Neyers "Pato Vineyard" Zinfandel 2005

Zinfandel / $25 - $35
Contra Costa / California

Last week I did the Chef's Tasting at "Black Salt" in Washington, D.C. I was very impressed with the wine list there. It was clearly put together by someone that had a passion for wine. There were many blends, esoteric varietals and lesser known vineyards..all of good quality.

Neyers produces some wonderful wines. Most are highly rated, and all are reasonably priced for their quality. This vineyard has vines that are over 110 years old. Rich Pato oversees this plot and painstakingly tends to the vines. Most vines are not irrigated, so the low yeilding crop is rich with flavour. The grapes are hand picked, crushed and left in contact with the grape skins for 30 days before further fermentation.

The wine pours lighter then I expected. Only a medium red to ruby color, this wine smells like stewed fruit, red berries and a bit of spice and pepper. It tastes wonderful. Lots of fruit up front. Berries, red and black with a bit of tart cranberry too. It has a rich sweetness to the fruit. It is mouth filling and satisfying. I was thrilled.

Many zins can border on sweet and have a syrupy cloying finish. . Many are high in alcohol and will burn on the finish. This wine, although 15.5% alcohol, has a long balanced finish and avoids cloying sweetness. I loved it.

If you have a chance to try some of Neyer's wines you will be pleased you did. Although not cheap, I still say this wine is a good value. This wine is not stocked everywhere. Call ahead to your favorite wine store to see if they carry it.

If you want to buy it On-line, try Binny's Beverage Depot They carry this for $29.99 per bottle or $28.49 by the case. ENJOY!

Cousino Macul "Antiguas Reservas" 2006

Chardonnay / $12 to $16
Maipo Valley / Chile

When I was asked to review this wine I flashed a big smile. I cut my teeth on Cousino Macul twenty years ago. It was Chilean and cheap. Although I did not taste the Chardonnay, the Cab and Merlot were a fantastic value.

Chile has become one of the best producers of wine in South America. Many of the large wine conglomerates have purchased land and developed vineyards there. There is a vast brain trust of winemakers that are sending lots of money and technology there to make wine. Many experts say it is "smart money". I tend to agree.

Chardonnay is not a grape that shines in Chile. I am not sure if it is the terrior or the technology...but it is tough to find a good chardonnay from the region. This wine is the needle in the haystack. It is surprisingly good, and for the money, it is a steal. All of you that write to complain about the price of a good chardonnay take note. For less then $15 you can drink a wine that will outperform wines $25 and more.

It is straw colored and pours cleanly. The nose is pear, citrus, apple, white flowers and a bit of toast. Although aged in oak, this is not an oaky chardonnay. The flavor of apple,pear and grapefruit are nicely balanced. The finish reveals a whiff of oak, but wonderfully integrated and balanced. This balance is rare in a wine in this price range.

Cousino Macul is no longer an up and comer. They are one of the leaders of the Chilean wine industry, and have proven their value. Their premium wines are classified as "Antiguas Reservas". It is well worth the few dollars more to buy this reserve wine. Don't skimp in this price range. The winners are few and far between. This wine is a winner and available everywhere. Go out and try a bottle. Let me know if you agree.

Torbrek Woodcutter's Red Shiraz 2006

Shiraz (Syrah) / $16-$22
Barossa Valley / South Australia

I bought this wine last fall on the recommendation of Doug Rosen at ARROWINE in Arlington, VA. He bought a few pallets, and sold it at a blow out price. I bought a case and stocked it in the cellar to let it rest a bit.

There are positive and negative attributes to having a cellar. The positive part is you have a dedicated space to store your wine in a controlled environment. The negative is you can sometimes forget what you have in the racks at any given moment. I found this wine hidden away while making room for some wine that was being delivered today, and decided to take a bottle upstairs to try.

Parker gave this wine 92 points. In all candor, that is the reason I bought a case of this wine. At $15.99 a bottle on sale, and 92 points....it seemed like a good deal. I like Australian Shiraz, and this certainly hit a sweet price point.

