Ramey Sonoma Coast Syrah 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Interesting pepper, mocha, and wild berries on the nose

Full bodied and firm on the palate

Long finish of plum, herbs, and pepper

Summary:

Here's the deal: California Syrah is one of the most overlooked wine categories on the planet. Why? Because all the best producers manage to deliver big, intense wines that are not sweet and cloying but rather structured and firm with at least some reference to signature Northern Rhone Syrah from France. I can't speak to the $10 wines, but once you decide to spend $30 or more on a California Syrah you enter a world of well made, small production wines that are every bit "artisanal". I mention these prices only to help provide some framework- it's no exact science. Generally, you should look for notes of pepper and good acidity in addition to the ripe fruit that makes up a good Syrah.

Ramey is known for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but David Ramey's line up of Syrah is incredible. He's one of the great producers for sure. I enjoy wines from all over the world, record notes on hundreds of wines a year, and spend little time "following" winemakers or even wineries. There's too much to explore. With that said, Ramey is one of the great wineries of California that's hard not to appreciate.

This bottle runs about $35 and is worth hunting down. Drink it now or lay it down for ten years. In fact, this type of Syrah will taste great at fifteen years based on my experience. Most people wouldn't know that off hand because it's rarely discussed in the wine press alongside Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.

Every year, among my 500 wines or so that I taste, I choose two specific types of wine to focus on in order to gain more insight. For 2011, one of those is California Syrah. I've recorded notes on roughly 30 different wines in this category. It's a category that has fallen flat with consumers in recent years and that's just a shame. In the Pinot Noir world we live in, take a step away from the herd. And raise a glass of Syrah!

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2006 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Notes of black cherry and dark chocolate on the nose

Full bodied and savory on the palate

Long, savory finish of dark fruit, herbs, and espresso

Summary:

This is a very good Brunello that should age well. It's dark, savory, and complex, with a long finish. Give it some time and it will be a special treat with a hearty meal. Expect to pay around $50. Raise a glass!

Monte Tondo Casette Foscarin Soave Classico 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Lemon, apricot, and mango on the nose

Medium bodied on the palate

Ultra smooth and finely texured with apple, almond, and hints of vanilla

Summary:

Here's a beautifully crafted Soave Classico from the Veneto region of Italy. It dances between tropical layers and an underlying tartness, but the real charm is the texture. The wine is ultra smooth and finely textured, just caressing the palate.

Soave is based on the Garganega grape and can contain several other white grapes of various proportions. It's one of the great white food wines of Italy that has suffered brand damage in the past as the term was used generically and not regionally. Expect to pay around $18 for this, and raise a glass!

Pasqua della Valpolicella Amarone 2007 wine review by (PB)

Mature garnet presentation with ever so slight signs of aging at the rim.
Bouquet is full of cherry with deep heavy forest floor and spicy moss. Wow!

Palate--Integrated, bread with cherry fruit and a rear layer of creamy milk chocolate with layering and a loooong lingering cigar box, fruit finish.

This wine will be in my final Top Ten wines of 2011 to be sure. It is a Trader Joe's $19 steal and I will be buying more to be sure. Absolutely a must buy and a great value! Raise a case!

Buehler Zinfandel 2009 wine review by (PB)

Lighter medium purple/garnet hue with big berry bouquet that is full of Zin.

Palate--A little chewy with some chocolate and nice berry flavor. Solid zinfandel presentation but quite disappointing.

This wine sells at around the $20 price point and I have had numerous zins at the $10 price point that are as good. For the price I would pay a few more dollars and get a nice Rosenblum single vineyard!

Il Casale Soave Classico D.O.C. 2009 Sponsored Wine Review By Billy

Nose: Honey and Apricot on the nose.  Soft flowers.
Palate: Spice.  Soft and even balance of acid and sugars.
Finish: Green melon and hay.  Slow and elegant.
Overall: This wine was sent to us at The Wine Cask Blog for review by the good folks at the Soave Consortium. This wine is made of the Garganega grape and comes from the Soave region of Italy.  Overall, this easy drinking white is a very easy drinking wine that has wonderful flavors.  We sampled it immediately on opening where the nose was delightfully strong.  After some exposure to the air, the flavors and feel in the mouth had settled down and evened out.  The softness of the wine is quite elegant.  It is supple and embracing.  This makes it a very accessible wine that pairs nicely with fruit and cheeses or other light snacks.  It retains its flavors without tapering off which is delightful in such an easy-drinking white wine.
Raise a glass to Il Casale 2009 Soave Classico.

