When you think of Pinot Noir you might think of California, Oregon or the great Burgundies. But Chile you say, I say yes!!!

Vina Anakena has produced another fine quality product from select vineyards located high in the Andes.

Anakena Pinot Noir hold it’s own and more against any of the above areas.

Beautiful elegant aromas of strawberries and roses.  The mouth is ripe with flavor.  Strawberry, cherry, sweet hints of vanilla with hints of pepper on the end.  Soft-supple tannins  have you begging for more.  Lovely and luscious, this will have you coming back for more.

Enjoy

$

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I once referred to a wine as the Jane Russell of wine.  I got a lot of comments wondering what I meant. Well, sexy, voluptuous, full bodied,dark and dreamy- does that account for it.  This wine just about sums up that description.

When you pull the cork on this wine you are immediately hit with aromas of plum, violets and hints of licorice.  Wow doesn’t that just make your tongue stiff.

Once the juice hits your mouth that tongue will be even stiffer.  Oh that flavor. The richness. Fruity and  Full bodied doesn’t even begin to describe it.   Plum notes coat your mouth.  The licorice comes next, followed by hints of pepper and cinnamon. INTENSE. Yes I am in LOVE.  The finish is looooonnnnggg. Vibrant, but elegant tannins are on the end. I am telling you Zinfandel is the best.

Enjoy

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I took most of the summer off with the exception of a few cursory postings.  Now, as Fall is upon us and outdoor activities begin to dwindle in the Northeast, I shall start posting more often.  Besides, on the cold wintry nights here-drinking a bottle of red wine seems more apt.  So let’s start with the current drink.

Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal 2011. This wine is classified as a fifth growth and has consistently produced high quality affordable wines.  Currently a part of the Lurton family of wines, managed by Claire Villars Lurton, and consulting winemaker Eric Boissenot. 2011 was a difficult year in Bordeaux.  This wine overcame the drought and heat of summer.

Floral and fruit aromas immediately erupt when the bottle is opened.  In just  few seconds the whole room is enveloped in the aroma.

Full bodied with soft elegant tannins.  Rich ripe berry overwhelm the tongue.  Dark fruit flavors pour over the mouth. So many flavors spinning through my mind.  Plum, cassis, blackberry, pepper, cinnamon, hint of cedar. Soft, sweet, elegant tannins follow at the end.  The finish is long and flavorful. A freakin enjoyable drink.   I can’t help myself I had to drink the whole thing.

Enjoy

$$

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This past Labor Day weekend was one of the best in my life.  For my birthday last April my wife gave me a private tasting at Wolffer Vineyards in The Hamptons.She bought the tasting at an auction for Cancer Care.  She scheduled it for the Saturday before Labor Day. Oh my God.  What a surprise.  I was initially skeptical. Most wines I have tried from Long Island are sweet and just icky really.  But, this was The Hamptons and it was wine, I wasn’t about to turn that away.

First let me say Wolffer is one of the most beautiful vineyards I have ever been too. Nestled in The Hamptons, surrounded by, you know, luxury and famous people.  The vineyards and visitor area are in pristine condition.

The weekend was a little off, supposedly the East Coast was going to be hit by Hurricane Hermine. People were staying off the beach but inland areas were inundated.  Our quiet time at the vineyard turned into  an elbows and _ssholes scare.  But, the Wolffer staff is at a minimum very professional.  As soon as we checked in, Roman Roth the winemaker, showed up to take us on a private tour.

Immaculate, that is what I can say.  After a tour of the facilities we started the tasting. The first was the Summer in a Bottle white, a refreshing blend that is perfect for a summer afternoon “porch” wine, you know – that wine you drink by itself, just because.  we followed this with the Grapes of Roth dry Riesling.  A delightful, dry, crisp riesling that again is refreshing and light.   Finishing off the whites with a rose’.  I know -I know but keep up with me.  This is one of the best rose’ I ever had.  Crisp but fruity.  Elegant and light.  Refreshing.  A perfect summer wine.

Roman took us into the Library, he chose for us to try, a 2001 Merlot.  Can I say,magnificent!!!!!  One of the best wines I have ever been privileged to try.  Smooth, depth. structure.  Light tannins that only beg your mouth for more.  Beautiful nose just a magnificent wine.  After the library we sat at a private table in the barrel room.  A cheese and meat plate appeared as well as more wine.

When you thought things couldn’t get any better.  At the table, a bottle of Caya Cab Franc appeared.  I am a sucker for CAB  Franc, a Loire aficionado.  But the Caya will give  the best of Loire a run.  Just luscious.  We were ending the reds with Fatalis Fatum,  this red Bordeaux style blend is magnificent.  This wine will stand with any Bordeaux.  Just at this time Marc Wolffer, the owner, came in.  What a great time.  Being able to sit at a table with the owner and winemaker is a dream come true. What a great evening, listening to the vision of the wines and actually being able to taste that vision come to fruition.

The last wine of the evening was the Diosa  Late Harvest.  One of the best dessert wines i have ever tried, including some of the Sauternes I enjoyed in France.  Full, rich, creamy and elegant.  Not sugary sweet but naturally sweet.  A perfect end.

