Taste The Aromas

Kimberly Grasso

Man Vintners 2009 Chenin Blanc: Okay the holidays are over the sun is still taking it’s sweet time just to keep it’s face showing and I am anxious to be in the water, rowing that is. What’s a girl to do? Well to bring back a bit of summer how about a nice glass of Chenin Blanc? With that being said I pulled out the Man Vintners 2009 Chenin Blanc and although it wasn’t like being at the beach, the melon, fruit and guava aromas helped to bring a hint of summer to my nose. This wine was crisp, bold and sweet with a refreshing mineral acidity which is characteristic of the coastal vineyards. The Agter-Paarl region had ideal weather and the vines were pretty much stress-free and if you can imagine a stress-free grape makes for a stress-free glass! Versatile food wine to go with most poultry, fish and salads. Serve chilled
Cheers!

2006 Dry Creek Valley Redemption Zinfandel

Lee Barczak

It was a pleasure to enjoy a bottle of 2006 Dry Creek Valley Redemption Zinfandel the other day from Alexander Valley Vineyards. Wow! This is a real classic flavor burst of a very distinctive zinfandel. The color is intense and one cannot help but find this a visual treat. Then the nose…earthiness but in a very pleasant, welcoming style with a quick transition to burnt, bittersweet chocolate. So inviting it made me want to sip it immediately. The first was a combination of blackberry and spice. This had a nice finish that seemed to leave a trace of blueberry, but baked, like you taste in a pie. There was then a lingering trace of star anise and pepper. Can’t wait to have another bottle! This is part of a trio of Zins from the winemaker called Temptation, Sin and Redemption. I don’t care where you find yourself on that continuum, I don’t think you will be disappointed. Cincin!

Taste the Aromas

Kimberly Grasso

Purple Angel by Montes 2006: Every once in a while you get a scent of a wine that is really extraordinary, subtle and unique, and it usually happens when you least expect it. That is exactly what happened upon opening the 2006 Purple Angel by Montes. The aromas of ripe blackberry and black cherry had a secondary chocolate cake powder scent and then suddenly you get the black pepper and eucalyptus…wow! With all these wonderful aromas I couldn’t wait for the palate! The blend of 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot, provide sweet dark fruit, black licorice and raspberry combine with a hint of banana and spice. With 18 months in new French Oak, a smooth long chewy finish and soft tannins, this is nothing short of angelic!

Dave’s Faves

David Ferrie

We’re excited to announce the arrival of the Brancaia Tre Toscana; a Super Tuscan from Italy that scored 93 and ranked number 10 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100. Here’s what they had to say:

“There’s wonderful intensity of fruit in this wine, with crushed raspberry and blackberry and hints of coffee and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, soft-textured finish that shows loads of fruit. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best after 2010. 25,000 cases made.”

Take advantage of our two-glass minimum and try a bottle off the rack for yourself.

Dave’s Faves

David Ferrie

Shaw and Smith Adelaid Hills Shiraz ‘04: This is not your typical Australian Shiraz. Indeed, it seems to have more in common with the Northern Rhone of France. An explosion of wild red and black reaspberry starts the experience with hints of violet and green olive. The long finish is held by well integrated tannins and layers of dark fruit notes. This wine is truly a surprise! Pair it with red meat, the rarer, the better; roasted lamb would be good, too.

Taste The Aromas

Kimberly Grasso

Leese-Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon 2007: Happy New Year everyone, I hope one of your resolutions for 2010 was to pour and explore new wines and to expand your wine palate! To start things off let’s talk about a great value wine. Right as you open this wine the scent of leather takes over, and then suddenly you get the root-beer, then the black cherry and then back to the leather. No, it’s cedar! That’s it cedar, like the kind of smoky cedar that’s used in ceremony…well that’s another subject.

So let’s talk about the color. The deep ruby color is so vivid and immediately noticeable. The French Oak and layered sweet fruit brings a complexity to this wine, and oh that leather. Yep, we’re back to the leather. Finally the finish is smooth and silky with hints of marshmallow. All this at a great price, and if all this isn’t enough to get you to stop in at Kafevino for a glass, this wine received 94 points at the 2007 California State Fair Wine Tasting Competition. Cheers!

Dave’s Fave’s

David Ferrie

Mount Eden Chardonnay Cruz Mountains ‘06: Here’s another allocated wine we received which epitomizes the California Chardonnay. Wine Spectator went ecstatic and gave it a 96 point score. I demur: “Simply delicious, a rich, buttery style, with ripe, vivid and delicate peach, pear and honeydew melon fruit that’s complex, concentrated and full-bodied, offering excellent length and depth. Creamy oak adds a touch of smoke and vanilla. The texture is silky. Drink now through 2016.”

Pair this beauty with hearty chicken stock soups, Ementhaler cheese and lean ham or a simple French bread and extra virgin olive oil (that’s my favorite because I want the spotlight on the wine).

Taste The Aromas

Kimberly Grasso

Bodega Catena Malbec 2007: Usually it’s the aroma’s I write about first, and I’ll get to that with this Malbec, however the first thing I noticed was the lovely dark purple garnet color. Wow it really is lovely. Then as the wine opens you get the full fig, mocha and spice scents that just kept opening up. This Malbec has a polished style with serious weight and just keeps getting better with each glass. With 91 points in Wine Spectator this wine drinks nice now through 2011. Stop in at Kafevino for a bottle to keep and one to give. Cheers!