2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia

2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia

Had the opportunity to taste this wine last week at a tasting and it was wonderful.  The 2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia is inky in the glass.  On the nose, this wine is exactly where I want California Cab to be: dark berries, mocha and chocolate.  In the mouth, it’s silky and smooth even this early in its life.  There are spicy notes, black licorice and lots of ripe fruit.  The finish is slightly tannic and medium in length.

Just a gorgeous wine that will be amazing with some cellaring.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot

Region: Napa Valley, California

Around $159

2005 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino

2005 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino

I sampled this Tuscan wine at a recent tasting and it was one of my favorites, even against cult French and Californian wines.

On the nose, it has floral qualities and tons of raspberry aromas.  In the mouth, it’s lush, lightly jammy with ripe raspberries, offers spicy notes and is balanced and elegant.  This wine is more medium-bodied than full and it has a long, clean finish.  Really love it.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type: Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $175

 

Putting the Super in Wine Library Super Tasting

Putting the Super in Wine Library Super Tasting

Monday evening, I took my dad and his spouse, Rolande, to the Wine Library Super Tasting being held at beautiful The Manor in West Orange, NJ.  The event coincided perfectly with my dad’s yearly pilgrimage to see me in New Jersey from Quebec, so I was excited to surprise them with tickets to the tasting.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit The Gateway Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund, which is geared toward students pursuing technical and career oriented education.

With over 700 wines being poured, it was imperative that I arrive at the event prepared.  To add to the excitement of attending the tasting, I created a database where names of the wines we wanted to taste along with their table numbers could be added.  From there, I had my dad and Rolande compile a list of wines they would like to sample and I built mine.  There was no overlap – they opted for strictly French and I diversified.  Once the list was compiled, I ranked the wines by table number and also by wine type and printed the grid that we each brought a copy with us.  Simple and efficient!

Here is our master list:

Super Tasting Wines – 101011

Being organized allowed us to taste all the wines we wanted to sample, it kept us focused and it avoided the familiar “where do you want to go next? I don’t know, where do you want to go next?” situation that arises from poor planning.

The 2011 Wine Library Super Tasting was a super event indeed and one I’ll be certain to attend in future years.  Thanks to the friendly staff of the Wine Library for being so helpful, as always and for making its patrons feel much pampered.

Cheers,

Veronique

2009 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley

2009 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley

Served this little gem as my second with some prime ribeyes this weekend and was pleased with the pairing.

In the glass, the 2009 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley is deep garnet.  On the nose, it’s bright on the dark cherries with some stone fruit and pumpkin pie spice.  In the mouth, this project wine by Barons de Rothschild Lafite is peppy on the fruit and offers rounded tannins and a good level of acidity that makes it really enjoyable.

Super for a young Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and at an incredible price point.

Around $10.

2003 Clos du Marquis Saint Julien

2003 Clos du Marquis Saint Julien

My dad uncorked this little gem during my last trip home to Quebec and what a treat it was.

The color in the glass is deep and purple.  Just really pretty.  The nose offers stone fruit and black licorice with some spiced notes.  In the mouth, this Bordeaux is rich and luscious with black berries, dark chocolate, a little coffee and some nutmeg notes.  The finish is long, sweet and velvety with the right amount of acidity.

This is a second label wine for Chateau Léoville Las Cases yet a very solid, first-rate wine.

Around $60.

2008 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Shiraz

2008 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Shiraz

I had the pleasure of sampling several Jacob’s Creek Reserve wines at a recent tasting and the 2008 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Shiraz was among them.

In the glass, the wine is deep ruby and viscous.

On the nose, it features powerful plummy, spiced notes.

On the palate, the plummy nose carries over on this Australian Shiraz.  It’s a chewy big mouthful with tons of freshly ground pumpkin pie spices with a rich, slightly sweet long finish.

Perfect with braised meats.

Around $13.

2009 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

2009 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

I had the pleasure of sampling several Jacob’s Creek Reserve wines at a recent tasting and the 2009 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon was among them.

For fans of big, beefy Cabs like me, this is a very affordable option.

In the glass, the wine is dark purple.

On the nose, it’s black berries, vanilla with woodsy anise notes.

On the palate, this Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with crushed ripe berries and plums.  The finish is rich, slightly oaky and long.

Might benefit from some cellaring, but a nice option to pair with a grilled steak on a Tuesday night.

Around $10.

2009 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir

2009 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir

I had the pleasure of sampling several Jacob’s Creek Reserve wines at a recent tasting and the 2009 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir was among them.

I’m a huge fan of Pinot Noirs and enjoy Australian Pinots so was looking forward to trying this one.

In the glass, the wine is ruby and appears to be of medium weight.

On the nose, it’s typical Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir – bright cherry, ripe strawberry with notes of oak.  A bouquet that’s right up my alley.

On the palate, this Australian Pinot Noir is lively with ripe berries, touches of clove and nutmeg with oaky notes.  Light tannins are displayed on the long finish.

An affordable addition to one’s cellar.

Around $13.

2009 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila Haut

2009 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila Haut

I served this Cote du Roussillon wine at a dinner party last week and a friend commented that this was the best wine she’d had in recent memory.

In the glass, it’s inky black and super pretty.  On the nose, this Grenache / Carignan / Syrah blend is bright with lots of spicy, ripe cherries.  In the mouth the juicy cherry continues.  This wine is rich and opulent with notes of coffee, dark chocolate and plum.

Wine Spectator:  87 points.

Around $12.

2010 Brancott Marlborough Pinot Noir

2010 Brancott Marlborough Pinot Noir

Loving a big mouthful of ripe cherries with velvety feel and a smooth finish, I’m naturally a huge fan of Pinot Noir.  The 2010 Brancott Marlborough Pinot Noir is not that kind of Pinot.  What it is, is a bright, light-bodied Pinot Noir showing pleasantly tart raspberries with a slightly smoky finish.  Do I enjoy this type of Pinot Noir from New Zealand?  Yes – with a roasted chicken sitting on my deck on a warm summer night!

This Marlborough New Zealand wine is a dark strawberry color in the glass with tons of brightness and fragrant rose aromas.

A Pinot Noir for summer.

Around $10.