2007 Argyle Pinot Noir

A standby pinot from the Willamette Valley, Oregon. A bit tart with the grapefruit and cranberry flavors - a great home remedy for any readers with a UTI. JK. Kinda.

It's a very light-bodied wine that delivers a crisp punch with the tartness and peppery finish. A great summer red that is best sipped (in my opinion) as it (for me) has been tough to pair correctly with a meal (marinated flank steak tonight wasn't the best match).

I've been a fan of the Argyle wine for over 5 years when a local merchant in Chicago turned us on to it. This was back when it was rare to see a tin/screw top "nice" wine, so we were skeptical. The price back then was about $14, where this bottle was $30. Popularity can't hurt ;).

...well, actually that high price can hurt your rating on your favorite inexpensive wine rating website - at $14, this is an 8+ ranking...but at $30, I think there are equal or better pinots in the sub $20 range. Argyle, you've gotten too big for your britches. 6.5/10 ranking due to being overpriced.

Reignac 2005 Bordeaux Superieur

I was turned on to this bottle from Sam's Wine, which was sold a year ago...*tear*. Any 2005 Bordeaux is excellent, but this one was at the top spot on 2008's top wines, according to Sam's. At $28, I splurged and have been holding on to this wine for 3 years. With the wife delivering a healthy baby boy late last month, it's time to celebrate. You can still find this wine online for around $30 - and it's well worth it. I'll give it a 8.5/10 rating...excellent.

First off, the back label wins the award for the most technical wine mumbo jumbo to ever appear on a label; words like maceration, malolactic and enologist make me wonder if this was ever translated from French ;)

As for the wine, it may have one of the finest bouquets I've ever smelled from a glass of wine. Seriously, I could just smell it all night and never drink it...but that would be wasteful, because the flavor is equally brilliant. Smoky oak and floral on the nose.

The Reignac is a 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon blend. The merlot brings the ripe, sweet, and fruit forward beginning and the cabernet leaves a nice bite with a dry finish with medium tannins. The oak barrels leave a wonderful smoky flavor to complement the nose.

2006 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot

This is the second time I'm enjoyed this highly rated $50 gem. Red cherry is the dominant flavor. Full and creamy with a nice spice on the finish. A sweet oak on the nose. Great for sipping - doesn't require a meal.

After drinking so many sub-$15 wines, it's truely refreshing to have a good bottle every once and a while. 6.5/10 rating - 'twas excellent, but think there are better at this price range.

Markham Vineyards 2005 Merlot

Very dark berries and quite spicy for a Merlot. Definitely a nice surprise in both. Great with red meat but I don't recommend it with seafood - the crab cakes we had on night one didn't bring out the full potential of this wine. The smoky-ness rivaled that of the cabernet we also had open. the cola flavors in the finish are also notable, but it leaves your mouth a bit gummy.

Good but not great. 5.5/10 rating for this mid-$20's bottle of wine.

Courtney Benham 2006 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

I was quite excited when I received this bottle as a gift and saw the relationship to Stag's Leap. With Stag grapes and a name this long, it must be great, right? Unfortunately my expectations were too high as this turned out to be a very average wine. It wasn't bad, I just think you can do better. It's also great to note that my wife was finally able to enjoy a small glass now that she's in the 2nd trimester of her pregnancy (boy due around xmas).

The dark purple color was the first thing I noticed as I poured two glasses Floral on the nose and a bit tart on the tounge. The licorice flavor really stood out to me (as I'm not a fan of black licorice and question the sanity of those who are). Dark cherries and blackberries also chimed in for a nice rounded mouthful of flavors. Pepper, tannins, and mild-dryness on the finish.

If I was to guess the price based on flavor, I'd put it around $14...and would have been pretty satisfied. Upon a bit of Internet research, it actually price out closer to $30...which leaves us with an unimpressed 4/10 rating for this overpriced wine.

2003 Tormaresca Salento Masseria Maime Negroamaro

This is the wine to beat this year. Luckily, someone with a fine palate selected this wine for us at a rehearsal dinner when we were in Seattle for a wedding. The group definitely took down a good case of this wine and everyone was commenting on how great it was. Dinner at Osteria la Spiga was also excellent.

Although quite tacky, I secretly looked the delicious bottle up on a menu and it was only $42! Excellent price for this gem. After taking this phone shot, I looked it up online and found it for around $28/bottle. If I had the coin, I'd scoop up a half dozen or so asap. The Maime Negroamaro may just be the first wine I buy online. 10/10 rating - Buy, buy, buy!!!

