Pomum Cellars Wines

Is it me or is Woodinville getting to big for its bridges? There is a section in Woodinville Washington known as the “warehouse” district and anyone with some money and who likes wine seems to think they have an eye for wine making is doing just that…making wine.

I was tasted on Pomum wines and tried to get a little info on how long the wines have been around. They have been around for 7 years now and that’s about it. I first tasted the 2009 Idilico Tempranillo which is a sister winery of Pomum Cellars. Why does everyone have a second label? It was okay but not really structured well. Seemed to be a bit over-extracted and just was not where it should be. Only 125 cases made makes me think this is more of a trial run. It sits for $20 on the shelf so if you like wines that seem to be unbalanced, dark-stained fruit…you might like it.

Next up was the 2008 Pomum Cellars Syrah, which I thought was a nice wine till I heard the price…$32. I mean it is cheaper than a lot of others out there in the warehouse district but let be honest, why are wine in this area getting expensive? Maybe because this is the “it” place to be making wine or maybe people are just pricing wines for the area they make the wine in. I bet this wine in Napa would be about $50-60. I mean the juice was good but for a few dollars less I could pick up a bottle Syncline Syrah and be a lot happier. The wine either needs to sit for a bit or be decanted for a few hours but that still does not explain the over-extracted juice I keep getting. Call it depth or whatever. I want lower alcohol, better structure and less acids.

The final wine was the 2007 Pomum Cellars Shya Red. First think I noticed was the weight of the bottle. The bottle itself is a fucking weapon. C’mon, just use a normal bottle weight ans save some cash for either the pocket or put it back into the winery. Just my two cents though. Wine was actually pretty sound with a decent amount of black fruit. Wine is full-bodied but tends to have some serious spices going on. I like the wine but it does need to breathe an ass-load! I’d decant it for at least a few hours before serving. The price is about $38 and I’m not really happy about that. There are a lot of wines that are doing the same thing better for much cheaper.

2009 Closa Batllet ‘Black Slate’ Gratallops, Priorat

My wine rep brought me this wine a few days ago and asked if I wanted to try it. Being that I only wanted to start off with a dozen or so Spanish wines and I now have 33 on the shelf, why the hell not? This guy is a new rep to the wine world so he still sniffs the cork to see if the wine is good. I’ll tell him after the new year to stop. I still hear wine scores but he already knows how I feel about that. But the wines he brings me are great and he does have a track record with me of around 85% which is a shit-ton better than most in these parts.

So here we have a $20 Priorat which I was happy first off. On the nose there was some great red vine-fruit with minerals lingering around as well. Pretty juicy and a color that might make you want to start to invest in Oxyclean! On the palate it was more red fruit but some solid acidity and tannins. Minerals are there but not as much as they are on the nose. Sweet fruit with a pretty long finish. This made the shelf at 33 Spanish wines now. I think someone is going to be building shelves soon as Spain will be taking over Portugal and Madeira. So those two will be getting their own shelves.

2004 Chateau Fleur Haut Gaussens $14

This right-bank Bordeaux is amazing and even comes with some age on it. With a blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc you are getting a pretty full-bodied red at a fraction of the price. This wine is old world all the way. The vines are an average of 25 years old sitting on clay-limestone soil. I know that does not mean much to the rest of the world but to a wine nerd like myself it means..YUM! Oh and get this..grapes are harvested by hand.

This is truly one of finds that I'm glad I picked up. Great old-world style on the nose with tons of dark fruit and earth notes. On the palate this wine shows great structure and balance. More of the dark fruit and great acidity. The wine is already throwing off sediment and shows this on the inside of the shoulder when decanted and poured. The finish is smooth yet medium to full-bodied. All this for only $14

Bacalhôa Moscatel de Setúbal 2004 Colheita

So I was brought this little sticky on Thursday night and picked up 6 bottles. They were delivered to me by say around 2pm and after cracking a bottle for tasting to clients I was sold out in less than 20 minutes. Called my importer and told him I need another case. Got that about 2 hrs later and less than an hour later I'm down to 6 bottles. You think it's good?

Best part is thing is around $11 a bottle and will hold for months after being opened. The one I tried was opened for 8 months and was drinking like a champ.

Color is almost amber or a shade lighter. Rich notes of apricots, raisins and some light yet sweet herbs. On the palate the thing rocks out with its cock out! Has a zing to it with more ripe fruits and a little white pepper on the tip of the tongue but that dissipates pretty fast leaving a rich coating of love in the mouth. The finish lingers around like grandpa farting in the room.

It did pick up some press in that Decanter gave it a medal for something like best sweet wine under $10 or something. Being that I read Decanter and they actually know what is going on in the wine world, I'll say I agree.

This wine will sit around for months before it goes tits up. The bottle I was tasted on was open for 8 months and it was still tasting amazing. Cheers my friends.

2008 San Felice Campogiovanni Rosso di Montalcino

So you might not be able to see the bottle that well but it is in fact a Rosso di Montalcino Campogiovanni from San Felice. What can I say, I had a weak moment a few minutes ago and decided that being it is Sunday, I'm at the shop slinging vino and I've been busy so I thought I deserved a reward. I even had a few locals taste it as well, which in turn they bought a few bottles.

