2007 Twisted Oak Torcido

Specs:

2007 Twisted Oak "Torcido"

Calavaras County

California

14.4 % Alcohol

89% Garnacha 11% Petite Sirah

$32.00

Notes:

This is a wine from a winery I would usually steer clear of...Plastic chickens, skulls on wine bottles and gimmicks galore; however their wines esp the "Torcido" is an amazing showing of a smooth fruit forward Garnacha. Proves that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Point taken! Onto the wine...

On the nose the aromas are fruit forward with ripe red cherry, raspberry, dried cranberries and fig; with hints of smoke, clove, and cinammon. The flavors on the nose reflect the palate, however the taste takes on a more dark fruit flavor of stewed blueberry, blackberry and plum. There is a soft and full mouthfeel with a nice velvety finish that lingers long on the palate. The alcohol is high and the heat is definitely present yet I don't feel it overwhelms in any way.

Because of the rich flavors of this wine I would suggest pairing it with something that can stand up to its bold flavors. Hearty meat dishes like a roast, honey glazed ham or a juicy pepper steak would really get the palate going. This is quite a treat on it's own as well which is exactly how I choose to enjoy it. This is a great selection from a great producer who's wines have a great deal to offer. Note: This wine did take quite awhile to open up so I would suggest decanting it and giving it some time.

2005 Rubicon Estate Cabernet Franc

Specs:

2005 Rubicon Estate Cabernet Franc

Napa Valley

California

14.3% Alcohol

78% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon

$56.00

http://www.rubiconestate.com/flash.php

Notes:

Cabernet Franc isn't usually my go to varietal as it tends to lack alot of flavor and complexity. This grape is usually a blending agent in wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is often added in small doses to add acidity and spice to these sometimes fruity varietals. When I opened this bottle I wasn't really sure what to expect as this wine is a little over 3/4 Cab Franc. Upon first smell and taste I knew I had been wrong about this bottle.

In the glass the wine is a deep garnet and almost opaque in the glass, with rich crimson around the edges. On the nose the aromas are intense and lush. Scents of red and black fruit like cherries, blackberries and raspberry stand out as the fruit while vanilla, cigar box and baking spices round out the bouquet. On the palate the wine is silky-smooth and round. The tannins and acid balance one another out extremely well which adds to the velvety mouthfeel. Flavors of ripe red cherry, oak, tobacco, and cloves mirror the aromas on the nose. The wine is powerful and full of flavor and complexity with a long finish and lingering aftertaste of oak and cherry. This is a beautiful wine from a quality producer who consistently puts out beautiful estate wines; the eye for detail is evident in this perfectly balanced Cabernet Franc blend. This wine will do well with aging up to 10 years however if perfect to drink now. It will only get better.

As far as food pairings, this can be enjoyed solely on its own or paired with heavy meats and game. Italian fare like short ribs with tagliatelle or hearty tomato dishes would compliment the bold favors.

2008 Writer's Block Counoise

Specs:

2008 Writer's Block Counoise

Lake County

California

13.5% Alcohol

100% Counoise

$16.00

http://www.steelewines.com/

Notes:

I recently tasted this at a blind tasting and was pretty impressed with the flavors and aromas of this wine. The consensus of Pinot Noir was across the board at first smell and taste, even through to the end of the guessing game. With reveal came some surprised faces. Counoise?! What is Counoise?! This grape isn't a varietal usually found on its own, especially not in California. The grape itself is known mainly as a blending agent in Rhone and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. Surprisingly enough the Writer's Block Counoise stood strongly in the glass and definitely held it's own.

In the glass a clear garnet color is present, similar to the color of the average Pinot Noir. On the nose, bright fruit aromas are what first hits you. Scents of ripe cherry, raspberry, plum, cinnamon and baking spice with a hint of toasty oak. On the palate the wine is silky and round with a substantial mouthfeel. The flavors are pretty high in intensity and quite fruit forward with juicy red cherries, raspberry, currant, baking spices, and oak. The wine ends off nicely with a roasted nuttiness on the end of the finish. It is beautifully drawn out with a great complexity and interesting aftertaste. The wine is well balanced and really enjoyable; especially for this price. It is unavailable in retail stores and is quite a small production, just under 300 cases if I remember correctly. Orders can be placed through the Steele Winery website.