Casata Monticello Dolcetto D'Asti 2007 wine review by (PB)

Bright ruby hue with a staid bouquet.

Palate--Dried cherry, thin, closed, marginal even at $8. Pass on this one!

Chateau Malmaison 2006 wine review by (PB)

Black cherry hue with some depth, and rising fruit aromas of blueberry, cigar box and black berry from the glass.

Palate--The wine is tart with chewy tannins, rough edges, tight fruit and harsh. I aerated it and breathed it more--which did help some but is still too young. there is good potential here but it needs to be in a cellar a few more years. Classic Bordeaux style and 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.

I saw this at one of my favorite haunts for $18 and since 2005 was such a great year for Bordeaux, I figured it should be really good. Baronne Nadine Rothschild is involved with this wine so certainly has a good pedigree but needs more time.

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 wine review by (PB)

Green herbal front with medium blackberry on the bouquet.

Palate--Bread,, medium fruit, blackberry with plum notes.

This needs another year and will drink even better. Not the best Columbia Crest has done but at $8, always a good value wine. Raise a glass!

Gnarly Head "Authentic Red" wine review by PB

So deep it looks like Syrah in the glass but smells like Zinfandel all the way with espresso and black berry aromas.

Palate-- Big and bold, again Zinfandel all the way with robust, sweet, rich textured, butter chocolate and loads of fruit. Holy cow!

Get a grip factor--This wine is a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot but from the smell and taste, I would say that besides Zinfandel, they must have merely waved the other grapes over the vat. This is thoroughly Zinfandel and here is the real get a grip factor--I just had a Buehler Zin rated at 91 points by the big boys and I liked this wine as much, and perhaps even more. I paid $7.50 for this wine and 3 times that for the Buehler. Seek it out and raise a glass!

Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Pesquera 1991 Ribera Del Douro wine review by (PB)

Medium garnet hue with a slight stink and nice cream and cherry-berry bouquet.

Palate--Complex mature wine with cinnamon, herbs and anise; a tasty wine.

This was the third wine (NW) served me up blind. I put it at a wine of upwards of 15 years...so I was of by 5--can't win them all.

The Ribera Del Douro is dedicated to the Tempranillo grape and this is a fine example of how well they can mature and how wonderfully complex they can present. (NW) thought he paid around $38--another treat and we raised a glass or two!

Lewis Vineyards "Alec's Blend" Napa 2007 wine review by (PB)

Deep and darkly pigmented black cherry hue right to the rim of the glass.

Bouquet is full of rich black berry, plum and cocoa with vanilla note.

Palate--Rich mocha, with intense depth, full bodied with loads of "stuff" waiting to be released in the treaure trove of complexity; white chocolate emerges a little later.

This is a young, immature plush wine of immensity that finishes with lasting espresso and blackberry jam.

Again served to me blind, it reminded me of a young (2006) "Don Melchor" from Concha Y Toro but my first impression was a gargantuan, superior Syrah. Made by the famous "Lewis" winery it is 70% Syrah with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot.

If you want a Lewis wine--you'll pay for it! this one runs in the $50 range but it was (NW's) pocket so raise a glass and say "Yeah baybay!"

Truchard Roussanne 2009 wine review by (PB)

This Carneros (Calif.) is a medium gold in the glass has a pronounced tropical fruit and pineapple that smells "old world." Underneath the forward grangrances there is subtle peach.

Palate--This wine has a sharp acidity, is off dry with solid tropical fruit flavors.

(NW) served this to me blind--as usual--and I believed it to be an old world style perhaps Alsatian Gewurztraminer with a little age on it. It is, as its name reveals is the grape "Roussanne" which is typically a blending grape in numerous white French wines. This wine runs around $17 and is a nice wine so raise a glass.

Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Riserva 2006 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Nice aromas of cherry and earth on the nose

Full bodied on the palate

Long, savory finish of dried herbs and spice

Summary:

Chianti Classico wines have improved dramatically over the past decade. They are richer, more full bodied, and more complex. This wine is no exception as it delivers full flavor and a long, savory finish. Pair it with hearty fare- perhaps Italian! I paid $17 at a local wine shop. Raise a glass!

