The Honest Pour with John Lenart

Philippe Rolet was born into wine in Jura. Following a passion for South American wines he eventually ended up as Estate Manager of Bodegas Caro, a partnership between the legendary Rothschild and Catena houses. Argentina didn’t start producing wines until 1850 but in the years since, it has claimed it’s space in the international wine market. In fact one of Caro’s wines is one of the best in it’s category I have ever tasted. Listen to this episode to find out about it.

Philippe Rolet, Bodegas Caro

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2018 Caro, Aruma, Malbec

One of the best wines I have ever tasted in this price range. 100% malbec. Drinking better than wines two or three times it’s price. Aruma shows complex notes of red cherry, earth, and minerality. Serous structure and balance. Flavors of mixed dark berries, coffee, and black plum drive this wonderful wine. At seventeen bucks a bottle this wine is something every cellar or cabinet should have.

SRP:  $17

2017 Caro, Amancaya

Deep ruby in color. Aromas of fresh, juicy currants and dark berries. Notes of purple flowers add complexity and french oak adds hints of baking spice.Wonderful structure and balance. Another great value.

SRP: $20

2015 Caro

This red Bordeaux blend changes from year to year. The 2015 vintage is comprised of 83% malbec and 17% cabernet sauvignon. The sophisticated earthy nose shows aromas of graphite. Rich, complex flavors of blackberry, black cherry reminiscent of wines from the Left Bank. Serious and worth aging.

SRP:  $60

Among aficionados California sparkling wine has always played a bit of a second fiddle to sparklers from other parts of the world.  While that is changing over the past few years with the emergence of Grower Champagne-like wines coming from the likes of Under the Wire and the cult wine Ultramarine, among others, the one exception to this notion has always been Schramsberg. Gaining prominence going back to 1972, when Nixon used the Blanc de Blanc to toast the Chinese Premier at the White House, wines from this historic estate have been served by every administration since.

I met with Hugh Davies to talk about his family’s commitment to sparkling wine, why they tore up their historic estate vineyard and replanted with Bordeaux varieties in the 1990’s and of course to taste some delicious wine.

Hugh Davies, President, Schramsberg Vineyards

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2016 Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc

America’s first great sparkling wine. The 2016 features a rich nose with green apple, pear, brioche, and hints of minerality. The palate shows superb freshness with mouthwatering acidity. Flavors of mixed citrus, and golden delicious apple.

At $40 a bottle this is an outstanding value. Bubbles aren’t just for special occasions. Open this guy next Tuesday!

SRP: $41

2009 Schramsberg J. Schram

This chardonnay dominant blend shows golden tones with aromas of  pear, apricot, tropical notes, and creme brulee. On the palate complex and rich flavors of baked granny smith apples, lemon chiffon, and marzipan backed with fresh bright acidity.

This wine is all about balance, elegance and richness.

SRP:  $120

2016 J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District

Released originally in 2001 after replanting the estate vineyard with Bordeaux varieties.

Aromas of blackberry, black currant ,and black cherry backed with elegant cocoa aromas and sweet spices.On the palate mixed dark berries and plum interplay under the elegant, finessed body. Hints of dark chocolate and forest floor.

Made to age gracefully for decades to come.

SRP: $120

Bordeaux can be expensive. At it’s lower price points it can present uninspired wines. But Diane Flamand and Domaines Barons de Rothschild [Lafite] have closed the price and quality gap with their Légende line of wines. These bottles take wine drinkers around Bordeaux, from blanc and rouge wines made from grapes grown throughout the iconic wine region, to bottlings from more specific areas like Medoc and Saint-Emilion and Paulliac. These wines present fantastic value and would be a great jumping off point for your own study of Bordeaux.  I met with winemaker Diane Flamand to talk about what it’s like to make these approachable, reasonably priced wines that you don’t have to wait decades to drink, all while maintaining the Lafite Spirit.

Diane Flamand, Winemaker, Bordeaux Collection Wines Domaines Barons de Rothschild [Lafite]

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2017 Légende Bordeaux Blanc

Aromas of honeysuckle, melon, apple and lemon meringue. Quite dry on the palate showing good minerality with linear acidity over the medium light body.

SRP: $17.99

2016 Légende Bordeaux Rouge

Aromas of dark berries, violet, toffee, milk chocolate, and baking spice. Fresh drinking, juicy with hints of oak and spice. An easy drinking red to consume now.

SRP: $17.99

2016 Légende Médoc

Spicy oak aromas with good finesse. Pleasing earthy notes and minerality.  Earth driven but still fresh, light fruit on the palate. Firm tannin and good acidity add complexity to this wine.

