tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75262732104682235662024-03-12T23:19:03.670-07:00The Frugal OenologistStruggles of a wine curmudgeon in PennsylvaniaPaul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.comBlogger928125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-31044132025523349532014-03-22T13:59:00.001-07:002014-03-22T13:59:48.708-07:00To those of you who have followed my ramblings -- Last September I had a bad fall (of the vertical, not the seasonal kind) and fractured my back. I've recovered to some extent, but not completely, so that I'm not driving and have to walk with the help of a walker. This is hardly ideal for winkling out new wines, so that, with many regrets, I've concluded that I can no longer keep my wine blog going. As for what I'd hoped to accomplish, it now seems certain that the PLCB will long outlive me. Thank you, one and all, for reading my often disconnected musings, anD God bless you all.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-32270915868035401972014-01-31T14:13:00.000-08:002014-01-31T14:13:09.347-08:00Donna Irene Umbria Rosso 2013In the manner of all very young Italian reds, this Umbrian requires a very long breathing period (three hours at a minimum) lest it taste harsh, tannin saturated, and bitter. Given that, it softens up nicely. $12.99, a dollar less in N.Y.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-1667972209073825132014-01-29T08:59:00.000-08:002014-01-29T08:59:11.527-08:00Quinta de Gomariz Alvarinho 2009Alvarinhos are grown in Northern Portugal, just across the border from Spanish Galicia. They tend to be a curious mixture of tart and sweet (think of Chinese sweet and sour food). This one has been reduced in price given its age so that the end result tends to have both opposing qualities exaggerated. If that kind of exotic effect is your thing, you may like it. Very overpriced at $11.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-69341258602288247792014-01-28T07:05:00.000-08:002014-01-28T07:05:21.282-08:00Casalone Rosso Toscano 2006A blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and San Giovese, this rather assertive Tuscan red is all but undrinkably tart upon first opening. Once it's breathed for a couple of hours though, it becomes quite civilized, with plum and red cherry elements, and even a perceptible chocolate note. It's holding up nicely under its age but, at $12.99,is surely overpriced.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-81268689874954798042014-01-27T07:07:00.001-08:002014-01-27T07:07:22.055-08:00Montefiore Moscato d'Asti 2011The Muscat grape has been grown in the Mediterrenean region for over three thousand years and until relatively recently informed our taste of what a vinified white grape should taste like: it's semi-sweet. This one from Piedmont tastes of white peach and apple, with some slightly bubbly notes and quite a bit of fragrance and underlying caramel. It's unmistakably a dessert wine and drinking it as an accompaniment to main dishes would clearly not correspond to today's taste. $9.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-64508587177068897112014-01-24T07:54:00.000-08:002014-01-24T07:54:15.420-08:00Ramon Bilbao Valinas Albarino 2010This white Rias Baixas from Galicia (Spain, not Poland) is light, fragrant, with nicely blended flavors of melon and citrus. It's certainly at least a year beyond its "drink by" date, but, with its screw top, has hung in there nicely. (While I'm deeply suspicious of any red with a screw top, whites are quite another story). At $11.99 not exactly cheap, but a nice quaff.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-40217006876065904582014-01-22T05:49:00.001-08:002014-01-22T05:49:38.271-08:00Callabriga 2010This strikes me as a particularly nice year of this Portuguese red blend from the Douro region, also famous for its Ports. A bit on the tart side, with a tannin overload on opening, it will soon soften into appealing plum amd cherry elements, complementing any red meat. $9.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-1088102260015575002014-01-20T10:48:00.002-08:002014-01-20T10:48:44.452-08:00Coli Fratale 2010A red Chianti from Tuscany which manages to be at one and the same time fruit forward ( mostly cherry and blackberry ) and thin at the same time, and in addition has a noticeable tobacco smoke overlay, this turns out to be nothing particularly special, certainly not at $10.99. Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-16152603027007816052014-01-12T15:55:00.000-08:002014-01-12T15:55:09.711-08:00Casa Cimbra Pinot Grigio 2012Had I never tasted a Pinot Grigio from the Venezio before, I should have said "no thank you, never again". This wine has nothing whatever to recommend it, it's completely bland, with just a slight bitter taste at the finish. Overpriced, even at $8.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-37646555078008886732014-01-08T07:39:00.000-08:002014-01-08T07:43:06.311-08:00Rutini Trumpeter 2012A Malbec/Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon blend this young red from Argentina's Mendoza Valley exhibits mainly blackberry elements with a touch of smoke at the finish. Not as much body as I would like. $ 11.99,one can do better.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-71293040096676338582014-01-06T07:33:00.001-08:002014-01-06T07:33:24.031-08:00Bodegas Santalba Jarrero Rioja Blanco 2011As regular readers of this blog will be aware, it's not often that I come down hard on a Rioja -- they are generally reliable -- but let this be a notable exception This is supposed to have apple and orange elements, but all I detect is a largely undefined, vaguely sweetish taste and, if that weren't enough, an unpleasant, vinegary finish. I have no means of determining if that's built into the wine, or whether the bottle has begun to turn, but by all means avoid it. The price, $11.99, is nothing short of ludicrous.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-31737661672454011352014-01-05T16:15:00.001-08:002014-01-05T16:15:22.903-08:00Over the Edge Pinot Gris 2010 You musn't think Marlborough Valley -- this Martinborough white from New Zealand's North Island is a semi-sweet with predominant elements of peach and ripe apple and no bite to speak of. We were unimpressed, the wine could have been made to illustrate the meaning of the impression "meh". $11.