Green Meadow Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Aromas of black tea and pomegranate on the nose with a backdrop of black licorice
Lean and subtle on the palate
Cherry layers on the finish with more black licorice

I wrote "interesting" in my notes because this wine drinks more like a Burgundy than a California Pinot Noir. The color is extremely light and it has subtleties of aroma and flavor that take some discerning.

I paid $20 on sale, marked down from $24. If this sounds like your style of Pinot, give it a shot. And raise a glass!

Joan Gine Gine Priorat 2000 wine review by (PB)

(NW) opened this Priorat blend as the 5th of 6 which he purchased on a great sale some time ago. If I remember, he paid $8-9 per bottle when this usually runs around twice that.

At 9 years old, this wine is really coming into its prime but still has plenty of age left in it.

It still has a purple youthfulness to it and a full bouquet of chocolate, all kinds of fruits and cherry and sweet spice and tobacco--really NICE!

Palate is deep and fruity with black licorice front, with dark deep lingering fruit finish. My notes don't do this wine justice as it was just busy with a tantalizing complexity that is unusual for a wine of this price. the Priorat has some true bargains and up and coming creations worth trying.

So raise a glass to Joan and check out our previous reviews of this wine in its earlier phases.

Groenendal Chenin Blanc 2007 wine review by (PB)

I paid $16 for this S. African Chenin presenting with a light golden hue and aromas of vanilla, Clementine rind, powder and sweet citrus.

Palate--nicely integrated citrus flavors with solid acid base, grapefruit in the rear--more a feel than a flavor like grapefruit aftertaste--finishing with light pear or peach but very faint.

So here's the difference between a great value wine and a decent wine: This wine is a good varietal but at $16, there are numerous other Chenins just as good for about half the price. Scroll down for example and peruse my review of Forrester's "Petit" Chenin Blanc and then raise a glass.

Gandia Hoya De Cadenas Reserva 2004 wine review by (PB)

This is 100% Tempranillo (pronounced temp-ra-NEE-oh) presenting with a purple hue and aromas of dried red fruit, pie cherry, and plum notes.

Palate--Surprisingly youthful with tasty cocoa and tight fruit waiting to burst open. Juicy core has plenty of life with another 3-5 years perhaps. Finishes with a nice fruit filled ending.
I paid $7 for this on sale--it normally runs around $10 and is a great value. Raise a glass to this Spanish bargain!

Ken Forrester "Petit" Chenin Blanc 2008 wine review by (PB)

This Stellenbosch of light gold with bouquet of vanilla and cream sickle (faint orange sherbet) in a sweet pronounced nose that is really very nice.

Palate--good acid, lemon rind with sour orange, light pink grapefruit, off dry and good example of a Chenin. ($9) Raise a glass to of one of my favorite most underrated varietals!

Publish Post

Vina Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 wine review by (PB)

Purple hue with some Cabernet aromas with a slightly stinky note with black pepper and some veggies.

Steely front with light varietal flavors but thin, and watery, harsh and all around yucky. Now sure I paid around $8 for a magnum at Sam's Club but still, you can find bargains like this from Chile but this isn't one of them.

Still, this would be the wine of choice where you are entertaining a passel of people who have no clue about wine because even as bad as this review is, this wine is drinkable.

Mommy's Time Out Rosso Primitivo 2007 wine review by Billy

Nose: jammy plum and raspberry with cedar tones
Palate: biting and acidic. unbalanced. unrefined. unpleasant
Finish: can't be over too quickly.
Overall: for $8 I couldn't pass up this bottle if only for the label. It is classic. The name "mommy's time out" and the picture of a chair and wine glass facing the corner is amusing and snarky. Unfortunately, the label is the best part about this wine.

It's funny but pass it by.

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2000 wine review by (PB)

(NW) of this blog brought out this Barolo with a velvety gnocchi bolognese (I think).
Presence is lighter red (lighting was dim) with sweet black cherry, eucalyptus, and hickory smoke in the bouquet but "stuff" comes and goes in this tantalizing Nebiolo.

