Tasting Italy 2009

July 4th, 2010 / Filed Under: Italy - Video / 2 Comments /

No eloquent words, no loquacious lead-in, just good times. This trip to Italy will not be forgotten.

I think the video says it best…

Photos & film by: Fermented Thoughts
Music by: Zucchero Fornaciari

2007 Sequana Pinot Noir Sarmento Vineyard

February 13th, 2010 / Filed Under: CellarTracker - Reviews / No Comments /

Tasted by fermentedthoughts. Bright. Ruby. Intense. A rich girl for sure... Pulled, poured, and pause ... 10 min ... Sniff, sniff? PIMENTO POW! Up, off the floor - I dive in to find more salty olive brine, wrapped up in blueberry syrup and twiggy fresh, bushy red fruit. I hear a sultry, low, vanilla-infused French accent - as she speaks - decadent notes of coconut add confusion. Pinot Noir ... so feminine, obscure, intriguing ... Now, I sip. Dry and full, she's voluptuous and hot. Off the burner warm, dark Bing cherry juice glides along, spilling open to offer cocoa, fig puree, sweet forest berries and fleetingly funky, worn barn floor. Man, she's hot. And intoxicating. (14.8% ABV) Nothing tame here. Indeed, a definitive example of hot vs. beautiful. - Tasted 2/13/2010.

1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia

January 16th, 2010 / Filed Under: CellarTracker - Reviews / No Comments /

Tasted by fermentedthoughts. This summer, I was hot for Lopez de Heredia and yet, I missed my opportunity to purchase this wine when it was first released. So, tonight - I jumped when my local Sommelier pointed out something special on the list: The 1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia. Excuse me? Yeah, it's a mouthful. Even before opening, the color seduces you ... In the glass, vibrant peach rust hues lure you into the bouquet of sweet marzipan, bright red fruit, warmed sawdust, dried apricot, peach cobbler and deep, wet sandy notes. The briny minerality is scary ... Think of laying on a warm, wet beach towel, fresh out of the ocean. If I were blind, I'd guess this as a red. So full, the mouthfeel is unreal. Tart cherry flavors yield to cinnamon spice and as the roller coaster undulates up and down, we're lead from cranberry to wet and woolly sour lactic funk - butter milk notes give me flashbacks of Joly's Coulée de Serrant but, this isn't the Loire my friends... No, no. Twelve years of careful and calculated age show what precision oxidation does to dress up this Rioja cuvée. 60% Grenache, 30% Tempranillo, and 10% Viura intermingle playfully on the tongue and leave you in an mild aldehydic, Jerez like trance as the ethereal marzipan reemerges - morphing into a mature, restrained nuttiness ... Up and down and indeed, well worth the ride! - Tasted 1/16/2010.

2001 Lingenfelder Großkarlbacher Osterberg Riesling Spätlese

December 30th, 2009 / Filed Under: CellarTracker - Reviews / No Comments /

Tasted by fermentedthoughts. It's electric! Dark n' deep gold - spraying viscous wafts of 93 octane premium petrol, sharp key lime spritz, and ripe Georgia peach. Grab a few white flowers, toss'em in the blender and puree some flamboyant apricot preserves. Now, add in sugary egg yolks, salty pistachios and some fresh shaved truffle. Whoo awww... Ride the Rhine river to Pfalz and get some! I had the chance to meet Ranier Lingenfelder, proprietor, at the New York Wine Expo back in February, and this guy's family has been doing Riesling since the 14th century. Trust the tradition. - Tasted 12/30/2009.

2005 Gundlach Bundschu Cabernet Sauvignon Rhinefarm Vineyard

December 25th, 2009 / Filed Under: CellarTracker - Reviews / No Comments /
Tasted by fermentedthoughts. Step away from the bottle... Originally, poured to celebrate Christmas Eve dinner, we immediately knew there would be another present to open on Christmas day. Decanted overnight - the wine was allowed a solid 20 hours to unwind. The next day brought New World power and European elegance. Beautiful Bordeaux aromas of warm prune, moist Maduro cigar wrapper, gravel floor, and zingy blackberry liqueur - lead to eucalyptus, cedar and tomato green notes. The grace of Bordeaux mixed with the bold fruit of Sonoma. Very age-worthy. - Tasted 12/25/2009.

