Folie a Deux Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Today's wine is a great value in Napa Cab. Coming from Folie a Deux, the same people responsible for the Menage a Trois line, this wine has blown me away. The wine pours a great deep purple and exhibits strong black currant, raspberry and a hint of vanilla on the nose. The flavor is HUGE, lots of blackberry, raspberry again and plum. This is still kind of tight and may need some bottle age to really begin to express its beauty, but I feel for around $20 there isn't a better Napa Cab. Overall a powerful wine with great balance and absolutely has a few years to improve.

2006 Alto Almanzora Este

Today I want to share with you a phenomenal value from Spain. With so many of our 'value' offerings coming from Spain these days it can be hard to find a wine that really stands out and keeps you wanting more. The 2006 Este is definitely a wine that over delivers at around $8 and is on par with the previous vintages that have been similar hidden gems. A blend of mostly Monastrell and Tempranillo, Este pours a nice rich red and exhibits bright red fruit and a hint of spice on the nose. Once you drink it you'll taste strawberry, blackberry and hints of toffee. The finish is much longer than expected. This wine would be great with burgers, blue cheese, chicken wings, or roasted peppers. Overall, this wine is just a great every day wine in which you get much more than you paid for. What do you think of it?

Kosher for Passover! Yarden Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Alright everyone, in honor of the first night of Passover I want to bring to you a fantastic wine that is also Kosher for Passover. This offering comes from Yarden and is grown in Israel. While many of you may associate Kosher wines with Mogen David and Manischewitz you've had (or heard of) in the past, this wine is exceptional for a Sauvignon Blanc in its own right. It pours a beautiful golden straw color with simple tropical flavors and a citrus punch on the nose. The flavor is slightly herbal followed by grapefruit with hints of vanilla and a bright acidity leading to a long, complex finish. This wine is perfect for a seder that would include gefitla fish or any other light fare. Bring this wine to any occasion and it will be a hit!

Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Today I want to share with you a wine from Joel Gott. Click the video on above to get a sense of who he is and how he makes his wine. Like all of his wines, the 2007 815 Cabernet Sauvignon is meant to be enjoyed now. Named for his daughter's birthday, this is a wine I've tasted twice recently and loved both times. It defiantly needs a little time to really open up but once it does, it pours a fairly dark color, not inky but still great depth with very nice red fruit on the nose. Its full bodied but not HUGE and shows plum and ripe berry on the palate. The tannin is full and well balanced leading to a long lingering finish. This is a fantastic wine made that would be great with steak or enjoyed alone with friends. Try it out, you wont be disappointed!

Boegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2007

The offering today is a Spanish wine from the region of Campo de Borja. Located in the northeast of Spain in a transition area between plains and mountains, the microclimate created is perfect for producing complex wines. The wine I want to share with you is Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha. Made from 100% grenache from vines 30 - 40 years old, the vineyard produces less than four and a half tons per acre, which combine to make a incredibly rich and interesting wine. It pours a deep inky purple into the glass with a huge nose of red fruit, cherry and a hint of flowers. When you drink it you'll be blown away by the body and the intense flavors of raspberry, vanilla and a dash of oak. The finish is well balanced and long with nice velvety tannin. This is a great wine and the vintage won't be available long, however each year this wine seems to over deliver. Great with grilled food, hearty meals or all on its own, pick it up now!

Man Vintners Chenin Blanc

Today's offering is from Man Vintners in South Africa. With the World Cup in South Africa this summer, I've really seen an increase in sales from there and expect it to continue. Helping this is the way the wines are becoming "cleaner" and less earthy. The first South African wines I tasted were quite mossy and had a taste I called "elephanty". This Chenin Blanc from Man Vintners is the exact opposite, with nice melon and tropical fruit on the nose this wine makes you think of warmer places and times. On the palate it is crisp with a hint of sweetness on the front end and great pear and tropical flavors. The acidity also provides a great compliment to food, particularly spicy food. Grab any offering from Man and you'll be happy you did!

Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Today's selection is from the Michael Pozzan Winery. They produce a few different lines of wines in a bunch of different price points. The middle brand is Annabella. While all of their wines are incredibly easy to drink, this line provides very complex wines that are also 'every day' wines. The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Napa fruit which is incredible for a wine at this price. It has great blackberry and cherry on the nose and the addition of black currant on the palate. All this fruit is balanced by a subtle earthiness and a hint of oak. Aged for 13 months in French and American oak this wine should last a few years in the bottle. This is my pick for those wine drinkers who like 14 Hands but want something a little different. Look for the rest of the Michael Pozzan wines to be reviewed soon, and pick up the Annabella Cab to enjoy today!

More white wine...

Today I want to share with you Bodegas Pirineos Mesache Blanco 2006. The winery is loacated in the Somontano D.O. in Huesca Spain and has optimal natural conditions for perfectly ripe grapes. This interesting blend of late harvest Macabeo, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay still jumps out of the glass. It pours a golden straw color and has green apple and tropical aromas on the nose. A perfect wine for light food, it has beautiful citrus and apple on the palate and a refreshing acidity leading to a really long finish. This is another great summer wine (I can pretend its coming soon right?) that's a phenomenal value. Give it a try.

Warm days call for white wine!

With nice weather here in Kalamazoo, I thought today would be a great day to bring you a favorite white of mine. The wine is Sirius White Bordeaux 2007. Its a blend of 75% sauvignon blanc and 25% semillion thats been aged in new oak. Made by Maison Sichel, a Chateau, negociant and producer that has been in operation since 1883, this wine definitely shows the care they use in all of their wines. Even with some bottle age on it, this wine jumps out of the glass. The standard grapefruit from the sauvginon blanc comes through complimented with beautiful floral notes. On the palate this wine displays great tropical flavors, a hint of grass and a burst of sweet on the finish from the semillion. This wine has great acidity that screams for food and a body that could stand up to a serious meal. I love this wine for everyday drinking and even for special occasions, its just a great value. What's your favorite white? What would you like to see reviewed next?

Lets start with a favorite!

Today I want to share with you one of my favorite producers, Maison M. Chapoutier. A world renowned winery and negociant, Chapoutier is most well known for its higher end Rhone valley wines and their distinctive use of braille on all of their labels. I have had the opportunity to taste a few of their wines and have a few set aside for a later date (which I'll share as soon as I decide to open). Today's selections is from the Cotes du Roussillon region in the south of France. The wine is called Bila Haut and is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. While this wine has received lots of press, it was in Wine Spectator's top 100 of 2009, I feel it is still an incredible value. It pours a deep garnet and opens with a great nose of cherry, raspberry and fig. After a few minutes in the glass this wine just jumps out and I love the smell. Once you take a drink you'll taste chocolate covered raspberries with a big slightly smokey finish. For a wine in this price point it really over delivers on the finish, it lasts for quite a while. This wine has become my favorite for a few months now and I truly recommend it for anyone who enjoys red wine. Have you tried this wine? What did you think?

Welcome!

Hello! My name is Dean and I manage my family's specialty store in Kalamazoo, MI. This will be my space to share with you my thoughts on wine, spirits, food and life. I hope to update at least weekly with a round up of new wines I've tried and find noteworthy. I would love feedback and suggestions for wines to try or anything else.