Wine | TheWineBuzz

Featured Wines

2011 Wakefield Riesling, Clare Valley

Lovely stone fruit aroma with hints of pear, minerals and white cherry; vibrant, delicious and very clean, with apple/pear flavors and mouthwatering acidity.
WWW.WAKEFIELDWINES.COM.AU

Articles

They’ve Got a Mission
By Donna Marchetti

There’s a gem of a wine region within a day’s drive of Ohio, and if you haven’t been there, start making your plans now. Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula, a stone’s throw north of Traverse City, is making some of the most exciting wines in the Eastern United States.

This stunning peninsula juts 18 miles into Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, rising high above the water. It’s ideal for growing cool-climate grapes because the deep waters of the bay stay warm well into the fall, lengthening the growing season. In winter, snow cover protects the vines, and the slow thaw in the spring makes them less susceptible to frosts after bud break. Read Entire Article…

Give These a Try
By Donna Marchetti
Does Verdelho even stand a chance in a world where hordes of Chardonnay drinkers are loath to try something new, much less something they can’t pronounce?

Pedro Lopes Vieira is banking on it. North American sales manager for Esporão, a winery in Portugal’s Alentejo region, Pedro was in Ohio recently to promote his wines made primarily from indigenous grapes like Verdelho and Trincadeira. Read Entire Article…

Demystifying French Wine
By Gary Twining
France has set the standard for some of the finest wines and wine types of the world. This is in part due to the phylloxera root louse that decimated French vineyards in the late 1800s. When mass replanting on resistant rootstocks was undertaken, the most appropriate grape or grapes were selected for planting in each region.

This is perhaps the best way to learn about French wines: by knowing the grapes used in each region for the prime wine types and styles. Read Entire Article…

The Lowdown on Lodi
By Donna Marchetti
Pop open a wine labeled “California,” and you can be almost certain some of the grapes that went into that wine were grown in the Lodi region, which lies in California’s Central Valley east of San Francisco.

Lodi vineyards have been producing grapes for over a century, and for many years these grapes were the unsung heroes in many a California wine. But that’s changing, as Lodi is coming into its own as a wine-producing region and bottling wines under its own appellation. In the early 1990s there were eight wineries. Now there are 80. Read Entire Article…

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Wine Reviews

Tasting Notes

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Hugel et Fils Riesling Jubilee, 2005 (Alsace); $62
Complex, inviting aroma of lemon zest, stone fruit, minerals and petrol; great depth, with lush fruit, mineral backbone and a lingering, rich finish.

Margarethenhof-Ayler Kupp Riesling Spätlese, 2009 (Saar); $18.99
Warm honey/pear aroma with prominent minerals; lush, concentrated candied apricot and pear flavors with a sweet, vibrant finish.

Margarethenhof-Ayler Kupp Riesling Auslese, 2009 (Saar); $23.99
Pronounced mineral aroma with enticing whiffs of honeyed apples; rich and concentrated with lush, ripe orchard fruit and a vibrant, reverberating finish.

Mönchhof Mosel Slate Riesling Spätlese, 2010 (Mosel); $26.99
Intoxicating aroma dripping with honey, minerals and pineapple; lush, sweet, deep and elegant with beautiful tangerine and honey flavors.

Mosel River Riesling, 2010 (Mosel); $11.99
Appealing mineral/slate aroma with stone fruit overtones; bright, vivid flavor, full of fresh peach tartness with a lingering, vibrant finish.

Von Schleinitz VS Estate Dry Riesling, 2008 (Mosel); $14.99
Inviting aroma of melon, honey and spice; lovely honeyed apricot and peach flavor with bright acidity and lush texture.

Bargain Buzz

White

Essay Chenin Blanc, 2011 (South Africa); $7.99
Pleasant, grassy aroma with citrus and mineral overtones; bright and crisp, with refreshing lemon and melon flavors and a delicious touch of honey on the finish.

WineFinds

White – Australia

Wakefield Promised Land Unwooded Chardonnay, 2009 (South Australia); $11.99
Tropical fruit bowl aroma of pineapple, mango and lime; crisp and vivid, with plenty of juicy fruit and bright acidity.

