New Experiences

Because we love experiencing new wines and spirits, we decided to begin keeping notes on this site. If you know about these wines, or others that you want to discuss, we invite your remarks and observations.

Spain

Wine/Producer	Label Information	Bottler	Importer	Price paid	Notes
Tres Picos Garnacha 2005/Bodegas Borsao	Old vine Grenache vineyards on the slopes of Moncayo Mountain. Low yields, under two tones per acre produce rich, deeply colored, aromatic wine with concentrated flavors of blackberries, strawberries and nuances of leather, vanilla and plums. 14.5% alcohol	Campo de Boria	Tempranillo, Inc. New Rochelle, N.Y.	$13.99	Dark rich berry flavor, a bit tannic for wonderful balance still stuctured to please. Full enough to stand up to my dinner of venison sausages in a dark rich sauce. I would happily drink this wine with red meat and pasta with spicy red sauce.
Luzon/Jumilla 2005	Luzon is a family owned winery in the La Hoya de la Carrasca valley, surrounded by low mountains, warm days, cool night, little rain, chalky, gravely soil - intense red colored wine, violet hues, dark ripe fruit with hints of licorice mint. Jorge Ordonez Selections 14.5% Alcohol	Estate bottled by Bodegas Luzon, S.L.	Tempranillo, Inc. New Rochelle, NY	$9.99
Altos De La hoya	2005 Monastrell, Jumilla		vieux Vins, Inc. Vineburg, CA		Simple wine that I enjoyed but expected more from the Jumilla region.
Abrazo '96 Gran Reserva	40% Carinena, 30% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo. Delicious and velvety, soft and dry. Rich with flavors of black cherries, dark chocolate and raspberry. Zaragoza.		Esser Wines, LLC. St. Helena, CA	10.99	Drank the wine alone before dinner and found it very good - fruit forward but not overwhelming. This is an elegant wine. Soft, balanced, structured. Tight and nice finish. moderate tannins that I felt on the swallow. Dinner was chicken with sauteed onions and garlic in a ginger soy dressing. It was not overwhelmed by the food. And after eating I finished the wine, finding tht it was still enjoyable.

France

Wine/Producer	Label Information or other sourced description	Bottler	Importer	Price paid	Notes
Chateau du Poyet Muscadet Sevre & Maine Sur Lie	100% Melon De Bourgogne. A woonderful Loire wine. Dry with yeasty notes, having matured on its lees for the duration of one winter. Medium-bodied, crisp and clean with subtle citrus and stoned fruit notes. 12% alcohol	mis en Bouteille Au Chateau Par	Slocum and Son, North Haven, CT	$9.99	Like the bright, clear fruit foward flavor of this wine. it didn't get lost with the meal. Worth the price.
Maison Louis Latour 2004	Vin de Bourgogne Pinot Noir 13% alcohol 13% Alcohol Appellation Bourgogne Controlee	Mis En Bouteille A Beaune Par Louis Latour Negociant- Eleveur. A Beaune-Cote D'Or - France	Louis Latour Inc. San Francisco, CA	$13.99	Drank this wine with appetizers and enjoyed its even, smooth texture. Not as full as I would like with food.
Cotes De Bourg/Chateau Bois des Graves 2005	Red Bordeaux 13% Alcohol. Appellation Cotes De Bourg Controlee.	Mis En Boutellille Au Chateau	Monsieur Touton Selection Ltd., New York, NY 33750	$14.99	Drank this wine with appetizers and enjoyed its even, smooth texture. Not as full as I would like with food.
Chateau du Moulin Rouge Grand Vin De Bordeaux Cotes de Castillon 2004	Red Bordeaux 12.5% alcohol. 60% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc	Mis en bouteille au chateau	Baron Francois Ltd, NY, NY	$14	enjoyed with chicken. pleasant wine in table wine category
Chateau Roches Guitard/Montagne Saint-Emilion 2005	Merlot		Monsieur Touton Selection	$18	Of the four Saint-Emilion satellite villages, Montagne Saint-Emilion is the most exciting. It produces wines that often stand well against mid-ranking Saint-Emilion, at prices that are laughably lower" (WINE International magazine). And a few of its wines are stunning, like this graceful, seductive claret - full of ripe, savoury fruit and smooth charm - from Château Roches Guitard is small, seven hectare property that has been in the same fmily for generations. As top US critic Robert Parker notes "some of the deepest, richest wines come from Montagne" and, 2001 is not only an excellent vintage but one "where the smart money is looking". This is excellent wine at an excellent price - perfect for dinner party entertaining with roast duck, venison and game. Enjoyed this wine with filet minon, sweet potato roasted with garlic and brussel sprouts. Balanced throughout, finish that lingered pleasantly. Enough fruit to satisfy me, tight structure so I felt pleasure in my mouth thoughout each taste which I let linger.
Pierre Sparr, Alsace 2005	Gewurztraminer. 13%		W.J. Deutsch & sons	$14	rich, elegant, roses, tropical fruit, hint of grapefruit peel, silky and just acidic enough. Turkey and asian cuisiine

