Four Vines Old Vine Cuvee Zinfandel 2005 wine review by (PB)

I grabbed this for just under $10 because I wanted a Zin that I hadn't tried and another one of the Four Vines Zins that I had, had was pretty tasty.

It is a purple cherry hue with a black berry bouquet. A friend who doesn't exactly have a very discriminating palate even said, "Wow!" just upon smelling this wine. Yes it is a fruit bomb but a well made one and rather classic example of good though inexpensive Zinfandel.

In the mouth it is fruit filled, robust full of dark fruit and spicy cinnamon with decent structure. As it warmed up a bit--it was in a refrigerator before we drank it, raspberry and blueberry notes emerge with some milk chocolate. Hey for the price this is a good value and good Zin! So raise a glass!

Wolf Blass Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Yellow Label 2004 wine review by (PB)

This deep purple from down under is 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet. It shows lots of color with a fruit bomb bouquet.

In the mouth this wine is popularly made with loads of black cherry fruit galore and some lingering dark fruit and perhaps some espresso. Another BIG wine from the Aussies. This wine was a gift but I believe it runs around $12 and is one of the gazillions of wines at that price point that may lack character but are drinking really well. Raise a glass.

Barefoot Bubbly Chardonnay Premium Extra Dry N.V. wine review by (PB)

When you want a sparkler that you can just chill down and enjoy with a host of foods, you don't have to spend a fortune but you DO have to know what NOT to buy. The market has a bunch of really cheap (like $3-$6) "sparkling wines" that are really sugary, disgusting, and just plain nasty. Still, a lot of people buy them...

But for a couple more dollars you can actually get a bubbly with some character that will pair with foods and won't turn your stomach with sweetness.

This bubbly is one such sparkler. It is made from Chardonnay although granted, it doesn't taste very varietal but it isn't bad--really.

It is straw colored in the glass with fine but scant bubbles. The bouquet is thin but there is actually a hint of nuttiness and fruit.

In the mouth the wine is pleasantly dry with gentle citrus notes and again a hint of nutty tastes.

I chilled it well and served it with a seashore dinner of mussels and mahogany clams steamed in a garlic wine sauce. Really drinkable and for $8, why not? Raise a glass.

Clos de los Siete 2006 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Concentrated nose of dark berries, black currant, and coffee

Dark, rich core of fruit and herbs

Finishes with heavy tannins accenting dark chocolate and herbs

Just arrived! I stopped in for a bottle of the 2005 and the 2006 was already in the bin. After one glass, I've decided it's not as good as the prior year. It has deep, dark fruit, coffee, and herbs, but finishes with heavy tannins that are distracting and mouth-puckering.

Still, I enjoyed the wine because I was in the mood for a dark, rich South American red. In this case, it's a wine from Argentina put together by Michel Rolland and a group of others. I paid $14 on sale, marked down from $15. Raise a glass!

Caymus Cabernet Sauvingon 2004 wine review by (PB)

Every now and again a wine comes along that defines what wine should be. You can read the blogs and mags and they always seem to point to the classic Bordeaux or some extraordinary, and essentially unobtainable, California Cabernet like Screaming Eagle. But the other night (NW) brought up a bottle of this Napa Cabernet which was simply one of the very best Cabernets I have had from anywhere in the world.

Yes the wine will run you a pretty penny (around $70) but no where near the number of pretty pennies the over priced Bordeaux or the over priced Napa boutique Cabs will run you --if you can even get them...

It is a dark black cherry color with a room filling bouquet; great Cab nose and layers that unfold even as I swirl. Licorice and vegetal notes full of dark rich fruit abound.

In the mouth this wine is just plain tasty and approachable with great structure and educated tannins--delicious!

With time it opens to a fully sensual experience that is just juicy wine at its best. Absolutely wowing! Raise a glass if you have the means. Thanks (NW).

Chateau du Bousquet 2001 wine review by (PB)

This Grand Vin De Bordeaux from the Cotes De Bourg is a medium cherry color with some age showing in its presentation. The bouquet reveals some chocolate, berry and slightly herbal notes.

The palate is subtle--classic old world wine with a touch of bitterness. Fruit is tight and needs air.

With some breathing the bouquet opens up a bit to vegetal berries. It is a bit tannic with dried cherries as primary fruit. Actually this wine is pretty decent but again definitely "old world."

This wine is also peaked and needs to be consumed now! Raise a glass quickly.

Beringer Chenin Blanc 2006 wine review by (PB)

I'm sensing the need to buy some wine so I stop at this dumpy place I know to look for a bargain or two. I see this wine and I think I remember that Beringer made a real bargain wine except I thought it was the "Stone Cellars" variety. At the price of $4.50 I figure what the heck.

I put a chill on this wine and gee whiz--this is a treat to chill down and sip on a hot summer day on the porch or with a rain moving through.

It is pale straw with a really nice peach bouquet.

In the mouth it is sweeter than I might have hoped but is well made and carries the sweetness fine. More peach flavors and a little spice. For this price I am going back for more! Raise a glass.

