Friday, August 21, 2009

Our Favorite Champagnes Are Back!!!

The boat landed last week and in it were some tasty treats.
Now these aren't your well known Grand Marques but they are
very dear to us. We really would rather keep all of this to
our selves but our boss was against the idea.

Michel Loriot Blanc De Noirs Reserve Brut Champagne $33.99
The nose offers a nice, pretty light herb note. Steely and sleek
on the palate, the Champagne shows off spicy fruit dusted with
black pepper. All in all, it shows off a lot of power.

R.Renaudin Brut Reserve Champagne $32.99
The nose is big, toasty and bold and so is the palate.
This is a rich, hazelnut laced champagne, with lots of
juicy fruit. It comes across as very sexy in the Bollinger style.

R.Renaudin L'Espiegle Brut Rose Champagne $33.99
Light and delicate at first, opening to power, it shows off
floral fruit and a handful of nuts. There's great vibrancy
here and great finesse. It's creamy, with hints at pomegranate and lemon. Wow!

Voirin-Jumel Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru $48.99
The nose shows a bushel of fresh Bartlett pear fruit with flowers,
and a hint of green leaves. This is just alive in the mouth, the
mousse is so enthusiastic it wants to jump out of the glass.
Lush on the palate, with pear fruit and undertones of brioche.
It finishes up with the lightest, prettiest kiss of apple butter.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Tasting Notes from Last Friday the 7th

Just a few things we that we really enjoyed at our tasting


Alpha Omega 06 Napa, Proprietary Red $61.00
A nose that shows caramel, tobacco, dry smoke and cedar.
On the palate, it's soft and integrated, with
dense black currant fruit and black pepper. There's a nice,
lacy tannic structure holding all together.
This is a serious and elegant red.


Grgich Hills 05 Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon $60
Tarry black wine with red fruit and a hint of fresh
green leaves to the nose. Rich and silky on the palate,
with currants and cassis and dark chocolate on the palate.
The finish hints at macadam. It holds your attention.

Tori Mor 07 Oregon/Washington Chardonnay $20
Bright straw colored wine with a lightly smoky nose. Light
bodied on entry, going creamier as it goes along.
This wine shows off some real Chardonnay fruit and isn't
afraid to show it naked, without a lot of oak to get in the way.
There's a nice snap to the finish. Well balanced
Chardonnay. Well done!


Uvaggio 08 Lodi, Vermentino $13
Green straw colored wine with fresh cut wood on the nose,
rather enticing, really. Tart on the palate, with lemon
and melon fruit that runs all the way through, leading
to a clean, snappy finish.


Wertzberger 06 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $18
A rich, red violet glass of wine showing eucalyptus and smoky
currants on the nose. Soft tannins on the palate hold tart
currant and berry fruit with a twist of the peppermill.
On the lighter end of Cabernet, but user friendly.