Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde 2008

NEW TO HALEY'S: Pale yellow with green tints and aromas of citrus and apricot and faint notes of orange blossom. A gentle effervesence accompanies the citrus-dominated fruit flavor on the palate and is nicely balanced with some mineral character. The finish is smooth and lengthy.

This particular "green" wine is quite pleasant and can easily be enjoyed as an aperitif. But to enjoy its full complexity, we suggest you pair it with an appetizer or salad course.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "A light, yellow, citrus-like hue, very clear and appealing. Its bouquet is intense and complex with notes of white fruits, tropical fruits, citrus and white flowers. In the mouth, the first impression is of a lively and stimulating wine, with good acidity and well balanced with good body. It has an intense and complex flavour with notes similar to those identified in the bouquet, and a long and lingering finish."

Domaine des Hauts Chassis Crozes Hermitage 2007

Smoked meat and roses this 100% syrah this is not as earthy as some Crozes Hermitages can be. Very pretty perfumey style with a distinct gameyness. Medium-bodied with a nice finish that is redolent of field flowers with a dash of fennel.

Domaine de la Bergerie Gamay 2008

In Anjou AOC. In Coteaux de Lyon. Violet-colored very tart, light and violets, smoke, ripe cherry and an acidic finish with a sturdy tannic finish.

Tresolmos Verdejo Lias 2008

From Rueda 100% old vine verdejo-on lees for six+ months. Fine mineral and sour apples on the nose. A very tart wine with a hint of chalk and fresh key lime and a grapefruit finish.

Casamaro Garcia Revalo 2008

Mostly 10% viura and 90% verdejo from Rueda. Also light with ripe pears on the nose- it's lemony and fresh and tasty. One for the future.

Ostatu Rioja Alta 2009

Gala apples and tart citrus with lovely mineral finish. Mostly viura with 15% malvesia. Non-certified organic delicious refreshing and has nice dry lime peel and flinty finish. A great summer white.

Twenty Rows Napa Valley Merlot 2007

Deeply-hued with a plum-jammy scent with saturated vanilla and black cherry syrup. A big merlot that has an enormous presence. Big and willful - wine that you don't forget.

Shea Vineyards Pinot Noir 2007

Willamette Valley Oregon, this fruit is from the preeminent wine maker Dick Shea. Considered some of the best fruit in Willamette. Very clear pale garnet color its seductively scented with briar, cherry, a hint of anise, bark and vanilla. Oak aged. Very nice.

Cline Small Berry Mouvedre Contra Costa County 2007

Small-vineyard production this wine is also deeply garnet hued with a cherry tinge. Predominant scents are barnyard, leather, black cherry, vanilla. Sees nearly 100% new oak and has a generous flavor of raisin, maple syrup, fresh cherry, vanilla and has a nice elegant finish. Also 15%.

Cline Ancient Vines Mouvedre Contra Costa County 2007

Grape-skin scent with nice deep garnet hue and high in alcohol 15%. Even toned with a hint of rum-raisin and a black cherry finish. This wine is a little heavily scented on the alcohol size.

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel California 2008

A cloudy transparent rouge that smells of warmed prune pie with a fruity sugarplum juiciness. Looks so light in the glass- deceptively so- because there's so much depth. Sees 80% used and 20% new oak and gives a pretty balance to the fruit and acidity. Good.

Cline 2007 Sonoma County Syrah

Rich berry colored with a warn toasty scent. The predominant scents I get are: plum, cassis, cherry tobacco. It's rich and light at the same time- mouthfull of cherry and plum jam. Not jammy though because the acidity maintains control. Shows a great deal of elegance on the finish. Very likeable.

Cline 2008 Cashmere

Mouvedre 47%, Grenache and Syrah blend. Nicely toned nose with a good balance with fruit and acid- leaning toward acidity. Aged in used oak- imparts a slight woody character. I think this wine would be great with fatty roasts, egg noodles and carbonara.

