18th Annual Central Carolina Food & Wine Festival
Medallion Center, Columbia, SC.
Tasted Tuesday, April 17, 2012 by Mike Kopanski with 677 views
Introduction
This is the premier wine tasting in Columbia, SC. The wineries, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers all put forth their best combined effort. The tasting is organized by tables, supported by sponsors. As a guest, we usually jump all over the place, meeting friends, grabbing things to eat, so there is little need, and to honest, it is quite difficult to organize tasting notes in any credible order of flights. Even though we are serious about tasting and reviewing wines, the object of attending these events is to have fun. I wish I had planned my trip around the room in a manner where I could have used the tables as flights, and give some recognition to those who donated their wine and time. Maybe next year.
Flight 1 (24 Notes)
Closing
There were 150 wines listed to taste. Most of the tables had a "sleeper" or 2 hidden for those with enough sense to ask. There were also 3 tables of craft beer. I tasted a lot more wines than could make credible notes about.
2009 Apaltagua Carménère 89 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
This is really good Carmenere. They added about 10% Cabernet, which helped smooth things out. This is one of Chilean Carmenere's that does not have tons of those rustic tree root and black tea flavors and aromas. It still has it's own unique contribution to tastiness. On the nose, and the palate there is a very inviting menthol, eucalyptus, and brown spice that enhances the fruit while not overpowering. The fruit is big and chewy blackberry and blueberry. Plenty of those secondary flavors like tobacco, leather, and earth. Solid mid palate. Vibrant, civilized acidity. They did not spare the oak, and another year of bottle age would help. The finish actually tastes like grapes, with some vanilla, graphite, and black cherry.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Apaltagua Carménère Grial 91 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
This is easily the best Carmenere I have ever tasted. At $54 on discount, it is also the most expensive, and it better be tasty. There is an extreme amount of concentration, most likely from old vines and low yields. You can tell they cold soaked the grapes before fermentation, and let them macerate a little after fermentation. This kind of attention to great wine making can make any grape taste good, but is especially welcome with this reserve Carmenere, that does not display those hard to describe off flavors we often get from Chilean Carmenere. This wine is focused, clean, well made, and sharp. The color is almost opaque. The nose is complex with earthy black fruit, plenty of minerals, As typical, there are all kinds of those rustic, earthy, tree bark flavors behind the big black fruit, and especially black cherry on the palate. Just past medium bodied. Earthy and spicy. Complete, still a little young. Big French oak that can only get better with time. Complex finish with red raspberry starting out, but getting darker and more brooding towards tobacco, black licorice, graphite, and blackberry. Wow!
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Soléna Pinot Noir Grande Cuvée 89 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Probably made with lots of whole cluster fermentation, this wine come across as very soft, fruity, and elegant while still having some serious structure. Perfect purple Pinot color. The nose is plum, black cherry, blueberry, and spice. The fruit is layered with one level soft blue fruit like boysenberry, then more aggressive mulberry and blackberry, finished with some black cherry. Quite lively and explosive. Nicely balanced. A pretty good hit of oak. Cute little tannins. Nice finish with graphite, cinnamon, brown spice, and black cherry.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Justin Vineyards & Winery Sauvignon Blanc 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Not exactly typical by Napa, Sonoma, Northern California aroma and flavor profiles. Possibly typical (need more research) by Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc flavors. There is more of that rustic earthiness than more northern grown grapes. This wine has a lot more of that racy, explosive, grapefruit and lemon/lime peel and pulp taste. There also is pronounced flavor of clementine. The style, if not the flavor, is more like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The color is light golden. The nose is all tropical fruit with a light grassy aroma. Pretty serious, intense, zesty fruit across the palate, with decent viscosity. Plenty of bracing acidity. The finish is slightly green, very dry and mouth cleansing.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Landmark Pinot Noir Grand Detour 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
My notes call this Pinot Noir with an attitude. Parker mentions "overwhelming aromatics". This is real Pinot. At $34.95 it is a little outside our daily wine drinking budget, so this was a real treat to taste. The color is dark and intense for a Pinot. I got gingerbread and big brown spice on the nose with some earthy strong and intense ripe black cherry. The fruit is solid and structured black cherry with some ripe plum. Plenty of those secondary, enhancing flavors like wet leaves, mushroom, brown spice, black tea, and tree bark. Balanced and complete, nice acidity, but still rounded and smooth. Really a step up in concentration from what we normally drink. Some pretty serious tannis. Nice job with just the right amount of oak. Big long finish with more wet earth and black cherry.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Gallo Family Vineyards / Gallo of Sonoma Pinot Noir Signature Series Santa Lucia Highlands 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
