2008 Seyval Blanc Lynfred Winery

From my last post you all know where Lynfred Winery is located and a litte backround about them. The second sample Lynfred sent me was a white wine made with the seyval blanc grape. The seyval blanc grape as you can imagine is a hybrid grape suited for cool climates (Illinois being in the Midwest)and is primarily grown in England and the Finger Lakes region of New York (I had to research this folks). The grapes harvested for Lynfred's 2008 game from Correll Vineyards in Newton Illinois. Ok enough on the backround you say what did I like about the wine.

Once in the glass the first thing hitting the nose is the smell of fresh peaches followed by citris. You also get the sense prior to taste this is a crisp wine. Can't wait time to drink and taste.

First taste didn't take long to identify that peach flavor. Light not overpowering and followed by a citris fruit flavor. The finish brought out the mineral characteristic of the wine (and the grape). Minerality is so hard to describe but think of it as getting a soda from a fountain at your favorite restaurant minus the syrup (haven't we all had that). Now add the flavors of the wine to it and you get my description. There were some summer days when I really would have loved a glass of this award winning Seyval Blanc from Lynfred Winery. Stop out and say hello to the gang for me and make sure you take a bottle home. I'm sure you will like their wines as much as I do.

Cheers
Dan

Lynfred Cuvee Premium White Table Wine

My latest taste comes from the fine people of Lynfred Winery in Roselle Illinois (my home state). What I didn't know was that Lynfred Winery is the oldest and largest in the state and produces 50 varietals and 25,000 cases per year. They asked if I would blog about their wine and could they send me samples. As you can tell my response was YES!

So my first sample was the Lynfred Cuvee Premium White Table Wine. I liked how they included a tasting sheet telling me this is a 100% Chardonnay blend. My first sniff screams pineapple but also it gave me the sensation of a crisp cool chilled bowl of fruit. Spicy, oak and as the wine warmed a touch, here came my favorite vanilla. Nice aroma on this one.

Excellent white wine and 13.5% alcohol. The taste was a perfect combination of creamy pineapple followed by buttery vanilla and you can sure tell the finish because Mr. Oak is definately present along with a touch of spice. Very impressed. I see why Lynfred Winery has such a large following. Stop out today, say hi to Christina and the gang while you sample Lynfred's award winning wines. Take a few bottles home too for your friends.

2006 Willow Crest Cabernet Franc Yakima Valley Washington

When I first purchased this wine from my friend Traci (courtesy of a birthday gift certificate) the only thing I knew was the store had a couple followers. My first 2006 Willow Crest Cabernet Franc Yakima Valley Washington was in fact very good and I can now understand why there is a following.

Once the bottle was open and poured a real wonderful scent of red berry and cherry really hit my nose. Leather, cola, spice and oak rounded out my additional "whiffs".

My first drink was definately a blast of juicy cherry and completely different from my expectation (in my mind dry, bold flavors of a cabernet). With each taste the flavor of red berry was evident along with an earthy oak finish. The juicy berry flavor holds from start to finish which surprised me for such a light wine (I'm used to flavors where the first is not necessarily the last).

While this may be my first cabernet franc it won't be my last especially if they are all this good. I will serve this one to the friends next time so off for another bottle.

Cheers

Dan

2007 Apex Cellars Chardonnay

Please admire this fine photographic event. Appears the camera operator (ahem) may have been off kilter as the picture leans left. No idea why and one can only guess grape juice was involved :).

What a great bottle of wine this 2007 Apex Cellars Chardonnay from Columbia Valley Washington turned out to be as my my first from Apex Cellars.

First sniff gave me the fresh crisp ripe apple aroma as if I were standing in an orchard. Next was a comination of lemon juice/zest as if fresh squeezed into my glass, a slight pear aroma and finally finishing with my favorite vanilla and oak.

Very nice first taste. Buttery, creamy vanilla, apple and oak. My god have I gone to heaven? Excellent smooth chardonnay. Each glass impressed me more with the layers of flavors. Apple followed by creamy butter vanilla and just the right amount of oak at the finish. I'll need to stop back and see my friend Traci at 1st Ave Wine and buy more of this chardonnay.

Cheers
Dan

2008 Russian Jack Pinot Noir Martinborough New Zealand

Well this is my first Pinot Noir from New Zealand and I will say very surprised and very pleased. Yes my New Zealand friends you make good wine.

First in the glass the aroma of dark fruit come to the forefront. Strawberry still dominant followed by plum (fooled me) then spice. I pick up some leather/oak as well. Nice color.

Taste and its wow!. Nice combination of the juicy strawberry, spice and is that chocolate at the end? Seems earthy but not sure if my taste buds are off. I do get a lingering oak taste. Keep this one on hand. Nice price at $14.99.

Cheers
Dan

2007 Hahn Chardonnay Monterey

I know my last post mentioned cold weather, snow and time for reds. Yes even I can be swayed for a good bottle of Chardonnay. The 2007 Hahn is just that bottle.



Really nice aroma on this chardonnay. First it's a crisp fresh lemon followed by peach and an orange/citrus combination finish. You can also pick up a hint of vanilla spice. I could smell the wine all day but that makes no sense. Time to drink baby.