Palate--Evergreen was my first impression, tight, needing either more air or age or both. Candied cherry flavor with dry tannins and dark spices. Just a complex and tasty wine for what I gather is at the $50 price point. Raise a glass!

Fattoria Viticcio Chianti Classico 2006 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Currants, cherry, plum sauce, and vanilla

Dense core of fruit on the palate

Racy finish of smoky notes, earth, black cherry, and cocoa

Give this wine plenty of air and let it warm up a bit- you won't be disappointed! Traditional Chianti elements are present, along with rich fruit and vanilla. What really carries this wine is the dense core of flavor that unfolds on the palate.

I bought one bottle for $20 and another for $16 a week later, so keep an eye open for a good deal. Pop the cork with your favorite Italian dish and raise a glass!

Four Vines Santa Barbara County Naked Chardonnay 2006 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:


Big tropical fruit nose

Acidic but smooth core

Lychee and lemon finish, with other tropical fruit layers tapering nicely

Let me start by saying that I'm not a fan of unoaked chardonnay. I know this runs counter to the movement of "re-discovering" Chardonnay without barrel fermentation, but I don't have a place for it in my cellar. The reason for this is twofold. First, Chardonnay interacts so well with oak that it's silly not to finish it in this way. Second, if I want a crisp, clean, unoaoked white wine I'll simply reach for a different varietal. There are plenty of white varietals that taste great after steel tank fermentation, such as Sauvignon Blanc.

With that said, this wine is decent and shows nice varietal characteristics for $11 or so. I just won't typically be buying unoaked Chardonnay (in this case "naked"). Of course, we're all entitled to our opinion- so raise a glass to that!

Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 "Limited Release" wine review by (PB)

On my last trip to L.A. I snagged this Cab from the classic 04 Napa vintage on the basis of the vintage alone.

It has a crystalline presentation with a black garnet hue and nice earthy aromas on opening but dissipate over an hour or so of breathing. Then all kinds of good stuff emerges like fresh cherry, bitter chocolate with herbs and spices; complex; extraordinary for the price of $20!

Palate--a little thinner mouth feel than I would expect but delightful ultra-fruity flavors with an impression of a sweet palate with chocolate, cedar, fruity red berries that drinks with a classy pure finish.

Finally! I snapped a prolonged streak of marginal to yucky wines. This wine won't be easy to find but if you chance upon it, snatch it up in whatever quantities you find. This will drink well for a few more years and it is a bargain at the price. Raise a glass!

LuLu B Pinot Noir 2006 wine review by (PB)

This sourced French red (Vin D'Pays) is black cherry hue with pretty rim of burgundy red. Aromas are stronger than expected for a Pinot in this price point ($10) but nice fruit smells with chocolate hints and berry cherry core. (Awkward for a Pinot...

Palate--thin texture with thin flavor; a little chewy and watery. Weird for a Pinot Noir but then what do you want for the price? Pass!

Toad Hollow Amplexus Cremant Brut wine review by Billy

Nose:Warm rising bread dough aromas with hints of nutmeg and candy sprinkles. Hints of lavender.
Palate:small (not tiny) bubbles are prevalent in the mouth with a pleasingly elegant dryness that avoids a mouth-parching bone dryness. Good structure and balance. Vanilla buttercream in the mouth.
Finish:Softly Floral. Springtime.
Overall: I paid $18 for this wine and am pleasantly surprised. It has elegant edible flower characteristics and an earthy-yeasty nose that provides a richness beyond the price point. A classy sparkling wine from France.

I bought this wine this evening for Open That Bottle Night since everything in my cellar worth opening has a "Wait until 20XX" sign on it the earliest of which is next year. I'm pleased with this sparkling. It has class and character that outranks the Washington State DSM's I've tried and is a nice change from the Mumm Napa's as well. Well worth having a bottle or two on hand for guests or celebrations.

Raise a Glass!

Soletta Firmadu Cannonau Di Sardegna 2003 wine review by (PB)

Was served this at a friend's house; I haven't had many wines of the Cannonau grape but I have liked everyone of them.

