Taltarni Sparkling Brut Tache ($22)

Rating: ♠ ♠ ♠

To be honest, we have to admit that we’ve never been a big fan of the sparkling wines. They can give us a bit of a tummy ache if we drink more than a little. So when we were prompted to try Tasmania’s Taltarni Sparkling Brut Tache (no vintage) by a Loyal Vino we had our doubts. Boy, were we pleasantly surprised by this slightly pinkish bubbly.

“Tache,” according to the tasting notes, is French for “stained,” and refers to the wine’s above-mentioned pinkish color. I frankly expected it to taste like a cheap, sweet American “Cold Duck.” No way. This Tasmanian Devil, a blend of Chard, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and a dash of Malbec, is bone freakin’ dry, like a fine brut from Champagne.

We likey.  

2005 Tamas Estates Barbera ($14)

Rating: ♠ ♠ ♠

Came across this delightful little Barbera on a suggestion from a Visiting Vino. He’s a resident of the Livermore, California, area, an up-and-coming wine region. Until recently, Livermore was best known as the home of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, where mad scientists designed atom bombs in government secrecy. The relatively new Livermore American Viticultural Area (AVA) has given the area a somewhat more wholesome reputation.

Tamas Estates has been around since 1984 and has ridden the California wine Renaissance, creating Italy-inspired wines with a California feel.

The 2005 Barbera does not disappoint. It is a classic Barbera with a difference. Like an Italian Barbera has a hearty look and feel. Like a California wine, the 2005 is crisp and slightly oaky and a tad on the fruity side, with cherry and pomegranate flavors and just a touch of vanilla. It has a nice, long finish.

This would be a nice every-day lunch or supper wine with pastas, pork, or lamb chops. If you’d like to try it, click on the label below. And by the way, it’s only $10 if you buy it here.

Gold Hill Vineyard 2004 Zinfandel
$20
Rating: ♠ ♠ ♠ 1/2

Couple weeks ago I took you through my trip up through California’s “Zin Dorado” — the vine-laden strip of foothills along the state’s Highway 49, which abuts the mighty Sierra Nevadas.

Earlier this week I opened one of the wines I had tasted (and purchased), Gold Hill’s 2004 Zin. I’d been over at my lady-friend’s house and we were making spaghetti in meat sauce. We opened the zin and the first thing that hit us right out of the bottle was the strong black-fruit nose with its hint of spice. The first hit on the palate was berries and jam quickly followed by a strong black pepper middle that lingered long into the finish. It was perfect with our mild-spicy pasta.

Here’s the rub: next morning, even though we’d both brushed our teeth, I could taste those blackberries in my girl’s goodbye kiss.

Yowza, that! 

—Michael Mattis, Proprietor

Faiveley Burgundy Pinot Noir

$20

Rating: ♠ ♠ ♠

We finally got around to trying the 2004 Faiveley Burgundy — excuse me, Bourgogne — Pinot Noir and were not disappointed. We had a moment of panic at first, as the cork was dry and broke in half when we pulled it. But it was a false alarm: The wine had not turned and, indeed, seemed quite well preserved.

After letting ‘er breath for a good hour, we poured and she opened up beautifully. The Faiveley has a pleasant but not overbearing nose of cherry and dried blackcurrant. Its elegant, full structure bespeaks its Burgundian roots and the high quality of the Faiveley terriors.

A wine that would go superbly with flank steak, pork, lamb or pheasant — or with just a baguette and some brie — it took me back to the bistros and cafés of Montmartre. Ah, to be in Paris.

For the price, the 2004 Faiveley Pinot is an excellent choice. Good job, Vendome.

Buy this Wine from Wine.com:

Faiveley 2004 Bourgogne Pinot Noir - Red Wine

2004 Monterra Chardonnay

$10

Rating: ♠ ♠ ½

On my way home tonight I dropped by Vendome, friendliest wine shop in The Valley, to pick up a bottle for a special tasting at the office tomorrow. Okay, technically it’s a meeting and not a tasting, but we’ll be discussing Vinapedia, and how could I not serve wine? (For the record, my day job is at Yahoo! Search Marketing.) For the meeting I chose a Burgundy in honor of one of the meeting goers, who comes to our team from France.

But more on the Burgundy after I’ve tried it, tomorrow.

I also picked up a cheap Chard to enjoy with my chow mein and eggroll dinner. This being Vendome, I reckoned that, no matter how little I spent, I’d probably be satisfied: I was.

While the dryish 2004 Monterra Chardonnay doesn’t exactly come at you with a whole lot up front (a little pear, maybe) it offers a nice bit of nut and oak on the mid-palate and a little citrus on the finish. Not bad for ten bucks and certainly a good wine for a little Chinese food.