JAMES BARLOW’S ‘THE THIRTEEN’ PICKS OF MARCH 2014

Posted on March 9, 2014 by TheWineEpicure

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I always find hope in March.  The promise of spring is just around the corner.  People and things come buzzing to life with new, energetic attitudes.  Bright sunny days with temperatures that are just right seem commonplace.  Yes, I love March.  I have picked out a bevy of new deliciously, fresh wines for you all to try as you start to crack open that winter shell and begin to bud into what is going to be a beautiful month.  Enjoy!

Venge ‘Silencieux’ Cabernet 2011

Napa Valley, California

Cash Price $41.49

Kirk Venge is considered one of the best wine makers in all of California.  His father, Nils Venge, produced Napa Valley’s very first 100 point wine by Robert Parker with the 1985 Groth Reserve Cabernet.  Kirk’s handprint is all over Napa Valley making iconic wines for smaller wineries such as Bacio Divino, Frazier, and Macauley.  I find gorgeous depth and concentration in his wines with layers of flavor that integrate throughout the levels of tannins, oak and acids.  There is a saying ‘Good wine makers make good wine no matter what the vintage’ and Venge proved that with this 2o11 Cabernet.  Big, thick flavors of black currant and black raspberry jump into the palate with smooth, yet gripping tannins.  The mid palate is rich with moderate acids that melt into a background of toasted vanillin and cedar.  The finish is long with notes of clove, tobacco and milk chocolate.  Silencieux received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast and 92 points from Robert Parker!

Pierre Labet Savigny Vergelelles Premier Cru Chardonnay 2011

Burgundy, France

Cash Price $35.99

Burgundy’s mystic is due to the hallowed ground that it lies on.  This premier cru vineyard is just a stones throw from the historical Grand Cru vineyards of Charlemagne.  This vineyard has been lovingly referred to as ‘Baby Charlie’ by renowned wine maker Francois Labet.  This organically grown Chardonnay is rich and intense.  Flavors of green apple and melon converge gracefully on the palate.  The mid palate is wonderfully textured with a soft roundness that keeps the acidity in check.  The finish is beautiful with notes of toasted oak and just a dollop of cream.  The wine is well balanced and integrated.  Labet is a spectacular Premier Cru at a great price.  A must try for Chardonnay lovers!

Domaine Des Hautes Chassis Syrah 2009

Crozes-Hermitage, France

Cash Price $28.69

Crozes-Hermitage is considered one of the premier regions in the Rhone Valley.  I have consistently found some of the best wines in the world in the Rhone.  Crozes-Hermitage is in the Northern Rhone and known for making some of the best Syrah on earth.  Syrah is an over looked varietal by the average consumer although you would be remiss to find a Sommelier that isn’t in love with this versatile grape.  Chassis is robustly textured with flavors of roasted plum and red berries that sink into the palate with plump tannins and cleverly hidden acids.  Notes of singed bacon fat lingers on the mid palate with hints of garrigue and black pepper.  The finish offers graphite and weathered leather on a bed of stewed fruits.  This is an outstanding Syrah!

J. J. Prum Riesling Kabinett 2011

Mosel, Germany

Cash Price $19.94

JJ Prum is my absolute favorite producer in the Mosel.  The wines produced by this dynamic producer are some of the best and age able whites in all the world.  I love Kabinett Riesling because it is not sweet per say, but more off dry with just a whiff of sweetness that counter balanced the zesty acids that are prevalent in these wines.  These wines have unbelievable complexity and balance.  Flavors of apple blossom, citrus and honeydew envelope the palate with pleasure.  The mid palate is juicy and refreshing with excellent acidity that reaches into a core of crushed rocks and white flowers.  The finish is filled with peaches, lemon lime and just a kiss of smoke that sinews deftly throughout.  Robert Parker and Wine Spectator gave this wine 90 points.  I would put it in the 92-93 point range.  

Chateau Patache D’Aux Red Blend 20010

Bordeaux, France

Cash Price $18.99

The 2010 vintage will go down in history as one of the finest that Bordeaux has ever seen.  Right now is the perfect time to start drinking Bordeaux if you have yet to dip into French Cabernet and Merlot.  The 2010 daily drinkers from Bordeaux are phenomenal and some of the best reds available in the market.  This delicious Cabernet, Merlot blend drinks perfectly from the pop of the cork.  Flavors of red currant and black cherry dance into voluptuous and supple tannins.  Notes of cedar and vanilla sink into hints of leather on a full, lingering finish.  Great Daily Cabernet!  Wine Spectator gave this wine 90 points!

Gloria Ferrer Brut N/V

Sonoma County, California

Cash Price $16.29

I love great value sparklers.  Gloria Ferrer is one of the best producers of bubbles in United States.  It is consistent and a treasure in the mouth.  The wine is Pinot Noir heavy (which I prefer) with just a smidgeon of Chardonnay which offers intricate nuances for such a marginal price.  Deliciously tight bubbles form in the glass with flavors of red roses and cherry that dance through the palate with a lush mouth feel.  Notes of green apple sit on a plethora of cream and brioche.  The finish is clean and mouth watering with hints of pear and vanilla.  Complex and perfectly priced!

Castilla Perelada ‘Finca La Garriga’ Samso 2007

Emporda, Spain

Cash Price $24.99

Samso is a synonym for Carignan in Emporda.  It is typically a blending grape in most of the world, but truly impressive single varietal expressions pass through my palate from time to time.  The Garriga vineyard is the source of Perelada’s oldest vines which have an average age of 50 years.  This dynamic red is drinking quite well right now with 8 years of age in the barrel and bottle.  Flavors of densely roasted red cherries and plum sink into rounded, yet still firm tannins.  The mid palate delivers darker fruits of blackberry with tinges of red flowers and violets.  The finish is long and full with bits of caramel, coffee beans and vanilla.  Wine Advocate gave this wine 90 points.  I think it is drinking closer to 92 points right now.

Ca’Momi Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Napa Valley, California

Cash Price $17.99

Ca’Momi is one Spec’s gem Cabernet’s for under $20.  This American winery with Italian roots produces excellent value wines across the board.  This 100% Cabernet is wonderfully complex with flavors of ripe cassis and black cherry.  The wine has been aged for 18 months in oak and it shows on the palate.  Notes of spice integrate through the balanced tannins and acids.  The finish offers plush hints of currant, cream and toasted oak.  Chocolate mocha sits on the palate for a good long time.  Excellent Value Cabernet!

Marchesi Incisa ‘Valmorena’ Barbera d’Asti 2011

Piedmonte, Italy

Cash Price $14.99

I love Barbera.  It is northern Italy’s workhorse grape and is best produced in the hills of Asti. This unabashedly fruit forward wine is completely un-oaked and bursting with excitement.  Flavors of bright maraschino cherries sing into the palate with red flowers and violets weaving throughout the core.  The tannins are minimal, but the acids are pure and refreshing.  Notes of fig and red berries play through the mid palate with tinges of juicy strawberry.  The finish is clean and fine with a plush core of fruits.  This wine is perfect for sitting on the patio with a loved one after a long day of work.

Waterford Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Elgin, South Africa

Cash Price $14.99

Waterford is one of the highest quality wineries in all of South Africa.  I originally fell in love with their Cabernet, but recently tried and loved the Sauvignon Blanc they produce.  The passion put into the wines are second to none and the minerality that comes through on the palate is tantalizing.  This 100% Sauvignon Blanc exudes flavors of fresh grapefruit and lemon lime with searing acids that cleanse the palate.  Notes of wet rocks play through the core of this wine with smidgeons of lemon and freshly cut grass.  Hints of tangerine play on the outer edges of the palate and finishes with bits of gooseberry.  Truly refreshing and a perfect companion with crawfish or oysters.

Vetrice Rufina SangioveseReserva 2009

Chianti, Italy

Cash Price $14.99

The sub zone of Rufina located in the region of Chianti is, in my opinion, the highest quality area in Chianti.  This classic offering gives flavors of ripe cherries and cranberry with finely tuned acids and light tannins.  There is a rustic undercurrent to this wine that shows bits of wet leaves and iron rich clay.  The finish offers sweet and sour cherries that mingle effortlessly throughout the core.  Vetrice is a great spaghetti wine or pizza wine that is perfectly priced for early and often consumption.

