2008 Zolo Torrontes

I turn once again to the Torrontes grape for an interesting white wine. Anyone else tired of the regular suspects? Yeah, me too.

If you try torrontes and like it, you will be rewarded handsomely with an interesting, tasty, and best of all, inexpensive white wine. I haven't seen torrontes offered outside of Chile and Argentina, but it appears to be of European origin (according to Wikipedia).

It is unique. I've blogged about the Montes Torrontes recently, but I think I'll give the edge to this one.

Zolo offers the big citrus and floral nose often associated with this grape. It really jumps from the glass as if it was waiting too long for you to uncork it. (I've read that Torrontes does not shelf long, so don't be afraid to open a new one the same evening you purchase it.)

Large citrus notes and key-lime pie are present on the tongue. Nothing much subtle here, it's quite fruit forward with plenty of flavor throughout. I find it bold and refreshing, a great wine for the outdoors and warmer weather.

Pair this with something spicy like sushi, Thai or Mandarin. It does serve well as a stand-alone without food, however. This is one of my new "deck favorites" along with rose from Province and Tavel, sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, and others.

T-Scale 89+. Super nice price $11.99!

2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieux Telegraphe "Telegramme"

I finally ventured into the domaine of the acclaimed Chateauneuf-du-Pape viticultural area this weekend. This area and its winemakers currently score 95+ points from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazines. As you would expect, these wines generally command a pretty penny.

Ah, but along comes Telegramme, the young wine from highly acclaimed winemaker Vieux Telegraphe. Previous vintages of Telegramme are mediocre at best so say the reviews, but 2007 looks like a winner. So I found one marked down at my local shop and decided to try it out.

As recommended, I "Venturied" and then decanted for about two hours. The result was clear, it mellowed into a very nice, bright, and fruitful red. It is clear that the structure of Telegramme will allow it to cellar for several more years, if you can wait for it. It can also be enjoyed now, unlike the larger offerings from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Furthermore, the price is less than half of what you would expect from the premier vintings.

Expect fresh strawberries and raspberries on the tongue and nose. The finish is very refined and reminds one of a fine Cotes-du-Rhone, but possibly longer and smoother. It is composed of 90% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, but it doesn't present itself like other blends of this nature. I found it refined, bright, and quite enjoyable.

T-Scale 91. I've had others with similar taste and feel at a lower price, but none with the finish of this calibre. If you want to get into the French super-wine market, this is a pretty good place to start. Unlike others from this region, or from Bordeaux, this is ready to drink now. I found this for $38, but I've seen it for a bit less online. Definitely shoot for the 2007 as other vintages will not measure up to this one.

Alpha Omega syrah 2006

Do you belong to any winery clubs? If not, you might consider joining one. We belong to Alpha Omega's club and we receive four shipments per year. Most clubs have some discretion when choosing reds, whites, roses, or a combination depending upon which varietals winery produces. Bonuses of being a club member include first dibs on new releases, member's only bottles, and perks when visiting the winery.

Onto this month's shipment of Alpha Omega's 2006 and 2007 syrahs. According to the literature included with the shipment, these bottles are for club members only. All produced bottles were distributed through the club and none will be available to merchants or for those who visit the winery.

That's unfortunate. The 2006 is a very nice syrah actually. It's still a bit tight with strong tannins and great structure. It presents itself much like a big zinfandel upfront, but you soon get the spice you normally experience with syrah. It is quite pleasant throughout with much dark fruit, spice, and currant. Short, but nice finish.

I would hold onto this one for another two years or so. Tight now, but should mellow out into a dandy. I'll be holding the 2007 for another three years before dusting it off for show.

T-Scale 90. Unfortunately, you can't get it, but if you can, you should. This should be a 92+ in a year or two. Wines like this one make me a believer in syrah!

Navarro 2003 Pinot Noir - Anderson Valley

We received a nice six bottle Navarro gift set from my brother and his wife and ever since I've tried to find more Navarro wine. Alas, they do not distribute outside of the fine restaurant scene and their own shop... or so I thought.

Oh happy day, I found their pinot noir at one of my local shops! Sorry, we bought all they had. But if you can find it, get it.

Navarro is north of Sonoma on California's North Coast. Pinot must love it there with the warm days and cool nights. This bottle is a great example of American pinot made in the "Méthode à l'Ancienne" (see below). I'm sure Miles (Sideways) would be proud to partake of this one.

Nice nose with some earth and dark fruit. First sip brings up a light cherry and cola feel with a light complexity. Very nice finish which is quite Burgundian with a slight tartness. Very refreshing and light. This is a nice summer red that begs to be enjoyed outdoors. I'd take this red to the beach and set it next to my pool chair while tanning. How many reds can you take outside in heat? This is one.