Cline 2008 Californai Zinfandel

All the Cline wines are from 100% solar powered vineyards and are organically grown but not certified organic. Rhone style wines are Cline's strength. This zin is medium-cherry colored cherry-cola on the first scent and has bright notes after the first taste. THe finish is dry and lean. A bit restrained. But a decent zin for the cost.

Cline 2008 California Viognier

Pale green hued wine with 100% viognier stored in stainless steel. Nice ripe pear and starfruit scent with a hint of stone and chalk. Dry with nice acidity on the finish. Doesn't have much body that I'm looking for.

Sutton Cellars "la solera" 2nd bottling

A sherry or banyuls-style wine (using syrah and zinfandel with a dash of Carignagne) blended from 8 vintages. Looks cloudy, raisin-colored with a wonderful fruitcake character that starts with a delicious acidity and creme caramel with full prune center and a fresh cherry center. This is another special treat from Carl Sutton- a winemaker who certainly marches to his own drum. Try it, before it disappears. Only 300 cases produced.

No Time Tempranillo 2007

No oak and 100% tempranillo from Navarra. Dark rusty black cherry color with plums and has a little alcohol on the finish. Not that great, but I can consider it for the summer months as a sangria wine.

Jigsaw Pinot Noir 2008

Made by Local Wine Company (Ransom, June Hog). Its pale -edged cherry color becomes darker in the center and has a distinct maraschino cherry and clove-spiced scent. Light-to-medium bodied with even cherry and thistle character. Good if you like a genteel pinot noir in the French style.

Anton Bauer Riesling 2007

Berg Vineyard, Wagram appellation. Palest yellow with lychee and chalk dust. A hint of ginger leads to green apple and refined peach on the finish. Unlike German rieslings, this one is subtle, not sweet and delicious.

Anton Bauer Gruner Veltliner 2007

Rosenberg Vineyard, Wagram (Appellation), from Austria. Dry, medium bodied with lots of chalk and lemon. Very good gruner! Fine mineral finish and delicate acidity, a very refreshing white!

Che Gaucho Malbec 2008

Rose-scented cherry with light body. Fairly dull.

Che Gaucho Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Dark and light-scented. Not very good.

Guenoc California Selections Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Deep garnet color with sweet cherry pie scent. Medium bodied and fine. A decent everyday wine for $10.

Guenoc Californai Selections Merlot 2006

Woodsy scent with black cherry on the initial sniff. The body is light and non-descript. A fine 'house wine' for a cheap restaurant. Not great.

Ceretto Arneis Blange 2007

From the Peidmont 100% Arneis, this wine is straw colored and has a citrusy scent with mineral and a light body. Has nice fresh flavor and a lime peel finish.

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2007

California 14.5% alcohol. Medium to big and jammy ripe fruits with cedary flavor and a mouthful of berries. Very drinkable, pair with salty foods and nuts.

Cline Syrah Sonoma County 2007

A mouth full of blackberry and a nice back flavors of pepper, cassis with a dry finish.

Andre Brunel Côtes du Rhône 2007

75% grenache 15% cinsault 10% syrah: fresh cinnamon buns and cherry tobacco on the nose. Medium-bodied with jammy mouth feel and a silky finish. Very good.

Domaine Andre Brunel 2008 Grenache

Medium bodied color and has a warm baked raspberry nose. Bright acidity and cherry notes lead to a not very complex wine that would be good with fatty meats and creamy cheeses.

Double T by Trefethen 2008

Napa Valley Chardonnay lime-hued straw barrel-fermented Very oaky nose with light body and simple finish. Perhaps I am missing something. Perhaps the wine is?

Domaine la Guintrandy Côtes du Rhône 2008

Try this delicious Côtes du Rhône by Marie-Claire and Olivier Cuilleras. It's made from 70 % Grenache, 20 % old vine Carignan and 10 % Syrah in the commune of Tulette. From sandy marl and cobalt, stony soil. This wine has a medium-ruby color and is non-fined or filtered. The grapes are hand-harvested and are non-certified organic. Flavors are of rich cherry and cola- a hint of licorice and has a nice, dry cedar-kissed red-raspberry finish. Drink this with pork or veal stews, grilled lamb or braised beef.

