2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Chilly fall days call for red wine in my glass and today its the 2010 Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon. While you can age these wines in your cellar if you wish, Stepping Stone wines were made for pairing with tonight's dish. Each vintage is an expression of the vineyard and I really enjoy these as an everyday wine. My pairing a nice Amana beef rump roast with fresh stock, root vegies slow cooked to perfection. Craig I'll fedex you a plate :)

Nice fresh red raspberry, dried sage, hint of vanilla, blackberry with cinnamon spice. When you first open the wine a blast of smokey oak which quickly disappears. Allowing the wine to warm in the glass brings juicy plum and cloves. Wonderful aromatics.

Excellent layers of both dark and red fruit with the blackberry, raspberry and plum from start to finish. It's awesome how you start with the blackberry then move towards the middle of the taste with red raspberry then finish with ripe plum. Soft and silky there is a hint of spice on the finish but very little. Definately a great expression of fruit in each sip. If you're not drinking this wine then you're missing out.

Craig as always its a real treat to taste these wines. Year after year quality affordable juice with a price point everyone can afford. Order yours today Cornerstone Cellars by clicking the link. Don't miss out on the very friendly delicious cabernet from Stepping Stone.

Cheers
Dan

Chateau Tanunda Grand Barossa On Tastelive

Hello Australia! A trip to the Barossa Valley on Tastelive this evening brought 3 excellent wines flavor packed and aroma sound. Winemaker and Host Stuart Bourne provided the setting and knowledge about the wine region including climate, soils and location. Chateau Tanunda is Australia's oldest and largest chateau and the birthplace of barossa wine. Vines were planted in 1845 with the winery created in 1848. Ranked #4 for 2011 outstanding value wines by Wine Spectator. Wine Advocate recognizes them as one of Australia's top 20 producers.

Up first this evening the Grand Barossa Riesling 2010. Loads of citrus fill your nose at the start. Lemon lime, orange, melon, ripe pineapple so crisp. Wonderful refreshing wine. Grapefruit, melon, juicy lime, stone fruit and minerality. Beautiful acidity. My pairing which I thought would be perfect is a pasta dish with fresh shrimp drizzled with fresh lemon juice. I was instructed to fedex the winemaker a plate lol.

Wine 2 the 2010 Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon. Dried thyme with green pepper, cocoa powder, currant, blackberry, plum and fresh mint. Really liked the combination of herbal notes with the ripe dark fruit. In the mouth rich blackberry and raspberry, dark plum with chocolate notes and oak. Middle of the taste there was some earthy spice which gave the wine some character but also showed how young the wine and aging is needed. Can't wait to taste the other bottle a year from now to compare.

The final wine of the evening was the 2010 Grand Barossa Shiraz and my favorite. All 3 wines were superb but this happened to be the one that really wow'd me. Excellent ripe plum and blackberry with pepper and vanilla. When the wine warmed hints of earthiness, spice and chocolate. The flavor was so soft and silky. Plum, blackberry, cherry and blueberry with vanilla notes. Might just be the best Shiraz I have tasted......ever and my comment to the group "Drop Dead Delicious" was spot on.

Bravo to Chateau Tanunda for some excellent bottles this evening. While all bottles were under $20 tonight I thought for sure these tasted more in the range of $25-$30. Cailyn and Joel another great tasting and thanks for introducing me to the world of Australia.

Cheers
Dan

2008 Jeff Gordon Cellars Napa Valley Joie De Vivre

Twitter taste this evening featured the 2008 Joie De Vivre from Jeff Gordon Cellars. This is a beautiful red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. The Cabernet is from Corbett Vineyards Spring Mountain, the Merlot from Solari Vineyard Calistoga and the Syrah from Page Nord Vineyard Yountville. Aged 20 months and only 254 cases produced. On my way home I stopped and grabbed a bacon cheesburger and so glad I did.

What a great nose with the start full of ripe red raspberry. Black cherry, fresh plum and blackberry with white pepper. As the wine opens up this wonderful smokey earthiness treats the nose. Amazing aromas!

Awesome flavor. Loved the juicy red raspberry followed by blueberry and hints of vanilla. Ripe plum with a nice oak touch. The finish was long and soft. Not your average celebrity wine. This blend screams delicious!!

