Wine Whore Score = 7.8/10 Points (stats below)





Summary:
While their RandyZin may leave you “feeling a little Randy”, Harvest Moon’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a wine of elegance and seduction. True to the Russian River Valley style, this Pinot Noir bursts with bright red fruit character and vibrancy. Such character is often difficult to attain with this temperamental grape since pinot noir is like a bratty child. If the environmental conditions aren’t exactly to its liking, it threatens to produce wine as distasteful as vinegar to the palate of the adamant pinot lover. Harvest Moon disciplines their Pinot Noir by picking the grapes from the magnificent Russian River Valley “on time.” Their discipline in winemaking tames this bratty child into an “elegant approach to an elegant varietal.”

With its first breath of air, this wine provoked my nose with cherry, cranberry, and faint hints of vanilla. Instantly, I was seduced by the bouquet of fruit and berry. This pinot noir seemed to wink at me across the room as it lounged from within the wide bowl of my glass. I was almost intimidated by its forwardness. Its character and beauty blinded me as I mesmerized over its bright ruby red dress. After putting the cool glass to my lips, it tickled my tongue with its acidity and left my mouth by refreshing my palate with a lingering, tangy kiss.

After our affair, I took a second to look over the bottle. Tucked away on the back label is a little space with several lines allotted for tasting notes. This feature reminds us to appreciate every wonderful moment, noting the experiences of life along the way.


Recommended Food Pairing:
Tasting this bottle with family as I celebrated my 1st wedding anniversary, I accompanied this wine with a perfectly cooked prime rib. This well crafted Pinot Noir offered a great companionship to the meat while singing of fruity magnificence. Since Pinot Noir is very versatile, this wine could easily have been paired with everything from poultry, beef, fish, ham, lamb and even pork.


Vintage Info:
“These approximately 100 cases of Russian River Valley Pinot came from two vineyards within 3 miles of the Estate. Although its straight-forward, clean demeanor initially greets one in the glass, the earthy notes inside begin to reveal themselves more than in years prior.”


Stats:
Vintage: 2006
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Residual Sugar: N/A
Production: 100 cases of 750 ml.
Alcohol %: 13


Wine Whore Score:





Harvest Moon’s Pinot Noir will seduce you with its soft yet structured elegance, fragrant aroma, and juicy finish. This welcome tasting encounter comes in with a total of 31 out of 40 points and an average score of 7.8 out of 10 points. The magnificent affair of taste and decadence is undeniable and unforgettable.

In my previous posting about Cort Taint, I referenced the screw top found on Conundrum which is owned by the same regarded winery that also produces the famed Caymus cabernet. While this relationship is fairly common among wine lovers, few actually know exactly how the two are related. This sparked me to research the Wagner family lineage of the two wineries including the confusion of Charles, Chucks, and Charlies.

The Wagner story begins with Charles Wagner arriving in California in 1885. Charles moved to Napa after the great earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco. There, he bought land and began to grow a variety of crops including grapes. In 1915 he opened Wagner Winery which was soon closed due to Prohibition.

Caymus was created in 1971 by his son, Charles F. (Charlie) Wagner, who together with wife Lorna, and their son Chuck, built the winery and named it after a local land grant. Caymus was passed down to Charles J. (Chuck) Wagner in 2002 when his father, Charlie Wagner passed away.

Chuck's two sons, Charlie II and Joseph J. continue the family tradition of winemaking. Although both sons choose to distribute their wines through Caymus Vineyards, they chose not to produce their wine under this name. Charlie II, winemaker for Mer Soleil Chardonnays and 'Silver' Chardonnay, uses grapes from the Wagner’s Mer Soeil Vineyard in Monterey County. Joseph, uses the former white wine side of Caymus Vineyards to make Belle Glos Pinot Noirs which are named after grandmother Lorna Belle Glos Wagner.

