Graveyard Post, Part 1 of ?

Here's the thing: I have been slacking. I know to you few who read this blog, this isn't news. Here is the deal: I have a lot of reviews written down, but a great deal of it probably can no longer be found or is phasing out. In an effort to not be wasteful, I am going to cram all the wine that I think may be old news here. Who knows? You may find some of it and this will be of use. No pictures, just text.

Bergevin Lane Syrah 2004

Region: Columbia Valley, Washington

Grapes: Syrah

ABV: 14.9%
Price: $20

Deep purple, spicy and full of jammy blackberries. Pleasant acidity.

Flat Bed Red Zinfandel 2005

Region: Napa Valley, California

Grapes: Zinfandel

ABV: 14.5%
Price: $15

Dry with notes of cherries and strawberries. Punch-In-The-Face flavor.

Mauritson Zinfandel 2005

Region: Dry Creek Valley, California

Grapes: Zinfandel

ABV: 15.1%
Price: $20

Dark, spicy, light in body and flavor with a cherry bite. A little bitter on the finish. Probably not one of their better years.

Weingut Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner 2005

Region: Germany

Grapes: Riesling

ABV: 12%
Price: $17

Bright, with a nose of grapefruit and melon, this riesling seems to have quite a bit in common with a sauvignon blanc. Light acidity, somewhat sweet, but with very enticing citrus notes.

Chateau Guirauton 2006

Region: Graves, France

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion

ABV: 12.5%
Price: $16

Golden, full of melon, lemon/lime with a mineral backing. Very full-bodied.

Waterbrook Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Region: Columbia Valley, Washington

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 13.7%
Price: $20

Thick and dark with a spicy nose. Bone dry on the palate, spicy, raspberry and an oaky finish.

Longhop Boomerang Shiraz 2005

Region: Adelaide, Australia

Grapes: Shiraz

Price: $14

Ruby, with scents of cherries and tobacco. Spicy, earthy tobacco flavors give way to a lingering cherry finish.

Pillar Box White 2006

Region: Padthaway, Australia

Grapes: 66% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 14% Verdelho

ABV: 12.5%
Price: $10

Amber in color and incredibly light and crisp in flavor. Cool and refreshing.

Chateau Guirauton 2006

Region: Graves, France

Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion

ABV: 12.5%
Price: $16

Golden, full of melon, lemon/lime with a mineral backing. Very full-bodied.

Well, that should start us up. I have a ton more, but I should get back to work. We will continue shortly. Until next time, enjoi!

Hugues de Beauvignac Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul-de-Pinet 2008

Region: Coteaux du Languedoc, France

Grapes: 100% Piquepoul Blanc (Picpoul-de-Pinet)

ABV: 12.5%
Price: $12

Its a mouthful to say, but worth the effort! Pale gold bliss with a soft tangy-floral nose. Very smooth and mellow, full of ripe pear and lemon with a citrusy-floral finish with just enough oak to give it a slight butteriness. Would compliment seafood or alfredo pasta wonderfully.

Clos de los Siete 2006

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Grapes: 45% Malbec, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah
Price: $20

Made by the renowned Michel Rolland, this blend is dry, heavy and toasty with notes of vanilla, coffee, tart cherries and rich plum. Bright acidity, silky tannins, full-bodied and mouth-filling with a long, lingering finish.

Cousiño-Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reservas 2006

Region: Maipo Valley, Chile

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $18

Sour cherries fill the nose and palate leaving a lingering finish of a dry, tart bite. A little acidic for a cabernet.

Portal del Alto Carménère Gran Reserva 2005

Region: Maule Valley, Chile

Grapes: Carménère
Price: $10

Carménère is a rare grape these days now only grown in South America. Once thought to be Merlot, it was since discovered that this long-lost grape (that was ripped out of French vineyards because of believed inferiority) thrives in places like Chile. I haven't had Carménère before, so I thought this would be a real treat. I do not know if this is typical of the grape, but I found that the wine would not open up aromatically. It had a very earthy smell with little fruit to speak of. Did this wine surprise, though! Dry, but loaded with dark berries and plum on the palate with a great finish. Delightful!

Portal del Alto Merlot Gran Reserva 2007

Region: Maipo Valley, Chile

Grapes: Merlot
Price: $10

Slight preface: I am not normally a Merlot fan. I don't mind it in meritages, but to my palate they are typically a little bitter. Good news here, though. This wine, while very light with a lot of good fruit flavors, was not bitter to me. Light, though.

Portal del Alto Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2005

Region: Maipo Valley, Chile

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $10

A light color and toasty oak aroma offset this heavy red full of dark fruits, oak and minerals. This wine will pony-up to any steak you throw at it.

Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Region: Argentina

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $15

Light ruby, with notes of oak and dark fruit on the nose. Toasty & peppery with the fruit breaking through, bone-sucking dry on the palate with an intense, long finish.

Famiglia Bianchi Malbec 2006

Region: Argentina

Grapes: Malbec

Price: $15

Dark in color, bright in flavor. Aged in French and American oak barrels for 10 months. No worries about it being too oaky, though. Very fruit-forward. Full of ripe cherries and black fruits. Acidic, but very pleasant.

South American Wine Spam?

Don't mind if I do.

For those not in "the know", South America is one of the top regions to find inexpensive, yet impressive vino. Wine Spectator's Wine Of The Year was Clos Apalta from Casa Lapostolle in Chile. Don't take their word for it, though. Find your own answers in the world of wine. Its not the question of what someone else likes, but what you like.

Personal opinion: for the money, reds from Argentina and Chile are hard to beat. They tend to be ripe and vibrant and the wineries use some of the latest technology and techniques to keep variation down from one vintage to the next. What does that mean for you? It means that if you liked that 2007 Alamos Malbec from Mendoza (which, for under $10, is a steal and is completely delicious), you will most likely enjoy the 2008 as well.

Where does that leave us? Tasting notes coming.