Hollywood VIne

Napa, Oregon, Sonoma, Mendoza, Priorat; Wineries, Winemakers they all combine to create a festival of flavors in this next tasting.

Intense fruit flavors is the common denominator, from refreshing to rich will be the progression; and the fun is to appreciate the complexety on each and everyone of them.

HOLLYWOOD VINE WINE TASTING!

Tuesday August 10^th, 2010

6:00-9:00 pm

No charge for tastings

CAKEBREAD SAUVIGNON BLANC, 2008

90 % Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Sauvignon Musqué, an aromatic clone of Sauvignon Blanc, and 6% Sémillon

It displays a beautifully fragrant nose of ripe pomelo, Golden delicious apple, honeydew melon, lime and mineral, with little of the herbaceousness that sometimes characterizes the variety. On the fleshy, full-bodied palate, ripe melon, grapefruit, kiwi and lemon-lime flavors lead to a long, flavorful finish enlivened by bright mineral tones.

BTG $ 10.00                                  Retail $27.99

KING ESTATE ACROBAT PINOT NOIR, 2008

King Estate, celebrating 19 years of Oregon winemaking in 2010, is located southwest of Eugene, Oregon producing wines of exceptional quality using organic & sustainable farming methods  King Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir is bright garnet with ruby tint.  In the nose Sweet cherry, tobacco, earth, raspberry, oak,floral notes the mouthfeel  is silky and lively mid palate with Blueberry, dried cherry, chocolate, spice and a round finish.

Pale, cloudy yellow. Pungently fruity aromas of pink grapefruit, peach and pear. Juicy, pure and brisk, with very good density of fruit for village wine. Finishes with pineapple and grapefruit notes and enticing lingering perfumeBTG $ 8.50                                 Retail $21.99

VALLEY OF THE MOON ZINFANDEL, 2007

Located in the heart of Sonoma County Valley of the Moon Winery has been in operation since 1863. The Zinfandel 2007 is very nicely focused blackberry fruit filled out by notes of sweet spice and hints of blueberry pie start this full-bodied, balanced offering out in the right direction, and its somewhat fleshy, full and rich flavors keep it going.

BTG $ 5.25                                   Retail $12.99

MASI TUPUNGATO PASSO DOBLE, 2007

The 2007 Passo Doble is a blend of Malbec and Corvina (a grape found primarily in Italy’s Veneto) made in the Ripasso method. Purple-colored, the wine has an excellent bouquet of jammy black cherry and blackberry liqueur. Forward and easy going.

BTG $5.50                                  Retail $13.99

BODEGAS PINORD PRIORAT +7, 2006

D.O.C. Priorat made from Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varietals. Dark deep red and highly presistent wine. The first impression is of the oak, blended with fruity bouquets that render it very refined and complex. Full and complex to the taste, smooth and balanced on the palate. A wine where lightly smoky and frankly pleasant fruit notes predominate.

92 Points-Wine Spectator –Issue November 30, 2009

BTG $ 12.00                                      Retail $32.99

PETALUMA HANLIN HILL RIESLING, 2007

The 2007 Hanlin Hill Riesling displays typical minerality and lemon-lime intensity, with hints of orange blossom. The palate shows ripe lemon-lime fruit and has wonderful acidity to complement the fruit.

BTG $ 8.50                                  Retail $21.99

91 Points- Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar August, 2008

YALUMBA VIOGNIER, 2008

The 2008 vintage has created delicate and aromatic Viognier wines. The colour is pale gold with green highlights, with a nose of pure aromas displaying apricot nectar, lifted honeysuckle and orange oil perfume. The palate is long, rich and luscious, with intense stone fruit – particularly white peach and apricot flavours, finishing with an aromatic citrus freshness.