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-81632973307254484982014-01-03T07:47:00.002-08:002014-01-03T07:47:58.193-08:00Teliani Valley Tsinandali 2011There's not much to be said on behalf of this white from Georgia (the country, not the state) other than that it's neither dry nor sweet, and that it tastes vaguely of grapes. There's a cartoon in the January 6, 2014 NEW YORKER magazine that describes it perfectly.$8.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-86584103716700139112013-12-30T07:32:00.001-08:002013-12-30T07:32:16.591-08:00Ruffino Orvieto Classico 2012Ruffino is a huge combine, producing vast quantities of both reds and whites. The entry level whites tend to be cheap but rather aggressively dry. This white however, grown in Umbria (and marketed simply as "white Chianti" on its home ground) is a step or two above that. Not precisely sweet, it nevertheless predominantly reminds me of pear, with just enough citrus to make it into a table rather than a dessert wine. A nice, rounded mouthful and certainly worth the price of $8.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-77785928285095294152013-12-29T14:06:00.001-08:002013-12-29T14:06:17.145-08:00Caparzo San Giovese 2011From the celebrated Montalcino region, this is a very ordinary red, made from the Sangiovese grape, with the expected cherry and chocolate elements, with rather too much acidity in the finish. $8.49.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-69235173478695627012013-12-29T13:46:00.000-08:002013-12-29T13:48:20.079-08:00Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico 2009In spite of the fancy designations, this is an ordinary Chianti Classico, with the usual cherry element. considerably overpriced at $12.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-31684020710112239382013-12-27T07:48:00.002-08:002013-12-27T07:48:27.750-08:00M.Chapoutirr Belleruche Rouge 2011A Grenache/Syrah blend Cotes du Rhone, this is a somewhat unripe product, rather smoky in taste, with elements of cherry and licorice. Somewhat overpriced at $10.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-90366533999158288842013-12-26T15:00:00.001-08:002013-12-26T15:00:25.277-08:00Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc 2012Your typical New Zealand Marlborough Valley Sauvignon Blanc tends to be fresh, flinty, with a mown grass element predominating. This one, however, has a good deal more body, with strong gooseberry and citrus flavors. $12.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-59132732374344691682013-12-25T16:28:00.001-08:002013-12-25T16:28:57.344-08:00Peter Weber BrutOne man's brut is another's demi sec, and that is what that Alsatian bubbly struck me as. It's relatively heavy-bodied and particularly unsubtle. Way over priced at $12.99. Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-4206728315160578722013-12-24T10:13:00.001-08:002013-12-24T10:13:22.605-08:00Cantina Orazio Rosso Gastone 2010If I were employed in an Italian vineyard to help with the harvesting, this is what I might expect to be given along with my free lunch at noon. It's from Liguria, and it's red. That's the best that can be said for it; othewise it's raw, more than fleetingly bitter, and in no conceivable manner worth the "sale" price of, hang on to your hats, $11.99. (Which reminds me that it's now been at least a year since the initiative to do away with the PLCB was introduced. In that period ( not that anyone cares) I've tried to be fair, praising the Board for whatever real bargains it was offering, and there were certainly some, but from here on in, I'll just save my breath and, whenever expedient and justified by price, order my wine from out of state. The PLCB succeeded admirably in running rings around the voters, but not around the courts. Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-57537898626328226342013-12-19T06:35:00.002-08:002013-12-19T06:35:44.564-08:00Rosnay Vouvray 2011Made of 100% Chenin Blanc, this white from the region of Tours is a so-called demi-sec. In fact, it leans more in the direction of sweet, with elements of pineapple and peach, only partially tempered by citrus. Given its minerality and and slight carbonization, I'd consider it as a dessert wine. $12.99, can be bought for two dollars less in N.Y.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-35964952751949570362013-12-18T06:48:00.002-08:002013-12-18T06:48:36.633-08:00Carpineto Dogajolo Bianco 2012All that the term Super Tuscan guarantees these days is that the wine is indeed made in Tuscany. This white blend is on the mild side of "dry", with predominantly apple notes and some quince. $11.99, but it sells for two dollars less in a lot of places.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-57420017102740645812013-12-16T13:09:00.000-08:002013-12-16T13:09:10.974-08:00Les Rabassieres Cotes du Rhone 2011Those must be some wierd truffles(ramassieres means truffles in the Provencal dialect, from having to stoop to dig them up, after they've been located by one's pet pig or dog) this red grows in the midst of. Even after a good two hours of airing, it tasted thin and unpleasantly bitter. Certainly not worth even the sale price of $9.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-7926624796802468962013-12-13T06:41:00.002-08:002013-12-13T06:41:40.976-08:00Anna de Codorniu BrutThe Holiday Season having snuck up on us, it's time to look at Cavas. This Catalonian white from Penedes is Spain's best selling bubbly. It's certainly not bad, but the rather unusual mix (not to say contradiction in terms) of pineapple and citrus is not precisely to my taste. When it comes to Cavas, I prefer the Freixenet. $8.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7526273210468223566.post-34886848059422163662013-12-12T05:52:00.001-08:002013-12-12T05:52:16.668-08:00Carpinetto Dogajolo 2011A blend of four different grapes, this young Tuscan red, made in the style of the Super Tuscans, is sometimes referred to as a "Baby Tuscan". It's fresh, with black cherry, blackberry, peach, and, yes, citrus elements. Not much body, but a good summer drink. $9.99.Paul P Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08138926474210449417noreply@blogger.com0