The Laughing Wolf

Saturday Wine Notes: Double Feature

Okay, I got busy with packing and work, and never posted last week’s notes. So, today I will post those and this Saturday’s notes as well. Be warned, this may be the last until after the move, but we shall see what can be done. Since I am leaving, if you want to have some fun and try some wine, get thee out to Pauli's on Saturday afternoons and take part. Without further ado, here they are:

L’Ecole No. 41 2002 Columbia Valley Barrel Fermented Semillon. The colour was a nice pale gold and the nose was crisp, sweet, and somewhat buttery. The mouth starts light and builds with a mix of crisp and sweet fruit and come vine, and buttery notes along the side on the finish.

House of Nobilio 2003 Marlborough Pinot Gris. This entry from New Zealand has a clear pale gold colour and crisp nose of fruit, with apple predominating. The mouth feel is solid and strong with sweet apple.

Fortius Tempranillo 1998 Navarro D.O. This Spanish wine has a dark garnet colour and a nose filled with chocolate and jam, and just a hint of leather. The mouthfeel is different, slightly bitter at the start but moving into red fruit. Fair.

Speri Valpolicella 2001. This Italian entry is a light garnet colour and a nose of musty leather. The mouthfeel is fair, with fruit and leather predominating, and a nice finish.

Monsanto Chianti Classico 1999. The nice ruby colour leads to a fair nose and a solid, tangy mouthfeel. Red fruit comes under, along with a nice finish.

Bodegas Monticillo 2002 White Wine. A delightfully very pale yellow colour more reminiscent of flowers than anything else leads to a nice nose that is light and crisp, full of green grape, pear, and hints of tropical fruits and minerals. The mouthfeel is fair, at best, the taste of the fruit being diluted; yet, past the initial taste one can find some crispness and a bit of sweet/tart going on the sides. While lacking in body, this would make a very good hot weather wine simply to enjoy outside on a summer day.

Osborne Solaz. This wine is 80 percent Tempranillo and 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and has a nice red/purple colour leading to a nose crisp with fruit, chocolate, and spice. The mouthfeel is fair, with tastes of ripe plum and chocolate predominating with hints of spice following. The finish is okay.

Bodegas Monticillo Crianza 1998. This 100 percent Tempranillo wine has a slightly odd red/brown colour and a fair – but light – nose of leather with hints of spice. The mouthfeel is stronger than the nose, and filled with fruit and berries, spice, and a nice hint of mocha.

Bodegas Monticillo Reserva 1998. The colour is dark garnet and the nose is full of chocolate and leather, with spice under. The fair mouth has a slight tart and crisp texture to it, and rich with plums and other red fruits, along with subtle notes of chocolate and spice. Not bad.