Jacobs Creek Shiraz Reserve 2003 wine review by (PB)

This dark red to purple Aussie varietal with a crimson rim has a nose of pork fat, blackberries, eucalyptus. On the palate it has a blast of spice which tastes like eucalyptus, mint, and cinnamon like the “red hot” candies all rolled into one. It is quite “hot” (meaning harsh) though on opening.

With some breathing–give it a good 1-2 hours–vanilla comes out in the rear and the harshness tones way down to yield a full flavored, heavy but tasty wine that is robust and bold. This wine was given a Wine Spectator rating of 91 points and yet it cost only $11 and seems to be broadly available.

This is worth hunting down. Remember to taste your wines right on opening even if you’re going to breathe them. Sometimes a layer or two comes and goes and you just might miss it if you don’t.

Serve up something with backbone to go with it and raise a glass.

Beringer Chenin Blanc 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Pale yellow color
Fresh citrus nose
Crisp and acidic on the palate
Clean finish, some melon notes

Good value white wines are nice to have on hand during the summer months. I am very impressed with the quality of this wine for a mere $6; it's an extremely good value. We chilled it to refrigerator temperature and the bottle was emptied within minutes of popping the cork. It tasted great on a hot summer afternoon just before dinner. Raise a glass!

Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Rich bouquet of berries and vanilla aromas on the nose
Smooth and round core
Moderately long finish, floral and fruity

Smooth texture and nice fruit make this wine pleasant to drink. If you've explored Malbecs and are looking for other red wines from Argentina, look at Tempranillos like this. This one is approximately $20. Raise a glass!

Hedges Three Vineyards 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Ripe, fruity nose of berries
Moderately dense core and fleshy on the palate
Medium length finish, young and fresh

I was impressed to see this on the "wines by the glass" list at a local restaurant, but I had to pay $13 for the privilege. It was served in a nice glass at just below room temperature, which is always a bonus. Too often, ordering wine by the glass ends in disappointment.

This wine is the flagship red from Hedges Cellars, a Washington state winery. It has a nice dense core, good fruit, and could probably cellar well if you're patient. I've enjoyed other Hedges wines, too, and recommend that you check them out if you haven't already. Raise a glass!

Domaine La Due Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Real Time Wine Review (NW)

Beautiful dark color
Explosive nose of blackberry, raspberry, and cedar
Firm structure, dense core, herbal
Long finish, moderately chewy tannins, notes of cocoa and vanilla

I am really enjoying this wine. It is such a classic Cabernet Sauvignon. I mean classic!. It has every element of a great Cab and could probably cellar well, too.

We are about to pair it with two kinds of rich, homemade pasta. I'm sure it will do extremely well... Yes, not only a classic Cab, but food worthy as well.

This wine is a very small production from a family-run winery in the Oakville district of Napa Valley. Six months ago, my wife and I stumbled upon it at a wine tasting at Freeport Wine & Cheese in Freeport, Maine. Of all the wines present, this was the best and we left with a bottle. I thought about putting it in the cellar for a few years but felt it was important to enjoy a full bottle at home together before we bet on it in the cellar. Hopefully I can track it down again and grab a couple more to tuck away. Some of these small production Napa Valley wines that fly under the radar are just terrific; well made and well priced. I paid $33 for this, but it would stand up against many Oakville wines two or three times the price. Raise a glass!

Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay 2004 wine review by (PB)

I’m in Denver for a conference and I check in at the Cheese Cake Factory for a bite to eat. Kade is my server and he wins you over immediately with a winsome, yet sincere smile. (The service industry is in woeful short supply of people with personality and talent–this young man was refreshing change!)

I ordered the pork tenderloin with maple honey glaze and this wine but FIRST– I ask Kade about when the wine might have been opened, how long it has been sitting out etc. The wine was $11 by the glass so, as I explained, I would like to know under what conditions my $11 glass of wine has been handled. Kade–astute and personable gives a brief explanation of their high turnover and wines being dumped out at night rather than kept for the next day. But what separates brilliance from the rest, he says, “Let me get you a taste and you can decide...”

He brings back a sample of what I would be paying for and it tasted fresh, and actually slightly chilled. I proceeded with my intention.

This wine is from the Russian River and has nice tones of cream and fruity citrus. It is lively on the tongue with floral flavors that are hard to describe. This is a well made wine with a nice acid base and a finish of pineapple. I guess this wine to run around $24 a bottle based on the per glass charge and the routine minimal 100% mark up of restaurant wines. An internet search shows it to cost any where from $18 - $22 a bottle normal retail.

I liked it a lot and it was fine with my slightly overcooked pork tenderloin.

It turns out that Kade is a budding enophile and we engaged in enophilic banter as the tables filled around us. The pour of this wine was more generous than most restaurants–nice–and the glass was a tad better than the routine five pound-quasi wine glass–used at most restaurants.

Between Kade’s brilliant service and this fine wine, my solo dinner was most enjoyable!

So here’s to Kade and his affection for Gewurztraminer–raise a glass my friend!

High Altitude Malbec 2004 Wine review by (PB)

Well, I’ve been out of town for a few days so I apologize for the hiatus of reviews.

I returned to a BBQ chicken dinner so I grabbed this wine as it was previously untasted by me and my beloved.

This Argentinian red is grown at high altitudes just like the name says allowing warm sunny days and cool nights to work their magic on the fruit of the vine.

This wine is a youthful red/purple in color on the pour with a gentle bouquet but a deep nose of dried cherries and fresh fruit. It is definitely “hot” on opening with subdued flavors but twenty minutes of air as well as a chill down in the fridge–my ambient cellar is up to around 72 in these warm spots of the day–does this wine well.

It went well with out BBQ’s chicken, macaroni and cheese and a delightful reunion of lovers after being gone four days to a conference.

For the $8 this wine cost, it is a decent buy and a good wine. So, raise a glass to warm nights and hot love!

“Brouilly” Beaujolais Cru 2003 wine review by (PB)

First, a primer on Beaujolais--
Beaujolais is a region in France where the soil is granitic and the wine is made from the Gamay grape. Gamay is a grape that yields basically, straight forward, uncomplicated wines which are meant to be drunk early (meaning age of the wine not the time of
day …)

(Beaujolais Nouveau is a class all by itself and for more information on this annual celebration, see the post on this site about Nouveau wine.)

Beaujolais wines have various designations on their label which, correlates fairly well to their level of quality and price as a rule of thumb.

The first level, and generally least costly and least complex, have wines labeled simply “Beaujolais.” These are wines made from grapes (Gamay) gathered from all over the region. These tend to run about $6 a bottle.

The second level would say “Beaujolais Villages” on the label and would cost a little more. ($8 a bottle) These wines are made from Gamay grapes gathered within the selected regions of the “Villages” hence tend toward a more uniform and higher quality.

The best Beaujolais are the “Cru” which means “growth” of which there are ten “Cru.” They are: Brouilly, Côte-de-Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Saint Amour, and Régnié.

These are wines which have a decent tannic foundation, tend to be quite fruity and acidic and can even show some complexity and can hold their age, depending on the vintage, as long as 5 years, sometimes even longer. They usually run around $12-$18 a bottle.

It is has been many years since I had a Beaujolais Cru wine.
The Review--
This one is fairly dark in the glass with a bouquet of cherries and strawberries and reminds me of the Grenache grape as well. In the mouth it is light bodied, and first impression is of candy which quickly leaves showing its tannic base which is considerable. It is also fairly acidic but well balanced with gentle hints of fruit more complex than say, Beaujolais Nouveau.

The bottle went quickly and paired well with my homemade seafood ravioli which I made for my best babe’s birthday. Now I wonder why I have stayed away from these wines so long. Put a slight chill on these wines and be prepared to drink more than what you normally might due to the fresh and light and easy quaffability of these wines. I paid $13 for this wine which was a fine value.

So raise a glass and enjoy!

Good New Zealand Wine Article

Not looking for a review? Check out this article on New Zealand Wine. HERE

Chateau La Baume 2004 wine review by (PB)

This Rhone wine comes from the appellation called Costieres De Nimes, an area known for its soil comprised of nice round pebbles. When I first swirled this on after pouring I said, “Grenache,” “Syrah” and “something?” Sure enough this blend form the southern east bottom of France is made from 25% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the “something” I couldn’t tag was Carignane which is half the wine’s volume.

It has a “Grenache” nose of light fruit and a hint of strawberries which reminds me of the Gamay grape. It is quite dry, straightforward and pleasantly fruity. Like so many of the wines of the Languedoc-Rousillon, this is well made and a solid value. I found it at the Freeport Wine and Cheese Shop in Freeport, Maine.

This would be a fine wine to put a bit of a chill on, throw it in a basket with some fresh bread and a lump of good cheese; find a nice scenic spot, throw down a blanket and revel in life. Raise a glass!

Carmen Carmenere 2003 wine review by (PB)

This Chilean red from the Rapel Valley is dark and inky in color looking more like a Shiraz than a Carmenere (pronounced--Kar-men-YAIR) but on the pour it is gargantuan with blackberry and eucalyptus aromas all laying on a deep bed of green herbal leaves.

In the mouth it is better than I would have predicted by the bouquet with a touch of vanilla and strong eucalyptus flavors again -–almost too much but somewhat intriguing. This wine is tightly wound with a good foundation of tannins but too firm at the moment and it is a bit "hot" (meaning, alcoholic). Note--the purpose of breathing a red wine is that often times, allowing the wine to be exposed to air for a half hour or so will cause these strong harsh tendencies to mellow out; but not always...

With some air, the tannins relax and this wine is all eucalyptus and blackberries–if this is terroir, this wine would be readily identifiable by even an amateur. It is distinctive but the eucalyptus is just too much! Still, I have to say, I kind of liked it! Raise a glass.

Canella Prosecco Di Conegliano N.V. Wine review by (PB)

This sparkler is a nice find at $11. This Wine Enthusiast “Best Buy” was given 89 points and it earns it. This Italian delight is very light in color with a subtle lemon and cream nose. It is well made with a perfect balance of dry and sweet but very subtle and nice all the way around. I am not a huge fan of any sparkling wines–go figure, but this one has my attention and I loved it.

Shoot, even Matt Kramer of the Wine Spectator was enticed to move to Venice in 2003 just because of a Prosecco that was served to him one afternoon at a lovely osteria; and he could hardly stand Prosecco!

Chill this baby well and sit back and quaff it with a good book, a gentle breeze, and the love of your life at your side. Doesn’t get much better! Raise a glass.

