Monthly Archives: September 2013

Wine Review: 2010 Le Prieure Cotes-du-Rhone Villages

30 Monday Sep 2013

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Le Prieure Cotes-du-Rhone Villages 2010Another one from the Zagat wine club, I was really looking forward to opening the 2010 Le Prieure Cotes-du-Rhone Villages. I am a big fan of red rhone as it can be very versatile with whatever you are eating or can be enjoyed on its own.

This one was a blend 65 percent Grenache and 35 percent Syrah. As well as, the Cotes-du-Rhone villages is a subregion in France that is supposed to make the better Rhone wines in France.

According to Zagat, they describe the wine:

Parker praises this estate’s “seriously endowed” Vacqueyras. Expect the same richness in their Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages (a classic Grenache/Syrah blend) from excellent 2010. Luscious black fruit and wild herb notes are perfect with venison stew

Doesn’t say much if you ask me.

For me the wine had a nice deep red color. On the nose, it seemed more earthy to me and even had a faint leathery smell. The taste was a bit tannic and really fills the mouth. Like many Rhone’s, it was smooth and light but what I was surprised at is how it was not very complex. This was a little disappointing to me.

This wine is for the casual wine drinker and you won’t need “venison stew” to enjoy it. I would recommend to someone who is starting out drinking red wines.

Rating B-

~Justin

Wine Review: Apothic Red U.V.

28 Saturday Sep 2013

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Apothic RedAs many of my readers probably have noticed, I really enjoy a wine that is easy on the budget and easy to find. The un-vintaged Apothic Red fits both of these categories to the tee. Found at most grocery stores and Total Wines for less than 10 dollars, this wine has an interesting label that truly catches the eye.

According to the website:

The brambly spice of Zinfandel, dark fruit flavors of Syrah, the bold notes of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smooth elegance of Merlot unite to create this captivating red blend.

Apothic Red reveals intense fruit aromas and flavors of rhubarb and black cherry, complemented by hints of mocha, chocolate, brown spice and vanilla. The plush, velvety mouthfeel and the smooth finish round out this intriguing, full-bodied red blend.

13.1% Alcohol

Obviously, it starts out with what could be an amazing blend at such a low price. Now on to my experience with the wine.

At first pour, the color was very nice a dark purple with bright hues at the edges of the glass. On the nose, it had the black cherry and mocha that it describes above for sure. This wine is good on the nose. The taste, I actually got more blackberry jam type of taste with a jam-type feel. This wine is not very complex and not very tannic. There is a little after taste of vanilla that is nice.

Overall, this wine fall shorts on complexity. It is easy to drink and might make a good red wine for the beginners on a budget. But this wine still falls short to impress me on many levels. It is not very dry and doesn’t wow me in any way.

Rating: C+

~Justin

Wine Review: 2011 Cobbler Mountain Cellars Meritage

26 Thursday Sep 2013

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photo (11)When you drive down interstate 66 outside of D.C. and Northern Virginia, you will see a lot of wineries on the blue reader boards. On our way back from a birthday celebration, we decided to stop at Cobbler Mountain Cellars. When you first ride down the “driveway” it feels more like a long gravel road than anything.

But that long gravel road leads you to a nice quaint house, where for right now they do the tastings. Definitely a smaller winery, the winemaker and his wife were actually working the tasting. We tasted all of their wines and they were very good and creating good quality wines should bring great success to this winery. Now onto the wine.

Since this winery is so small, there will be no real description to go off of. Online, the only wine listed even close is the 2009 Meritage, which I am sure the taste and blend has changed.

On the nose, I get some earthy tones and reminds me of a french Bordeaux. This surprises me because I was expecting more of the California fruit forward scents. With taste, I definitely get more fruit but it is very smooth and has no acidic feel at all. The lingering finish gives me a bit of a taste of chocolate and oak.

Overall, this is a very smooth wine. Probably one of the smoothest complex wines that I have had from Virginia. And, in fact, the wine doesn’t have some of what I call a distinct “Virginia taste” that I feel I get with most Virginia reds. This wine could have easily fooled me.

Rating A+

~ Justin

Book Review: From Vines to Wines by Jeff Cox

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

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FromVinesToWinesFor most people, we know that it takes grapes to make wine and that different kinds of grapes make different kinds of wine. But have you ever wondered what does go into the process of making wine? Have you ever thought about doing it yourself at home? From Wines to Wines: The Complete Guide to Growing and Making Your Own Wine by Jeff Cox will answer both of those questions in a mere 217 pages (which includes the appendix).

