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Ten for 2010 – Sparkling Wines on a Budget

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26 Dec, 2009
News and Events

The economy has effected all of this year in one way or another.  Job losses and pay cuts are commonplace, but that is no reason to stop your next holiday celebration.  We can still embrace the new year and celebrate the promise of a brighter future, even if we find ourselves on a limited budget.

My recommendation this year is to buy domestic!  As much as  I enjoy French Champagne, there are plenty of American sparkling wines that a just as enjoyable at a fraction of the price. Let’s create our own stimulus package by supporting the wineries and vineyards here at home!

The following are ten budget-friendly sparkling wines (all under $25) that will fit in nicely at your next celebration.  Enjoy!

Korbel Brut Rose ($10) – From California’s Russian River Valley, this is a light-tasting and crisp, strawberry-flavored bubbly has just a hint of sweetness.

Gruet Brut Sparkling Wine ($14)- This is one of the more unusual wines on the list. Not because of how it is made or how it tastes, but where it is made – New Mexico!  This brut style sparkler is crisp, and full-bodied with fine bubbles and sophisticated apple and citrus flavors.

Domaine Ste Michelle Non-Vintage Blanc De Blanc ($15) - Blanc de Blancs are made from chardonnay and this one shows it off beautifully, with gorgeous pear and pineapple aromas and crisp green apple flavors.  A very affordable choice from the Columbia Valley in the state of Washington.

Domaine Chandon Brut ($15) - This wine scored highly with both the Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator.  It has rich and intense flavors of pear and citrus with a fine texture of crisp bubbles.

Gloria Ferrer Brut ($15) – Listed as one  Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2009, this is a lively sparkler with soft pear and citrus aromas.  Yeasty flavors of apples, spice, and minerals dance on your palate.

Piper Sonoma Brut Non-Vintage ($16)- This brut is crisp and bright, with distinct yeasty character. Packed with rich pear and apple flavors, it has a little more acidity than its peers.  This blend is primarily pinot noir, giving this wine nice body and good aging potential.

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut ($19)- Northern California’s soil and cool climate are well suited for sparkling wine, good reasons for French champagne house, Louis Roederer, to expand operations to the US. Roederer’s style of sparkling wine offers rich apple aromas with hints of yeast and spice.  Complex flavors of vanilla and strawberries are laced with minerals and firm acidity.

Schramsberg “Mirabelle” North Coast Rosé ($20)- One of California’s oldest estates, started in 1862, Schramsberg make numerous styles of sparkling wine.  This rosé sparkler has a delicate pink hue with floral aromas of strawberry and spice. Crisp flavors of raspberries and apples, match well with undertones of toast and creamy vanilla.

2005 Domaine Carneros Brut  ($20)- Domaine Carneros, like Roederer Estate,  is also operated by a famous champagne house, Taittiger.   The brut style sparkling wine is a sophisticated blend of apple and raspberry aromas.  Crisp flavors of lemon and lime finish with lingering notes of yeast and minerals.

J Vineyards“Cuvée 20″ ($22) - Cuvée 20 was made in celebration of J Vineyard’s 20th anniversary.  Aromas of  lemon peel and honeysuckle  fill out the bouquet. Crisp green apple and tart grapefruit flavors are followed with notes of toasty almonds and finishes with a great balance of fruit and acidity.

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Varietal Voyage No.10 – 2008 Rosenblum Cellars "Kathy's Cuvée"

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12 Dec, 2009
Varietal Voyage

Up to this point we have tasted wines made from several different grapes including: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Chardonnay. The fourth and final white varietal on this voyage brings us to Viognier!

This strange sounding varietal, pronounced Vee-yoh-N’YAY, is a finicky grape that is difficult to grow. Most prevalent in France’s Rhone Valley, it has been grown with much success in many places around the world. The United states is one of these places but it has only been grown here for the past twenty years.

This week’s Viognier is from Rosenblum Cellars. In 1978, Kent Rosenblum, his wife Kathy, and several friends founded Rosenblum Cellars. Using grapes sourced from several now famous vineyards, they quickly became known for top quality Zinfandels. Over the years Rosenblum has grown in size and popularity, producing numerous award winning wines. All of Kent’s successes have earned him title: “King of Zin.” Grape Radio interviewed the King of Zin recently, Click here to listen.

“Kathy’s Cuvée,” named after Kent’s wife, is one in a series of wines called the Appellation Series. This particular wine is made from a blend of Viognier grapes from three different California appellations, each with very differnet soils and climatic conditions, rendering very different aromas and flavors.

The first thing you notice is how aromatic this wine is. As soon as the cork is removed, rich floral and tropical fruit aromas fill the room. The flavors are equally as rich and even more complex. Sue’s described her first sips as “fireworks” exploding with different flavors. This is where the three appellations shine through. The cooler location (Fess Parker Vineyards, Santa Barbara) provides the structure with bright, citrus flavors and well balanced acidity, while the warmer areas (Ripken Vineyards, Lodi and Lange Twins Vineyards, Clarksburg) flesh it out with lush, ripe apricot and pear flavors. Careful aging in a variety of oak barrels and some time resting on lees offers a creamy, honey-like texture that reminds you of silk. All of these aspects blend together so well that you hardly notice its high alcohol content (14.5% ABV).