Domaine De La Batardiere 2004 wine review by (PB)

This wine made from the Muscadet grape, is also known as Melon de Bourgogne.
These wines come from the southern region of the Loire Valley and this one’s label tells us which of the three appellations (or regions) this one comes from. “Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie” named for two rivers in the area. Unlike most French nomenclature, the region is named after the grape “Muscadet” rather than a town or some such thing as is the norm. It is a widely planted grape with over 32,000acres yielding around 17 million gallons per year.

The other two regions or appellations are Muscadet Coteaux de Loire and Muscadet Cotes de Grandlieu.

This wine cost me $7.50 which was a great surprise after tasting it. It is light straw in color with a gentle yet definite bouquet that is sweet full of summer fruit. The nose is baffling in a good way. It is at first full of lime and lemon but then no, maybe grapefruit(?) er, uh, no it’s peach. It smells like none of them and then again all of them. Maybe it’s “stone fruit!” (Kidding—I wouldn’t know a stone fruit if someone threw one at me.) Like I said, baffling but very nice!

In the mouth this is just plain wonderful; simple and yet not at all sweet as the bouquet would lead you to believe. It is marvelously acidic which makes it fresh and great with food. (We had it with King crab leg appetizers and bruschetta on our porch enjoying the Summer warmth. Ahhhhhh…)

In a moment later, the mid palate is brimming with—I kid you not—peanuts! It’s wild and I love it! The finish is tight but pleasant. Viva La French wine! This one makes my recommendation list! Chill it a bit and then raise a glass!

Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Berries on the nose
Medium-weight and fruity on the palate
Herbal finish, somewhat faint and dull

I like when Cabernet Sauvignon is big and dense, and this one isn't quite there. However, it's still drinkable and pairs well with hearty food. I had a glass recently at Ben Benson's steakhouse in NYC and paid $11. I've seen the wine sell for around $17 in stores. Raise a glass!

What do YOU think?

Help us Out! When you happen to take one of our recommendations, let us know what you thought of the wine! And if you have had any of the wines that you find reviewed, let us know what YOU thought. Just click on the comments link below!
Thanks, (PB)

Wine Terms confusing? (PB)

This review contains an explanation of terms since it has been a while since I have explained “my” wine terminology. If our language is unintelligible to the masses, we have not accomplished what the Wine Cask blog is all about; namely to enrich your wine appreciation experience no matter what your level of expertise (or lack thereof).

*The term varietal is the name of the specific grape used in the particular wine. A “varietal” wine will be made from one specific grape primarily as opposed to a “blend” of several types in a mash of juice. A “varietal” wine will have the name of the grape of on the label. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, are all varietals, to name only a few.

Whether a wine is a “varietal” or not is regulated by law which varies on the particular locale. In other words a wine from one region or country or region may only be required to have 55% of the grape which is named on the label and the rest is some other type of grapes(s). But a different region or locale may require 75% of the named grape in order to put it’s name on the label.

*The “nose” of a wine, at least in my terminology and use, is the smell of the wine when you get nose right down into the glass after swirling the wine. Swirling the wine isn’t just for show; it causes the wine to volatilize and release little particles of “smell” into the air. Swirling helps you smell the wine better!

*The “Bouquet” is the smell of the wine from a bit of a distance from the glass. This is not a universal way of using these terms; they are mine. I use them because most wines smell quite different from just above the glass versus sticking your nose right down into the glass. Each provides you different aromas hence a better description of what’s in the glass.

*The palate is the mouth where the wine is “tasted.” Proper technique requires an ample amount of wine to be taken into the mouth allowing it slosh over every part of the tongue and oral cavity. While still holding the wine in your mouth, purse you r lips and carefully slurp some air into your mouth gurgling it through the wine you are holding. This does for the taste what swirling does for smelling! Once you have done this you can either swallow the wine—the best part—or spit the wine out if you are tasting a lot of wine or driving somewhere afterwards. Remember—the more wine you “taste” and swallow, the less discriminating your abilities become…both in tasting and driving!

After you have swallowed or spit, now taste the flavors and textures left behind. Do they last a while or are they gone immediately? This is called the *“finish.” A nice finish will keep imparting flavors, perhaps even new flavors you hadn’t tasted before swallowing and will go on and on. Some just seem to stop with no ending at all.

Tannins are chemical complexes in wine that comes from the skins and or the process of fermentation/aging if done in wood barrels or with wood chips. If you bite just a grape skin, you will get a puckery, drying sensation like water is being pulled out of your mouth. Those are tannins and they are “good” when they are in balance. It is tannins which enable a good wine to age. Young wines will sometimes be overly tannic because they require time to relax chemically. This is why certain wines are best to be aged sometimes for many years but most wines, the vast majority of wines produced are meant to be drunk in the first couple years in which they are made.

The structure of the wine is the overall composition and balance between all the various elements you taste and smell. Ideally, everything should harmonize into one beautiful experience.

This is not a comprehensive guide to tasting. I haven’t talked about a wine being “hot” or sour, flat, or fresh, flabby or vibrant but this is enough for today.

Wine is more than just tasting, it is a whole experience, and a wonderful one at that; why do you think Jesus turned water in to wine as the first miracle of His public ministry?

Now just what kind of wine would the Creator of the world have made?

Firestone Merlot 2002 wine review by (PB)

This burgundy red (a color in this case not a region) varietal from the Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara/central coast Ca.)is filling the room with fruit aromas that are full of blueberry, and black cherries punctuated by a mocha nose.

In the mouth, on opening this wine is rich in flavor of toast with dark fruit galore. It has a tannic structure that is stout yet finessed. The finish holds well. With a few minutes of air, there is not a substantial difference; just fruit forward intensity to accompany a robust meal of grilled beef. (Even though I killed two Delmonico steaks this meal by putting them on the coals prematurely—think lighter fluid marinade—the wine was nice and was good with the tortellini with sage butter side.

This was another Gaiter/Brecher wine from one of their Friday columns in the Wall Street Journal. Their column is worth the price of the paper. We, at the wine cask blog are Gaiter/Brecher devotees; their column is straight forward, down to earth, accurate and helpful. From wines I have reviewed which they suggested, I don’t think I have ever found any of their wine reviews wanting. Anyway, the column was on inexpensive Merlots (under $20) and this was one of the favorites.

So, raise a glass, and, oh yeah, this wine ran me $17. A fair price to be sure.

Zuccardi Q Tempranillo 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Big bouquet of berries and vanilla on the nose
Smooth and round core
Soft, luxurious finish with raisin notes

I was surprised to find that this wine is from Argentina. I don't know how much Tempranillo is being planted in Argentina, but it seems to have potential. This wine is rich and smooth with a nice finish, and is full-bodied. As I understand it, Familia Zuccardi has been making this wine since at least 1998 and it's been steadily improving ever since. Look to spend around $20 if you can find it. Raise a glass!

Casa LaPostolle Sauvignon Blanc 2004 wine review by (PB)

I brought this bottle up from the cellar somehow thinking it was a Chardonnay. As I was smelling the bouquet I thought, wow, I like this bouquet but this smells like a S. Blanc. Duh; it was! Don’t know where my head was...

I have very little experience with Chilean whites. Casa LaPostolle makes some really fine reds (Think Michele Rolland!) so I was looking forward to this, "table wine" level creation.

This Chilean white is a light golden in color, has a wonderful bouquet of peaches with a cream background and cantaloupe aromas; it also has the classic Sauvignon Blanc “grassy” aroma. Very nice.

In the mouth it is quite acidic, and a little bit of whack but not terribly so. It is actually full of flavor and perky with a lasting cream, fruit finish. This is a powerful wine, be careful what you pair it with. For $7, it was a decent wine. Raise a glass!

Eos Late Harvest Moscato 2003 “Tears of Dew” wine review by (PB)

This shimmering dessert wine comes in a 350ml bottle and hales from the famed Paso Robles region of California wine country. Late Harvest wines are made from grapes that are left on the vines well beyond normal harvesting schedules so that the grapes will begin turning to raisins which concentrates the sugars. (This also helps you understand why these tend to be rather pricey—imagine how much juice you get out of a raisin!)

If weather conditions are just right, the grapes may be infected a mold called Botrytis Cinerea which sends its little moldy tentacles—called hyphae—into the grape sucking its water out thus super concentrating the residual sugar that remains.

Consequently you get (ideally) a very powerfully sweet, rich wine with a distinctive flavor if infected with the mold. The great French Sauternes are of this variety.

This Moscato is a deep golden, nearly orange tinted pour with wonderful aromas of honey, pears and peaches with a rich creamy smelling bouquet with a touch of butterscotch and crème brulee and pears on the nose. WOW!

In the mouth it is sensuous with a thick pear and peach flavor and luscious thick finish which just keeps going full of fruit and cream. This wine was only $20.

Now having talked to with many people over the years I get a typical response of, “I don’t like sweet wine.” And what they usually mean is they don’t like cheap white, overly sweet wines that do not have enough of an acidic foundation to carry the sweetness. When this happens, you get a wine that is sickeningly sweet. The wine term for this is “cloying.”

This wine, and high quality dessert wines, have sufficient acid which makes the intense sweetness absolutely delightful. Raise a glass as we did overlooking beautiful Camden Harbor on the Coast of Maine. Even the dark skies and the incessant rain couldn’t dampen the wonder of this well made wine!

Bollini Pinot Grigio 2004 wine review by (PB)

Pinot Grigio’s are gaining in popularity and tend be a pretty nice Summer wine that goes well with a variety of snacks, cheeses and foods. They are simple wines but refreshing and quaffable at their best. (They can be dull and lifeless at their worst.) This is one of the nicer ones which is why it cost $12. You can find a bunch around $7 but you tend to get what you pay for.

This Italian white is fresh and crisp on a light straw pour. The bouquet is slightly pearish with a sweet nose and chalky aromas. This wine is made from grapes raised on the dolomite soils of Trentino.

The palate is quite full with fresh hints of citrusy flavors with minerals and solid structure to make this a good food wine.

We paired it with a seafood pasta I whipped up and sautéed green beans. It was nice all the way around. Raise a glass!

Rocca Delle Macie 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva Wine review by (PB)

This Tuscan is a medium garnet on the pour with wild cherry accents over a rich berry bouquet.

It has some herbal notes and a little earth.

In the mouth it is lush and full–wow! There are some baked bread flavors near the rear palate and a subtle hint of licorice.

This wine is 90 Sangiovese–the classic Tuscan grape blended with 5% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It finishes well with rich tannins and fruit.

With a little time to open up, this nice wine just grows even nicer. Black pepper looms with a steely Sangiovese nose. Another layer of dried raspberries emerge with more bread and lip smacking tannins with a touch of cocoa–really NICE!