Bouquet of faint cherries and herbs;

Palate brims with white pepper and cherry fruit. This wine is well integrated and drinking well. It runs around the $20 price point and is a good example of the grape and a well made wine. Raise a
glass!

Simonnet Febvre Chablis Millesime 2005 wine review by (PB)

This Chablis is pale golden with a bouquet of tropical fruit and vanilla with over-ripe tangerine and light spice. The bouquet is pretty nice but the wine gives its all to the bouquet.

Palate: Citrus with juicy mouth watering acid and an interesting rear palate of bubblegum hints and finishes thin.

I paid $22 for this wine and paid about $12 too much. This is a pass and my string of marginal wines continues...

Taborga Moscatel/Semillion wine review by (PB)

This Chilean blend was purchased for $8 simply out of curiosity. It is a pretty golden with sweet, tropical fruit aromas with a slight--chemical smell...

Palate--good acid; it is dry, fruity and actually paired quite well with mussels in wine sauce over linguine. The "chemically" odor seemed to dissipate.

This is the second wine from this Chilean producer and both were okay for the price so I will continue to go back to them and see what they have to offer. Raise a glass to inexpensive wines in this wonderful economy!

'My bad? I never noted the vintage...sorry.

The White Knight Sauvignon Blanc 2006 real-time wine review by (PB)

I just walked in, chicken and dumplings are on the stove and I twisted off the cap of this Lodi (Calif.) varietal which is connected to the Sebastiani family.

Bouquet--Sweet fragrances of sunny tropical fruits with a honeyed nose.

Palate--bone dry with racy acidity that makes you smack your lips. Some citrus (Meyer lemons) with a subtle finish of a nearly caramel hint. (Yes I have a Meyer lemon tree...okay my WIFE has one...)

This is a perfect example of how a fruity wine can give you the impression of being annoyingly sweet and yet--Wham! it is dry as cactus during a drought. As my mouth sits empty, there is an interesting sensation and taste of another fruit but I *can't pin it down. (I subsequently went to a grocery store and bought a kumquat on a lark--Bingo! That's the fruit I couldn't pin down.)

This should be a good food wine with all that acid and a real palate cleanser. I like it and for $9 it's an interesting find and pleasant to be stuck in Lodi again!

Raise a glass

Edmeades Late Harvest Zinfandel 2003 wine review by (PB)

From Mendocino, late harvest Sins can be heavenly--Rosenblum makes a wonderful one but you'll pay for it at around $22 a half bottle but its worth it! This wine however is blah!

The wine--in fairness is over the hill with a slight toluene odor and hidden fruit. It is still sweet but thin with slight rasiny flavor; all in all it is pretty empty. I paid around $12 for it and it is shot! I seem to be on a roll for marginal or bad wines! (I didn't even review another Shiraz I just had which was corked!)

Penfold's Hyland Adelaide Shiraz 2005 wine review by (PB)

Deep black cherry hue with slight purple twinge.
Bouquet has aromas of nice dark fruit, berries, slight blueberry, and sweet cocoa--pretty nice bouquet.

Palate--thinner than I expected and actually pretty surprisingly boring. At first I thought it might just be tight even at 4 years old but it just never went anywhere. I paid $12 and I wouldn't do it again.

Rojo Mojo Shiraz 2007 wine review by (PB)

A Spanish Shiraz of black cherry with odd, oily dark berry aromas with sweet cherry notes.

Palate is chunky, thin with cherry fruit. Not very pleasing--pass. ($8)

Zeal Sauvignon Blanc 2007 wine review by (PB)

From Marlborough this S. Blanc is pale straw with super grassy, guava paste aromas with a touch of lemon and grapefruit rind.

Palate is citrusy with slight tropical fruit (pineapple) but not as "crisp" as I like. Another wine at the ubiquitous price point of $10. It's okay so raise a glass if you will!

