meat. Of all the wines I got wrong, this is the one I just plain shouldn't have missed, stewed meat or not.
5.Priorat Liparita Enlace Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 ($18.99/bottle)
Dark maroon, with a nose of ripe currant, cassis, and vanilla. Dark berry fruit flavor is layered with sanguine notes and violets.
6.Malbec Fairview Primo Pinotage 2002 ($24.99/bottle)
A blast of smoke on the nose--this wine smells like a bbq (with plum-based sauce). Lots of smoke, plums, and cherry on the palate, with a faint note of dried flowers.
7.Ripassa Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz 2005 ($17.99/bottle)
Very dark, opaque magenta, with aromas of candied spice, orange peel, and something like roasted chicken, and flavors of dark chocolate-covered orange peel, gran marnier, and clove. Very Christmassy wine (had it been a choice, and color notwithstanding, I would have said this was a Tuscan).
That's it. Here's to learning, and lemmee at 'em next time.
First, there's the fact that everybody present got to taste a bunch of very nice wines. (So how bad could it have been, really?)
Second, I can still rely on my old friends, the Rhones. Southern or northern--it doesn't seem to matter: for whatever reason, they're as easy for me to identify in a lineup as an olive in a box of chocolates. It's nice to have something one can count on, no?
Finally, as I look back at my notes, I see clues in my descriptions that, had I just not thought so much, might have led me to the right choice. That is--and I suspect that the same is true for most devoted amateur tasters--it seems not to have been my senses that failed me but, rather, my ability to use the information they provided to correctly identify the wine I was tasting. Indeed, that's a truly difficult thing to do, in part because most of us who taste wines at Stimmel's just don't have a deep well of experience to draw on (I've probably only tried two or three pinotages in my life, for example, and only a handful more malbecs). But it's also difficult because it's a big jump from being able to articulate a linearly-experienced series of sensory impressions to being able to synthesize those impressions into a coherent whole that allows one to say, with authority, "This wine comes from Priorat."
I'll leave the question of just how important the power of suggestion is in interpreting wines' qualities (and quality!) for another time, though the short answer has to be that it certainly comes into play for all but the most naturally gifted and independently-minded tasters (and maybe even still for them). For the rest of us, though, we'll have to accept the occasionally pronounced and concentrated aroma of humble pie in our wines.
Now, the notes, with my guess (with a line through it) followed by the correct answer (including winery, vintage, and price, which was only supplied with the answers; beforehand, all that was supplied was the kind of wine, either by varietal or region):
1.
Oaky, jammy nose, with aromas of black and red berries and some spice. Dark red, this medium-full bodied wine offers flavors of tart blackberry, spice, and licorice.
2. (I got this one right.) Domaine Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003 ($29.99/bottle)
The tasting sheet listed "France Southern Rhone" as an option, but I knew this was a CdP. Medium-red tinged with brown, the wine boldly and without shame puts out aromas of manure/barnyard layered with loads of pencil shavings (graphite and woody aromas) and a slight brininess. Very smooth, with drying tannins that could still soften with another year or two in the bottle, the wine offers flavors of blackberry, cedar, graphite, and barnyard.
3.
Dark purple/garnet, with notes of plum, cassis, and vanilla on the nose. Sweet cherry fruit, lots of spice, and toasty oak on the palate.
4.
Inky purple, with aromas of big, bold, grapey fruit layered with mineral and some slightly green, woody notes. Flavors of superripe blackberry and black plum, oak, spice, and stewed meat. Of all the wines I got wrong, this is the one I just plain shouldn't have missed, stewed meat or not.
5.
Dark maroon, with a nose of ripe currant, cassis, and vanilla. Dark berry fruit flavor is layered with sanguine notes and violets.
6.
A blast of smoke on the nose--this wine smells like a bbq (with plum-based sauce). Lots of smoke, plums, and cherry on the palate, with a faint note of dried flowers.
7.
Very dark, opaque magenta, with aromas of candied spice, orange peel, and something like roasted chicken, and flavors of dark chocolate-covered orange peel, gran marnier, and clove. Very Christmassy wine (had it been a choice, and color notwithstanding, I would have said this was a Tuscan).