With a little more breathing, there is another layer of candy and in the mouth this wine jjust bursts with rich flavors; very nice and full of berries. It just keeps opening but now it’s gone!

I bought this wine on sale for $13 down from $16! It was the last bottle in the store and I bought it because 2001 was a great year for Tuscany and a Chianti Classico which is aged for two years in oak, is a bargain at this price. I took a chance and it paid off HUGE! This is an amazing wine and if I were rating this on a 100 point scale it would easily make a 93, maybe even higher!

If we were allowed to buy wine on line in this state, I assure you I would be buying it now at considerably higher prices. This is a remarkable wine. If you can find it, BUY it! It has been a long time since I put a wine on our recommended list; this will certainly be there! Raise a bottle!

Barefoot Zinfandel N.V. Wine review by (PB)

This blend of Zinfandel grapes from various regions was purchased because of a magazine recommendation (Food and Wine?).

It cost $8 and has some nice blackberry and raspberry aromas on the bouquet. It is fairly well balanced and has nice dried raspberry notes on the palate. It isn’t “spicy” like many Zins but it is tasty. My wife liked it more than I did.

For the price it is decent. Raise a glass.

Masciarelli 2002 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo wine review by (PB)

This is a lighter ruby with a touch of candy cherry on a light bouquet with a very herbal (Daffodil) nose.

It is sweeter in the mouth than I would have thought but it is not sweet. There is a note of alcohol, it is dry, a hint of chocolate and it is hot. It finishes thin and harsh.

With some air time though, all things tone down and there is a nice hint of cinnamon in the bouquet. A layer of dried fruit comes up after breathing. It finishes short. For the price of this wine--$6– I like it! It has a lot to commend it at this price so take advantage of these super inexpensive wines that are more than one dimensional. Raise a glass!

Falesco Vitiano Umbria 2004 wine review by (PB)

This wine is medium garnet on the pour with a nice berry bouquet with a hint of cranberry on the nose.

In the mouth this wine has a decent tannic base which will ease with some breathing; it is pretty tight on opening.

With a few minutes of air, dried fruit emerges and the bouquet intensifies. On the palate, dried fruit abounds and is a well made wine. With food, it holds up well with BBQ even with a big spice of Emeril’s essence. This is a good solid wine and at $11 it is a sold value.

But the Wine Spectator gives this wine a stunning 90 points on their 100 point scale. I rarely disagree with the folks at W.S. but this wine, as it stands is NOT a 90 point wine. I would give it an 85. But I have one other bottle of this wine and it will be interesting to see how it fairs when I get around to drinking and reviewing it. At any rate, raise a glass–to our 3rd week of rain here in Maine.

Paitin Langhe 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Beautiful blackberry jam color
Awesome nose of strawberry jam, candied cherry, and spice, with hints of earth and licorice
Dense core with black currant flavors
Very strong tannins at first, which softened somewhat with decanting

Interestingly, this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Made in the land of Barbera and Nebbiolo, I was surprised to see this indication on the label. Apparently, in some years, the winery blends these three grapes to make this wine. It's not cheap at $28, but it has class. While completey Cabernet Sauvignon, it still has something about it that feels Italian.

The flavors are big and bold, but that tannins have enough bite to make me pucker. Even with the decanting, it never really mellowed out. Maybe some time in the cellar will help. Raise a glass!

Villa Tonino Nero D'Avola 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of buttered popcorn with faint cherry and strawberry
Palate is light in smooth
Clean finish, but not complex

While not in the style I prefer, this wine is interesting. It goes down easily, but lacks any real depth. The nose seems an odd mix of aromas, but it somehow melds together well enough. Approximately $9. Raise a glass!

Costers del Siurana Miserere Priorat 1994 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of cherry, butterscotch, and white chocolate
Smooth palate
Dry, smooth finish, with some floral and fruity notes

I expected a dry, smooth wine, but this was very dry and very smooth. It revealed its layers slowly and emerged with a nice bouquet given some time. The wine was nice and the food paring was amazing. We had Spanish steaks with chimichurri sauce, which provided a good enough excuse to extract this bottle from the cellar and give it some air. I paid $29 for the wine last year at a shop with an excellent Spanish selection and a number of Priorats. Raise a glass!

Excelsior Paddock Shiraz 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Fruity nose of blackberries, currants, and mocha
Juicy core
Berry and chocolate finish, round and smooth

This is a simple, fruity wine. If you like the robust flavors of dark fruit and mocha, you'll probably enjoy this wine. It's also extremely round and smooth. A lot of people are familiar with their Cabernet Sauvignon which has some similiar expressions but also an odd, plastic taste. For 2004, this Shiraz is the better of the two wines. I paid a bargain price of $7. Raise a glass!

Lorval Syrah 2001 wine review by (PB)

This is another nice value from the Southern French region of Languedoc Roussillion. It is pretty and red cherry hue on the pour with a rich berry bouquet. There is a nice celery flavor mid-palate and mildly peppery with sufficient tannins to give a firm foundation.

It is a little thin in weight and the finish is a bit thin but in a half hour another layer comes forth of more varietal flavors of Syrah with the typical peppery notes. For a five year old wine it is holding well but don't hold on to this--drink it up.

Later a layer of an earthy tone comes up making this wine quite interesting especially at $6!

These lesser known wines from France tend to be really nice values and this is no exception.

Buy a few bottles and enjoy them with a variety of summer foods, grilled or not! Raise a glass.

Casa LaPostolle Apalta Vineyard Merlot 2004 wine review by (PB)

A quick trip down to (NW’s) to fetch my girl friend after a whirlwind trip to L.A. put us sitting at a high table with Beef Shwarma on the menu courtesy of a local, round the corner, restaurant.

(NW) grabbed this from his cellar and we delighted ourselves with this Chilean, Colchauga Valley creation that is cherry red in the glass with fresh cherry aromas, baked bread, a hint of licorice, and a very slight hint of green herbs or green pepper. This is NOT your typical Merlot.

This Merlot is deep in the mouth with rich flavors of fruit and dried cherries that are luscious and mouth watering. Tannins are cushy and this wine is outstanding in its maturity and yet is only a couple years old. This wine is perfectly ready to drink and ready to enjoy.

I think (NW) paid around $21 for this. Once again Chile reveals itself to be the new world place to revel in sheer pleasure. Really nice; so raise a glass!

K Syrah 2003 Milbrandt Vineyards Wahluke Slope wine review by (PB)

(NW) and I are “Batchin” it while our wives are out in the City of Angels. He drove up Memorial Day weekend to snag his dog and of course to enjoy a splash or two of wine.

I grabbed some Sirloin tips to grill, and then went to the cellar to see what we should try. I wanted something neither of us haven’t had before. We chose this Syrah which I have had for several months. After tasting and reviewing the K Syrah Cougar Hills bottle, I was looking forward to this wine. Unfortunately, I was let down which was quite a surprise.

Yes it had a gorgeous, deep purple color to the rim showing youthful vitality and yes the bouquet was full of fresh plums and rich blackberry notes with a touch of anise. That was a nice start.

But first impression on the palate was–sour. Not terribly sour, but enough to where it was my first impression; that’s not what you want out of great wine experience.

I thought perhaps it needed to be decanted which I did. With some air, the wine was more relaxed but still out of balance with the sour acidity that just–for me–dampened my enthusiasm for the rich berry and anise flavors with some nice layers of pepper and spice and a pretty decent finish.

But all in all, for $35, this was NOT the wine it’s cousin–Cougar Hills–was. So while it was pleasant enough with our steak tips, it was rather forgettable. ! Watch for (NW’s) review; I think he enjoyed it more than I did. (Raise a glass of something more affordable)

Wine pairings make a difference by (PB)

This evening I decided to have a grilled tuna steak with corn on the cob and sauteed zucchini. Just for fun I thought I would taste a flight of three distinctly different wines to see how they faired with the food.

I had the Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc (a New Zealand white--see following entry), Sideshow–The Barker, which is a Spanish Grenache (a red), and the Vinho Verde--a Portugese white (see entry from a couple nights ago).

The least of the wines–the Grenache and the Vinho Verde–went well with the food and while the Monkey Bay was O.K. it just didn’t really work well.

The Monkey Bay is a big wine with strong character and can stand on its own and make a statement.
The Grenache is a nice wine but somewhat understated and the Vinho Verde–while being my least favorite of the three on their own(and the cheapest)--was actually my preferred wine with the meal.

The Vinho Verde is subtle and gentle allowing the subtle flavors of the Tuna to show through. The Monkey Bay engulfs the delicate Tuna and the Sideshow overshadows it.

So learn from this! That on their own, wines can win you over but pairing them food is another matter. As stated, all three worked to one degree or another, but the Vinho Verde (also the cheapest and simplest)was the best by far.

So remember that the next time you are selecting wine with a meal and then raise a glass!

Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2004 wine review by (PB)

This is one of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs (reviewed previously) from New Zealand or anywhere with a grassy Guava bouquet wrapped in a pale golden hue.

It is fresh and perky with very nice acid on the palate that makes it lively and yet almost a touch of cream. There is a citrusy overtone, well balanced in every way and at $10, you just can’t miss on this wine.

The finish is superior, classy and just flat out NICE. So, raise a glass NOW!

Alaveda Casal Garcia Vinho Verde wine review by (PB)

Vinho Verde is simple wine from Portugal meant to be a refreshing drink and uncomplicated.
This wine which was $6 (which is pretty normal for this wine) has bubbles sticking to the glass with a light sparkle in the mouth. It is pale golden on the pour with slight peach notes and a pleasant powdery, spicy bouquet of sugar and cinnamon.

In the mouth this wine is tingly, fresh, fairly crisp and simple but a little awkward. If you serve this, make sure it is well chilled. On a summer day it is pleasant enough but it’s not my first choice. Don’t expect much, serve it cold, and you’ll be pleased. Raise a glass!

(I had this with grilled Bratwurst, and fiddleheads and it did fine.)

Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz 2002 Wine Review (NW)

Deep, dark color
Rich, fragrant nose of black cherry, currant, and sweet spice
Smooth and round on the palate
Silky finish, with berries and chocolate

I have a few bottles of this in the cellar and decided to remind myself how good it is. For $15 or so, this might be the best Shiraz on the market. If you're tired of all the wines that taste the same from Australia in the $10 price category, spend a few extra bucks and you'll be rewarded. This is a really rich and round wine, with lots of flavor. It goes down smoothly, and rewards you with a nice finish. Raise a glass!

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 wine review by (PB)

Columbia Crest is fast becoming one of the best value producers of wine in this country if not the world. In the current issue of the Wine Enthusiast there are no less than four Columbia Crest wines–all under $13–listed as “Best Buys.”

