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Wine notes...


   Quotes Regarding Wine - #


   Wine Spectator Web Page
   Wine Spector's Top 100 Wines of 2001 with Review
   Wine Spector's Top 100 Wines of 2003 with Review

   Wine Spector's Top 100 Wines - #  2001   2002   2003

   Wine regions if Italy...
   Wine regions if Italy...another site
   Wine-grape Glossary

   Wine trivia:

	Wine has a high histamine content so those with allergies may get headaches from drinking wine.  
	Taking an antihistamine before drinking will help.

	The longer the juice stays with the skin and pulp the more pink or red it gets.  A la the 
	color of zinfandels.  


   Shiraz: The most widely planted red wine grape in Australia, Shiraz is the Australian name 
                     for Syrah.  It is big, robust and full-bodied, considered Australia's greatest 
                     red wine (similar to French Rhone wines made from Syrah).  Usually more full-bodied,
                     richer and with softer tannins than most Cabernet Sauvignon. Many Australian reds 
                     seem to be modeled along the lines of the wines of Bordeaux, Spain's Rioja reds or 
                     some California Cabernets. That is to say these wines often display a lot of oak and 
                     not at all the hickory, bacony, peppery, spicy notes of a French Rhone Valley Syrah.   

   Ice Wines: Germany - Grapes stay on the vine until the first freeze and them picked.  
                     Makes a sweet wine.  Icewine, or Eiswein, originated in Franconia, Germany in 1794. 
                     Grapes were left on the vines until the first deep frost, and the freeze/thaw cycles 
                     that occurred concentrated both the sugars and flavors of the grapes. The process 
                     was refined, and now ice wines are highly prized drinks that are created in Germany, 
                     Austria, and Canada. The Niagara region of Ontario, Canada is currently the most 
                     widely respected producer of ice wines.

   Rioja: Spain - Very smooth red wines - less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah - 
                     reserves are much better. See notes below.

   Chianti: Italy - True Chianti wines are from the Tuscany region of Italy.  Chianti is a blend 
                     of several grapes with Sangiovese representing 70% or more of the blend. Production at
                     one time was regulated by the laws of the region to assure quality, consistency, etc 
                     but it proved to be too restrictive to producing the best wines.  Laws were relaxed 
                     and vinyards are producing very high quality vintages. While Chianti is divided into 
                     several areas, the most recognizable is Chianti Classico.  Chianti Classico Reserva, 
                     which must be is aged for more than three years, is considered the best.  See notes below.

   Wines from Trieste...Fruili region

	Tocai (Friulano): Originating from Friuli, this dry wine undoubtely smooth an velvety with its golden 
	straw yellow colour and floreal fragrance, its moderate acidity is one of the pearls of the Friuli
	wine-making. A wine that should be drunk young or very slightly aged in bottle, it’s excellent 
	as an aperitif or to accompany consommè soup and white meats. It should be served cool (11°-13° C).
	Ref. A travel article on Trieste, Italy (James Joyce wrote Ulysses and other books at a local 
	Italian cafe in Trieste).

	Terrano: Terrano is a dry red wine obtained from Refosco vines. The red soil it requires is a 
	characteristic  of the area in which it grows. This, along with a mild climate and sunshine yield 
	a wine with an unmistakable aroma. Another typical feature of Terrano wine is its modest alcohol 
	content. Doctors recommend it for its acidity, which acts on the digestive system, helping it 
	function properly. Terrano wine is particularly advisable in the case of anaemics and its medicinal 
	properties were known way back in Roman times. In Pliny¹s writings we find a description of the 
	properties of an excellent wine produced in this region. To make the most of this local wine, the 
	Province of Trieste founded and sponsored a Terrano Wine Route which was inaugurated in 1986. 

   Italian wines

  	Vermouth - produced Italy, France, etc.
	