Feudo Arancio Nero D'Avola 2002 wine review by (PB)

This oft reviewed wine by me of varying vintages continues to be a value favorite. I find it on special routinely at a place in suburban Boston for $6--unbeatable. This is the last of the 2002.

It is rather dark in the glass with dark fruit of black cherry and hint of something else I can't pin down--needs to breathe.

Palate is fairly austere prior to breathing and a bit biting. After even 15 minutes of breathing, the wine is changing. Bready flavor with dried cherries and dark fruit that is more pronounced. Black cherry flavors in the mouth with a touch of licorice after an hour. For the price you just can't do better! Raise a glass of any vintage of this wine. They're all good!

Snoqualmie Chenin Blanc 2001 wine review by (PB)

Straw colored with an odd bouquet for a Chenin; odd not meaning unpleasant but rather stupefying as to what fruit I am smelling. There seems to be a touch of guava like a Sauvignon Blanc.

It is sweet in the mouth, even too sweet. Yet it carries it off okay with a sufficient acid base to help the sweetness. This is a unique wine and honestly I can't decide if I like it or not which generally means I do not. Raise a glass of something else. (I don't remember what I paid for it but I think around $8.)

San Simeon Pinot Noir 2005 wine review by (PB)

In celebration of the 90th anniversary of the historic San Antonio winery in Los Angeles, they sent us this wine for our "tasting pleasure."

Remember Pinot Noir is a tough grape to grow and a complex wine to make well. Wine makers, Riboli and Debons have outdone themselves on this super value Pinot.

The wine is beautiful right from the first pour with a gorgeous wild cherry red hue. Strawberry and black cherry bouquet is surprisingly full.

In the mouth this wine is fairly intense with a first impression of milk chocolate with fruit notes. After breathing the wine for half hour or so, it opens to a complex wine with pepper and cinnamon notes. This wine is REALLY well made and in my notes I wrote, "VERY,VERY, NICE."

At $18, that's right $18, this is a super value Pinot Noir which if available in your area, definitely give it a try and raise a glass.

Red Guitar 2005 Wine review by (PB)

This Spanish old vine Navarra is a blend of Tempranillo (55%) and Garnacha (45%). The Garnacha carries the bouquet contained in this cranberry colored wine with a stellar rose colored rim. Elegant strawberry bouquet with a black cherry core. It is surprisingly sweet in the mouth with a chocolate center which seems unique for these grapes.

It is more new world than old in style and should be a very popular wine as it is made with the "modern" palate in mind. It makes me wonder if Michelle Roland is behind this creation.

At any rate, it is really pleasant in spite of less than attractive label and name. Raise a glass because this is a nice $11 wine.

Liberty Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) 2005 wine review by (PB)

Liberty tends to make solid, fruit forward wines at an attractive price point. This one is no exception with its young purple hue and big ripe plum and jammy blackberry aromas.

Palate is busting with rich, full bodied jammy, and bready fruit with a core of ripe dark berry fruit galore. The tannic structure of this wine borders on voluptuous. This wine is ready to drink now but expect another popular tasting and well made fruit bomb that almost tastes "manufactured." At the $10 price point, if you don't mind petri dish wine as (NW) is fond of saying, this one is enjoyable and easy to raise a glass!

Salvalai Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Cherry, red berries, and spices on the nose- which opened slowly
Tight core of fruit on the palate
Finishes with moderate tannins, raisins, and brown sugar

After deciding this wine was a little tight- and probably too young to drink- I decanted it for an hour or so. The wine slowly opened up to show nice layers and continued to evolve in the glass as the evening went on.

I didn't know much about this wine, as it's not readily available in the United States. As a result, I decided not to get my hopes up even though I really like Amarone. They can be very special wines when done well.

At first, I wasn't impressed. But after considerable air, the wine began to show its stuff. Still, I think we drank it too young as good Amarone can age for extended periods of time. Because of this, I've decided to go back for a couple more bottles to stash away for longer-term cellaring.

I paid $30 for the wine, which isn't much by Amarone standards. If it does continue to evolve in the bottle and improve with age, this will prove to be a tremendous bargain price. Raise a glass!

Trapiche Oak Cask Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nose of blackberry, currant, and herbs
Herbal core on the palate
Chewy tannins on finish, with softer fruit and dark chocolate accents

I like this Cab from Argentina better than many of the Chileans right now at the same price point. For $10, you get a wine that tastes like real Cabernet, has a nice blend of fruit and herbal layers, and is easy to drink. Raise a glass!

Terrabianca Campaccio Toscana 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nose opens slowly to reveal dark berries and tobacco

Well-structured core of fruit on the palate

Finshes with moderately chewy tannins, ripe fruit, cocoa, and subtle spice notes

I've enjoyed a number of super-Tuscans lately that have rich fruit while maintaining a solid backbone. This one is solid and well-structured, but lacks the additional richness. While I wouldn't put this one in the upper-echelon, it's a solid performer. It tastes young and will probably improve with age.