The screw top is convenient on these bottles, but I still feel it cheapens the wine experience. I understand that these closures may ultimately be proven superior to cork. Emotionally though, I love to go through the the routine of opening with a corkscrew. I actually had the corkscrew out and ready to use until I realized I did not need it....

The wine is very purple. Think Welch's grape juice purple. The aroma was sweet, heavy with black cherry, plum and blue fruits. It did not disappoint. There were no surprises on the flavor side. Lots of Blueberry with cherry and blueberry undertones. It has a big mouth feel, the fruit is almost overwhelming (Not that there is anything wrong with that...Thanks, Jerry Seinfeld). It finished smooth without any bitterness or heavy tannins.

This is a very pleasant wine. I know that Parker gave it a 92, but remember this is a Australian Shiraz. If you do not appreciate the fruit forward style of the Australian winemakers, you will not care for this wine at all. If you do, as I do, you will appreciate this for what it is. A great Australian value.

You can still find this wine an any good wine shop. Torbrek has been producing good wines with price points that run from $16 to $225. For a real treat, try their "Run Rig" Shiraz. It is made with super premium grapes, and a truly fabulous experience. Just remember though....for the price of ONE bottle of "Run Rig" you can buy a case of "Woodcutters" Red....

I am attending a Bordeaux tasting with some friends tonight which I will report on this weekend. Until then, Cheers!

Henry's Drive - Dead Letter Office 2005

Shiraz Blend / $16 - $25
Padthaway / Australia

Every once in a while, I am asked to taste a wine and post a review. Being politically correct, some of the reviews don't make it to print if the wine doesn't perform. Over the years, there are very few that I just could not stomach. I see merit in most wines, without regard to price. I see it as a matter of value.

My friend Brian Pawsat sent this wine over to me to review. I can tell you in advance, that ALL wine tastes better when free....this fact aside, here is what I found.

It seems that most Australian wines these days have a gimmick label. With competition fierce, and prices low, anything the producers can do to grab attention, they do. This bottle label was stamped with postmarks to complement the "Dead Letter Office" theme. Cute, attractive and certainly attention grabbing. It also has a screw top, which seems more and more common these days with Australian wines under $20.

For me, the screw top is actually an attractive feature. Although controversial, screw tops are perfect for everyday wines where you are only drinking a few glasses and resealing. It also alleviates having to worry about a bottle being "corked" or needing to carry a corkscrew on a picnic. I think you will see more and more screw top closures. I have good information that even the French Bordeaux producers are bottling some of their wine in screw tops to determine the viability for upper end, expensive Bordeaux wines. I say bring it on.....although there is something nice about the custom of uncorking as we know it.

This wine is 98% Shiraz (Syrah) with 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is deep purple, almost black....like a bowl of blackberry jam. The nose reveals Black fruit, blueberry, vanilla and pencil lead. The wine looks thick and jammy, and certainly is inviting, especially to those of us who appreciate a "fruit bomb" now and then.

The wine is certainly jammy. Lots of blackberry, blueberry, with a tinge of smokiness on the finish. The wine is thinner then I anticipated...not much glycerin or roundness. It is a big wine, but is well integrated. An easy wine to quaff, you have to be careful not to polish off the bottle with dinner.... It is 15% alcohol which will certainly disable you the following morning.

For the money, this is a great value. It can be found locally retail for less then $25.00. If you are willing to go on line, it is available at $16.00 per bottle. This is exactly as I describe, a fruit bomb. If this is your thing, you will love this wine. If you are a purist and want something more complex....move on to the next review. Thanks Brian, for bringing this one to my attention. As I mentioned earlier in the review.....when the wine is free....it always tastes better... Cheers!

Links: Henry's Drive Website
Order on-line: $15.95 per bottle, Shipping $24.00

Domaine Berthet-Rayne CDP Blanc 2005

Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2005 / $19.99
Rhone Valley / France

Have you ever a tried white Chateauneuf du Pape? Or, as the French say Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc..... No?... Well, expand your horizons. You are missing out on a wonderful wine experience.