This Rosso is great and is already throwing off some sediment. Pretty bright in color with notes of spices, rich fruit and light pepper. On the palate it is more on the fruit side with very light hints of green stems. The finish is smooth and elegant with the tannins not bulling around. They are just kept in their place and slowly walk around when they need. For a $20 bottle this is amazing. I'm not fu*#ing around here! This really is a great bottle and I'm glad I took a hit in the shorts on my profits to pop this one open again. Just reminds me how much I love Italian wines.

Cheers

Santo

2009 Clos de Haute Combe Julienas

Julienas is an appellation within the sub-region of Beaujolais that stand in Burgundy. The grape varietal is Gamay in this case the '09 Clos de Haute Combe is amazing in color that looks more like grape juice from a juice box. On the nose this wine shows great structure with notes of black cherry and light spices. On the palate it is fresh and solid. On the finish it is juicy and smooth. Some light spices and light stone-fruit. I'm really glad my importer showed us this wine since we sold out of it this weekend. Imported by Cordon.

The wine shop is open!

So although this is a pretty shitty picture, you get the idea. We are open and although it has taken a bit to get here with some ups and downs...we are here. Come in anytime and taste some tawny port on the house! We are open from 11-7 but I feel I will be extending those hours till about 8pm or longer. Right now we are open on tuesday - sunday but again, call or email me and there is a chance I am there so that means...we are open.

More to come on the shop but for now I have to get back to tasting notes as I was told I have been slacking on my note taking.

www.raincitywines.com

santo@raincitywines.com

206-890-0535

Cheers,

santo

2010 Antucura Malbec

I'll by pass the color of the wine being that you might be able to take a shot in the dark at the color. Yup..red tones. The nose was pretty nice in that it was heading toward dried flowers and rich nutrients. Red vine fruit were also laying around as well. The finish was pretty decent in that it was smooth and balanced but wanted to lay around for a bit. Seemed to not want to go away. Good spices on the end as well. I like it and for only $15 per bottle she will be great to have with some nice meats or even a meat pizza. Imported by Unique.

2009 Vina Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon

Pretty dark in color with hints of wet herbs, earth and light powdered chocolate. There seemed to be a bit of a bite in the middle then it went away. Pretty light in the finish as it was not a heavy wine but really really soft. Not bad. Carries a price tag of $18 Imported by Unique.

2010 Arido Malbec

This is one of those sleepers that should be kept on the down-low so we can have it around for a bit. Although after I introduce this to a few people I'm sure the word will spread and it will go fast. With a price tag of $10 this little betty is great. Soft on the nose and soft on the palate. Good earth notes with a hint of red fruit lingering around. Pretty good acidity and balance. It's funny that some people in the States charge $50 for a wine like this. Screw that shit! I'd buy this over those any day of the week!

Imported by Unique.

2009 Vina Cobos Felino Chardonnay

Straw in color with some good light almond and citrus notes. Acidity seemed a bit high and on the palate there was a light dry grass note. Acidity did creep up on the finish while the alcohol packed a punch. It was nice but nothing I would drink for my daily use. Decent price at $16. Imported by Unique.

Should we post wine scores in the store?

I often talk about people chasing wine scores in order to get the so-called best wine they can find. While many of these wines have been rated by a critic who will give them a point between 1 and 100, I have come to the conclusion that my shop will not have these points posted. Just this weekend, I overheard a wine shop owner (yes, I visit a lot of different wine shops and a few are even owned by friends) saying that this certain wine was great cause it got 94 points! I wanted to ask: "Why is it that great?" and "If they had tasted it yet?" I did happen to know that particular wine and its quality, but I was curious if that was the only reason it was on the shelf?

I used to work in a wine shop years ago where the manager would walk around with her Parker book like it was the Bible and tell people that this wine got this score, and that this wine over here got this, but I always wanted to know what she (the manager) thought of it.

I have always followed this rule since I got into the wine world that you should never lie to your customers, and if they know more than you, pick their brain. Just because I own a wine shop does not mean I know everything. God do I wish, but there is so much to learn and it will take a lifetime for me to learn it. While visiting other wine shops I have been called on to answer a question from a customer and if I know the answer, I'll do it but if I have no clue...I'll tell them or take my best educated guess!

Next time you walk into a wine shop, look around and take note of the scores that are on the shelves. Is that wine merchant selling his own personal wine thoughts or is he using another's? Do you walk in and say, "Hey, I'm looking for a nice 94 pointer?" or do you say "I'm looking for a nice wine that will go with fried SPAM?". Yes, Spam...I can pair it with an amazing wine that will taste great.

When you go into a wine shop, would you rather see a point score near a wine or a personal tasting note from the staff, owner or even a customer of the shop?

15 days and counting.

Santo

2009 Owen Roe Abbot's Table

This is one of my favorite wines from Owen Roe. Always has and I'm pretty sure it always will be. Nicole and I picked up a skirt steak that was over a yard long so I had to cut it in half just so it would fit on the BBQ. Cracked open Abbot's about 40 mins before we needed it in order to let her breathe a bit. As for the blend...9 different grapes and on that note I'll let you break down the percentages as it rages from 25% down to 1%. Have fun with that.

