EAST COAST PALATE

This bottle came into my life thanks to my friend and neighbor - Carolyn - who shares some of my enthusiasm for Spanish vino tinto.  This Crianza was aged 14 months in American oak and consists of a blend of Tempranillo (85%), Garnacha (5%), Graciano (5%), and Mazuelo (5%).
The nose is hearty and full of oak, with a whiff of black cherries lurking just below the woodsy aromas.  The flavor profile follows suit; this wine is tannic and spicy.  The oak is smelled and then felt, but on the palate it isn't so dominant.  After it was opened for a half an hour the cherry emerged a bit and melded well with that leathery, saddle/baseball mitt smell that I love so much in many Riojan wines.
This wine would go better with food, but it worked well with a movie, too.  It came from the Wine Source up in north Baltimore, where it costs $13.59.  For me it's a solid B to B+, however some people won't like it due to the oaky component.

This bottle delivers a well made 100% Monastrell  (a.k.a. Mourvèdre) that is soft and elegant.  I picked this up a few days ago a Circle Wine in Chevy Chase for $18.  Really I had to get a wine from the Murcía region of Spain in honor of my friend Do's birthday.  This just so happens to be one of her favorites.
This wine's color is a rich, regal hue of purple.  The nose is dominated by earthy and stoney scents.  When I sniffed it first it reminded me of being in a cellar or a used book store.  The berry and anise aromas it has are subtle and quite inviting, too.
In the mouth this wine is fresh.  The minerality picked up on the nose definitely carries over into the flavor profile.  There's a hint of dark chocolate and berry, and plenty of acidity.  I've tried some Monastrells or Mourvèdres with more body and tannin (especially some of the French wines from the Bandol region), but I enjoy this bottle a lot.  For my palate it finds itself right on the B+/A- threshold.  If you're a fan of Côtes du Rhône wines, I think you would like this wine. 

This blend of Marsanne and Roussane has a color and an aroma rarely found in most white wines.  Its hue is a dark gold with a tinge of orange.  The smells coming off the nose are slightly oxidized (like a Sherry smells), with other odors like sawdust, flowers, and perfume joining the unique bouquet.
There is a nice acidic kick to this wine, and a woodsy, almost burnt taste that creates a slightly bitter, floral finish.  This wine isn't for everyone, but I think that for those of you looking to try new things, this bottle from the Robert Katcher selection will surely deliver some novel flavors and aromas.  I'd rate this wine a solid B, and it is a decent value for the $11  I spent at the Montgomery County liquor store.

This is a Riesing with no perceived sweetness, except maybe aromatically.  For $13, this bottle offers a wine that is crystal clear, even pretty to look at.  It has a zesty lemon scent, a bit of pear, some fresh flowers, and a touch of that alcoholic sting on the nose.  And once past the lips it delivers a lush onset, followed by a crescendo-like acidic lift.  The amount of body surprised me here.  This is a wine that can go solo or with some rich cream-sauce-smothered seafood.  I like this wine a lot and give it an A- in that 90-9 point range. 
Question of Riesling preference:  Which does it for you more the sweet or the dry?  What are some of your favorite Rieslings?

The second red we opened was a 2000 Château Mondorion Grand Cru from St. Emilion, France.  I actually chose this bottle because while I studied abroad in France, some friends and I took a road trip that led us through the town of St. Emilion, where wine has been produced for about 13 centuries. 
This wine was replete with funky odors that may be offputting for some, but behind the musty, barnyard stink there were hints of chocolate, plums, and cherries that emerged more as we let it breath.  One observation around the table was very fitting: the wine smelled like carnations, sort of stinky, but in a good way...
The wine has a solid structure, a good balance of acids and tannins, and a chalky texture that adds to the feel of the wine in your mouth.  This was a B+ kind of wine, completely overshadowed by the excitement created by the Muga Reserva.  
This wine was also on special, costing only about $10 more than the retail price for a bottle.  I'm excited about the basement wine scene at Mrs. K's.  They have a half-price happy hour deal from 5 to 7 on wines by the glass, their food and wine menus both offer some fantastic flavors, and there is something about the cellar's ambiance that makes one forget that downtown Silver Spring is only a minute away.  The next time I want to be transported a European cellar, I'll go to Mrs. K's basement.
Oh yeah, for dessert that evening we also enjoyed a bottle of 1985 Burgundy and a bottle of Moët & Chandon Impérial.  I won't even score those bottles.  They were simply a decadent icing on my birthday party's cake.

