Wine Tasting at The Butcher's Block - Sarasota, FL

So, I have previously mentioned our recent discovery of The Butcher's Block and tonight was my first experience with their monthly tasting.  I was expecting more, but still had a great time and enjoyed one of the best tastings since leaving Birmingham.

There were 4 tables of wine and several tables with various food and cheese from the store.  There was a decent sized crowd, but not so many as to make it difficult to get to the tables for tastings.  The caliber of the wines was definitely a notch up from what we have been seeing, perhaps in part due to the $10 cover or perhaps just a different approach to what a tasting should be.

I managed to hit all of the wine tables, although in a couple of cases I did not taste everything.  All but one of the tables had some sort of tasting sheet, some with more detail than others.  If the tasting sheet included comments/notes about the wine, those are included in quotes and blue text.  All of my comments are in red text.

These tastings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 7 PM to 9 PM.  Hope to see you there next time.

Cheers!

Table 1 (Transatlantic Fine Wines)

I did not realize until I got home that there were no vintages on the tasting notes.

Pascal Jolivet Sancerre, Loire Valley ($19.99) – We recently reviewed the 2007 here and I think that those notes accurately reflect this tasting.

Saddle Rock Chardonnay, Santa Monica ($10.99) – This was a touch on the oaky side but not overwhelmingly so.  There was good melon and floral notes throughout.

Belle Glos Pinot Noir Blanc Rose, Mendocino ($24.99) – Ripe strawberry nose, with hints of earthiness on the back palate.  A decent, albeit not great, Rose.

Saddle Rock Merlot, Santa Monica ($13.99) – This was definitely a fruit forward styled merlot.

Saddle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Monica ($13.99) – No tasting notes, and it did not stand out in my recollection.

D’Arenberg Love Grass Shiraz, Australia ($18.99) – You generally can not go wrong with D’Arenberg and this is no exception, although it was much more subdued that I would have expected.  The spiciness on the finish was mostly outweighed by cherry fruit early on.

Table 2

There was not a tasting sheet for this table, and I only wrote down what I tried... there were several other bottles on this table that I did not try. 

2006 Vierlas, Spain ($13.99) – A blend of 48% Syrah, 20% Tempranillo, 15% Merlot, 9% Graciano, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Garnacha this was… different.  Not spicy, not fruit, not bold, not mellow… it just sort of was.  I am glad that I tasted it here rather than buying a bottle of it.

2006 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre, Veneto, Italy ($15.99) – 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese this is always one of my favorites… full-bodied, but lighter than in past vintages, with lots of mocha, dark fruit and a hint of leather on the palate.  30% of the fruit was also dried Amarone style and this gives some subtle hints of raisin.  Very, very smooth wine.

2007 Lyeth Meritage, Sonoma County ($15.99) – 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.  I was hoping for a lot more from this generally good producer but instead found a wine that was rough edged, with gritty tannins and grapey fruit.  Maybe it just needs some age but right now this was not good at all.

Table 3

2005 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexander Merlot, Colchagua Valley ($23.99) – "Powerful and deep structure that surprises.  Soft and chewy palate that evolves towards a long and pleasant finish with a very well achieved balance."  Fruity, but with some firm tannins.

2006 Chalone Monteray Pinot Noir, Monteray County ($13.99) – "Entices the palate with silky layers of dark cherry and raspberry woven with nuances of floral and spice.  These bright, expressive aromas and flavors come from grapes grown in Monteray County, in California’s Central Coast AVA."  I pretty much agreed with this description.

2006 Chalone Monteray Cabernet Sauvignon, Monteray County ($9.99) – “Opens with dark fruit aromas, cassis, fragrant oak and a touch of black licorice.  On the entry, the full-bodied fruit glides across the palate, layering rich blackberry and red stone fruit stitched with vanilla, oak and spice.  The flavors linger through the finish, where they are met by fleshy tannins and good acidity.” Overall I agreed with the description but found it to be a bit astringent and showing green pepper on the finish.  Lighter style that I would have preferred.

2003 Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford County ($19.99) – “Captures the true essence of Rutherford… With opulent dark berry, black cherry, cocoa, anise, forest loam and mineral notes, the wine has well-integrated oak spices that heighten alongside fruity aromas for a long, lingering finish.” Nice, solid black fruit with notes of cocoa and mineral that is extremely smooth.

Table 4 (Rob the wine guy)

2007 Gordon Brothers Chadonnay, Washington ($15.99) – “Notes of pear, golden delicious apple and English toffee initially greet the nose followed by subtle floral notes – lush, satin mouth-feel with flavors of honey, tangerine and pineapple.  A lingering finish accentuated by bright acids.”  You definitely could taste the toffee in this one, which was pretty interesting.  This was not a bad chardonnay but since we are not big chardonnay fans…

2007 Mac Rostie Chardonnay, Carneros-Napa ($19.99) – “Inviting aromatics reminiscent of baked custard and lemon oil with balanced layers of apple and tropical fruit, the finish is clean, crisp and refreshing, inviting another sip.”  I have tasted this in the past without caring for it so went ahead and passed this time.

2008 Cartlidge & Browne Pinot Noir, California ($14.99) – “100% Pinot Noir… enjoy aromas of cherry cider, plum jam and spice cake – notes of cherry cobbler, fresh plum and toffee.” This was definitely a lighter styled pinot noir with a lot of bright fruit.  Not my favorite of the evening.

2006 Coltibuono Chianti Classico Reserve, Tuscany ($15.99) – “Made from selected sangiovese vineyards located in the best Chianti Classico microzones.  Enjoy fruit forward aromas and flavors of forest berries, spices, lether, moist earth and dried plum, ready for drinking immediately.”  Tasty, inexpensive Chianti that definitely showed some earthiness and plum.  Would certainly work well with a lot of dishes.

2005 Luzon Altos de Luzon, Spain ($16.99) – “50% old-vine Monastrell, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Tempranillo – enjoy enticing perfume of mineral, garrigue, blueberry and blackberry layered fruit flavors fermented in French and American oak for 12 months, enjoy over the next 8-10 years.”  Enjoy that is if you like it.  Not a big fan (ok, I actually do not like it at all!) of Monastrell I was hoping the cabernet and tempranillo would help it out.  Nope. 

2006 Marietta Cellars Petite Sirah, Sonoma ($20.99) – “…seriously intense notes of blueberries, blackberries, camphor and flowers are accompanied by a boatload of tannins, but they are relatively civilized in this big, full-bodied wine.  It should soften over the next decade, hold steady for another 10-15 years and still be alive at age 30.”  Reading the description almost makes me wish that I had actually tasted it (I know, I know!) but I have never met a petite sirah that I liked and I have actually had this one in the past.  And I personally do not believe that it will make it to age 30 either.

2006 Torbreck “The Steading”, Barossa ($34.99) – “…an alluring perfume of garrigue, damp earth, clove, kirsch and black raspberry…” This is another one of those producers that just can not seem to make a bad wine.  This was seriously good stuff and a great finish to the evening.  Full-bodied, with gobs of black fruit and a solid core of silky tannins.