My 2 wines of the year (Over and under $15)

It is important to have an opinion on wine and many of my fellow wine educators get it wrong by saying we are "snob free." I have yet to see someone use this term that actually pours good wine. I would make more profit if I poured bad wines but that of course is not my style.

If you don't formulize an opinion on wine you will never become a better wine drinker and be stuck drinking mass produced wines like Two Buck Chuck, Menage a Trois, Cycles Gladitors and even worse over priced oak bombs like Silver Oak which are not cheap.

My 2 favorite wines this year are the 2007 St. Innocent White Rose Pinot Noir and the 2009 St. Urbans Hof Riesling for around $14 a bottle.

2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (10/20/2010)St. Innocent Tasting: My current wine of the year and another great showing. Far superior to the 08 at this stage. Strawberry, floral, white pepper, wood and spice. Balanced and the tannins are not hard like the 08. Great bottle of wine. (95 points)

The crazy thing about the White Rose was it was as little as $25 at one of my favorite local wine shops and on-line it was $32 in which my Minneapolis Wine Club members were able to stock up on it prior to it being sold out.

2009 St. Urbans-Hof Riesling - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (12/15/2010)Really showing well today with peach, apricots, floral and pinneapple. Blind I might think this is a Kabinett or Spatlese. Wonderful wine and a great QPR. (91 points)

St. Urbans Hof is one of the best Riesling producers in Germany and not carried in enough wine shops around town. Try Sorella in Minneapolis as this QbA wine is outstanding and will turn you into a German Riesling fan for life.

What are your favorites?

Can't remember will start writing them down and post them on Cellar Tracker.

Cheers,

John Glas
Wineglas

Rum Reviews

Ron del Barrilito "Superior Especial" Puerto Rican RumFull flavor along with sweet, nutty, oak and carmel. A bit harsh.
43% Alcohol
Rating: 80 (not recommended)


Zaya Gran Reserva 12 Year Old Trinidad RumCarmel, spice, vanilla, oak and really smooth. This is a complex rum in complete balance.
40% Alcohol
Rating: 93 (Highly Recommended)

Royal Saint James Ambre St. James RumHot with spice, vanilla, earth and a lot of water on the palate. Not something I would want to sip but blended it would work.
45% Alcohol
Rating: 85 (recommended)

Bacardi "8" Ron Reserve Superior Bahamas RumFloral, oak, vanilla, hazel nuts and subtle spices. Smooth overall and very drinkable.
40% Alcohol
Rating: 91 points (Highly Recommended)

Cruzan Spiced Rum "9" St. Croix Rum Spice, smoke, oak and vanilla come together on a complex offering which is a really good value (under $12).
40% Alcohol
Rating: 91 points (Highly Recommended)

Tommy Bahamas Gold Rum Vanilla, oak, floral and spice. Not real concentrated and lacks complexity.
Rating: 85 (Not Recommended for the price)

Mount Gay Rum "Eclipse" Barbados RumA little heat with oak, hazelnuts, and water. Not as concentrated as I would like and a good candiate with a mixer. 
40% Alchohol
Rating: 85 points (Your call)

The first drinkable Minnesota Wine

2008 Crofut Family Winery Frontenac Northwoods Red - USA, Minnesota (12/17/2010)
This is the first Minnesota wine I have ever tasted that was drinkable. Mild sweetness with forest floor, prunes, cherry and rhubarb. Short finish. (74 points)

I could not believe it as it was drinkable. If you own a winery in Minnesota feel free to contact me with samples as I would like to see if there is a wine better than an 80 with grapes grown here.

John Glas
www.wineglas.com

Minneapolis Wine Club does Champagne

The final event of 2010 with the theme Champagne. The Mumm DVX stole the show however as it was an amazing find for $30 a bottle (only members at the event know where to get it).

My wine of the night was the 1998 Henriot Rose and the 1996 Henriot Brut both priced as low as $48 a bottle earlier in the year. Become a member of the club and you will find these special deals.

N.V. Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier - France, Champagne
Another good showing on this wine with apple pie, floral, lemon and minerals. A touch of sweet fruit on this one and a medium finish. A nice N.V. for $34. (91 pts.)

2001 Mumm Napa DVX - USA, California, Napa Valley
This is amazing stuff from the US with lemon, orange peel, chalk and minerals. It has a creamy texture in the mouth and medium finish. Very pleasurable and no flaws. (92 pts.)

2002 Louis Barthélémy Champagne Brut Saphir - France, Champagne
Nice wine but almost seemed like a Sparkling Riesling with grapefruit, lemon and minerals. On the palate it picked up some orange peel and dough character. Not a bad wine buy certainly not a WS 95. (90 pts.)

2000 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut - France, Champagne
A little disappointed with this one as it was no better than the N.V. I had 3 night earlier. Dark gold in color with yeast, floral, baked pie crust, and gold delicious apples. Medium finish and good flavors overall but lack acidity. (90 pts.)

1998 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé Rosé - France, Champagne
Myself and one other out of 11 liked this wine. Strawberry, pie crust, orange peel, floral and chalk notes. Not a big wine but more graceful. This should get better with age. (93 pts.)

1996 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé - France, Champagne
Another nice showing for this wine with dough, mineral, lemon, apple and good acidity. On the palate some candied fruit and really good mineral streak. Should improve with cellar time. (93 pts.)

2000 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne
For the price I am not a buyer and this is really young but the Henriot Vintage from 96 is better and half the price. Chalk, orange peel, minerals, and dough on the nose and palate. There is a creaminess on the palate and has a medium finish. (92 pts.)
2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs - USA, California

Very nice and it is fun to see my wife like a Sparkler under $50. Lemons, mineral, spice and good acidity combine to make this an outstanding value for $25. (91 pts.)