This not a new book. In fact, according to my copy this is the fourth edition and over 173,000 copies are in print. But the information is not dated.

The book is broken up into three parts: Selecting the Vines, Growing the Grapes, & Making the Wine.

This book details out every step from beginning to end. Cox even provides math formulas that help calculate your possible yield and diagrams that show you exactly how to prune your vines from year to year. This book is definitely everything that you need in starting your own vineyard whether it is in your backyard or on a scale much larger.

Cox even gives you detailed information on both where you can order your supplies and possible websites that will be helpful to you. In fact, in a recent conversation with the winemaker of Cobbler Mountain Cellars, which is a great small winery in Virginia, he told me that this was his wine bible.

It has become my new favorite book and my bible for the eventual day when I will start or help a winery. The only drawback is that if you are just a casual sipper who may want to read more about wine, this one may be too detailed and procedural for you to enjoy.

Rating: A+

~ Justin

Wine Review: Depreville Brut

23 Monday Sep 2013

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photo (10)When it comes to sparkling wine, I am probably one of the first one to have a glass and am ready to move on. I haven’t tried a whole lot but the extra dry are not my type. But back in May my fiance bought a bottle of Depreville Brut for her birthday. Of course, with busy schedules and all we missed opening this on her birthday and it has just been sitting in the fridge for a while.

So for no special occasion on a random Monday evening, we decided “why not?” let’s enjoy a bottle of champagne.

As you can see in the picture, this bottle has a nice dual horse label (that drew her to the bottle in the first place).

According to Total Wine:

Dry, Apple, Toast, Light-bodied

France- This clean, crisp sparkler is filled bright notes of apples and pears layered with hints of cream and toast. A wonderful value to pair it with Chilled Shrimp or Crab Dip, or the perfect value sparkler for those “just because” moments.

And it’s only $8.99! Which I didn’t even notice until just now.

On the nose, this is probably one of the most fruity dry sparkling wines I have came across. I get a good hint of apples and pears with the smell. At first, taste it takes you by surprise on how light-bodied, crisp, and refreshing it is. It gives you lots of apple and pear flavors on the taste and for me is the first Champagne that I would like more than one glass of.

Rating: B+

~ Justin

Wine Review: 2012 Old House Vineyards Wicked Bottom Chambourcin

22 Sunday Sep 2013

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photo (9)Officially, the closest vineyard to my home, Old House Vineyards is a couple dirt roads away from a beautiful view and great tasting wines. They are famous for their wedding feature, which brings in an old tradition of writing your names on a lock and throwing the keys in the pond signifying undying love.

Recently, I opened a bottle of the Old House Wicked Bottom Chambourcin. According to their website:

Our Chambourcin Reserve is barrel aged to integrate the fruity character with oak structure creating a complex yet approachable red wine.

Awards:
Bronze medal from the VA Governor’s Cup

For those who do not know, Chambourcin has gained a lot of popularity growing int he regions of the mid-Atlantic and more specifically Virginia. I personally think that it is one of the most underrated red grapes made in Virginia.

The reason why this wine is called Wicked Bottom is a story that is told on the back of the bottle:

“The town of Stevensburg is said to have been settled first by Quakers who reportedly left because the town became too wicked. In its early days York (original name) was a wide open town with facilities for horse racing, cock fighting, and gambling. A field near the village was called “Wicked Bottom.”

Interesting story. Interesting wine.

On the nose, it has a very velvety smell of ripe grape jam and a hint of leather. The taste is very fruit forward with a little bit of acid on the aftertaste. It is not an overly acidic or dry wine but about midway through a good amount of oak shows through.

Overall, for those who like new world wines with lots of flavor and some oak would enjoy this wine with food or just for drinking. The vineyard is worth visiting even if it is off the path a little bit. I would highly recommend both to anyone.

Rating: A

~ Justin

Restaurant Review: Seasons 52

21 Saturday Sep 2013

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seasons 52 bar area w piano playerThere are very few restaurants that I go to and leave thinking I want to tell everyone about this. Recently, I had the opportunity to stop at Tyson’s Corner in McLean, Virgina and eat lunch at a restaurant I have never heard of called Seasons 52. This is what they have to say about themselves:

Seasons 52 is a fresh grill and wine bar that invites guests to discover the sensational flavors of a seasonally-inspired menu and award-winning international wine list in a casually-sophisticated ambiance.