This wine rocked my world, and subsequently the world of everyone around me (especially my aunt who may have found the love of her life).  This Rioja blend is mostly Tempranillo, but has some Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo to complete the recipe.
At first the aromas were shy and limited to a leathery, earthy, slightly cranberry smell.  Over the course of the next 3 hours this wine evolved into something beautiful.  The tightness of the nose released and out came the cherries, the chocolate, the spicy pepper, and the stoney minerality.  There is a wonderful balance between the acid and the tannins, allowing this blend to drink smooth on its own, or act as a complement to dishes like the peppery gazpacho or the portobella mushrooms.  I really liked this wine and scored it 92 points.  At Mrs. K's it was on special for $35, which is a great price considering a bottle retails for about $28.
For good reason has Muga been recently dubbed the most popular Spanish wine in America.  With a wine as good as this one, they're sure to create fans all around the world.  Take a look at the winery's website at www.bodegasmuga.com.
For those that tend to finish a bottle of wine within an hour, I suggest taking the time to see the contents change.  It is one of the most fascinating aspects of wine, and from time to time we all need to slow down, uncork a couple of bottles, and smell and taste the evolution of new scents and flavors over the course of a few hours. 
I'm now on the hunt for more Muga, does anyone have other Rioja recommendations?  Share the wine love.

I feel blessed to complete another year of life.  It's even better to do so surrounded by family and great food and wine.  Last Friday night we went to the cellar level of Mrs. K's Tollhouse in Silver Spring.  What transpired over the next four hours was nothing short of spectacular, every sip, every bite, every laugh.  I'm thankful to my parents for life, and to the staff at Mrs. K's for helping me celebrate it in unforgettable fashion.

The first bottle opened (unscrewed, not uncorked) was a Lingenfelder 2003 Riesling.  I'm a big fan of dry German Riesling, and this wine from the Bird-Label series was a delicious start to my birthday feast.
It has toasty, nutty, peach, and honey aromas, mixed with slatey mineral component.  It almost smells creamy like a buttery, barrel-fermented Chardonnay, but then it cuts cleanly into the palate with smooth start, a tart rise, and then a warming floral finish.  For $35 at a restaurant, this is a great deal.  I'd score it with 91 points, an A- with complex aromas and a whole lot of flavor.
A quick query online showed that this wine is available for $14, without shipping costs.  For fans of Riesling, I'd recommend it highly.  For more info about the viticultural practices of the crew at Lingenfelder, visit their website: www.lingenfelder.com.

So my dad now is a member of the WSJWine Discovery Club, which has great deals on wines and provides some interesting, educational literature about wine and everything that comes with the territory.  The best part about this club is the price for a case.  The one my dad just ordered cost $70, which, sans shipping, comes to just under six bucks a bottle.  Fantastic value that provides quality wines and a lot of info to back them up.  Check this out further at www.wsjwine.com.

This 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from Esk Valley is herbacious and delicious.  There are aromas ranging from lemon peel and starfruit to grassy fields and green peas.  The nose is fresh and vibrant, then that first sip goes down clean like water for a second before the tart zest emerges, bringing a nice structure to this wine.  I enjoy the unique, but not overly vegetative smell, as well.  This is a crisp, refreshing B+ bottle.  I'm wondering if there are other places around D.C. and MD to find it.  Google, here I come.
For all those that take time to enjoy white wines, what are your thoughts on wines that smell slightly like canned green peas?  Is that something immediately off-putting, or does the stink intrigue you like it does me?  Share your thoughts.

After a week-long hiatus I'm back to the blog.  I admit I've had plenty of wine over the holidays.  I post reviews for some of the bottles that I really enjoyed, but for now, we move on to the wine of the day...

Periquita 2004 Reserva
This blend by José Maria da Fonseca comes from the Terras do Sado region in Portugal.  It has some berry and plum aromas that give way to more interesting smells like dusty basement and flowery perfume.  I think the perfume smell stems from the alcoholic blast that the nose brings, even though this wine weighs in at 13.5%.  The color is dark red with a transluscence that lets light shine through.  There are some particles floating around since this is an unfiltered wine, but the aromas are really pleasant and a little dirt won't hurt anyone.
There is an initial hit from the tannins that dry out the mouth, but then the flavors settle, the texture softens, and a plummy, strawberry quality brings this wine to life in the mouth.  There is an aftertaste that reminds me of Port, a kind of burnt molasses aspect.  That could be that the grapes are the same used in many Ports (Castelao, Touriga Nacional, and Touriga Franca), or it could be that the wine smells like it could be fortified.
Overall this isn't a big bodied wine.  It is smooth, with some complex aromas.  I picked it up for about $20 in a Montgomergy County liquor store.  I give it an A-, and I'm pleased with this Portuguese effort.  I'll be looking for more from José Maria da Fonseca

Happy New Year to everyone from East Coast Palate!  2009 nine was eventful for me, working at the Marcus Whitman Hotel and at Syzygy in Walla Walla, WA.  I backpacked across Spain, sipping wine and tasting amazing food the whole way.  I finished my degree in enology.  Most importantly, I have met some wonderful people.  And what good is a bottle of wine without some friends to share it?
Tonight I'm popping some Perrier et Jouet Brut Champagne, which retails for about $40 and brings a dry, lemon zest quality.  After that it'll be some Willm blanc de blancs (90% Riesling...an awesome tropical nose with a fresh, frothy body) and some Martini e Rossi Prosecco, which is one of my go-tos for parties.
After the sparkling, anything goes, but it feels like a bourbon kind of night. 
Well I wish everybody a safe, stellar night of bacchanalia and debauchery.
Peace and lots of wine love to all.
Cheers,
Chris