Rating:*** 2003 Rio Sol Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva - Vale do Sao Francisco - Brasil (Brazil)

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Original Review, December, 2006: Some dear Sao Paulo-based colleagues provided me this unique opportunity - a bottle of the first vintage of a Brazilian wine from ViniBrasil, a four-year-old partnership between a Brazilian wine importer and a Portuguese wine producer. As they explained for me, the wine "is made in the city of Petrolina, in the middle of the drylands of the Northeastern state of Pernambuco, Brazil, irrigated by the waters of Sao Francisco River. It is the first international quality wine produced at the 8-degree south latitude."

So, let's see... I step into the wine with interest and perhaps just a bit of trepidation... There's a distinctly robust color; a deep, dark brick/ruby red moving to opaque in the center. Good so far... The nose is a mix of brambles, cherry fruit and oak, brighter somehow than the colors. On the palate, smooth, round cherry, strawberry and raspberry flavors, followed by some mouth-puckering tannins. These would smooth out a bit with age or decanting. The finish comes in as charcoal-roasted red cherry. Unusual language perhaps for a cabernet sauvignon, but a complete, round, robust wine experience nonetheless.

Should be some real interesting things coming from this region in future years. Watch out, Argentina! And special thanks Lais, Sandra, Silvia and Eloa!
-----------------
Updated Review, three years later, January, 2010:  Color has remained entirely consistent; after three years, that's a strong sign.  On the nose... wow - a bold, violet-perfumed cherry and raspberry melange.  Now the palate brings a slick, mineral middle leading to a roof-of-your-mouth raspberry flush.  Bright fruits move to the sides of your mouth and lodge in your cheeks.  Charcoal and tannins have evaporated, leaving the finish as a slightly gritty bright red cherry.  This one is ready to drink right now!

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The 37 Most Awesome Wine Values from ALL of 2009!!

What are the most awesome wine values and best bargains for ALL of 2009? See how we select best wine values in this earlier article. We can't predict the type of wine you'll enjoy most. But choose one of these and you'll know you're getting great value. Number of stars represents quality level; number of dollar signs represents price level.

The list below shows you the 37 MOST AWESOME wine values from ALL of 2009.

For more detailed lists, click here to see the best wine values from the FIRST quarter of 2009,  here for the SECOND quarter of 2009; here for the THIRD quarter of 2009; and here for the FOURTH quarter of 2009.

Links take you to availability with online retailers.  Many of these wines remain available at local retailers too.

Cheers!


***+ $ Find Indian Wells Riesling at WineZap.  

***+ $ Find Firestone Santa Rita Chardonnay at WineZap.

**** $ Find Kimberly River Zinfandel at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Tortoise Creek Shiraz at WineZap.

**** $ Find Bianco Delle Venezie at WineZap.

**** $ Find Two Vines Merlot Cabernet at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Ave Malbec at WineZap.

**** $ Find Finnegan's Lake Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.

****+ $ Find Nederburg Pinotage at WineZap.

**** $ Find Palestra Douro at WineZap. 

**** $ Find Whiskers Blake at WineZap. 

**** $ Find E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone on WineZap. 

**** $ Find Chateau Carolena at WineZap. 

**** $ Find Pinot Black Pinot Noir at WineZap. 

***+ $ Find Bridgman Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap. 

***+ $ Find Barefoot Zinfandel at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Lesec Bouquet Cotes du Rhone at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Immensus at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Castillo Real Monastrell at WineZap.

**** $ Find Dr. Loosen Riesling at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Fritz Windisch Niersteiner at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Quinta dos Aciprestes at WineZap.

**** $ Find Cerejeiras at WineZap.

***+ $ Find StarFire Zinfandel at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Walnut Crest Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Este at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Loma Gorda at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Santa Ema Merlot at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Man Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Urban Uco Torrontes at WineZap.

**** $ Find La Huella de Adaras at Wine Zap.

***+ $ Find EXP Syrah at WineZap.

**** $$ Find Yonetsuru Kappa at WineZap.

**** $$ Find Starry Night Zinfandel at WineZap.

**** $$ Find Cat Amongst the Pigeons at WineZap.

**** $$ Find Piping Shrike Shiraz at WineZap.    

**** $$ Find Braida Moscato d'Asti at WineZap.

Best Wine Values: Fourth Quarter of 2009

What are the best wine values and best bargains for the FOURTH quarter of 2009? See how we select best wine values in this earlier article. We can't predict the type of wine you'll enjoy most. But choose oneof these and you'll know you're getting great value. Number of stars represents quality level; number of dollar signs represents price level.

The list below shows you best wine values from the FOURTH quarter of 2009.  Click here to see the best wine values from the FIRST quarter of 2009,  here for the SECOND quarter of 2009; and here for the THIRD quarter of 2009.   Links take you to availability with online retailers.  Many of these wines remain available at local retailers too.

Cheers!

