Monday, April 29, 2013

WOW: A "JaM"min' Red Blend!

WOW: Wine of the Week

NEW to ShopUncorked.com: JaM Cellars Red Blend

JaM Cellars Red Blend 2010
It is time to JaM!

John and Michele Truchard are the owners of Jam Cellars. You may recognize some of their work from John Anthony Sauvignon Blanc (a ShopUncorked.com Client favorite!).  John is the eldest son of Tony and JoAnn Truchard, wine pioneers in California's Carneros district. The first plantings by the Truchard's were in 1974 when John was two. He has grown up amongst the vines accumulating knowledge to work and understand vineyards.

What's best about "JaM"min' with this little blend?!  The cost is LESS than $13.00 per bottle!

Winery Notes

JaM Cellars inspired and created by John and Michelle Truchard. JaM is a Petite Sirah based blend, aged in oak for about 6 months prior to bottling.  The slight amount of residual sugar in this wine pushes the limits of fruitiness.

JaM Cellars Red Blend 2010 Tasting Notes

"Dark, dense and creamy with complex aromas of black plum, ripe cherry and pepper merging with tobacco, coffee and dark chocolate.  On the palate there is an explosion of dark, super ripe, wild blackberry with just a hint of cigar box and exotic spice.  A pure fruit bomb, complete from the beginning to the long, lingering finish." - Winery Notes

Monday, April 22, 2013

WOW: White Light'ng?!

WOW: Wine of the Week

White Light'ng: Bennett Lane "Turn 4" White Blend

Bennett Lane Winery "Turn 4" White Blend 2010
Bennett Lane Winery owners Randy and Lisa Lynch have worked very hard not once, but twice to take a passion and turn it into a thriving business!

As a former marketing executive, turn race car driver, Randy now sets his sites on the wine business.  Try this Sauvignon Blanc / Chardonnay blend today for UNDER $12 per bottle!

Winery Notes

"At Bennett Lane Winery we are taking active steps to promote sustainability and responsible winemaking.  To that end we have implemented the following standards within our own vineyards as well as with our growers.  We feel that these practices not only help to produce exceptional grapes, but are also friendly to our environment here the the Napa Valley.  We take great pride in preserving this special place in California.  Overall, the timing of the 2009 growing season was fairly typical for Oregon. A warm and dry summer gave way to several high heat spells in late August and early September. This pushed sugars up earlier than usual, but still required further time and patience to wait for flavors to catch up in the ripening process. Picking was in line with average Oregon vintages." - Winery Notes

Bennett Lane Winery "Turn 4" White Blend 2010 Reviews

"Offers appealing pear and fig flavors that are fleshy and round, with a juicy, ripe quality and details of floral and spice notes, especially on the finish. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Drink now. 4,410 cases made." - Wine Spectator
"Sweet and forward in pineapple, peach and lime flavors, this is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. It has good acidity and a clean, spicy finish." - Wine Enthusiast

Bennett Lane Winery "Turn 4" White Blend 2010 Tasting Notes

This refreshing California white wine is the perfect partner to our popular Turn 4 Cabernet Sauvignon. With aromatics of honeysuckle, white peaches and a hint of the tropics, this is an incredibly fruit forward and bright wine. On the palate there are rich flavors of mango and ripe peach, balanced by refreshing acidity and a lively clean finish

Monday, April 15, 2013

WOW: Stand CLEAR - Code Red (Rouge)!

WOW: Wine of the Week

Stand CLEAR - Code Red (Rouge)!

Gerard Bertrand "Code Rouge" Brut Eternal NV
Looking for a crowd pleaser?  A party stopper?  A way to break the ice?  Or just a way to entertain yourself?!  Look no further than Gerard Bertrand's NEW, Code Rouge!

Presented in this VERY unique red bottle, it is sure to please the palate and be noticed from the moment the cork leaves the bottle!  A favorite in France, this delightful package has finally made it stateside and Uncorked is excited to offer this to our clients!

Winery Notes

The founding principles behind Gérard Bertrand's wines date back to 1992 with the creation of the enterprise. In fact, at the end of his rugby career, Gérard Bertrand decided to create a business reuniting the best winemakers of the Languedoc in order to give a new dimension to his own wine making activities.

