Ridge Geyserville 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nose opens with air to show ripe berries, cherry, and plum with a sweet note
Rich but classy and well-structured on the palate
Elegant, balanced finish

This wine tastes well made. It has nice flavors, but is also elegant and balanced. A bit slow to open up, it remains reserved for Zinfandel. This seems to be the style of Ridge wines, in my experience. Instead of big, spicy fruit this wine delivers balance and harmony. In part, that's due to the blending. If you notice on the label above, there's a fairly significant percentage of Carignane along with Petite Sirah. The Carignane gives the wine some of it's backbone and structure.

You'll pay up for this style at Ridge, though. They have a terrific reputation and many of their wines are now $30 and up. This bottle cost $60 at a top restaurant, which isn't too bad considering it typically retails for around $25-30. Raise a glass!

Lenz Old Vines 2001 Merlot Review by Billy

Full disclosure--whenever our friends from various wineries send us wine to review we are sure to let you know that. The folks at Lenz Winery on Long Island New York sent each of us at the wine cask 6 bottles to review. This is the fourth of the 6 Lenz wines I have reviewed.

While I consulted no tasting notes or other reviews in the writing of this review. However, I did stumble across some hints while doing other reviews that this was one of the "premier" Lenz wines that has been favorably compared to such greats as Château Pétrus. I say this in the interest of full disclosure. As objective as I may try to be, my expectations were naturally high for this wine.

Upon opening:
Nose: Jammy plumb, black pepper spice, anise, and vanilla oak.
Palate: tight and acidic on opening but a very good structure that is extremely promising.
Finish: light and lingering with plumb skins, green grape stem and dark fruit.

After about 90 minutes I take another pour and I am excited.
Nose: The nose is rich with vanilla, black pepper and dark berry.
Palate: Structure changes to a nice full and firm balance revealing plumb and jam fruit layers with toasted cinnamon. Really quite lovely from start to finish on the palate.
Finish: rich with some acids that linger at the back of the tongue.

What is so engaging about this wine, I think, is it's firmness. It has the complexity of a fantastic old world style merlot (old world in this sense as the opposite of a fruit bomb). While fully engaging on the nose with ripe merlot scents and pleasingly oaky vanilla, it does not turn flabby or mushy in the mouth. While in the mouth it is less like chewing on a marshmallow (think of the feel, not the taste) and more like savoring a small, fingernail sized, piece of dark chocolate, or truffle, or good cheese (again, think not of the taste of those, but the way they would feel in your mouth). The flavor and feel is firm, it is compact but it is also complex and layered and rewarding.

Some of the best wines in the world are crafted in this way and it is a testament to the skill and care of the folks at Lenz that they were able to achieve such a wine. This is a good wine and you should be prepared to pay for the quality and time it takes to craft.

You can get a price on this wine HERE at Lenz.

Raise a Glass!

Silverado Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Big nose of berries, currants, and some chocolate
Voluptuous texture, round and smooth on the palate
Toasty finish with layers of dark fruit and vanilla

I've seen this wine on a lot of restaurant menus lately. In fact, it was the "high end" Cab offering at two restaurants I've been to in the past month. Both restaurants had the price by the glass at $18, which is no surprise considering the bottle retails for around $40 in a wine shop.

Both times I had this wine, it paired just fine with my steaks. I wonder, though, if the wine is a little bit too soft. The flavor profile is nice, but it seems a little round and smooth. I know that sounds critical, but for $40 in Bordeaux you can get a wine with good flavors and a backbone that suggests strength, elegance, and ageing potential.

Prices for Napa Valley Cab never surprise me though. They are high and trending higher. For an expense account wine at a steakhouse, when you don't want to spend over $100 a bottle, this will probably please your guests. Raise a glass!

Rocca Delle Macie Chianti Classico Riserva 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nose of cherry, red candy, and a trace of earth and mushrooms
Smooth texture on the palate
Nice finish with spices, some chocolate and more undertones of earth

When I find good Chianti Classico, it blows me away. The good ones have some fruit and new oak layers, but a subtle earthiness and "old-world" elegance that pairs so well with food. Wines that deliver this balance are cutting edge in Chianti because it's an art form to marry the best of the old world and the best of the new.

Look for the Riserva wines right now. Many are from the 2001 vintage and have a little barrel and bottle age. You won't have to pay up a lot over a regular Chianti Classico bottling if you hunt around. For example, I found this wine on sale twice for just $13, and their non-Riserva wine usually sells for about that price. Grab the Riserva if you find it, or any Riserva priced in the teens. More and more, these wines are the perfect balance between old and new styles. Raise a glass!

Raise a glass!

Lenz Old Vines 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Review by Billy

Full disclosure--whenever our friends from various wineries send us wine to review we are sure to let you know that. The folks at Lenz Winery on Long Island New York sent each of us at the wine cask 6 bottles to review. This is the third of the 6 Lenz wines I have reviewed. I consulted no tasting notes or other reviews in the writing of this review.

We had some dinner guests over for dinner this evening and I wanted to have something special. Given that I had this bottle at the ready and needed to do a review anyway, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. What a treat! I am glad I did.

Here are the notes I wrote in my journal from a bit earlier this evening:
In the glass this 2001 Lenz Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon was an inky plumb at the core with a fireengine red at edge. Still showing youthful in the glass suggesting aging potential.

Nose: Leather, Vanilla Creme, Dark Cherry. Very Rich and promising.
Palate: Fantastic balance and huge rich mouth feel.
Finish: soft and tapering in an even decrescendo. Not overly green or peppery. Quite a fine wine.

I have to be honest, this is a great Cab and able to stand toe to toe against any premium California cab and not blink first. I have to admit that my expectations of a New York Cab were not great but this bottle has substantially raised the bar.

In a word, WONDERFUL!

You can order direct from Lenz Winery on Long Island, NY HERE.

See PB's review of this wine HERE.

Raise a Glass.

Peralta Syrah 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Very fruity nose of wild red berries
Smooth core with notes of anise and spice
Good finish, tapers with more wild berries and a touch of pepper

This is what reasonably-priced California Syrah should taste like. It has balance, layers, and a little pizazz. To me, this tastes better than a lot of Australian Shiraz at the same price point. According to the Peralta website, the reference price is $11. I paid $14 in Massachusetts. I might be able to do better for $14-15 with an Australian, but $11 makes this wine a compelling story. Raise a glass!

Chateau Saint Martin de la Garrigue Bronzinelle Coteaux du Languedoc 2003 Real Time Wine Review (NW)

Cherry and plum on the nose
Juicy, vibrant core of fruit on the palate
A touch of herbs and pepper on the finish

I've been on a wine journey through Southern France for the past six months or so and I've discovered that a lot of good value wines are being produced in the Coteaux du Languedoc, for example. While I was in a local wine shop recently, I came across this wine. It had a big write-up attached to it by a shop employee, praising the wine for a rich flavor profile, roundness, and tasty spices from the oak.

What? Maybe the tag was in the wrong place. This is not a rich, round wine with generous spices. In fact, this is a fruity wine with a youthful, vibrant core and a lean, herbal finish that makes me think of Grenache baking in the hot August sun on a dusty hillside in Provence. Oh well, it's still a decent wine and a good value. I paid $13 for the wine. Raise a glass!

Lenz Merlot 2000 Review by Billy

Full disclosure--whenever our friends from various wineries send us wine to review we are sure to let you know that. The folks at Lenz Winery on Long Island New York sent each of us at the wine cask 6 bottles to review. This is the second of the 6 Lenz wines I have reviewed.

See my review of their 2004 Chardonnay HERE. You can also see PB's review of this vintage 2000 Merlot here. No tasting notes were consulted for this review.

Nose:Heady! Smokey. Tar is here which is a nice old world style departure from the heavy fruit bombs of many recent western hemisphere merlots. I also pick up cassis with cherry hints and obligatory oak with some nice cedar dimensions.
Palate: tart and tight on opening. Balance is good though not a rich as promised by the nose. Flavors fall off the palate quickly and do not spread through the mouth for a less than full mouth feel.
Finish: Finishes nicely but shallow. Creamy oaked finish with cherry.

After breathing this for about an hour
Nose: Really opened up with more fruit of plumb, cassis and tar. Cedar and oak still pronounced.
Palate: The tannins have unwound quite a bit. This leaves the acid significantly more pronounced to nearly the point of distraction. Still less than full in the mouth though still quite nice.
Finish:Staid.

Overall I liked this wine while not being blown away by it. The nose was so richly layered and earthy I feel I could have been drinking something much more expensive than the $23 price point on this wine. This was a great bottle if only for the multifaceted and complex aromas the wine gave off. While the mouth feel (I am very big on "feel" in my mouth - much more so than simple sweet/salty/sour/bitter taste) is less than desired in the wake of the robust and heady nose, it is certainly not bad. This is a fine merlot for pairing with an evening meal.

You can go HERE to order this wine direct from Lenz.

Raise a Glass!

Lenz White Label Chardonnay 2004 Review by Billy

Full disclosure--whenever our friends from various wineries send us wine to review we are sure to let you know that. The folks at Lenz Winery on long Island New York sent each of us at the wine cask 6 bottles to review. The ironic bit is that while they sent this to me nearly a month ago, I have been stuck in Manhattan for 32 days straight! From November 6 - December 8 I was on a work assignment there. So while this bottle and 5 others were waiting for me here in Minnesota, I was closer to Lenz than the bottles were to me. Either way, it was very nice to come home to this great sample package from Lenz Winery. No tasting notes were consulted for this review.

So here are my notes from tasting the 2004 Lenz White Label Chardonnay from the North Fork of Long Island, NY.
Nose: Pear, Citrus, Warm Bread, and softened cardamom.
Palate: Good structure and strong acid but not overstrong. Wet metal accents which are subtle and interesting and nice. A touch of chamomile on the tongue.
Finish: citrusy and smooth. Not Green which is nice. Long and subtle. Elegant.

Overall this is quite a nice chardonnay. It is creamy at the back of the palate and not overwhelmed with woody or oaky tastes. It is full and round in the mouth. The pear and citrus aromas and flavors work very well together as the prominent dominant profile. The underlayers of softly floral chamomile and the memory of cardamom spice with the mineraliness of the wet metal mouth feel add dimension and depth to this Chardonnay. I like it.

