Once Upon A Vine The Fairest Chardonnay 2011 wine review by Billy

Nose: grapefruit, vanilla and creme brulee
Palate: supple mouth feel with firm core and buttery tones
Finish: pears and honey on the finish
Overall: this is a fantastic California Chardonnay with rich feel and soft complexion.  It is sourced and crafted in Sonoma California. I paid about $15 for this bottle an it is a great deal at this pricsilhouetteed it up solely because we had not tried it before and I liked the label which features a Brother Grimm stylized font and an intreaguing silouhuette of trees wine and the moon. 

Raise a glass!

Columbia Crest Merlot "Grand Estates" 2011 wine review by (PB)

Jellied cranberry sauce hue with aromas of spiced chocolate berries

Palate--milk chocolate front with rich dark berry fruit with loads of spicy goodness.

Columbia Crest is Washington State's go-to winery for utterly reliable production level wines that always out perform their price point. I bought this on sale at a local grocery store for $9 which is about $3 less than what we might normally see it for. Either way it is a great value and the Washington state terroir is positively identifiable with its beam of cocoa or chocolate in its red wines.

Raise a glass to CC and whether you buy their "Two Vines" table wine, Grand Estates or Horse Heaven Hills (H3) or one of their other named wines, you can buy them with confidence!

Cosmia Pinot Noir 2012 (Sonoma) wine review by PB)

Light cherry hue with aromas of strawberry and cherry candy with a nuanced touch of chocolate with ever so slight touch of licorice.

Palate--Tasty fruit filled, raspberry and strawberry; finishes quickly with an awkward mouth feel after wards.

Just for kicks I have posted the "official" Trader Joe's review of this wine below so you can compare the two.

To help you understand differences in reviews by "educated professionals" let me explain the following.

TJ'S says--"Cosmia Pinot Noir – Smooth & dry, with assertive cherry and blackberry fruits on the palate, toasty oak notes and silky tannins, this Sonoma County Pinot plays smoothly with food. It’s a definite crowd pleaser, especially at our price: $8.99"

There is a thin line between cherry and strawberry in Pinot Noir. What I would call Strawberry, they call cherry. I get NO blackberry though. Toasty oak? Well I will admit I have a block on my palate when it comes to wood in the wine. It's not that it isn't there necessarily, My brain just ID's it as something else. Now silky tannins, I might dispute. This wine is relaxed to be sure but I wouldn't think it is due to silky tannins as much as it just a well integrated construction of the wine. Bottom line--Let this wine breathe and warm up to room temp if at cellar temperature. There's more there than meets the nose! At any rate, for $8.99 for a Pinot, I say raise a glass!

Parducci "True Grit" Petite Syrah Reserve 2009 wine review by (PB)

Black cherry hue with aromas of dark berries, and a touch of brambles.

Palate--Fairly supple mouth feel with big dark jammy berry fruit and a touch of tar. Dark fruit finishes that hangs on a while.

True Grit is from Parducci one of the vintners I cut my wine teeth on over a quarter of a century. I don't see it very much out here in New England--meaning Maine. But I saw this at a New Hampshire liquor store and grabbed it. This was one of their sale wines marked down from $25 to $15. I am going to hold off on my final assessment until it has more time to breathe. As it is right now it is just "OK" at the $15 price point; if I had paid full price I would not be pleased. The difference between a $15 wine and $25 one should be complexity and some characteristic that is fairly impressive, not just "ok."

Final assessment--The wine did not improve and if anything degraded a bit. I would pass on this but don't give up on Parducci--they are are a solid winery despite this unusual occurrence.

Masciarelli Montapulciano D'Abruzzo 2011 wine review by (PB)

Pretty ruby hue with aromas of forest floor, cherry fruit and spice.

Palate--Bright, zesty cherry and red berry fruit galore with lively mouth feel due to lip smacking acidity. Finishes quickly but what a nice, easy drinking fruit-filled wine!

I have reviewed this several weeks (months?) ago and made a note to buy more. Glad I did and especially at the sub $10 price point. This would be a great pizza wine, light tomato based pasta, and a host other nice dishes. I'll be having left over turkey and side with it later on. I liked it before and I like it again so raise a glass!

Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Rockaway Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Fragrant black cherry, plum, and eucalyptus notes on the nose

Full bodied with plush texture on the palate

Kirsch, stewed berries, and chocolate on the long finish

Summary:

Beautifully made, this is a classic Alexander Valley Cab! It has depth and richness built around black cherry and exotic layers that unfold nicely on the long finish. While not an every day wine at $75, it's a real treat to be enjoyed with friends and family over a good meal. Thanks to generous relatives for providing this bottle for the Thanksgiving feast! It was perfect with turkey and all the trimmings. Raise a glass!

Altovinum Evodia Calatayud Old Vines Grenache 2012 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Red berries and herbal notes on the nose

Full bodied on the palate

Finishes with more red berries and spice accents

Summary:

Another good value Spanish wine- I paid $9 for the bottle. It shows nice red fruit with some depth and density. I expect it will be versatile with food, so just pop the cork and pour away. And raise a glass!