Wine is very well balanced and smooth on the mouth-feel. Rich notes of dark-tree fruit and overripe cherries. Tannins are very soft but has a slight spice at the end. It's not a bad spice but just something that kinda creeps up on you. Wine only see's around 6 months of oak. Went great with grilled meat. Would go great with pretty much anything in the house if I must say so.

The wine rolls on the shelf for about $20 which for the quality of the wine I would think it could hang around $28, glad it's not though. I'll have a stacker of this gem in the shop for the daily drinker wine around $20. Love it.

Wine From Arizona?

I'll admit it...Nicole and I were pretty curious about trying wines from Arizona Stronghold since it is a collaboration between Maynard (lead singer from Tool) who seems to be the vineyard/soil slut of the whole project and Eric Glomski who has been in the wine world for some time working with such producers as David Bruce. Most of us saw the movie "Blood into wine" and I'm sure a lot of us thought "here is another rock star trying to do something different". Well kinda, Maynard is doing something different but by the means of having Eric teach and coach him through the ways of wine. Really though it seems like they just want to make good wine and here we have a bottle of really really good juice!

Honestly...I will take this blend over any California wine any day of the week! If this is a taste of the soil that Eric, Maynard and Tim White (winemaker) are playing with...They will be around for the long haul.
With a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot this wine is what I would call the "daily drinker" if you are looking for a good wine around $20 per bottle.

The 2009 Arizona Stronghold Tuscan Blend named "Mangus" is something I wish everyone could try. Great notes of rich red tree fruit with light hints of black pepper, vanilla and soft oak. On the palate this thing is pretty smooth yet still has a little bite at the end. Kinda like when you were a young buck and you got stroke your girls leg for the first time then realized she only shaved to the knee. Just enough to let you know that it is still lingering around. Tannins are firm yet smooth and some great black vine fruit sits on top of the cooked brown sugar and light nail polish. Normally nail polish is something that people turn away from but trust me you want it as you just want to keep sniffing. Dehydrated strawberry and prunes on the final end. I can't wait to taste their other wines. I will be bringing these wines into the shop!

Will have to blind taste with a bunch of people then let them know. This will really fuck with their minds!!

2007 Arnoux et Fils Jean-Marie Vacqueyras

I really need to stop bringing Rhone wines home for Nicole. As I thought, she loved it and it paired perfect with our Sunday night fillet mignon, which we had on Monday night due to us staying at the cabin till Monday afternoon.

So some have been asking me how I pronounce some of the french wine regions so here I'll toss out a bone. OK, not really since I'm the worst at pronouncing regions than anyone. This region is the lovely region of Vacqueyras AOC [vah-kay-hras]. This wine holds a helping amount of 70% Grenache.

Almost purple in color with a nice hue of dark red on the rim. Loads of blackberry fruit and some good spices like pepper on the nose. On the palate this sucker is pretty nice with more black fruit and now the wet leather. Spices and tannins were there but seemed to mellow a bit after we let her breathe for about an hr.

The finish was more or less the same on the palate except it seemed to want to linger around as if it was walking away over the hill but still waving to say goodbye. At only $15 or so a bottle this is a beauty of a bottle that I plan to have in the shop and in the cellar. Goes great with grilled meat or just for that lazy afternoon while reading the latest Bill Bryson book.

North American Release of the 2010 Molly Dooker Wines

Nicole and I got the chance to taste the current (2010/2011) vintage from Molly Dooker. We tasted 9 wines and 1 wine from 2009 which I did not include. We were the first to tasted them in the Seattle area so it was pretty great to get on the front line. Wines were priced between $24 to $182. We even got to taste the 2010 Velvet Glove. This was the one where they just broke over $1 million worth when a so-called fork lift dropped the crate that is was being shipped in.

2011 Molly Dooker Violinist Verdelho $24 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

This wine was amazing! Very smooth on the nose and palate. Tropical fruit and white peach on the nose. Great acidity and balance. I never tasted the 2010 but love the 2011.

2010 Molly Dooker Scooter Merlot $24 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

A pretty nice purple when it comes to color. On the nose it had some fumes of red fruit, bing cherries and tree fruit. Nice cocoa and some wet herbs followed. Wine in pretty balanced in that the acidity and fruit match very well. I really liked this wine as did Nicole. We picked up a few but not after Nicole made Sparky sign them.

2010 Molly Dooker Boxer Shiraz $24 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

Pretty dark in color. VERY dark in color with a nice purple rim. You can really tell that this is layered. Pretty decent with some plums, black cherry and spices. Pretty jammy on the palate with some great oak and light coffee notes. This is pretty full-bodied and could use a lot of time but damn it was nice. I did pick up a little mint on the nose and palate. Came to me after a few minutes.

2010 Molly Dooker Two Left Fet Shiraz Cabernet $24 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

This was a pretty big fruit bomb. A nose of red fruit, currents and dark-tree fruit. Pretty serious on the palate with notes of vanilla, oak and medium plus tannins. The finish was a bit rough at first but then started to mellow out. Will need some time in the bottle but still good.

2010 Molly Dooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz $45 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

Pretty dark in color with a nose of fresh picked berries, candied fruit with some anise and bakers chocolate. On the palate it was more rich flavors with some light java or roasted coffee. Amazed that this Shiraz has the depth that it does. A few different layers going on as it was throwing out things every 30 seconds. Not to shabby. Will need some time in the bottle or will need to be smashed up in the decanter for a few hours.

