Category: wine reviews

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Montevolpe, Primo Rosso 2007

Primo Rosso: “ First red “

This is the second vintage of the wine for my wine business and the first was a fabulous success so I expect this to be too.

A blend of six grapes but don’t be put off if you are, like me, a fan of single varietals on their tod! This is a wonderful example of how grapes can be blended really attractively and shows off Greg Graziano’s winemaking skills very well indeed. It also fit’s really well into that very large void, of wines being available from the United States that have some quality and panache but are not too expensive. 65% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Sangiovese, 3% Negroamaro, 2% Nebbiolo. Some lovely bottle age means this wine is soft with tannins of maturity and grace: medium to dark purple-garnet in colour with some flavours of plums and blackberries in a pie with the addition of a little Marzipan, Almonds and Moraschino Cherries. This wine does not fade away but remains strong and even when opened will taste well after 3 days of opening, so has the potential to be an interesting pourer in 2011 and in the years ahead.

Alcohol: 14.5%

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Montevolpe, Primo Bianco 2009

Primo Bianco: “ First white”

New Vintage just arrived, February 2014: tasting notes for the 2011 vintage will follow shortly

Following the undoubted  success of the Primo Rosso in 2010 I decided it would be a good idea  to import it’s sister. So here  it is!

Primo Bianco means “ First white”. This is Greg Graziano’s complex blend of six different grapes! Six! Wow, I said to myself before I tried it for the first time, that must me a difficult job blending six grapes! He’s done a very good job which means he’s a very clever winemaker!

Mr Whirly says

“It’s a very complex wine, quite herbaceous with a touch of fennel and dill on the nose.  Great concentraion. I recently tasted this with Tom and Lisa Lewis at the lovely Monachyle Mhor with a vegetarian risotto with fennel and other strong flavours and it was quite a special match.”

Winemakers notes:

Winemaking: We hand-harvested the grapes at an average 23.5 degrees brix through the months of September and October, 2009. The grapes were crushed, pressed, cold settled and then racked into neutral French Burgundy oak barrels.  All of the lots were 100% barrel-fermented and “sur-lie” aged for 5 months with no malolactic fermentation.

Winemaker Comments: This is a blend of 6 different varietals: Tocai Friulano, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Arneis, Pinot Grigio and Cortese. The grapes are from hillside vineyards in the Redwood and Ukiah Valleys. The wine is rich and intensely fruity with appealing aromas and flavours of spicy melon, ruby red grapefruit, anise, and mineral. The wine is nicely balanced by crisp acidity and a long, lingering finish.

Alcohol: 14.0%

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Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2008

“ Willamette Valley”, Pinot Noir 2008

Mr Whirly says:

“ I tasted this wine when it was in its very early stages of development in September 2009, when I was in the vineyard. I was very impressed then by it. Its a very classical Pinot in terms of its makeup. But its still very much a Pinot Noir from Oregon and the new world though, which is important. It has its own identity. A real delight and proved to be a big seller. This wine is now made by Ben, the son of Marilyn Webb and Terry Casteel and he’s doing a pretty good job of following in his father’s footsteps. One to lay down for while, which is a positive sign.”

Alcohol: 13.5%

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Chardonnay 2005-06

Chardonnay 2005 and 2006 vintages

These wines have had an incredible rise in stature and following in their homeland, so ordering this wine has been impossible over the last 3 years since they have sold out of recent vintages. This means that the price has risen for the stock of older wines but I have managed to secure some stock of  the 2011 vintage which will be priced a little more “conservatively”, shall we put it that way, and I expect the wine to be here in the April-May 2014

2005

Mr Whirly Says

“Soft oak with a vanilla mouth feel, flat peaches and a little yeast and honey. Cool climate USA Chardonnay at its best. Only 28 cases secured so be warned, it won’t be around for too long.”

Alcohol: 13.5%

2006 Chardonnay

Mr Whirly says

“ It’s rather like the 1998 Cabernet from Willespie situation a few years ago. How does the 2006 follow the 2005? It’s really opening up now ( July 2012) and developing some lovely mineral and dried stoned fruit layers. ”

Alcohol: 14.0%

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Pinot Gris 2008

Sadly sold out now and trying to get hold of more but the winemakers have told me they are making less of this varietal, which means I can’t get hold of anymore for the time being…….

