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!

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!

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 – $??

This lovely Pinot debuted on Valentine’s Day Eve with a simple meal of baked chicken with rosemary and roasted red pepper flakes, baked sweet potatos, and steamed broccoli. The garnet-colored Pinot was a great balance of bright fruit and supple tannins. I love a Pinot that shows off its fruit without being a fruit bomb, and this is an excellent example!

Although I can’t find a website for Arthur Wilbanks, the label describes the wine nicely (except for the usage of the “&” sign versus spelling out “and”… grammer nerd, I know!

Wine, like music, should be savored, cherished & involve the senses. Our gentle sloping vineyards rest in a cool maritime climate allowing a lengthy ripening period accentuating the smooth, succulent character. Soft & delicate with elusive tannins, red fruits, and carressing structure, our wine harmonizes with vast cuisine and lively conversation.

Also, this wine goes great with watching the Vancouver Winter Olympics!

Origin: Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo, California
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $12
Next time: Get a glass!

Generally, I’ve had some really positive experiences with wines, especially Pinots and Sauvignon Blancs, from New Zealand. I’m a big fan of the kiwis, and I was really intrigued by this wine – according to the label, this winery was the first in NZ to produce Sauvignon Blanc. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed by their Pinot Noir. It seemed very acidic and unbalanced… it was just a weird wine.

Origin: New Zealand
Where: Hop City
Price: ?? around $13
Next time: I’ll pass.
Screw cap

I remember trying this wine for the first time a couple of years ago at New Year’s, and loving it. This wine is a great example of what two years of tasting some really excellent wines can do to your palate. I’ll tell you what… it makes this wine taste like a horrible fruit bomb, an extreme adult version of fruit punch.

I’d say, if you’re a newbie to wine, give this one a try. You might enjoy it. Otherwise, steer clear.

Either way, do go to their website and check out this extremely fun game – Ad Libs! W and I have found it’s really more fun the more inappropriate the words are that you put in.

Origin: Vin de Pays D’Oc, France
Where: Publix
Price: around $10
Next time: I’ll pass.

Wine number two from New Year’s Eve, the Simonnet-Febre Pinot Noir is a tasty, enjoyable Pinot from southern France, especially for the price. Price-wise, I’d compare this to something like a Jargon or a Hangtime, something affordable enough to drink often and without too much fuss. Taste-wise, it knocks those guys out of the water – great strawberry flavors as well as soft, yummy tannins with a great balance. This wine is tied with Lucky Star Pinot for my top economy Pinot.

Origin: Vin de Pays des Portes de Mediterranee, France
Where: Highland Wine
Price: Need to verify, but I think it was under $10
Next time: Get a case!

A New Year’s Eve wine, this Molnar Family Pinot Noir was a treat to help ring in the new year during our celebrations with friends in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Coincidentally, I’ve recently written about another wine called Obsidian Ridge – it just so happens that Molnar Family and Obsidian Ridge are made by the same great folks over at the Tricycle Wine Co. (remember the cool Fly Over video?) That’s one of the things I love about delving just a bit deeper into wine – you start running across the same names and the same locales… winemakers coming and going to different wineries, family-owned and generational vineyards, fun collaborations between top talent. You really start to see the wine community as an evolving organism in itself. And at the same time, it reminds me of the music industry – nothing is ever set in stone, each artist is always trying to create something new and different, maybe even inspiring… and it’s so fun when different artists join forces and learn from each other about the craft they love so much. I get the feeling it might be a similar world in the wine craft.

If you’re interested in the more technical aspects of the wine making as it relates to the climate and geological/topographical features of the land, then be sure to check out their description of the Poseidon Vineyard where these grapes originate (here’s a short snippet from their site):

At high tide the river tastes of salt, a reminder of the sea’s proximity and reach as well as an inspiration for the name Poseidon. Pacific winds blow through the Petaluma Gap from the west and bring cooling fog throughout the spring, summer, and fall, tempering the generosity of California sun. Although Poseidon was the god of water, in his additional role of god of earthquakes he created the uplifted Mayacamas Range, which provides the soils and gravel of our vineyard.

With this inaugural New Year’s Eve beauty, you’ll find a beautiful ruby-hued wine with very fresh berry flavors and a great balance with the tannins. If you like the Morande Pionero Pinot Noir, then you’d LOVE this Molnar (except for the price difference). Give it a try with this yummy baked brie and mushroom appetizer – you won’t be sorry! Even better, if you’re lazy in the kitchen like I am, don’t even worry about the thyme and just use pre-sliced, pre-washed white or baby bella mushrooms from the grocery store. Easy.

Origin: Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $26
Next time: Get a glass!

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!