San Fabiano Calcinaia Casa Boschino Toscana 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Spicy sweet cherry and berries on the nose

Good acidity and well-integrated flavors on the palate

More cherry, spices, vanilla, and a nice earthy layer

I picked this up on a half price sale ($10 marked down from $20). When I see a Tuscan red blend on sale, I'll always grab it. The chances of being pleasantly surprised are extremely good.

This wine has a terrific balance of sweet and spicy cherry fruit along with tightness and acidity. There's also an underlying earthy layer that's nice. Raise a glass to a Tuscan bargain!

Boom Boom Syrah 2007 wine review by (PB)

This is one of Charles Smith's *Washington state wines--I was looking forward to this as Smith's wines are almost always unique and tasty.

The wine has a weighty black cherry hue with a bouquet yielding sweet perfumed powdery fruit with , cherry candy, and "Chinese 5 Spice" aromas. A little weird but again--unique!

Palate--Chinese 5 Spice flavors with some black pepper, berry fruit and sweet dark chocolate. finish hangs on for a bit.

I wasn't real taken by this wine and honestly was a bit disappointing even at $16. Still, the uniqueness of this creation is an education so raise a glass.
*Shaw's are one brand that you must not let yourself be put off by the amateurish labels. His generic labeled "House Wine" both red and white are usually quite good and nice values!

Pommery Brut Royal wine review by Billy

Nose:Mushroom and toasted sesame crackers underneath a white grapefruit citrus core
Palate: Bitty bubbles that are more prickles than tickles. Strong acid gives weight to the delicacy of the bubbles. Dry as the Brut label suggests but not overly so. Strong citrus acids on the palate are like underripe tropical fruit. Almost bitter but remaining accessible.
Finish: subtle green apple peel and vanilla on the finish.
Overall: I paid about $43 for this bottle just this evening (I think of it as my own "stimulus package"). This champagne is elegant but brutal. It is like the corset under the evening gown, the tuxedo that is uncomfortable but makes you look really quite nice. The flavor of the wine is like that (not the fact of the bottle or the price point) It is the elegance requiring discomfort which is gladly endured for the sake of the beauty it provides. Ascetic. Worthy.

Vina Robles RED4 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Black raspberry, black cherry, plum, and vanilla on the nose

Juicy core of ripe fruit with plush texture on the palate

Finish of wild berries, currants, and spice

Here's an interesting blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Touriga, and Tannat from Paso Robles, California. It's surprisingly good, with wild fruit flavor and a juicy core. I paid $11 which is a pretty good deal. Check it out- and raise a glass!

San Antonio Winery N.V. "port" wine review by (PB)

This California "Port" brilliant plum purple with bouquet of cranberry and black cherry with black berry notes--not very "port like."

Palate is rather flaccid with a sweet thinnish foundation that is weird, awkward and clunky.

Now in fairness--after reading the back label--it states, "Our port...is the perfect ingredient in certain dishes like baked pears in a port sauce..."

Okay for cooking, this is a decent wine; for drinking--not so much.

But note this well; typically many people tend to use their "bad" wine to cook with. DON'T! Never cook with anything you wouldn't drink. Those "bad" flavors do not mysteriously change because they have been added to other ingredients. If you won't drink it; good rule is--don't cook with it! So raise a glass to decent culinary prowess! (BTW $8)

Note--the label shown is for their "Marsala" wine; the "port" label is the same except for that word.

Chateau Clos De Verduin 2005 wine review by (PB)

This cheap 05 Bordeaux was throwing a sediment like a farmer tossing hay. Color is an opaque (thanks to the heavy sediment) garnet.

Bouquet--touches of raspberry with peppery, vegetal, musty fruit.

Palate--Chunky tannins, dry as dust, dried red fruit but tight overall and fairly monotonous. $12.50 so give it a pass!

Erik's The Red Toad Hollow wine review by Billy

Nose: earthy, rich, husky with cherry and black pepper
Palate: soft tannins are round and full feeling. slim body but not anorexic
Finish: thin finish that is a hodge podge rather than a single flow.

Overall:This NV is a blend of 18 different grapes from Paso Robles California. The blend lends a rich nose to the wine which is really wonderful. It has got to be quite an accomplishment to blend 18 (red and white!) varietals and make a drinkable wine let alone something with this kind of character. The wine is fun and easy drinking with character enough to stand up to just about anything you want to serve.

