2007 Eyrie (far right) was my Wine of the Night

Sounds almost dirty.

The customer appreciation tasting at Hinton’s Wine Store is always held the last day of their 20% off wine case sale week. The store is usually filled with enthusiastic customers, eager to stock up on their daily drinkers or filling their cellars with premium collectibles. For 2010, the theme was Pinot from Oregon, with 20 Pinot Noirs, three Pinot Gris’ and one Pinot Blanc being poured.

As per usual with events of this sort, I generally just write a line or two about those I like or really didn’t like. I tried all of the reds, but only one white and it was after four reds, so I think that sort of sunk some of the flavors. Given we were there for about an hour and fifteen minutes, it was a bit exhausting getting through all of them. Fortunately, I fell right into “trade-tasting-mode” and did the swirl, sniff, swirl, sip and spit routine.

So, on with the show…

Argyle Brut Sparkling $24.99: On the lighter side, with some spicy pear and apple. I thought it was just okay.

2008 Adelsheim Pinot Gris $16.99: Did not taste.

2008 Adelsheim Pinot Blanc Chehalem Mountain $18.99: Did not taste.

2008 Adelsheim Pinot Noir $19.98: Didn’t wow me, but for $20, it was a solid drink.

2008 King Estate Pinot Noir $25.99: Straight shooting Pinot, but I think their Pinot Gris is the best thing they do.

2008 Forefront Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $20.99: I wrote down good value and later on at our wine & supper club event (to be written up later), I heard a few folks mentioned they liked it and had purchased it before.

2008 Ken Wright Canary Vineyard Pinot Noir $59.99: Sort of dull in the nose, with some silky red fruit on the palate. This seemed a bit shut down right now and with no experience in drinking these wines (which I know have fans), I can’t really say what I thought of this other than $60 is some serious jack.

2007 Archery Summit Premier Cuvée Pinot Noir $39.98: This got a relatively low score from Wine Spectator (85), but it was one of my favorites. It had vibrant acidity, along with rich black fruit flavors that intermixed with spice and earthy tones. For those who don’t mind some oak. I wouldn’t buy it for this price (which is already discounted), but I’d drink it on your dime.

2008 Ken Wright Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir $59.99: Big and rich fruit flavors, with a firm foundation of tannin. Keep this one for at least 3 to 4 years before opening, unless you really like a tannic Pinot. I thought this had the best potential for all the wines at the tasting, but again, at $59.99, you better really like it.

2009 Sineann Pinot Gris $19.99: One of my favorite white wines, I felt this was a bit fruitier and lighter than I remember past vintages being. It seemed to lack the minerality I’ve always found in it, but as I mentioned earlier, I consumed this after having already started in on the reds. It was right after the Ken Wright Carter, so I think that wine sort of disrupted my appreciation of this. Take that for what you will.

2008 Sineann Pinot Noir $29.99: Spicy and needs more time in bottle.

2008 Lange Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $24.99: No notes taken.

2007 Alexana Winery Revana Vineyard Pinot Noir $39.99: A joint venture between Dr. Revana (of some note in Napa) and Lynn Penner-Ash (of note from Oregon), this was my second favorite wine of the tasting. It was a mix of cherry, forest floor, spiced pine cone and minerals, all wrapped up in a tidy bow. For $40, I think it delivered a lot of flavor and complexity, along with the ability to continue developing over the next several years.

2007 Phelps Creek Becky’s Cuvée Pinot Noir $21.99: Nothing special for me.

2007 Penner Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $41.99: Needs more time.

2008 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir $15.99: Made in the same style as Beaujolais, with whole clusters and carbonic maceration, this was very fruity, light and something for newbie red wine drinkers to try. It has been better in the past, as I got something in the nose that just didn’t sit right with me. It was almost artificial, but not in that banana-grape bubble gum way I associate with Beaujolais Nouveau. Decent, but not for me.

2007 Sokol Blosser Dundee Hills Pinot Noir $36.99: Ripe fruits, with a spicy kick that I enjoyed. Beware the 14.5% alcohol and tame with chill and decant. I liked it, but wouldn’t buy it.

