Tonight I opened a bottle of wine that I purchased from The Wine Sellers in Union Pier, MI. It was a bottle of 04 Lucien Crochet Sancerre La Croix du Roy. For starters, in pulling the cork I notice red at the bottom of cork, which is generally not what you expect when opening a bottle of Sancerre. I was so taken aback, I turned more lights on in the kitchen to make sure I wasn’t just seeing things with me eyes. After pouring a taste, I clearly saw it was red wine. A quick taste confirmed it was French with the great mineral quality.

Now, generally when one thinks red wine from Loire you think Cabernet Franc. After tasting the wine I started wondering what was really in it. After enjoying the bottle I finally got the computer to do some research and found it is 100% Pinot Noir. I have completely forgot red Sancerre is Pinot Noir.

With a bit more research Pinot Noir makes up 20% of the vineyards in Sancerre, Loire, France.

Needless to say it was a very enjoyable bottle of wine to drink. And a very rare treat to be that surprised.

A great introductory port with a opaque, ruby color. The nose is developing with lovely dark fruit aromas. The palate has fabulous dark fruit flavors with a touch of high alcohol in the back end. This is a great introduction to Port.

1998 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley, California
A: Clear, Opaque, Ruby Color with pale pink rim
N: Clean, Developing, Medium Intensity with Cherry, green pepper, leather, earthy hints
P: Dry, med acid, med-high tannin, med body, cherry, chocolate, dark fruit, blackberry, high alcohol, long length
C: Excellent, Ready & age, high price

This is ideal of a Napa Cabernet. The nose is developing and could develop a lot further with age. The palate has a higher tannin than acidity, but the tannins don’t stomp on the palate. The aromas and flavors are in perfect harmony. The high alcohol is barely noticeable. This is an excellent Cabernet and could age for a much longer period of time.

Crush’s 01 Blankenheim’s Frankenstein by Meeker Vineyards is a soft monster of a wine. As a blend of 5 different red grapes, this monster has been tamed, but just a little. With a ruby blood color, the aromas show complexity only Dr. Blankenheim could create. The wine is wonderfully balanced on the palate, keeping the acidity, tannin and alcohol all carefully restrained in the laboratory. A perfect complement to a frightful night.

02 Armida “Poizin” Sonoma County $25.99
A: Clear, Medium Intensity, Ruby Colored with pale pink rim
N: Clean, Youthful, Pronounced, w/ aromas of Jam, Cherry, Red Raspberry
P: Dry, Youthful, med-high acid, high tannin, med body, cherry, green pepper, spice, high alcohol, med length
C: Good, read & age, high price

A medium, ruby colored Zinfandel. The nose is youthful, with powerful aromas of jam, cherry and red raspberry. The palate is again youthful with high tannin and medium-high acidity. The flavors match with aromas with the addition of green pepper and spice. The alcohol is slightly disjointed from the wine.

The format is as follows, info on the wine, WSET tasting note, than a brief long form tasting note.

04 Standing Stone Vineyards Vidal Ice Wine, Finger Lakes, NY, USA $24.99
A: Clear, Medium intensity amber color
N: Clean, Pronounced, Youthful, Honey, Apricot, Peach, Melon
P: Medium High Sweetness, Medium High Acidy, No Tannin, Medium Full Body, Medium Intensity, Honey, Apricot, Pineapple, Medium Alcohol and long length
C: Good, Ready & age, expensive

This is a medium amber colored ice wine, with a clean, young nose of honey, apricot and peach. The palate has balanced sweetness and acidity, with flavors again of honey and apricot. This is a good example of a Vidal Ice wine that is ready to drink now and could age for several years.

02 Camaraderie Cellars Merlot, Port Angeles, Washington, USA $28.49
A: Clear, Opaque, Ruby Color
N: Clean, Medium, Youthful, Cherry, Cassis, Earth
P: Dry, Medium-High Acidity, Medium Tannin, Developing, Smoke, Dirt, Cherry, Green Pepper, Medium Alcohol, Long Length
C: Excellent, Ready @ age, expensive

Dark, opaque ruby colored merlot with a youthful cherry and cassis nose with a hint of earth in the background. The wine is dry with light tannin, showing great potential with flavors of smoke, dirt and green pepper. This is an excellent example of what a great merlot can be, soft in the palate but with complex aromas and flavors. Drink this now or can age for several years.