The 2008 Valle de la Puerta Torrontes shows my eagerness for springtime! I enjoy white wines during the winter with specific dishes, but I really love them only in the summer when it’s warm outside and a white wine is just so refreshing.

The La Puerta Torrontes is a delicious light-medium bodied white wine with great apricot and peachy flavors. The sweet fruit flavors are prominent, so you won’t be bothered by too much acidity or alcohol. This wine went really well with the fried, battered scallops we had as an appetizer, although I prefer grilled scallops.

Check out their website if you want to see some of the gorgeous photos of the vineyards. These grapes are grown in the Famatina Valley, which sites between two mountain ranges of the Andes, so the valley is surrounded by these beautiful mountains every way you turn. The photos are spectacular.

Origin: Famatina Valley, Argentina
Where: Muss & Turner’s
Price:$6.50 glass/$20 bottle restaurant; probably around $9-$11 retail
Next time: Get a glass!

This Juan Gil Monastrell caught my eye on the wine menu last night at Muss & Turner’s — I remember W and I tried this wine (2006 vintage) back in July 2009 at M&T’s Big Burly BBQ Reds wine tasting, and this was one of our favorites. Always good to put a wine from a tasting to the real test, so we shared a bottle of the Juan Gil Monastrell. What a great decision! The rich fruit, smooth tannins, and slightly smoky flavor made a perfect match with the Hangar Steak entree.

The Juan Gil winery is located in the Jumilla region of Spain, and is currently managed by the original winemaker’s great-grandchildren. According to their website, this wine is 100% Monastrell grapes, with 12 months aged in French oak.

Origin: Jumilla Region, Spain
Where: Muss & Turner’s
Price: $29 bottle (restaurant, not retail); probably around$ 12-$15 retail
Next time: Get a case!

To tag along with my Fave Red Wines of 2009, here are my star whites from this past year:

• Man Vintners Chenin Blanc – $9
• Minini Orvieto – $9
• Le Chat Rouge Chardonnay – $11
• Starborough Sauvignon Blanc – $12ish?
• Luna Argenta Prosecco (bubbly) – $12
• Kiona Vineyards Riesling – $12
• Cavas Hill Brut Rose Reserva Artesania Cava (bubbly) – $12
• Borgo Boschetto Pinot Grigio – $13
• Terra Antiga Vinho Verde – $13
• Pascual Toso “Toso” Brut (bubbly) – $13
• 071 Prosecco Veneto (bubbly) – $14
• Villa Cornaro Prosecco – $14 (this is the bubbly that went with Wyatt’s marriage proposal!)
• Fonty’s Pool Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon – $14
• Fonty’s Pool Chardonnay – $16
• Holly’s Garden Pinot Gris – $20
• Wolf Mountain Vineyards Plenitude Chardonnay-Viognier blend – $20
• Wolf Mountain Blanc de Blanc Brut (bubbly) – $25

Now that we’re a couple of months into 2010, I took a look back at the wines I tried in 2009 and present to you my list of Favorite Red Wines of 2009! Fave 2009 Whites coming soon!

• Pine & Post Cab Sauv – $9
• Simonnet-Febvre Pinot Noir – ~ $10
• Finca el Origen Malbec – $11
• Lucky Star Pinot Noir - $9
• Mark West Sonoma County Pinot Noir – $12
• Memo Montepulciano – $11
• Morande Pionero Pinot Noir – $10
• Spellbound Petite Syrah – $13
• Alexander Valley Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – $?
• Angeline Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – $14
• Oyster Bay Pinot Noir – $15
• G5 Puerta Bonita Garnacha – $15
• Eos Estate Zinfandel and Petite Syrah – $15ish? and $16
• Bliss Cab Sauv – $15
• Chateau Fantin Bordeaux Superioeur – $16
• Big Fire Pinot Noir – $18
• Poppy Pinot Noir – $16
• Rivola Sardon de Duero Cab Sauv – $17
• Vina Robles Cav Sauv – ~ $18
• Le Signal Domaine Ligneres Carignan – $19
• Murphy-Goode Cab Sauv – $20
• Wirra Wirra Church Block Cab Sauv – $20
• Chateau Robin Cotes De Castillion – $22
• Louis M. Martini Cab Sauv – $15-$20
• L’Oustal Blanc Minervois – $21
• Twenty Rows Cab Sauv – $23
• Oberon Cab Sauv – $24
• Molnar Family Pinot Noir – $26
• Douglas Green Shiraz Reserve – $20ish?
• Obsidian Ridge Cab Sauv – $29
• Patricia Green Pinot Noir – $30
• Hartford Zinfandel – $30
• Chateau Rollan de By Medoc – $30
• Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir – $??
• Anne Amie Pinot Noir – $??