Chateau Lauriol Red Blend 2009

Cotes de Francs, France

Cash Price $12.99

You all will see me consistently writing up these amazingly priced wines from Bordeaux for the foreseeable future.  The wines are just plain delicious. The Cotes de Francs is one of the better value regions on the right bank.  The wines are dominated by Merlot, but can have Cabernet and Cabernet Franc as well.  This is the ‘second’ wine of the famed Chateau Puygueraud of whom I have written of fondly in the past.  Fresh and fruit forward, this wine offers flavors of black berry and cassis which play easily through the plush tannins and approachable acids.  Hints of framboise concentrate on the mid palate with a smooth, lingering finish that gives bits of vanilla and mocha.  Awesome Value Red!

Georges Vigoureux ‘Gouleyant’ Malbec 2012

Cahors, France

Cash Price $11.19

The original home of Malbec is in Southern France and the region of Cahors is its most ardent supporter.  Argentina may have made the grape popular, but Cahors is becoming the new darling of the Malbec world.  Flavors of plump plum and wild cherry race through gracious amounts of fruit with easy, smooth tannins and acids.  The finish gives rich blackberry that is encompassed by hints of violet and coffee beans.  Thick and Tasty Malbec!

Thank You,

James C. Barlow

Certified Wine Educator

Certified Sommelier

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Article posted by the Society of Wine Educators written by James Barlow on Santorini

Posted on March 4, 2014 by TheWineEpicure

Guest Post:  Modern Wines from Ancient Santorini

santorini island james bToday we have a guest post from Houston-based Wine Educator James Barlow, CS, CWE – all about some modern wines from a most ancient place…the Greek Island of Santorini.

When one thinks of Greece, one might envision the great Greek Gods – Dionysus, Zeus, and Apollo – sipping wine from golden goblets, perched on high watching the humans battle in epic duels.

When one thinks of Greek wine, one might envision pine resin and retsina  – and this has often kept people from delving much farther into the world of Greek wines.

However, Greek wine is so much more!  Greece is home to some of the more interesting indigenous grape varietals on earth.  Smoky, bone dry whites such as Assyrtiko or full bodied reds such as Mavrotragano and the deliciously sweet Vinsanto are truly the “nectars of the Gods.”

Vines have been grown in Greece for centuries, but in the modern world, Greek wines have been widely overlooked by the wine community.  However, one the small island of Santorini, located in the southern Cyclades Islands, is looking to change the way the world looks at the wines of Greece.

santorinin cliffsides firaThe History and Geography of Santorini

First, a bit of history about Santorini, which will give a better understanding why this small island has excellent terrior and climate to cultivate vines.  Santorini was the core of an ancient volcano that erupted in about 1640-1620 BC.  This submerged a large part of the island and created a caldera where the center of the island had been.  The result was a unique mix of chalk and shale beneath ash, lava and pumice, which contributes to the vines having to struggle deep into the soil to find nutrients.

This, in turn, gives the resulting wines intense minerality and singularity in the wine world.  It also is the core reason why the root louse, phylloxera, has never become an issue on this small island.  This fact allows Santorini to have many old vine vineyards.  Grapes are grown on the eastern edge of the caldera at nearly 1,000 feet in altitude.  To add even more stress to the vine, Santorini sees almost no rain during the growing season and the vines only source of water comes from the early morning fog condensation that covers the island.  This is enough to keep the vines alive and thriving.

Steady westerly winds keep the grapes from seeing much of the condensation thus eliminating any chance of rot.  In fact, the winds are so fierce that the vines are typically trained to grow in a Stefani shape, a round basket, where the middle is left open for the clusters of grapes to grow unimpeded.

santorini vineyardAssyrtiko:  Rich, Mineral-driven Whites

It is in this environment on Santorini that Greece’s most intriguing white grape is grown.  Assyrtiko (A seer’tee ko) might just become the next “darling” white wine for sommeliers and wine critics alike.  The varietal is often referred to as ‘the white grape in red’s clothing’.  It is a high acid, full-bodied white with moderately high alcohol that gives the consumer a chance to taste the essence of Santorini.

The minerality that the grape inherits from the soils is sky high.  Flavors of crushed rocks and smoky minerals meld into the bone dry acidity while maintaining ripe citrus fruits such as melon, apple and key lime.  Assyrtiko will be sometimes be blended with small amounts of Athiri and Aidani to add aromatics to the bracing acids.  The wine may sometimes see oak, but is typically aged in stainless steel vats.  Wild yeasts are usually used in fermentation which gives the ensuing wine unique character and flavor profile.  Santorini has 70% of its vines dedicated to this variety.  Some of the best examples are done by Gaia, who produces an unbelievably good wild ferment, and Paris Sigalas.

Vinsanto from Santorini

Assyrtiko(minimum 51%) and Aidani are also the main grape varieties used for the passito-style Vinsanto dessert wines. The late harvested grapes are left out on straw mats for 1-2 weeks which causes them to concentrate and raisinate.  The grapes then go through a santorini sunsetlengthy fermentation process then are aged in oak casks for a minimum of 24 months, but usually for much longer.  The ending results are deliciously sweet wines with flavors of matured honey, dried apricots, and molasses.

The wines are typically low in alcohol and high in sugar, yet are not cloying due to the vibrant acidity of Assyrtiko.  Vinsanto of Greece, not to be confused with Vin Santo of Tuscany, now has the exclusive rights to the name ‘Vinsanto’ although Tuscany can still use the name on the label to describe the ‘style’ of wine making. Vin meaning wine, Santo short for Santorini…Vinsanto. Makes sense.

Mavrotragano:  Big, Bold Red

Santorini may be best known for its indigenous white varietals, but the reds are beginning to make head way in the market.  Mavrotragano is the red grape that is making the biggest waves.  This rare, indigenous variety produces small, thick skinned grapes of very low yield.  Due to the lack of phylloxera issues, this varietal remains largely on its original rootstock.  Mavrotragano was nearly extinct before being resurrected by Haridimos Hatzidakis and Paris Sigalas to critical acclaim.  The wine is aged for a minimum of 1 year in oak, usually French.  The flavor profile is reminiscent of Nebbiolo with red fruits, large notes of minerality and full, yet supple tannins.

The complex, indigenous varietals of this small, yet uniquely gifted island is leading the resurgence of Greek wine in the world.  Greece is leaving the tarnish of Retsina in the past and forging forward with its indigenous quality varietals and the island of Santorini leading the way.

Santorini Greek TavernOur guest author, James Barlow, CS, CWE, is a wine director of over 6,000 wines labels for a  store owned by Spec’s Fine Wines and Liquors in Houston, Texas.   He is also the  author of the widely recongized wine blog thewineepicure.com.  James is also a recent recipient of the CWE Certification (Congratulations, James!) and as such has taken on the duty of teaching the Certified Specialist of Wine course to fellow employees in hopes  of having the best educated staff in the state of Texas. Way to go, James!

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JAMES BARLOW’S ‘STEALS OF THE MONTH’ FOR FEBRUARY 2014

Posted on February 21, 2014 by TheWineEpicure

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hope you all have enjoyed the slightly warmer weather in the past week.  I often find some of the best values in the world of wine to be in France.  The 2009 and 2010 vintages were some of the best that France has seen across the board.  Take the opportunity to scoop up these outstanding vintages while you can!

Mazets St. Victor Red Blend 2010

Cotes du Rhone, France

Cash Price $9.49

This is my go-to region for value in the entire world.  I have personally been to this vineyard and seen the amazing care that has been taken from vine to wine.  Flavors of black raspberry, plum and cassis.  Notes of garrigue and black pepper on a smooth, textured finish.

Jean Louis Trocard Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Bordeaux, France

Cash Price $9.49

This Sauvignon Blanc is deliciously refreshing!  Flavors of grapefruits, citrus lemon lime and melon.  The finish is crisp, clean and un-oaked with notes of green apple and just a hint of bell pepper.

Chateau Romains Red Blend 2009

Bordeaux (St. Emilion), France

Cash Price $7.99

Deliciously fruit forward from the start.  Flavors of red cherry, wild berry and red currant.  Soft acids and integrated tannins.  Finish offers hints of toasted oak, smoke and just a hint of leather.

Thank You,

James C. Barlow

Certified Wine Educator

Certified Sommelier

 

 

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JAMES BARLOW’S ‘THE THIRTEEN’ PICKS OF FEBRUARY 2014

Posted on February 6, 2014 by TheWineEpicure

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hope everyone is getting into the swing of the new year.  I typically find that January is a lost month for me because I am always trying to get all my ducks in a row for the rest of the year.  This year, it is not the case.  I am in full swing with an abundance of delicious new wines for you all to sup.  I do have several picks dedicated to the holiday of the heart.  Impress your significant other this year with a deliciously flavorful bottle of silky smooth Barbera or lightly sweet Gamay bubbles!

