2007 Cuvaison Chardonnay from Napa Valley, California

It’s not often that I actually crave a Chardonnay. Particularly warily, I have been on California Chardonnays and their often intense perfusions of oakeyness.

Chardonnay has it’s Time

This past Sunday was one of those last of the season perfect fall days. The sun was finally out, the ground was drying up again, and the leaves on the trees actually had some brightness in them. After pumpkin picking, it seemed like a good time to open up a bottle of wine and the 2007 Cuvaison Chardonnay happened to be on hand. 

Cuvaison Chardonnay

Sitting at the outdoor bar on the leaf covered bluestone patio with dear friends, the koi pond gurgling in the background, the bottle was opened and the wine glasses filled. Even with the Wine Enthusiast rating of 92, I didn’t really expect the really enjoy the Chardonnay because I just don’t care for most Chardonnay’s, but I was still open minded.

Best Chardonnay Tasting Notes

On first look, the Cuvaison seemed to have certain lightness to it for a Chard. Often a Chardonnay will have a deeper, more golden color to it and maybe it was the sunlight in the yard, but it had a nice bright sunny color.

For me, the nose spoke of honey. Other tasting notes call for more of a crème brûlée, custard, vanilla, caramel, crème fraiche or buttered apple aromas, so there is a definite creamy, rich sweetness there.  Tasting itself, the forward feel is that buttery sweeter goodness, but then the Cuvaison is surprisingly bright and crisp. It was very refreshing and not at all too heavy at all.  I found that the creaminess gave way to a pleasant citrus, mostly lemon, maybe a bit of grapefruit? It most certainly had a forward citrus fruit, though other tasting notes for this Chardonnay call for crisp apple, melon, caramel, Meyer lemon custard, pineapple. Bottom line: it’s got a nice light fruit feel to it with that buttery creamy balance.

After the fruit, the finish held on, but not too to long. Some oak as expected, but not at all too rough. It was much smoother than expected and very balanced.  It was all too pleasant, sitting in the crisp fall sun, drinking this bright and crisp wine with friends and talking about the sensations that were happening as we sipped.  If I had planned better, a tray of fruit, cheese and crackers would have made it complete, though a nice clam bake would have done just as well too!

All and all, one of the best Chardonnays I have had in a while and I am looking forward to drinking it again.  An added bonus? It’s one of our top wine picks this week and is one sale from it’s regular price. 

You can buy the 2007 Cuvaison Chardonnay on Sale for only 15.00!

On another note; The Cuvaison Winery has a very nice wine blog with some videos of the winery and winemaking process and some really great looking recipes.  Like here is a video of the Cuvaison exclusive vineyard tour with Winemaker Steven Rogstad:

It’s Been Said that California Struggles with Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir grape is known for being quite fickled; it enjoys a cool growing season yet then demands warmth close to harvest time. In California, cooler areas eventually became identified as prime places to grow Pinot Noirs. The Santa Rita Hills, Russian River Valley, Mendocino’s Anderson valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands all feel into that category.

Santa Lucia Highlands met the Pinot Noir Needs

Along Monterey’s County’s fertile Salinas Valley, the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains separate the Valley from the Pacific Ocean. This allows the vines in this area to take advantage of the cooling ocean breezes and the fogs from Monterey Bay.  The wine grapes here enjoy some of the longest “hang time” in California with the gentle slow ripening of the fruit and create exceptionally intense, complex, and balanced grapes. 

For Californian Pinot Noirs; 2007 was a Very Good Year!

As the  2007 Pinot Noir harvest wrapped up  in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation, the  winegrowers reported the  potentially “best ever” quality harvest along with lower-than normal yields.

At Paraiso Vineyards, 2007 marked the thirty-first Pinot Noir crush at this district’s founding estates. Vineyard manager and second generation owner, Jason Smith, reported that they picked approximately 250 tons of Pinot Noir, about 30% below normal for the property. Said Smith:

“A very cool spring paired with little rainfall led to smaller clusters and lower bunch weights; the resulting fruit is very concentrated – color and almost perfect acid balance point to a potentially ‘best ever’ Paraiso vintage,”

Even at Neighboring vineyards the harvest results were along the same lines:
At Pisoni Vineyard, Gary Pisoni predicted that the  ‘07 Pinots would be fantastic with darkness, intensity, and great acidity.  Meanwhile, Dan Lee of neighboring Morgan Winery concluded that the eventual 2007 wines “should be exceptional. With a cool September, we got the extended ‘hang time’ we needed. The Pinot Noir has great color and excellent, mature flavors without excessive sugar.”

Is it the Best Pinot Noir?

They were not lying or pulling our legs. Granted, I adored a Pinot Noir way before Sideways pushed Merlot out of the way and made Pinot Noir a “red wine star”. I have always found that most Pinots have a  sophisticated poised fruit / acid balance  the makes them incredibly food-versatile and very much likened by my pallet. I have been known to drink a few favorites with real tears in my eyes due to the perfection.  While I am not quite crying yet, this is a really beautiful smooth drinking Pinot.

