Kronick Wino

‘Este’ de Bodegas Alto Almanzora - 2007 - Almeria, Spain

Friday, December 25th, 2009 | Food Pairings, Wine Tasting Notes | 2 Comments

This is a bottle I’ve had a few times now and love each and every sip! Great food-pairing wine! Something newer on the market are these Spanish table wines, or ‘vino de mesas’. These don’t fall under any particular aging requirements but tend to be little jewels if you know what to look for.

P.S. the label below shows 13.5%, but this bottle I’m reviewing is 14%.

‘Este’ means ‘east’ in Spanish and similarly, that’s where the wine originates from out of the eastern section of Andalucia in the DO of Almeria. I’ve only had a couple of wines from this region and haven’t been disappointed. The flavors are not too complex, but lovely, easy to drink and gentle on the wallet!

This is also a blend of Spain’s most beloved grapes - 60% Monastrell, 10% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha with the balance three other varieties(probably Merlot and Syrah), aged for 6 months in French and American oak.

Let’s get to the nitty gritty…

Nose:

Nice smoke, earthy raspberry and other red berry fruit with a bit of musky leaves. Definitely picking up aromas of the french oak and cedar. It reminds me of a smoky cherry wood fire burning; kind of sweet and smoky.

Flavor:

Lots of fresh berry fruit, some cherry and sharp tannins at the front. Medium-bodied with a touch of slate, black pepper, smoky oak and leather in the finish. A somewhat thin finish, but it lingers. Great pairing with the gaminess of seared lamb chops with a bit of char or a traditional steak au poivre. Even a nice sausage or margarita pizza would do nicely with this wine. It’s not overpowering, but has a solid presence with charcuterie meats and most tapas. I’d like to get this together with some sauteed mushrooms and goat cheese.

Purchase a few bottles or a case at your friendly Mountain Road Wine & Liquors in Seymour, CT!

Cheers,

Kronick Wino

Tags: Andalucia wines, cheap spanish wines, Este Almanzora, Este spanish wine, Granada spain wine, red blends spain, smoky wine flavors, spanish wine deals, Spanish wine pairing with filet, spanish wine pairing with mushroons, spanish wine under $10, steak au poivre wine pairing, Wine Deals, wine under $10

Rubicon 2005 Tasting Notes a.k.a. A Spoiled Wino

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 | Wine Tasting Notes | 1 Comment

I’m going to waste little time explaining the glory that comes from 1 bottle of Rubicon. Those of you who are in the know, will understand and appreciate! I would like to, however, give a warm thanks to the two fine ladies that encouraged this wonderful tasting!! (You know who you are….)

Niebaum-Coppola’s Rubicon Estate is the producer of this high-end wine and if you catch one you’d better be ready to pony up!

TASTING NOTES of Rubicon Estate 2005 Rubicon - Bordeaux Blends Red Wine, Rutherford, CA (Napa Valley); 14.5% alc. Mostly Cabernet, with a new addition of Petit Verdot!

Nose:

Lots of sweet smoke. A wafting perfume lingers which is indicative of roses and violets, some mocha, dark chocolate and the oak is very pronounced. Some sweet spice, like cinnamon and vanilla, a little espresso and coconut come off in layers. Kind of like a really good, yet refined,  chocolate cake!

Color:

A rich and dark ruby/garnet color swirls in the glass. The 2005 could definitely use some more time in the bottle, but the overall color now is warm and inviting. Talk about a romantic ’sip by the fireside’ kind of wine! (And if you have a fuzzy bear rug, it’d be even better!)

Taste:

Lots of dark jammy fruit, like plum and black currant are noticeable at first. Then, chocolate notes, a touch of graphite (probably from the soils), medium tannins, yet firm body structure. It has a nice long and toothy finish - kind of chewy!

Those of you who are Cabernet lovers will not only appreciate this wine, but will cellar it for quite a few years to come.

