Henry Lagarde Cab Sauvignon 2010

Bottle of Henry Lagarde
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Henry Lagarde
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Mendoza, Argentina
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
17.95 USD

Cherry color, almost black towards the center of the glass. The bouquet is a complex mixture of fruity and spicy sensations, with some notes of smoke and minerals.  Full-mouthed and highly structured.  Its ripe tannins give persistence to this excellent wine. (Vintage Cellar)

This cabernet sauvignon was a lot of fun to sample.  There was a pleasant fruitiness to the nose I believe it was a nice cherry.  There was also hints of tobacco and a nice vanilla undertone.  Just from the nose it felt like it would be smooth and full of body.  And my nose was right!  It was wonderfully smooth and heavily silky.  It coated my mouth instantly and left a full rich after taste.  The flavors were unfortunately subdued I was not able to really pick out any dominating

 fruit flavors or and flavor for that matter.  It was very nice don't get me wrong but 

nothing jumped out at me.  I'd like to give this one another go though.

Atlas Cumbres Malbec

Bottle of Altas Cumbres
Malbec 2010

Altas Cumbres
Malbec 2010
Mendoza, Spain
Variety:  Malbec
12.95 USD


This Mendoza Malbec is produced by Lagarde Winery from vineyards that are more that 65 years old.  This is 100% Malbec and it offers lush aromas of berries, cassis, caramel and potpourri.  the color is deep purple tainted ruby with a violet hue.  This is a medium bodied wine with a lovely smooth texture and abundance of dark black fruits, some minerality and smoke.  The tannins and acidity are well balanced creating a pure and elegant finish. (Vintage Cellar)


This wine was a pleasure to sample.  It had a nice deep, rich purple color and had an amazing spicy, smokey, oak scent on the nose.  It was fairly dry on the nose with some sort of deep red fruit.  The taste was surprising. It was unexpectedly  light bodied on the palate compared to the density of the nose.  It was smooth with a fruity sweetness and no heat.  In my opinion it was a very well balanced wine. 

Altas Cumbres Torrontes

Bottle of Altas Cumres
Torrontes 2009

Altas Cumbres

Torrontes 2009

Variety: Torrontes

Mendoza, Spain

8.95 USD

Yellow color with greenish nuances.  Very intense aroma of fresh grapes, flower perfume and mature peaches.  Fresh in the mouth.  Light and easy to drink.  Ideal with seafood, Thai and Chinese food. (Vintage Cellar)

This was like night and day with the previous wine [the Altas Cumbres Viognier].  Immediately you are hit by an amazing flowery perfume on the nose yet it still maintained its "lightness".  There was a nice sweet fruit base that complimented the the strong floral edge.  It was a delightfully crisp and light wine that was still very smooth all the way through.  It left a nice coating in your mouth afterwords as well.  You couldn't get any hint of alcohol except for maybe a smidgen on the back end.  There was an interesting fruit component but was unable to make out what exactly it was.   For this price I will definitely be revisiting this wine in the future.  

Altas Cumbres Viognier 2009

Bottle of Altas Cumbres
Viognier 2009

Altas Cumbres

Viognier 2009

Variety: Viognier

Mendoza, Spain

11.95 USD

This 100% Viognier nose is fresh and floral, with notse of ripe peach, melon and apricot.  Powerful in the mouth with good weight and a well-balanced finish. (vintage cellar)

This was a very clear wine.  Slight yellowish hue but it kinda looked like water.  I was a little disappointed with this wine.  I was not able to get much on the nose of this wine.  There was a fruit-citrus tendency but nothing was jumping out of the wine.  The same really went for the mouth.  It was light and citrus-y but at the same time that was about it.  There was a bit of green melon but it was a very underwhelming wine.

