Monday, January 28, 2013

WOW: Back by Popular Demand - Clos du Val Winery Selections

WOW: Wine of the Week

Clos du Val Winery Selections

Clos du Val Winery
Back by popular demand...Uncorked has added three selections from the Clos du Val Winery portfolio.  Each of the wines illustrate a SIGNIFICANT savings over typical retail pricing...the Cabernet alone is priced $13 UNDER retail pricing!

Winery Notes

Clos Du Val Winery, founded in 1972 has firmly established its label among the world's finest. President and winemaker Bernard Portet, raised in the Bordeaux region of France, creates wines that harmoniously marry French elegance with rich Napa Valley fruit. Following the Chateau concept that world class wines are produced from the finest grapes, Clos Du Val has 130 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel in the Stags Leap District and 140 acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the cooler Carneros region of Napa Valley.

Clos Du Val "Ariadne" 2010 Tasting Notes

"Like its namesake, Clos Du Val’s 2010 Ariadne is rich, intense and elegant. Pale gold in color, the wine displays lively tropical fruit aromas with hints of melon and fig. On the palate, subtle passion fruit flavors combine with guava, citrus and light oak for a rich, creamy mouth-feel, while firm acids keep the finish crisp and light."  - Winery Notes 

Clos du Val Cabernet 2009 Tasting Notes

"Characteristic of Clos Du Val's world-class style, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon continues the winery's tradition of producing truly elegant wines of balance and complexity. Its opulent, brooding purple hue is accentuated with aromas of ripe black and purple fruit, black pepper and subtle hints of toast. The palate displays a seamless integration of intense flavors that include chocolate, toffee and blackberry. The wine has a rich yet powerful mouthfeel marked by focused, silky tannins and a long, lingering finish. Expect this Cabernet Sauvignon to age gracefully for an additional 5-10 years." - Winery Notes

Clos du Val Merlot 2010 Tasting Notes

"Characteristic of Clos Du Val's world-class style, the 2010 Merlot continues the winery's tradition of producing truly elegant wines of balance and complexity. Full-bodied and deep plum in color, it offers complex yet vibrant aromas of black currant, spice, dark chocolate and a hint of toast. The mouth-feel is warm and rich, with a solid middle marked with flavors of black cherry and blueberry complimented by a silky, lingering finish." - Winery Notes
Blend: 85% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot

Monday, January 21, 2013

WOW: Wine with a Western Spirit!

WOW: Wine of the Week

Hayes Ranch Winery: "A California Winery with a Western Spirit"

Hayes Ranch Winery
This Western inspired winery is roping in value with its two signature wines!  Both the Hayes Ranch Chardonnay and Cabernet are UNDER $7 per bottle!  These value wines are taming the "wild" West of California and are true illustrations that wine is affordable at any budget.

Winery Notes

Hayes Ranch premium California wines embrace the spirit of the American West. The Hayes family was a true California ranching family whose livelihood depended on the land. Today, the Wente Family carries on the Hayes family tradition, with 128 years of winemaking and wine growing history, crafting bright, delicious wines from premier California vineyards. We created these wines for your enjoyment, with a rancher’s pride, from excellent quality grapes. The Hayes Ranch portfolio includes playful “western” varietals that are as delicious as they are affordable.

Hayes Ranch "Best Foot Forward" Chardonnay 2010 Tasting Notes

Golden yellow in color with inviting aromas and flavors of vanilla, brown sugar and green apple with a hint of cinnamon. The mouth filling flavors are subtle, yet well integrated with oak to create a very smooth wine
with a soft fruity finish.

Hayes Ranch "In the Saddle" Cabernet 2010 Tasting Notes

This Cabernet comes from specially selected vineyards in California, where warm days, cool nights and a long growing season develop ripe, round fruit flavors. Each vineyard is sustainably farmed and harvested separately, fermented in upright fermenters, and “rack and return” was performed twice daily. Rack and return is the process of draining all of the free-run juice off the cap, then pumping the free-run juice back over the top of the fermenter. This method increases color and tannin extraction and improves the mouthfeel through the integration of oxygen. Each blend was aged separately in neutral oak.

Flavors of red cherry and anise, with a hint of vanilla, abound in this Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is well balanced, with medium tannin, a smooth mid-palate and a spicy, coffee finish.

Monday, January 14, 2013

WOW: Bring this "Troublemaker" Home...

WOW: Wine of the Week

Everyone Knows a "Troublemaker," Now Bring One Home!

Hope Family Winery Troublemaker Red
This is one "Troublemaker" that you will want in your house!  From the makers of Treana, Liberty School, Austin Hope, Candor, Hope Family Wines brings us a "Troublemaker" of a Rhone blend.  Rest assured that at just $17.77 this will NOT be a "Troublemaker" to your wallet!

Product Description

A Rhone-inspired blend, Troublemaker is a unique wine made by Austin Hope. Made with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah, it is made with 100% Paso Robles fruit. By using a multi-vintage approach, Austin allows the wine to show uncanny complexity in its youth, yet rich and fruit-forward characteristics. With bright aromatics that evoke thoughts of smoked meat, the wine shows amazing depth and structure, bright fruit and a long finish.  Wine is best made when a winemaker has choices. This philosophy is evident in the Troublemaker, a blend crafted from multiple varietals and vintages. The selected lots of wine come from the 2008, 2009 and 2010 vintages, but the majority (65%) is 2009. Aged wine from 2008 (15%) adds complexity and structure, while the bright, young wine from 2010 (20%) brings forth a freshness that helps complete the finished wine.

Hope Family Winery "Troublemaker" Red Blend 4 Tasting Notes

"Troublemaker combines elegance and power. Bright aromas of black cherry and licorice evolve into a stronger bouquet reminiscent of smoked meats. The wine shows amazing depth and intensity with a rich and textural mouthfeel. Complete with bright red fruit flavors along with hints of leather and cocoa, it is a well-balanced wine that culminates with an extended finish." - Winery Notes
Blend: 73% Syrah, 12% Grenache, 8% Petite Sirah, 7% Mourvedre