After trying a fun selection of South American wines for my June wedding, I happened across a nice South American wine selection at Hop City Beer & Wine, and I stocked up in preparation for some South American Standoff Tastings! When you’re out to compare new wines, there’s nothing better than cooking something awesome and opening three or four bottles… try them before dinner’s ready, then try them with dinner. Of course, you’ll be drinking these wines for the rest of the week unless you have company to help you with this fun tasting.

Of the selection that I purchased, two were of the French famed Lafite Rothschild. Their Chilean collection is titled Los Vascos, and they have several “regular” varietals, as well as some “reserve” versions. W and I pitted these two Cabernet Sauvignon against each other, with high hopes!

2006 Los Vascos Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile

2007 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Surprisingly, we were really disappointed by both wines. Even more surprisingly, especially the Reserve. They just weren’t awesome in any way. They were really tannic, even after letting them sit for a good amount of time and lots of aerating. What a let-down.

Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Where: Hop City
Price: Around $15
Next time: I’ll pass.

W and I got married at the end of June! These are the awesome wines we served at the reception at Park Tavern – Halls of Fine Wines in Inman Park carries some of the Valdivieso wines, as well as Hop City Beer & Wine in West Midtown. Of course, your favorite wine shop could easily order them for you if you don’t want to track them down.

Valdivieso Extra Brut Champenoise Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay, 2008 Malbec

Their sparkling wine is made in the style of Champagne – toasty, yeasty, and absolutely delicious with a billion tiny bubbles! Their Chardonnay is not oaky and not buttery, just the way a good white wine should be – with the perfect amount of acid for a refreshing taste. And their Malbec… YUM! Seriously, get a case of their Malbec. It’s insanely fabulous. They have a broad variety of wines in almost every type of grape, as well as reserve labels and single vineyard labels.

Origin: Lontue Valley, Curico Valley, Chile
Next time: Get a case!

Estampa 2008 Sauv Blanc/Chard/Viognier Reserve

This wine was so yummy – the absolute perfect summer wine! This is what I drank throughout the wedding reception, in case I had any spills (you have to watch out for slightly spastic, potentially drunk huggers!). Estampa also has a delightful Carmenere Reserve (2007 vintage, blended with Cab Sauv and Cab Franc), which we didn’t serve since we already had a Malbec… but their Carmenere is one of my new favorites. It’s spurred a recent Carmenere-buying and tasting craze at my house lately – results on that soon now that I’m back to catching up on my wine blogging. Like Valdivieso, this winery also has several collections – Gold, Reserve, and Estate with lots of varietals in each line. And, they get an A+ on a really well-done English version of their website – very savvy and beautiful photos!

Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Next time: Get a case!

Santa Chiara Pinot Grigio

Unfortunately, I can’t find any information about this wine online, except that it is from the Veneto region of Italy. I know it’s less than $20 retail, definitely. Good luck finding this one… If you do, get a bottle, it’s great!
Catalpa Pinot Noir

This Pinot Noir was good but I’d like to taste it again after these few months. I’m doubtful this would be a new favorite Pinot. But it was definitely tasty.

Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Price: Approx. $12
Next time: Get a glass!

W and I enjoyed these two awesome French wines at Le Planteur, our favorite French restaurant on the island of St. Martin, where we spent our honeymoon.

2006 Lacoste-Borie

This wine is wonderful Bordeaux blend from Pauillac (northern part of the Left Bank – see this Bordeaux map).  Sorry I don’t have a picture of this label. I was too busy eating the delicious food!

Origin: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France – left bank
Where: Le Planteur, Oyster Pond, St. Martin
Price: Around $25, according to Snooth
Next time: Get a glass!

2006 Chateau La Tour de Mons

Another great Left Bank Bordeaux blend from France, this wine hailed from the Margaux region (central area of the Left Bank – see this Bordeaux map).

Origin: Margaux, Bordeaux, France – left bank
Where: Le Planteur, Oyster Pond, St. Martin
Price: Around $35, according to Snooth
Next time: Get a glass!

If you’d asked me a month ago what type of wine Burgundy is, I would have shrugged and said that I know it’s a region in France… but I wouldn’t have known what type of grapes make up White or Red Burgundies. Thanks to Highland Wine‘s recent classes, I’m more informed!

