Geyser Peak

Geyser Peak (85)

Chardonnay

2008

California

$11.00

Appearance: Very light and crisp. Inviting and appears refreshing.

Nose: Holy crap pear! Tastes like you just cut a pear into slices and sniffed it. It was difficult to nail down the floral aroma that accompanied it but if I had to take a shot in the dark I would say closest to orange blossom.

Palate: A touch sweet, smooth, and buttery. A lot of pear on the palate as well. In the past I have described different wood like characteristics and they are present in this wine as well. Years working in a wood shop setting I could always tell what wood was being cut by the smell of the saw dust in the air. This wine has a striking resemblance to white pine.

Finish: Finish is short and to the point. Short five second finish that leaves refreshing but with no real character beyond that.

Overall: An easy drinking middle of the road chardonnay. It has some characteristics that stand for themselves but most everything else is mellow and behind the scenes. It is however very refreshing and would be a welcomed relief after a long hot day. It just borders on dry and has some sweeter notes that some sweeter wine lovers may enjoy but is still pleasant for us dry wine fans. In a way it has that big boy cali chardonnay feel but dulled down a touch. I am not to fimilure with Geyser Peak but could imagine there reserve wines are probably a touch more refined and may have there big boy pants on.

Castellana

2008

Montepulciano D’Abruzzo

Montepulciano

Appearance:  Between dark ruby and rich burgundy.

Nose:  This is going to sound strange.  When I was a kid I lived a few miles a away from a quarry.  When they would

do some blasting it would push up an aroma into the air that it un forgettable.  There was the smell of dynamite or ammonium nitrate but behind that was the smell of pulverized stone and an earthen aroma like old deep dug potting soil.  It smelled like time and history.  Like winter spring summer and fall all wrapped up into one.  That’s what this wine smell of.

Palate:  This wine is rich in fruit and spice.  Like pomegranate meets Cajun kitchen.  I have been enjoying this same bottle for over two hours now.  It comes straight out of the bottle a bit spikey and pepper forward.  But as its sits and decants (1 hour) it calms to a smooth and super enjoyable wine.  Earth, pepper, red and black currents, and slate stone with some Pennsylvania clay.

Finish:  Finish is warm and reassuring.  Reassuring you of a good purchase.  Which is good in my case being I bought 3 cases.  It has some viscosity to the back end that slides into a smooth red fruit rich tartness that hangs around for far longer than you would expect.  This wine leaves you with a touch of refreshment as its old world charm meets its crowed pleasing personality.

Overall:  Some of you will be familiars with this wine.  You had it today at my wedding.  It is never a easy task trying to pick a wine that will please everyone without breaking the bank.  Some may be turned of by its spice and I am sorry for that.  But with time open this wine chills to be an absolutely incredible wine for its price tag.  It hits all the marks of my expectations.  It has a great quality for price ratio,  It is soundly made, its not boring, and most importantly its not what everyone else told me to serve at my wedding. 

Vampire

Vampire

Pinot Noir

2008

NAPA, California

10 USD

Appearance:  Red brick, with a touch of ruby along the rim.

Nose:  Dank cigar, wet cardboard, and only a hint of red cherry

Palate: Poor connection between earth notes and red cherries.  Only minimal fruit characteristics muffled by bland wet leaves compost to it.

Finish:  its short sweet and your glad it’s finished.

Overall: I would suspect this wine was corked but sadley this is not the first time I have had it.  I have a case of this shit, and try one every so often to see if by some strange chance that the first 6 where corked.  Likely? No, but what can you do.  I think it’s a play on the popularity of Vampires these days.  I’m not bashing Twilight, I watch the movies, and may have even read a book or two.  Terrible wine, avoid at all costs.

Mezzacorona

Pinot Grigio

2008

Italy

Appearance:  Light and clear.  Appears crisp and refreshing.

Nose:  Champion mushrooms and fresh cut grass.  Subtle lemon lime citrus.

Palate: Tart and tangy.  Stemmy yet refreshing. A very strait forward and to the point wine.

Finish:  The highlight of the wine.  A tang citric and green pepper.

Overall:  Not to excited about this.  Its wine and its well-made but lacks character, character that sets it apart from any other 6 dollar bottle of Pinot.  Does it quench the thirst? Yes. Does it make me want to dive into the other 9 bottles of it I have in the rack? No.  A very even keel wine for a very good price.

Grove

Chardonnay

2008

Sonoma

Appearance: Light golden.

Nose: Citrus, lemon lime soda. Almost smells like a shoe store or new shoes.

Pallet: Lemon zest hidden behind a sharp stem-y sensation. It tastes very young and a little over oaken.

Finish:  Very tart. Has a bitter, weak, finish.

