Corison Cabernet 2016

 

On a recent trip to Mount Dora to dine at 1921 we took this bottle to enjoy with dinner.  If you like to know about our dinner check out this site, Eating Around Central Florida.

This wine is made by one of the first woman winemakers in California Cathy Corison.  In 1987, Cathy Corison began to purchase great Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from prime benchland vineyards between Rutherford and St. Helena, intent on making powerful and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks of place.  In 1995, with the purchase of Kronos Vineyard, a property that had been a farm for over a century, there was finally an estate vineyard and a place to build a winery. In the spring of 1999 we broke ground to build our stately Victorian-style winery barn, designed by Cathy’s husband, William Martin.

The wine was wonderful.  The nose is classic, a blend of black cherries, sweet dark berries, Cuban cigar wrapper, Rutherford dust, a faint hint of cedary oak and just a hint of eucalyptus. On the palate the wine is with a gorgeous core of fruit, ripe, buried tannins and excellent length and grip on the balanced finish. This is stunning juice!!

Not sure if you can find the 2016 but I’m pretty sure Two Old Hags can get the current release.

This is truly a treat.

 

Cheers,

 

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg.  Unless otherwise noted

Tor Chardonnay

 

On a recent trip to Mount Dora’s 1921 we found the extraordinary wine on the list.  It was listed for a steal so we decided to splurge and have a truly wonderful bottle of Chardonnay.  And it didn’t disappoint!

TOR is a project of Tor and Susan Kenward,

The main focus of Tor is vineyards.  They want to put the vineyard in a bottle and man they did on this 2019 Carneros Chardonnay.  The color was the first thing you notice lemon-yellow and beautiful. Then the nose concentrated aromas of apricots, dried pineapple, toasted almonds and smoke, followed by salted caramel what a joy to inhale over this glass. This wine comes from two main vineyards Hyde and Beresini vineyards in Carneros. Kind of Burgundian in a very cool way.

Super bottle of wine.  I doubt if you can find this anywhere but at this restaurant but it’s worth the trip to 1921 to get it.  Also if you want to know about our trip to 1921 here is what I thought about the place.  Eating Around Central Florida.

I am sure Two Old Hags can get the current vintage for you.

What a night, this is one of those wines where we give my friend toast. “May we never drink worst together”

Cheers,

 

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg.  Unless otherwise noted

Varvara Bolgheri DOC

 

A little Bolgheri history.  First mentioned in 1075, in a papal bull by Pope Gregory VII, its name derives from Bulgari (Italian for "Bulgarians"), due to the presence of a military camp of Bulgarians, allies of the Lombards.  Bolgheri lies in the foothills of the Colline Metallifere, south of Bibbona.

Bolgheri DOC

The current set of DOC regulations for Bolgheri red wines became approved in 1994. Before the creation of this DOC, the "Super Tuscans" from the area were typically sold under the simpler designations Vino da tavola or IGT Toscana.

The appellation rules determine that in Bolgheri Rosso and Bolgheri Rosé, Sangiovese may be utilized only to a degree of 70%, and in excess of this a wine must be classified IGT. Cabernet Sauvignon from 10 to 80%, Merlot, up to 80% and other local red varieties, up to 30%. Rosso must be aged for 24 months.

Ok, now let’s talk about this amazing wine!

Varvara Bolgheri The cellar, built in 1796, is located in the middle of the town of Bolgheri.  The origin of the cellar is rooted in the ancient story of the della Gherardesca family. Since the mid-nineties Federico Zileri Dal Verme has taken over the family tradition, with the goal to produce wines that represent the highest expression of Bolgheri's terroir, in terms of complexity, elegance and longevity.

Against the backdrop of a 16th century Tuscan castle sits a quiet vineyard. The grapes grown here make the Castello di Bolgheri wines, part of the Super Tuscan collection.

These reds began their ascent post WWII, when marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta first planted hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc on Italy’s northern coast. In 1994, the reds of this region, known for their intense ruby color and great aging potential, earned DOC certification. A year later, a consortium was formed to protect Bolgheri DOC wines.

The wines of Castello di Bolgheri are a selection of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot from the best DOC vineyards surrounding the castle. The Bolgheri castle, still owned by the same family, is situated between the world-famous Ornellaia and Sassicaia wineries.

The wine remains in contact with skins for 25 to 30 days before being stored for 20 months in a castle cellar dating back to the latter 1700s. This meticulous attention to wine production is why Castello di Bolgheri consistently earns rave reviews from wine judges around the world

This wine you can begin to smell right as the cork is pulled!  Dark purple in the glass, the aroma simply takes over Blackberry, Spice, Oak, and Leather.

Then you take that first sip. It has full body, with medium acidity. On the savory and slightly fruity palate, velvety tannins support blackberry jam, plum, black currant, black cherry, tobacco, star anise, clove, and nutmeg flavors with just hints of black licorice and oak. 

This is one of the best wines I’ve had in 5 years!  Buy this one for sure.

Cost was  $45.00

 

Cheers,

The Village Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg.  Unless otherwise noted

2018 Zinfandel Old Vine Contra Costa County

 

This wine is made by a guy named Matt Cline.  He is a savant as far as winemaking goes.  And the terroir he grows his wine in is so special you won’t believe it.