The price point on this wine is $11.99 and you can order direct from Lenz HERE. At that price it is a very good deal and stacks up very well against other, similarly and higher priced Chardonnays.

Be sure to read PB's review here.

Raise a Glass!

Dusted Valley Vinters Old Vine Chardonnay 2003 Review by Billy

Sometimes the bargain wines are in the bargain bin for a reason. This was one such wine. While I certainly cannot complain about the $5.75 price I paid, I can certainly complain about the wine.

Dusted Valley Vinters Old Vine Chardonnay hails from Walla-Walla Washington. Here are my notes:
Nose: a bit buttery but overpowering acitone and sharp lemon citrus.
Palate: OUCH! (yes, I actually wrote ouch in my journal). Overbalanced acid makes me pucker. Heavy citrus with sour grapefruit like acidity. Some chardonnay flavor buried in there.
Finish: green grape stem finish.

It should be noted that I tasted this again about an hour after I opened it. Still makes me pucker. Wines just shouldn't do that.

Still, Raise a glass.

Lenz Cuvee 2000 Wine Review (NW)

In the interest of full disclosure, this wine was a complimentary bottle from Lenz Winery. They shipped some wines to The Wine Cask blog for review, recognizing that wine blogs generate positive discussions on the world of wine. My tasting notes are as follows:

Medium tight bubbles and a nice pale color
Apples on the nose
Citrus core with good acidity
Finish is nutty, with more citrus and a bitter note

Made in the "Methode Champenoise", this is a serious sparkling wine. It has elegance and some depth. The citrus core provides structure on the palate and the nutty flavor on the finish adds complexity. However, there is a bitter note on the finish that is a bit distracting.

I shared this bottle with my wife and two friends. We paired it with a sampling of appetizers, and it stood up well to the variety of flavors. Sparkling wines are a great way to kick off an evening dinner party as they add to the festive atmosphere and offer something different from still table wines.

Lenz is a winery on the North Fork of Long Island. They have quite a line-up of high quality wines that we'll be sampling over the coming weeks. This Cuvee has a reference price of $30. Raise a glass!

Lenz Winery Chardonnay “White Label” 2004 wine review by (PB)

Another sample wine from our friends at Lenz Winery in Long Island (North Fork) New York is a gentle gold color with a pronounced bouquet of apple, pear and citrus and a definite touch of *vanilla. (*Vanilla flavors/aromas usually come from the oak in which the wine is aged however this “White Label” Chard is unoaked. Hey, I just call it as I sees it!)

Also note that I review all wines without reading anything about the wine including the winery’s description of the wine which it often prints on the label.

The citrus base is prominent and while fruit is a little thin, this is a solid--even ideal--food wine with a vibrantly acidic foundation. For a $12 Chardonnay, it is straight forward, uncomplicated and well made. Raise a glass!

Rodney Strong Zinfandel 1986 (Sonoma county) wine review by (PB)

This is an interesting–and instructive–story! I was in Boston with (NW) on a wine hunt and found this twenty year old Zin at the Brookline Liquor Mart. BLM is a really nice store with a huge selection of wines at all price points.

I found this bottle marked down to $16 from around $22 and the age of the wine intrigued me. Try finding a 20 year old Zin of any stripe but this one was just a very normal, $5 bottle of table wine when it was released; one which the Wine Spectator gave a 79 rating to.

I grabbed the bottle and took it to a guy who I believe was one of the owners of BLM. I thought maybe he might know something about the wine I didn’t because there is no way anyone in their right mind would buy a 20 year old everyday wine at any price. They just aren’t made to age and the likelihood of it being even potable is remote. Most wines are meant to be drunk within 5 years (for reds) and even less for most whites. I didn’t really care to just throw $15 down the sink.

I asked, “What are the odds that this wine will even be drinkable?” The man took the bottle and held it up to light and pondered it. I was skeptical about what seemed to be a “show” more than anything. “The guy said, something like, “It still has a pretty decent red and not much draw down.” I said, “You can see that through the tinted glass?” He didn’t say anything.

I asked again, “So is it going to be drinkable?” He said, “It could be?” Talk about a non-answer.

Som while skeptical and disappointed by what I thought was a less than straight forward answer, I thought, for $15 it will be an education anyway.

Well, (NW) was up for the weekend and we opened this 20 year old (almost 21 year old) run of the mill wine.

Here is the review:
The cork took some effort to remove as it pretty well disintegrated on removal. The color is brick red with amber touches at the rim the typical mark of age and yet it looked better than I expected. The bouquet actually was surprisingly okay though light with some spice hints and very light fruit notes. It is a really mellow bouquet. This too was all positive so far...

In the mouth, I was expecting to have to spit but to my surprise, it too was truly “round,” subtle, nothing remarkable of course accept that it was even drinkable after all these years. I was impressed! That this Sonoma County wine lasted all this time is remarkable and quite unusual.

So, if you find a wine of this caliber, and it is this old, pass it up unless you are willing to write off the experience to education because chances are, you will not fare as well as we did.

I am still skeptical of the man’s response to me at BLM but in light of the outcome I have to give benefit of doubt. Lastly–this wine was rated 79 points on its release 2 decades ago. I would give this wine today, a better score than that! . So raise a glass to the adventure that wine is.

Feudo Arancio Nero D’Avola 2004 wine review by (PB)

I am sitting doing one of my favorite things–I am reading a great wine magazine–The Wine Enthusiast in this case–while reviewing this wine. This issue of the W.E. happens to be the top 100 wines of 2006.

I’ll explain as I go along; I have liked everyone of the last three years of this wine by this producer yet it’s been ages since I have put a wine in the recommended category on our side bar. As I am tasting this wine, I am saying to myself, this wine is clearly a SUPER value wine that will make our recommended wine list. AS I am writing my review, I turn the page in the W.E. to the “Top 100 Best Buys” of 2006. Guess what wine makes #18 scoring 88 points? You guessed it; THIS wine. And I paid only $6 for it at Kappy’s (a chain in Boston) on a recent visit to (NW).

This wine is a pretty cherry red with bready notes in the bouquet with plenty of fresh red fruit and a nose with a touch of spice? Eucalyptus? And definitely licorice!

In the mouth right on opening this wine is well made with a slightly sweet impression with loads of fruit, cedar notes, and fine tannins. It is nice right now!

With some air, it gets only better. It is still bready with gobs of fruit, nice structure, and is just a plain GOOD wine. I have to buy a load of this and I suggest you do the same! Now raise a glass and check it out!

Beaulieu Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Blackberry jam nose
Herbs and cocoa on the palate
Finishes with berries and a layer of olives

I enjoyed this wine. It has some interesting nuances and is knit together well. There isn't much of that "Rutherford dust" that people talk about, but it tastes like a decent Cab.

I've seen a pretty broad range of prices for this wine, from about $19 to $26 for a 750 mL bottle. I was in the hunt for a half bottle recently, and picked one up for $14. It was just the right wine for the evening, and appreciated it's classic Cab characteristics. Raise a glass!

Nieddera Contini 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Rich nose of plum, cherry, and sweet spices
Equally rich and fruity on the palate
Soft, smooth finish

I recently had a glass of this wine at Mario Batali's Babbo in New York City, which cost$14. It's the style of Italian red that I like right now, with rich flavors and a smooth profile.

This wine is from Sardinia, and I haven't had a chance to do any research on it yet. Sardinian wines are showing up more often in the wine shops I visit. I've sampled a few, but this is the best so far. The others were lean and overly herbal.

If you like Italian wine, keep an eye on Sardinia. Some unique offerings are starting to show up. Raise a glass!

Alfalfa Farm White Table Wine NV Wine Review (NW)

Nose has notes of grapefruit and apple
Slightly "spritzig" on the palate
Clean, fruity finish- somewhat green with a floral touch

Alfalfa Farms, in Topsfield, MA, is the closest winery to my home. I heard they produce decent white wines, so I decided to start by trying their non-vintage white table wine. According to the winemaker, it's a blend of estate-grown Vidal Blanc grapes and Californian Chardonnay. This produces a nice balance of fruit and an underlying greenish flavor. I paid $15 for the bottle at the winery and will plan another visit to try one of their other wines. Raise a glass!

Septima 2004 Malbec Cabernet Review by Billy

Now this is what I am talking about! I had a bottle of this ($36) at the same restaurant where I had the Storybrook Zin (reviewed below). And I was impressed! The $36 Manhattan Restaurant price means that this is most likely a bargain wine in your local store (I have seen it for as little ast $7.00 online).

It is an Argentinian wine that is a Malbec (60%) Cabernet (40%) blend.
Nose: Cracked black pepper, dark blackberry, slightly minerally which is nice and a bit unusual.
Palate: full and rich though slightly overacidic.
Finish: smooth and soft at the very back.

With time the nose reveals dark currant, blackberry and tobacco with some black cherry emerging after a while. The Palate is almost well balanced though not quite achieving that expert plateau but the play between the acid and tannins is slightly uneven. The finish after time reveals dark cherry and some green pepper.

Overall, this was really quite nice for the price. The body here was a nice contrast to the Zinfandel we had previously. I liked it and, for the price, I will definitely be looking is up when I get back to Minnesota.

Cheers and Raise a Glass!

Storybrook Mountain Vineyards 2002 Napa Zinfandel Review by Billy

Nose: Tight, berryfruit, slight rasin, almost but not quite jammy.
Palate: acidic which is nice. The mouth feel is "wet" and liquid - to me a sign of a lack of body. Not very dry which is ok but not great for a napa zin.
Finish: dryness appears at the back of the tongue and on the finish. there is some green stemmy hints that linger.

Overall I was unimpressed with my first selection. I'm a big fan of California Zinfandel (the Cline Ancient Vine Zins from 2003 - 2005 are some one of my favorites) but the 2002 Storybrook Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel was slightly limp and flacid and only a so-so.

This zin from the Mayacamas Range in Napa listed for about $56 a bottle at the restaurant where I had it. For the price, even in Manhattan, you can do better.

Still, Raise a Glass!

Foppiano Petite Syrah 2003 wine review by (PB)

This Russian River Valley Wine has a heavy garnet color that you can see on the swirl with a dark fruit bouquet which lies under a layer of cedar or menthol.

It is full bodied and hyper tannic, bone drying, suck the saliva out of your mouth dry, tight and closed.