Drink is so harsh (that's what we do with beer) so my first "taste" of this wonderful chardonnay produced a juicy peach/lemon/vanilla combination and finished with an orange zesty spice. Slight oak at the finish as well. Great combination of flavor a quality chardonnay by the folks at Hahn.



Cheers

Dan

2007 Eola Hills Pinot Noir Oregon

Yes its been a week but very busy and time for wine. The weather has turned colder (we have already witnessed the snow flakes) and red wines will be the norm but a white will sneak in especially when chicken or fish is served for dinner.

I really like the 2007 Eola Hills Pinot Noir. On the nose at first the ripe cherry followed closely by spice. Second smell gives me the aroma of red berry (red raspberry comes to mind). Excellent color and my mouth is watering.

What flavor this Pinot gives with the cherry beginning, strawberry/spice combination in the middle and finishing with juicy raspberry begging you to drink more (no need to twist my arm). Medium bodied yet a soft finish. Hard to believe this wine was purchased for $12.99. Make sure you serve this to your friends.

Cheers

Dan

2007 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay Alexander Valley

Ok back to the really good wine courtesy of a very nice friend. I really like the 2007 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay from the Alexander Valley. Come to think of it is there any bad wine from Alexander Valley?

In the glass the first smell I grab is the ripe pineapple closely followed by pear. Smell 2 brings fruity apple and a slight hint of oak.

Once in the mouth I knew this was one excellent wine. Smooth ripe apple at the beginning and then here comes a perfect dose of pear which lingers and then finishes with a slight hint of oak. Truly amazing harmony of flavors.

This was my first wine from Ferrari-Carano but it won't be my last. I am ranking this as one of my top Chardonnay's all time.

Cheers
Dan

Barefoot Pinot Noir

Every now and then I get a little nuts, see a bottle and buy it for the name. Barefoot has a Pinot Noir and its on sale for $4.99? Oh kill me with curiosity because I'm not going home without it. Plus isn't this the official wine of the beach volleyball tour?

Ok so I pour the glass and yes it smells like real wine. Cherry, vanilla, red berry somewhat fruity. Seems to have traits of a pinot noir. Heck let's have a taste.

Fine its much sweeter than my liking for a pinot noir but actually this isn't bad all things considered to this point. Juicy cherry, red raspberry and spice. This wine reminds me of thanksgivings when I was younger and grandma served wine (the all popular white zinfandel because she said it went with everything).

I bet I would have like this wine more if I was drinking it with those professional beach volleyball gals :)

Cheers

Dan

2008 St Supery Sauvignon Blanc

Well gang my 4th sample from the good folks at St Supery and Rick Bakas was excellent just as the prior 3 bottles I tasted. For the record I am now a big fan of St Supery and I suggest you try their wine as well. Excellent fruit, perfect balance you can't get any better wine. Iowa wine stores please check with your distributor and carry St Supery. California visitors make sure you stop by their winery and tasting room.

The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc gave me an aroma of grapefruit, ripe melon and a hint of peach. Other Sauvignon Blanc's I've tried the grapefruit overpowered the whole glass but each fruit in St Supery's blended together as if in harmony.

While tasting I was enjoying a Bertolli Garlic Shrimp, Penne, Roasted Red Pepper/Tomato dish and what a combination. The wine started with the grapefruit flavor followed closely by the melon and lime (fooled me at first), finally finishing with soft peach. The fruit worked together nicely. Elegant and refreshing.

Again thank you Rick Bakas and St Supery for introducing me to your wines.

2001 King Estate Pinot Noir Oregon

The Friday wine taste was absent most of the group due to vacations and other planned events. Yours truly forgot the camera so its a bottleless view this week. Just happened that a bottle was donated by a part time member of the group so rather than open up a bunch we decided this to be our bottle and we will save the others for next week.
The 2001 King Estate Pinot Noir received the "it's good" rating from the group (simple minded wino's). Its our first wine from King Estate.

In the glass the aroma of strawberry, spice, cola, red berry and leather was present. Very nice on the nose I thought.

Nice raspberry start followed by the strawberry and finally a slight spice/oak finish once we drank. For Pinot Noir fans I would recommend you purchase a bottle and share this wine with your friends.

Cheers
Dan

2008 St Supery Cabernet Sauvignon

Can you say 3 for 3 on excellent St Supery Wines. I opened my sample the 2004 St Supery Cabernet Sauvignon and found this to be a big flavored wine.

Once in the glass the the first thing my nose identified was the sweet smell of oak followed by dark berry and spice. Excellent deep red color this wine looks rich so............. time to taste.

Wow this cabernet is huge. Blackberry/blackcherry combination at the beginning followed by spice and oak. I first tasted this at 60* and I found the flavor excellent and as the wine warmed to around 65* the fruit and spice became dominant and the oak faded to a hint.

The St Supery Cabernet was the best Cab I have ever enjoyed. Perfect both before dinner and with a fresh grilled beef filet, I considered myself spoiled. St Supery Cabernet is a must to keep on hand.