Author Archives: The Fermented Fruit

Novellum Chardonnay | Your House Chard Has Arrived

4 Replies

Domaine Lafage Novellum Chardonnay

Novellum Chardonnay

With summer right around the corner it’s time to break out the white wine! There’s something about this time of year that has wanting Rosé, Spanish Cava, Italian Prosecco, Sauvignon Blanc, Vinho Verde, Albarino and of course, Chardonnay!

Whether it be an aperitif, paired with an alfresco meal or simply to sip on the patio with friends, summer calls for something crisp and refreshing. Does the Novellum Chardonnay 2013, a custom cuvee brought to us by the talented Jean-Marc Lafage of Domaine Lafage winery and veritable power-importer Eric Solomon, get the job done at a decent price? Let’s find out…

Continue reading →

Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

2 Replies

Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Clos Pegase Cabernet

Today we’re highlighting a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon I’ve discovered from Clos Pegase Winery via Wines Til Sold Out. Located in the northern section of Napa Valley, just outside of Calistoga, the owners of Clos Pegase sought to create a world-class destination where wine would be celebrated as one of many art forms.

The winery itself is it’s own piece of artwork. 96 architects entered into a competition to design the winery, with Michael Graves winning the hard fought competition. The winery has become a destination for those who appreciate fine artwork and first-class hospitality. But I’m getting distracted… Can you tell I want to visit? Let’s get back on track and pop the cork on the Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 2009!

Continue reading →

Balbas Reserva 2001

6 Replies

Balbas Reserva 2001

Balbas Reserva 2001

The Balbas Winery was founded in 1777 in the Ribera del Duero wine-growing region of Spain. The estate vineyards consist of 222 acres of hand picked Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.

Balbas Winery believes that yields from their estate vineyards should be kept low while utilizing various techniques such as green pruning to yield a better crop. Their style of wine-making is one that exercises restraint and honors the local wine-making traditions of the Ribera del Duero region. Let’s pop the cork and give the Balbas Reserva 2001 a try!

Continue reading →

Meerlust Rubicon Review | Meerlust Estate Winery

Leave a reply

Meerlust Rubicon 2007 | Meerlust Estate Winery

Meerlust Estate Rubicon

Since 1756 and under the stewardship of eight generations of the Myburgh family the Meerlust Estate has been producing world-class wine in Stellenbosch, South Africa – namely the Meerlust Rubicon. It’s predominantly clay soils engender vines that are cooled by evening ocean air in the summertime, allowing for optimal growing conditions and slowly ripening fruit.

The idea to craft ‘Rubicon” on the estate, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, was inspired by Nico Myburgh’s time in Bordeaux. He identified that the terroir of the Eerste River Valley in South Africa was similar to that of Bordeaux’s Gironde River, being composed of clay and granite soils cooled by sea breezes.

Continue reading →

Tin Roof Merlot Review | Decent Merlot for $5?

1 Reply

Tin Roof Merlot | Tin Roof Cellars

Tin Roof Merlot

Sometimes you need a no-nonsense, wallet friendly wine that doesn’t require too much thought but still tastes good. Whether it be your weeknight wine or a great bargain red to pair with pizza, it can be challenging to find quality reds in the $10 and under category. Enter the Tin Roof Merlot 2009!

Continue reading →

Swanson Vineyards Napa Valley: 2008 Oakville Merlot Review

1 Reply

Swanson Merlot Review

Do you drink Merlot?

Probably not if you’ve seen the movie Sideways.  Let’s assume that most wine drinkers have both seen the blockbuster movie Sideways starring Paul Giamiatti and Virginia Madsen and that they have had a glass of Merlot at least one time in their life. Those who saw Sideways might recall that the movie was not at all kind to this specific varietal.

Continue reading →

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Napa Valley: Right Bank 2011 Review

11 Replies

Anderson's Conn Valley Right Bank Review

Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards’ former winemaker, Mac Sawyer, sadly passed away recently. Working together with founding winemaker Todd Anderson (Mac was brought on when Todd created the ultra-exclusive Ghost Horse Label) the estate produced world class wines which earned high scores and were widely recognized for their exceptional quality. His legacy lives on in the wines being produced today.

It was he who had interned at Chateau Cheval Blanc, one of the most famous wine producing estates in the world. Remember the wine Miles’ character coveted in the movie Sideways? It was a bottle of 1961 Cheval Blanc. The irony here is that despite his profound distaste for Merlot, Cheval Blanc’s annual composition is almost always at least a quarter Merlot.

Continue reading →

Seavey Vineyard Napa Valley: 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Review

7 Replies

Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Review | Seavey Vineyard

Seavey Cabernet

On our recent trip to Napa Valley during harvest we made it a point to visit Seavey Vineyard. I’ve long been a fan of their under the radar age-worthy Cabernet and wanted to see their operation and taste their current releases, especially their flagship wine: The Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009.

I left Seavey Vineyard with delicious estate Cabernet and Merlot to take home and enjoy. But that wasn’t all we took home. We had an intimate one on one experience with Dorie Seavey, the daughter of William Seavey who founded Seavey Vineyard.

Continue reading →

Bodegas Alta Pavina Citius Pinot Noir 2009

8 Replies

Alta Pavina Pinot Noir 2009 | Bodegas Alta Pavina

Bodegas Alta Pavina Citius Pinot Noir 2009

What do you get when you grow the revered and fickle Pinot Noir varietal in the now overachieving wine growing region of Spain under the auspices of legendary wine consultant Claude Bourguignon? I present to you the Bodegas Alta Pavina Citius Pinot Noir 2009.

Spain is a wine producing region that was once known more for the volume of wine it produced rather that the quality of the wine it produced. Fortunately for us wine consumers, that has significantly changed and Spain has been a consistent source of high quality values for years.

Continue reading →

Chateau Figeac 1990

Leave a reply

Chateau Figeac 1990

Chateau Figeac 1990

In this edition of “Great Wines with Great Friends” we take a look at a nice mature Bordeaux from an interesting Right Bank producer. With 40 hectares of vineyards, Chateau Figeac is the largest producer in Saint-Émilion and one of the most well known estates. It is not to be confused with the other 151 Chateau throughout France whose name includes “Figeac”. It’s wine carries the Premier Grand Cru Classé (Class B) classification within the Saint-Émilion ranking system.

Continue reading →

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...