Giving Thanks with a Passion for Pinot!

This is the one meal that gets more wine recommendations than any other, and I guess that makes sense as many folks only have one chance a year to get it right. While many writers and experts will take the diplomatic high-road and tell you that there is no one perfect wine for Thanksgiving dinner. If you take a look around the web you're sure to find a plethora of suggestions from a cornucopia of wine writers, wine bloggers and maybe even your parents with picks ranging from Torrontes to Tannat, from Merlot to Muscat and even a Moet & Chandon (White Star). But I'm taking a different tact and I'm recommending "A Passion for Pinot" (not the book but the wine, Pinot Noir) is the ticket to having an outstanding Thanksgiving meal, with a wine that will meld effortlessly with your meal and will garner you high praise from either your guest or your host.

But there is a problem with my recommendations, what is that you may ask? I think the meal itself is the problem. It can be so varied and different in many homes that to name just one wine as "the one" is just a mistake. As we all know there is no one wine which is perfect with every food. Since we are all in agreement that this is the case I going to give a specific recommendation based solely on the traditionally observed Thanks Giving meal. So is you are planning on serving ToFu Turkey or some other substitute well you may want to check into a different wine for your meal and there is nothing wrong with that, this is America after all and variety is the name of the game.

That being said, I am going to suggest a patriotic choice this year and recommend getting yourself an American Pinot Noir and why because of these wines elegant earthiness and lovely berry overtones which makes this the perfect choice. Because in my opinion these are the characteristics which makes Pinot Noir a prime choice for Thanksgiving Dinner. But it's not just my opinion Jordan MacKay, Robert Holmes, Andrea Johnson in their book, "A Passion for Pinot" emphasize that "California and Oregon are home to Pinot's greatest expressions in the New World." With all due respect to our friends across the "pond" in Burgundy, who really make a different "expression" of Pinot, I believe based on tasting plenty of both that American Pinot's high expression style will win the day!

Further, another voice promoting my point of view is a Mr. Eric Asimov who has been quoted to say, "If any grape would be at home in the pose of the femme fatale—smoke curling from its lips, long, irresistible legs crossed as another winemaker is sent to his doom—it would be Pinot Noir."

This quote above should be the slam dunk you need to make up your mind which wine you are going to have with your Thanksgiving meal this year, hands down!

Finally who can deny this statement from the book A Passion For Pinot where this quote is taken, "Silky, complex, and incredibly versatile, Pinot Noir is the perfect food wine; full of charm and intrigue, it drinks beautifully on its own." That's well said and I could not agree more, thus I have compiled a list of wines from these regions which should grab your attention and take your Thanksgiving dinner to new and memorable heights.

I've come up with a list of American (New World) Pinot Noirs that I have recommended over the years and why because these wines are not too hard to find and two, many of them are "reasonably" priced and finally, I've chosen these wines because they are consistent year after year. If you are unable to find a Pinot Noir from the list below and you come across one that has been gathering dust on some wine store shelf for years, that could mean trouble and you may want to avoid it altogether. For example, if the wine has not been properly stored. Meaning, standing upright, inconsistent temperature, in the sun or direct light or a unstable shelf , its palatableness could be suspect. Sorry if I did not name your favorite wine, please don't be offended, instead feel free to offer your choice in the comments sections as I am sure they would be welcomed! Don't be a lurker, feel free to make a suggestion, after all this suppose to be a conversation.

Pricing: The prices which are listed are broadly representative but can vary widely and while I am saying these are great choices they don't represent a best of the best list.

Regarding Availability: While I wouldn't expect many stores to have all of these recommendations, you should be able to find them via the links I have provided below and form an example of wines you may want to consider.

MY PICKS:

CAMBRIA 07 PN JULIA'S, 2007 (Santa Barbara County). $18.99. Great acidity, some spice and with all kind of cranberry and strawberry fruit that, obviously, is perfect for the meal. Complex, interesting, affordable and easy to find in most stores.

Patricia Green 2007 Estate OV Estate Old Vine Oregon, 2007 $29.99 Beautiful color, with a rich, a spicy and sensuous nose. The taste is voluptious and plush, with minerals, earth and great Pinot fruit. Interesting from start to finish.

