LAST THURSDAY’S TEN OF TWELVE

In getting to my blogging duties during the midst of my vacation, I wanted to try to catch up from last week, getting to the wines my assistant Shannon and I tried with our RNDC/Cumberland rep Jen last Thursday:

3 Stones Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2009. Grade=Outstanding. Nice easy-drinking SB from NZ. Crisp, clean with vibrant notes of grapefruit, guava and gooseberry. Nice acidity too.

Chapoutier Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc Belleruche 2008. Grade= Outstanding. Fragrant nose of white flowers, honey and peach blossom, with some fresh white peach and apricot flavors. Not as viscous as I would have expected; shows surprising acidity. Finishes fresh and lean.

De Loach Chardonnay California 2008. Grade=Outstanding. Surprisingly well-balanced with lots of creamy tropical fruit aromas and flavors. Unoaked to showcase its sublime acidity and minerality. Very nice value.

Clos Pegase Chardonnay Mitsuko’s Vineyard 2007. Grade=Outstanding. Harmonious notes of apple, nectarine, pineapple, toasted brioche and marmalade. Medium-bodied, with a suppleness across the palate. Finishes long and lingering.

Chapoutier Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge Belleruche 2007. Grade=Outstanding. 50/50 Grenache/Syrah blend that shows off some bright red and blue berry fruit aromas and flavors, hints of tobacco, white and black pepper flakes, and rhubarb pie. A solid value.

Clos Pegase Pinot Noir Mitsuko’s Vineyard 2005. Grade=Outstanding. Beautifully crafted, this 100% Pinot Noir saw 9 months in new and used French oak, lending to its rich, intense aromas and flavors of cherries, raspberries, cola and plum. Hints of roasted nuts and violets offer additionally complex aromas. It’s a stunning Pinot Noir.

Clos Pegase Merlot Napa Valley 2005. Grade=Amazing. Impressive display of blackberry, black currant and dark cherries, with notes of baking spices, anise, chocolate and vanilla. Full-bodied and multilayered with rich tannins and a luxurious finish.

Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005. Grade=Amazing. Dense, dark and concentrated with a powerful display of body and tannic grip. Shows off immense aromas of black fruits and spice, leading into flavors of dark chocolate, blackberries and black currants, black licorice, cedar, tar and mocha. Incredible stuff.

Lyeth Meritage Sonoma County 2007. Grade=Outstanding. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that demonstrates complex red and black berry notes and splashes of baking spices. The tannins are soft yet firm, and the finish is very nice.

Sheba Tej Honey Wine New York NV. Grade=Average. This Ethiopian-styled Honey wine from New York State is a really odd duck. I was uncertain whether or not I really liked it. On the unique factor alone, I would say yes, although it tasted at times like flat Olde English 800. Not too sweet, it actually had some acidity, and I could imagine this going with some spicy Mediterranean, Asian or African inspired fare.