This blog’s experience with this Washington State winery has no reason to question that.

This Cab–which we have reviewed numerous times since its release–just continues to be the bargain wine of the decade.

It is dark and rich looking in the glass and has a bouquet of rich fruit of plums with a delicate touch of currants and chocolat. On the palate, with some air, licorice, chocolate and eucalyptus layers are clear with a slightly vegetal under layer which rests on a foundation of relaxed tannins and an overall balanced wine. How can a wine this good only cost $10? We don’t know and we don’t care. Buy it all, raise a glass and enjoy!

LaChasse Du Pape “Prestige” 2004 wine review by (PB)

I grabbed this bargain priced wine while down in “Bean town”--Boston for you who are not familiar with New England–and paid $7 for it.

It is a Rhone wine made from the classic Rhone grapes of Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvedre. (Those grapes are pronounced Gre-nahsh; Sin-so; and Mor-ved)

The wine is a light cherry color on the pour with a refreshing though light fruit bouquet and pronounced dried raspberry nose. On the palate it is zippy with a burst of raspberry fruit and pepper. The wine is quite thin in both texture and flavor but hopefully will open with a little time.

With air, this wine is still light all the way around but has good structure. This is your classic red French table wine that is well made and inexpensive. It is so much different than American wines; subtle in almost every aspect or what is called the “Old World” style.

I like the New World wines with their assaulting flavors and eye popping aromas but they do get old and they start to all taste alike or they taste concocted rather than artfully vinified.. I have to have both worlds depending on my mood and pairing. We are having Braciole (pronounced, bra-sheeole)delightful Italian fare over pasta. The spicing of the dish may overwhelm this wine but I think it will be okay. If not, you'll read about it! Raise a glass, and more, at this price.

Elk Cove Pinot Noir “La Boheme” 2003 wine review by (PB)

A few months back in our dark and dreary Maine winter I found solace in a coastal wine shop called “The Clown.” Martin Gottlieb recommended this wine which I took home with me and laid down until the right time, and meal.

The right meal arrived: Grilled halved, Maine lobster (for an appetizer) with Tuscan style tuna steaks—also grilled and the first harvest of home grown aspargus. (I was a little nervous about the pairing but not too much.)

This Oregon Pinot has classic Pinot “stink” and a layer of dried cherries with light straw-berry notes on the opening swirl. The color of this wine is light with a watermelon colored rim.

In the mouth this wine is luscious with currant notes but is tightly wound on opening. There is a smoky, almost BBQ finish which is interesting. But this wine needs about a half hour of air.

With breathing this Oregon Pinot is elegant with currant flavors predominant with strawberry, raspberry and cherry hints. The palate is just superb all the way around; a very nicely made pour.

The review is understated; this wine was so easy to drink we just wanted to keep filling our glasses. The pairing was perfect and the only bad part of the whole evening was that the bottle ran out so fast.

I paid $33 for this beauty though I have seen it in the Boston area for as low as $23. Either way, this wine was worth it…and more. Raise a glass!

Hedges Cellars CMS 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Fruity nose of berries
Juicy, flavorful palate
Finish of strawberries and cherries with a hint of chocolate; moderate tannins

I've enjoyed this wine several times in the past, and the 2003 bottling appears to be quite good. It's an interesting blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc from Washington State. In fact, the CMS name simply refers to these grapes. I paid $12 for the wine and feel that it's a good buy. Raise a glass!

Flight of Red-- Three Shiraz Wine Reviews (NW)

Wine flights are an incredibly fun way to compare wines side-by-side. Most wine bars offer them and they are increasingly available at restaurants. They're easy enough to do at home, though, and I highly recommend this when you have the opportunity. Just line up some glasses and pour about two ounces in each glass. Taste them blind or even with the bottles in plain view- either way it's a learning experience and a real treat.

For my birthday, I was treated to two wine flights by PB. He arranged for us to taste them blind and compare our notes. The first flight was made up of three Chardonnays from different corners of the world and the second flight was three samplings of Shiraz. My tasting notes for the red wines are as follows:

Mandra Rossa Shiraz 2003 (Sicily):

Medium-light burgundy red
Weak nose, soapy, a touch of floral and anise
Thin on the palate
Abbreviated finish, falls flat

Stolpman Hilltops Estate Grown Syrah 2003 (California):

Medium red color
Fruity nose of plum
Rich, fruity palate; round and full
Good finish, full of fruit with lightly spicy notes and hints of cocoa

McWilliams Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2004 (Australia):

Medium red color
Slightly floral nose with a touch of strawberry
Dry palate
Dried cherry finish

The best wine of the flight was far and away the Stolpman. It was even close. I later found out the Mandra Rossa and McWilliams were $9 wines and the Stolpman was a ringer at $35 and purchased at the winery near Santa Barbara.

The problems with two inexpensive wines were obvious when tasted next to the Stolpman. Mandra Rossa was flat and boring and the McWilliams was too dry. The Stolpman, on the other hand, exuded confidence with a rich, round core full of fruit. It's worth the price tag and was a real treat with the coal-charred ribeye and fiddleheads.

Both PB and I were pleased to find out we correctly matched each Shiraz with its country of origin. Up front, we were told that these were wines from Sicily, Australia, and California- but we weren't told which ones.

Wine flights are a lot of fun and help develop perspective. I highly recommend putting one together when you have the opportunity. One idea is to have everyone bring one bottle and simply line up the glasses and pour. Then, raise a glass!

Flight of White-- Three Chardonnay Wine Reviews (NW)

Wine flights are an incredibly fun way to compare wines side-by-side. Most wine bars offer them and they are increasingly available at restaurants. They're easy enough to do at home, though, and I highly recommend this when you have the opportunity. Just line up some glasses and pour about two ounces in each glass. Taste them blind or even with the bottles in plain view- either way it's a learning experience and a real treat.

For my birthday, I was treated to two wine flights by PB. He arranged for us to taste them blind and compare our notes. The first flight was made up of three Chardonnays from different corners of the world and the second flight was three samplings of Shiraz. My tasting notes for the white wines are as follows:

Mandra Rossa Chardonnay 2003 (Sicily):

Dark golden color
Rich nose of tropical fruit and sweet spice
Smooth texture and some creaminess
Medium-length finish of citrus, with sweet notes too

The Wishing Tree Unoaked Chardonnay 2000 (Australia):

Light, pale color
Lemony nose with light cream and pears
Clean palate, medium acidity, crisp for Chardonnay
Shorter citrus finish, but seems polished

Stonehedge Chardonnay 2004 (California):

Medium, pale gold color
Nose of melon with a touch of eggnog scent
Smooth, medium-weight texture
Finish with touches of oak and vanilla followed by an odd, bitter ending

The Wishing Tree was my favorite. While it's not my favorite style of Chardonnay because it's on the lean, crisp side, I thought it was the best made wine of the flight. The Montra Rossa was a little odd, even though it was intriguing due to its dark golden color and wild tropical fruit nose. The Stonehedge was a little too average and had an odd, bitter twist at the end.

After tasting these wines blind, PB and I were pleased to discover that we matched each wine with its country of origin correctly. It was a good education and a lot of fun! By the way, the prices were all approximately $9 a bottle. Raise a glass!

2004 Graves Chateau Graville-Lacoste Review by (billy)

Eyes: Pale straw
Nose: Steeely honey, crisp, melon hints, a bit tight.
Palate: Minerals and melon rind with a good acid structure and fine balance.
Finish: Pleasant and smooth. An even decrescendo.

I paid $14.99 for this wine. I'd call this a fair price for a nice wine. I've never had a Graves (region of France) wine before so there is not much against which I can directly compare. However, I really enjoyed the mineral and steel characteristics (lighter than an in your face Chablis) with the smooth honey and melon hints. It is a nice change of pace from the typical Chardonnay. Though Sauvignon Blanc grapes are the primaries in the Graves region (for white wine production) the difference in character between a Graves and a California or Oregon Sauvignon Blanc (or Fume Blanc) is evident enough to make them quite distinctive.

I would pick up another two bottles of this again if I get the chance. One to have on hand for a nice summer's evening and one to lay down for several years.

On this Mother's Day, Raise a Glass of Graves to your Mom!

Two Fun Flights of Wine to Celebrate NW's B-day!

(NW’s) birthday is just around the corner so it seemed only fitting to celebrate with a special dinner which actually means a special wine event with dinner thrown in on the side. One of the luxuries we allow ourselves to afford is a tasting of in wine in what are called “flights.” A flight is a sampling of wines of any number often arranged by some kind of theme. (Vintage; varietals; country of origin, etc)So arranged to have two flights of wine consisting of three wines each. The first flight was three chardonnays each from a different country. One was from Australia, one was from California, and one was from Sicily. All were inexpensive in the $10 range. (Except one called a ringer!)

They were served to us “blind” prepared for us by our wives. We would taste them alone and then retaste them with the appetizer of the evening (homemade seafood ravioli) too see which one we thought was better with food.

This is such a great way to learn about wine and is so much easier to “taste” wine this way. The nuances of each wine are more distinct and identifiable when you have them next to other wines.

What was really amazing to (NW) and I both was that at then end of the tastings we were both dead on--100% consistent in our assessments—and 100% in agreement with each other’s reviews right down the line including naming the country of origin.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend doing a wine flight every now and then. You will be surprised at the subtleties you will skillfully detect when comparing wines side by each, (as we say in Maine). Raise a glass and scroll down for the reviews of the wines themselves. And then be sure to check NW's when he posts them!

Shiraz flight of three wine review by (PB)

#1 Mandrarossa Sicilian Shiraz 2003
This wine had a nice deep color with an anise aroma and some cedar. In the mouth it was pretty nice with some good flavors of cedar with a nice vanilla finish. The wine was a bitt unbalanced though with tannins that were not real polished but a solid wine and enjoyable with our rib eye steaks cooked right on the coals in my new Weber grill.

#2 Stolpman Hilltops Shiraz 2003
This was a “ringer” I threw into the flight for a special treat. I was in Santa Barbara this past Spring and visited the tasting room of Stolpman Vineyards. It was an absolute delight being able to talk with Katie McGaughy--a lovely young lady with the same names--right down to the same unique spellings--as my daughter's. Katie had a vast knowledge of the Stolpman's masterful creations--another unique delight!

After tasting some very nice Shiraz’s I packed this one away for the trip back to Maine.

The review--This wine is deep cherry to the rim on the pour with a dark berry fruit bouquet that is rich and luscious. It was deep and creamy on the palate with a mouth watering spray of dark fruit and wonderfully elegant tannins, nice vanilla notes and a finish that is just sheer pleasure. At $35, I was in heaven. Needless-to-say, this was everyone's clear favorite.