First a little about Matt; Matt's winemaking career began in 1982 helping his brother at his Oakley winery; in 1985 he began as winemaker and creative director at Cline Cellars. In addition to his position at Cline in 1986 he joined Conn Creek as the assistant winemaker which lasted through 1989. Over the course of his 16-year career at Cline, Matt was responsible for branding Cline Cellars' unique style of winemaking.  Matt continues to focus on the historical California varietals (Carignane, Mataro, and Zinfandel), specifically in Contra Costa County. These vineyards and varietals represent the last maps of what the California wine industry was trying to do prior to prohibition in the 1920s. Matt values the advancement of a diverse and copious number of varietals, as he pushes to move away from the singular varietal trend that is both unsustainable and not historically accurate. To Matt and thousands of years of winemakers before him, blending varietals and finding a perfect balance between the grapes, is what winemaking is all about.  What a cool guy, huh?

With an average vine age of over 125 years, growing in a low vigor soil type, and combined with dry farming, results in smaller cluster and berry size. This Old Vines Zinfandel is sourced from, not just old vines, but ancient vines. This wine is a blend of 75.1% Zinfandel, 12.0% Petite Sirah, 9.3% Carignane, and 3.6% Alicante Bouschet.  Each grape contributes to the total finished wine in a particular way.  According to Matt here are the players in this wine  The 2018 OV Zinfandel shows a concentration of ripe blackberries and other red fruits, spice, with a minerality (dusty-berry) sneaking through. The Alicante Bouschet & Petite Sirah adds a lot of color, a firm tannin backbone, along with boysenberries and pepper, while the Carignane adds a pronounced fleshy mouth feel along with dark cherries and coffee notes. Overall, his blend has complex phenolic structures that enhance the overall mouth feel and age ability of this wine. Enjoy now or cellar in a cool location for 5-7 years or more. 

My take, the wine is a beautiful dark to the edge purple hue.  The nose jumps black pepper, Black fruit, with a hint of baking spices.  The mouth feel is very complex and large.  This is a mouth full of wine.  Lots of berries, cherries, coffee, nice aggressive tannins which really make the finish of the wine special.  A wonderful glass of wine, share this one with friends and family for sure.  You will be the hit of the night.

Not bad on the wallet either cost is $21.00

 

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

Manzanita Creek Rocky Ridge Vineyard 2016

 

This wine was shared with me by my sister and brother in law during dinner.  It was so impressive I had to put it up just in case you might be able to get your hands on a bottle.  Let it be said here that I am a huge fan of Great Zinfandels with a little age on them.  I know most zins are drunk right away.  But I have found that if laid down a bit they really start to express themselves like other great varietals.  This wine is one of those.

I searched this wine and found the winery website.  Here is what they say about their winemaking philosophy.

Ourphilosophy  is simple, start out with the best grapes we can find.

The majority of our grapes come from independent growers that are known for their love of what they do, they share our vision to produce the best. Our winemaking practices are bent on quality, fanatical some say...we're not driven by the bottom line. We employ modern as well as ancient techniques in our winemaking, and grape growing. We sort of wear blinders; we don't pay attention to what everybody else is doing. We have noticed a pattern over the years, a large number of wineries and grape growers are affected by what others do and say...the latest trend, the hottest varietal, the newest process.

Winemaking is primarily the same as it was since before the birth of Christ...it's an organic process, totally natural. It's the winemakers perception of quality that makes the difference, it's our definition of what tastes good, same as yours — that's what matters in the end. Put our wines to the test and see if we're good enough to be your winemakers. 

Rocky Ridge is an all Zinfandel property of the well-regarded Mauritson family. Biale sources from this vineyard and its retail price puts it in a league with other high end Sonoma vintners, Gamba for example.  If you don’t recognize these names they are among the finest zinfandel producers in all of California. 

The blend here is 97% zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah, 1% Carignane

I’d recommend letting  this powerful wine open for, at least, 2 hours. This Manzanita Creek offering expresses the Rockpile AVA nicely. Lovely medium crimson color.  A highly aromatic blackberry, blueberry core vanilla from the oak and appealing spiciness typical of Rockpile, black pepper, clove, nutmeg. Deliciously complex on the palate with black fruits and spices, a smooth medium/full mouth feel, soft acidity and little tannin with a nice balance of fruit and acidity in the long finish.

I searched for this wine.  Here is what I found.  On the Winerywebsite it’s $65.

This is well worth the search.  Happy Hunting!!

 Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

This wine was brought by my sister and shared with dinner.  You can surely ask Two Old Hags if they can get it.

Bodegas Izadi, Rioja Reserva

 

Located in Rioja Alavesa, Izadi aims to produce wines that express the terruño  (read Terroir or vineyards) of vineyards close to the Sierra de Cantabria solely from varieties indigenous to Rioja. They own 72 hectares and have access to another 108 hectares through long-term contracts. All are located within a triangle formed by Villabuena, Samaniego, and Ábalos – hence the triangle on their labels.

Stylistically, they adhere to a middle ground between tradition and modernism, valuing the former’s elegance to the latter’s fruit-forward qualities. The Antón Family founded Izadi in 1987 after years of managing vineyards in Villabuena de Alaba and restaurants in Vitoria.

Izadi’s Rioja Reserva comes from 100% older-vine Tempranillo that thrives in the chalky, clay-limestone soils and in a microclimate influenced both by elevation and the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. This provides the raw materials to craft a Rioja Reserva that retains a modern expression of fruit and sweet tannins on release but with the complexity to develop for decades.

