Domaine d'Orfeuilles 2004 Vouvray Silex

*Bottle #16: Domaine d'Orfeuilles 2004 Vouvray Silex

*Price: $19

*Running Tab: $212

All together now: "Voo-Vray." Yeah, Wikipedia has taught me everything I know about French.

I decided to play this little diddy because I had never heard of such a thing, completely misunderstood French wine and am still uncertain on how to read this wine's label. 

Dream Trip #2: France. We'll go over fast facts here because I'm already wandering around lost.

Domaine d'Orfeuilles: The wine's producer.

Vouvray: The French appellation, in the Loire Valley region. 

Silex: The selection of the grape.

Vouvray is a white wine made from the Chenin Blanc grape which I had never had before and was eager to try. Chenin Blanc I am willing to give a second chance but I don't believe I will be attempting this label's Vouvray anytime soon again.

The very weak, lemon juice color - although quite radiant - put off a medium-intensity level aroma of fresh cut grass, green peppers, a bit of melon, some almond and an overwhelming mineral sensation I came to find out was flint. Of course, there's flint in this wine! Who's able to pick out that stone, honestly?

The Loire Valley seems to have a plush supply of flint in their soils which results in a "flinty" flavor characteristic presumed to be a famous delicacy... My taste buds severely disagreed. Tomato, tomato (that doesn't have the same effect when you're just typing it...).

My taste buds did find medium acidity, a dry and crisp wine that left my mouth watering but not because I wanted more. It was definitely from an excess of alcohol (not that the overall percentage of 13% was too much, it just lacked balance) and was borderline sour. However, I was able to search for fruits with success - lime, lemon, apricot and fairly plain and simple. And flint. I wasn't too impressed.

Maybe this 2004 was too young - this wine is said to be best when aged 5-25 years and I was only 4 into its development. 

Don't take this the wrong way - I am far from shunning one of my first attempts at French wine. I've had many brilliant wines from France that are to die for. This was not one of them.

Score: 3.5. 

Punters Corner Coonawarra 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

*Bottle #15: Punters Corner Coonawarra 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

*Price: Free for Erin ($25 AUD)

*Running Tab: $193

Over the next few weeks, I plan on traveling all over the earth, sweeping its soils in search of everything its vines can offer. I plan on accomplishing this feat under a $15/week budget, from my couch and through the Internet and all her glory. 

In other words, I'm geeking out on wines of the world purchasable at grocery stores near you and am prompting you to get cultured with me. 

After careful consideration, research and lack of a finances, I have chosen a variety of wines from the places I wish to visit throughout this erratic and volatile planet. 

Dream Trip #1: Australia is a repeat for me - I swear, I really have been there. Known for the Shiraz, Australia also produces a killer cab, primarily from the Coonawarra region of South Kangaroo Land. This region translates to "honey suckle" and is one of the most famous terroirs (aka wine region) in the New World (aka not France). 

Unfortunately my visit down under was not for a wine tour and I missed this area but the Boyfriend came through with this great buy. I know it's a bit more than $15 but since I didn't buy it, it still counts!

2003 was the second year in a row with low Cabernet Sauvignon yields in Coonawarra, which typically means a better quality of the grapes and ultimately a better quality wine. As far as Punters Corner goes, this was definitely one of the better Cabs I've had.

A beautiful deep ruby wine sat in my glass just long enough to let a little aeration take place and allow this Cab to reveal its blackcurrants, barrels full of vanilla and oak with an awesome dirty, old man leather smell. In a good way. Think... Sean Connery. 

This multifaceted, complex wine was just as stunning on the palate. 

The Coonawarra Cab is big, bold and tannic as all hell to make sure you know its there. A nice spread of earth, spice, blackberries and warm raspberries floods over your tongue and hold on tight with a long, lasting finish. The wine spent 14 months in new and old French, Russian and American oak barrels which gave it plenty of gritty wood tannins as well as the powerful tannic bite stripped from the grapes' skins themselves. 

Smoky, smooth and sexy, this wine has a chewy texture, somewhat reminiscent of those fruit leather snacks circa 1991. 

Not much was stripped from this full-bodied beauty but be prepared for some abrasive tannins. Just like Sean Connery who also was good in 1991 and 2003. 

Score: 8.5.

Roots 2006 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir

*Bottle #14: Roots 2006 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir

*Price: $26

*Running Tab: $193

Author Rex Pickett speaks of his beloved Pinot Noir as if it's his fussy, pre-menopausal ol' ball-and-chain of so many odd years - it's "temperamental" and "needs constant care and attention." But you know he loves it/her because "only the most patient and nurturing" will "really take the time to understand [its] potential then coax it into its fullest expression." 

