Ramey Napa Valley Claret 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Harmonious layers of black cherry, raspberry, cedar, and anise

Full bodied on the palate

Smooth, integrated finish of black cherry, dark fruit, and cigar box

Summary:

This wine from David Ramey is smooth and harmonious. It has nicely integrated flavors and is full bodied but not huge. In fact, it has a bit of the subtle restrain more common with Bordeaux than Napa Valley.

Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, it should drink nicely for a long time. This will also be more versatile with food than an explosive Napa Valley Cabernet. For $32 or so, raise a glass!

Emilio Moro Finca Resalso Ribera del Duero 2008 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Fresh raspberry, violet, and some clove on the nose

Full bodied

Puckering tannins with wild dark berries, violets, and cocoa on the finish

Summary:

Here's a wine that has good depth and density, but is a bit too savory and mouth-puckering. Maybe it will flesh out given some time, but it's not coming together right now.

Made from Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), this wine is from Ribera del Duero in Spain which is a region that can produce some rustic and charming wines. I paid $13 for the bottle, but you'd do better to grab something else.

Yellow Tail Reserve Shiraz 2010 review by (PB)

Intense dark plum hue with an equally intense bouquet of plush fragrant sweet, nearly floral smelling fruit full of dark berry and rose petals! Later it's cranberries or dried cherries. Very nice!

Bitter front with a bite, sweeter presence of big, ripe dark blackberries; rear full of more berries, and a finish that is decent.

This is a BIG wine from down under AND one I purchased reluctantly due to the ubiquitous "kangaroo" wines from Yellow Tail which, while popular, are wearisome in their drab mediocrity.

This Reserve Shiraz is worth a try and at the $10 price point I paid for it, it' s a solid value that will improve with a couple more years on it so raise a glass!

4 Bears Vin Gris 2010 sponsored review by (PB)

Light watermelon hue with fragrant, floral, strawberry juice with tropical fruit undertones and sweet spice.

Palate--structured with solid acid foundation carrying a balanced, red fruit, off dry quaff.

The good folks at Sean Minor Winery sent this to us for review. These are the folks who received our first "Winery of the Year" honor in 2010 and they keep on going with this Carneros Pinot Noir rosè. It is so fragrant I want to use it as aftershave...

We paired this with a pasta primavera and was a nice coupling. This is a good room temperature rosè but you could chill it down for a summer on the veranda though you would lose some of the purity of this wine. Whatever you do, raise a glass!

Sicilia Nero D'Avola 2009 Epicuro review by (PB)

Very dark, intense purple black cherry hue--Wow! Bouquet is peculiar with more fresh grape aromas than wine aromas. I remarked to my wife that it reminded me of a home made wine. I wasn't expecting much.

Palate-- Silky tannins,, shallow on opening but needed to breathe it. Beneath the obvious immature grapiness, is a solid wine waiting to mature. After breathing, there is black cherry fruit that is dark and fairly deep.

Nero D'Avola is wonderful grape and Sicily does it well. It is fruity and full of cherries and darker berries at its best and it is always fairly inexpensive.

At $6, I will get 3 more bottles and lay them down to give them more time. This should be good so raise a glass.

Chiusa Grande (Tommolo) Montepulciano D'Abruzzo review by (PB)

Black cherry hue with slight cola notes with black cherry and cherry aromas.

Palate--Okay structure but short all around, some steely "Tuscan fruit" but all in all is pretty empty.

This is a Trader Joe's selection at the $6 price point. Now you don't expect much at that price point and in this case that's what you get--not much. But I have posted many reviews of wines at this price point that are bargains so don't lapse in to the snob pool and turn you head based solely on price. TJ's has some great bargains, this just isn't one of them so pass on this.

Domaine La Tour Vielle Banyuls 2006 review by (PB)

Mature garnet hue with black cherry, port like aromas of prunes but shallow though nice.

Palate--Sweet of course, again shallow but decent structure though fruit and flavor is lacking all around.