2008 LaChini Pinot Gris $16.99: Did not taste.

2007 Territorial Pinot Noir $16.99: Touch candied, but not bad for the price. Another good one for newbie red wine drinkers who want a real fruit forward wine. Chill and serve on hot summer nights, which we have plenty of right now.

2006 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir $59.99: One of the crowd favorites, but it didn’t really wow me. Perhaps I should have gone back for a second visit. I saw it as big, rich and spicy, but not overly complex and definitely not worth the asking price. WS, WE and WA all gave this 90 or above.

2007 Le Cadeau Diversité Pinot Noir $47.99: There are only 237 cases of this wine, which was another that needed more time to me. It was gentle upon entry, then expanded in the mouth as it unwound from its jacket of fine grained tannin. This is one that would require more exploration with to do it due justice, as I just had my small 1 ounce pour and moved on. Another one with excellent potential and while not cheap, not a bad price for what I think will be a patience rewarding wine.

2007 Eyrie Pinot Noir $32.99: The lightest in color, I’ve seen roses that were darker than this. The aromas were very bright, with loads of tart red fruits like pomegranate and cranberry. The explosion of flavor in the mouth is a great example of how dark color doesn’t always mean more flavor. This wine is loaded to bear with acid, but the sweet red fruit flavors make keep it from being bitter or unpleasant in any form or fashion. The slight baking spice finish made this an easy to drink wine. It was really quite refreshing. The price is still more than I’d pay, but only because of current financial circumstances. Otherwise, I’d buy this. My WOTN.

After that, my palate was spoiled and I didn’t write any notes for the last three wines, which were 2008 Elk Cove Mt. Richmond Pinot Noir $39.99, 2007 Angela Pinot Noir $52.99 and 2007 Daedelus Labryinth Pinot Noir. Sorry, I was still really won over by the Eyrie, which I went and got a second pour of. It was the only wine I drank both pours of. When you combine those tart red fruit flavors with tart acidity and some brown spices to finish, that is my kind of Pinot Noir. I think the heat and its refreshing profile also contributed to my enjoyment.

Overall, it was a fun tasting. While I’m not a Pinot-phile like my legendary blind tasting Champion wife, I have come to enjoy them, especially during the summer. While I tend to prefer New Zealand and California, tasting through all these products from Oregon was a lot of fun. It was interesting to see the variety of styles from a relatively small growing region, from light and a touch candied to dense with plenty of mouth gripping tannin. Cheers to Chris, his staff and all the distributors who put on the event.

Until next time, live well, love much and drink great wine…with friends.

"On Top of the World" by SashaW on Flickr

Wednesday night, July 21st, 2010, we attended the annual blind tasting challenge held at Chris Hinton’s Bin 75 tasting room in Johns Creek. It is the mid-week event during their anniversary sale, which nets you 20% off cases of wine. You can also score some wines at 25% off solid cases. Check the website or call for more information.

My wife went into the event as defending champion and was ready to take down all challengers, myself included.

The event was a slightly different format this year, with the addition of a seventh wine, the reception wine. Normally we know what that wine is, but this year it was also poured blind and would act as the first tier tie-breaker.

You are given choices in each flight, one of four whites, the other of three reds. You have five choices of grape variety and country, with no repeats of correct answers within flights.

Keith, the wine manager, plays host. He goes through the basics of blind tasting, explaining what color will tell you, what the aroma and taste markers are for each grape variety, along with the same tidbits for each country represented and whether or not they even grow that grape in that country. For example, you aren’t going to guess Germany if you think the wine is Chardonnay. He wants each selection to be a solid representative of both the grape and the country, though every once in a while he does throw in a curve ball. Last year, it was in the form of an Italian Cannonau, which most of us know as Grenache.

We arrived just in time, as my lovely bride was returning from a business trip and of course, we got stuck in Atlanta traffic. Go figure. Tired as she was, she got out her notepad and went to work, listening to everything Keith said and writing down notes as we went along. She swirled, sniffed and sipped. She contemplated and then, marked her answers. We don’t collaborate, so our results are completely our own.

The whites, were actually pretty straight forward, though I could see where the first one might trip up folks on the country of origin. When it came to the reds, the first was a bit shut down on the nose, but as it warmed the clues began to emerge. It was the second red which was not only my favorite, but my downfall as well. The third was fairly straight forward, though it could have easily been mistaken for another of the choices.