You might recall this Stephen Ross Pinot from an earlier post where W and I attended an absurdly delicious wine dinner at Muss & Turner featuring Stephen Ross Pinots. This Aubaine Vineyards Pinot was one of my favorites at the dinner, so we got a few bottles to enjoy at home.

We popped this one open for my birthday dinner (after the Holly’s Garden Pinot Gris). W cooked this amazing Mahi Mahi with a tomato and olive sauce – delicious! Unfortunately, the wine didn’t pair very well with the tomato and olive sauce, so it wasn’t the match made in heaven I was envisioning. The intensely flavored sauce just overwhelmed the subtle flavors of the Pinot, although it also had more tannins than I remembered. My guess is that my first tasting involved a pairing with a buttery gnocchi, rather than the leaner, much vegetable-based sauce, so there were fewer things to tone down those tannins.

Origin: San Luis Obispo County, California
Where: Muss & Turner
Price: around $40 (it was a special occasion!)
Next time: Get a glass!

For $10 or less, you can’t beat the value on this Pinot Noir. And the taste measures up – stock up on Lucky Star as a new staple to keep on hand. Great for big family and friend gatherings — won’t kill your wallet, but your guests will appreciate the silky berry flavors!

Also – love the little blurb on the back.

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT, YOUR PINOT NOIR WISHES HAVE BEEN GRANTED. WITH RIPE RASPBERRY AROMAS LAYERED WITH NOTES OF RED CHERRY AND A SILKY FINISH, OUR WINE IS DAZZLING PAIRED WITH GRILLED MEATS, LIGHT PASTAS AND HEARTY SALADS. MAY OUR WINE SHINE BRIGHTLY AT YOUR TABLE AND BRING GOOD FORTUNE TO YOU AND THOSE WHO SHARE IT.

Unfortunately, the Lucky Star website is under construction. I really would love to learn more about this winery! I’ll keep checking back.

Origin: Sonoma County, California
Where: Highland Wine and Muss & Turner’s
Price: $9
Next time: Get a case!

This post has been a LONG time coming! I think this wine popped up at Muss & Turner’s last fall. In fact, I can’t even take credit for it. One of the extremely nice bartenders recommended the Tobin James Ballistic Zinfandel after recognizing some taste patterns in my recent ordering. Well, she was right! I remember being extremely hesitant at the time… (it was a zinfandel, for heaven’s sake!). This red zinfandel (and many other red zinfandels since this one) make me wish that red and white zinfandel didn’t share any genetic similarity and name. Well, alas… this wine rocks! Go get some – right now!

Next time: Get a glass!
Origin: Paso Robles, California
Where: Muss & Turner’s
Price: approx $18 retail

Last night, Wyatt and I went to Muss & Turner’s. We’ve been so busy lately and haven’t been here as often as we’d like. We were completely blown away by their new economy-conscious menu! Most items were between $15 and $25 and every single one of the seven entrees sounded like heaven on a plate! Choosing was really tough.

We had the same “problem” (LOL!) with the wine menu! So many delicious bottles to choose from at such great prices… we finally landed on the Primitivo Puglia, a nice wine from Italy. I’ll admit, I’d never even heard of Primitivo. Although a little “plummy,” it fit Ryan’s description perfect – the love child of a Zinfandel and a Pinot Noir! Very fruity, punchy, subtle tannins, and there you go. I will definitely be going back to try some more of their awesomely-priced bottles.

Next time: Get a glass!
Origin: Italy
Where: Muss & Turner’s
Price: approximately $30 bottle at the restaurant… sorry, I forgot my receipt (again…)

W and I went to the weekly Muss & Turner’s wine tasting last week. Great theme – Big Burly BBQ Reds just in time for July 4th!

Here’s the lineup along with tasting notes provided at the tasting:

2008 Punto Final Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Punto Final’s 100% Malbec comes from vines more than 50 years old whose production is less than 8 tons per acre, resulting in concentrated and flavorful fruit. This wine is untiltered in order to preserve its distinct varietal’s qualities.

Next time: Get a glass if you like middle-of-the-road Cabs and Merlots

2007 Pas A Paso, La Mancha, Spain

The Paso a Paso Tinto is 100% Tempranillo source from vineyards averaging 40 years of age. The color is a saturated purple with fragrant aromas of mineral, scorched earth, and blackberry. The wine has a big core of fruit with enough structure to evolve for many years.

Next time: I’ll pass. I’ve learned after many tasting that Tempranillo is not for me… nor was it for the other four people sharing our communal table. Just too saturated and tannic.

2006 Sierra Cantabria, Rioja, Spain

Almost all Tempranillo from Rioja. Darkly colored, the aromas are of plum, candied violet, and raspberry. It’s very generous with its flavors of plum, raspberry, red cherry, and wood smoke (from barrel aging). The Sierra Cantabria folks produce a bit more of a new world style Rioja in that it is supple and easy to drink.