Four Vines Zinfandel "The Sophisticate" 2009 wine review by (PB)

Nice dark black cherry hue with aromas of big jammy blackberry, spicy dark berry with cigar box touches, and light mint or cedar notes. Nice!

Palate--Plush mouth feel, integrated structure with the big, spicy dark berry and tar or unsweetened dark chocolate that I love in my Zin! Bittersweet bakers chocolate on the finish that lingers.

This is what I expect of my Zinfandels and I have not experienced this in the past couple years outside of the folks at Rosenblum. But Four Vines (Sonoma) producers build nice zinfandels from their entry level "OVC" at the $10 price point right on up. This one is around $20+ and if you're looking for good example of this varietal, this and the Rosenblum single vineyard Zins are hard to beat.

I am pairing this with 2 other "big" wines (a younger Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and and 1998 single vineyard Napa Cab.) The whole "white wine" with poultry is a misguided suggestion. It all depends what spices you will be serving with the whole meal and Thanksgiving dinner typically needs BIG red wines. For the three of us who comprise the Wine Cask blog--(NW) (Billy) and myself, raise a glass to the One by whose grace we awake every morning to see a new day!

Ravenswood Shiraz (Vintner's Blend) 2010 wine reveiw by (PB)

Black cheery hue lighter than Shiraz should be and aromas that smell more like a "kit wine" than a maker of the caliber of Ravenswood.
Bouquet is non-descript with aromas of berries that is confused as to what it is.

Palate--Balanced, some decent berry fruit present finishing quickly.

When I want Shiraz, this is not what I expect even at this price point. Ravenswood is one of the great wine makers of California and while I understand the economics of business, this just shouldn't be under the Ravenswood name. Pass on this.

Bliss Family Vineyards Zinfandel (Mendocino) 2010 wine review by (PB)

Lighter garnet hue with aromas of homemade tomato jam, and lightly spiced berry.

Palate--Soft foundation with dark berry flavors that are a bit short, but tasty, and somewhat unique for the Zins I have had which are numerous and varied. Soft lingering spiced berry finish dried raspberry nuances long after.

This is unlike any Zin I have had and I really like it. It is not assaulting to the palate although I love Zins that are. This ialso a new producer to me and I have a Cabernet Sauvignon from them which I am looking forward to trying since having this wine. I am pairing it with venison stew and at the

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2013 wine review by (PB)

Purple grape juice hue with a strong bouquet of fruity cinnamon with all kinds of sweet fruity goodness that is hard to pin down to a single adjective.

Palate--a taut acidic structure with quick light fruit and a fleeting finish.

For the full back ground on Beaujolais Nouveau see our numerous posts from the past. This is a wine released annually at the same time in November vinified for a total of around 6 weeks before release. It is more a festival wine celebrated world wide and made for quick and easy consumption.

The nose on this Nouveau (which means new)is better than usual while the palate is shorter than in better years but still quite a decent casual quaff. Expect to pay around $10 for Nouveau wines and remember they are not made to last in the bottle. So when you see them for sale 9 months from now, make sure you can return it where you bought it if it is shot. A reputable establishment will be happy to refund your money. Raise a glass as you shout, "Le Nouveau Est Arrive!"

Valckenberg Gewurztraminer 2012 wine review by (PB)

Pale golden with floral bouquet of tropical fruit with vanilla cream.

Palate--a touch flabby but enough to make it less than a failure. Pronounced off-dry tropical fruit with finish of gentle summer fruit.

This Pfalz German wine is disappointing lacking the structure I would expect for this grape. It would make a summer quaff chilled down before the "real" wine is served but for the price, $14, I would give it a pass. It's not a horrible wine but it is forgettable and there are better selections out there for even less money!

Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sayuvignon 2011 wine review by (PB)

Pigmented cranberry jelly hue with aromas of spearmint, green pepper, and dark berries and fresh berry nuances

Palate--Cinnamon, metallic, assertive tannins, and rich blackberry and plum.

This is made by the folks at Concha Y Toro who have proved themselves to be the premier vintners of Chile. I picked this up because I had never seen this particular label nor was I familiar with the Marchigue region of Chile.

This is a big wine that could use a couple more years to come around and should live for another 8-10. I paid $14 for this and am not disappointed. Concha Y Torro has done it again, or should I say, they keep on doing what they do well! Raise a glass!

Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 wine review by (PB)

Black cherry hue with a bouquet of Daffodil, black cherry, earthy, and forest floor.

Palate--Integrated, balanced, nuanced black licorice, dark berry fruit with slightly chewy tannic finish and a hint of smoke.

2007 was a superior year for Chianti and this wine is always a good example of both the grape (Sangiovese) and terroir. A state liquor store has been running a great sale on this wine for several months and I keep grabbing a couple bottles when I am through this particular state. I found this for $14 but expect pay nearly twice that. Never-the-less, having been to Greve, Italy I am transported back to the time and place with my daughter and her husband (NW) of this blog. We raised a glass then and I'll raise one now!

