Category: WIne Blog

 

 

 

Origin:Spain
Grape: Tempranillo
Body: Medium
Year: 2010
Alcohol: 5%
Price point: $19
Year Reviewed: 2017

This wine came recommended to me and was wrapped in a sign that said this wine was rated 94 points, so I had to try.  Recall the Rioja region is the largest producer of Tempranillos. This wine uses mainly Tempranillo grapes from the Mendavia vineyards of Baron De Ley Montastary.  Read about this only monk castle and their other superior wines.

 

 

 

 

http://www.barondeley.com/vineyards

This wine is aged for 1 year in American and French oak and then let mature in the bottle for 2 years before being sold.  Not too exciting on the nose, but tasting notes of toffee, caramel, leather, black fruits and cherry. Nice structure and balance.

The following 4 wines from Riboli Family of the San Antonio Winery were featured at Chicago Gourmet in September 2017 at Millennium Park.  You must check out this link below and scroll down to view the video to appreciate this hard working family and how large this winery is.

http://riboliwines.com/riboli-family-paso-rob

Maddalena is this gorgeous woman from Italy below who Stefano (not bad looking himself) married and worked to start a wine business upon immigrating to the US.

 

 

 

 

Here is a picture of Stephano (around 94 years of age) and Maddalena now.

 

 

 

 

This is proof that wine makes you look good and live a long happy life!!!!!!!!!

• • Maddalena Pinot Grigio 2015

 

 

 

 

Origin: Arroyo Secco Monterey
Grape: Grigio
Body: Medium
Year: 2015
Alcohol: 1%
Price point: $18
Year Reviewed: 2017

This Pinot is from the Loma vista Vineyard that has just the right climate (and similar to the cooler climate in Northern Italy) to harvest beautiful Pinot Grigio grapes. This wine is fermented in 100% stainless steel tanks.   This well balanced wine will give you flavors of citrus, melon, green apple, wild flowers and hints of mineral notes.  Enjoy with light sushi, other white fish or chicken and light cheeses.  Perfect on a very hot day as it was at the Chicago Gourmet.

• • Maddalena Chardonnay 2013

 

 

 

 

Origin: Mainly Arroyo Secco Monterey
Grape: Chardonnay
Body: Medium
Year: 2013
Alcohol: 5%
Price point: $15
Year Reviewed: 2017

I like to say that the winemaker was pretty smart here when making this wine, but you know the winemaker is 94 years old now…..so what does that say.  There are two types of Chardonnays out there:  the light citrus, green fruit kind and then the buttery, heavier, dark yellow colored ones.  This wine is actually in between these two types of production methods, and hence, is enjoyed by both types of Chardonnay drinkers.  WHY?  The production process starts with only 35% of the grapes going through the Malolactic Fermentation process and not 100% of the grapes. The grapes are grown in a region where a morning fog routinely storms over them.   American and French Oak is utilized for aging.  On the nose, you will get citrus, ripe fruit and some orange.  On the palate, expect a surprise with a lot of structure, balanced acidity with flavors of tropical fruit.  I guess I am the Chardonnay drinker that enjoys this “in between” complexity.  Not too heavy and not too light for my taste.

• • San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

 

 

 

 

Origin: Paso Robles
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon + a bit of Petit Verdot
Body: Full
Year: 2012
Alcohol: 5%
Price point: $25
Year Reviewed: 2017

The location of these grapes sit well as the cool Pacific Ocean breezes make for cool nights and successful growing of Cabernet grapes.  24 months in French and American Oak. The Petit Verdot adds some complexity to this wine giving flavors of plum, black raspberry, cherry, currant and cocoa.  Nice tannins with a nice long finish.  Try with lamb kabobs and hummus and stronger flavored foods, as this can complement them quite well. 91 points from Wine Enthusiast, 90 points from Wine Spectator, and 94 points from The Tasting Panel Magazine.  Not your flimsy cab…..nice and bold with fragrant aromas.

 

 

San Simeon, California from Goggle Maps

• • Opaque Darkness Red Wine (Blend) 2014

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: Paso Robles
Grape: 60% Red Zin, 12% Syrah, 10% Cab, 10% Petit Sirah, 5% Grenache, 2% Petit Verdot (For you math stars out there, this only adds up to 99%, so well-kept secret as to what the other 1% really is)
Body: Full
Year: 2014
Alcohol: 1%
Price point: $30
Year Reviewed: 2017

Again some vines from the Paso Robles region.  Only 14 months in French and American barrels makes this beautiful blend.  Flavors of deep blackberry, raspberry  and spice with just a hint of vanilla. (personally I don’t appreciate over vanilla’d wines.” Rated 94 points by Tastings.com Rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast.  Tight at first upon opening so let it get some oxygen for about ½ hour before enjoying fully.