Meritxell Palleja Nita Priorat 2009 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Aromas of currants on the nose

Medium bodied on the palate

Tannic and somewhat bitter finish of sour plum and herbs

Summary:

This wine is a little too tannic and bitter. Unfortunately, I don't think it will settle down much with cellaring. It's a blend of Grenache, Carinena, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah from the Priorat region of Spain. While Priorat produces some amazing wines, take a pass on this $24 bottle. Raise a glass of something else!

Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Black cherry with hints of anise and cedar on the nose

Medium bodied on the palate

Long, silky finish of red fruit and cedar

Summary:

This Pinot Noir has good complexity and a silky texture, which are the two things that define the best of the varietal. Merry Edwards is a highly regarded producer who's wines have a reputation of drinking really well with a few extra years of bottle age. I would take this a step further and suggest that most good California Pinot Noir can sit in the cellar for at least a few years and do very well.

Expect to pay around $50 for this wine, and raise a glass!

Lockwood Vineyard Pinot Noir Monterey 2007 "Block 7" wine review by (PB)

Beautiful crystalline, very light cherry color on the pour that intensifies amazingly once in the glass. This wine is brimming with classic Pinot aromas of strawberry and light hard cherry candy and the slightest touch of spice.

Palate--This wine has depth with a cinnamon front impression with big flavors of bright fruit and some weight with a little tannic edge even. Once you swallow and the fruit subsides after about a minute, there is a surprising green apple finish. Amazing!

I paid $13 for this great wine marked down from $18. If I had only known at the time I would have bought several more!

I paired it with grilled Tuna steaks with a caper and olive oil/lemon vinaigrette sauce. Raise a glass!

Marchesi De Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni Toscana 2007 wine review by (PB)

Dark black cherry hue showing off its serious frame. Sweet cherry is drifting from the bottle from afar with nice cigar box, tobacco and tar bouquet with a touch of eucalyptus.

Palate--Unctuous, rustic cherry and a touch of licorice on a foundation that is textured and a little chewy on opening. Its muscular frame needs time and air. There is a nice lingering, long finish.

I paid $17 for this and bought about 8 bottles it was so good! I have two left that I will leave cellar if I have the discipline. Raise a glass!

Cesari "Mara" Caraion Veranese 2008 wine review by (PB)

This is classic Valpolicella Ripasso made by one of the multi-generational giants of the Italian wine industry.

It has a dark black cherry hue with a bouquet of big deep ripe dark berries with fresh grape hints underneath; cinnamon is prevalent in balanced subtlety with bright and dried cherries as it opens.

Palate--Bold velvety tannins with big fruit forward pleasure with good integration for such a young wine. Finishes with more dried red fruit.

At $17 this is a lot of wine and just delicious so raise a glass!

Ulrich Langguth Riesling 2010 wine reveiw by (PB)

Light golden hue with beautiful apple pie spices and green apple fruit.

Palate--Sweet presence at the front with light citrus feel and minerals with decent acid balance and pleasant drinking.

At Trader Joe's this wine is $7 which is worth raising a glass!

Darioush Caravan Napa Valley Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Espresso, dark berries, and plum on the nose

Full bodied and firmly textured on the palate

Long finish of dark chocolate and dark berries

Sumary:

Caravan is a label owned by Darioush who is known for big and bold styles of Cabernet Sauvignon. I would describe this as just a bit more reserved than that top bottlings but with a dark and brooding style that is true to the varietal. With fairly firm tannins, it should benefit from age. Expect to pay $35 or so, and raise a glass!

Penner-Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2009 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Beautiful cherry and red berries on the nose

Medium bodied and finely textured on the palate

Sleek and silky finish with cherry and herbs

Summary:

The Penner-Ash Pinot Noirs from Oregon have quite a loyal following. While a number of single vineyard bottlings are available, this is the base level Willamette Valley that runs about $45. It has a great texture that's smooth and silky, and should prove to be a good pairing with a variety of dishes. Raise a glass!

Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Le Pousseur 2004 Wine Review by Billy

Nose: big jammy berries, jasmine, basil
Palate: big mouth feel, peppery with good firm backbone
Finish:cherries and a tannic mouth feel that lingers
Overall:  I bought this originally for a camping  trip because I wanted a Syrah/shiraz with screw cap.  I got two bottles.  While camping, any wine tastes good.  So I waited to review it until I could try it with a proper meal.  Overall this is a good entry point for Syrah.  The big, jammy, fruit forward red wine pairs well with hearty pastas.  We served it with steamed asparagus, a marinara sauced spaghetti, olives, caprese salad and asiago bread.  I paid $16 for this at a liquor store near a state park.
Raise a glass!

Plan Pegau Selectionne Lot #2007 wine reveiw by (PB)

Black cherry hue showing a little age at the rim; fruity aromas wafting from the glass at a distance--very nice.

Bouquet of cherry/raspberry fruit with black pepper

Palate--Tart first impression, a little chewy, tight cherry fruit and the tartness of raspberry.

After 2 hours in the decanter this wine improved markedly. It is a decent Rhone blend and paired well with our grilled rib steak, grilled fingerling potatoes, sweet corn and garlic bread. I paid $8 for this which is why I snagged it as I see it for considerably more. All in all, raise a glass and don't overlook the importance of breathing some wines!

Primus 2006 wine review by (PB)

Deep dark black cherry hue with huge deep plum and cedar bouquet.

Palate--A big fruit bomb with loads of cedary fruit that is tasty but a little hot.

Needs another year or two to mature and it should be pretty decent.

This is a Bordeaux type blend ( Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Syrah from Chile. I usually see this for the low teens but I bought this at $8. For the price it has a decent future but not ready now.

Napa River chardonnay 2009 wine review by (PB)

Reviewed previously, straw hue with vanilla cream and light citrus.

Palate--lovely balanced acid, lemon,vanilla pudding, with mouth watering juiciness.

This is a ridiculous Trader Joe's value wine at $7. Buy several, put a slight chill on it and enjoy it solo, or with buttery sauced foods, or seafood.
Raise a glass!

Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc De Noir winre review by (PB)

Blush wine on appearance with nutty Macadamia nut aromas on top of a touch of benign fruit.

Palate--fine bubbles, with dry slight mineral touch and light citrus notes.

Chill it down and it's a typical $12 sparkler which is refreshing on a hot summer day.

Raise a glass or not; there are better values out there.

Beaulieu Vineyards Tapestry Reserve 1998 wine review by (PB)

Garnet hue with a solid rim with a bouquet that is fairly youthful with nice cedary laden red fruit, the slightest touch of licorice, and spice.

Palate--Surprisingly youthful with integrated flavors of everything this wine is.


I have been cellaring this wine for many years and was looking forward to a wine that had peaked and was ready to drink before it started sliding downward. (NW) of this blog was up for the weekend and we were both taken aback at how young this wine was still. I am usually very good about judging a wine's age from the bouquet and appearance in the glass and if I hadn't known what it was, I would have said it was 6 or 7 years old. This wine still has years ahead of it but is drinking great now.

I say the following with all respect to the good folk at the Wine Spectator to whom I look for masterful counsel and education. Several years ago Beaulieu had a TCA issue at their winery. (TCA is the abbreviation for a long chemical name which is a dreaded contaminant and can be the death of a winery's business.) Their wines were being scored strangely low around this time and this wine in particular received a score of 80 from James Laube of the Wine Spectator.


(NW) and I have had several of those wines from that time period and we have found them to be very good to excellent. Indeed, this wine--if we were scoring our reviews by points--we would give a score somewhere in the 90's! I don't remember what I paid for this but I would guess it was around $40.

The other point to make is that here we are in 2011 and this wine is not only holding well, but it might even still improve a bit. Which only means that determining how long a a wine will last can be a crap shoot even while there are objective considerations in making such determinations. With respect to the low BV ratings during their TCA years, it is possible that Mr. Laube has what is called a "super palate" and is sensitive to TCA where others might miss it entirely or even find it endearing as a musty or earthy taste no unlike what you might in typical Tuscan creations.

At any rate, this was a great experience and a definite raise a glass!

Conte Di Bregonzo Amarone 2006 wine review by (PB)

Nice vibrant black cherry hue with big blackberry, plum aromas with tar and forest floor notes.

Palate--Chewy until decanted then big dark berry, espresso, flavor with smokey, charcoal finish.