Conundrum and the Wagner family are linked through both Caymus winemaker Jon Bolta and the grapes which are selected from the Wagner's Mer Soleil Vineyard in Monterey County. Today, the Conundrum winery stands alone as a separate brand from Caymus.

The next time you enjoy a bottle of Caymus, Conundrum, Mer Soleil, or Belle Glos, think about that Wagner family. Like the Charles, Chucks, and Charlies of this family, the names may confuse you but they are all still closely related.

Wine Whore Score = 8/10 Points (stats below)





Summary:
Reading about the success of Barefoot’s pinot grigio wine made me ripe with aniticpation to try this winery’s sparkling wine made with the same varietal. After abandoning it to deeply chill in my fridge, the time had finally come to taste this intriguing bubbly. I carefully coaxed the eager cork from its bottle which let out a sigh of relief as a loud pop echoed through the house. A greedy smile crept over my face as I watched the Barefoot Bubbly Pinot Grigio generously effervesce over the wall of tall etched champagne flute. Crisp bites of pear and apple caressed my tongue with every cool sip and as the fresh fruit danced away, tastes of citrus and orange refreshed my palate. After only one taste, I was convinced. This interesting varietal of sparkling wine is not only affordable but also very refreshing, fragrant, and not to mention, fun.



Recommended Food Pairing:
I personally accompanied this sparkling wine with steaming bowl of shrimp scampi. The Barefoot Bubbly Pinot Grigio melded well with the creamy blend of delicate linguini and seafood. The bright crisp taste of the sparkling wine combined with hints of citrus which linger on the tongue through the finish, brought out the flavor of the dish without accenting the undesirable “fishiness” of the dish. If you aren’t in the mood for seafood, try this sparkling wine either toasted alone or paired with other dishes such as salads, vegetables, and even fresh fruit. The effervescence of this sparkling wine is very refreshing and pairs well with such light dishes.


Vintage Info:
Accoring to Jen: “Bubbly and light-bodied, this effervescent wine combines delicate floral aromas with the crisp flavors of yellow apples, summer pears and white peaches. It finishes with citrusy and hints of sweet tangerines.”



Stats:
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Pinot Grigio blended with Malvasia, Muscat, and Symphony
Appellation: California
Residual Sugar: 1.7%
Production: N/A
Alcohol %: 12.6


Wine Whore Score:



Barefoot discovered a great product when they released this pinot grigio as part of the Barefoot Bubbly line of sparkling wines in 2007. What I admire most about Barefoot is their philosophy “to make delicious, affordable wines that can be enjoyed by everyone, from first-time wine consumers to long-time connoisseurs.” After getting barefoot with the bubbly pinot grigio, I rate it a total of 32 out of 40 points and an average score of 8 out of 10 points. The fact that this wine is fun to drink, tastes great, and is inexpensive offers a great alternative to everyday reds which can sometimes be too heavy for a lighter meal, celebrating with friends, or just relaxing in the sun.

If you have ever heard someone calling a bottle of wine “corked” or opened a bottle that smelled moldy and unappealing, then you may have been a victim of cork taint. Caused by the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) being released in wine, this type of taint affects wine regardless of cost or type. Aside from systemic TCA which occurs when TCA completely contaminates a winery (wine barrels, drain pipes, wooden beams in the cellars, and rubber hoses) the most common cause originates from the cork which was supposedly protecting the wine from air and keeping our prized wine safe. Don’t be concerned about drinking a bottle of wine that smelled tainted, it won’t make you sick. That being the case, you may feel sick to your stomach and emotionally upset after opening a bottle of wine that you spent a small fortune on collecting and aging only to find out years later that it is tainted.

While there are ways of reducing the occurrence of TCA, the only way to completely remove the risk is to eliminate the source. By using alternate enclosure methods such as screw caps or synthetic corks, cork taint is no longer a concern.

Will screw caps no longer only be found on wine considered to be “cheap”?