Chateau Mirefleurs 2005 wine review by (PB)

This Grand Vin De Bordeaux from the fabled vintage of 05 is a black cherry hue with dried cherries, tobacco, and wood on the bouquet.

Palate: made in the *"sweet" style with light cherry fruit, candied red fruit on a well structured foundation; Finish is a bit shorter than I would have expected but a nice, lower tiered wine from the 05 vintage. At the $14 price point, this is one of those value Bordeaux so raise a glass!
*Sweet in this sense is not to be confused with "sweet" in the context of a desert wine or even a white wine. Wines in this style tend to be quite dry yet their bounteous fruit give s a sweet palate presence. More and more "old world" wine makers are striving for this "new world" style as it appeals to more palates.

Rosenblum 2007 Contra Costa County Zinfandel wine review by (PB)

This is an intense purple wine with some depth in presentation;

Bouquet: quite sparse but what's there is a nice fudgey, fruity presence.

Palate--full bodied, seductive texture with rich blackberry and plum with a nice finish.

At $15 it is pretty tasty all around. Raise a glass!

Atteca Old Vines Garnacha 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Blackberry, raspberry, herbs, and pepper on the nose

Full-bodied and herbal on the palate

Red berries and pepper on the finish

This could be a nice introduction to Spanish wine for some people. It's well balanced with fruit and herbal layers. At $15 or so, you'll be rewarded with a well-crafted Grenache. Raise a glass!

Veo Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 wine review by (PB)

Sweet ripe black berries with parsley, vegetal middle.

Palate--fleeting initial cinnamon or mint, with chewy tannins with big juicy plump berries galore. This is a phenomenal wine for $6.88 at Sam's Club and is absolutely delicious and varietal. Buy this sucker and raise a glass to awesome values out of Chile!

(A couple days after I posted this, My beloved went back to Sam's and bought another 1/2 case. Now that's an endorsement!)

Cristalino Brut CAVA (N.V.) wine review by (PB)

This Spanish sparkler has something going for it. This straw colored wine is comprised of the Macabeo 50%, Parellada 35% and Xarello 15% grapes yielding nutty cream aromas.

Palate--Really packed, pin point bubbles that give your mouth a clean zing! Flavors are light with subtle notes of citrus, dry as dust and a clean finish.

At under $8 where I shop, this is an all around sparkler. Raise a glass to cheap bubbly.

Santa Florentine Malbec wine review by (PB)

This is a Sam's Club value wine at under $6! From the Formatina Valley, this 100% Malbec is a pretty though light purple, tinted burgundy colored wine. Bouquet is nearly perfumy or pepper and sweet red fruit and powder.

Palate--texture is a bit thin with thin flavors of raspberry and is well made for what is there. At $5.88, this is an easy drinking wine that stood up to fried calamari and veal parmigiana with homemade pasta and pramagiana reggiano. Raise a glass!

Rosenblum Petite Syrah Heritage Clones 2006 wine review by (PB)

This $16 Syrah, previously reviewed wine is always delicious! Deep purple hue with a bouquet of rich dark chocolate and blackberry.

Palate--Thick, rich, ripe blackberries with baker's chocolate and loads of well balanced fruit. It is $16 and just plain tasty so raise a glass!

Swanson Oakville Merlot 2002 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Ripe berries, milk chocolate, and spice on the nose

Round, plush texture on the palate

Dark berries, plums, chocolate, and oak notes on the finish

Don't diss Merlot- just drink good ones! This is one of the most reliable Napa Valley Merlot's, and I recommend it as a wine to enjoy with red meat or a richly flavored pasta dish.

This 2002 tasted awefully good with lots of ripe berry and chocolate. The key is that it's not overly oaked, which can mask the fruit flavors. Rather, the oak treatment here lends balance and refinement, along with added spice nuances.

Expect to pay $32 or so, however you can often find it for less. Raise a glass!

