June 2021 Wine Blog – Treasure Hunter Centurion

Hello Everyone,

As I write this, Brood X, the largest of the broods of seventeen-year cicadas is about to emerge from the ground. According to Scientific American, there can be as many as 2.4 million cicadas per acre. This will result in a deafening cacophony of mating calls for five or six weeks as the members of Brood X party through their adult phase of life.

If you feel the need to take the edge off of all that noise, or if you just wish to party along with the cicadas, I have a red wine recommendation for you. This month, we have a new offering from Treasure Hunter wines; Centurion, a 2018 Napa Valley red blend.

Treasure Hunter is a label whose wines consist of small lots purchased from prestigious
producers who, for various reasons, find themselves with extra wine. The upside of this is that what you get in a bottle of Treasure Hunter is high-quality wine which would cost significantly more if it were sold under the label of the producer. The downside is that these are one-off batches which are gone forever when the last bottle of the lot is sold.

Centurion is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot, and 10% Petite Sirah. It has a nearly opaque, deep ruby hue. The nose is redolent of Napa Valley fruit. There are strong aromas of blackberries, black currants and black cherries, with hints of dark chocolate and cocoa. These flavors carry through the palate of this medium to full-bodied wine and mingle with silky tannins and just the right amount of oak. The mild acidity shines on the medium-long finish.

If you enjoy Napa Valley red wines, there is much to like about this proprietary red blend from Treasure Hunter—including the price. It is a great deal at $19.99. However, you should buy it soon. Although we have an ample supply at O’Bryan’s for now, there were only 460 cases produced. As with the cicadas, Centurion has a lot of presence but it won’t be around for long!

Cheers!
Frank

May 2021 Blog – 2018 Cavaliere d’Oro Terre Siciliano

Happy Spring, Everyone!

As I’m sure that you are all aware, the spring equinox occurred this year on March 20th.  For me, it could not come soon enough!  The pandemic has had the world in hibernation, and it seems particularly symbolic that spring is the season in which new vaccines are beginning to make it possible for a rebirth of life as we once knew it. 

In this spirit of newness, I have decided to write about a new arrival at O’Bryan’s Wine and Spirits:  Cavaliere d’Oro Terre Siciliano, 2018.  This smooth, medium-bodied red wine is a blend of 50% Nero d’Avola, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The interesting thing is that 20% of the Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were air dried prior to vinification in order to intensify the flavor.  The wine was aged in 50% new French oak for eight to twelve months and bottle-aged for an additional three months prior to release.

This opaque wine is deep ruby in color.  On the nose, I detected fig, dark cherry, black currant, blackberry and a hint of leather.  These flavors were all evident on the palate, as well.  It is dry, with a light tannic structure, balanced acidity, some complexity, a medium to long finish and no off-flavors. 

Best of all, while Terre Siciliano is supposed to retail for around $16.00, we have it on sale at O’Bryan’s for $7.99!  I liked it so much that I bought a case.  If you enjoy good red wine, and you like a bargain, get in here quickly and get some for yourself.  As with the spring season, it won’t be here for long!

Cheers!
Frank

September 2019 Wine Blog – Cadence Coda

Image result for cadence coda

Cadence Coda 2016

Hello Everyone,

Summer came to its unofficial close with the Labor Day weekend, so it was with sadness that I put away my white linen and swimsuits until next year. However, I cannot lament the change of season for long. Autumn foliage is around the corner, and cooler weather will lend itself particularly well to the drinking of good red wine! In fact, it is just that subject which I am writing about today: Cadence Coda 2016.

Ben Smith, the owner and winemaker of Seattle-based Cadence Winery, produces Bordeaux-inspired red wines with grapes from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington. The 2016 vintage of Coda is a blend of 36% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Petit Verdot; all of which are drawn from the same vineyards as the more expensive estate and single vineyard wines in the Cadence portfolio.