Taz 2007 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County Taz, 2007 $17.99 This wine had a very soft floral note, leaning toward the strawberry end of the flavor spectrum and the smell (rich and filled with berries). The taste is just classy, well-balanced and don't be afraid of some varietal funk. Nicely intense and won't compete for your palates attention amongst the plentiful bounty before you.

Erath Oregon Pinot Noir 2007 750ml, 2007 $18.99 Baker’s spice notes as well black cherry and blueberry are present in the nose of this Pinot. The palate presents a rich core of opulent fruit. Lots of cherry, blackberry and black plum are underscored by a persistent layer of racy acidity that keeps everything balanced. This wine can also be found at most San Diego Costco's.

2007 Chehalem Pinot Noir 3 Vineyard Willamette Valley, 2007 $19.99 This smooth wine is fruit forward featuring bright raspberry and strawberry nuances, lively acidity, medium-high tannins, medium-high oak, and complex flavors. It is balanced, and has a medium finish. Overall, its appeal is attractive and would compliment your Thanksgiving meal nicely.

Testarossa Sleepy Hollow Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, 2007 $39.99 An explosive burst of cherry and plum with underlying cedar and fruitcake spice notes make up the nose of this single vineyard Pinot Noir. Vibrant Pinot flavors in a very drinkable package featuring bright fruit yet light enough to complement everything on the table without adding yet another big taste.

I want to wish everyone a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, watch some football, eat too much, catch up with family you may only see once a year and by all means enjoy a great glass of wine or two. Until next time, stay thirsty my friends, Cheers!

The Foodie Guide to Pairing Wine & Cheese

Whether you are hosting a soiree or a casual get-together this holiday, your mission is to provide your guests with warm hospitality, lively conversation and a delectable spread of food and drink. Whether the menu is complicated or simple it better be delicious. Serving a sumptuous gourmet cheese course is perfect as a starter or centerpiece of the meal. Not only is the preparation simple (no cooking!) but more importantly, your guests will enjoy discovering and savoring new favorites. As a wine lover and as a host you want to impress with the right pairings but the overwhelming selections of wine and cheese can make your head spin. Relax. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing the right combinations of cheese and wine. Just keep in mind a few simple considerations.

A cheese course is about observing and enjoying contrasting and complementary flavors. For a fool-proof gourmet cheese course, select 3 – 5 cheeses that vary in texture and flavor. Add some crusty bread, fresh or dried fruit, olives and nuts and voila!

Remember, wines are meant to cleanse the palate, wash away the tongue-coating richness of the cheese and prepare your mouth for the next delicious bite. It’s important that your selections don’t overwhelm the cheese and vice versa. Essentially, you’ll want to match wine and cheese of the same intensity level. Just remember “like for like”.

Take a look at the gourmet cheese categories and wine recommendations below for guidance. You’ll see how easy it is to serve an elegant wine and cheese course. For best results, just add friends and family.

Fresh – These cheeses are not aged and usually are white and light in flavor, smooth and sometimes tangy. Try chevre (goat cheese), feta and smoked mozzarella.

Beverage Pairings – Acidic white wines stand up to the tang and milky flavors of fresh cheese. Try a Viognier or a lightly oaked Chardonnay with French goat cheese, Boutari (a white Greek wine produced on the island of Santorini) with Greek Feta and Pinot Grigio with mozzarella.

Bloomy – Encased in a whitish, edible rind, bloomy gourmet cheeses are often velvety, gooey with a mild flavor. Add Brie, Camembert or Pierre-Robert to the cheese board for a decadent treat.

Beverage Pairings – Seek out a carbonated beverage to refresh the mouth from the rich and creamy flavors. Traditionally, bloomy cheeses are served with French Champagne but also try Cava from Spain and Prosecco from Italy. Another good suggestion would be for a oak-aged Chardonnay from California or Chile which have aromas of vanilla, smoke, toast that will complement the buttery notes in the cheese.

Washed Rind – During the aging process, washed-rind cheeses are usually bathed in a brine or washed with liquor such as wine, beer or a spirits. It’s this brining process that gives the cheese an aromatic quality. Almost all have orange or reddish hued rinds. Not mild and not sharp, washed rind cheeses are full-flavored. Give Taleggio, Drunken Goat, and Epoisses a taste.

