Bridlewood 2003 Syrah

wow. i have had this before and i just opened a bottle of the '03 from the 2007 wine festival. earthy nose. hints of cedar, vanilla, and deep floral notes. tastes of cassis and dried blackberry, dark chocolate and mocha. soft tannins and a chewy mouth feel, with a beautiful, long finish. this wine opens up as it has more time to breathe. then the licorice flavors start to kick in, adding to the beauty of this wine. excellent syrah which i highly recommend. priced anywhere from $15-30 depending on where you buy, this is an excellent red that pairs well with grilled meats.

Château La Pierre Levée 2005

this cotes de castillon bordeaux is the first french wine on my blog. i haven't been much of a french wine drinker until recently, so i am starting to expand my horizons. i have had a few folks tell me to try some bordeaux's and burgundies, so i will give them a try. on to the tasting… this wine exhibited plums and a cedar note on the nose as well as an interesting clay or gravel note. there was even a bit of a cheesy note on the nose. on the palate, spicy black cherries, plum and menthol, followed by firm tannins and gravel. interesting wine that i will revisit again in the next day or so to see how it opens up. it could be that it just needed more time in the bottle. at about $12, it would be worth buying another bottle and laying it for a year or so to see the difference.

Pepperwood Groves 2005 Chardonnay

this ones for lucie. i enjoyed this tonight with a vegan dinner. nose of tropical fruit, a little something floral, and a slight oaky aroma. on the palate, a crisp slightly buttery, brown sugar, oaky flavor. for only about $6-8, this is a very nice chardonnay. pepperwood does a very nice job with quite a few of their varietals.

2006 Alamos Malbec

for those of you who are always searching for good wines on a budget, the under $15 a bottle group, try this one. alamos malbec from argentina has been a favorite at the bald wine geeks home for several years. the nose is intense and complex, with leather and black cherry, and a little something i would call funky. you will have to give it a try and let me know if you agree. very fruity, plum flavors on the palate in the beginning. decant this and leave it sit for a while and just taste the difference. the wine gets earthy, the fruit flavors become deeper and more robust. the hints of licorice and spice come through. very good wine for the price, usually under $10 if you look in the right place.

Houghton Shiraz

this 2004 vintage isn't the typical bold, slap you in the face, shiraz. a bit more elegant that had aromas of warm chocolate and spice/pepper. tastes of red berries and some floral notes and a long, soft finish with very typical shiraz pepper notes. had this with a burger with grilled mushrooms which worked well together. priced in the $15-18 range. a good valued shiraz.

another good pinot

lily 2006 pinot noir from sonoma. fruity vanilla/cherry and funky/earthy nose. earthy can mean all kinds of things. in this case it is animal in nature…the attractive sensual/sweaty aroma of the human body. what some people (like me) really look for in a good pinot. big flavor of raspberries and really nice long soft tannin finish with hints of spice and earth. very nice pinot which sells for about $20.

pinot noir anyone?

"ultimately, any discussion of the aromas and flavors in pinot noir comes down to a discussion of sex."
-scott rich, winemaker, talisman

another good white

oriel 2006 sauvignon blanc. aromas of grapefruit, passion fruit and a hint of stones, this white is another good patio pounder for the warmer months. flavors of bright tropical fruits and a long, crisp finish with hints of minerals. nice wine for about $20. enjoyed this with a nice shrimp and pasta dinner. excellent pairing.

2005 Atteca Old Vines Garnacha

interesting 100% grenache wine from spain. black currant and black cherry nose. immediate fruit forward taste followed by tar and licorice flavors, and a stony finish followed by soft tannins. 14.5% alcohol content gives it a bit of a bite. overall a very nice meaty red wine that would compliment a good steak dinner, or game like venison if you like that sort of meat. priced at around $15-18. enjoy!

pizza wine

looking for a good wine to drink when you have a craving for pizza? on a tight budget? this ones for you. barefoot shiraz. blackberries, spices, and a hint of bacon. nice wine for under $10. get that pizza topped with bacon and have a glass of this wine with it and tell me what you think.