2010 Molly Dooker Gigglepot Cabernet $48 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

Wine is purple in color with almost a hint of dark brown on the rim. Pretty serious on the nose with some ripe plums that have already fallen from the tree. Some good current notes and a bit of fall leaf, almost like they have been in the lawn, picked up and crushed in the hands. More spices. On the palate it is pretty rich some tannins and a nice finish of wet spices and herbs. The oak tends sit for a bit on the finish as if it was waiting for something else to do.

2010 Molly Dooker Carnival of Love Shiraz $87 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

Wine is pretty dark in color. OK it's downright black! Loads of dark fruit with a dose of black spices running around. This is pretty much the rich dark-fruit bomb. On the palate there are hints of dried chocolate, whole pepper with sweet tannins. Pretty long finish in that it was around for more than 30 seconds. Good stuff.

2010 Molly Dooker Enchanted Path Shiraz Cabernet $87 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

Have you ever shot high speed black and white infrared film and had to use an opaque filter to block all light except the infrared light? That's what this wine looks like! No shit! Wine is black!

This wine has got some balls to it. Rich herbs and black-stone fruit with some solid tannins. Nice spices on the finish with some more solid tannins. Not sure about the alcohol but I'd guess it says 14.9% on the label but is actually around 15.9% This is a wine that either needs some air or needs loads of time in the bottles. I mean this is a 2010 so it has not been in the bottle long.

2010 Molly Dooker Velvet Glove $182 (2010 Vintage North American Molly Dooker Release)

The one thing I learned about this wine is that you don't want to spill it on your white shirt when at a tasting and the second thing is to not wear a white shirt at a tasting.

While the color is more on the lines of purple with some black marker in it the nose was concentrated with rich red/black fruit and some dark herbs with just a hint of tar. Yup I said it...tar. On the palate it was more of the concentrated dark fruit with some serious tannins. Pretty heavy mouth-feel and makes you want to scrape your tongue after you are done. Damn thing wraps your mouth in rich fruit or what they say...like a Velvet Glove...

Not sure how the so-called loss of wine from the dock will effect the current price of the wine.

2009 Domaine Francois Lamarche Bourgogne

When Nicole and I bought this we were told to let it breathe for about 4 hours. Well after only and hour it still has some fumes to it. On the color though it reminds me of someone who was making cherry Kool-aid and added to much water. Not quite deep red but more like a darker Rosé than anything.

Some good notes of red fruit on the palate with light hints of wet leather and prunes on the end. Tannins are hanging around but not like a belly-buster but more like an old time song. At only 12.5% alcohol, 100% Pinot Noir and lingering around $30 for a bottle...It matched up well with the meat on the grill. Next time we will wait another hour. It's already changing on us though. I'd let it sit for a few years then start cracking them. Imported by Free Run Juice, LCC. I know who they are but need to figure out how they are bringing their own wines in!

2006 Columbia Crest Reserve Red "Walter Clore"

The other day I did something I normally don't do...I picked up a bottle of wine from Costco. I saw the price and could not help myself. We were just going in to pick up TP but as Nicole left me alone for a few minutes I found the cart heading toward the wine section. Walter Clore for $19.99!

Amazing wine with a great nose of sweet casis, rich plums and big oak. On the palate it is big but not enough to plow you over. Rich notes of dark tree fruit with hints of pepper and leather. We let it breathe and had it with some meats, cheeses and dark chocolate. Finish was smooth and rich. Going to order a few 6-packs of this for Nicole and I. I love it.

2007 E. Guuigal Côtes du Rhône $15

Yesterday was Sunday which means we grill up fillet mignon but instead of just drinking some sparkling water we opted to crack the 2007 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône.

With a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre, you know this was going to be a treat even though it is not the top echelon of Guigal.

It was dark and spicy on the nose. Matter fact we let it sit for about an hour before we dug into it. Meat was amazing, salad was to die for and the caprese salad was sweet, plus we had put fresh basil on top of the salad that we grew in our hydro garden.

Once we dove in it was amazing. Rich and full-bodied with notes of rich earth, wet leather and some dark tree fruit. There was even some nice spices on the nose. The finish was medium bodied yet seemed to linger around for a bit. We set it down and walked away after dinner only having a glass each. We came back to it around 11pm (it was a late night for us) and then it really opened up and became this delicate, soft, romancing wine. We spent the next hour just sitting in the dark talking, sipping wine and listening to the rain, right until Cosimo let one fly. Damn dog has amazing timing for ruining a moment. I'll get him back.

The Butcher Shop Cafe in Kenmore

So Nicole and I tend to like to eat steak. Oh it was not long ago when I felt out of place ordering a steak because of the company but now I indulge as much as I can, but now rather than going to the grocery store I head to my local butcher...Butcher Shop Cafe in Kenmore.

Now we have all seen Bill the Butcher around town and like a lot of you I thought, "hey a butcher, sweet" until Nicole and I went in and they told us they were out of meat but had some pork. WTF? Prices were pricey and they just seemed to lack the love a "true" butcher. I mean there was a young guy with plugs in his ears that knew a little but nothing I didn't already know.