I'd say--grab one ASAP if you can but I have never seen Stolpman in my neck of the woods (Maine). But with my wife travelling to LA next week to see our newest Grandchild, maybe I can compel her to bring us back a treat!

It was awesome with the coal seared steaks, fiddlehead ferns and birthday celebrations of NW.

#3 McWilliams Shiraz 2004 Hanwood Estate
This Aussie Shiraz from down under had a nice deep color but the bouqet was a bit odd; like a gamay jug wine nose. Not “bad” but unexpected an d typical for the grape. It was a bit shallow as well. In the mouth it was peppery and had nice cranberry notes. It was, all in all very nice for the price.

Everyone picked the Stolpman as the BEST of tasting but the flight was not quite fair. The other two wines were $10 wines while the Stolpman was 3 and half times that. So if you ever wonder if it’s worth the price; often times it isn't, but in this case, all six people not knowing what was what, said OH YEAH!

Raise a glass we did--several times...and then walk to wherever it is you must go!

Chardonnay flight of three (wine review by (PB)

#1 Stonehedge Chardonnay 2003
This California Chard was a very light straw with a tinge of golden on the pour. The bouquet had some nice fruit yet with a smokey backbone of bacon and light butter notes. In the mouth it had a slightly buttery texture, the smoke carried through to the palate but could have used a bit more acid. The finish lingers pretty nicely and this wine paired quite well with our appetizer of homemade seafood ravioli with a cream, seafood/Parmesan sauce.

#2 Wishing Tree Chardonnay 2005 (Unoaked)
This was the lightest of the three wines in the flight as far as color. It was nearly clear. The bouquet was unmistakably hugely pears with an almost nutty taste.

The pears carry through to the palate, has good acid and finishes with pears and quince–or citrus if you prefer. This also paired well with our seafood ravioli.

#3 Mandrarossa Chardonnay 2003
This Chard hails from the island of Sicily which is why I picked it up. I had never had a Sicilian Chardonnay.
On the pour this wine was the most fascinating in color with a rich and deep golden hue like a nice Sauternes. It’s bouquet was also rich and sweet, almost candied with buttery notes and an overwhelming scent of ripe fruit which I couldn’t quite pin down. I called it ripe figs or ripe guava or a cross between the two, which I guess would be a “guig” or perhaps a “fava”but then I’m just getting silly.

In the mouth it tasted like it smelled; sweet and fruity but really lacked the acid to carry it all off. This was unfortunate as it had so many good qualities but was flabby. Finished with a nice after taste that was steady.

All these wine were under $10. I believe we liked the Wishing Tree for its solid acid foundation which made it the best food wine. I loved everything about the Sicilian Chard except its flavor in the mouth...It was a beautiful wine, it had a great nose and some nice flavors but the lack of acid killed this wine. Still, I would recommend any of them for the experience of unique wines of the same grape. Raise a glass in celebration of NW’s B-day!

Chateau Haut Sociondo 2003 wine review by (PB)

This Grand Vin De Bordeaux from the Cotes De Blaye has a nice fragrant nose of rich berries and a slightly opaque cherry color. In the mouth it is balanced from the start but constrained on opening with a strange mid palate and a short finish. It seems to hold some promise though.

With half an hour of breathing, the berries give way to cherries with a slight chocolate hint and lots of smoky oak. There is this musty aroma though, like wet cardboard, which is the classic description of TCA contamination. (see past entries re: TCA) This aroma is somewhat intriguing though even if it would be better if it weren’t there. The palate is still a bit light but well made. With more breathing (an hour) still, there is a pleasant sweet candy cherry layer and the palate is richer by far—actually quite nice.

This is a solid Old World wine and for the $10 I paid, it’s a nice value even with the wet cardboard. Raise a glass!

Vero Chardonnay 2003 Review (Billy)

This is a wonderful Summer Chardonnay from Bourgogne. My wife and I enjoyed it on a picnic at the local arboretum under the purple and white blooming crabapple trees. While the children dined on Artesian bread and provolone cheese we enjoyed several glasses of this light and creamy delight. (note, the 2002 label is pictured but the review is of the 2003 vintage - the label, though, appears the same)

Nose: creamy butter and vanilla with light citrus
Palate: smooth and light - like sun on a summer wind
Finish: delicate and creamy with hints of lemongrass and warm soft apple.

This was a perfect wine to enjoy on a picnic. The creation of the Joseph Drouhin progeny, the Chardonnay is a delightful and unpretentious sip of summer. It is not overcomplicated with heavy oak or biting crispness. Rather is is smooth and simple and as such it achieves a sublime exquisiteness.

I paid $18.99 for the bottle. A bit steep for around here but well worth it. The wine is a fine purchase at this price. Raise a glass to summer and make sure the 2003 Vero Chardonnay is in it!

Pierre Sparr Alsace Pinot Blanc Reserve 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Nice nose of fresh apples
Juicy, clean core with moderate acidity
Grape notes on the finish, but in a good way

Usually, when a wine is called "grapey" it's being ridiculed. Not in this case. The grape notes on the finish are nice, light, and fruity. As for the overall quality of the wine, yes, it's simple. But, it's also nice and refreshing.

I paid $11 for this wine, which is fairly priced. It's somewhat off the beaten path as a lesser-known grape grown in the Alsace region in France, but you'll most likely find it next to Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. When you find it, raise a glass!

Alasia Brachetto D'Acqui 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Frothy bubbles
Big strawberry nose
Plush texture
Sweetly lingering finish

Amazing wine when paired with chocolate desserts! This is an Italian Brachetto, which is a light and sweet sparkling red wine. A lot of people are familiar with Rosa Regale, made by Castello Banfi, which is also made in the Brachetto style.

This wine goes down easily and is fun to drink. I think it could use a little more cranberry tartness and acidity without compromising the sweetness. This would give it a little better balance.

At $12, this is the least expensive Brachetto D'Acqui I've seen. You might not find this particular one, but ask your store what the have and you'll probably see one or two choices at $15-20. Raise a glass!

Magnificent Wine Company House Wine 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Fruity, berry nose
Tight, dense core
Moderate tannins on the finish with notes of cocoa

I've had this before several times, but it's been a while since I've written up my review. This is a Washington State wine made from an interesting blend of red grapes, including the noble Bordeaux grapes. I like that it's fairly thick and jammy and it appeals to me when I want a really fruity red wine.

Keep an eye out for it at the store. It's easy to spot with HOUSE WINE in big, black lettering on a white label that looks handwritten. I have paid $10-11 for it. Raise a glass!

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of sweet cherries and plum
Rich and spicy on the palate
Leathery, slightly tangy finish

A nice Chianti! Made in a modern style, this wine has a richness to it that goes beyond ordinary Sangiovese. We paired it with a number of hearty Italian courses.

This came highly recommended at a local wine shop, and I paid $20 for the bottle. Raise a glass!

Fusee Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 wine review by (PB)

Well, Gee, this is a weird kind of wine which you’ll note form my weird kind of review.

It doesn’t smell like Cabernet Sauvignon but it doesn’t smell bad. Actually the bouquet is fairly fragrant of black cherries, ripe plums, and loads of currants.

In the mouth it is on the slightly sweet side with some decent fruit flavors (a lot of raisins) but honestly, it tastes artificial. (NW) and I jest (sort of) about the NJ laboratory where all artificial flavors are kept in beakers and is what really comprises the bulk of the food and drink we consume. This tastes like a wine made in a petri dish. But that being said, it is potable, and not bad if you don’t think of it as A. Cabernet Sauvignon, and B. real wine.

I paid $7 for it which is $2 too much. Still it’s not bad, just a little weird.

Alice White Shiraz 2005 wine review by (PB)

This Aussie mass produced varietal from the folks who export about 15 gazillion cases of wine to the USA is a decent, inexpensive wine. It is cherry red and full of blackberries.

In the mouth it is pleasantly fruit forward, juicy, balanced, and simple though a little layer of chocolate emerges later on, and is frankly, a decent wine and solid value at $7.

It was a Wine Spectator “85" rated wine. This is good wine to serve to friends or for just filling those barren wine rack spaces for little money. I liked it, so raise a glass!

Kanu Chenin Blanc 2004 wine review by (PB)

This South African varietal from the Stellenbosch is rich in vanilla with a sweet bouquet of fruit (pineapple) and cream. It is sweet in the mouth yet off dry with great acid for a wine with some zest and a citrusy finish.

This is a VERY NICE wine and I believe may have been a Wine Enthusiast top 100 though I am uncertain and didn’t feel like looking it up. I would rather just savor the essence of this lovely white.

For the $10 I paid, it is really a treat and with its acid, it will go well with food. I served it with a Caribbean themed dinner of grilled pork chops with a mango/red onion topping and fired plantains with a cilantro dipping sauce. It was great with everything. So raise a glass!

Chateau Clos De Latour 2002 Wine Review (NW)

Dark berries on the nose with a hint of sweet strawberry
Smooth, plush texture
Some currant and chocolate emerge on the finish, with moderately chewy tannins

I am impressed with the texture of this wine, it has a plush feel in the mouth. The fruit characteristics are well-rounded and the finish is nice.

For Grand Vin de Bordeaux in the $10-15 range, this is a winner. I paid $10 on sale, based on a recommendation from PB. His review of the same wine can be found below, dated April 24, 2006. Raise a glass!

Sori Paitin Dolcetto D'Alba 1997 Wine Review (NW)

Floral, cherry, and vanilla nose
Somewhat musty mid-palate
Sweet, short finish with a soft landing

At first, I wasn't that impressed with this wine. It was flat and slow to emerge. But the wine kept improving until we emptied the bottle and I'm not sure I ever tasted it at its peak.

Dolcetto is a delicate wine with a subtle sweetness and a medium body. This one, with some age on it, was all that more delicate. It's an intriguing varietal to learn more about, and has a strong following among Italian wine lovers. Prices aren't terribly high; I paid $16 for this one. Raise a glass!

Peter Lehmann Botrytis Semillion 2002 Wine Review (NW)

Nice nose of apricot, orange, and lemon
Very smooth and rich on the palate
Honey cream finish

After numerous courses and three different wines, we settled in for dessert at Easter dinner. Out came the lemon tart made from scratch and this half bottle of dessert wine. It was an awesome pairing and a perfect finish to the meal.

For dessert wines, there is surprising variety on the market. I have found that wines made from Botrytis Semillion are usually very good. This wine from Australia is rich, smooth, and versatile. It's commonly found in a 375mL bottle and runs approximately $15. For a great finish to a meal, check it out. And raise a glass!