With breathing this wine is masculine and bold with very ripe blackberry plum with dried cherries with a tang! It is steely and dry as dust with toast notes. This wine is a WWA wrestler’s kind of wine and needs a food pairing that is up to the challenge. Not a wussy wine to say the least. I received it for my birthday from my aging hunting partner who is a deer’s best friend...I have a reference price of $18. If you’re in the right mood, raise a glass!

Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 wine review by (PB)

This Sonoma wine is a pretty ruby with big fresh fruit bouquet of black cherries.

The palate is tight all around but with breathing it opens to a wine with good structure. The flavors are big and balanced and varietal with some spice and loads of black cherry/berry fruit. A nice inexpensive example of the grape and a big value at $13. Raise a glass!

Cotes Du Ventoux 2003 (Jaboulet Isnard) wine review by (PB)

It is lighter red in color and tart bouquet with shallow fruit. In the mouth it is better than the bouquet might indicate.

With air, it is juicy marked by pepper and dried cherries. It is a good example of a southern Rhone wine. I paid $6 for it and saw it for $11 in another shop the same day. Raise a glass.

Perrin Reserve 2004 Cotes Du Rhone wine review by (PB)

Crisp garnet in color with gentle but fragrant bouquet marks this Southern France wine. It is really closed on opening with peppery and hot tones.

With air, the wine is full of pepper and classic old world wine. It is made from 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault. It does not taste like Grenache but its not bad. Wine Spectator rated this wine 84 points--not the 87 I had originally thought--which is a fair review. For $9, it is just “okay.” (Note--comments below)

Columbia Crest Cabernet/Merlot Two Vines 2002 wine review by (PB)

This is just one more value wine from the Washington State producers who just turn out quality wine at bargain prices almost flawlessly. This wine is uncomplicated with rich dark fruit and a deep garnet color.

It is sweeter in style on the palate with toast but a bit rough on opening.

With some air, the bouquet is pronounced with tart cranberry notes. It is a bit puckery in the mouth but for $6, it’s pretty nice! Raise a glass.

Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 wine review by (PB)

This Washington State wine was anotyher of our many Thanksgiving wines. It is garnet to the rim with a bouquet of restrained berry fruit.
In the mouth this wine has full flavors of dark berries, toast, solid tannins on opening.

With some air time, the tannins are tight with strong berry flavors. Nothing stands out, just an all around solid wine in the new world style. I paid $16 for it on sale. Should run around $18. Raise a glass.

Felton Road Pinot Noir 2003 wine review by (PB)

For variety, friends of ours and (NW’s) who spent some time in New Zealand brought this Central Otago New Zealand Pinot for Thanksgiving dinner.

It has a raspberry bouquet with a slight Pinot Noir “stink” that often accompanies “good” Pinots. Behind it all is a layer of deep spice.

In the mouth this wine is slightly tart—pleasantly so—with a touch of black pepper and fruit on opening. This wine is well made and high quality. Breathing only intensifies everything mentioned. This is why New Zealand is gaining ground on the rest of the world. It just keeps producing some really nice wines and even at $45, this was a solid value and another great pairing for Thanksgiving dinner. Raise a glass to K and E R!

Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 wine review by (PB)

This wine from (NW’s) cellar was in a magnum format. (a magnum of wine equals two regular 750 ml bottles)

It had a nice ruby color with a fruity bouquet of currants and ultra ripe blackberries.
In the mouth the wine is essentially perfect with respect to balance, age, maturity, but needs a little time to breathe out of the bottle.

With some air, there is fruit galore with some nutmeg in the finish. This is good example of a “round” wine. It paired quite well with our turkey dinner. Raise a glass!

Le Brun Serveny 1995 Brut Millesime Champagne wine review by (PB)

When it comes to sparkling wines, I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t seem to review them very purposefully. There—you have full disclosure. I have had a fairly old Dom Perignon and could tell you it what it was like accurately and I know a “bad” sparkler when I taste it, but as far as knowing what is mediocre from good from exceptional, there is something about my palate that just isn’t there! Maybe I just haven’t had enough of them. All that being said, (NW) broke out this 11 year old champagne for Thanksgiving. It is 100 % Chardonnay and is considered a superior wine value in vintage champagnes. (That’s from my research—you couldn’t prove it by me nor do I even know what it cost.)

The bouquet was chocked full of nuttiness with pin-prick bubbles that were in short supply; a product of its age???

In the mouth the wine is quite mellow and nuanced with citrus and more nutty flavors. It was “good” but whether it was really good, great, or just O.K. read someone else’s review and then raise a glass!

L’Ancien Beaujolias Nouveau Jean Paul Brun Terres Dorees 2006 wine review by (PB)

I have never seen this Nouveau anywhere so when I spied it in Boston for $11, I grabbed it. It has a real purple pour which it should in light of it being fresh squeezed form the vines as all nouveau is but others tend to be more cherry in color.

The bouquet of this wine was really nice with strawberries and a little raspberry touch with bubble gum—I’m serious—in the background. It is classic Gamay in the mouth with solid structure, good flavors and just plain delicious. Better than the ubiquitous DuBoeuf Nouveau you see everywhere. Grab one of you see it and slosh it down; its refreshing! Raise a glass.

Champalou 2004 Vouvray (La Cuvee De Fondreaux) wine review by (PB)

This French Chenin Blanc is pale straw in color with a nice bouquet of pineapple and minerals with citrus and apple.

It pushes green apple fruit on the palate. Nice! This was great with the appetizers we served and the longer it was open the better it became.

For the $14 I paid for it (it was on sale from $16) it was a really nice food wine and fine all by itself. Raise a glass!

Rosenblum Zinfandel 2001 Richard Sauret Vineyards wine review by (PB)

One of our plethora of Thanksgiving wines we had to commemorate our thankfulness for all the blessings we enjoy and is holding steady with a solid garnet color to the rim. It has a room filling bouquet of juicy fresh black cherry fruit. In the mouth this wine has a luxurious texture and heft. It is tight on opening and needs some time to come around but even still has juicy tannins and plush flavors waiting to burst forth.

With 15 minutes of air raisins are coming up with cedar or eucalyptus in the nose.

With some breathing this wine became a little more chewy which is unusual and more raisins on the palate. Close to 40 minutes of air time and chocolate layer with big blackberry fruit emerges with a wonderful caraway finish. I loved it! Be sure to scroll down and catch (NW'S) review of the same wine. Raise a glass!

Rosenblum Richard Sauret Vineyard Zinfandel 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of raspberry cream, black cherry, and roses
Fairly tightly wound on the palate with dark fruit
Elegant, structured finish with faint layers of vanilla emerging with air

I enjoyed a number of wines with PB of this blog over the Thanksgiving weekend. We have sampled a number of the Rosenblum single-vineyard Zinfandels this year and figured it was time to pop the cork on the 2001 Richard Sauret.

We didn't pair this with the Thanksgiving turkey- this was a Wednesday night wine with pasta. The reason is that I expected this wine to be big and over the top in ripe fruit and alcohol. In fact, this was not the case. It was rather well-balanced and refined.

Because it seemed a little tight at first, we decanted it and gave it plenty of air. It loosened up to reveal some additional flavors, but remained elegant and balanced. I really enjoyed it.

I paid $26 for the wine three years ago in Florida. Perhaps the additional bottle aging in my cellar worked in its favor and helped refine the profile. It did get big scores from critics on release, for example, 92 points from Wine Spectator.

Good Zinfandel is a real treat. Raise a glass!

Edna Valley Paragon Syrah 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Big, rich nose of blackberry, blueberry, and plum
Smooth core with some herbal and pepper tones
Smooth finish with a touch of chocolate

I was in the mood for a good domestic Syrah. When I found this on sale for $15 at a local gourmet market, I decided to give it a try. Overall, it's well made and has a good balance to it. This wine would please many palates. The only criticism is that the finish isn't quite as rich and lingering as I would have expected.

Domestic Syrah is still under-valued and under-appreciated. This is a pretty good Syrah that I just grabbed off the shelf without any prior knowledge- and was pleasantly rewarded. Try doing that with a domestic Cab for $15 and your chances of disappointment are considerably higher. Raise a glass!

Lenz Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon wine review by (PB)

This was one of the six wines sent to us by our friends at Lenz Winery on Long Island. (See disclaimer and previous review of their Merlot)

Sharing Thanksgiving with my daughter and (NW) in Boston we wanted to taste this wine together. It was served to us with one other wine in a tandem blind tasting. In other words, two wines, which we knew would be served but we didn’t know which was which.

Both (NW) and I pegged the New York wine against the Washington State wine. Here are my notes; (NW’s) will follow later.

Tight stingy bouquet with green pepper, herbal nose. It is coarsely varietal, austere and rustic with austere finish; more Old World in style; needs air. (Just on the smell, I figured this to be the NY State wine as opposed to the New World style of the other wine.)

With some breathing, the herbal tones disappear to reluctantly give up fruit and pepper in the nose. In the mouth this wine gives forth loads of fruit, brown sugar and cinnamon flavors. Some plum and blackberry fruit ride along. This wine runs about $30. You need a discriminating palate to appreciate this wine. Raise a glass!

Rombauer Chardonnay (Carneros) 2004 wine review by (PB)

Well, Thanksgiving day is always a festive time and when (NW) and myself happen to be together on that festive day, it means wine a plenty. We had a total of 10 wines between the night before, the day of and the day after. We sacrifice our free time and our wants and desires for the soul purpose of being able to inform you of what works and what doesn’t; what’s good and what’ not so good. Yes, we do it ALL for you. Okay maybe not so much, but you are always in mind! For the next few days you will be reading about the wines we experienced from the vantage points of two of our three reviewers.

Unfortunately (Billy) was duty bound in Times Squares over the holiday slaving away for “The man” and his family. We missed you Beege!

Our adventure began with (NW) coming out of his walk-in cellar with a half bottle of Rombauer Chardonnay which is one of his favorites when he’s in the mood for this type of Chard. I had never had it as it is a bit pricey running about $30 for a full bottle.

This Chard is a pale golden with a wonderful bouquet of Crème Brulee all the way with pumpkin spice in the nose. Really nice!

In the mouth this wine is almost thick yet it is supple with marvelous acid and a fruit laden buttery feel in the mouth. The finish just keeps on giving. I concluded my notes with “Wow!” So this was the first fitting glass we raised—for YOU of course—and we did many more so drop by again!