This dark, nearly opaque wine is plush and silky with soft acidity and well-integrated tannins. It opens with aromas of blackberry, cherry and a hint of violet. On the palate are blackberry, cherry, blackcurrant, and dark chocolate; with leather and flint on the lasting finish.

Cadence Coda is available at O’Bryan’s Wine and Spirits for $27.99. Come in and give this one a try. It is one of the nicest red blends you will find in this price range.

Cheers!
Frank

April 2019 Wine Blog – Anne Amie Cuvee A Amrita

Anne Amie Cuvee A Amrita, 2017

Happy Spring, Everyone!

Daylight saving time is here again, and the weather is getting warmer. As I am sure all of you are aware, Easter comes late this year, too. Consequently, I am writing about a white wine this month that is good to drink in warm weather and pairs well not only with traditional Easter fare but also Asian and spicy foods—Anne Amie Cuvee A Amrita.

The Anne Amie winery, in Oregon’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA, was founded in 1999. It is both Salmon Safe and LIVE certified. I like their wines. In fact, I wrote about the Winemaker’s Selection Pinot Noir, in the November 2017 post.

This nicely balanced, lightly effervescent wine is a blend of 32.1% Riesling, 25.5% Pinot Blanc, 13.9% Müller-Thurgau, 11.4 Viognier, 7.1% Gewürztraminer, 6% Chardonnay and 4% Pinot Gris. It is dry to off-dry (9 g/L residual sugar) with balanced acidity (6.8 g/L) and a light body (3.1 pH). The alcohol content is 12.9%.

On the nose, I get elderflower, lychee, and quince. These aromas carry through the palate with minerality and a hint of ginger. The medium finish is clean, with effervescence, more mineral notes, and some spice.

We have Anne Amie Cuvee A Amrita in stock and on sale at O’Bryan’s for $12.99 per bottle. Stop in, get some, and try this unique and very interesting wine.

Cheers,
Frank

March 2019 Wine Blog – Kenwood Jack London Merlot

Kenwood Jack London Vineyard 2014 Merlot Sonoma Mountain

Hello Everyone,

February is a good month to drink Merlot.  Although we’re still caught in the icy grip of winter, the grip is loosening.  The days, while still cold, aren’t as cold as they were; and they are getting noticeably longer.  Best of all, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this year on Groundhog Day!  So, while February is still a good month to drink rich, full-bodied red wines, I find a Merlot, which is often silkier than its half-sibling, Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly appealing.  Lately, I have been drinking an old favorite, Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Merlot Sonoma Mountain.

The Kenwood website indicates that this single vineyard, single varietal wine is produced from vines planted in red volcanic soil on Sonoma Mountain.  The vineyard land, once part of Jack London’s Beauty Ranch, has a southeastern exposure and lies above the fog line. This location allows the vines to receive morning sun exposure that is tempered by cool afternoon breezes.

The grapes for the 2014 vintage were harvested between September 24 and 27, and fermented in stainless steel for three weeks.  The resulting wine was aged in French and American oak barrels for eighteen months before being bottled in April 2016 at 3.51 pH, 7.0 g/L total acidity, and 14.5% alcohol.

This Merlot is deep red, with tart cherry and chalky aromas on the nose and dark cherry, chocolate, cola and chalky notes on the palate.  It has a medium to full-body, with pleasant acidity and good tannic structure.  The finish is long and relatively complex.

On the Kenwood Vineyards website, Jack London Vineyard Merlot Sonoma Mountain retails for $28.00, and the wine club price is $22.40.  However, it is on sale at O’Bryan’s for $19.99 per bottle.  A good single vineyard, single varietal wine at this price is a great deal.  Stop by O’Bryan’s and pick up a bottle.

Cheers,
Frank

January 2019 Wine Blog – Twenty Rows Cabernet

Twenty Rows 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast

Hello Everyone,

Just prior to Christmas, I was assisting a customer who asked if we had Twenty Rows Cabernet Sauvignon in stock. The look of satisfaction on his face as he placed four bottles into his cart made me curious about the wine. I researched it online later that day and found some favorable reviews, so my wife and I tried it at O’Bryan’s with some friends. It was so good that we ended up drinking a second bottle and one of our friends bought the last one to take home.