Yes, Burgundy is a region in France. As a European wine, they expect you to know about the region. The region determines the climate, the soil, and everything else that goes into the “terroir” and so with those conditions in mind, certain grape varieties will flourish better than others. So… Burgundy is generally one of two grapes: Pinot Noir for Red Burgundies and Chardonnay for White Burgundies. These two grapes are related and do really well in norther, cold weather climates. Also keep in mind that within the regions are many towns that have an even more specific terroir… so if you really want to familiarize yourself with Burgundies, you’ll need a really good map, lots of wine from different areas within Burgundy, luck on good vintages, and a huge attention to detail! Also, because the vineyards are owned by many different people, you still need to rely on knowing who the great winemakers are, not the vineyards they come from. Think of it as a big history/science experiment!

One thing to keep in mind is that for Burgundies, the wines must use 100% of either Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, unlike American and other New World wines, which must only use around 75% of the grape it’s labeled with. Just a thought if you’re comparing French and American Pinots… you’ll need to do your homework to make sure you find a 100% Pinot for a fair comparison.

In terms of organic or biodynamic wines, many of the Burgundian wineries take a biodynamic approach, but you will rarely find it on the label. I’m expecting that to change over time as those features become more important to the general population who is more concerned about how their food and drink are produced and are keeping a more concerned eye on sustainability.

During the tasting, we sampled 12 wines – four whites and eight reds. Price ranges stretch from $18-$91!

I’ll go into more details about the wines we tried below, but an overarching theme that’s come out of almost every tasting I’ve ever been to is this… price does not ensure that you will enjoy a wine. It still comes down to your personal preference about what flavors appeal to you! If you like fruit-dominant wines, then you still will not enjoy an earthy, mushroomy, forest-floor wine with a lot of tannins, even if the winemakers are extremely talented and go to great lengths to manually harvest their vineyards and then charge $100 for their bottle of wine. It comes down to what you like, even among wines made with the same grape. Tasting these wines side by side showed the huge differences that come from one grape. That difference comes from the terroir and the winemakers hand, and your judgment.

Okay, enough chat. Here’s what we tried, and how I felt about them (try them yourself though – you might feel differently! The folks at the wine class definitely differed in their opinions about each wine!).

WHITE BURGUNDIES

2007 Chehalem Inox Chardonnay

I like the winemakers’ style! NO OAK! If you like fresh, crisp whites – not buttery, oaky grossness… then go for this Chardonnay! The word “Inox” translates from French to “Stainless Steel.” This wine was light bodied and very enjoyable. Check out the Chehalem Winery’s website – it’s got some great information on their different vineyards, as well as their commitment to sustainability.

Origin: Dundee, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Price: $18
Next time: Get a glass!
Biodynamic

2007 Domaine Servin Chablis Premier Cru Butteaux (Chardonnay)

This Domaine Servin Chablis (Chardonnay) is imported by Peter Weygandt, whose name you should memorize. The wines he imports are known for their quality, and they come in a variety of price points. Just one of those things to look for if you’re trying to choose between two wines you’ve never had before. Because, let’s face it… there are too many French wineries for us to ever learn them all and they sure don’t help you out by putting any additional information on the back label. You’re just supposed to know, but of course we don’t… not at first anyway!

Another feature on the label to pick up on is the “Premier Cru” designation – meaning that this winery has been given the 2nd highest classification regarding quality. “Grand Cru” is the highest. Butteaux is the specific vineyard name within the town of Chablis.

This wine was also un-oaked, and is 100% Chardonnay. Was it the same as the Chehalem Inox above? NO WAY. They’re extremely different, pointing out that terroir makes a huge difference on how the grape comes through. This Chardonnay from the town of Chablis in Burgundy was much heavier bodied than the Inox. Personally, I liked the Chehalem better because of it’s lighter, crispier qualities. However, know that most of the Chablis Chards are un-oaked.

Origin: Butteaux Vineyard, Chablis, Burgundy, France
Importer: Peter Weygandt
Price: $30
Next time: I’ll pass.

2007 Moillard Domaine Greffet Pouilly-Fuisse (Chardonnay)

Unfortunately, at the time of writing this post, the Moillard website isn’t working, nor is the website of the owner, Vincent Sauvestre. To top it off, their importer, USA Wine Imports Inc. has absolutely no information. So you’re stuck with just my notes.