Sponsored Wine Review: Masi Costasera Amarone Classico 2009

In The Glass: Deep dark ruby in color with youthful, translucent purple at the edges.  Pretty.
Nose: Wet leather, earth, mushroom with plum and cherry.
Palate: Tight tannins wrap a big-boned acid core though which come juicy berries and flint.
Finish: Cinnamon and cocoa hint during the long finish.
Overall: Let this wine breathe if you open it any time between now and 2018! It was incredibly tight in the beginning, betraying its relative youth.  But after 90 minutes open and breathing this Amarone relaxed a bit and the flavors, crafting and quality were incredible.  Even so, the wine is drinking young now.  Its multi-layered nose and mid-palate flavors have huge promise for aging over the next 5 years.  It is worthwhile to purchase a case (or even a half-case) and open one bottle a year just to see how this magnificent wine comes together.

Because this is a sponsored wine review, we received this wine at no charge.  However, it retails for an average of $53 with a SRP of $70.  However, some local stores may have it on special for under $30 (if so, pick up several, it's a steal!)

Here is what Masi says about their 2009 Costasera Amarone: the estate’s specialty -- to produce this unique Amarone, Masi combines ancient varieties (Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara) and winemaking methods (vinifying grapes semi-dried on racks for 3-4 months) with the latest techniques: bamboo racks in temperature- and humidity-controlled conditions induce natural drying; selective exposure to botrytis cinerea (‘noble rot’); strictly controlled fermentations through the use of Saccharomyces bayanus, a rare yeast that produces high alcohol. This deep ruby-red wine has powerful, complex aromas of dried plums and balsamic (anise, fennel, mint) traces. Quite dry (not sweet) on the palate, soft and with bright acidity, the wine shows flavors of baked cherry, chocolate and cinnamon. Structured but noble, delicate tannins precede a long finish.

J. Lohr White Riesling (Monterey County) 2012 wine review by (PB)

Straw hue with pungent powdery tropical fruit assemblage with hints of ripe pineapple, and (sit down for this) the white centers on the candy caramels called "Cow Tails."

Palate--positively delicious, fruit filled, acid balanced,tropical delight with zesty mouth feel and a lingering fruity goodness. Wow!

I found this for $8.50 and will buy more if any remains! If you happen to stumble on this, grab it even if it is nearly twice this price. Riesling (the grape) has grown out of favor which makes no sense at all. It is usually refreshing, fruit filled and great as an aperitif or with the right kinds of food. Think harder to pair, Asian, and Indian cuisine and then raise a glass or 3!

Milbrandt Vineyards 2010 Merlot wine review by (PB)

Black cherry hue with bouquet of blackberry, cigar box,slight cocoa note with a faint herbal presence.

Palate--Supple texture with silky tannins, big dark fruit berry beam with a finish of fruity cocoa.

I have a difficult time differentiating some Merlots from Cabernet Sauvignons and this is one. To me this is a typical Washington State Columbia Valley expression of the terroir with that ever present chocolate/mocha/cocoa depending on the production and varietal.

I paid $14 for this and I like it so raise a glass!

David Bruce Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Fragrant red fruit with a touch of vanilla and spice on the nose

Medium bodied on the palate

More red fruit on the finish with clove and herbs

Summary:

Always an enjoyable Pinot Noir from David Bruce, this 2006 is aging gracefully and tastes great now. It runs about $40 so it's not an everyday wine, but it elevates a good meal. Pair with a variety of dishes from braised meat to roasted root vegetables.

Raise a glass!

Antinori Tignanello Toscana 2004 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Amazing chocolate, rich berries, cherry, and some cedar on the nose

Full bodied on the palate

Dense, long finish of dark berries, cedar, and savory spices

Summary:

Excellent! Nearly 10 years old, this wine is still gaining depth and presence. While it's very enjoyable now, it will reward further patience in the cellar.

I got a great deal on a case of this wine a while back at $60 a bottle. Expect to pay more like $90 if you see it today. It's one of the great super-Tuscans- arguably the first super-Tuscan. Made with Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, it carries all the signature characteristics of the region and has endless layers on the finish.

Gather some friends or family, and raise a glass!

Chateau de Campuget 2012 Costieres de Nimes Rose wine review by (PB)

This is a uniquely hued rose with a light pinkish and slightly orange presence.

Bouquet--candied spice with lovely mango? and tropical fruit nose.

Palate--A lively beam of tangy tropical fruit on a foundation of sleek acid with a fruity finish.

The Costieres de Nimes (pronounced--KOTE-yair da NEEM) is a fairly obscure region of the Rhone wine made from Grenache Noir (30%) and Syrah (70%.)

This is a $12 (or less) rose that is not your everyday "blush." This has some heft and is well made. I will be pairing it with my seafood soup currently simmering. This is a lovely little getaway in a bottle so raise a glass and enjoy!