Paraiso’s Pinot Noir does Not Disappoint

The color is rich and dark; the light hits it perfectly with a shot of ruby intensity.  Immediately uncorked, it’s completely drinkable and deliciously so; though as I sip the slight changes in the complexity keeps me wanting to pour a little bit more, again and again.
The aroma is sweet, yet invigorating; never too rough at all. Before sipping the subtle strawberry seemed stronger, yet after sipping the deeper mineral and earthy goodness draws me back in again. The Paraiso does that “thing” that I love Pinot Noirs for; there is like an explosion of joy in your mouth upon sipping.  First sweet, full of berry, then a long finish with tannins and goodness that is well structured and leaving the drinker wanting more.
Other tasting notes call for flavors of nutmeg, pepper, smoke, Bing cherry, red currant, strawberry, tobacco leaf, vanilla, bay laurel and cedar. It is rich and complex and I totally agree with this quote:

“The finish is a beautiful mix of sweet and savory notes which linger in lovely harmony.”

A Pinot Noir that is Perfectly Impressive

Incredibility affordable at $19.00 a bottle, the 2007 Paraiso Californian Pinot Noir is indeed a treasure. With the holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect gift to have on hand that will really impress who ever might receive it from you! With a well deserved Wine Spectator Rating of  92, this tastes like a $75 dollar a bottle Pinot Noir, and the only thing that lacking is a much needed cheese platter that would only make this experience even more impressive.

Wine Tasting of the Year!

There has never been a wine tasting of this magnitude in the city of Orlando.  Period! Over 60 very high quality wines, all rated 90 points and higher, will be available for tasting and purchase at special reduced prices. 

In addition, yummy appetizers will also be served and complimentary valet parking will be provided.

Save the Date! Savor the Wine!

Please join us at The VUE at Lake Eola located at 150 East Robinson St. in Downtown Orlando on  Saturday, October 24th  between 5:00-7:30pm

 Reserve your Spot at the Wine Event!

Call 407-733-9463 for wine tasting reservations!  The nominal admission price of $20 per person is non-refundable, but with a minimum purchase of $100, you receive a $20 credit towards your purchase! 

Space is extremely limited so please call now, reserve your spot with your with credit card: 407-733-9463.

Drink Wine; Help Children!!

Also, as part of the festivities, a silent auction will take place to benefit “Bridges of Light Foundation”, a local charity helping children in need.  There will be plenty of exciting stuff being auctioned off!

Sneak Peek at our Wine Tastings?

Just look at this list, and explain how could you resist??

• 2006 Chappellet “Pritchard Hill”, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [96 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2005 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [95 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2005 Blankiet Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [95+ pts Wine Advocate].
• 2004 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [95 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Lewis “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [95 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2005 Pahlmeyer “Proprietary Red”, Napa Valley   [96 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Snowden “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [95 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [93 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [91 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Blackbird “Illustration” Proprietary Blend, Napa Valley   [90 pts Wine Spectator]. 
• 2007 DuMol Syrah, Sonoma   [90 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Flowers “Andreen-Gale” Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast   [92 pts Wine & Spirits].
• 2005 Arrietta “Claret” Proprietary Blend, Napa Valley   [94 pts Wine Enthusiast].
• 2005 Turnbull “Proprietary Blend”, Napa Valley   [90 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Andrew Will “Sorella” Proprietary Blend, Washington   [95 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2005 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico, Italy   [90 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Casanova di Neri Pietradonice IGT, Italy   [93 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2005 Viticcio “Lucius” Chianti Classico, Italy   [91 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2004 E Pira-Chiara Boschis Cannubi Barolo, Italy  [95 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2004 Ciacci “Pianrosso” Brunello di Montalcino, Italy   [94 pts Wine Advocate]. 
• 2005 La Valentina “Binomio” Montepulciano, Italy   [92 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2005 I Greppi “Greppicaia”, Italy   [93 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2004 Petra “Petra”, Italy   [91 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2003 G D Vajra Barolo Bricco Delle Viole, Italy   [94 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2005 La Spinetta “Gallina” Barbaresco, Italy   [94 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Goose Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington   [90 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2005 Adobe Road Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [93 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2005 St. Clement “Oroppas” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [90 pts Wine Spectator].
• N.V. Roederer Estate Brut Sparkling, California   [90 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2008 Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir, Australia   [90 pts Int'l Wine Cellar].
• 2008 Leyda Pinot Noir, Chile   [90 pts Wine Advocate].
• N.V. Gosset “Brut Excellence” Champagne, France   [90 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Spring Valley “Frederick” Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington   [92 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2007 Dutton Goldfield “Dutton Ranch” Chardonnay, Sonoma   [91 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Ch. Ste. Michelle “Canoe Ridge” Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington   [92 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Spring Valley “Uriah” Proprietary Blend, Washington   [93 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Rodney Strong “Reserve” Chardonnay, Sonoma   [94 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2007 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir, Sonoma   [90 pts Wine Enthusiast].
• 2006 Vineyard 29 “CRU” Proprietary Blend, Napa Valley   [92 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2005 Signorello Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [92 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2005 Bennett Lane “Maximus” Proprietary Blend, Napa Valley   [90 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Boedecker “Stewart” Pinot Noir, Oregon   [90 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2007 Foxen “Tinaquaic” Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley   [94 pts Wine Enthusiast].
• 2006 Palazzo Proprietary Blend, Napa Valley   [94 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Odfjell “Orzada” Malbec, Chile   [90 pts Int'l Wine Cellar].
• 2007 Paraiso Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands   [92 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Brewer-Clifton “Lindsay” Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills   [90+ pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Brewer-Clifton “Cargasaci” Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills   [91+ pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Brewer-Clifton “Mount Carmel” Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills   [92 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Patz & Hall “Pisoni” Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands   [94 pts Wine Enthusiast].
• 2006 Patz & Hall “Hudson” Chardonnay, Carneros   [92 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2005 Von Strasser “Rainin” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [90 pts Int'l Wine Cellar].
• 2005 Ramey “Jericho Canyon” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [95 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2006 Ramey “Claret” Proprietary Blend, Napa Valley   [91 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2006 Cote Bonneville Chardonnay, Washington   [91 pts Wine Advocate].
• 2005 Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley   [94 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2005 Beaulieu Vineyards “Tapestry Reserve” Napa Valley   [92 pts Wine Enthusiast]. 
• 2007 Chalone “Estate” Chardonnay, Central Coast   [92 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2007 Sterling “Organic” Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino   [91 pts Wine Enthusiast].
• 2008 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand   [91 pts Wine Spectator].
• 2007 Casa Lapostolle “Cuvee Alexandre” Carmenere, Chile   [90 pts Wine Spectator].