Perle de Roseline 2010

Bottle of Perle de Roseline

Perle de Roseline
Cotes de Provence Blanc 2010
Provence, France
Variety: Ugni Blanc, Rolle
14.95 USD

Shop review: Chateau Sainte Roseline is a very ancient Abbey (XII century). Founded by a hermit named Roubaud who, seduced by the beauty of the place, calmness and presence of an abundant source, decided to retire. Roseline, daughter of the Marquis de Villeneuve, Lord of the Arcs, was the Mother Prioress of the Abbey from 1300 to 1329. Very pious and generous, it marked strongly the local population and it is natural that gave the place its name. (vintage cellar)

So that's a nice story about this wine...but on to my review and we all know what that is worth:

So starting out with the color: it was a light clear wine with a hint of some yellow hues to it.  It had an interesting nose to it with a light citrus base.  There were hints of what I thought was pear peaking out as well.  There was also an interesting scent that I could only characterize by some sort of cheese but my comrades in drinking [Marie and Derek] suggested some kind of soapy smell.  After the first taste there was definitely some pear underneath the clean and light citrus base.  

Glop Priorat

Bottle of Glop
Priorat 2009

Glop 
Priorat 2009
Grenache Blend
Catalunya, Spain
20.95 USD

Glop is a customer favorite in our retail store and it has a very memorable name which means 'sip' or 'gulp' in Catalan.  Glop is an inky red wine from Priorat with deep plum and blackberry flavors perfect for pairing with grilled chorizo or Iberico pork. (Vintage Cellar)

This was another wine I tried yesterday at the Vintage Cellar (as you can probably tell from the above tasting note).  It seemed to be much harsher in the nose than the Novelty Hill.  It was bold with sweet molasses and a hint of sweeter smelling cigar, almost like one of those crappy Black and Milds.  It was a smoother wine that had a light body despite its strong nose.  I expected feel much heavier in the mouth than 

it did (also, that's what she said).  Surprisingly, despite its high 

alcohol content I found very little heat present in the wine.  

Again, there were fruits in it, but like before I couldn't place them.  

Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

Bottle of Novelty Hill
Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Novelty Hill
Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Washington, USA
28.95 USD

A classic, full-bodied Cabernet with dark fruit aromas and a hint of spice.  Generous layers of fresh currant, black cherry and ripe blackberry gain concentration across the palate before leaving a balanced, richly-textured impression that lasts. 

(Mike Januik, Winemaker)

I tried this wine at the Vintage Cellar yesterday.  It had a velvety layer to the nose and some hints of fruit, which I couldn't place.  I also got hints of wood (oak-ish) and a lot of chocolate.  The taste was robust, yet smooth.  It had a lot going on but had a nice balance to it.  At the time, I couldn't really place any of the particular fruit flavors in the taste.  Seemed to be an off 

tasting day for me.  

Luna Nuda 2006

Bottle of Luna Nuda
Chianti 2006

Luna Nuda
Chianti 2006
Blend: Sangiovese 90% + Canaiolo 10%
Tuscany, Italy
9.00 USD


Luna Nuda translated means "naked moon" produced at one of Tuscany's oldest wineries (established in 1865).  This luscious blend exhibits a fragrant bouquet of bright cherry flavors.  Soft, with a remarkable smoothness, it is ideal with light cheese or red-sauced pasta dishes as well as a variety of frilled meats (bottle label) 


It's Friday wine night again!  And so here we [Derek, Marie and I] are with a bottle of Luna Nuda Chianti that Derek had purchased from the Vintage Cellar a few weeks ago. We are pairing it with a delicious starter of caprese crostini and oddly enough a caprese pizza.  There seems to be a recurring trend of caprese in our diet as of late.  Anyway the wine certainly had a very pronounced cherry smell to it.  There were hints of other dark red fruit smells as well and I was thinking plum but not to certain on that.  The alcohol was pretty evident on the nose and the oak was coming through as well.  On first sip the cherry aspect came though clearly.  There was a strong tannin presence to the wine, which paired with the fruit kinda reminded me of cranberries.  The alcohol was present in the wine at first but mellowed out after a while.

