KINKEAD RIDGE RE-OPENS WINERY FOR RELEASE OF 2008 VINTAGE

Owners Ron Barrett and Nancy Bentley will re-open Kinkead Ridge winery to the public on Memorial Day weekend, May 23 and May 25, for the release of the 2008 white wines: Viognier/Roussanne, Revelation, Riesling and Traminette. The winery will also be open on summer Saturdays through Labor Day weekend, when Kinkead Ridge will release its 2007 red wines. The winery was closed last summer due to an Easter frost that decimated 90% of the white wine grapes. Also available is the 2006 River Village Cellars Cabernet Franc, which won a silver medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

Kinkead Ridge recently purchased a building in downtown Ripley, with the hope of turning it into a tasting room when Ohio passes the necessary legislation. Until then, the winery will continue to welcome the public to the winery at 904 Hamburg Street, 3 blocks behind McDonalds, east of downtown. See www.KinkeadRidge.com for details.

Southern Ohio is now home to several wineries, including Harmony Hill in Bethel, and other wineries will open within the next year, including Renascent Vineyards in Georgetown.

Top Wine Blogs

Wine Bloggers, Wineries, Wine Lovers,

Check out my new web site at Top Wine Blogs. If you are looking for the top wine blogs, all in one place, for easy navigation, this web site is it! Let me know what you think, and please suggest other wine bloggers to be featured. We will add new ones as we get suggestions.

2001 Ruffino Romitorio Di Santedame

Greetings from Wadsworth, Ohio!

Looking for another grape varietal to add to your Wine Century Club list, why not give this huge Italian a try. The 2001 Ruffino Romitorio Di Santedame is a huge blend of Colorino 60% and Merlot 40%. Its deep ruby color and nose of cherries, and plums gives way to a blackberry, current, tobacco and licorice pallet with a well balanced finish.

Probably originating from a native wild grape, Colorino is known for its deep color and makes an outstanding blending grape. It is used throughout Tuscany. This is a 90 pointer, but at a price point of over 50 dollars (as high as 70 at retail) this one doesn't have a good QPR.

Boy, is it loud in here!

Greetings from Catawba Island, Ohio!

A few weeks back, Nick On Wine was asked to host a private wine tasting for a home owners association here on the island. With the help of my pal, Melissa from Bassett's Wine Department we featured eight different wines that evening, three whites and five reds. The other neat thing was that these eight wines represented 14 different varietals. The crowd started out quieter that the normal wine tasting crowd, but one we finished the whites and moved on to the reds the volume increased dramatically!! The sold out event went great and we have already picked out the date for next year. Here are the wines we sampled:

The first was the 2004 Piccolo Gavi de Gavi. This light Italian white is made with the Cortese Grape. The wine is not very aromatic, but has a clean fresh taste featuring white flowers, grapefruit, peach apricot, and minerals. his one would go nicely with shell fish. From Gavi in the Piedmont region of Italy, this bottle retails around 8.99.

Our second white was 2006 Brancott “Unoaked” Chardonnay This interesting white from New Zealand has pineapple, pear, and lime flavors with some grassy notes. Crisp and acidic, this wine goes well with fish. Not a bad "Unoaked" Chardonnay but I have had many better ones. The Brancott is fruit forward and around 15 bucks a bottle.

We finished off the whites with 2006 Ironstone “Obsession” Symphony. This Riesling like white comes from the Symphony Grape., a new varietal developed in California, part Riesling, part Gewurztraminer. This one is a nice change of pace for sweeter (but not too) white wine drinkers. It was citrus, with some pineapple and peach. Crisp and somewhat floral, the Ironstone would be good with spicy dishes like Asian, Cajun or Thai.

At that point in the evening the volume started to increase and the crowd began to loosen up a bit. If you have ever been to a Nick On Wine tasting, then you know how much I feed off of the groups energy and it was "hold on to your hats" from that moment on. Then it was off to the Reds!

Our first red to sample was the 2006 Cluoudline “Oregon” Pinot Noir. This deep ruby wine made in the classic Pinot style is soft and round with cherries, red fruit and spice. This wine is so fruit forward that it even feels effervescent. From The Williamette Valley in Oregon. This one goes well with Salmon, chicken, and light pasta dishes, and sells for around 22 bucks.

Next it was the 2006 Norman Vineyards “The Monster” Zinfandel. I can't begin to tell you how many wine tastings I have wowed with this one!Cherry and Chocolate blast your taste buds in this fruit bomb! Raspberry, Licorice, and pepper notes as well. Great with anything from Tuna to a t-bone steak, but particularly good with barbecued meats. Around 25 bucks.