I must say, this is not a wine I would normally order. Especially so at a restaurant, offered at 3 times retail. My wife and I went out to dinner this Saturday at Washington's "Black Salt" with 2 other couples that are friends and neighbors (Review to follow later this week). We wanted to start with a white, and this Chateauneuf du Pape caught my eye. What the hell. We were having the tasting menu and spending a fortune, why not splurge. What a good decision it was to try this wine.

Although this is a blend of grapes, it is not the typical white melange that you find in many white meritage. Most tend to be a bit sweet, reflecting the Viogner and Marsanne in the blend. This wine is 40% Clairette, 40% Bourbulenc, 10% White Grenache and 10% Roussanne which yields a nicely balanced, dry white. Although there is certainly residual sweetness....it is not at all cloying. The acidity is a perfect foil to the sweetness.....beautifully balanced.

The wine is pale and straw colored. When poured it is a bit unctuous and really clings to the bowl of the glass. The nose is all honey and white flowers...very pretty and delicate. It almost tastes un-oaked....nice fruit, great balance and no bitterness from tannins. This one did not last long at our table. This wine does have great structure, and seems like it would develop in the bottle for a few years if you can keep yourself from drinking it. It will certainly be worth the effort to find it as an addition to your cellar.

Usually, when I find a wine I like, it is easy to research it on-line. This wine, although showing up on many restaurant wine lists in the DC area, did not give me any local retailers for this beautiful white. I was finally able to find it on-line at a retailer in Michigan.

This wine was featured at $60 on the wine list at "Black Salt". This is not cheap for a white wine. As a rule of thumb one can usually divide the wine list price by two to find a local retail price, and by three if you are willing to buy on-line. This one is offered on-line at WineBuys.com for $19.99 per bottle. I will tell you....it is worth every penny.

I could not find this wine reviewed anywhere which surprised me. It seems that White Chateauneuf du Pape is not nearly as respected as the famous red wine of the region. I hope this review changes the way you think about Rhone whites. I can tell you for a fact, I ordered a case on-line as soon as I got home after dinner....

Enjoy!

Links: WineBuys.com $19.99 per bottle and $31 per case shipping

Jade Mountain Vineyard "La Provencale" 2005

Rhone Blend / $14 - 18.99
Napa and Surrounds / California

I went to Morton's Steakhouse last night with a group of like minded wine lovers. We usually get together beforehand and open a few bottles of wine to catch up on each others lives, and compare notes. I had a few very interesting wines that I am sure to review over the next few weeks.

Morton's is having a special nationwide that I feel is a good deal. Two meals...Fillet, Scallops or crab cake, side veggies and dessert....all for $99. Although the wines there are decent...they mark up the wines three times retail...so there are certainly no bargains. We tried to stick to the $60 range where we found this gem of a wine.

I was introduced to Jade Mountain by my friend Gus Kalaris and his wife Lynn. They own CONSTANTINE WINES, a large distributor in the Washington, DC area. Jade Mountain is known for producing French varietals and blends grown in various counties surrounding Napa in California. When I saw La Provencale on the wine list, I had to order it.

This is a blend of five varietals, the primary grape is Mouvedre. It also features Syrah, Granache, Carignane and Viognier. All of these are classic grapes blended to make Chateauneuf du Pape in the Rhone region of France. Jade Mountain (Now owned by multi-national conglomerate Diageo) was way ahead of the times producing these varieties in California, and it shows.

The wine poured a lighter color then I anticipated. It looked more like a Pinot Noir then a Syrah blend. The aroma was fabulous. Raspberries and red fruit, spice, clove and a bit of vanilla. Very nice start. The wine is very lush and fruit forward. Raspberry and plum are the main components. Tannins are smooth but balances. There is a bit of a burn on the end...but not unpleasant. Turns out this wine is over 14% alcohol.

Overall, it was a very nice choice. Was it worth $60? Not even close. This morning when researching I was pleasantly surprised to find it many places at under $20. On line, you can find it for $14. At that price...this is a great value. Those of you that enjoy blends, smooth drinking reds and great values, look no further.

