I saw Toasted Head's 2010 Untamed White on the store shelf. The label read it was a blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, and Moscato. Sounded nice. Had to taste it.
2010 Untamed White is a new wine for Toasted Head and is fremented 50% stainless steel and 50% used French oak. A blend of 70% Viognier, 27% Chardonnay, and 3% Moscato. The aromas were honey and peach. Flavors, peach and tropical fruit with a pithy tartness. Crisp and balanced.
Winemaker's Notes: "A bright light straw color, offers unrestrained and voluptuous aromas of honeysuckle, vanilla bean, orange blossoms and pear followed by juicy white peach, fresh kiwi and other tantalizing, exotic fruit flavors. It tastes amazing with Asian cuisine, white fish or hors d’oeuvres.
We harvested vineyards blocks on our Dunnigan Hills Estate where warm-climate Viognier and Chardonnay produce rich tropical fruit flavors and floral notes. We blended in some Chardonnay from Mendocino County to contribute a natural acidity along with pear flavors, and we added a small portion of Moscato to enhance aromas."
I poured two wines at last Saturday's tasting.
Banfi 2009 Chianti Superior ($9.79) from Italy. This is not 100% Sangiovese, but the blend is not available for their 2009 vintage. I'm at a loss for this wine. It met with mixed reviews from customers and it mostly was not favorable. As for myself, I found it very inconsistent. Throughout the tasting I taste the wines I'm pouring to see how they've changed after being opened. This wine was all over the place and not in a good way. It was tart, tannic, and occasionally vinegary. I questioned the stores wine consultant on whether it had gone bad, but they said it was fine. I don't recommend this.
Winemaker's Notes: (Not available)
Cupcake (NV) Moscato ($9) from Italy and 100% Muscat of Alexandria. A great fruity aroma with a melon and apricot flavor. A nice refreshing wine with a little frizzante. If you're a Moscato fan, you should try this.
Winemaker's Notes: Add sparkle to your life with our creamy, delicious bubbly made of 100% Moscato grapes grown in the hills of Italy's Piedmont region. Another great reason to reward yourself. It is a fragrant and delicious white wine with gentle bubbles, perfect for brunch, aperitif or dessert. Aromas of peaches along with flavors of tropical fruits and lychee. It is a rich full-bodied wine with just a hint of effervescence to tickle the palate.
I don't know where the week has gone. I've missed a couple days posting wine reviews and haven't even posted about last weekends tastings. I don't know if it was the long holiday weekend, hot days, or thunderstorms, but I've lost focus. With that said, I'll review the wines for last weekends tasting. Friday's tasting was for three wines.
First was Rex-Goliath Chardonnay. A non-vintage wine from California. I've reviewed this before. It's a reliable, inexpensive everyday wine and customers enjoy it. Crisp and refreshing.
Next was Banfi 2007 Centine Toscana ($10) from Tuscany, Italy and a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot. In the plastic tasting cup, I was not able to detect an aroma (yes, there is an aroma, the plastic cup is a hindrance). However, the flavor was smokey with a hint of coffee and oak. A long spice finish and medium tannins. Customers enjoyed.
Winemaker's Notes: Deep mauve red color. On the nose fruity notes of raspberry and plums, but also spicy hints of coffee, liquorices and cinnamon. The complex structure, soft and round at the same time, makes this wine particularly elegant. Long finish. Food pairing: roasts, game and medium aged cheese.
Last, Banfi 2010 Rosa Regale ($21) from Italy. The varietal is 100% Brachetto d'Acqui. This is a sweet bubbly dessert wine with a terrific raspberry aroma and flavor. A fun wine that makes a to die for pairing with dark chocolate. Seductive. Great for the holidays, special celebrations and especially Valentine's day. Customers enjoy this.
Winemaker's Notes: A persistent perlage characterizes this bright ruby red sparkling wine. The bouquet is very intense, aromatic and reminiscent of wild berries, strawberries and Bulgarian rose. On the palate Rosa Regale shows well balanced acidity with sweet and aromatic notes, which are persistent and long on the finish.
During the summer I am in the mood for crisp, refreshing white wines. You may even go so far as to call it a craving. One of my favorite varietals is Sauvignon Blanc. With the delightfully sunny day yesterday I could't resist and opened a bottle of Oyster Bay.
Oyster Bay 2010 Sauvignon Blanc is from Marlborough, New Zealand. It is nicely balanced and crisp with an inviting fruit aroma. It did not have an aggressive grapefruit flavor but rather a pleasant lemon and lime with a hint of grassiness. Very enjoyable. Oyster Bay 2010 Sauvignon Blanc has become a favorite for me.
Winemaker's Notes: Pale straw green in colour with brilliant clarity, Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is zesty and aromatic with lots of lively fruit characters. Fragrant tropical and floral notes with vibrant fresh lime and citrus zest, a fine texture and an intense crisp finish. A concentration of assertive passion fruit and tropical fruit flavours with an abundant bouquet, it is a wine that is always crisp, elegant and refreshing.
I think it's fun to compare wines. Whether it's the same varietal from two different vineyards, different years, or different tiers. I enjoy tasting and comparing to see what makes them different. For this review I compared two Chardonnay's from Chalone Vineyards (California) and they are different tiers.
Chalone Monterey Chardonnay is the lower tier (least expensive) for Chalone Vineyard. It was too acidic for me and I was not able to taste the fruit profile the winemaker describes. However, I did taste a hint of oak.
Winemaker's Notes: In our Chardonnay, bright, fruit-focused flavors keep cadence with sweet essence of oak. Baked pear, Braeburn apple and sweet tangerine are accented by wafts of floral and nutmeg. Well-balanced, the fruit remains bright and crisp, complemented by just enough oak to lend structure and complexity. This wine’s versatility makes it pleasant for sipping as well as a perfect complement to sautéed scallops or stuffed chicken breast.
Chalone Estate Grown 2007 Chardonnay is the upper price range for Chalone Vineyards. A very nice, crisp, smooth Chardonnay with pineapple and oak. This was delightful.
Winemaker's Notes: Bright aromas of mango, stone fruit and green apple gain intrigue from a hint of pineapple. These same fruit components dominate the rich flavors, enhanced by mineral nuances derived from our limestone soils. Chalone Chardonnay is the white wine for the red wine drinkers.
Choosing between the two wines is easy. Hands down, I recommend Chalone Estate Grown 2007 Chardonnay.
Cooking with wine - again. This time I needed a Zinfandel for my beef short ribs. I enjoyed the Cellar No. 8 Cabernet and I thought I'd give their Zinfandel a taste.
Cellar No. 8 2008 Zinfandel is from California and 100% Zinfandel. The aroma is an intense black cherry, black pepper and chocolate. On my palate it was definitely spice. That kind of "warms the back of your throat" feeling. Smooth. Nicely balanced. But, given a choice, I prefer their Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaker's Notes: Deep ruby in color. A classic California Zinfandel with intense notes of blackberry and spice with juicy black cherry, black pepper and chocolate on the palate. Lush and concentrated, this wine has a long and complex finish, perfect with spicy pasta.
I've had La Crema's 2008 Pinot Noir from both Sonoma County and Napa Valley. I enjoyed them both. The 2009 from Sonoma is now available so I had to try it.
The 2009 La Crema Pinot Noir has an enticing cherry aroma. On my palate I taste the flavors of cherry, spice and a hint of chocolate. The tannins are mild. A nicely balanced wine. It also has a nice mouthfeel and isn't thin like some Pinot Noirs that I've tasted. I have no hesitation in recommending this to you or any of my customers.
Winemaker's Notes: Alluring cherry and spice over juicy, jammy notes. The 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir offers aromas of lush cherry and red plum, with subtle hints of black tea and cola. On the palate, flavors are ripe and elegant, centering on red cherry and spice with a touch of earthiness and dark chocolate. A rich, juicy mid-palate and vivid acidity lead to plush tannins on the finish.