That's it. Here's to learning, and lemmee at 'em next time.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Tasting Notes: Napa Cabs (Dec. 13)
I thought about giving this post the subtitle, "a lesson in terroir," because that's what it was. "Terroir" is difficult to translate from the French, but it is generally used to indicate the combined effect of soil, climate, and topography on the flavor of a wine and is usually applied to wines that have a distinct regional character. And while it can be difficult to tell where terroir ends and winemaking techniques begin (it's been said that American winemakers manipulate their wines to the detriment of their natural terroirs), last night's lineup of Napa Cabernets had enough in common that I have to believe they were expressing, at least in part, the place from which they came. So here they are. Can you get a sense of the terroir from my notes? (All wines are Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons except the Tokaji dessert wine at the end):
1. Ehlers Estate 2004 ($34.99/bottle)
With aromas of cassis, black currant, oak, and the slightest suggestion of smoke, this uncomplicated but very tasty medium-full bodied wine offers flavors of currant, tart plum, and oak, with a light herbal note on the finish. I want to drink this with a gourmet hamburger.
2. Robert Craig Affinity 2003 ($44.99/bottle)
Wonderful, enchanting aromas of dark berries, clove, cinnamon, and toasty oak gives way to flavors of tart raspberry fruit, oak, clove, and spice.
3. Whitehall Lane 2004 ($43.99/bottle)
Despite my comments about terroir above, this wine's nose stood out as different from the others, showing more cherry and adding a cedary layer to the more expected oak aromas (see also #5 below). It offers flavors of blackberry, oak, and a hint of cocoa, with firm tannins emerging on the finish, suggesting a need for longer aging. It's good now, but it will be better in two or three years.
4.Schweiger 2003 ($49.99/bottle)
Cassis, oak, and red licorice aromas lay the groundwork for flavors of blackberry, black currant, black pepper, and coffee, all rounded out by toasty oak. Full-bodied, this wine's plush mouthfeel mitigates the drying tannins on the finish.
5. Ghost Block 2004 ($59.99/bottle)
With ripe jammy fruit, green pepper, and a touch of smoke on the nose, this wine smells as much like an Argentinian carmenère as a Napa cab and, so, is one of two wines whose aromas don't fit this lineup's standard profile (see also #3, above). But with flavors of concentrated dark berry fruit, coca-cola, cinnamon, and fig, who cares? This is a big, rich, new-world wine, and I like it.
6. Fisher Coach Insignia 2003 ($71.99/bottle)
The berry and oak aromas of this wine are so concentrated and rich that they suggest a mixture of black cherry and cream sodas. The flavor reveals dark berry fruit that is very ripe without being sweet or cloying, followed by a hint of bitter herbs on the finish. The real strength of this wine, however, is its combination of plush mouthfeel--seamless red velvet--with surprising but well-balanced acidity. It simply screams for a rich slab of prime rib. Red velvet? Prime rib? Christmas, anyone?
7. Robert Mondavi Reserve 2004 ($125.99/bottle)
Very expressive nose of rich, concentrated cassis, vanilla, spice, and molasses cookie. Ripe cassis and berry fruit is well-balanced with candied spice and a hint of tar, all set against firm but integrated tannins. Oak is present but restrained. This wine is fantastic now; in five years it will be stunning. Don't forget the steak when you pop this knockout.
8. Tokaj Kereskedohaz Tokaji Aszu 2001 4 puttonyos (26.99/500 ml bottle)
This opulent dessert wine from Hungary will please both the palate and the intellect. It smells like smoked peach and apricot nectar mixed with just a splash of diesel fuel. (Somehow, it works.) Its flavor is even more intriguing, managing to be simultaneously very sweet and pleasantly bitter--apricot syrup infused with medicinal herbs and cigarette tobacco, which transsubstantiates into sweet pipe tobacco on the improbably long finish. This is Sauternes after reading Kafka.
1. Ehlers Estate 2004 ($34.99/bottle)
With aromas of cassis, black currant, oak, and the slightest suggestion of smoke, this uncomplicated but very tasty medium-full bodied wine offers flavors of currant, tart plum, and oak, with a light herbal note on the finish. I want to drink this with a gourmet hamburger.
2. Robert Craig Affinity 2003 ($44.99/bottle)
Wonderful, enchanting aromas of dark berries, clove, cinnamon, and toasty oak gives way to flavors of tart raspberry fruit, oak, clove, and spice.
3. Whitehall Lane 2004 ($43.99/bottle)
Despite my comments about terroir above, this wine's nose stood out as different from the others, showing more cherry and adding a cedary layer to the more expected oak aromas (see also #5 below). It offers flavors of blackberry, oak, and a hint of cocoa, with firm tannins emerging on the finish, suggesting a need for longer aging. It's good now, but it will be better in two or three years.
