2006 Chateau Lyonnat Lussac St. Emilion

 

 After I read the Wine Bible I became a bit of a Francophile for a while. I went in for months only wanting to drink French wine, mainly because all of those obscure wine labels with pictures of large chateaus on label finally made sense to me, I could read them and understand what I was buying, I felt like I had learned a new language - it was fun.

What is also really fun is perusing the bin end section of your local wine shop. You know all the bottles that for one reason or another are marked down below their normal price, usually due to damaged wine labels or whatnot. As you can see from this picture, this wine was originally priced at $20, but due to some wine stains on the label it was marked down to $14. Sweet.

I bought this probably about 6 or so months ago. I don't usually buy wine that I haven't tried before, but every once and a while it is fun to not know what you are getting yourself into.

So, here goes. It was good, very good. I actually thought it could have had more time in the bottle and gotten better, there was a slight green-ness to the wine, it was still great, but I think it would be better in a couple years. (Hmm a novel idea in this wine age, a wine that can actually lay down for a bit and get better, not beg to drunk the day you buy it.)

This is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cab Franc. Now, Cab Franc is one of my least favorite varietals, I haven't come across a 100% Cab Franc that I wanted to drink, most of them give me the smelly fart face. However, in small quantities it does add tannin and heft to wine and it works here. It had a great earthy note and a slight berry flavor...thank you merlot, it was an all over palate pleaser. Now, at $20 it may be more money than people want to spend on a Wednesday night wine, but at only 12.5% alcohol it is the perfect wine to drink on a school night, or if you happen to be driving that night, two glasses won't put you over the edge.

The Particulars

Winery: Chateau Lyonnat
Varietal:Merlot, Cabernet, Cab Franc

AVA: St. Emilion

Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 12.5
Price:  $20 (Bin End at $14)

Rating = BUY IT

2008 Stickybeak Syrah

This wine has been given anywhere from 88 points (wine enthusiast) to 91 points (Jerry Lawson). Chris and I bought this wine at a wine tasting back in the spring. Our neighbor Angela also came to the wine tasting with us and also purchased this wine. I loved the wine at the tasting, it was what I sometimes refer to as "my kid of wine" meaning ample juicy berry flavors, smoke, good mouthfeel, and a lingering finish (no doubt helped by its 18 months in French oak). This wine is all that. But what Angela and I really loved about the wine was the name, Stickybeak - literally meaning "nosey neighbor" because. This name rang true for us, Angela and I spend at least four days together a week, but we never call each other or email each other, our relationship is a matter of looking over the fence to see if we are home working in the garden, or me hanging out the kitchen window yelling into her living room window when I see the light come on to ask if she wants to pop over for a glass of wine. I love our easy going way, we toss vegetables or flowers to each other through open windows, and we miss each other when one is traveling - sticky beak is indeed our wine.

The Particulars

Winery: Stickybeak Wines
Varietal: Syrah

AVA: 80% Napa Valley, 20% Atlas Peak, California

Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 14.8% - yep, she's a big one
Price:  $18.99

Rating = BUY IT

Esporao Reserva 2006

I bought this wine so long ago at a tasting and I've just been waiting for a laid back night to enjoy it. And really, sitting here with the laptop in front of me, glass of red wine by my right hand is the perfect setting for this wine. I just love it. This wine is a mix of Aragones, Trincadeira, Cabernet and Alicante Bouschet (a varietal I became familiar with on our trip to Lodi California a few years ago), if you don't know these varietals, please do not let that stop you from experimenting with new wines, you should always try new shit - and the shit coming out of Portugal right now is pretty friggin fantastic. This wine is huge fruit forward, jammy in your face, with just the hint of sweetness on the end, and the 14.5% alcohol doesn't come through at all, there is no hotness or burn at all. Give it a try.


The Particulars
Winery: Esporoa 
Varietal: Aragones, Trincadeira, Cabernet and Alicante BouschetDOC: ReguengosVintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14.5%
Price:  $23

Rating = Buy It

2009 Lake Sonoma Chardonnay

I tried this wine on the hottest of hot days, when you walk outside and feel like you've just walked into someone's mouth. Just a disgusting horrible day when the breeze is so hot, when it hits you its almost like its bitch slapping you.


I'm on this butter Chardonnay kick right now, I just can't help myself. Even though the day begged for a Sav Blanc, Viogner or Rose I just wanted Chard and this little number did the trick, golden in color a little toast, a little apple, a little pear - not big in your face, but not a shrinking violet either with great mouth feel - if your into that. Perfect.







The Particulars
Winery: Lake Sonoma Winery
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
AVA: California, Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13.5%
Price:  $20
Cost: $12.50

Rating = Buy It