FERMENTATION Hand harvested, destemmed and lightly crushed, natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks

AGING 16 months in American (73%) and French (27%) barrels, 20% new, vegan

This is a beauty in the glass Garnet deep into the glass and a nice glycerin edge around the rim of the wine.  Nose is really cool.  Earthy, loam hen a strange thing my wife and I both smelled Bazooka bubble gum kinda sweet!  First taste is a bit pithy but in a good tannic kind of way then the fruitiness take over with red raspberries being forward. Very smooth and balanced finish.  Very well put together wine.  I can see why James Suckling has given this wine low 90’s the last three vintages.

Cost  $28.00

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg, unless otherwise stated

Bodegas Hermanos Pérez Pascuas, Ribera del Duero El Pedrosal Crianza

 

Viña Pedrosa’s story begins with Mauro Pérez and the lands that he loved and worked on throughout his life. He was a hard-working and innately intelligent man who taught his children to respect the land and take pride in their work. Today, the winery is on the vineyards that he left his family, in Pedrosa de Duero in the Spanish province of Burgos.

Believing deeply in the huge potential of the family vineyard, in 1980 the Pérez Pascuas siblings decided to found their own winery, pursuing their dream of making top quality wines and keeping the long tradition of winemaking alive.

Viña Pedrosa is now a robust and world-renowned venture involving two generations of enthusiastic wine connoisseurs who give their all to achieving the Bodegas Hnos. Pérez Pascuas goal: transforming the fruits of the earth into the best possible wine.

Now let’s talk about the levels of Rioja. And what the rules are for each category.

Rioja has a wine control board, called the Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja, who inspects the quality of producers to ensure consistency. There are 4 different main styles of Rioja wine.

Rioja used to be called “vin joven” which literally means “young wine.” Now when a wine is labeled Rioja you can assume it’s a base-model Tempranillo. These wines don’t have the tannin structure or oak flavors that are common in the higher end wines. What they don’t have in structure they make up for in zippy fruit. Try this level of Rioja as a great example of the true varietal characteristics of Tempranillo wine.

Crianza

A minimum of one year in casks and a few months in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum cask aging period is 6 months. At the Crianza level, the wines are most commonly aged in used oak, so the oak flavors are not as strong. The goal of Crianza is a high-quality daily drinking wine. It’s not too rich, but with Tempranillo’s natural high tannin it has quite a bit more body than Merlot. It’s like a great valued Cabernet Sauvignon.

Reserva

Selected Red wines of the best vintages with an excellent potential that have been aged for a minimum of 3 years, with at least one year in casks. This is where Rioja tastes serious. At the Reserva level, winemakers often age their wines longer than the minimum and select better grapes. Many Rioja wine enthusiasts swear by Reserva level because they are a medium between super fruity Crianza and oakey-bottle-aged Gran Reserva.

Gran Reserva

Selected wines from exceptional vintages which have spent at least 2 years in oak casks and 3 years in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum aging period is 4 years, with at least one year in casks. The Gran Reserva level of Rioja experiences the most oak-aging. This gives Rioja wine the most tannin structure and age-worthy potential. What’s interesting about Gran Reserva is that most winemakers select the best grapes for this level and age them for as long as the wine needs. This means most of the new release Gran Reservas are around 10 years old or older when you first see them available.

 

Now you know all about Rioja! Let’s get to this wine.

California Cabernet fans looking to discover Old World wines should look no further than Ribera del Duero, just north of Madrid. Here you'll find Tempranillo, locally known as Tinto Fino. The intense dark fruit of the El Pedrosal is smoothed by American and French oak for 12 months, imparting notes of mocha and vanilla.  The wine is beautiful in the glass.  Deep garnet in the glass.  The aroma’s simply jump out of the glass cherry, dill, cloves, leather just a joy to breath in.  Then you taste; so smooth violets cherries tannins to finish. This one it would be easy to drink the entire bottle!

Cost $28.99

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg.  Unless otherwise noted

Obsidian Ridge, Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Estate Red Hills Lake County

 

Founded in 2003, by Arpad Molnar, Peter Molnar and Michael Terrien, Tricycle Wine Company is the parent company behind two boutique wine brands – Poseidon Vineyard and Obsidian Ridge. Tricycle is unique in the wine industry in that it controls the quality of its grapes from soil-to-crush and the quality of its oak from forest-to-coopering. They import oak barrels from the Budapesti Kadar Cooperage in Tokaj, Hungary. In addition to his vineyard management duties, Peter Molnar is in charge of production at Budapesti Kadar. Alex Beloz, the winemaker, moved to California after working in Bordeaux, New Zealand and Chile.

Twenty years ago, they planted a vineyard on an old abandoned walnut orchard, 2460 feet high in the Mayacamas Mountains. They soon discovered that they were farming on a volcano, on a ridge of solid black Obsidian glass. Today, the extreme climate, altitude, and volcanics result in a wine like no other..

Since then, they have dedicated two decades to learning what makes volcanic wines unique and what is possible in this harsh environment. They learned that these wines are prized for their aromatics, acidity, and structure. They built a team of iconoclasts—each experts in their own craft—who share a strong ethos. They gained a better understanding of climate, soil, viticulture, winemaking, and hospitality.

In 2023, they mark the 50th anniversary of experience growing grapes, a tradition passed from their father who fled his native Hungary in 1956. They are the second generation building upon the work of the first, who planted our seaside Poseidon Vineyard in 1973. They returned to Hungary in 1992 to establish a cooperage in the Tokaj forest–today our wines are 100% estate, made and aged in their  Hungarian Oak barrels.