A bottle normally runs about $32 in the store. I paid $35 for a half bottle recently at a nice Italian restaurant, with the full bottle listed at $70 on the wine menu. Hey, this is at the low end of the price spectrum for super-Tuscan red blends. Raise a glass!

Gavi Di Gavi "La Caplana" 2005 wine review by (PB)

Reading Gaiter and Brecher in the Wall Street Journal prompted me to try this wine. It is an Italian white that sits pale straw in the glass with a musty bouquet of fruit and light melon.

The palate is textured yet pleasantly sour with piercing, citrus notes and plenty of acid to cut through the richest sauces. The end is fleeting finishing with a tartness as well.

The mustiness dissipates within a few minutes and it was paired with grilled Tuna which had a fruit salsa on top. The wine pushes forth a vanilla cream bouquet later in the meal.

Another great food wine that scrapes your mouth clean with every sip. I paid $15 for this wine--the first of the region for me. Raise a glass to grilled seafood and sturdy whites.

Neirano Barolo 2001 wine review by (PB)

I bought this at Sam's Club for $22. That's a dirt cheap price for a Barolo but I have purchased other Barolos at Sam's--although not that cheap--and have been pleasantly surprised.

For a Barolo--made from the Nebbiolo grape, this wine is light in color and a bouquet which is understated. Fruit is non-descript and fairly tight. This is not a good example of Barolo but then I didn't pay a classic price for it either. I decanted it and let it breathe.

In the mouth this wine is rather tart and tannic with a bready, toasty front. A dried cherry nose opens but it is still tart but it is better than it was on opening. However, at the two hour mark for breathing, it improves substantially.

There are rasiny notes and even the tartness resolves quite a bit. It was a good steak wine and okay for the price. I wouldn't buy another but I'm glad I bought the one. Raise a glass.

Domaine Bott-Geyl Muscat 2002 wine review by (PB)

This Alsatian varietal is made by the same folks who made the stellar Gewurztraminer I raved about in an earlier post. This wine--like the Gewurz--was bought on close out for $7.

It has a lovely light gold color and is a little musty on opening with sweet aromas of honey and something else I can't peg.

In the mouth this wine is surprisingly crisp where I had expected a dessert wine. Muscats are often made as aperitifs or dessert wines but this Alsatian Muscat was definitely a food wine.

Another bargain found on closeout and as I bought the only two remaining, I have one left which I'll open in a few months or maybe another year just for kicks. Raise a glass to bargain closeouts.

Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Gorgeous dark purple color

Intense nose of wild dark berries, spice, and dusty earth

Rich fruit on the palate with anise notes

Endless finish with chewy tannins and long layers of dark fruit, anise, and dark chocolate

A great wine can be rich, powerful, and elegant all in one. It's quite an accomplisment, and is something I rarely get to experience. I taste a lot of good wine, but not a lot of great wine. On this ocassion, I have a great wine to recommend.

Mostly Carmenere, this wine is a blend of other international grape varieties as well. It is the flagship wine of Casa Lapostolle in Chile, a winery that has accomplished a lot over the years. Three years ago, I paid about $55 for this bottle. I've seen more recent vintages priced a bit higher.

Drink this wine slowly over the course of the evening because it will evolve in the glass given time. Enjoy with good food and good company! Raise a glass!

Pio Cesare Barbera D'Alba 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nice nose of berries, cherry, spice, and vanilla

Fruity on the palate, with a backbone of acidity

Pleasant finish with more berries

This wine is more modern in style than I expected. In fact, it's well within the current international style that has created some homogeneity across borders and varietals with ripe berries and heavy oak characteristics.

With that said, it tastes good. I happen to like Pio Cesare wines, having now tried quite a few. They tend to have a more modern style to their wines across the lineup, even the flagship Barolo. For a reasonably-priced Barbera from the Piedmont, grab a bottle of this wine for $14 or so. Raise a glass!

Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina Sannio 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Lemons and minerals on the nose
Floral tones on the palate
Finishes with sweet citrus and more minerals

I recommend this wine for a nice change of pace. There's an aweful lot of Italian Pinot Grigio being consumed lately, and this wine is something different in the $10 price range.

This was on the wine-by-the-glass list at a nice Italian restaurant I went to recently. It paired well with several appetizers shared by the table. Raise a glass of interesting Italian white wine!

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

How many times do I have to say it? Columbia Crest just makes good wine and great wine values.
This varietal has ruby hue with a nice blackberry nose and really ripe plum.

In the mouth this wine defies its $7 price tag. There is plenty of tasty fruit with currant notes and plenty of blackberries. It is peaked right now so drink away! How can you do better at this price point? Wine Spectator gives it an honest 88 points. Here, here! and Raise a case.

Kung Fu Girl Riseling 2006 wine review by (PB)

Another one of Charles Smith's AKA-K Vintners- bizarre wines. Don't let the goofy label and silly name steer you away. This is one of the best Rieslings I have had in years from any country including Germany! And this one comes from Washington state.

