May you have a happy, blessed, and prosperous new year!
Begin your celebration with me now by looking back at my favorite red and white wines I reviewed for you this year, and the most exciting and interesting of the runner-ups.
The most memorable red:
Vignobles Mayard 2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau de Ma Mere (Transcendent)
Warm black and red fruit nose featuring blackberry, black cherry, red cherry, and raspberry. But wait, there's more: Mediterranean herbs, black pepper, a warm, pleasant barnyardy washed rind cheese bloom, some truffle, lavender, roses...lovely, lovely, lovely. The palate shows a warm, soft, smooth entry of brambly preserve, then herbs and smoked pork belly opening up throughout the mouth. All this is backed by great freshness and balance. The finish is long with walnut, pistachio, fruit, truffle, and herbs. Lovely! $39.95
Warm black and red fruit nose featuring blackberry, black cherry, red cherry, and raspberry. But wait, there's more: Mediterranean herbs, black pepper, a warm, pleasant barnyardy washed rind cheese bloom, some truffle, lavender, roses...lovely, lovely, lovely. The palate shows a warm, soft, smooth entry of brambly preserve, then herbs and smoked pork belly opening up throughout the mouth. All this is backed by great freshness and balance. The finish is long with walnut, pistachio, fruit, truffle, and herbs. Lovely! $39.95
And the red runners-up:
Vietti 2006 Barolo Castiglione (Delightful)
Earthy, dusty dark chocolate coverd blueberries, cherries, and
raspberries backed by musty aging wood, black truffle,
porcini, sweet tea leaf, wet log, rose petal and violets.
All in all an exceptionally focused wine with
super-well integrated chewy tannins and beautiful balance.
The medium-long finish evokes the finish of a good
cigar, some truffle and suade. $44.95
Earthy, dusty dark chocolate coverd blueberries, cherries, and
raspberries backed by musty aging wood, black truffle,
porcini, sweet tea leaf, wet log, rose petal and violets.
All in all an exceptionally focused wine with
super-well integrated chewy tannins and beautiful balance.
The medium-long finish evokes the finish of a good
cigar, some truffle and suade. $44.95
Domaine de Fondrèche 2007 Clos du Ventoux Fayard (Delightful)
cordial, blackberry, raspberry, red and blue plums, backed by
garrigue, a spritz of lemon, and tons of freshly cracked pepper.
Then moves to a pinpoint focus of dense dried fruits and baskets of
freshly picked sweet violets. On the palate shows great berry
concentration, chocolate and herbs with incredibly well-structured
backbone. Sur lie ageing with no perceptible oak influence really
lets the fruit and the terroir shine. Excellent value! $16.99
Bonny Doon 2006 Le Cigare Volant (Delightful)
A very nicely constructed Rhône blend with some of the sweet fruit character
of the new world, but the complexity and restraint of the old. A quite heady,
A very nicely constructed Rhône blend with some of the sweet fruit character
of the new world, but the complexity and restraint of the old. A quite heady,
masculine nose with game, underbrush, lavender and cracked pepper, balanced with feminine notes of flower infused cherry preserves, red plum and a touch of raspberry. The fruit thins out a bit in the mouth, leaning more towards tart pie cherry. The impressive aspect of the palate, however, is the complex gamey, wet log middle that also features some lavender-infused black licorice. Silky smooth, yet mouth-filling tannins and good acidity create exceptional balance. The finish is pleasure-giving and long with game, rotting log, cherry flesh, and delicate floral notes reminiscent of lilac. $32.99
The most memorable white:
Domaine Huet 2009 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Sec (Transcendent)
Enticing nose of sweet, freshly grated apple sauce
sprinkled with cloves, laced with clover honey and
Frangelico liqueur. Fresh, juicy tart apples on the
palate followed by flowers, honey and hazelnuts. A
beautifully balanced wine with depth and finesse that
could become even more impressive with a few years
in the bottle. $35.00
And the white runners-up:
St. Urbans-Hof 2010 Bockstein Ockfen Riesling Kabinett (Delightful)
The nose took me on a journey starting with juicy red
and yellow orchard apple and walnut turning to spicy apple tart with
vanilla custard, and finally opening up to field herbs and apple
blossoms. On the palate the wine showed orchard fruit and
bright lemon zest, hints of kiwi and pineapple, followd by loads
of herbs and blue slate. Bracing tartness perfectly balanced the
modest residual sugar. Nice apple core and floral finish. $15.99
Domaine Giachino 2008 Abymes Monfarina (Delightful)
Produced Biodynamically from the Jacquere grape, this lovely wine from a beautiful Savoie region of eastern France, immediately showed off it's extended ageing on the lees with warm caramel apple dipped in freshly churned sour cream, some pungent mountain cheese rind, alpine herbs, and mouthfuls of gravely granite minerality. This would pair wonderfully with the great artisanal cheeses and charcuterie of the Haute-Savoie. $13.99
The Eyrie Vineyards 2009 Estate Pinot Blanc (Delightful)
Delicately alluring sweet-tart aromas of raspberry, white currant and gooseberry with hints of pineapple and pear skin. Rolls over the tongue smooth as liquid gold with wonderful white berry fruit concentration and a lovely bouquet of wildflowers and field herbs. Like waling through a dewy field on a cloudy morning. My only criticism is a somewhat low level of acidity. Lovely medium-long raspberry seed and walnut skin finish. $13.95
And not to be overlooked, one fabulous dessert wine:
Frog's Leap 2009 Frogenbeerenauslese (Transcendent)
Honey, honey, honey, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, ripe peaches and pears
drizzled with more honey and a sprinkle of orange zest. Lively lemon zest
tartness on the palate with pear core and more spiced honey. The beautiful
long finish shows pear skins, apple skins, and walnuts. This is an exceptional
late harvest Riesling at this price to enjoy on its own, or pair with roasted hazelnuts, walnut tart, or apricot tart. $23.99
Narrowing down this list was extremely tough. Especially among the whites there were so many interesting wines that could easily have been included. You can see all the reviews by going to the wine reviews section.
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