Allende Rioja 2003 Review by Billy

I wrote before that I was in Manhattan on Business. Well I am still here and will be spending Thanksgiving here as well (thankfully my family was able to fly out to spend it with me).

Last night I had the chance to eat at a nice little place called Artisanal located at
2 Park Avenue in Manhattan. While there the fetching Mrs. Billy, the generous Mr Boss-Mann and I enjoyed a wine and cheese flight (see the three wines I tasted immediately below this post) as well as a bottle of this 2003 Allende Rioja (from the Rioja region of Spain).

This is a Rioja made from 100% Tempranillo (the grape varietal, pronounced temp-rah-NEE-yo) which is one of my personal favorites.

Upon opening the 2003 Allende had the following characteristics
Nose: supple blackbery, leather and tobacco, cherry and vanilla creme.
Palate: tight and acidic. needs to unwind. balance will come with some air time
Finish: tight tight tight.

The 2003 Allende Tempranillo grapes are unusually high in acid (earlier harvest maybe?) which makes the wine seem so tight at first. However, the nose is classic Tempranillo - soft vanilla creme and supple dark berry with some leathery complexity- this is why I love the varietal so much.

After about a half hour of air time I take down this review in my notes:
Nose: mellows dramatically with time. Pronounced rasin and tobacco now. Muted dark fruit (plumb, currant). Not nearly as much cherry as before.
Palate: Much better balance with just a bit of air time. The tannins come out of hiding and bitterness receeds. Quite nice though not as full in the mouth as I would have liked.
Finish: Dried cherries (so THAT'S where the cherry moved to). Some fruity feel at the back of the tongue. Lingering. Not as round as other Tempranillos. Nice though.

This is definitely a wine I will like to try again.

So Hello and Happy Thanksgiving from the Big Apple. Don't forget to Raise a Glass on our behalf and give thanks to the Creator of the vine!

Montes Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 review by Billy

Nose: Bland, blah. Where is it?
Palate: limp, flacid. What is in my mouth?
Finish: short, shallow.

The big loser of the evening wine flight was this Montes Reserve Cab from Chile. Overall one to avoid because there is not really anything there. Perchance I got a bad bottle, though the wine was not "corked". Perchance it was the last of a bottle that had been open too long. Nevertheless, it was worth avoiding.

Dolcetto d'Alba Scarzello 2003 review by Billy

Nose: light berry, strawberry, creamy vanilla
Palate: round and soft tannins.
Finish: black cherry cola and soft redfruit creamily melt away.

This was my favorite of the flight I tasted. Big soft berries without being jammy or overpowering. Smooth.

Babich Riesling 2005 Review by Billy

Nose: Apple, Daisy Flower, Kiss of Red Grapefruit
Palate: Crisp. Apply. Good Acid, Quite Dry
Finish: Tart Granny Smith apple finishes dry.

Overall this is a very nice very dry Riesling. Big on apple and some citrus. Great with cheese before a main course.

Dry Creek Chenin Blanc 2004 wine review by (PB)

Dry Creek makes one of my regular favorite Chenins but I liked them MUCH more when they running $7 a bottle instead of the $10 they now go for.

This one is pale golden with a pronounced bouquet of pineapple.

In the mouth this wine is off dry—meaning, it tastes like it has a sweet edge but is actually quite dry with a nice zippy acid foundation. It finishes with a strong citrus ending with apricot and peach notes. This wine however was better in the Spring which means it is going down hill so drink it up NOW. And raise a glass to a happy Thanksgiving to all.

Thanksgiving Day Wine (NW)

Thanksgiving day meals, whether traditional or uniquely creative, offer a terrific opportunity to showcase the marriage of wine and food. A lot of people fret over the wine pairings because there's a lot of time and money invested in the meal. Let me suggest that the pairings don't need to be exacting and a wide variety of wines will suffice.

Some general categories of wine tend to be very good pairings for Thanksgiving. This is partly due to that fact that most meals have a number of dishes and a wide variety for flavors. Wines that do well in this situation are wines that naturally accompany food, both red and white. The red wines that are often viewed as traditional Thanksgiving meal accompaniments include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a great way to enhance the meal. Is it too red- meaning too full-bodied and powerful? I say no. Cabernet Sauvignon does well with meats, even poultry, especially when accompanied by sauces, gravy, and starches. To refine this selection, try a Cab with a little bit of age on it. The age will likely have mellowed the wine's tannins and softened its edges.

Pinot Noir can be a stunning accompaniment to a Thanksgiving meal! It's really an amazing varietal that has the capability of total success and total failure. Therefore, it's the riskiest choice. For example, I paired a highly regarded Oregon Pinot Noir with the meal two years ago, but it didn't work at all. It was an amazing wine, for sure, but too exotic and smokey. It just didn't work. If you know you've got a good one, then go for it. Otherwise, be careful because Pinot Noir is the most unpredictable varietal.

Zinfandel is often considered a perfect pairing for Thanksgiving. After all, it's the most American grape. Stick with a traditional Zinfandel if you're going this route. Some of the newer single vineyard bottlings are highly ripe, alcoholic, and overpowering. They won't work well. Make sure you are serving a traditional, balanced wine. A good wine merchant can help you find the right wine. For example, Ridge produces Zinfandel blends that are very elegant and balanced.

On the other side of the spectrum, if you're looking for white wine, consider Riesling, Chardonnay, or Chenin Blanc. Riesling can be an amazing food wine, but you'll have to stick with the dry versions. These dry Rieslings are produced the world over, but if you're shopping in the German aisle look for kabinett or spatlese bottlings.

Chardonnay can be a nice choice, especially if you're unsure of your guests' preferences. Because Chardonnay comes in so many forms, look for a wine that has the reputation of ripe tropical fruit and enough acidity for food.

Chenin Blanc could deliver a nice pairing if you're looking for something on the lighter side. It can be very crisp, so get the help of a good wine merchant if you'd like to find one with a little more body.

Obviously, you can find success with a number of wines and, therefore, have some flexibility. In fact, not only do you have some flexibility in wine selections, you have an opportunity to present multiple wines. I always recommend this as a way to satisfy different palates and make the meal more festive. Multiple pairings give people the chance to figure out what they like and go back for more of the same. If you have the means, I recommend placing two glasses at each place setting- either one red and one white or two red glasses.

Also, when considering multiple pairings, use finger food and appetizers as a way to offer up other wine options. Before the meal, consider opening a sparkling wine or use this as a chance to offer a white wine if you're only offering reds with the meal. Rose can also be a nice pairing for appetizers. And don't forget about dessert wines. For example, this year we are having three small dessert courses. With the first two, we'll have a dessert wine and with the last one we'll have coffee.

Wine can ehance a Thanksgiving meal in many different ways. Realize that you have many options and don't fret over exacting your wine pairings. With all the flavors and various dishes, a number of different wines will work. Just enjoy making wine a part of the festivities. Raise a glass!

Sterling “Vinters Collection” Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast 2003 wine review by (PB)

Dark cherry appearance with an opacity to the hue with dark berry core on opening.

In the mouth this wine is intense full of ripe fruit accompanied by nice structure, tender tannins and a finish that is nearly jammy with blackberries galore. Breathing doesn’t really add anything to this wine. The finish is long and fruity. I paid $13 on sale. We had this with New York Strip Steaks on the grill. Very nice! Raise a glass to bizarre warm November remnants of Summer in the Northeast.

Eiswein Nachtgold 2004 wine review by (PB)

This German ice wine from the Rheinhessen is a pale golden color with mandarin orange aromas in the bouquet and orange blossom scents in the nose.

It has a unique presence in the mouth with floral and pepper layers. It is of course sweet and thickish with flavors of orange, stewed apricots and citrus. It lacks sufficient acid too carry it really well but it’s not bad. When you consider the price of a typical ice wine can be over $100 on up, this wine is a treat even if not a superlative dessert wine. For $16, (half bottle) raise a glass!

Banrock Station Merlot 2005 wine review by (PB)

This Aussie wine is a pretty good example of the benefit of the wine glut facing the vintners from “Down Undah!” Too much wine means bargain prices and this Merlot, which I picked up for $6, is typical. It is a light red cherry in color with lighter fruit but quite nice with some cedar and spice in the nose.

The flavor fills the mouth better than you would expect based on the color and price with a jammy fruit, smoke and oak presence. The texture is a bit thin but still yields a decent finish of ripe fruit.

With some air time, a smokey layer emerges and the fruit seem to thin out; it was better on opening. The finish is smokey and oakey. For the price, this was okay. Not a classic Merlot but a decent enough wine to slosh back with a grilled steak. Raise a glass!

Gallo of Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 wine review by (PB)

This wine was a Gaiter/Brecher (Wall Street Journal) “inexpensive Cabernet” pick several weeks back. My wife found it for $14 and wanted to give it a shot.

The color of this wine is nice with a medium garnet hue. It has fruit forward bouquet with a nice touch of cinnamon “red hots” trailing after. It has a dark fruit nose though a bit closed on opening.

In the mouth this wine is nice right off yet a little tight. There is a nice gentle touch of vanilla, and a little spice and of course dark fruit. With a half hour of breathing this wine gets even better being full of ripe, dark berries with a touch of cedar.

My wife and I both liked this wine and think it a good value. What is weird is that the Wine Spectator reviewed this wine saying it had intense tannins. Their review was done in June. I remarked in my journal that the tannins were down right supple. Bottle variation or quick maturation in six months? Beats me—just raise a glass; this should be readily available.

Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel 2005 - Review by Billy (finally)

Hello friends.
I am in the Big Apple on a death march project for a fun client. While staying at the Hilton Times Square, I ordered a half bottle of the 2005 Seghesio Zinfandel from Sonoma. I should say that I have been eating and drinking as if on a death march so at this point almost anything would taste good. However, I have to say I enjoyed this wine.

Nose: Currant, jammy dark fruit, pepper
Palate: round and soft and mellow. Not bitter or overly tannic. Very pleasant indeed.
Finish: smooth and rich like velvet with lingering dried fruit and jam.

So overall, I thoroughly enjoy this wine. Online it seems to go for about $23 or so. I wont even tell you what it cost for a half bottle through room service.

Well friends, Raise a Glass!

Beuajolias Nouveau 2006 Georges Du Boeuf wine review by (PB)

This was the only Nouveau released yesterday in my area.
(We'll be reviewing others as they become available.)