2008 Buena Vista Rose of Syrah

Specs:

2008 Buena Vista Rose of Syrah

Carneros

Sonoma, California

14.1 % Alcohol

96% Syrah, 4% Chardonnay

http://buenavistacarneros.com/

Library Release-Inquire with Winery

Notes:

Buena Vista is well known for their Pinot Noir however during my last visit I noticed this salmon colored bottle on the shelf in their tasting room. They were not pouring so I inquired about it. My friends and I were all given a pour and were all instantly pleased with it. Syrah Rose is slowly making an appearance throughout the California Wine Country and it is the type of Rose I prefer most. When using the Syrah grape you get more of a masculine dry flavor rather than a sugary flowery flavor you would find in a typical Rose.

This wine is mesmerizingly beautiful to look at. The color of a bouquet of deep pink roses with a sparkle of a pink sapphire. The smell is acidic with hints of grass, grapefruit and pink lemonade. The wine has a light mouthfeel, however is packed with flavor. Like the smell; Grapefruit is the most powerful flavor I can detect. Other fruits include Strawberry, Raspberry, Lemon, Cherry and even a small hint of Watermelon. The sweetness is that of sugar naturally occurring in fruit and is in no way overpowering. It is the prefect balance of acid and residual sugar. Sweet, Tart and Earth perfectly balance one another.

This wine is great for a hot day at a Barbecue. It would pair perfectly with barbecued ribs, smoked pork or hearty spicy chili. I can also see this pairing extremely well with spicy Asian or Indian foods. I have enjoyed this wine numerous times by itself and that is just as enjoyable too. Amazing match for Summer and also great for an everyday treat.

2008 Starlite Vineyards Estate Viognier

Specs:

2008 Starlite Vineyards Estate Viognier

Sonoma

Geyserville, California

14.5 % Alcohol

100% Viognier

http://www.starlitevineyards.com/

$37.00

Notes:

Being a lover of the Viognier grape I was excited to see this bottle on the shelf. It was from a winery I was unfamiliar with from a region I really enjoy. I immediately purchased this beautiful bottle of wine. Viognier is a difficult grape to grow and because of the extra work winemakers put into this varietal you will find higher price tags. This Viognier is well worth every penny you spend. The flavor is so bright and bold and is the perfect wine for all meals and occasions.

The color is a rich gold and is beautiful in the glass. The smell is of sweet dry citrus, mainly orange as well as honey and floral notes. The taste is pure and sweet. You instantly sense orange. That of the orange rind especially. The sweetness you get on the tongue is not that of sugar but of rich creamy honey. The flavors are bright, clean and powerful. This wine doesn't spend much time in oak so the flavor has more mineralistic qualities than earthly undertones. The taste lingers beautifully and has a hearty full mouthfeel.

Because this wine is so sweet if you choose to pair this with something I would suggest it have an acidic quality. Something such as a lemon tart or even carrot cake. It can also be drank as dessert itself which is how I chose to enjoy it. This is a great way to branch out from the usual Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc rut.

2007 Langtry Estate Genevieve Chardonnay

Specs:

2007 Langtry Estate Genevieve Chardonnay

Guenoc Valley

Middletown, California

14.5 % Alcohol

100% Chardonnay

http://www.guenoc.com/

$35.00

Notes:

Buttery Oaky Chardonnays are the stuff dreams are made of and a good friend was nice enough to give this wine to me as a gift. Langtry Estate was new to me so I was excited to taste this wine. The color is that of a typical buttery Chardonnay; a rich yellow like a ripe golden delicious apple. Oak is on the nose and the flavors mirror that smell.

The taste is heavy at first sip and surprisingly has a very light, crisp and refreshing finish. The light quality of the wine caught me a little off guard; in a good way. Some would say that the fact the flavor drops off for the finish was a bad thing but in this instance it is enjoyable; your palette has a chance to regroup. You immediately taste the acidity and the flavors of lemon. There is a tart characteristic to this wine with a jolt of citrus and some earthy woody undertones. Small underlying flavors of pineapple are present, other than that this wine is pretty straightforward. Oak, Butter and Citrus carry this wine. It is clean, fresh and earthy all at the same time.

This is the prefect wine for a hot summer day. It is also great for those who enjoy Chardonnay but find the "butter" flavor too overpowering. This would pair great with light dishes like salads, cheese, fish and chicken dishes as well as desserts like fruit tarts.