This is one of my favorite inexpensive (relatively speaking)wines from Trader Joes. I have reviewed it before and it has changed over the months since I reviewed it first. It seems to be losing some of its life now but is still a nice wine and a good value.

Amarones are made with "dried" or partially dried grapes which make up the valpolicella blend. Amrones are understandably a bit pricey normally beginning around the $25 price point on up. This one isn't exactly "typical" and so you really NEED to taste a higher quality one to appreciate the full, textured, dried fruit and awesomeness of Amarone. Raise a glass for sure!

Joseph Drouhin Saint-Veran 2009 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Pear and apple aromas on the nose

Medium bodied and smooth texture on the palate

Decent length finish of citrus, green apple, and minerals

Summary:

If you're like me, you find it difficult to find bargains out of Burgundy- white or red. The quality of the wine is high, supply and demand economics are at work, and the dollar has been weak against the euro for quite some time. This makes Burgundy a splurge for most people. Basic village wines can often be $50 and the premier crus are hundreds.

With that said, here's a nice value white from Joseph Drouhin that fits the "value" category. The wines of Saint-Veran can be charming and this one shows a balance of stone fruit and minerals with very nice texture and weight. I paid just $15, although you'll probably see this wine more typically at $20. Raise a glass!

Benton Lane Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2008 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Pretty and delicate nose of cinnamon and red berries

Medium bodied

Red currant and berry finish with some dried herbs

Summary:

Here's a good, light, and pretty Pinot Noir. It has Willamette Valley written all over it in weight and style. Pure and elegant, you'll be able to pair it with many different dishes. It runs around $20 and I found it for $17. Raise a glass!

Renegade Horse Heaven Hills "RedWine" 2008 wine review by (PB)

Slightly opaque garnet hue with a bouquet of spicy green pepper with dark berry fruit and a bit alcoholy.

Palate--Harsh first impression, tannic, with tight plum and black cherry/berry fruit. Finish is a mite bitter with some smoke.

From another blog I read: "Trey Busch (from Sleight of Hand Cellars) began his Renegade Wine project as a response to our recessionary climate. Renegade is a negociant model, so Trey is buying juice (not grapes), and then doing the blending and bottling himself. The blend is a little unusual (39% Cab, 39% Cab Franc, 13% Grenache, 9% Syrah)"

From what I've read elsewhere, most people seem to really like this wine;for the $12 I paid for it, I would call it confused, and harsh. I will say that after a couple hours of air, the wine improved but for the price point, I would lay my $12 on a Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cab or Merlot!

Covey Run Columbia Valley Gewurztraminer 2008 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Citrus and floral notes on the nose

Medium bodied on the palate

Slightly spicy finish of lychee with floral accents

Summary:

Here's a good, inexpensive Washington state Gewurztraminer. You'll probably see it priced under $10- in fact, I paid only $6. Go a bit off the beaten path with this unique varietal and you'll be rewarded. Raise a glass!

Jacques Bourguignon "Chablis" 2009 wine review by (PB)

Pale golden with expansive bouquet of floral vanilla, and citrusy melon with lime hints.

Palate Razor sharp acidity with mouth watering lemon and lime and tropical fruit.

This wine will cut your tongue making it a good food wine with buttery, greasy foods when you need your palate cleansed. This is another Trader Joes value wine selling for $8 which for a Chablis (which is from Chablis, France and not to be confused with cheap white jug wine of the past)is a great price being made from chardonnay! So raise a glass to another value TJ special!

Cupcake Vineyards Prosecco NV wine review by (PB)

Steely clear hue with light citrus and powder with considerable flavors of light tropical and citrus notes. Flavor persists for a bit on the finish.

I am not a big fan of Prosecco but I have to say in spite of the less than manly name I like this about as well as any6 Prosecco I have had and better than most.

My wife paid $10 for this and if you can hide your man card for an evening, raise a glass; no one will ever know once its poured!

Eola Hills Pint Noir 2009 wine review by (PB)

Classic Pinot presentation with a light ruby hue that nearly sparkles with brilliance.

Bouquet is brimming with sweet spiced syrup over fresh strawberries.

Palate--has a tart edge to it that is a bit surprising with subdued strawberry flavor and a smokey finish. Tartness tones down with some air and berry flavors step up.