Salomon Undhof Hochterrassen Gruner Veltliner 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Very light, pale white
Citrus aromas on the nose
Crisp, acidic on the palate
Abbreviated, white pepper finish

My wife and I foiled PB with this wine. We placed it in front of him in a blind tasting, knowing it would be very difficult to guess. He was close, though, thinking it was a dry Chenin Blanc. For Gruner Veltliner, the Austrian national grape, this one is extremely dry and very inexpensive at just $6. The problem is, it's too dry, crisp, and abbreviated. Interesting wine, but next time I'll spend a little more money on a Gruner Veltliner in the hopes of something a little more complex. Raise a glass!

Beringer Chenin Blanc 2005 wine review by (PB)

This straw colored wine is just a head turner with a bouquet that will slap you silly with sweet pineapple, tropical fruit and a creamy vanilla pudding overtone.

In the mouth it is sweet--quite sweet--but tasty with a supple texture. It lacks acidity but not to where it is flawed. If it had a tad more acid, it would rock you out of this world; as it is, it only manages to shoot you past your state border. There is a fine apricot finish that is REALLY nice.

Now get ready--this wine was $4.29. So, grab a half case, chill it before serving it and enjoy it on a hot day, or with a light soup that is somewhat salty. (It was great with split pea soup) Raise a glass to be sure!

Fetzer Gewurztraminer 2005 wine review by (PB)

My pernnial favorite for Summer time quaffing is this wine with the funny name. It is pronounced Ge-vurts-tra-meen-er and means spicy Traminer which is the grape. It is golden with a ripe, sweet peachy/apricotty bouquet and apples underneath.

In the mouth it is subtly “spritzig” (German for effervescent or bubbly) with nice mouth feel, good acid, good balance and an apricot finish. It is a little lighter than some past years but outstanding as a chilled, quaffing wine or with split pea soup (which I just had for dinner). I recommend this wine and although I see it around for $10-$11, I found it for $7.50 is Boston. Raise a glass of this nice, nice soothing, comfort wine!

Mouton-Cadet 2003 Bordeaux wine review by (PB)

Many years ago when I was just wetting my palate with my first wines Mouton Cadet was a ubiquitous wine found on every restaurant list and on every shelf of every store I went in. That was some 30 years ago. Back then it was a very inexpensive wine running about $5 a bottle in a retail store. Out of sheer inundation by volume I had to try this wine. It was blah, unremarkable, so-so and not worth pursuing. It has been that long since I last tasted this wine.

Then I read a review of this wine by (NW) (see post from 3-21-06) and he gave it a pretty good review for such an inexpensive wine. I decided the next time I saw one I would buy it and I did paying $9 for it in Boston.

It sports the name of the famous Baron Philippe Rothschild which gave me some confidence beyond (NW’s) review (not that any was needed) that the wine had to be fairly decent. It is a Bordeaux blend of grapes from various appellations made from 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc.

It is youthful in appearance with a purple tinge and pleasant color. Bouquet is somewhat closed on opening with dark fruit in the background and a green note. (NW) was smelling all kinds of floral things which I never found and the plum eluded me as well, but...

First taste is bursting with huge black pepper flavors–so much so that it is a little weird... My first thought was, (NW) and I will have to share a bottle of this and review it together because this couldn’t have been what (NW) tasted.

With some breathing time, (half hour at least)the bouquet opens up to a rich blackberry-cherry nose; the pepper eases up quite a bit and turns pretty decent as an inexpensive old world style wine. I wouldn’t buy another one simply because there are so many good wines out there, but this one performed well against our charcoal seared strip steaks. For the price of $9 it was just okay; still think there may have been some bottle variation from this and (NW's). At any rate, raise a glass!

Yellow Tail Shiraz Grenache 2004 Review by (billy)

Eyes: dark deep opaque purple
Nose: big jammy dark fruit with underlayers of cracked pepper, creamy vanilla (just a hint of this though), and black licorice.
Palate: Spicy and dark plumb, decent balance though not expertly balanced. Big fruit, not too tannic and not overdry. The grenache cuts a strong sharp shiraz to produce a more muted blend.
Finish: straberries emerge here probably due to a grenache that has a bit more character than the shiraz and lasts longer.

Make no mistake, this is a wine to be paired with big food, not to be sipped and enjoyed on its own. I am having it with pizza spiked with tobasco. It should be a perfect accompanyment.

Raise a Glass!

Rocking Horse Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 wine review by (PB)

This Garvey Family Vineyard creation yielded a ripe strawberry aromas right on pulling the cork. A eucalyptus nose is nice on the first swirl.

In the mouth on opening this wine is pretty , rich berry red, a little bitter, a bit acidic, a little herbal and a very little candied with a decent finish that is pleasant and definite.

With a half hour of breathing time, the bouquet grows large with 2 layers of fruit; one is fresh like cherries the other is dark berry aromas. The palate is less bitter and growing is splendor with some undertones of subtle chocolate and espresso notes.

This is a well made wine made from this vineyard in Rutherford and is aged for 24 months in French Oak . It is balanced, at its prime, though will hold for a couple-several years perhaps.

I bought this from my wine guy in Freeport, Maine at the Freeport Wine And Cheese Shop. I have had it for perhaps close to a year. I served it with my first time steak (N.Y. Strip) cooked directly on the coals in my new Weber Grill. I HIGHLY recommend this method of cooking steak. It was fabulous and paired with this wine, Ces’t Magnifique! At $30, it was solid and a treat. Raise a glass!

Chateau Clos De Latour 2002 wine review by (PB)

On the trip to Boston to see (NW) we had to stop at Kappy’s, a chain of liquor stores with a substantial wine selection. I grabbed a pair of Bordeaux wines that were priced $11 a piece or two for $20. One of my grabs was this wine from the 02 vintage declared to be a vintage of mixed results but with some pretty fine wines.

This bargain wine is a solid cherry color on the pour with fruity bouquet of dark berries and a nose of sweet fruit (cherries?) In the mouth this wine is balanced, well made, structured, with some nice green pepper notes, firm tannins and old world character. With an hour of breathing (recommended) this wine is lighter in body with subtle chocolate and licorice notes.

If I lived in the Boston area, I would be back to Kappy’s buying a few more bottles of this very nice value wine. My wife loved it and the bottle is empty. So raise a glass of this recommended wine!

Nepenthe Tryst (red) 2004 Review by (Billy)

I tried this at a store sponsored wine tasting. Although the distributor was about a warm as a Minnesota winter and as sour as a week-old uncorked red, the WineStyles store owner/manager was fantastic. Tryst comes from Australia. At a time when all Austrailian low and medium-priced wines seem to be plateauing with a character that is blah Tryst stands out in its originality.

The name comes from the (secret? ilicit? unexpected?) combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Zinfandel. What the wine lacks in grace it makes up for in originality and interest. The flavors do not so much blend as they co-mingle. They do not layer so much as cycle. This is not bad either. It is unuaual but that is what makes this wine so interesting and original. The tight Cab is offset by the character and fruitiness of the Zin and the soft vanilla and cream flavors of the Tempranillo.

On the nose it has the peppery spice and warm fruit of the Cab and Zin. On the palate and finish, the Tempranillo really shines. Yet throughout there is a swirling, a tie-dyed interaction of the varietal flavors. That is part of the intriguing and endearing nature of this wine.

At about $16 for a bottle it is inexpensive enough to try a bottle without being put out too much if you don't care for the combination. I had this bottle alone but my hunch is that the palate of flavors would lend itself nicely to nearly anything.

This is a wine that I will be purchasing more of in the (near) future if for no other reason than it is so much fun to drink. There is always something seemingly new in the bottle.

So Raise a glass to interesting combinations and an Australian wine worth going back for!

Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Big nose of blackberries and herbs
Smooth palate
Nice finish with toasty vanilla and moderately smooth tannins

This is a round, fruity wine that's very much in the modern-style of winemaking. At $10, it's a good buy. I was actually surprised by it, not expecting much at all. It's really a well-made wine and should be enjoyed when you're in the mood for a good "new world" Cab (in this case, South American). Raise a glass!

Avalon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of berries, cherry, and vanilla, as well as a tad herbal
Plush on the palate
Medium-length finish of toasty oak and vanilla traces, moderate tannins, and with some air blackberry and chocolate notes emerged

Reading my tasting notes, this wine sound amazing. The truth is that it is just okay. Obviously, there is a lot going on in the wine and it delivers some nice layers, but it's really a "get what you pay for" wine and cost a reasonable $14.

I'd give it another try and pair it with other foods. I forget what we were eating at the time, but it was definitely toward the end of the evening and everyone's palate was a little tired. It did seem to breath well, bringing more fruit and depth into the equation. I never detected the anise or licorice that PB found to be emerging, but I pinpointed a lot of other flavors. This was my first experience with this wine, and I'd say it's a decent buy for Napa Valley Cab at $14. Give it a try, and raise a glass!

Chateau Thieuley 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Deep, dark color
Big nose of strawberry fading to smoke and earth
Anise on the palate
Smokey finish

In the affordable Bordeaux category, this one has some interesting characteristics and stands out because of that. With a smokey quality that is different than most, it's worth taking a look at.

I can't say that it's my favorite style, but it is unique and seems to be well made. The store price was $13 on a recent trip to one of the best wine shops in the country- Table & Vine in Northhampton, MA. Their selection of moderately priced wines is endless, including their $10-20 Bordeaux. I see this label in other stores around New England, so it's likely you'll find it in various locations nationally. Raise a glass!

Piper-Heidsieck NV Brut Champagne and Babies wine review by (PB)

So last night we’re waiting around on pins and needles for our last born daughter to give us the eagerly awaited call. It started Saturday morning about 8:00 a.m. Pacific coast time where she lives with our grandson and her husband. She was due May 5th but sure enough she was in labor.

So we waited but not without purpose. I went to the driving range to work out a nasty pull hook that mysteriously appeared with my driver on a recent round of golf.

WARNING–LONG AND BORING DIGRESSION HERE ABOUT MY GOLF GAME. SKIP BRACKETED TEXT IF YOU HATE GOLF. [My game is strange; I have been playing for 13 years now and nothing about my game has ever been normal. From my first day on a course, my driver–typically the most difficult club to hit–was my go-to club; and I was hitting a natural draw–the envy of good golfers everywhere. Then it left instantaneously one day and I was hitting my driver in the fairway about 70% of the time but I was still an above 100 golfer! Finally bringing my round to under 100 and working to an 18 handicap, one day, instantaneously, I couldn’t hit my driver no matter what. And just as mysteriously, it came back only this time with a beautiful and workable fade which I have been diligently working to abolish because I want a straight ball! But last week after my first five rounds of the season hitting driver the best I have ever hit it, mysteriously a pull hook shows up and I have been trying to corr4ct it now for two weeks. (I think I have figured it out...)]

