Cameron Hughes Lot 396

California Field Blend '11    $10 (Sam’s Club)

This was somewhat an impulse buy however, I had tried his Cabernet Lot 279 last summer and it was outstanding.

Therefore, I love red blends and figured I couldn’t go wrong for an under $10 bottle.  This is a combination of 64% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, 11% Petite Sirah and 5% Graciano. 

From the first pour it’s aromas filled the glass with ripe, crushed strawberries, blackberries, dark plums, black pepper and a hint of flint.  The Zinfandel red fruit highlights stood-out nicely with a balance of spice from the other varietals.  The tastes blended together a ripe, dark red fruit flavor with blueberries and cocoa.  Soft tannins and medium body with toasted wood and subtle black pepper spice led to a great finish.

For a bottle priced like this, it was a fantastic wine.  I’m back to buy more bottles to keep around for everyday drinking.  You can find their wines at www.chwine.com

Dominican Oaks, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $16

Napa, CA

After strolling the aisles of this large wine store, I was becoming overwhelmed with what to try in a new Cab.  I had my list of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 but I can’t really afford most of those even though I’m sure they’re amazing.  One of the sales guys was re-stocking the racks and I decided to ask what he was drinking these days.  I forgot his name or I’d thank him here for this selection.

Filled with aromas of bright berries, dark cherry and a few subtle notes of black pepper and oak, I thought immediately of a much higher priced Cab. I’d had in the past.  The flavors brought together a smooth mocha and dark cherry combination.  At first taste, a slight tartness was there but after an hour of letting the wine open up, it completely softened and mellowed out.  The finish was pleasant with mild tannins and a minor hint of oak.  I didn’t decant the wine although I can only image that it would have made this even better.

So next time your strolling the aisles of your local wine shop, don’t hesitate to ask!  Many of the people working these stores are into wine and have had an opportunity to taste more than many of us given their jobs.  Hopefully you’re able to find this wine and enjoy as I did.  I’m back to buy a few more bottles to keep on hand for friends.

Mark Davidson, Cabernet/Merlot (NV) $14

South Eastern Australia

I first had this wine in a favorite restaurant of mine with a pecan crusted, baked snapper. Probably one of the most flavorful fish entrees I’ve ever had. The wine was on their “by-the-bottle” specials that night so I decided to try it. As the story goes for most of us once we find something we like…”where can I buy this?” Its always a challenge especially for those great restaurant wines not found in stores. It took about 6 months once I stumbled on it and I didn’t hesitate to buy a few bottles.

The wine’s fragrance was full of dark, ripe berries followed by a sweetness found in grape jam. Along with this, a bouquet of fragrant herbs was prominent. On the first taste a mouthful of ripe black berries & currants led this medium bodied, wonderfully blended wine. Through the mid palette, I found cedar and tobacco flavors with soft tannins on the finish, which are probably from the Merlot. This is such a nice drinking wine with the boldness of a Cabernet and the subtlety of a Merlot. It almost reminds me of a full bodied red Zinfandel yet not so 'fruity'.

This wine doesn’t have a vintage date, which could mean there is some blending of varietals from a neighboring year. This doesn’t bother me as it used to especially if the wine has what I like and this one will not let you down.

Mark Davidson has been making fine wines from premium vineyards in Australia for 21 years. In 1985, along with investors, Mark bought Tamburlaine Winery and has been in charge of wine production and operations. Tamburlaine has a reputation for innovation along with a focus on producing high quality wines with cutting edge and environmentally sound production techniques.

Mac Murray Ranch, Pinot Noir $17

Central Coast, CA

I admit, I bought this wine after reading a Wine Spectator issue recommending it as a moderately priced and very good Pinot Noir. I honestly don’t follow up on all the notes I take from reading wine related magazines but I’m glad I did on this on.

The aromas began with bright fruit, cherries and dried mushrooms followed by a hint of Fall-like wet leaves. Sounds like a lot going on here although it was a nice rounded and balanced sensation. It helped reinforce and remind me that the aromas (or “nose”) play such an affect on the tastes which follow. This is actually a proven fact in wine tasting so don’t be shy to sniff, sniff, sniff.

The tastes were a wonderful collection of ripe cherries with a mild spice. On the finish, vanilla and a hint of chocolate were present. Very nicely balanced wine that I would categorize as easy drinking yet sophisticated in flavor composition. I had it with salmon on cedar plank and the wine was an excellent complement. Even the warm chocolate chip cookies after dinner went great with the wine.

Recently I saw this wine on sale at World Market ($16). I guess I should continue to follow up on my wine magazine notes more often.

Valserrano, Crianza 2005 ($14)

Rioja, Spain

On a day I planned to do some wine buying of my favorites, I ran across a wine tasting in the store. Given my limited knowledge of wines from Spain I proceeded to taste a few the store was “pushing” that day. I’m a big fan of wine store tastings because how else would many of us ever get to try something new prior to a bottle purchase. I only make mention and share that the store in general is doing this not only bring you something new, they’re in it for the sale of more wine. Therefore, don’t feel guilty or obligated to buy a bottle if you don’t like what you taste. Buy it if you like it, which is what I did with this one.