Paired with foil wrapped country short ribs slow cooked on the grill then opened to caramelize the Dijon/honey sauce.

I paid $17 for this and is representative of Oregon Pinot. This is what I would expect of Pinot at this price point but honestly I am finding Oregon Pinots predictable and not very exciting. Raise a glass if you don't like surprises.

Ramos Pinto Porto Tawny Wine Review by Billy

Nose: hazelnuts, currant and cherry
Palate: silky and voluptuous with mild tannins and mild heat.
Finish: short soft finish with some heat lingering at the back
Overall: I paid $19 for this at a local wine store. I served it with a gourmet dark chocolate spiked with almonds and sea salt. Overall it is a decent port that is easy going and not overly syrupy.

Raise a glass!

Castello D'albola Chianti Classic Riserva 2007 review by (PB)

Cherry hue with earthy, rustic, forest floor cherry bouquet classic of the Chianti terroir.

Palate--Tight, cherry and earth on a frame of integrated tannins with lingering rustic fruit flavor.

I reviewed this not long ago and I think it is much better this time. It is a very good example of the Chianti Classico structure and overall presentation. It will continue to develop for about 5 more years I would expect and will probably open up more in the next year.

I paid $13 for this which is a good price. I have one more bottle I will cellar for another year. Raise a glass!

Guigal Chateau Neuf-Du-Pape 1990 wine review by (PB)

Aged hue with brown rim with gorgeous fruit rising from the glass well away from my nose.
Closer in,there is a smokey front and some bacon still some distance from the nose with cherry fruit and caramel.

Palate--Thick, silky texture with a touch of licorice,staid fruit,smokey charcoal and black pepper with light raisin in the rear. Finishes with grilled meat and more charcoal.

This was the 3rd wine (NW) served up blind; it's a great way to grow in your precision of the way you analyze a wine. Too often we hurry through a wine without really tasting what is there. I first noted that I believed the wine was probably 20-25 years old. Beyond that, I don't remember my comments...

This is why we drink wine with some age. It is a different world and a different wine from what it was on release in its youthfulness. This wine probably cost around $20 when it was released 21 years ago; today you'd be hard pressed to find any. (NW) is always on the look out for exciting "rare" wines and knows a value when he sees one. Just another benefit of studying what you love. Raise a glass of mature fruit of the vine.

Kofererhof Alto Adige Valle Isarco "Kerner" 2008 wine review by (PB)

(NW) served this wine to me blind on a recent Boston trip.It was light golden in hue with chilled apple that fades.

Palate--Has a razor acidity which could cut your tongue on an off dry foundation of tart citrus with tart green apple mid palate.

I was baffled and I said to (NW) "I have no idea what this is!" AS it turns out, it was a brand new grape called "Kerner." Made in the Alto Adige of the extreme north of Italy where German is spoken.

This is not an inexpensive wine but (NW) figured a new grape is worth the cost. Around the $25+ price point, this was an interesting experience but I'm not sure I would spring for such a bottle. Thanks (NW)!

G. Duboeuf "Regnie" 2009 wine review by (PB)

Purple, big aromas of cinnamon, strawberry fruit.

Served slightly chilled is rich strawberry with a tart back bone and lingering bright red berries.

(NW) served this blind and it was classic Gamay and Beaujolais which I readily identified. Regnie is one of the Beaujolais "Cru" which is the highest designation of Beaujolais wines with Beaujolais Villages and Beaujolais following respectively.

Gamay is a good starter wine for folks who are pretty certain they don't like "red wine." It is straight forward, fruity goodness and the Cru are affordable at the middle teen to $20 price point. Chilled it's a great aperitif and wonderful summer wine. Raise a glass!

Incanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 winre review by (PB)

Nice garnet with rustic, pure cherry bouquet of Sangiovese, with some minerals and slight anise!

Palate--Integrated, licorice, cherry, and slightly chewy tannins.

At $11 I have bought more to lay down and to raise a glass.

AMano Primitivo 2008 wine review by Billy

Nose: black pepper, cherry, chocolate
Palate: thin on the palate but a decent balance and good blackberry flavors.  Medium tannins.
Finish: slightly vegetal.  Long and subtle.  Berry notes
Overall: a good table wine, especially at the $7.99 price point I paid at a local shop.  The wine is made from the Italian version of the Zinfandel grape.  It has zin characteristics with Italian flair.
Raise a glass!