4.Schweiger 2003 ($49.99/bottle)
Cassis, oak, and red licorice aromas lay the groundwork for flavors of blackberry, black currant, black pepper, and coffee, all rounded out by toasty oak. Full-bodied, this wine's plush mouthfeel mitigates the drying tannins on the finish.
5. Ghost Block 2004 ($59.99/bottle)
With ripe jammy fruit, green pepper, and a touch of smoke on the nose, this wine smells as much like an Argentinian carmenère as a Napa cab and, so, is one of two wines whose aromas don't fit this lineup's standard profile (see also #3, above). But with flavors of concentrated dark berry fruit, coca-cola, cinnamon, and fig, who cares? This is a big, rich, new-world wine, and I like it.
6. Fisher Coach Insignia 2003 ($71.99/bottle)
The berry and oak aromas of this wine are so concentrated and rich that they suggest a mixture of black cherry and cream sodas. The flavor reveals dark berry fruit that is very ripe without being sweet or cloying, followed by a hint of bitter herbs on the finish. The real strength of this wine, however, is its combination of plush mouthfeel--seamless red velvet--with surprising but well-balanced acidity. It simply screams for a rich slab of prime rib. Red velvet? Prime rib? Christmas, anyone?
7. Robert Mondavi Reserve 2004 ($125.99/bottle)
Very expressive nose of rich, concentrated cassis, vanilla, spice, and molasses cookie. Ripe cassis and berry fruit is well-balanced with candied spice and a hint of tar, all set against firm but integrated tannins. Oak is present but restrained. This wine is fantastic now; in five years it will be stunning. Don't forget the steak when you pop this knockout.
8. Tokaj Kereskedohaz Tokaji Aszu 2001 4 puttonyos (26.99/500 ml bottle)
This opulent dessert wine from Hungary will please both the palate and the intellect. It smells like smoked peach and apricot nectar mixed with just a splash of diesel fuel. (Somehow, it works.) Its flavor is even more intriguing, managing to be simultaneously very sweet and pleasantly bitter--apricot syrup infused with medicinal herbs and cigarette tobacco, which transsubstantiates into sweet pipe tobacco on the improbably long finish. This is Sauternes after reading Kafka.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
A Good Year
As the book closes on 2007, I spent some time the last few days analyzing the wine tasting "lineup cards" that have been provided every Thursday night this year (except for Thanksgiving), and was surprised myself by just how many great wines have been poured. From a "value" tasting back on the 4th of January through last week's "best of" celebration, over 325 wines have been served on Thursday nights throughout the year, and another 250 or so have been offered on Mondays. That's nearly 600 wines!
The tastings this year fueled several trends at Stimmel's Market; Spanish wines were a big hit, and with over 40 solid wines poured this year, the selection of Spanish reds soared. Our French selection blossomed as well, notably dozens of additions in the areas of Rhone and Bordeaux. California Cabernets, as popular as they were at the beginning of the year, continued to be the ultimate crowd-pleasers (and by the way, don't miss TONIGHT'S great Napa Cab tasting), and good Pinot Noir from California and elsewhere was had by all. Great beers from around the world continued to flow, and we managed to fit in sake, mead, and other assorted goodies in the past 12 months. Next week I'll post my personal favorites of the year.
Stimmel's luckily added Sara Thieman to the wine and beer staff, and we somehow coerced Lance Massey to post his Thursday night tasting notes (which are simply great). As 2008 looms, look for more of the same, as we will continue to scour the world in search of great wines, great bargains, and fun themes for tastings. January will feature a HUGE Rhone tasting, a New World vs. Old World taste-off, more of the Top 100 wines of '07, another great cheese tasting, and the first Stimmel's Market field trip (details coming soon).
All of us here at Stimmel's look forward to seeing all of you in the coming weeks, and wish you the best this holiday season!
Cheers!
Bill Stimmel
The tastings this year fueled several trends at Stimmel's Market; Spanish wines were a big hit, and with over 40 solid wines poured this year, the selection of Spanish reds soared. Our French selection blossomed as well, notably dozens of additions in the areas of Rhone and Bordeaux. California Cabernets, as popular as they were at the beginning of the year, continued to be the ultimate crowd-pleasers (and by the way, don't miss TONIGHT'S great Napa Cab tasting), and good Pinot Noir from California and elsewhere was had by all. Great beers from around the world continued to flow, and we managed to fit in sake, mead, and other assorted goodies in the past 12 months. Next week I'll post my personal favorites of the year.