Many excellent wines have already made this move. Conundrum, a white wine which is made by the highly regarded winery that also produces the famed Caymus cabernet, proudly embraces its screw cap enclosure. However, even with this shift in thinking, chances are the cork will still be around for quite some time. The cork-industry group APCOR cites a study showing a 0.7-1.2% taint rate which is relatively low considering the percent of bottles that are probably tainted from other means such as poor storage conditions. With such a low occurrence, it is unlikely that corks will be abandoned entirely any time soon.

Think twice the next time you pass judgment on a wine because of how it’s sealed. The next time someone tries to tell you that the bottle of wine that you are drinking is cheap just because it has a screw cap, remind them that you just trying to do your part to support the reduction of cork taint in the wine industry.

Wine Whore Score = 7/10 Points (stats below)




This week’s Wise Wine of the Week is Beringer Stone Cellars Pinot Grigio which sells for about $8/bottle. This wine is very easy to find at most local supermarkets, wine/liquor stores, and restaurants.


Summary
This wine has a lot of great fruit flavor for an inexpensive wine. It balances this sweet taste and smooth mouthfeel with a little bite on the finish. Overall this pinot grigio is very enjoyable and refreshing.


Recommended Food Pairing:
Beringer Stone Cellars Pinot Grigio pairs nicely with seafood, light pastas and cheese cracker combinations. Personally, I enjoy drinking this refreshing wine heavily chilled by itself during the day while relaxing in the sun.


Vintage Info:
“This wine showcases tropical, melon, honeysuckle and ruby grapefruit aromas and flavors and has a smooth mouthfeel and body. Without being too austere or flinty, it carries just a hint of minerality and bite of citrus to balance the core fruit.”


Stats:
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Appellation: California
Sugar: N/A
Aging: N/A
Alcohol %: N/A


Wine Whore Score:



Beringer Stone Cellars Pinot Grigio is great as a low cost white wine. Since this wine is very enjoyable and easy to purchase it comes in with a total of 28 points and an average score of 7.

Wine Whore Score = 8/10 Points (stats below)




If you find yourself “feeling a little Randy” then Harvest Moon’s RandyZin Sonoma County Zinfandel is just what you desire. The great taste, affordability, and sense of humor of this wine will convince you that wine does not have to be pretentious to be memorable. Through its whimsical nature, RandyZin reminds us that what’s really important is to “enjoy life and not take ourselves too serious”. You will want to be serious about contacting Harvest Moon to purchase some RandyZin for your collection since there is only a relatively small production (725 cases) of the 2007 vintage.


Summary
Incorporating zinfandel from the rich region of the Russian River Valley may lay the foundation for a great wine but RandyZin distinguishes itself from many other zinfandels by having a lower acidity. Harvest Moon accomplishes this by blending their zinfandel with syrah and sangiovese. The result is a balance that is “fun and attractive yet elegant and sophisticated” and can be enjoyed either right away or aged for 3 to 5 years.


Recommended Food Pairing:
RandyZin is very flexible and pairs well with a variety of different types of food. Its soft yet complex taste lends itself to anything from pizza to red meat. I personally accompanied this wine with a massive yet lean fillet mignon steak. RandyZin stood up perfectly against the richness of the steak while still refreshing the palate.


Vintage Info:
My wife and I got a real kick out the label on the back of the bottle. In addition to the story of Randy picking the perfect wine to enjoy with his Darling, there is also a unique definition of the grapes that make this wine so special:

“[zin-fan-del n: a luscious red grape grown predominantly in California that, when fermented, may entertain feeling of great friendship, closeness and at times even…]
”


Stats:
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: 80% Zinfandel, 10% Syrah, 2% Petit Syrah, and 8% Sangiovese
Appellation: Sonoma County
Residual Sugar: less than .07
Production: 725 cases of 750 ml.
Alcohol %: 14.6


Wine Whore Score:



RandyZin’s soft yet structured elegance, fragrant aroma, and juicy finish make it very enjoyable. With its relatively low cost, great taste, and sense of humor, this wine comes in with a total of 32 out of 40 points and an average score of 8 out of 10 points. The fact that this wine is smooth, enjoyable, and fun distinguishes RandyZin from all other zinfandels.