Wakefield Promised Land Riesling, 2011 (South Australia); $11.99
Honeydew, lemon drop aroma with a bit of a mineral undercurrent; loaded with flavors of apples, pears and peaches and a big blast of lime on the finish.

White – California

Dry Creek Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County); $16
Very fresh, delicate aroma of apples, grass and minerals; full of bright, tart, lemony flavor with a vibrant finish.

Dry Creek Vineyard Estate Sauvignon Blanc DCV3, 2009 (Sonoma County); $25
Warm tropical aroma of ripe pineapple with flavors of juicy pear, grapefruit and a touch of elegant spice.

Justin Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (Paso Robles); $15
Pretty stone fruit aroma with a notes of tropicals and florals; soft and almost austere with a hint of lemon zest and lime; clean, crisp and tart.

Morro Bay Chardonnay “Sur Lie,” Split Oak Estates, 2010 (California); $10.99
A bit of butter on the nose with a touch of tropical fruit; very fruity and juicy, loaded with tropical flavors of mango, guava and passion fruit.

Landmark Overlook Chardonnay, 2010 (Sonoma County); $25
A hint of buttery oak with aromas of toasted coconut and crème brûlée; delicious, with good depth and hints of coconut cream pie; rich mouth feel and lingering finish.

White – Chile

Casa Silva Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, 2011 (Colchagua Valley); $12
Aromas of green apple, grass and lemon; bright and vibrant with racy acidity and tart white grapefruit and Granny Smith flavors.

White – France

Lucien Albrecht Gewurztraminer Reserve, 2010 (Alsace); $19.99
Classic spicy, rich Gewurztraminer aroma with a hint of pear; rich and full bodied with luscious honeyed spice flavor that just keeps going.

White – Germany

Von Schleinitz VS Spätburgunder Blanc de Noir, 2011 (Mosel); $19.99
A hint of florals, white cherries and stone fruit on the nose; delicious and bright with juicy cherry flavor and a hint of vanilla.

White – Greece

Muses Estate Savatiano, 2010 (Regional White Wine of Thivakos); $12.99
Bright aromas of orange and honey with an undercurrent of minerals and spice; full flavored and spicy, with concentrated apple flavor and an interesting note of clove.

Muses Estate 9 Muses White, 2010 (Regional White Wine of Thivakos); $14.99
Inviting honeysuckle aroma with a touch of light butterscotch; full of bright, rich flavor of dried apricot and apple.

Prinos Malvasia di Candia Aromatica/Chardonnay, 2010 (Protected Geographical Indication Crete); $18.99
Stone fruit aroma with notes of flowers, honey and vanilla; rich and full flavored, with good acidity and hints of white peach and cherry.

White – New Zealand

Chasing Venus Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 (Marlborough); $16
Very grassy aroma with herb garden notes; puckery and vibrant on the palate with mouthwatering crispness and lemony Granny Smith flavor.

Red – Australia

Wakefield Shiraz, 2009 (Clare Valley); $16.99
Deep blueberry aroma with hints of cinnamon and clove; very concentrated rich, ripe black fruit flavor underscored by baking spice and vanilla.

Red – California

Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 (Napa Valley); $60
Lovely notes of violet under aromas of black cherry and boysenberry; rich and elegant, with beautiful balance and intense, powerful fruit.

Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel, 2008 (Dry Creek Valley); $28
Inviting aromas of black pepper, dark chocolate, black cherries and black tea; silky and rich, with deep, concentrated ripe fruit, balancing acidity and a fabulous finish.

Red – Italy

Franco Serra Barbaresco DOCG, 2008; $21.99
A hint of violets, black tea, woods and dark fruit on the nose; solid tannins and bold fruit, with pleasant earthiness and good depth.

Franco Serra Barolo DOCG, 2007; $29.99
Aromas of old leather, spice, wild berries, dried black fruit and black licorice; full bodied with rich, pruney fruit, bold tannins and a spicy finish.

Red – Greece

Diamantakis Diamond Rock Syrah/Mandilari, 2009 (Protected Geographical Indication Crete); $19.99
Very inviting, complex aroma of clove, black licorice, tea and concentrated ripe black berries; rich and full bodied, with intense tannins and loads of brambly fruit.

Ippeas Kikones Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, 2007 (Regional Wine of Ismaros); $24.99
Black licorice and new leather aroma with an undercurrent of cherry and dark chocolate; delicious, with bold, ripe fruit, solid tannins and a touch of chocolate on the finish.