At Seasons 52, we pride ourselves on offering our guests:

  • Seasonally-inspired dining choices expertly designed to excite and surprise the palate
  • An award-winning international wine list featuring diverse wine selections that personalize the dining experience
  • Knowledgeable, approachable service that inspires confidence
  • A casually-sophisticated adult ambiance that feels inviting

Clifford Pleau, Executive Chef
George Miliotes, Master Sommelier

Obviously, at first glance, the award-winning international wine list drew me in. If you look at their wine list, you will see a wide variety, but what is more important is that they have over 60 of them in the glass choice. This is the place that you go if everyone has different tastes in wine.

I had a glass of the Chateau Roustaing, Cabernet Franc, Bordeaux ’11 and it was very good. Of course, then when I ordered my lunch I did a horrible job of pairing the food with the wine. But I also believe that you can enjoy anything with anything, it is just some wines will improve food. One important point to mention is that when you order a glass of wine at a table, they bring the whole bottle and allow you to taste first. I think that is a great touch I have never seen any other place do.

For an appetizer, I had the Sushi-grade Ahi Tuna served chilled on a cucumber salad. It was very good and the fresh ginger was a nice touch. I should also mention that all items on the menu are under 475 calories. For lunch, I enjoyed the tuna so much I ordered the Maui Tuna Crunch salad. The tuna was the same but the salad was a really good touch to go along with it. They bring it out almost in a round glass vase and they spread it around on your plate. The dressing was perfectly spread through the entire salad.

Now back to the wine, later we returned for some after shopping drinks. They currently have a special where you get to taste three wines (one option for whites, and two options for red.) and you get to pick your favorite and they give you a glass plus a flatbread.

I picked the acclaimed wine version and the Garlic Chicken Flatbread. All the wines were very good and I picked the 2012 Seven Falls, Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington.

To summarize, the food was good, the service was excellent and the wine was great. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone and if you aren’t near the Tyson’s Corner area do not worry as they have other locations all around the United States.

Rating: A+

~ Justin

Wine Review: Morais Vineyards & Winery Select White

20 Friday Sep 2013

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photo (8)My first disclaimer is that my Fiance and I are getting married at this vineyard in the near future so I may be biased to the wine. Of course, I will try not to be. Let me also say that the winery looks like a beautiful old Portuguese chateau set somewhere that you wouldn’t think you would find in Virginia. The winery is only open on the weekends for tasting but it is a really great place to visit.

First on my list to review is their Select White. According to their website, this wine has won two bronze awards; one in the New York Finger Lake International Competition and one for the Virginia Governor’s cup. Because of how small this winery is and how boutique the wine is they do not really have a long description of their wine:

Originating from the country of Georgia, Rkatsitelli brings a floral and spicy aromatic to our RK White, giving it a lively spritz on the tongue while adding appealing character to the quality of the grape.

interesting choice for a wine in Virginia to bring a grape from the country of Georgia. According to the Wikipedia page:

This ancient vinifera originates in Georgia and is one of the oldest grape varieties.[1] In Georgia, clay vessels were found with seeds of Rkatsiteli grapes which date back to 3000 BC.[citation needed]

Rkatsiteli was popular in the Soviet Union prior to its fall and at one point was responsible for more the 18% of all Soviet wine production.[citation needed] There it was used to make everything from table wine to liqueurs to Sherry-like fortified wine. Prior to President Gorbachev‘s vine pull scheme, it was possibly the world’s most widely planted white wine grape.[2]

In Kakheti it was particularly known for its sweet dessert wines fashioned in the same manner as port wine. There were many attempts to create asparkling wine from the grape but its naturally high alcohol levels prevented it from being much of a success.[1] It is still preferred in Russia.

Now onto the actual wine sitting in front of me. On the nose, it definitely has a floral scent to it. Not overly flower-like but definitely different then any wine I have ever nosed. The taste has a lot of that scent in it and it a little more dry than expected by the description of the grape. I would suspect it is more dry than a Pinot Grigio but has a lot less body.

For a white wine, this would probably go better with food and I would not recommend for sitting outside on a hot summer day. Still overall a different and pleasurable white wine.

