Boeger Winery Real Deal Red

The real deal. We hear that a lot about things that are too good to believe. No doubt that Michael Phelps is the “real deal.” The Arizona Cardinals will have to prove this year if they are the “real deal” and that last year’s Super Bowl appearance was not a fluke. Was Soft Cell the “real deal” with their 1982 hit “Tainted Love?” Not so much, although who can resist singing along? Well, when I saw a bottle of wine with a masking tape label that read “Real Deal Red,” I had to buy it just to see if Phelps or Soft Cell would come pouring out into my glass!

Real Deal Red from Boeger Winery sports one of their famous masking tape labels. It is a very understated package for a very special wine. It is a beautiful blend of 55% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon…so it is no surprise to find that the wine is very balanced. I love the taste of red berries, subtle oak with a very soft finish. It is an awesome Rhone blend and would lend itself well to sipping outside on a lazy fall afternoon with friends, or paired with some boeuf bourguignon and crusty bread.

Considering that this wine also won “Best of Class,” and a Gold medal at the El Dorado County Fair – and it’s priced at $12 – it should be a must-have for your cellar!

—Russell Reyes
Russell is a local wine enthusiast and freelance writer whose focus is Foothill wines.

Mollydooker 2007 The Maitre D’

Could a person named “Sparky” be a phenom in wine today? He certainly can if his name is Sparky Marquis of Mollydooker Wines. Sparky and wife Sara are two of the most decorated/celebrated winemakers in the “New World,” if not the whole world. Within the last five years their wines have received five 99-point ratings from Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. For those not too familiar with these critics, that’s a resounding “Wow!”

Mollydooker’s 2007 The Maitre D’ is a Cabernet Sauvignon unlike any of its California Cabernet counterparts. The intensely purple color is the first indication that the wine will deliver. Stick your nose in the glass and get a whiff of black currants, blackberries and licorice – all pretty “black.” This also supports the saying “what you smell is what you get.” At first sip, you’ll savor the plush, full-bodied texture of the fruit flavors in your mouth – blackberry, blueberry, and black cherry. There are also slightly toasted oak and mocha characteristics in the finish. Priced under $25, The Maitre D’ is so richly crafted that you’ll delight in it for another six years or better.

—Julie Moreland
Julie is the owner and Wine Psychic of Un-cork’d

Man Vintners 2008 Chenin Blanc

It is estimated that Chenin Blanc originated in South Africa sometime between 1655 and 1685, and was most likely the first grape grown there. Called “Steen” in South Africa, the variety was not recognized as being the same as Chenin Blanc until 1965. Steen is the most widely planted grape in South Africa.

Man Vintners’ 2008 Chenin Blanc (Steen) is a shining example of the winemakers’ talents. Man Vintners is located in Stellenbosch, about a 30-minute drive east from Cape Town. Their name “Man” is a combination of the three partner’s wives: Marie, Anette and Nicky. The grapes come from un-irrigated, un-trellised bush vines over 15 years old. Only free-run juice was used to make this 13.5% alcohol wine, which has a refreshing acidity and a mineral quality with lovely fruit tones, making it a wonderful food wine that goes well with all poultry, fish, salads and cheese. And, it’s a perfect aperitif and sipping wine in warmer weather.

—Rick Mindermann
Rick is a 30-year veteran grocer with Corti Brothers in Sacramento, personal assistant to Darrell Corti, and “The Good Taste Guy” for oodleboxtv.com.