Cellar Notes

Al Spoler and Hugh Sisson host Cellar Notes

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3/6/13 - Cellar Notes - Wente Revisited

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Wente Chardonnay "Morning Fog", Livermore 2010
(Great Chard value)

Wente "Sandstone" Merlot, Livermore 2009 *
(Easy drinking, everyday merlot)

Wente "Southern Hills" Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore 2010 *1/2 
(Straightforward, casual cab)

Wente "Riverside" Riesling, Arroyo Secco, Monterey 2011 **
(Based on a Rhinegau Spatlese style Riesling)

Wente "Louis Mel" Sauvignon Blanc, Livermore 2010 *
(Crisp, light, Meyer Lemons)

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2/27/13 - Cellar Notes - Oregon Revisited

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Soter Vineyards Pinot Noir, Soter Vineyards, Willamette Valley 2009 **
(a pretty, lighter pinot noir made by a master)

Ken Wright Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2010 **
(entry level pinot assembled by the great Ken Wright)

Artisinal Wine Cellars Viognier, Oregon 2010 **1/2
(A very pleasing viognier with depth and balance)

St. Innocent Chardonnay, Dijon Clone, Freedom Hill, Willamette Valley '10 **
(taut yet fleshy chardonnay with good minerality and acidity)

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2/20/13 - Cellar Notes - L'Amore di Vino Italian Wines

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(Note:  these may be a little hard to find, so do not hesitate to ask your wine merchant to contact L'Amore di Vino at 410-285-1040 and place an order for you.)

Clara C. Prosecco "Fiori di Prosecco"  Extra Dry, NV ***
(a hand-made Prosecco with class and detail)

Rigo Chardonnay, DOC Langhe, 2011 * (a nice tasting oddity)                                                                                                                                      

Terre Monte Schiavo, Verdicchio, Pallio de San Floriano, Marches '10 **1/2
(a dense, intense Verdicchio, buy a case Al loved it)

Terre Monte Schiavo "Sassaiolo" Rosso Piceno '09 **1/2
(tastes like Shiraz as interpreted by Northern Italian winemaker)

Cignozza Chianti '09 **
(classic everyday Chianti, delicious with cured meats)

Montiverdi Ventesimo Chinati Classico, Riserva '07 ***
(A Chianti patriarch, refined, complex, mature)

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2/13/13 - Cellar Notes - Odds and Ends

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Landmark Chardonnay, Overlook, Sonoma County 2010 ** 1/2
(One of the most reliable chards on the market)

Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville Napa, 2009 **1/2
(A dense, powerful cab with surprising finesse)

Centenaire Cote Du Rhone Villages, Cuvee Centenaire 2009 **
(great example of one of the best value regions in the world)

Conundrum White Blend, California 2010 **
(Year in, year out, a great white, easy to enjoy, reliable)

Comb Vodka and Gin
(made from honey!)

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2/6/13 - Cellar Notes - Cameron Hughes, Negotiant Extrordinaire

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Cameron Hughes  Gran Riserva Tempranillo, Lot 263, Ribero Del Duero '02**1/2
(fine grained tannis and cassis notes recall Bordeaux)   

Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon, Lot 336, Rutherford '10 ** 1/2
(A very good price for textbook Napa cab)

Cameron Hughes Zinfandel, Lot 301, Lodi '10 **1/2
(Big lush and juicy, a good bargain)

Cameron Hughes Chardonnay, Lot 334, Napa '10 **
(Restrained, but deep, a nice chard)

Cameron Hughes Torrontes, Lot 305, La Rioja Argentina, '11 **
(Exotic, lean flavors for everyday drinking)

Cameron Hughes Moscato d'Asti, Lot 319, Sori Italy '11 **
(A gently bubbly treat)

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1/30/13 - Cellar Notes - Richard Arrowood's Amapola Creek

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Amapola Creek Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2010 ***
    (classic California Chardonnay at a good price)
Amapola Creek Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vyd., 2009 ***
    (lush, scuplted zin from a historic vineyard)
Amapola Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2008 ***
    (an elegant, rich cab from a master of the genre)

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1/23/13 - Cellar Notes - Scotch

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Glen Grant, Speyside 10 year old (easy drinking)
Bruichladdich "Rocks", Islay (seawater tang)
Auchetoshan, Lowlands, Three Times Distilled (Sweet enough to be a dessert Scotch, Al's favorite)
Aberlour, Speyside Barrel Strength (A big mouthful, reminiscent of Bristol Cream)
Highland Park, Orkney Islands, 12 year old
Edradour, Highland (refined and complex)
Signatory (for lovers of peat)

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1/16/13 - Cellar Notes - New Zealand Pinot Noir

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Greenbough Pinot Noir, Nelson 2008 **
Borthwick Vineyards Pinot Noir, New Zealand 2010 **1/2
Auntsfield Pinot Noir, "Hawk Hill" Marlborough 2008 **1/2
Runnymeade "Gum Emperor" Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009 **
Runnymeade "Vintage Widow" Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2010 **

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1/9/13 - Cellar Notes - Bordeaux

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(Hugh discussed his visit to these celebrated Bordeaux estates, whose wines are very good and very expensive.  A much more reasonably priced option is the Leydet Valentin at about $39.)

Chateau Troplong Mondot, St. Emilion
Chateau Brainaire Ducru, St. Julien
Cahteau Lascombes, Margaux
Chateau Beausejour Becot,  St. Emilion
Chateau Leydet Valentin, St. Emilion 2009 ***

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12/31/12 - Cellar Notes - Maryland wines for the new year (our favorites)

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(Feel free to print this list of recommended gifts, and take it with you shopping.)

Boordy Vineyards Shiraz 2010
Boordy Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2011
Sugarloaf Mountain Reserve Charonnay 2011
Port of Leonardtown Winery Chambourcin 2010
Knob Hall Winery Rose 2011
Knob Hall Winery Cabernet Franc 2010
Elk Run Winery Cabernet Franc 2010
Black Ankle Vineyards Rolling Hills (red blend) 2010
Black Ankle Vineyards Passegiata (light red blend) 2010
Great Shoals Winery Spencerville Red Sparkling Cider
Wineries to watch out for:  Slack Winery ; Port of Leonardtown; Serpent Ridge Vineyard; Bordeleau Vineyards; Layton's Chance;

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