Jaffurs Santa Barbara County Syrah 1997 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Fragrant red berries, spice, and light pepper notes on the nose

A rich, plush, texture on the palate and very relaxed

Smooth finish of wild red berries, tobacco, and spice

I was amazed how well this wine aged! I'm assuming it was well cared for by the restaurant where we ordered it. After all, they claim the largest wine cellar in New England at well over 100,000 bottles.

The other Syrah's I've had fover the past few years from Jaffurs were young, and they were all delicious. This was a unique opportunity to taste one of their wines nearly 12 years old. The bottle aging seemed to bring on some Rhone-style Syrah qualities, which made the wine interesting. I paid $47 for the pleasure, which was a real bargain in this case. Raise a glass!

Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 wine review by (PB)

This organic wine is a purple black cherry hue with a bouquet that is sweet, plummy, and full of ripe fruit with rich slightly herbal notes and bright berry gum drops--tantalizing!

Palate is juicy with a spicy front, edgy tannins that relax with some breathing time, dense fruit that is ripe and delicious with a blueberry finish.

This is a really nice cab in this style and for $12, it is hard to beat so raise a glass!

(NW) just reviewed this wine as well so be sure to scan his just below this entry.

Dona Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 wine review by (PB)

Purple with vibrant ripe plum and black cherry fruit, with bittersweet chocolate highlights and fruity rhubarb.

Palate--Sweet, smooth tannins with down right varietal flavors. At $8 this is a great value wine! Raise a glass and check out (NW's) post on the same wine!

Bonterra Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Plum, red berries, chocolate, and an herbal layer on the nose

full bodied on the palate

smooth finish of black cherry, cola, and vanilla

I've enjoyed the past five or six vintages of Bonterra Cab and this is the best yet! And it's still a great deal at $13-14. Don't miss it- some wine shops tuck it away only in the "organic" section. Organically-grown grapes, great flavor, and still roughly the same price as the beginning of the decade- raise a glass!

Vasco Da Gama Reserva 2004 wine review by (PB)

Deep purple and black cherry color with a musty but fruity aroma of cherry and tobacco.

Palate--Initially a pepper and spice front.

With some air a complex bouquet with sweet hints of strawberry.

Palate--sweet, ripe, red berries with pepper, a little chewy but actually a very nice wine.

I grabbed this from a bargain bin where it sat for $6 or 2 for $10! If I lived closer to this store (Kappy's in Mass.) I would definitely buy three more. Raise a glass to surprise bargains!

Nathanson Creek Merlot (N.V.) wine review by (PB)

I grabbed this because it was CHEAP and I was unfamiliar with the producer. This is a non-vintage California sourced Merlot that is cranberry colored with a light bouquet of green peppers and some light fruit.

Palate--thin, watery, some light fruit and about the best I can say, is that it is not-offensive.

I paid $6.79 for a 1.5 liter bottle--That's basically $3.40 a bottle and honestly for the price, this is the kind of wine that you might serve at a party with your friends who have no clue about what they're drinking anyway. As I said, it is not offensive, and goes down pretty easily.

So raise a glass: just don't think of it is a Merlot--but rather as a "wine beverage." :)

Abadia Retuerta 1997 wine review by (PB)

Sardon De Duero 65% Tempraillo 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot is still a purplish colored wine with spicy fruit and slight licorice with candied plum and black cherry aromas.

Palate--this is a well integrated wine that I guessed was 8-10 years old (it is 12 years old) with slight prunes on the rear palate finishing with a touch of olives.

This is a complexz, interesting wine that (NW) served me blind. He paid $17 for it and it is a nice wine with some life still left in it. I liked it and found the last remaining bottle at the store where (NW) bought the one he served.

I will keep it for another year or two and see how it changes. Raise a glass to interesting, older wines!

Centine Banfi 2006 wine review by Billy

Nose:musky oak and pine needle spice with luscious candied cherry and coconut husk. Delightfully layered and playful
Palate: big mouth feel with chewy tannins and plush fruit.
Finish: warm, long and spicy.

