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Wines Of The Week - No. 4
Some of the wines we choose each week as wines of the week come from members of the press, and others come from traditional wine critics. Most, however, are originally reviewed by wine bloggers.
This week's Wines of the Week is especially exciting because it coincides with the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference. It's a great opportunity to meet everyone whose blogs I read religiously week in and week out.
I'll be spending the weekend at the conference, so the next issue of "Wines of the Week" will be available two weeks from now.
In the meantime, sit back and take a look at the five great wines we have for you.
Bolaire Bordeaux Superiur 2005
This was eRobertParker's (Wine Advocate) Wine of the Day for July 19, 2009.
Jay Miller writes that "an amazing percentage of Petit Verdot (39%), combined with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon has resulted in one of the more distinctive wines of Bordeaux....It exhibits wonderful aromas of charcoal, incense, black currant liqueur, and licorice. Medium-bodied with stunning depth, richness, and texture, this sleeper of the vintage is a terrific buy."
Jay gave it 89 points and suggests a window for drinking from now to 2018.
Sanford Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2007
Jeff Lefevere of Good Grape glowingly reviewed this wine calling it a "fantastic bargain" and saying it "gives California Chardonnay a good name."
He goes on to say the "killer nose gives off a panoply of aromas -- tropical fruit salad with vanilla syrup, cashew, cantaloupe, and green apple on the edges...the palate and finish are world-class for a wine that can be found all over the internet."
Most interesting, he calls the wine "immensely giving; the farmer's daughter of Chardonnay."
Jeff, I'm not sure I'm acquainted with this woman of whom you speak. Perhaps you could introduce me?
Arbois "Sélection", Domaine André et Mireille Tissot 2004
David McDuff of the eponymous McDuff's Food & Wine Trail writes of the Tissot Arbois "Sélection" that the "end result is delicious. The first pour opened with a typically apple-y, oxidative nose and Sherry-like brininess and savor on the palate. As it unfolded in the glass, its flavors developed greater complexity and depth."
David goes on to say, "the whole package is carried along on a razor’s edge of acidity. It was mouth coating in its intensity...the flavors and texture clinging to my teeth like a free-climber might cling to a sheer rock face, with sinew, grip and desperate balance. This is certainly not for everyone but it’s one of the most exciting wines I’ve had this year."
Orin Swift Prisoner 2007
The Prisoner is a blend of 50% Zinfandel, 24% Cabernet with the rest made up of four other grapes. It comes from Orin Swift winery in Rutherford, CA, and is 15.2% alcohol.
Doug Wilder of the Purely Domestic Wine Blog gave the 2007 95 points and calls it "an outstanding wine for the price."
He finds it "silky and round with no roughness in spite of the alcohol. Coffee, blackberry, a creamy mocha and Santa Rosa plum component lead into a long finish."
Dr. Strangelove at Under The Grape Tree poured it at a tasting and "as expected, it went over extremely well."
He says that though it "is a fruit bomb wine, there is surprising acidity and balance that you wouldn’t really expect. There is a lot of concentration and depth here, and I am sure that a few years in the cellar would only give it more luxuriousness on the palate."
Azat Aslan at 90 Plus Wine says it very succinctly, the 2007 Prisoner "is simply the most delicious Zin blend available that I have tasted."
It was Sean at Vinifico that really piqued my interest in this wine. He wrote it's "a concentrated dark fruit explosion with a beautifully balanced chocolate edge to the long finish. Imagine a big handful of ripe blackberries mixed with chocolate covered cherries. Yep, that’s this wine."
The previous vintages were apparently very good too.
Alder at Vinography covers the 2006 Prisoner in depth, and gave it 9 out of 10, highlighting its "strong, jammy bouquet of blackberries and espresso that with a little air open to include semi-sweet chocolate."
Schramberg Reserve 2001
Mary Cressler of Vindulge did a tasting at Schramsberg, and her favorite was the 2001 Reserve.
She found it had an "overwhelming amount of creaminess, caramel, butterscotch, butter, rich fruit and rich hazelnut! Along with that it maintained some lovely peach and citrus notes to balance the richness from the butter and cream."
Mary went on to write "it was a beautiful wine, and someday when I am wealthy enough to just sport cases and cases of this I will gladly do so!"
We hope you remember your friends at 1000 Corks when you become that wealthy, Mary.
