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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 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 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 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 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 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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