Twenty Rows is a second label of Vinoce, a boutique winery with a vineyard on Mt. Veeder. The North Coast bottling is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot and Petite Sirah. It is aged in French and American Oak and has an alcohol content of 13.5%. This highly pigmented wine is deep garnet in the glass. It opens with aromas of cassis, vanilla, and graphite. The body is medium to full, with notes of cassis, dark cherry, blackberry, leather, vanilla, and earth. However, the fruit-driven profile is balanced by acidity and a fine tannic structure. The finish is long and complex.

At $24.99 per bottle, Twenty Rows 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast is a lovely way to bring some California sunshine into the Midwestern, midwinter doldrums. We currently have it back in stock at O’Bryan’s, but I don’t expect the bottles to collect much dust.

Cheers,
Frank

JCB No. 21 Cremant de Bourgogne

JCB No. 21 Brut

JCB N°21 Crémant de Bourgogne

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Daylight saving time is past us for another year.  The leaves are turning brilliant colors and collecting on lawns and curbs.  There is a chill in the air.  These first hints of winter always comfort my soul and cause me to think about holiday celebrations with family and friends.

While it is safe to say that Champagne is the ubiquitous celebratory libation, and it pairs well with nearly all types of food, it can be very expensive to drink.  Additionally, many of the alternatives, although good in their own ways, are just not the same.  As luck would have it, however, I have found a good sparkling wine that is both affordable and very similar in style to a quality brut Champagne–JCB N°21 Crémant de Bourgogne.

JCB N°21, by Jean Charles Boisset, is produced in the traditional method from a blend of Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.  It is light straw in color, with an abundance of persistent, very small bubbles.  The nose is characterized by wine lees, almonds and light floral notes.  It is dry, with crisp acidity and flavors of apple, pear and citrus.  The alcohol content is 12% and it has 10 g/l of sugar.

 

With regard to awards, JCB N°21 is a consistent winner, as well.  I listed below some recent awards for this wine that were posted on the Boisset website:

 

SILVER | NOVEMBER 23, 2017 | GLASS OF BUBBLY AWARDS

GOLD, RESERVE CLASS CHAMPION | NOVEMBER 17, 2017 | RODEO UNCORKED! INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION

GOLD, 92 POINTS | JUNE 25, 2017 | CRITICS CHALLENGE

SILVER | JUNE 20, 2017 | SUNSET INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION

The bottom line is this:  if you like Champagne but don’t want to pay an exorbitant amount of money to drink it, JCB N°21 Crémant de Bourgogne is a deliciously bone-dry alternative.  It is very affordable, at $19.99 per 750 ml bottle, and very available at O’Bryan’s Wine and Spirits.  Please stop by our store and get some for your holiday celebrations.

Cheers!
Frank

Haden Fig 2015 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Image result for 2015 haden fig pinot noir

Hello Everyone,

I have some good news for the Pinot Noir lovers among us.  We were finally able to get some Haden Fig 2015 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir in stock at O’Bryan’s Wine and Spirits.  I have known about this wine for several years, but I was never able to get my hands on any of it.  Then, in July, I tasted it at a distributor portfolio show and loved it.  We tried to get it in stock at that time, but it has been unavailable until now.

Haden Fig is the original label of Erin Nuccio, the owner/winemaker of Evesham Wood Winery in Oregon.  The 2015 Willamette Valley bottling consists of 1525 cases and is blended from equal amounts of fruit from Cancilla, Croft, and Bjornson vineyards.  The grapes are organically grown and go from vineyard to bottle without manipulation.  The must is fermented with native yeasts and the only cooling system in the winery involves opening and closing the doors.  This is an example of natural winemaking at its finest.

