March 11-13, 2010

March Madness—Savvy Wine Cellar Style

Wines of the Savvy West Region

Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, 2008, Washington (Columbia Valley) This is a fresh, soft style of Chardonnay with bright sweet citrus fruit character and subtle spice and oak nuances. Chateau Ste. Michelle’s winemaker blended Chardonnay grapes from vineyards all over Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex, interesting wine. The sur lie aging gives it an appealing softness. Wine Spectator recently named this wine one of its “Best Values and said: “Bright and jazzy with pretty pineapple, grapefruit elderflower and spice flavors that linger on the finish without excess weight.  This just floats on for a while.  Drink now through 2012.” They gave it a score of 90 Points.  We love it at The Savvy Wine Cellar and rate it Four Plus, Plus Corks

Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars Gewurztraminer, 2007, New York (Finger Lakes) This is a perfectly balanced semi-dry white with a lovely aroma of rose petal accompanied by flavors of ripe peach and litchi.  Fruity on the front, this gewurz finishes a bit drier with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove.  Enjoy it on its own, or pair with spicy cuisine, meatier seafood, poultry, barbecue, and other dishes that incorporate Asian flavors and curries. Fermented in stainless steel, there only 400 cases of this terrific wine were produced.  The Savvy Wine Cellar loves, loves this wine and scores it Four Plus, Plus Corks!

Grayson Zinfandel, 2008, California (Napa Valley) Aged in French oak, the Grayson Zinfandel shows a dark color with rich mixed raspberries, strawberries and brambles surrounded by hints of spice including black pepper and cinnamon. Intense richness carries through on the palate of this full bodied wine with explosive blackberry and raspberry pie flavors. The wine’s finish is long and elegant. Dale says: “This is a big, rich, fat and juicy Zinfandel that you must taste!” And so we rate it Four Plus Corks. 

Yellow+Blue Malbec, 2008, Argentina (San Juan Province) Profound purple color with flecks of persimmon, this Malbec is lovely in the glass.  The bouquet swirls with heady aromas of black cherries, chocolate and garrigue. It is a medium- to full-bodied wine with fine tannins and a lingering, complex finish. The 2008 Yellow+ Blue Malbec is a very tasty wine.  A lighter style of Malbec, it has plenty of dark berry fruit flavors you know and love. It also has some very nice tannins which is not that common for wine in this price point. This producer is forging the way in the “green concept” of making wine—hence the name—Yellow+Blue (makes green, get it?).  This is a totally organic producer of eco-conscious packaged red, white and rosé wines.  Make sure you check out this wine’s packaging when you stop by to taste it. Because of its great taste, great value and eco-friendly production and packaging The Savvy Wine Cellar scores this wine Four Plus Corks. 

Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap (Syrah, Mourvedre, Viognier), 2008 South Africa, A blend of 68% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 2% Viognier this wine is filled with flavors of black fruits; red and black berries with some violet flavors. It is smooth on the palate with some fresh aromas of wild strawberries and cherries. Opulent floral nose even seems perfumed from Viognier component. Spicy aromatics are supported with fleshy berry fruit aromas. The wine is generous in length. The varietals of The Wolftrap blend remain the same from vintage to vintage.  However, the percentages can change.  The 2008 vintage is largely Syrah and so, it has predominant characteristics of that varietal.  The Viognier adds a floral component to the blend and the Mourvedre, because of its fleshiness, adds a nice richness to this wine. We love this wine at The Savvy Wine Cellar and score Four Plus Corks. 

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