This week’s selection at Creekside Cellars was a combination of wines selected by the proprietors. Overall, we enjoyed the selections. Here’s a rundown of what we tasted.
2011 Errauriz Sauvignon Blanc, Chili ($14) – This wine was very dry and minerally. There were hints of rosemary, and it reminded us of one of our favorite under $10 drinkable wines, La Ferme Julian Blanc (available at Trader Joe’s).
NV Domaines Schlumberger “Les Princes Abbes” Pinot Gris, Alsace, France ($22) – This wine earned a star and an exclamation mark from us in our notes. It had a sweet nose, and it balanced butter with paint thinner (but in a very good way) – it was strong and robust. This wine would hold up to a variety of rich dishes.
2008 La Crema “Los Carneros” Chardonnay, Sonoma ($30) – This was a very nice wine, (worth a star) with hints of butter, pepper, cream, and a hint of oak. There was also ginger and white pepper on the wine’s finish. It would go well with a vegetarian dish that incorporated tofu.
2010 Lange Winery Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($29) – This wine was incredibly smooth, and the only cheese it paired with was the brie, which brought out a bit of its spice. It had sour cherries, paprika, and nutmeg on the finish. Honestly, it was so smooth it was almost invisible, and after the La Crema, it didn’t stand a chance.
2008 Bell Cellars “Canterbury Vineyards” Syrah, Sierra Foothills ($25) – WOW! What a wine. This wine had that cigar box flavor both Wining Husband and I adore in wines. It had notes of butter and chocolate, and its tannins were well-balanced.
2010 Charles & Charles Cabernet 51% & Syrah 49%, Columbia Valley, Washington ($15) – This was another very nice wine. It too hat a cigar box aura about it with cherries, sweet tobacco, and an oil and butter combo. It’s a great wine for under $20.
2009 Murphy Goode “Liars Dice” Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($20) – This wine was also outstanding! It was smooth and had hints of cloves. It’s highly recommended at one star and an exclamation mark.
2009 Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington ($20) – So, this summer we were in Seattle, and we went to a place called The Purple Cafe & Wine Bar. At this bar, they had a selection of wine flights. One such flight was called “The Farm.” This flight consisted of four 2-ounce pours with the themes of “flower, dirt, vegetable, and barn.” The barn wine…well, let’s say its nose definitely smelled like a barn – and it tasted like I would imagine the floor of the barn would taste. Since then, I’ve had a “barn monster.” Why am I telling you all of this? Well, the Barnard Griffin Cab Sauv we tried was a barn wine – but it was a barn wine done right. It had a lot of spice – namely paprika and cayenne pepper. It would pair very, very nicely with curry beef.
For those beer lovers out there, we rounded things off by tasting the Allagash “Black” Belgian Style Stout Beer from Portland, Maine ($15) It was very nice, and tasted of coffee and Guinness. It’s highly recommended!
Related articles
