I need your help if you will.

 I am finding that I find it difficult to get to my own blog on my cell phones or computer using a search engine. I would really appreciate some of you telling me how you access my blog.  You should be able to reply here.  Thank you in advance!     PB of the Winecaskblog

Quivira Zinfandel 2017 (Sonoma Dry Creek)

 

Aubergine hue with aromas of perfumy, rose petal, lovely Zin bouquet with spicy sweetness on the edge.

Palate--*On opening--Silky, slightly tart, watery, thin texture, with austere fruit that is tightly wound. 

*After 90 minutes of breathing it is a delicious Zin with cranberry juice and a nice strawberry beam finishing with gentle black pepper at the very end... 

*This wine has been open for only a couple minutes and needs to BREATH!  I am confident it will be a totally different wine when it has been given some time! And I was right.  This is found at the $25 price point which is a bit hefty for the wine but it's a nice Zin and a nice gift from a friend. Raise a glass.

Stone Castle Vineyards Merlot 2018 *Updated review

Ruby hue with slight bricking on the rim.  Aromas of summer strawberry, sweet spring flowers, beautiful candided, cherries and a brief hint of mint right on opening.

*Palate--Tart first impression, with subdued fruit all around, one dimensional, flat mid palate.

Well, this happens and it is disappointing when it does.  The bouquet of this wine is quite enticing but unfortunately, sometimes a wine seems to give everything it had to the bouquet and leaves the palate high and dry. It is possible that it will open up and improve with breathing but I am not optimistic.

This wine is from Kosovo which is why I bought it.  You just don't see many wines from this part of the world. It has been aged for a year in French oak but it didn't help this wine at this point. With the slight bricking at this relatively young age, any contribution from the oak has been lost.  

*I will update this when has had time to breath.

        After giving it a day, even before we were done with dinner the previous night the wine was better as a "food" wine.  Tasting it about 20 hours later, this wine reminds me of a Tuscan Sangiovese.

The wine is still rather acidic but it works with the right pairing. I just took a taste with a piece of aged Gouda and it works really well.  So for a country that isn't known for its export wine industry, for the price of around $8 I would recommend giving it a try. It is at least a different wine experience.  Raise a glass!

Les Sommets Liés Corbieres 2020

 

Eggplant hue with aromas of bright red apple with bright cherries, with a lovely sweet floral suggestion of lilacs. 

Palate--"*Sweet" first impression with spicy, delicious red fruits, a well done structure, lip smacking acidity and a pleasant but quick finish.

The Languedoc-Rousillion region is one of the best wine values in France. The wines are fruity, well balanced, have character and gives you a big bang for the buck!

I think I paid about $12 (if that) for this really beautiful bargain so raise a glass!

*In this case "Sweet" does not mean sweet. I emphasize this because many do not like "sweet" wines but a truly sweet wine means it has residual sugar which has not been converted to alcohol. This is a well made quaff from Southern France 

Casa Santos Lima "Confidencial" Tinto Reserva 2018

 

Pretty Garnet hue with aromas of cherry, sweet cherry hard candies above the rim, gentle sweet spices. (Needs to breath)

Palate--Lovely first impression with a nice balanced acidic foundation which catapults the brimming flavors of ripe raspberry and cherry filling the mouth. Finishes quickly but again, breathing may enhance this.

This is one of those "buy more now" kinds of value wines that are much better than their price tag (under $10)

This will only get better with some air time so open it, breathe it, and raise a glass! 

 (check previous review of same wine from a couple months ago.)

Rough and Ready Wine Productions Petite Sirah vs. Petite Verdot (Lodi) 2021

Youthful dark purple hue with aromas of bold blackberries with a blueberry hint and sweet hard candies with a grapey/cherry edge at the end.

Palate--Nice bold mouthfeel, big blackberry flavors which seem to end quickly but that could be my convalescing palate post covid. 

Petite Sirah, not to be confused with Syrah, is a very dark, very big fruity grape which is often used as a blending grape but also stands on its own when done in balance. Petite Verdot is classic blending grape of Bordeaux and imparts an intense, deep blackish-purple hue. There has been some "trials" in the past few years by wineries putting Petite Verdot as a varietal meaning bottling it on its own merits. It hasn't caught on (yet) but can be an interesting quaff.  

I think I paid about $8 for this youngster and for the price it is ok if you like the big, bold fruit bomb kinds of wine which I do when paired properly.  This one will be going with our home-made italian sausage soup and it will be just fine so raise a glass! 

Post covid update

 Drinking wine without thought or discrimination can be done and at time should be done. Just "enjoy" what you're drinking and if you're not enjoying it, dump it!  "Life is too short to drink bad wine." 

So my smeller/taster is recovering but it has a ways to go yet. Thanks for your loyal patience! Raise a glass!

Postponement of reviews due to Covid...

 As many of you know I am sure that one of the symptoms of Covid is a loss of smell/taste. Alas--My smeller is out of commission. For some people they regain their senses of smell and taste in a few days, for others it may be several months. Hopefully mine will be short lived. 

Until then--raise a glass!

Castle Rock Pinot Noir (Mendocino) 2020

 

Very pretty light crystalline ruby hue resembling a gorgeously polished gem stone.  Aromas of unique subtle milk chocolate with a definite citrus (grapefruit) on the edges, with a raspberry/strawberry beam.

Palate--Structured elegantly with a balanced presentation of the aromas, now to the tongue. It is juicy, with a stately palate not normally found in this level of wine. This is not your average Pinot and I believe will yield more when it breathes. Finishes quickly for now... Raise a glass!

Montes limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere 2017 (sorry bottle label will not paste in)

Black cherry hue with aromas that re green et the rim, with sweeter berries pushing the green aside.

Palate--Bright red berries with start structure, tar, hint of espresso at the back and nice fruit through out with that green edge and a touch of burnt wood. 

Montes is a notable Chilean vintner with solid production of Cabernets.  This one is a blend with 30% Carmenere fruit from the Colchagua Valley.

This is a tasty creation form Montes and the blend is well done!  I paid around $12 for it and it will pair well with our BBQ'd chicken on the grill so raise a glass! 

La Zorra La Moza Rufete 2015

 

Rusty garnet hue is just starting to show some aging. Plum with ripe red berry and blackberry notes with gentle spices.

Palate--Rather flat first impression, with a soury/tart front palate, lip smacking dry as dust tannins, and super quick finish.

This is not a great Spanish wine.   I paid around $6 for this closeout wine and it needs to be closed out! 

Pass this one by!

Easton Zinfandel (Amador County) 2016

Lighter garnet hue with nice aromas of ruby red grapefruit, perfumey violet, sweet and tart pie cherry hint.

Palate-- Lovely first impression with a nice tartness and integrated flavors of luscious red berries, cherry cream, with a finish that lingers and leaves a nice "drink me more" ending. This is a distinctive Zin with the characteristic of giving one a fresh "first impression."

This was a present from a friend--a fellow oenophile-- who knows my love of Zinfandel and is much appreciated.

Around $20, this is nice treat so raise a glass!