HRM Rex Goliath

The S.F. Chronicle had reviews of low cost wines. Don't get me wrong. I strive to find affordable wine. So based on their reviews I bought a bottle of the HRM Rex Goliath! Pinot Noir (The exclamation is part of the lable.) This is a non-vintage wine, meaning they can use any year juice they have and up to 25% non Pinot grape. The Chronicle claimed that this was a good value for a low cost Pinot Noir. They did insert a caveat, that since this is a non-vintage (NV) it could change quality at any time. It did. After one glass I was forced to feed this wine to the Gods. Your pick which God. After that debaucle, I opened a $10 wine I purchased from Cost Plus. This was a Toastedhead red table wine by the name of Giguire Ranch. The web site has no info, (but a nice description of barrel toasting, worth a read) but it is a blend of Syrah, Petite Verdot, Petit Syrah, and Cabernet. Not bad at all. If Cost Plus has any more, I'm gettin' me some!

I've always believed that one of the things that makes a wine is how it smells in the glass. What we wine geeks call "nose". Now keep in mind that the small jelly jar you may use for wine drinking does not present the nose well A quality glass is required. One that holds about half a bottle, (but we would never fill it that full! hmmmm.) is about right.

With this in mind I opened an Ojai Vinyard 2001 Vogelzang Vineyard Syrah for New Years Eve. Nose up the .... nose! Helen and Adam Tolmach make somegreat wines. This is one. Smooth, full bodied Syrah, with a smell (nose) that is like a fine perfume. If you couldn't drink this wine, smelling would be ok. This is what fine wine is all about. Everything these people make is based on what can only be a personal need to produce the best.

One of my favorites from the Tolmachs is their yearly Ojai Red. A value at about $13.00, that is almost always a steal. (Don't tell them I said that.) The most recent release being a Pinot based wine with excellent pedigree. A delight. Anyway, on to the party!

May 2006 be your best year in wine!

Don

Novy Family Cellars Blend 2002

Wine Review from last nights binge fest:

Novy Family Cellars Grenache, Mourvedre, counoise, syrah, blend. (Don't ask me what a counoise is. I suspect it's a grape but it could be anything.) 2002. From Alder Springs Vineyard. Nice blend reminicent of a full bodied Zin but with a couple of extra dimensions. Nice. You can't get it any more I suspect. But a call to Novy may get you something else good. Probably about $28.

Novy Family Cellars is closely related to Siduri Winery. Actually, Siduri is owned by Adam & Dianna Lee. Novy is owned by Adam and Dianna, and Dianna's family. Well, actually they are in the same building. Siduri specializes in Pinot Noir, while Novy does Syrah, Merlot, Cab, and I suspect other stuff when the urge strikes them.

They are very nice people, and with an appointment give a nice casual tasting in their warehouse/winery in Santa Rosa.

The Pinot is in the $50 range, so don't be surprised. But They make some highly rated stuff. If you haven't tried a high end Pinot, you haven't had a Pinot.

Tonight? We'll see!

Don's Web Log

Ok. Here it is. A place I can vent to the world. As those of you who know me know, I can do this! I may also post new wine reviews, date requests, photos, old socks and dirty dishes. Oh Boy.