Beverage Pairings – The fruity and tannic flavors of red wines work well with the stronger flavors of washed rind cheeses. Try Italian reds such as Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino with Taleggio, a Spanish Rioja with the Drunken Goat and a Cabernet Sauvignon with Epoisses.

Semisoft – These supple cheeses are rich, creamy with stronger flavors. Fontina is herbal and nutty while Morbier offers sweetness with greater pungency.

Beverage Pairings - Sample these with light and fruity reds such as a Pinot Noir or fruity whites such as Sancerre.

Firm – Typically, firm cheeses are still pliable and packed with flavor. The best are a bit crumbly and aged for robust, nutty goodness. Cheddar, Gouda and Gruyere are crowd pleasers.

Beverage Pairings - A pint of English ale is the traditional beverage of choice for Cheddar but a Sauvignon Blanc is complex enough to complement. Gouda is great with a Syrah/Shiraz and drink Beaujolais with Gruyere.

Hard – Hard cheeses are dry, crumbly and aged for intensity. Piave, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Aged Comte boast salty, caramelized, nutty flavors.

Beverage Pairings – You’ll find hearty wines can hold their own against these cheeses. Try a Barbera or Chianti with the Piave and Parmigiano and Merlot with the Comte.

Blue – The bluish-green veins give blue cheese its punch. Listed from strong to strongest in pungency are creamy Gorgonzola, nutty Stilton and salty Roquefort.

Beverage Pairings – Intense gourmet cheeses like blues can be tamed with sweet dessert wines, liqueurs and even a fruity beer. Port and sherry are traditional blue libations. For a unique treat, try a raspberry flavored beer like Belgian Lambic (look for Lindeman’s Framboise). All can be savored while lingering over dessert.

About Sara Kahn: Even though her passion for gourmet cheese was undying, Sara Kahn found shopping for it to be overwhelming, time consuming and confusing. She established The Cheese Ambassador to offer a simple way to select and serve the world’s finest cheeses. By providing the perfect combination of exquisite cheese along with a comprehensive cheese course guide, enjoying gourmet cheese is now a deliciously enriching experience.

Wine Friendly Cheeses: Brie, Cambozola, Camembert, Roquefort, Port-Salut, Fondue Cheese, Frulano and for more suggestion please stop by The Cheese Ambassador.

Written by guest contributor Sara Kahn, Founder of The Cheese Ambassador.

The 2007 Eagles Nest Estate Syrah will win gold!

I had met Dennis and Julie Grimes of Eagles Nest winery in Ramona, San Diego via the Open Wine Consortium online wine community. Their winemaker Dennis invited me over to sample their wines and he wanted me to become familiar with how good wine is being made right here in San Diego.
Honestly, I was skeptical about whether good wine was being made from San Diego grown fruit and could be considered good wine. But I was pleasantly surprised to find they have made some wonderful wines, including these two wonderful Syrahs from their 2007 vintage. Later others would concur with my thoughts and awarded them a gold medal for each wine. These gold medals were earned at the 2009 Temecula Wine Competition. One was made from the their Estate fruit grown on their Ramona Estate and the other was grapes taken from the South Coast Appellation.

This is the story behind my prediction, I had the opportunity to taste these wines just after they were bottled. I was part of the all-volunteer bottling team and it great fun participating in the bottling process. These wines were bottled in May or June, not quite sure of the exact date. But as I recall it was right before the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference. Since Dennis had encouraged me to join them at the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference and asked if my wife and I would like to carpool with them, we had a great opportunity on the drive to discuss the wines he and his wife Julie had entered into the 2009 Temecula Wine Competition sponsored by Welcome to the Temecula Valley Wine Society. They were both wondering aloud in the car (Excursion) and contemplating how well their wines would do in this competition. That's when I spoke up, I ask Julie and Dennis about the event and found out that only wines produced from "local" fruit would be allowed in the competition. I had just returned from a two day tasting journey in Temecula. I went to what many considered the "better-wineries" in area and tasted through their wines and considering what I had tasted versus the wine I had tasted at Eagles Nest Winery, I proclaimed that their two Syrahs would win gold medals.