Overall a very nice Italian blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Toscana which makes this a super tuscan at very affordable prices ($14)

Heath Wines Southern Sisters Barossa Valley 2004 Shiraz wine review by Billy

Nose: earthy, jammy prunes, black pepper.
Palate: bold fruit-forward in the mouth. Very light tannins and acid are in good balance but definitely resting on the fruity core. Hints of oaky spice tease at the back of the palate and segue nicely to the finish.
Finish: Lingering with ripe strawberry and red apples.

Overall: a well crafted wine. Not as spicy or intense as some other shirazes but more elegant than other Australian's at this price point of about $18. A nicely accessible shiraz. It is fruity in the mouth without becoming a bomb. The 2004 Southern Sisters shows earthy character on the nose and has a pleasing finish.

Raise a glass!

Bethel Heights Pinot Noir 2006 wine review by (PB)

I snagged this bottle while on a business trip to Charlotte last winter on the recommendation of the shop owner.

This is an Eola-Amity Hills Oregon Pinot that is light cherry in color with cocoa and raspberry aromas with touches of strawberry with slight minty and anise notes.

Palate--juicy spicy fruit of strawberry with crusty toast hints, a pleasant bitterness with lingering bright fruit galore.

This was just delicious easy drinking and at $30 a nice splurge! Raise a glass--and take advantage of those out of town business trips to find wines you don't normally see in your area!

Secco-Bertani 2005 Volpolicella Valpantena Ripasso wine review by (PB)

Medium garnet with nice dried cherry aromas;
palate--nice pie cherry front, well made but needs to breath...

After some air: Aromas of grapefruit and earthy notes.
Palate: Same as above finishing with dried red fruit.

This was $15 and it was "okay" but certainly nothing memorable. On the other hand I recently reviewed the Zenato Ripasso (same grape etc.) and it was a marvelous wine but it also cost nearly twice as much.

My advice--splurge and buy the Zenato--it is worth the difference! Raise a glass.

Dona Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

wild berries, cocoa, and a touch of mint on the nose

dense flavors and texture on the palate

moderately tannic finish of raspberry, chocolate, and cedar

Great value Cabernet from Argentina! This is a well-regarded Malbec producer who also does a nice job with Cab at a bargain price.

Interestingly, this is the first wine I opened in the new year- and shortly after my friend declared 2009 "the year of frugality". I paid $8 for the wine- how appropriate! Raise a glass!

Ajello Furat 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

wild berries, black licorice, and chocolate on the nose

full-bodied

smooth finish of dark berries, cocoa, vanilla, and oak

A number of wines from Sicily are decidedly modern, including this one. This is a full-bodied red blend of Nero D'Avola, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot with plenty of oak treatment.

If you're looking for a rustic Nero D'Avola, don't open this wine. However, if you're looking for big fruit and plush texture, this wine is well made and decently priced at $17 or so. Raise a glass!

Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 wine reveiw by (PB)

This central coast California Cab has a black cherry color with some intensity with dark berry and black cherry aromas with ripe plumb.

Palate--spice front with integrated flavors and tasty dark berry fruit with mocha and dark chocolate. I grabbed this because it was a new label at one of my main wine haunts. At the $10 price point it was tasty and pleasant. Raise a glass.

Mont-Pellier Pinot Noir 2007 wine review by (PB)

This California sourced Pinot is a purple cranberry hue with some depth. Strawberries and Pinot nose with sweet spicy raspberry hints.

Palate--fresh, fruity strawberry/raspberry palate with a delicate tartness that lends some life, finishing with some fruit.

Okay, here's the surprise--this is a very drinkable Pinot with some down right Pinot character and yet this wine cost a ridiculous $6. That's what I call a "value" wine! Raise a glass.

Rosenblum "Abba Vineyard" Syrah 2005 wine review by (PB)

This is another amazing wine from Rosenblum. This single vineyard Syrah from Lodi is just plain wonderful!

Deep black cherry hue with a bouquet of pure black cherry, cola, mint, and baker's chocolate with sweet banana chip notes--I kid you not. Wow.