E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1990 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Beautiful kirsch, dried herbs, and tobacco

Medium bodied and finely textured on the palate

Soft, layered finish of smoky cherry and raspberry

Summary:

I picked this bottle up a few years ago for only $30. There were some questions as to its drinkability, althought Chateauneuf-du-Pape does have a reputation to cellar quite well. Made from a blend of up to 13 grapes in the Southern Rhone including Grenache and Syrah, many of the best Chateaneufs have achieved legendary status over the years.

Fortunately, this one delivered. After two decades of bottle age, this wine emerged with full flavors and elegance. In my notes, I wrote "very good, amazingly relaxed, and integrated." PB was in town to share this wine with me and, thankfully, it was a special treat and not a special vinegar. Raise a glass!

Domaine Huet Demi Sec Le Mont Vouvray 2009 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Pretty nose of quince, fig, and honey

Medium bodied on the palate

Smooth finish of pear and honey

This wine is good, well rounded, and flavorful. It paired well with several different courses at the beginning of a tasting menu I had the opportunity to enjoy recently at a Michelin 3-star restaurant. Made from Chenin Blanc, Vouvray is one of the classic wines of the Loire Valley in France. Huet is a notable producer who's wines are reputed to cellar quite well for 5-10 years. This bottle runs about $35. Raise a glass!

Novelty Hill Columbia Valley Syrah 2006 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Currants and plum aromas on the nose

Full bodied on the palate

Firm finish with dark fruit, loam, and pepper notes

Summary:

Novelty Hill has put together a classic Washington state Syrah here with dark fruit and pepper character. This is the kind of wine I enjoy with dinner as well as on its own after dinner. I paid $23 for the bottle at Whole Foods. Raise a glass!

Sean Minor 4Bears 2010 Vin Gris sponsored wine review by Billy

Nose: strawberry and candy apple nose
Palate: soft mouth feel with gentle acids without being flacid.  Delightful.
Finish: raspberry and strawberry splash on the finish.
Overall: the fine folks at Sean Minor winery provided this sample for our review.  A beautiful blush that is a lush candy-apple pink in the glass.  It is a wonderfully juicy and easy going drink. 

Kendall-Jackson Vinter's Reserve Chardonnay 2009 wine review

Nose: Floral and lime
Palate: soft and even with good acid at the core.  More lime at the back of the mouth.  Good feel.
Finish: green apples and more lime with soft grassy notes.
Overall: a favorite table wine with neighbors.  Great for enjoying while socializing with friends.  Great simple and easy to drink lime citrus flavors.

Terry Hoage Vineyards The Hedge Syrah 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Beautiful aromas of wild berries, licorice, spice, and pepper on the nose

Full bodied on the palate

Folded layers of dark berries, bacon fat, and spice on the finish

Summary:

Good wine often takes some time to open up. Once this one got cranking, it was big and powerful. The layers are interesting and complimentary as it all comes together. This is good stuff! Drink it now with a hearty meal or let it sit a few years for what should result in an even more harmonious glass of wine. I paid $36 and it was a nice treat. Raise a glass!

Dry Creek "Heritage" Zinfandel 2008 wine review by (PB)

Decent garnet color with nice black berry and jammy plum aromas with a touch of chocolate--classic.

Palate--Bold black berry flavors with silky tannins on a solid integrated frame of pure Zin.

This Sonoma Zin was $14 at Trader Joes with a reference price of $19 from the Wine Spectator and a score of 88. Right all the way around so raise a glass of Zin!

Angeline Pinot Noir Reserve 2009 wine review by (PB)

Nice cherry hue with bright fruit aromas of strawberries, some green spice and lovely red fruit and vanilla cream toffee.

Palate--Light in weight, yet full of flavor with brioche, strawberry, and more red berries on top of that. It needs to be chilled down a bit as my ambient summer cellar is a little too hot today.

This is a pleasant Pinot with loads of berries and a trail of smoke on the finish.
I paid $13, down from $18 for this blend of 54% Sonoma fruit, 24% Mendocino fruit, and 22% Santa Barbara fruit.

At $18 it would have been a little disappointing but at $13 it's a raise a glass kind of wine!