Jane's Weekly Wines from the Atlanta Wine School PRINT AND GO VERSION January 12th, 2006 Big Chill Reds *************************************************************************************** EDITOR'S NOTE TO SELLERS OF WINE: Since Nov 1st, 2005, we have been diligent in calling around to ensure your shop in fact carries a wine that we report. Beginning, February 1st, 2006, the retailers who "sponsor" our efforts will be provided the Weekly Wine Reviews TWO WEEKS prior to publishing, allowing them time to order & receive the wines for buyers. These will be the only retailers whom we direct buyers to in Georgia. *************************************************************************************** Pillar Box Red 2004 Padthaway, Australia Score: 87 Points Tasting Notes:Full-bodied dry red wine; medium deep dark cherry red. Aromas of black fruits with a prominent caraway note in it. Whiff of white pepper. Overall, a suggestion of dark fruitcake. A core of aromatic brown spice lifts the dark fruit flavors. Moderately long finish, with some green stem characters at the close. Second day: Intense raspberry aromas, better integration of fruit flavors; diminution of green stem characters. Bottom line: Decant several hours ahead of serving for maximum enjoyment. Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon; Shiraz; Merlot. Good value. Food Pairings: Casserole-type fare, such as Whole Foods' King Ranch casserole, lasagne, moussaka, pastitsio, beef-filled quesadillas, empanadas, Carolina-style barbecue, smoked beef brisket, black-pepper steak, barbecued meatloaf, grilled steak au poivre or with mild cheese sauce, such as not-too-ripe Brie or Montbriac, grilled chicken with black-bean salsa Price: $14 Wholesaler: Quality Wine & Spirits Where to Get: Widely available: Beverage Warehouse, Decatur Package, Jax (Cumming), Line Creek Liquor (GA74/54, Peachtree City), Mink's, Whole Foods (Buckhead, Briarcliff), Harry's (all), Savannah: Habersham (both), Wilmington Island Beverage, Macon: Vineville; Augusta: Harvard; Athens: Gosford ************************************************************************************ Coppola "Diamond Series" Black Label Claret 2003 California Score: 92 Tasting Notes: Full-bodied dry red wine, medium dark ruby red. Aromas of dark fruits, cassis, spice, and chocolate, with flavors the evoke sweet fleshy dark fruits, anointed with a bit of aromatic brown spice and chocolate. Round tannins. Complexity and a lingering finish, with nice acidity. Enjoy now or cellar at 55 degrees for a few years. Mostly (90%) Cabernet Sauvignon, but Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec all contribute. Cool room temperature, about 65 degrees, in large-bowled glasses. Third day: Still lovely. Food Pairings: Oil-cured black olives, black pepper-crusted liver pate, steak au poivre or with Gorgonzola cheese sauce, lamb curry (but not hot) with aromatic basmati rice, beef stroganoff, Whole Foods (Buckhead) "Mandarin" beef and King Ranch casserole; big, rich and dry aged (Parmesan, for instance) cheeses, dark chocolate Price: $18 Wholesaler: Empire Distributing Where to Get: At Candler Park Market, Romano's Marketplace (Peachtree City), Ingle's (Dacula Rd.), selected Krogers and Publix supermarkets (Roswell Rd., Hwy. 120, Caroline St., Dallas Hwy., Peachtree St., Cumming Hwy., Monroe, Crabapple Rd.,) Sprayberry Bottle Shop, Publix (Dawsonville Hwy., N. Decatur Rd., Sandy Plains, Johnson's Ferry Rd., Bullsboro Dr., Peachtree Rd., Henderson Mill, Hickory Flat Rd., Cumberland Pkwy., Barrett Pkwy., N. Cobb Pkwy., E. Atlanta Rd.). ************************************************************************************** Michael-David Vineyards "Incognito Rouge" 2003 Lodi, CA Score: 92 Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry red wine; medium dark cherry red. Initial aromas suggested some American oak, with a whiff of vanilla extract, but that soon blew off, leaving behind sweet cherry fruit. Ample fruit flavors, hinting at cherry pie, black currants, touch of black pepper. Flavors beautifully knit together. Balanced. How's this for fruit salad? Mourvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cinsault, Carignane,Tannat, and Pinot Noir, a blend of grapes from the Rhone, Madiran (southwestern France) and Burgundy. Hefty alcohol (14.5%!!, but the grapes handle it: Madness. Tasty madness. The lightest of this line-up, but also the one that will take on non-meat dishes. Be sure to serve at cool room temperatures, about 60-65 