Overall:  Not a whole lot to say about this wine.  Not super in any respects, but a steal at $4. It is drinkable and will most likely loose a little of that bite after a few years. It does not have the typical qualities expected of a chardonnay, but does have good qualities to it.  Give it a try and tell me what you think.

Live Broadcast?

Well the time has come.  I have decided to steam live video via Ustream.TV.  Of what you ask? Hell if I know.  Most likely higher profile wines and spirits.  I’m nervous about live broadcast but feel I speak far more passionately about wine then I can type.  Not to mention I may broadcast some of my next wine or beer parties.  Could be fun.  I’ll keep you posted and put up a schedule.   So come join me and chat with me.  See ya then.

Les Piliers

Syrah

2006

$19.00

AOC Costieres de Nimes

**Decant for at least an hour or two.**

Appearance:  This wine presents with an incredibly deep ruby.  An amazingly inviting color just screaming drink me.

Nose:  A nose of charcoal and oak.  Red current moved in and brought its friends.  Powerful red and black fruits screaming to get out.  Strangely I found a bit of spearmint hiding behind all that oak.

Palate: Full bodies and bold.  Fire and oak balanced with a plum, a barrage of cracked peppercorn, and brilliant red fruits .  This wine is THICK! This is about as full bodied as it gets. There is a touch of fatback on the back end.

Finish: The never ending story.  A complex and long lasting finish takes you from a hot dry dessert to a timber mill, and then on to a back yard barbeque.  One of the most impressive finishes I have experienced.

Overall:  This wine would be delicious with a big slab of red meat.  Hardy beef dishes and I dare to say a rare roasted duck breast.  By itself it’s a rough road, but has a fine destination.  This wine is from the up and coming Nimes regions, just a stone throw from the base of the Rhone Valley and my favorite, Languedoc wine regions.  I say up and coming because it’s not commonly found in the local grocers shelf.  But with any luck we will start to find some.  There has been a major decline in French wine sales in the US.  Please ask your local wine cellar to start stoking some.  Don’t miss out on some fine and interesting wines.  On another note, it is very interesting the Nimes area.  Very dry and stressful for grape growing.  Possible to blame for the increasingly impressive wines coming out of South Central France.  Experiment, grab you some when you find it.  Then tell me how it was.

Please Leave Some Comments!  It’s good to know I’m not talking to myself. 

Where you at?

Long time, no write.  Over the past 6 months a lot has taken place.  There were a few drastic life changes that resulted in some serious fatigue and overall unhappiness.  I lost interest in my wine and writing.  Both hobbies I love and enjoy.  I have taken some steps to get back to what is normal for me.  I have changed jobs and am feeling better.  Better so, that today is the first time in a very long time I am  inspired to write.  So in the near future I plan to get back at it.  New wines and reviews for all 7 of you who actually read this crap.

Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir

2008

Pinot Noir

South France

Appearance: Nice cranberry red in color. Inviting.

Nose: Super tight and a bit prude.  You really have to dig at this one.  I even cupped the bowl of the glass and warmed the wine up a little more than normal, which loosened it up a bit.  Finally we get some scent of apricot, smashed in a sock, washed in clean linen fabric softener.  With a under note of mushy granny apple that is actually quite pleasant when you put it all together.

Flavor:  Old world stuffiness that comes around.  Dry and balanced cherry red fruit and light oak.  This is a very mellow wine with none of its characteristics overly abundant.  Very one-dimensional but balanced. I guess that’s about it. 

Finish:  A dry, tannic, finish that is short and void of much fruit on the tail end.

Overall:  I don’t know why, but I kind of dig this wine.  It has some imperfections but I like it for who it is.  It was super easy to drink, it met a few of my “dig it” criteria, such as dry and light to medium oak and it wasn’t expensive.  Just a reminder: don’t forget to enjoy the wine you pick up, just for what it is.  Don’t throw away every wine that isn’t just perfect. First, because it’s a waste of money and second, you can easily enjoy the characteristics you do like about it.

Little Penguin Shiraz

2006 (78) Pass

Shiraz

Australian

Appearance: Touch of rust on ruby. Holds the glass.

Nose: Rich plum with raspberry, pepper and (strangely) carrot.  Subtle notes of liquorish and spice. An artificial cherry-like pezz dispenser candy smell.

Flavor: Very hot, with alcohol on the front that fades into a violently unbalanced fight between liquorish and artificial cherry pezz, just as the smell foreshadowed.  A not-so-pleasant hodgepodge of uneasy relationships, that is similar to the tension of running into your ex and her new boyfriend when you only broke up a day or two ago.

Finish: Hot. This is the least pleasant part of the whole experience. Any remaining fruit notes leave abruptly and leave you sad and sobbing.

Overall:  A big pass on this one.  This is on the low end of the spectrum I know, but try your luck on another 6-7 dollar Aussi Shiraz.