This is the real thing. Say what you want about the Gallo's when they try to make good wine, drink it. With her signature on the bottle, Gina can use the family's (and her husband's) unending fortune to find the best grapes, and make the best wine. I've heard there are only a few places in California that actually have limestone, which Pinot Noir and Cahrdonnay love, and Santa Lucia Highlands is one of those places. The first thing my notes say is cultured; this tastes like expensive Pinot. As if we were in a dream about good Pinot, the color is textbook, can see your 2 fingers, but just barely. We have the barnyard on the nose, but this is California, so the big red and black fruit is the dominant aroma. On the entry, the fruit is a little tight. One reason is big oak, another reason is simply youthful. Ripe, but not overextracted fruit. Cute little tannins. Very balanced and integrated already, but surely will improve with some bottle age. Very subtle, the fruit, tannins, alcohol, and oak sneak up on you toward the back of the palate. I would think a couple hours of decanting will really reveal the soul of this wine, and gain it a point or two. The finish is really smooth with red licorice, and some dusty little persistent tannins. Very nice.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Most of my favorite tasting California Cabernet's come from Alexander Valley. It is warm there, but somehow the growing conditions and wine making bring us 14.5% alcohol Cabernet, that seems to be balanced. I'm also a big fan Louis M Martini Cabernets from wherever they produce them. We always get good value for our money. This one is not as dark in color as their Napa Cab. It has the feeling of more a percentage of red fruit influence also. Crimson red color. The nose is clean and ripe, fresh red fruits, like red raspberry, with violets. The fruit has quite an earthy component as it crosses the palate. It has some decent structure with almost full bodied, lanolin and oily features. Very well extracted, the fruit just explodes as it enters the palate. Not shy with the oak, and rather young, we can look for this wine to develop nicely with some bottle age. The lingering finish has some tannins with pure red raspberry, graphite, minerals, and at the very end, black cherry.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Wild Horse Pinot Noir Unbridled 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley
This is a real nice indication of what can be done with Pinot Noir fruit from Southern California. This is from 3 separate vineyards in Santa Barbara County. Right off, the color is intense purple. The nose definitely tells us to expect some serious oak, but also shows some violets, mint, cinnamon forest floor, wet leaves, and dark fruit. When it hits the palate, it has the feel of much whole cluster fermentation, or at least not a lot of broken skins. Rich and ripe dark cherry, plum and blueberry fruit. Good New World type mouth feel. Almost too much French oak, combined with the obvious punch of 14.5 alcohol will integrate with some bottle age. This could have used some decanting. This is priced above the grocery store tier, and is well worth trying, and holding a few. Has a vanilla laced caramel graphite and plum finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Franciscan Estate Magnificat 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
This is my first taste of this somewhat famous wine outside of the tasting room in almost a decade. My first impression was the dark and concentrated deep blue color. The blend almost automatically brings some complexity on the nose and palate. Starting with the nose, all kinds of things are happening, smoke, leather, black tea, violets, brown spice, and of course big dark fruit. As it it hits the lips, there is a seamless transition of the fruit and non fruit items that are well integrated, and to their credit, not overly oaked. Not huge, just solid and elegant. Very balanced and smooth, I think the extra bottle age has helped round things out. The fruit is almost restrained. There is no doubt about the 14.5% alcohol, but it works. Nice dry finish with graphite, cocoa, leather and dark cherry.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Ravenswood Zinfandel Teldeschi 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Yummy, this may be the best Ravenswood I have ever tasted. Alongside some very nice wines, like Simi Lanslide, and Franciscan Magnificat, this one made a statement about power and finess at the same time. Still a little tight, I'm sure this will show even better with some bottle age. The grapes certainly have pedigree; classic Dry Creek old vine. Big purple color. Intense nose of violets, black cherry, black tea, smoke, cocoa powder, and blackberry. The heavily concentrated dark fruit is slightly unyielding, still integrating. Swirling really starts to bring things to life. Big and rich without being heavy. Just the right amount of extraction. The 14.5% alcohol makes itself known. Pretty tannic for a zin. The layers of flavor unfold nicely from the front to back of the palate. Strong, expressive, still young finish with chocolate, black cherry, plum, leather, and some minerality. The whole package is much more rounded and light on it's feet than you would expect from a big zin in typical Ravenswood style.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Barda 89 Points
Argentina, Patagonia, Río Negro