This wine is a pleasingly bright, clear, garnet color in the glass.  It leads with a light nose of tart cherry.  On the palate, the body is light to medium, with both tart and dark cherry notes, raspberry and dark fruit.  It is moderately complex, with medium acidity, silky tannins and a medium-to-long finish.  The alcohol content is 13.5%.

At $21.99 per bottle, Haden Fig 2015 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a very good Oregon Pinot Noir at an even better price.  We currently have a case of it in stock and I hope that we can get some more; but I can make you no promises.  In closing, I want to leave you with the lone note that I made to myself about this wine in the portfolio tasting book this summer:  BUY THIS!!

Cheers,
Frank

 

Niner Red—There’s Still Time for Some Full-Bodied Wine!

Hello Everyone,

I know that many people prefer light-bodied rosés during the warm months, but there are still a few cool evenings left—and that means there is still some remaining time to enjoy a full-bodied red wine.  If you feel likewise, you should try the 2015 vintage of Niner Red.

This wine is a blend of nine estate-grown varietals consisting of 35% Cabernet Franc, 14% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre, 7% Malbec, 2% Petite Verdot, and 2% Barbera.

The people at Niner hand-picked the grapes from three vineyards, Heart Hill (western Paso Robles), Bootjack Ranch (eastern Paso Robles), and Jespersen Ranch (Edna Valley) and then hand-sorted them at the winery. They used gravity feed for the juice and aged the wine for fourteen months in French and Hungarian oak, thirty-eight percent of which was new.

Some of you may be wondering about the presence of methoxypyrazine, the bell pepper flavor that is common in many wines made from Cabernet Franc and its descendants.  Have no fear; there are no pyrazines here!  The grapes were obviously ripe at harvest (26°Bx), thus reducing the presence of pyrazines, but the wine, while fruit-forward, has some complexity and does not cloy.  It opens with a nose of blackberry and black cherry.  On the palate, these flavors are joined by black currant, chocolate and a hint of black pepper.  They carry through to a medium-long finish.

Niner Red is an enjoyable wine to drink on its own, yet it will pair very well with barbecue, grilled foods, and other summer fare.  At $19.99 per bottle, I think you will be very pleased.  Stop by O’Bryan’s and pick up a few bottles this week.  Above all, have a great summer!

Frank

 

 

 

Sean Minor Four Bears Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016

Happy Spring Everyone!

The vernal equinox, which marks the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, was right on time this year.  However, it seems as if Mother Nature still has some winter left on her plate and she is taking her time with it!  While I would ordinarily be thinking about a lighter red or maybe even a rosé for this post, there is obviously some time left for a larger-styled red wine before it gets too warm.

With that in mind, I want to introduce you to a wine that is both a delicious everyday drinker and a remarkable bargain—Sean Minor Four Bears Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016.  The Four Bears is a value-oriented line of wines named as a tribute to Sean’s four children, but make no mistake—these wines deliver on quality and the Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception.

Instead of being a decent porch-pounder, I found the Four Bears Cabernet Sauvignon to be a wine that I wanted to savor; and it rewarded my patience with a constantly evolving taste profile. In fact, I found it downright uncommon for a wine that costs less than $15.00 to be this interesting.

When I inspected the bottle, I noticed the pleasantly low alcohol content of 13.5% ABV.  This is especially notable as the wine is from Paso Robles, an AVA known for warm temperatures and ripe fruit.

In the glass, the wine had a deep garnet hue, with definite notes of cassis, a pleasant herbal quality, and a hint of truffle on the nose.  However, it evolved in thirty or so minutes, with much of the herbal and truffle notes being replaced by violet and plum.

Upon my initial taste, I got cassis, of course, with the slight herbal quality, dark cherry, and dark chocolate.  Later, as the wine opened, I detected additional notes of blackberry and plum.  It had a medium-to-long, fairly complex finish.

Sean Minor has truly hit the ball out of the park with this one.  I recommend that you stop by O’Bryan’s Wine and Spirits and try it for yourself.  We have a very nice covered patio, which is enclosed and heated during the cold months, where you can relax after work and enjoy a glass.  I hope to see you there!

Frank