So here goes:
This wine is a bright purple/cherry color which is really pretty and the bouquet smells of strawberry candy with a really nice nose of more of the same.

In the mouth however, the first impression is that it is fairly tart, and thin on the flavor that was giving off such a nice aroma on the swirl. The finish is swift but has a very fleeting blast of fresh fruit.

Honestly, this is your typical Nouveau. If you read my post about B. Nouveau’s release, then you know that it is rarely about the wine but the fun and fan fare surrounding this wine and the convivial atmosphere of friends and family.

What makes this wine a bit disappointing is that I remember too well the extraordinary wine of last year’s Nouveau. I believe I wrote that 2005 was the best I can remember in many years. But to compare this wine to anything other than the moment, is to misunderstand wine in general and Nouveau in particular.

So forget the review and buy a bottle and give it a bit of a chill and then raise a glass to the “Joie de Vie!”

Georges DuBoeuf Beaujoias-Villages Nouveau 2006 Real Time Wine Review (NW)

Strawberry jam nose
Light-bodied, herbal core
Moderately smooth finish

Today's the day to celebrate the new harvest release of Beaujolias Nouveau! It's the third Thursday of November, and the start of the holiday season for wine.

I stopped in a store after hopping an early afternoon Delta Shuttle from New York La Guardia to Boston. The store only had the Georges DuBoeuf, which is fine with me. I usually try this wine every year, and it's been priced at a reasonable $9.99 for the past few years.

The color is beautiful, as always, with a vibrant, youthful sparkle of garnet in the glass. After a quick swirl, the strawberry jam emerges on the nose. It's a beautiful smell, really. The palate is thin but straight forward, and it finishes smoothly.

This is a pretty good release. Maybe not on par with last year, but fruity, festive, and well-made. It's amazing to think this bottle of juice was growing on vines just about six weeks ago! That's the story of Beaujolias Nouveau and why it's such a celebration! Raise a glass!

d'Arenberg d'Arry's Original Shiraz-Grenache 2002 Wine Review (NW)

Blueberry jam nose
Smooth, dry core of fruit and herbs
Finishes with a big pepper blast followed by a final fruity note

The Southern Rhone-style really comes through on this one. It has a lot of the dry herbal and pepper notes I associate with Grenache and Shiraz.

This is a classic example of a good food wine. While it wasn't a terrific wine on its own, it paired extremely well with a white bean cassoulet. It costs around $17. Raise a glass to wine and food pairing!

Tonight is the night!

At one past midnight “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!”
"The New Beaujolais has arrived!" It is one of the biggest celebrations of the wine world which is amusing since the wine itself is not really anything to write home about but it is certainly fun!

Over a million cases of Gamay based wine, are ready for consumption immediately and in fact, won’t last much beyond 9-12 months so DO NOT cellar this wine. Buy it, chill it and guzzle it! Last year was a banner year for this wine, one of the best I can remember, so this year’s wine will be hard to beat it.

The wine at its best is just plain simple, fruitiness, with strawberry flavors and light (relatively speaking) on the alcohol. It generally runs anywhere from $8-$12 a bottle.
NOTE--Make sure you’re not buying last year’s vintage!!!

From “intowine.com”
“Apart from the fanfare, what makes Beaujolais Nouveau so popular? And especially in the U.S. where consumption of red wine is less than 30%? Simply put, Beaujolais Nouveau is as about as close to white wine as a red wine can get. Due to the way it is made—the must is pressed early after only three days—the phenolic compounds, in particular the astringent tannins, normally found in red wines, isn't there, leaving an easy to drink, fruity wine. This, coupled with the fact that it tastes best when chilled, makes for a festive wine to be gulped rather than sipped, enjoyed in high spirits rather than critiqued. As a side note, it makes a great transitional wine for anyone wanting to move from white to red wines.”

So check back here in a few days and I am sure we’ll have some of the first releases in our areas reviewed. What ever you do, Raise a glass to this great celebration.

Castello Banfi Cum Laude 2002 Real Time Review (NW)

Notes of tar and dark berries on the nose
Prune and molasses taste on the palate
Medium length finish with some black licorice, falls somewhat flat

I gave it some time in the glass, but it may be from a bottle that's been open too long. I asked the server and he didn't know. He felt bad and brought me a tasting of two very high end wines just to be nice.

In the meantime, the wine never developed. It remained kind of flat. It had a little bit of the Sangiovese style but I didn't really like it. It's a super-Tuscan, so most likely a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.

This might not be a fair assessment, so I'll have to look for another opportunity to review this wine. I paid $17 for the glass at a restaurant on Long Island.

Raise a glass to real-time, wireless wine reviews!

Lenz Merlot “Estate Selection” 2000 wine review by (PB)

Full disclosure--As is our custom, whenever our friends from various wineries around the country send us wine to review we are sure to let you know that. One reason is that it helps us remain objective! We do not believe it helps anyone to give an inflated review just to stay in the good graces of a winery in order to obtain samples.

The folks at Lenz Winery on long Island New York sent each of us at the wine cask 6 bottles to review. Founded in 1978, the winery has some of the most mature vineyards in the region with nearly 70 acres of their own. (Although some tasting notes were included, I have not looked at those notes to again, insure objectivity)

What will be fun is for you to see how each of us rate the same wines. Since we live in different parts of the country, they will appear at random so keep visiting with us often.

This is my first experience with this winery and to be honest I am skeptical of any red wines coming out of New York. But you must read on--
This wine is a nice black cherry in color with a purple rim showing its youthfulness even though nearly 7 years old. There is an under bouquet of gentle fruit with a hint of dill but as you go deeper into the nose there seems to be a rather disturbing tone of alcohol.

First taste on opening is a trace of toluene with some toast and not much flavor. I will let this breathe.

With 50 minutes of air—bing, bang, boom! Some wines you just HAVE to breathe and this is one. This is NOT your typical “new world” wine and reminds me much more of an old world creation that is more subtle and layered and nuanced and thrilling. This turns into something totally unexpected with the benefit of air.

There is still a touch of dill in the nose, which I love, with a fruity raspberry and cherry bouquet. In the mouth there are subtle vanilla notes, then another layer of fruit then another layer of mystery; I am bewildered by this wine—it is well made, mysterious and still young! The enclosure with the wine says to drink within three years but this wine still has more time to age on it and will benefit from additional maturity.

Okay, so I am blown away by what has totally destroyed my preconceived notions about New York red wine. The reference price on this wine is $23. Now I can’t wait to try the others. Raise a glass to “Lawn Gyland!”

Les Violettes 2004 wine review by (PB)

This Cotes Du Rhone has a cherry color and a firm peppery foundation. It is a bit tight, tart and tangy with a generally light body. Dried cherries are prominent and the finish is over and done quickly. This is a simple wine, but frankly I enjoyed it. It was $7 for a half bottle—over priced by a couple bucks but still a good vins de table wine. Raise a glass.

Luccarelli Primitvo 2003 wine review by (PB)

This wine from Puglia Italy is the genetic “father” of California’s Zinfandel. Benedictine monks named the grape “primitivo” because of its tendency toward early maturity. Puglia is warm and sunny so this grape is generally very fruity and kind of “in your face” juicy yet is unlike California Zinfandel. It shows clearly how different regions and styles of wine making can greatly affect the same grape. Probably more than you want to know so—
This wine is “guess what?” in your face and bold and full of blackberry and plum fruit with a nice garnet color with a purple touch.

In the mouth this wine is heavy with solid flavors and a touch of smoke. With a few minutes of air, it gives just more ripe fruit aromas and rich berry fruit. For $9, this is a nice wine and different enough to enjoy now and again. Raise a glass!

Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Blue Label 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Ripe cherry nose, with sweet spice notes
Steely core of cherry and blueberry, with an underlying richness
Elegant, smooth finish

Blue label! Make sure it's the blue label! This Chianti Classico is very nicely made and often available around $12-13. I paid $12 for this bottle.

The blue label wine is aged nine months in oak barriques, which is different from the winery's yellow label that I find to be a little flat. The oak supplies some underlying richness and some sweet, baking spices to the bouquet. Don't worry, it still retains the steely Sangiovese base beneath it all.

It's now my house Chianti. Raise a glass!

Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexander Requinoa Vineyard Syrah 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Juicy nose of berries, chocolate, and cinnamon
Core of dense fruit and anise
Fruity finish with chewy tannins

The Cuvee Alexander wines from Casa Lapostolle are starting to get a little expensive. At least in my neck of the woods, I have a hard time trying to find them for under $20. I paid $22 for this bottle, which I wouldn't want to do on a regular basis.

Disregarding the price for a moment, the wine is good. It has that dark, inky color and rich berry juice that is associated with Chilean reds. Evidence of oak comes through with the touches of chocolate and cinnamon.

I find myself reaching for Syrah more often than I used to. I'm amazed at how much there is now from the new world regions. Obviously, Australia made it big on Syrah (Shiraz), but it's being produced everywhere now. Raise a glass!

Covey Run Sauvignon Blanc 2004 wine review by (PB)

This Washington State wine is pale straw with a guava bouquet and sweet tropical fruit nose with a touch of pineapple lifesavers.

The palate is a bit tart, thin and citrusy with peach notes. It is really dry and has a very short finish. I am a S. Blanc fan but really am partial to New Zealand’s style. This is an affordable and decent wine for the $9 and it made The Wine Spectator’s “Best Value” annotation. They liked it a lot more than I did. I think the wine is very average for the price and frankly, below the norm for this value winery, which seems to always excel in value wines. But as a caveat I would mention I have been battling a borderline cold which may totally invalidate this review due to the medicine I have been taking. So, raise a glass and try it for yourself.

Who’s reading the Wine Cask Blog?

We have a tracker that shows us where our readers are from. So today, purely at random, I thought I would check and let you all know. Just this morning we had wine enthusiasts from the following countries:

Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Finland, multiple hits from Spain, France and Italy and Germany; Denmark, the Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Canada and of course all over the United States.

So you see, you’re in good company! In the next few days we will be posting some suggestions for the holidays coming up. Be sure to keep checking and we will also have some exciting (and surprising) reviews out of New York State. We appreciate you stopping by and as always--raise a glass!