Quinta das Heredias 20 yr. Tawny Port

Bottle of Quinta das Heredias
20 yr. Tawny Port

Quinta das Heredias
Tawny Port 20 year
Douro, Portugal
Port Blend
~50.00-60.00 USD

This spectacular 20 year Old Tawny Port has an amazing pale copper colour. Its alluring mellow character shows waves of dried fruits, hazelnut & toffee on the nose that slips seamlessly into long, mellow flavours of mocha, caramel, dates & almonds that are lifted by a vein of orange zest & spice. A really enjoyable rarity.

To continue the Valentine's Day extravaganza I decided to order a glass of this 20 year Tawny Port to pair with my chocolate torte with raspberries.  It had an amazing deep amber color.  It was rich with smells of vanilla, dried fruit which I thought was mainly raisins and a maple or molasses under note.  I was kind of disheartened to be able to really smell the alcohol in it though. It had a strong raisin taste from start to finish but was accompanied by the maple towards the finish.  On the first sip there I was surprised by how much I could really taste the liquor.  However, after taking a sip of water to kind of clear my palate and then going back to the port I found that it was a much smoother and the alcohol really did seem to disappear.  After that it really was a complete pleasure to drink this port...I even found myself sitting there just swishing it around in my mouth enjoying the flavors. 

Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Raymond

Sommelier Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Bottle of Raymond
Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Blend: Cabernet, Cabernet Franc + Merlot

California, USA

35.00 USD

The winemaking team, along with Jean-Charles Boisset hosted the blending series at Raymond with eight influential sommeliers. From this blending session, the 2009 Sommelier Selection was crafted. The blending session started with background on the individual components, and the framework for the blending exercise. Teams of two were paired together and asked to submit their preferred blends from two Napa Cabernets, one Napa Cabernet Franc, one Napa Merlot, one Sonoma Cabernet, one Sonoma Merlot, and one Lake County Cabernet. Each team crafted two favorite blends, and submitted them for review by the panel of sommeliers and the Raymond winemaking team. A blind taste test and ranking revealed the winning blend

Aromas of Herbs de Provence, black cherry, brambleberry, and tar mingle with layers of spices.

A full-bodied elegant wine brimming with blackberry, cherry and cassis flavors. The Cabernet blend is comprised of fruit from the Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Lake County. Napa Valley is the backbone of the blend, with its terroir providing the fullest expression of black fruits and integrated tannins; Sonoma County’s fog influence produces grapes that give the wine structure, balance and acidity; Lake County’s growing season is short, making for red, jammy wines that are easy to enjoy.

Ideal to pair with a fine steak.  (boissetfamilyestates.com)

It was February 14th and we all know what that means.  I made reservations at 622 North Main Street for dinner.  I wasn't aware there was going to be a special dinner menu before hand and was surprised to find that was actually the case when we got there.  However, after the initial shock of the price wore off I decided to just go with it.  It's not every day we do this kind of thing.  So to go along with our [Marie and myself] five course meal I ordered the Raymond Sommelier Selection Cabernet Sauvignon.  I thought that it might make a good pairing with the lamb chops served over mashed potatoes that I had, and Marie's rib-eye medallions served over mashed potatoes and topped by lobster and shrimp.  

The nose had a fairly dry not overly sweet or fruity feeling although I did imagine it to be a very full bodied and almost silky kind of wine.  There were hints of dark cherry, oak and some vanilla coming through on the end.  There was a bit of a bite from the alcohol and and fairly present tannic component to it on first try but over the course of the meal it mellowed out a lot and became much more silky/velvety.  The alcohol heat that it had was mainly present from the mid-pallet through the finish but was actually, at least for me, a nice effect that held its own against the lamb.  The dark cherry was coming though very strongly in the beginning then turned more to an oak and vanilla finish.  It was a delightful wine to have a glass of and I was very taken aback by the change it went thought in the small amount of time it was open and out in my glass. 