It is a pale straw colored with beautiful peach, apple and pear aromas. The palate is crisp--very crisp--tasty and juicy with flavors of fresh green and yellow fruit. This wine is just really well made and finishes with crisp pears. At the $14 price tag, buy them up and just say WOW! Raise a glass.

Columbia Crest "Grand Estates" Merlot 2003 wine review by (PB)

Columbia Crest's step above their production level table wine is Grand Estates. It always runs around $10-$11 and is always really good. This is no exception.

It is an intense deep purple with a cranberry colored rim on the pour and tilt. The bouquet is typically rich in varietal aromas with a nice accent of dill and licorice.

In the mouth this wine is just a full flavored fruit forward wine that goes down easily. It is a little bold so pair it with something robust. At this price, you should be buying a case for your everyday drinking pleasure. After all, "Life is too short to drink bad wine!"

Three Thieves Pinot Noir 2004 Wine Review by Billy

Sure it's a jug, but it's a cute jug. And at about $7- 10 for 1 Liter, who can complain.

First, this should be evaluated in its price class and not necessarily against a world class Pinot. But up against something like the 2005 Pinot Evil (click for review below) it is positively a delight.

Nose: thick pinot nose of strawberry and pinot stank.
Palate: a decent attempt at balance though missing the mark in favor of tannins. This still hold up well with foods like pizza with tobasco on it.
Finish: dry, but there is a finish. Hints at early season (not quite ripe) strawberries.

I had a glass of this side by side with the 2005 Pinot Evil from Romania and the Three Thieves 2004 Pinot Noir from California wins hands down. Not only is it better crafted, it even tastes like a pinot noir. Add in the fact that you get more for about the same price and, woo-hoo pardner, you're a-drinkin' wine!

Buy this for a cheap meal accompaniment for you and your old frat buddies. Don't get it to impress the girls.

Pinot Evil Pinot Noir 2005 wine review by Billy

Reviewing the keywords that often lead folks here yields interesting results. Among the wines folks type in to get here is one that we've not reviewed until just recently: Pinot Evil (see PB's review HERE). This is a sourced wine (meaning the winery gets the grapes from other places (Mark West winery from California is similar). The 2005 pinot noir hails from (get this) Romania (DOC Recas).

The clever naming and cute monkey pictures aside, this is not the world best Pinot Noir. It's not even really a good example of a Pinot Noir. In the opinion of this blogger, it's plonk. Here's the review anyway:

Nose: bigger thicker redberry, some licorice. Where is the pinot smell?
Palate: thin. biting. the kind of wine that makes non wine drinkers stay away from wine. the kind of palate that makes wine drinkers go, "I paid what for this?"
Finish: finish? All I have left in my mouth is some green tree - leaf stems.

Take the $7 and buy some Three Thieves Pinot Noir instead.

Domaine Bott-Geyl Gewruztraminer 2002 wine review by (PB)

From the Beblenheim of Alsace is a blow you away, slap me upside the head wine that blows my socks off. I bought it for $6 on close out. I bought it merely because that price for any kind of Alsatian Gewurz. is unheard of. Five years old could be a bit of a stretch as well for such a wine and since it was so cheap you tend to think--"That's why!" But hey, for the price, what do you have to lose?

This wine is incredible! It is a deep golden in the glass and with the bouquet and color I would have sworn it was a Cru Sauternes! Aromas of sweet honey with orange blossoms. Shut up! The mouth is surprisingly sweet; I mean like desert wine sweet-- with solid acid and honey fruit compote that linger on a lovely base. This wine should cost ten times what I paid for it. You better believe I raised a glass--several times.

Rueff-Rochling Riseling 2003 wine review by (PB)

German wines contain a lot of information on their label that will help you buy the right wine if you know what you are reading. There are basically six levels of quality and the label tells you which you are considering. The first level is a Q.B. A. wine which stand for a German phrase that essentially means it meets the level of quality set by the particular region in which it is made and bottled. The word "Qualitatswein" or just the initials (above) will let you know this.

From there the quality levels rise with their attendant "title" on the label. The "titles" in ascending order as as follows:
Kabinett; Spatlese; (pronounced--Shpayt-Laysuh) Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese,
each having an ascending sweetness (and price) as well.

This wine reviewed is a simple Q.B.A. wine which should be a basic table wine. What it is, is fantastic! From the Mosel region, it is pale straw in color with an intense bouquet of citrus and light guava with sweet vanilla.

In the mouth it is a little creamy with citrus and nice structure, dry and fruity. This wine is much better than the normal Q.B. A. wine. (NW) paid $15 for this wine on sale which is quite high actually for a typical Qualitatswein German wine, but then this is no typical German Q.B. A. wine so raise a glass@

J. Lohr Chardonnay Arroyo Seco 2005 wine review by (PB)

Pale yellow in the glass with banana bouquet and a rear of burnt wood.
Palate is citrusy with good structure with a gentle bitterness that is attractive highlighted by a hint of vanilla cream. This $13 wine is tasty so raise a glass.