Wineglas Top Ten of the Year

Top Ten of the Year


1. 2007 St. Innocent Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (3/7/2010)
Minneapolis Does St. Innocent (Edina Country Club): Medium purple. Nose of funk, floral, cranberry, and clay. On the palate this rocks with spice, cherry, white pepper, and roses. Good acidity and concentrated wine. Really balanced and for an 07 maybe the wine of the Vintage for Willamette. (95 points)

2. 2004 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/2/2010)
The transformation of this wine.
Popped and poured:
Rich and robust with smoke, cassis, oak, minerals and graphite. Firm tannins and needs some time in the decanter although solid. 93 points
2.5 hours later:
Violets, graphite, minerals, raspberries, coffee, herbs and smoke. Coming around a bit more.
4 hours:
Perfect timing! More subtle wine with coffee, raspberries, cassis, gravel and graphite. Concentrated and has a medium finish. This is a top ten wine of the year for sure! 95 points (95 points)

3. 2002 Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz E & E Black Pepper - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (11/11/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club does Worldwide Syrah: Top ten wine of the year candidate and for $40 a steal. Complex wine with blackberries, cherry, charcoal, smoke and perfume. The palate is showing amazing depth and this wine has a long finish. (95 points)
BUY AT: Sold Out but try the 2001 at Haskell’s on closeout at only $40 a bottle!

4. 2005 Meek Family Estate Syrah - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (3/16/2010)
Dark purple. Nose is new world syrah with cherry, blackberries, oak, vanilla and spices. The palate reveals amazing concentration and features oak, vanilla, blackberries, smoke, spices and blueberries. Medium and multi layered finish. I think this is one of the top Syrah wines under $30 in the world. (93 points)

5. 2005 Domaine Carneros Brut by Taittinger - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (11/21/2010)
Expressive nose of spice, dough and minerals. The palate is bright and features lemon, dough, minerals, chalk and nice spice flavors. Medium finish and acidity is excellent. This is better than almost all of the N.V. Champagnes I have sampled this year and a lot cheaper. (92 points)

6. 2006 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/16/2010)
Twin Cities Wine Club German Riesling Tasting (Gail's House): A super Auslese. Honey, apricots, floral and peach dominate on this off-dry wine. Good complexity and the finish is lively with good acidity and ripe fruits. Highly recommended wine. (94 points)

7. 1996 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé - France, Champagne (11/25/2010)
Dark gold. Intense nose of apple, chalk, lemon and candied fruits. On the palate chalk, minerals, orange peel, lemon and candied apricots. Medium to lengthy finish this has it all. A wonderful Champagne and the best I have tasted in 2010. (94 points)

8. 2004 Flora Springs Cabernet Sauvignon Out-of-sight-vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (4/21/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club does US Cabs; 4/18/2010-4/21/2010 (Shari's House): Wow! Medium purple. Nose of floral, cherry, chocolate, and spices. Very balanced wine and the palate has flavors bouncing all over the mouth. Really nice use of oak and there is a medium finish on the wine. A bit of chalk comes into the finish which was interesting. Well made wine! (94 points)

9. 2006 Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (7/10/2010)
A candidate for wine of the year. Medium purple with some funk, white pepper, violets, crushed rock on the nose. Big and powerful on the palate and a balanced wine. Concentrated and medium finish. Ranking in the top five considering QPR. Should improve with time. (93 points)

10. 2009 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Cellar Selection - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough (10/30/2010)
The wines of Villa Maria: One of the better Sauvignon Blanc wines I have sampled from New Zealand with grape fruit, orange, flint, and floral notes. Really aromatic and great acid profile. Medium and concentrated finish. (91 points)
Ask your local shop to get some of this wine


OTHER GREAT WINES
2004 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Finca Altamira - Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, La Consulta (3/2/2010)
Decanted 2 hours. Dark purple. Nose is amazing with floral, blueberries, perfume, and subtle spices. The palate is showing blueberries, espresso, spices, floral and earth. Medium finish and this wine is extremely balanced. This is the best South American Wine I have ever tasted! Thank you Parker Board for the $40 a bottle price!!!!! (96 points)

2007 Ridge Cabernet-Merlot Santa Cruz Mountains Estate - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (11/18/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club does a Blind Tasting: A sleeper wine and now a top ten of the year for me. It was interesting that in a blind tasting of eight wines this was the lowest pro rated wine by quite a bit. Blind it was the group's favorite wine of the night. Firm tannins but the wine shows cherry, blackberries, coffee and spice on the nose and palate. The finish is medium and has a nice earthy quality. I was surprised how expressive the wine was and it dominated the 2007 Andrew Will Sorella in quality at this stage of the game. (94 points)

2008 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (10/30/2010)
St. Innocent Wine Dinner (Luci Ancora/ St. Paul): A super wine and dark in color. Perfume, coffee, spice, strawberry and vanilla. Concentrated wine and really balanced. This wine is drinking great right now and should improve and contend for a top 10 of the vintage. (94 points)

2004 Kaesler Shiraz Old Bastard - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (9/18/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Mixed Bag of Higher End Reds: Better than the 2003 and shows way more fruit. Dark in color and a nose of bacon, pepper, smoke, blackberries and cherry. Rich and concentrated and picks up some minerals on the long finish. A wonderful wine and have sampled it twice now with consistent notes. (95 points)

2004 Alonso del Yerro Ribera del Duero - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (2/27/2010)
Minneapolis Wine Club Spanish Reds (Anna's House): Dark purple. Nose of spice, dust, cherry, and floral. On the palate it features an abundance of spices, vanilla, oak, cherry, crushed rock and floral. Medium and concentrated finished. This wine was decanted 4 hours and it really opened up. For $25 a super value. I wonder if others who rated this so low didn't decant? (92 points)