Banyuls is a fortified (dessert) wine made from Grenache that has similar qualities to port wine but of course is not port. so perhaps this is not a good example; I don't know as this is my first Banyuls and it was not impressive especially at the $25 price tag for a 500ml bottle.

So perhaps I will give another a try but like you all, I work for a living and my wine expenditures are valuable to me. You hate throwing away good money on a marginal creation which is why we taste and review for you! Hopefully we save you the bad experiences so don't raise a glass of this one!

St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 review by (PB)

Dark garnet hue with big cab aromas of lush blackberry jam and plum with awesome fragrant spice of anise, licorice and caraway.

Palate--"Sweet" presence (but it's not sweet)that is lovely and integrated although still has a "hard" front, with bold structure carrying the pure Cabernet berry flavors.

Here's where wine separates itself from all other beverages; our Los Angeles friend Edwin gave us two bottles of this when we were out there in March. We had one there with him sitting around the dinner table with my grand children and daughter and son-in-law, and now this one months later back in Maine. Even in his absence we were reunited in spirit on opening of this second bottle from him so raise a glass!

Four Vines Zinfandel (Old vine cuvee) 2008 review by (PB)

Garnet with brambly blackberry jam, chocolate that dissipates.

Palate--cinnamon with Jammy fruit,wild foundation, smoke and charcoal.

At the $11 price point this is always a reliable Zin and easy drinking. For me, Zinfandel is just plain tasty so raise a glass!

Buehler Napa Valley Zinfandel 2009 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Beautiful ripe blackberry and raspberry on the nose

Full bodied and richly textured on the palate

Smooth, luscious finish dark berries, chocolate, vanilla, and a bit of pepper

Summary:

This is a good wine from year to year, and the 2009 really delivers. It has beautiful ripe fruit and retains balance and finesse. In fact, I enjoyed this wine with a salmon burger. Typically priced around $17, I recommend this for anyone looking to re-discover Zinfandel. Raise a glass!

Yalumba Barossa Valley Bush Vine Grenache 2008 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Layers of red fruit, anise, and fennel on the nose

Medium bodied and fleshy on the palate

Lingering finish of rhubarb and mint flavors

Summary:

I concluded my tasting notes like this: very good, beautifully made, exotic, smooth, and flavorful. Say no more. At $16 or so, pop the cork and raise a glass!

Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 review by (PB)

Solid garnet hue with fine aromas of slightly vegetal sweet, fragrant, blackberry with a little wildness (like a Zin) to it.

Palate--drinking spectacularly now which for such a young wine is impressive. Integrated, with gentle tannic structure and full berry pleasure on a balanced package.

This Sonoma Cab is really well done and while I am planning to have it with grilled burgers, I'm not sure there will be anything left for dinner.

Raise a glass of this value wine. I think I paid around $14 for it and it isa steel at that!

Cuvee De Pena (Vin De Pays Pyrenees Orientales) 2006 review by (PB)

Odd slightly oxidized color.

Aromas of stewed cherry and dark fruit not characteristic of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah of which this is a blend.

Palate--A tad tart, with biting acid and a little chewy; flavors of dark reddish brown fruit with a finish that is a bit bitter.

This wine is from the Rousillon region of France and was grabbed by a friend seeing it for $3.00 I believe. This is a great example of a wine that is beyond its peak and failing fast which is why it was on sale for such a price. But an axiom of wine is that if you don't enjoy the wine, no price is a bargain. Pass on this and when buying a wine dirt cheap, make sure the store has a policy of taking back such wines. I have only had one store that would not accommodate such a return--yes opened and partially drank! And if they do not, don't buy the wine and find another store!

Trimbach (Alsatian) Gewurztraminer 2005 review by (PB)

Previously reviewed several months ago this Gewurz is feeling its age. Nice golden hue with aromas of sweet tropical fruit, apples and green melon and an emerging off aroma of glue.

Palate-- Dry with razor sharp acid core and nuanced fruit with a nutty backbone. Finishes with creamy texture.