Comes in a 3-liter box ($29.99) or a 750 ml bottle.

My response to Matt Kramer's Killer Wine App

I think that having information explaining the wine is VERY useful- but I am SHOCKED that a critic like MK didn't even buy a bottle in a shop that carried so much "unknown" wines. Wheres the sense of adventure? If you truly love wine, you go to a shop, read (or don't read) the labels/the reviews and 'take a chance'. Isn't that what life is all about? What if you knew all the 'pertinent' details about your spouse before you married her? If she were pre-labeled (by her Mother- or an expert), would you take the risk to go out on that first date? Information is good- but wine criticism is -at best- only opinion, whatever your level of expertise.

I say: if you don't have enough information, buy it anyway. There are SO MANY incredible wines out there that there's too little time to really worry about the details. Think: 'blind date'. It can be a dud, or the start of a hot affair!

I, and my staff, do our best to know what the 'tags' in our store don't. I think this needs to be said: anyone who solely relies on WS or Tanzer reviews needs to live a little and trust their own tastes!

Read Matt Kramer's Killer Wine App Post: http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/41588

Naire Tempranillo 2008

Bright black cherry with hints of richer cocoa and spice. This is a medium-bodied wine with an easy-drinking loft. Try it as an aperitif, with stews, lasagna, and braised meats. Delish!

Naire Verdejo 2008

100% Verdejo this wine is straw-yellow with a pear and almond scent. It has a touch of minerality and is medium-bodied and has a pleasing, clean finish. It has nice citrus flavors and a slightly creamy texture. A fantastic steal of a deal at $7.99!

Renaissance Domaine Rotier 2006

Grape varietals include: duras 30%, braucol 25%, syrah 25% and cabernet sauvignon 20%. The 'odd' grapes are local varietals that impart tannic structure and wildness, respectively. The Gaillac area is in southwestern France, west of the Languedoc. Its overall effect is a polished raisin-tinged, velvety wine that has medium-to-full bodied fruit with bracken, tar, raspberry and plum to the finish. Very nice.

Les Sarments Vin de Pays 2007

40% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, with 20% Tannat. 100% stainless steel. Meant to be a fresh wine with the color a violet-hued black. The wine is from southwest France and is a Vin de Pays Comte de Tolosan. Smells juicy and full-bodied. The style is very Spanish to me because of a forward tar and leather nose and plummy, dry fruit in the mouth. The finish has juicy black cherry style and nice backbone.

Domaine Doudet Bourgogne 2007 Le Petit Chemin

Also with dried cranberry on the nose and has a beautiful, long finish and a wide array of flavors including cherry, tar, cassis, clove and lavender. Light bodied and fine. Very enjoyable.

Doudet Naudin Vicomtee Bourgogne 2007

Fragrant dried cranberry and cherry on the nose. There isn't enough presence in the mid-palate and finish to be remarkable. I love their other (higher priced) Nuits St. George, though.

Goyette Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

The winemaker from Stephen Vincent, Robert Goyette and formerly of La Crema. This nearly opaque red. Nice blackberry and cassis or currant. Not as powerful in the palate as it is to the nose. Perdominant flavors are: cherry, plum jam and cigar box at the end. Slightly juicy and has a lingering mouthwatering finish.

Clockspring 2006 Zinfandel Amador County

Organic. Nice, ripe berry aromas with a hint of vanilla and cassis. Bright and acidic on the finish but has a fairly rich body with flavors of cherry, raisin, and a hint of mint. Very nice for such a reasonable price!

Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir 2008

70% Clarksburg, 30% Central Coast California. Translucent garnet color with violet undertones. Fully berried in the scent: blueberry. Nice acidity and medium bodied with red cherry and a spiced finish.

