Friday Wine Tasting 12.29.17

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!
MERCAT BRUT NATURE
Cava, a Champagne style wine made in Spain, often represent an excellent value compared to their French counterparts. A blend of native grape varietals, this wine offers a rich nose of brioche and pear. The palate is firm with lively beading and a clean acidity framing ripe stone fruit flavors. Ring in the New Year with these festive bubbles!LLAMA OLD VINE MALBEC
Named for the indigenous animal so at home on the slopes of the Andes, this is a vibrant cherry colored wine with violet accents. This is a fruit forward wine with ripe notes of cherries, blackberries and plums underscored by warm toasted oak notes. Full and soft with thick, round tannins this is a wine to warm you fireside this winter.

T-VINE HALLOWED GROUND
A Zinfandel based blend from dry-farmed vineyards, this is a dark and intensely flavorful wine. It opens with a nose of baked blueberries, chocolate truffles and warm, exotic spices. The palate is soft and velvety with berry cobbler, toasted marshmallow and sweet vanilla flavors that linger into a long and appealingly fresh finish.

LO-VE GRENACHE
This stellar Grenache is powerful yet restrained. It is an inky red in color and offers a classic nose of red fruit and dried lavender. The palate is more fruit forward than in typical in Old World wines and offers loads of jammy red fruit, violets and hints of spice. Lush and silky, this is a versatile wine for every occasion.

Friday Wine Tasting 12.22.17

GRUET BRUT
This stellar value of a sparkling wine comes to us from the chalky soils of New Mexico. Opening with crisp notes of green apple and citrus, this wines offers a clean, mineral driven palate with lively bubbles and a touch of yeast on the finish. Definitely make this your holiday sparkler!

RAMSAY NORTH COAST MERLOT
This is a Merlot that shows both strength and restraint. The nose is rich and forward with notes of crushed blueberry, olives and sage. The palate is full and soft with thick, pliable tannins and intense flavors of blackberry, cherry and black pepper.

QUEEN’S PEAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON
This deep crimson colored wine opens with appealing aromas of blackberry cobbler, fig and tobacco. The palate is full-bodied and rich with flavors of black and purple fruit, bittersweet chocolate and dusty cedar. Velvety tannins and firm acidity support a long finish of vanilla and sweet molasses.

SHAFER TD-9
This proprietary Napa blend is a fresh, vibrant and complex offering from acclaimed Shafer winery. A forward nose of ripe red and black berries, lavender and dried herbs ushers you into a bold and flavorful palate. Power and full-bodied, this wine offers abundant flavors of dried cherry, mocha, sandalwood and spiced vanilla. This is a wine made for rich holiday feasts and late night fireside conversations.

Friday Wine Tasting 12.14.17

LIOCO RUSSIAN RIVER CHARDONNAY
Ideal vintage conditions and the use of dry farming practices have resulted in grapes with supreme flavor concentration. Undeniably opulent and complex, this Chardonnay offers notes of Meyer lemon, honeycomb and fennel. These rich flavors are balanced by a clean minerality and vibrant acidity leaving this wine fresh and easy to drink.

AMPELEIA CABERNET FRANC
You might not think of Italy when presented with a Cabernet Franc, but this is a wine that will change your mind. From Tuscany’s Maremma coast, this is classic Cabernet Franc at its best. A balance of dark fruit and brambly earth, this wine offers rich flavors of cherry, blackberry, espresso and forest floor bolstered by dusty tannins and finishing with a lingering smokey spice.

LA CROIX PEYRASSOL COTES DE PROVENCE ROUGE
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, this wine has a bold nose aromas of lavender, licorice and blackberry. The palate is lush, but fresh with additional notes of juicy black fruits accented with flavors of tobacco, dried herbs and a spicy vanilla finish.

HARDIN CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Cabernet Franc added in for freshness this is a voluminous and rich wine. Dusty notes of cassis and black cherry abound with dried sage developing midpalate. A lively texture and thick, but soft tannins ensure this is bold wine remains restrained and approachable.

Friday Wine Tasting 12.9.17

STUHLMULLER VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY
This Estate Chardonnay from Alexander Valley is aged 8 months; half in oak and half in stainless steel. This gives the benefit of depth and richness while still maintaining pure expression of the fruit. The palate is full and creamy with notes of caramelized citrus, brioche, apricot, white peach and honeysuckle. As the palate develops, there arises a core of bright acidity and chalky minerality that gives this wine balance and elegance.

SAN FELICE CHIANTI
This Sangiovese based wine is a vibrant red color with a bouquet of red berries, dried violets and dusty earth. The palate is lively and acidic with tart cherry flavors, baking spice and fine, gritty tannins. As always, Chianti is an excellent and versatile food companion.

GLEN CARLOU GRAND CLASSIQUE
A Bordeaux style blend from South Africa, this wine is complex and elegant with herbal and violet aromas. The palate is smooth and supple with ripe tannins, good concentration and notes of dark chocolate, licorice spice and a dried fruit finish.

STUHLMULLER VINEYARDS CABERNET
This is a classic Alexander Valley Cabernet offering layers of crème de cassis, black cherry, olive tapenade, violets and moist earth. On the palate, lush dark berry flavors are balanced by firm tannins and an inviting freshness while more savory and herbal hints add complexity and depth.

Friday Wine Tasting 12.1.17

BARTH ALLURE RIESLING
a wonderful composition of peach, pear and orange citrus. Beautiful straw gold with a medium body and a touch of sweetness. Fresh melon meets tangerine with a finish of Asian pear and crisp Granny Smith apple! A great wine for casual drinking, yet can be enjoyed with food, especially with something slightly spicy.

LOSCANO MERITAGE RED BLEND
A complex, well-balanced wine in a deep red color, it delights the senses with fresh herbal aromas of tea leaves and snuff, excites the palate with notes of spice and plum jam, lingers with a gentle tannin pull, and finishes with hints of oak

LOSCANO GRANDE RESERVE MALBEC
Rich and fragrant, Grand Reserve Malbec envelops an exquisite bouquet of sweet and spicy plum, blossoms in the glass to reveal notes of tea leaves and cassis, moderate tannins and finishes with an understated-yet-resonant oak.

DOMAINE JULIETTE AVRIL CHEATEAUNEUF DU PAPE
Seems young and tight when first opened, but gains weight with air. Nice core of dark red and blue fruit with some herbs de Provence. Clean palate with long finish. Decanting will increase the enjoyment of this wine.