Aldo Conterno Barbera D’Alba ‘Conca Tre Pile’ 2005

Alba, Italy

Cash Price $35.89

I find Barbera to be the ‘lost’ grape of the wine world.  Barbera is deliciously expressive with minimal tannins and bright, vibrant acids.  The fruit is king with this varietal.  Aldo Conterno is considered a ‘Traditionalist’ in the wine making world of Piedmonte.  The ‘Traditionalist’ style is of minimal human interference in preference of letting the wine speak for itself.  This wine is vinified in stainless steel barrels and aged for 12 months in new oak in the hilly areas of one of the best areas in Piedmonte, called Bussia.  The acids are still rocking in this 9 year old wine.  The fruits pops in the palate with bing cherry and stewed raspberries sink into soft hints of rose petals and cranberry.  The finish is supple and lingering with a generous finish of cedar, tar, and just a whiff of smoked plum.  This wine ROCKS at its price point and would be an amazing treat for your loved one on Valentines Day!

Summers Cabernet 2011

Calistoga, California

Cash Price $27.99

I have found that Summers is one of the more consistent Cabernet producers.  Their Calistoga offering is always a value for under $30, even in a challenging vintage such as 2011.  Black cherries zing into the palate with bits of blackberry and currant.  A thick creamy texture takes over the mid palate that smacks of vanilla bean and graham cracker.  The finish is long with integrated tannins, fine acids and notes of cinnamon, leather and herbs.  Stunning Cabernet!

Boniface ‘Caprice des Rocailles’ Red Sparkling N/V

Savoie, France

Cash Price $15.99

This delicious and softly sweet bubbly is the perfect Valentine’s Day wine!  Boniface is a Gamay based wine.  Gamay is better known as the red grape of Beaujolais.  The grape displays light and fresh fruits with soft tannins and zesty acids.  This heavenly bubbly exudes strawberries and raspberry from the beginning.  Tight and friendly bubbles dance through the glass with licks of sweetness that balance the fresh fruit flavors.  The finish offers just a smidge of brioche nestled into a bed of freshly picked rose petals.  Quite a Valentine’s Delight!

Dauvergne Ranvier Red Blend 2010

Vacqueyras, France

Cash Price 28.99

Vacqueyras has become the darling of the Rhone Valley in the past several vintages.  People are starting to search out this quality Village.  The wines are comprised mostly of Grenache, but may have a dollop of Syrah and Mourvedre.  Ranvier offers flavors of stewed plums and ripe red cherries.  Supple tannins and soft acids play through a core of red flowers and savory herbs.  The finish gives notes of graphite, hints of smoked tar, and just a touch of jammed pomegranate.  This wine really shows what the Rhone Valley can offer in a great vintage!

Domaine Herve Seguin Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Pouilly Fume, France

Cash Price $23.99

Pouilly Fume is one of the more serious expressions of Sauvignon Blanc in the entire world.  Seguin is a 6th generation family of growers with vineyards in the town of Pouilly-Sur-Loire.  The wines they produce have excellent acidity and pure driven minerality. Seguin offers bursting flavors of citrus lime and grapefruit that sing through focused acids. Licks of limestone minerals tingle through the mid palate with hints of flint. The finish offers a tinge of smoke that is encompassed by white flowers without any oak.  Try this complex expression of Sauvignon from one of its best regions!

Twisted Sister ‘Main Squeeze’ Red Blend 2011

Paso Robles, California

Cash Price $18.99

The Calcareous ‘Twisted Sister’ line has become one of the best sellers in all of Spec’s portfolio.  The Main Squeeze is a silky red blend of Syrah, Zinfandel, and Cabernet.  Red fruits of ripe red cherries and wild berries are prevalent from the start.  The mid palate turns into cream cherry pie with velvet tannins and lush acids.  The finish offers hints of toasted oak and caramel that sink into a gracious amounts of dark chocolate and truffles.  This is a Valentine’s Day wine that Your ‘main squeeze’ will love!

Vallobera Tempranillo Crianza 2010

Rioja, Spain

Cash Price $16.99

Rioja is experiencing a revival in wine making.  The traditional Rioja wine tended to be dark, with mild fruit and a huge helping of American oak.  The new wines of Rioja are plush with vibrant fruit and sometimes infusing the American oak with French oak.  The results are astoundingly great wines!  Vallobera is quite expressive from the front with flavors of black cherry and plum.  The mid palate offers smooth tannins that come from the grapes and oak.  The wine is aged for 14 month in French and American oak.  The finish gives notes of vanilla and dill that linger on the palate and reach into hints of clove and blackberry.  Explore Vibrant Rioja!

Caronne Ste. Gemme Red Blend 2011

Haut Medoc, France

Cash Price $18.99

I have found that this winery is one of the best values in all of Bordeaux!  I have tried numerous vintages and have enjoyed every single one.  The winery adjoins the famous region of Saint Julien in the confines of St. Laurent and is a blend of Cabernet and Merlot.  This wine has excellent structure and purity.  Flavors of blackberry and currant sift through brawny tannins and fresh acids.  The mid palate offers notes of leather and tobacco which fall into hints of graphite and clove.  The finish is supple and long with smidgeons of cedar, vanilla and spice.  Great Value Bordeaux!

Morande Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2008

Casablanca Valley, Chile

Cash Price $14.29

The Casablanca region is producing some of the best white wines in all of Chile.  The region is perfect for growing white grapes such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  This wine is drinking perfectly right now.  Tropical flavors of melon and papaya fling effortlessly through the palate into hints  of ripe guava and pineapple.  Notes of toasted caramel and hazelnut are prevalent in the mid palate.  The finish offers smidgeons of oak and vanilla bean. Add this treat to your daily Chardonnay repertoire.

JRE Red Blend 2011

Napa Valley, California

Cash Price $14.99

This Red blend is a favorite of Spec’s Main Wine Buyer Bear Dalton.  It is a Zinfandel, Petite Sirah blend that really over achieves for the price point.  The Zinfandel offers flavors of ripe black cherries, candied raspberry and bramble while the Petite Sirah gives brawny tannins and dark currant to the wine.  The mid palate shows a jammy complexity with hints of clove and black pepper.  The finish shows 22 months of oak aging with vanilla bean, cinnamon and cedar that lay on a bed of stewed fruits for a wonderfully long time.  Perfect Pizza Wine for this cold weather!

Primo Amore Riesling N/V

Pavia, Italy

Cash Price $12.99

Primo Amore (First Love) is the perfect white wine to give your Valentine this year!  The wine is slightly sweet with flavors of honeyed melon and caramel green apples.  The backbone has a soft core of acidity that balances out the medium sweetness.  Notes of ripe pear and nectarine dance melodically through notes of jasmine and honey suckle.  The finish is soft, tantalizing and without oak.  Buy this wine for Your Amore!

Enseduna Red Blend 2008

Languedoc, France

Cash Price $11.99

I visited the Languedoc a couple of years ago and was lucky enough to have dinner with the head vineyard manager of this winery.  He is a big fan of the indigenous grape Marselan and made his case to me that this varietal would become the signature grape of the region.  He may be onto something!  Enseduna is a blend of Marselan, Syrah, and Merlot.  Juicy flavors of plum and framboise are prevalent from the start with a thick mouth feel.  Notes of candied strawberry sink into the mid palate with soft, elegant tannins and still zesty acids.  The finish offers hints of spice and soft cream.  Pair this wine with nice thick steak with all the fixings.

Urban Cabernet 2011

Maule, Chile

Cash Price $11.99

The Urban line is a part of the prestigious Jorge Ordonez portfolio and produced by the iconic O. Fournier winery.  I have always found that Ordonez finds some of the best quality value wines on earth.  This 100% Cabernet is surprising tasty for the money.  It is approachable from the start with flavors of black currant and black cherries that play into soft, eloquent tannins and easy acids.  The finish offers notes of black raspberry and toasted nutmeg with smidgeons of spice.  Awesome Daily Red!

Thank You,

James C. Barlow

Certified Wine Educator

Certified Sommelier

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STEALS OF THE MONTH CORRECTION!

Posted on January 23, 2014 by TheWineEpicure

THE WINERY FOR ‘CIMARRON’ IS VIGILANCE NOT CROSS SPRINGS!

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE ERROR!