We often overlook how much impact the shape and design of glassware has on the taste of wine. For years wine lovers have been exploring how differences in design can be manipulated to sculpt glassware that optimizes the wine tasting experience of each varietal.

One such glassware engineer, Professor Claus J. Riedel, was the first glass designer to recognize that the bouquet, taste, balance and finish of wines are affected by the shape of the glass from which they are drunk. He realized that while a well chosen wine glass can’t make a bad bottle of wine taste good, it can bring out the positive qualities and balance. Companies such as Riedel and my personal favorite, Waterford’s Robert Mondavi series, craft their glasses with attention to size and shape to bring out intensity of aromas and direct the wine to key parts of the tongue and mouth. This attention to detail brings balance to the wine by emphasizing tannin, acidity, and fruitiness.

Deciding on the type of glass is confusing with all of the different shapes and sizes available today. To explore all of the different options, taste the same bottle of wine in several different glasses and note how it changes the taste and nose of the wine. Ultimately, when it comes to choosing a glass, three characteristics are important: size of the bowl, size of the opening, and where it ultimately directs the wine in your mouth.

I explain below how the differences in these three characteristics can be used to optimize many different types of red and white wines. Keep this information handy next time you try to decide which glass to use for your next bottle of wine:




BIG REDS
Bowl Size - Wide Bowl
Opening Size - Wide Opening
Taste Buds - Back of the Mouth

These full bodied wines need a large bowl and opening to allow oxygenation for both flavor and bouquet optimization. The bitter characteristics are brought out of these big red varieties by directing the wine to the back of the mouth.

Recommended Wines: Sangiovese, Hermitage (red), Amarone, Barbera, Grenache, Malbec, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Pinotage, Priorato




MEDIUM REDS
Bowl Size - Wide Bowl
Opening Size - Wide Opening
Taste Buds - Center palate

With large amount of flavors that need to spread out, this wider bowl allows the wine to open and breathe, which releases bold aromas and flavors. Directing the wine to the center palette keeps the sweetness and acidity in balance.

Recommended Wines: Brunello di Montalicino, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Domina, Fronsac, Graves Rouge, Listrac, Medoc, Margaux, Moulis, Pomerol, Sangiovese, Sangioveseo-Grosso, Madiren




SOFT REDS
Bowl Size - Wide Bowl
Opening Size - Narrows at Tinge of Opening
Taste Buds - Tip of the Tongue

The distinctive bouquet of this grape benefits from the flared shape of the glass which directs the vapors to the nose. The tip of the tongue allows the salty/sweet taste buds to really dig into the fruit and natural acidity of the wine

Recommended Wines: Barolo, Barbaresco, Beaujolais Grand Cru, Blauburgunder, Echezeaux, Moulin a vent, Musigny, Nuits Saint Georges, Vosne-Romanee, Voueot, Trollinger, Barolo, Barbaresco, Beaujolais Grand Cru, Dornfelder, Gamay, Musigny, Nebbiolo, Pommard, Santenay, Rioja, Tempranillo




BIG WHITES
Bowl Size - Narrow Bowl
Opening Size - Narrow Opening
Taste Buds - Back of the Mouth

A narrow bowl that narrows slightly at the opening allows for the concentration of aromas towards the nose, accentuating the delicate fruit aromas of this crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal. The bitter characteristics are also brought out by directing the wine to the back of the mouth.