Dessert

Les Petits Grains Muscat de St. Jean de Minervois, NV; $13.99/375ml
Lovely aromas of honey, candied orange peel and sultanas; luscious, unguent and rich on the palate, with honeyed pear flavor and notes of spiced apple.

Chateau de Cosse Sauternes, 2008; $24.99/375ml
Delicate pear and green apple aroma, with rich, mouth-coating flavors of butterscotch, and honeyed pear with balancing acidity.

Les Clos de Paulilles Banyuls Rimage, 2009; $19.99/500ml
Lush aroma of raisins, prunes and dried cherries; rich, sweet, luscious flavors of prunes, Black Mission figs and candied black cherries with a big dark chocolate finish.

Prices may vary.

Bargain Buzz

Franco Serra Barbera d’Alba DOC, 2010; $9.99

Earthy aroma with notes of black licorice and leathery fruit; bright acidity and brambly, smoky flavor of black cherries and cracked black pepper.

Big House White, 2011 (California); $9.99

Inviting floral aroma with a gentle hint of vanilla and spice; bright lychee and orange flavor with racy spiciness.

Big House “The Birdman” Pinot Grigio, 2011 (California); $9.99

Aromas of melon, pear and apple with an appealing floral note; very pleasant and clean with tropical mango hints on the palate.

>> Read More Bargain Buzz

Tasting Notes:

Weingut Thanisch Riesling, 2010 (Mosel); $17.99

Bright aroma of tangerines and fresh pineapple laced with minerals; great balance and lovely sweet/tart flavor of honeyed oranges.

Margarethenhof-Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett, 2009 (Saar); $16.99

Aromas of honey, pear, apricot and orange peel; lush and sweet with bright balancing acidity and a honey-dripping finish.

Weingut Thanisch Lieserer Niederberg Helden Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, 2010 (Mosel); $19.99

Rich aroma with a touch of lychee and warm spice; delightfully bright, crisp and tart with a bold mineral backbone and a hint of richness on the finish.

>> Read More Tasting Notes

WineFinds

Wakefield Riesling, 2011 (Clare Valley); $16.99

Lovely stone fruit aroma with hints of pear, minerals and white cherry; vibrant, delicious and very clean, with apple/pear flavors and mouthwatering acidity.

Hess Allomi Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (Napa Valley); $16

Appealing aroma of peach and melon with an undercurrent of honey; delicious, bright and zippy with a mouth-puckering lemon zest finish.

Hess Select Chardonnay, 2010 (Monterey); $12

A touch of oak, vanilla and Golden Delicious apples on the nose; very flavorful and mouthwatering, with ripe, juicy fruit and a touch of spice.

Gosseaume Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 (Touraine); $13.99

Freshly cut grass, a bit of hay, lemon and orange peel aromas; vibrant, racy and full of mouthwatering tart citrus flavors.

Ocone Falanghina “Flora,” 2010 (Taburno IGT); $17.99

Wildflower field aroma; flavorful, rich and concentrated with nutty, spicy clove on the palate and a touch of candied pineapple.

Peter Lehman Clancy’s Red, 2009 (Australia); $17

Big black pepper, black raspberry, clove aroma with an undercurrent of sweet smoke; woodsy, with solid tannins, bold fruit and a touch of chocolate cherry on the finish.

Wakefield Promised Land Shiraz Cabernet, 2008 (South Australia); $11.99

Rich, juicy boysenberry aroma with a hint of black tea; full of dark berry flavor with notes of pepper, brambles, smoke and eucalyptus.

Wakefield Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 (Clare Valley); $16.99

Concentrated black licorice, black plum aroma; intense ripe black berry flavor with firm tannins and a touch of smoke and tobacco on the finish.

Villa Calcinaia “Cappone” Chianti Classico DOCG; $15.99

Very inviting aroma of baking spice, black licorice and black currant with a hint of earth; full of bold flavor with solid tannins and wild berry notes.

Villa Rubini Schioppettino, 2009 (Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC); $19.99

Inviting, full aroma of plums with hints of eucalyptus and a touch of leather; interesting layers of bright raspberry and earthy flavors with good balance and food-friendly character.

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Prices may vary.