Backhouse Cabernet Sauvigon 2008

Deep plum colored with blackberry jam scent and full flavor with vanilla and raspbery finish. Decent.

Backhouse Chardonnay 2007

Light colored with a straw hue. Unoaked. Tart with decent acidity. Nutty with white peach and light body; a fine chardonnay for only $9

Clos Pegase 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Very dark and opaque in the glass with garnet edges. Big pipe tobacco, ripe black cherry with a top note of cherry and spice. Silky but not rich in the mouth with flavors of black licorice, black cherry and bark. A hint of coffee and dark chocolate on the finish round out the wine and keeps it from feeling too dense. Very nice.

Tamas Estates 2007 Double Decker Red

Owned by Wente, from Monterey. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah and barbera. Black-cherry flesh color with lighter edges. Smells warm like red raspberry pie with a floral note like narcissus. A soft, medium bodied wine with a good deal of sweetness. It feels overripe to me- without enough body or tannins to hold it all together. Nah.

Strong Arms Shiraz 2007

Deep black cherry color. Medium bodied, with mint, black cherry, tobacco and pepper. A good ‘table wine’ that is very affordable.

Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007

Pale, clear ruby color. Cassis, acorn and cherry on the nose a hint of cola and slight mint. A light-handed California pinot that is reminiscent of French wine without the terroir.

Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2007

Northernmost part of Sonoma, hillside vineyards. Traditional Burgundian style with fine silky texture and forward fruit that smells of cantelope, honeydew and ash. Very good.

William Fevre Champs Royaux Chablis 2007

100% Chardonnay 100% stainless steel. Pale golden color. Nose is pineapple, pear and lemon peel. Acidic and crisp with a clean mineral style. Good, but I prefer the Defaix Petit Chablis for the price.

Caparone Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon French Camp Vineyard 2004

Single vineyard- "French Camp" in Paso Robles. The wines are picked very ripe, fairly late into the season. Unfined or unfiltered. Black and green olive profile- Smells wild, brambly with a slight hint of barnyard (like an aged Rioja). Very exciting style! Black cherry front with a very light touch silky flavors of anise-seed, red licorice, cedar, vanilla on the finish- yet the wine remains very light and finishes cleanly at the end like a pinot noir. A pretty wine that anyone who likes to experiment with wine will appreciate!

Domaine Haut Perron Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Sustainably grown from Touraine, Val de Loire. Really great nose with tropical fruit- very unusual for French SB's. Very nice easy drinking witht the right amount of acidity and fruit, very nice creamy finish! SO delicious; my new house wine!

Biodynamic.

Weekend Wine Tasting- Charles River Wines

Outstanding Italian Wines, A Wine Event

Last month, we hosted a fabulous wine and food pairing event in our humble tasting room. Our special guests Francois Dufort and Guido Serio shared their wine, experience and much more. A special thanks goes to Elena Lucero, of Oz Wine Company, who helped coordinate the event.

Pena do Lobo Riberia Sacra

100% Mencia. D. Ventura is the producer with 3 vineyard sites along the Sil River. Galicia is in the southeast corner of Spain. Very steep terraces. Plum jam on the nose with a hint of black pepper and is non-certified organic. It's 'quenching' and bright, but still has a full finish with plum, pomegranate syrup. Good.

Anciano Tempranillo Reserva 2003

Old world style label and wine from Valdepenas. Very rustic colored, comes in a little golden cage! The scent is of cassis, earth, a cask aroma. With a toasty, light-cedary flavor with cherry and vanilla on the finish. A classic.

Mojo Mojo Temperanillo 2008

Unoaked tempranillo from La Mancha. South of Madrid. Bright, plums and cherries with a hint of spice. Very smooth and light to medium bodied. Really table-winey! Would do well in a wine bar with food, but, I think is good. Only $8.

Luna Benegas Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

From the oldest winemaking family in Argentina. Wine maker Federico Benegas Lynch makes an earthy style cab- aged in French Oak. Smells of fresh thyme and cinnamon with plum and has a very tannic finish. A little drying.