2008 Rosenblum Cellars “Kathy’s Cuvée” ($18)

Varietal Voyage – See how it started…

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2005 Boorman Estate Pinot Noir

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9 Dec, 2009
Tasting Note

Boorman Vineyards is a relatively new winery located in southern California’s Temecula Valley. They are a very small operation (1,500 cases total) using state of the art equipment to craft their wines in small lots. Their focus is on creating a few unique wines with a degree of quality and finesse not found in larger operations. Boorman currently offers: Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, including a few Bordeaux-style blends. They also make a unique pinot noir.

The 2005 Pinot Noir is a huge wine! When I say “huge” I mean heavy bodied flavors with lots of alcohol (14.5% ABV). Southern California’s warm climate tends to produce much riper fruit than normally found in traditional pinot noirs. Boorman ferments their pinot noir for a longer period of time to breakdown the additional sugar in the ripe grapes, adding to the high alcohol content.

Tasting Notes:

The flavors and aromas are intense to say the least. Complex aromas of raisins, dark cherries, and pepper radiate from the glass. I compared this to a bottle of Leacock’s 10 year Madeira and the aromas were almost identical, very unusual for pinot noir. Tart cherry flavors combine with black pepper and a healthy dose of tannins. I suggest decanting or aerating this one early to help soften the tannins. The high alcohol content adds a tremendous amount of heat to the finish, making the wine seem out of balance. This is more like a tenacious young zinfandel than the delicate pinot noirs I have become accustomed to. Hopefully the 2007 is a little more balanced.

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2003 Tres Hermanas Syrah

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Dec, 2009
Tasting Note

This is the second wine I’ve had from the Tres Hermanas Vineyard and Winery. The first was their wonderful sauvignon blanc that I tasted for Varietal Voyage No.1. Their 2003 syrah is equally as great!

Tres Hermanas is known for their French and Italian style red wines. In fact, the Central Coast AVA, where TH is located, has a very similar climate to France’s Southern Rhone Valley where syrah is transformed into some of the world’s most popular wines.

Tasting Notes:

This wine has all the hallmarks of a great syrah with its inky garnet color and a bouquet full of earthy and spicy aromas. The 2003 Syrah is a very complex wine that has a lot to offer, but it takes some time to fully understand and enjoy it. This one is full of jammy blackberries with many layers of smokey earth and herbal flavors. The long finish showcases its peppery spice and bittersweet chocolate. Pair this with a juicy grilled steak and you won’t go wrong!

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2005 Oreana Central Coast Pinot Noir

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27 Nov, 2009
Tasting Note
Located in downtown Santa Barbara, the Oreana Winery is in a tricked out combination winery/warehouse/tasting room called “Cellar 205.” In the past several years they have crafted some very interesting and award winning wines. As part of California’s Central Coast AVA, they enjoy a cool maritime climate where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir flourish.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to buy a couple bottles of Oreana’s 2005 Central Coast Pinot Noir at a private tasting in Milwaukee hosted by David Breen. I didn’t realize how lucky I was until I heard that less than 100 cases were produced! This Thanksgiving seemed to be the perfect occasion to finally enjoy a bottle.

When we first open bottle we were immediately struck by rich cherry and spicy cinnamon aromatics. Pouring our first glasses of this dark red cherry colored Pinot Noir released even more of the wonderful aromas. This followed with juicy black cherry and currant flavors. The ripe red fruit and medium body made for a pleasing finish with just a little heat (14.1% ABV). A perfect pairing for Thanksgiving!

Wish I had bought more!

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Varietal Voyage No.6 – Husch 2008 Mendocino Chenin Blanc

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9 Nov, 2009
Varietal Voyage

Our final Chenin Blanc on the voyage brings us back to California. This time we’re visiting Mendicino County and California’s most northern appellations.

The Husch Vineyards were established in 1971. Located a few hours north of San Francisco (map), this is the oldest winery in the Anderson Valley AVA. In the beginning the Husch family produced only a few grape varietals, mainly: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. In 1979, Hugo Oswald purchased the vineyards and winery from the Husch’s and is now operated by the the third generation of the Oswald family. Today they produce 21 different wines, maintaining the same standards of excellence as they have for the last thirty years.

Ironically our chenin blanc doesn’t come from Anderson Valley. The Oswald family owns another vineyard east of Anderson Valley, near Ukiah. This property has been with the Oswald family since the 1960′s, long before the purchase of the Husch winery. Called “La Ribera” (the riverbank), this vineyard lies along the banks of Russian River and has long been the source for their Chenin Blanc, as well as, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Zinfandel.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable wine which I could easily see drinking on a hot summer’s day. This young wine (released April 2009) has a very pale yellow hue. It’s light color packs sumptuous aromas of apriocts, tropical fruits and honeydew melon. The delicious flavors hold true to the aromas finishing with a slightly sweet, honey-like texture that reminds me a little of fruit cocktail.