SRP: $24.99

2015 Légende Saint-Emilion

Lush texture with flavors of cherry cola. Great balance of velvety texture, earthy notes of mushroom and truffle, fresh fruit and spicy oak notes. Serve with food.

SRP: $36.99

2015 Légende Paulliac

Made partly with fruit from Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Duhart-Milon. Terrifically complex nose, Blackberry, tobacco, furniture polish aromas. On the palate this wine offers elegance and balance. Rich dark fruit with umami notes and hints of oak.

SRP: $49.99

Way back in episode 7 of The Honest Pour I interviewed Elise Losfelt of Moët & Chandon. In this episode I revisit the wines from this classic Champagne house with her colleague Marie-Christine Osselin. We sat down to discuss the task of creating consistency and quality for Moët & Chandon’s Non-vintage Imperial from over a hundred base wines, and expressing the quality of  each vintage Champagne,  while still distinguishing the bright fresh fruity house style of Moët & Chandon.

Marie-Christine Osselin, Wine Quality and Communications Manager Moët & Chandon

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Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut

Fresh, fruity, vibrant and easy drinking. Nothing too cerebral here just accessible hedonism

SRP: $39.99

Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial

Lively fresh red berries with notes of black pepper. Pinot Noir brings great weight and texture.

SRP: $49.99

Moët & Chandon 2012 Grand Vintage

The first Grand Vintage declaration since 2009. Elegance and harmony in a glass. Neither too linear nor too sweet. This beautifully balanced Champagne shows ripeness, freshness, and complexity despite a difficult growing season. Age for 5 to 10 years to drink something very special.

SRP: $74.99

Moët & Chandon 2012 Grand Vintage Rosé

Vibrant color and delicate elegance on the nose. Restrained but present freshness provide impressive structure. Great balance between complex citrus and fresh ripe red berries. Another age worthy Champagne if you can wait that long

SRP: $84.99

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of visiting a number of producers in Chianti Classico. To hear those shows check back to episodes 61 – 67. Sadly, while there I missed the chance to visit one of the region’s most iconic estates, Ricasoli at Castello Brolio in Gaiole. Fortunately, when I returned home, I had the opportunity to meet with Francesco Ricasoli.

During his visit he previewed the release of Raritas, a line of three single vineyard Chianti Classico wines that are the highest most distinguished expressions of wines produced on the Brolio estate. Technically Gran Selezione wines, Francesco calls these “Cru” bottlings.

We met to discuss this project and how it fits into the idea of Gran Selezione, his research from which these wines were born, and of course to taste some delicious wines.

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Francesco Ricasoli, President and Owner, Ricasoli

2015 Brolio, Chianti Classico

Delicate aromas of cherry, earth, lavender and spices. Wonderful texture, high acidity and grippy tannin. Flavors of cherry, cocoa, and leather notes.

SRP: $24

2015 Brolio, Chianti Classico Riserva

Complex aromas of raspberry, cherry, espresso and cocoa. Lovely balance and elegant velvety texture. Layered flavors of black cherry, plum, milk chocolate, lavender, clove, and mocha. Fine tannins and mouthwatering acidity. Will mature for 5 to 10  years.

SRP:  $32

2015 Colledilà, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Very pretty aroma of earth and perfumed flowers. Very fresh fruit on the palate. Silky texture and finessed balance Elegant and complex flavors of cherry and leather. Lovely harmony. A special wine made to age.

SRP: $70

Chateau Montelena will forever hold a special place in Napa Valley wine history after famously winning Steven Spurrier’s 1976 Paris tasting. In 2014 Matt Crafton was named winemaker there and today he maintains the heritage of this iconic producer. With a strong belief in sustainability Crafton is paving the way to the future while staying true to the legacy of Chateau Montelena. We sat down to discuss this and also to taste some delicious wine.

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Matt Crafton, Winemaker, Chateau Montelena

2011 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay

Aromas of golden apple honeysuckle and lemon zest. Precision and depth describe this delicious, mature wine. A full weight yet still possessing lots of finesse and mouthwatering acidity. Still years left in this tasty wine from an often overlooked vintage.

SRP:  $67

2016 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Valley Chardonnay

Aromas of green apple, lemon, crushed rock and floral notes. Rich texture and complex flavors are balanced by bright acidity. Obviously made to age for a decade or more but drinking beautifully now. A stunner.

SRP:  $58

2015 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Fresh aromas of mixed red fruit and blossoming violets. This elegant wine shows a ton of restraint and elegance. Complex flavors play harmoniously with the texture and acidity of this youthful wine. A classic which will age for decades.