Huge thank you to Chrisy Gallagher for introducing me to this great wine and naturally Mr. Gordon for sharing his love of wine with us. Perfect evening, perfect juice. Check out Jeff's wines at Jeff Gordon Cellars

Cheers
Dan

Hurray Vouvray Loire Valley France on TasteLive

White wine as it should be was my comment about tonight's Tastelive Event.... Hurray Vouvray from the famed Loire Valley. Tons of citrus and tropical flavors with some dry and others on the sweet side. Fantastic expressions of wines from this region. I for some reason tasted out of line so here we go......

My first wine of the evening was the Marc Bredif Vouvray Sec 2010. Fresh melon, lemon, juicy pineapple, sweet pear and loads of fresh lime. Combination of pineapple/pear with the lemon lime was outstanding and the sweetest of the wines this evening.

Wine 2 was the Domaine des Aubuisieres Sec Cuvee Silex 2011. Pear, lemon citrus, grapefruit, and orange zest. The pear was the star lasting long into the finish with a hint of the organge and lemon citrus. Little touch of mineral....perfect.

Wine 3 The Didier Champalou Vouvray Sec 2010. Nectarine, orange peel, pear, lemon this wine was huge on the citrus aromas and flavors. More of the orange/nectarine flavor than pear on this wine followed by mineral notes.

Wine 4 the Francois Chidaine Vouvray Sec Argiles 2010. Lemon, pear and loads of lime on the nose. The flavor was a very nice ripe sweet pear followed by fresh lime and zesty on the finish. The pear lasts long into the finish and is semi sweet.

Final wine tonight the Domaine Bourillon Dorleans Vouvray Sec Coulee d Argent. Probably the favorite of mine this evening with aromas of honey, grapefruit, pear, lemon. The flavor outstanding with the pear/grapefruit, the hint of sweet honey. Toss in some stone fruit and it was a great ending to the night.

Cailyn and Joel thanks for introducing me to these awesome wines from France. I never knew what I was missing until tonight.

Cheers
Dan

Gran Reserva Serie Riberas Chile on Tastelive

Let's call this night "Lost in Chile" an hour long tasting/interation with winemaker Marcio Ramirez. 4 Single Vineyard Wines Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon were on tonight's menu all grown/harvested near Chile's major rivers. The vineyards are planted on river terraces and hillsides which are mineral rich and free draining. The climate is perfect with the fresh sea breezes and cold mountain winds cooling the grapes from the warm sunny days. The result are wines with intense flavor and complex aromas.

Wine one was the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc from the Ucuquer Vineyard which lies on the south bank of the Rapel River. Aged in stainless steel tanks for 6 months, the aromas of lemongrass, grapefruit, tangerine, cantaloupe and lime zest tickle the nose. The fruit was so vibrant on the nose. The flavor was intense with pear, cantaloupe, lime and a nice mineral finish. I found the wine full of citrus and tropical flavors with nice acidity. Beautiful wine to start the evening.

Up next the 2011 Malbec from the Palo Santo Vineyard near the Tinguiririca River. Right out of the gate the chocolate and blueberry aromas were very intense. Plum, blackberry with hints of tobacco and leather finishing with the faintest oak nuance. As you swirled these layers circled your nose and this baby was ready for some mouth time. Ripe plum and juicy blueberry followed by cocoa powder, blackberry with leathery oak on the finish. Great combination of flavors.

I loved all these wines this evening but I must say wine 3 may have been my favorite. The 2010 Carmenere from the Peumo Vineyard showed nicely in the glass. Blackberry, pepper, sweet vanilla, mocca, blueberry and plum. Intense ripe fruit and spice I thought for sure this wine would be bold. Silky and soft with creamy blueberry followed by rich plum. Vanilla with hints of mocca and cocoa. With a piece of dark chocolate the wine is like butter in your mouth. Many of you know my love of the cherry in Pinot but I adore the blueberry in this Carmenere!

The final wine of the evening Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from the Palo Santo Vineyard. Full of cherry, plum, blackberry, molasses, leather and spice on the nose. As I swirl I'm thinking about a nice juicy beef filet. Fresh raspberry, ripe cherry and red plum with a nice clove/oak finish. I believe my comment was "just flat delicious". That steak you ask......dinner night 2 of this wine and one great pairing.

Marcio it was a pleasure meeting you and tasting your wines. My first introduction to these wines and I am very impressed. The beauty of the country is stunning and I hope to visit one day. Cailyn and Joel bravo on another excellent tasting. Great to see many of my blogger friends at this event too. We shared some great thoughts and awesome wine. Learn more about this fine juice by clicking the link Gran Reserva Wine

Cheers
Dan