Next up…Chardonnay!

Husch 2008 Mendocino Chenin Blanc ($13)

Varietal Voyage – See how it started…

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2006 St. Francis "Old Vines" Zinfandel

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8 Nov, 2009
Tasting Note

If you’re a fan of big, bold California wines, then you’ll enjoy the 2006 St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel. I’ve had this zinfandel on several occasions but this is the first time I’ve thought to write about it.

Founded in 1971, the St. Francis Winery is located near the southern tip of the Sonoma Valley at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains. (map) Under the direction of master winemaker, Tom Mackey, they are known for their Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They also produce a series of premium red and white wines under the “Wild Oak” label.

For the 2006 OVZ, St. Francis sources their grapes from over fourteen different vineyards in the Sonoma Valley. Other varietals, such as Alicante Buschet, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Carignan grow alongside Zinfandel vines creating what’s known as a “field blend” which add color and texture the final wine. The name “Old Vines” comes from the fact that the Zinfandel vines used to produce this powerhouse are anywhere from 60 to 110 years old! As vines get older they produce fewer and fewer grapes, but what they lack in production is made up for with fruit that has richer and more concentrated flavors. St. Francis also goes to great lengths to ensure the grapes are “dry farmed” using only natural rainfall for irrigation. The warm climate of the Sonoma Valley combined with the lack of irrigation forces the vines to struggle, concentrating the flavors within the grapes even further. The winemakers then take advantage of the region’s long growing season and hand pick only the richest, ripest fruit. The juice is fermented in stainless steel and aged in American Oak for fifteen months to create an intense, high alcohol wine (15.5% ABV) with well balanced flavors and chewy tannins.

This wine has all of the hallmarks of a powerful Zinfandel. Hidden inside its dark reddish-purple color are strong aromas of black cherries and spicy oak revealing evidence its time spent in oak barrels. As you swirl the wine in the glass you notice an almost port-like viscosity indicating its high alcohol content. Jammy flavors of black cherries, blackberries, and spicy pepper dance around in your mouth balancing out the heat of alcohol. Ample tannins with hints of chocolate and vanilla combine with the fruit to close out the finish. This wine should age nicely for at least the next 5-10 years.

In August 2009, Food and Wine Magazine described the 2006 OVZ as “…the epitome of supercharged California Zinfandel…”

2006 St. Francis “Old Vines” Zinfandel ($16)

  • Zinfandel (field blend)
  • Sonoma County, CA)
  • St. Francis Fact Sheet
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    Ovene "The Puzzle" Pinot Noir 2005

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    8 Oct, 2009
    Tasting Note

    Not far from the Tres Hermanas vineyards (see Varietal Voyage No.1) lies the Ovene Winery. Ovene is a small family owned winery that makes several top notch wines made from: Syrah, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and an interesting Pinot Noir called “The Puzzle.”

    This elegant Pinot Noir is a blend of grapes from the Laetitia and Latchford vineyards. The Laetitia vineyard is close to the ocean and its relatively cool climate and rocky soils yields grapes with intense fruit aromas and flavors. Latchford, on the other hand, provides grapes with ripe fruit and complex earthy flavors.

    The bottle that I sampled was purchased at a wine tasting almost a year ago. The light garnet color was different that I remembered, but the complex cherry aromas were spot on. Rich cherry flavors evolved in to spicy cranberry notes on the finish. More pieces of the puzzle began to fall in to place over the next few hours. Complex earthy aromas and flavors slowly unveiled themselves throughout the night. Hopefully I can find more bottle to add to my cellar!

    Ovene “The Puzzle” Pinot Noir 2005 ($30) 

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    Varietal Voyage No.1 – Tres Hermanas Sauvignon Blanc 2005

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    4 Oct, 2009
    Varietal Voyage

    The first wine on our journey takes us to the Central Coast of California and the Tres Hermanas Vineyard and Winery. This winery, located between Los Olivos and Santa Maria focuses mainly on French and Italian style wines, but makes a very nice California syrah.

    The 2005 Sauvignon Blanc proved to be a great pairing to the shrimp and wild rice we had for dinner. The pale yellow color, almost clear, was deceiving. Based on the color, I expected a light bodied wine, but the floral and citrus aromas with hints of fresh herbs were striking. The flavors were equally as bold. Crisp, grapefruity acidity with lots of alcohol (14+%) reminded me of a dry German Riesling. The flavors and aromas carried through with an extremely long finish revealing lemons and pears.

    A great start to the voyage. Next stop: New Zealand…

    2005 Tres Hermana Sauvignon Blanc ($16)

    • 100% Sauvignon Blanc
    • Central Coast, California

    Varietal Voyage – See how it started…

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