So after the range I dropped in to a local wine store to buy a decent Champagne to celebrate our new grandchild whenever he or she arrived! I grabbed this bottle of Piper-Heidseick because of the reliability of the name. I paid $40 for it which I have to say is the most I have ever spent on a champagne. For some reason, Champagne and other quality sparkling wines just don’t do it for it me. But this was a special occasion.

Finally, close to 10:00p.m. Eastern Daylight Time our new grandson (our 6th grandchild) was born.
The cork was popped and here is the review:

It has a unique bouquet of fruit I can’t identify and a nose full of almonds; really quite nutty!

In the mouth this is dry with solid flavors–one of the most flavorful sparklers I have had--as most seem to taste grapey; not in a good way but in a cheap, sickening way. This was fresh, bright, and formidable with a tartness and good structure that paired well with blue cheese!

The finish of this wine was gentle, nice texture and kept going. Later a creamy sort of aroma emerged in the bouquet with white pepper on the palate. All in all, my wife and I like id but most important, we toasted my new grandson’s arrival in the world. And life is good, so raise a glass!

Turning Leaf Merlot Sonoma Reserve 2003 wine review by (PB)

The Turning Leaf wines I have had in the past were always about the same in quality; basically, ho-hum, to yawn, to yuck. So I was reluctant to try this but Gaiter and Brecher of the Wall Street Journal Friday wine column, listed Turning Leaf’s Merlot (although I am not certain it was this one) as a pretty decent inexpensive Merlot out of the 50 or so they tasted.

I paid $9 for it in Boston. I t has a bouquet that is mostly yeasty on opening with light fruit notes. The pour is medium to light red with a rustic berry nose.

In the mouth it is medium bodied, a bit thin and closed but some cherry notes fighting to emerge. Tannins are pretty nice and all in all fairly well balanced.

With some air, it turns to dark berry fruit, with a tasty, overall solid simple but quality construction. Eventually even some licorice erupts as a welcome addition to this pretty decent Merlot. For the price, I’d raise a glass!

Beaulieu Vineyard Beauzeaux 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Big, rich nose of strawberry, then dried fruit and nuts
Dense, fruity core
Rich finish of chocolate, some licorice, and currants

I was nervous about opening this wine. It thought it might disappoint us, so I even devised a back-up plan to avoid ruining the evening. The in-laws were in town for dinner- PB and his wife. With sophisticated palates, I didn't want to let them down.

Well, the wine was a pleasant surprise and exceeded my expectations! It was really quite good, with lots of layers that came together nicely. The winemaker seems to have some fun with this one, blending Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Charbono, Syrah, Lagrein, Valdiguie, and Touriga Nacionale.

For such an interesting wine that's well-made, it's fairly priced at $26. I bought it two years ago in Florida and had it cellared at 55 degrees. It's very nice right now and worth picking up if you can find it. Raise a glass!

Paolo Scavino Barolo 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Beautiful earthy red color
Massive nose exploding out of the glass, with cherries, spices, vanilla cream, floral notes, and earth
Smooth velvet core
Endless finish, with lots of layers and a meaty quality

Our good friends treated my wife and I to a bottle of this wine. It is awesome! Scavino is one of the masters of Barolo, which is one of the world's great wines. Made from the Nebbiolo grape, Barolo can age gracefully with a long, smooth finish like liquid velvet. The great Barolo masters rank among the world's best artisanal winemakers, and command release prices from $40 to $400 per bottle.

On the price spectrum, this particular wine is a bargain. For $50, you can get a Barolo experience comparable to the most elite wines that go for hundreds. This isn't the case every year, but Scavino pulled it off in 2001. Most other wines from this winery go for $100-225.

For a special occasion, this wine will deliver the goods. If you serve it with meat dishes, rich sauces, or very fragrant food, you just might fall in love. With a little extra spending money, buy two bottles and cellar the other for as long as you want. Just don't miss the opportunity to taste a wine like this now, while it's readily available around the world and capable of being enjoyed in its youth. Raise a glass!

Finca Antigua Crianza 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Lots of layers on the nose: buttered popcorn, toasty oak, vanilla, and some distant cherry
Watery texture, not very plush
Cherry and spice on the palate and finish

I've been sampling a fair number of bargain Spanish wines lately. This one has a lot of flavors and interesting layers, but it's a little disjointed. Party due to the watery texture, the wine seems to have an abundant nose but a weak core.

I paid $13 for this bottle at an excellent wine store. The Spanish section is huge and there are better bargains to be found, I'm sure. Raise a glass of Spanish wine!

Beaulieu Vineyards “Beauzeaux” 2001 wine review by (PB)

Patriot’s Day in New England was a beautiful day and spending it at the home of our daughter and son-in-law and grandson was only made better by another great dinner by my daughter. She takes “stuff” out of the fridge and makes exciting appetizers out of it while (NW) wades through his cellar searching for the right pairing of whatever it is we are having.

After artichokes and roasted peppers and other cool “stuff” we sat to dine over grilled steak, grilled tuna and a mushroom risotto. This B.V. red was wonderful. It was gorgeous in color with a jeweled like garnet hue. The bouquet is full of cherries and dried cherries—interesting!

It is big in the mouth with fruit forward immensity full of fresh cherries and dried cherries, black berries and a hint of blueberries—holy cow, and this is without breathing it yet…

This wine is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Charbono, Syrah, Lagrein, Valdiguie and Touriga Nacionale. I had this wine and reviewed it here June 27, 2005. Go back and read that review to see how wines can change!

After ten minutes of air, licorice notes are coming out with a little chocolate, and a little cinnamon. (NW) paid $26 for this and my comment on tape was “Wow!”

Now what is interesting is that I had the same basic review back in June of 05 as far as the raw elements of the wine but it just didn’t come together in that review. But 10 months later, this wine is wonderful. Maybe my previous review was what some tasters refer to as the “dumb” phase some wines go through. It’s kind of an in between transition of going from a young wine to a mature wine; kind of adolescents when you want to lock your teens away in their room for a couple years. But oh, how they blossom!

Great time, great evening, and a great wine—raise a glass—oh yeah!

Solomon Undhof Hochterrassen 2004 Gruner Veltliner wine review by (PB)

This nearly clear wine was served to me blind by (NW) as we blew into town on a quick trip for a Monday Patriot’s Day. (This is a holiday observed only by Maine and Masaachusetts)

It has a fresh bouquet of citrus, and slight peach with white pepper on the palate that is pronounced. Finish is short and pleasant enough but the wine is straight forward and lacking pizzazz. I guessed it to be “a cheap Chenin Blanc or a cheap Chardonnay.”

(NW) and his wife seemed a bit crestfallen with my guess. (I was worried that I may had just dissed some expensive Burgundy but it was this $12 Austrian wine made from the Gruner Veltliner grape. My daughter said she thought it was my favorite—she was confused thinking of Gewurtztraminer.

This grape is the key grape of Austrian wine and I myself have had only 3 or 4 wines in 30 years of this type. All in all, I thought my guess was pretty good.

If unique is what you seek, this wine is okay but that’s up to you! It was fun raising an unknown glass!

Drylands Sauvignon Blanc 2004 wine review by (PB)

This New Zealand white from the Marlborough region is classic Sauvignon Blanc with super grassy bouquet of tropical fruit, pineapple, and Lychee. (I’m kidding about the lychee; I wouldn’t know one if it bit me!)

It is rich with nice acid and full on the palate with a creamy finish. This is a nice wine that reminds my of my favorite (Monkey Bay S. Blanc). This wine is $12 and another nice wine from New Zealand. Raise a glass.

Beringer Chenin Blanc 2004 Premier Vintage Selection Wine review by (PB)

This previously reviewed wine is brimming with fresh aromas of pineapple and citrus with light peach nose. In the mouth it is solidly balanced with good acid, slightly sweet and a good value at $6. Raise a glass!

Santa Alicia Reserve Carmenere 2003 Review by (billy)

Eyes: deep and thick purple
Nose: hefty jammy dark fruit: plumb and black cherry. Tobacco. Vanilla.
Palate: soft and pleasantly balanced. Not too tannic or acidic. Not as beefy as the thick jammy nose would suggest which is nice. Round mouth feel though a bit concave near the back of the palate. Wonderful flavors of vanilla and black cherry burst.
Finish: lingering black cherry with tobacco and an almost-but-not-quite silky taper.

I paid $9.99 for this at Wine Styles though I have seen it advertised for as little as $6. At this price you really cannot go wrong. This Carmenere comes from the Maipo Valley in Chile. As a Chilean wine, it has a very nice structure and flavor for the price. It is a solid red meat, stew, or hearty vegetarian meal accompanyment.

I am not that familiar iwth the Carmenere varietal so I have no idea how this particular wine would age but I believe that it is probably best drunk now. Some more research bears this out. You can read about it HERE. Carmenere is not a very popular varietal because of its inability to produce "distingusihing" wines. Well, I can say that this was a fine solid drinking wine with some really nice black cherry and vanilla notes. Without much to compare it to in my personal experience, I still label it as a wine to which I Raise a Glass!

Pinot Evil Pinot Noir wine review by (PB)

Sorry but I just can’t stand stupid names (or labels) for wines. This has two strikes against it on both counts. And while you might think this wine must be an American or Aussie creation by the failed and tacky attempt at creative marketing, it is actually French. This wine is a Vin De Pays de I’lle de Beaune, is a pretty color and has a fairly strong bouquet which reminds me of Gamay with strawberry notes. But in the mouth this wine is–and I am not exaggerating–chokingly dry. At the rear of my palate I thought someone had just slit my throat and placed a rosin bag there.

The wine is shallow all the way around with not to much commend it. I don’t know what it cost as I it was brought to my house for Easter dinner. This was NOT the wine the risen Savior made from water...Avoid it and raise a glass of something nice–quickly to get rid of the memory...

Rice Wine, Snake Wine, and the Mekong Delta (NW)

My wife and I just returned from a trip to Hong Kong and Vietnam. It was a fantastic experience and we really enjoyed, in particular, the Vietnamese culture. While touring southern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta area, we had the chance to taste our first wines of the trip. Well, I'm using the term wine liberally. This stuff was moonshine; quality moonshine, though, of which the Vietnamese living in remote fishing villages and orchards seem to produce tons.

Several times, we were offered tiny thimble-sized shot glasses from which we'd sip on various rice wines and other digestives that had a little kick and burn. No Riedel stemware here, just the thimbles. And the wine was poured either from clay jugs or small plastic (former) water bottles. Some had lemony-citrus notes, some were like strong cola, and others had a smooth Scotch-like quality. For the most part, they were delicious in very small quantities.