Rosenblum Zinfandel Rock Pile Road 2003 wine review by (PB)

(NW) treated at his suburban Boston pad bringing out this Wine Spectator top pick Zin for the year it came out garnering a big 94 points. This Zin is gargantuan with anise, ripe blackberry and plum aromas that are wonderful. (check his review below)

The palate is rich, ripe intense with espresso mocha notes and enormous black cherry flavor with cedar at the back. This wine just keeps going with awesome wine flavors. How much for a such a special wine? Forget the outrageous prices of impossible to find boutique wines or classified Bordeaux. This sizzling Zin was $32 but forget about finding it now. If you don't have one, you won't find one. But raise a glass of any of the many Rosenblum single vineyard Zins. I haven't had a marginal one yet.

Pindar Chardonnay Reserve 2002 wihne review by (PB)

Nice golden hued wine from New York with a bouquet of pineapple, lemon, and mandarin oranges with a touch of cream.

This wine is bond dry in the mouth with vibrant acidity and citrus flavors with a lingering creamy finish. This is a very nice Chard and would be a great food wine with all that acid. New York can do some things well; this is a good example. At $20 it is better than expected.

Rosenblum Rockpile Road Vineyard Zinfandel 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Beautiful dark color
Big nose of ripe berries, cinnamon, and anise
Rich flavor and texture of blackberries on the palate
Endless finish of berries, mocha, dill, and anise goes on and on

Huge, rich Zinfandels are in a category of their own, and this one is king! Not only is it a massive wine with a long, long finish- it's also a fairly balanced wine with interest layers. I wonder if a little extra cellar time has helped transform this from a fruit bomb into a better intergrated wine.

Don't pair this with delicate or sophisticated food, though. Rather, enjoy it with a steak or something hearty. The flavors are still tremendous and will overwhelm almost anything.

I remember seeing a case of this in a store in Florida two years ago for $27 a bottle. It was a Wine Spectator top pick, scoring 94 points and ending up as the number 3 wine on the top 100 for 2005. I bought just one bottle at the time and finally got around to opening it. I had to wait for PB of this blog because he's tasted most of Rosenblum's single-vineyard Zinfandels and would be able to draw comparisons. Don't miss his review to be posted in the near future.

Raise a glass!

Lyeth Sonoma County Meritage 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nice nose of mixed berries, cherry, and vanilla
More berries on the palate
Finishes smoothly with blueberry accents, toasty oak, and more vanilla

I'd say this is crafted in a very typical style of Sonoma County. It has rich fruit, smooth texture, and toasty oak accents. While it's not actually a Cabernet Sauvignon, it's a Meritage with 78% Cab. A Meritage (rhymes with heritage) must have certain classic Bordeaux grapes in the blend, but this one screams Cab. The other components include 10% Merlot, 10% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc.

If you are looking for value priced wines that show off the Sonoma County style, try this one. It reminds me of Sebastiani Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon and runs in the same price range. I paid $13 on sale, marked down from $15. Raise a glass!

Trapiche Oak Cask malbec 2004 wine review by (PB)

This Argentinian value wine has great pigmentation of intense plum purple on the pour. Bouquet is immensely fruit forward with tons of ripe black berries.

Palate is deeply intense with toast and rich ripe fruit that fills the mouth. Tis is your new world fruit bomb of a 20 megaton variety. Drink up if you're in the mood to have our taste buds assaulted. Paid $7.50 on a 25% off sale. Raise a glass to an explosion of flavor!

Beaujolias Villages 2005 (Georges Duboeuf) wine review by (PB)

Found this simple but delightful Gamay wine on sale for $7.50 and it pairs with just about anything. Served chilled, it is fruity with strawberry notes and raspberry hints. It is a rich purple wine in the glass and goes down ever so easy. Duboeuf is king of the Beaujolais wines and scores another simple but refreshing quaff for a warm summer's eve.

Raise a glass anytime, anywhere with anything!

Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon wine review by (PB)

This 5 year old bulk produced wine by one of the most reliable and value making wineries in the country does it again. While showing some maturity in the hue, the bouquet is spicy on red berries that are ripe and oozing plump plummy fruit.

In the mouth the wine is full of toasty fruit with solid palate with hints of cocoa and espresso. An $8 wine should not be this good. This Washington State winery just puts out "best buy" wines year after year. All I can say is, raise a glass of this new world bargain.

Beaulieu Vineyards Zinfandel 2003 Private Cellars wine review by (PB)

Black cherry colored with solid black cherry and berry aromas. Really ripe fruit flavors of spicy dark cherry and black berries with typical B.V. structure meaning it is well made. This is decent wine that reminds me of Cline's production level Zin which is always a solid wine also.

Uncomplicated fruit forward, ripe wine that is tasty and easy to drink. Another well done $10 wine from the folks at B.V. Raise a glass

Hogue Chenin Blanc 2005 wine review by (PB)

Washington State (Columbia Valley) Chenin has gentle spicy tropical fruit aroma and pleasant citrus notes. Palate is quite robust with nice Chenin flavors of rich summer fruit with underlying citrus charm. Structure is a little sluggish but finishes with a gentle sweetness. This is a value wine for chilling down and sitting around in the summer wind and sipping away the evening; or afternoon; or midmorning, what the heck!