I think we really have something here. This is one of those Pinot's whose magenta color is so light, you wonder where all that flavor comes from. Obviously Patagonia is a cool place kind of like Germany where the Pinot is soft and light. The nose is spicy red raspberry, minerals and earth. Surprisingly expressive raspberry and cherry fruit across the palate. Some of those non fruit flavors like black tea, tree root, and wet bark. Very complete, the oak, acid, and tannins are in harmony, you don't notice the alcohol. There is a spicy, herbal component that really gets your attention. About medium bodied. Lively. Balanced. This is something all red wine lovers need to try.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Craggy Range Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard 89 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels
This is one heck of a $16 red wine. A blend of most of the Bordeaux red varietals New Zealand style, this is a real crowd pleaser. In my earlier tasting days, I was not a fan of blends because I was looking for the individual varietals. Now, my palate is craving the harmony and integration of flavors a blend can give. Not particularly dark color. The nose has a mint, or maybe eucalyptus aroma that is so fresh. There is a slight rustic aroma that lends some more complexity. Medium plus bodied. Quite European in the fact that fruit, and non fruit flavors are about 50/50. Ripe blue fruits like blackberry, plum, and even some very welcome light boysenberry that really compliments the menthol. Seamless, almost layered flavors from lips to finish. Grippy little tannins. Balanced and complete. The 13.4% alcohol seems almost perfect for this flavor profile. Some wet leaves, tobacco and earth on the finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill
Not typically a fan of Sauvignon Blanc that has seen oak, I am still going to give this on a thumbs up benefit of the doubt. They deserve credit for creating a rich and concentrated tasty wine that is somewhat Chardonnay like, and actually grows on you. The color is considerably golden. The nose has a surprising amount of grass, with an interesting elderberry, along with the typical aromas of tropical fruit, and even some minerals. No doubt about the oak as soon as it touches the lips. The fruit is oaked, rounded and soft. Thick and creamy enough to have seen some malo lactic, and probably some lees treatment. I don't think they left enough balancing acidity. The finish is kind of heavy with melon, vanilla, lemon, grapefruit, and more oak. Would not purchase this on purpose, but did enjoy the glass which was served pretty close to room temperature, and might have shown better with a little more chill.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Chalk Hill Pinot Gris North Slope 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill
We don't get too much Pinot Gris from California, if this wine is any indication, we may be missing out. It just seems thicker and richer than typical. Granted, this is a limited production, not exactly value priced wine. The color is golden yellow. The nose is slightly sweet banana, nectarine, and pear. The pear, citrus, and especially grapefruit comes across as thick and unctuous. Medium plus bodied. Very smooth acid profile, might be some lees treatment. The finish is surprisingly spicy with maybe some fresh cut ginger root. This wine is a step above the stuff we get at grocery stores.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Lincourt Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
This is very good estate grown Chardonnay from a producer dedicated to letting the terroir show what is has. This area is known for it's ability to grow exceptional Chardonnay, and this wine is a benchmark for what can be produced. The fruit is as expressive and stylish as any California Chardonnay I have ever tasted. Their unoaked style allows pure expression of peach, pear, citrus, and very surprising, but quite welcome orange flavor. They used a high percentage of neutral barrel fermentation, but aged the wine in steel rather than oak. Sounds unusual, but it definitely works. Partial Superbly balanced. A little spicy, but otherwise soft and smooth. Solid mouth feel. Concentrated and layered enough for 90 points.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Kenwood Zinfandel Jack London Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
This is quite rich and creamy for a Zin, even a single vineyard offering. It comes across with viscosity much heavier than we typically expect. I think they purposely left this wine on the lees to upgrade the mouth feel. Not that this is bad, I'm just not sure this is necessary for a zin. These are pedigreed grapes, most likely possessing, depth and structure in their own right. Still plenty to like here. There is lots of intense and spicy blue and black fruit, though not as rustic and briary as usual. Some of that creaminess comes from a pretty aggressive oak program, 40% of it American. There are some nice secondary flavors like tobacco, pepper, and even some bacon fat. Handles the alcohol well. There is a taste of fig on the finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Carpineto Dogajolo Bianco Toscana IGT 87 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
I liked this a lot. Maybe I should rethink my prejudice against kitchen sink blends. This is 40% Chardonnay, 30% Grechetto, 27% Sauvignon Blanc, and 3% Incrocio Manzoni. The nose is peachy, lemon, citrus, and honey. There is a soft, rich, fruity body that these varietals would be incapable of producing on their own. Structured peach, lemon and tropical fruits backed up with some earthy flavors. A little oily across the palate. Has a very civilized acid profile that makes this easy drinking. The finish maintains the freshness of the fruit with just a touch of spice and minerals.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Altadonna Grillo 87 Points