Then I found out about the Butcher Shop Cafe. It's almost as if you walk back in time to when being a butcher was considered a career choice. The guys working there know their meat. They know how to handle their meat, they know how to cut their meat and most of all they are proud of their meat. Today was a busy day for them but we waited. The lady ahead of us picked up over $140 worth of cuts while we walked out with about $40 worth. As we were leaving a line stretched outside, 12 deep! On Sundays they have a meat sale where from 4-5pm where all meat in the case is 25% off. They'll even go in the back and pull stuff out and keep things stocked. The kid that helped us today went to the back and cut 2 fillets for us. Out of this world.

Listen if you want to pay a shitload of money and say you shop at a butcher then go to Bill the Butcher in Woodinville, Redmond or Bellevue. You can brag to your friends about how much you spent and feel like a big shot.

If you want the best cuts of meat from cows, pigs or birds that are grass fed (no corn shit here!) pay less, ask questions on how to prepare it and cook it, know you are getting quality meat then head to the Butcher Shop Cafe! Join the Facebook page and if your name pops up you get a free cut of meat, your choice.

Thanks for letting Nicole and I put your meat in our mouths. Shit is great!!

2002 Betz Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Pére de Famille

Today was a good day to break out the last bottle of 2002 Betz Pére de Famille. We decided to pair it up with a nice Kobe beef fillet mignon's we got from the butcher. The steak was amazing but I'll talk about that in a later post!

The wine was well...out of this world. I can't remember what I paid for the bottle but I can tell you it was worth it! I opened her and gave the first sniff to Nicole as she was talking to her mother. Meat was already grilling so I wanted the wine to breathe a little. Gave her the glass and she just looked at me as if I just shot the dog.

The wine smelled amazing, hints of light coffee, black cherry, rich soil and some kind of candy. On the palate it was slicker than snot on a brass door knob. I mean really, this might have been one of the most balanced wines I have ever tasted. With more red and dark fruit on the palate, very light spices and very soft tannins, this thing was sublime.

The only sad part was that this was the only bottle left. The best part was being able to pair it up with some quality meat and having Nicole to share it with. We finished the bottle which is something we normally don't do. She told me will be bringing all of Bob's wines into the shop and will be making sure people taste them. I have to agree. Bob your wines deserve the utmost respect and this one put a smile on both of our faces.

2008 Catena Alta Reserva Malbec

Right off the bat, this wine is sourced from like 5 different vineyards and being that it is a Catena, they must be great vineyards. Wine was rich. Great earth notes with a light hint of mint. Great balance of black fruit and and sweet casis on the nose and palate. Pretty big tannins but they tend to work out. Finish was like a Rolling Stones show...big, flashy and made you want more. The price tag does draw it down a bit seeing that it is going for about $50, but a few bottles in the cellar are not bad. Good stuff Maynard.

2006 Valle Perdido Reserva Malbec

I believe that this wine was just released in the last few months? Wine saw 14 months of oak via France and American. Pretty wealthy color with a nose of freshly sharpened number 2 pencils. Yup I said it! Black vine and tree fruit is laying around with some sweet tannins on the palate. Letting it breathe would do it some good as it was pretty full-bodied but was still great anyway. I think she was around 14% but can't be sure. Long finish. This was another $20 Malbec which is becoming the norm in these parts. Would buy a case or 2 and let it sit in the collection. Love it.

2008 Benegas Libertad Vineyards Malbec

I've tasted this malbec before so this was nothing new to me. The price was as it was $20 here in WA but rather only $14 in NJ so that was kind of a let down. Damn 3-tier system.

The color is something you don't want to spill on the counter top, it will stain. A very balanced wine in that the acidity, tannins and fruit are working together. It's not a fruit bomb nor is it a tannin fest. Rich black-vine fruit with some notes of light-green leaves. I think it adds to the flavor. Finish was pretty full-bodied yet seems very delicate. Just seemed to roll on for a bit. Now if I could remember if it came in a wood box? Love it.

What if we got rid of wine scores?

Have you ever tasted a 100 point wine? Does not matter who gave it the score, just matters if you have tasted it. What was the price before it was scored and what was the price of the bottle after it was given that 100 points?

I tasted the 2000 Leoville Las Cases at a tasting with some friends. I think I paid about $80 bucks for the bottle. Tasted great and we were all very happy with it. Hell, even the price was great. Sometime goes by and it was scored 100 points. Being that I was working at a retail shop I decided to pick a few extra bottles up. I went to grab them and got yelled at cause they were now 100 point wines and were being sold for over $300 each and even though we have a few cases, they were being sold to only our best customers. This just pissed me off since nothing happened other than someone giving it a score. I bought a few anyway, hell I already had a few cases but I was letting those age. I wanted a few now to drink.

What if the score was never given yet their was only a tasting note? Would the price of the wine still go up? Better yet, what if it was scored by two different people yet got the same score (off by 1 point). Does it matter who tasted the wine? Below are two different tasting notes with only 1 point difference. Could you justify spending $300 on a bottle from these notes or would the score help? What if we just did away with the score and made people read about the wine and let them decide what they like for themselves?

