Saturday, January 31, 2009

2006 Layer Cake Primitivo


2006 Layer Cake Primitivo $16 I.G.T. Puglia, Italy. On the label of this wine it says that Primitivo is also known as Zinfandel, this is just plain wrong. It was once thought that Zinfandel was actually the native Italian varietal Primitivo, because the two have similar characteristics, but the two are not the same. Primitivo ripens generally two weeks before Zinfandel when they are grown side by side. Then DNA testing came along and proved the two are not the same. Zinfandel actually comes from Croatia and it has one crazy name that I can't spell or produce. So to make long things short if someone tells you Primitivo is Zinfandel don't believe 'em.

Now on to the wine. The Layer Cake has serious darkness of purple and black in the color. The nose has aromas of plum, blueberries, and a hint of sweet tobacco (the dipping kind). The taste is just like the nose with plum mixed with blueberries, mild tannins ending with a soft dry finish. I like this wine it's decent, but it aint Zinfandel.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

2007 Domaine du Tariquet Ugni-Blanc Colombard


2007 Domaine du Tariquet Ugni-Blanc Colombard - $8 This estate wine comes from Gascony France, and it's a blend of 70% Ugni Blanc, 30% Colombard. Ugni Blanc and Colombard are white varietals native to France that or not often planted outside of the country. This wine is very unique. The color is very pale light green yellow, it almost looks like water. This dry fruity wine has aromas of kiwi, passion fruit, and sugarcane. That's what it smells like to me, you might smell other types of tropical fruit, but you'll definitely smell tropical fruit, this wine is very aromatic. On the palate the wine is very light, tart, and tastes a bit like lemon water, very crisp with hints of grapefruit. If you're stuck drinking the same old chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio's and you're looking for an interesting white wine this is one to try. I like this wine but I think it'd be much better on a nice warm day unlike tonight when it's twenty degrees outside. At only 10.5% alcohol this wine would be great on a hot summer day. This wine is imported by Robert Kacher Selections, the best place to find Robert Kacher wines is at Total Wine.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

2007 Hope Estate Pink Shiraz Reserve

2007 Hope Estate Pink Shiraz Reserve - $9 This estate grown Shiraz is from the Hunter Valley, Australia. The nose of the wine has aromas of cherries and alcohol, not a whole lot of fruit coming through, the nose is basic. The wine is not overly high in alcohol content at 13.5% but I still get aromas of cherry and alcohol. The wine is soft, with not very well managed tannins there is a definite tannic bite on the finish. There is just way to much tannins to this wine, they are overpowering. This wine tastes like a cheap shiraz, nothing special here. This is a classic example of the misuse of the word "Reserve" in a wine name. I'm not big on this wine. What I like most about this wine is the donation to breast cancer research, with each bottle purchased, other than that this wine is not so great.

Friday, January 9, 2009

2006 Kaiken Ultra Malbec


2006 Kaiken Ultra Malbec - $20 from Mendoza, Argentina. Kaiken is the winery started by the Montes winery (from Chile), the Ultra series is their best of the lot wine. The color is a dark pink, purple and black. Aromas of mint, dark cherries, earthiness, and alcohol. The wine smells a bit alcoholic probably because of it's 14.5% alcohol content. The taste is dry and yet soft at the same time. This wine seems to have a relaxed feel to it, and that's a good thing. There are dark fruit flavors upfront followed by smooth, soft dry ending. The fruit in this wine is a little subdued, it doesn't tasted overly ripe and while on the nose I could smell some alcohol, it is not at all overpowering on the taste. Very well maintained tannins. This wine is very nice I highly recommend checking this wine out.


Thursday, January 8, 2009

2006 Bodega Norton Malbec Reserva


2006 Bodega Norton Malbec Reserva - $17 from the Mendoza region of Argentina. Aromas of fresh, ripe dark fruits and wood. The wine has great colors of dark red and blackish purple that extends all the way to the glass. The taste is of lush ripe dark fruits, plum and blackberries. This wine is full bodied but smooth, almost like a nice napa cabernet in that sense. The tannins and oak of this wine are well integrated giving this wine balance. This wine is excellent, I highly recommend it, this bottle can easily hang with wines costing two to three times as much. It doesn't seem to have quiet the earthy characteristics that are common with malbecs but that doesn't matter because all it's other qualities work together so well. No one aspect of the wine is overpowering, it has the balance that makes a great wine. The Norton Malbec Reserva is easy to find, I've seen it in many grocery stores. This wine is very consistent I usually get a bottle each vintage and there are very few vines that I go to every vintage. If you like 100% cabernet sauvignon from Napa I recommend trying this wine due to it's similar lush dark fruit qualities. This wine should cellar easily for 5 years if not longer.
*the '05 vintage is pictured, '06 look the same except for a silver line going across the bottom label

Sunday, January 4, 2009

2006 Nick Goldschmidt Boulder Bank Pinot Noir $13 New Zealand

Nick Goldschmidt Boulder Bank Pinot Noir $13 - Marlborough, New Zealand. This wine like most pinot noir's is a very light cherry colored. The nose has delicate aromas of dark cherries and a hint of strawberries (dark fully ripe strawberries). A soft smooth mouthfeel gives way to mild tannins with a finish that lingers quiet nicely. I definitely like this wine and I'm impressed by the quality of this wine especially considering it's cost. I find most pinot noir's in the $10 - $20 price range are just plain disappointing and generally taste like cough syrup. This wine tastes like a nice pinot and I'm impressed, if this wine was from California or Oregon it would probably be $10 - $20 more. If you like pinot noir check out this wine, I'm not sure how easy it is to find this wine but I got this one at World Market.