Cardwell Hill Cellars 2006 Pinot - Guest Post

Nate Janitz, a friend, co-worker, and fellow wine blogger provides us with a guest post this week:

This Cardwell Hill Cellars Pinot Noir ($36 at Sam’s Wine Superstore – was on sale for $20) is a classic and very earthy Washington Pinot. The wine had a nice light red color and was completely clear. The nose was really earthy. It starts off with a pleasant bite and tails off with a great berry flavor. Wine Spectator gives it 91 points and I tend to agree. This is a great wine and will be even better in a few years. Cellar it for at least 3 to 5 years. Since this is a US Pinot, drink it in before 2018. I give this bottle a 6/10.

Why I Think I Can Review Wine:
What I love the most about wine is that you don’t have to know a thing or spend a lot of money to enjoy wine. It doesn’t matter if you’re in college, a NASA scientist, a restaurateur, a construction worker, or a digital marketing guru; you can enjoy the exploration of wine at whatever experience and/or price level you choose. My dad is a long time collector of inexpensive wine, and has been kind enough to teach me as he learned. My first experience with wine was running down stairs at like 8 helping him pick out a bottle for dinner. By the time I was old enough to take my first sip, I was able to hold a decent conversation with most wine experts. Like Jeff, my dad never bothered with expensive wines because, even in the 70’s, he knew you didn’t need to spend a fortune to find a great bottle of wine. In fact, it wasn’t until 5 years ago he before he bought his first bottle over $30. With the help our musky basement in Indy, my dad also taught me the art of aging wine. Today, some of my favor it wine was made before I was even born.

Well that’s how I started, but over the years I have actually tasted my own fare share of wine ranging from Beringer to the whole line of First Growths. While I do try to build my own collection of wine, I primarily focus on inexpensive wines to drink today. Earlier this year, I started Nate’s Wine Reviews because I wanted a place where I could archive my life as it revolves around wine…and maybe help someone find a great bottle of wine in the process. My main hunting grounds are the boutique wine shops in Chicago (cellar rat, Lush), as well as Jewel, CostCo, and Sam’s Wine Superstore. I review two types of wines on my blog: inexpensive wine I find and the old inexpensive wine my dad found in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Like Jeff, I’m on the hunt for great inexpensive wines to drink today. However, continuing with a tradition my dad started, I also look for those great bottles that improve with age (like the bottle I’m reviewing for A Wine A Week).

2006 Hitching Post Big Circle Syrah

The Big Circle Syrah by Hartley-Ostini was the Valentine's Day selection at our dinner at the May Street Cafe in Chicago - an excellent choice at an excellent restaurant. While not the cheapest wine on the menu at $60, it was worth the splurge with an 8/10 rating. The BevMo!'s detailed review of the Big Circle Syrah is probably better than my memory, so enjoy - plus you can buy it there for $30.

The Hitching Post was the restaurant featured in the wine-flick Sideways, located just outside Santa Barbara, CA. I actually wasn't aware they made their own vino. My wife spotted this one on the menu remembering it's a favorite of a former co-worker. It might not be a Pinot, but at least it's not a Merlot :)

2003 Stag's Leap Petite Syrah

There are a few standby vineyards that you just can't go wrong with: Stag's Leap, Ridge, Cakebread, & Heitz Cellars. All Napa/Sonoma and you'd be hard pressed to be at a nice restaurant where one of these aren't in the cellar - so when you don't recognize anything else, or can't pull AWineAWeek.com up on your mobile device, go with something that won't disappoint.

The Stag's Petite Syrah has been on my shelf for a few years. I originally picked it up at Trader Joe's (love that place) a few years back for $23. It's now $40 on Wine.com and I couldn't even try to match their review:

From the look of the wine, you'd expect it to be massive on the palate, but one of the pleasures of Stags' Leap Petite Syrah is its finesse and elegance. This is an unusually complex and layered vintage. The nose teems with blackberries, red currants, cut hay, and burnt oranges. On the palate this sensuous wine is a mouthful of rich bitter chocolate, French vanilla, and raspberries wrapped in round, sappy tannins. It's at once fascinating and intriguing, leaving you with a reverberating finish.