For whites, we had the following five grapes as our selections:

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Gris / Grigio
• Riesling
• Viognier

and the sources of origin we had to choose from were:

• California / Oregon
• New Zealand
• France
• Italy
• Germany

White Wine #1 (reception wine): The wine was a bit shut down for me, so my first thought was Pinot Grigio, but I wasn’t 100% sure since it was fairly cool at service. I was also a bit frustrated by the lack of hourly parking at the airport and then sitting in traffic, not to mention having not eaten much that day. Eventually, the fairly simple citrus pointed to Pinot Grigio from Italy. 2008 Banfi San Angelo Pinot Grigio $13.98

White Wine #2: Brighter than the first wine, with more white citrus than anything. It tasted sort of lemony to me at first, but eventually more like grapefruit, which of course marked Sauvignon blanc. There wasn’t any real grass or sweet hay notes, so I eliminated California / Oregon. It wasn’t super over the top either, so I got rid of New Zealand. That left France (Germany doesn’t make it and Italy wouldn’t be a good country for a typical SB), though for me it wasn’t obviously Loire Valley since I didn’t get as much minerality as I would expect. If I’d been doing this without choices, I’d have probably gone South African. Turns out, the 2008 Domaine Tariquet Sauvignon Blanc ($13.99) was from Cotes de Gascogne.

White Wine #3: The slam dunk of the night, as a couple inches from the glass and my brain went “OAK MONSTER!”. Yes, a California Chardonnay with plenty of sweet oak, but lacking any real fruit flavor. Nice for those who like this style. 2008 Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay $13.98.

White Wine #4: Hello German Riesling. Again, this was a slam dunk for me, as I’d have to say that when it comes to still white wines, German Rieslings are my favorite. This was a mouthful of stone fruits, with a touch of slate and just the slightest bit of residual sugar. It was also the favorite of the crowd, with probably 80+% of folks saying it was their favorite. This continues the streak of every single blind tasting event I’ve attended where Riesling was the crowd favorite. Yet, they still languish on shelves. Pity that. This gem of a wine retails for $10.99 and as Keith suggested, you can drink this and mow the grass at the same time. Slammin’ good idea. 2006 GR8 Riesling $10.99.

Now came the more challenging reds. Our five grape choices were:

• Merlot
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Grenache
• Pinot Noir
• Sangiovese

and the sources of origin we had to choose from were:

• California / Oregon
• France
• New Zealand
• Italy
• Spain

Red wine #1: A bit reticent, but this eventually opened up and gave plenty of clues as to the grape and origin. It smelled of Sangiovese at first, but it seemed a bit more fruit driven than what I’d expect from a Chianti. Plus, I didn’t get a lot of that leather, bark note which is the classic marker for me. After about five minutes, those notes emerged and I went straight for the correct answer. 2006 Volpaia Chianti Classico $18.99.

Red wine #2: I missed this one. It was bright, juicy and full of crunch red berry fruits, with a touch of earthiness and loads of bouncy acidity. I kept thinking, Grenache or Pinot Noir. I tossed it about and just went with Spanish Grenache, which turned out to be my undoing for the night, as this was the one wine I got wrong. It was my favorite wine of the night and once again, convinces me that if you want to drink Pinot Noir for under $20, you should be checking out the wines from New Zealand. I’m starting to see more of them available and I hope you’ll try this one. 2009 Over the Edge Pinot Noir (Martinborough, New Zealand) $16.99.

Red wine #3: Slam dunk again, as this had the dark black currant fruit and touch of tannic bite that I come to expect from Cabernet Sauvignon. I guess I could see where one might guess Merlot, but in the $20 and under price range (which we knew all the wines fell into), I’ve never tasted a Merlot that wasn’t creamy and velvety soft. 2008 Villa San Juliette (Paso Robles, CA) Cabernet Sauvignon was $14.99.

The answer sheets were turned in, the scores were tallied and the winner was announced. It was a gentleman whom I didn’t recognize and he got every possible answer right, except for the country of origin on the Pinot Noir. I think I neglected to mention, but the grape variety was worth 1 point, the country of origin 2 points, but it only counted if you got the grape right as well. Keith then went through all the wines one by one. The audience cheered and groaned with each reveal, until we were finally done and wait a minute, we had a RECOUNT!