But again I believe in quotes like this one,"Wine has lit up for me the pages of literature, and revealed in life romance lurking in the commonplace. Wine has made me bold but not foolish; has induced me to say silly things but not do them. " Duff Cooper, Old Men Forget

My statement, my prognostication if you will was met with silence then a nervous laughter. I then asked if anyone would like to take my proclamation as a bet? Nobody, bothered to answer me. I was resolute in my statement and told both Julie, Dennis and my wife that of the wines they had entered the two Syrahs would win gold medals. So what did I base my conjecture on? I based it on the fact that not only have I recently tasted a majority wines from the Temecula (their competition)Valley, but I also have been tasting wines from some of the best producers in the States and abroad over the last seven years. So was this just a lucky guess? Perhaps, but maybe it was an educated guess based on years of tasting, evaluating and reviewing wine.

We had just gotten back from the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference in Sonoma on Monday and on Tuesday the awards ceremony was held, where the announcements of the winners would be made and the medals awarded. Julie and Dennis were at the event and were nervous with excitement and perhaps in the back of their mind, wondering whether or not I may have been right. The announcement finally came and the results; their 07 Estate Syrah won a Gold Medal in the 2009 Temecula Wine Competition along with another Gold Medal for our 07 South Coast AVA Syrah. Wow, my tweet-deck buzzed with the excitement that my prognostication had come true. I was very happy for them both and what this had meant for them and the winery, recognition that their investment of work, long hours (blood, sweat and tears) and capital had actually meant something, validation. If you click on this link here you can see the results: San Diego Wineries show well at 2009 Temecula Wine Competition. I wished them well deserved congratulations and never told them, "I told you so" even though I had considered it.

The Wines: The Eagles Nest 2007 South Coast Syrah and the Eagles Nest Estate Syrah

First Swirl: If your a regular reader of my blog, you may be wondering why I consider the first swirl of the wine? This is my first impression of what's to come, I look for color (read that, extraction and structure). I also look for clarity and viscosity. Their wines have wonderful extraction (which in this case is not a bad word), body and suppleness. The core was a dark ruby color and faded away to garnet colored rim.

First Sniff: As this wine finished swirling about in my glass, I put my nose in to find wonderful complex, but inviting aromas of earthy truffles, blackberry and a faint touch of vanilla, all mixed with beautiful and subtle scents of freshly baked dark fruit compote. Even when the glass was empty aromas lingered on and on.

First Sip: I can still remember the taste of this wine. I will admit that I have had the opportunity to sample it on more than one occasion. Each time I do it is a wonderful expression of what Syrah should be. Polished, lavish, elegant, fluent throughout the entire palate, bountiful enough without going over the top, chewable, inky, showing top quality fruit, red and dark berries, plum, spices, all underlined by beautiful tannins followed by a long lingering finish. They are both great wines for pairing, as they mingle nicely with many different types of food.

Varietal Composition: Both these wines are 100% Syrah.

Alcohol and Aging: The alcohol is a mere 12% which should surprise you, why you ask? Because a wine which delivers so much is normally associated with higher octane levels. Both wines were aged at least 20 months in oak barrels and were bottled earlier this summer.

Price and where to buy: These wines sell for $20 each and can be purchased directly by calling the winery at (760) 505-8229. I told them that they should sell the Estate for at least $5 more, but they decided to sell it for the same price as their South Coast Syrah.

My Recommendation: I would give them a call as soon as possible, as I believe they made less than 400 cases of both wines. At these prices you could easily buy a case or two. These wines represent what I call a "every day drinker" meaning this a great wine you afford to drink everyday if you wish and not break the bank. It also represents QPR and qualifies as a winner.

Other Voices: Grace Hoffman of Cellarmistress' Cellar Talk had this say, "I couldn't have asked for a nicer wine to start my "proper" Syrah education! It defied my belief that a wine has to have a higher alcohol level to be more flavorful! Definitely a food wine". The 2009 Temecula Wine Competition gave these wines a gold medal each, I think that speaks for itself.

Rhone Ranger, the 2007 Olson Ogden Unti Syrah

Some call it Shiraz and others call it Syrah, but whatever you call it this is the Syrah you don't won't to miss out on! This is massive wine from the folks at Olson Ogden. if you are not familiar with Olson Ogden, this review represents a good opportunity to get acquainted.

Some times you wonder what's in a name, and in thinking about the label I wondered about how they came up with the name. In taking a peek at their website it appears Tim Olson has been a winemaker in Northern California for more than 21 years joined forces with John Ogden who manages the marketing, sales and business operations for Olson Ogden Wines and together they are Olson Ogden Wines.