Obsidian wines are the only Cabernet Sauvignons in California (perhaps the world) aged in 100% Hungarian oak barrels. Their source forest in Tokaj is planted to the same oak species used in France, Quercus Petraea, however the trees grow more slowly due to the volcanic soils, resulting in 30% higher density of the wood. These super-tight-grain barrels are low in vanillan and relatively high in eugenol, which tends to emphasize herbal and spice components, and are toasted slowly at low temperatures to avoid imparting overt toasty notes.

What is Obsidian rock?

From Wikipedia 

Obsidian (/əbˈsɪdi.ən, ɒb-/) is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed when lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth. It is an igneous rock.

Obsidian is produced from felsic lava, rich in the lighter elements such as silicon, oxygen, aluminum, sodium, and potassium. It is commonly found within the margins of rhyolitic lava flows known as obsidian flows. These flows have a high content of silica, granting them a high viscosity. The high viscosity inhibits diffusion of atoms through the lava, which inhibits the first step (nucleation) in the formation of mineral crystals. Together with rapid cooling, this results in a natural glass forming from the lava.

Obsidian is hard, brittle, and amorphous; it therefore fractures with sharp edges. In the past, it was used to manufacture cutting and piercing tools, and it has been used experimentally as surgical scalpel blades.

Wow that’s a mouth full for sure, but now you know.

OK now about the wine. The blend is different for sure it consists of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Malbec 3% Petite Sirah 2% Petit Verdot 2% Syrah.  Estate Cabernet is the signature wine of Obsidian Ridge Vineyard and embodies the complexity and wildness of the site. The structure and intensity of upper blocks is complemented by aromatics and acidity of cooler blocks. The extreme climate, altitude, and volcanics of the site result a wine with distinct volcanic character—intense color, aroma and flavor, with a freshness and minerality that typifies the site.

Nice dark hue of purple in the glass.  Aromas of  red cherries, cinnamon and spice. Flavors of plum, woven with dried oregano, are supported by a rich texture of fine, leathery tannins. Notes of star anise, cinnamon, and orange and a bit of pecan pit on the very end.  A lovely balance of everything you love in mountain California Cabernet.

Cost is $49.99 

 

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg.  Unless otherwise noted

Matias Russian River Pinot Noir

 

Matias was founded in 2008, by Brack Mountain Wine Company and is a next generation winery focused on producing hand-crafted, premium wines sourced from the best growers, offered at a fair price. The winery is located in Sebastopol, California

As a next generation wine company, they literally think about “the next generation”. Simply put, they want to leave the earth in better shape than how they found it. So at Brack Mountain Wine Company, sustainability is more than a “nice to have”...it’s a business imperative. They are committed to sustainable practices‐‐ whether in the vineyard, at the winery, in the office or on the road.

A little about the wine maker; Dan  Fitzgerald

There is a new generation of talented winemakers emerging in California, and Dan Fitzgerald is one to watch. A Northern California native, Dan lived in Europe for 13 years, which helps explain his keen interest in both Old and New World winemaking techniques.

Dan’s winemaking career began in 2002, just a few miles from Brack Mountain's Enos Vineyards, working harvest in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County. Not content to wait until the next California harvest, Dan worked two hemispheres for 3 years; doing back-to-back harvests at Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley of Australia, Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley, then back down under to Coldstream Hills as a leader for the 2004 vintage team. With four harvests under his belt, Dan enrolled in one of the premier Enology programs in the US, at CSU Fresno, graduating in 2007.

Dan worked at Williams-Selyem for the 2007 harvest and joined Pellegrini Family Vineyards, where he was head winemaker until coming to Brack Mountain Wine Company as a Partner to lead the winemaking.

Matias Russian River Pinot Noir

To say this is an over achiever would be the biggest understatement of the year.  Take a look at the vineyards Matias is sourced from here is a brief list

•AMARAL RANCH •ROBERT'S ROAD •KISER •LAKEVILLE VINEYARD

These are rockstar vineyards all planted pre 1990!  So the fruit for this wine has some high pedigree for sure. 

When I'm considering purchasing a Russian River Pinot,  I look for wines that have some "meat on the bone" along with richer, plusher, and more luxurious aromas and flavors. That is exactly what you get here, but you typically have to spend $50+ to get it.

It pours a deep ruby color and exudes classic scents of ripe cherry, raspberry preserves, clove, vanilla, and allspice. Equally attractive, the palate is lush, silky, long, and satisfying. All you have to do is look at the above vineyard sourcing list and see why this wine is amazing.  They do not breakdown the sites on the label but we know where they get a lot of the grapes from.  This is a killer Pinot Noir

This one costs $32.99 and by the taste should be $50!   I won’t tell if you don’t!

 

Cheers,

 

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg.  Unless otherwise noted

Melka Paderewski Vineyard Majestique Paso Robles

 

 

Well what a find here.  In case you didn’t know Philip Melka is the leading winemaking consultant in Napa right now.  Everything he touched turns into a 95+ rating.  He was born in Bordeaux.  He studied geology, advancing toward a Masters in Agronomy and Enology at the University of Bordeaux.  His first jobs in the USA were with Dominus and Ridge.  Then in 1995 he founded his consulting company and worked with such great wines as Lail Vineyards, Seavey Vineyard, and Constant Diamond Mountain.  Then he decided to make his own wines in 1996 and they say the rest say is history. 

