Lately, tried a few new guys… here’s the dish!

2008 Flora Springs Merlot
Napa Valley, California

http://www.florasprings.com

Not bad for a Merlot, but I wouldn’t buy it again.
Twist-off
Highland Wine – $19

2009 M. Chapoutier Belleruche
Cotes-Du-Rhone, France
60% Grenache/40% Syrah

Get a glass, but not a new favorite.

2010 La Closerie des Lys les Fruitieres
Languedoc, France
Pinot Noir

Get a case – delicious!
Twist-off
Highland Wine – $13

2007 Single Vineyard Don Maximiano Estate / Vina Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon
Aconcagua Valley, Chile

Very nice – get a bottle!
Highland Wine – $18

2005 Baxter Zinfandel – Francis Fashauer Vineyard
Mendocino Ridge, Elk, California

http://www.baxterwinery.com

Get a bottle – very jammy and fun!

2009 Blau
Cellars Can Blau
Montsant, Spain
50% Carinena, 25% Syrah, & 25% Garnacha

Get a case!
Highland Wine, $14

2008 Plungerhead Old Vine Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley, California

Get a bottle (or a case if you can afford it)!
Highland Wine – $23

2010 Damilano Barbera D’Asti
Piedmont, Italy

I’ve had another Barbera D’Asti from Piedmont and liked the other one a lot better. I’ll pass next time on this one.
Highland Wine – $16

Fabulous Pinot for pre-dinner wine or with a lighter protein like chicken.

Argentina
Highland wine
$18/bottle

Another new favorite — the 2008 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel blew my socks off a few weeks ago when we paired it with slow cooked BBQ pork ribs that had been on the Big Green Egg all day!

This Zinfandel from the Lodi region of California was very rich, full of mature fruit flavors but also with some nice tannins to round it out – just superb!

Origin: Lodi, California
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $18
Next time: Get a case! or definitely Get a glass!

Guess what?! I have a new favorite wine! It’s 100% Pinot Noir. From France. Absolutely delicious. AND only $12 a bottle. His name is 2009 Laboure-Roi “Les Sangliers”.

Not only is this wine scrumptious on its own while you’re cooking dinner — or even better, watching someone else cook dinner — it went magnificently well with a simply seasoned baked chicken with gorgonzola cheese over sliced sweet onions, with along with a fun salad with basil, yellow and red tomatoes, goat cheese, cashews, almonds, and pistachios, and cucumbers. The wine is that wonderful balance of light tannins, complex earthy and fruit flavors without being “punchy.” Very smooth and delicious.

If they haven’t already run out, a case is definitely in my future!

Origin: Vin de Pays D’Oc, France (Southern France)
Where: Highland Wine
Cost: $12
Next time: Get a case!

2009 Banshee Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, California
Price: $22
Origin: Santa Lucia Highlands, California
Where: Highland Wine
Next time: Get a glass!

2008 Basico Rojo, La Mancha, Spain

A seriously delightful, delicious wine that goes easily with many dishes and is ridiculously inexpensive for how great it is. 50/50% Tempranillo/Cab Sauv blend.

Price: $8
Origin: Spain
Where: Highland Wine
Next time: Get a case!

2006 Baxter Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, Toulouse Vineyard, California

Price: $27
Origin: Anderson Valley, California
Where: WineryInsider.com
Next time: I’ll pass.

2009 RouteStock Cellars, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Price: $18
Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Where: Highland Wine
Next time: Get a case!

It’s been a while since I’ve wine blogged lately, so this post is way overdue. This post will be a catch up post of quite a few wines that I’ve tried over the past few months, as I’ve been busy being a newlywed and also being a new puppy owner and a busy employee at my job and on and on… The majority, if not all, of these wines are from Highland Wine whose great monthly wine club I’m still thoroughly enjoying!

• 2006 Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County, California $29 – I’ve continued to go back to this fabulous wine for special occasions. Here to confirm that it should be on your must-have list for great dinners, special occasions, gifts, and just a great wine you can always count on to be amazing! Get a case if you can; or definitely get a glass.
• 2007 Moillard Cotes Du Rhone “Les Violettes”, France, $13 – The first time I had this at a tasting, I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, this bottle wasn’t as good as I remember it being – or maybe something was wrong with this bottle. I’ll give another bottle another chance sometime soon (especially at $13 a bottle), but I’m less excited about this being a long-term prospect as I once was.
• 2005 Prima Voce Toscana, Italy, $18 – This wine is a Super Tuscan blend of 72% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Syrah. I paired it with the leftovers from the Mother’s Day dinner I cooked my mom last night! It paired extremely well with the pork chops (minus the apple sauce) and asparagus and mushroom tart – give all three a try! Warning – lots of sediment was in the cork, so you’ll want a strainer to filter this one. Get a glass!
• 2007 BearBoat Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA, $17 from Hop City – I first tried this wine last year at a fun engagement party that my friend threw for my then-fiance/now-husband. The party was so much fun, and this wine was delicious and had a cute, funny cartoon on the back about bears enjoying this wine. Get a glass!
• 2005 Campo Viejo Reserva Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain, $15 – This wine was absolutely spectactular. Not too many tanins, not too fruity, just a great enjoyable balanced wine. Get a case, especially at this price.
• 2009 Arthur Wilbanks Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, CA, $12 – I’ve bought a few more bottles of this wine since the initial tasting, and it still delivers! Great with easy chicken and salmon recipes.

Muss & Turner’s strikes again! Damn, this wine is fabulous – and inexpensive even at a restaurant! I hated when I finished this wine… this wine is one of those that you really hope the bottle will be bottomless and it will just last forever.

This beautiful El Peral Cab Sauv hails from Tupungato, Mendoza in Argentina, and it’s made by Rafael Reina Rutini of Bodega Los Cerrillos. They describe its taste perfectly on their website:

With much young fruit character on the palate, friendly tannins and approachable style, the intensity of this wine arrives in wonderful layers of flavor. The finish is intense, lingering and round.

I especially love their term “friendly tannins.” Expect to see that phrase used on Wine Shindig more often!

According to Snooth.com, only 275 cases of this wine were made, so I’m guessing it will be very difficult to find and may only be sold in restaurants. Good luck finding it!

Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Where: Muss & Turner’s
Price: Around $30 RESTAURANT – still looking for it retail…
Next time: Get a case!

YUM. At this price, go get a case of the Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Carmenere right away. It’s cheap. It’s delicious. (Yes, cheap and delicious don’t often go together.) It will pair well with lots of meat dishes.

Origin: Rapel Valley, Chile
Where: Hop City
Price: $9
Next time: Get a case!

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!

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!