2001 Chateau Quinault L'Enclos, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

I opened this wine and poured a glass without deciding to decant, but on further inspection of some reviews I decided to decant after all to allow the fruit to make an appearance. Did it? Meh, not really. As a matter of fact, I really wasn't into this wine all that much. Maybe I've been drinking too many fruit-bomb RRV Pinot Noirs and other jammy goodies. Who knows really, but I am kind of disappointed. Maybe I should have paired it with a better meal such as some sauce-laden steak with pomme-frites. I don't know. Well, here it goes anyway.

Chateau Quinault is in the hands of owners Dr. Alain Raynaud and his wife, Francoise, who currently use a fantastic team from Cheval Blanc to create wines of great purity and freshness. Located in the St. Emilion district of Bordeaux, Chateau Quinault definitely stands among some of the best Chateaus in France. The efforts of this winery are also truly remarkable; producing top-notch wines from their 37-acre vineyard situated within the Libourne city limits.

This particular wine is a blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. In the glass, the wine exhibits radiant color that is not at all dense, but more of a beautiful ruby. In the nose I pick up earth and leather, but it does not jump out and grab me. It is more subtle, elegant, restrained. After swirling in the glass, I am able to pick up some subtle plum, tobacco (almost damp cigar-like) and some sage-like spices.

In the mouth, the wine seems thin, with tea, bitter chocolate and mild dark fruit. Seems dusty, super dry with subtle tannins but good acid. I just feel this wine is more earthy and leathery in the package and I don't know if it is past peak or what, but it just does not do it for me. Oh well.

C'est La Vie!

2010 Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

It's January but I'm officially declaring winter over, as I am wearing shorts today after Sonoma County once again saw highs in the seventies. LA has been in the 80s for several days, and there's virtually no snow this season in Tahoe, Utah or Colorado. As a matter of fact most of the US is snow-free and surprisingly not that cold at all. So with that going on, my wife and I decided to take the short drive out to Matanzas Creek, sans kids to enjoy a little wine tasting. Since it is so warm and springlike out, we decided to pick up this nice little Sauvignon Blanc.

Today, let's skip those winter reds and open this treat up. The fruit for this wine comes from Knights Valley, a little north and east of the winery near the Napa county line. Anyway, I love the color of this SB. It's a nice pale straw color that exudes a nice aroma of tropical fruit like pineapple and guava as well as some of that citrusy-grapefruit that I love so much. One sip and I'm naturally hooked - more bright grapefruit, lime, and all that citrus goodness that I adore in great Sauvignon Blanc. The bonus is that it is not too acidic and super enjoyable at this moment in time. There's even subtle notes of lemon grass and some great minerality in the wine as well. Let's also not leave out that forward, long finish from this medium-bodied wine. It kinda sticks with you, as I am craving yet another bottle...even in the dead of winter.

2007 Bodegas Atalaya "Almansa" Red Blend

If you take a look at the background, you'll see that this photo was taken this summer, definitely not right now in December. Unfortunately, that is how long this wine has been waiting to say, "post me already, because you already drank me!" Well, okay, I will finally post you, my dear Almansa. I am getting back into the wine groove again (probably because the new baby doesn't cry as much anymore and the approach of winter always brings out the reds in me). I know, I have had plenty of requests to post about whites, and I promise I will get to those soon. Do you have any whites in mind? perhaps something viscous for the season like a fatty Chablis with mineral and quartz. Okay, I digress... Let's dig into this red from Spain.

I love Grenache. There's something about it that feels so good in the mouth. It is juicy, luscious, jammy and yummy. What's the kicker here is that I enjoy Grenache that is a little funky, even a little barnyard-like and kinky (just what Tanzer said). Come on, I can enjoy a little brett, right? Let's continue: The 2007 Atalaya is a blend of Monastrell, Garnacha Tintorera, and other red grapes. The wine was aged for eight months in French and American oak. This purple-colored wine has an expressive bouquet of violets, spice box, leather, game, blueberry, and black cherry. On the palate it comes off as with lots of easy-going flavor, superb depth, complexity, and a 45-second finish.

It is inky purple. Spicy dark berries and cherry on the nose, with strong black cardamom and cumin qualities. Candied blackberry and rose flavors are gently firmed by soft tannins and pick up a peppery note with air. Suave and immediately accessible, with very good finishing sweetness and cling.

2007 Fort Ross Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I know I haven't posted about wine in a while, but with a nursing wife and two little kids, there really isn't much time for wine right now. There isn't even time for sleep. However, today I give thanks for having such a wonderful family and I know that consuming great wines is just around the corner.

Take this fantastic Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. It is spectacular! Sourced directly from the Fort Ross Vineyard located just one mile from the Pacific Ocean and two miles southeast of the historic town of Fort Ross, this wine is absolutely stunning. As with my favorite Sonoma Coast Pinots, this is dense, deep and full-bodied. Just look at the color in the glass. Now swirl it a few times and what do you smell? Black currants, earth, mushroom, sage and cola.

In the mouth there is juicy black cherry, ripe raspberry, cola and subtle spice. Let's not forget the strawberries and those holiday cranberries we love to see on the table. There's even some minerality along with such a soft, round supple texture. It is a wonderful balance of finesse and power, all that this vineyard brings to the table - the Thanksgiving table, that is. So enjoy this with a beautiful carved bird this season.

95 points, Wine Enthusiast
August 2010
What a beautiful Pinot Noir for drinking now with lamb chops or maybe a rich, exotic Ahi tuna tartare. Brilliantly crisp in acidity, with a clean, bracing mouthfeel, it offers dazzlingly rich flavors of raspberries, cherries, orange zest, Dr. Pepper cola and Asian spices, with smoky oak adding elaborate tiers of vanilla char. For the price, it’s a very great buy. - S.H. (8/1/2010) - 95

91 points, Wine Spectator
June 2010
A rich, layered style, with firm, intense black cherry, plum and wild berry flavors that are full-bodied, intense and complex, ending with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2017. 2,728 cases made. –JL