As a sidebar here all of the labels have only his eyes staring back at you.  But the color of the eyes changes on every different bottle.  I have emailed the winery to see if there is a reason and will report back if they answer. 

Well I found this bottle and had to try it.  It Christmas time so what the heck right.  I can’t leave all my money to my son!  More on that below.

Let’s talk about the fabulous glass of wine.  The wine is from Paso Robles one of my favorite areas.  This one a Rhone Blend 42% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 28% Mourvedre, 18% Whole Cluster

As I have stated here before I love Rhone wines!  This one is very special for sure.

The color deep dark purple. The nose is so creamy it’s very unusual for sure.  Then it turns to soft flowers like Violets or Lilacs. Then the berries take over mostly red raspberries, strawberries. The nose is just amazing.  I could smell this wine all evening.  Then the first taste; so smooth, with balanced tannins, nice spice and great finesse over all. The finish is all over your month.  It leaves you really wanting the next sip.  This is simply a killer wine. 

 

As  I said above this on is a date night wine for sure.  But if you partner loves great wine you will really impress them with this jewel.  I know mine was blown away.  Expect to pay about $70.  I got mine for $67.99.  Well worth the splurge for the experience for sure.  

 

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg.  Unless otherwise noted. 

Domaine Gerard Tremblay Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 2020

 

The French have a saying about the different levels of Chablis.

“Petit Chablis is for drinking with strangers, Chablis you open when friends come round, Premier Cru is for when you have family and Grand Cru is for you to share with just your partner… or when they have gone to bed.”

Chablis is all about purity and simplicity after all – one region, one grape and, by and large, some general rules on Vinification that do not differ nearly as much between winemakers as other, more diverse, wine regions, but by and large the main distinctions begin and end in the vineyard; the differences in Chablis are all about soil and slope.

This is, after all, a chilly part of France that we are talking about, that has harsh winters, can too often see frost in April and hail at all times. To give you an idea of how harsh the weather can be – between 1950 and 1960 Chablis had just three harvests, and one side of the most premium Grand Cru slope was a ski run!!

So now you know!  Today we are drinking a Premier Cru from Domaine Temblay 2022.

A 5 generation family estate, but Gerard Tremblay took over the Domaine when it was only 30 acres, and now it 100 acres as it is now, with 30 acres of first crus. Gerard has really taken the family’s reputation to a whole new level in a short time. His emphasis is on the vineyards and classical winemaking that allows the terroir and the grapes to express themselves through the wine.

The color is a slight green tinge in the glass. Cool notes on the nose and palate - just a hint of lanolin and some green apple characters. Plenty of concentration on the palate though with acidity and a fine stony finish adding lots of drive and complexity. A classy and distinctive Fourchaume.  This is Chardonnay at its finest.  I love Burgundy wines and this one doesn’t disappoint for sure.

This wine was $55

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg.  Unless otherwise noted

Javi Revert Sensal

 

Saw this wine and had to give it a try.  The label was what really intrigued me.  Then I looked into the wine/winery.

Javi Revert makes his home in Valencia Spain, which is located in the on the eastern coast about mid-way down the east coast. 

Javier Revert is a young, enthusiastic, traditionalist winemaker at Celler del Roure. He uses indigenous varieties and yeasts, whole clusters, stone lagars, and aging in amphorae were made easy because all these things were present at this traditional estate.

While visiting his grandfather in 2014, Javi mentioned his work in recovering old vines of indigenous varieties for Celler del Roure. His grandfather mentioned that just such a vineyard existed near the village – one Javi’s great-grandfather planted in 1948. Named Pla del Micalet, this north-facing, terraced site is surrounded by forest and scrubland at an elevation of 710-730m with poor sandy and chalky soils, resembling the albariza of Jerez.  Exposed to the wind, sheltered from the heat of the day, and quickly cooling at night, Javi can harvest up to a month after his neighbors only a few kilometers away on the valley floor, yet his wines are lower in alcohol and higher in acidity. Farming is strictly organic but not currently certified. His vineyard work is manual, including harvest. Fermentations are with indigenous yeasts and entirely in neutral vessels – seasoned French oak, demi-johns, or amphorae. The reds have varying amounts of whole clusters depending on the vintage and variety.

Javi is truly an up and coming star in the Spanish wine making industry.  With his family traditions and history the future of the winery is in great hands.

This wine is a master piece!  Made from a blend of Monastrell, Bonicaire, Arcos and Garnacha. The wine is deep and bold.  The color deep purple with a slight glycerin edge, the nose of Blackberry, Black Pepper, Cocoa, and Tobacco.  Take the first sip and wow the fruit is front and center then the other elements of Cocoa and black pepper show up.  All cleaned up by a beautifully blanket of acidity. 

Now this one isn’t cheap for sure but if you’re feeling like a splurge pick this up.  I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Cost $46.00

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg unless otherwise noted

 

Noah River Pinot Noir

 

*

Ok I love this wine!!  It cost $20.  It so over delivers for the price.  This wine drinks well north of $25.00.

The wine is made by a guy named Jamie Whetstone.  A true wine country guy.  Wild Crazy and super talented.

 Jamey Whetstone was born and raised in South Carolina, and lived in Charleston before moving out to Napa in 1996. “I bused tables and washed dishes at my grandmother Marguerite’s restaurant in Georgetown, SC during the summers beginning at age 10. She taught me the importance of Southern Hospitality and the art of being present”

Once in Napa, he found himself captivated by the community, lifestyle, and culture of wine country, and quickly began to grow roots. By 1998, he had begun his winemaking education at Turley Wine Cellars, where he would remain in his apprenticeship until 2005.