Rated 93 by WINE SPECTATOR and 96 by WINE & SPIRITS - Retails at $145 / Bottle. (click to purchase)

Cheers,

Kronick Wino

Tags: Coppola wines Rubicon, high-end cabernets, Niebaum Coppola wines, Rubicon, Rubicon 2005, Rubicon California, Rubicon flagship, Rubicon Napa CA, Rubicon online purchase, Rubicon tasting notes, Rutherford CA Cabernets, Where to buy Rubicon

Clueless Chianti - Tomaiolo Chianti Riserva 2003

Monday, December 7th, 2009 | Food Pairings, Wine Tasting Notes | 3 Comments

I know I’m a wino, but I will admittedly say that I am a tad clueless when it comes to Italian wine… SHHHHH!!!

So, tonight I decided I wanted to make a nice Tuscan bean soup with leftover turkey and needed a nice glass of wine. I went to my local ‘Friendly Liquor Store’ (the selection was severely lacking, but it’s a small place) and did what any natural wino would do, find SOMETHING. Oh, and I stayed under $15.

I picked a 2003 Tomaiolo Chianti Riserva. (My Italian wine loving friends are hopefully nodding in approval…) I wanted something medium-bodied to stand up to the earthy beans and spices, but not overwhelm the flavors of the vegetables and broth.This wine is made of Sangiovese grapes and produced in the Classico region. This has been aged in Slavonian oak (this is new) for 2 years and then aged in the bottle.

ON THE NOSE:

As I’m smelling the simmering thyme and oregano, the wine is pairing wonderfully. Upon first swirls, I get a LOT of dark cherry, particularly Bing cherries you buy in the summertime. There is a nice earthy spice, a bit of ‘rich dirt’ and chocolate nuances. A little mocha - coffee aroma with vanilla spice. After some ample ‘air’ time, I start to get the sweet licorice hints that are indicative of most Italian wines due to the terroir.

TASTE:

The flavor is dry, but opens up in the finish. Taste is similar to the nose, but a bit more refined. Great finish… a little lingering. Firm tannins which give the wine some ‘omph’, but not overly acidic. Just a little meaty and strong. Reminds me a lot of some Bordeaux’s I’ve tasted, so I think I hit the mark with this one. The cherry notes are pronounced with a bit of plum and vanilla.

VERDICT: 2 wino thumbs up! I think I dug out a diamond in a very limited rough.

But let me share a few secrets that led me to this decision, as I’m sure you’re all wondering why I picked out a bottle I know nothing about…

1.) I wanted a medium-bodied red, so typically I look for anything UNDER 13% alcohol. This one is 12.5%.

2.) I wanted a European wine because they tend to be a little more ‘food-friendly’. I initially wanted either a Bordeaux or Burgundy, but that just wasn’t happening at this little shop. So Italian it was.

3.) Price range WILL affect quality, if you know at least a little about the wine market. Cheap prices generally DO mean ‘not so great’ wine, but only if you know your regions. I was taking a gamble on this Italian wine, as the market for Italian wines is high. However, it’s cheaper to buy from Europe on the east coast than buy a wine from California… go figure. I figured if I stayed between $10 - $15, I’d get something at least descent.

4.) Classification - Italian wines are similar to Spanish wines (which I know enough about to trust my judgment) in that they have aging minimums and a rating system that is similar. A ‘Riserva’ tends to be aged about a year longer than other similar bottles.

5.) Lastly, this is a DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) – denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin. Basically, it’s high-quality, ‘guaranteed wine’ and there are only about 35 DOCG’s in all of Italy.

Labels; they are your friend.

Where to buy?

Ancona’s market - Ridgefield, CT

Friendly Liquor shop - Milford, CT

Elmer’s Wine & Spirits - Norwalk, CT

Ledgebrook Spirit Shop - Winsted, CT

What are your favorite Chiantis? Any suggestions for a clueless wino?

Cheers!

Tags: 2003 chiantis, 2003 tomaiolo chianti riserva, chianti reserva tasting notes, italian chiantis, italian classification system, riserva italian wines, riserva tasting, tomaiolo tasting notes