 

VIGILANCE ‘CIMARRON’ RED BLEND 2011

LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

CASH PRICE $10.39

 

James C. Barlow

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JAMES BARLOW’S ‘THE STEALS OF THE MONTH’ FOR JANUARY 2014

Posted on January 23, 2014 by TheWineEpicure

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hope you all are enjoying my new website.  I will be hosting a educational class on the wines of Washington and Oregon at Crescent Moon Wine Bar on February 19th from 7-9 PM.  Food will be paired with the wines and the cost is only $50.  Space is limited so please RSVP to 281-364-9463.  Also, I am now available again to host your private wine party!  So, feel free to put me to work at your next dinner party or work event.  The first wine that I am reviewing won the TOP VALUE AWARD at the Houston Uncorked! Wine Competition this year!  I was fortunate enough to sit on this panel and blind taste this very wine and pick it as the best of the bunch!

 

CROSS SPRINGS ‘CIMARRON’ RED BLEND 2011

LAKE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

CASH PRICE $10.39

Cimarron is a Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet blend that is power-packed full of flavor from the get go.  Ripe dark fruits of black cherry and blackberry lead into smooth, soft tannins.  Notes of vanilla bean and cedar are long and firm on the finish from 14 months of oak aging.

 

GOURMANDISE GRENACHE 2010

VIN DE PAYS, FRANCE

CASH PRICE $9.49

This wine is smooth, easy and fruit forward.  Gourmandise is not aged in oak, so the deliciously approachable Grenache flavors jump into the palate.  Flavors of ripe bing cherry, raspberry and strawberry bounce delightfully through the mouth feel.  The finish offers soft, creamy notes of vanilla and jam.

DELSOL PICPOUL DE PINET 2011

LANGUEDOC, FRANCE

CASH PRICE $8.49

Picpoul is the best white grape that you’ve never heard of.  Deliciously clean and refreshing on the palate.  Notes of acacia and white blossoms dance around zesty acids and no oak.  Notes of citrus, lemon and melon sing through the mouth feel.  Perfect seafood white!

 

Thank You,

James C. Barlow

Certified Wine Educator

Certified Sommelier

 

 

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JAMES BARLOW’S ‘THE THIRTEEN’ PICKS OF JANUARY 2014

Posted on January 10, 2014 by TheWineEpicure

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

Happy New Year! I would like to welcome you all to my new blog website, thewineepicure.com. It is roughly the same format as the YahooGroups version, but much easier to navigate and direct. Thank You to all of the people that have made the switch to this new blog as you are the true wine lovers that want expand your palate with new and interesting wines. I am pleased to announce that I recently passed the Certified Wine Educator exam, which is the highest level of recognition given by the esteemed Society of Wine Educators (only 350 in the world)! This certification gives me new opportunities to help you all with guidance and education in the world of wine. I look forward expanding your palate and mind this year!

Chateau Cambon La Pelouse Red Blend 2010
Haut Medoc, France
Cash Price $28.49

The 2010 in Bordeaux has become a ‘lightning in a bottle’ vintage. It was a perfect season that led to wonderfully ripe fruit with excellent tannin and acid structure. The subsequent vintages have been sub par which gives the 2010 vintage even more creed. If you are looking to see what all the fuss is about in Bordeaux, then this is the vintage that you need to dip your beak into. I always find great value in the Haut Medoc. Many times the ‘Growth’ wines of Bordeaux, albeit excellent, are out of my price range, so I am on a continual search for the best priced Bordeaux available which often lands me in the Haut Medoc. Cambon is a work of art for under $30. It is located just outside of Margaux in Macau and is a ‘Cru Bourgeois’ winery, which gives it a higher quality ranking. It is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet, and Cabernet Franc. The wine is ripe and well balanced in the mouth with flavors of red berry and black cherry. The mid palate gives supple tannins and zesty acids that lead into hints of kirsch and raspberry jam. The finish is wonderfully complex with notes of toasted oak with hints of caramel and smoked toffee. Wine Spectator gave this wine 90 Points. I would give it 92 Points.

O. Fournier ‘B Crux’ Red Blend 2009
Mendoza Valley, Argentina
Cash Price $21.84

The Uco Valley is producing some of the highest quality wines coming out of the entire Mendoza region. This Malbec, Tempranillo blend is grown at 3,600 feet in the mountains to give an optimal amount of sunshine for the grapes to ripen. The wine was aged mostly in French oak, but just a bit of American oak which gives it a soft, creamy feel vanilla mouth feel. Robust red fruits of cherry and pomegranate sink into silky tannins. The wine has just a hint of high alcohol, but that is off set by the smoothly integrated tannins and approachable acids. This wine has amazing depth and grip while holding the fruits in focus. This wine is a gem for the price.

Domaine De La Garenne Blanc 2011
Bandol, France
Cash Price $23.69

This is one of my favorite wineries in all of South France. The quality produced from this winery rivals the whites of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Loire Valley. The white varietals of this region are Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and a slew others. This delightful white exudes deliciously clean flavors of citrus, green apple and papaya. No oak has touched this wine so the acids sits beautifully on the palate. The finish offers notes of candied melon, white flowers, and lychee. This is a stunning wine that is completely over looked by the regular consumer. Buy this wine to show off your knowledge to your most coveted friends. Everyone calls this a wine geek wine.

Rudy Zindfandel 2012
Napa Valley, California
Cash Price $18.49

This second label wine from one of my favorite producers is extraordinary. Flavors of blackberry and currant sink into notes of brown sugar and sweet peppers. Hints of dusted earth sink into gracious amounts of creamy vanilla that fall into tinges of black pepper and potpourri. I am typically not a big Zinfandel fan, but this treat is delicious on the palate. Enjoy!

Chateau la Croix des Moines 2010
Pomerol, France
Cash Price $18.89

Pomerol is easily my favorite region on earth to find great Merlot. I often dismissed Merlot as a boring grape until I found the Merlot’s grown in Pomerol. This region offers true terrior driven wines that give expressions of the varietal that the rest of the world is unable to duplicate. Given the amazing terrior and the stunning vintage of 2010, this wine is a guaranteed winner at your table. Flavors of blackberry and currant smash into vibrant tannins and eloquent acids. Notes of toasted tobacco and fig sink into tinges roasted pecans and oak. This wine is drinking well now, but will only get better with time!

Sheldrake Point Riesling 2011
Finger Lakes, New York
Cash Price $16.99

This wine received one of the highest accolades in the Houston Uncorked Wine Competition this year. I was fortunate enough to judge on the panels that picked the winner of the entire competition. I was also happy to be able to pick this wine as one of the best whites in the competition(blind) and it be from New York. The Finger Lakes is an up and coming region that everyone should keep on the radar for amazing whites and reds. This slightly sweet white showed notes of fresh honey-comb and scented jasmine. The wine is completely un oaked and offered mid palate flavors of white flowers and just licks of honeyed sweetness. The finish is pure, soft, and encompasses the palate in a way that leaves it begging for another sup! Get Ready for Great Finger Lakes Wines!

Lockwood ‘Liquid Velvet’ Red Blend 2011
Monterey, California
Cash Price $17.99

Lockwood Vineyards was recently purchased by the Boisset family, whom has amazing pedigree in the wine world. This wine is meant to drink deliciously smooth from the first sup, a pop and go. It is a Merlot and Cabernet blend that is amazingly easy to drink. Flavors of rich, red cherries tickle the taste buds from the start and ramp into notes of red berry and strawberry. The mid palate is soft and mouth coating. The finish offers flavors of vanilla, milk chocolate, and just a hint of cinnamon spice. This soft and voluptuous wine is a sure fire hit at your next dinner party!

Ghost Signs Petite Sirah
Paso Robles, California
Cash Price $14.29

I have always found Petite Sirah to be a hidden gem in the wine world. I find its dark, brooding flavors and massively structured tannins to be a treat for my palate. This beauty is a great introductory into what this amazing varietal can offer. Thick and concentrated, Ghost signs offers flavors of dark black cherry and currant which weave through the full bodied mid palate with ripe, juicy tannins. Notes of toasted caramel, vanilla bean, and smidgeons of roasted coffee waft through the finish that sits on the palate for a hauntingly long time. This is a MUST TRY!

Losen Bockstanz Spatburgunder 2011
Mosel, Germany
Cash Price $13.99

Pinot Noir is called Spatburgunder in Germany. If you have not had the pleasure of trying German Pinot Noir, then I implore you to put it on your list of things ‘To Do’ in 2014. Spatburgunder is fresh, lively, and delightfully light. The nose is wonderfully floral with a bouquet of red roses and meadow flowers. The palate offers flavors of freshly picked red cherries, cranberry, and rose petals. The acids are pure and clean which only enhances the flavor profile. The oak is non existent, leading me to believe it was aged in either stainless steel or a large neutral barrel. The finish is light, flavorful and refreshing. I love the purity of this wine. It is an absolute steal for any Pinot Noir lover.