My defending Champion wife had written down her answers and she had 100% of them right. Somehow, a mistake had been made. As it turns out, our sheets (I’m not sure if anyone else got missed) hadn’t been tallied. We had handed in ours first and I think they got put down where they got overlooked. A simple error that was then corrected.

So, not only is my wife now the FIRST EVER two time Blind Tasting Champion at Hinton’s, she is also the first person to get all the answers correct. I think two others have gotten everything right except one country. As for me, in case you weren’t paying attention above, I got everything right except for the Pinot Noir, which like I said, I mistook for a Spanish Grenache.

A grand time and congratulations to my @AtlantaWineGal.

Louis Picamelot Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé

I was telling someone (who has forgotten more about wine than I know) about this wine the other day and he remarked it was pretty rare to see demi-sec from Bourgogne, where this wine hails from.

The NV Louis Picamelot Cremant de Bourgogne Rosé is another delightful discovery and proof once again, a little sweetness in wine with a counterbalance of acid (plus palate scrubbing bubbles) is nothing to shy away from.

This wine hails from a small importer located in LaGrange, GA and comes to you courtesy of Gusto Brands. The blend is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Gamay. For those who don’t know, Gamay is the grape of Beaujolais (which IS part of Burgundy) and often associated with a certain grape bubble gum flavor and aroma. I think I’ve addressed that before and if I haven’t, I’ll just say get thyself to your local wine shop and get some “Cru Boo”.

Back label...just because...

So, this wine was paired with grilled grass-fed burgers, cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Don’t cringe, they were good.

The nose is largely comprised of fresh picked strawberries served in a bowl of cold cream, topped with (don’t laugh) a mist of what my wife described as white truffle oil. I was definitely thinking something earthy and when I pressed for her opinion, that was what I got. She is a rockin’ good taster.

You could taste / perceive the sugar, both in taste and texture, as it seemed to provide an extra layer of fat to the body of the wine. The acid does take over and the bubbles will cleanse your palate, leaving no sign of syrup mouth in their wake. I didn’t get the earthiness as much on the palate, but was left with a pleasant sense of having just finished a bit of strawberry crème brûlée.

It worked well with the burgers, probably a bit better than I was expecting. Then again, I like tangy mustard on my burger, so the tart mustard helped cut my perception of sweetness, which was more evident in finishing the wine after the meal was done. I think this would make an excellent wedding and or party wine, with the pretty strawberry flesh color and the sweet factor, which people eat up at festive events. A definite above average effort that I would buy. Oh yeah…NOTE: I received this wine as a free sample.

This wine is available at: Georgia World of Beverages – Decatur Package – Top Shelf Beverage – Vine and Cheese – Wine Styles – Harry’s Farmer’s Markets – The Wine Cellars – Halls of Fine Wines – International Beverage – Bim’s Liquors – Chamblee Package. NOTE: Please call to confirm price and availability, as I make no claims to have verified this information.

Haiku
Bubbly Burgundy
Dusted with sugar strawberry
Smooth plump sweet delight

Have a great weekend!

Lucien Albrecht

When you work wine retail, there are several  comments you’ll hear repeatedly from your customers. These are your opportunities to educate and expand palates. One of the most typical was the comment regarding my recommendations for Riesling, which was often right around Thanksgiving, or if someone wants something to pair with spicy pan-Asian cuisine.

Can you guess what the comment was?

“Rieslings are too sweet.”

To quote one of my favorite sages of childhood, Col. Potter, “horse pucky!”

Okay, so I didn’t actually say that, but I did think it. I would explain to people that while yes, most Rieslings from Germany and many we produce right here in the good ol’ USA are a touch sweet, there were bone dry examples readily available from Australia and Alsace. Al-who?

Alsace, the region of France which borders Germany and has often been under German control. That would explain why so many of the wine makers there have German sounding names (the same goes for Champagne, which isn’t too far away).

So, when I was invited to attend a lunch featuring wines from Lucien Albrecht, a top producer of the region, I was more than happy to say yes. Of course, I will have to say that our venue of choice was a bit surprising (Chops), because I wouldn’t associate wines from this region as being those that pair well with steak. As it turns out, we had no red meat served to us. C’est la vie.