As I mentioned, this one's been on my rack for a few years and was happy to bring it out for a dinner at a friend's house. Since she is pregnant, I figure her one glass of wine should be a good one. Plus, we're moving from Chicago shortly and movers won't take alcohol (or firearms for that matter). I'll give it a 7/10 rank based on the $40 price tag.

Mount Veeder 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

A bit disappointing, honestly (still good though!). When I pay $28 for a wine, I expect my socks to be blown off. After all, I spend my time tasting wines at half the price. I first had this wine at a tasting, and it was the best one served all night - my wife and I both agreed and I noted it's label. Our wine egos were even stroked when the guy said we had the most expensive palates based on our preference. So with guests in town, I splurged on two bottles of the Mount Veeder Cabernet. The second bottle was never opened, so we'll see if I can manage to keep it a few years and compare and contrast this entry some day (good luck).

Very full-bodied black cherry & blackberry flavors with cedar-like flavors in the finish. Cola and chocolate flavors shine through as well. You can smell this one from across the room - and the flavors back it up. I love it when I can taste a variety of flavors like this, which typically means a great wine. I'll give it a 6/10 with a warning it's not for the faint of heart. $28 at Costco.

Edgefield Winery: 2006 Umbrella Jimmy Rose

We stayed at the McMenamins resort at the Edgefield Winery while visiting the Portland area over the last weekend. I wasn't impressed with many/any of the wines I tasted there, but the overall experience was great...and I stuck to the excellent microbrews.

After a long afternoon hike up Multnomah Falls, the Umbrella Jimmy Rose was a decent choice for a cool down. It wasn't too sweet and had a nice strawberry flavor. The story about Umbrella Jimmy was the best part - as Edgefield had been a poor farm in the early/mid 1900s, Umbrella Jimmy was a boxer who received his nickname from mending umbrellas around town. Unfortunately, this wine is no knockout. 3.5/10 rating @ $20 at the winery.

2005 Eroica Riesling - Ch. Ste. Michelle

A little background on why this is the first of a very small number of Rieslings reviewed on this site... It was 2001, and I made the gutsy call to take a gal to a sushi restaurant for our first date. For wine, I stuck to a fine Riesling...a variety most everyone likes, and is especially known as an "entry wine" as they are only a few sugar notches away from a blended boat drink ;). Years passed (and I guess it went well, because we are married now), but I've never lived down making such a "novice" play on the wine choice. Can't win 'em all. I'll be toughing out this bottle on my own over the next many days. Rieslings are "too sweet" for her...guess that's why she ended up with me.

To the bottle...
OK, why not just put the "t" in the name 'cause that's what everyone is thinking. Second, why does it say "Dr. Loosen" at the bottom? With it's sexy name and sleek look, it has to be targeting a younger market. But the Dr. Loosen label & $24 price tag don't quite support that hypothesis. Flavors of a big ripe juicy peach and a light mandarin orange highlight this sweet selection. Pretty good, 7/10 rating and went quite well with my Jerk Chicken as it cooled the flames.

P.S. I just Googled "Eroica" and apparently it's the name of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony. It's also Italian for 'Hero'. Dr. L has a pretty big noggin to compare this to either ;)

Ridge Three Valleys Zinfandel, 2006

It was the Ridge vineyard that started my love affair with zinfandel. The Three Valleys is the least expensive of their selection at ~$20. It's actually only 80% zin, complemented with a blend of petite sirah, carignane, & grenache grapes. You can't go wrong with any Ridge zin, and it's a personal favorite with spicy sushi.

Not overpowering on the fruit flavors as zin's can be, this one is more noted for it's spicy finish. Looking forward to it's paring with burgers from the meat market tonight. 6.5/10 - give it a shot, but I think you can find some smaller, less known vineyards with better zinfandel for the same price.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block Pinot Noir

AWineAWeek_2008-03-30_1
Originally uploaded by jeff+caroline

I was on a quest to find a wine my cedar plank salmon wouldn't overpower. The Saint Clair Sawcut 4 Pinot Noir, along with reducing some pepper, garlic, and shallots, seemed to work, but wasn't perfect. Pre-dinner, there were rave reviews but the spicy fish did take away from the complexities. Immediate flavors of black cherries & plum...even a cherry cola flavor. Oaky finish. For $22 at Costco, I expected a bit better, but still a solid 7.5/10 rating. Another "tin top" from NZ with good marks.

