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Double Gold Tasting
Notes from the 2008
Tasters Guild
Consumers’ Wine Judging
UP TO $10.00
Sylvester Winery 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon — Paso Robles, California
Mellow fruit aromas of ripe, red fruits. Easy drinking with
prominent flavors of black cherries and blackcurrant. Easily
qualifies for a “Best Buy” category. From pizza to grilled meat this
wine will fit the bill of fare.
Sheffield Cellars Marsala
California
“Oaked mellowed” dessert wine in the Marsala or Cream Sherry-style.
Soft and elegant, a pleasing after-dinner drink with walnuts and
blue cheese or extenuate the classic dish of veal marsala.
St. James 2007 Vintner’s Select Vignoles Missouri
This French/American hybrid grape is a fine example of how delicious
the Vignoles grape can be. Long known in the Midwest and Eastern
U.S. wine areas as a versatile varietal, this version is full-bodied
and extremely flavorful with hints of fig, peach, and apricot.
Enjoy by itself or with a vanilla soufflé.
$10.01 TO $15.00
J. Lohr 2006 Riverstone Chardonnay Monterey, California
Vibrant aromas of oak and citrus fruit. Well-balanced flavors of
crisp citrus and an extraordinary lingering aftertaste that
permeates the mouth. A powerful, delicious wine. Highly recommended
with any style of seafood and shellfish.
von Stiehl 2007 Un-Oaked Chardonnay Wisconsin
Fragrant aromas of pear and ripe pineapple. A smooth, pleasant
mouthfeel and delicious fruit flavors that personify the essence of
the Chardonnay grape. Nice balance of fruit and acidity that makes
this wine an excellent companion for freshwater fish and grilled
vegetables.
$15.01 TO $20.00
Pedroncelli 2006 Three Vineyards
Sauvignon
— California
Soft, flavorful red fruit with highlights of spicy pepper and
careful use of toasty oak. Still a little tannic on the aftertaste
which means this wine can be enjoyed into the future. This wine will
be welcomed on the holiday dinner table with roast turkey.

***
Chateau Thomas 2006 Merlot
Napa, California
Big, ripe, aromatic tree fruit. Smooth and very approachable. A
lovely bottle of Merlot that even the folks from the movie
“Sideways” would appreciate. Dr. Thomas continually creates
wonderful wines from premium California grapes. Worth the trip to
Indiana to purchase it. Try with shish kebab or lamb chops

***
Surfrider 2007 Pinot Gris
Santa Barbara, California
Wonderful floral bouquet and fruity, crisp, citrus flavors. Throw in
a few nuances of melon and then from the bottle’s back label,
“Imagine warm sand between your toes and a cool ocean breeze as you
sip this seductive wine!” An excellent companion for picnic fare,
Asian dishes and cream sauces.
Surfrider 2007 Chardonnay
Edna Valley, California
An alluring bouquet of tree fruit with a slight spicy fragrance.
Clean, crisp feel of citrus fruit on the palate that makes this wine
an excellent companion for many different food dishes, but Asian
flavors would blend extremely well with this tasty beauty.
Vino è Buono 2005 Sangiovese - Colorado
A little touch of Italy from the Spero Winery in Colorado. Seem odd?
Not when you taste this full-bodied, robust red wine with a bowl of
pasta smothered with a hearty red meat sauce. Magnifico! A match
made in Denver.
Pindar 2006 Chardonnay Late Harvest North Fork of Long Island, New
York
A dessert wine of
immense
tropical aromas and flavors that engulf the mouth. All sorts of
fresh, crisp fruit flavors entice the palate. Serve chilled after
dinner by itself or with an assortment of pastries, but definitely
share with friends.
Parallel Forty Four 2007 Meditation Wine Wisconsin
The grape variety Frontenac is showing up more frequently throughout
the Midwest with amazing success. This dessert version entices the
nose and palate with rich, ripe cherry aromas and flavor. It
finishes the cherry enjoyment with a hint of chocolate. Lovely with
a flourless chocolate torte.
$20.01 TO $27.00
Glenora 2002 Finger Lakes Brut
New York
A multitude of tiny sensory bubbles fill the mouth. A crisp,
flavorful sparkling wine that would be a pleasure to serve (and
drink!) at any house party, in or out of doors. It is indeed, as
they say, “A Beautiful Wine.” The perfect wine with hors
d’oeuvres or as an aperitif before dinner.
Sunset 2004 Barbera — Napa Valley, California
Deep garnet color and enticing black fruit aromas. Black cherry
flavor is prominent on the palate and excites the senses. This
Barbera will create all sorts of sensory pleasures as you proceed
from taste after taste until it is sadly gone. A dish of “mama
mia’s” great homemade red sauce pasta.
Sunset 2003 Zinfandel — Dry Creek, California
Old
vines sparsely produce some luscious fruit and Sunset creates a
rich, complex wine from the harvest – at a great value! Ripe, red
berry fruit aromas with hints of chocolate and spice that fill the
mouth. Delicious! Osso Bucco would be a winner at the table.
Mount Pleasant Winery 2005 Port Missouri
An
explosion of ripe fruit aromas greet the consumer when approaching
this lovely glass of fortified wine in the port-style. Flavors
linger on to a pleasing finish. German chocolate cake.
$27.01 TO $35.00
Hagafen 2005 Zinfandel — Napa, California
Spicy berry fruit with a pleasing lingering aftertaste. Full
satisfaction on the palate and ready to be enjoyed to its fullest
now and for a couple more years. Will match nicely with
Provencal-style dishes or roasted game bird.