Anthonij Rupert ‘Protea’ Shiraz
Western Cape, South Africa
Cash Price $14.99

This meaty, dark wine is taylor made for cold weather. I had dinner with the larger than life Anthonij Rupert when I was in South Africa several years back. We were quite impressed with the wines and now carry many of them. Protea Shiraz has a Northern Rhone feel to it. Flavors of roasted game and grissled fat form on the palate and sinew through flavors of plum, framboise, and cherry. The mid palate offers notes of tobacco and tea with hints of pepper and spice. The finish is long, lingering and packed full of jammy fruit. Protea really offers a lot on the palate at such a nominal price point.

Cross Springs Red Blend 2011
Lake County, California
Cash Price $13.99

Cross Springs is a kitchen sink blend of mostly Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet. I have found that this winery is quite the over achiever in the under $15 price range. Soft and velvety, this wine is ready to drink from the first sup. Flavors of black cherry and plum burst onto the palate with hints of red flowers and candied strawberry. Smidgeons of spice play throughout the mid palate with tinges of dark coffee grinds and mocha. The finish is long and flavorful with notes of currant that lay on soft, plush tannins. This is a daily red drinker that you can hang your hat on!

Domaine de Gournier Chardonnay 2010
Vin de Pays des Cevennes, France
Cash Price $10.19

Gournier is a Robert Kacher selection, which is one of the highest esteemed importers in the wine business. They focus on low yield, high quality wines at a value price point. Gournier Chardonnay is planted on calcareous rock which allows for the terroir to show in the wine. It was aged in oak and stainless steel and left on its lees for six months. Rich flavors of ripe pear and apple seep into the palate and are enveloped by a creamy butter complexity that sinews through the core of the wine. The finish gives depth of oak with notes of vanilla and butterscotch. This wine is a Chardonnay lovers dream!

Penelope Sanchez Red Blend 2011
Campo de Borja, Spain
Cash Price $10.99

I really enjoy this wine. It is a Grenache/Syrah blend that is completely un-oaked. The wine is fresh and fun on the palate. Flavors of strawberry and red cherries fling into the palate with reckless abandon. Hints of spice play through the outer palate, but this wine focuses on giving you alluring, jammy fruits from start to finish. Succulent and satisfying, this wine goes a long way for such a little price!

Thank You,

James C. Barlow
Certified Wine Educator
Certified Sommelier

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James Barlow’s ‘The Thirteen’ Wines of Christmas

Posted on December 14, 2013 by TheWineEpicure
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,   Happy Holidays to all of my wonderful readers and customers!  This month’s blog will focus on several uber geeky wines that will be perfect presents and stocking stuffers for Christmas. I will also give you some great value selections that will be a definite hit at your table or party this holiday season.  Thank You all immensely for being a part of my blog and I am excited to lead you all into my new chapter of this blog called thewineepicure.com. If you have not switched over, please do so NOW because I will no longer be posting blogs on the YahooGroups format starting the new year.   All you have to do is reply to this email with the word ‘SWITCH’ and I will send you an e-vite to join the new blog. Thank You and Merry Christmas from My Family to Yours!  Several of these reviews are not MY critiques, but from reputable sources.  
 
Domaine Pegau Red Blend 2010
Chateauneuf du Pape, France
Cash Price $95.94  
 
This wine was the #7 wine in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines for 2013.  I will let Wine Spectator do the talking for this wine.  The wine received 97 Points!   Intense, with the tarry, bittersweet cocoa-fueled grip of the vintage running through a well-endowed core of crushed plum, blackberry paste and braised fig. The muscular finish picks up notes of brick dust, pepper, warm chestnut leaf and smoldering charcoal. A throwback profile, with a hyperripe core of fruit—and it works. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and others. Best from 2015 through 2035. 6,580 cases made. –JM
ONLY 2 CASES AVAILABLE!
 
Valdicava Brunello di Montacino
Tuscany, Italy
Cash Price $136.39
 
Robert Parker 95 Points, Wine Spectator 95 Points, James Suckling 97 Points from the vintage of the decade in Tuscany.
 
95                     points                 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate                                 The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino flows with gorgeous layers of dark red fruit. This is one of the more muscular, virile wines of the vintage. Slow to reveal its character, the Valdicava Brunello will require significant patience, but I have seen the wine blossom beautifully, even in the smallest of vintages. A blast of iron, smoke, tar, licorice and new leather inform the deep, intense finish. This is a hugely promising, brilliant Brunello from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese, but it needs to be buried in the cellar for at least a few years…Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.                                                            (5/ 2011)  
 
Fourteen Appellations Red Blend 2008
Napa Valley, California
Cash Price $75.99  
 
93 Points & Gold Medal from Tastings.com   The 2008 vintage of FOURTEEN is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot from all fourteen sub-appellations within the Napa Valley.  This wine combines elegant aromas of ripe bing cherries and blackberries with the richness of roasted vanilla and mocha.  This is a complex and layered wine, firm tannin structure, moderately dry but plenty of darker fruit and a lasting finish.  Enjoy with a nice filet mignon.  This wine is reflective of the vintage and is age worthy.  Only 800 cases produced.   Winemaker Steve Reynolds states, “2008 is a great vintage and many winemakers prefer it to 2007 because of the softness and beauty of the fruit balance, and I agree.  This wine should rate well and be rock star for our last release of the number ’14’.”     Oakville Eastern Exposure Cabernet 2008 Napa Valley, California Cash Price $70.99   91 Points Wine Enthusiast!   A ripe, elaborate Cabernet, offering a blast of fruit in the flashiest way. Wows with tiers of blackberries, black cherries, cassis, cocoa, cool mint, spice and smoked meat that are almost sweet, but the finish is dry. The powerful oak overlay is perfectly in keeping with the wine’s volume. Some sharpness throughout is a minor fault. – Steve Heimhoff
 
Kesselstatt ‘Josephshofer’ GG Riesling 2010
Mosel, Germany
Cash Price $51.99
 
The  ‘GG’ or Grosse Gewaches wines are considered the best quality wines that are made in all of Germany.  Kesselstatt is one of the oldest producers in Germany and most certainly the Mosel.  The ‘GG’ wines are typically on the drier side, but may have just a hint of sweetness.
 
92 Points Wine Spectator
 
A ripe, broad-textured Riesling, offering flavors of baked peach, apple tart and glazed citrus. Interesting notes of anise emerge as well. Finishes with allspice and hints of vanilla. Best from 2012 through 2020.   –KM
 
La Sirene de Giscours 2005
Margaux, France
Cash Price $45.69
 
La Sirene de Giscours is the ‘second  label’ wine from this iconic winery.  Chateaux Giscours is the famed 3rd Growth  winery in Margaux.  Margaux is known for producing a sexier style of Cabernet,  Merlot blends on the Left Bank in Bordeaux.  I have always found that this  winery over-produces for the price tag.  Second label wines are becoming quite  the hot commodity due to the exorbitant prices of the wines coming out of  Bordeaux in the past several vintages.  This offering from the 2005 vintage is absolutely stunning!  The wine was slightly closed off in its youth, but is just now starting to find its course as the delicious fruits are starting to focus.  Flavors of red berry and red cherry which sink into thick, full tannins and eloquent acids.  Hints of  toasted oak and smidgeons of plum sinew deftly throughout this intensely focused wine.  Notes of french vanilla and potpourri lay on a bed  of gravel terrior with bits of cedar and tonneau.   The 2005 vintage was gorgeous in Bordeaux and this is a great expression without breaking the bank.  
 
Rupert ‘Nemesia’ White Blend 2006
Franschoek, South Africa
Cash Price $50.38
 
This Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Viognier blend is absolutely decadent!  Nemesia is hand-crafted from specific sites to assure complete complexity and blended with absolute care with 6 months of oak aging to produce an amazingly dynamic wine.  Rupert may be the perfect wine to pair with all the holiday fixings.  Decadently rich flavors of lemon and lychee sing into round notes of vanilla oak and stony minerals which play into a medley of delicious spices.  The flavors continue with complex notes of violet, lilac, and ripe white fruits.  Nemesia is intensely aromatic and power packed full of flavor.  The finish is soft and tantalizing with just a kiss of spice.  Ageing has rounded this wine out and given it more baked characteristics, but it is peaking and drinking beautifully right now!  Open this at your Christmas feast!
 