I paid $8 for this and it is a fair value. Hogue tends to produce these popular tasting, inexpensive wines that are almost always reliable. So raise a glass.

Caymus Conundrum 2005 wine review by (PB)

While in Minnesota, Billy took us us out for some wine. This restaurant treat cost a small fortune but that what splurges are right?

This blended white of mysterious grapes provides the name of the wine. It is light yellow in the glass with a nice big peachy and apricoty bouquet with honey notes. Very lovely!

The mouth is filling with big flavors of peach, apricot and light cream notes and a an elegant creamy texture.

The wine finishes long with summer fruit. It could be a little stronger in the acid category but certainly not distracting. This was a treat and the retail price of this wine is generally around $30. It is a great aperitif and a nice desert accompaniment. Raise a glass!

Charmarre Shiraz Merlot 2004 wine review by (PB)

This French sourced wine from the Languedoc is 55% Shiraz/45% Merlot and is eggplant in hue. The nose is full of cinnamon and spice with tart berry notes.

In the mouth it is a bit astringent and awkward but the flavors of berries are nice.

This is a solid drinking wine but a little coarse. For the price point of $10 which is what 50% of the wines in the market run these days (it seems) there is better out there especially from this region.

It finishes with fruit berries if a little green. Just so, so but raise a glass.

Pinot Evil Pinot Noir 2005 wine review by (PB)

After receiving numerous inquiries about this wine Billy and I decided to grab a bottle and review it. Tis wine was so forgettable I had forgotten I reviewed a 2004 back in April. That one was French while this wine is sourced from Romania! I found it for $9 at a local shop in Minnesota. Even with the attempt at a clever label the wine fails on all counts.

It is a bright burgundy color with a bouquet that smells like a cheap cab/merlot rather than Pinot Noir. It has tart raspberry nose with steely foundation. In the mouth it is rather plonky, short lived with pepper in the back.

For the price you can do much better (think Mark West, Camelot). This is a wine to avoid and please, whatever you do, don't try this wine and think, "Gee, I don't like Pinot Noir." There is nothing Pinot noirish about it. Raise a glass of something else!

Cheetah Valley Ruby Cabernet Pinotage 2001 wine review by (Billy)

This South African wine is a blend of 60% ruby Cabernet and 40% Pinotage that comes from the western cape.

nose: strong and sophisticated plumb with red currant.
palate:Comes out strong with big Cabernet flavors and structured mouth feel. Not overly tannic but well balanced.
finish: soft and unassuming.

At the $11 I paid (during a special at the store) I thought was a good value for the wine from a [new or newly branded???] winery in South Africa. The blend was expert and not overwhelming. Since it is a 2001, the wine shows some deepness and richness of color in the glass. It is ready to drink now.

Raise a Glass!

Edna Valley Vineyard Chardonnay 2005 wine review by (Billy)

(NV pictured, 2005 tasted)
Nose: Thick and fibrous nose of peach and fleshy pitted fruit. Toasty vanilla hints, but only at the back of the nose.
Palate: Full, round, and fleshy in the mouth.
Finish: Pleasingly languid.

Peach predominates the 2005 vintage of this Edna Valley Chard from central California. This is round without being overly buttery and fat (phat!) that is pleasingly plump without being flabby. I did not find it crisp (at all) but there is enough acid back structure to ensure that the big mouth feel does not get "oozy". (There is a new wine word for all you enophiles out there.)

The finish is slow and pleasing. Served at the appropriately chilled temperature, this is a wonderful summer wine, not a heat killer, but something more akin to a southern delight - luxuriously taking its time.

At $17 a bottle this is fairly priced though I would love to see it at $4 less.

Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Fragrant nose of exotic red berries and grapefruit
Moderately plush core
Finishes with some plum, peppery spice, and more grapefruit

Yes, I really did write grapefruit. That threw me off for a while, until I asked my wife if she tasted anything unexpected. She said "grapefruit" right away, too. It makes this wine interesting, and keeps it light and elegant.

I enjoyed it as a change of pace. I don't think I have anything else in the cellar that would taste quite like this wine. After all, that's the beauty of wine- it offers so many different interpretations.

A local butcher has a wine section and just got a case of this in. I paid $20. Raise a glass!

Eberle Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Rich nose of black cherry, wild red berries, toasty oak, and vanilla
Smooth texture with some earthiness and mushrooms on the palate
Smooth finish with more cherry, plum, and vanilla

This is a softer, smoother style of Cabernet, but very representative of the Cabs of Paso Robles, CA. I highly recommend it when you're looking for this style. What's particularly nice is that the cherry, vanilla, and toasty oak that are typical of softer Cabs are also complimented here by a more earthy layer that adds depth.

Eberle make some nice wines. They are now on my list of wineries who's wine I grab any time I see it. I paid $20 for this bottle at a store that's off the beaten path for me. Raise a glass!