Argentina

Wine/Producer	Label Information or other sourced description	Bottler	Importer	Price paid	Notes
Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda 2006/Altos Las Hormigas S.A.V.I.yC.	Mendoza - Bonarda. Unoaked, unfiltered 13.1% Alcohol		Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY	$7.99
Crios de Susana Balbo	Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 13.9% Alcohol. Signature wines are "parents" and offspring are "Crios" which are young wines. Unfined and unfiltered.		Vine Connections, Sausalito, CA	$16.99	Enjoyed this wine with pasta made with a rich cheese sauce Christine made for an early Sunday dinner.
Finca El Peral 2004 - Reserva	Created by descendents of two families (Italien: Rutini and Spanish Reina) on vines dating back to 1940's. 3 to 5 tons/acre. 3500 elevation, hot days and cool nights with Andes Mountain winds. Aged in French and American oak. Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet. 14% alcohol. Tupungato-Mendoza	Rafael Reina	Pinnacle International LLC, St. Louis, MO	$13	Alone or great with Pizza I made with plenty of garlic and onion. good body and fruit. Nice tannin balanced with acidity.

Oregon

Wine/Producer	Label Information or other sourced description	Bottler	Importer	Price paid	Notes
Pinot Gris/Bethel Heights 2005	14.1% Alcohol.	Bethel Heights Vineyard, McMinnville, OR		$18.99	Surprised at the good body and structure of this wine. Easy to drink

New Zealand

Wine/Producer	Label Information or other sourced description	Bottler	Importer	Price paid	Notes
Culley Riesliing Marlborough 2005	Fruit driven. Dry Riesling displays inviting citrus and lime aromas, zesty lime finish. (Neill Culley, winemaker) 12% Alcohol	Neill Culley, 322 Henderson Valley Road, Auckland, NZ	Martin Scott Wines, Lake Success, NY 11042	$12.99	Tasted astringent alone, but with chicken in a spicy sauce it maintained its flavor. But, finishing the bottle after the food was consumed, I enjoyed it less.

Italy

Wine/Producer	Label Information or other sourced description	Bottler	Importer	Price paid	Notes
Sangiovese/Di Majo Norante	Leonard Locasci Selections 12.5% Alcohol	Estate Bottle by Di Majo Norante-Campomarino	Winebo Wine Inc. New York, NY	$12.99	Drank with a meal of pasta and a rich red sauce made with gorgonzola cheese and rich cream. I liked this wine both with food and without.
Pinot Grigio/Sortesele/Santi	13% alcohol		Wildman		Drank with grilled salmon, rice and sauteed Napa Cabbage. Heavy garlic and sauteed onions didn't diminish the dry, easy to enjoy, light fruit taste of this wine.
Cadonini Pinot Noir Delle Venezie	12.55 alcohol. wildman recommends white meats, veal, red meat, pork, pasta in meat sauce, Hard cheeses, fowl, duck, chicken.		Wildman		Before eating spaghetti with a red sauce with grilled eggplant, onion, garlic, in my mouth the wine felt silky, nice fruit, soft tannins and easy to drink. It got a bit lost with the food. Then after eating, I again enjoyed it alone. Easy to drink. Balanced. Nice finish.
Melini Chianti Borghid'Elsa 2005	1705 founded tuscan estate. soft fruit. winemaker Nunzio Capurso. Food: meat, salads, cheese 12.5% alcohol. Denominazione Di Origine Controllata E Garantita		Wildman		Internet notes: Wine Type: Dry Red Grape Type: 80% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 7% Malvasia, 3% Trebbiano. Country: Italy Region: Tuscany. dry, full and harmonious with an elegant aftertaste of toasted almonds and fruit. pork, pizza, pasta in meat sauce, chicken, Antipasto. Found the wine eay to drink and enjoy but not more than that.
Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie Cadonini	12% alcohol 100% pinot grigio		Wildman		Did not enjoy. Sharp on first taste. Not clean, fresh in the mouth. Did not enhance chicken dinner.

South Africa

Wine/Producer	Label Information or other sourced description	Bottler	Importer	Price paid	Notes
Boekenhoutskloof 2003 Syrah	From a single vineyard in Wellington. Wild fermented and spends 27 months in barrels, all of which have been used. Dark nose: sweet and slightly meaty with a black olive note. Nice freshness. The palate is quite supple showing elegant spicy fruit. Expressive and fresh with good structure. Very good/excellent 93/100 14.5% Alcohol		Vineyard Brands, Inc. Birmingham, AL 35242	$44.95	Completely enjoyed. Spice and fruit on the nose. Dark, rich fruit in the mouth. Medium to full body. Good balance between acid, tannin. Satisfying finish, notes of black olive. Drank without food before dinner.

Chile

Wine/Producer	Label Information or other sourced description	Bottler	Importer	Price paid	Notes
Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc Central Valley/Domaines Barons De Rothschild (Lafite) 2004	Central Valley of the Colchagua province, ungrafted pre-phylloxera Bordeaux rootstock. 13% Alcohol		Pasternak Wine Import, Greenwich, Ct	$9.99