I'm Back!

Sorry about the stoppage of "Taste and Value", but because of health issues, that have been resolved, I will attempt to restart.

2012 King Estate Pinot Noir Acrobat (Oregon)

The crisp tannins and sleek structure give the upfront fruit of blackberry, currant and a floral spice that longs on the endings of floating clouds, very impressive for the price.

Retail: $15.00 Total Wine or Costco
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 91
Robert Parker: 92

2012 Cooper mountain pinot noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)

Supple, vibrant, and fruit forward with endings of cherry and spice. Tastes better then those twice the price.

Retail: $14.00 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 90
Wine Enthusiast: 92
Robert Parker: 91

2012 Loosen Brothers Riesling QbA Mosel (Germany)

A succulent white with peach, cherry, and white currants that are supported by zesty acidity long with a creamy finish. What an impressive wine, not only is it a great value at $10 but I cannot match this wine for taste at 3 times the price. Don't sell Riesling short, as this one has soft body.

Retail: $9.00 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 93
Robert Parker: 94

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Wine Time

2012 Anselmi San Vincenzo White Blend (Veneto, Italy)

A Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with accents of chive blossom and lemon curd with pineapple and melon.

Probably one of the nicest Italian whites I've tasted.

Retail: $12.00 Total Wine or Costco
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 93
Robert Parker: 92

2011 A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir (Oregon)

This wine is sleek and tightly packed, with delicate layers of cherry and coconut hints.

A delightful Pinot Noir for every day drinking. Great value, when other Pinots rated about the same fetch about $40.

Retail: $14.95 Total Wine or Costco
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 92
Robert Parker: 91

2011 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington)

This Chardonnay is very polished with spicy apple and peach lingering taste.

A great value when you consider other Chardonnays that rate the same are more than twice the price.

Retail: $10.00 Total Wine and Costco
Wine Spectator: 90
Wine Enthusiast: 91
Robert Parker: 90

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High Value and Low Cost

Hi wine drinkers,

Here are a few morsels of high value, low cost wines that are Wine Spectator rated with several other rating agencies to support my claims.

2010 GWC Assyrtiko Santorini

I normally don't like Greek wines, they're too sweet, but this is the exception.  It's a wine from the island of Santorini that has a pure focus on white grapes with loads of apple and pear taste.  It has a citrus zest end that keeps you coming back for another taste that you didn't taste in the first drink.  This is a special pick that's good for summer parties with a very special price.
Important: Make sure it's the 2010, the 2012 is out and it bites on the end!

Retail: $12.00 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 92
Robert Parker: 92
Wine and Spirits rate it a special commercial buy at wholesale costs

2011 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Wine Spectator released their rating of Cloudy Bay 2011 on June 16th.  This is also a special Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, it's expensive but the quality and taste are far superior from anything I have tasted.  Alas, "life is short", so do for you and your loved ones and you will remember the special love for this wine before you remember the price.

Retail: $21.00 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 91
Robert Parker: 91
Wine and Spirits: 91

2011 Marchesi di Barolo Barbera Maraia (a cab)

From the Piedmont Italy area, this is a top 100 wine on that list in 2012, number 16 out of 100.   This is a fit to be drunk, succulent red with black cherry, blackberry, and violet aromas on finish with lots of flowers and honey.

Retail: $12.99 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 90
Wine Enthusiast: 92
Robert Parker: 92
Wine and Spirits: 91

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Taste and Super Value

Hi Sports Fans,

Taste and value is now going to introduce you to some different wines that are normally neglected by the elite aficionados.

• Malbec
• Riesling
• Chianti
• Bordeaux (cab sug)

2009 Chateau la Papeterie St Emilion

Elegant, with black cherry earthy medium body. Blackberry and spices that linger on the nose, velvety tannin's and a long finish. Classic Bordeaux at one fouth the price of grand cru wines.

Retail: $16.50 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 92 (classic)
Wine Enthusiast: 94
Robert Parker: 93 barrel taste 2008

2008 Chateau Tanunda Shiraz Grand Barossa

Dense and juicy fruitcake with cherry finish; classic for a wine under $50.00

Retail: $19.00 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 92
Wine Enthusiast: 93
Robert Parker: 93
Wine and Spirits: 95

2007 La Castellina Chianti Classico Tommaso Bojola

Super Tuscan with sweet berries and flora notes, with velvet endings. This is a super buy for less then 20% the cost of most great Tuscan Chiantis.

Retail: $21 Total Wine and Costco
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 92
Robert Parker: 90
Wine and Spirits for the industry: 93

2011 Dr Heidemanns Bernkastel Kabinett

Off dry apricot medium body Riesling. Wow, a big Riesling with baked peach and dried figs, a wonderful aperitif or finish.

Retail: $15 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 92
Wine Enthusiast: 91
Robert Parker: 92

2009 Catena Malbec

Argentinian Malbec that is absolutely outstanding, with layers of red ripe fruit and olive paste to flowers to finish, no bite just flowers. Wine spectators "Top wines of 2011 top 100.******

Retail: $14 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 91
Robert Parker: 9o

2010 Charles Smith Kung Fu Riesling

Crisp peach citrus light bodied. This is a juicy Winesap apple with apricot, and flowers on end. A perfect summer wine for the gang. At a mere $8.99, this is A GREAT VALUE!

