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Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale 2001 Shiraz

November 16, 2005 By Leave a Comment

Plenty of complexity, a touch of class and high quality define the Kangarilla Road Shiraz which is also, in a word, “dark.” While I enjoyed a couple of glasses unaccompanied by food I can imagine this one would go well with a peppercorn filet or other moderately spicy dish. There is a hint of dark fruit (plum and dark berries) which becomes more noticeable as I work my way down through the glass, but early on I caught the distinct flavor of earthiness reminiscent of the mild-Mediterranean like climate this wine was grown in. And while Kangarilla describes their oak usage as “an integrated approach … that does not overpower the palette” I find the oak to be very present, not overpowering but noticeable. The 2001 is slighlt more acidic and spicy than what I would have expected from an Australian. Not the most notable wine in my collection but worth having, very drinkable and a very good buy.

Ownership: Kevin & Helen O’?Brien
Winemaker: Kevin O’?Brien
Appellation: McLaren Vale
Winery Name: Kangarilla Road
Vintage: 2001
Wine Maker: Kevin O’Brien
Grape: Syrah
Country: Australia
Timing: Now or by the end of 2006.
Drinkable Score: 8/10
Price: $15 – $20 in Store

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2002 Firriato “Ribeca”

November 9, 2005 By Leave a Comment

Vitner’s Description:
This is a song for Sicily and for her extraordinary indigenous grapes. The wine is a joyful blend of the vogorous and exuberant Nero d’Avola and the rare and decisive Perricone. The colour is deep and intense ruby, and the seductive perfume is of exquisite red fruits, spices and summer woodlands. The taste is fascinating, rich and warm with soft and delicate tannins. Ribeca is a rare and elegant pleasure and is dedicated to all lovers everywhere.

Cooperage:
Fermentation and maturation in French, American and Russian barriques for 10 months.

Owner/Manager: Salvatore Di Gaetano
Winemaker: Giuseppe Pelligrino
Appellation: Firriato, Sicily
Vintage: 2002
Grape: 60% Nero d’Avola; 40% Perricone
Fabulous right now
Drinkable Score: 8.5/10

Price: $75 (Restaurant pricing)

I had this wine in San Francisco on a recommend from our server/wine steward. As a bonus, it turns out that Tuesday is “Half price Italian Wine Night” at The Last Supper on Valencia & 23rd! This wine is very fruit forward, not something one would attribute to an old world wine, however I’m told this is a distinguishing characteristic of Southern Italy. The wine is initially soft, changing to bigger and robust as it migrates across the palate. There is a presence of earthiness and tannins are mild. The result is a well balanced and very drinkable wine. We paired this wine with a rustic veal stew and halibut in a spicy tomato sauce, both were complimented beautifully by this Southern red. -EB

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2003 Frank Family Zinfandel

November 2, 2005 By Leave a Comment

Vitner’s Description:
Frank Family Vineyards 2003 Napa Valley Zinfandel is dense, dark scarlet to the eye; the nose is jam-packed with dazzling blackberries, plums, and black cherries touched with the essence of white pepper spice. The palate is rich and concentrated with mouth filling ripe fruit flavors interwoven with velvety tannins followed by a long, comforting finish.

Cooperage:
15 months maturation in 35% New French Oak and 65% once and twice filled French Oak barrels

Owner: Rich Frank
Winemaker: Frank, Rombauer, Graff
Appellation: Frank Family
Vintage: 2003
Grape: 90% Zinfandel; 8% Syrah; 2% Petite Sirah
Drink now or linger, but don’t camp too long.
Drinkable Score: 8.0/10

Price: $35

I tasted this wine on site in Rutherford. While I quite enjoyed Frank Family’s full line of Cabernets, I was most impressed with their Zinfandel. “Concentrated and Spicy” is an understatement. The spice in this wine walks that fine line between bold and over the top. Spicy enough to stand out, yet not so far as to bite or leave too rough of a finish. In the words of the slightly toasted tasting room pourer, “It’s a rocket ship baby!” I bought a bottle and can’t wait to bust it out with my next spicy pork tenderloin. -EB

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2002 Nugan Family Shiraz (Third Generation)

October 14, 2005 By Leave a Comment

Born in New South Wales, Australia, a semi-arid region of the Land Down Under, these grapes are heavy on pepper and spice, deep fruity flavor and earthy tones. This was a great bottle of wine, highly drinkable alone and a KILLER value in the under $15 a bottle range. While I haven’t learned much about Nugan wines here is what I could find about this one (it is notable that this Aussie wine is not fermented in stainless steel as many of them are).

Grapes picked: March 2002
Vintage conditions: Warm days, cool nights; Moderate rainfall
Fermentation time & temp: 8 days between 22-25°C
Method: The Shiraz grapes were crushed, yeasted and pumped over in traditional style so as not to extract bitter tannins
Oak Treatment: American and French Oak treatment
Post blending treatment: Coldstabilizedd, filtered and bottled
Bottled In: August 2003
Drink now or cellar for up to 2-3 years

Owner: Nugan Family
Winemaker: Daren Owens
Appellation: Nugan Family
Vintage: 2002
Grape: 95% Shiraz; 5% Durif
Drink now or by End of 2006.
Drinkable Score: 8.0/10

Winemaker’s notes: Machine harvested. Premium parcels of fruit were crushed/destemed and fermented in vinimatics and statics vessels with auto irrigators. Primary ferment was completed in 6-8 days, followed by bagpressing onto American oak tank staves. Once seeded for malolactic fermentation a portion of Shiraz was drained off into barrels for maturation. Post blending, the wine was cold stabilized, filtered and despatched for bottling.