*** $ Find Caliterra Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.

**** $$ Find Cat Amongst the Pigeons at WineZap. 

*** $ (For Cameron Hughes 123 Syrah and 145 Chardonnay) Find Cameron Hughes Lot wines at WineZap. 

*** $ Find Marco Real Garnacha at WineZap.  

*** $ Find Oakton Lane Chardonnay at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Indian Wells Riesling at WineZap.  

*** $ Find Coroa D'ouro at WineZap. 

***+ $ Find Firestone Santa Rita Chardonnay at WineZap.

**** $ Find Kimberly River Zinfandel at WineZap.

*** $ Find Villa Masetti Pinot Grigio at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Tortoise Creek Shiraz at WineZap.

*** $ Find Verdi Spumante at WineZap.

**** $$ Find Piping Shrike Shiraz at WineZap.

*** $ Find Loios Wine at WineZap.

*** $ Find Nando Asti at WineZap.

**** $$ Find Braida Moscato d'Asti at WineZap.

**** $ Find Bianco Delle Venezie at WineZap.

*** $ Find Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc at WineZap.

**** $ Find Two Vines Merlot Cabernet at WineZap.

*** $ Find The Stump Jump at WineZap.

*** $  Find Chateau La Rose Tour Blanche at WineZap. 

*** $ Find Casa Castillo Monastrell at WineZap.

***+ $ Find Ave Malbec at WineZap.

*** $ Find Walnut Crest Merlot at WineZap.

*** $ Find Colombo Les Abeilles at WineZap.

**** $ Find Finnegan's Lake Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap.

****+ $ Find Nederburg Pinotage at WineZap.

**** $ Find Palestra Douro at WineZap. 

**** $ Find Whiskers Blake at WineZap. 

*** $ Find Lineas Tempranillo at WineZap. 

*** $ Find Leacock's Rainwater Madeira at WineZap. 

**** $ Find E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone on WineZap. 

*** $ Find Randall Harris Merlot at WineZap.

*** $ Find Fado White at WineZap. 

**** $ Find Chateau Carolena at WineZap. 

**** $ Find Pinot Black Pinot Noir at WineZap. 

***+ $ Find Bridgman Cabernet Sauvignon at WineZap. 

                

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA, 2006 - Wine Tasting

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By way of background: I've enjoyed the 2004 Stag's Leap Artemis before; this is the 2006 vintage of the classic Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. The 2006 vintage is finished at 13.8% alcohol. 

In the glass: Artemis shows as deep magenta purple, opaque to within about 3/4 inch of the edge of the glass.

On the nose: Poured without a decant, swirled vigorously and served cellar cool, this shows a classic California cabernet sauvignon nose:  black currant plus hay, sniffed deeply from the horse barn.  Yum!

On the palate: The first element is an oak-laced dry black currant tannic fruit which strikes the back of your tongue.  Rugged tannins draw that further back into your mouth, leaving it poised at your cheeks.  The acids recede in the face of the deep tannins, leaving this as an earthy, grainy sip.

And the finish: Because the tannins are bold, the flavors hang for quite a long time, despite only modest levels of alcohol.  The experience almost sweetens up as it fades.

In summary: Overall, an awesome and classic experience of California cabernet.  Definitely wants hours in the decanter or years in the bottle before resampling.  The tannins and fruit intensity suggest this waiting would be well rewarded.

Girard Winery Dry Chenin Blanc, Napa Valley, CA - Wine Tasting

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By way of background: Girard Dry Chenin Blanc from Napa Valley is a somewhat unusual pure varietal from Napa, being more often associated with the Loire Valley of France.  Chenin Blanc is known for its high acidity, thus often being incorporated into dessert wines to offset the sweetness.  The Girard version is dry, however.

Chenin Blanc was more common in the United States up into the 1980's.  Playing on that theme, this tasting taps a 1987 vintage that is nothing short of 22 YEARS OLD - a bit of an extreme for a modest Napa-based white wine.  But we're nothing here at Spirit of Wine if not oenologically adventurous - so let's see what we've got...    

In the glass: This vintage Girard Chenin Blanc shows as liquid gold in the glass.

On the nose: Poured cool without a decant and swirled vigorously, this carries a sweet, fresh lavender and olive oil aroma aloft. Unfortunately, a slight corking has occurred with this bottle.

On the palate: The first element on the palate is a bright yet slick mid-tongue flavor of muddled hay and dry orange.  The acids follow quickly, running to your cheeks.  Squeeeeek...

And the finish: Remains lodged in your cheeks with the acids for what seems like minutes.  Fun, almost ticklish.

In summary: Overall, still viable experience - remarkable for a 22 year old American white wine of any varietal.

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*** $$$ Naga Saki Geisha Nigori Genshu Sake, Japan - Sake Review and Rating

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By way of background: Geisha Nigori Genshu is a nigori sake from the producer Naga Saki of Japan.  Nigori sake is the type of sake - typically somewhat sweet - that includes the cloudy lees as part of the equation.  It is shaken before being drinken.  You can see the unique bottle is part of the appeal of this variety.  We enjoyed Geisha as an after-dinner sip with salmon.  Geisha Nigori is finished at a whopping 18% alcohol.   

In the glass: Geisha Nigori shows as cloudy milky, with a light caramel cast, opaque throughout the glass.