During that time, he spent a summer sabbatical working for the Seysses family at Domaine Dujac in Morey-Saint-Denis. “Christophe Morin & Jacques Seyssess gave me a crash course in farming Pinot Noir in Burgundy, and the importance of family. Jacques once said to me ‘If it comes down to making 1000 less cases of wine in exchange for being at all your kids' games – do that.’”

“My first job and lucky break in the wine industry was driving a tractor and pruning old vine zinfandel for Larry Turley. Under the direction of Ehren Jordan (Failla Wines), I garnered a ground level education in farming along with a few life lessons

The Noah River brand has 3 wines, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet.  All are over deliverers for sure.  The wife loved the Chardonnay and the sister loves the Cabernet.

The pinot is simply a great drinking wine.  Works with food, works with app.s, works all on its own.  Solid garnet color in the glass.  Nose of ripe berries, cola, a little earth.  In the mouth full and balanced.  Fruity yet not sweet a hard task.  Smooth and so drinkable.

 

Buy his one by the case!!!!

Cost $20

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

* The wine tasted and reviewed was a 2021.  The label above shows 2018

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg unless otherwise noted

 

Building Bridges Rogue Valley Tempranillo

 

This wine is a Naked Wines selection.  My sister and her husband shared this wine with us at dinner the other night. 

First a little bit about the winemaker Scott Steingraber. 

After having a wine moment with an Oregon Cabernet Sauvignon, Scott and his family went all in in 2006 – never looking back – buying a ranch in Rogue Valley where they planted vineyards from scratch. Scott’s made wine from different areas for over 25 years – but Southern Oregon’s warmest and driest region won his heart. There, he can make his beloved Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties – his way. The Rogue Valley isn’t Oregon Pinot country – it’s something new – and spectacular.

Now a little about the Rouge Valley in Oregon. 

Nestled in the southern-most reaches of Oregon, riding the border of California and comprised of 3 adjacent river valleys is the Rogue Valley AVA (a sub-appellation of the Southern Oregon AVA).  The area was originally planted by European settlers in the mid-1800s with the first official winery being Valley View Winery opened in 1873 by one of the regions pioneers in wine, Peter Britt.  Sadly, when prohibition went into effect, Rogue Valley was all but lost to memory until 1968 when an Oregon State University professor planted an experimental vineyard to great success and the area was essentially rediscovered.  Rogue Valley was established quite sometime after its revitalization, acquiring recognized AVA status in 1991.

With a large designated land area of a little over 1.1 million acres, only 87 vineyards are currently established with around 2,300 acres under vine (0.2% of total area).  There are only 33 wineries in the whole region to date.  Suffice to say, it is still a “small” region, excluding the size of the designated AVA boundaries.

Now the wine;

Rich red fruit with notes of smoke and pepper, coco and chocolate hints.  Very nice on the palette.  And I nice acisty to finish leaving you wanting another sip it paired well with the our dinner of T-Bone steaks and pasta. Absolutely delicious!

If you want this one look up Naked Wines and give it a try!

 

 

This wine was shared with me by my sister. 

Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

 

I was at dinner with friends last night.  One them shared this amazing bottle of pinot noir with the table.  So I decided to do a little research into it and share it here with you.  Here is what I found out about Flowers.

Joan and Walt Flowers, purchased the flagship property, Camp Meeting Ridge, in 1989 and the first vine went into the ground in 1991. Located just two miles from the Pacific Ocean, our Camp Meeting Ridge estate consists of 321 acres with 18 acres planted to Chardonnay and only 11 acres of Pinot Noir. Elevations range from 1,150 to 1,450 feet, positioning the vineyard above the coastal fog layer, thus allowing generous amounts of sunshine during the growing season. Planted in 1998, Sea View Ridge Vineyard is perched upon Smith Ridge, higher and closer to the ocean than Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard. Sea View has unobstructed views of the rugged coastline, green valleys, and surrounding mountains. Elevations range from 1,400 to 1,800 feet — well above the ocean fog layers that cool the vineyard from below. Like Camp Meeting Ridge, Sea View contains a large amount of land (327 acres), but only 43 acres are under vine.

The current winemaker is Chantal Forthun, she has led the winemaking team at Flowers Vineyards & Winery since 2012. Using minimal intervention in the winery, Chantal and her team’s goal is to create wines with true site expression.

All harvesting is done by hand, using 100% native fermentation, and crafting wine with minimal intervention. Our unwavering commitment to creating distinctive wines that capture the spirit of the Sonoma Coast has been the bedrock of our success, and will continue to guide us for years to come.

Recently Flowers was sold to Huneeus Vineyards owners of several wineries like, Quintessa, Benton Lane, The Prisoner and Faust to name a few.

Ok,  now let’s talk about this wine.  It blew me away.  What a great Pinot Noir.  I love Sonoma Coast fruit.  It always seems to jump out of the glass. Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass the nose here is lots of cherries and baking spices.  It almost smells warm if that’s possible! On the palette it is smooth and juicy.  Elegant acidity helps finish making you want another taste.  Really good.  I so enjoyed this wine!!  

Thank you, Steve my friend that shared it with me, may we never drink worst together!!