The family winery picture for Riboli Winery.   Hard work does pay off!

 

 

 

Origin: Indiana
Grape: Chambourcin
Alcohol:?
Price point: $14.00
Year Reviewed: 2017

Was excited to try this chambourcin wine.  Do know a few folks who say that is one of their favorite grapes.  The appearance was clear and medium ruby.  On the nose, it was clean and medium notes of floral.  On the palate it was lower acidity, medium body with interesting notes of tart cherry pie, raspberries and a bit of spice. I did get undertones of forest floor.  It was quite unique and different.  I truly enjoyed chambourcin from Wildcat Creek.  Will have to seek out other chambourcins for comparison.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: Spain
Grape/strong>: Tempranillo/100% Tinto Fino
Alcohol: 14%
Price point: $20.00
Year Reviewed: 2017

So this wine was highly recommended to me from my Food and Wine Magazine edition on Spain.  Had to find it and try it to inform readers about it.  On the nose, I get mineral, tea, blackberry and a bit of toffee or caramel.  The color of this wine is garnet and lovely.  This wine is the result of 15-23 year old vines from a winemaker who began in 1938, Emilio Moro, but you would have guessed that was his name….right?

This is not just a Tempranillo it is 100%  Tinto Fino Tempranillo.  See below:

Tempranillo/Tinto Fino. A high quality red wine grape that is grown all over Spain except in the hot South – it is known as Tinto Fino in Ribera del Duero, Cencibel in La Mancha and Valdepenas and Ull de Llebre in Catalonia.

www.bbr.com/grape-te-tempranillo-tinto-fino

This well-balanced, medium bodied wine is very likeable. 23 days of maceration.

Simply put maceration is the process of soaking crushed grapes, seeds, and stems in a wine must to extract color and aroma compounds as well as tannins.

winemakersacademy.com/maceration-wine/

 It would/will make a good party wine as it doesn’t have unusual characteristics or complexities that some of your guest may not like.  There is no strong spice flavors or acidic finish.  This is truly a smooth, easy going bottle of wine you should consider for a party serving red meat, veal, or pasta dishes.  Very nice and goes down quite easy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: Monterey County, CA
Grape: Chardonnay
Alcohol:2%
Price point: $10.00
Year Reviewed: 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bing Maps

The Chalone AVA is an American Viticultural Area in the Monterey and San Benito counties of California, located in the Gabilan Mountains east of Soledad. The 8,640 acres (3,496 ha) region is named for the nearby Chalone peaks. The region has limestone and decomposed granite soil.^[2]

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalone_AVA#/media/File:South_and_North_Chalone_Peaks_from_Pinnacles_National_Monument_Chalone_Peak_Trail.jpg

On the nose I pick up green fruit, apple, fresh meadow grass and a hint of pineapple and pear.  On the palate, there are hints of pear, lemon and lime. This is a light acidity, medium body, crisp and clean wine which gets its character from a limestone, granite and clay soil and an area covered by morning fog that cools the grape vines. (As I pointed out previously in other chardonnay reviews, there are two main types:  the buttery ones made through the malolactic formation process and the other ones through the routine fermentation process.  This wine is the latter one.)  Watch out as this 14.2% alcohol in a white wine will sneak up on you if you are not expecting it.  Most lighter white wine drinkers are not used to this.

Pair with a beautiful three cheese quiche, goat cheese, chicken or fish

 

 

 

 

Some additional notes on 90+ Cellars Wine.  90+ cellar wines are derived from searching the world over for overstock……really.  It is like overstock.com of wines.  Their market niche is purchasing up excess quantities of already labelled wines which have scored 90 + points.  They will only list the region the wine is from, but will not inform you of the actual wine producer and the private label.  What this means for the consumer?  You are usually paying $5 to $10 less for a privately labeled wine.  Try some 90+ cellar wines.  Their Malbec, Cabernet and Red blend are all lovely wines.  I think you won’t be disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: Argentina
Grape: Cabernet,  Malbec, Merlot
Alcohol: 14%
Price point: $17.00
Year Reviewed: 2017

This special ruby color wine has aromas of red currant, vanilla from the French and American Oak, and hints of cherry.  On the palate I taste pomegranate, currant, notes of cloves and spice, possibly even some oregano.  This well balanced blend has medium acidity and a medium finish.  This wine goes down way to easy.  I had it with a filet and some garlic spiced potatoes.  Try this one if you like red blends.

