Monthly Archives: September 2007

Port Types Compared

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

Taylor Fladgate, Porto, Late Bottle Vintage 2000 Porty and pruny with a noticable sense of the fortifying spirit – true to type and sometimes the wine seems to have the alcohol integrated even better than usual. Bottled in 2006 in … Continue reading →

Posted in Fortified dessert, Port, Portugal | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Zin and Primitivo

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

Gran Sasso, Puglia, Primitivo IGT 2005 Tasted in May ’08 this wine was blooming with brett and would repulse most consumers. A bottle tasted later in the summer proved to be a different animal. Oaky and earthy with new world … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dry Creek Valley, Lodi, Primitivo, Puglia, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

Sangiovese at Home and Abroad

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2003 Tonight’s bottle showed some herbaceousness and tannic grip, as well as evolving fruit. The bottle opened earlier in the year showed classic cherry fruit and complexing earthiness with some evolution and stewed fruit. … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti Classico, Sangiovese, Tuscany, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano | Leave a comment

V Squared

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

This flight pairs two of Italy’s well-known white grapes. Vernaccia from Tuscany and Vermentino from the island of Sardegna. Classically the Vernaccia has been described as crisp and full of minerality while the Vermentino was known for its broader, almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, San Gimignano, Sardegna, Tuscany, Vermentino, Vernaccia | Leave a comment

Chocolate Dessert

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

Jocelyn Lonen Napa Valley Zinfandel Port 2004 This wine combines sweet fruit, an essence of chocolate and spirit.  One of the class affectionately described it as like a chocolate candy filled with liqueur,  ‘alcohol in an envelope of something sweet’. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fortified dessert, Port, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

Zin Challenge

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

This flight features 5 Zinfandel from 2001 to 2005 sourced from Napa and Paso Robles. Eberle Paso Robles Zinfandel 2005 Like eating a sweet cherry pie, this wine combines rich fruit, glycerol and oak into a viscous delight.  Even with … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

It’s Not Just for Cooking

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

Marsala is known the world over but like Madeira it often gets categorized as a mere cooking wine. This is unfortunate as the flavors can delight and since the wine is out of fashion, it’s price point is attractive. Florio … Continue reading →

Posted in Fortified dessert, Italy, Marsala, Sicilia | Leave a comment

Zibibbo

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

Cantine Rallo Moscato di Pantelleria DOC 2003 This is the second bottle of this vintage tasted this year.  The Muscat comes through (known as Zibibbo in this part of the world).  During the last tasting we placed it side by … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Muscat, Sicilia | Leave a comment

Island Blends

Posted on September 30, 2007 by Ray

Planeta Sicilia IGT La Segreta Rosso 2006 Black fruits, mintiness and a moderate amount of extract and some light structure make this an easy drink. 50% Nero d’Avola, 25% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 5% Cab Franc grown at 100-250 metres, … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Sardegna, Sicilia | Leave a comment

Sicilian Reds

Posted on September 28, 2007 by Ray

This flight shows two budget Island reds with different personalitites. Nero d’Avola also goes by the moniker Calabrese. Feudo Arancio Sicilia IGT Nero d’Avola 2005 This wine carries on value shown in the 2003. One of the class described the … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Nero d'Avola, Sicilia | Leave a comment