2008 Montaluce Chardonnay from Georgia

My next entry comes from the State of Georgia where I assumed the only thing produced was peaches and The Masters. We all know what happens when you assume :)

What a surprise when a friend brought me a bottle of the 2008 Montaluce Chardonnay (hint and you shall receive). Chatted with the folks multiple times plus my new wine friends in Ga bragged about the wine and how good it tasted. Please visit their site http://www.montaluce.com/our_wines.html

When poured into the glass the aroma of ripe green apple hits your nose like a fresh bowl of fruit. Follow that up by pear and a very crisp smell. I appreciate the absence of oak because the fruit aroma is now enhanced.

Folks this is a very very good chardonnay. Apple in the beginning followed closely by pear and then what I feel makes the wine a lemon citrus finish with a hint of mineral. The flavors blend perfectly together and the wine is very refreshing. I could drink this wine every day all day.

Wine lovers in Georgia or visitors stop out at Montaluce Winery and sample all their varietals. I hope you enjoy their wine as much as I did. Mention the Iowa Wino and give them a big hello.

Cheers

Dan

Cedar Ridge Vineyards 5 Seasons Red

Our local winery was my next addition to the Iowa Wino blog as I think its important to support local. I've had this wine on multiple occassions both at the winery and in the comfort of my own home with friends.
5 Seasons Red is a blend of St Croix, Marechal Foch, Frontenac, Geneva Red and Merlot. To me this wine is close to a Pinot but more full bodied.

In the glass I get a smell of cherry and raspberry with a hint of spice at the end. The taste in the beginning is very raspberry, dark cherry and a spice/earth finish. I've spoken with a few Iowa wine makers and asked why all reds (or what seem to me all reds) have a bitter/earthy taste on the finish. Multiple explanations dealt with the vines and how these hybrid vines are developed to withstand our at sometimes extremely cold Iowa winters. The vines are hearty and this leads to a very earthy red wine. Distinct unique flavor and one you should try. Check out their website at www.crwine.com

Cheers
Dan

2008 Terlato Quick Fire Chardonnay Top Chef

Walking through the wine department one day chatting with a friend, I spotted this Chardonnay. As a big fan of the show Top Chef, curiosity killed the cat and I just had to bring this home and taste.

My wine friends have bragged about Terlato wines and how very good they taste. The 2008 Quick Fire Chardonnay follows that same pattern of excellent wines. When you first pour the wine in the glass you immediately smell a bowl of fresh crisp green apples, citrus and a hint of vanilla. Just knew I would enjoy this wine (family in back quoted as saying "What wine don't you like?" followed by laughter).

A huge green apple flavor at the beginning and finished nicely with a creamy buttery vanilla. What's outstanding about this wine is the lack of overpowering oak (thank you) and the softness of the finish. Perfect balance of flavor. Bravo (no pun intented) to the folks at Terlato.

Cheers

Dan

2007 Paul Dolan Pinot Noir Mendocino County

Well I have saved my favorite wine for the last blog entry of my samples from Paul Dolan Vineyards. The 2007 Pinot Noir is an excellent Pinot with definate ripe fruit flavor.

When in the glass the aroma of juicy cherry and berry are very pronounced in the beginning followed by vanilla and oak. The classic Pinot aromas. The excitement builds.

Nice juicy cherry flavor throughout this wine. In the middle I grab a vanilla spice, berry, oak and finish again with the cherry. Nice rich wine. Balanced flavors all in harmony make this in my opinion one of the very good Pinot Noirs I've enjoyed. If you can't tell I'm a big Pinot fan.

A big thank you goes out to Paul Dolan for allowing me to taste his award winning wines. I truly enjoyed each one. I hope you stop and see them soon to taste their excellent wines. Say hello for me.

Cheers
Dan

2006 Paul Dolan Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

The rat race of the Holiday Season is behind and now time to get back to tasting wine. My next entry comes from my second sample from Paul Dolan at Paul Dolan Vineyards the 2006 Cabernet. What I really like about this wine is the the fact I can drink it alone or serve a nice red meat dish. I have tasted Cabernet's where the flavor is so bold one must only serve with food.

Very pronounced aroma once in the glass. Ripe plum and spice. Simple yet not overpowering. Nice color, here we go.

The aroma and the taste match perfectly. Rip plum to start, followed by spice and then a nice earthy finish. Full flavored but soft on the end. Impressive cabernet. Tons of love in this wine by the winemaker.

I encourage you to try a bottle today and would love to hear your feedback.

Cheers
Dan