Perhaps you are wondering what is their philosophy and approach to making wine? Well they state it this way; "Our primary goal is to produce balanced, complex and tasty wines that express the terroir and vintage from which they come. In order to make the best wines, we believe it must start with the best ingredients. And that starts in the vineyard. We prefer hillsides to valley floor, organic farming to agro-chemical approaches and we feel the most important variable in the equation is the attitude of the grower and their commitment to excellence. " In my view it is Mission accomplished!

Regarding the labels themselves I was surprised to see that each label is exactly the same size and shape with the same artwork. The only difference is the individual vineyard or AVA designation name on each bottle. There is no wine description or vineyard information on the back label. But since it appears most of the relevant info about these wines can be found online it does not pose much of a problem, since most folks carry a PC in their pocket disguised as phone. The only concern I would be worried about is if I was working in a tasting room with nearly identical labels that I may end up giving someone the wrong wine. But from a cost aspect and the laborious labeling requirements this makes perfect sense and in the end is a positive thing for the consumer.

Why is this wine being tagged as a Rhone Ranger? While I was drinking this wine I think I could hear Hermitage calling? Okay really I just thought it was a catchy title, but I think it's important to point out where Syrah got its start. So if you're old pro in the wine world feel free to skip over this brief history and if you're new to wine please click on the links I have provided to give yourself a little more detail. Now according to the French Wine Guide, "The "Coteaux (slope) de l'Hermitage" dominates the small town of Tain l'Hermitage in the Rhône Valley. The first plantations date from the 10th century but it is under Louis the XIV that l'Hermitage obtains its credential letters... Hermitage was the favorite cru of the Tsar court in Russia.The red wines of Hermitage are generous and well balanced, strong aromas and a complete bouquet. Wines from Hermitage, France - Rhone tolerate aging very well and become smooth and mellow when they mature. So to it is with the Olson Ogden Unti Vineyards this wine has the stuffing to age and mature into even better wine than the one I sampled for this review, so I have dubbed this wine a "Rhone Ranger".

The Wine: 2007 Olson Ogden Wines Unti Vineyard Syrah

First Swirl: Here is a wine that's opaque in color with thick legs that cling to the sides of the glass long after swirling the wine. In the glass this wine appears as ripe, fleshy with generous colored blackberry core, giving way to the cerise colored rim.

First Sniff: Just after pouring this wine and putting my nose to it there was a explosive perfumed bouquet which lept from the glass full of raspberry, blueberry, spice-cake, potpourri and anise, with a subtle mocha undertone. I thought to myself, wow this going to be awesome right from the moment cork popped to the very last drop, this wine was everything a Syrah should be and more. The nose knows!

First Sip: On the palate, where chewy cherry-cola and licorice qualities are complicated by notes of violet pastille and black cardamom. Large-scaled, fat and spicy, with strong finishing grip and supple tannins which linger on and on. In other words, this is a phat-wine with no pretense! A drink now and drink often rating of 93 points! If you can wait and cellar there will be an appreciable difference as this was just released this past summer.

Vineyards and Varietal Composition: These grapes were sourced from the Untis vineyard in the Dry Creek AVA of Sonoma. The Unti's began using bio-dynamic vineyard practices in 2004 and as a result has seen a shift in the wines personality! I would say it's this wine has a pretty sunny disposition. As far as I can tell this 100% Syrah.

Full Disclosure: In the interest of full-disclosure, this wine represents one of five samples sent to the Cuvée Corner Wine Blog for a review.

Alcohol and Ageing: This wine weighed in at 14.5% alcohol and glided effortlessly on my palate with no appreciable hotness. This wine was aged in 70% New French Oak 17 Months.

Where to Purchase and Price: This wine retails in most markets for about $38.00 and can be found in a few restaurants here in San Diego and a few select wine stores of which I could not find one that had a current selection. But of course this wine can be purchased directly from their website by clicking here Olson Ogden Wines which is located in in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. Just a note to those considering making a trek over to see them, they do not have a tasting room.