Cooper Vineyards Noche 2011

Sweet bottle of Cooper Vineyards
Noche 

Cooper Vineyards
Noche 2011
Norton Grapes
Virginia, USA
17.00 USD

Best Dessert Wine 2011 Wine Lovers Spring Classic. A Virginia Norton dessert wine infused with chocolate, Noche is a decadent treat. Hints of black cherry and raspberry complement rich aromas of cocoa with a chocolate ganache finish. (Cooper Vineyards)

I was very excited when I saw that the Vintage Cellar had this ice wine for tasting.  This was a dessert wine if I have ever had one.  Before the glass was even a foot from your face you were hit by an amazing chocolate smell.  In fact it completely overwhelmed all the other smells in there.  However, when I tasted it the fruits came through and did a great job of balancing out the chocolate. I did have a hard time pinpointing exactly what fruit it was but no matter, the chocolate really takes center stage in this wine.  All in all this was an amazingly sweet wine perfect for dessert pairing--or simply the dessert itself!

Monte Antico 2007

Bottle of Monte Antico 2007

Monte Antico
Tuscan Blend 2007
Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon + Sangiovese
Tuscany, Italy
13.95 USD


Plenty of blackberry and chocolate character, with hints of plums.  Full and very velvety with a bright and fruity finish.  Always one of the best values in Tuscany.  Screw cap. Delicious now. (vintage cellar)


This wine had a very distinct smell to it.  It was a very earthy smell to it.  It wasn't dirt or mold or moss, it was just earth.  It had a nice component of some sort of red fruit.  I guess it was plums but I want able to pick that out myself.  There was also a hint of a smooth vanilla as well.  As for the taste.  It was sweet with a bit of acid to it.  With no heat and smooth all the way through it left a surprisingly dry aftertaste.  All in all I would really like to get a bottle of this to have again.  

Grayson Chardonnay 2010

Bottle of Grason
 Chardonnay

Grayson Chardonnay 2010
Chardonnay 100%
California, USA
9.95 USD


The 2010 Grayson Chardonnay is brilliantly ripe and shows aromas of bright, brisk acidity with notes of peach and Asian pear. The palate offers green apple with a crisp finish showing gentle hints of apple pie and tropical fruit. (Grayson Cellars)


This was a fun wine to try.  The green apple aromas just leap out of the glass at you before your nose gets anywhere near it.  There is also a nice undertone of either pear or peach (couldn't decided which) that served to mellow out the the tartness of the green apple at least for me it did.  It was nice a sweet but very light and crisp.  A very enjoyable aromatic wine.  The green apple again hits you immediately when you finally taste the wine.  It's like liquid green apple with hints of vanilla.  It was crisp and hangs with you a good while after swallowing and I'm not sure if it's what I had to eat before or the wine but I swear I tasted avocados a little while after finishing the tasting.

Lazan 2009

Bottle of Lazan 2009
(sorry for the poor quality photo)

Lazan
D.O. Somontano 2009
Blend: Moristel 70% + Garnacha 30%
Barbastro, Spain
12.00 USD

Loaded with fresh red fruit flavors, loganberry and raspberry aromas leap from the glass, while the palate is long and smooth, with a very persistent finish.  Great with tomato-based Mediterranean cuisine, game and mature cheeses, we often serve this wine cool, when it makes the ideal accompaniment to oily fish and red meats. (bottle label)

So it was Friday wine night and we had a delicious dinner of pasta pesto and caprese crostinis and a bottle of 2009 Lazan The first impression of this wine was a fairly strong fruit nose to it.  I wasn't sure of what fruit but I thought cherry.  There were not to many other distinct smells that I could really come up with.  First taste was fairly smooth, with a spicy maybe peppery finish.  I wasn't able to really pick up any distinct taste to this wine.  It wasn't overly tannic or had much heat to it.  There was a fruit component but nothing jumped out at me.  The crostini was excellent with it and the pesto made it more smooth with a fruity sweetness.