I found this wine from Spain to be a well-balanced, full bodied red. On the nose (aromas), wood shavings, plums and ripe berries were present. With flavors of Blackberries and a hint of mocha, the toasted oak from barrel fermenting continued to enhance each sip. On the finish it was slightly dry with a bit of a tobacco taste. I let the bottle stay open for about 30 minutes (no decanting) and a whole new wine came out! A much smoother and delicate finish showing flavors of vanilla made me feel like I had purchased an even better bottle.

The wine is comprised of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo along with being aged in 50% American and 50% French oak barrels. I often wondered the difference in American vs. French oak and a wine makers can give a better explanation than me. In general, my feeling is the French barrels provide a more subtle flavor however the age of the barrel and how many times it’s been used play a big factor. One thing for sure is that the French barrels are much more expensive.

I’ll leave you with one more interesting bit of knowledge I recently studied when buying wines from Spain. If the bottle has “Crianza” on the label it must spend at least 1 year in oak barrels and a 2nd year in the bottle prior to release. If the label has “Reserva”, its 1 year in oak and 2 years in the bottle. Finally and probably the most expensive of the 3 labels is “Gran Reserva” with 2 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle prior to release.

I’ll be on the hunt for more wines from Spain in the near future. Enjoy for now.

Heritage Des Caves des Papes, Cotes-Du-Rhone ($11)

France

Its not often a good bottle from France is moderately priced however this selection truly impressed me. I had no information on the wine prior to buying and the only insight was from one of the wine store’s associates feeling the same as I did…”for eleven bucks, its worth trying.”

I can’t help but like various blends as mentioned in past postings and this one was quite nice complementing our dinner of grilled pork tenderloin, sauté pea pods & baby bella mushrooms & summer tomatoes w/ mozzarella over garlic toast. Sounds good enough to have again tonight with the rest of the bottle!

At first the aromas seemed a bit unpleasant yet after a few swirls in the glass, it began to open up with an earthiness accompanied by a woody scent. A subtle musty and green moss hint was present along with a slight anise tone. I know it sounds like a lot of smells but it really wasn’t that overpowering.

On the taste, a definite fruit forward flavor of blackberries and cherries was present with an faint oaky sensation on the mid palate. The wine finished with an nice spice and hint of smokiness. In general I’d say the vintage was well balanced, medium body with pleasant tannins and very easy drinking. Almost a lighter wine than I would have thought prior to opening.

For those of you curious, the wine is comprised of 3 classic grape varietals from the Rhone region in France. 70% Grenache (which holds the fruitiness), 25% Syrah (which brings on the spiciness) and 5% Mourvedre (which softens the wine).

This is one of the best deals I’ve found in a good French wine.

Veramonte, Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, 2008 ($10)

Chile

It had been a few years since I tried a Sauvignon Blanc after mostly drinking reds for so long. In my efforts to engage in some more white wines this summer, this was recommended by a small wine shop owner. I was looking for something under $20 and not a Chardonnay.

The bottle uses a screw cap but don’t let that fool you in this wine’s quality. I’ve been told (but not an expert) that screw tops maintain a wine bottle’s seal from letting air in better than a cork. I digress but won’t lie, I still like a cork.

From the initial aromas of grapefruit and tropical fruits I thought this could end up being too tart for my taste. It definitely was not! Like most Sav. Blanc wines this too had a hint of freshly cut grass (without the lawn mower scent of course). The taste was fresh and crisp with citrus flavors. Trace flavors of asparagus followed by an almost sparkling, tart mouth feel on the finish. I had the bottle fully chilled in the refrigerator and some people may say this is too cold. I definitely feel this chilled temperature added to the wine’s refreshing flavors.

We had the wine with a grilled Mahi Mahi fillet caught by friends and I off the Atlantic coast. I would highly recommend this wine on a hot summer day and with lighter fare foods such as chicken, fish or shellfish.

Blauer Zweigelt "St. Severin", 2005 ($16)

Krems, Austria
Winzer Krems, Kremstal Vineyard

I first had a Zweigelt wine during a visit to Vienna. The grape’s original birthplace is in Austria and many say the varietal is close to a Pinot Noir.

My story began, in 2007, while on a hunt for good homemade Wiener Schnitzel at a recommended Gasthaus, which is generally where you’ll find traditional dishes, homemade specials and a pleasant home-like atmosphere. These places are somewhat hard to find in the big cities anymore and more prevalent in the countryside towns. On our hunt, we must have passed the restaurant 3 times circling the block since it was so small with minimal signage. In the end, it was worth the adventure as the meal was wonderful along with samplings of at least 4 local beers I couldn’t even begin to remember.

