Run, don't walk for Far Niente, Rombauer mixed case
Once upon a time, a long, long while ago, Fess Parker was a pioneer who roamed from Pennsylvania to Tennesse building the wilderness road through the Appalachians. Once he reached middle age, about 22 (this was when Social Security acturarial tables were being drawn by the do-nothin’ Congress) along with his pal Jamie he roamed the wild west fighting riverboat toughs, killing "bars" and was shot at the Alamo along with Billy Bob Thornton, Dennis Quaid, John Wayne, Richard Boone, Richard Widmark and Laurence Harvey.
I thought he died but turns out those durn tables were a tad skewed. He turned up in Santa Barbara as a 63-year-old winemaker and retiree. Apparently his criminal days were over also ‘cause he stopped using aliases and began making wine under his own name. Which brings me to the real reason you tuned in today. I just found a wonderful wine priced $9.99 on sale for $7.79 named Fess Parker Frontier Red Lot 111 NV. You'll be shot, skinned and hangin' on a wall in a saloon before you find a bargain like this again
Lot 111 is composed of Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache and Petit Sirah. A very black red-purple color, its aromas of black cherry, blackberry, black raspberry and black pepper shroud your face like a black hangman's mask. As you start to savor the wine, notes of sage, smoke, leather and vanilla complete this incredible bouquet. The mid-palate expression of cranberry, black cherry, red currant and dark chocolate is accented by a whiff of smoke. Wonderful acid, tannin and fruit sweet balancing act produces a soft, velvety finish. Please try to find this wine and buy it up to $15/bottle if necessary. The wine was chosen No. 1 of a 255-bottle sample of wine under $10 at a recent event I attended. It will cellar 10 years. Try to buy cases under $125. Those failing to comply will be visited by Ruben Padilla and left to the vultures.
Domaine Garrigue Vacqueyras 2009, 93 WA, can be found under $240/case. Red plum color with serious legs indicating density and concentration. The nose is a huge bouquet of aromas typical of Provence: garrigue, licorice, kirsch, black fruits with hints of earthiness and truffles. The aromas are picked up through the palate. The wine is balance with good structure. It was aged in cement, but there was enough wood in the stems of the old vine production to provide a hint of wood to the wine.
Terrabianco Campaccio 2007 is a 93-point Super Tuscan - 70 pecent Sangiovese, 30 percent Cabernet Sauvignon - floral with violets and raspberries. This super-ripe dry wine's fruit-driven sweetness is held in check by tannin and acid components. On the palate look for leather, French oak, licorice and smoke. RP 92, WS 93; drink now through 2020 at least.
Chardonnay, anyone? Look around for this deal - a case of six each Far Niente Napa 2009, 92 points, and Rombauer Carneros 2010, 88 points, for $386 delivered. I recently wrote up the Far Niente but want to give big props to underrated Rombauer. Pale golden yellow, aromas of peach, melon, and citrus with honeysuckle and vanilla nuance. On the palate, pears, peaches and melons ride a lively acid frame. All are supported by vanilla-scented oak. The creamy, long finish is melon, citrus and buttah. A real nice old-style Chard.
Gregory Dal Piaz, a guy I enjoy reading, wrote this about wine critics. "Well, let me just get something on the table before I lose your attention. Some grand percentage of what we do, what I do, is bull****. That is not a typo. It’s bull****, I tell you. We ostensibly write about wine, but very few of us manage to do that with any efficacy. What we do do, and generally do well, is write about ourselves."
Anyone else confused, as a kid, by all that buckskin fringe, leather and fur cap bit?
