Wine Review: December 2007

By Leith Jarjosa, Red Wagon Wine Shoppe

New Year’s Eve is the most popular time of the buying year for Champagnes. As you can imagine, like wines, there are many different names from which to choose. Here is a short review of some champagne that may compliment your festivities. Whether a casual night with friends or a high-end night that deserves something very special, you can definitely find something to make the night enjoyable.

Taittinger Nocturne

After the introduction of Prélude, the house of Taittinger introduces Nocturne. It is a perfect late night bubbly, with a highly distinctive body and smoothness produced by a blend of 40 percent Chardonnay and 60 percent Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes aged on yeast for at least four years. It has a light golden color and fine mousse give way to aromas of white blossoms and ripe fruit. It is very smooth in the mouth with yeasty flavors and a citrusy finish. Price: $65

Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Sublime

Piper-Heidsieck is showing its sweet side with this Demi-Sec cuvée, but don’t be fooled by the “semi-dry” moniker: this is a sweet sparkler. Demi-Secs by definition contain more residual sugar, and this selection is no exception. Winemaker Régis Camus chose Piper Heidsieck’s characteristic cuvée as a base and has accentuated softer aromas of flowers, dried fruits, vanilla and cinnamon. The result is a Champagne with deeper, stronger undertones. A combination of freshness and fullness on the palate reveals hints of caramelized pineapple, with vanilla and cinnamon spices displaying a warm finish. Pair it with a lime pie or fruit salad to bid summer a sweet adieu. Price: $38

Moët & Chandon – Champagne Dom Pérignon Rosé 1996

When you uncork a bottle of Dom, you know the occasion and the company must be special. This high end champagne is boasted among the celebrity of our times, but you just may find a reason to put it on your table this New Year’s Eve. This premium champagne has already aged 10 years and could even be kept longer. It’s sensual taste will linger on your palate and make you yearn for every last drop. It is a Rose’ that will truly meet all expectations. Price: $400

Wine Review: November 2007

By Leith Jarjosa, Red Wagon Wine Shoppe

As the festivities of the holidays approach and your meal planning begins, it is also a great time to start thinking about fantastic wines to accompany your Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas meal, or New Year’s celebration. Here are some great wines that can go with any occasion and sure to make any meal even better!

• The 2005 Trimbach Gewurztraminer from the Alsace Region of France is full, balanced and very aromatic. The wine is dry and shows classic restraint with some exotic and spice character. You can find this great white wine from $14.99 – $19.99.
• Another great choice is the 2005 Sebastiani Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast in California. This family has been around since 1904 and has produced some fantastic wines. This Pinot is a fruit forward wine with richness and complexity. This is more of a Burgundian Style wine. It is priced from $15.99 – $19.99.
• Finally, the 2005 Chalone Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir in Monterey County offers great blackcherry, tea and spice notes. A pioneer in the California wine industry, Chalone Vineyard began in 1919. This Pinot is a great foodwine. Price point on this vintage is $34.99 – $39.99.

Wine Review: October 2007

By Leith Jarjosa, Red Wagon Wine Shoppe

California Cabernet from Napa Valley are extremely deep in color, quite powerful and rich, deeply concentrated wines. They, out of all grape varietals, are the most age-worthy wines. Over time, Cabernet Sauvignon has greatly improved. In fact, today the California producers turn out wines that possess more natural textures and are better balanced than previously. They represent expressive, brilliant wines that will definitely repay cellaring.

Unblended Cabernet produces wines of great intensity and depth of flavor. It’s classic flavors are currant, plum, black cherry and spice. It can also be marked by herb, olive, mint, tobacco, cedar and anise, and ripe, jammy notes. In warmer areas, it can be supple and elegant. In cooler areas, it can be marked by vegetal, bell pepper, oregano and tar flavors.

As fall approaches, leaves change, and temperatures cool we look forward to some nice red, full-bodied wines. Here are some California cabernet’s to look for:

‘04 Simi Alexander Valley

This Cabernet has intense cassis, blackberry with hints of leather, accented by notes of dried herbs and vanilla. Price point on this one is $23.99.

‘04 Larkmead Vineyard

This Cabernet Sauvingnon received a score of 93 points by Robert Parker. In his review, he stated: “The stunning 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (a 3,650-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) reveals a Pauillac-like créme de cassis note interwoven with notions of charcoal, incense, scorched earth, and graphite. Powerful, full-bodied and opulent, it is a rich elegant, pure Cabernet with layers of fruit. It can be enjoyed over the next 15 + years. The 2004 and 2005 vintages could not be more different, with the 2004s flashy, flamboyant and opulent, even voluptuous, and the 2005s linear, restrained, and more discrete, with slightly more austere tannins.” Price point is $44.95.

‘03 Lewelling Wight Vineyard

The brilliant 2003 Cabernet Savignon Wight Vineyard (which is not produced in every vintage) is denser than the regular bottling, although the color is a similar opaque ruby/purple. The wine exhibits more licorice, smoke and black currant notes interwoven with high quality, smoky, but subtle toasty oak. A wine of tremendous purity, full body, voluptuous texture, heady levels of glycerin, and a 40+ second finish, this beauty can be drunk early in life or cellared for 15 years. Robert Parker scored this 94 points. Price point is $89.99.

Wine Review: Spain’s Reds are Hot! And Afforable

By Leith Jarjosa, Red Wagon Wine Shoppe

Spanish wines continue to be red hot. There are hundreds of terrific wines available for under $20; many of those are under $10. Most of these wines are from great vintages from 2001 through 2005.

It amazes me how there is a great amount of wines from Spain that continuously find their way to the United States market. The top growing areas in Spain are Rioja, Ribera Del Duero, Priorat, Toro and Montsant.

This is a great time if you are planning to stock your cellar with wines that will age well and are not going to break the bank. Wines that could be consumed within the next year and others that could be put away for years.

There are two are two suppliers that you should keep an eye for – Jorge Ordonez and Eric Soloman.

Some wines I recommend that Robert Parker reviewed are:

2004 Finca Luzon Altos de Luzon

The seriously endowed 2004 Altos de Luzon is a blend of 50% old vine Mourvedre (52 years) and equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, aged 12 months in a combination of French and American oak. A dense ruby-purple color is followed by beautiful aromas of smoky licorice, black currants, cherries, and earth. Offering wonderful ripemenss, an alluring texture, sweet tannin, and adequate acidity; it certainly over-delivers it’s price.

90 points, Robert Parker

$14.99 – $17.99

2005 Senioro de Barahonda Carro

The 2005 Carro is an unoaked blend of 50% Monastrell, 20% Tempranillo, 20% Syrah, and 10% Merlot. Medium ruby-colored, it has a lovely perfume of damp earth, pepper, cassis, and blackberry. This is followed by a sumptuous wine with layers of ripe, sweet fruit, excellent balance, and no hard edges which totally belie its ridiculously silly price point. The wine is an awesome value. I had thoughts of a higher score but readers might think I’d lost my mind.

The Bellum project, in which Ole Imports is involved, started in 2002. it is dedicated to showing what can be achieved from 100% old-vine Monastrell in the up-and-coming D.O. of Yecla. It goes without saying that the price-to-quality relationship of these wines is extraordinary.

90 Points, Robert Parker

$9.99 – $12.99