From our recent trip to Florida:

2005 Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc (14% ABV)
nose: delicate, floral, minerals
palate: light boodied, no overt oak, crisp, apples

Very refreshing and surprising. My sister-in-law got it because it got
an 88 from the Spec, so I was expecting something bigger and oakier.
Nothing to cause loss of sleep in Alsace, but easily as good as most
Oregon Pinot Blancs.

2003 St. Francis Magnificat (CS/Merlot/Malbec/Petit Verdot)
n: pencil lead, berries, dusty
p: medium-full body, fine-grained tannins, rich fruit, cocoa, a hint of
something herbal, good balance

Another pleasant surprise. This wine was purchased because my
father-in-law loves Clos du Bois Marlstone, which is now priced out of
his range, and this sounded like a similar Bordelaise blend... and
because my mother-in-law is a member of a lay Franciscan order and loved
the name. In fact, it took me back to what California Cabernets used to
taste like in the late-'70s and '80s and was (again) surprisingly
restrained with the new oak. Only after an hour or two did the oak come
forward as a taste of butterscotch in the finish, but it still wasn't at
all obtrusive.

2003 Storybook Mountain Mayacamas Range ($30)
n: juicy berry fruit, black pepper
p: medium body, rich berry fruit, somewhat soft

A straightforward but enjoyable Zin, less structured than is typical for
Storybook Mountain. A crowd pleaser with my in-laws.

2005 Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc (50% Viognier/25% Roussanne/25% Marsanne)
n: white pepper, stone fruit, minerals
p: medium body, stone fruit, fresh acidity, no oak

Purchased by my father-in-law on the recommendation of a reliable local
retailer and opened out of curiosity. Had I tasted this blind, I would
have guessed Grüner Veltliner, though this wine didn't have that green
character that I normally find in GV. Quite nice, though hard to peg as
CdR and a bit pricey at $18.

Mark Lipton

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

Mark Lipton wrote:

> 2003 St. Francis Magnificat (CS/Merlot/Malbec/Petit Verdot)

Do you think this is perhaps Franciscan Magnificat? Magnificat
has long been one of my favorite Bordeaux blends from Napa Valley;
I tend to suspect that St. Francis has never made a blend by
the same name :-)

Dana

Dana Myers wrote:
> Mark Lipton wrote:
>
>> 2003 St. Francis Magnificat (CS/Merlot/Malbec/Petit Verdot)
>
> Do you think this is perhaps Franciscan Magnificat? Magnificat
> has long been one of my favorite Bordeaux blends from Napa Valley;
> I tend to suspect that St. Francis has never made a blend by
> the same name :-)

Absolutely right. My bad!

Thanks for the correction, Dana.

Mark Lipton
--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

Mark Lipton wrote:
> Dana Myers wrote:
>> Mark Lipton wrote:
>>
>>> 2003 St. Francis Magnificat (CS/Merlot/Malbec/Petit Verdot)
>> Do you think this is perhaps Franciscan Magnificat? Magnificat
>> has long been one of my favorite Bordeaux blends from Napa Valley;
>> I tend to suspect that St. Francis has never made a blend by
>> the same name :-)
>
> Absolutely right. My bad!
>
> Thanks for the correction, Dana.

T'was nothing ;-) Magnificat is often found at Costco
at a very decent price, and it's one of the wines I suggest
to people when they ask "what should I take to <a dinner party>?".
It's very consistent and pleases people across a range of wine
experience.

Dana

On Oct 12, 1:05�pm, Dana Myers > wrote:
> Mark Lipton wrote:
> > Dana Myers wrote:
> >> Mark Lipton wrote:
>
> >>> 2003 St. Francis Magnificat (CS/Merlot/Malbec/Petit Verdot)
> >> Do you think this is perhaps Franciscan Magnificat? Magnificat
> >> has long been one of my favorite Bordeaux blends from Napa Valley;
> >> I tend to suspect that St. Francis has never made a blend by
> >> the same name :-)
>
> > Absolutely right. *My bad!
>
> > Thanks for the correction, Dana.
>
> T'was nothing ;-) *Magnificat is often found at Costco
> at a very decent price, and it's one of the wines I suggest
> to people when they ask "what should I take to <a dinner party>?".
> It's very consistent and pleases people across a range of wine
> experience.
>
> Dana

thanks to both of you for notes/opinions. I got a bottle of the '03
for a gift last week, now I look forward to it!