Philly Wine Finder

Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune 2007 and Yering Station Pinot Noir Little Yering 2008

Similar tastes and flavors, the Drouhin is brighter and has more bite; the Yering is more smooth. Despite the different price points and different regions, we found these wines to be very comparable as far as quality.

Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune 2007
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32006
Size: 750ML
Price: $15.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com:  (Avg $20, Min $17, Max $25)
Availability in Pennsylvania:

In Wine & Spirits stores

PAWineTalk

Yering Station Pinot Noir Little Yering 2008
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32344
Size: 750ML
Price: $7.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com:  (Avg $14, Min $13, Max $16)
Availability in Pennsylvania:

In Wine & Spirits stores

PAWineTalk

 

Demuth Winery Pinot Noir Limited Reserve Anderson Valley 2006

We picked this up based on the recommendation of the drunken cyclist, who was so happy with it he bought a case. 

This wine is ok, but our view is that for a pinot noir it's not silky enough and it's too smokey. If you like a light wine with a little smoke at the end you will like this. For California pinot we prefer the style of Castle Rock or Yering Station, which is to say NO SMOKE!

 

Another disappointment with this meal was the pairing. Although pinot noir is a classic recommended pairing with roast chicken, we were not feeling it. A roast chicken deserves a rustic wine, not an elegant one. Next time we will try Rioja or Cotes du Rhone.  

 

 Oh yeah, by the way, the PAWineTalk web site says the vintage on this is 2006, and so did our receipt, but the wine we brought home was 2007.

 

Demuth Winery Pinot Noir Limited Reserve Anderson Valley 2006
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32429
Size: 750ML
Price: $12.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com:
Availability in Pennsylvania:

In Wine & Spirits stores

Region:    USA > California > North Coast > Anderson Valley
Grape Variety:     Pinot Noir
Alcohol Content:    13%

PAWineTalk

CellarTracker

 

Yering Station Pinot Noir Little Yering 2008

Light and thin but still very enjoyable and easy to drink. Yes on the white chocolate, a great buy for $7.99. With quinoa, beets and yogurt.

 

"Light and tangy, with a citrusy edge to the raspberry and white chocolate flavors, lingering on the crisp finish.  Drink now through 2015.  3,500 cases imported."
*87 points Wine Spectator, June 30, 2010

 

Yering Station Pinot Noir Little Yering 2008
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32344
Size: 750ML
Price: $7.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com:  (Avg $13, Min $13, Max $14)
Availability in Pennsylvania:

In Wine & Spirits stores

Region:    Australia > Victoria > Port Phillip > Yarra Valley
Grape Variety:     Pinot Noir
Alcohol Content:    13.5%

PAWineTalk

Castle Rock Rocks!

Definitely one of our favorite Cali Pinots - easy price, easy drinking, doesn't get in the way, goes with everything. Deluded Pinot drinkers who like more body and pepper/spice/smoke will be disappointed, but they should really be drinking Shiraz anyway.

This is it right here. We love Castle Rock.  Widely available in Philly and the burbs.

Castle Rock Pinot Noir Central Coast 2008
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 32252
Size: 750ML
Price: $7.99
Compare to prices on wine-searcher.com:  (Avg $9, Min $8, Max $13)
Availability in Pennsylvania:

• In Wine & Spirits stores 

PAWineTalk

 

Saintsbury Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch Carneros 2007

Keith Wallace of the Wine School of Philadelphia produces a free monthly newsletter that has very good reviews of PLCB wines. Here's what Wallace said about Saintsbury Stanly Ranch:

"Then there is the Saintsbury 2007 Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch. It's typically sold for about $45, but in PA right now, it's $24.99. It is because it's trash? No way. This is one of the finest Pinot's Saintsbury has ever produced. It is layered and gorgeous and nearly everything one would want from a Pinot Noir. So, why is it underpriced? It got dumped in PA for one reason: it's getting old. In about two years, it won't be amazing anymore."

We did find it to be layered, just not what we would want from a Pinot Noir. We'd rather have our Pinot's have more silkiness, more subtlety, less spicyness. If we want Shiraz we'll drink Shiraz. (!)

There's still a few bottles of this left at 19th and Chestnut if you want to try it.

Saintsbury Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch Carneros 2007
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 32159
Size: 750ML
Price: $24.99

PAWineTalk

 

Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Burgundy 2006 and Tortellini and Broccoli

 We had this 1 day after having the full bodied J. M. Fuentes Gran Clos Priorat. so this felt jarringly thin and light. Not as silky as Michel-Andreotti, and probably not as good a value as Toasted Head.

Still, a decent match for this tortellini and broccoli. Here's the recipe.

4 medium cloves garlic, sliced into matchsticks
about 3 cups fresh broccoli florets (frozen is too mushy)
olive oil
about 2 cups or so of chicken broth (use a better packaged broth like Wolfgang Puck, not the canned kind)
Packaged refrigerated tortellini, ours was Buitoni Chicken and Prosciutto Tortelloni
Grated parmesan cheese

Cook the tortellini according to package directions and then drain.

While the tortellini cooks, heat a 10" pan, add the olive oil and garlic, and saute for about 2 minutes. Add the broccoli and toss it around in the olive oil to coat, about another 2 minutes. Then add enough chicken broth to a depth of about 1 inch in the pan, cover, and bring to a simmer. Simmer just long enough to cook the broccoli to crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Serve the tortellini in pasta bowls, spooning the broccoli and a generous portion of broth mixture over it. Sprinkle with grated cheese.

