Sunday, April 02, 2006
I was pleasently surprised by the 2002 William Hill Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay. Posessing a golden straw yellow color, a peaches and cream bouquet, and an even creamier palate flavor, this very moderately priced Chardonnay has lots of soft fruit-peaches, apricots, bannanas and oranges, while being backed by a hint of almond and vanilla.
The 2001 William Hill Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is also a winner. Showing off a very cozy black cherry and cola aroma, the dark ruby red wine has all the markings of what one would expect from Napa Valley Cabernet. Cherry, menthol, slight berry tastes, anise and licorice and a long black cherry finish show that there is a lot more in this wine than one would expect.
The 2004 McManis Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is made from Lodi fruit. While not the same region as Napa, the wine is tarry and tasty, with oodles of black plums, cherry, and violets. The very smooth and round red has gobbs of plums, currants, cassis and black cherry.
One of my favorite value wines of all time is the 2000 The Fifteen Grenache, Cotes du Roussillion, France. Made by and for Hand Picked Selections' owner Dan Kravitz, the name stands for the fact that 15 different lots of Grenache grapes were vinified together to make the premiuum blend, that became a great value wine a few years ago. Deep, dark inky black and purple colored, the wine has a hint of spice before you get bright raspberry and strawberry flavors.
2004 Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc is a basic, almost generic white. While I tend to go ga-ga over Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, France's Loire Valley and even South Africa, this straw colored, lime and pear flavored white is more simple than complex, but a nice wine with iceberg lettuce salad. Compare this to a slightly older 2002 Paul et Jean-Marc Pastou La Cote de Jury Sancerre Vieilles Vignes from France's Loire Valley. This is Sancerre that just keeps on giving the kind of flavors that stands up to stinky blue cheese, shellfish and chacuterie. Crisp and dry, with minerals and wet stones. Limestone and slate that underpins the great flavors of lemon zest, orange peel and limes, this is a juicy wine that keeps on giving.
The 2001 William Hill Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is also a winner. Showing off a very cozy black cherry and cola aroma, the dark ruby red wine has all the markings of what one would expect from Napa Valley Cabernet. Cherry, menthol, slight berry tastes, anise and licorice and a long black cherry finish show that there is a lot more in this wine than one would expect.
The 2004 McManis Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is made from Lodi fruit. While not the same region as Napa, the wine is tarry and tasty, with oodles of black plums, cherry, and violets. The very smooth and round red has gobbs of plums, currants, cassis and black cherry.
One of my favorite value wines of all time is the 2000 The Fifteen Grenache, Cotes du Roussillion, France. Made by and for Hand Picked Selections' owner Dan Kravitz, the name stands for the fact that 15 different lots of Grenache grapes were vinified together to make the premiuum blend, that became a great value wine a few years ago. Deep, dark inky black and purple colored, the wine has a hint of spice before you get bright raspberry and strawberry flavors.
2004 Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc is a basic, almost generic white. While I tend to go ga-ga over Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, France's Loire Valley and even South Africa, this straw colored, lime and pear flavored white is more simple than complex, but a nice wine with iceberg lettuce salad. Compare this to a slightly older 2002 Paul et Jean-Marc Pastou La Cote de Jury Sancerre Vieilles Vignes from France's Loire Valley. This is Sancerre that just keeps on giving the kind of flavors that stands up to stinky blue cheese, shellfish and chacuterie. Crisp and dry, with minerals and wet stones. Limestone and slate that underpins the great flavors of lemon zest, orange peel and limes, this is a juicy wine that keeps on giving.
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