Next time: I’ll pass. I very much disagree with the notes saying this wine is “easy to drink.” Again, being Tempranillo, it’s very saturated and very tannic.

2006 Clos La Chance Zinfandel, Central Coast, CA

Sweet raspberries on the nose, ripe plums and figs, along with a cinnamon spice. Dried cherries and raspberries on the palate, hints of cocoa and rosemary. The finish is long and smooth, and there is a touch of vanilla at the very end, from the oak ageing.

Next time: Get a case! A bit on the lighter side for a Zinfandel but this was fantastic! At a restaurant, expect to pay $9.50 per glass, or $36 per bottle. What a steal! If you like this one, you’ll also like Eos Estate Winery Zinfandel… more on that below (and see picture above).

2006 Juan Gil Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

It has a very dark cherry colour with purple tones. In the nose, it has powerful aromas of red berries, toasted and smoked notes from their ageing in the oak barrels. It has good structure with ripe and sweet tannins. In the mouth, it is very long and with a perfect balance between fruit, alcohol, and the oak tones, which make it very pleasant and easy to drink.

Next time: Get a case! Seriously fabulous! Like the Clos La Chance Zinfandel above, the price is great – expect $9.50 per glass or $36 per bottle at a restaurant… when I find it retail, I’ll comment back.

This next one wasn’t part of the tasting, but Ryan recommended it based on the popularity of the Clos La Chance Zinfandel. The 2007 Eos Estate Winery Zinfandel was excellent with our meal after the wine tasting. It was absolutely perfect – striking a great middle ground of very flavorful but without knocking you down with tannins and fruit concentration. Eos is located in Paso Robles, CA, about midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles east of the coast.

Notes from their website:

Nose: The 2007 Zinfandel aromas fill the senses with the fruit of plum and dark berry pie with graham cracker crust.
Mouth: The aromas carry over onto the palate and are balanced by the acidic fruits of black cherry, raspberry and strawberry.
Finish: This wine finishes out with floral aromatics, subtle hints of oak, dry dusty earth, fresh tobacco that lingers and spices of white pepper and sage.

Next time: Get a case! Or split a case with this and the Clos La Chance Zinfandel!

On Monday, Muss & Turner’s hosted an amazing wine dinner featuring five wines by winemaker Stephen Ross Dooley. I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever been to a dinner where everything was so elegantly planned around the wine! Even better, winemaker Stephen was able to attend and shared a bit of his story – how he entered into the wine business and his general approach to making wine. Also, the other folks at the dinner were all very fun and interesting, so I was very excited to make some new friends!

Now, on to the food and wine info!

The 2008 Pinot Gris paired very nicely with a salad of local vegetables, lettuce, and buttermilk dressing. Everything here was just excellent – very simple but all the fresh, local veggies just felt like summer.

The 2006 Edna Valley Chardonnay was served with an absolutely delectable combo of fresh georgia shrimp, riverview farms grits, and arugula chimichurri. The Chardonnay was of the full-bodied and buttery, so not really my style. However, the shrimp and grits was unbelievably good. (around $22 per bottle)

The 2007 Central Coast Pinot Noir accompanied a serrano “ham salad,” with quail eggs, spanish white anchovy, and cornichon vinaigrette. Overall, this was my least favorite pairing. The Pinot was light but didn’t quite measure up with enough fruit for me. The salad, on the other hand, had a nice flavor – except for the anchovies. I am just one of those people that really don’t like anchovies. My dislike boils down to the texture. Between the skin and little teeny bones, it’s just not a pleasure texture for me. (around $24 per bottle)

The 2006 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir complemented a duck confit, local beet salad, belle chevre, and mint. WOW! This wine and food pairing were fabulous! I often do not like duck… too gamey or too medium-rare. This duck was absolutely amazing though! I often dislike beets as well – but not in this dish. Everything just went together so well in terms of flavors and textures. The Pinot was delicious – very smooth, lots of raspberry fruit flavors. Just fabulous! (around $35 per bottle)

The 2006 Aubaine Pinot Noir totally rocked with the herbed gnocchi, braised riverview farms beef shank, and house made ricotta. I was beyond full after all these dishes, but this gnocchi and beef combo was superb. There was no way I was going to leave anything on that plate! The Pinot was rich but still very smooth, just great! (around $40 per bottle)

The final touch was a spoonful of chocolate mousse with coursely ground salt and other chocolate shavings on top. It was the perfect ending, and thank goodness, a small but wonderful bite!

Thanks, M&T’s and Stephen Dooley – this was a night well spent! Looking forward to having some of these Pinots again.