This Chardonnay from Pouilly-Fuisse is oaked. Compared to the previous two Chardonnays (un-oaked), it was heavier bodied with more acid. I’m not a big fan of oaky Chards, so it was an excellent experiment, but not something I’ll purchase to enjoy in the future.

Origin: Pouilly-Fuisse, Burgundy, France
Importer: USA Wine Imports
Price: $28
Next time: I’ll pass.
Biodynamic

2008 Domaine Raymond Dupont-Fahn Meursault “Les Tillets” (Chardonnay)

Of the four Chardonnays at the tasting, this Domaine Raymond Dupont-Fahn from the town of Meursault was the heaviest bodied, with the most acid. I did prefer this wine to the Moillard Domaine Greffet metioned above. Still, it was oaked, so I won’t be purchasing this one. But for oak lovers, I think you’ll like it… well, maybe not the price though.

Origin: Meursault, Burgundy, France
Importer: Peter Weygandt
Price: $49
Next time: I’ll pass.

RED BURGUNDIES (PINOT NOIR)

2007 Moillard Pinot Noir Tradition Burgundy (Pinot Noir)

This Moillard Pinot Noir had a lovely smell! Then flavors of fruit and earth hit your palate. Very tasty!

Origin: Burgundy, France
Importer: USA Wine Imports
Price: $20
Next time: Get a glass!
Biodynamic

2006 Moillard Chorey-les-Beaune Burgundy (Pinot Noir)

I wasn’t crazy about this Pinot Noir from Chorey-les-Beaune. It had a weird smell, and an odd taste to go with it. Someone at the tasting chimed in that it’s called “forest floor”… I’d describe it as a wet, earthy smell… like wet leaves that have started to congeal together in a really bad way. It didn’t appeal to me at all, but other people seemed to love this wine’s “forest floor” characteristic. To each his own!

Origin: Chorey les Beaune, Burgundy, France
Importer: USA Wine Imports
Price: $28
Next time: I’ll pass.
Biodynamic

2006 Moillard Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru Aux Clous Burgundy (Pinot Noir)

Compared to the Chorey-les-Beaune above, this Pinot from Savigny-les-Beaune was like a ray of sunshine. No moldy forest floor creeping in on my sunny picnic! Wonderful smell. Again, great balance of fruit and earth, but more intense than the Moillard Pinot Noir Tradition Burgundy. Bold, balanced, medium acid… very nice. Also, it’s from the quality-recognized Premier Cru (vineyard) of Aux Clous.

Origin: Aux Clous Vineyard, Savigny-les-Beaune, Burgundy, France
Importer: USA Wine Imports
Price: $42
Next time: Get a glass!
Biodynamic

2005 Domaine de Montille Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Aux Chorey (Pinot Noir)

Unfortunately, this Domaine de Montille from Nuits-Saint Georges was another “forest floor” wine. Despite the fact that 2005 was an excellent year for Burgundies and despite that this wine is classified as a Premier Cru, it just didn’t suit my taste. At least at $80 a bottle, I’m not going to be too upset about it!

Origin: Aux Chorey Vineyard, Nuits Saint Georges, Burgundy, France
Importer: Masciarelli Wine Co.
Price: $80
Next time: I’ll pass

2005 Domaine de Montille Pommard Premier Cru Les Pezerolles Burgundy

This Pinot Noir from Pommard was not as “forest floor”ish as the other Domaine de Montille from Nuits Saint Georges. However, it was more complex than the Moillard Savigny les Beaune that I enjoyed. I definitely enjoyed this wine.

Origin: Les Pezerolles Vineyard, Pommard, Burgundy, France
Importer: Masciarelli Wine Co.
Price: $91
Next time: Get a glass!

AMERICAN “BURGUNDIES”

2008 Walnut City Wineworks Pinot Noir

I had the 2007 Walnut City Wineworks Pinot Noir a while ago, and really didn’t like it. I rated it as an “I’ll pass.” Since then, I’m starting to change my tune on this wine, or at least learn more about it.

It’s sold by the bottle at local Atlanta pizza spot, Varasano’s, and it was pretty tasty the last time W and I were there with friends. No idea what the vintage was.