Stimmel's luckily added Sara Thieman to the wine and beer staff, and we somehow coerced Lance Massey to post his Thursday night tasting notes (which are simply great). As 2008 looms, look for more of the same, as we will continue to scour the world in search of great wines, great bargains, and fun themes for tastings. January will feature a HUGE Rhone tasting, a New World vs. Old World taste-off, more of the Top 100 wines of '07, another great cheese tasting, and the first Stimmel's Market field trip (details coming soon).
All of us here at Stimmel's look forward to seeing all of you in the coming weeks, and wish you the best this holiday season!
Cheers!
Bill Stimmel
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Lance's Tasting Notes: The Best of '07
Stimmels' Thursday, December 6 tasting featured only wines from Wine Spectator's prestigious list of the top 100 wines of 2007. Does it get any better than that?
Still, there's one problem with tasting truly great, or even very good, wines: sometimes they're so seamless, so well-integrated, that it's hard to pick out specific flavors and aromas. When that happens, I turn to other facets of a wine--body, mouthfeel, balance, etc. So, while the descriptions below may contain some of the same taste and aroma descriptors (how, after all, can one say a wine smells like smoked salmon when one can barely discern smoke at all from among the superfine mesh of flavors that it comprises?), there will be noticeable differences in descriptions of these other facets. Maybe as my skills as a taster develop, I'll be able to consistently distinguish pine from resin, saddle leather from worn boot, or roasted game from charcuterie. But for now, I'll make do with the tools I've got. Here goes:
(Numbers in parentheses indicate the wine's rank on Wine Spectator's top 100 wines of 2007)
1. Chateau St. Jean Fume Blanc 2006 (California) $13.99/bottle (#35)
Nice, shimmery-silver color, with very pleasant aromas of citrus, herb, and something suggestive of richness I can't pin down. The simple flavor profile of lemon tart, herbs, and light cream is very well-integrated in this medium-bodied, very smooth and supply-textured wine.
2. Amisfield Pinot Noir 2005 (New Zealand) $35.99/bottle (#22)
Pretty brick red color. Aromas of cherry, strawberry licorice, smoke, and damp earth unfold in the flavor as well (with a hint of spice thrown in) in this crisply acidic pinot. A great food wine.
3. Perrin & Fils Vacqueyras 2005 (France) $26.99/bottle (#97)
Dark magenta color. Aromas of sea, green olive, white pepper, and blackberry. Medium bodied, with nice flavors of blackberry, intense peppery spice, brine, and pencil lead. This red from the southern Rhone would be a perfect match with just about any dishes (esp. mediterranean) made with olives or rosemary.
4. Chateau Pontet-Canet 2004 (France) $49.99/bottle (#34)
Dark red with a lightly brownish tint, this medium-full Bordeaux shows lots of leather, earth, and red ripe berries on the nose. Behind the firm, still-young tannins, one can sense ripe currant and loads of leather and minerality wanting to burst through. In time. Very smooth mouthfeel.
5. Owen Roe Ex Umbris 2005 (Washinton) $29.99/bottle (#69)
This syrah didn't show me much on the nose, with faint spice, ripe blueberry, and something like tree bark (or another term for a mix of earthy and woody). But the taste was a different story: bold, lush, and kinetic, flavors of superripe blue and purple berries, intense peppery spice, and hints of graphite and licorice zipped around in my mouth. This full-bodied wine is like a fine suede: deeply textured and tactile but fairly elegant at the same time.
6. JC Cellars The Impostor 2005 (California) $37.99/bottle (#52)
This full-bodied blend of zinfandel, mourvedre, petit syrah, and syrah is dark purple, with aromas of blackberry liquer and wild brambles dominating. The wine is so ripe and concentrated it's almost syrupy, with extracted flavors of sweet berry liqueur and superripe berries, zippy spice, and a lightly salty, sanguine note. When I hear people say they don't drink fine wine because they couldn't appreciate it, I know they've never had a wine like this one. It's hard not to love something with this much sheer flavor and texture.