"Absolutely fantastic. This is one of the most exciting young reds I have tasted in a long, long time. It shows intense aromas of berries, currants and minerals, with hints of mint. Full-bodied and packed with fruit and tannins, its long finish is refined and silky. A benchmark for the vintage. Las Cases has always wanted to make first-growth quality in a top-notch vintage, and it certainly did in 2000. Best after 2012."

"This wine has put on weight and, as impressive as it was from cask, it is even more brilliant from bottle. Only 35% of the crop made it into the 2000 Leoville Las Cases, a blend of 76.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.4% Merlot, and 8.8% Cabernet Franc. The wine is truly profound, with an opaque purple color and a tight but promising nose of vanilla, sweet cherry liqueur, black currants, and licorice in a dense, full-bodied, almost painfully rich, intense style with no hard edges. This seamless classic builds in the mouth, with a finish that lasts over 60 seconds. Still primary, yet extraordinarily pure, this compelling wine, which continues to build flavor intensity and exhibit additional layers of texture, is a tour de force in winemaking and certainly one of the great Leoville Las Cases. In another sense, it symbolizes / pays homage to proprietor Michel Delon, who passed away in 2000. Michel has been succeeded by his son, Jean-Hubert, another perfectionist. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2040."

Illustration by The New York Times

2010 Mouton Cadet $5.99

About a week ago Nicole and I were at Grocery Outlet and came across this little beauty for only 6 bucks! We decided to snag a few and head home. Last night I went by the Butcher Shop Cafe in Kenmore and picked up a few different cuts for Nicole and I and for some in-laws. Grilled up some top sirloin and cracked a white. Wine was amazing. I know, we should have ripped open a red wine but since I tend to not play by the rules when it comes to wines, what the hell?

The blend:

65% Sauvignon Blanc
30% Semillon
5% Muscadelle

Lighter than hay in color but with a light tropical nose with hints of light hay and star fruit. On the palate the soothing Semillon hits the palate pretty hard but then you can feel the Muscadelle sizzle around. The acidity and mouth feel is very smooth. On the finish we are talking elegant. Smooth and long finish, like a models leg. Perfect summer/spring wine. We will be picking up a case of the white and red!

2008 Catena Malbec $21

I've always liked the Catena Malbec, but just don't like the price in WA state. I think in NJ I was selling it for around $16 per bottle.

Rich in color and just as rich on the nose as well. Loaded full of herbs and wet spices with some solid fruit to follow. Great balance with some more intense dark fruit and spices. Finish was big but does seem to mellow a little. I'd love to hold onto a case for another 5 years then start cracking them. I bet they'll age well!

2009 Zuccardi Serie A Malbec $21

The color was well...lets just say dark. On the nose it was more like a bowl of ripe dark tree and vine fruit with hints of soil and toasted oak. On the palate it was more of the fruit but very bold and rich. Was balanced but more on the lines of just being a little bratty! Great wine that would do well with any grilled food.

2007 Luigi Borsca Malbec Reserva $20

I've tried the reserva Malbec from Luigi Borsca a few times before and have come to the conclusion that each time it seems to be getting more rich and concentrated each time. I honestly feel like they are chasing the point band-wagon rather than working with what the land is giving them.

Pretty rich in color and on the nose it has a dose of dark tree fruit. On the palate it was more like sucking on a piece of iron. Hints of light coffee and what I thought was a root but I could not nail it down for sure. Finish was pretty long and decent.

As you can see the wine had only a little taken from it so I'll go with that for now. Would like to re-taste say after an hour or so. I'm thinking that the air-time will let her open up and the fruit will come out.

2009 Fabre Montmayou Malbec $15

Pretty impressive wine for only $15. Rich in color and in flavor. There was a light stink at first but it blew off then got down to business. Rich dark vine fruit with light hints of wet soil. Medium bodied and pretty good balance. Hints of more black fruit. Hopefully they won't jack the price up in the next few years like so many others do. The finish was smooth and very delicate at the end. Damn. Great little BBQ wine.

2010 Icon Cellars Viognier $20

I'll be honest...I know nothing about this winery! I do know one thing though...This wine was amazing. Pretty light in color yet with rich tropical fruit all over. You can really smell the soil on this one. I even picked up a little lime lingering around. On the palate this thing was a ball buster. Light on the mouth feel yet rich in flavor. Hints of candied green apples, light hints of Riesling with a very light touch of flint. Just sweet enough to make you stand up and beg for butter milk!

This Viognier reminds me of when Rulo came out with theirs and it blew us all away. I'd love to do a side by side with Icon, Syncline and Rulo and see what the masses think. Great job and I look forward to stacking this in the shop! This is what the people needed, a decent priced wine from Washington.

2009 Finca Decero Malbec Remolinos Vineyard $17

After tasting the Muga Rose we were given this gem. At first it had something going on with its nose but then it blew off. Rich with black fruits and some candies lingering around. The palate was pretty full-bodied yet seemed to lack the balance. There was some good fruit, herbs and dark tree fruit but it seemed to fall apart at the end. Maybe that's not the word I should use. It didn't fall apart, just didn't stick around as much as I wanted. Seemed a little off but I would buy one anyway cause it was a nice drink. I think a few years would do it some good.

2010 Muga Rioja Rose $13

I love a good Rose and don't care where it's from. Could be Spain, Washington or even out a jug. I just don't care as long as it taste good. This one is great so I was in luck. Thinking I was just going to hit up some Malbec today and this little treat was the starter.