Price: Under $15

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1999 Kendall Jackson Zinfandel

August 28, 2005 By Leave a Comment

Best with Food, not great to drink alone.
Flavors not particularly well defined. This wine was average. Drinkable but not noteable. Slight Floral and Spice (possibly pepper)

Appellation: Kendall Jackson Winery, Sonoma California
Vintage: 1999
Grape: Zinfandel

Drinkable Score: 6.0/10

Price: ??

http://www.kendalljackson.com/

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1999 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah

August 18, 2005 By Leave a Comment

While Arroyo makes several types of wines they claim that the Petite Syrah is their signature. Dive into the 1999 Arroyo Petite Sirah Winemaker’s Reserve and taste the fire in the barrel. This particular Syrah is barrel-aged for 34 months and is aged well. The nose gives a strong berry scent (and is strongly similar to their Petite Syrah Port: imagine that) and the flavor compliments it well with an earthy tone that is full. While enjoying this wine by itself I can imagine it would compliment a well cooked steak or a rather spicy dish. The aftermath of this wine is a dry palette but a lingering flavor that is quite nice. Being a fan of full wines, I can’t wait to try their Zinfandel.

Arroyo is a Napa winery and they don’t distribute their wines so if you want to try them out you will have to order directly from the winery (or go and taste). It helps to know that a number of their wines sell out so you might try getting on the waiting list, and I promise it will be worth the wait.

Excellent alone or with a spicy dish, this wine has a very long finish.

Owner: Vincent Arroyo
Winemaker: Vincent Arroyo
Appellation: Vincent Arroyo Winery, Napa California
Vintage: 1999
Grape: Petite Sirah
Drink now or let it linger and drink whenever.
Drinkable Score: 8.0/10

Price: I think I paid about $30 a bottle (give or take)

http://www.vincentarroyo.com/

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Baron Monchhof 2003 Estate Riesling

July 16, 2005 By Leave a Comment

Normally I am not a “sweet” wine drinker, however this light, crisp wine hits the spot making the Monchhof Riesling is an excellent choice for many occasions. Even if you don’t normally find lighter wine appealing you are likely to enjoy this one from Germany. Harvested in October Robert Eymael declared the wines produced at the Monchhof in 2003 the best in his 20 year career and possibly ever at the estate.

Excellent alone or with a moderately spicy dish, this wine has a very smooth finish.

Owner: Robert Eymael
Winemaker: Robert Eymael
Appellation: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Grape: 100% Riesling
Drink now through 2015 (Worth buying a case)
Score: 8.5/10
Wine Spectator: 88

Price: about $25

www.moenchhof.de

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DJCC 4th Annual Wine Tasting

March 7, 2005 By Leave a Comment

On Saturday March 5th, 2005, the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce hosted their 4th Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser benefiting the Texas Commission for the Blind. As an organization dedicated largely to philanthropic endeavors, the DJCC was pleased to see attendance rise from 150 last year to 250 for this years’ Wine Tasting Fundraiser. The event was held at the American Fine Art Gallery in Dallas which proved to be an ideal setting for schmoozing, consuming, mingling, entertaining and fundraising. As per the theme of the event (Around the World in 80 Wines), tables were set up throughout the gallery each representing a region of the world with featured wines from that region, including Africa, Spain, North and South America, Australia, France and others. In attendance were many of Dallas’ finest young professionals, up and coming business and civic leaders, art and wine aficionados and a few vagrants such as myself to mix things up a bit. Throughout the evening resident artists were displaying their talents while creating paintings live to be later auctioned off.

The silent auction also featured works from local photographers, artwork, and donations for services and dining donated by Dallas area establishments.
It would be inappropriate not to recognize the 2005 DJCC President Matt Kobler and his Wine Tasting Committee for coordinating such a fun and successful evening. The only possible complaint someone might have is that drinking so much wine makes it hard to remember which ones you enjoyed the next day, but then I guess that is really not a bad problem to have!
Several thousand dollars were raised this year and will not only benefit the TCB but will also help to sponsor the upcoming DJCC Easter Egg Hunt for the Blind. If you are in the Dallas area I would strongly encourage you to come out to Flagpole Hill (White Rock Lake, Buckner and NW Highway) on Saturday March 19th between 8 (yes AM) and 12 to experience the real pleasure of watching children who are visually impaired enjoy the Easter tradition of hunting for eggs just as all their sighted friends do (it is also your only chance to see Bruce in a bunny suit!).
Whether or not you make it out to the Easter Egg Hunt, the 2006 Wine Tasting event is sure to be even bigger and better than 2005 so mark your calendars for March, all the cool kids will be there.

A little disclaimer: I am on the DJCC Board of Directors for 2005 as the Vice President of Operations. If you would like to learn more about the DJCC, what we do and how to get involved visit www.djcc.us.

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Monchof Riesling

January 17, 2005 By Leave a Comment

Normally I am not a “sweet” wine drinker, however this light, crisp wine hits the spot making the Monchhof Riesling is an excellent choice for many occasions. Even if you don’t normally find lighter wine appealing you are likely to enjoy this one from Germany. Harvested in October Robert Eymael declared the wines produced at the Monchhof in 2003 the best in his 20 year career and possibly ever at the estate.

Excellent alone or with a moderately spicy dish, this wine has a very smooth finish.

Owner: Robert Eymael
Winemaker: Robert Eymael
Appellation: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany
Grape: 100% Riesling
Drink now through 2015 (Worth buying a case)
Score: 8.5/10
Wine Spectator: 88

Price: about $20

www.moenchhof.de

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