Tasting Notes: JavaMonkey Thursday Wine Series -- Blends

Last Thursday's wine tasting focused on blends of different grapes. I tend to like blends because they show the winemaker's creativity and style. It's like some magical alchemy, wherein the different grapes somehow keep their characteristics and become something more. Here are the wines:

2008 Côté Est, (Côtes Catalanes, Fr):
60% Grenache Blanc and Gris, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Marsanne
This one has a very floral nose that carried to the roof of my mouth on the first sip. It also had Meyer lemon, acidic but not harsh. Of note, it's imported by Eric Solomon. I had a chance to sip on this one for an hour while I waited for Hubby to arrive and was pleased that the floral and lemon smoothed out.
Rating: Very Good

2007 Kamiak Cellar Select White (Columbia Valley, WA):
60% Chardonnay, 35% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Late Harvest Gewurztraminer
Mineral lime nose, but this "dense" wine (as Hubby called it) had flavors of caramelized sugar and melon. It was almost a dessert wine, but just as easily could pair with spicy food.
Rating: Very Good

2005 Tenuta Rapitalà Nuhar (Sicilia, It):
78% Nero d'Avola, 22% Pinot Nero
The nose, which promised dark cherry, teased because it fell flat on the palate. There was some spice and a bit of fruit on the edges. I heard comments that it tasted much better with cheese. The web site is funny for its tropical backgrounds and pictures of a serious-looking guy in a linen suit.
Rating: Good

2006 Château Saint-Sulpice (Bordeaux, Fr):
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc
The nose on this one had a little funky earthiness over the fruit, which had sharp acidity and currant/berry flavors.
Rating: Good

2007 La Posta Cocina Blend (Mendoza, Argentina):
60% Malbec, 20% Bonarda, and 20% Syrah
Blackberry nose, and the wine itself is a fruit bomb (but in a good way) with blackberry and blueberry. Very smooth and drinkable, this one was the favorite of the evening.
Rating: Very Good to Excellent

2008 Luzón (Jumilla, Spain):
70% Monastrell, 30% Syrah
Synthetic vanilla nose, big with dark fruit, cedar, butterscotch, and licorice.
Rating: Good