Louis Latour Pinot Noir
Deep garnet in color with spice on the nose that leads into flavors of raspberry and spice with balanced tannins on the finish. Pair with pork, seafood, or Thanksgiving dinner.
Recommendations: Originally bought for Thanksgiving dinner, this bottle didn’t get opened until the day after when the wife and I were unwinding from the whirlwind of family and food that was Turkey Day.
Paired with a dinner of munchy food, this Pinot Noir was more robust than the Kenwood Vineyards Pinot we had enjoyed the night before, with more spice and a bit more tannin on the finish, as well as a touch of effervescence that was quite refreshing.
While I can’t say that it was my favorite Pinot Noir, it was certainly enjoyable, and for the price it’s hard to beat that for a French Pinot. Definitely worth picking up if you’re in the market for a French red wine and enjoy Pinot Noir.
This wine is one of the most adorable gift for your partner.
Tisdale Merlot
Dark red color with flavors of black cherry and spice on the finish. Pair with steak, pork, or chocolate.
Recommendations: I’m not really a fan of Merlot. Before the merlot-loving hate-mail starts rolling in, let me quantify that. I am a strong proponent of the belief that price doesn’t equal quality in the wine world. Just because a bottle costs $100 doesn’t mean it’s good, just as because a bottle costs $3 doesn’t mean it’s bad. The exception to this rule, at least in my experience, has been Merlot.
Something about Merlot seems to equate better quality to a higher price-tag. I don’t know what it is, and I hope to be proven wrong one day, but so far that’s been my experience. Now, I’ve said all of these things before actually getting into my thoughts on the Tisdale Merlot.
My wife and I received this wine as a gift from a friend, and while we don’t typically drinks Merlot, I’ve never met a bottle of free wine that I wouldn’t at least open and try. The Tisdale was rather dark in the glass, and while I couldn’t pick out a distinct aroma, it the flavors of both black cherry and fresh crushed berries were a good compliment to the spice finish.
I didn’t pair this with anything, just sipped on it while watching some football with my wife, and I have to say that it actually wasn’t bad. I’m not saying that I would buy it again, but if you are a Merlot fan and are looking for a cheap bottle to keep around the house for any occasion, then you should certainly give this one a try.
Canneto Rosso di Montepulciano 2007
Deep purple coloring with aromas of roses, violets, and woodlands. Red and black fruits on the palate, with hints of truffle and chocolate. Pair with veal, hearty soups, hard cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino, lamb, Osso Bucco.
Recommendations: I’ve been sitting on this bottle for a few weeks since receiving it just before Thanksgiving waiting to pair it with some steaks that have been sitting in my fridge waiting to be cooked. I was so glad that I did. I’m a fan of dry red wines, and the Canneto Rosso did not disappoint.
Tons of earthiness on the nose lead into a very dry wine that still managed to exhibit flavors of ripe berries. Although the wine has a high alcohol content (14%/vol), it doesn’t show either on the nose or on the palate, a huge selling point for me.
Paired with a well seasoned steak, the dryness of the wine was a great compliment to the juiciness of the meat, and the earthiness on the nose mixed well with the herbs I used on the steak (rosemary is my friend). While this wine is a bit expensive to use as an everyday table wine, it’s certainly in that vein and if you’re looking for a fancier table wine, this is certainly what you’re looking for. Definitely worth grabbing.
2006 Dead Fred Cabernet Sauvignon Release
Some of you may remember the first vintage, 2004 Dead Fred Cabernet, as it was an instant hit! The name always brings a smile to my face. Fred (RIP) was the beloved cat of the vineyard owners, David Goldman and Lisa Cort, and he found his final resting place among the blue oak grove that borders the vineyard. The vineyard is located in the Coombsville area of Napa. Just under three acres are planted on soils that range from sandy loam to gravelly and even cobbly loams, with two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As a vintage, 2006 was nicely measured with normal-plus rain in the winter and even summer and fall temperatures for ripening. Grapes were harvested the third week in October. Fermentation and maceration times totaled 20 days. Wine was aged in 100% new French oak until bottling in June of 2008.
Here’s my tasting notes: Aromas begin with ripe blackberry cobbler, complete with baked brown sugar topping and a hint of sweet spice. There is also a syrup-like blueberry note and floral character; raspberry and mocha complete the profile. The impact and intensity of flavor in the mouth is exceptional. The texture is powerful and rich and the flavor lasts long after the first taste.
Plus, we are happy to report that the 2006 Dead Fred was reviewed by The Wine Spectator and scored 92 points! (580 cases) (3 bottles for $150 – shipping included!)
Other Selene news: We can ship to Georgia now! We are also setting up a Selene Wines Club. If you have ever purchased from us, you’re automatically a member! Members will receive special offers that won’t be offered anywhere else! How cool is that? It’s our way of saying thanks for all your support.
We can accept your orders on the BUY page of the website: www.selenewines.com , or print out the Order Form from the BUY page and fax or mail it to us, or give us a call (707) 258-8119.