Bob Bacco Wine Guy: what is in the back of your fridge?

Bob Bacco Wine Guy: what is in the back of your fridge?: "I found a bottle of 2004 Terlaner Nova Domus Riserva in the back of my fridge last night and thought, what the heck, how bad could it be? It..."

Weekend at Bernie's

I recently had two wines from Chateau de Bertinerie, Cotes de Bordeaux. Both were from the 2006 vintage and labeled as cru reserve. First up: the 100% Sauvignon Blanc. A lush nose leads you to complex citrus flavors and subtle fruit. This wine is aged in all new oak, which is balanced out by the acidity for a nicely structured finish. Then came the 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 60% Merlot. This is a classic French blend with good structure and aromatics, along with a nice helping of red fruits, but a little too spicy in the finish to have on its own. So invite some friends over (or rent them) and make a hardy stew, get some crusty French bread, and dip away until there is no more.

don't hate on it because it's French

May I start by saying wow?! The 2005 Domaine De La Citadelle Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best under $20 cabs I have had recently. The package on this wine could use some pep, but the wine inside is alright by me. Just a hint of cedar on the nose with a subtle hint of the black fruits to come. On your palate, you get black cherry and cassis and the end just lingers with an ever-so-smokey, fall-off-the-bone finish. A Wine Guy Favorite.

Piemontese table wine for cheap dollars

Renowned producer Paolo Scavino has a 2007 Rosso Vino da Tavolo (red table wine) that you can afford to share with people you somewhat like. The wine is a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The clean lines on this wine remind you of a sports car: really good to look at, but much more fun to drive. Medium in body, fresh, and bright, this wine has something for everyone. A Wine Guy Value.

Yet another LaPosta Malbec

The 2008 LaPosta Cocina Malbec is a fine example of the fruit-driven wines of this area.
But don't expect big, juicy, in-your-face sweet and sticky. When you open the wine and pour it into your vessel of choice, you will get soft red berries on the the nose and violets and blueberries gently tumbling down your tongue. On the finish you get a hint of the 20% new oak barrels used to age this wine for ten months.

2008 Crios Chardonnay, not a winner

Susana Balbo produces some of my favorite wines from Argentina, but not this time. The 2008 Chardonnay is not a winner; it lack cohesion. Unlike her other wines, which all have balance and ripe fruit that you enjoy immediately, this guy sucker-punches you with too much oak and no fruit or acidity. Give this one to your old boss when you quit your job, just so he knows how much you think of him.

Wine Guy Has News

Hi everyone - Sorry that I have not been keeping up with my blog. Trust me when I say that I have been keeping up with my wine "tasting" duties - the sacrifices I am willing to make for you.
Now to my news (drum roll please)...(wait for it): I have left my old position working for Deluca's Market to start my own wine and cheese store. (Pause for adulation.) I have thought about doing this off and on over the years, but I was always content with my situation. Then things change and I was force to put up or shut up. So coming this fall you will find me at Bacco's Wine & Cheese in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. Keep checking back here - I will post more details as they are finalized.

Mapema Sauvingnon Blanc

The 2009 Mapema Sauvignon Blanc is a gem. This wine has notes of red grapefruit, but does not suck the life out of your face like some others that I have had. The texture is on the rich side for a 100% sauvignon blanc, and the finish is light and crisp, with hints of honey and lemon. A Wine Guy Favorite

what is in the back of your fridge?

I found a bottle of 2004 Terlaner Nova Domus Riserva in the back of my fridge last night and thought, what the heck, how bad could it be? It was a blend of 60% Pinot Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine showed nothing at first glance, so I decided to let it start warming up, and that's when it came to life. Over the course of the evening there were peaches, pears, citrus notes, and stoic minerality - the flavors just kept coming. What a stupendous bottle of wine. A Wine Guy Yeah Baby. And now I am off to do some more fridge diving.

Ridge Vineyards

Tried four wines with Eric Baugher, winemaker at Ridge Vineyards. First was their 2007 Santa Cruz Chardonnay. This wine has great balance and nice acidity. The grapes were grown in limestone and that really shows through on the finish. This wine needs time to mellow.