Naked Mountain Cabernet Franc 2007

Bottle of Naked Mountain
 Cabernet Franc 2007

Naked Mountain 
Cabernet Franc, 2007
Blend: Cabernet Franc 80%, Merlot 9%, Petit Verdot 8%, Tannat 5%
Virginia, USA
19.00 USD

This is a medium bodied red wine with a nose that comes alive with aromas of bright berries, red currant, and a hit of spice. The well rounded tannins on the palate are accompanied with flavors of blueberry, dark cherries, plum and a hint of white pepper. A long finish with hint cocoa and toasted nut, pair it with lamb chops, breaded veal, Mediterranean cuisine, or a dark chocolate raspberry mousse. (Naked Mountain Winery)

So it's Thursday and everyone knows that tonight is family dinner night and the Office.  We were having a delicious veal stew, biscuits and rice and Marie and I thought it would be a nice pairing if we brought over our bottle of Cabernet Franc we got this winter from a Winery named Naked Mountain that is located in Markham, Virginia.  Also, this was a thank you from me to Derek for helping Marie pin-up her drawings for her big review tomorrow.  He has been saying he has wanted to have a Cabernet Franc soon.

 Anyways, on to the review:

 The first smell was a bit spicy on the nose.  It wasn't the same kind of alcohol burn but more of a strange mixture of spices.  There was a slight sweet, oaky body to it as well.  It just seemed like a thick wine just from the smell.  The sweetness I think was partly some cherry coming though but I'm still not entirely sure on that it was really the only red fruit smell that I could come up with.  I did, however, jokingly mention something about red current mostly because that was the only other thing coming to mind but again I have no idea what it actually smells or tastes like.  Ironic that it was actually in the description above.  The first sip was a bit strong.  Lots of tannins and some fruit with a slight peppery burn towards the end of the sip and lingering after in the back of the mouth and throat.  After a while Derek and I decided that the slight fruity taste was cherry but were unable to really nail it down.  I'm not sure about the plum or blueberry (maybe if I go back and try it again with that in mind I would be able to pick that up) but for sure the pepper.  It was awesome!  The wine with the stew was great.  The stew itself was very rich and full of pepper (we can thank Carl for that) and strangely enough it smoothed out the wine while enhancing the pepper.  I mean the first time I took a sip after eating some of the stew it was like drinking silk with an explosion of pepper at the end.  I didn't really get a huge flavor difference other than maybe some of the fruitiness coming out a bit more.  All in all it was a lot of fun to drink this wine and experience it with the food we had. 

Emma Pearl 2009

Bottle of Emma Pearl Merlot

Emma Pearl 2009
Merlot
California, USA
18.00 USD


Fresh juicy cherries and ripe sun-kissed raspberries grown on California’s Central coast come to mind when swirling the 2009 Merlot in the glass. On the palate, the welcoming fruit-laced nose gives way to delicate notes of exotic spices, vanilla and soft silky tannins. The finish is velvety smooth with lingering notes of pomegranates and cherries. It’s easy to pair this charming wine with the likes of strawberry vinaigrette salad or roasted lamb with red plum sauce. (cellar360.com)

With a deep, rich, velvety red color; this merlot has a strong presence smell wise that seemed to coat my nose and mouth instantly with a nice oaky richness.  There was also some kind of fruit which I thought was possibly a cherry but I'm still not quite sure about that.  The wine had a nice smooth fullness to it with a light heat that crept up towards the middle and end.  There was a pleasant mix of oak and what I couldn't nail down but what I thought was either cherry or strawberry.

This is definitely a wine I'd like to have again.

Risata Moscato 2010

Bottle of Risata

Risata
Moscato d'Asti 2010
Asti, Italy
Moscato Grapes
16.00 USD

This Moscato d’Asti is fresh, fragrant, and frizzante with vibrant, flavors and aromas of ripe stone fruit, tangerines, and honey. The wine is concentrated and flavorful, but not overly rich or heavy; sweet, yet balanced. (prestigewinegroup.com)

This moscato had a sweet but not overly sweet smell to it.  It was a nice balance of the floral honeysuckle, rich fruits and a bit of honey thrown in there.  I wasn't able to really nail down any particular fruit smell though.  It was surprisingly light, crisp and clean given the sweetness of the smell.  It had a nice overtone of honey and seemed to bubble on the tongue all the way through to the finish.