92 Points-Wine Spectator –Issue November 30, 2009

Pale, cloudy yellow. Pungently fruity aromas of pink grapefruit, peach and pear. Juicy, pure and brisk, with very good density of fruit for village wine. Finishes with pineapple and grapefruit notes and enticing lingering perfumeBTG $ 4.75                                 Retail $10.99

D’AREMBERG STUMP JUMP RED, 2008

Light in texture and fragrant with floral, berry and beet aromas, this plays its fresh flavors against refined tannins, lingering effortlessly. Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre.

 90 Points-Wine Spectator –Issue February 28, 2010

BTG $ 4.75                                   Retail $10.99

MOLLYDOOKER THE MAITRE D’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2008

Opaque purple-colored with legs that ooze down the glass, it displays a reticent bouquet that with coaxing reveals wood smoke, violets, black currant and blackberry. This is followed by a full-bodied wine with a glossy texture, succulent fruit, and excellent concentration.

90 Points- Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate- Issue #186 December, 2009

BTG $9.25                                  Retail $24.99

LAYER CAKE SHIRAZ SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 2007

Dark, dense and creamy, complex aromas of black plum, Bing cherry, blackberry and pepper merge with licorice, tobacco, mocha and dark chocolate.  This is one inky Shiraz; an explosion of dark, super ripe, wild blackberry, with a touch of cigar box finishing with a mélange of exotic spices. A pure fruit Bomb…complete from attack through a long, lingering finish.

BTG $ 6.00                                      Retail $15.99

France, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and Italy are represented in our next tasting; The long traditions of Tuscany and the Loire Valley are the book ends for the style and acomplishments of the new world. To tell us more of his approach we’ll be honored with Pablo Tomé from Doña Paula Winery and its highly regarded Malbec.

HOLLYWOOD VINE WINE TASTING!

Tuesday July 20^th, 2010

6:00-9:00 pm

No charge for tastings

DOMAINE PICHOT LE PEU DE LA MORIETTE VOUVRAY, 2009

Jean-Claude Pichot produces this wine in the family tradition, which dates back to 1734. His magnificent vineyard is situated on the premiers of coteaux of Vouvray. Fresh, floral chenin blanc with crisp acidity and rich concentration, this Vouvray is slightly dry, pure and intense.

BTG $ 6.50                                  Retail $16.99

CONO SUR CHARDONNAY, 2009

This Chardonnay has a beautiful, young yellow colour with golden hints. Exuberant and complex, this wine conveys refreshing citrus aromas, fruity notes of white peaches, along with mineral hints. In mouth complex fruity flavours mingle in with lovely mineral notes.

Pale, cloudy yellow. Pungently fruity aromas of pink grapefruit, peach and pear. Juicy, pure and brisk, with very good density of fruit for village wine. Finishes with pineapple and grapefruit notes and enticing lingering perfumeBTG $ 4.75                                 Retail $10.99

DOÑA PAULA ESTATE MERLOT, 2008

Doña Paula Estate Merlot 2008 presents a ruby red color with dark hues. On the nose, it displays expressive aromas of mint, herb spice box and black fruits. On the palate, it is sweet, ample and smooth with a velvet structure. It is medium bodied and has a pleasant, lingering finish.

BTG $6.00                                  Retail $15.99

SPICE ROUTE CHAKALAKA aka(BABY MALABAR), 2007

Known as the baby ‘Malabar’, a blend of Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre and Carignan, respectively, this is Spice Route’s initial release of this wine. The texture is quite engaging with its round mouthfeel and riper, sleek tannins. The nose has an intriguing aromatic profile with an overlay of toast and shades of vanilla with an assortment of dried herbs, spices, game and floral notes melded into darker fruit tones. Soft tannins make up the back bone of this wine but the savory cast to the fruit is the attractive feature with layers of flavor. Supple with sweet dark fruit, even a hint of dark chocolate give this good complexity and a charming flavor profile.

