Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon

• Label: Bonterra Organic 2009
• Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Region: 90% Mendocino 10% Lake County
• Price: $11.99 ~Trader Joes

This Organic Cabernet primarily comes from the misty and coastal county of Mendocino in Northern California. Mendocino is a great coastal town full of character, and vines aren’t the only high quality green they produce.  Anyways this wine poured a nice purple and had lively berry aromas of cherry and vanilla from oak. A mouthful of ripe fruit flavors. Relatively straightforward with some depth and a nice balance of acidity. I found this wine to be very enjoyable and proclaim it nectarous. This wine is comparable to wines at a much higher price point.

Rheingau Pinot Noir

• Label: Rheingau, Edition Maximilian, 2008
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Region: Rheingau Germany
• Price: $5.99~Trader Joes

A Qualitätswein from Rheingau Germany. I picked this up hoping to find an affordable, halfway decent pinot.

It pours a light strawberry brick color which you could read through. The aromas are straightforward strawberry, with an acrid aroma which I believe is sulfur. Also at only 11.5% alc I was surprised to notice it smelled someone hot. The taste is not complex and rather sweet. Strawberry with some cranberry and mild tannins. This wine was not nectarous and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Dr. Beckermann Riesling

• Label: Dr Beckermann, Piesporter Mischlsberg, Spätlese, Prädikatswein, 2010
• Varietal: Riesling
• Region: Mosel Germany
• Price: $5.99~Trader Joes

First of all a bit about the German label. Prädikatswein is a designation of quality, meaning the wines were made from the naturally ripest grapes and no chaptalization was allowed. The designation of quality is further broken down into categories including Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beernauslese (BA), Eiswein, and Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA). This wine is a Spätlese which translates to late harvest, whose ripe grapes make wines the can be sweet and light, to dry and full.

The wine pours a very light straw yellow and has an aroma of apple, pear and dried apricot. The taste is of apple juice with a touch of honey in it, and is accompanied by a slight effervescence which is very complimentary. Off dry and not overwhelmingly sweet. After the glass sat, and the spritz dissipated, aromas of pineapple came. through. For 6 bones, this is good stuff. Light, enjoyable, and easy drinking. Not too mention at 8.5% alc, you could enjoy a glass or two in the day at a picnic or before dinner, and not be impacted, so to speak, afterwards.

NOTES: Chaptalization is the addition of sugar to the grapes during fermentation to increase alcohol and sometimes sugar content. Alcohol and sugar helps to balance the acidity in wines. Germany in particular has a cool climate which can produce under ripe acidic grape. Kabinett- a light refreshing wine often served as an apertif. Spätlese- Riper grapes than those in Kabinett wines, which were harvested late in the season. Auslese- Made from even riper grapes than that of spätlese, these wines are richer with some residual sugars. Some are affected by botrytis noble rot but not all. Many Auslese wines respond well to aging.  Beerenauslese (BA)- beeren grapes are those which have been effected by botrytis (noble rot). These wines are relatively rare and are sweet. Eisewein- Literally meaning ice wine, because the grapes were frozen before harvest. These wines are very concentrated from having the grapes being high in sugar and acid. Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)- TBA wines a rare,sweet, and expensive. They are made from hand picked, select grapes, which have naturally desiccated due to botrytis.

Trentatre Rosso

• Label: Trentatre Rosso Salento 2010
• Varietal: 33.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33.3% Merlot, 33.4% Montepulciano
• Region: Apulia Region Southern Italy
• Price: $5.99~Trader Joes

Ive been on a bit of a Trader Joe’s Italian wine spree, and having read rave reviews about Trentatre’s  07-08 I thought Id give the 2010 a go. Actually this is the second bottle I’ve had and its pretty good. It pours a vibrant deep purple and has the typical Italian aroma along with concentrated aromas of dark fruits i.e. cherries. The concentrated and intense aromas in this wine I think are fairly typical of what modern wine trends favor (Robert Parker?), and I find that this intensity can resemble the smell of sharpies. The bottle sat on my desk for a few days and still tasted pretty good. My bottom line: it’s good drinking wine for the price.

Archeo Nero D’Avola

• Label: Archeo 2009
• Varietal: Nero D’Avola
• Region: Sicily
• Price: $3.99~Trader Joes

Another Nero D’Avola from Trader Joes. I first tried Archeo’s Nero D’Avola probably a year or so ago when i first read Palmento by Robert V. Camuto. From what i recall I found a Sicilian Nero D’Avola from Planeta (around $15 from a food co-op), and a Sicilian Nero D’Avola from Archeo ($3.99 TJ’s). In a blind tasting myself and some friends favored the Archeo…

Anyways this one pours a ruby red that you can nearly see through. Its got that Italian rustic aroma on the nose, along with what smells just like a barrel cellar. Along with that there are simple aromas of red berries. Taste is clean with red berries, and easy tannins. It was even lighter in comparison to the Epicuro Nero D’Avola but just as tasty. For $4 definitely grab this one. Try a blind tasting between the Archeo and Epicuro Nero D’Avola, i myself may rebuy these for a side by side.