It was a great moscato and definitely one of Marie's favorites so far.  We will probably be getting this one sometime soon...as soon as we save up the money.

One Hope 2009

Bottle of One Hope Chardonnay

One Hope 2009
Chardonnay
California, USA
12.00 USD

ONEHOPE California Chardonnay is hand-crafted with a blend of grapes from select vineyards throughout Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast of California. Our Chardonnay is blended with Muscat and Chenin Blanc displaying a pale gold color with aromas of fresh apple blossom and honeysuckle. Flavors of crisp pear and apple are vibrant on the palate, while its balanced oak and bright acidity makes this wine a great match with broiled or grilled seafood, poultry dishes and a wide assortment of cheeses. (WINEMAKER ROB MONDAVI JR.)

My first impression of this wine was its incredible color and clarity that for some reason really caught my eye.  Compared to the wine in my previous post it was a much sweeter smelling wine with a bit more body to the nose.  It wasn't quite as crisp and clean to me.  It also had some kind of what I think of as an oaky wood nose.  Upon tasting  the wine I found it to actually be a very crisp and clear wine.  It had a very strong citrus edge to it but was still a very smooth wine all the way through and lingered a bit after the swallow.  

In the time I had to sample the wine I wasn't able to really pick up on the apple blossom or honeysuckle smells but this is definitely a wine I will be going back to get more of in the near future.

Bolla Soave 2010

Bottle of Bolla Soave

Bolla Soave 2010
Veneto, Italy
Blend: Garganega + Trebbiano grapes
~11.00 USD

Bolla

"Soave" means “soft” in Italian, and the soft floral bouquet and clean pear and lemon flavors help this wine live up to its name. A delicate almond aftertaste makes it the perfect quaff to lighter fare like grilled seafood, chicken, fish-based pastas, and entrée salads. It also makes a perfect aperitif. (Winery's notes)

This was a pleasant wine to try at the Vintage Cellar.  It was very light and crisp from the very start.  It wasn't overly sweet smelling and had a nice citrus hint to it.  Pear was immediately evident but not overpowering the other aromas.  There was a floral perfumey scent that I wasn't able to nail down.  It was a smooth wine all the way through each sip with almost no heat and the pear came through very evidently.  It was a good wine that I'd like to come back to and enjoy a whole bottle of.

Dona Sol 2008

Bottle of Dona Sol
White Zinfandel

Dona Sol 2008
White Zinfandel
A blend of Zinfandel and Blush
Sonoma, California USA 
~5.00 USD

WINEMAKER NOTES:

“Doña Sol White Zinfandel is a voluptuous blush wine that has hints of strawberry and fresh fruit in its wide range of aromas.  As the wine flows into the palate, fresh fruit and sweet cherries are evident.  The wine ends with a smooth sweet finish.” (John Allbaugh, Winemaker)

FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:

”Pair this White Zinfandel with seafood (light & heavy), shellfish, pork, cheese, poultry, and desserts.”

(John Allbaugh, Winemaker)

The wine maker's notes are spot on with this wine.  It's smell is thick and rich with sweetness that you can almost feel.  There are tons of fruit smells coming though but strangely I get more of a sweet raisin bread kinda smell out of it more than any other fruit smell.  There is maybe a slight honey scent as well.  It is smooth with almost no hint of any alcohol to it and it carries through to a silky finish that coats your mouth.  As with the smell, the flavor I get the most is a raisin with other fruits [possibly strawberry like the winemaker says but I really can't tell that well] in the background.  There is a slight hint of some kinda citrus as well as vanilla.  It is certainly an easy drinking wine that would go well with any dessert course.

....Maybe the raisin taste is the cherries?


After thought:  This kinda reminds me of my mother's Bourbon Balls she makes during Christmas.