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?