Wine Tasting: 2014 Kukeri Pinot Noir

Back to one of my favorite California regions.  The Russian River Valley.  Today with a 2014 Kukeri Pinot Noir.

A limited production wine, only six barrels were produced. (144 cases)  It is 100% Pinot Noir and aged in 100% French oak barrels with 30% of them new oak.

Tasting Notes:
This Pinot Noir is violet in color and has aromas of black cherry with a centered floral and light citrus backing.  On the palate, impressions begin with an anemic floral overtones, but a delayed saturation of cherry and plum rind quickly increase much of the missing initial piquancy.  The texture is quite silky and smooth.  I would say slightly too much so as it's missing some needed acidity to deliver proper balance.

Final thoughts:  Good, but not great.  Though this vino is young and could definitely improve quite a bit with more time.

Wine Tasting: 2013 Tous Ensemble Syrah

Copain Wines is a vineyard that sits up high on a hill overlooking California's Russian River Valley.  The winemaker is Wells Guthrie who apprenticed with the legendary Michel Chapoutier in France's Rhone Valley. They make a multitude of wines, but today we are tasting their 2013 Tous Ensemble Syrah.

Tasting Notes:
This wine is garnet in color, but shows its youth with a purplish blue hues at the edge.  Fragrances of blueberries, black cherry, and cassis rise off the glass.   Gustatorily a cranberrish pomegranate character with a sort of amaranthine tartness for the finish.  It is also quite dry and has an acute acidity, and while I think it affects the balance a bit.  I do not find it too distracting.

A decent wine for drinking.

Wine Tasting: 2013 Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay, Napa Valley

So, I've started my first foray into Winemaking.  It started off well and then ended terribly this morning losing the entire batch.  Ugh!  Well, the wine wasn't lost (I didn't know that at the time), but in hast to get to work and thinking it was ruined due to overnight exposure to the air.  I personally ruined it by dumping it down the drain.  That's another story though.  One I will probably document soon.

Anyway, because my morale was in the toilet after this mornings debacle.  I decided I would open a slightly more pricey bottle tonight to enjoy.  

Today's tasting is Cakebread Cellar's 2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay.  The Winemaker is Julianne Laks and it was aged sur lie in French oak barrels, 20% new with periodic stirring of the lees.  I note the aging for a reason which I will get to in the tasting notes.

Tasting Notes:
Citrus on the nose, though its quite faint.  On the palate there is grapefruit, lemon, and a zesty acidity that punches right through the buttery scampi sauce I had with dinner.  This Chardonnay boasts much more flavor than the aroma suggests which was a little surprising.  There is next to no oak or buttery flavoring within the wine itself which is why I choose to note the French oak aging.

Overall, it's a good Chardonnay, but I do not believe the value is there at its price point.  Cakebread Cellars has a higher end Chardonnay Reserve that I would like to try and compare.

Wine Tasting: 2012 Baron Cooper Old Vine Zinfandel, Tamura Vineyard

A product of Greg Burns of Jessie’s Grove and St. Amant.  Baron Cooper Old Vine Zinfandel from Tamura Vineyards is up for tasting tonight.

I've actually had this wine and a Luke Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon waiting for tasting for several months now.  Considering their supposed quality, I'm surprised it's taken me this long to get around to them.

Tasting Notes:
Aromas of red fruit, floral essence, with some hints of radish. On the tongue it's has a savory cranberry sauce flavor, a light impression of pepperiness along with other spices and rich velvety floral on the palate. Almost silky texture with a long finish and nice acidity for a good balance. Very nice.

Overall, an excellent Zinfandel.  I wish I had picked up more than just two bottles.

Wine Tasting: 2011 Fattoria Petrolo Torrione Toscana IGT

Today's vino-visit is to Italy.  Of the countries I've visited, (approximately twelve)  Italy is definitely my favorite thus far.

Torrione is a Tuscan red blend consisting 80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, and finally 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

My tasting notes are as follows:

Cherries, rose petals, and red apple rind on the nose. Strawberry licorice with a woody essence and a spoke in tartness leading in the the finish.  Smooth, but doesn't have the depth to have a silky texture.  For this wine, I think that maybe superfluous as it certainly doesn't detract from it being a great wine and at it's price point. ($23US) It's an absolute steal.

Wine Tasting: 2011 Maritávora Douro Tinto Reserva

Today's selection is the 2011 Quinta de Maritávora Douro Tino Reserva. A gorgeous full bodied almost completely opaque ink colored Portuguese red wine.

A blend of three Portuguese varietals. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. Aged for 18 months in French oak and carrying a 15% alcohol content.

In the middle of the 19th century, José Junqueiro Júnior, father of the poet Guerra Junqueiro, acquired a group of farms and properties in the Freixo de Espada-à-Cinta district, Douro, Portugal, most of which are still owned by his direct descendants. An old vineyard of white varieties planted by this ancestor at the end of the 19th century remains in production today. Maritávora Grande Reserva Old Vines White originates from this site.

Today, they are producing incredible wines and this 2011 Reseva vintage is a beacon of light from that long heritage.

Hints of blueberry, and cloves on the nose to flavors of blueberry, minerals and wet wool on the palate. Juicy yet silky smooth with a semi-long finish and extremely well balanced acitidy.

At around $25-$30 US, this is great bargain. Don't just take my word for it. Robert Parker agrees, giving this wine a 93 rating and noting that this wine comes across like a wine that sells for two to three times it's price point.

Wine Tasting: 2011 Outcast Grenache

The 2011 Outcast Grenache comes out of Oak Knoll, Califorina and is aged 18 months in 10% New and Seasoned French Oak.  There were 350 cases produced.

Substancially lighter in color than I expected.  A beautiful light ruby red medium bodied wine.  it seems much lighter than it's full bodied 14.5% alcohol content.  On the nose; scents of cranberry and raspberry show up.  On the palallete, the cranberry is still present along with pear, pomegranate, and traces of almonds.   It's very crisp like the 2013 Miro Pinot Noir that I enjoy so much.

This is a very impressive wine being that it's so light yet packed with expressive flavors and a sneaky alcohol content.  It paired well with my brased beef with red pepper and potato stew.

Beautiful.