So, I decided to buy a bottle of Zweigelt and make our own Wiener Schnitzel with egg noodles and mushroom/rosemary gravy here at home. This wasn’t the exact same wine from Vienna although the Winzer Krems vineyard is in Krems, Austria which is a small town located 55 miles northwest of Vienna. The city is over 1000 years old and rich in history.

With rich scents of ripe berries, black pepper and a hint of molasses it definitely brought back memories of that wonderful dinner. Tastes of plum and black cherries combined in this easy drinking wine with soft tannins and fruit forward flavors. An essence of licorice, spice and tobacco existed in its velvety finish. Considered to be a medium bodied wine, I’d love to find another bottle however I believe the 2006 is now what’s out. I guess I’ll have to try that vintage as well.

I found it at Total Wine although you can try here to find a distributor near you.

Columbia-Crest, Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet, 2005 ($7)

Washington State

Earlier last year I had the “Two-Vines Vineyard 10" which I thought was very nice and an affordable red blend, so I decided to try the Merlot-Cabernet blend. For the price, I couldn't go wrong.  Guess what, I’ve been back to snatch up more before the price heads north! I found it at my local Albertsons grocery store in Florida.

Aromas of raspberries (maybe even strawberries) blend with a light oak, woody scent.  It didn’t seem like the aromas were overly complex; which kept things simple.  The first taste always fools me so I’ll go with what I tasted on the second sip.  By the way, that can be true with many 1st sips.  Don’t judge too quickly and on that 2nd sip think about what you taste for 30-60 seconds, after the wine has left your mouth.  You’ll be surprised from the different flavors that hang on.

With the second taste, the fruit flavors were definitely prevalent with blackberry and vanilla supporting this light bodied, low acidity, silky blend. Flavors of cocoa and spice with a slight earthy hint (no not dirt!) rounded out the finish.

This blend is a mix of 60% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in oak barrels. Overall this is a flavorful blend everyone will enjoy and it won’t break the bank!

Farallon Chardonnay, 2007 ($9)

Woodbridge, CA (Central Coast)

I honestly didn’t get a tip on this purchase other than seeing another shopper loading her basket with a few more bottles than the average vino drinker might buy. Now for those of you who know me, I wasn’t shy to ask 

“…what’s up with this wine and would you please leave one on the shelf for me to try?” She smiled, said it was very good and kind enough to leave me a bottle to take home.  Since then, I've been back for plenty more!

In general, I’m an oaky, buttery, Chardonnay fan. Kendall Jackson Chard. has always been a good-old standard in the house although I think I’ve found an equal contender for slightly less $$. You’ll find soft aromas of pear and green apples followed by flavors of peach, pineapple and ripe melon. With a favorite finish of mine being toasty oak and a light buttery flavor, your palette won’t be disappointed. The remaining flavors on the finish are slightly sweet followed by a tart aftertaste, which fades quickly, revealing an easy drinking and quite refreshing wine.

I would recommend chilling your bottle in the refrigerator for an hour or more as it should be served chilled.   If you’re in a hurry, make up an ice bath (ice & water) in your wine bucket and place the bottle in there for 15-20 minutes (with some twirling of the bottle every few minutes).

I had this wine with parsley, breaded seared scallops, porcini/roasted red pepper orzo, sauté spinach in olive oil & garlic and a salad of fresh picked tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow peppers and scallions in an olive oil & balsamic dressing.  Yes…I made the dinner so the enjoyment of the wine was even better!  I could see this wine as a great intro. to spring or summer paring it with grilled salmon or a pasta dish like Fettuccini Alfredo.

Hey Dad, you’ll love this one with your favorite Carbonara.

Mollydooker "The Boxer" Shiraz, 2006 (apx. $20)

McLaren Vale, South Australia

This bottle was given to me by a friend - I'm guessing she bought it for the fun label and hopefully, also on a good recommendation from the store's wine expert. The label is fun and has a good story (see below) but I'm not into a cute label when searching out new wines. Mostly I'm interested in the quality tied to the price point.  Even though I didn't buy this bottle, this vino did not disappoint!!!

Wow, with great aromas of currants, plum, a hint of chocolate and spicy sensations, I almost wanted to hold off on the tasting.  But that's silly!  The taste was even better...with a full flavored explosion of fruity, blackberry flavors leading to a spicy finish, I didn't stop at one glass.  I'm guessing (remember I'm no pro at this) that the spicy finish is probably from the higher alcohol content (16%).  A smooth and rich wine at a good price point...how can you go wrong? 

After such a wonderful experience with this wine, I did a little research. Since I haven't got into rating the wines I taste with any sort of numbering system, which I may do in the future, I found that this vintage received 90pts. from Wine Spectator and the '05 vintage got 95pts. from Robert Parker along with his "Best Wine Value in the World Under $20."

To wrap things up and give you a little insight on the label, here is the definition for "Mollydooker." Its Aussie for left-hander.  The boxer on the label has 2 left gloves, sure to knock you out!

Check out the Mollydooker website and learn how to do the Mollydooker Shake...with their wines of course!