 

Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Burgundy 2006
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 32126
Size: 750ML
Price: $14.99

 

Toasted Head Pinot Noir Barrel Reserve 2008

When we got this home from the store and looked at the label--a bear spewing fire--we wondered what possessed us to buy such a thing. Why would we want to drink anything that caused a bear to vomit fire? Also it's a California Pinot, which in general we have a bad attitude toward, and it's made by R.H. Phillips, a winery that buys grapes from different vineyards and blends them together, which although a common winemaking practice, seems sort of like cheating.

That said, we really enjoyed this wine. We may go so far to say it's our favorite California Pinot of all time. Bright fruit, silky texture, some spice, but most importantly restrained and balanced oak. That was a big surprise for something called "toasted," "barrel reserve" and did we mention the bear spitting fire?

We're seeing prices on the Internet for up to $24, but only $9.99 as a Chairman's Selection.  Part of the promotion where this can be shipped free from anywhere in PA to your local store.

Available in large quantities throughout the Philadelphia region.

Toasted Head Pinot Noir Barrel Reserve 2008
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 32075
Size: 750ML
Price: $9.99

PAWineTalk

 

Louis Latour Santenay 2007

We're not recommending you pair this Pinot Noir from Côte de Beaune with tacos like we did, but if you like French Burgundy this wine is a winner.

Ruby color, beautiful nose of dusty cherry, very clean and silky. It took a lot of willpower not to finish the bottle.

Available at 19th and Chestnut, 12th and Chestnut, Society Hill, and throughout Eastern PA.

Louis Latour Santenay 2007
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 32041
Size: 750ML
Price: $15.99

PAWineTalk

Region:    France > Burgundy > Côte de Beaune > Santenay
Grape Variety:     Pinot Noir
Alcohol Content:    13.5%

California Pinot and French Burgundy

We bought Londer Pinot Noir from the PA State Store on the strength of some of the recommendations on PAWineTalk. Among wine geeks, it's generally accepted that it is difficult to find good Pinot Noir for $15 or less, so we are always looking for good Pinot at this price point. We didn't find it.

Londer tasted pretty much like all the other US Pinots we've had. Our tasting notes say, "raw, edgy, hot/high alcohol, smoky, forest fire, sour raspberries, strong." If you like this domestic style of Pinot Noir, you may like Londer, as many folks on PAWineTalk did. If you prefer the French style, read on.

We compared the Londer side-by-side to Domaine Poulleau Père & Fils Côte de Beaune Les Mondes Rondes. We know, that's a lot of foreign looking names all next to each other. Don't be scared, it's just 100% Pinot Noir from France--they call it Burgundy. But very big difference in taste.  Our tasting notes say, "pleasant, fresh, clean, not complex, bright fruit, light, delicate."

Can you tell which one we liked better? We thought the Londer might improve by having it with some food, but the opposite occurred: the Poulleau got better, and the Londer seemed to get worse.

This was a very useful exercise for us, it really brought some clarity to our preferences for  these different expressions of Pinot Noir. While the French stuff may be hard to find, we are smitten, and we may not be buying any more California Pinot for quite a while.

Londer Vineyards Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2007
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 13585
Size: 750ML
Price: $14.99
PAWineTalk
CellarTracker

2008 Domaine Poulleau (Pere et Fils) Cote de Beaune “Les Mondes Rondes” - $13.99

CellarTracker

"If you enjoy the freshness, nuance and mineral-driven persona that only comes from Pinot Noir rooted in the Cote d’Or, this wonderful example is not only a breath of fresh air, it’s a revelation of sorts.  A multi-award winner, (I believe this won the gold or silver medal at Macon, which is one of the most competitive shows for Burgundy) Domaine Poulleau’s Cote de Beaune “Les Mondes Rondes” delivers a terroir-filled, classic expression of the grape for a pittance of a price (although it’s normally $25 or more, so I should discuss the wine in the context of that price)....
While today’s offer is not for those that lean toward sappy, 14.5-15.5% domestic Pinot Noir, it is for everyone else."
NO SALES TO RETAILERS OR WHOLESALERS
Jon Rimmerman
Garagiste

 

 

Snow Day Wine

Snow is already falling in Philly tonight and it looks like many of us will be home with a snow day tomorrow.  Here's some wine available in the area to keep you company.

Londer Vineyards Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2007
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 13585
Size: 750ML
Price: $14.99
PAWineTalk

This one is getting some good reviews on PAWineTalk.  Prices on WineSearcher range from $26 to $42 across the country so this looks to be a good deal at the PA price of $14.99  Available at JFK, 12th and Chestnut, Society Hill, 232 W Girard, and Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, and Villanova.

Tedeschi Valpolicella Superiore Capitel San Rocco Ripasso 2007
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 13157
Size: 750ML
Price: $14.99
PAWineTalk

Received a good review in the Pittsburgh Tribune - Review. Available at the Center City Premium Collection stores and Bala and Bryn Mawr.  Should be good with a big plate of pasta.

Bearboat Sauvignon Blanc Alexander Valley 2007
Chairman's Selection^TM
Description from PLCB web site
PLCB Code: 13633
Size: 750ML
Price: $6.99
PAWineTalk

We havn't had this yet but it could be a good buy.  Available at the Premium Collection stores.

Moore Brothers in NJ  had two specials on their email list recently that looked good.  Order online or call first, these tend to sell out quickly. 

2009 Côtes du Rhône Bout d'Zan Domaine du Mas de Libian $13

2009 Mario and Giorgio Brunori Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico "Le Gemme" - $11 http://cellartracker.com/w?938106

Happy Snow Day!