First up was a wine I’d already had (and enjoyed) at the Toast of the Town event back in April. It was the 2008 Lucien Albrecht Riesling Reserve. I found the same zippy tang of lime juice with generous mineral components that I did back then. A solid value and a perfect introduction to dry style Riesling without breaking the bank.

Up next, to accompany our corn meal encrusted diver scallop with arugula and creole remoulade was the NV Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé Cremant, a sparkling wine made from 100% Pinot Noir. A delicate, but flavorful melange of red fruits that was soft on the palate and complimented the spice in the dish. It would have been better if my scallop had been done all the way through, but since I was the only one not served on time, I didn’t send it back. Hey, I eat sushi and raw oysters, so a 3/4 done scallop is not going to scare me. Overall, a very nice wine for the $19.99 retail I’ve seen it for.

The next course was chicken vesuvio with whipped potatoes, green beans and natural jus. Okay, before I get into the three wines we were served with this course, I have to say this was the second best (next to my wife’s roasted chicken) chicken dish I’ve ever had.* It was perfectly cooked and so juicy, you didn’t even need the jus, though I’m never one to let that simple delight go to waste. If I’d been at home, I’d have sopped it up with bread, but manners won and I just dipped my chicken in it like I was supposed to. Stupid food rules.

The three wines were all from the 2007 vintage. One thing I need to point out is that I drank them in the order they were presented in the booklet, not the usual left to right order in which they were poured (yes, one glass for each wine). That probably means I drank them in the “wrong” order, which I realized when I started, but I wanted to see what would happen. Based on what I heard from other attendees (20+ of us), I think the order I tried them gave me a different opinion. It was a test of context, something I really believe is overlooked in most blogging review sites, be they food or wine.

the menu

First up, I tasted the 2007 Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Cuvée Marie. Like Julius Erving (or Michael Jordan for those less sports inclined), the aromatics were highly elevated and delivered strong in the finish. The classic lychee was coupled with a spice infused honey. It was creamy, almost as if honey had been stirred into the wine. Part of this is just the grape, with the addition of aging this wine “sur lie”. Sur lie = leaving the wine to age with the dead yeast cells, which add body and with time, bread or yeasty notes. While it totally overwhelmed the food (and the next two wines for me), this would be an awesome wine with Indian cuisine. While the rule guideline suggestion of pairing wines with their local cuisine does usually work, this is one of those pairings that just simply works even if the cuisine comes from a place with no real wine culture to speak of (though it is burgeoning at the moment). This was my favorite wine…by far.

Next up was the 2007 Lucien Albrecht Pinot Gris Cuvée Cécile, which seemed to be a favorite with the chicken amongst those seated around me. For me, it was reticent and just blown over by the previous wine. See, there goes that whole context thing again. Later on, as I let the wines sit, drank some water and let my palate rest, I did try this in the “correct” order and got more out of it. While I didn’t get any of the spice or rosewater (winery tasting note), it was a nice wine with pear and apple notes that just didn’t grab me. Honestly, there is only one Pinot Gris that does, so I guess I need to explore these wines more to find some new ones to love. My least favorite wine and one I (though I was probably the only non-fan) wouldn’t buy.

Last, I had the 2007 Lucien Albrecht Riesling Cuvée Henri. More subdued than the first Riesling, this was cut more from the fabric of stone fruit and touches of green herbs. A wine that showed better the warmer it got, I liked this, but still found the first Riesling to be my preference for drinking. I like bold flavors, I will not deny.

The Pinot Noir was up next. You read that right, Pinot Noir from Alsace. I’d never heard of such a thing, associating the region with pretty much only the white grapes we’d had (and Pinot Blanc, which wasn’t invited to the party). The 2005 Lucien Albrecht Amplus Pinot Noir had a darker than expected color, but still fell in line with what one might expect from Pinot Noir grown in a relatively cool climate. Smoked sour cherries laced with vanilla and wrapped up in a tobacco leaf. Take that and store it inside a leather lined pouch, let it sit for a few hours and that is what this wine tasted like. Subtle, refined and definitely for fans of Burgundy, a place where I’ve yet to make camp. I don’t know the price, but it may have some appeal to those who prefer this style. If for no other reason, to say you have tried Pinot Noir from Alsace. Well crafted, just not my personal preference. I’d say it was above average in quality. The cheese and wine jelly it was served with completely hollowed how the wine, so everyone agreed it needed different food and to be evaluated after a palate cleansing slug of water.