Almost all of this was found on the Flowers and Huneeus websites, except for the tasting notes which are mine.

Retail should be around $50

 

This wine was shared by a friend at dinner and I’m sure Two Old Hags can acquire it.

Goros Monasrtell - Syrah

I love Monastrell or Mourvedre they are the same grape.  Much like Pinot Grigio – Pinot Gris and Fume Blanc, Syrah Shiraz.  Anyway you get the point. Mourvedre is a blender in a favorite of mine GSM from either the Rhone Valley or Australia.  Here are a few fun facts about the grape before we talk about the Goros.

Mourvèdre/Monastrell is one of the oldest wines and it seems it was introduced to Spain by the Phoenicians over two thousand years ago. Originally the area around Valencia was the center for this wine but the cultivation of the wine expanded over time into France, in particular, Provence and the Rhone. Mourvèdre vines were devastated by the ‘Phylloxera’ pandemic which encouraged the vine cultivations to be moved to America and Australia.

Mourvèdre is a full-bodied red wine made from the distinctive black grapes. It is grown in France, particularly in the southern Rhone valley where the warmer climate suits this grape. In Spain, the variety is known as Monastrell while in the USA and Australia the wine is called, Mataro. While Mourvèdre is available as a single varietal wine it plays a pivotal role in blending with Syrah, Cinsault, and Grenache.

OK.  This wine is simply delicious!! What a great drinker.  Plenty of fruit and great mouth feel, full bodied and impressive.  Tons of raspberries here, showing tannins which are soft and nice.  Not like ones from the Rhone which present stronger tannins and blackberry flavors. The Syrah adds some backbone to the blend.  This one is a keeper for sure.

This one will set you back $20 but the old Wino thinks it worth a twenty dollar bill for sure. You might even want to pick up a few bottles once you have tasted this one.

 

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop unless otherwise noted

Morevino in Ocala

 

We ventured up to Ocala and had lunch.  Man you have to go to this place.  Morevino’s is best described as a Manhattan restaurant on the square in Ocala.  This is a small quaint place full of a great vibe, great food, and great wine.

The owner is Brian Morey.  He has a long and storied career as a wine rep for numerous companies and places.  His wine knowledge is second to none.  He has a great palate and his selections show it on the wine list.  His passion for cooking has always taken a back seat to his passion for wine.  He moves here and opens this place.  Well I am very happy to report his cooking is as good as his wine knowledge and maybe even deeper.

Everything is farm to table.  He shops the local farmers market and gets the foods of the day, then heads to the kitchen to wow his guests.

On our recent visit we had the Sausage sandwich, the Rubén, Chinatown Nachos and Quiche Lorraine. 

Let’s start with the Ruben. 

I ordered it. Everything is made in house from the Corned beef to the sauerkraut.  Brian explained to us that he ferments this in house and during the summer it takes only a few days and it a bit stronger. This batch was fermented during the winter so we were to expect a slightly darker version not as tart but more flavors.  He killed it, it was so good.  The sandwich piled high with the corned beef was a perfect mixture of fat and lean.  Topped with that amazing sauerkraut and the house made dressing I was the best Ruben I’ve had in years and years.

The sausage sandwich, this sandwich is huge!  My friend couldn’t eat half.  The bread is fresh made in house every day. The sausage large covered in peppers and onions this sandwich isn’t from around here for sure. A must try

The China Town Nachos

A large bowl of nacho’s covered in sweet Thai chili sauce and large perfectly cooking shrimp.  Green onions garnish.  The chips are all nice and warm and crisp.  The shrimp perfectly cooked and another large portion left overs for sure if it’s for one or a great table app to share.

The Quiche and Salad

The Quiche Lorraine was the quiche of the day on this visit.  It was a nice slice creamy and wonderfully seasoned with plenty of cheese and ham.  A nice crust flaky and homemade for sure.  The salad greens and fixing were from the Ocala farmers market and fresh as can be.  Perfectly dressed with a house made vinaigrette the salad was not an afterthought on this plate.

This place is a must visit if ever in Ocala.

Morevino Restaurant & Wine Bar

11 East Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala Florida 34470

Call: (352) 304-5100

As a PS if you follow them on facebook you can see all the wine events they do.  Here is the link

https://www.facebook.com/morevinowinebar

Sierra Del Mar

 

Sierra Del Mar

Talk about bang for your buck.  Today you get four wines for the read not just ne. Ran across these wines as house wines at a restaurant.  I rarely drink house wine but the server was very encouraging so we gave the chard and pinot a chance.  After that we gave the SB and Cabernet and these wines are not to be missed.

These wines are made by Vinum cellars.  The grapes for this wine come from various cool climates in California such as the Clarksburg Delta area near Sacramento known for its cool afternoon breezes from the San Francisco Bay which moderate the warm days allowing for ample sun light into the canopy by day and a cooling off period well before sundown. We pick the grapes when very ripe. When fully developed, we pick the grapes in the morning when the vineyard is cool and the grapes are cold. This makes it a little challenging to sort them at 7am on the crush pad, but worth the effort.

 

The brand comes in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet. Those are the ones we will be talking about today.