Now that is commitment.

And Art smart, the man knows his words. And his Pinot. The grape is hard to grow and highly prone to diseases, doesn't handle harsh adjustments in the winery well and needs a cooler climate to thrive. But let me tell you, get a winemaker who really knows his Pinot and you'll feel like Pickett and his wife. I mean... Wine. Pure devotion.

For me, I was planted, grown, ripened and am now continuing to age in Washington State. That being said, I don't really know squat about Pinot Noir that I haven't heard in a book. I have learned to be thankful for Oregon's Willamette Valley, whose maritime and breezy coastal shores give just enough chill to keep Pinot Noir from breaking a sweat and making a beautiful wine. 

I slipped into a wine shop down by the beloved Pike's Place Market to be greeted but an incredibly knowledgeable (and none bit the pretentious) cellar rat who suggested I go with the 2006 Roots Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir. I had heard of Roots before, tried their Cab and wasn't a fan. I then was taught Oregonians should not grow Cabernet Sauvignon, as Washingtonians should not grow Pinot. Huh.

This wine had the coloring I was expecting from a Pinot - medium ruby, almost a little mauve, maybe garnet. It looked as earthy as it smelt - a nice soil presence with some rhubarb and it seemed a little herbaceous at first but after it opened up, I found almost a maple syrup aroma coming from the glass. Which was great because I love pancakes.

I was surprised to find Roots to have medium tannins (fuzzied my teeth up a bit) with lots of heat and acidity. I found out last week the higher tannins in Pinot is due to the grape being picked riper and was probably done with whole cluster de-stemming (see Wineology 101) to give it the astringency of acid. Them be wine-ing words. 

Also on my palate, the wine was silky smooth with dark fruits and a little bit of that maple. Very elegant and pronounced with a lasting finish which made it easy to finish the bottle. Since it's still a young wine, this Pinot will only get better with age. 

Just so you know, you can not buy a cheap Pinot. So after paying $26 for the 2006 Roots, I was happy with the price and more than happy with the wine. 

I feel like I should have saved this Roots 2006 Pinot Noir for a special occasion. Does Monday count?

Score: 8.5

Concannon 2004 Central Coast Chardonnay

*Bottle #13: Concannon 2004 Central Coast Chardonnay 

*Price: $9

*Running Tab: $167

I started my "wine studies" by reading a book written by the wine editor for Food and Wine Magazine. Her whole premise was to teach her neighbor - Rolling Stone Magazine film critic Peter Travers - the basics of wine. The only varietal Travers enjoyed at the beginning of this trial and error was a "fatty Chardonnay."

The only varietal I knew I did not enjoy was the stereotypical "fatty Chardonnay."

Fixed reasons for repelling: tastes like cubes of butter and wood chips, looks like the wheat fields where I attended college and brings a nostalgia of this dirty old man at a bar I used to tend at. 

So I brought in a heavy hitter to knock down my padlocked, double-latched, closed doors that I thought even butter couldn't grease open. 

I've heard people rave about Concannon's 2004 Petite Sirah as well as their Pinot Noir, whose vines flourish in the Livermore Valley of Central Coast, California - a high-profile legit grape-growing region. Taking on their Chardonnay was a safe bet. Plus it was $9 and my wallet liked that. 

The Concannon Chardonnay had quite a big nose for that specific grape, who usually has a dainty aroma. We're talking Adrian Brody vs. Heidi Montag's new schnoz here. A big, expensive bouquet of citrusy, warm climate aromas like tangerines and pineapple opened up around the rim of the glass with some oak, honey and a lot of butterscotch - not so much butter. 

It smells like it would make a couple insta-classic Ben & Jerry flavors. 

I dared to followthrough and taste the wine. I'm glad I did. I've had much more acidic wines (see: Sauvignon Blanc or Fume Blanc reviews) but the Concannon held a smooth and stable, medium-bodied acidity. It wasn't too much, too little, it was just right. And the heat - that throat burning sensation I love - was solid all the way down. A balanced portion of alcohol vs. sugars, less drastic than the Adrian and Heidi nose parallels. 

There was a distinct buttery aftertaste - which I was afraid of - it was rich, full-flavored and creamy... And I liked it. But it was still a Chardonnay... It's an anomaly. 

Score: 7.