  	Grappa - produced in many regions
 
  	Marsala - Sicily's most famous wine - #
  	Marsala - Sicily - #
  	Marsala - Sicily
	Brandy - #
	Port - #



   Portugal spitits...Port


   What is Italy's D.O.C?
	Wine 

	There are twenty regions of Italy that grow different type of grapes according to the weather and 
	soil conditions present in that particular region.  The history of wine making in Italy goes back 
	4000 years.  The Greeks introduced some of the grapes to the area 2500 years ago.  The Italians 
	have since mastered the art of winemaking and are even better drinking it.  During the sovereignty 
	of the Roman Empire, the grape growing process was expanded throughout Northern Europe, France, 
	England and Germany and some of the vineyards are still in use today.

	Label Information 

	There are different label designations on the bottles because the Italian government established 
	standards for labeling wine in 1963 which set forth regulations for control of the Italian wine 
	production.  Three categories emerged and they are as follows:

		Vini da tabola or “Table wines”  are actually a blend made by the winemaker with different 
		grapes and it is not as rigidly controlled as the other categories. 

		Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) – denomination of controlled origin – accounts for 
		less than 15 percent of Italy’s annual wine production.  The DOC’s guarantee the origin and 
		quality of a particular wine.  There are just over 200 DOC zones and from these areas over 800 
		different white, red, rose and sparkling wines are produced. 

		Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Guarantita (DOCG) – denomination of controlled and 
		guaranteed origin.  DOCG is a further guarantee of origin and characteristics and refers to 
		those special wines that conform to the specific conditions set by the Italian government for 
		this production.  At present only six wines, five red and one white have attained this status.   
		All DOCG wines are subject to rigorous and stringent controls. 



   Wine types
   Grape types


   Local Wine Shops  (source: Best of Charlotte Mag)
         Arthur's Wine Shop in Belk @ Southpark
         Southend Beverage
         Dean & Deluca Wine Bar @ Phillips Place
         The Wine Shop in Dilworth
			Chateau Wine Cellar @ 828 E. Morehead
			Wine Gallery @ Aboretium
         The Wine Basket in Dilworth
         The Wine Vault
       Also:
         HT
         Reid's
         World Market
			Total Wine


My reviews...


   Rating: sucks ~ no ~ ok ~ good ~ good+ ~ very good ~ very good+ ~ excellent

   Cabernet
         Chateau Biltmore Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 - ok
         Biltmore Cabernet Sauvignon - ok
         Dallas Conte Cabernet 1999, Chile - very good+
         Guenoc Cabernet, 1999, CA - very good
         Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Chile - good, better after it breathes
         Bella Sera, 1998, CA - no

   Chianti
         Aziano Chianti, Classico 2000 - very good
         Castello D'Albolo Chianti Classico 1999, Italy - very good when consumed when opened, do not save.
         Ruffino Chianti, 2001 - very good
         Castello Di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Year?, Italy - very good
         Pietro Chianti 2001 - very good

   Chardonnay
         Chateau Biltmore Chardonnay 1999 - good+
         Black Opal Chardonnay, Australia - ok
         Byron Chardonnay - very good - tried it at Upstreams
         Columbia Crest Chardonnay, CA - NO-yuck
         Dallas Conte Chardonnay 1999, Chile - very good+ - MAC's favorite
         David Wynn Chardonnay, Australian (Reid's) - very good+, smooth
         Francis Coppola Chardonnay - very good
         Gossimer Bay Chardonnay 1999 - very good
         Guenoc Chardonnay 1999, CA - very good
         Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Reserve - good+
         Marimar Torres Chardonnay Reserve, Sonoma, CA - Referred by Mary
         Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2000 Australian -sucks
         Toad Hollow Chardonnay, CA - very good
         Wente Chardonnay, Ca - ok
         Xplorador Chardonnay 2000, Chile - very good +
         Wyndham Estate Bin 222 Chardonnay, CA - very good
         Yellow Tail Chardonnay 2000, Australian - very good