 

The Sauvignon Blanc

This wine carries a Central Coast designation.  I am not a big Sauvignon Blanc fan most are to green for me and tart. Here is my assessment Aromas of lemon, and citrus fruit.  On the palate tart and acidic.  Very clean finish.  As I said not a fan of SB.  But I could drink this if I was at your home and you served thi.  It is drinkable  I have had many that were not… $20

The Chardonnay

Ok his is the wine that started this party.  The wine carries a Central Coast designation.When we tasted this wine for the $10 a glass price we were simply blown away. For me a nose of vanilla, baked apples, and a small sniff of lemon curd.  In the mouth; nice and full, nice fruit / acid balance.  Tangerine, Passion fruit, Honeycomb, baked apples. Soft creamy Latic acid gives the wine the amazing texture.  Wonderful finish of tart apple and apricot.  This a a very good example of Chardonnay  $20

The Pinot Noir

This wines carries a California Designation. 

The grapes for this wine come from various cool climates in California such as the Clarksburg Delta area near Sacramento known for its cool afternoon breezes from the San Francisco Bay which moderate the warm days allowing for ample sun light into the canopy by day and a cooling off period well before sundown. We also use Monterey County Pinot Noir grapes whose mornings are dotted with coastal fog which balance the days with cold mornings. We pick the grapes when very ripe. When fully developed, we pick the grapes in the morning when the vineyard is cool and the 

Medium garnet color with pretty ripe cherry notes and classic Pinot Noir aromatics. The palate is generous with creamy vanilla and French oak flavors which envelope the silky cherries elegantly. This silky little Pinot then coats the tongue with smooth crushed, ripe raspberry flavors and textures and finishes dry again with ripe bing cherry and subtle clove flavors. This wine is another example of over delivering at the price this is a buy by the case wine for sure. $20

The Cabernet

The grapes for this wine come from cool climate grapes grown in southern Monterey and northern San Luis Obispo County including Paso Robles.  Mornings are dotted with coastal fog where the cold mornings balance the warm days.

The color of this generous Cabernet is medium plum with brick red tones. The aromas are ripe with deep blueberry followed by black cherry notes. The palate enters with rich cassis and vanilla and backed by plush plum and spice notes with black pepper and clove. This is a true bottle of cabernet.  You just do not expect this from a $20 cabernet 

All wines were purchased at Two Old Hags unless otherwise stated.

Jolete Le Verre Cuvee

 Joleté - Old French for “Happy Gathering”

 

I have to admit there is a little history here with me and this winemaker.  I sold Tom Mortimer’s wine while I worked in Memphis Tennessee.  Tom is a mild mannered man who talent with wine vineyards is very good.  He found his place in Oregon and I was blessed to find him.  When we first met he only had the Le Cadeau brand which was an all pinot line.  All very good and all moderately priced.in that $35-$50 retail in Memphis.  I retired and moved here and drank my last Le Cadeau wine.  History lesson over let taste this new wine. 

The central theme in all Joleté wines is “QPR”(Quality, Price, Ratio).   Quite simply, with Joleté we offer handcrafted, varietally correct, small production wines that typically perform at a level well above their price point. It is a simple but challenging goal.

 The 2019 Joleté Le Verre Cuvee, meaning “The Glass” is a beautiful glass of Oregon Pinot Noir.  Enticing aromas of spiced raspberry and sweet tobacco lead to a medium-bodied palate with subtle notes of black cherry and ripe Oregon Hood strawberries. An underlying hint of orange peel brings a crisp drive of acidity to the finish. 421 cases produced.

This is a definite buy.  The wine is a pleasure to drink and goes not only with the cheese I was eating while tasting, but also with the horseradish encrusted grouper we had for dinner.  Highly recommend $25.99

All wines reviewed purchased at Two Old Hags unless otherwise stated

The Waterfront Restaurant and Craft Bar

 

Day two Lunch

We love this place as well.  Right across from the water you can see the Anna Maria city pier from the patio seats.  You can also see the Sunshine Bridge which crosses Tampa Bay from those same seats.

Today’s choices were:

Tuna Sashimi The dish arrived, rare tuna over seaweed salad, black sesame seeds, and soy sauce side.  The portion here is larger than we are used to.  Four thick slices fanned across the salad.  Wasabi and pickled ginger aplenty for the amount of tuna.  The dish was great but really got left behind by the other choices. Very good and recommend ordering

Fish Taco’s  These were the best fish taco’s our group has ever eaten.  The fish today was grouper and it was grilled perfectly. Fish was tender and tasty we all agreed what set these taco’s apart was the way the fish stood out in the flavors.  They came with Jicama slaw, cheddar jack and pico de gallo. We choose the pineapple coleslaw as the side here and were not disappointed.

Truffle – Gouda Mac and Cheese OK I consider myself a mac and cheese ninja.  I love the stuff always have always will.  This was worthy of the choice.  Creamy and cheesy.  The bread crumbs toasted golden brown.  The dish was just a bowl of comfort which al great mac and cheese should be. And of course the side we choose?  Truffle fries!!  Crispy crunchy salted to perfection and just exactly what a good mac and cheese needs, right?  This is a must get if you go to the waterfront.

Fried Green Tomatoes OK who doesn’t love a fried green tomato?  These were amazing. Large Beefsteak green tomatoes fried golden brown. The Pimento cheese they served to accompany was house made no doubt.  Creamy and spicy with chopped Jalapeño peppers in the mix.  These were like your granny used to make.  The order came with five slices of tomato and a large scoop of that heavenly pimento cheese.  We all fought over that last tomato it was simply wonderful. A must order if you go…

What a place.

The Waterfront Restaurant and Craft Bar

111 S Bay Blvd

Anna Maria, FL 34216

941.778.1515