Lindemans Bin 99 Pinot Noir 2006 wine review by (PB)

The picky Pinot Noir grape is trying to make some headway in the land down under. This one is light cranberry/cherry color with a gentle bouquet of grape and strawberry that reminds me more of a Gamay.

The palate is fresh though a bit alcoholic with light flavors. After a half hour of air it is a fairly tasty wine though still out of balance with too much alcohol. The finish is actually nice and fruity. For the $8 I paid it is a drinkable wine and not offensive but as I so fond of writing, with so many other quality wines at value prices available why just settle. Raise a glass if this is on hand but don’t go searching for it.

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot 2000 wine review by (PB)

This wine is another of the Columbia Crest creations that have been bargains every step of the way. This one is medium garnet on the pour with an earthy, smoky, green peppery bouquet.

In the mouth it has a toasty presence that has tight but solid flavors; it needs to be breathed!

After a half hour or so it has stern tannins, touch of cocoa, with a herbal note. This is another decent wine at $10 but is not of the caliber of the 2001 which was a top value pick of everyone including us at the WCB. Never-the-less, raise a glass!

Clos Du Bois Chardonnay 2004 wine review by (PB)

Chardonnay is growing on me more and more. It was always “O.K.” but I find myself looking more and more for it on my shopping/hunting adventures.

This one was a gift with a marvelous meal made for us by some friends. It is lightly golden in the glass with a beautiful caramel, apple nose. Really nice! It has a decent foundation with butter cream flavors. At a pirce point of around $14, raise a glass with Cornish game hens, baked Brie and the sides.

Niebaum-Copolla Diamond Series Red Label Zinfandel 2004 wine review by (PB)

This Zin is a classic presentation of the varietal. It is rich and deep purple in the glass with a lush blackberry bouquet. In the mouth this wine is gushing with fruit of ripe blackberries with a zippy touch of spice, baked bread,and chocolate.

This wine is well made with solid tannic structure finishing with some smoke and more dark fruit.

As it breathes, there is more of the peppery suggestion you expect with a Zinfandel and just more of what’s above. At $14, this is worth picking up especially if you wonder what Zinfandel should taste like. This is a classic, and value presentation. Raise a glass.

Mark West Pinot Noir 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of red cherry and raspberry
Dry, fruity core with herbal tones
Steely finish with some faint spice notes

I wanted more from this wine, but it remained steely and austere. I like Pinot Noir to be more voluptuous. However, with this varietal more than any other, you get what you pay for.

This bottle was $11 on sale from $14. I haven't come across very many memorable Pinot Noir's for under $15. I'd love to find some. More often, I hear praise reserved only for wines $30 and up.

In my cellar, I've got a couple more in the $15 range that I'll have to try soon. Any recommendations out there in this price range? Let me know and I'll raise a glass!

Wildekrans Cabernet Franc- Merlot 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of wild berries and lead-pencil shavings
Raspberry on the palate
Dry finish with raspberry, cranberry, and tobacco

This wine is an interesting change of pace. It's an estate wine from South Africa created with 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. I paid $14 at a local wine shop.

The Cabernet Franc dominates in flavor and texture. I can't imagine what this would taste like if there wasn't some Merlot there to soften everything. As the flavor profile develops in the glass, more and more tobacco emerges. It's really interesting, but you need to be ready for it.

As a change of pace, I always recommend Cabernet Franc. It's an entirely different wine from the other noble red grapes. Look for it in the "alternative red" section or in the French wine section under "Chinon". Raise a glass!

Swedish Hill Cayuga White Finger Lakes 2005 wine review by (PB)

Friends went to upstate New York and brought us back this gift. I opened it last night to try it with a bouillabaisse not knowing anything about the wine.

The Cayuga grape was designed at Cornell University for the cold-climate conditions of New York State's Finger Lakes region. It is a hybrid of the Seyval Blanc and Schuyler cultivars bred to endure the harsh winters of New York. I was skeptical of this wine but...

On opening I was overwhelmed with the scent of apples so much so that it smelled like apple juice. In the glass it has a pale golden hue with a slight tinge of green and this really nice bouquet of fresh apples, a hint of pear and cream.

In the mouth there are mineral notes with a steely quality; it is off dry with decent fruit flavors. The structure is a tad weak but not distracting and the finish is just more apples.

It paired really well with the seafood soup and was a nice treat of a wine. Raise a glass and “Thanks” to the “V’s” of Winslow, Maine!

Famiglia Anselma Barolo 2000 Wine Review (NW)

Nose opens to reveal cherry, sweet spices, and an herbal tone
Lively and racy on the palate
Finish lingers with cherry, mushrooms, and earth

I think this wine is too young to drink. It is slow to open up in the glass, and keeps improving until it's gone.

The wine is interesting and lively. It's not as rich as other Barolo's, but very enjoyable. It paired extremely well with my venison and gnocchi at Mario Batali's Del Posto in New York. I paid $24 for the privelege of just one glass as this wine retails for over $50 a bottle. Raise a glass!

Fratelli Pra Monte Grande Soave 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of pears and floral aromas
Soapy on the palate, with a nice texture
Smooth finish, touches of honey and spices

I really like the texture of Soave; it's my favorite Italian white wine. A good Soave fills the mouth, has fruit and floral aromas, and maybe nuts and spices. It also has a "soapy" quality that I like.

This wine was enjoyed over multiple pasta courses at Mario Batali's Del Posto in New York. I paid $14 for the glass. It seems well made and very willing to compliment food. I'll be looking for Pra wines on my next trip down the Italian aisle. Raise a glass!

Rosenblum Zinfandel Eagle Point 2004 wine review by (PB)

After a trip out to Los Angeles to see our newest grandchild, my wife brought me back several bottles of goodies. This was one of them. Rosenblum has to be the king of Zins making over 20 different types.

This Zin from Mendocino is dark black cherry colored with a nice bouquet of cherry with a nose full of black berries and black cherries.

The texture of this wine is “thick” with a velvety feel and a big chocolate first impression. There is fruity cocoa throughout and a layer of espresso. The finish is woody but everything in balance.

With some air, everything is just accentuated with more blackberry, plumy fruit. This is a wine that is perfectly balanced in all ways and is at perfect maturity. At $24, it is luscious and of course was gone by the end of my fabulous Chingiale Paperadelle or Wild Boar with home made noodles which are about an inch and a half wide. The Boar was compliments of a friend who shot it recently hunting in South Carolina (I think).

It was wonderful! Raise a glass and say ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Undurraga Reserve Carmenere 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Wild berry nose
Juicy core of fruit and herbs
Peppery finish

I bought this bottle of wine in Costa Rica on a long weekend with two friends. While one friend was out scounting rental properties for next Spring, the other friend and I sat on the balcony and drank this wine. It was decent, but not great for $17. Fortunately, we had a great view- a 270 degree panorama overlooking the Pacific with miles of rain forest, white sand beaches, and islands below us. Raise a glass in Costa Rica!

Prestizu Vermentino di Sardegna 2004 Umberto Soletta wine review by (PB)

This wine is straw with a green tinge; the bouquet is fragrant with nice vanilla, pears and apple notes; nearly floral. Very nice.

The palate is flavorful with fine structure and a good acidic foundation with a fruity core of mixed fruits. This wine is dry and tasty and would be a great food wine but is nice by itself. Well done.

We served it with an onion tart and it was wonderful.
(It was a gift so I don’t have a reference price) Raise a glass.

Foxhorn Merlot (non vintage) wine review by (PB)

I walked in and my wife was making a nice dinner. On the counter was a bottle of this wine which she bought for the recipe. She said, “it cost $3.99. I said, “Well, it’s review able ” So here ya go.

This wine is light red–not like any Merlot you would expect to see and it is made from excess supplies of California growers.

It has a nose with intense green pepper aromas (way out of whack) with the light berry notes that are present in short supply. The palate is awkward in numerous ways but the wine is potable. If you don’t expect Merlot, and just think–“jug wine” you would probably not be disappointed. What the heck, it’s worth the $4. Raise a glass–but make a small one... :)

Southern Right Pinotage 2004 Walker Bay wine review by (PB)

This wine was served at a friend’s house. In the glass there was a ridiculous burnt wood/smoke/charred ember aroma that was so strong it smelled more like whiskey than wine.

This is a South African creation and the makers of the wine make a contribution to the conservation of the Southern Right Whale. From this bottle, I would say they need to invest some of their profits into wine making tutorials.

In the mouth it has a sour edge to it and is out of balance in every way. This bottle was $14 but the Wine Spectator had it listed at a reference price of $20 and gave it an 87 rating. Something is amiss.

This is not only NOT an 87 point wine but it isn’t a 77 point wine. The wine isn’t corked wither. I can’t explain the disparity in reviews. After a couple hours, the burned wood/smoked meat toned way down but still the berry flavors that were present were harsh and without character. I am curious to try another bottle to see if this was some kind of fluke but frankly, I’m not willing to spend my hard earned bucks on another experiment. Do not raise a glass of this.

If anyone has had this wine and found it different than my review I’d love to hear from you! Post a comment below.

Mas Delmera Tarragona Tempranillo 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Plum, berry, and pepper on the nose
Clean, fleshy core on the palate, with some herbal notes
Soft, smooth finish that has a peppery kick at the tail end

I've tasted my way through a lot of Spanish wines this year. At the beginning of 2006, I made it my goal to get a better understanding of the wines from Spain. Half way into the year, I kept going back to Tempranillo. Obviously, this varietal is readily available and there are a lot of bottlings at reasonable prices. I found the styles to vary quite a bit, but didn't always end up with the right ones.

While this wine has some nice qualities for $11, I'd rather have a Tempranillo with a richer flavor and a little less pepper. Still, this wine is pretty well made, and as always, it's seems versatile.

We'll continue to see a lot of value priced wine from Spain, and Tempranillo will continue to lead the charge. Enjoy exploring this aisle, as it won't break the bank. And raise a glass!

Chateau Cos D'Estournel 1989 Wine Review (NW)

Huge nose fills the glass with dark berries, tar, anise, and floral notes
Lively, fruity core
Good finish, with floral and berry notes

This wine tastes young and exciting. It was lively in the glass and showed no signs of age. The bouquet took a while to develop, but when it did, it was really nice.

The restaurant sommelier decanted this wine for the table, so it had plenty of time to evolve in the decanter and in the glass. It was heavily accented at first by dark berries and a dark tar flavor, but showed more floral notes as it got some air.