degrees. Food Pairings: Lighter winter dishes: Patak's smoked liverwurst; vegetable ragout with country ham; very mild chicken or lamb curry; grilled ham steak; roast chicken; veal rib chop or boneless turkey breast stuffed with Fontina cheese and prosciutto; grilled chicken sausages Price: $20 Wholesaler: Quality Wine & Spirits Where to Get: At Wine Corner (Terraces, Windward Pkwy., Alpharetta), Michael's Beer & Wine (Marietta); Paces Bottle Shop (Atlanta Rd.,/Paces Ferry Rd., Smyrna); Smoke Rise Bottle Shoppe (Stone Mountain), Milledgeville: Cork Shoppe (N. Columbia St.) Savannah: Fresh *************************************************************************************** Murphy-Goode "Wild Card" Claret 2002 Alexander Valley, CA Score: 88 Tasting Notes: Full-bodied dry red wine; medium deep purple red. Intriguing aromas of black fruits with a decided overlay of dried thyme; flavors reiterate, but don't really meld, the blackberry/dried thyme characters. Round tannins. Day 2: Much better integration of flavors, so be sure to decant well ahead of serving. Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Food Pairings: Bold-flavored foods: Salamis; richly flavored pates; Patak's smoked liverwurst (DeKalb Farmers Market); Whole Foods' (Buckhead) "Mandarin" beef; tamarind-rubbed braised short ribs; mild curry-accented braised lamb; grilled lamb or beef steak; roast duck with aromatic seasonings Price: $20 Wholesaler: Empire Distributing Where to Get: At Beverage Depot (both 2001 and 2002 vintages); The Wine Store, Newton Package (Covington, 2001), Sigman Bottle (Conyers) Restaurants: Winchester Woodfire Grill (Canton); Athens: Harry Bissett's ************************************************************************************ Astrale e Terra Arcturus 2001 Napa Valley, CA Score: 94 Tasting Notes: Big, huge, full-bodied dry red wine; deep red-edged dark purple. Aromas of fresh and dried dark fruits, a little touch of dried dark fig/raisin, nuances of black pepper and, in the flavors, all that plus a touch of dark chocolate. Substantial alcohol (14.2%) but the grapes carry it, so the wine has both power but also finesse. These are not mutually exclusive characters. Tannins are round, and the wine is very accessible. Very long finish. A serious tongue-stainer. Winery is located in the Atlas Peak appellation, at about 2,600 feet above sea level. Not a "fog" zone. Volcanic soils. Grapes: Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot --the Bordeaux boys. Food Pairings: Dry salami, such as rosette de Lyon; steak with Gorgonzola cheese drizzle, grilled lamb steak or chop or roasted rack of lamb, not bad with a mild lamb curry (but watch the heat), Italian pasta dishes with tomato sauces, beef Stroganoff, tamarind paste-rubbed braised beef short ribs, beef stews, slow-cooked bean stew, such as cassoulet (Cafe Alsace, Decatur) or fabada (from northwestern Spain). Price: $38 Wholesaler: Quality Wine & Spirits Where to Get: Have your retailer order from Wholesaler ************************************************************************************** Ferrari-Carano "Tresor" 2001 Alexander Valley, CA Score: 92 Tasting Notes: Big, full-bodied bold dry red wine; medium deep dark cherry red. Initial aromas of sweet dark fruit slowly acquire spice as the wine develops in the glass. Fresh dark fruits, blackbery, black plum, black currant (cassis) mingle with round tannins and good acidity. Powerful but nuanced, with a long acid-backed fruit finish. Potential keeper over three to five years, if cellared properly. Day 2 tasted like freshly opened. Get the good glasses for this one. Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot--the Bordeaux line-up. Food Pairings: Prefers uncomplicated flavors: Patak's smoked liverwurst; grilled lamb steak, roast duck, grilled steak with a brie cheese drizzle or Gorgonzola cheese sauce, beef Stroganoff on noodles, grilled portobello mushroom Price: $50 Wholesaler: Georgia Crown Where to Get: At Duluth Package (Peachtree Industrial/GA 120, Duluth); Merchant's Package (Marietta); World Beverage (Pleasant Hill/McClure Bridge Rd., Duluth); Augusta: Harvard's; OK Wine & Spirits (Martinez). Lots of steak houses: Capital Grille (by the glass and bottle); McKendrick's Steak House (bottle and glass); Ray's Killer Creek; Ruth's Chris (Downtown), Stoney River Legendary Steaks--Duluth (by the glass and bottle); Augusta: Calvert's (glass and bottle); Other restaurants: Atlanta area: Sia's (Duluth); Athens: Harry Bissett's--great price, too!