Advintage Portfolio Trade Show

OK, we will do things a little differently. This past weekend, the Wine Team took a field trip down to Charleston, South Carolina for the annual Advintage Wine Show. Like last year's show, the turnout was tremendous and most of the wine didn't disappoint. There are a few exceptions, and will be pointed out on here shortly. Nevertheless, I will review 6 of the 150+ wines that I tasted. Heeeeeeerrrrre we go!!!

Maysara 2004 Estate Pinot Noir



9 Screwcaps

I will admit that I had never heard of this vineyard. I promise you, I will never forget this vineyard. We tasted through the line of Maysara and went from Pinot Gris, through a rose, to their Pinot Noirs. Simply put, they are a solid outfit from top to bottom. The Estate pinot, specifically was in and of itself, amazing with both power and elegance. The wine starts off with the smell of roses, pencil shavings and cherries. A perfect invitation! The juice enraptures you on the front with wild berries and just sticks a spicy 10 point landing on a very lengthy finish. I would recommend this wine to anyone that wants to know what New World Pinot should taste like.

Rombauer 2006 Carneros Chardonnay



6 Screwcaps

What a difference a year makes! As much as I lauded the effort of Rombauer in the 2005 Vintage, I cannot help but to think that Greg Graham decided to go the route of a Kendal Jackson chardonnay. This wine should epitomize what a solid effort from Carneros tastes like. What I get is just a very simple juice that should cost about $30.00 less than what it sells for (about $32.99). Nothing on the nose....just...it needs to be better.

Elyse Vineyards 2004 L'Ingenue



9 2/5 Screwcaps

We love wine. We really love red wine. It takes a LOT for us to enjoy a white wine. Elyse blew us away with their version of Condrieu, without the Condrieu pricetag. This wine is full bodied nirvana in it's blend of Marsanne, Rousanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier that shows off a nutty nose, bacon fat (I really am talking about a white) and honey. Honey stays consistent throughout the tongue and let me just say that the wine holds on to the tongue like a college freshman holds on to a doughnut. It just doesn't let go. I am so happy that we tasted this. It is easily one of the most impressive wines that I have had in a while.

Shafer 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hillside Select



5 Screwcaps

Are you kidding me? If I could say just one thing to all that read this: do not buy this wine. Here are my reasons:
1. Timing and Pedigree. This cab is from the Stags Leap District in Napa and the flagship of the Shafer winery. Now in the past, especially the recent past, this wine was one of the best in the world. 2003 was a falloff year.
2. Body. When drinking a flagship cab, it should damn well be full bodied. This is a very medium bodied wine.
3. Price. The one characteristic that stays consistent with other vintages. $250 is the pricetag of a wine that I wouldn't pay $35.00 for.

Shafer, please, go back to the drawing board on this one. All this having been said, please don't think bad about this winery. They really are some of the best wines that Napa has to offer. For example, please try the "One Point Five" Cabernet. It is remarkable wine.

Cocodrilo 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon



9 1/2 Screwcaps

Cocodrilo is one of those wines that you can't put down. This monster is chock full of cassis and blackberries that are just irresistible to anyone's palate. The nose is legendary and the finish is longer than a George W. Bush press conference. This bottle should cost no more than $30.00, so buy it today!

Elio Grasso 2003 Barolo



9 3/4 Screwcaps

There should be a law against yummy deliciousness such as this!!! Silky, silky sweet tannins coat your mouth for what seems like an hour or so. Cedar, camphor and wild berries come in strong on the nose, followed up with an AMAZING attacking juice that will not surrender to you, but you to it. The only thing that I could have against it is that I don't know if it will last as long as most Barolos do. Maybe another 7-10 years. Best in Show


So there you have it. Six wines, and this is just the tip of the iceberg! Trust me when I say that there will be more, and the Wine Team will be just as impartial.

Mollydooker 2006 Enchanted Path Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon

9 2/5 Screwcaps

What do you say about a full bodied, tannic, gigantic unction of blueberries and chocolate covered cherries? Last year, Robert Parker gave this wine a 96 point rating. Don't expect his opinion to change much, seeing as the opinion of this reviewer didn't change at all. This wine is simply filled with HUGE fruit and has the ability to lay down for a few years in order to settle it's 16% alcoholic/acidic cannons.
The price went up a little, but for a wine that will appreciate with time, take advantage of the price right now. As it could go up again quite soon.
Also, getting ready to release in a month or so, Mollydooker's "Velvet Glove," which will probably end up being Sarah and Sparky Marquis' first 100 point wine, and more importantly, our very first coveted 10 Screwcap rating.

Domaine Ruinart Champagne NV Blanc de Blancs

9 3/5 Screwcaps

This is a giant amongst giants. This is what champagne should taste like. This beautiful wine is from the oldest champagne house in the appelation, and it is perfect for any special occasion. The bottle is the original shape that all champagne bottles once used and being the first to use it (1729), they maintain their originality to this day.*
First, a quick lesson in champagne.
1. Most champagnes don't have any other label on them than saying "Brut," and the town from which they came (Epernay or Remis).
2. Champagnes are mostly blended from 3 different grapes (but never any different grapes): Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Menuier. Not in this case.
Because the bottle also has the label "Blanc de Blancs," the wine is composed of 100% chardonnay. Because of this, you get a lot of generous apple fruit, coupled with hazelnut and vanilla. It is elegant like a 1920's leading lady, yet powerful like something out of Jurassic Park. This juxtaposed wine lists generally for under $70 and is every bit worth it. Buy it, drink it, age it, save it for the ones you love the most.


*There have been champagnes that were made before 1729 (Dom Perignon, for example), but the Royal decree which permitted the transport of bottled wines (casks are of little use for the transport of sparkling wines) was only passed in 1728.

Charles Krug "Generations" Proprietary Red Wine 2002

8 3/5 Screwcaps

For a Bordeaux-type styled wine from Napa Valley, this is a fun wine to drink at a fairly reasonable price. Now let's face it: getting a good Bordeaux-type blend from Napa County at a reasonable price is like getting Lindsey Lohan to give a spirited speech about staying off drugs. It just doesn't happen. Here is a solid exception. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and under 1% Syrah show off a wine that would have been fantastic, even if I paid for it (love my job)! Give this caged monster a little while to open, as I would suggest decanting for about a half hour. That having been said, unleash this gallant beast and hang on for the ride!

Absolut 100 Vodka

8 1/4 Screwcaps

To start off, premium vodka should be a drink, that when taken by itself, one can put into a wine glass with no ice and no mixer, and simply enjoy. Absolut 100 is just on the verge of this super-premium taste. A little burn on the back of the throat, this is to be expected since the vodka is 50% alcohol! Made from grain, Absolut 100 is a great mixer for any time you wish to step it up to 11. Enjoy!

Domaine Les Pallieres 2001 Gigondas

9 2/7 Screwcaps

OK, I put a picture that large in there on purpose. Let's say you have about 6-10 hours to waste away...open this bottle about 2 hours before that so there is time for this giant to decant. This wine is so big, it won't return Speilberg's calls. A classic Rhone Valley blend, it is primarily spicy grenache however, it is followed up by very elegant cinsault and mourvedre, bringing out a LOT of raspberry and camphor. Wine novices, beware! This may be too much for you to go into too soon. The good news is that this wine can be cellared for another 15 or so years, so you can afford to be patient.

By the way, today is Saturday, September 1st: start of the College Football season. Most of us having attending the University of South Carolina, the wine team says to you: GO COCKS!!!!!!!!