Wine Life - Houston

2006 Purple Angel Carmenere by Montes  (with 8% Petit Verdot) Appearance: Opaque, inky purple Nose: Deep aromas of dark fruits, mixed plums and berries, with smoky cedar. Palate: Dry, full body, medium tannins and acidity, 14.5% abv; Rich dark fruit flavors mirror the aromas with vanilla and a fresh crushed peppercorn spiciness. Finish: Long Quality: Outstanding    Price: $65

2009 MontGras Reserva Carmenere Appearance: Opaque purple Nose: Medium+ intense aromas of dark berries with herbal notes. Palate: Dry, full body, medium tannins and acidity, 14.5% abv; Concentrated blackberry flavors with hints of chocolate and mint. Finish: Long Quality: Very Good+    Price: $10

2007 Chateau de l'Aiguillette "Vielles Vignes" Blanc (Muscadet) Appearance: Clear, pale straw color Nose: Clean, medium aromas of peach, orange blossoms, white flowers Palate: Dry, medium body, light acidity (slightly flabby mouthfeel); Pink grapefruit & less than ripe canteloupe Finish: Short Quality: Acceptable+  Price: $12 2009 Domaine Franck Millet Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) Appearance: Clear, pale straw color Nose: Clean, medium aromas of gooseberry, bell pepper, lemongrass & citrus Palate: Dry, Light body, medium+ acidity; Grapefruit, minerality, touch of dill Finish: Long Quality: Very Good  Price: $21 2005 Domaine Baumard Savennieres (Chenin Blanc) Appearance: Clear, pale straw color Nose: Clean, medium aromas of apricot, pear and toasted hazelnuts Palate: Dry, Medium body, medium+ acidity, round mouthfeel; Pear, minerality, bit of lemondrop candy Finish: Medium+ Quality: Very Good  Price: $22 2008 Domaine Montfort Demi-Sec Vouvray

This tasting was conducted to compare how the dosage level affects the taste in two otherwise identical Champagnes-from the same house,  Ayala-Maison de Champagne , and from the same vintage. The Liqueur de Dosage, which is also known as Liqueur d'Expedition, is a mixture of cane sugar and still reserve wine that is added to the bottle after disgorgement which determines the final sweetness level. Legally, the drier Brut Nature style can only have from 0 to 3 grams of sugar per liter, while the Brut style has a wider range and must only remain under 12 grams of sugar per liter. Ayala Perle Brut Nature Champagne 2002 Appearance: Clear, pale lemon color with good bubbles. Nose: Clean, low intensity aromas of yeasty bread dough and lemon Palate: Dry, light body, high acidity, medium alcohol; Yeasty autolytic flavors, lemon and apple.  Finish: long Quality: Very Good          Price: $150 Ayala Perle Brut Champagne 2002 Appearance: Clear, pale lemon color with good bubbles. N

NV Duval Leroy Rose Champagne Appearance: Clear, pale salmon color with short-lived bubbles. Nose: Clean, medium intensity aromas of berries, citrus, yeast and tomato Palate: Dry, light body, high acidity, medium alcohol; Raspberry, tropical fruit, citrus Finish: short Quality: Acceptable  Price: $21/half bottle NV Duval Leroy Brut Champagne Appearance: Clear, pale lemon color with short-lived bubbles. Nose: Clean, medium intensity aromas of apple, lemon, buttermilk biscuits Palate: Dry, light body, high acidity, medium alcohol; green apple & chalky minerality Finish: short Quality: Acceptable  Price: $21/half bottle NV Cattier Blanc de Noirs Champagne Appearance: Clear, pale lemon color with good bubbles. Nose: Clean, medium intensity aromas of pear, under-ripe strawberries, flint Palate: Dry, light body, high acidity, medium alcohol; Lemon and tart berries Finish: -medium Quality: Good          Price: $55

2008 Domaine du Chardonnay Premier Cru Chablis "Tonneree" - Clear , pale straw color Nose: Clean, medium intense aromas of apple and chalky minerality. Palate: Dry, medium body & alcohol, high acidity; Apple, lemon, bit of chalk. Finish: Medium Quality:  Very Good     Price: $23 2008 Bret Brothers Macon Vilages, Maconnais - Clear, medium lemon color. Nose: Clean, medium intense aromas of lemon, peach, yeast, butter, bit of tomato. Palate: Dry, medium+ body, medium alcohol, high acidity; Apple, yeast & mushroom. Finish: Medium+ Quality: Very good      Price: $24 2006 Jadot Grand Cru Corton Pougets, Cote de Beaune - Clear, medium ruby Nose: Clean, medium intense aromas of red fruit, leather and spice. Palate: Dry, light body, medium+ tannins, alcohol and acidity; Cherries, smoke and mushroom flavors. Finish: -Medium Quality: Good      Price: $80 2006 Jadot Grand Cru Charmes Chambertin, Cote de Nuits - Clear, medium ruby Nose: Clean, light aromas of

