1994 Cristal, 1995 Chateau Gazin and 2001 Pahlmeyer

We spent last weekend at Lake Tahoe with good friends who brought a magnum of the 1995 Chateau Gazin, Pomerol, Bordeaux Blend (among others). It was opened a couple of hours prior to dinner and at first we thought the wine was a little bit off and did not particularly enjoy it. We wondered if it could have gone past it's peak. However after enjoying some champagne, 1994 Cristal Champagne, Louis Roederer, (that unfortunately according to my palate was past it's peak) we revisited and discovered a major improvement.

But first, let's back up to the 1994 Cristal Louis Roederer. It had a relatively dark straw color with a beautiful stream of small bubbles rushing up the glass. The nose showed dominent aromas of green apple, with citrus and slight caramel notes, accompanied by the traditional yeast and earth components. Our friends insisted on chocolate/mocha notes but I could not pick it up. I wish we would have opened this bottle a couple of years ago at what point I think it would have been more vivid and "refreshing". Never the less a great champagne that you don't have the opportunity to enjoy to often...

Find it at WineZap.com from $369.90.

After breathing for a little bit over 4 hours the 1995 Chateau Gazin Pomerol was starting to come into it's right. Deep ruby red in the glass with a slight brick color. The nose surprisingly vivid with fruit and berries, backed by spice and oak. The palate showing more restrained and subtle fruit with currant, cherry and raspberry, along with earth, smoke and a meaty quality. A medium to full bodied wine with refined, elegant, medium length finish. Certainly a wine that is best enjoyed with a meal. In this case a whole roasted beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce, roasted beets, pureed parsnips, and a cauliflower-broccoli- spinach gratin.

Find it at Wine-Searcher.com from $82.99 for a 750 ml bottle.

After the Pomerol we moved on to a 2001 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red, Napa Valley. This wine is made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petite Verdot, and 1% Malbec. Aged in 100% new French Oak and the bottled unfined and unfiltered.

This wine showed massive, lush fruit on the nose with dark cherry, black raspberry, blackberry and heavy vanilla. The palate did not disappoint. Dark cherry, black currant, blackberry with earthy smoke, made us all happy. Full bodied with well integrated tannins and good acidity. This powerful wine was a great end to the evening and perfect with my Maldon and vanilla salt topped fudge brownies with vanilla bean ice cream.

Find this beauty at WineZap.com from $102. Definitely worth it's price.

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Vino Volo and Caymus Vineyards 2005 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Going to Las Vegas last weekend our flight out of Sacramento was delayed for 4 hours, which gave us plenty of time to kill in the airport's wine bar, Vino Volo. Vino Volo is a chain of airport wine bars with five current locations; Seattle, Sacramento, Washington DC, Baltimore and New York, and with plans to expand and open many more locations in the upcoming year.
Having the option to visit Vino Volo made me very excited as airport food and drinks, in general, gives me the shivers... Vino Volo adds a touch of sophistication with good quality wine by flight, glass or bottle. Small plates are also served. We tried the cheese plate, chicken panini and the New York skewers with mashed potatoes and peas. All a step above all other airport food I have ever had.

I started of with the Pinot Noir wine flight featuring a California pinot from the Molnar Family 2005 Poseidon's Vineyard, from France the Louis Latour 2002 VOLNAY, and from New Zealand the Nevis Bluff 2003 Pinot Noir. A nice flight showcasing the many faces of Pinot Noir.

Not having killed enough time it was time for a second flight, this time the California Syrah. From Mendocino County came Saracina 2003 Estate, from Dry Creek Valley the Olson Ogden 2005 Unti Vineyard, and from Russian River Valley the Mesics-Tomerlin 2000 Timbervine Ranch, a small production wine according to the staff, and a favorite at our table.

Having an additional hour before boarding we decided to hit it big and ordered in a bottle of the Caymus Vineyards 2005 Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. We were on our way to Vegas after all. Why not start celebrating early? Cost was $165 plus a $12 corkage fee. Not to bad for retail price. Best price online I can find after brief research is $139.99 at Wine-Searcher.com.

On to the wine. Deep dark red/purple in the glass, and tons of big fruit on the nose with black cherry, dark raspberry and blackberry. On the palate the fruit and berries are equally big and intense with cherry, plum, blackberry, black currant and a hint of dark chocolate. Surprisingly smooth with soft tannins showing a green edge that hits at the end of the palate, with the long lush fruit notes.

I thought this would be to young to drink but it actually was very approachable thanks to the softer tannins. The fruit is definitely overpowering the tannins at this point, but with age I expect that the two will become more balanced. This is certainly a wine to enjoy now and in the future.

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Domaine A. et P. De Villaine 2004 Mercurey Les Montots

Domaine A. et P. Villane is located in Bouzeron, Cote Chalonnaise, Burgundy. All the grapes at the Domaine is organically farmed and has been certified since 1986 by Qualice-France. They are hand harvested and thoroughly sorted by hand. To truly capture the terroir the vinification is natural, they only use a small percentage of new oak barrels, and the wine is bottled unfiltered. The Villaines are also co-owner of the highly regarded Domaine de la Romanee-Conti.
The 2004 Mercurey Les Montots has a dark red ruby color in the glass. It has green vegetables on the nose that gives way to raspberry and cherry after letting it sit in the glass for 30 min. On the palate: cherries, tart red berries, earth and a kind of gamey taste with great high acidity and medium firm tannins. This wine definitely will benefit from some time in the bottle, or if drinking it now, decant it an hour or so before enjoying it.
I really liked this Burgundy and think the price is fair at $35. After doing some limited research on-line I can not find it through my usual resources. I bought this bottle at Enoteca Wine Shop in Calistoga.

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Morbier

It's been a long time but here is finally a new cheese review...
This time I have tried a French Semi-soft cheese made from pasteurized cow milk, the Morbier du Haut Libradois. This is a stinky cream/ivory colored cheese with a layer of gray ash in the middle.
In the old days the bottom layer was made from the evenings milk and was covered with a layer of ash to prevent a rind from forming during the night, and to keep flies away. The morning after the top layer was added, made from the morning's milk, and then the cheese was aged for about 3 months.
Opposite to the stinky exterior the taste of the cheese is pretty mild to medium bold and has a nice nutty flavor to it. This is definately an interesting addition to any cheese plate.

I happend to find it at my local supermarket, Safeway, but if you can't find it locally, buy it online at www.artisanalcheese.com.

Cheese from heaven

One of my favorite brie-style cheeses is St. Andre. It is a soft ripened triple cream from France. It is made from cows milk and enriched with pure cream. That gives this cheese a very soft buttery texture. It is lush, creamy and ripe, and goes best with a bland cracker.
When pairing beverage with it choose a rose wine or an ale. It is so rich and buttery that it can make a white wine seem sour.
This is not a cheese that you can normally find at you local supermarket. Whole Foods Market is a great resource for cheese and other gourmet food, www.wholefoodsmarket.com. Or you can order it online at www.cheesesupply.com. Reserve a spot for it on your cheese tray next time you have guests over and I promise you will not be disappointed over this melt in you mouth cheese.