Next we had the 2006 East Bench Zinfandel. This wine is 100% Zinfandel, and you know it is right from the nose to the finish. This wine screams Zin without being over the the top; it is reserved and well-made in keeping with the Ridge style.

Then came the 2007 Lytton Springs. Fluctuating aromas lead to a structured wine that would be awesome with a grilled ribeye. Oh baby.

Finally we had the 2006 Monte Bello. Oak hits you in the face, good old American oak. The wine is a rich purple that almost reflects your desire to dive in. Cassis flavor is layered with dark fruits and toast - did I mention the oak , good old American oak, that comes back on the supple finish? I put a half glass off to the side and found it today. Wow, what great stuff. A Wine Guy Favorite.

Wines of Torii Mor

Today I tasted with Margie Olson, owner of Torii Mor. First, we tried a barrel sample of the 2009 Pinot Gris: pear and green apple flavors, with crisp acidity. A nice bottle of wine.

Then we had three pinot noirs. First up was the 2007 "Black Label." This wine is well-balanced with an abundance of cherries and a nice hint of spice on the finish. Next was the 2006 "Eola-Amity Hills." This had a ripe red color and swirls of red berry flavors - a wine that hints at more to come with time. Third was the 2006 "Deux Verres." I tasted dark cherries and other dark fruit. The wine was lush and rich. When I first tasted it, I thought, "Wow, where's the finish on a wine this rich and lush, not to mention with such a great color?" All the sudden, there it was - surprise, I'm back! A Wine Guy Favorite.

Argentian and Spanish delight

Had two great reds today. First was the Alfredo Roca Pinot Noir 2009. Deep Purple was a great band, but this had the deepest purple tones. This wine had really rich flavors, such as dark cherry and some plum, to match the color. The finish just lingers. A Wine Guy Favorite.

Next came the Bodegas Ondarre Reserva 2004 Rioja, a blend of tempranillo and mazuelo. Spicy notes on the nose, rich and harmonious, with many hidden layers. Needs to open so I would give it an hour. A Wine Guy Favorite.

Angelini wine selections

Today I tried some Italian wines. First there were two whites: the 2008 Gavi La Battistina, made from 100% cortese, was a pleasant little wine with peach and pear hints, a bit acidic on the finish. Next was the 2008 Vernaccia Palagetto, a soft wine, not much to it.

On to the reds. The Piazzo 2008 Barbera DOC was very classic in structure, medium in body, and firm in the end. The 2008 Valpolicella Classico Corte Rugolin: too many grapes to list, but the label distracts you from a good bottle of red. It was hard to stop looking at, like a bad reality show. Anyway, the berries intermix in a brilliant way. A Wine Guy Value.

The 2007 Chianti Colli Senesi Il Palgetto consisted of 90% sangiovese, 5% colorino, and 5% merlot. Lots of flavor here, with a long finish. A Wine Guy Best Buy. Last on the tasting menu was the 2005 Sottobosco: earthy , rustic , dark. A Wine Guy Eh - not my favorite.

Not a fan of the hills

Tried some of the Penfold's Koonunga Hills wines one more time. The last time I do that! First up was the 2007 Chardonnay. The citrus flavors fight with the oak, and the wine has no balance. Number two, and this would be an apt description of this wine, was the 2006 Cabernet/Merlot blend. This wine is bitter and thin. Last and I mean least was the 2006 Shiraz: light on the berries, with a surprisingly sharp finish. NEVER AGAIN!

Aussie treat for me

I gave myself a treat last night, Mitolo "Savitor" 2007 shiraz from McLaren Vale. This is a lot of wine. It's dark and sexy in color with toasty oak leading the way. Then rich blueberries and other dark fruits assembled to make for a lasting moment. Dense and thick, it really leaves a mark - on your tongue and on your mind.

