Champane's Wine Cellars

FIRST HAND WINE TASTING NOTES FROM THE EXPERTS AT……

CHAMPANE’S WINE CELLARS

     The ultimate and premium wine tasting.  Could you imagine being at a tasting that poured Antinori, Cakebread, Darioush, Etude, Groth, Hartwell, Kistler, Long Shadow, Mount Eden, Penfolds, Sassicaia, Shafer, Showket, Soter, Spottswoode and more.  We at Champane’s Wine Cellars were there and wow!!  What a tasting it was.

     The second best thing to being at the tasting, is to read our wine tasting notes.  And be prepared to make your decisions and puchases for your pleasure for the coming holiday season.  Not only will Champane’s offer information you desire, it will also offer the BEST SELECTIONS and BEST PRICES….EVER!

Here we go……

NICOLAS FEUILLATTE CHAMPAGNE BRUT (FRANCE) 

This champagne unites, fruit, power and balance.  Golden appearance with aromas of grilled hazelnut, green apple and fig.  Fruity and dry.

CAKEBREAD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2005
(NAPA)Barrel-fermentation aged 2 ½ years in old French oak, for an average of four months.  Mild herbal notes with an intense fruity character on the finish.

MOUNT EDEN CHARDONNAY 2004 
For the serious chardonnay drinker- a full bodied chardonnay.  Underlying acidity and a long finish with hints of cardamon anise, hazelnut and lemon-mineral flavors.

TALBOTT SLEEPY HALLOW CHARDONNAY 2002 
Medium straw color, balanced citrus, pineapple and creamy toast of French oak.  Full on the palate with great concentration and grip.

ETUDE HEIRLOOM PINOT NOIR 
Vibrant aromas of raspberry, currant and cola, with layers of black cherry, plum, tea rose.  A silky tannis finish and undertones of smoke.

SOTER PINOT NOIR NORTH 2004 
Expressive on the nose with fresh cherries, spicy black fruit, cranberries and wild strawberries.  A succulent and persistent finish.

BENTON-LANE PINOT NOIR 2002 
 Deep garnet color with intense aromas of black cherries, blackberries and plums, a hint of vanilla and spice.  Major concentration and a long blackberry jam finish, a hint of clove.

SHAFER MERLOT 2003 
Huge sweet, more of smoke, black currants, plums and cherries.  Muscular and powerful.

HARTWELL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2002 STAGS LEAP 
 Deep ripe and complex, with intense aromas of blackberries, currants and cassis, soft tannins and flavors of very ripe berries and black cherries.  A good combination of French oak and layers of spice, jammy fruit.

SASSICAIA 2003 (ITALY) 
On the outskirts of Tuscany, this wine is made up of cabernet, all hand picked.  A huge complexity with great longevity, massive and intense blackberry, cassis, notes of smoke and spice with a lush firm ripe tannis finish. (one of my personal favorites)

PENFOLDS GRANGE 2001 BAROSSA VALLEY
 Extremely powerful and fully ripe! On the palate a full, concentrated and complex rum/raisin, dark chocolate, licorice and dried fruit notes great balance and a demanding finish.

PENFOLDS MAGILL SHIRAZ 2003
So you like shiraz, try the best!  Deep dark black cherry, medium bodied layered with chocolate and coffee grind flavors, mixed with plums.  Tannis are balanced and powerful.

MARCHESE ANTINORI (ITALY) (Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon)
 Estate grown, and fermented in French oak, ripe flavors of dark cherries and a medium finish, complex with a long finish.

SHOWKET ASANTE SANA 2003 (CALIF)
 Famous winemaker Heidi Barrett, was able to blend sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon.  A combination of strawberry and cranberries, layered with ripe berries and a cherry character, a smooth silky balance and lush finish.

SEQUEL SYRAH 2003 (COLUMBIA VALLEY)
 One of my favorites!  Limited production.  Inky with dark black fruit.  Seductive and elegant.  A mouth a full blackberries, black cherry and a long stylish finish.

KATHRYN KENNEDY LATERAL 2003 (CALIF)
 Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot).  This wine was inspired as a Bordeaux style model.  A huge in your face, of blackberries, cherries, mild smoke and a  delicious complex silky long finish.

DARIOUSH SHIRAZ 2002 (CALIF) 
 Heavy blackberry, pomegranate, expresso and hints of spice and pepper, clove and smoke.  Powerful silky tannins and a long finish.

DARIOUSH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003 (CALIF)

Aromas of wild berries and flavors of crème cassis, espresso, bittersweet chocolate.  The palate will experience ceder-spice, sweet vanillin and a velvety super finish.

GROTH CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003 (OAKVILLE)
 Rich full flavors of black fruit and cherries, on the palate, lush dark berries and a subtle tannin backbone that pulls on the complexity and long finish.

FIRST HAND WINE TASTING NOTES FROM THE WINE EXPERTS AT CHAMPANE’S

WINE MAKER SCOTT HARVEY – IN TOWN

     Champane’s Wine Cellars and Winemaker Scott Harvey got together to taste a number of Scott’s wines.  Including a new varital that will be introduced this fall.  Scott Harvey was one of the judges from the 29^th State of Michigan Wine Competition, held in East Lansing.  After the competition, Scott was in Warren, among a special group of wine experts and friends tasting his wines.  The following tasting notes are our personal and unbiased opinions.  Any customers purchasing Scott Harvey’s wines at Champane’s will find this information useful and interesting.

SCOTT HARVEY ZINFANDEL 2003 (AMADOR COUNTY, CA)      (98 pts. & double gold, 06 California Wine Competition)  Intense spicy, with blueberries and sweet vanilla, cherry, chocolate and blackberries.  Scott harvested from old vines that add complexity and what he considers first growth.  

SCOTT HARVEY SYRAH 2004 (AMADOR COUNTY, CA)      A fruit forward and rich style with great backbone.  Bright blueberries on back palate, soft feel with a long easy finish.