Waterstone Napa Valley Merlot 2006

Owned by Anders vineyard. Garnet colored merlot, sourced from Napa's finest vineyards. Good fruit without the name brand price. Oak-scented has a toasty character above the plum jam. Black currant raisin and prune with a dry finish. Good.

Antillo Podere Guado al Melo Toscana 2007

70% Sangiovese, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 10% petit verdot. Aged 8 months in oak. Rife with anise, leather, cedar and bright cherry. Medium-bodied with a delicious fruity body, well-balanced by a tobacco-drenched acidity. Arik affectionately calls this 'stink', because of the raw aromas backed by fruit. I love it too!

Ransom Pinot Gris 2008

Zesty grapefruit and persimmons. Creamy lemon curd with a medium-body and nice minerally finish. The flavor lasts and has a sweet-tangerine essence.

Bellenda San Fermo Prosecco Brut

Form the Valdobbiadene region of Veneto. Prosecco, rich and creamy with green apples and a hint of pineapple. The finish is lime leaf and biscuits. Good.

Ca' del Solo Sangiovese 2006

San Benito County, owned by Bonny Doon. This wine is deep-colored with black/ruby edges. Fresh with ripe black cherry and anise on the nose. Medium to full bodied the flavor is mellow cherry and light acidity. Likeable, but may be a tough sell in Haley's.

Côté Jardin Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2007

Grenache 55%, Syrah 30%, Mouvedre 15%. Perfectly opaque with a thick black appearance. Smells of black cherry, spice, tobacco. The flavor is decent with medium body cherry-cassis and a leathery finish. Not as elegant as some wines that are only a few $ more.

Angelini Pinot Noir 2007

100% pinot noir from Veneto. Black cherry scent from this garnet hued wine. Also smells of lavender and cassis. Light style and what Paul would call 'thin'. I wonder if they should stick to the white wines??

Côté Jardin Côtes du Rhône 2007

Blend of Grenache Blanc 60%, Roussanne 20%, Marsanne 20%. Smells of white peach and gala apple. Full body and tart grapefuity finish. A bit too acidic. I want to like this wine, but misses the mark for me.

Angelini Pinot Grigio 2008

Very pale with honey hue, tart with grassy minerals and light. I think this is decent, but I've had better for the price.

Masi Modello Bianco delle Venezie 2007

Vernacchio- blend. Fruity nose with gravel. Smells like cantaloupe, has a light lemony flavor with plenty of acidity. Finishes with melon, and papaya. Nice everyday sipping wine.

Querceto Chianti 2007

DOCG Old-world rustic style. Bright cherry and light-bodied with a leathery finish that has nice acidity. 100% Sangiovese. The scent has a hint of aniseed and Swedish fish. Good.

Masi Campofiorin 2005

Nice tobacco and cherry nose that is tart and medium-bodied. A hint of fresh thyme and ripe cherry.

From Masi's website:
A red wine made from local Veronese grapes vinified fresh from the
harvest and then re-fermented with a small percentage of semi-dried grapes of the
same varieties. The wine splendidly encompasses the qualities of the Verona area:
the excellence of the zone, the highly individual style of the indigenous Veronese
grape varieties, and the originality of the techniques of "appassimento" (semi-drying)
and Masi double fermentation. It combines simplicity and grace with power and
majesty. Rich, full-bodied, round and velvety, with an ageing potential of 10 to 15
years.

Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio Verduzzo 2007

Golden hues with a citrus-honey scent with softness and a clean finish that is very nice.

winemaker's notes: 75% Pinot Grigio, 25% Verduzzo
Interesting color nuances with notable golden reflections. Attractive flower-fresh and ripe-fruit nose. The Verduzzo grapes ensure complexity and the Pinot Grigio grapes give their usual freshness on the palate. Marked hints of dried fruit and an aftertaste with hints of pineapple.