#totalwine
Montaudon
Brut Champagne Blend
Meh:.... NV on its own is a rudimentary & pedestrian sparkler. Recommended at #totalwine it fell flat to my expectations. HOWEVER it did mix well as a #champagnecocktail BUT I do prefer #cava as a base for mixing Wouldn't spend the $$ on this again. #sadpanda — 9 years ago
Novelty Hill
Royal Slope Columbia Valley Red Blend 2008
Novelty Hill and Januik share wineries out of Woodinville, WA. Both wineries are managed by Mike Januik and specialize in premium varietal clones. The Columbia Valley AVA is the largest AVA in Washington State. Even though Washington is much further north than California, the peak ripening in most grapes occurs slightly later than CA. This one is a kitchen sink wine, that is predominately Merlot (59%) but also contains Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Sangiovese, and Mourvèdre. Someone must have thought this one was past its prime, but I feel like the drinkability continues - picked up at Total Wine. ~$17 | #noveltyhill #columbiavalley #totalwine
On the eyes: Deep rusty red, bright and clear, med+ stain, med+ tears, no gas/floc.
On the nose: Funky stewed blueberry, black cherry, raspberry, with a hint of hay, and earthy mustiness. Med+ alcohol.
On the tongue: Med+ acid, med tannin, med+ alcohol, med+ body. Stewed black cherry and raspberry, raisin, white pepper, hint of spice, licorice, and woodsy finish. Tart on the way down, nice long finish. — 9 years ago
Tenuta di Trecciano
Chianti Colli Senesi Sangiovese Blend 2020
DOCG #chianti at the sub $20 price point can be all over the map in terms of quality. I knew I hit the jackpot on first sniff and sip of this producer. Earthy cherry, dark fruit on nose, lovely balance on palate; distinctive #sangiovese earthy-soft spice on finish, quite nicely knit Chianti with excellent QPR for ~$15 at #totalwine . — 2 years ago
McClean Vineyards
Estate Private Reserve Syrah 2005
This bottle hails from the El Pomar corridor, Paso Robles. The McClean vineyards specialize in Syrah and much of their grape is sourced to the Wild Horse Winery. The Syrah, or Shiraz, grape typically produces a high tannin, high acid wine that, in warmer climates, produces jammy, earthy wines with a great potential for aging. Not yet cracking the top 5 in terms of worldwide plantings, Syrah has proven it's merits as a featured varietal or as a master blending grape. This 2005 was a bit cheap, maybe due to someone thinking that it was past its prime. Again - depends on your palette! ~$19 | #pasorobles #syrah #totalwine
On the eyes: Deep rusty red that flattens to orange in the rim, opaque and dull, med+ stain, med+ legs, no gas, floc present.
On the nose: Overripe cherry, chocolate, mushroom, and spice, med+ alcohol.
On the tongue: Med+ acid, med+ tannin, med+ alcohol, full body. Black cherry, plum, cocoa nibs, cloves and some petrol undertones. Tannins are mellowing out nicely, but slightly too much alcohol for my taste. Decant this one for an hour at minimum! — 9 years ago
Château Lagüe
Red Bordeaux Blend 2018
Substantial QPR #bordeaux, a more extractive style on the nose, dark fruit wave - delicious palate with proportional tartness, grippy but fine-drawn tannins. $14 at #totalwine — 3 years ago
Dune
Gris de Gris Sable de Camargue Grenache Carignan Rosé 2020
Delicious, dry #languedoc Rosé - value champion at #totalwine. — 3 years ago
Weingut Ewald Gruber
der Hundspoint Grüner Veltliner 2013
A total wine pick up, looking for an alternative white varietal to stand up to some lightly spicy peanut noodles and struck upon this Grüner Veltliner. This white grape is typically a cooler climate Eastern European varietal. As of 2008, Austria was the primarily producer of this grape in vineyards typically mixed with Riesling. It also is used in sparkling wines as the mineralty and acidity lend themselves well to that preparation. To be perfectly honest, I bought this bottle based on label design alone - the Gruber label has adopted these "micro-organism monsters" as the mascots of the winery which has been producing wine since 1814. ~$17 | #grünerveltliner
#austrianwine #totalwine
On the eyes: Clear, pale yellow, star bright, med stain, med legs, no gas/floc.
On the nose: Sweet bundled hay, caramel, unripe apple, hint of lemon and white flowers, med alcohol.
On the tongue: Med+ acid, med tannin, med alcohol, med body, juicy round mouthfeel. Immediate floral mineralty followed by apple and pear. A bit flat on the finish. Drink cold! — 9 years ago
Vasanth Balakrishnan
Decent quaffer #maulevalley #sauvignonblanc. Kind of interesting herbal grassy nose but palate falls a bit flat, lacking texture and fruit to offset the piquant acidity, touch of lemon pith bitterness on the finish. #totalwine — 10 months ago