   Merlot
         Blackstone Merlot - very good
         Glenn Ellen Merlot - good (Glen Ellen reserves are much better)
         Jacob's Creek Merlot, 1999, Australia - very good+
         Napa Ridge Merlot, CA - very good 
         Steele Merlot - very good
         Wente Merlot, CA - ok
         Hollick Cabernet/Merlot, Australian - very good
         Forest Gen White Merlot, CA - no
         Merlot di San Leonardo, 1999, France - very good+ (Jared, from France) 

   Red
         Louis Bernard Cotes-du-Rhone Villages 2000 Red, French - very good
         Le Faux Frog 1999 Red, France - very good
         SummuS, Castello Banfi 1996 Red, Italy - very good+
             Castello Banfi has also been named Italy's best wine estate every year since 1994. 
             Most recently, Wine Enthusiast Magazine presented Castello Banfi with the prestigious 
             "2001 European Winery of the Year" award.
         Los Monteros Valencia 2000 Red, Spain - excellent
			Domaine De Montabech 2001 Red, France - very good and inexpensive...less than $5 a bottle

   Rioja
         Conde De Valdemar Reserva Rioja 1996 - ok but bad next day after refrigeration
         Montecillo Rioja Reserva 1995, Spain - excellent - very smooth
         Montecillo Rioja Reserva 1996, Spain - excellent - very smooth - better than 1995
         Marques de Caceres Rioja 1997 Vendimia Seleccionada, Spain - very good+ breathe
         El Coto Rioja 1998 - very good+

   Pinot Noir
         Nepenthe Pinot Noir, Australian (Reid's) - Very good

   Shiraz
         Hope Estate Shiraz 2000, Australian - excellent
         Jasob's Creek Shiraz, Australian - good+
         Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet, 1999, Australia - good+
         Kandarilla Shiraz, Australian - very good
         Stonehaven Reserve Shiraz, Austalian - good+
         Penfold Bin2 Shiraz Mourvdre Caternet Sauvignon, Australian - good+
         Fat Bastard Shiraz, Australian, 2000 - good+
         Paringa Shiraz South Australia, 2001 - excellent
             Paringa is #40 on Winespector's Best of 2002 list

   Zinfandel
         Biltmore Zinfandel Blanc De Noir - good+ - Gail liked it
         Clos Du Val Red Zinfandel 1998 - CA - very good

   Dessert wines
         Campbell's Muscat, Australian - good+, sweet



   Demystifying wine


Wine types...

   Red:  Red wine is made from black grapes that are fermented with the skin and pips. Wine
           producers worldwide are constantly developing reds that are smoother, more rounded and juicier. 
           Styles range from light and refreshing to sweet and fortified. Enjoy a full-flavoured, intense, 
           black-currant red produced from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Looking for a silkier, more 
           mellow experience? The delicious cherry and raspberry flavours of the Pinot Noir grape rarely 
           disappoint. For a juicy, modern style red, look no further than some of the excellent New World 
           wines.  Fancy something spicier?  Plump for a deep, rich, full-bodied red made from the 
           Syrah/Shiraz grape.

   Rosé:  Rosé wine is produced from black grapes without the stalks. The juice is separated off 
           as soon as it is sufficiently pink. Styles vary enormously.  Some of the best rosés are 
           produced from the Grenache grape and are deliciously fragrant and refreshing.

   Blush:  Blush wine originated in California. Here, the skins of the black grapes are left to 
           macerate, briefly, with the must. The result is a delightful pinkish-blue coloured wine with a 
           coppery hue. Californian blush is produced predominantly from the Zinfandel grape.

   White:  Surprisingly, white wine can be made from white or black grapes, as all grape juice is 
           colourless, initially.  White wine styles vary from bone dry to golden sweet. Good dry, crisp 
           whites include those made from the Muscadet and Verdicchio grapes. Or, for something a little 
           tangier, the zesty Sauvignon Blanc grape is a reliable choice. For richer, nuttier flavoured 
           whites, try a blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Ripe, tropical fruit flavoured whites are 
           particularly worth investigating at the moment. Seek out the Chardonnay grape.  Also, sample an 
           Alsace Gewürztraminer. It oozes deliciously aromatic spiciness.