7. Mollydooker Carnival of Love 2005 (Australia) $79.99/bottle (#8)
Did I say "The Impostor" was thick and concentrated? Geeeez. This very full-bodied, inky, purple-black wine smells like blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream, and in the mouth it is absolutely decadent--oozingly ripe, spicy, thick, syrupy, chewy, luscious almost to a fault. Parker gave it a 99. I wouldn't go that far (it's almost too much), but this is a wine you need to try before you die.
Still, there's one problem with tasting truly great, or even very good, wines: sometimes they're so seamless, so well-integrated, that it's hard to pick out specific flavors and aromas. When that happens, I turn to other facets of a wine--body, mouthfeel, balance, etc. So, while the descriptions below may contain some of the same taste and aroma descriptors (how, after all, can one say a wine smells like smoked salmon when one can barely discern smoke at all from among the superfine mesh of flavors that it comprises?), there will be noticeable differences in descriptions of these other facets. Maybe as my skills as a taster develop, I'll be able to consistently distinguish pine from resin, saddle leather from worn boot, or roasted game from charcuterie. But for now, I'll make do with the tools I've got. Here goes:
(Numbers in parentheses indicate the wine's rank on Wine Spectator's top 100 wines of 2007)
1. Chateau St. Jean Fume Blanc 2006 (California) $13.99/bottle (#35)
Nice, shimmery-silver color, with very pleasant aromas of citrus, herb, and something suggestive of richness I can't pin down. The simple flavor profile of lemon tart, herbs, and light cream is very well-integrated in this medium-bodied, very smooth and supply-textured wine.
2. Amisfield Pinot Noir 2005 (New Zealand) $35.99/bottle (#22)
Pretty brick red color. Aromas of cherry, strawberry licorice, smoke, and damp earth unfold in the flavor as well (with a hint of spice thrown in) in this crisply acidic pinot. A great food wine.
3. Perrin & Fils Vacqueyras 2005 (France) $26.99/bottle (#97)
Dark magenta color. Aromas of sea, green olive, white pepper, and blackberry. Medium bodied, with nice flavors of blackberry, intense peppery spice, brine, and pencil lead. This red from the southern Rhone would be a perfect match with just about any dishes (esp. mediterranean) made with olives or rosemary.
4. Chateau Pontet-Canet 2004 (France) $49.99/bottle (#34)
Dark red with a lightly brownish tint, this medium-full Bordeaux shows lots of leather, earth, and red ripe berries on the nose. Behind the firm, still-young tannins, one can sense ripe currant and loads of leather and minerality wanting to burst through. In time. Very smooth mouthfeel.
5. Owen Roe Ex Umbris 2005 (Washinton) $29.99/bottle (#69)
This syrah didn't show me much on the nose, with faint spice, ripe blueberry, and something like tree bark (or another term for a mix of earthy and woody). But the taste was a different story: bold, lush, and kinetic, flavors of superripe blue and purple berries, intense peppery spice, and hints of graphite and licorice zipped around in my mouth. This full-bodied wine is like a fine suede: deeply textured and tactile but fairly elegant at the same time.
6. JC Cellars The Impostor 2005 (California) $37.99/bottle (#52)
This full-bodied blend of zinfandel, mourvedre, petit syrah, and syrah is dark purple, with aromas of blackberry liquer and wild brambles dominating. The wine is so ripe and concentrated it's almost syrupy, with extracted flavors of sweet berry liqueur and superripe berries, zippy spice, and a lightly salty, sanguine note. When I hear people say they don't drink fine wine because they couldn't appreciate it, I know they've never had a wine like this one. It's hard not to love something with this much sheer flavor and texture.
7. Mollydooker Carnival of Love 2005 (Australia) $79.99/bottle (#8)
Did I say "The Impostor" was thick and concentrated? Geeeez. This very full-bodied, inky, purple-black wine smells like blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream, and in the mouth it is absolutely decadent--oozingly ripe, spicy, thick, syrupy, chewy, luscious almost to a fault. Parker gave it a 99. I wouldn't go that far (it's almost too much), but this is a wine you need to try before you die.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Lance's Tasting Notes
Hi everybody. Lance here. I've been a regular at Stimmels' tastings since August of 2006, and Bill recently tapped me to post my notes on the wine side of Thursday's wine/beer tastings. I'm thrilled to be a part of Stimmels' effort to bring great craft beers and fine domestic and imported wines to BG and the surrounding area. So, without further ado, here are my notes on "Around the World," the tasting for Thursday, November 29.
