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Archive for January, 2009

2002, Penfolds Koonunga Hill 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, orig. $10

Since it was my birthday dinner hosting the family, serving multiple home made lasagna’s and it was 10 degrees with 2 feet of snow outside, I figured it was time to reach into the cellar and pull out something.  That something was a 2002 Penfolds Cab.  From these tasting notes, I am clearly not a wine expert.  Thus, this is the first cellared wine I’ve pulled from my simple collection.  The wine cooler has been managing this bottle since probably 2004 or 2005.  I remember why I stored a few bottles of this wine; I enjoyed the complex taste of this rather modestly priced wine.  Now 2004 or 2005 was my early years of trying to put some energy behind my expanding wine enjoyment.  Thus, a $10 wine that I enjoyed was a big deal … back then.  Long story short, this wine was incredibly smooth and enjoyable just a few years of storage.  Not sure how one can get ones hands of this wine now, but if one runs across a bottle around $10, I would recommended picking it up and enjoy the bottle.

2005, Chateau L’Eglise, Bordeaux, $13

For the price, this is a simple, uncomplicated Bordeaux wine.  If you are expecting that big Napa Cab complex taste sensation (see Stag’s Leap below) you are going to be disappointed.  I pared this with steak au poivre I prepared at home.  It complimented the rich meat without overpower that I fear a big cab would do.  So, in short, for the price, if you are looking for a simple Bordeaux wine to enjoy with a rich meal yet you don’t want the wine to over power the main course, I recommend this selection.

2005, Stag’s Leap, Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa, (restaurant)

I had the pleasure of attending a dinner at Delmonico’s Steakhouse Restaurant and was able to enjoy a bottle of this outstanding Cab.  In a word, it is truly outstanding.  If you enjoy big, rich, vibrant Napa cabs, this is one near the top of the list.  It has a great aroma (nose) that continues from a full glass to empty.  It has that splash of rich taste at the beginning of every sip with a consistent, smooth yet with a bit of pepper after taste.  If you are a fan of Napa cabs, I can’t recommend this wine enough.  For me, it is right up there with a 2003 Raymond or a 2004 Burgess.

2005, Beaulieu Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, $12.99

I was struggling to find something to go with sushi and Chinese take-out at Giant Eagle near Parma Town.  The wine selection area was large in area, but for some reason, the shelves just didn’t have a very good selection of reds.  I finally decided on this Napa cab from Beaulieu Vineyard.  Not a vineyard in Napa I’ve visited, but being of the 2005 vintage, I figured it should get a lift from that well regarded year.  It was very enjoyable for the price.  It went very well with the meal.  I’d recommended it to anyone looking for something not too fancy or complicated when in the mood for a Napa cab.  It had some body and some very mild white pepper, but not too harsh.

2005, Font-Destiac, Bordeaux, $13.99

Made a quick stop into Heinen’s near by and found what I was hoping to be a low priced 2005 Bordeaux that might prove note worthy.  Well, I was left disappointed on all fronts.  The bouquet was flat and uninspiring.  The first few tastes were flat and rest of the bottle was in a word … flat.  On the positive, the finish was smooth and no heavy, earthy after taste, but this just consistent flatness all around.  I think I’ll pass on this one going forward.

2005, Cotes du Rhone, $13.99

I recently discovered Vino Matique! in Berea, OH, USA.  They are a wine store that has a small but interesting selection of wines for sale as well as the ability to taste about 10 different bottle.  They have a fancy vacuum dispensing machine that for $2 a glass, you can taste a wine before buying, if they have the bottle you are interested in the machine.  I haven’t tried tasting any wines, but since they have a rather unique selection, I found their display of French wines and have started from the inexpensive ones.  This particular selection is quite good, especially for the price.  Michelle tried it and she liked it (rare since she is more of a wine or sweet wine fan) but commented that is was strong with a peppery taste.  I found the peppery taste in good contrast to the power grape fruit taste of the wine.  We had the wine with another dinner experiment, Steak au Poivre from the Food Network.  For the price, I strongly recommend this wine and especially complementing a steak such as the slightly rich, Steak au Poivre!

2005, Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, approx. $13

Third time I’ve picked this up when Giant Eagle puts it on sale.  First time with sushi was excellent for the price.  The third time with steak was good, but not the the same as that first experience.  It seemed to lack some of the black pepper notes I recall from the first try.  Still, for the price, a good choice with red meat and or pasta with a red sauce … even sushi.

2001, La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino, $16 per glass

Since it was our anniversary and we were celebrating at Lago since Parkers, where I originally proposed, is no more, I tried a glass of this Brunello.  After so many Brunello articles in Wine Spectator, I figured I would splurge and try a glass.  In a word, outstanding … like nothing I’ve tried from Napa or Somona when tasting at all the open wineries I could fit into a few day trips.  I enjoyed the glass of wine with some bread and the calamari appetizer which had a light tomato sauce with a bit of a spicy kick.  It remained excellent with both.  I highly recommended it.  Unfortunately, byt the time the duck arrived I had finished off the glass and thus can’t share how it blended with a main course.

2006, Blackstone Cabernet Sauvignon, approx. $9.99

Again, victim of a sale at Giant Eagle.  Claim is original price is around $14.99.  Rather forgettable … nothing stood out.  Flat, unexciting .. definitely worth passing on even for a few dollars less that $9.99.