Other voices: On March 31, 2007 Wine Spectator gave the 2004 Olson Ogden Wines Unti Vineyard Syrah rated 93 points by Wine Spectator. Want More Info? Connoisseur's Wine Guide gave the 2006 Olson Ogden Wines Unti Vineyard Syrah given 91 points and 2 puffs by Connoisseur's Wine Guide. Need More Info? Do you see a trend? My palate says a hearty Amen to that question.

Enjoy the video below by their wine maker commenting on the best way to taste wine!

My Recommendation: This is a lot of wine for the price. At this price point it's not in my everyday drinker category, but it's is a wine of exceptional depth and flavor. Immediately approachable right out of the bottle. The quality of this wine makes it a QPR winner in my book, because wines of this caliber normally will retail for well over $50 in most cases. So do your self a favor and give them a call or just order some online. They do have some discounts on buying variety packs with free shipping, which is a huge discount as shipping can cost as much as $30-$40 bones depending on many factors. But this is a wine not to be missed and you will be very happy to have some of this wine in your cellar. Until next time, stay thirsty my friends!

Stay Tuned: Their 2007 Olson Ogden Wines Russian River Pinot Noir is the next review in the pipeline and deserves it's own in depth profile.

Putting the "super" in Super Tuscan, 2004 Brancaia Ilatraia Maremma Toscana

If you are not familiar with Brancaia, but you're in love
with Super Tuscans or maybe you just want to become more familiar with wines that have this moniker, then this is a great wine to get a hold of, one thing I can promise you won't be disappointed.
If your new to wine and are looking around your favorite wine store for a "Super-Tuscan" and maybe you don't want to look foolish and you're wondering why there is no ST section, well here's a few tips which may help. While you are in the Italy section of the store, just take a gander at the back of the bottle where you should find in small print, IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) this is one clue that you have a ST in your hand. The second clue is when you see an I.G.T. wine selling at $50.00 you have a pretty good idea it is a ST, but sorry, no guarantees. The third clue in my opinion is the varietal make-up should at least feature a large percentage of Sangiovese or you just have an American styled Meritage.


The wine service at Locanda di Pietracupa (San Donato in Poggio (FI) Via Madonna di Pietracupa)was a little unusual also, as the waiter came to the table to show us the wine, then turned to the table behind us to uncork the bottle and then sniffed the cork. Then returned to pour the glass, for my evaluation to see if I agreed with his assessment he derived from the cork, curious and a bit odd. But the service was first rate, the food was extraordinary and their wine list was "top-notch"! As you can see my hand was a little shaky taking this picture table side, with no flash, so the pictures are a little fuzzy.

Vino da Tavola use to be the catch-all category for everyday wines until the super-Tuscan revolution hit Chianti and Maremma. The creation of I.G.T. was made necessary by the inadequacies of the D.O.C. regulations and by the widespread revolt against them by many famous and politically powerful wine producers, when in doubt just follow the money!

Brancaia, located in the Tuscan Maremma, is made up of two estates, Brancia and Poppi, that have been owned by Barbara and Martin Kronenberg-Widmer since 1981. Their consulting oenologist Carlo Ferrini oversees wine making at Brancaia, which also owns vineyards in the Chianti Classico and Morellino di Scansano zones.

The Wine: 2004 Brancaia Ilatraia Maremma Toscana IGT (Italy, Tuscany ...

Varietal: It's what they call a Proprietary Blend, meaning this wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Sangiovese (30%) and Petit Verdot (10%).

Wine Makers Note: The 2004 shows a very pretty Maremma warmth in its expression of sweet dark fruit, herb, tobacco and earthiness, with good length and excellent overall balance.

Aging: It spent 18 months in French oak and bottle-aged another 4 months before its release. This wine can be kept in the cellar or your wine storage unit until 2016, but you probably can't wait that long as this wine is drinking fantastically right now.

Soil Type: The 60 acres of vineyards are stony with clay and lime soil.

Price and Alcohol: Ranges in price from $49 - $64.99 depending on where you shop and the alcohol percentage of fourteen does not scare up any appreciable "hotness". It has the a perfect level of alcohol on the nose for my liking. It should technically be labeled a table wine, because the phrase "table wine" (but that would be a crime) in the US is a legal designation set by the government to denote all wines of less than 14.5% alcohol of which this wines just falls short.

First Swirl: The waiter put the freshly poured glass on the table and I tilted it ever so slightly to the side against the bright-white table cloth, which revealed a deep garnet core fading to a brick toned rim.

