Herb's Wine Choices

February 2013
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WHITES

2011 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc
This is a lovely New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. It has bright lime and passion fruit aromas with hints of minerals. It can be a bit bracing on the palate (see serving tip below) with light spritz, lime, and grapefruit flavors up-front, which turn to passion fruit, mineral, and lightly herbaceous flavors on the mid-palate. The finish has good length with expressive lime and citrus flavors that turn softer with time.

2010 Grandi Gabana Bianco
This white blend of 60% Friulano and 40% Malvasia Istriana is a great alternative to Pinot Grigio. It’s richer on the palate and offers more flavor. This example has aromas of lemon curd and wet stone, which are followed by pleasantly viscous peach and stone fruit flavors on the palate. There’s even a hint of white flowers, too. The mid-palate is bright and offers a balance to the expressive fruit. The finish is quite nice with more stone fruits, a hint of honeysuckle, and nice length. Lovely white!

REDS

2011 Chaponne Morgon
I think the 2011 Beaujolais Crus are stellar. They’re richer, darker, and have perfect acidity. Basically, they’re more like real wine this year. This estate Morgon had a bit of a closed aroma, but eventually yielded black fruits. This wine is chewy on the palate with thicker berry and strawberry flavors up-front. The mid-palate is drier and brighter with cassis fruit and nice grip. The finish shows a good bit of tannins, for Beaujolais, with raspberry fruit and good length.

2010 Sean Minor Pinot Noir
This Pinot Noir is a touch on the hedonistic side with its fruit component, but it shows just enough acidic balance to make the cut. Expressive aromas of creamy red fruits rise from the glass and lead to pleasantly round, dark red fruit on the palate. It has a hint of baking spice and toasty oak on the mid-palate and lightness on the back palate that is quite enjoyable. The finish is good with raspberry fruit and vanilla notes and nice length.

2010 Terrazas Cabernet
This red will definitely change with aeration. I retried it over the course of a half hour and enjoyed the different flavors that emerged. I would consider this a Bordeaux-styled Cabernet, that is more Old World than New. It has strong aromas of black cherry fruit and bell peppers. It’s interesting on the palate, with initial flavors of clean, fresh berry/cherry fruit and mineral notes. As it opened, I found more liqueur-like berry fruit, cocoa, and bell pepper flavors. The finish shows dried cherry fruit, cedar notes, dry tannins, and good length.

The Wine Advocate - 90 Points!
2010 Dacu Tempranillo
“The 2010 Dacu spent 4 mo. in stainless steel tank as well as 2 mo. in French oak. An unexpected surprise in my tastings, it exhibits terrific wild berry/Zinfandel-like fruit, pepper, earth and roasted herb characteristics. Richly fruity, pure and heady, it is best consumed over the next 2-3 years.”

The Wine Advocate - 90 Points!
2010 Ghost Pines Red
"I loved the 2010 Red, an intriguing blend of 42% Petite Sirah, 29% Zin, 13% Cab and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. The biggest wine in Ghost Pines’ portfolio at 14.6% alcohol, it is a Rhone Ranger-like cuvee revealing notes of bouquet garni, roasted meats, licorice, lavender, black currants and black cherries. Full-bodied, fleshy and filled with personality, it should drink well for 1-2 years."

The Wine Advocate - 91 Points!
2011 Rio Madre Graciano
"The 2011 Rio Madre exhibits slightly riper blackberry fruit intermixed with notions of licorice, wood smoke, camphor and a vivid floral display. This cuvee is aged in French oak prior to bottling. It should drink well for 2-5 years."