Luca Malbec 2011 Wine Review

On recommendation a friend and fellow Malbec lover, I purchased a bottle of Luca Malbec 2011 from Mendoza, Argentina. This wine has everything I buy Malbec for... lots of berry aroma with what I thought was a hint of BBQ. In reading another review, it was described as hoisin and, BINGO! That's what I smell. I love hoisin, so it was no wonder my mouth started watering right away. On the taste, I get pomegranate, peppery spice, espresso and a little bit of tobacco... aka the perfect Malbec profile. Nice long finish with the taste of cola. Wine Advocate rates it 92, International Wine Cellar gives it a 91. And, I believe the ratings are well deserved.

I think it's important to introduce the creator of this wine, Laura Catena, referred to by many as the "face" of Argentinian Malbec. She is a fourth generation vintner PLUS an emergency medicine physician at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center PLUS an author and freelance writer PLUS a mother. Oh, and she's beautiful AND smart, graduating magna cum laude from Harvard, AND she got her medical degree at Stanford. Who says wine isn't good for you?

It's a little pricier than most of my choices, about $30/bottle purchased online at Wine.com. But, if you want to impress dinner guests, this is the perfect choice, because they'll swear you spent twice that. My friend said it was phenomenal with beef tenderloin, but I can imagine it going well with BBQ, Mexican food, spicy Italian and anything charcoal grilled... which qualifies it as a great summer wine for those who prefer reds. At 14% alcohol, it's no lightweight... so, please, drink responsibly. But, if you like bold, full-bodied wines, definitely drink this!

Dreaming Tree Crush 2011 Wine Review

Angel Tree, Charleston, S.C.

Ready for a new wine review? OK, then. I just happened to get a new shipment today. 

I picked Dreaming Tree Crush 2011 for my first tasting of the lot, mainly because the name reminded me of the centuries-old Angel Tree I saw while on vacation in Charleston (without a doubt, my favorite vacation, so far). The wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 17% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Syrah, 8% Syrah and 7% other. 

Dreaming Tree is a collaboration of Dave Matthews (yes, THAT Dave Matthews) and Steve Reeder, who has a degree in Fermentation Sciences from the University of California (leave it to California to offer such a degree) and has been brewing and fermenting since he was 13.

I smell mostly berry jam, with a hint of baking spices. It reminded me of my brother's homemade cranberry sauce (which is awesome!) There's lots of semi-tart berries in the flavor, but with a slight earthy smoke backdrop and a little bit of moss.

Overall, I loved the wine because it is highly drinkable on its own, but was really good with my charcuterie plate of smoked meats and cheeses, it had a nice long finish, AND it reminded me of a treasured vacation experience. Any wine that can invoke those kinds of feelings and images is a keeper for me. 

I think you could pair this wine with just about anything, but I plan on enjoying it with a dish of farfalle and a rich, spicy tomato sauce for round two tomorrow night. 

I purchased this at Wine.com for about $15 and will buy it again. I couldn't find a rating for this vintage, but previous vintages were rated 90, and I would give this a 90, easy. 13.5% alcohol, so please drink responsibly.

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

After a recent wine tasting, I was given a leftover bottle of a familiar label I've not tried before... Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2010. I think the reason I've resisted is because Columbia Crest is ubiquitous, which always makes me think very little craftsmanship has gone into its creation.  Plus, it also bottles under the label of Two Vines, which I have tried and didn't like. However, this Cab is a great all purpose wine, with enough legs to work with food, but not so overwhelming it can't be enjoyed on its own. It begins with some minty floral notes in the aroma. The taste starts earthy, but follows up with a bit of semi-sweet chocolate, dark cherries and a touch of coffee, adding herbs on a nice finish with medium tannins. Wine Spectator rated it a "Best Buy" with 89 points; Wine Enthusiast rated it 88. SRP is $12, so it's a very affordable choice I will make in the future.