Bolgheri Wines from Michele Satta

Tasted three of Michele Satta's wines today with him. The first was the Costa Di Giulia, 65% vermentino, 35% sauvignon blanc. Wow! Someone finally figured out that vermitino should be blended with sauvignon blanc (and tell people about it). This wine had great balance and the vermentino was immediately apparent. It started as a classic coastal Italian white, but then came the white flowers and a richness that masks the hint of sweetness, which pings you in the end. A Wine Guy Value.

Then we had the Bolgheri Rosso, 30% cabernet,30% sangiovese, 20% merlot, 10% syrah, 10% teroldego. This is a well-made wine that will accompany any pasta you might be having nicely. Medium in body, with light plum and some orange peel.

Last we tried the Piastraia Bolgheri Rosso. Merlot, cabernet, sangiovese, and syrah are equally represented in this wine. It is classic old world, leathery, earthy (smells and tastes like old shoes, but in that good, promising way), and it needs time before it will show its true colors. I have a glass waiting for me; it promises to show me more. Don't wait up.

A couple of Sardinians

Tasted two wines from Sardinia. The first was 2008 Pala Vermentino Crabilis di Sardegne DOC. This wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks, where it rests before bottling. Should have taken it out sooner; the wine is flat and lacks inspiration. The second, the 2007 Pala Cannonau di Sardegne DOC, is more like it. This wine has depth and dimension. Dark fruits like plum lead to an earthy finish. This is a good example of cannonau, which is closely related to grenache.

Tasting with Jean Luc Colombo

Recently I had the pleasure of tasting the wines of Jean Luc Colombo winery with Jean Luc himself. As we tasted through the wines, he told me about his approach to winemaking. He says that he works to keep the alcohol level down, so that there is less of the juicy, jammy fruit to distract from the floral notes. I have always been a fan of fruit, but in going though the lineup, it became clear what he was going for. The wines are very appealing and approachable.

The first wines we tried were from a property that he rents in southern France. The Viognier la Violette 2008 had exotic fruits flavors and a fresh finish. This is a well-made wine, but I admit that viognier does not really appeal to me. Next came the Syrah la Violette 2008: deep in color, with violet nose. This is where the lower alcohol came in to play - it allowed the wine to show a richness that you don’t normally find in a wine at this price point. A Wine Guy Value.

Then we moved on to the southern Rhone. First up was the Les Abeilles white 2008, a surprising lush white with a hint of spice on its crisp finish. Next was the Les Abeilles rouge 2007, a blend of one-third grenache, one-third syrah, and one-third mourvèdre. This wine has a great color with round, rich berry flavors and a lot of red fruit on the nose. A Wine Guy Best Buy.

I don’t want to forget about the bright little rosé Cape Bleue 2009, 50-50 syrah-mourvedre blend. I tasted a bit of raspberry mixing with an air of peach; the finish is supple and dry. This wine would be great with fresh-caught seafood. Then came the Les Forots Cotes Du Rhone 2006, 100 percent syrah from 65-year-old vines. This is not your father’s Cotes Du Rhone – the wine is balanced, rich, layered in flavors, and has a finish that beckons for more. A Wine Guy Favorite.

The next wine was an interesting contrast to the others, given what Jean Luc had said about lowering the alcohol in his wines. His Chateauneuf Du Pape Les Bartavelles 2006, the same blend as Les Abeilles Rouge, was more forceful then the previous wines. I tasted more dark, jammy fruit, and thought that it had a less than subtle finish as compared to the other wines. A real meat and potato companion, it felt out of place in the lineup to me. I did like it though…maybe I’ll have to try again to make sure?

Wine should be fun

To me, wine needs to be demystified. I'm not saying it shouldn't be taken seriously, just that you can have fun with it, and no, I don't mean let's get crazy, haha. It's a great way to start a conversation with someone, or a reason to leave one that's not quite what you hoped for. Sort of like this blog. I think too many people believe wine needs to be of a certain pedigree, cost more than the average wine drinker makes and be worth locking away, only to be ogled, and later auctioned off to show how great a collector they are. Instead of "collecting" wine, you should collect friends to share a great bottle and a great conversation. Wine is fun and should be enjoyed.