2004 Poggio Trevalle Larcille

This is the new vintage of my favorite wine from Morellino di Scansano, a Coastal region in Tuscany. To pair, my wife envisioned a Tuscan Style pasta with roasted cauliflower, garlic, onions and tomato. The 2003 Larcille is one of my favorite Italian wines for everyday drinking.

The nose on the 2004 is closed, with elderberry, fennel, violet and notes of alcohol. Also closed up on the palate, with black licorice, anise, and cough syrup dominating. Mild tannins, but great structure and a bit dry. Will revisit in a 1/2 hour or so. Very jazzed to put this wine on the BONDA list for next week. Our Italian selection has been neglected over the warm weather.

I took the bottle from Jamie's cellar about 2 hours ago, but it is a little warm. Either my kitchen is too hot, or we need to adjust the temp in the cellar.

Sean Thackery Pleiades XVI Old Vines

The new shipment of Pleiades for BONDA arrived today. 4 cases to start. I haven't tried it yet, so I just opened a bottle. It is a lot more expensive than the XIV, but well worth it - will be $62 or so on the list as opposed to $52.

The label is still the same:

"The object of Pleiades is to be delicious, delight the jaded, offend the snob and go well with anything red wine goes with."

Bottle in January of 2008, a very late bottling for Thackery; he gives nothing up as far as composition:

"...includes Syrah, Barbera, Carignane, Petite Syrah, Sangiovese, and Viognier to name but a few."

For those of you who read this blog regularly, you know that this is my favorite wine, year after year. Each bottle is always different, always delish.

This bottle of the new vintage is lighter than the last XV I had, with a dark rust color, slightly opaque in the light. Big alcohol on the nose (probably because of its youth) with high cherry cola notes, earthy sweet pine, mint chocolate, with an earthy mushroom and coffee depth.

On the tongue, pure delight! Light and delicate at first, surprisingly medium tannins, with a roasted dark fruit, edgy coffee, thyme, and a bit of funk. I love this wine.

I originally wasn't going to open a bottle as the wine is probably travel shocked, but my father-in-law just got back and was visiting the boys. He loves Pleiades as well, he saw the case, and asked when we were going to try it. I said "Right now", and cracked the bottle.

His thoughts: "there is a certain softness, that is building Cinnamon, subtle cherry, What I love about the wine is the flow of oil that carries all the flavor. When I love a wine, that is what it has - that flow carrying the flavors".

Thanks Jim for the help in tasting the new vintage!

2005 Ramey Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

New vintage of the Ramey Chard we sell at BONDA. I couldn't find a post of the 2004, but it is one of the few Cali Chards that I really like, and one of Court's favorite all time wines that is under $50.

Sweet like candy corn on the nose, with a slight alcoholic edge. On the palate, definite oak, but mellow, and not the first taste. Soft floral notes with hints of blanched almonds. An easy wine, but not as good as the 2004. Perhaps it is too young? Or an off bottle?

2006 Ridge Zinfandel East Bench

A very small production of East Bench gets made every year and rarely makes it to Connecticut. Our distributor only had a case, and offered it to me as we buy a lot of Ridge for BONDA. I liked the wine, but it was a little hot (too much alcohol) and surprisingly did not have a lot of fruit.

Jamie had stored it in his cellar, so it was a perfect temp, but wasn't like any Ridge I had from the 00's. 100% Zinfandel, it was mellow. As it opened up and warmed up a bit, the big raisiny Zin flavors came out, taming the alcohol. I think it needs more time in the bottle as the '03s and '04s from Ridge are drinking awesome now.

This pic is just cute!

Here is a pic of Cooper at Jamie and Kim's last night. I accidentally loaded it, but I'm sure you wanted to see him eat some pizza! Not the best dinner, but he also had carrots, a banana and milk.

2006 Heller Estate Chenin Blanc

Another wine to try for BONDA. I really did not like this. Really sweet and cloying. A Chenin Blanc in the style of a heavy Australian wine. Court really liked it though and ended up drinking most of the bottle over a few nights.

2003 Pompois Anjou

Another red that has been sitting around to try for BONDA. Here is my review for the list:

From Anjou, France, this solid Cab Franc features old vines and soil on the nose, with dusty subtle fruit on the palate and a touch of sweetness.

2003 Nicolas Reau Garance

This is a great red that has been sitting around for a few weeks that I needed to try for the restaurant. Here is my review for the wine list: From Chinon, France, this Syrah blend features a spicy nose, with notes potting soil and blackberries. Following on the tongue with roasted peppers, muted fruit and soapstone dryness and hints of Ribeye grizzle. Awesome example of French terrior.

2006 Thumbprint Cellars Pinot Noir Schneider Vineyard

So a couple of times Sam has told me about Wines Til Sold Out, which is a site that sells one wine at a discount until they are sold out, then they offer a new wine until it is sold out. It took me a month to figure what he meant exactly, and then I subscribed to their mailings and get two or three emails a day touting the wines.

They generally give you free shipping on three or four bottles and Sam takes fliers here and there on wines around $10 or $15. Thus I saw the Thumbprint up, a Russian River Valley wine for $12 a bottle, so we split 4 bottles. I emailed Sam about them a few days back and he did not like it.

I popped a bottle tonight to try it with my friends Clara and Aaron. At first I thought Sam was wrong, but it had a very alcoholic nose with hints of cranberry and cedar. A little bitter on the palate with muted fruit. I agree with Sam as it tastes like a cheap Pinot.