Rating: B-

~ Justin

Wine Club Review: Zagat Wine Club

18 Wednesday Sep 2013

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3979411816_c2602f396c_zThe idea of random wines that you cannot find in Total Wine or even a local wine shop coming straight to your door seems very appealing to me. Of course, due to shipping laws, when I mean to your front door I mean to a business door so that someone will be there on normal business hours to sign for it. Here is how they describe themselves:

“Now choosing your wine is as easy as choosing a restaurant”

30 years ago Zagat Survey was born out of a wine tasting group — a weekly get-together with good friends. Wines sipped and rated, notes scribbled. Much lively debate. Talk often turned to recent dining experiences — the good, the bad and the ugly. What if we could rate restaurants in the same way as we were rating wines? To share things we liked, things we didn’t.

Today thousands of Zagat surveyors worldwide help guide each other to better restaurants. But for many choosing the right wine remains a daunting challenge. Zagat Wine is set to change that …

Confidence in whatever you choose

While we’ve been guiding you to better restaurants, wine merchant Tony Laithwaite has spent the last 40 years recommending the best wine buys. He has put small estates and new regions firmly on the wine map, and his customers ahead of the game.

As with the Zagat Guide, these recommendations are based on personal research. Tony and his team spend their lives in the vineyards and amongst the barrels. This direct approach allows you to share the adventure and benefits of an insider’s world. Like us, he understands that price is not a true guide to quality. Often a new discovery brings the greatest pleasure.

It’s a philosophy that has seen Tony’s company named Decanter Magazine’s Independent Wine Merchant of the Year — and saw Which? (the U.K.’s independent consumer watchdog) describe Laithwaites Wine as “just what customers are looking for in a wine merchant.”

The start of something special …

As a part of the Zagat Wine community, you can explore hundreds of special small-production wines from around the world. And as this community develops, you’ll be able to share your wine experiences, and access reviews and ratings from fellow customers.

The best way to enjoy these is through the Zagat Wine Club , with a special introductory offer that saves you $110 on your first case.

I have been doing the Zagat Wine club for two shipments and did one shipment of their Red’s that they had on sale. The very first shipment with the introductory offer of saving over $110 is a great deal. With shipping, your first shipment for me was around $94 and they even threw in 3 more bottles. So that is 15 bottles for $94, you can’t beat that.

On the second shipment it went up to $168 for a shipment of 12 bottles.

For the quality of wine, so far the quality and variety of the wines have been very good. I have reviewed a couple on here so far. I have hardly touched my second shipment but have pretty much finished the entire first shipment.

Usually the shipment is from different regions. For example in my last shipment, I received 2 bottles of Bordeaux from France, 2 bottles of the Cuvee I reviewed from California, 2 bottles of Merlot from Chile (reviewed), and 2 wines from Australia and so on. I think you get the point, this wine club hits almost every major wine region and gives you different types to try.

They also send you a binder and sheets that go with each wine for you to make notes on and to tell you more detail behind the wine, which I really like.

The website is not so easy to use and is pretty dull on the member site. In fact, I recommended some friends and family to join and if you register it you get credits for them signing up and none of the people I referred got invites. They also give you telemarketing calls to tell you about specials, but I just ignore them.

Overall, it is definitely worth trying. The wines are good, the price isn’t horrible for the case but I am currently trying out other wine clubs and seeing if they are better or not. Looking around at other clubs it looks like Zagat is behind on some technological upgrades.

~ Justin

Wine Review: 2012 The Patriots Merlot

18 Wednesday Sep 2013

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photo (7)Wines from Chile are really starting to pop up and create a name for their own. The Patriots Merlot was also acquired from a Zagat wine order. This is my second bottle of this wine and there are not a lot of factory descriptions out there so we will have to go with the back of the bottle.

On the nose this wine is very sharp. It almost bites the inside of your nose. It has an old world smell to it even though it has some new world fruit smells too. It definitely marries the two together. The taste is very fruit forward and according to the back of the bottle this is the story/description:

The Patriots is our homage to those who fought so courageously in the Chilean War of Independence which started in about 1810 and was waged until a Declaration of Independence was officially issued by Chile in 1818. This successful conclusion was in part due to the heroism of General Bernardo O’Higgins, one of Chile’s founding fathers, who led the Patriots and became the first Chilean Head of State. Our estate Merlot is harvested in the foothills of the Andes, where the volcanic soils and wide diurnal temperature produce wonderfully ripe grapes. This is an expressive, complex wine with juicy red fruit and subtle floral tobacco notes complemented by a hint of vanilla.

I really taste the tobacco and a hint of vanilla. It is a very complex wine that has a sharp nose but rounded with earth tones and then the taste just explodes in your mouth.

I would recommend for anyone who thinks that Merlot is dull and Chilean wine isn’t good. This wine goes against both.

Rating A-

~ Justin

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