   Sparkling:  A yeast and sugar solution is added to dry table wine to create the best of the 
           sparkling wines. The wine is then sealed for secondary fermentation. Genuine Champagne has to 
           be the perfect example of sparkling wine.


Grape types...

   Wine-grape Glossary

  Red grapes:

   Cabernet Sauvignon - Arguably the king of red grapes, it has an intense blackcurrant flavour.

   Gamay - The Beaujolais grape produces light-styled cherry and raspberry-flavoured wines.

   Grenache - Produces velvety-ripe, fruity wines, especially rosés, famous as part of the 
              Châteauneuf-du-Pape blend.

   Merlot - A fashionable grape with soft, black cherry and blackcurranty flavours, often blended 
              with Cabernet Sauvignon.

   Pinot Noir - Good young Pinots are light, silky and fruity. Mature Pinots often have an intense 
              aroma of game and truffles. Occasionally, Pinots are unreliable and insipid.

   Sangiovese  - The Chianti grape produces light, attractive, everyday wines with herby, 
              fruity flavours. 

   Syrah/Shiraz - A velvety grape that produces rich, full-bodied wines with fruity, spicy overtones.

   Tempranillo - Makes stylish wines with a characteristic strawberry flavour.

   Zinfandel - Also known as Primitivo, California's speciality grape is extremely adaptable 
              and has a distinctive taste of ripe-berried fruits.

  White grapes:

   Chardonnay - The perfect introduction to white wine. Styles vary from light and fresh, to 
              heavily-oaked, buttery, tropical-fruit-flavoured wines.

   Chenin Blanc - Used for a range of wines including dry and sharp, sparkling, medium and 
              extra-sweet wines. Mature examples have a nutty, honeyed flavour.

   Gewürztraminer - Dry or sweet, with an intensely aromatic spiciness. Alsace produces some 
              quality Gewürztraminers.

   Muscat - The wine actually smells of the grape itself. Muscats vary from rich, sweet and 
              fortified to light, floral and dry.

   Riesling - Rieslings range from dry, light and apple crisp to rich, sweet and honey 
              flavoured. Beware cheaper, sweeter Rieslings.

   Sauvignon Blanc - Also known as Fumé Blanc, it has a delightful fresh, tangy style with 
              distinctive flavours of gooseberries, elderflower and asparagus.

   Sémillon - Ranges from dry, light lemon-flavoured to sweet wines with aromas of barley 
              sugar and peaches.

   Viognier - Almost unheard of until recent years, Viognier is becoming increasingly 
              fashionable. It produces dry wines with a rich apricot aroma.



Chianti Wines...

   Chianti is without a doubt the most well known of all Italian wines. There may be only one denomination - 
	Chianti D.O.C.G - but there are many different styles, ranging from light Beaujolais-style quaffing wines 
	to structured, complex wines with enough backbone to reward aging and maturing.

   The predominant grape variety is Sangiovese, but the laws allow for an addition of between 10 and 15% 
	of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. A Riserva wine is one that has been aged longer before being 
	released; it should come from a good year and benefit from further aging, although it is not always 
	the guarantee of quality that might reasonably be expected. Click here for a brief history of the wines 
	of Chianti over the centuries.

   The vineyards of Chianti are scattered over much of central Tuscany; the Classico zone begins northwards 
	of Siena and reaches most of the way to Florence. This zone generally produces the best wine. The other 
	six zones are:

      Colli Aretini  The hills around Arezzo produce a medium-bodied Chianti, soft and best drunk young.

      Colli Senesi  From the hills to the south and west of Siena, this is the largest Chianti sub-zone. 
		      Chianti plays second fiddle to Brunello and Montepulciano.  

      Colli Fiorentini  All styles of Chianti, from light everyday stuff to some excellent Riservas.

      Montalbano  From the hills west of Florence. The better grapes tend to go to make Carmignano.

      Rufina  The smallest of the seven, this zone, to the north east of Florence, produces some of 
		      the most complex and long-lived wines in Chianti.