On the nose: Poured cold, this smells of fresh sweet milky yeast and alcohol.

On the palate: The first element is a distinctly tangy sweet creaminess at the top of the palate.  That unfolds to a broader sweet, light milk chocolate coating to your entire mouth.  Almost the Japanese equivalent of a "white Russian" cocktail.

And the finish:  This would not be about the finish, but the finish is clean - not at all cloying - smooth, sweet and bright with alcohol.

In summary: Overall, a fun after-dinner experience.  Not profound, but plenty enjoyable, yielding three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale,

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Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, 2003 - Wine Tasting

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By way of background:Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, 2003, is a purebred sangiovese, made in an old Italian tradition.   Situated on the outskirts of the medieval hilltop village of Montalcino in Tuscany’s Siena province, the Col d'Orcia estate has a rich winemaking history that dates back to the 1700s.  In the hands of the Cinzano family since 1973, it is owned today by Count Francesco Marone Cinzano, with day-to-day operations directed by Edoardo Virano.  The 2003 vintage is finished at 14% alcohol.

In the glass: Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino shows as light- to medium-red, even throughout the glass.

On the nose: Poured without a decant, swirled vigorously and served cool, this shows a shy, introspective nose, full of helium rubber balloon - which has a tendency to fade off after a few minutes decanting.

On the palate: The first element is a perky, distinctive red berry flavor, right smack in the middle-back of your tongue.  It is tangy and upbeat, more like red currant flavors in a red raspberry jacket.  The flavors move lightly up into your jaw as the sip proceeds.

And the finish: With even tangier acids as the sip progresses, the experience moves to your cheeks for the duration, settling to a moderate length, clean finish.

In summary: Overall, a bright, quite dry, red berry experience, with an acidic backbone definitely looking to accompany your next meal.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, CA, 2005 - Wine Tasting

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By way of background: This is the classic cabernet sauvignon from Joseph Phelps Vineyards of Napa Valley, CA.  This 2005 vintage is finished at 14.5% alcohol.

In the glass: Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon shows as deep muddy red, opaque to within about an inch of the edge of the glass.

On the nose: Poured without a decant and swirled vigorously, the wine offers a classic, beefy California cabernet nose, full of red and black berries and knitted oak. 

On the palate: The first element is a flush, lightly acidic middle, full of bright red fruit.  Tannins pull the flavors along your tongue to the back of your cheeks.  There they lodge with tangy acids too.

And the finish: Lingers with the full-strength alcohol, fading cleanly and slowly.

In summary: Overall, a generally bright red and classic cabernet experience.  Seems like it would appreciate some additional time in bottle, as the tannins and acids seem like they could continue to knit the fruit together.

Shiraume (sake or umeshu), Japan - Tasting

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By way of background:This is a bit of a mystery tasting.  This "Shiraume", given us by friends from Japan, is likely either a sake or a umeshu (rice or plum wine).  It is a beautiful label and bottling, but contains no English beyond the "Shiraume" designation. 

In the glass: "Shiraume" shows as almost clear in the glass, with just the slightest hint of vanilla.

On the nose: Poured cool and swirled vigorously, Shiraume punches out bold and funky aromas of yeast, fresh rubber balloons and a bit of a junkyard undertow.  

On the palate: The first element on the palate is a full-on, just lightly sweet mid-tongue assault with the fresh balloons.  The sweet yeast then flows across your tongue, with very light peppery pops of acid.

And the finish: Shiraume finishes with a wave of alcohol heat, then a mellow glow deep in your esophogus. 

In summary: Overall, distinctive, layered, funky - though still pleasant - experience.  Now tell me what this is?!!

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*** $$ Tree of Life Royal Pomegranate Semi-Sweet Wine, Armenia - Wine Review and Rating

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By way of background: Tree of Life Royal Pomegranate Semi-Sweet Wine is made in Armenia from a new pomegranate variety - harvested at full ripeness - using a traditional technique that is said to preserve its taste. The semi-sweet version of the wine comes in at 12% alcohol.  You could legitimately argue whether or not this should be called "wine" - not being made of grapes - but I will focus on the experience of it rather than the lexicography.

In the glass: Royal Pomegranate Semi-Sweet Wine shows as muddy mid-red in the glass.

On the nose: Poured without a decant and swirled vigorously, the wine smells of fruity, red, laundered berries - seeming more red currant than pomegranate; but then I haven't tucked my nose into pomegranates intentionally.

On the palate: The first elements on the palate are a combination of light sugars and acids; they seem to hit as separable elements, not particularly integrated.  Pomegranate-flavor acids crawl up and tickle the top of your palate, lending definite credence to the source of the fruit for this wine.  

And the finish: Sweet acids wrap up the experience, fairly quick, but finishing clean.

In summary: Overall, this creates a pleasant, acidic, tangy fruit-juice experience overall.  Because I particularly enjoyed it for what it was, I'll allow three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.  But it's definitely a matter of taste.  Think of this almost as much as a premixed "screwdriver with grenadine" as a wine. 


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