Let start off with the color...It looked like something I used to drink before I was of age to drink. What was it now...Oh yeah, MD 20/20! The nose was something else though. Didn't smell like MD and sure hell didn't taste like MD either. Tropical fruit on the nose with a light hint of fresh sea air. Seemed to have some light peach lingering around as well. On the palate it was refreshing and clean. Very-lightly sweet but not like someone added sugar rather like it was picked at a high brix. Acidity and balance holds this betty in check. Would go great with a fresh salad or just by itself. Hell I could even read a book while enjoying this. I mean the book would be a quick one like Green Eggs and Ham, would still take me a few hours to finish though.

2001 Piero Busso Barbaresco San Stefanetto $110

I really like Italian wines and this is by far I think my favorite one! I first tried this wine at a Vias (past importer) tasting some years back and everyone I was with fell in love with it. Matter fact we bought I think most of it up in the state then sat on it and only told a select few which I thought was bullshit since I wanted everyone to try it. Any who, I picked up a case or so and stashed it throughout the years only to crack one here and there. This was the last bottle I had of the single vineyard 2001 vintage.

Nicole and I had our friend over for dinner last Sunday and I decided it was time to crack this gem. Paired it up with some nice fillet mignon's from our butcher that I BBQ'd with a few other stuff that really is not important.

I let the wine breathe for about ten minutes or less, I mean it is 10 years old and should be perfect right? Right! Once the cork came out Nicole asked what that smell was. It was the smell of dedication and love. Rich cherry notes with a helping of blackberry and some spices. On the palate it was like we were drinking liquid silk with some great fruit notes and light tannins. Perfectly balanced does not sum up the quality of this wine! The finish lasted for around a minute then it was back to the glass. We each got two good sized glasses and it was done.

If Piero Busso was on the stock exchange I would invest my life savings and live of the interest. It is that good. Sadly I just went to his website and noticed that the San Stefanetto was not listed as one of the vineyards used. Although this saddens me, this will not stop me from buying more of his wine. Matter fact Nicole and I are planning on a trip there and will be stocking up on all his reds for drinking in the future (with us tasting before we buy anything of course, just cause I love a producer does not mean I will not taste before I buy. Just a simple rule I live by).

I leave you with this thought...Whenever you try a wine that you like, DO NOT say you will come back to get more or just think about it! You will forget and a once in a lifetime chance of pleasure will skip you by. Don't just buy a few bottles. Somehow pick at least a case for the cellar cause you know you will drink a few bottles by the time you find another wine you need and by then the first wine will be gone. This is not a sales pitch but just some friendly wine nerd advice.

Cheers.

Santo

2008 Northwest Cellars Merlot $18/ Northwest Cellars Tasting

Decent in color and less Merlot to the nose than I normally look for. There was a pretty good amount of olive juice and smoke. I like less oak since it tends to bring out less for Merlot but it was not bad just not my cup of tea. I can see how people would like this and it would go well with a lot of dishes. Hell, I bet if you give a few more years in the bottle it will calm the acidity and tannins a bit. I bet I'd like it more then. Still though pretty decent juice for the price.

2007 Nothrwest Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon $24/Northwest Cellars Tasting

First off let me say that the price for a nice Cab from Washington State should be around $24. That being said, at first glance this gem was nothing I had not seen before. Red wine, nice legs with little stains in it so good viscosity. Then I put my snout in her. There was a stink that made me want to know more about the wine. The wine itself is 80% Cab, 10% Petit Verdot and 10% Cab Franc and sourced from Les Collines Vineyard out of Walla Walla so this wasn't like I was trying something new yet I was picking up more dried flowers and wet herbs than normal. I did just blow my nose about an hour or so before so I know it was working OK. Cooked rhubarb and loads of dirt were to follow. On the palate it was pretty full-bodied yet not powerful enough to want to put down. If I had to give this any points I'd give it a zero since I don't give point. Finish was nice and even hung around. We are talking about a $24 Cab from home that I was impressed with. Yup its going to the shop. Now why are all the other wines from Walla Walla so much more money? Hmmm...

2007 Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo $14

When I was in NJ and consulting for a wine shop there, I used to buy this wine in cases of 10. For one to get a good deal on it but also because people would buy me out every week. It's been over 3 years since my palate had tasted this and since we were looking for a quick red to go with some BBQ burgers, we decided on it.

As soon as the cork came out I could smell the stink. It was the stink of love. Some nice toasty notes with blackberries and light hints of dried leather. On the palate it reminded me of drinking wine with my grandpa Trino while we were hunting. Rich is flavor yet slicker than snot on a brass door knob. The finish was very easy and begs you to take another sip. Matter fact, right after it was opened I poured some in Nicole's glass, left mine so I could toss the meat on the grill and Nicole yelled out...Great wine babe! Came back in and took a sip. She was right. It was really great wine and at a fraction of the cost. This will be on the shelf at the shop. Hell, I'll take the whole Masciarelli line for that matter.

Maybe I could get some large format bottles for weddings and special occasions?

