Path to Sommelier week 53

{EAV:5cd2438b8ec8b17e}
I know i know, long time no update of this fabulous blog. I have done alot of thinking, contempleating, and wine tasting lately and i have decided to transform this blog from an all things  "Main Street" to an all things review. Mostly wine reviews. I hope my readers are happy with the new change. This blog will mark my steps forward to becoming the worlds greatest sommelier , one week at a time. I started wine tasting 53 weeks ago and have tried over 300 wines so far. ^_^ I hope you enjoy this new post.




Dr. Loosen Red Slate Dry Riesling (Mosel Valley, Germany) 
A dry Riesling from the red slate area of the Mosel valley, where the iron-rich soil gives a rich mineral note to the wine. This is a wine that will pair greatly with a wide range of edibles...especially something light from oceanic waters.

Tangent Eccleston (Central Coast, California) 
A delectable white blend of all the wine grapes (minus Chardonnay) grown by the Tangent Winery - Pinot Gris, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Riesling, Muscat, Grüner Veltliner and Albariño.  Delicious!

Chateau de Lascaux Blanc 2010 (Coteaux du Languedoc, France)
The wine shop featured this mineral-driven white blenda few weeks ago and it won over some real fanatics.  The chef on site paired this wine with my favorite Fresh Local Flounder Stuffed with Fresh Local Crabmeat.

Turner & Cole Poggio del Falco 2006 
Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sesti Monteleccio 2005 (Montalcino, Italy) 
What's in the bottle here is not only pure Brunello di Montalcino material, but actually Brunello from one of the best and most historic vineyards in the area. The wine is bottled early (after a year in large oak botti, versus four years for the Brunello) to be more approachable.  Outstanding!

Red Pin Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (Clements Hills, Lodi, California) 
The wine shop sold out of the 2010 vintage of this big, sophisticated red some time ago.  They've been waiting for their friend Tim Turner at Turner Wine Imports to get them some of the new stuff.  Wait no longer.  The 2011 was there and drinking like a dream.

Don Raffaele Merlot 2005 (Napa Valley, California) They have been keeping this one in the Cellar because there isnt any more.  It was a limited release from winemaker Peter Chiarella.  To their excellent 2004 vintage Merlot, they added 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petite Syrah to produce a wine that emulates the great reds of Pomerol in Bordeaux. 

Gran Baroja Reserva 2001 (Rioja, Spain)  
Another Cellar Selection, this has to be one of my favorite wines in the store.  Rich and sophisticated like the Don and his Dama out at the hacienda looking over the current corral of spirited thoroughbred horses and thinking how well the vino tinto will cut the dust in their throats and bring visions of warm summer nights and clicking castanets.  Just words...try the wine.