Tasting this wine was a real treat, but I didn't catch the price. I think it was in the neighborhood of $400 or so. When offered an '89 Bordeaux, never pass it up. That's just good advice for all wine lovers. Raise a glass!

Wolffer Estates Reserve Chardonnay 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Nice nose of melon and pineapple
Crisp on the palate
Elegant finish, smooth and clean

Here's a wine from Long Island, New York. In fact, this is from one of the few wineries on the south fork with a national reputation. Most Long Island wineries are clustered along the highway to Orient Point on the pastoral north fork.

Wolffer Estates does a nice job with this Chardonnay. It's steel fermented, so no oak. When I'm in the mood for an elegant and somewhat crisp Chardonnay, this is the type of wine I reach for.

I had just one glass at a restaurant and paid $11. I think the bottle goes for around $20 in a store. Raise a glass!

Bodegas Julian Chivete Navarra 2005 Rosado wine review by (PB)

This Spanish Rose from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape is a very pretty crisp, light cranberry red color with a big bouquet of light fruit and a touch of anise that is really nice.

In the mouth it is bone dry with good acid, more apple flavor and a light finish of strawberry. This wine was $8 and is a nice food Rose due to its structure. Raise a glass.

Pindar 2001 Johannisberg Riesling Ice wine review by (PB)

This New York State dessert wine is an amber jeweled beauty that is stunning right from the pour. My birthday is just around the corner and some friends came over for dinner bearing gifts one of which was this *wine. I have not much experience with New York State wines and the ones I have were disappointing. This wine borders on awesome.

Every facet of this wine is worth contemplating which is what makes a wine--a great wine. The color is unique and in fact when I first laid eyes on the brownish blush amber, I was concerned the wine was gone. One sniff and I was in reverie. The bouquet is just deep in rich spices with cinnamon and nutmeg. The nose is full of honeyed richness with all kinds of layers. Wow.

In the mouth–and I was still skeptical because the challenge with a dessert wine is to get that profound sweetness yet balanced with a solid foundation of acid to carry the sugar. Otherwise you have a sickeningly sweet wine that is stomach turning after two sips.

This wine has it all. It is intensely sweet with the acid to make it delightful and crying for more. In the mouth there is just huge flavors of ultra-sweet stewed apricots and a fruity finish that is great.

*Point of wine etiquette–When you take an unsolicited bottle of wine to your host’s house, protocol says the wine is a gift and you should not expect your host to open it.

Since I didn't buy this wine, I don’t have a price on it but I suspect it was around $35 for a half bottle. Not cheap to be sure but a wine of this caliber is worth it Raise a glass

Wrong Dongo 2004 wine review by (PB)

This Spanish red has a fairly deep, black cherry color with a dense nose with big blue berry aromas.

In the mouth it is unpolished, a bit tannic, full bodied and rustic. I served this stove top BBQ ribs and it was a nice pairing. This wine, though rough around the edges has a lot of flavor. At $8, it is okay especially if you like blueberry flavors in your wine.

Raise a glass.

Alto Moncayo Garnacha 2002 wine review by (PB)

This Grenache from the Campo De Borja is a much darker crimson that what you would expect of a grenache. This wine could pass for a rich Cabernet or Merlot with a dark cherry rim and sturdy youthfulness by appearance.

The nose of this wine is full of raspberries and dark plum fruit with some wonderful floral tones. In the mouth this wine gives a front palate blast of spice with intense flavors yet tightly wound on opening but still hints of white pepper at rear palate.

With breathing, this wine intensifies to yield loads of ripe plummy fruit with marvelously integrated tannins. This wine will age for a couple more years. This is not your mother’s Grenache. It is unlike any grenache I have ever had. This is bold, not finessed or elegant, just incredibly fruity pleasure with full bodied boldness.

With a little more time there is another layer of dill and more big fruit. At 15.5% alcohol, you have to watch how much you enjoy it!

My wife brought this back with her from a recent trip to Chicago. She bought it on recommendation of one of the store’s wine consultants. Again, this was a nice recommendation as I would never even think to pay $38 for a Grenache which is what this cost.

Now here is the perplexing part. The Wine Spectator gave this wine a shocking 82 points. The Wine Enthusiast gave it a 93! This wine is much closer to a 93 than an 82. Go figure and raise a glass!

The Hess Collection Chardonnay Napa Valley 2004 wine review by (PB)

This wine is pale golden with green apple notes on opening with bready highlights and plenty of sweet fruit.

In the mouth this wine is solid in structure with touches of vanilla, spice and creme brulee. There are gentle and subtle flavors with a lady-like complexity.
The finish is of caramelized sugar.

This is a nice Chard made from Napa grapes of various vineyards but I question the rating of 93 points (Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiast) and the price of $18.

Just for kicks I reviewed this wine side by side with a much cheaper Chardonnay from California that I am particularly fond of as far as a value wine. Be sure to read the preceding review while you raise a glass!

Salmon Creek Chardonnay 2005 wine review by (PB)

A couple years back I bought a case of this wine (different vintage) because it was such a darn good value. It has been quite some time since I have had more and I thought it would be fun to review this wine next to a much more expensive Chardonnay.

My wife participated in this as well.

Review–This is a nice light golden hue with prominent vanilla tones in the bouquet with a tropical fruit notes. In the mouth the palate is a little mushy but only tasting it next to the Hess Chardonnay. It is not flabby (meaning lacking acid) but just not as crisp as the Hess which precedes this review.

It has a citrus backbone with vanilla and fruit flavors. I asked my wife which wine she would prefer. She liked this wine but preferred the Hess due to its crisp (acid) structure but noted that this was a decent wine.

Then I asked her if she would be willing to pay more than four times the price of this wine for the one she preferred.


The Hess is definitely more complex and crisper but also cost $18. This Salmon Creek cost just $3.99! I question the 93 point rating of the Hess Chard. and quickly ass that the Salmon Creek is a really nice wine and SUPER value! Raise a glass of either one; you’d just be able to raise many more of this bargain wine!

Peter Lehmann Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Sweet blackberry and anise nose
Fruity core on the palate
Finish of berries, cola, and cocoa

For $12, this wine is a pretty good deal. It's dense and rich, offering a real Cab experience. It paired well with our grilled steaks and didn't get dull after the meal either.

I got this wine on sale, and I've seen it as high as $17. I think that's a bit of a stretch. If you happen to find it at a good price, grab it. If the shelf is stocked with the 2002, no need to hesitate as I've heard that's a fine offering as well. I have yet to sample that myself so I can't be sure, but good sources tell me it's a nice wine for the money, too.

Raise a glass!

Merlot Market Mutating

California Merlot grape crops are coming in huge this year...again. That makes three straight years of larger than average harvest. THAT (combined with other market pressures) means that we should be seeing Merlot prices come down while quality stays about the same or even raises.

So despite a manufactured Hollywood merlot snub (read: Sideways), now and the next year or so will be a great time to get some decent - great Merlot on the inexpensive side of the store.

If you do, let us know!

Read more: HERE

Raise a Glass.

Beviamo Moscato D’Asti n.v wine review by (PB)

Every now and then you taste a wine from a region or vintner that is so bad, it taints your view of any wine of similar origins. You have to tell yourself–“Try again; it was just a bad wine!”

Moscato D’Asti’s are typically fun wines with plenty of spritz on the palate and a fruity sweetness that simply scintillates your senses. This wine is NOT such a wine. I bought it at Sam’s Club for $14–a painful acknowledgment–and had it tonight as my wife returned from being gone for a week; a cause for celebration! It comes in a uniquely shaped blue bottle, had a cork that was the most difficult cork to remove of any wine I have had in 30 years, and was absolutely...yucky.

On opening, the bouquet was quite nice full of sweet fruity pineapple, lychee and a touch of apricot. If you only smelled the wine, you’d be ahead of the game.

In the mouth though this wine is sickeningly sweet. If you ever wondered what “cloying” meant, this is it.

The wine is dull, way too sweet, and no structure to carry any of the nice flavors that are there. If you have read the term “plonk” used to describe poorly made wine, this again, is a great example. Please don’t raise a glass of this.

Ravenswood Icon Syrah 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Bright strawberry nose with notes of anise
Jammy plum core on the palate
Moderately long, dry finish of rich berries and note of cocoa

During our visit to North Carolina, our friends supplied some interesting wines. This one was recommended by the local shop in Black Mountain and costs around $20. I've had a previous vintage of this wine and was eager to try it again now that I'm more in to Southern Rhone-style blends. This one is a GSM blend, meaning Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. However, it is primarily Syrah, to the tune of 81% according to the label.

The wine has that "classy" quality with its combination of lively fruit and a dry finish. I like this style because of its versatility. Raise a glass!

Falchetto Langhe Arneis 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Fragrant nose of apples, honey, and peaches
Good core of acidity and a rich, soapy quality
Floral finish

I really enjoyed this wine, partly because it paired so well with our various bite sized appetizers. Our friends hosted us in North Carolina for four days, and we enjoyed a number of wines together. This one, I supplied, after picking it up at a nice shop in Atlanta.

For an alternative white, this is a good choice. It's a nice food wine and has some really good flavors and a nice texture. I paid $20. Raise a glass!

Keenan Napa Valley 25th Anniversary Merlot 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Nose of dark berries
Juicy, fruity core
Finish with berry, cola, and cocoa notes

Sometimes I encounter wines that taste pretty good and fairly well made, but just aren't very exciting. This wine is in that category. It has some good qualities, but really isn't that memorable.

I think the fact is, this wine tastes somewhat flat- or, at least, this bottle does. I'm glad I didn't pay for it, because it cost $29.

Raise a glass, but fill it with exciting wine!

Cline Ancient Vine Zinfandel 2005 wine review by (PB)

Cline tends to put out a solidly made Zin year after year. This one, a step up from their normal production was a bargain buying it at Sam’s Club for under $12. It is a pretty garnet with some youthful hint purple in the color. The bouquet on opening is brambly with nice berries and touch of spice.

The wine is a bit closed at first and a bit hot but some breathing room should take care of this.

With a half an hour or so this wine yields up full berry flavors, a meaty nose, plenty of fruit and is well made and just a forthright, sturdy, unpretentious wine. I had it with grilled pork chops, not because it was the pairing I would choose but because I wanted this Zin and I wanted grilled chops so what the heck?