Torres de Anguix Barrica 2003 wine review by (PB)

Some of the best wine values today are coming out of the Ribera Del Duero! This one is no exception at $7. It is really intense in color of black cherry right to the rim with heft in both hue and aromas. The Tempranillo wine is full of deep dark fruit and ripe dark berries.

In the mouth this wine is bold full of fleshy fruit that tastes more like a California creation than old world. It's still a little chunky with some maturing to do but black cherry and licorice are solid. At this price and this bold presence, it is worth hunting around for. Raise a glass to BBQ ribs and this smack down red!

Four Vines Zinfandel "The Sophisticate" 2004 wine review by (PB)

This happened to be reviewed in my latest issue of the Wine Spectator and they liked it a lot! Their tastes and mine, rarely disagree so just by happenstance, I found this wine a couple days later for $14 although the reference price is $18.

This wine is purple with youthful exuberance and bold--brash?--confidence. There is plenty of big aromas galore like spicy peppery, green pepper with black raspberry fruit.

The mouth is lush with ripe dark berry fruit and black cherry, espresso and baker's chocolate to boot. This is one of those really big fruit forward wines that leave nothing to subtlety. But this wine is still young and very tasty yet silky now. Want to know what classic Zin is like? Grab this. At $14, this has to be a recommended wine from old (PB).

At that price, buy three and lay two down for another year and then two. Raise a glass!

Alta Vista Malbec Rose 2005 wine review by (PB)

This sale rose was $7. It has an interesting pale watermelon juice hue with a really fun candy and fruit bouquet. The palate is pleasant if nondescript with little flavor and yet is surprisingly refreshing. This wine perplexes me a bit; I kind of liked it and yet it didn't leave much open to description.

Roses are really coming into their own and for around $10 you can get a really juicy, fruity, fun quaffing wine that goes with all kinds of food. Probably wouldn't spend much time on this one but raise a glass of another!

(In the picture, it is the one on the left-- fyi!)

J. Lohr Riverstone Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Ripe pear on the nose

Buttery, mouth-filling texture

Peaches and cream on the finish, with vanilla and spice accents

Again, this is a nice value Chardonnay. I've enjoyed the past couple of vintages and think this 2005 is especially good. It's rich and mouth-filling, making it a good value at $13 or so. I got a couple bottles on sale recently for under $11. Raise a glass to that!

Villaroya De La Sierra Calatayud Garnacha 2004 wine review by (PB)

This Spanish Grenache has a wild cherry hue and a thickish bouquet of pepper, and licorice with red berries on top of dark berries.

Palate is a little hot and bit tannic yet hints of interesting flavors of various spices come to mind with a smoky finish. This wine has some zing to it and is interesting yet not completely pleasant to drink. It could be the style which I tend to think it is but as a Grenache fan, I look for something fruitier and simpler without competing stimuli. It's okay but I wouldn't get it again. I am not certain, but I think I paid around $8 it. For the price I would rather try the "Sideshow" line of wines (Namely; The Contortionist) with their style of Grenache (blend) described above. Raise a glass.

House White 2006 The Magnficent Wine Co. wine review by (PB)

In a recent tasting with K-Vintner's wine genius Charles Smith, this was one of the wines we tasted. I don't care for wine tastings a great deal because invariably the amount of wine poured for the "taste" is too little to accurately "taste" the wine. At the tasting, I made some notes, I liked this wine enough to buy a couple bottles, but after opening my own bottle and having a real taste, this wine was considerably better than it was at the tasting.

The reason--again--is that the thimble full of sample given at free tastings doesn't give you enough liquid to work with. I wish the folks who do these tastings would realize that they would sell more wine, and get better reviews if they weren't so tight on the 1/2 ounce sample they pour.

That being said, this wine, which is their production line variety selling for $10, is a very well made wine with some wonderful aromas, flavors, and balanced acids. The wine is actually a Washington State varietal (Chardonnay) with some Gewurztraminer in the blend. Smith releases different "lots" of this wine with grapes sourced from different locations. Which means bottle variation is a real possibility.

This one is straw colored with awesome candied, pear bouquet with a touch of butter scotch down deep. It is nice in the mouth with a nice structure, citrus, cream more pears and peach notes. This wine is wonderful for an aperitif or with food. Recommended value so raise a glass!

Trentadue Old Patch Red 2004 wine review by (PB)

Yet another close out wine for which I paid $8 when it sells for around twice that. This Sonoma blend is a pleasant cherry to black cherry color to the rim. Bouquet is ripe black berries with that rustic touch.

This wine is 76% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Syrah, and 8% Carignane. The Petite syrah works well with this blend. It is full and wild with ripe berry flavors and blueberries, a little espresso and black berry jam with a slightly bitter finish that is pleasant.

This was a very tasty wine worth the price to be sure but even considerably more. Raise a glass.

Don Mendo Carinena (NV) wine review by (PB)

This was another close out which should have been closed out. It is 50% Garnacha (I'm big Garnacha fan--also called Grenache) and 50% Tempranillo.