1. Faively Bourgogne 2005. (France/Burgundy; 100% Chardonnay) $21.99/bottle
The first thing I noticed about this very interesting (and good) white Burgundy was that it smells like movie popcorn, with a combination of toast and butter aromas. On the palate the wine is buttery, with sour apple fruit and just a hint of smoke and minerality. Good acidity for pairing with food.
2. Chateau Gigognan Clos du Roi Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003 (France/Rhone). $49.99/bottle
This red is very different for a CdP, but if you give it a chance I think you'll like it. Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of black olive and brine followed by pronounced black licorice on the long finish.
3. Justin Orphan 2005 (California/Paso Robles; blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petite verdot, and petite syrah) $24.99/bottle
Simple but good, with bright, ripe cherry fruit and lots of vanilla. A bit on the oaky side for my taste, but lots of people will love this easy-to-drink red.
4. Planeta Syrah 2004 (Italy/Sicily) 39.99/bottle
Very nice wine. Loads of black currant and dark berry fruit with well-integrated herb, black pepper, and salt/blood flavors. With efforts like this, it's no surprise that Sicily has recently begun to get international attention for its wines.
5. Numanthia Termes 2005 (Spain/Toro; Tinta de Toro) $39.99/bottle
Wow. Robert Parker gave the 2004 vintage of this wine 94 pts., and I think this one is right on 2004's heels. Deep, rich, lush, and powerfully tannic, this very young red is already elegant and smooth--hedonism in a bottle. Still, I'd wait five, even ten+ years to drink it. If you would ever consider spending $40 on a wine, make it this one (which easily drinks like a $100+ wine).
6. Tait Ballbuster 2006 (Australia/Barossa; 80% shiraz, 10% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot) $17.99/bottle
Very ripe, concentrated dark berry fruit, layered with earth, minerality, and a touch of oak. More complex, and more enjoyable, than the average Aussie "fruit bomb."
7. Churchill Vintage Porto 1997 (Portugal) 76.99/bottle
I don't usually fall in line with "expert" opinions, but the Wine Spectator's description of blackberry and lead pencil are right on. Richly-textured, dense, and lightly sweet, with still-discernable tannins.
1. Faively Bourgogne 2005. (France/Burgundy; 100% Chardonnay) $21.99/bottle
The first thing I noticed about this very interesting (and good) white Burgundy was that it smells like movie popcorn, with a combination of toast and butter aromas. On the palate the wine is buttery, with sour apple fruit and just a hint of smoke and minerality. Good acidity for pairing with food.
2. Chateau Gigognan Clos du Roi Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003 (France/Rhone). $49.99/bottle
This red is very different for a CdP, but if you give it a chance I think you'll like it. Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of black olive and brine followed by pronounced black licorice on the long finish.
3. Justin Orphan 2005 (California/Paso Robles; blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petite verdot, and petite syrah) $24.99/bottle
Simple but good, with bright, ripe cherry fruit and lots of vanilla. A bit on the oaky side for my taste, but lots of people will love this easy-to-drink red.
4. Planeta Syrah 2004 (Italy/Sicily) 39.99/bottle
Very nice wine. Loads of black currant and dark berry fruit with well-integrated herb, black pepper, and salt/blood flavors. With efforts like this, it's no surprise that Sicily has recently begun to get international attention for its wines.
5. Numanthia Termes 2005 (Spain/Toro; Tinta de Toro) $39.99/bottle
Wow. Robert Parker gave the 2004 vintage of this wine 94 pts., and I think this one is right on 2004's heels. Deep, rich, lush, and powerfully tannic, this very young red is already elegant and smooth--hedonism in a bottle. Still, I'd wait five, even ten+ years to drink it. If you would ever consider spending $40 on a wine, make it this one (which easily drinks like a $100+ wine).
6. Tait Ballbuster 2006 (Australia/Barossa; 80% shiraz, 10% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot) $17.99/bottle
Very ripe, concentrated dark berry fruit, layered with earth, minerality, and a touch of oak. More complex, and more enjoyable, than the average Aussie "fruit bomb."
7. Churchill Vintage Porto 1997 (Portugal) 76.99/bottle
I don't usually fall in line with "expert" opinions, but the Wine Spectator's description of blackberry and lead pencil are right on. Richly-textured, dense, and lightly sweet, with still-discernable tannins.
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