The 2008 from this tasting was great! Extremely different from the French Burgundies, in that it was extremely light, very fruit focused, and very low acid. If you’re not into tannins, then you should like this one. Otherwise, you’ll find it way too fruity.

Origin: Dundee, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Price: $20
Next time: Get a glass!
Biodynamic

2006 Molnar Family Poseidon’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

I’d had this wine before through Highland Wine’s monthly wine club. It is one of my top Pinot Noir faves! It’s heavy bodied, especially compared to the Walnut City Wineworks, and has more earthiness to it, which adds a nice complexity. See the original blog post for more info.

Origin: Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Price: $26
Next time: Get a case!

2006 Daedalus Labyrinth Pinot Noir

The Daedalus Labyrinth Pinot Noir was an interesting mix. It has some wonderful fruit flavors but also has a small amount of forest floor going in. It was lighter than the Molnar Pinot. Wine Enthusiast gave it a 90 point rating. I’d say I enjoyed it a lot but not enough to make it a new favorite. However, do take some time to explore their very informative website. Daedalus Cellars is a small family-owned and operated winery, and its name is an homage to one of the winemaker’s favorite authors, James Joyce, and displays this quote on the bottles:

“This race and this country and this life produced me, he said. I shall express myself as I am.”
Stephen Dedalus in Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Price: $44
Next time: Get a glass!

This wine is all about alliteration… Primiterra is the winery, Primitovo is the grape, and Puglia is the region of Italy from where this wine hails.

Besides my love of alliteration, this wine label has a pretty cool line drawing of a chicken and an egg! Which brings me to the saying on the label:

Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? The answer is easy: neither! First comes the Primitivo! Strong, vigorous, with a lot of personality, a real king! (of the coop).

This is a fun wine – an absolutely fabulous zinfandel from Puglia, located in the “heel” of Italy. Fun fruit and smooth tannins! Aged in 60% stainless tanks and 40% oak. And fun drawings. Enjoy!

Origin: Puglia, Italy
Where: Amuse (can’t say I’d recommend this restaurant… but I enjoyed this wine)
Price: approx $13 retail
Next time: Get a glass!

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!

Atlanta has a new fabulous restaurant – Miller Union! They’re all about chef and local farmer partnerships and preparing dishes around the weekly harvest. Sustainability is key, and the food is absolutely fabulous. Naturally, they have some excellent wines to match their ethos. One of these wines is Quivira’s Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley in Healdsburg, California.

According to the Quivira Twitter page, Quivira is a family-owned organic & Biodynamically farmed winery specializing in Sauvingon Blanc, Zinfandel and Rhone varietals.

Definitely take some time to check out the Quivira website. First of all, the design is stellar and the writing just pulls you in to the magical world that is their farm and vineyards. They have some great information about their biodynamic farming techniques, as well as the history of the winery – even a great section about their farm animals! They also have a wine club that delivers twice a year, which is probably the best way to buy these wines retail unless you live down the street… they’re not exactly easy to find.

Origin: Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California
Where: Miller Union
Price: probably around $20-$25 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!

This Deep Purple Zin is a really fun wine. First off, it tastes excellent. Second, the label is rockin’! If you’re into Mardi Gras, Jimi Hendrix, and Zinfandel, then this wine is for you. It’s definitely fruity and jammy but without being a horrible fruit bomb. It’s just very rich and tasty – not heavy on the tannins, much more focus on the fruit. Kind of a heavy version of a new world Pinot Noir.

Thanks, Kari, for sharing this wine with me!

Origin: Lodi, California
Where: From a Friend! Looking into it…
Price: around $13
Next time: Get a glass!

The Lot 160 Old Vine Zinfandel goes with the Sampler Case I ordered from Cameron Hughes – see this earlier post for more info. I really loved their Lot 147 Cab Sauv – just a great wine.

Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the Lot 160 Old Vine Zinfandel. Upon opening, you can just smell the fruit bomb that has exploded in your kitchen. Huge berry jam aromas overwhelm, without any tannins to really back it up. After a couple of days after opening, it improved some but next time, I’ll stick with a tried-and-true zinfandel or try something new.

Origin: Lodi, San Joaquin County, California
Where: Cameron Hughes Online
Price: $13
Next time: I’ll pass