Recommended Wines: Albarino, Barbera, Blauburgunder, Burgundy (white), Carignan, Chablis, Chenin Blanc, Cortese, Hermitage Blanc, Marsanne, Mersault, Montrachet, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinto Gris, Rulander, Viognier, Corton-Charlemagne, New World Chardonnay, Pouilly Fuisse, Bordeaux (white), Hermitage Blanc, Sauvignon-Semillon, Chasselas, Chenin Blanc, Coulee De Serrant, Gewurtztraminer, Graves Blanc, Loire (white), Pouilly-Fume, Rulander, Sancerre




MEDIUM WHITES
Bowl Size - Narrow Bowl
Opening Size - Narrow Opening
Taste Buds - Center palate

The smaller capacity helps keep temperatures cool longer and the lighter aromas waft well in a narrower glass. The narrow opening reveals the wine's true bouquet and intensity, while emphasizing and optimizing its wide range of rich aromas. Directing the wine to the center palette keeps the sweetness and acidity in balance.


Recommended Wines: Albarino, Barbera, Blauburgunder, Burgundy (white), Carignan, Chablis, Chenin Blanc, Cortese, Hermitage Blanc, Marsanne, Mersault, Montrachet, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinto Gris, Rulander, Viognier, Corton-Charlemagne, New World Chardonnay, Pouilly Fuisse




SOFT WHITES
Bowl Size - Narrow Bowl
Opening Size - Narrow Opening
Taste Buds - Tip of the Tongue

With all of the benefits of the other white wine glasses, this glass focuses the wine to the tip of the tongue allowing the sweet taste buds to enjoy the luscious characteristics of these wines.

Recommended Wines: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztiminer

Wine Whore Score = 7/10 Points (stats below)




This week’s Wise Wine of the Week is Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet which sells for about $10/bottle. This is very easy to find at most local supermarkets and wine/liquor stores.


Summary
Made from premium fruit from South Australian vineyard regions the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, Koonunga Hill reflects many quality wines that are a part of the Penfolds winemaking style and philosophy. This wine in which Shiraz usually leads the blend (50-65% of the blend), is medium-bodied, fragrant and flavorful. It is no wonder why it has been popular since the first vintage in 1976.


Recommended Food Pairing:
Penfolds recommends this wine to be enjoyed ideally with Beef, Duck & Game, or Lamb. I personally enjoy this one with beef or even if I am just in the mood for a glass of spicy and flavorful red wine.


Vintage Info:
“The 2003 growing season in southern Australia was generally regarded as warm, starting with a dry winter and a warm, clear spring. This was followed by some episodes of heat through the summer, whilst cooler weather towards the end of the season relieved the vines in the run up to vintage.”


Stats:
Vintage: 2003
Varietal: Shiraz (Syrah), Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: South Australia
Sugar: Cabernet Sauvignon
Aging: 20 Months: Combination of 3, 4, 5 French and American Oak
Alcohol %: 14


Wine Whore Score:




I ranked this week’s Wine of the Week above last week’s Sterling Vintner’s Collection Cabernet for two reasons. I like the taste better and it pairs with a wider range of food. With its low cost, high availability and a great taste, this wine comes in with a total of 28 points and an average score of 7.

Previously what was a concern for seafood lovers is now threatening to become an issue for wine drinkers. Heavy metals according to U.K. researchers are found to be present in red and white wines from most European nations at potentially dangerous doses. Using THQ’s or "target hazard quotients", levels of heavy metals were calculated for 15 countries in Europe, South America, and the Middle East. Many of these countries had wines with higher levels of heavy metals than even found in seafood.

This discovery leaves scientists and researchers wondering how this will affect wine drinkers. While the occasional glass of wine isn’t poisonous, they are unsure about the affects of as much as a glass of wine a day. Depending on the type of metals found to be present, effects such as Parkinson’s disease could be possible. As more wine drinkers become aware of this issue, expect to see vineyards trying to remove these metals from their wine.

Personally, I am skeptical of these findings. While I may think twice about drinking wine in large quantities from areas like Hungary and Slovakia which had THQ values that were through the roof, I will not stop drinking wine regularly. Research studies are way too often flawed through bad methodology and conflicting research will undoubtedly emerge on this topic.