91 Points Wine Spectator Issue June 30, 2009

BTG $ 7.50                                      Retail $19.99

CAPARZO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, 2005

“The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is surprisingly dark in profile for this bottling. A sweet, Pinot-like bouquet leads to perfumed black cherries, spices, licorice and tobacco. This mid-weight, graceful Brunello offers gorgeous balance, with an expressive core of fruit that flows through to a long, refined close. The 2005 is one of best versions of this wine I have tasted in some time”

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate # 188: 92 points -April, 2010

BTG $14.00                                         Retail $39.99

DOÑA PAULA SELECCION DE BODEGA MALBEC, 2008

Doña Paula’s 2006 Seleccion de Bodega Malbec is a glass-staining opaque purple. It was fermented with native yeasts and aged in new French oak for 24 months. The nose reveals an aromatic array of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, incense, black cherry, and black raspberry. Dense, layered, and full-bodied, it has gobs of spicy black fruit, enough structure to evolve for 3-5 years, and a lengthy, pure finish.

                Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate # 184: 90 points –August, 2009

                                                           Retail $42.99

Spanish wine and Spaniards, not surprisingly have a lot in common. Both tend to be spunky, friendly towards food, epitomize quality and honor tradition. If you had to summarize Spanish wines in a single word, it would have to be, hands down, value!

HOLLYWOOD VINE WINE TASTING!

Tuesday February 16^th, 2010

6:00-9:00 pm

No charge for tastings 

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT ROSE, NV

50% Macabeo,35% Parellada, 15% Xarel-lo

Made using the traditional méthode champenoise process, Segura Viudas Brut Rosé features a unique blend of traditional Spanish grapes. Segura Viudas Brut Rosé is fresh and fruity with red fruit aromas of raspberry, currant and grenadine. A lingering cherry note on the finish is crowned by a light touch of sweetness.. 87 pts Robert Parker

BTG $4.75                                   Retail $9.99

LICIA ALBARIÑO, 2007

From the beautiful, temperate region of Galacia, Spain called Rias Baixas comes the Licia Albariño is light gold-colored with attractive mineral, green apple, and honey aromas. It has excellent concentration, good acidity, and a lingering finish. 88 pts Wine Spectator

BTG $6.50                             Retail $16.99

RIOJA VEGA CRIANZA, 2007

Made from Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Garnacha grapes

Careful ageing for twelve months in oak casks, followed by at least a further six months in the bottle. The result is a complex wine, rich in aromas and flavours. Clean, bright ruby red with aromas of vanilla, toast and spices. Well-structured, meaty and balanced in the mouth. 87 pts Robert Parker

BTG $5.00                             Retail $10.99

LA RIOJA ALTA VIÑA ALBERDI RESERVA, 2003

Tempranillo from Briñas, Rodezno and Labastida

The fermentation processes were normal and the wine was dry after 12 days. After hard fermentation and devatting, it underwent 26 days of malolactic fermentation. It was aged for 2 years in American oak casks, new oak for the first year and oak an average of 3 years old for the second. It was racked four times by hand and by candlelight. Bottled in January, 2007. The wine is bright cherry red, with a medium robe and light pinkish highlights in the glass. Intense, very fresh aroma, with hints of wild strawberries and sweet raspberries, perfectly assembled with balsamic hints of cinnamon, roasting, coconut and vanilla. Round and well-bodied to the palate, slightly acid and therefore lively. Smooth, silky tannins, thanks to perfectly ripened grapes and ageing in the cask. Good, slightly acid and fresh after-taste. 90pts Robert Parker

BTG $9.25                            Retail $24.99

PAGO DE VALLEGARCÍA SYRAH, 2005

This Syrah shows those typical characteristics we all love in the varietal: dark brooding blackberries and leather, along with exotic spice notes and firm, mouth-gripping tannin. 90pts Wine Spectator                                                        Retail $39.99