Retail: $8.99 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 90
Wine Enthusiast: 90
Robert Parker: 91

2009 Viticcio Bere Toscana

Fresh cherry and raspberry, medium bodied. Brings out the tomato flavors in pasta sauce that will drive home the flavor of Italian cooking. Wow factor!

Retail: $12 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 90
Wine Enthusiast: N/A
Robert Parker: 91
Wine and Spirits: 92

2009 Vecchia Cantina Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Intense blackberry cassis herbs, not your typical sangiovese grapes. A gigantic tannin wine that holds its grip on your tongue. This is one of the better Tuscany wines for under $20

Retail: $17.99 Total Wine and Some Costcos
Wine Spectator: N/A
Wine Enthusiast: N/A
Robert Parker: N/A

2007 Viticcio Chianti Classico Riserva

Chianti at its best and a classic for under $50...this is unheard of. Wine spectator list of 100 top wines of 2010. This is serious Chianti worth cellaring or drinking. James laube of wine spectator called it one of the best wines in 2010.
Try this for a special occasion with pasta!

Retail: $29.99 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 93
Wine Enthusiast: 95
Robert Parker: 96

2008 Leone D'Oro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

This is a very elegant wine and should be savored, great with spicy tomato based dishes.
Whooa Nellie, this is special sangiovese.

Retail: $19.99 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 92
Wine Enthusiast: 90
Robert Parker: 94
Wine and Spirits for the industry: 95

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Europe to Down Under

Today we are going to Recommend some european wines and down under.

Cuvee Signee by Romain Parisis Chinon, 2009 (France)

loire red wine, chinion loire ripe and focused with delicious core of crushed cherry, plum and raspberry finish. Very soft and great with pork, lamb, or non-oily fish.

Retail: $14 Total Wine and Some Costcos
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Enthusiast: 91
Robert Parker: 92

Chante Cigale Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes, 2009

Intense Rhone type wine, Syra grapes with a blow-me-over body, great with heavy grained steaks. Bright and flora at first, this quickly takes a Syra flavor of puckery jam and finishes with a feathery flora taste.

Retail: $14 Total Wine
Wine Spectator: 92
Wine Enthusiast: 92
Robert Parker: 93

Le Pont Bandol, 2009

Le Provence area fresh cherry earthy spice with plum overture, very silky and a favorite of the Provence area for a match for fish. Very light and refreshing summer wine.

Retail: $17 Total Wine
Wine Enthusiast: 92
Wine Spectator: 92
Robert Parker: 93

A to Z Pinot Noir, 2009

Oregon's top wine of the people. Totally affordable and a delight as this is David's favorite pinot for every day drinking. Very feathery with no bite. Elegant raspberry cassis boysenberry traits.

Retail: $14 Total Wine and Costco
Wine Enthusiast: 91
Wine Spectator: 91
Robert Parker: 92

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Going, Going, Gone

Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir 2011

Hey taste and value fans, here it is, one of the best pinot noirs I've ever tasted, but far below the French burgundy that this wine mimics. The article I read was from James Suckling, a private wine aficionado who is one of the main editors of Wine Spectator.

Afer a barrel taste in 2009, he said: "This is better then any of the burgundies I've tasted this year, for a fraction of the cost."

The manager at Total Wine in San Tan Village said he has 17 cases, but somebody has the word out because it's going fast. Get a case before it's all gone.

Wine Enthusiast: N/A
Wine Spectator: 92
Robert Parker: 93
James Suckling: 95
Retail: $17.99 - Total Wine (Case discount applies - %10)

DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OTHER YEAR

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New Year, New Source!

Readers,
Please note some of the wines I have chosen this month have a lower rating than some of my back issues. The main reason is I have now subscribed to Wine and Spirits for the industry and they take no commercial ads from the food and wine industry. In addition, they seem to find a lot of over looked values and to this end I present some of my finds.

2009 Can Blau Montsant (Spain)

Wow, what a value and taste! Cherry pomegranate herbs that mingle with this syrah meritage.

Wine Enthusiast: N/A
Wine Spectator: 91
Robert Parker: N/A - he's never hear of it
Wine and Spirits: 93
Retail: $14.00 - Total Wine (Worth twice the price)

2009 Grao Vasco Dao Tinto (Portugal) ****

A juicy red of grapes that I've never heard of, probably syrah and malbec, that taste like a mouth full of berries, especially dried raspberries with a hint of smoke on the end. Absolutely feather ending.

Wine Enthusiast: 92
Wine Spectator: 88
Robert Parker: N/A
Wine and Spirits: 91
Retail: $7.99 Total Wine --- do you believe it?

2009 Chateau Clos de Vieille Eglise (France)*******

Elegant, dark fruit center, medium body with berry and dark chocolate aromas with a fruit ending Cotes de Castillon.

Wine Enthusiast: 93
Wine Spectator: 92
Robert Parker: N/A
Wine and Spirits: 94
Retail: $12.00 Total Wine or Costco

2009 Cuvee Signee by Romain Parisis Chinon (France)

Ripe with focus on delivering crused cherry with plum and raseberries soft ending.

Wine Enthusiast: 91
Wine Spectator: 91
Robert Parker: N/A
Wine and Spirits: 92
Retail: $14.99 Total Wine

2009 Charles Smith Chateau Smith Cabernet (Washington)*******

A huge cab with berries forward with clouds on the finish

Wine Enthusiast: 91
Wine Spectator: 91
Robert Parker: N/A
Wine and Spirits: 92
Retail: $14.99 Total Wine

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