Color has some heft with a ruby rim and a bouquet of black cherry and overly ripe plum or raisin notes. Palate is really thin though, tannic and just kind of ucky. Don't raise a glass of this--even at $6!

Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc 2004 wine review by (PB)

This Chenin is straw with vanilla bouquet and ripe--really ripe--oranges. In the mouth it is well made with vanilla and summer fruit galore with a nice finish that carries on.

We paired it with a fairly strong tequila-lime cilantro shrimp dinner and it did very well.

This wine was on close out and I grabbed it for $7. It was well worth it and if I get back to this store (it's 35 miles away) I'll buy them out. Raise a glass!

Chateau Lynch-Bages 1996 Wine Review (Blind Tasting with PB- posted by NW)

Tasting notes:

Nose of tobacco, cedar, and smoke
Dark berries on the palate, firmly structured
Finish lingers with moderate tannins, showing earth, mushrooms, and some coffee

What a treat! This wine is ageing well, showing complexity and mysterious layers of earthy aromas wrapped around the core of berries. If you haven't had a real Bordeaux in a while, grab a Lynch-Bages of any vintage. It's the opposite of the fruit-forward new world style that is dominant today.

This wine was supplied by PB for the blind tasting. I suspected he might put a ringer in there, and he did. I guessed that it was an aged Bordeaux, but I'm somewhat familiar with what's in his cellar. He bought the bottle for $70 at a small shop in metro Chicago on a visit there. You have to read about his experience under his review of this wine below.

By far, it was the best wine of the blind tasting. It has so much character, but is all woven together in a way that eludes many other wines. Thanks PB. Raise a glass!

Domaine Alain Michelot Bourgogne 1997 Wine Review (Blind Tasting with PB- posted by NW)

Tasting notes:

Light brick red and browning at the edges
Very faint aromas on nose of watermelon and flowers
Racy core of acid, light-bodied
Light finish, slightly bitter

This wine is past its prime. Not only is it faded, it doesn't even taste very good. I supplied it for the tasting, so I suspected this was the ten-year-old Burgundy that just didn't make it. Oh well, not every bottle is a winner, especially when you tuck it away for a while.

I paid $15 for this, marked down from $19. I'd like my money back please! It was clearly the worst wine in the blind tasting of three. The weak flavor profile and thin texture put it on the opposite end of the spectrum from the Langmeil Shiraz posted below. Raise a glass of that instead!

Langmeil Valley Floor Barossa Shiraz 2005 Wine Review (Blind Tasting with PB- posted by NW)

Tasting notes:

Rich nose of ripe berries and anise

Smooth core of blueberry jam, thick and almost sweet

Velvety finish with wild berries, mint, and sweet spices

This wine is big and rich! It has all the qualities of the new world style, with ripe fruit and jammy, thick texture. No surprise that it's an Australian Shiraz from the Barossa Valley.

Tasting blind, I new it right away- but that's because I supplied the bottle for the tasting. If I didn't know there was a Shiraz involved, I would have also suspected Petite Sirah or Zinfandel due to the thick, jammy texture.

The wine is delicious. The only problem is that we tasted it along side a 1996 Chateau Lynch-Bages. Next to a mature Bordeaux, the Langmeil was almost too sweet and thick- like the blueberry syrup on the table at a mom-and-pop pancake house.

I paid $24 for the bottle sometime within the past six months. At a relatively modest price compared to a lot of Barossa Shiraz now, this one delivers the experience you'd expect. Raise a glass!

Sebastiani Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Rich nose of black cherry, cola, and vanilla
Blackberry fruit on the palate
Finishes with berries and more vanilla

I cellared this for two years, assuming it would maintain its character and become even smoother and more integrated. As far as I can tell, that's exactly what's happening. I have about a half case still, and will probably pull a bottle every six months or so to try it. It's really a nice wine and is worth every penny.

The other two vintages I've tried are 2001 and 2003. It seems to be a pretty consistent wine and I recommend it when looking for a Sonoma County Cab. With rich flavors and a smooth texture, it's a wine you can grab at the store on your way home for dinner and enjoy it that evening. Typically priced around $16, I spotted it for just $12 and bought almost a case. Raise a glass to that!

Cecchi Sangiovese di Toscana 2004 wine review by (PB)

The few Cecchi wines I have had have been disappointing. This one starts with a nice ruby color with dried cherries up front and a jammier black cherry core behind the cherries and an intriguing rear of dill. That's the good part.

The bad part is that in the mouth the wine is shallow and unremarkable. Interestingly the wine is well made to where I noted mentally, this may be the best wine I never tasted. Even after some time to air our, it was just kind of a chemically well balanced, neutral liquid. Even at the price point of $8, there's much tastier wine out there. Raise a glass of those!

Mumm's Brut Prestige (NV) wine review by (PB)

This is one of my favorite sparkling wines at this or any price point. For $18, you get real class with a vanilla cream and sweet apple bouquet, nice tiny bubbles and a structurally sound wine that is fresh, tasty and simple with a nice appley finish.

This wine is great as an aperitif or with a host of foods that might otherwise be challenging to pair. So chill it down and raise a glass!