The Golden Statesmen : Premium Wines of California
It isn’t a coincidence that California is producing the most popular style of wine in the country today. After all, who understands the palates of the American consumer better than Americans? Production and consumption of the domestic product is at all time high, giving impetus to an entirely new generation of winemakers and winemaking styles. The era of the “fruit bomb” is upon us and today you can expect the average wine, red or white, to boast 15% alcohol without any remorse. Broad shouldered and flashy, like a big budget Hollywood action flick, California wine has converted all the Chugging Chucks out there to Sipping Sammies quicker than a light switch. Oh yeah, you won’t taste any of those this week. There was a time not so long ago that California wines were fashioned in the mold of their predecessors, using traditional methods, built for the dinner table as well as the cellar. Yes folks, we are gonna show you a different side of California this week. The California version of Roederer has been on the Wine Spectator Top 100 more than any other domestic sparkling wine. This year it’s a shoe-in. 91 points? You’ll be pouring your Veuve Cliquot down the drain. There are very few producers in California who continually pump out great Sauvignon Blanc, year in, year out. Grgich Hills is our favorite Sauvignon Blanc from the Golden State. Paul Draper is perhaps the longest lived, most well respected winemaker in the country. His Ridge wines are a testiment to what genuine California wines are all about; supple, elegant, noble and thoroughly pleasurable. I challenge you to find a Napa Cab like the one Ladera is selling for under $30. Drinking great now but will be even better when that uncle no one likes to talk about gets out of the can…

HOLLYWOOD VINE WINE TASTING!
Tuesday October 27th, 2009
6:00-9:00 pm
No charge for tastings

Roederer Estate Brut NV Anderson Valley, California
This rich version is loaded with spicy cinnamon notes. Offers bold apple aromas, with a whiff of yeast, and complex, layered pear,
crème brûlée and baked apple flavors that linger. Wine Spectator 91 points! “Smart Buy”
BTG $7.25 Retail $19.99

Grgich Hills Fume Blanc 2007 Napa Valley, California
A light-bodied, graceful wine that has a zingy acidity and fresh-cut grass notes, with refreshing and intense lemon-lime and melon
flavors and a spicy, mouthwatering finish. Wine Spectator 89 points
BTG $10.00 Retail $27.99

Ridge “Three Valleys” Red Blend 2007 Sonoma, California
Zesty and appealingly eccentric, with wild berry and exotic Asian spice aromas and layered baked cherry, anise and walnut flavors.
Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache and Carignane. Wine Spectator 88 points
BTG $6.50 Retail $17.99

Ridge “Geyserville” Zinfandel 2007 Sonoma, California
Ripe, exotic and loaded with personality. Aromas of ripe blackberry, underbrush and licorice lead to concentrated huckleberry and
cracked-pepper beef flavors that finish with lively tannins. Wine Spectator 91 points!
BTG $12.00 Retail $34.99

Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Napa Valley, California
…aromas of blackberry and raspberry fruit; rose pedals, mint and white pepper with toasty and vanilla highlights. Dark plum and bramble berry flavors fill the mouth.
BTG $10.75 Retail $29.99

Continent of Value : Great Wine Regions of Australia

I know that for many of us, Australian wine is Australian wine. The bottles are usually pretty easy to identify on the supermarket shelves, just look for the brightest colored labels with the funky name. Usually, the inky purple stuff inside is just as outrageous as the label would suggest. The wines are dense, concentrated and above all…fruity. Yet, lost somewhere in the shuffle of what has become known as “critter wine” are the truly classical wines from “down under” that you won’t find on a shelve somewhere next to your favorite brand of cooking Marsala. Australia is actually quite regional, not surprising since it’s also it’s own continent. Western Australia is actually quite cool and better suited to wines of elegance and finesse whereas the Barossa Valley is more prone to massive, inky reds culled from gnarled vines. Rutherglen is home to some extraordinary “stickies” or dessert wines whereas the region simply known as “South Australia

HOLLYWOOD VINE WINE TASTING!