T-Scale - 90. At $31, it's a good price for quality pinot noir. I would've thought this very hard to get as it is sold out at the winery, but hey, it's out there! Let me know if you find it or any other Navarro wines. Everything they make is very good +



"Méthode à l'Ancienne is a fancy way to say the 'old fashioned way' and it refers to the fact that we gently punch down the cap of our fermenting Pinot Noir rather than pumping- over." - from Navarro's website.

Linne Calodo "Outsider" 2006 - yet another big zin!

From Paso Robles' winemaker Matt Trevisan comes the 2006 Outsider - 75% zinfandel, 21% syrah, 4% mouvedre. This is similar to other Paso blends like Ridge Paso Robles, Red Soles zin, and others. I had great expectations that Outsider would enter the elite big zin category, especially with the lofty acquisition price of $46.

Outsider certainly knocks on the castle door but there's only room for a few on the elite floor. The 2006 doesn't unseat any of the current royal court, but it holds a dance card for the next slow number.

I noticed that the 2007 Outsider is going for $70+ which tells me that the following vintage is more promising. This follows since 2007 is a banner zin year in Paso and elsewhere. As is, the 2006 is hefty but not large. The price is fair but not valued. Few zins have this balance, however. It shows some pepper, but not overly so. There are dark cherries up front, but it fades into a baked cobbler instead of a Twixie stick bomb. The finish is quite long and pleasant with a Dr. Pepper-ish... perhaps cherry cola finale.

Complex, balanced, and long finish. Quite nice. Top 10 zins, but lower on the scale. Still, it's really worth a spin. I'd be willing to go the extra $$$ for the 2007 if you can find it.

T-Scale 90. I'm picky on my zins yet this one gets a nod. Pricey though. Not quite Biker, not yet Turley, but still very good.

Hendry Block 28 Napa Valley Zinfandel

And so comes the Hendry Block 28 Napa Valley Zinfandel which was recommended by my friends at my local tasting (a shout out to Tracy and Phil!). I started this with the Sunday effort, the ribeye and risotto, which demanded something big as a complement.

The Hendry enters the already crowded list of great zinfandels on my short list. But where... ah here lies the quandry.

http://www.hendrywines.com/current/zin05-blk28.htm


It is young, with these vines producing their first yield in 2005, this vintage. First taste shows this is a young zin, but as we all know, this is not necessarily a bad thing. The fruit is lighter but the finish is long and lightly peppery. All of the expected big zinfandel traits are present here, but perhaps on a smaller scale than I like. It is quite nice, however, this being a great complement to steaks or other large meaty dishes.

I will diverge on a slight tangent here much to the chagrin of the 2 or 3 of you who actually read this... zin is the wine I admire most. There.. I've said it. I love pinot... I treasure big cabs... I search for those Italian varietals with that large complexity... blah blah blah.. but in the end, it's zins I grade the hardest.

I am an American and with that comes the inevitable.. I love Zinfandel. The French blend it in to Rhones, the Italians call it Primitivo and bottle it as table wine, and the rest of the world dabbles in it as a secondary grape. But the Americans have made it an art form.

Turley Dusi is the one to beat. Ridge still holds the title for the common man's zin, Four Vines Biker is the @$$ kickin' upstart, but I am always game to try all the rest in hopes that someone else will pierce the top five.

Hendry is an up and coming with potential to get there, but not yet. T-Scale 89. Great, but a bit pricey considering Four Vines Biker is $9.00 less, Cline's Lone Oak, Big Break and Ridge Paso Robles and Lytton Springs are also less. Look for this to get big reviews in future vintages.

Dusted Valley 2006 cabernet sauvignon

First enjoyed at my local regular tasting, I purchased this one last night and savored it with grilled pork and baked beans. Need a large cab to carry you over the bold flavors of bbq beans? This one is fruit forward, dusty, and a bit sour on the tongue. It is young, but bold.. hedonistic, actually.

I don't see this holding up in your cellar, but if you want one ready to unscrew (yep, no cork here) this is a great choice! Ready now to pour and enjoy. Great for steaks, pork, and other meaty entrées or just as a stand-alone. I wouldn't recommend this as your first bottle.. make it the last of the evening. This one is likely to dominate the evening.

In sum, a large, bold Washington cab with big fruit, oak, and a bit of citrus. Good all around and fairly priced at $24.99. T-Scale - 90. I'm not sure how many cases were produced as the vinter's website is of little use. I believe this is a blend, but again, I can't find that info from the vinter. If you find it, email me troopint@gmail.com and clue me in.