A line shack is where cowboys would spend time when thy were out on the vast openness tending cattle, fences and doing what cowboys do.  The Line Shack winery is named for one old “shack” found on the property when the Balentine family purchased the property in Monterey county California. This area produces some fine wines usually known for their very fruit forward style.

The winery is most known for it’s high quality Cabernet.  Tonight though I talk about the Petite Sirah.  Petite Sirah (also known as Durif in some circles) is of course a red wine grape.  Producing a dark, spicy, plum flavor that is usually very tannic.  Do not confuse Petite Sirah with Syrah (shiraz).

Line Shack lives up to the challenge.  The wine is dark almost black ink in color. The immense nose tantalizes with flavors to come. Dark rich fruit, raspberry, plum and cherry.

The flavor complements the nose.  The liquid coats the mouth with a softness that soothes and comforts.  Rest here for awhile it seems to say.  Then spice, cinnamon, white pepper tingle in the finish.  This wine is well balanced with lots of flavor depth.  A great addition to any home cellar, or better yet drink it now.

Enjoy

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Look at that “ink” in the glass. Yumm, I say yum.

 

Happy New Year to everyone, hope you all had as nice a holiday season as me.  I pretty much took the period from Thanksgiving to New Years as a little holiday from blogging too.  Too much goin on ya know.

In keeping with my resolution to enjoy every day and not wait for that special occasion to enjoy that special wine I  now share with you Pina Cabernet D’Adamo.  My personal favorite cab., and my thoughts as to what the others strive to be.

Pina winery sits on the Silverado trail just out of Rutherford, who could ask for a better pedigree.  The winery is owned and operated by four brothers. The family history in Napa goes back generations.  A leading and very well respected family in many different aspects of wine making and vineyard management.

Anna Monticelli is the wine maker.  And what a pedigree she carries.  Degrees in viticulture and enology, honing her craft in Bordeaux and studying under some of the best known names in wine.  She is also married to Mario, the winemaker at Trinchero.  Oh to be a fly on the wall when they are  enjoying a glass.

Now to the wine.  The nose exudes fresh ripe fruit; cherry, strawberry, a touch of leather and earthiness.  Just to give it that added something. The wine fills the glass with a color reminiscent of ravens wings flapping in the night.

And oh the joy that permeates my body as I partake of this treasure.  My mouth wants to explode, so many flavors going on- how can I define them, will have to take another sip.  That rich dark fruit, abundant in this wine.  Cherry, currant, hints of ripe blueberry.  The flavors erupt in my mouth and send shivers through my body.  A hint of oak adds more depth and structure and more flavor.  The soft, silky, velvet tannins  linger in the mouth just long enough, I absently take another sip.  The satisfaction of enjoying perfection.  Such depth, such structure, such…perfection.  Baccus never had it so good.  Thank You Pina.

Enjoy

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first course
Look at this gorgeous beauty
Christmas dinner, prime rib and all

The Chateau Cote Montpezat, located in the appellation Cotes de Castillon owned by the Bessineau family since 1989.  The history of the chateau goes back to the 16th century.  No doubt providing great wine since.  This 2010 vintage has achieved high ratings 90 or above from many reviewers.  The wine is majority merlot with remaining cab franc and cab sauvignon.

The fragrance of violets and ripe red fruits slowly lofts into the room after opening.  Pour the wine into the decanter and letting it sit for 30 minutes, leave the room and then come back.  The aroma overtakes you as you re-enter.  Starting out soft and easy then the power hits.

The mouth is coated with a soft velvety liquid.  The rich-ripe fruits caress your senses.  Your brain is reaching trying to distinguish all of the flavors.  Besides the dark cherry notes I distinguish a certain fig too.  Soft and elegant throughout.  A lingering spice that makes your mouth water continuously.  Concentrated and full bodied, oh the gorgeous drink.

Enjoy

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Gorgeous

The original title of this blog was…Friday  is pizza and Bordeaux night at our house.  But, I wanted the name to be in the title and it was a bit too long. Soooo, Friday night is pizza night at our house.  The biggest difference between our house and any others is the wine we drink with it.

Last night we ordered from our favorite pizza place with a few wings on the side.  I went downstairs and pulled a wine that I really just wanted to drink not really caring if it was a “pizza wine”,  as if any wine is NOT a pizza wine.  And WOW did I get it right.