Again: Space is extremely limited so please call now, reserve your spot with your with credit card: 407-733-9463.

A Brief History of Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris is the close, close relative of the grape Pinot Noir—a genetic mutation only centuries old separates them, and they are primarily identified by the difference in their color (the term  ‘Gris’ is French for gray; ‘noir’ French for black; and ‘Pinot’ French for ‘pine’ because of the pinecone-shape of the each vine’s grape formation). 

Pinot Gris is also, of course, known for making various spectacular wines.  Its major homeland is in Alsace, a region along France’s eastern border, but it does make its mark elsewhere as well.  This is when the confusion between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio arrives on the scene.

Pinot Grigio (aka Pinot Gris)

Pinot Grigio is the name given to Pinot Gris that is grown in Italy.  To make things still more interesting, Pinot Gris grown outside of Italy can be known as either Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio (there are California and Oregon variants, for example).

In short, the difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio depends in part on where the grape is grown(which is still, at heart, Pinot Gris—I know, fun) and, as we’ll get into soon, which conventions people wish to use to differentiate one from the other.

Pinot Gris Wines and Pinot Grigio Wines Demystified, Perhaps

The term Pinot Gris is usually reserved for those wines straight from Alsace, and usually have a more flowery and/or fruity flavor (flavors of the latter include melon and grapefruit).  Pinot Grigios are, of course, wines of the same grapes from Italy, but also have plenty of variants from Californian to Australian.  Italian Grigios tend to be dry, light, and pack a mineral tang.  Those from California have stronger flavors and can be citrusy, while still retaining the mineral flavor characteristic of Italian Grigios.

What you yourself call a Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio is entirely up to you (again, it is the same grape after all).  Nonetheless, just where and how the grapes were grown means a lot for flavor and, thus, means a lot for people’s categorization of them as either a Gris or Grigio.  The moral of the story here is this:  make sure you and your fellow wine enthusiasts agree on a standard for the difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio before you begin discussing it, lest your day of tasting be overwhelmed by confusion.

Wine Reviews and What They Mean

The 100 point wine rating system is fairly intuitive for most people; all they have to do is think of grade school and, immediately, the fundamental workings of the method are revealed:  higher scores are like an A+ and lower ones like an F (the range is 50 to 100—anything rated below 50 is probably not even wine).  This readily understood means of measuring a wine’s quality is convenient and straightforward for wine enthusiasts (whether amateur or expert) , but there are those who take issue with this way of conducting wine reviews and those who need to know exactly what it represents; and why it is still a very useful  guide to purchasing wine.

The Advantages of 100 Point Wine Rating System for Wine Reviews, and ‘Blind’ Tasting

A lot of present day wine reviews (i.e. those with the 50-100 scale) seem to rest on the shoulders of one man:  Robert Parker—an extremely well regarded wine-taster, which is what we hope he is if it is his system many use to judge a wine’s character.  Throughout his career as a wine-taster, he has repeatedly emphasized the need for a system that is both independent from the wine industry and is greatly flexible with its assignment of value judgments to its products.  Consider the difficulties with the following two scenarios.   (more…)