2007 Cambria Pinot Noir Julia’s Vineyard

December 23rd, 2009 / Filed Under: CellarTracker - Reviews / No Comments /

Tasted by fermentedthoughts. Interesting vegetal green bean notes open to milk chocolate, spice, hickory smoke, and bright raspberry. Young strawberries and wet leaves are carried by soft tannins and dropped into a pile of fresh mushrooms. A unique blend of new and old world styles. - Tasted 12/23/2009.

2007 Michael-David Vineyards Petite Sirah Petite Petit

December 21st, 2009 / Filed Under: CellarTracker - Reviews / No Comments /
Tasted by fermentedthoughts. Deeeep, mega purple... Sneeky medicinal eucalyptus, cracked peppercorn and wafty bacon fat fade into smokey n' savory buttered-toffee happiness. She's a round one! Tart, dark cherry paste, lined with vanilla-menthol lace. Nothing petite about it. The low-down on Lodi! - Tasted 12/21/2009.

2006 Château Moncontour Vouvray Brut

December 20th, 2009 / Filed Under: CellarTracker - Reviews / No Comments /

Tasted by fermentedthoughts. Why not? Inexpensive Cremant brings class and nuance others cannot for $16. Vibrant green apple, subtle river rock, briney sour cream cake, and nice yeasty, toasty marzipan finish. Good fizz! - Tasted 12/20/2009.

2008 Robert Oatley Sangiovese Rosé

December 16th, 2009 / Filed Under: CellarTracker - Reviews / No Comments /
Tasted by fermentedthoughts. Pale rose in color, almost onion skin. Notes of almond, briney, wet stone and citrus. Candied lemon peel leads to a med body and flavors of umami wrapped raspberry. Nicely understated New So. Wales fruit. - Tasted 12/16/2009.

A Visit to Spring Mountain Vineyard

September 13th, 2009 / Filed Under: California - Napa - Video / 2 Comments /

While in Napa this past July, my palate began to dream… Vivid and fermented thoughts of rich mountain fruit dominated the reverie. Knowing this urge couldn’t be restrained, I quickly found my way to Spring Mountain Vineyard, and my palate was thankful.

Taken directly from the source: “Spring Mountain Vineyard is an 850 acre estate of forest and vineyard on the eastern slopes of Spring Mountain which rises behind the town of Saint Helena. The vineyard occupies about 226 acres of the estate and is broken into 135 small and separate hillside vineyard blocks. Each small block and slope has a unique soil, exposure to the sun, and microclimate.”

When I arrived, it was a beautiful day, the sun beat down and I couldn’t have asked for better hospitality. The pleasure of sampling a serious line-up of wine was soon to be mine.

We started with a refreshing 2007 Spring Mountain Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. Barrel fermentation and sur-lie batonnage give the crisp juice a delightfully rich nuance. From here, we moved onto the decadent 2001 Elivette. From the famed ‘01 vintage, this Gobelet-grown wine packs serious depth while offering seamless, elegant fruit and a velvety, prolonged finish.

We ended with a very special library release, the storied 1993 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. With only 760 cases made, this treat was rare. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 76%, Merlot 13%, and Cabernet Franc 11%, marry together from separate blocks transforming into something more than the sum of its parts. Still impressively young, the first release from the new estate, sets the bar high with a sweet kiss of cedar folded with classic blackberry, minty dark chocolate, and lead-wrapped earthy goodness.

As outlined on their website, “Spring Mountain Vineyard’s goal is to produce exceptional wines that showcase powerful mountain fruit that through gentle and graceful winemaking produces wine with elegance and strength.”
Given Spring Mountain’s cool, rainy climate compared to other AVAs, the vineyard’s vertical goblet trellising and resulting low yields, I find these vines produce wines that sing!

Should you find yourself in Napa, California in search of wine from serious mountain fruit - I suggest you find your way to Spring Mountain Vineyard and taste the dream.

Photos & film by: Fermented Thoughts
Music by: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Source: Spring Mountain Vineyard