Tupungato is a wine district in the northern Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina that is 21,555 feet high and a prime region for growing vines.  2009 was one of the best vintage years for Mendoza (remember that), with its mild winter and dry spring and great fruit condition.  2017 is also marked as a great year for Argentina’s wines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: Italy
Grape: Syrah
Alcohol:5%
Price point: $12.00
Year Reviewed: 2017
For those of you who enjoy Syrah, this wine has the true character of Sicilian wine, pleasured with richness and intensity. It is smooth and well-balanced.  If you haven’t tried the Syrah grape, this may be your wine to experiment with as it is 100% pure Syrah. Syrah tends to be a bit more plum colored than red.  Complement this wine with a pure beef dish, ribs, lamb or a hearty beef/pork stew.  The producer Firriato makes several other wines, but is not that well known yet.

Syrah is a dark-skinned red wine grape. Its origins have been popularly debated, but its modern viticulture home is unquestionably the northern Rhône Valley of eastern France. In Australia, Syrah has developed such a distinct personality that it is essentially regarded as a distinct variety, is overwhelmingly (but not exclusively) known as Shiraz, and is regarded as the flagship national grape.

Syrah has proved successful around the world; wines are produced in many styles and display myriad dark-fruit flavors. Varietal Syrah can be quite floral in its youth, developing white and black pepper aromas and herbaceous notes as it ages. Some examples show tanned leather and smoky scents, while the fruit in these wines tends towards the very dark flavors of blackcurrant and licorice.

www.wine-searcher.com/grape-1651-syrah

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: France
Grape: Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc
Alcohol:5%
Price point: $10.00
Year Reviewed: 2017

The two major grape varieties of the Anjou are Chenin blanc, known locally as Pineau de la Loire, which is used for dry, sweet, still and sparkling wine and Cabernet Franc which is used mostly for rosé and still red wines. See the definition and pronunciation below.

An·jou ¹

(ăn′jo͞o′, äN-zho͞o′)

A historical region and former province of northwest France in the Loire River valley. Ruled by the powerful counts ofAnjou in the early Middle Ages, it was annexed to the French crown lands by Louis XI in the 1480s.  http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Anjou

(Check out this link to learn more about Loire region, grapes grown their and AOC or AC French labelled wines.)  Also see my blog under “Other wine Info and Education” about Wine Trends.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anjou_wine

Pouring this into a beautiful glass on an extremely hot day in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the color of this wine is peach and pink in color.  I had made this bottle quite well chilled and picked up on the nose, tones of apple, peach and strawberry fragrance.  On the palate effervescence tingling flavors of strawberry and watermelon were apparent with a medium finish.  The interplay between Chenin Blanc and dry Cab Franc is amazing and I remember why I used to order Rose D’anjou’s in the 80’s…..when I first became a wine drinker.    What a good flashback and I hope to rate more fine Rose’s for you readers.

Perfect for a warm afternoon with small snack tray.  Perfect as the first wine presented to your

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: South Africa-Western Cape region
Grape: 100% Muscat
Alcohol: 10%
Price point: $10.00
Year Reviewed: 2017
So as my daughter is learning about wine, she prefers those sweet ones.   To be fair to all wine lovers, I am rating Jam Jar Sweet White from South Africa.  She loved their sweet Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz and wanted to try another wine by this manufacturer, so here it is.  It is sweet alright.  Easy drinking, refreshing and well balanced Moscato.  I keep telling myself that most new wine drinkers begin with sweet wines and eventually move to Merlots and other grapes.

The Muscat family of grapes include over 200 grape varieties belonging to the Vitis vinifera species that have been used in wine production and as raisin and table grapes around the globe for many centuries. Their colors ranges from white (such as Muscat Ottonel), to yellow (Moscato Giallo), to pink (Moscato rosa del Trentino) to near black (Muscat Hamburg). Muscat grapes and wines almost always have a pronounced sweet floral aroma. The breadth and number of varieties of Muscat suggest that it is perhaps the oldest domesticated grape variety, and there are theories that most families within the Vitis vinifera grape variety are descended from the Muscat variety.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscat_(grape)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin: South Africa
Grape: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec
Alcohol: 14%
Price point: $27
Year Reviewed: 2017

The Stellenbosch region is known for being very similar to Bordeaux style wines.  See its location below by the ocean.  High tannins and acidity are usually apparent in wines from Stellenbosch, so I had to find one to see if that was true and check out the quality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Terroir-Expressive-South-African-Wines-at-Liquid-Discount.html

The color of this wine was such a rich purplish-red tone.  On the nose this wine smelled like a sweet cigar with rich grapes and cherry aromas.  On the palate this wine was well balanced with medium acidity.  It was soft and smooth but such a pronounced flavor of the richest purple grapes you can imagine.  Think of Welsh’s grape juice.  I loved being able to get a half bottle as I don’t have many Cab drinkers at home and thought this wine was so smooth, soft and well balanced that it would be quite a crowd pleaser.