Italy, Sicily, Sicilia
Very nice Sicilian white wine. There is a sunshine freshness to both the nose and palate. Not big and complex, but still more body and mouth feel than most white wines. Some intense yellow color. The nose starts with some white flowers, but also displays some apricot, melon, and peach. Designed to be fruity, and drunk young, this wine is stylishly unafraid to show it's peach, apricot, lemon, and melon fruit, with plenty of brown spice. Crisp acidity. Refreshing. The finish has some of those fresh cut tree root flavors with more apricot and tropical fruit.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Barnard Griffin Merlot 88 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
I'm not real familiar with this winery, but I would hazzard a guess they might specialize in Merlot, or at least have a fond opinion for this grape. This wine is delicious. It comes across as very smooth and fruity without being over the top. There is a very welcome hit of fresh bing cherry on both the nose and the palate. Everything is very integrated and harmonious. There is a mild earthy rusticity, with some graphite that nicely counters the up front fruitiness. The little extra bottle age has the oak and alcohol settle in. What I really like is slight taste of chocolate at the back of the palate. Solid finish with berries and mocha.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Another well made, well conceived, Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State. The long hours of sunshine, combined with the desert soil conditions, almost always make these wines lush, fruity, and easy drinking. This offering is no exception. Ripe, and full, while soft, elegant, and light on it's feet. Crimson color. Red fruit nose, with just enough vanilla to show we have some oak on it's way. The entry to the palate is soft red cherry, raspberry, and even some cranberry. Harmonious. Balanced. Not big, just competent. There is a pretty solid hit of oak. Sweet tannins. Fruity, flavorful finish with vanilla, graphite, and cherry.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Château Paveil de Luze 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
I don't get enough chance to taste Bordeaux at this level, so to me this is a real treat. My first impression of this wine, and of most red Bordeaux, is "complete". The blend of varietals, the terroir, and the winemaking are in harmony, and we get to enjoy the reward. This one also seems almost ready to drink. The tannins are noticeable, but not interfering with with taste across the palate. I'm sure some more bottle age would only help. The color is rich magenta. The nose is cherry and raspberry with some minerals, smoke and vanilla. The fruit fruit is slightly shy, beginning to show layers of red fruit first with the dark fruit in the background. Already nice integration of the oak and alcohol. Gets considerably softer as we drink down the glass. Sure decanting would have helped. Solid earth, cherry finish with some graphite.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Franco Serra Barolo 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
In a tasting event with hundreds of wines, this one was one of the most memorable. This is a 2007, which I am sure is their current release. Among a bunch of youngish wines, this was the adult in the room. Nebbiolo is one of those varietals that makes you wonder how they get so much flavor from such relatively light color. This wine is more than 4 years off the vine and the whole flavor and aroma profile benefits from the aging. Surprising light purple color. Refined, mature, civilized nose of sweet black cherry, with wet earth. The cherry, blackberry, and plum fruit are as expressive and comfortable in the mouth of any wine tasted that day. The secondary flavors are so integrated you can't pick them out. The package is balanced and complete. Surprisingly noticeable tannins. Super cherry and graphite finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Tenuta Carretta Nebbiolo d'Alba Bric Tavoleto 88 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Nebbiolo d'Alba
I'm not familiar with exactly what makes a Nebbiolo D' Aba, but to me, even though this is already a 2008, it looks like this is designed to be light and early drinking. I have to admit, it was delightful. The nose and the palate tasted exactly like maraschino cherries. This is a very lean and elegant wine, packed with fruit flavors that is unencumbered by those hard to describe secondary flavors. Smooth across the palate. Lots of cherry. Refined without being complicated. Would love to learn more about this style of wine, and try a few bottles.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Robert Foley Pinot Blanc 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Wow, this is a luscious rendition of Pinot Blanc. My first impression was good acidity. They say no malo lactic, so I was right. I also thought the aroma of this wine reminded me of a Krispy Creme donut shop, in a good way. First time I had that impression. We have a well made, perfectly ripe version of a relatively obscure, to Napa, varietal, that just reeks of class. Nothing really sticks out, just pure competence. The color is mild golden. The nose is mildly expressive, but subdued, pear, and a touch of apricot, with some green melon. The viscosity is at least medium plus bodied, and very rich for a white wine. The fruit is almost European as it shares the palate with those spicy, non fruit flavors like anise, vanilla bean, and some garden stuff. Big acid defines how it feels in the mouth and finish. Crisp and refreshing. Could even age a little.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue