Wine Week at the Beach

Since I was in Delaware last week and I have an upcoming wine tasting the end of July, I thought I would try a bunch of California wines and do some pre-tasting.  I purchased 8 different California wines, mostly Cabernet, but did end up with a few others and was very disappointed.  I must have picked all the worst.  One bottle was so bad I poured it down the drain.  It tasted like grape juice.  YUK.

I will share with you the one I went back for.  It is called Lock & Key Meritage.  It is made by the Trinchero Family Estates and can be found at http://tfewines.com/our-wines/lock-and-key.php.

I did enjoy this wine.  Meritage is fast becoming the US version of Bordeaux.  This blend includes cabernet, merlot and cabernet franc.  It would be a great wine for dinner. 

The grapes are sourced from California's prestigious North Coast Appellation.  It has layered blackberry and plum flavors with hints of dark chocolate and tobacco spice.  I also found the finish to be nice, slightly silky.

The price point in Delaware was great too at $10.99 a bottle.  Overall, nicely balanced, fuller bodied, good fruit levels with the smoothness that comes with a blend.

The Seeker Malbec

Tasted this wine last evening and at first taste it was wow, very robust.  I noticed the spice right away.  Let this wine breath about 15 minutes, it gets better.  I think the spice hit me rather in the face at first taste.  This is a new brand that was launched last year from Kobrand, some of their other brands are Cakebread, Benzinger, St. Francis and Sequoia Grove in the United States.  You can see their entire portfolio at www.kobrandwineandspirits.com/about_us/portfolio_directory.  The Seeker Wine's website is www.theseekerwines.com. 

The wine is handcrafted, selecting the finest Malbec (85%), Bonarda (10%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) grapes which are blended and aged in French oak. Aromas of fresh red fruit and spice dominate. On the palate, this wine is smooth and robust, with juicy, ripe black cherry flavors culminating in a lingering, spicy finish.

Lyeth Meritage - SONOMA

Lyeth Meritage is made by the Boisset Family Estates in Sonoma County California.  You can visit their website at www.boisetfamilyestates.com. 


This blend is creaed a Bordeaux blend of 5 varietals from slected vineyards and includes cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabnert franc, petit verdot, and malbec.  This wine has a brilliant garnet in color, this Meritage is robust with aromas of dark red fruits, currants, and boysenberry with subtle notes of succulent dark chocolate and cedar completing the nose. Flavors of fresh strawberries and boysenberries are lush and pronounced on the palate, followed by hints of roasted coffee and maple. This is a big wine that is well-structured and has a long, smooth finish.

 I really enjoyed this wine and can say the US is really doing a great job with Bordeaux style wines.  I still love my Bordeaux, France.

 

 

 

 

 

Nose:

This Meritage is robust with aromas of dark red fruits, currants, and boysenberry with subtle notes of succulent dark chocolate and cedar completing the nose.

Palate:

Flavors of fresh strawberries and boysenberries are lush and pronounced on the palate, followed by hints of roasted coffee and maple. This is a big wine that is well-structured and has a long, smooth finish.

Food Pairing:

Excellent when served with rich and robust foods, such as bold cheeses and game.

0

South near the border of Texas and Mexico in a little town called Eagle Pass.  I went to some store called HEB, and found an interesting red wine that I had not tried before.  Not sure what HEB stands for, but lets just say, don't go after dark.

The wine is called Trio from Concha Y Toto.  It is from the Rapel Valley in Chile.  It's price point is only about $12-13 in Texas, but they think they don't have taxes on anything in this state and everything Texas does is perfect... I don't think those people have ever been to Eagle Pass.  They might want to start charging taxes on all that big hair to make up for things in this town.

This attractive deep purple and generous assemblage constitutes and expressive wine of soft and velvety tannins with intese aromas of black fruits like black plums and blueberry.

 

The blend is 70% Merlot + 15% Carmenere + 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

From the attractive blend of Merlot, Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon, this assemblage of red grapes produces an expressive deep red wine with soft tannins and great structure. It also has dark fruit, chocolate, and tobacco aromas.  See more on the website at www.trioconchaytoro.com.  Try it some evening with some great appetizers or small plates.

.

Sequoia Grove Cabernet - NAPA Valley

The best thing about this wine is that I got to share it on my first visit to the Lone Star State with two great friends.  The state that believes the other 49 don't exisit.  The state that thinks red, white, and blue are for Texas. 



Dark black purple in color, the nose gives an immediate aroma of dark, smoky chocolate, leading into ripe blackberries and sweet cherries with notes of clove, vanilla and cocoa powder. The palate is smooth and rich with ripe, developed tannins giving the wine a full arc in the mouth and giving flavors of blackberry and a hint of smoky, sweet oak.

Enjoy this wine at your next dinner or share it with family or friends.  You can view other selections on their website at www.sequoiagrove.com.

Finally a White - J. Lohr Estates Chardonnay

While I just love my big and bold reds, I have been tasting a lot more whites lately.  The 2011 J. Lohr Estates Chardonnay is one of this wineries vintages in the last twenty years.  There was above-average rainfall and unseasonably cool summers that produced an outstanding varietal. 

The Chardonnay shows ripe apple, citrus, and nectarine flavors with high levels of natural grape acidity.  By incorporating higher levels of malolactic fermentation to balance the acidity, they created a wine with intense vatietal character, palate weight and palate-cleansing acidity. 

WINEMAKER'S COMMENTS
This elegant Chardonnay has an attractive pale strawyellow color. The aromas are of nectarine, pear and apple, combined with a perfumed roasted hazelnut and butterscotch bouquet from the barrel fermentation and sur lie aging. The flavors are very soft with ripe pear, tangelo citrus and vanilla toastiness, producing layers of complexity with a silky balance of fresh fruit acidity and palate weight.
—Jeff Meier, Winemaker

FOOD PAIRINGS
Pair with dishes such as lobster pappardelle with chive butter, grilled late summer vegetables and creamy butternut squash soup.

WINE LIST DESCRIPTION
A full-bodied Chardonnay with a balance of fruit and oak toastiness and a palate-cleansing acidity.


Visit their website at www.jlohr.com

 

Appellation	Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, CA
Composition (Blend)	100% Chardonnay
Harvest dates	September 26 - November 4, 2011
Brix at harvest	24.3°
Vinification
Malolactic	50% in barrel
Maturation	Aged 8 to 10 months in barrels from new to fourth fill. Barrels were stirred every two weeks until pump-out
Barrel type	American, Hungarian and French oak
Bottling chemistries
pH	3.57
Total acidity	0.67
Alcohol	13.55
Residual Sugar	0.39%
Cellaring	Drink now, or cellar up to 5 years

Wines from India and Black Stallion Cabernet

I know it has been a while since I posted... well that is what being out of the country does.  I wanted to share that most Indian wines aren't real great.  I tried several and decided to stick with French and Italian.

Earlier this week, I tried the Black Stallion Cabernet from Napa.  After looking at their website, they are a releatively new winery. 

The 2010 Cabernet is firmly built and serves up black fruit, sweet dust and a savory barrel in the flavors; sturdy; smooth tannins.

If you are looking for a nice smooth Cabernet, that isn't as complex, I think you will really like it.  I think it would be great for people just venturing into the Cabernet world.  Happy Tasting.