Then a great find from Chile, the 2005 Veramonte “Primus” Red wine. A blend made with the Carmeniere, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grape, this Chilean red featured the “lost bordeaux” grape Carmeniere. This one is from the Casablanca Valley in Chile, and is supple, ripe and smooth. Cherries, Plums, Black Cherry and Blueberries, with Bell pepper and tomato leaf. The Philloxera disease wiped out this varietal in France in the 1880’s. Thought lost, it turned up in Chile, misidentified as merlot. It was brought over to Chile from France in the 1850’s. 25 bucks a bottle and a 90 pointer in everyone's book.

Another wine that never fails to impress a wine tasting is the 2003 Alligrini Palazzo Della Tore. Made with three varietals, Corvina, Rondenella, and Sangiovese, the Palazzo Della Tore will knock your socks off. The deep ruby color and a long elegant finish of wild berries and raisins make this one explode on your pallet. The blend is made in the Respasso style, where 70% of the grapes are vintified and then, 30% are dried until December, when they are combined with the 70%. The results of this styling is Amaraone-like in quality. Good with meats, roasts, pork. From Valpolicella, Italy. In NE Italy. 25 bucks and another 90 pointer.

And finally, as if the crowd wasn't loud enough already we had the brand new 2006 Justin “The Orphan” Red Wine. This, if your read Nick On Wine often is one I discovered this year during the snow storm that shut down the Midwest. Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petite Verdot grapes, the Orphan has a deep ruby color,with blackberry, spices, plum, cherry and vanilla. This blend is 14 months in the oak. Great with red meats, steaks, and roasts. The 2006 is 25 bucks and just as good as the 2005! 90 points.

What a fun night, and I can't wait to do this one again next year. It will sell out fast!!

2005 Mitolo G.A.M. Shiraz McLaren Vale

Greetings from Akron, Ohio!

I had a wonderful dinner last night at Flemming's Steak House in Montrose with my friends Matt from Nashville and Sue from Akron. Matt is the guy that introduced me to the Justin "Orphan" and I brought a bottle of the latest 2006 vintage to share.

Flemming's has a nice relationship with West Point Market. If you purchase a bottle to bring to the restaurant from West Point, they attach a sticker and the folks at Flemming's opened it and decanted it for us.

But on to the wine! Once we tried the new "Orphan" Matt selected the 2005 Mitolo G.A.M. Shiraz from the McLaren Vale in Australia. The G.A.M. stands for the first names of the Mitolo children Gemma, ALex, and Marco. And remember since it is a shiraz from Australia, it is pronounced Sha razz' as in Razz a ma Tazz!

The wine with a solid ruby color had layers of black current, spices, and coffee and licorice with a nice, not over oaked, finish. Hard to price it but the Internet has it for between 45 and 60 bucks a bottle. I'd give this one 92 points, but at that price it's not a wine you'd drink every day. It's not Molly Dooker, but it's good if you can't find the Molly Dooker's. Thanks to Matt for a great time!!

2005 Buehler Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Greetings from Beverly Hills, California!

During our weekend visiting Mark and Jackie in California, Diane and I had dinner on Saturday night at Mastro's Steak House in Beverly Hills. Mastro's is one of Mark and Jackie's favorites, right down the street from Spago on Canon.

The meal was fantastic, the fillet mignon's were cooked to perfection and the Gorgonzola macaroni and cheese, the thinly cut french fries, and the garlic mashed potatoes were the perfect compliment to the meal.

And for wine we went with the 2005 Buehler Vineyards "Estate" Cabernet Sauvignon. After a stellar 2003 vintage the 2004 was a bit disappointing, but the 2005 puts Buehler's back on track for great wines at a value price. The wine was nicely fruit forward, with blackberry, plum and Asian spice, and a finish that was as long as it was smooth with a slight touch of anise. At $36 bucks, this cab ranks with the big boys at twice the price. 92 pointer in my book and right up there with the 2003.

We had a great night, wonderful meal with two of our favorite people, and a great bottle of wine from our friends at Buehler Vineyards.

2000 Pelee Island Winery Meritage "The Vinedressers"

Greetings from the Lake Erie Islands!

On Friday, we invited our friend and neighbor Carol over for a glass of wine on the patio and she surprised us with a bottle of the 2000 Pelee Island Meritage. Carol had just returned from four days on Pelee and brought back several finds.

The Canadian island, for the uninitiated, is on Lake Erie around 15 miles from Canada's southern boarder. The Meritage is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. It is aged 16 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels. The "Vinedressers" is a homage to the vineyard workers who pruned and shaped the vines at the turn of the 20th century.

The wine has a wonderful nose of fresh plums, blackberry and spice. The blend has a nice mouth feel and a long smooth finish. This one is a nice wine to share with friends. It promoted Carol to recall several stories about her time on Pelee and made for wonderful conversation over a really fine wine. 89 points and a good value at 28 bucks American.