      Colline Pisane  Pleasant, light wines from the hills around Pisa



Rioja Wines...

   Marques de Arienzo was founded in 1972 by the House of Domecq. Marques de Arienzo offers wine lovers 
   a taste of Rioja, Spain's most famous table wine region. The red wines of Rioja offer the consumer an 
   alternative to young, tannic reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. 

   The Rioja style is characterized by extended aging periods in barrel and bottle for each officially 
   recognized category of Rioja. There are three classes of oak-aged Rioja: 
      - Crianza (2 years minimum aging) 
      - Reserva (3 years minimum aging)
      - Gran Reserva (5 years minimum aging)

   The resulting wine style is one of fruity, gently oaked medium bodied wines which have been matured 
   by the producer for a longer period of time than almost any other table wine on the market. 

   Regulated aging periods are minimums, and many of the finer Rioja wines such as Marques de Arienzo 
   mature for longer periods. Currently, our Crianza is released after 3 years, Reserva after 5 and Gran 
   Reserva after 7. Marques de Arienzo wines are vibrant yet soft, well matured yet affordable. 

   Region

   The Rioja, located in northern Spain, is widely recognized as the country's leading red wine region. 
   The name is derived from the rio (river) Oja, a tributary of the larger Ebro, which flows from northern 
   Spain to the Mediterranean. The Basque country is on the fringes of the region and the Pyrenees lie to 
   the northeast. 

   Wine has been produced in the Rioja since Roman times, and viticulture has flourished since the 15th 
   Century. Rioja's wine industry grew around the numerous monasteries founded to serve pilgrims en route 
   to Santiago de Compostela, and the region's first wine laws date back to this period.

   Appellation

   The Rioja is divided into three sub-regions by terrain and climate considerations - Rioja Alta, Rioja 
   Alavesa and Rioja Baja. Marques de Arienzo is located in the town of Elciego (el thee EGGO) in Rioja 
   Alavesa, the smallest of the three regions. Alavesa is within the autonomous Basque country.

   With slightly lower elevations and rainfall, the most important difference of the Rioja Alavesa is that 
   its vineyards are on warmer, south facing slopes. This produces wines that are more aromatic, lower in 
   acid, a bit higher in alcohol, and are softer and faster to mature than those from cooler, north-facing 
   Rioja Alta. The soil is calcareous clay, considered the best for growing Tempranillo, the favored grape. 
   Marques de Arienzo is 100% Rioja Alavesa. Rioja Baja is lower, drier and much hotter, making rustic, 
   high alcohol wines.

   Seven grape varieties (four red, three white) qualify for Rioja's Denominación de Origen. The most 
   widely planted variety is Tempranillo, which ripens well on the clay and limestone slopes of Rioja 
   Alavesa, where it forms the basis for the region's best wines.

   Tempranillo is by far the grape par excellence of Rioja. It is ideally suited to the cooler and more 
   humid conditions of the Alta and Alavesa, but it is in the calcareous soils of Alavesa that it shows 
   best. Known for its early ripening, thick, very dark skin, and softer acidity. Ripening is usually 
   in late September, about two weeks earlier than other varieties (hence the name, which means "early"). 
   Its wines are very stable and well suited to extended aging.



Champagne notes...

   Try these... Ruinart - Bruno Paillard - Cristal



Cigar notes...

   Ok, you found it.  This is the place I buried my notes on cigars.  There are a few that I have found
   and like.  Not that I'm a connoisseur, but I know what I like!  Therefore, I've noted my comments here.

   Cigar Aficionado
   Cigar Weekly - Brand & Size Information

   Just some thoughts:
     - The larger the ring gauge the lower the temperature at which the cigar burns thus the milder the taste.
     - Torpedos seem to be a little milder.
     - Darker outer leaf cigars tend to be bolder, stronger.

   First of all, Cuban cigars aren't all they're hyped to be...in my opinion...!

   On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best I've tried, here is my opinion...

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