Andre Clouet N/V
Champagne, France
Cash Price $37.99
 
Andre Clouet is a Grand Cru Champagne producer from the region of Bouzy.  Grand Cru Champagne is produced from only the finest vineyards in the region.  Most of the BIG name producers that you buy from Champagne are NOT Grand Cru wines, but from many different vineyard sites throughout the region.  They may be of good quality, but most are not Grand Cru status.  This Champagne exudes royalty from the first sup.  Flavors of green apple and citrus explode on the palate with deliciously tight bubbles.  Delightfully soft notes of baked apple pie and toasted crème brulee flicker throughout the mid palate with a medley of fresh white flowers sinewing eloquently from start to finish.  The backbone of this exquisite bubbly has a chalky Belemnite minerality racing through the core that finishes with a smashingly clean and lip smacking acidity.  This wine is impeccably made and one of my favorite sparklers in the world!  Wine Advocate gave this wine 90 Points!
 
 
Marriamero ‘Inferi’ Montepulciano 2009
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy
Cash Price $29.99
 
The 2007 vintage of this wine was my TOP PICK of the year a couple of years ago.  This winery is one of the best small producing wineries in the entire region.  The Montepulciano grape is sort of like Cabernet in flavor and body profile.  Inferi is powerfully expressive with thick, dark fruits of black currand and black cherries that explode on the palate and sing into flavors of toasted fig leaves and tobacco which slowly sinks beautifully into notes of creamy vanilla cedar.  The oak is prevalent throughout this beefy wine with notes of toasted hazelnut and pecan that sink into hints of savory meats.  Bits of sweet spices play throughout the finish with brooding tannins and licks of ripe plum.  This wine is deliciously sleek with thickly concentreated fruits that will keep the palate craving more!  This wine drinks closer to the $100 price point than its actual price!    
 
Arcadian ‘Fiddlestix Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2007
Sta Rita Hills, California
Cash Price $48.99
 
93    – Wine Advocate, Antonio Galloni   – 2012
 
The more exotic side of Pinot comes through in the 2007 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix. Ash, smoke, incense, savory herbs and dark red cherries form part of a rich tapestry of aromas and flavors in this utterly beguiling and intriguing wine.  There is a level of aromatics and flavor complexity this is unusual for Santa Rita Hills Pinot, except for in a few spots.  Fiddlestix is one of those.  I also tasted the 2002, which captures the pedigree of these volcanic soils in a dark, brooding style that at  times recalls Aglianico.  Both vintages show the complexity and pedigree this site is capable of expressing.  Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017
 
Block 303 Cabernet 2010
Rutherford, California
Cash Price $19.94
 
Most of you know the amazing quality that the Block Series has produced over the years.  These wines have become iconic for offering great quality wines under $20.  The Rutherford Valley has become renowned for growing terrior-driven Cabernet that has a distinct ‘Rutherford Dust’ flavor in the wines produced from this region.  Block 303 is brilliantly concentrated with divine flavors of blackberry, cassis and black raspberry that reach into voluptuous tannins which envelope the palate with hints of dusty, alluvial soil.  Notes of rich mocha chocolate and vanillin fall into ripe acids that give depth and complexity to the mouth feel.  The finish is long and tantalizing with smooth notes of clove and cedar that linger on the palate for a wonderfully long time.  This is the perfect gift wine!
 
Expression 38 Chardonnay 2010
Sonoma Coast, California
Cash Price $19.94
 
The Expression line is known for making excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay throughout California and Oregon.  This delicious treat was formed in the Petaluma Gap area of the Sonoma Coast.  The wine maker takes full liberty in using full malolactic fermentation, rich lees aging, and new French oak which leads to a thick and richly textured wine.  Flavors of ripe tropical fruits burst on the palate, but quickly sink into notes of creamy butter, toasted hazelnut, and salted caramel. Light acids play through the core of the wine, but never take charge.  This wine is about the opulent and complex mouth feel. The finish is soft and plush with a roundness that envelops the palate.  Hedonistic California Chardonnay!
 
Yalumba Viognier 2012
Eden Valley, Australia
Cash Price $17.99
 
 
 I Love Viognier that is done well.  Yalumba is a quality winery out of South Australia and this is my favorite white wine they produce.  The nose is packed full of white flowers.  The palate offers flavors of ripe, tropical fruits of melon, guava and apricot sinew easily through soft, yet focused acids.  The wine is unencumbered by oak, but does has some lees aging that gives notes of hazel and cream.  The finish gives delicious tasty stone fruits with hints of nectarine and  mango.  Delicious treat that will be a great pairing with most fowl or ham dishes!    
 
Thank You,
 
James C. Barlow
Certified Sommelier
Certified Specialist of Wine
 
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JAMES BARLOW’S ‘TOP PICKS OF THE YEAR’ FOR 2013

Posted on November 19, 2013 by TheWineEpicure

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,  

 

Thank you all for joining me this year on our journey through the wonderful world of wine.  I have tasted over a thousand wines this year and have narrowed my favorites down to thirteen.  This blog will display the Top Wines I have tried this year.  Most I have written up throughout the year, but some, like my #1 pick is in such limited quantity that I typically would not blog about it.  These wines are sure fire hits for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners.  They would also make for perfect gifts!  All are in limited quantity, so don’t miss out on your chance to try my favorite wines of 2013!  My ‘Top Pick of the Year’ will be at the bottom of this blog.  

 

 

Kapcsandy ‘Endre’ Red Blend 2009

Napa Valley, California

Cash Price $74.99  

 

I recently tasted through a vertical of this wine and was completely ‘wowed’ by the complexity of this Bordeaux style blend.  Every vintage has beautiful integrity with subtle, intricate differences that showed the stylistic growing seasons of the wines.  Endre is a Cabernet, Merlot blend that is built to please, but will become even more gorgeous with cellar aging.  This wine exudes brilliance of meticulous wine making by Lou Kapcsandy with the help of Denis Malbec of 1st Growth Chateau Latour fame.  Flavors of black currant and black cherry lay in a bed of red flowers that slowly melds into dark mocha and milk chocolate.  Divine notes of rustic earth and terrior slither gracefully through dried leather and tobacco with a core of toasted vanilla and spices that place perfectly on the palate for an immensely long time.  The acids are booming with amazingly integrated tannins that lick the outer palate and give a focused precision to the wine.  This wine is an absolutely stellar wine which shows that California is capable of producing age-worthy Bordeaux style wines.  Robert Parker gave this wine 91 points.   

 

Chateau Tour Sieujean Red Blend 2009

Bordeaux, France

Cash Price $31.99  

 

This Cabernet Based red is exquisite!  Paulliac is known for producing some of the highest quality Grand Cru Classe wines in all of Bordeaux.  This little gem is a steal that is surrounded by some of the best vineyards in all of Bordeaux.  The winery doesn’t have the name recognition, so it cannot command the crazy high prices, but continues to show amazing quality for what is in the bottle.  The commune of St. Laurent holds some of the best vineyard sites on earth and this winery is staked right in the middle of it all.  Sieujean exudes dark fruits of black berry and currant that fill the mouth with ripe, tasty tannins that reach easily into juicy nuances of bramble and black cherry.  The mid palate is focused with notes of leather and graphite that give way to pin point precise acids.  The finish offers smidgeons of potpourri that dance through powerful flavors of cedar, dusted earth, and tobacco leaf.  This Robust blend is a pleasure on the palate and will only get better with age! 

 

Volker Eisele Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Napa Valley, California

Cash Price $42.74  

 

The 2008 vintage was a richly concentrated year that gave supple ripeness like that of the famed 2004 vintage.  This winery is one of the few in the Chiles Mountain AVA and is considered the gem of the region.  The Eisele vineyards is one of the best vineyards in all of Napa Valley and Certified Organic to boot.  Volker Eisele is famed for making wines of unmistakable elegance and impeccable balance.  This gorgeously rich and balanced wine drinks amazingly from the first pop of the cork!  Flavors of Black currant and cassis lay into a bed of tobacco leaves and mocha.  The mid palate continues with dark fruits with blackberry that sink into definitive vanilla bean and French oak infusions.  The finish is long and balanced with silky texture and voluptuous tannins.  Volker is a wine that was obviously well taken care of from start to finish!  Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 93 Points.   