To finish, we were treated to the 2007 Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives (VT = late harvest in French), paired with apricot and chantilly creme crèpes. When it comes to late harvest wines (my personal favorite category and overall second only to Champagne), I usually go with blue cheese of some sorts. The wine itself was still very fat and young, requiring many years in the cellar to reveal the true character that lies within. Loaded with lychee, honey and vanilla toasted spices, the acidity takes a few moments to dig out from the sugar and refresh the palate. An above average wine, but you’ll need to cellar this for a while before it can be called outstanding.

To conclude (finally), I’d put the wines in this order:

1. Gewurztraminer Cuvée Marie
2. Brut Rosé Cremant
3. Riesling Reserve
4. Vendanges Tardive
5. Amplus Pinot Noir
6. Riesling Cuvée Henri
7. Pinot Gris Cuvée Cécile (I think I may have been the only one with this opinion…c’est la vie)

Overall, this was a really nice tasting, though I think a few different choices in food pairings would have made the wines shine a bit more. Lucien Albrecht is a quality producer and a label name you can trust to deliver quality wine, you just have to find the one that suits your palate best.

Thank you very much to Pasternak Wine Imports for including me as a guest.

* That didn’t involve frying, which is like being a veteran when applying for government jobs, it just comes with well deserved and earned bonus points.

Toast of the Town 2010 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia Aquarium

Last night was our third year of pouring wine at Toast of the Town, an annual event put on by Wine Enthusiast and held in the private ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium. For my wife and I, it is a great event. We spend the first couple of hours trying wine and sampling the food, then spend the rest of the evening pouring some great Italian wines at the Prestige Wine Imports table.

As with big events like this, there were loads of things to try, but we generally stuck to the bubbles and a few other select items. I don’t take formal notes, just some general impressions of things that really stood out for one reason or another.

2008 Lucien Albrecht Riesling Reserve: I don’t remember the retail, but I think everything at this Riesling table was under $20. It was really nice to see a table devoted to one of (if not THE) greatest white wine grapes in the world. Pity it still plays the understudy to Chardonnay. The first offering was this bone dry bowl of lime juice squeezed over white rocks from Alsace, France. For anyone who ever says Rieslings are too sweet, this is the wine to show them the exact opposite. Well done.

2008 The Crusher Wilson Vineyard Pinot Noir: You should be able to find this wine for around $12 or so and I recommend you do so. It has a Homer Simpson drool inducing nose of applewood smoked bacon that has been wrapped around black cherries and toasted over an open fire. The medium bodied wine has a light grade of sandpapery grip and more of that smoked black cherry taste profile which begs for smoked salmon or grilled portabella mushroom dishes. Above average wine with more character than most Pinot Noirs in this price point. Distinctive and worthy of your hard earned dollars.

Barefoot Bubbly Brut: I’ve seen these around town for $7.99 and honestly, I wasn’t expecting a whole heck of a lot from these wines. The Brut wasn’t my cup of tea, as it was a little rough and coarse with minimal fruit flavor. Not recommended.

Barefoot Bubbly Pinot Grigio: This was quite nice and I could see this as being a great party wine or for mixing with fruit juices for Sunday morning brunch. Good.

Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry: The extra sugar really improves this wine and makes the tropical fruit really pop. I’d have this with cheese and fresh fruit on those warm summer evenings where the road tar is hotter than La Brea. Good.

Barefoot Bubbly Rosé: Umm, no.

Barefoot Bubbly Moscato: If you like Moscato d’Asti, this will be a nice change of pace for you as I think the sugar is slightly lower and won’t quite put you in diabetic shock like the Italian versions. Wines like this really belong in half-bottles. It isn’t my cup of tea, but for what it was and the people it is targeting, it delivers the goods. Good.