     Barbera D'Asti Superiore is a red wine made from the Barbera grape in the Piemonte region of Italy. It just recieved DOCG status in 2008. To be called "Superiore", it must be at least 12.5% abv and aged for 1.5 years in oak or chestnut barrels.      The 2008 Michele Chiarlo "Le Orme" Barbera D'Asti Superiore was a medium, ruby red in the glass with medium intense aromas of ripe, mixed berries. Dry on the palate, with high acidity, medium- tannins, medium alcohol (13% abv) and a medium- body balanced with juicy berry/cherry flavors with a medium length finish. An easy drinking simple wine, I served it with Italian sausage/smoked provolone sandwiches but it would also be excellent to have on hand for pizza delivery nights.      A good+ wine and a great value at $12 a bottle.

2008 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages - Clear, pale ruby Nose: Clean, medium intense strawberry, hard candy, banana Palate: Dry, light body, high acidity, low tannins; Red fruit flavors- strawberry, cherry, raspberry Finish: Short Qu ality: Good   Price: $12 2009 Louis Tete Beaujolais Villages - Clear, medium purple Nose: Clean, medium intense cherry, strawberry, cotton candy Palate: Dry, light body, medium acidity, low tannins; Sour cherry & lime flavors Finish: Short Quality: Acceptable-Good   Price: $17   2009 Domaine Fessy, Cru Village Regnie - Clear, medium purple Nose: Clean, medium intense strawberry, blackcurrant, herbal earthiness Palate: Dry, light body, high acidity, medium+ tannins; Raspberry flavor Finish: -Medium Quality: Good   Price: $16 2009 Chateau de Capitans, Julienas - Clear, medium purple Nose: Clean, medium intense red berries and violets Palate: Dry, medium body, medium acidity, medium+ tannins; strawberry & a slightly salty minera

     I am a long-time Merlot lover who was never swayed by Sideways' wine snob, Miles. I watched a Cork'd Video where Gary Vaynerchuk interviewed Eric Bolen about his new Merlot, "the World's Best Merlot". If you are a fan of Gary, you know he is very enthusiastic and, usually, guests can't keep up with his level of exuberance.       The owner of Bolen Family Estates managed to do this and really sell his 100% varietal Merlot at the same time. He mentions that his winemaker is Tom Rinaldi of Duckhorn Merlot fame, the quality source of his grapes in the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley and the entire family's passion for the project. After attempting to seek it out here in Houston to no avail, I decided to order a bottle and see for myself.       In the glass, the wine was a deep ruby color with pronounced aromas of red fruit-primarily ripe plums, with nutmeg and touches of oak. Rich flavors mirrored the aromas and were balanced with medium aci

     The Tasting Room-Uptown hosted an Etude wine tasting with winemaker, Jon Priest, on Thursday. Event goers had the opportunity to taste eight offerings from the Etude Wines portfolio. Wines included two whites- 2007 Chardonnay and 2009 Pinot Gris, four Pinot Noir- 2007 Carneros, 2006 Temblor, 2006 Deer Camp, 2007 Heirloom and two Cabernets- 2005 Napa Valley and the 2006 Oakville.           Jon's philosphy is that wine "is grown, not made." He believes in using quality grapes from superior vineyards with as little intervention as possible from the winemaker. This quality is clearly evident throughout the product line.      I enjoyed all the selections; the whites were both fresh and crisp with pronounced fruit, the Pinot Noirs were each unique- clearly representing their different terroir and the Cabernets gave everything that you expect and want from a Napa Cab. I would rate the complete line from very good to outstanding.   Specific tasting notes will be presente

     A Selection de Grains Nobles wine is made from late harvested grapes which are affected by noble rot. Each grape must be botrytised before picking so harvest may take six to eight weeks while grapes are hand-picked, berry by berry, during multiple passes through the vineyard.      The 1999 Schlumberger Selection de Grains Nobles Riesling from Alsace is an outstanding wine in this category. In the glass, the wine was a clear, deep gold with clean, medium intense aromas of honey, almond, apricot and orange peel with touches of a petrol minerality. This full body wine was so well-balanced with a medium+ acidity that it tasted surprisingly off-dry. Honeyed flavors of nectarine, tangerine and marmalade lingered for a long finish.      Absolutely delicious at $120 a bottle.