This Gewurztraminer from Alsace is feeling its age. Noramlly selling at he $20 price point, I grabbed a mixed vintage case when it went on close-out for
$10. This review is probably quite different than the previous so check it out and compare. At 6 years old, it should be still be holding its age but this one is definitely on its way out. I have one or tow more in the cellar so we'll see how they fare. At any rate--raise a glass!

90+ Cellars Lot 2 Sauvignon Blanc 2010 review by (pb)

Pale straw with big aromas of grassy citrus, and guava paste.

Palate--Sharp acid with classic New Zealand S.B. citrus and tangy fruit.

This Marlborough SB is classic for the varietal and was great with steamed mussels. A $10 Sauvignon Blanc worth grabbing. Raise a glass.

Oxford Landing South Australia Viognier 2008 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Fragrant nose of peach and jasmine

Medium bodied on the palate

Oily finish with stone fruit and mineral tones woven nicely together

Summary:

Everyone loves a good value wine. At $6, this one delivers with a fragrant nose and a solid finish. Go off the beaten path with Viognier, and raise a glass!

Renzo Seghesio Pajana Barolo 2001 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Fragrant strawberries and damp earth notes develop an exotic bouquet on the nose

Full bodied on the palate

Dense, earthy finish of currant, cherry, mushrooms, and forest floor

Summary:

Here's a Barolo that takes on a character unlike many of the others. Instead of sweet fruit perfume and a medium bodied profile, this wine is dense and earthy with exotic characteristics. It changed often in the glass throughout a recent meal at a top notch Italian restaurant. For $50,this wine reminds me of a hearty Burgundy.

While probably not fully mature at 10 years of age, it nevertheless shows an evolving complexity. This wine will make you stop and think- so don't serve it as a toast with friends to get a party started. Serve it to your wine geek friends who take tasting notes... oh, that's me. Raise a glass!

Kanonkop Stellenbosch Pinotage 2008 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Wild, gamy nose with boysenberry and plum

Full bodied and firm on the palate

Interesting layers on the finish showing roasted meat, coffee, wild red berries, and pepper

Summary:

Good Pinotage from South Africa always has an exotic edge to it with wild fruit, coffee, and gamy notes. This wine has all that along with good depth, too. It's not an evening sipper, rather a wine to pair at the table with barbecue or smoked meat. At $30, it's the most expensive Pinotage I've ever had. Raise a glass!

Gaetano D'Aquino Sangiovese Di Toscana 2008 review by (PB)

Black cherry hue with sweet cola aromas and berry notes.

Palate--awkward like the bouquet and not the classic Tuscan Sangiovese like the prior vintage. Sharp berry flavor and a little steel that ends quickly.

I thought this was the wine--albeit the 07 vintage--for which I drove 300 miles round trip to buy a case of it at a Boston Trader Joe's. At $6 it was a super value and classic example of Tuscan wine. But this is NOT the same wine. That was the "Chianti Riserva."

This wine tastes manufactured and confused. It drinks marginally "Ok" but it's not it's anything like the previous one mentioned and reviewed. I'll pass on this one.

Wente Chardonnay "Morning Fog" 2009 review by (PB)

Crystalline yellow gold hue with aromas of perfumy vanilla, lemon curd and green apple.

Palate--Nicely balanced acid foundation with nice Chard flavors, vanilla touch with a slight spicy presence. I love the finish of this wine leaving lingering fruit and sweet spice.

This Livermore Valley Chard reminds me of a Burgundy Chard I have had--seriously. Half of this wine is barrel aged in French Oak and half is done in stainless. The result is a wine with some complexity and purity that tastes real. I don't often see Wente wines in my area and the reason I grabbed this wine out of sentimental remembrance of one the earliest wines I had when I was just beginning the marvelous exploration in to the world of wine. I am so pleased that it was a GOOD wine and not just sentimentality.

At $12 raise a glass of a value Chard!