Leo Hillinger Rosé Secco: You can find this Prosecco (hence the name) patterned sparkling Pinot Noir from Austria at Whole Foods for about $19.99. Pleasantly filled with fresh strawberry and ripe red cherry flavors, this is very easy to drink. The new packaging includes a pink ribbon and they are donating $1 to breast cancer research for each bottle sold. I didn’t catch for how long they are doing this, but it is always a great thing to see any company giving back and in a specific way. Good.

2006 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs: From the original sparkling wine house in California comes this delicious apéritif made from 100% Chardonnay. Quick lesson: Blanc de Blancs means white from whites, so in Champagne and most other producers, it means 100% Chardonnay, which would make an excellent and different selection for the upcoming Twitter community Chardonnay wine tasting. Check it out! Oh yeah, the wine was quite good and one of the more refined Blanc de Blancs you can get. Above average.

2001 Schramsberg J Schram: This tête de cuvée is elegant, refined and one of the most Champagne like wines you’ll ever drink, though I don’t think you’ll mistake it for the “real deal”. It still has a certain California foundation and that is a good thing. A well balanced mix of toast, apple and citrus, this is still very youthful and will sleep well without any diminishment over the next 5 to 7 years. For $100 or so that you’ll pay, you get a premier domestic bottling. It would be awesome to have a full bottle of this to put up against the other heavyweights of the domestic sparkling market and see who comes out on top in a blind tasting.

So, that gives me another 8 wines in the quest, putting me at a total of 87 sparkling wines tasted this year. Not bad.

2006 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve: This will set you back $130 or so and while Mondavi is no longer a family affair, the quality is still in the bottle. An outstanding wine that doesn’t rely on power, but does deliver a great deal of concentration. I know, that doesn’t seem to jive, but it does. When I think of power, I think Australian Shiraz or yes, California Cabernet. The Mondaiv Reserve is full of flavor and still quite young, with loads of currant, grilled herb and cocoa powder. I will say that this should be drunk over the next 5 years, as it doesn’t have the stuffing to go much longer before it will fall off the mark.

2006 Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon: I’ve grown to love Chilean Cabernet over the past couple of years and there is no finer example than this bottling. While it is no longer the value it once was, it still delivers a powerful mouthful of whiskey soaked blackberries that have been stewing over a fire of graphite and coal. A long finish, this is still a baby and needs another 3 to 4 years before I’d actually open it up for consumption. I think you can do better for $80, but you can also do a lot worse.

2006 Cardinale – or the Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast 100 point rated wine: While I missed out on the same opportunity that Ed got (great write up on the wine you should go read), I was able to squeeze in at the last minute and get a shot at tasting my first 100 point rated wine. You can read Steve’s review here. This wine carried the 15% alcohol really well, with only the slightest sign of heat on the back palate. It was rich, concentrated and you could smell the intensity of the ripe mountain fruit long before you got your nose near the rim of the enormous Riedel glasses they were pouring it into. Black currant, smoked vanilla, toasted herbs and black cherry reduction in a glass. I’m not one to spend $200 on a bottle of wine, but I will say that it was a damn fine drink and was begging for a blue rib-eye fresh off the grill. I’m envious Ed got to actually sit and taste, because this is the sort of wine you want to kick back, relax and have a conversation with. If you have the funds, I’d go for it. Classic, though I’m not really sure about the whole 100 point thing.

iPad: No, Apple hasn’t created a wine called iPad, but there was one guest who stopped at our table who had one with him. I asked, what was the killer app? He didn’t really have an answer and we talked about the unit as he displayed it like a proud father does his All-American football playing son. I said that when they put a camera in it and you could video-conference call with it, along with document sharing / review, then you’d have something. Throw in some real time voice translation and the international business market will fall all over themselves to buy them faster than the fans have accepted Tiger back into their hearts. Amazing.

The perfect bite: I’m really disappointed in myself for not remember which restaurant was serving these delectable delights, but I have to say that bacon wrapped and grilled shrimp really may be the most foodgasmic single bite I’ve had in quite a while.

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Cheers and happy weekend to you! Thank you so much for stopping by and taking time out of your busy day to read what I have to say. It is very humbling. I will have to toot my own horn for once and say I was named Tweep of the Week by the fantastic folks over at Atlanta Dish, which is run by the super fabulous Melissa Libby and Associates.

Haiku
One hundred point wine
Great food, better company
Oh my what a night