Hudson Wine Festival V.I.P. Tasting a big success!!

Greetings from the Lake Erie Islands!

Friday night was the kick off of the Hudson Wine Festival running today (Saturday) and tomorrow July 19th and 20th at First and Main in Downtown Hudson, Ohio. The V.I.P. tasting took place at the Vue Restaurant and benefited the Humane Society of Greater Akron. Around 120 attended the event and it was fantastic. For the people in attendance it was a chance to sample some of the wonderful appetizers from Chef Rick Carson at the Vue. Rick is quickly making a name for himself in Northeast Ohio and if last nights offerings were any indication, the kudos are well deserved.

The Vue which has been open for the past three plus years, is the brainchild of partners Butch Bartlet and Paulo Giorgi and is managed by Michael Tomaselli. Michael also handles the wine purchasing for the restaurant which just this past week won their third straight Best of---Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. This award went to only 8 Ohio restaurants and only 802 worldwide.

The wines were equally as good. Although I'd like to mention all of them, I only have space for a few standouts. Here they are:

2004 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Jericho Canyon was probably my favorite of the evening. I am a Cab fan and Ramey Cellars best known for the fine Chardonnays makes a great one. It's around 76% Cabernet, with the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which qualifies it as a cab and not a red blend. Dark inky ruby color, dark berries, chocolate and coffee with some cassis, and with a little smokiness on the finish. This one should cellar well. 95 points in my book. A bit expensive at 114.99, but one for a special occasion.

2005 Au Bon Climat Pinor Noir Isabelle Morgan and the 2005 Au Bon Climat Pinor Noir Knox Alexander, both named after the Wine maker Jim Clendenen's kids, are well crafted classically styled wines of which these two are excellent examples. This is world class wine from a world class wine maker. The "Isabelle," by the way, made the San Francisco Chronicle's top 100 wine of the year in 2007. 92 points on Isabelle and 91 on the Knox Alexander. Around $50 bucks a bottle give or take.

2005 Covenant Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley was another outstanding Cab made with 100% Cabernet juice. Deep Ruby/purple color it had a nose of currents with a little smokiness and a nice long finish. 90 Pointer in my book and another one that will cellar well. At 87 bucks a bottle this is another special occasion wine, and it's kosher!

I wish I had time to describe more!

The Hudson Wine Festival continues from 12 Noon-8P.M. on Saturday and 1 P.M.-6 P/M. on Sunday. Admission is 20 bucks and entertainment, cooking and wine demonstrations will be featured throughout the entire event. This festival is worth checking out and I predict will become an area "biggy".

2006 Layer Cake Primotivo aka Zinfandel

Greetings from the Lake Erie Islands!

Got a bottle of the 2006 Layer Cake Primitivo a.k.a Zinfandel from my friend Thom and had the opportunity to open it on the patio the other night when some friends stopped by. The wine bills itself as 100% Pure Primitivo and is labeled like a cheap American wine. The juice is from Puglia, Italy but the packaging is anything but.

OK, they make a point that these 100 year old vines from 2000 year old vineyards in Southern Italy are the real deal. Of course, EVERY vineyard in this region is as old as the dirt. And they make a point to mention that Primitivo and Zinfandel are actually the same grape. Which is also true but in Puglia it's Primitivo, Crijenak Kastelanski in Croatia and in the US it's Zinfandel.

What it looks like here is some enterprising Californian found some good tasting wine in Italy and are packaging it for the soccer mom,(including the layer cake on the label) under the guise that there are many layers of complexity in this wine.

The truth is this is a pleasant new world tasting Primiivo that reminds me if Hi-C fruit punch. Yes there is the obligatory blast of ripe fruit and a sugary taste, but there no layers of complexity there. And there is absolutely nothing Italian about this wine except the country of origin. This is an 84 point fruit bomb that's better that pop and 13.5% alcohol. And at 15.99 to 17.99 is a major pass. For a real Primitivo Try A-Mano.

2004 Peirano Estates Lodi Barbara

Greeting from Catawba Island!

When you think of Barbera's you think of those special Italian wines (usually expensive) that you only get to try a few times a year. Usually, we don't think of California Barbera's especially done in the new world fruit forward style of the California Zinfandel makers.

That's why I took a chance on this one recommended by Melissa at Bassett's on the island. The 2004 Peirano Estates Lodi Barbera is a product of a vineyard over 100 years old founded by Giacomo Peirano in 1879. This bright fruity new world red took on some of the flavor components of a Zinfandel. A full bodied dry red, with dried cranberries, red and dark fruit with a nice acidity running through the long finish.

At 8.99 a bottle, I'll be stocking up on this one for a nice change of pace. 88 points and a great QPR.