It wasn’t a great pairing but it was okay. At any rate, I enjoyed both so raise a glass to the waning days of warmth and sunshine.

Beringer Chenin Blanc 2005 wine review by (PB)

This previously reviewed wine is just a positively, stunningly super wine for under $5–note, that is not a misprint–-I am talking about less than a finsky, 5 clams, a few dineros--and you can have a wine with structure, peach and apricot notes, with a fruit compote finish. It is made well enough such that it paired perfectly with a crab cake appetizer and knocked the cocktail sauce (made with horse radish and ketchup) out of the park.

This is my last bottle but I can assure you if I find more I am buying it up! Now go and do likewise before you regret it! Now raise a glass.

How Wine Is Made

It's that time of year. The sugar content of the grapes is reaching the correct "brix" for ideal harvest. A colleague of mine from my day job, John Omlin, has a side vineyard and wine making business in Oregon. His site, Omlin Vines and Wines has a great running blog of the week to week activities of running a vineyard. But now it's harvest time for their Pinot Gris at Hungry Hill Vineyard.

John has posted a slide show on yahoo pictures of the harvest to barrel process. It's a blast to watch how the grapes are taken from the vine to the winery to the barrel where it awaits bottling. Check it out here
Hungry Hill Harvest!

John has promised me a bottle when it is ready. You can bet we'll post a review here. Stay tuned!

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 wine review by (PB)

This wine is a nice garnet with a very nice bouquet of cocoa and black cherry aromas with a touch of licorice–nice! In the mouth there is a lot of toast flavor but it is quite hot, peppery–really peppery and shallow flavors. There is strong eucalyptus rear palate–a weird wine!

There are too many side flavors to this wine and it is all out of balance but there is something that is causing me to stay with it through breathing.

With air, it is still a weird wine yet it is somewhat intriguing though not typical of the varietal.

24 hours later I retasted this wine and it was vastly different. There are mild green pepper aromas with chocolate and a sweet fruit fragrance filling the air. In the mouth this wine much different; more balanced tough lacking grace and is a bit thin. The finish is weak and yet, this wine still intrigues me as it is unique and much better than it was even after a couple hours after opening.

Which makes you wonder what of all the wines that are reviewed annually by so many only minutes after opening? How many wines are being panned when they just need more time to come alive after opening? This wine was $8 on sale and is a mixed bag. I found it interesting.

Which stresses why it is important to learn about vintners, grape types, regions etc. and buy based on your own experience preference. At the wine cask blog, we want to give you specific reviews but pay close attention to the place of origin, the vintner, etc. and seek out wines that might be similar if you can’t find the exact wine. Learn your own palate and your own preferences and make decisions accordingly and boldly experiment with new wines. It’s an adventure and a conquest and an enjoyable journey so raise a glass!

Calera Pinot Noir 2002 Real Time Review via Handheld Device (NW)

Nose of plum and touches of spice
Dry palate with notes of cranberry
Moderate-length finish with woven layers of fruit and herbs

This is my first ever attempt at a real time review from my Blackberry. I'm sitting outdoors on the back patio of Waterzooi, a Belgian bistro in Garden City, NY. Somebody tell me it's actually October 4th!


I have to say, overall, this is a nice, quality wine. It even paired well with a filet of sole and black truffle mashed potatoes.

My prefence for Pinot Noir is a slightly richer and smoother style, but this one was enjoyable with food.

I ordered a half bottle, alone on a business trip. It was reasonably priced at $21.

Raise a glass to real-time, wireless, handheld device wine reviews and blogging!!

Ca’Bianca Barolo 2000 wine review by (PB)

This wine is unexpectedly light in color (relatively speaking) for a Barolo showing some age in the color at the rim. It has a big bouquet full of plumy, bread and berry fruit with an amazing, almost floral, nose that is downright sexy and sweet. (My wife said it smelled like brown sugar to her!)

In the mouth this wine is steely, really tannic, chewy, a bit thin or just tightly wound and needs to breathe. Knowing Barolos, this wine just needs time to open up.

With just a half hour even there is an amazing transformation; this wine which was rather unremarkable, almost unpleasant due to being so tannic, turns voluptuous and wowing with layer upon layer of nice things. Chocolate, cinnamon, (brown sugar—my wife) and a mixed spice is all there at different times. The tannins? They just melt away and leave an amazingly tasting wine that is delicious with—get this (NW), a nice earthy, almost mushroomy finish with nice fruit to boot.

This was one NICE wine and I paid $28 for it at a Sam’s Club. Wine Spectator gave it a 92. It’s all that, perhaps even more. Raise a glass and revel in what good wine is supposed to be and doesn’t cost you a second mortgage. Wow!

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Blind Tastings (NW)

Two weeks ago, our very good friends hosted a blind tasting of nine New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines. After making several trips to the Kiwi nation, they fell in love with these wines and always seemed to have more bottles hanging around than they could possibly drink. So the idea of a tasting night was born, and nine wines were selected.

I really enjoyed this set-up because it made it possible to detect subtle differences between wines that would be difficult to taste otherwise. My tasting notes are as follows (prices are approximate):

#1- Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2004 ($13)

Explosive nose of lychee, grapefruit, and minerals
Fairly rich palate, but with backbone
Smooth, lingering finish of citrus and grass, with tartness and complexity
(good quality wine)

#2- Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc 2005 ($14)

Nice nose of citrus, lychee, and sweet melon
Smooth on palate with sweet notes of apple and pear
Smooth finish balances sweet and grassy notes
(a little sweeter than others, but retains its backbone)

#3- Tohu Sauvignon Blanc 2004 ($14)

Somewhat muted nose of citrus, opens with air to reveal fresh cut grass
Simple on palate, almost a touch flabby for this varietal
Simple finish, but tapers well, some floral notes
( a little bit soft and simple)

#4- Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2004 ($22)

Nice nose of grapefruit, lychee, and minerals
Minerals on the palate, nice texture
Elegant finish is balanced, with an added fragrant, floral note
(3rd best of tasting- flavorful, elegant, and balanced)

#5- Selaks Premium Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2005 ($16)

Nose of citrus with sweet touches of pear and apple
Flabbly on the palate, not enough acid
Soft finish, pleasant but not complex
(soft and flabby for varietal)

#6- Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2005 ($16)

Grapefruit nose with lively grassy notes
Rich, mouth-filling palate
Elegant finish, layers taper nicely with citrus and floral
(best of tasting- lively, rich, and elegant all rolled into one)

#7- Mutua Valley "Paratei" Sauvignon Blanc 2004 ($18)

Nice nose of citrus, minerals, and grassy notes
Rich, balanced texture on the palate
Good finish, tapers well with layers of citrus
(2nd best of tasting- tastes very balanced and well made)

#8- Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc 2002 ($14)

Off nose, faint citrus and herbal notes- corked?
Woody core
Flat, sour finish
(terrible- a corked wine! and too old)

#9- Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2005 ($11)

Nose of grapefruit and melon
Soft core of fruit on the palate
Simple finish with sweet fruit and a citrus note
(slightly below average relative to peers, but not offensive)

I ranked the wines in the following order after the blind tasting: 6, 7, 4, 1, 2, 3, 9, 5, 8. I chose #6 as my favorite, the Kim Crawford, because it had all the flavor, it was lively, and had an added elegance. It seemed really well made and well balanced.

The Grove Mill (#9) was clearly the worst. In fact, it was corked! Yes, there are some New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc's that have cork closures. At first, I couldn't believe what I was tasting because I assumed all the bottles were screw top. Of course, the vast majority are.

After the formal tasting, we made all the wines available for food pairing. Several of us kept going back to the Dashwood for just the right pairing with the seafood lasagna. My 5th ranked wine was number one with that dish! You just never know what might make a good food pairing.

This blind tasting was a terrific chance to examine the subtle nuances of the varietal. Thanks again to the hosts, who opened their cellar for a fantastic evening. Raise a glass!

Fetzer Valley Oaks Zinfandel 2003 wine review–real time-- by (PB)

Came home tonight to the amazing aromas of Italian sausage steeping in tomato sauce with wonderful Italian spices. I went to the cellar and grabbed a 1999 Rioja and brought it upstairs but for some reason decided to go with this Zin from the folks who make my favorite Gewurtz.

It is sitting in front of me and is imparting incredible berry rich aromas even through the heavy ambient layer of home made spaghetti sauce. This gorgeous crystalline crimson wine is dense with jammy notes of raisins and blackberries that are so ripe they smell like you must eat them immediately or they’ll go over the top.

In the mouth the first blast is a shot of white pepper with a thin texture and heavy tannins. Unfortunately, the mouth presentation is less than promised through the nose. The finish is kind of a toasty white bread.

We’ll leave it sit now and see if air helps any of this.

An hour does open the flavors a bit but there is something that just isn’t quite right with the finish of this wine. It’s awkward and unpleasant. It was $8 and has a great bouquet but just doesn’t come together.

Can't Remember That Wine?

Sometimes, maybe even often times, the simplest ideas turn out to be really wonderful ideas. How many times have you been in a restaurant, or at a friend’s house or a tasting and you loved the wine but have no easy way to remember it short of writing it down somewhere? On a recent bottle of Yalumba’s Viognier, there was the solution.

The back label includes a small perforated, tear-off tab with the name and vintage of the wine on it the size of a postage stamp! If you want to remember the wine, no matter where you are, just tear it off and tuck it in your wallet or wherever. How simple; how ingenious. Nice idea Yalumba!!! I hope many, many others will follow suit now!

Borsao Rose 2005 wine review by (PB)

This Spanish Rose is a Tourmaline red with a luscious bouquet of Summer fruit. It has an adequate structure if a little alcoholic but I served it too warm pulling it out of my ambient cellar.

It has flavors of raspberries and strawberries, but there is a nagging “something” in the structure that just isn’t quite right. When I paired this with baked chicken—a pretty benign dish to pair—the wine was not a good match only increasing that “something” I can’t identify.

After dinner I re-tasted the wine and I confirmed that it definitely isn’t just a bad pairing but with a lower serving temperature, the wine is drinkable but why bother? $8 Roses are in abundance and without the controversy so raise a glass and check the other roses blogged here that are wonderful. (I recommend La Veille Ferme and it’s only about $6!) So raise a glass while Summer hangs on.