Palate--Elegant tannins with a rich velvety texture bursting with berries, berries and more berries all integrated splendidly. This was GREAT with my venison roast and even at $25, it was a real treat and a value! Raise a glass!

Chateau St. Michelle Syrah 2002 wine review by (PB)

Dark black cherry hue with big fruity bouquet of minty black cherry and plum.

Palate--relaxed tannins with prevalent evergreen notes on top of dark berry fruit. Finishes a little quick. This Washington state wine is made in the popular style and is pleasant enough for the right mood.

For around $25, I'd rather spend it on something from K Vinters (also Washington state) or a Santa Barbara Syrah. Raise a glass.

Rosenblum Late Harvest Zinfandel--Rosie Rabbit Vineyard--2003 wine review by (PB)

Zinfandel a desert wine? If it's from the masters of the zen of the zinfandel grape--you betcha!

Dark black cherry pigmentation with raisin, currant, black cherry, coconut and prunes--and that's just in the bouquet.

Palate--rich, sweetness of each of the fruits mentioned above but all in wonderful harmony. This was a surprise.

I had only one other late harvest Zin (fromTemecula, Ca.) and it was not appealing.
Of the Rosenbluml I wrote in my journal, "Delicious! Delicious! It will run you around $24 for 375ml but I'd have to say it was, uh--delicious--so raise a glass!

Raise a glass to the WCB's fourth anniversary!

January 6th, 2005 was my first post to this new blog. Below is how it all started if interested. The popularity of our blog has surprised us. We try to stick to reviewing wine without a bunch of yada yada although I am the worst offender for what may be too much yada yada. It's just that the supreme enjoyment of wine is not merely what is in the bottle but whole experience of fellowship surrounding the event. And what is amazing is that you can have an "event" as mundane as a 3:00 snack, but add a bottle of wine, and it becomes an ocassion! I will resolve to temper my yada yada's without losing the experience. Raise a glass with us to a new year and we hope you visit us and leave comments--often.

How it all started:
It was 1979 and I was putting my time in at a hospital laboratory as a medical technologist. Someone brought in a magazine subtitled “The magazine for physicians at leisure.” On my breaks I would page through it because it had some really nice photos of far away places in gorgeous spots of the world. In one issue there was a feature titled, “The Ten Best Wines in America for under $10.”

Wine had intrigued me yet my exposure to the fruit of the vine had pretty much been relegated to the annual Thanksgiving sip my parents would serve of—sit down—Mogen- David wine. Even as a kid, I thought it had more in common with cough syrup than a drinkable beverage. That exposure is probably why I was much more a Guinness Stout kind of guy if anything at all.

Still, the mythical stories of the guy who could sit down with a glass of fermented grape juice in front of him and tell you the place it was made, the year it was made and the particular type of grape or grapes fascinated me. So, “What made a good wine, a good wine?”

Even I could afford a $10 bottle of wine every now and then so if the ones in the magazine represented the best in the country, I wanted to know what they tasted like and began to hunt down everyone I could. That was it; I was hooked. I joined a wine club called “Les Amis Du Vin” which means “Friends of the Vine” which entitled me to the wine of the month at a local dealer which meant I could get one bottle of the month’s selection for half price. That was the beginning of a lifetime pursuit of what has been an absolutely inexhaustible quest to understand wine. Do not misunderstand though, I am NOT a connoisseur but I do know a good wine from a mediocre wine from a bad wine. And I know a great value when I find one which these days abound! Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile are producing wines not by the hundreds or thousands of cases but by the hundreds of thousands of cases. With that kind of volume, phenomenal bargains are all over the place!

So if you are serious about pursuing wine beyond a bottle here and there, you have to subscribe to the Wine Spectator magazine. It will cost you $45 a year but is worth every penny. And will save you ten times that in a year by helping you to avoid over-priced and over-hyped wines. Their rating system is irrespective of a wine’s cost so when you see a wine that rates an 88 out of 100 scale and it costs $8 and then another wine that rates an 86 which cost $55; the savings are obvious. Til next time--