First Sniff: This wine had tremendously fragrant and complex nose: A veritable bramble bush of dark fruit aromas on the initial whiff that transitions into cherry, strawberry, flowers, ginger, and cinnamon.

First Sip: While dining at this lovely Italian restaurant, we sipped on this lovely wine with a very fruity and nuanced mouth feel, co-mingling nicely with a tangy spiciness and sweet dark fruit, spice and earth tones. The finish was long and lasting, blending ever so nicely with our meal.

Other Voices: The 2005 92 points: "Aromas of blackberry and mineral, with hints of fresh herbs. Full-bodied, with soft tannins and a long, caressing finish. Balanced and pretty. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot. Best after 2009. 2,750 cases made." Wine Spectator Rating: The Wine Advocate gave this wine a mere 88 points, which is a crime! Easily 92 points in my book! From WS, James suckling's Recommended Wines FRom Tuscany include the 2007 Brancaia Ilatraia Maremma Toscana with a whopping 96 points. I became an instant fan of Brancaia after tasting the 2004 while dining on my trip to Italy. I had no idea that Mr. Suckling thought so highly of the 2007, until I wrote this review of the 2004. So now of course the whole wine world will be doing some trophy hunting on this bottle and driving the prices up.

Where to buy: JJ Buckley Fine Wines has this wine for $49.99 each and this is a great price as I paid about 56 euros for my 2004, so do the math. This is a great deal! But they only have about two cases available.

My Recommendation: I would grab some of the 2007 if you can and also some of the 2004 vintage which is still available. This is one of the best examples of Super Tuscan you are going to find under a $100 dollars anywhere. So if you want to see what all the fuss is about, just use the wine-searcher link on my page to right on your screen and type in the name, it will give the name of all the shops or online stores who stock this wine, along with the prices. So this is another of my "run don't walk" recommendations. Until next time stay thirsty my friends! Cheers!

Above the fog, Villa Hermosa 2005 Howell Mountain Cabernet

The beautiful and inspiring Howell Mountain Appellation located east of St. Helena in Napa is producing some fantastic Mountain fruit and the resulting 100% Cabernet Sauvignon are fantastic.

While never having visited this area myself, it can still be said that just above the fog in Napa Valley lies some of the best vineyards in Napa. After meeting the folks from Villa Hermosa and tasting the wine, I've put it on my well worn and dog-eared map of "wine-destinations" which I must visit. What many would call their "bucket-list", personally my bucket is spilling over with must-see wine destinations like the over flowing spit bucket Miles in the movie "Sideways" drinks during his meltdown at “Frass Canyon”.

With that said, the next time I'm in the Napa area I want to make an effort to visit and meet the folks who call Howell Mountain home, like the wonderful owners of Villa Hermosa Cherie and Art Goulard who have crafted a brilliant representation of the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.

Upon first Swirl: A beautiful deep garnet core, displaying freshness and fading to lighter colored rim.

Upon first Sniff: In the nose it exhibits ripe, vivid blackberry, wild plum and black cherry fruit, yet showing some maturity with mocha nuances.

Upon first Sip: What I would call a complex, faint leathery notes in this full-bodied, intensely flavored, decadent display of dark fruits melding with lithe minerality, appropriate tannins and very persistent display of fruit and sense of place which is long and lingering.

Vineyards and Aging: A total of 21 months in 100% French Oak, with the vines grown in the rich, volcanic soil, on a south-facing hillside 2,000 feet above the Napa Valley.

Fruit: 100% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon picked from three blocks and the alcohol is barely noticeable at 13.3 percent.

My Recommendation: This wine is very approachable now and will improve with age, since only 330 cases were produced, availability is limited. Meaning even @ $75.00 each a wine of this caliber won't last long. I was very impressed with the efforts. This is an excellent wine worthy of a 94 point score. So run, don't walk to their website to order yours today!

Wine Makers Notes: On the nose, this vintage has lush aromas of blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry preserves, and lilac with faint notes of juniper, white pepper, and truffle oil. The mouth opens with a warm velvety entry with lush berry and stone fruits. The full weight mid-palate leads to a lengthy, fruit finish.

Other voices: "...new faces that aim for the gold ring and could be the next cult wine..."— Mary Ann Worobiec, Wine Spectator Magazine