2009 Marquis de Chasse, Bordeaux Blanc (50/50 Sauv Blanc & Semillion) Appearance:  Clear, pale lemon color Nose: Clean, medium aromas of pear, lemon grass and bell pepper. Palate: Dry, Light body, High acidity, 12% abv.    Citrus flavors of grapefruit and lemon with a slight celery stick saltiness. Finish: Medium+ length Quality: Very Good        Price: $14 2007 Chateau Bourgneuf, Pomerol Appearance:  Clear, medium ruby Nose: Clean, Pronounced aromas of chocolate cake, coffee and plum. Palate: Dry, full body, medium tannins, medium+ acidity and alcohol (13.5%)     Flavors of cocoa, caramel and ripe plums. Finish: long length Quality: Very Good    Price: $48 2007 Les Chenes de Macquin, Saint Emilion Appearance:  Clear, medium ruby  Nose: Clean, medium aromas of red plums, smoke, green vegetal hints. Palate: Dry, -medium body, medium acidity, tannins and alcohol.     Flavors of plum and black pepper.  Finish: -medium Quality: acceptable-good       Price: $40

2005 Lacrimus Crianza Rioja: Clear, medium ruby color. Nose: Clean, medium intense aromas of red fruit, dry hay and fresh asparagus. Palate: Dry, -medium body, medium tannins and acidity, 13.5% abv. Sour cherry, strawberry and cedar Finish: medium length Quality: Good     Price: $13  2002  Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva: Clear, medium ruby color. Nose: Clean, medium intense aromas of red fruit, vanilla, earthy forest floor, cedar Palate: Dry, medium body, medium tannins, medium+ acidity, 13.5% abv. Strawberry, cranberry, plum, mushroom and oak. Finish: medium+ length Quality: Good     Price: $20

     The 2004 Quinta de Roriz Vintage Port was a deep opaque purple in the glass with medium+ intensity aromas of ripe cherry and blackberry with notes of coffee, oak and fruitcake spices with an earthy, herbal hint of wet leaves. It was a full-bodied, off-dry to medium sweet wine with medium+ acidity and high tannins. It had flavors of baked berries, chocolate and nutmeg with a long length finish.      This Single Quinta Vintage Port from one of the oldest estates in Douro is very good to outstanding, priced at $60. Delicious! 

     Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose NV is a 100% Pinot Noir sparkling wine made in the traditional method. In the glass, it is a pale salmon color with medium intense aromas of ripe strawberries with some floral notes. It is dry with a light body, medium+ acidity and medium alcohol (12% abv). On the palate, minerality prevails with a short, slightly tart finish.      A good sparkling wine at $23 a bottle.

     I became a fan of the Lapostolle wines when I entered the  Uncork the Passion  contest last summer to be their apprentice winemaker in Chile. I didn't win but I did discover some really good wines in the process.  The Cabernet in their Casa line is one that I have recommended repeatedly. As the name "Casa" suggests, it is an excellent house wine, an anytime drinker and a good value wine for large gatherings.       I opened a bottle this weekend and I am pleased to say it is as good as I remembered. The 2008 Lapostolle Casa Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rapel Valley was a deep, dark ruby in the glass. It had medium intense aromas of dark fruits, berries and cherries with hints of cedar. It was medium body with medium+ acidity and smooth, ripe tannins with 14.1% abv. On the palate, flavors of black cherry, coffee and a bit of vanilla persisted for a medium length.      An easy-drinking wine and a great value at $10 a bottle.

     The 2005 Valckenberg Beerenauslese Riesling from Rheinhessen, Germany, was a clear, medium gold in the glass with medium intense aromas of peach, apricot, orange peel, and a stone minerality with a bit of petrol. It was sweet with medium+ body, medium acidity and low alcohol (10% abv). It had a long length with flavors of honey, baked pear and marmalade.      It was an outstanding wine at $35 for a half bottle. 

     Three generations of the Drappier family work on the Champagne blends every year. The Millesime is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. It is fermented in cellars which were built by the Cistercian monks in 1152. The family prides themselves on their low sulphur usage which not only allows more natural colors of gold and copper to show but also positively affects the aromas and mousse, creating Champagnes that are not only more pure but also have a rich complexity.      The 2000 Drappier Millesime Exception Brut Champagne was a clear, medium gold in the glass with medium intense aromas of green apple, honey and yeasty bread. It was a dry, medium body wine with high acidity, long lasting bubbles and flavors of honey, brioche and caramel apple with a long finish.         A very good wine priced at $65.