I also want to acknowledge the non-alcohol wine that Roman brought for my daughter to try. The Ver-Jus (Green Juice) he gave to my daughter was very nice.  A quality product.  One can tell that the same amount of attention is given to every product.

By the way,  we left with several bottles of wine along with a bottle of gin-a new venture- and one I am sure will be a success. wp-1473251896715.jpg

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Roman picking from the Library, a 2001 Merlot.

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With a name like Kupelwieser  one would expect a great German riesling.

And you would sorta be right.  This is a great Italian riesling from Alto Adige.  The Alto Adige is an area just on the Austrian border in the north of Italy.  Through history it has passed between Italian, German Austrian hands.  It is also known as Sudtirol (South Tyrol). The influence of the Italian and German cultures blends itself into the wines.

The Kupelwieser Riesling is an audacious wine.  Bold and fruity and yet elegant and soft.

The nose produces scents of summer flowers and peaches.  The aromas envelope you and immediately your thoughts turn to those hot summer days looking for that refreshing  summer wine, cool-dry -fruity-DELICIOUS.  Well look no further this is the one.

This wine is delightful.  Crisp, fruity, soft, bold.  Flavors of peach and lemon wrap around your tongue.  The mouth watering delite bounces around and a smile automatically comes to your lips.  Just damn good.

Enjoy

$

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My Rating 88 Points. Price $20. Light golden in color with a yellow tint. Beautiful nose of flowers, mangoes, kiwi, lemons, white pepper, tropical fruits, peaches and citrus. Full bodied with medium plus acidity and an interesting fizz. Sweet on the palate with citrus, lemons, honey, apples, melons, tropical fruits and peaches. Long sweet […]

via Azienda Agricola Ca Montebello Luigi Scarani Moscato Dolce 2015 IGT, Provincia di Pavia Italy — Odedi’s Wine Review Blog

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Refreshing, I need one now

The hot dry summers make a body long for something cool and refreshing.  I say try a rose.  Not a sweet domestic zinfandel Yuck..I just threw up in my mouth thinking about it..try a sophisticated dry rose.  Most are elegant, light, crisp with hints of red fruit..cherry and strawberry.  Rose’s have blossomed into the fastest growing segment of the wine market and every major house has one.  Italian, French, German, Austrian, Spainish, domestic you name it you can get a rose from anywhere now.

Let’s talk about one of my favorites from Austria.  Winzer Krems Rose Blauer Zweigelt.

Winzer Krems is the largest wine producer in Austria, but by no means the only.  It is actually a cooperative in an area about 50 miles from Vienna.  Everything here is done by hand, keeping quality at its peak.   The rose we speak of is light in color.  It has a nice fresh aroma of garden flowers accented with fruit blossoms and pepper.  It has a crisp acidity that pleases the pallet with the hint of strawberry lingering on the tongue, a quick note of pepper finishes.  A slight effervesence gives that extra umph to it and makes it that much more pleasing.

Delightful and pleasing. A worthy summer ( anytime) wine.  I enjoyed this by itself after a hot day on the golf course a perfect refresher.

Enjoy

$

Last week we went to a BYOB in Lahaska.  A new place called Calebs.  The place features All American style cuisine farm to table.  I chose La Conreria a Priorat as the wine for the night.

For starters we had the crab tacos with sirachi and jalepenos.  The taco was crisp, the crab was delicious withe the added spice it was amazing.  There was a burn but oh was it a good burn.

Next was the goat cheese and beet salad.  The sweet savory mix with the spice of the arugula–I can do this all day.

Of course I had the ribeye, but was torn between that and the duck.  The steak was aged 28 days and cooked perfectly.  Tender, juicy and flavorful. I made the right choice.

The wine, La Conreria, was absolutely amazing.  Big bold and fruity, the deep dark rich color begging to be drank.  The fruit jumping from the bottle gave the whole room a warm floral bouquet aroma.  Oh and I haven’t even had any yet.  Smooth, silky, velvet.  Blueberry, plum, cedar to start then finishes with chocolate and spice.  A long-long finish.  Yea I will be having this one again.

 

A great night of food and drink.

Enjoy,

@ 30$

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Mercurey is within the Cote Chalonnaise and one of the “premier” areas of Burgundy.

There are 32 premier Cru vineyards in Mercurey, however, no Grand Cru.

This beautiful full Pinot Noir is velvety smooth with lots of fruit.  Great nose featuring big bold aromas of fruit, pepper and cedar.  This is a great wine to serve by itself or with lamb or other lighter red meats.

@20$

Enjoy

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Wow who could deny this one.  Chapoutier brought us a great one here.  60% grenach and 40% syrah.  Chapoutier brings us great wines from all over France, each one representing the terroir of the specific vineyard.   This one-the Belleruche Cotes Du Rhone – is a perfect representation.

The nose has aromas of plum, raspberry and bright cherry.  The color is bright red and inviting.

The juice is beautifully exuberant.  Ripe red fruit, raspberry  with notes of spice. A little licorice note on the end, bringing in slight tannins that makes your mouth water.  Medium bodied with depth and character.  Just a wonderful wine.

Enjoy @ 20

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A perfect compliment with the steak.   Making myself hungry.