Meeting the Famed Dr. Loosen

Just recently, my wife, Gigi, and I had the pleasure of meeting THE Dr. Loosen at Luma on the Park in  Winter Park, Florida.  Needless to say, the experience was just about as unforgettable as the wines he creates.

The setting was perfect.  The invitational wine tasting was held in the “Cellar” of Luma, a beautiful and very impressive wine vault.  They use this space as a private dining room that can seat up to 48 for gatherings and event and, if you are in the area on Mondays, host some nice wine tasting events.

The deserved height Dr. Loosen (aka Ernst—we didn’t have to call him Dr all the time, but a part of us certainly wanted to out of sheer respect for this gentleman’s accomplishments) has earned throughout the wine world certainly hasn’t diminished his personable characteristics, and his readily approachable attitude and his exceptional expertise are no doubt two very crucial reasons for his success.  (more…)

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.

We just received the 2006 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon and it is a fantastic find. As most of you know, it is tough finding a California Cabernet Sauvignon (from Sonoma no less, not just some California “mutt” blend from grapes harvested all over the state) of really great quality for less than $30 (let alone this gem at $12). For those of you who agree with me, this is your wine.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate agrees that the 2006 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic value.

Rating the wine 90 points in the December 2008 issue, he states:

“One of the finest bargains in California Cabernet Sauvignon must be Louis M. Martini’s outstanding 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma. Fabulously sweet aromas of black currants, licorice, and cedar soar from the glass of this medium to full-bodied wine. With silky tannins as well as surprising concentration, depth, and texture, this 2006 should drink well for 8-10 years.”

Louis Martini Winery has a long history in California winemaking.

Opening his Napa Valley operation in 1933, Louis Martini was a vibrant, energetic young man who believed that the greatest wines could only be made from the highest quality grapes. In order to cultivate these quality grapes, he needed the best vineyard sites he could find. He discovered that land in both Napa and Sonoma counties. He stated often… “my heart is in Napa, but my soul is in Sonoma,” and put both his heart and soul into his wines. This “heart and soul” philosophy has continued with his grandson as winemaker and can be tasted in this wonderful 2006 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma.

Find the 2006 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon for a limited time at wineontheway.com for only $12.

Check out our website, wineontheway.com to find only highly rated wines (all rated 90 points or better by Robert Parker’s “Wine Advocate”, Stephen Tanzer’s “International Wine Cellar, and “Wine Spectator Magazine”) at great prices. This 2006 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon is just one of many highly rated wines we carry.

Cheers!

Last night we drank the 2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Sonoma County. I must say I was impressed. In this day and age, to find a highly rated, delicious Pinot Noir for under $35 (let alone priced at $22), is a rare find.

Wine Spectator finds the 2007 Siduri Pinot Noir a winner!

Wine Spectator Magazine also loves the 2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Sonoma County as well, saying: “Exhibits a complex, concentrated mix of berry, floral-lavendar, spice and mineral notes that are well-distributed, full-bodied and polished, fanning out nicely on the finish.” They rated it 90 points which is excellent.

I had no idea what the name of this winery came from so I did a bit of research. Siduri is named for the Babylonian Goddess of wine, who, in Babylonian mythology, held the wine of eternal life.

Today, along with the 2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Sonoma County, Siduri produces single vineyard offerings from 20 different vineyards stretching from Santa Barbara north to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The winery has been fortunate enough to establish relationships with top tier growers/vineyards including: Pisoni, Van der Kamp and Clos Pepe . All of their Pinot Noir is produced unfiltered and unfined in an effort to maximize the expression of these very diverse sites. Siduri is unique in the breadth and depth of our single varietal focus.

The owners of Siduri vineyards spare no expense in order to make the best possible wines.

For the owners, Adam and Dianna Lee, the enjoyment of making their own wines is the ability to do it their way, without compromise. Although it is necessary to be able to adapt to new circumstances with each and every vintage, they have found that these principles hold true year after year.

- A belief that great wine is made in the vineyard.
- Only with great grapes can great wines be produced.
- They purchase the majority of their fruit by the acre rather than by the ton.
- They believe in minimal intervention winemaking.
- Most importantly, they believe that wine should be a pleasure to drink.
- If you don’t like the way a wine tastes, what’s the point?

So give the 2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Sonoma County a try, you will not be disappointed. We have a limited amount of cases so don’t delay in picking some up online at wineontheway.com. For $22 a bottle this is truly a steal. Cheers!

We took a look at the 2006 Winners Tank Shiraz vintage and give it a big thumbs up. In addition, Jay Miller of Robert Parker’s “Wine Advocate” gave it 91 points saying “The 2006 Winner’s Tank Shiraz is a perennial Best Buy. It spent 9 months in tank with French oak staves. Purple-colored, it has a wonderfully expressive perfume of plum, black cherry, and blueberry compote. This leads to a full-bodied, seamless, rich wine with a long, pure finish. This is an ideal, every-day wine worth buying by the case. It is an awesome value.”

A little research on the Langhorne Creek region suggests cooling southerly breezes help moderate the temperatures to the benefit of the grapes. The open flood plains of the Bremer river allow for large vineyards. The higher yields in this area with good climate and soil produce some nice bargains which this 2006 Winner’s Tank Shiraz most definitely is.

Subtle this bottle is not, but for me, the big, bold, straightforward fruit taste was a nice pairing with the steak kabobs I prepared (grilled) with it. I suspect that any hearty meat dishes (even stew) would be perfectly matched to this particular wine.

We have a few cases of this tasty wine so get to the site and buy a few bottles. If you are a fan of big, bold wines than this 2006 Winner’s Tank Shiraz is for you.