Mr  Whirly Says

” It’s wonderful to see a really exciting Pinot Gris from somewhere outside of Alsace and New Zealand.  The 2006 was a runaway success so I am pleased to be following up with another great vintage. This wine has a waxy feel to it, with a floral nose and hints of honey and citrus. So far in tasting’s, everyone has been completely overawed by this wine. Only 20 cases secured for the UK Market so don’t hesitate and give this a whirl. “

Alcohol: 12.5%

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“Late Harvest” Riesling 2007

Mr Whirly says:

This “ Oh so delicate wine” arrived in  November 2009 to take over from the very successful 2002 LH Riesling.  Its an incredibly delicate wine with a smokey feel and again hints of Lychee and Elderflower. Very much a wine for the Spring and Summer with Acidic puddings. Not at all sticky which is a plus in so many ways.”

Winemakers tasting notes:

“The 2007 Late Harvest Riesling shows both aromas and flavours consisting of lime and lemon zest, ripe stone fruits such as apricots and nectarines, mineral notes of wet rock and flint, with hints of honey, petrol, and savoury spices like tarragon and lemon thyme.”

Alcohol: 9.0%

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Amity “ Willamette Valley” Pinot Noir 2008

2008 “ Willamette Valley” Pinot noir 2008

Mr Whirly says:

“ I tasted this wine in March 2012, having felt it needed a little time in the bottle and its full of Kirsch and marinated cherries, which I first found in the 2002 Schouten single vineyard wine. Yet its also very subtle and refined. I think this wine is just at the beginning of it’s life and ascendancy.”

Alcohol: 13.0%

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Amity Gewurtztraminer, “Willamette Valley”, 2008

2008″ Willamette Valley” Gewurtztraminer, Single Vineyard, “ Sunnyside”

Mr Whirly says:

“This grape is only found in certain regions of the world other than Alsace and the Willamette valley.   Amity send this grape to the press with a little added extra spice. As always with Myron Redford’s and Darcy Pendergrass’s winemaking skills, this wine has finesse and class. It is a far more complex wine than the 2006. Quite honestly I think it ranks up there with a Rolly Gassmann, this wine exudes class.  A little Elderflower and hint of cinnamon and five spice round it off.  This wine is dry on the finish but with some lovely Conference pear added too.”

Alcohol: 13.0%

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Amity Pinot Blanc 2007

Mr Whirly says,

“This wine was tasted at the end of August 2009 on my last trip to Oregon. It was the first wine I have had the joy of tasting with the winemakers from Amity and Bethel Heights. We were on the deck of Myron’s house in Amity, a lovely wooden structure surrounded by woods and rolling hills, on a beautiful late summer’s evening with the wonderful echo of the tree frog, underneath the decking, waltzing around the amphitheatre of our little party. It really was a special night and this wine kicked off the show so admirably! I was taken with it immediately, loving the fact that this “ workhorse of Alsace ” was so clean, fresh and vibrant with hints of Lemon sherbet on the nose and pear drops too. It really is a very uplifting wine, very much a special Pinot Blanc to be drunk as an aperitif or with food throughout the year and for many years to come ( it will get better with a little age.)

Review: Wine Enthusiast, December 15th 2009, Paul Gregutt

“ This Pinot Blanc threads honeycomb highlights into juicy, ripe fruit flavours of yellow apples and Asian Pear. Dry with  a good grip, it’s another wine that is showing that Oregon winemakers have an opportunity to claim this under-appreciated grape as their own.”

Alcohol 13.0%

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Casal Garcia Rose 2010

Casal Garcia Rose NV

New stock of this delightfully fresh rose has just arrived in July 2013

Mr Whirly says:

“I tasted this wine in San Francisco in April 2010 and fell in love with it. It’s Strawberry cheese cake in a glass!  Although a little strawberry sweetness on the middle palate it finishes dry and steely which is a positive attribute. This wine bubbles with intensity and flavour and with a freshness that is simply so wonderful for the summer. So at 10% alcohol I truly think it’s the perfect rose for all year round. Pomegranate in appearance this wine is made from three grapes: Vinhao, Azal Tinto and Borracal.”

Alcohol: 10.5%