Thursday, March 29, 2012

Certified Sommelier misses the Mark!

It is always interesting in the Twin Cities to see what other wine experts recommended to the consumer. As the only mainstream, professional wine reviewer in Minnesota I cringe when I see others recommend mediocre quality brands such as Mark West, Cycles Gladiator, Minnesota wines and even worse recommending you pay the maximum price for wine. Recently a friend found a 2005 Ladera Lone Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon on sale at Haskell's (Upcoming Spring Sale) for $50. Leslee Miller of Amusée is trying to get her email receipents to buy it direct from the winery for $65and talking up how some of the older vintages are up to 60% off regular price. These wines max out at $65 which is the full retail price. An internet search reveals many of these wines to be much cheaper than the $65 direct from the winery.

I am not sure why Leslee is not familiar with wine searcher when searching for the best wine prices in the country but maybe that don't teach that in Sommelier School.

Probably the quote of the year she made is found in this excerpt:

"Hi Tim,

Wow, that's a good deal! For their regular Napa I can see that being the price, but if it's for the Lone Canyon- that's obviously a great deal. Usually direct from the winery is always best pricing. Guess Haskells got a good deal fr the distributor. Honestly, I would buy current vintage then from Haskells and use up this coupon (below) for the older vintages, since those are no longer for sale in a retail setting.

Thanks for the heads up!"

Leslee D. Miller
Amusée
Certified Sommelier
www.amuseewine.com


By the way the regular Napa is $26 on sale at Haskell's. This once again proves that Wineglas is the place for all the deals and best advice on wine in the Twin Cities and beyond. Please don't "Shhhhhhh" and do tell your friends and neighbors about my great advice on wine and if you want to upgrade to the Wineglas Grand Cru Email Blast it is just $25 a year. Email me at john@wineglas.com for more info.

Cheers,

John Glas

A nice closeout wine at Big Top Minnetonka

Some of the best wine deals in the country are found at Big Top Liquors in throughout the Twin Cities. I can't even tell you how cheap the Joh Jos Prum wines were a year ago.

While not the best deal off of what you normally pay this wine delivers for the money and is in a good drinking place right now.

Might be available at other shops but I bought mine at the Minnetonka store.

2007 Montes Syrah Alpha - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley (3/28/2012)
Third time trying this wine and improvement since the last bottle. Black olives, pepper, spice and licorice. Medium finish and good acidity. For sure a good buy at $11.50 a bottle. 90/91. (90 points) $11.50 (Half off of $23)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The Best Wine Regions in the World???

“GRAND RED TASTING – CHAMPION'S CLUB, TARGET FIELD
Join us for an exceptional evening of red wines & gourmet bites
in the exclusive Champion’s Club at Target Field.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. and features a fantastic selection of red wines that represent almost every wine region in the world. Enjoy gourmet bites from Chef Pastor Jimenez. All guests will receive a commemorative Riedel wine glass.”


I must be missing something with this lineup: http://www.foodwineshow.com/grand_red_wines.php


Almost every wine region in the world is represented?

What is missing???

The two best wine regions in the world! Bordeaux and Burgundy
Champagne
Willamette Valley
Northern Rhone
Chateauneuf du Pape

Missed these countries:
Chile
Australia
Portugal
Germany
Good Spanish Wine

Maybe next year they can add these missed treasures!

Food & Wine Show vs. Hennepin Lake Tasting

I will let you decide which is a better event. Food & Wine Show is over $80 vs. Hennepin Lake's Fall Tasting which is $25. Hennepin Lake wines in bold. By the way the Food & Wine Show lists these as best of show.

Cabernet Sauvignon
Roberts and Rogers 2007
$60
Vs.
2007 Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
A super wine with spice, cherry, earth, mineral and oak. Everything is in place for a decade or more of fine drinking. Long finish and not too tannic. This wine improved over the course of the night and I would recommend a two plus hour decant. (94 pts.) $80

2008 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley) 10/28/2011 wineglas 94
Hennepin Lake's Annual Tasting (Tons of Napa Cabs) (Minneapolis, MN): A gritty wine with fine sediment. Dark in color and a nose of dark currants, oak, earth and minerals. Medium finish and full bodied. This should develop into a super wine within ten years. Complex. (1385 views) $140



Imported Red
Tempus Alba Vero 2007
Vs.
2005 Domini de la Cartoixa Priorat Clos Galena - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Wonderful wine and sampled a few times and a different bottle which yielded similar results. Dark fruits, floral, wood and blueberries dance around the palate. Medium finish and concentrated. No heat and could be enjoyed now but I recommended 5 years in the cellar. (93 pts.)

2009 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Pepper, spice, floral and earth. Young and will improve over time. Medium finish. (92pts.)


Meritage/Blends
Stella Maris Red Blend 2007
Northstar Winery
(Not a bad $25 wine but not Bond)
Vs.
2005 Bond Matriarch (USA, California, Napa Valley) 10/26/2011 wineglas 95
Hennepin Lake's Annual Tasting (Tons of Napa Cabs) (Minneapolis, MN): A huge wine that will only get better. Dark fruit, coffee, oak, vanilla and earth come together to create a complex wine with a long finish. It is showing firm tannic structure but there is a ton of offerings that will emerge over time. Should drink well for 15 plus years! (2780 views)



Merlot
Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot 2007
Northstar Winery
Vs.
2008 Columbia Crest Merlot H3 (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills) 2/18/2012 wineglas 89
Ripe fruit, smoke, vanilla and earth. Good concentration and balanced overall. Medium finish and a crowd pleaser. For $8.97 few are better.




Pinot Noir
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2007
Vs.
2007 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Spice, raspberry, oak and floral notes. Overall balanced but lacks concentration I would like to see from a $50 Pinot. Medium finish. (90 pts.)



Red Zinfandel
Opolo Mountain Zinfandel 2010
Opolo Vineyards $20
Vs.
2008 Mazzocco Zinfandel - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Nice wine with cranberry, dust, spices and oak. Not a fruit bomb and balanced. (89 pts.)


Syrah/Shiraz
Sequel 2007
Long Shadows Vintners
Vs.
2010 Mollydooker Shiraz Velvet Glove - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Wow! For a young wine this is drinking off the charts. Not decanted and the nose offers blackberry, pepper, cherry and violets. Over the night the wine evolved and became more interesting. I see this wine drinking well for a decade but is drinking well right now. Long and intense finish. A balanced wine and no heat. Should be a top ten wine for sure! (96 pts.)
NOTE REALLY FAIR!


Champagne/Sparkling
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV
$25 on sale and at every free tasting around town
Vs.
N.V. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne
Nice with strawberry, minerals, rose petals and raspberries. Medium finish and good acidity. (91 pts.)


Chardonnay
Artesa Carneros Chardonnay 2010
Vs.
2008 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
Nice overall with lemon, grapefruit, minerals and floral notes. Medium finish and good use of oak. (91 pts.)


Imported White
Jean Daneel Initial Chenin Blanc 2010
Vs.
2009 William Fèvre Chablis Champs Royaux - France, Burgundy, Chablis
Always good with spice, minerals and apples. Medium finish and good acid profile. (88pts.)