Chateau Lamothe-Cissac, a Haut-Medoc favorite, from Domaine Fabre.  The Fabre family offers a whole selection of wine for every price range.    What a beautiful wine. The blend is a perfect balance of Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.  The nose is filled with aromas of ripe red fruit.  Hints of floral notes follow.  The sirens of ancient lore could not better entice.

The luscious, I repeat luscious, liquid rolls over my mouth.  The soft velvet coating is soothing.  So many flavors bursting through.  Plum, cherry, dark fruit ripe and bursting with flavor.  Oh the lovely, soft, elegant tannins that linger for a long long time.  An invitation to enjoy more.  And so I did.  Enjoy.

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Look at dark rich color
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of course with the pizza

wpid-wp-1448236052331.jpegAnother great wine from one of my favorite wine makers, Brigitte Rullier-Loussert.  Brigitte learned the business from her father Michele Rullier. The estate is set in one of the primo locations in bordeaux.  Nestled in between Pomerol and St. Emilion it invokes the best of both appelations.  The estate works to maintain sustainable – organic farming techniques.  The terrioir tells the story of the wine.  In her own words, ” My urge isn’t to produce muscly wines that have been excessively leached-out and whih are often, too woody, this is not what my vision of what wine should be.  Wine should offer both body and substance, without forgoing elegance symbolizes perfect harmony as far as I’m concerned.”  A great philosophy from a great wine maker.

Now to the wine.  The nose gives off aromas of cherry and spring flowers. The squid inky color is not disappointing, just a tease.  Oh, and when it hits your mouth the lovely, luscious, velvet coating that covers your tongue is a never ceasing stream of taste.  Licorice, dark berry, plum all cover your mouth and move gently down your throat.  Oh what a thrill.

I should also mention the earth tones that linger in the aftertaste.  Not a full barnyardy effect, but more of a dirt/mineral flavor.  Not off putting, just another depth of flavor.  Quality, and yes the terroir shows through. I believe Brigitte’s philosophy shows through in this wine.

Enjoy

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Overlooking the valley just behind the estate. One of the most beautiful scenes in France.

Dolcetto is a red wine grape from Northwest Italy.  Known for making softer fruitier wines than say Nebbiolo or Barbera.

But, let that fool you.  The wines made from Dolcetto also have strong  intense tannins and usually higher levels of acidity.

Tonight’s pick is the Mauro Sebaste.  A more medium bodied wine that packs a punch of flavor.  Mauro Sebaste is known for producing high quality wines.  Barolo, Barbera and this Dolcetto for a few.

The ink black color of the wine is reminiscent of the dark color of the grape skin.  A mysterious dark color that tantalizes and teases.

The bouquet gives a strong nose of pepper, rose, violet and rich dark fruit; black cherry.

Putting the glass to your lips you get the aromas still pouring out.  The wine hits your tongue-the soft and playful notes  dried fruit, almost sweet save for the tannins.  The intensity of the flavors are overpowering.  Wow. Lots of fruit.  You get it, that plum, cherry, all the dark forces rolled into one.  The medium finish does not give it justice.

Tonight’s bottle was a 2014.  I cannot imagine what this will be like with a few more years under  the belt.

Enjoy

Fruity, medium bodied
Fruity, medium bodied

This elegant Rhone was a pleasing surprise.  I actually found this bottle mixed in a group of other Syrah.  When I asked about it I was informed it was the only one and they had just mixed it with some other forgotten bottles. 
Living up to the Rhone quality expectations, this nice red gives all your senses a pleasure bump. 
The color is  ruby. Not quite as dark as some Syrah, but giving you the knowledge you are about to try something  worth while.
Flowers, spice and cherry slowly rise from the bottle. Like a genie emerging  from centuries of sleep.
The oral pleasure is not subtle.  Exploding in your mouth like biting into a juicy fruit, your senses are attacked by flavor.  Immediate notes of cherry, currant, hints of licorice and lots of spice:cinnamon, pepper, just abound.  My mouth waters in reflection.  Structured and very balanced.
A more medium body but very fruity wine.  Well worth the $10 I paid.
Enjoy

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Look how pretty

Lovely, body, structure and flavor

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