 

Andre Clouet Rose N/V

Champagne, France

Cash Price $49.99  

 

Clouet’s Grand Cru Rose is made from 100% Pinot Noir and has become the darling of my cellar.  Located in the Montagne de Reims, this wine trumps even the likes of Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot because the grapes are from actual Grand Cru vineyards.  This brilliant Bouzy bubbles will be the champagne that I pop for my ‘special occasions’.  Rich, textured flavors of strawberry and raspberry sink into deliciously tight bubbles.  Notes of brioche and hazelnut show wonderfully through hints of red flowers, honey and confection.  The finish is refreshing and cleansing while keeping the palate begging for another sup.  Clouet drinks like satin on the palate and is amazingly memorable from start to finish!  

 

Saint Cosme Red Blend 2009

Gigondas, France

Cash Price $32.99  

 

Saint Cosme has been consistently one of my favorite wineries in the world.  They produce ridiculously great wine from top to bottom.  I have found their Gigondas selection to be a particular gem.  Gigondas is considered the ‘poor man’s Chateauneuf Du Pape’.  This Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend shows perfection from the beginning. It is aged for twelve months in new and used oak barrels.  Robust flavors of baked fig and plum race into brawny tannins and zesty acids.  Notes of black pepper and potpourri are enveloped by blackberries and crushed rocks.  The finish is long and offers bits of charred oak, tobacco and garrigue.  Cosme Gigondas will age gracefully for the next decade.  Wine Spectator gave this wine 93 points.  I would put it in the 95-96 point range.  Only 2 cases available!  

 

Beacon Hill Chardonnay 2009

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Cash Price $32.99  

 

This is the best American Chardonnay that I have tasted this year.  This winery uses the Dijon clone version of Chardonnay, which produces some of the most complex versions of the grape in the world.  Oregon has nailed it when it comes to Chardonnay.  This Beacon of flavor offers fruits of green apple and lime that play into zesty acids that clean the palate through the core of this wine.  Notes of apple blossom and pear round into hints of confection and soft cream with roasted hazelnuts.  The amount of bursting flavors that encompass the palate on this wine make it truly a gem to behold.  Beacon Hill is committed to being a ‘green’ winery and is completely biodynamic.  Don’t miss out on the best American Chardonnay that I have tried this year!

 

Chateau Lanessan Red Blend 2000

Bordeaux, France

Cash Price $31.29  

 

The 2000 Vintage was slated as the best vintage of the 21st century in Bordeaux.  The region had a picture perfect growing season which led to amazing quality and abundant harvests.  This Haut Medoc wine is drinking perfectly right now.  Lanessan is adjacent to the 4th growth of Chateau Beychevelle but at a fraction of the cost.  This Cabernet forward wine is drinking gorgeously right now!  Flavors of soft roasted plum and black currant fall into silky notes of chocolate mocha and sandalwood.  The tannins and acids have softened out perfectly to give this wine a classic Bordeaux feel but with a voluptuous amount of fruits and flavors. Buy this diamond now and impress all of your friends.  Very Limited Quantity available.  

 

Gaia ‘Thalassatis’ Assyrtiko 2012

Santorini, Greece

Cash Price $26.89  

 

Assyrtiko is quickly becoming my favorite white grape.  It has piercing acidity that is surrounded by the distinct tones of terroir which make my palate giddy with delight.  The white wines of Santorini are typically un oaked.  The wines exude the soils of volcanic ash from the deep rooted 80 year old vineyards.  Flavors of citrus lemon and crisp green apple lead into precise acids that are enveloped by nuances of smoke and limestone.  The finish offers hints of plush dew and melon while still showing precise and mouth watering acids.  Gaia Assyrtiko is brilliant and a must try!  Robert Parker gave this wine 92 Points.  

 

99 West Pinot Noir 2010

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Cash Price $15.79  

 

This Spec’s exclusive is a home run!  The Willamette Valley offer wines with the panache of California, but the complexity of Burgundy.  The region has longer amount of daylight that allow the grapes to reach full maturity, but still has the cooler temperatures which let the grapes retain the proper acidity to make the perfect Pinot Noir.  It is hard to find great Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley for under $20.  When I do, I feel compelled to let you all in on the secret!  Flavors of eloquent red cherry tickle into raspberry and just a smidgeon of pomegranate.  Notes of wild flowers play into hints of black pepper and potpourri with easy acids that sink into a smooth, playful finish.  An Awesome Value Pinot!

 
Castillo Perelada GR-174 2010 Red Blend
 
Priorat, Spain
 
Cash Price $14.99
 
Priorat wines are almost always extravagantly good, but are pricey enough to put themselves in a niche market. Just as great Brunello Di Montalcino can cost upwards of $50+ per bottle, so too can great Priorat.  Perelada is an amazing value for under $20 and easily the best value that I have tried from Priorat this year. It is a region that has a soil unique to almost anywhere in the world called Licorella. Priorat has attained DOCa status, Spain’s highest level of notation, behind only Rioja. Old vine Garnacha/Grenache grows particularly well in this region. This decadent red is blend of Garnacha, Cabernet, and Carignan. Flavors of blackberry and plum explode on the palate with ripe tannins situated throughout the core. Notes of roasted coffee bean and chocolate sinew into a silky finish of toasted oak and spice. GR-174 is fresh and vibrant with an elegant grace that really drinks much higher than its price point. A Can’t Miss!
 
Marques De La Concordia Crianza 2009
 
Rioja, Spain
 
Cash Price $10.99  
 
 
Concordia is a  ridiculously great quality wine for the price, so I feel compelled to let  you all know about the new vintage that arrived this year.  As most of you know,  I love New World fruit infusion combined with Old World terrior mentality, and  this wine hits the nail on the head.  Marques is 100% Tempranillo and aged in  French and American oak for 18 months.  Flavors of ripe strawberry and red cherries sink into the  palate with easy flavors of rich blackberry and vanilla.  Soft spices zing  throughout the light oak with undertones of dark truffles on the finish.  This wine is made for big hearty meat dishes.  This wine is the steal of the year!

 

Michel Cazevieille Red Blend 2009

St. Chinian, France

Cash Price $9.49

 
I had the joy of helping this very small family of four harvest their old vine, biodynamic crops last year.  This winery was easily the most impressive wine that I tried in the Languedoc.  I found St. Chinian to have the most expressive terroir with layers of chalky red dirt on top of a bedrock of limestone.  The Tre Montagne wind, loud and constant, keeps the bacteria and bugs away and allows for ample growth. The Blend is primarily Grenache and Syrah. Flavors of rich red berries and cherries explode on the palate and sinew smoothly into soft, enriching tannins.  Notes of red clay give the wine a earthy complexity which gives way to just a kiss of oak.  The finish is long and supple.  This wine is an absolute steal and the best under $10 that you will try all year!
 
 
 
JAMES BARLOW’S TOP PICK OF 2013
 
 
VIEUX CERTAN ‘LA GRAVETTE’ RED 2010
POMEROL, FRANCE
CASH PRICE $74.99
 
From the first sup of this wine, I knew it would be the best that I would put on my lips this year.  Vieux Certan makes some of the best Merlot/Cabernet Franc blends in the world.  The past several vintages have become lighting in a bottle for the owners of this dynamic winery.  Alexandre Thienpont is producing the best wines of his career and the 2010 vintage was the crème de la crème.  La Gravette is the second label of Vieux Certan and is considered probably the best value, price wise, that came out of the 2010’s.  This complex, voluptuous gem is intense from the first taste.  Flavors of black cherries and raspberry jump off the palate with smoothly integrated acids and thick, sexy tannins.  Notes of graphite and licorice sing into the core with hints of tea leaf and mocha.  The finish is deliciously long with hints of black fruit, sweet cinnamon, and toasted oak.  Gravette is perfectly rounded and gorgeously opulent for a Bordeaux blend.  Robert Parker gave this wine 93 points.  Only 2 cases available!