Obviously, they produce a wide variety of wine and fortified wine. But the star of the show was the snake wine. These wines are poured from glass jars that have a spigot at the bottom, similar to how iced tea is stored and served. Inside the glass jar, a medium-sized python or cobra is coiled up tightly, soaking in the wine. It looks like a snake in formaldehyde from the science museums I remember as a kid. The wine comes out orange in color and is taken once or twice daily in very small quantities as a medicinal wine to fend of illness.

Wow! A very different approach to wine from my daily routine of choosing red or white. It was fascinating to see how this is part of the culture in the Mekong Delta. I highly recommend a trip there and will be assimilating my experiences for a long time to come. Raise a glass!

J.B.M. Sorrel "Le Vignon" Hermitage 2000 Wine Review (NW)

Fragrant nose
Silky, juicy palate and nice overall texture
Sour cherry finish

This wine has really nice texture, but is a little odd. It doesn't seem to all come together. Not only is it somewhat disjointed, the sour finish never developed any richness. This is not a ripe style of wine, of course, and maybe it could benefit from more bottle age. Fortunately, this was not on my dollar as we paid $100 for the bottle at a nice bistro. Hermitage is generally world-class wine, but this one is hard for me to figure out. If you're not paying, raise a glass!

Babich Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Grapefruit and grassy nose
Crisp citrus core
Tart, sharp finish

In a way, this wine is almost too tart due to the sharp finish. Otherwise, it has some of the initial characteristics of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that I've grown to enjoy so much.

This wine costs approximately $12 in the store. In a head to head contest with other $10-12 wines in this same category, I would chose several favorites over this like Monkey Bay. But it's worth a look if you want to find a refreshing Spring wine. Raise a glass!

Note-You can check(PB's)review of the same wine posted March 26.

Wishing Tree Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2004 wine review by (PB)

This is yet another in a long line of Aussie blends that have flooded the American wine market with mediocre wines.

This previously reviewed wine is a medium garnet in color with a bouquet that is fairly mild especially for these two grapes. It has some green notes while the nose is oaky and green peppery yet only mildly.

In the mouth this wine is shallow, very dry and although there is nothing offensive or overtly wrong, it is just plain unremarkable. The finish is the same though a little tannic.

Now let’s be fair; this was a $9 wine and in this case, you get what you pay for. It is what you would expect get for the price. But today’s wine market is so glutted, that even at this price point, you can find many, many much better–even remarkable-wines for the same price. So hunt around and raise a glass!

C.C. Brunello Di Montalcino 1999 wine review by (PB)

This Tuscan gem comes from the hailed vintage of 99 which was given a 97 rating. This wine in particular was given a 90 by The Wine Spectator. I paid $20 for it with a reference price of $40. Now I just wish I could remember where I bought it; possibly Sam’s Club...

This 100% Sangiovese is medium to light garnet on the pour with a wonderful bouquet of big fat berries and light red cherries. The nose is really nice full of cola and root beer notes.

In th mouth, even on opening it is nicely balanced with a good feel with black pepper and rich tannins that are still immature leaving a chewy finish. I’ll breathe it a while.

With air (give it two hours at least) this wine turns nearly elegant with harmonious flavors and aromas all blending together in one unified, balanced delight. It finishes nicely. If I can find more of this, I’m buying whatever I can find! Raise a glass this wonderful–bargain--classic.

Marques Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 wine review by (PB)

This Chilean was one of the first wines from Chile that absolutely won me over to Chile’s wine making prowess. This one was superb when I first reviewed it a couple years ago. I laid one away to put a couple more years on it; this was the wine.

It has a bouquet of berries and spice with room filling aromas; the nose is fruit and oak.

In the mouth it is still tight and age worthy and yet...there is an off flavor/aroma which smells/tastes like “Brett.” (Brett is short for Brettanomyces which is a fungal contaminant.) This is hugely disappointing! Other than that, it had so much potential and while I cannot be sure it is Brett, it is off enough to where I don’t want to finish the bottle. My suggestion–if you have any of this year laying down; open one and see what you think. What else can you do? Raise a glass!

Hogue Merlot 2005 wine review by (PB)

This was another one of Gaiter and Brecher’s wines listed from their review of Merlot’s under $20. It is a Columbia Valley (Washington State) wine and has a fruity bouquet but is simple with a yeasty backbone and the nose is full of cherries and steel.

The palate is coated with baked bread, it is nicely made and well balanced with nice tannins and a finish that is again pretty straight forward. My first writing said “This is a typical Hogue wine—solid but not remarkable.” I remember thinking, “This seems odd to be a Gaiter/Brecher selection; it seems so ordinary. Silly me!

With some breathing the wine opens up to a nice foundation of chocolate and berries with a solidly made structure. It is a little chewy but more interesting than I first thought with a decent finish of fruit that lingers a bit. All in all I liked it and at $11, it is a decent value. But at this price point, it doesn’t come close to the previously reviewed Coppolla Merlot for $14. Raise a glass!

Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 wine review by (PB)

This inexpensive Cab. brought by (NW) was opened after dinner just to see what it was like since he bought it “blind.”

It is cherry red with a nice bouquet with some chocolate hints, blackberry and bramble flavors with a slight dill and anise note.

In the mouth this wine’s first impression was uniquely sour at the very rear palate and yet it wasn’t “sour.” *Hard to describe. (*it is possible that I was in the sub-clinical stage of a naso-pharyngeal infection which manifested a few days later and this may have messed up my taster!)

The wine on opening is tight and a little awkward. With some air the bouquet is changing to a more wild aroma and the palate is getting somewhat bitter? (Again see * above) Licorice and chocolate returns in the bouquet. This has a wild rustic sort of mid-palate with solid fruit and a little stone and tannins that could use another a year or so. All in all I liked it. I guessed a reference point of $14 for this bottle and (NW) confirmed that is exactly what it cost.

Why am I leaving this posted even though it may be continue erroneous due to an impending cold? Because (NW) will also post his review when he gets back in the country and then we can all see if my review was accurate or completely invalid due to an infection. Raise a glass—but not with a cold!

Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Napa Valley review by (billy)

Well it is hard to review a wine when you buy it buy the glass. But I could not down an entire bottle whilst alone on a business trip. So here we go.

I paid $7.25 for this glass of wine in a restaurant in Alaska. I have to say, it was served a bit warm and in a terrible glass - a shallow bowl with "pretty" ridges all around. Blech.

Nose: minerals, black pepper, dark berries. Less big fruit than I would have expected. Nice and more sophisticated nose than I would have expected for the price.

Palate: thick and dry with black pepper and plumb hints. Not badly balanced. Not expertly balanced.

Nose: pulpy dark fruit: plumb, pluot, black and red raspberry make the biggest fruit appearance. Longish finish without turning vegetal.

Overall this is a fine "by the glass" cab. It is a touch more sophisticated than the price point may suggest making it a decent value wine. While the mouth feel is just a passage between a nice nose and nicer finish, the wine overall rates in the "don't shy away from it but don't kill yourself looking for it" area.

Raise a Glass!

Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Pear and a touch of lemon on the nose, along with a slight buttery hint
Lightly creamy texture on the palate, but with a good backbone and acidity
Graceful finish, oak accents, and some lingering cream

This Chardonnay does a nice balancing act. It is neither the ultra-crisp, unoaked style, nor the big, creamy, buttery style. It lands somewhere in between, but brings the best qualities from both ends of the spectrum. I respect that and think this wine is well-made.

Of course, its intended purpose is to be a cut above the regular KJ Chardonnay that is on every shelf in America. While it achieves that, it's obviously more expensive at approximately $18. I think it's worth the extra money, but that doesn't necessarily make it a great value. It's a well-made wine at a fair price. Raise a glass!

E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Light brick red color
Fragrant, soft fruit nose slow to emerge with cherry and plum
Old world style, with well-structured core and a smooth palate
Lingering finish with a touch of pepper

I'm not sure I saw this wine evolve fully because I rushed through it at a business dinner. It definitely took some time to open up. With an old-world elegance and a refined composition, the fruit was slow to emerge in the glass. Some of the others at the table didn't care for this wine. I think it was too much of a departure from their standard fruit-forward wines.

For an accurate picture of this wine, I'd have to try it again. In some ways, Chateauneuf-du-Pape can be an acquired taste. And at $70 in the restaurant, this one wasn't cheap. Raise a glass!

Dolceoro Moscato D'Asti 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Large, irregular bubbles
Nice floral and lightly fruity nose
Round and smooth core
Graceful finish

I found this wine on sale for $7, so I loaded up with a few bottles. This Moscato D'Asti is a real treat either before a meal with finger food or after a meal with dessert. It is light, sweet, and bubbly- which can make any occasion seem extra special. While not the best Moscato D'Asti, it's one of the least expensive that still seems well made. Raise a glass!

Renee Barbier Catalunya wine review by (PB)

Sometimes buying a really cheap wine will surprise you...not this time though.

My wife bought this $5 and some change wine to use in a seafood soup recipe. I thought for kicks I would review it. It actually has a pretty nice and very strong nose of tropical fruit. It would be better used as perfume though than to drink.
In the mouth this pale straw Spanish white is dull, flat, lifeless, a little bitter and puckery and just blah all the way around. Finish is yucky–that’s a technical wine term for, uh, “yucky.”

The worst part about this wine is that some people will buy it because it is cheap and will think this is what white wine tastes like. No! Don’t do it! This will be okay to cook with but even there you need to be careful; never use wine you have had stored for weeks even to cook with. Rule of thumb is, "If you wouldn't drink it, don't cook with it!"

Buy a bottle of real wine to drink and you don’t have to spend much more than what this one cost; you just need to know what you are buying; which is why you have us! :)

Raise a glass--of something nice like a Gewurztraminer from Fetzer!

Chateau Plaisance 2000 wine review by (PB)

I tasted this wine back in January of 2005 (check out that entry for comparison) and liked it enough to buy another bottle and lay it down for another year. Big Mistake! This was a big disappointment. The nose is now vegetal with immense green pepper nose–not pleasing at all–there is a little dill and black pepper underneath.

In the mouth this wine is austere, tight and chewy, and bitter. I wrote, “Not a nice wine!”

So there ya go; I put this wine down being from the fabled vintage of 2000 and even though it is only a “Premiere Cotes De Bordeaux, it should have done better than it did. Oh well, that is the world of inexpensive wine (this was $18 on sale for $13) which again only underscores that most wines are meant to be consumed young. Raise a glass of something else.