Tuesday September 29th, 2009 

6:00-9:00 pm 

No charge for tastings 

Yalumba ”Organic” Viognier 2007 South Australia

Greenish yellow. Fresh peach and minerals on the nose. A subtle floral quality adds dimension and carries onto the palate, which features light-bodied citrus and pit fruit flavors. Steven Tanzer 88 points

BTG $5.75                Retail $14.99

Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Margaret River, Australia

Dark ruby-colored, it reveals toasty red currant and black currant aromas. This leads to an elegant, Bordeaux-like wine with excellent balance and 3-4 years of aging potential. It is a great value.

Robert Parker 88 points

BTG $6.50                Retail $17.99

Henschke “Henry’s Seven” S/G/M 2006 Barossa Valley, Australia

A solid red, with distinctly peppery character carrying through from the first whiff to the final sip, offering dark berry and black olive flavors. Wine Spectator 90 points

BTG $10.75              Retail $29.99

Jim Barry “The Lodge Hill” Shiraz 2006 Clare Valley, Australia

Bright and effusive, slipping a spicy note into the mix as the blackberry and red cherry flavors pop. Veers toward peppermint as the finish lingers with supple texture. Wine Spectator 91 points “Smart Buy”

BTG $7.25                Retail $19.99

Yalumba “Museum Reserve” Muscat NV (375mL) Rutherglen, Australia

The Non-Vintage Museum Reserve Antique Tawny is medium amber-colored with aromas of ginger, figs and dates. Intense, ripe, and very sweet. Robert Parker 92 points

BTG $6.00 (2.5oz)   Retail $17.99

Attention Bargain Hunters

SMART BUY #4

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of “Smart Buys.” We’ll apologize for leaving you hanging for the last few weeks but this deal has taken longer than expected to percolate and after much delay and anticipation it is finally here. For those of you who are new to the HVine mailing list, these “Smart Buy” emails are little tidbits of goodness provided to you by your friends at Hollywood Vine to inform you of a particularly advantageous buy on a premium wine that has simply fallen through the cracks of a very competitive wine market. That means awesome, frequently “luxury” wines at ridiculous, frequently “stingy” prices. Basically, it’s the wine equivalent of finding a crumpled $20 in a pair of jeans you haven’t worn in a while. This week we’ve found a pair of old world uber-buys:

Mr. Parker Says:

2003 Shardana

The 2003 Shardana (85% Carignano, 15% Syrah) is a gorgeous wine loaded with the essence of minerals, graphite, black cherries, smoke, tar, tobacco and leather. It offers superb purity and focus, although it needs at least another year in bottle to fully come together. This wonderfully complex and complete wine is made at the Santadi winery for importers Neil and Maria Empson. It is a beauty. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018. Robert Parker 92 points!!!

Our Take:

We were blown away by the response we got for this wine at our Tuesday tasting this week and wanted to get an email out to all of you who didn’t get a chance to try this soft, perfumey Sardinian gem. Yeah this wine is from the Isle of Sardinia and comes from super old Carignan or “Carignano” vines planted by the Santadi family. Fans of fruit bombs and wine geeks unite. This wine is luscious, aromatic and with plenty of fruit density but also a lot of depth and complexity as well. Fans of “Super Tuscans” take the “Pepsi Challenge” with this “Super Sardinian!”

Should retail at $34.99…now $22.99 (regular discounts apply)

But wait…

How many of you got shut out of the glorious 2005 vintage in Bordeaux? Every critic in the world including Robert Parker and the Wine Spectator (which awarded the ’05 vintage 99 points) has raved about this magical year in France’s Bordeaux region, calling it one of the “top 10 vintages of all time.” Understandably, with critical acclaim like that prices went through the roof. So when we found this little beauty sneaking into the market at under $15 we pounced on it. If you are serious collector of first growths or casual wine drinker curious about the world’s greatest wine region, this wine is a bonafide quality-price-ratio play that is drinking well now but will also continue to improve over the next 10 years.
CHÂTEAU PEY LA TOUR Bordeaux Supérieur Réserve du Château 2005

Wine Spectator 89 points

$13.99

(regular discounts apply)