A Week's Worth of Excitement

Okay, so we've had quite a few events in the last week. Here's a rundown with real quick descriptions:

Thursday - Wine Club

Along with the previously mentioned Gallo wines, we also tried:

Louis Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

Louis Martini Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Lous Martini Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Of course these were all good - in the sort of "good, better, best but way too young" order. I wish I had a bottle of Monte Rosso and about five more years on it.

Sunday - Charity Wine Tasting

Four easy-to-drink, easy-to-enjoy, and easy-to-spend-ten-dollars on wines for the Masonic Lodge. Only fifteen people showed, but they bought 45 bottles. Sweet.

Bogle Chardonnay

Bogle Petite Sirah

Menage a Trois White

Menage a Trois Red

I've talked a little about some of these before. The Menage a Trois wines sort of have training wheels on them - it's tough not to like them too much. The Bogle Chard really wasn't too bad - it wasn't oaked into oblivion. Of course, the petite syrah is one of my favorites.

Tuesday - Wines of Burgundy

We sat in on a tasting in a clubhouse overlooking a human-constructed lake in a natural-looking area in the middle of town. It was all restaurant people except the three of us grocery store guys. I ate so damn much cheese that I had a nightmare about it that night.

The point was to learn how French wines are affected by the reflections of terroir - basically how wines made in incredibly similar styles can have unique characteristics based on the land from which they come. Also, we were to get an idea of the most recent vintage in order to make more educated recommendations.

* indicates some interest to me, for some reason

Chardonnay:

Vero Chardonnay 2002 *

St. Veran 2004

Chassagne Montrachet Blanc 2004

Meursault 2004

Puligny Montrachet 2004

Chablis Vaudesir Grand Cru 2004 *

Clos Des Mouches Blanc 2004 *

Meursault Perriers 2004

Chassagne M. De Laguiche

Puligny Montrachet Garenne

Corton Charlemagne *

Beaujolais:

Brouilly 2005

Morgon 2005

Moulin-a-Vent 2005

Pinot Noir:

Vero Pinot Noir 2002 *

Volnay 2004

Savigny Les Beaune 2004

Nuit St Georges 2004

Gevrey Chambertin 2004

Charmes Chambertin 2004

Chambolle Musigny Premier Cru 2004

Cambolle Musigny 2004

(I'm pretty sure at this point we also had Clos Des Mouches Rouge and something else.)

The variety here was astounding, considering that we were trying wine after wine produced by the same company using very similar techniques, from vineyards so close together. I'm pretty sure I still don't fully appreciate it all.

Wednesday - All kinds of Sampling

Joined some fellows over at a distribution house to try some stuff they'd like to get out there. It was a good time. Again, I ate so damn much cheese.

Sebastiani Symphony 2004 - Not as good as Ironstone.

Desert Wind Semillon 2004 - Good, but we don't know the price, and it isn't available in our state.

Stag's Leap Viognier 2003 - Not bad, but too expensive.

Willamette Valley Whole Cluster Pinot 2005 - The whole-cluster fermentation allowed a lot more natural sugar, apparently, because this was surprisingly sweet.

Soiree Pinot Noir 2004 - Odd, not bad, but not great. I could sell it.

Crosspoint Pinot Noir 2003 - A disagreement here: I thought this guy was one of the strangest pinot noir that I've had. A collegue thought it was the first that tasted right.

Elk Cove Pinot Noir Mount Richmond 2004 - Must have been a bad year. This had the most foul odor. Collegue dubbed it the "P.J." Poop juice. Or porta-john.

Elk Cove Pinot Noir La Boheme 2004 - Like I said, this must have been a bad year. This guy had a little less of that terrible pungency.

Roriz Prazo De Roriz 2004 - Something from Portugal that isn't a port. Very extracted. I didn't care for it.

Gran Feuda Crianza 2002 - Soft and supple Tempranillo blend from Spain.

Gran Feuda Reserva 2001 - Another soft and supple Tempranillo blend, this one with more depth in the nose. Good.

Rivola Tempranillo/Cabernet 2003 - I don't remember this one, but I circled it. I must have liked it.

Annie's Lane Shiraz 2002 - Not that good, considering it was from McLaren Vale.

Pirramimma Petite Verdot 2003 - Okay, not as extracted or intense as I would have liked.

Eos Petite Sirah 2000 - Outstanding, but not worth the money.

Stonefly Cabernet Franc 2002 - Good, but sort of generic, without a label. A second tier of a major producer?

J Lohr Cuvee "St. E" 2000 - Wonderful, and in the style of the "Premier Grand Cru Classé wines from St. Emilion." Again, a bit pricey.

Cheateau Ste Michelle Indian Welles Cabernet 2003 - Excellent. I plan on carrying it and selling it by hand. I also have a bottle of the merlot of the same line to try.

B. R. Cohn Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - One of the best of the day. I'll heartily recommend this wine, especially at the price. I took the bottle, jammed a cork in it, opened it the next day, and it was still full of tannic structure. I love it!

Chappellet Mountain Cuvee 2003 - Very good, and a very attractive package. I'd consider carrying this guy.

Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 - Nice. Full and firm and deep with dark red fruits. What I like in a cab. Oh, and a good name.

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Edit: I forgot about last Wednesday, when we had the chance to try pretty much the entire main J Lohr line. The list:

J Lohr "Riverstone" Chardonnay

J Lohr "Seven Oaks" Cabernet Sauvignon

J Lohr "Los Obos" Merlot

J Lohr "Bay Mist" White Riesling

J Lohr "Wildflower" Valdiguie

J Lohr "Old Vines" Zinfandel

So yeah. These were all really good, especially considering the price. Of special interest were the Chard, Merlot and Riesling. Also the valdiguie, which either is or is not a close of gamay. This guy was a more flavorful, interesting version of some kind of Beaujolais Villages with very little tannins and a pretty, floral nose. Totally a beginner wine.