Gerard Bertrand "Code Rouge" Brut Eternal NV Tasting Notes

Presented in a trendy red bottle, crystalline colour, fine bubbles.  The wine has a pale straw color with hints of green that reflect at the edge of the glass. The bubbles are tiny and very elegant. Its aromas are very fruity with a hint of biscuits, hazelnuts and flowers. This wine is elegantly balanced, complex and well-structured with a long and crisp mineral finish.
Blend: 70% Chardonnay; 20% Chenin; 10% Mauzac.

Gerard Bertrand "Code Rouge" Brut Eternal NV Pairings

Ideal as an aperitif, this sparkling also pairs well with salads, fish and chicken dishes.

Monday, April 8, 2013

WOW: Spanish Flair!

WOW: Wine of the Week

Spanish Flair:  Raimat Albariño 2012

Raimat Albariño 2012
FINALLY!  Warmer weather is not just wishful thinking...it is here!  Now is the time to start grilling, enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables and dining al fresco!  Raimat Albarino is a fresh fit for all that spring and summer have to offer.  This crisp, pear-driven Albarino can easily be enjoyed with your favorite Asian flair or just as an aperitif on a sunny afternoon! 

Winery Notes

The Raimat estate was founded in 1914 by Manuel Raventós with his purchase of a large desert tract 100 miles north of Barcelona. The anticipated construction of a canal from the Pyrenees would allow water to reach this arid zone, and over decades Raventós transformed the estate into one of Spain’s most remarkable wine properties. Innovation was a cornerstone of his philosophy, and in1975, Raimat introduced some of Spain’s first single-varietal wines. In 1988, the tiny Costers del Segre zone was made a DO, spearheaded primarily by Raimat. The estate vineyards extend over 5,000 acres, planted with both native and international varieties and are cultivated sustainably to maintain optimum vine health.

Raimat Albariño 2012 Tasting Notes

Raimat produces wines that are an amalgam of classic Spanish style and contemporary expressiveness realized through constant innovation and a non-interventionist spirit. The wines show delineated varietal character with a clear, articulated terroir stamp, with the lightest influence possible imposed in the cellar. The white wines are fresh and crisp, fermented at cool temperatures to preserve fruit aromas and flavors, and finished without oak contact. This wine, pale yellow in color with greenish hues, is 100% Albarino. Intense aromas of citrus, peach, dried flowers, and spice carry onto the palate, which is vividly fruity and fresh and underscored by bright, balanced acidity.

Monday, April 1, 2013

WOW: A New French Favorite!

WOW: Wine of the Week

Pichot Vouvray 2011: A New French Favorite!

 Domaine Pichot Vouvray Domaine le Peu de la Moriette Chenin Blanc 2011
Look NO FURTHER than this week's WOW for your new favorite!  This Vouvray is the perfect companion to your Stir-fry, your grilled peppers, your Thai or Sushi fare!

Light, semi-floral and perfect for all of the fresh vegetables that will be gracing our supermarkets shortly!

Winery Notes

Domaine Pichot is an amalgamation of the properties of the father (Jean-Claude) ‘Coteau de la Biche’ and the son (Christophe) ‘Peu de la Moriette’, hence the different labels bearing the name Pichot. The estate is now run by Christophe. Pichot’s wines are well known for the brilliant quality of the stunning sweet wines, although their dry and demi-sec wines are also superb. They have an enormous capacity to age gracefully with careful cellaring conditions. These are remarkably good value wines that will also provide great satisfaction from a young age.

Domaine Pichot Vouvray Domaine le Peu de la Moriette Chenin Blanc 2011 Tasting Notes

100% Chenin Blanc. Golden raisins on the nose and on the palate. Grape juicy, like table grapes concentrate. Easy to drink, already well-balanced with some elements of cloves, butter tarte tatin and a touch of maple sugar. Good fruit extension with some grapefruit and apple skin on the finish.  The Pichot Vouvray is a classic 'slightly dry' white, Estate bottled from Chenin Blanc grapes in the Loire region. Low yields, hand harvesting and barrel fermentation are employed to give the wine its authenticity. They call it 'slightly dry' in France, although we would call it 'off-dry'. The aromas are honeydew, peach juice and a hint of spice. The palate is juicy and fresh, and the acidity balances the slight residual sugar in the finish.