Alban Viognier Central Coast 2005 @ Sola

The jury was out on recommending this one. The Alban Viognier Central Coast caught our eye on the wine menu at Sola last night, which is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. The four of us did agree that it didn't go with any of our meals (salmon, tile fish, or mahi), which is a polite way of saying we didn't like it. You can find it online for around $30, and the restaurant had it priced at $55. We did finish the bottle but wouldn't order it again. Note we had the 2005, not the 2004 as pictured.

The wine had nearly 16% alcohol, which was evident in the finish along with grapefruit and possibly peach or lemon flavors. Tropical fruits on the nose; it certainly smelled better than it tasted.

T. T-R-U. T-R-U-C-K, keep on TRUCKIN' all the way...past this one. 3 or 4 for the rating out of 10 - maybe we needed a different dish, probably chicken, to make this work.

Radio-Conteau Savoy Pinot Noir 2005 @ Aigre Doux

Wow, fantastic. This is the first restaurant photo AWineAWeek has seen, and it was worth your wait. Unfortunately, this is way out of the realm of my $15 cheap wine target, so it's not even fair to compare it on my rating scale. At $50 a bottle, even the vineyard is sold out online. The Radio-Coteau Savoy could possibly be the best pinot noir I've had - had complex, full flavors - surprising for a Pinot. As I was dining with seven others, everyone commented on it's excellence. John Battelle, who is from wine country (Marin), certainly knew what he was doing when he chose this California gem. We dined at Aigre Doux in Chicago, which was a delicious, overpriced French restaurant (I wonder what they marked this wine up to). Venison, duck, and suckling pig were a few of the treats enjoyed with the 3 bottles wine. I hope to find this wine somewhere so I can enjoy it again. It's amazing how a great wine makes for a great night.

A shout out to Mr. Aaron Goldman, who snapped this photo and is currently in the hospital as his wife went into labor this afternoon. AG: may tonight's champaign be as delicious as last night's wine. Cheers!

Ruffino Tenuta Lodola Nuova 2003

Yes, I only had one shoe on while taking that photo.

Smells of Christmas on the cork - cinnamon & spice mainly, with floral scents once it's in the glass. Ruffino makes this wine (or owns the vineyard) for about $25-30. It's a red blend, made mostly from sangiovese grapes. Very, very dry and not as strong as I expected for what the bottle calls a "full bodied Vino Nobile di Montepulciano." A strong/spicy bite at the finish. Looking forward the the 2nd half of the bottle tomorrow with some spaghetti. 7/10.

The town of Montepulciano, just outside of Tuscany, looks amazing. If you are interested in learning more about the area or the varietal of wine, this site is quite interesting.

Boschendal Grand Reserve 2003

Delicious. We picked up this beauty on our Cape Town journey in Nov 2006, so it's unfortunately tough to find. This 2003 Grand Reserve is a Red Blend with 70% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, 10% Shiraz, 10% Cab Sauvignon. Extremely smooth with immediate rocky/earthy flavors (I've noticed that with much of the region's wine - it's a good thing) very rich with flavor, and a finish which would be hard to improve upon. Smells of a campfire and legs like Giselle.


9 out of 10 for this champion. The winery is one of the oldest in South Africa and the grounds are breathtaking. Our taste buds must have been on that day, even though my driving skills were not (on the left side of the road with a stick shift in my left hand + wine). From what I can find on the 'net, the price point is around $25-30US. Worth seeking out, but does not surpass the previously reviewed Rust en Vrede. A special thank you to American Airlines for not breaking any of the 8 bottles that were in our luggage for the 4000 mile journey home.

Rust en Vrede Stellenbosch Estate Reserve 2003

This was one of the eight wines that were tightly packed in our baggage home from South Africa - and the best of the bunch. We've saved this for a special occasion, and New Years Eve 2007 was it.

It's $45 at wine.com and we paid equiv to $25 over there...well worth every penny, either way. I saw it on the menu at Harry Carey's for $70 as well. Word on the street is Sam's Wine has it too, but it's not on their website.

Since this post is a month delayed, I can't remember the tasting specifics, other than this currently is the wine to measure all others at a 9.5 out of 10. Here are the winemaker notes from wine.com:

Deep purple color. Massively rich aromas with an array of ripe cherry and blackberry, exotically spiced. The palate is packed with these flavors –deeply concentrated. Almost explosively mouth filling, with a fine tannin finish. Chosen as one of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines four years in a row.