SRP:  $175

2005 Chateau Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Tons of floral perfume earthiness back up lovely integrated fruit. Bold tannins and still fresh acidity back up and give balance to this lovely mature wine. Drink now with a great meal and friends.

SRP:  $225

Cool climate pinot noir is a widely used buzz phrase today. But in the late 80’s Marty Bannister was one of the pioneers of the segment. She made these wines for over a decade when health concerns forced her to let the family label go dormant. In the early 2000’s her son Brook decided to revive the brand and continue working with these cool climate wines, maintaining his mother’s legacy.  So many of the stories told through wine are about, place, history, or farming. This episode is about a son’s love of his mother and his dedication to making sure her place in wine history is maintained.

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Brook Bannister, Bannister Wines

2018, Bannister Riesling

This skin dry riesling was fermented on the skins adding intriguing aromatic and savory notes. Aromas of tart apple, lemon zest, and cumin are followed by flavors of apple, quince and exotic spices.

SRP:  $28

2015 Bannister Campbell Ranch Pinot Noir

Aromas of dark cherry and earth mingle with floral notes of this pinot from a classic vintage. Flavors of light berries are balanced by fine tannins and mouth watering acidity. This wine is all about finesse. Cellar of 3 to 5 years or more.

SRP:  $55

2017 Bannister Saini Ranch Zinfandel

Zinfandel made with the soul of pinot noir. Arpomas of mixed berries, mushroom, and tobacco. On the palate flavors of fresh raspberry, dutch cocoa, tobacco and white pepper mingle in this fresh, playful zin.

SRP:  $36

We’re back after a short break. We return to the U.S. after our Chianti Classico series to visit with a most thoughtful California wine maker. While many interviews are about history, culture or estate terroir, Paul Hobbs is a guy who I can geek out with about wine. And that makes me happy. Despite his impressive resume, talking with him about soil types, climate, and grape variety is something that is really exciting and makes you want to taste and enjoy his wines. What I really loved about talking with Hobbs is that his passion extends beyond California to Argentina, Spain, France, and Armenia, not because he wants to globalize his brand but  in order to hone his craft. I sat down with Paul to talk about this and of course to taste some delicious wines.

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 Paul Hobbs

2016 Paul Hobbs Winery, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Wonderfully balanced aroma of cherry and clay with notes of fresh herbs. Finessed body highlighted by complex flavors of strawberry, blueberry and black tea. Great balance of sunshine and earth.

SRP:  $65

2014 Paul Hobbs Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nathan Coombs Estate, Coombsville, Napa Valley

Napa meets Bordeaux in this restrained, elegant Napa cab. Inky deep purple in color. Aromas of dark mixed berries, cassis, lavander, and black olive. Flavors of blackberry, black currant, graphite and dark chocolate are backed up by fantastic structure. Absolutely delicious and drinkable now but will age for decades to come. A classic.

SRP: $400

2014 Crocus Le Calcifere

Not your aunt’s sweet grenadine-like malbec. This intensely colored wine booms with aromas of dark berries, earth and spice box. Concetrated flavors of plum, cocoa, and baking spices are brought into balance by nice acidity and grippy tannin. GIMME A STEAK!

SRP: $45

We wrap up our visit to Chianti Classico with a visit to Castello Monterinaldi in Radda. Searching for the terroir of each commune of the region has proven to be a challenge as so many microclimates and soil types exist withing each commune. However, matching clones of sangiovese to each microclimate within an estate is an important job at Castello Monterinaldi. This effort leads to some special wine. I met with Fabrizio Benedetti to discuss this and of course to taste some delicious wines.

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Fabrizio Benedetti, Castello Monterinaldi

2016 Castello Monterinaldi Chianti Classico

Aromas of dark cherry, earth, cocoa, and toffee. On the palate flavors of black cherry, espresso, fresh herbs and fine tannins in this food friendly well balanced wine

SRP: $16

2016 Castello Monterinaldi, Chianti Classico, Vignetto Boscone

A special bottling from an expressive single plot within the Monterinaldi estate. This wine sees no wood and is 100% sangiovese. Quite pretty aroma of elegant fruit, hints of flowers and minerality. On the palate gentle tannins support pure dark cherry flavor. Fresh acidity balance out this expression of the earth and fruit.

SRP: $38

2015 Castello Monterinaldi, Chianti Classico Riserva

Complex aroma of decayed forest floor, leather, and violets. On the palate sour cherry leads the way and balances with moderate fine tannin and mouthwatering acidity. Cellar for 10 to 20 years for a special treat.

SRP: $28