Luis Felipe Edwards 2007 riserva sauvignon blanc

I went into one of my local retailers this weekend and was treated to a small tasting of Chilean and Argentinian bottlings. The first was a sleeper, this Luis Felipe Edwards sauvignon blanc 2007. During my trials to find a non-chardonnay white that C and I can both appreciate, it's not often that I find one this tasty, certainly not this inexpensive.

Edward's offering is not unlike a California sauvignon in citrus and grassy fields on the nose. Red grapefruit, oranges, and lemon drops on the tongue add to its nice complexity at this price level. Serve this up slightly chilled for what remains of the good early fall weather. This one craves the outdoors, namely your patio. Bring your soft cheese and hot dry salami for a nice early evening starter. This one will put out a spicy fire while offering a little more than the average sauv blanc charm. A bit sweet for this varietal but still nice.

T-Scale - 88+. Lots of this stuff out there, but really good price - $11.99 - $15.99 depending on your seller. Gobble it up. Your non-wine-drinking company will actually like this one. Think of this as a "beer lover's wine."

Melville - Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills 2007

Ah Melville. One of my favorites in every way. Santa Barbara County near California 1 in Lompoc. I've raved about their estate so I won't revisit that part of the experience.

This is Pinot Noir extreme. Everything you like in a pinot exaggerated.. big fruits, dark tea flavors, asparagus on the nose. Light earth long on the finish. When Paul Giamatti recited his lines in Sideways, this is the one he was talking about.

Those who know me understand my love for the pinot grape. More depth and art can be expressed her than with most any other grape. Cabs are huge and show the vigneron's efforts as much, but still, pinot is the art of the grape.

This is quite large for pinot admittedly. Advocates probably say too much so, but for me, it exhibits all that is good. It's young, but this will become your Central Coast choice for pinot in time. Still relatively inexpensive, in a few years this will increase in value undoubtedly. Too bad I can't hold it that long, it's too tempting to cork.

T-scale - 93! And.. it's in stock locally. The world is a better place because of this one. Yes, you should own it. If you are new to pinot, start here. Beware, you won't like anything less after you try this one.

Let me quote Melville's website, :....this wine opens with lifted fruit punch aromatics of black raspberry, black cherry, fig and watermelon. Spice nuances of pink peppercorns, oolong tea, iron and sesame seed follow." - agreed.

Trimback gewurtztraminer Alsace 2004

Not drinking German wines? Well, you should be. I know what you're going to say, Alsace is in France. And.. you're right.

Alsace is an interesting place. It's in France but I'm not sure the locals be lieve it. Any wine from the region follows German lines. You will fin d reisling, gewurtz, and weisburgunder here instead of pinot noir ( which i s spätburgunder), chard, or Rhone varietals.

I picked up this guy at the clearance at Kroger. This just shows that most Americans don't get the Alsace and German whites. If it ain't Riesling, it ain't happening. Don't get caught up in the hoopla, "gewurtz" (say "ga-vurtz") is the real thing. I find gewrutz to have more character, nose, and depth then reisling, muller-thurgau, weisburgunder, etc.

Try the nose. I get the smell of the earth in which this grape grows. Moist loam and flowers with a mild citrus. Dry! Excuse me.. trocken.

Enjoy with fish on the grill or Thai carry-out. It'll put out the spicy fire. Take it on its own for a gutsy alternative to wimpy chards or other flabby whites.

If you can't find Alsation gewurtz, try the American versions from Washington like Chateau St. Michelle or Sonoma like Gundlach Bundschu. This grape carries itself into any of the wines made from it.

T-scale 89.

Available and big for a white. Huge nose, dry dry dry, short finish but fruity and spicy. Put out that hot spicy fire of Thai or Mexican with this guy.

Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sonoma 2007

Like a big cab but don't like to spend big $$$? Yeah me too. I want a large cabernet sauvignon from time to time but really don't want to pull from the cellar or invest a chunk of my retirement to get it. So it's time to look for that bargain cab with the big feel.

Fortunately, there's a lot of inexpensive cabs out there. Unfortunately, not many are big and wonderful, rather they are watery, young, and blah.

So, I went with Louis Martini's Sonoma cab 2007 which reviewed at 90 points with Parker and high 80's most everywhere else. Hey, it's pretty good!

Good oaky feel with high dark fruits. High dollar nose with nice balance. This would would cellar, but heck just drink it now. Spectator says, "Tight, chewy and earthy. Full-bodied and complex, offering a mix of earthy currant, anise and dried berry fruit." Agreed.

T-scale 89+
It's readily available and I got it on sale at $15.99 locally. I would consider a case of this one. Deal price with big taste and feel. Serve it to your guests and don't be ashamed you spent small money. I've had big money cabs I liked less.

Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc rose 2008

Still haven't tried rose? Not since you've been left flat by the sweet and semi-sweet swill so called "white" zinfandels? Now is the time to leave your fears behind. If you haven't noticed, I'm a pink advocate, this being the third rose I've reviewed.

