The Autumn Bottles are Flowing
I’ve been too busy trying wines to write about them, which is surely the oldest non-wine-blogging excuse in the book. Although nonetheless true. And enviable.
Right out of the gate, I commend the 1998 Lancaster Reserve, a Bordeaux from California fortuitously snatched up at the Rat’s summer garage sale, which overall was frenetic and not an experience I’d repeat. Also on the tip of memory’s tongue is the 2006 Seghesio San Lorenzo Block 8 Zinfandel, characteristically lush but not as impressive as, say, the Rockpile. On the Seghesio scale, admittedly a lofty one, it rates perhaps a 7.5.
The Block 8 still was vats better than any of the dozen wines sampled at Cellar Rat’s October $100-a-case tasting. A few interesting whites, a good Carmenere, and a surprisingly drinkable Echelon Pinot Noir. Lisa and Andie share my non-affinity for Pinot Noirs, so it was triply surprising that we all sipped this inexpensive candidate to pleasant effect. (“Clove,” I said speculatively. “All-spice,” affirmed Lisa. “Cinnamon,” declared the tasting sheet.) We tried to buy two bottles of the Echelon for Thanksgiving, but only one bottle remained. We don’t want white wine with our turkey.
Best Wine Value of the Autumn: The dam’ fine 2005 Tin Roof Merlot. You ain’t drinkin’ no stinkin’ Merlot, you say? More for us, then. This plush, bold baby retails for $7.99 at Costco. Smooth, with black cherry and spice, and nicely complex, perhaps because the Tin Roof winemaker was thoughtful enough to add a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Get a case of it!
Quickly, because I need to clean up the kitchen before my Dad arrives for a visit: Pretty Sally 2005 Cabernet-Shiraz, recommended by the barista at the Wine Bar. Good, but not great. The Briccotondo 2006 Barbera, which made the Wine Spectator Top 100 for 2007: Not bad, but the bottle I had was not 90 points in MY book. I have a backup and maybe it will impress more. Clink! That’s the sound of the empties hitting the recycling bin.
The wine I most enjoyed over these past weeks? A tossup, I think. I thoroughly yummed out on the Green and Red Tiptop Vineyard Zinfandel, both the 2004 and 2005, one from HyVee Liquors and the other tasted at Starker’s Reserve. I also loved the dry flavors of the Callabrigo Dao, a red wine from Portugal (yes, that’s all I know about it. Oh, and it was about $18.) Portugal is the new up-and-coming wine place, and there are supposed to be tons of great, inexpensive wines wending their way to our shores from theirs. Its. Whatever. Happy Halloween.
Right out of the gate, I commend the 1998 Lancaster Reserve, a Bordeaux from California fortuitously snatched up at the Rat’s summer garage sale, which overall was frenetic and not an experience I’d repeat. Also on the tip of memory’s tongue is the 2006 Seghesio San Lorenzo Block 8 Zinfandel, characteristically lush but not as impressive as, say, the Rockpile. On the Seghesio scale, admittedly a lofty one, it rates perhaps a 7.5.
The Block 8 still was vats better than any of the dozen wines sampled at Cellar Rat’s October $100-a-case tasting. A few interesting whites, a good Carmenere, and a surprisingly drinkable Echelon Pinot Noir. Lisa and Andie share my non-affinity for Pinot Noirs, so it was triply surprising that we all sipped this inexpensive candidate to pleasant effect. (“Clove,” I said speculatively. “All-spice,” affirmed Lisa. “Cinnamon,” declared the tasting sheet.) We tried to buy two bottles of the Echelon for Thanksgiving, but only one bottle remained. We don’t want white wine with our turkey.
Best Wine Value of the Autumn: The dam’ fine 2005 Tin Roof Merlot. You ain’t drinkin’ no stinkin’ Merlot, you say? More for us, then. This plush, bold baby retails for $7.99 at Costco. Smooth, with black cherry and spice, and nicely complex, perhaps because the Tin Roof winemaker was thoughtful enough to add a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Get a case of it!
Quickly, because I need to clean up the kitchen before my Dad arrives for a visit: Pretty Sally 2005 Cabernet-Shiraz, recommended by the barista at the Wine Bar. Good, but not great. The Briccotondo 2006 Barbera, which made the Wine Spectator Top 100 for 2007: Not bad, but the bottle I had was not 90 points in MY book. I have a backup and maybe it will impress more. Clink! That’s the sound of the empties hitting the recycling bin.
The wine I most enjoyed over these past weeks? A tossup, I think. I thoroughly yummed out on the Green and Red Tiptop Vineyard Zinfandel, both the 2004 and 2005, one from HyVee Liquors and the other tasted at Starker’s Reserve. I also loved the dry flavors of the Callabrigo Dao, a red wine from Portugal (yes, that’s all I know about it. Oh, and it was about $18.) Portugal is the new up-and-coming wine place, and there are supposed to be tons of great, inexpensive wines wending their way to our shores from theirs. Its. Whatever. Happy Halloween.
posted by Winetaster | 8:12 AM
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