The answer to the question of how long one should age a wine is… there is no way of knowing exactly how long to wait before uncorking a bottle of wine. Wine is too dynamic to define so simply. Even though many wine “experts” may lead you to believe otherwise, calculating the exact age of any wine’s perfection is a myth. Aging recommendations are merely suggestions.

Wine matures much like a human being. To drink a bottle of wine is to observe a snapshot of it’s personality at that very instant of its lifetime. As a bottle of wine develops over time, its environment provides the setting by which the story unfolds. Poor climate and storage conditions are detrimental and speed up aging while proper care prolongs life.

Regardless of the environment, eventually there is a point where maturation turns to decline and eventually decay. It’s over this lifetime of a bottle of wine that the balance of its characteristics changes. This balance is ultimately responsible for directly contributing to the wine’s greatness at any single point in time.

The key to drinking wine is to capture this snapshot at the peak of its lifetime. This is the point at which the balance is closest to perfect. To determine when to drink a bottle of wine you should always try the same wine/vintage at different points of its lifetime and compare its personality. Don’t be surprised if two bottles opened at the same time have a slight difference in character. Different people may also enjoy the same wine more at different points in it’s lifetime due to personal taste and palette differences. Don’t forget that it is also entirely up to the person tasting to decide if it is great.

In my experience the best way to enjoy wine is not to worry about its age. Instead, you should always enjoy what you have, keep an open mind, and share with those you love.

Wine Whore Score = 6.75/10 Points (stats below)





This week’s Wise Wine of the Week is Sterling Vintner's Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, California '06 which sells for about $10/bottle. I find this one pretty much anywhere including local supermarkets and wine/liquor stores.


Summary
As part of the Sterling Vineyards collection, this 2006 Vintner’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon has a lot of great character. While I would not venture to say that it is as full bodied and delicious as some of its more expensive counterparts, it is definitely tasty for its price range.

While Sterling Vineyards is located via a quick cable car ride in Calistoga, CA, the Vintner’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon comes from three main growing regions: Monterrey, Paso Robles and San Benito. These areas are well known for lousy soil conditions and moderate climate with cool breezes at night which contribute to very concentrated grapes with good depth and tight tannin structure.


Recommended food pairing:
Being a huge cab fan myself, I can eat pretty much anything with this wine. Sterling recommends however pairing this cab with rich foods such as roast lamb, steak au poivre, or potatoes au gratin.


Vintage Info:
“Patience was a winning virtue in 2006. Overall the growing season was cooler than normal. Low spring temperatures delayed bud-break by approximately three weeks but by June, fruit set and flowering was well developed. A short heat wave in July gave the vines a needed boost to catch up to a typical growing season. Cool, even weather persevered throughout the fall, enabling the grapes to develop good intensity and concentration of fruit. Ideal conditions remained through harvest and daily diligence was greatly rewarded with vibrant fruit flavors and good acid levels.”


Stats:
Vintage: 2006
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: California
Sugar: Cabernet Sauvignon
Aging: 12 Months: 80% French Oak, 20% American Oak. 25% New Oak.
Alcohol %: 13.9


Wine Whore Score:


This wine comes in with a total of 27 points and an average score of 6.75. While cost and availability are its strong points, it still has a great taste and is rather enjoyable for an everyday wine.

...Wines that are easily found, moderately priced (less than $20), and taste great.

If you have the funds, it can be relatively easy to find an expensive wine that tastes great. On the other hand, it is much more challenging to find a wine at your local supermarket or wine merchant that has a great deal of character for an affordable price. I love to open up a bottle of wine after a hard day at work but I don’t always want to crack into my prized collection on a daily basis.

The Wise Wine of the Week will chronicle my journey as I explore my local channels looking for those hidden gems. Every week, I’ll pick out and review one wine that I find readily available for a great price to see if it qualifies as a Wise Wine of the Week.