Sep to Dec 2006 Picks

Even though it is quite possible that no one is actually reading this blog, it became apparent to me that a wine diary just wasn't that helpful to the potential future reader. So I'll write a quarterly blog, updated when necessary of the best wines I've found. I'll also slough to the diary format any the non super star wines.

So what wines am I buying at least 4 and maybe 6 bottles of?
(See my rating system to understand what the letter grades mean)

Under $10:

Columbia Crest 2002 Grand Estates, Syrah ($7 TJ): nice coffee, chocolate hints. Smooth, almost big. Really nice. My first [B+ to A] wine a while. Tried a second bottle and it was equally good. [A-]. I've bought 8 bottles as of 10/04/2006.

La Ferme Julien, 2004, Rouge, Cote du Ventoux ($5, TJ): Grenache 50%, Syrah 20%, Carignan 15% and Cinsault 15%. There is a rooster on the label as the winery mascot. From the south Cotes du Rhone region in the north Provence region (Mt Ventoux) near where we visited. Aroma of red and black fruit with a stony freshness (like a peach pit). Tastes of red fruit with a solid minerality (though ironically I only noticed this after returning from France) underneath. Medium bodied for this style. Noticable acidity but well balanced. Good on its own and even better with food. Has a bigger body than many wines I tasted from this region, which I like. Tastes like a nice version of the table wines available at all restaurants in the Cote du Rhone region, including Lyon. Still good after a day or two in an open bottle. [A]. (At this price, this is likely to become my open a bottle anytime red. esp with cheese.)

From $10-$15:

Jim Barry 2004 The Cover Drive, Cab ($14? - WC): Started simpler with a big plum, jammy taste, but after 30-45 min and continuing for 3 hours, developed a nice spice, and woody (eucalyptus?, cedar?) vein to go along with the rich fruit. I wish I hadn't drunk so much initially. [A-]. (The 3 bottles of the 2002 was good, ok, and then after sitting for 2 years, amazing, so I'm holding a few bottles of the 2004).

R.L Buller NV Fine Tokay 375ml ($12, WC) - Superb. This is what I think a dessert wine should taste like. A tawny, gold with noticiable viscosity when pouring. Luscious, thick, smooth with no bitterness or edge that inexpensive dessert wines/ports often have. Tastes: Obvious honey and raisins, with hints of walnuts, maple syrup. Some in the group smelled pistachios (?) . [A-/A]
(This scores very well with Parker regularly.)

Drylands 2005 Sauvignon Blanc ($14 - WC): My favorite SB. Crisp citrus with good acidity and a roundness not usually found in such a NZ SB. Some sips tasted downright sweet, which a few other also said. Hard to go wrong with this wine at this price. [A-].
I didn't actually get many bottles of the Drylands, but ...

Babich 2005 Sauvignon Blanc ($10 - WC) : WS 90, Nearly as good as the Drylands to me and apparently better according to others, I picked up 12+ bottles over time of the Babich. And look at the price. A bold citrus taste that will wake you from the dead. Other testimonials:
- At a BYOB wine tasting a woman I didn't know tasted this and said "Wow! That is the best Sauvignon Blanc I have ever tasted."
- At the New Zealand wine tasting event in San Francisco, many of my co-workers who attended were very impressed with the Babich wines. The higher end black label (which this isn't) was especially nice.
Obviously, as I've picked this up on 4 different occasions, an [A].

Other very good NZ Sauvignon Blancs are Matua, which are also roughly $14 from WC. I thought the 1 bottle of the Matua 2003 I tried was amazing with a creamy texture along with the crispness, but the 2004-2005 were not nearly as good. My wife (and WS) however have liked the 2004 and 2005 quite a bit.