Buehler? Buehler? Buehler?

The inestimable Ocean Grill added a new Zinfandel to their “wines by the glass” list recently, which came highly recommended to this Rampant Oenophile by regulars at the Grill. Friends of the Rampant Oenophile know how much I appreciate and enjoy a good Zin and a good value, and the 2007 Buehler Napa Valley Zinfandel hits high points on both counts.

Available direct from the winery for just $18 a bottle, and locally for $16 in good wine shops, the Buehler Zinfandel rewards a long slow pour. It’s young, but big and rich. Not “In your face” boldness, but rather a well intentioned blend of fruit and spice. It’s a deep dark purple in color with rich plum blossom bouquet. You’ll enjoy the cherry and red berry flavors to soften a nice heat from the pepper. Pairs well with stronger food flavors, but also sips pretty well in the lingering Florida summer, which just won’t go away.

Bottle Shocked...

So, it was a Chateau Montelena week recently for this Rampant Oenophile. A business friend hosted us for dinner at a local steakhouse last week, where we took full advantage of the ½ price bottle offer on a slow Monday night. We worked our way through the catalog until finding the 2005 Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for $52. Our host immediately ordered two bottles and told us the story of the winery, perfectly capture in the movie Bottle Shock. As the story goes, in 1976, the British owner of L’Academie du Vin in France decides to host a blind tasting of his favorite French wines against the upstart wines of the Napa Valley. He travels to Napa Valley, meets the owner and family of Chateau Montelena, and samples a variety of terrific California wines. At the tasting, a panel of French oenophiles selects Chateau Montelena’s 1973 Chardonnay as the top white wine, and the Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon won the top red wine category. Much drama and French snobbery ensues.

Unfortunately, the Chardonnay was not on the wine list, but Chateau Montelena has become known for nearly 35 years as a producer of award winning Cabs, and the 2005 is no exception. I was impressed how easily the flavors blend and pair with the great steak and seafood we enjoyed at dinner. It’s full bodied and very well balanced. You’ll taste the entire range of fruit and spice without any single flavor overpowering. It’s a wine to enjoy, but also to store for future special occasions. I highly recommend this wine.

As a footnote to the 1976 story, the owner of L’Academie du Vin, Steven Spurrier, hosted a 30th anniversary blind tasting of French and California wines fully expecting the French wines to regain their winning status. California won both categories, again.