Epicuro Nero D’Avola

• Label: Epicuro 2009
• Varietal: Nero D’Avola
• Region: Sicily
• Price: $4.99~Trader Joes

Ever since I read Palmento:A Sicilian Wine Odyssey by Robert V. Camuto, I have not only wanted to travel there myself but also to explore their wines. Camuto is a very engaging writer and takes you to places like local Sicilian restaurants where they serve mouth-watering fresh seafood, and to the active volcano Mount Etna where the most passionate winemakers risk everything to bring the world wines like no other. To my dismay I haven’t had the chance (yet!) to taste any of the Mount Etna wines, but I have tasted some of Sicily’s wines that can be found at places like TJ’s (Trader Joe’s).

The grape of Sicily Italy is Nero D’Avola, and having read Palmento its one of those varietals I keep my eyes open for. Amongst the Epicuro line of wines offered at TJ’s, is a Nero D’Avola from Sicilia. It pours a pretty dark red-purple, but their is still some clarity through it, it’s not inky dark. Smells Italian with red fruits, cherry (I dont have a word for it but many Italian wines share a similar aroma which is rustic almost dusty, i dont have a good descriptor for it yet). Flavor is filled with berries and theres a noticeable acidity which makes it rather tart. The tannins are mild, and in combination with the tart fruits it’s very drinkable. I would recommend picking this up to try if you like light-medium reds. Read Palmento while your at it, if you like travel and wine!

Epicuro Primitivo Di Manduria

• Label: Epicuro 2008
• Varietal: Primitivo Di Manduria (Primitivo is essentially Zinfandel)
• Region: Southern Italy
• Price: $4.99~Trader Joes

I didn’t write anything down about this one, but what i do remember is that is was a pretty big dark rustic red wine and  a bit sweet. It seemed over the top at first, but after sitting for a few days on my desk it actually seemed to really mellowed out and tasted pretty darn good. I would recommend it along with a decanter and hearty meal. Also to note, some wines taste terrible even a day after opening them, but this wine tasted good 2-4 days later. So if your someone who just likes a glass now and then this might be a fun little experiment to see how it changes over the course of a few days.

Rabbit Ridge Allure

• Label: Rabbit Ridge 2010
• Varietal: ’Rhone Style’ Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre
• Region: Paso Robles California
• Price: $4.99~Trader Joes

Allure de Robles ‘Rhone Style Red Wine’ from Paso Robles California. Light rose red with pink edges. This wine has a strong nose of raspberry with some yeasty characteristics in the bouquet. Put those two things together and you get a raspberry pie, try smelling it when the glass is still. This is a pretty hot wine and the alcohol is up front on the nose. Moderate tannins. First glass comes off pretty well, but by the second glass I wasn’t as impressed. Fun to drink, but i dont feel compelled to get another bottle

 

Mission Point Pinot Noir

• Label: Mission Point 2008
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Region: Central Coast California
• Price: $7.99~Trader Joes

I bought this wine because I am currently living in Santa Barbara and I like locally sourced goods of all sorts. Mission Point wines are produced and bottled at Oreana Winery. This is the first of their wines Ive tried and I look forward to trying more. Their Winery is located in downtown Santa Barbara and next time i’m their I’ll grab something else!

The wine was a faded purple with brick edges, and when the wine was still it had raisiny and stewed fruit notes, which leads me to believe it is slightly oxidized. Once swirled the aromas really livened up, fruit forward cherry. Medium grain tannins. Quick finish.

This wine does not have any of the earthy aromas that many Pinot’s exhibit. It was darker and heavier in comparison to many Pinot’s. It’s not quite the style of Pinot I like. Bottom line its not bad, but it’s nothing special. I probably wont buy it again. If your interested in a fruit forward, darker pinot then give it a go.

Nectar Nebula!

This is a blog which will be dedicated primarily (but not limited to) to wine, vino, nectar or what have you. I wanted a platform to share my experiences, tastings, and interests with you, and likewise hear what you have to say so we can learn from one another! Many of the wines I taste are definitely budget friendly wines and come from a variety of sources, Trader Joes to wine merchants. So I imagine this will be a great place for beginner and intermediate wine drinkers. Come enjoy the drink of the Gods! Jimi