2009 Urban Uco Torrontes $12

I've actually had this wine many times just not this vintage and since it has been getting hotter in the Seattle area we figured why the hell not? Now my previous notes are ones of joy and delight but I found the 2009 a bit off or just to damn acidic. Nice and crisp but with a thud of an aftertaste of acidity in the back of your throat or in this case mine and Nicole's throat. Did have the pear notes but it was more like an unripe pear and some kind of rhine or peel that was kinda nasty. It was a bit cold when we first dove in and since it was hot out it helped a little but then the aftertaste stuck around. Maybe both of us were having on off day?

2010 Patterson Cellars Late Harvest Roussanne $20/ 375ml

About 2 months ago Nicole and I received this wine as a gift from someone and we had been waiting for a good time to open it. Over this last weekend her family came up for the weekend and on Thursday night Nicole was busy making a cheesecake. It was a toss up between the Single Berry Select and the late harvest Roussanne and Patterson Cellars won the coin toss.

After I cracked her open I could tell there was some good juice in there. The first thing Nicole said was "wow" and I tended to agree with her as did everyone else in the room. On the nose it was like sniffing pears that were not quite ripe yet with some light floral notes. On the palate the pear was there again but this time was ripe and ready to play. Solid structure with great balance and acidity. There was even a little hint of frizzante lingering around. Overall this is a great wine and I'll be bringing this into the shop fo sho! The pair up with homemade cheesecake matched very well and I might even drizzle a little of some ice cream someday. Solid!

2004 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino $96/ Vinifera Tasting

Let me start of by saying how the price I put of $96 is in Washington State but if you do a search for the same wine in another state it will come up as around $56. Oh how we love this three-tier system in this state!

This is a great example of a traditional Brunello di Montalicino. Great nose of dried flowers, light herbs with a hint of vanilla and wild berries. Pretty full-bodied yet could use a year or so in the bottle to calm down. Tannins are firm but with a little air they seemed to mellow some. This is what I'd call the "full belly sit down" kind of wine. Good juice.

Syncline Winery Visit

So after 10+ years, one ex-wife, about 200+ miles, and Nicole driving through the canyons like Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull F1 Racing Team) I had made it or I should say, we had made it. Due to my great map skills we drove past the road that would take us to the winery and instead drove for another 8 miles along the Columbia River. There is a very small sign that tells you the winery is on the right but once you're heading down the road you cant miss it...OK I can miss it.

We were trying to get there on Friday so I could watch James bottle up some sparkling wine but due to us being so tired we decided to take the Saturday visit instead. James and Poppie were in town at a festival but that was OK, we decided to walk around the winery and snap a few shots of the grounds. Goes to show what you can do with a very little winery and a couple who truly loves what they do.

The wines are not in order but you get the idea.

2010 Syncline Rosé $18

I mean you can get a pretty sure shot of light strawberries and light wet rock but is pretty crisp on the palate. The blend is: 33% Pinot Noir/ 17% Grenache/ 17% Cinsault/ 15% Carignan. This is a "real" Rosé.

2009 Syncline Roussanne $30

Have you ever cut a fresh lemon and taken a big whiff? If so that is what you will smell. Not kidding, I don't know what they do in the cellar and honestly I don't care as long as they keep doing it. The Roussanne only lasted 48 hrs.

2009 Syncline Subduction Red $18

This is the daily dinner wine that everyone will enjoy. Rich and juicy with some good tree fruit on the palate. Tannins are smooth and send you wanting more. Really...this is a great table wine. Next time you have dinner guest tell them you have this wine but don't give them the name. Decant it and serve. Then ask what they think. This will blow their minds when they find out it is only a $18 bottle.

2009 Syncline McKinley Springs Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills $30

This thing will stain your clothes. Trust me, it did me in pretty well. Has a great nose of homemade blackberry jam with some good spices and even a little fresh ground coffee. On the palate this thing is soft with loads of character. Really, this is a wine where you buy a case and let it sit and drink a bottle every 6 months. Nicole and I loved it!

2008 Syncline Mourvedre $30

So this was the chicken dinner winner for us. On the nose it was mind blowing. Spices all over the place, coffee and ground black pepper with a huge mouth feel but not enough to turn it into a Parker wine but that layered stuff. It kept changing and once I looked over at Nicole and she said we needed some of these I knew I was in trouble. Why it is when ever Nicole tastes a grape that is grown in the CDP region she all of a sudden needs that wine? It's like a drug. Being that James and Poppie know how to handle this grape, that would make them a drug dealer right? OK kidding. The wine is great and I grabbed 1 bottle of the 12 or so they had left. When I got home and looked on their site www.synclinewinery.com and the Mourvedre was all gone. It was that good.

2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcno $100/ Vinifera Tasting

This is one of those wines you want to try with friends. You will be the hit of the party as you should for opening this beauty. Although the price in the State of Washington is a bit much due to the 3-tier system, it is still one of those wines that makes your head spin. On the nose there was some pretty rich tree-fruit with a helping of spices. Palate-wise the tannins were still pretty firm yet had a sweet style to them. Seemed to last for over a minute until the next sip. I sometimes regret bringing Nicole to these tastings with me as she has a great palate and tends to like wines like this. I can almost see her writing '6-pack' next to her notes. Oh well, I keep telling myself it is an investment that I will never see a return on cause we'll drink them all up. This is a beauty.