Guess what, it's cabernet sauvignon. How bad can it be right? Well it's good. It's really good. On the nose, it's more red than white. Close your eyes and detect that green pepper, flower, and strawberry nose. Upon tasting, you get some tart cranberries and strawberries. Finish smooth like a Cotes de Province or the Cherub I reviewed a while back.

Bonus, this one is readily available at many of my favorite spots around town. This is the first South African wine I would make a regular bottle around my cellar. Fun! Drink it now. Chill it a little bit, but not too much. It likes to wake up from a chill and satisfy. Cool it somewhere between your regular reds and your chards, say 62 degrees maybe?

Good deal too! $15.00

T-Scale 89. Availability - good! Outstanding bottle for the money. Get a few, serve them while you sit outside on your deck.

Sunstone Milestone merlot 2003

We picked up our Sunstone "Milestone" merlot directly at the source at the Sunstone estate. Great tasting! We opted for the deluxe reserve tour and were treated to the grande tour. The estate reserves are big time here, but this estate merlot is quite nice.

The Milestone is not the reserve, but I found this to be a better value. We had the last of the 2003 vinting and were very impressed. You know I'm not a merlot fan, but this one is a winner. I usually find merlot jammy and flabby, but this one was done correctly. Drink it alone or with something in a fat steak or tomato based pasta. It'll stand up to your Sunday big dish.

Shame I can't get any more of this, we got this bottle from the last of the cases in house. If it's still on the shelf, go ahead and buy it. Also, tell me where you found it. It's good value in merlot and it makes me rethink the entire grape. I know there's good merlot out there, and this one makes me a believer!

T-scale: 90 with a bullet.

Find it and it's reasonably priced. Sunstone is out of it, so if you know where I can find it, email me. Probably in the best merlots out there. Plenty of character, compare to syrah. You know, it's better than most California syrah actually.

Four Vines "Biker" zinfandel 2006

We were introduced to Biker at the Ballard Inn during our stay in the Santa Ynez valley. Oh my, this was the first of the great zins that would follow over the next ten days.

My first taste of the great Dusi ranch zins, this thing is a casual stroll through the vineyard with pleasing notes and flavors beginning, middle and end. Super finish unlike some zins that sting you on the way out. This one will hold up to bbq, heavy meats and red sauce pastas. But it shines as a stand alone winner on its own.

Enthusiast gave it 92. I concur. Make that 92+ as I can actually find this locally without too much trouble. Crypes, I even found it in Clear Lake, Iowa at a kickin' wine shop named Back Alley Wine. They are on Facebook, how about that? I am now a fan. My Iowa peoples should befriend them ASAP.

T-scale 92+ (fab everything plus is available outside of Paso Robles!)

Ridge Dusi Ranch Zinfandel 2006

One of three Ridge zins I've had recently, the Dusi Ranch places in the middle. C believes Dusi places above Lytton Springs, but hey, it's like vanilla and chocolate, right?

Dusi is a fruit bomb right out of the bottle with no air and no decanting. In fact, don't decant this one. It's potent up front and it softens somewhat over time in the glass. If you like "in your face" this is for you. Lower pepper and hot stinging spice than some. What you get is large dark fruit instead. This is one of the zins Enthusiast has told us about.

Dusi sound familiar? It did to me too. Turley also bottles a Dusi. Turns out, the Dusi brothers own two vineyards in the same area of Paso Robles. The fruit is first rate! The Dusis don't bottle anything, but they sure do grow fabulous zin grapes.

Compare the Ridge and the Turley and you will find some similarities. Both are top zins with a big big feel. Either would make you dance a jig, but you won't find the Turley outside of their house or wine club. I will be holding onto mine for a few years or until such time I can get out there to get another. There is currently a two-year wait to GET IN THEIR WINE CLUB. Bummer! But until such time, Ridge is available. I noticed that the 2007 vintage of Ridge Dusi Ranch is now "Paso Robles Zin" and is sports a little less alcohol. I'll review this one in the near future.

T-scale - 92 - big, big big... not readily available however. Find one, drink now. Email me if you try the newer Paso Robles Zin before me. Also, if you find Lytton Springs, get it. It gets a 93+ on the T-scale. Also let me know where you find it.

Montes Cherub 2005, 2006 rosé of syrah, Chile

Anyone for rosé? You should be for it. This is the "white" for those who prefer red. Made from syrah, a red, this medium rosé is quite fulfilling. Strawberries, watermelon, and flowery notes. Slight tannin gives it some mmmph in the middle and a long finish. Serve it cool for the remaining days of summer outside while grilling lighter meats or fish. Great compliment to soft cheese or veggies. Light acidity will appeal to those looking for a heavier "white" or those who want that standalone lighter non-red.

I've had the 2005 and 2006 and both are very nice! This is readily available and should be on your short list for that one bottle everyone can enjoy.

T-scale 91. You should own a few of these. Almost everyone can enjoy this. It is also quite reasonable at $15.99 or so.