Thank You,  

James C. Barlow

Certified Sommelier

Certified Specialist of Wine

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JAMES BARLOW’S ‘THE THIRTEEN’ PICKS OF NOVEMBER 2013

Posted on November 5, 2013 by TheWineEpicure
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,   The holiday season is in full swing!  This blog will focus on food friendly wines that are built to pair with your Thanksgiving Day meals.  These wines are a sure-fire hit and will make you the star of the party!  Please be aware that this YahooGroups! blog will be discontinued starting the new year and MY NEW WEBSITE ‘THE WINE EPICURE.COM’ will become the primary blog format.  It will be the same format as this one, but it is my own domain and more interactive.  Please reply to this email with the word ‘switch’ and I will send you an E-vite to the new website.  All you have to do is click the accept invitation button and you will continue to get my blogs!  Thank you to all that have already made the transition.   Also, I am hosting a class called ‘The WOW factor’ at Crescent Moon Wine Bar on Wednesday, November 20th from 7-9pm.  I will be pouring wines that I have found to be ‘WOW’ wines this year.  The wines will be paired by the amazing Chef Patti.  Space is limited and the cost is $50.  RSVP to 281-364-9463.  MY NEXT BLOG WILL BE MY ‘TOP PICKS’ OF THE YEAR!
Expression 39 ‘Annahala Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2010
Anderson Valley, California
Cash Price $39.89
The Anderson Valley in Mendicino County is one of the niche micro climates in California that offers perfect conditions to produce amazing Pinot Noir.  The Valley is rather small and thus there are only a handful of wineries that produce small quantities of high quality wines, mostly from Pinot Noir.  The 2010 vintage was perfect for this wine, as it exudes perfection from start to finish.  This 100% Pinot Noir offers lush flavors of dark red cherries and raspberry that sink into silky tannins and plush acids.  The core of the wine offers tinges of toasted caramel and cinnamon that is encompassed by delicious notes of cola.  The finish is long and slightly hedonistic with notes of graham cracker and just a smidgeon of jammy red berries.  This will be open at MY Turkey Day table this year!  Only 116 cases produced.
Tamboerskloof Syrah 2008
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Cash Price $29.99
I recently opened this wine at my last class titled ‘The Perfect Holiday Wines’.  I thought that this wine was the most food friendly wine we opened all night.  Tamboerskloof is medium bodied with meaty notes of roasted meat and red berries that lay on a bed of garrigue and white pepper.  The tannins are well integrated with the big fruits and the acids play easily through the core.  Notes of plum and raspberry sift smoothly through the mid palate with hints of toasted almonds, hazelnuts, and a medley of spices.  The finish is long and filled with vanilla oak.  This wine will pair wonderfully with ham dishes or fried Turkey with all the vegetable fixings!
Chateau Charmes Godard Blanc 2009
Cotes de Francs, France
Cash Price $19.94
I am an avid fan of the white wines of Bordeaux.  This winery is owned by the famed Thienpont family that produces some of the greatest wines in the world. The whites of this small region are primarily Sauvignon Blanc based with Semillion used to round out Sauvignon’s acidity.  This wine would command a much higher price if it were in the ‘famous’ region Pessac that is known for it’s great white wine.  Opulent tropical fruits of apricot and peach explode off the palate with deliciously crisp and refreshing acids.  Notes of toasted oak play throughout the palate which gives the wine a rounder, weightier mouth feel.  The finish is wonderfully complex with hints of butter, nuts and just a kiss of vanilla.  Godard is the Perfect Pair with roasted or baked Turkey!
Chateau Malescasse Red Blend 2001
Haut Medoc, France
Cash Price $26.59
I have always found that some of the best value wines of Bordeaux can be found in the Haut Medoc.  The wines from this region are primarily Merlot, Cabernet blends.  This particular winery is apart of the ‘Cru Bourgeois’ which makes it a winery of higher quality.  Malescasse is peaking and is drinking gorgeously right now!  Soft flavors of cassis and plum reach eloquently through developed tannins and light acids.  Notes of black berry sing through the complex mouth feel with hints of vanilla bean.  The finish elegant with delightful finesse of toasty oak and smidgeon of clove and leather.  Peaking Now and Showing Wonderfully!
Danie De Wetshof ‘Limelight’ Rose 2012
Robertson, South Africa
Cash Price $16.99
This gorgeous blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir shows just an ever so slight glint of pink, but almost looks white.  Limelight offers a slight effervescence that adds to the intriguing palate.  This deliciously fun wine gives flavors of red apple and citrus with a linear and focused acidity throughout the backbone.  Notes of rose petals and white flowers waft through the mid palate that is completely un oaked.  Slight hints of tropical peach and nectarine play on the outer palate.  This wine will be a perfect starter for the hors d’oeuvres and snack foods before the belt unbuckling meal.
Yalumba Shiraz/Viognier Red 2009
Eden Valley, Australia
Cash Price $17.99
Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family owned winery, dating back dating back five generations.   The passion of this winery is evident through the amazing complexity of their wines.  Portions of the Shiraz were fermented with a small amount of Viognier which adds floral aromatics to the meaty notes of the varietal.  The addition softens the tannins while adding weight and texture.  Robust flavors of dark plum and black raspberry integrate smoothly through tinges of smoked meat and sweet vanilla.  Notes of black pepper, clove and cardamom weave intricately through full bodied tannins and zesty acids.  The finish is thick, savory and sits on the palate for a beautifully long time.  Yalumba will pair wonderfully with a slew of foods, but would go great with the venison or heartier meats on the table.
Altra Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Lake County, California
Cash Price $21.84
Altra has sourced their Sauvignon Blanc grapes from one of the new hot spots for the varietal.  Lake County is becoming synonymous with producing fresh, zesty high quality Sauvignon Blanc.  These delightfully fresh white is intent on giving a complex balance of fruits and acids.  Flavors of fresh cut grass and melon are enhanced with crunchy acids and smidgeons of grapefruit.  The core of this wine turns slightly tropical with notes of guava and peach, but the wine stays focused throughout.  Altra has the American fruit forward style of Sauvignon and will easily cut through the dry white meats on your Thanksgiving Day table.
Marchesi Incisa Grignolino 2012
Asti, Italy
Cash Price $14.59
This wine was the hit of my last Thanksgiving Day Party.  Grignolino is a rare indigenous varietal in Piedmont.  Marchesi is almost Rose in color with wonderfully vibrant acids and soft, eloquent tannins.  Refreshing flavors of cranberry and raspberry zing through the soft, fleshy red berries.  There is no oak influence as the focus is on the delicious fruit flavors.  It is a perfect pair with turkey and cranberry sauce!
Lockwood Chardonnay 2011
Monterey, California
Cash Price $12.99 BUT ONLY $11.99 WITH YOUR SPEC’S $1.00 KEY SAVINGS
Lockwood has been one of the more consistent wineries that Spec’s has carried over the years.  Eventually, of course, the winery became old hat and people moved onto new, different wines.  Lockwood was recently acquired by the French family of Boisset who wanted the vineyard to show off its unique terroir in Monterey at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range.  This Chardonnay exudes flavors of green apples and citrus with hints of orange peel and pineapple throughout the core.  The acidity is balanced with just a kiss of vanilla and oak on the finish.  Awesome Value Chardonnay that has great balance to pair with foods!
Vina Robles ‘Red 4’ Red Blend 2010
Paso Robles, California
Cash Price $14.99
I have found this gem to be a consistent ‘Go To’ wine for almost any party.  This predominantly Syrah/Petit Sirah blend offers plush fruits with soft nuances of oak and spice.  It is amazingly user friendly.  Flavors of dark cherry and bramble play into kitchen spices and black pepper.  Notes of tobacco and vanilla play into the smooth, velvety tannins and finish with a spunky fruit packed encore.  Great Value Red that can stand alone or pair with numerous holiday dishes!
Francois Labet Pinot Noir 2011
Burgundy, France
Cash Price $13.59
Francois Labet Pinot Noir offers consistency in the under $20 Pinot genre for great value.  Pinot Noir is a classic pairing for Thanksgiving Day.  The wine offers fresh red cherries with fresh, clean acids.  Labet is classically light in style with minimal tannins and oak.  Hints of raspberry and cranberry sink through the core of the wine.  The finish is full of freshly picked red fruits with tinges of rose petal and red apples.  Superb inexpensive classic!
La Vigie Red Blend 2009
Boutenac, France
Cash Price $11.99
I was lucky enough to visit this region last year during harvest time.  I found this fun little Grenache based wine during my tastings and was really impressed with the quality for the price point.  Boutenac is in the Corbieres region in the South of France and is considered a step up from the normal wines of the area.  Rich red berries and strawberry seep into a soft core of framboise and cherry.  Soft spices sit on the finish that is smooth and tasty.  Great Food Wine that doesn’t break the bank!
Sauvion Vouvray (Chenin Blanc) 2011
Loire Valley, France
Cash Price $9.99
Inevitably, I have a Vouvray open at my Turkey Day table.  The wines of this region are off dry and very approachable.  Chenin Blanc is one of the more versatile white grapes on earth and the town of Vouvray makes some of the more interesting (and slightly sweet) expressions of it.  Flavors of green apples and honey pears sit on a bed of fresh white flowers.  The acidity keeps the slight sweetness in focus and finishes with just a touch of nuts.  Wine Spectator gave this jewel 89 points.  It is a steal white that is typically under the radar!  Make this your table white!
Thank You,
James C. Barlow
Certified Sommelier
Certified Specialist of Wine  
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