Links: Jade Mountain  l  Morton's  l  Online wines

Richard Hamilton "Gumpr's Block"

Shiraz / $11.99

Whenever I review a wine in the $8-15 dollar price range I get at least 30 e-mails with comments and feedback. With the economy uncertain, it is certainly timely to find more reasonable wines to enjoy.

I have been on the lookout for some great bargains that maintain high quality and overall value. The "Holy Grail", right? For the past few years I have been drinking an Australian Shiraz that is not very well known. Pennsylvania currently has this wine as a Chairman's Selection. Usually this retails for about $18. Even at full retail, this is a good value. At $11.99, there is no reason not to pick up a case. Although ready to drink now, it has enough structure to hold a few years. Once you taste it, I think it will be all gone in short order.

The dark ruby color looks light for a 100% shiraz (Syrah). Blackberry and blueberry nose segues into charred oak and pepper. The oak can be attributed to the American oak barrels that this wine is aged in. It has a nice mouthfeel, dense, smooth and without harsh tannins. It does not have a long finish, but for $11.99, what can you expect?

You can go on-line to order this wine, and have it shipped to the closest Pennsylvania wine shop to you. For me, I order a bunch with friends, and we all drive up to Gettysburg to pick it up. Worth the trip.

Order online: at pawineandspirits.com.

Writers Block Zinfandel

Steele Vineyards / $15.00
California

Although I am not a football fan, I see the SUPER BOWL as an opportunity to get together with friends and enjoy a cocktail or bottle of wine. My friends very rarely come empty handed to my house. I found 7 bottles of wine while cleaning up that night, and will enjoy trying out all of the gifts.

My friend Steve and his wife Amy brought a bottle of "Writers Block". What a great name for a wine, but there are SO many Australian wines with clever names. Lo and behold, it AIN'T Australian! It is a California wine....I had to try it.

Without knowing the label or cost of this wine, I was able to give this a somewhat objective tasting. It had a nice color, although not super dark like many highly extracted Zins. This is mainly because it is NOT straight Zin. It is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. In my mind...a wonderful blend.

Red Raspberry, Cherry and Chocolate on the nose. The body is light for a Zin and a tad sweet...but the Berry, Blackberry Jam Pepper and Baking Spices really provide a nice tasting experience. I guessed this to be a $20 wine. I would have been dissapointed if it were more...but worth the $20.

When I researched the wine and found it at $14.99 I knew I would be writing about it today. A nice bargain, a cool and hip bottle, and a great wine to surprise your friends. Thanks to the Stern's for bringing this nice wine to our attention.

Shiraz Greenock Creek

Apricot Block / $39.99
Barossa Valley, South Australia

I always bring a good bottle of wine to any social gathering, especially around the holidays. Most of the time, it is a bottle of wine from my cellar, that has been aged at least a few years. I learned a long time ago that wines need some time to allow their flavors to consolidate, the tannins to soften. This time in the cellar changes the wind considerably. It softens the tannins, and for my palate, makes the wine more enjoyable to drink.

While we are drinking the wine, I am often told the wine is fabulous....where can they buy some now? The disappointment is immediate when I tell them the wine for that particular vintage is no longer available. Today's selection comes from Jon Genderson at Schneider's Wine in Washington DC. He is clearing his warehouse, and has many wonderful wines on sale.

This particular wine is a 1999 Shiraz from Barossa in South Australia. It has been in the warehouse for 6 years, and is fully mature. This wine was originally $50 when released, and the recent 2004 vintage was released at $80 per bottle. To be able to buy this 93 point wine at less then $40 is downright fantastic.

The wine is opaque purple and highly aromatic. Blackberries, cassis, blue fruit and pepper blend beautifully. Wonderful fruit on the front and finishes with a bit of pepper on the finish....Soft tannin...almost non-existent....easy to drink....This is why you lay wine down. The results are beautiful, and the opportunity to pick some up at this price is rare.

This still has great balance, good structure and should last for another 5-6 years in the cellar.....why wait?