***
Falkner Winery 2004 Syrah Temecula Valley, California
Deep, dark color with full, ripe fruit aromas. Deep, delicious
flavors of rich red fruit with hints of vanilla oak. The pleasure of
this wine lingers on in the finish. Would pair nicely with a rack of
lamb.

***
Ventana Vineyards 2005 “La Danza” Tempranillo — Monterey, California
The
great Spanish grape variety making its mark in the U.S. La Danza
translates to “the dance” which we will gladly do with this
wonderful blend of dark fruits and a hint of oak that creates an
alluring wine for “dancing the night away.” Try it with a spicy dish
of paella.
Quady Winery NV Deviation - California
From the nation’s foremost maker of dessert wines comes this
fabulous aromatic dessert wine flavored with Rose Geranium and
Damiana of the plant kingdom. This wine is indeed a “deviation” of
traditional winemaking. Would make an excellent “hot tub” wine to
enjoy and aerate the room at the same time.

***
$35.01 TO $40.00
Chateau Thomas 2007 Late Harvest Viognier — Indiana
Classic Viognier from Yakima Valley, Washington in the dessert, late
harvest–style. Not overly sweet, but an excellent example of a wine
well-balanced between sugar and fruit acid. Wonderful aromas and
flavors of rich, ripe fruit. Enjoy with a light-flavored cheesecake.

***
M. Cosentino Estate 2006 Ancient Vine Zinfandel — Lodi, California
Rich, full-bodied wine exudes intense, red berry fruit flavors. A
delight to drink and enjoy with a plate of fresh Parmigiana Reggiano
cheese. An exquisite treat.
$40.01 TO $50.00
Prix 2006 Napa Valley Pinot Noir California
From their North Block Reserve Soleil Vineyard this Pinot Noir
personifies rich berry flavors that consume the palate with a hint
of spice. Beautiful aromas of ripe fruit greets the nose and works
through the first and last sip. Enjoy with marinated pork loin
chops.

***
Prix 2005 Moskovite Ranch Zinfandel Napa, California
A
special “Block 61” reserve wine of special significance. Everything
you would expect of an exceptional Zin. Full, rich red berry fruit,
hints of spice and exceptional balance with a long aftertaste. This
is a wine for complex roast meats and stews.

***
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir — Oregon
Smooth and elegant, a pleasure to consume. Complexity that is nicely
balanced with richness that begs for another taste. Grilled salmon
or a spicy Cajun dish would be our first thought.
Cosentino 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, California
Exceptionally easy drinking wine that does not sacrifice structure
for elegance. This merging of Cabernet Franc and Merlot with the
predominate Cabernet Sauvignon exemplifies the flavorful blending
skills of winemaker Mitch Cosentino. Easy choice with roast meats
or hearty vegetarian dishes like eggplant parmigiana.
$50+
ZD 2006 Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir California
Full-bodied flavor that engulfs the mouth and lingers on the back
palate. Burgundian –style with intense fruit that is also
organically grown. A superb wine that will not disappoint with
heartier meat dishes such as boeuf bourguignon.
***
Prix 2005 Reserve Mélange
Napa, California
A
bouquet of floral aromas greet the nose and intense black fruit
flavors engulf the palate. An exquisite blend of grapes producing a
wine that is not near its peak of pleasure. But don’t wait for it,
they only produced 300 cases. Save it for your finest cut of beef.

***
Chateau Thomas Limited Release “Black Gold” — Indiana
The
winery is in Indiana, but the grapes (67% Cabernet Franc and 33%
Merlot) are from Lodi, California. No matter, the wine is an
exquisite blend of premium grapes. Bright, flavorful fruit that
would complement an array of meat dishes. Unfortunately, the wine is
only available in Indiana — lucky Hoosiers!

***
ZD 2006 Chardonnay
Napa, California
The
exacting quality of ZD wines personified. Sixteen months on oak does
not overpower this wine but adds to the complex, big style of the de
Leuze family. Beautifully balanced in flavors that entice the palate
to linger on the aftertaste. Planked fresh salmon would be our first
choice for this outstanding wine.
Chateau Thomas 2003 Family Reserve Indiana
A
classic blend of the Bordeaux grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon
(40%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (25%), Malbec (5%) and Petite
Verdot. Lovely, smooth flavor of classic quality. Worthy of your
finest steak off the grill.

***
R & B 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa, California
Two
years of barrel aging has made this wine an exceptional
rendition of California’s
great red varietal. Smooth, easy drinking flavor with enormous
depth in the aftertaste. Extremely well-crafted wine that captures
the entire essence of Cabernet. Beef, but not too hearty to
overpower this beauty.

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