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Mar 01, 2008Kim Crawford Pinot Noir Marlborough, 2006
Strong aromas of berries, with a nice fruit forward taste that ends with hints of vanilla, oak, and burnt toast. Very good pinot at this price.
Feb 22, 2008Manzanita Creek Three Vines Zinfandel Benchmark, 2005
Dry Creek is where it's at! If you are a lover of big, bold, knock you back zins as I am, then try this one.
Big chewy robust zin, tones of smoky bacon frying on a campfire. Luscious, rich zin with raisins and earthly tannins.
Dark fruit, plums, licorice, black raspberry flavors.
A sweet end lingers on the roof of your mouth.
This wine normally retails for $28 so I was happy to spot this at Costco which is hit or miss wine-wise.
I look forward to the recent releases in March, when Barrel Tasting commences!
Feb 21, 2008Martin Family Vineyards Estate Syrah Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County Wine, 2004
I picked this little baby up the last time I was in Dry Creek.
The winery is in the midst of changing ownership, so they were clearing out some of their older vintages to start with the new name. I knew I always love their zins, so I thought why not - it's cheap and picked up a couple of bottles.
Deep ruby red & purple, heavy in the glass. Rich roasting coffee on the nose. Full mouth feel, with toast and rich notes of oak. Lots of dark berry fruit, like the end of summer deep dark blackberries and cherries and slightly like a dash of Kikkoman ending with a bit of fig on the back of my palate
It's tannic, but they are full of body, which makes it very easy to drink now, or keep for a few years to age gracefully.
A great buy and a great wine!
Feb 18, 2008Napa River Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
A really good deal. Comes with a nice rich nose, with so deep fruity ripeness and spice. Very drinkable, and for 5 dollars I'll be back.
The bottle says "Napa County" ... not "Napa Valley", but that's still a good sign (vs. "California" or even "North Coast California"). It means we're not dealing with random grapes from all over CA, just random grapes from all over Napa County.
Feb 18, 2008San Felice Chianti Classico, 2005
Shy to the nose but very pleasant flavors of cherry and plum usually associated with Chianti. Consistent tastes and smooth feel. This is a very good Classico.
Feb 18, 2008John Duval Entity Shiraz, 2006
Black and shimmering with a purple rim. Incredibly pure and focused with dark berry, cherry and cassis fruit supported by rich leather, earth, and sweet spices. Very sleek, but full bodied and palate staining with considerable ripe, chocolaty tannin and a long, long finish.
Extremely well made and highly celebrated in the press for several years now (last year's version was highlighted in The Wine Spectator's Top 100, RP 93, ST 93+, etc.), this wine sells out rapidly.
For this kind of value/price, any Syrah- or Shiraz-lover would be foolish to miss this wine.
Feb 15, 2008Sant Agata Ruche Di Castignole Monferrato, 2006
Purchased per recommendation for a house red at Boheme in Charlottesville, VA
Very dry and pleasurable after taste
Feb 10, 2008Taz Santa Barbara Pinot Noir, 2003
Bitter and tart to start off, but with a little air and time became one of my favorites this year. Very fruity with the typical blackberry and cherry flavors. Maybe a little caramel with a silky finish.
Feb 09, 2008Rancho Sisquoc Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
Anise, dark fruits on the nose. Sort of tart on the palate, but this wasn't decanted and may have improved in that regard. I feel like it really could've opened up with some breathing.
After a while I started getting some strong raspberry notes. The finish isn't that impressive, some ok chewiness, but the flavor doesn't linger like a better wine would finish.
Feb 08, 2008Grove Street Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County, 2004
Nice fruit of rich cherry with some light berry essence. The one downer to this wine was an off acidity level. It was lacking some sort of balance, to much acid. Not a bad wine for the price though
Feb 02, 2008Pio Cesare Barbera D'Alba, 2004
This is a great Barbera that is heavier bodied and very fruity and also has falvors of chocolate. I could easily see this being mistaken for a Barolo in a blind tasting and for this price that is a great trait!
Jan 31, 2008Château Rauzan-Segla Margaux, 2000
Dusty nose of red brick, faint licorice, tart blackberries, and fresh grass clippings. Typical french acidity and a whole helluva lot of funk on the palate. Leather and sweat -- stank old Reeboks are definitaly "up in here". Nice, but hardly worth the price tag. Another example of overpriced Bordeaux. Open a bottle of CA swill, add water + vinegar + used gym shorts, and you'll be getting close to this bad boy.
Ach, still though, respectable. Nice depth and body. Drink now.
Jan 29, 2008Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, 2005
This wine is generally over-the-top in all aspects. There are strong aromas of berries, specially raspberry, in the nose. The wine's flavor is very fruity, with hints of pomegranate and liquorice. Overall, this wine just comes across as a little too strong for me.
Jan 27, 2008L.A. Cetto Nebbiolo, 2003
Dense notes of ripe blackberries and cola on the nose. The palate is soft, has those same flavors, with some additional notes of tobacco and wood (cigar box) near the finish.
There are a decent amount of tannins, but also a wet feel to it, and it finishes relatively short.
I heard a rumor the 2002 Nebbiolo is the best wine they've ever made.
Jan 27, 2008Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc, 2006
There is mold on the cork-yuk! This is the first time it happened, and I'm on the third bottle recently purchased.
Jan 21, 2008Domaine Manoir Du Carra Beaujolais-Villages, 2007
Light color and flavor with hints of tart cherry and floral notes. Not to familiar with this varietal but it tasted very young. Got it 40% off so it wasn't a bad deal.
Jan 18, 2008Pacific Oasis, Santa Barbara, Pinot Noir, 2005
Spicey dried cherries and faint funkness of leather. Forest floor and all that B.S., it's hard to describe but the nose is definitely pinot. Clean and for the money and a winner. Some 5-spice -- watery but, still some soft tannins and nice balance. Notes of black licorice on the finish. Probably the best pinot i've had for $12.99.
Jan 15, 2008Huntington Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
Decanted for an hour. Bright Blackberry and plum nose. Smooth, sweet and spicy with a mellow but nice mouthfeel. Great young Cab. especially for the price. Perfect everyday Cab.
Jan 15, 2008Rancho Sisquoc Reserve Merlot, 2005
Sweet oak and ripe cherries and blueberries on the nose. Some cinnamon as well. Rich on the palate, but balanced w/ some nice chalky tannins -- very chocolatey. A solid wine, finishes nicely w/ some tartness and spice.
I don't know why people rant on merlot so badly, this was a beautiful wine at the right price.
Not sure if this was the reserve or not, the label was black which for Rancho Sisquoc usually means reserve i think ... ??? But it didn't say reserve on the bottle.
Jan 15, 2008Bv Coastal Pinot Noir, 2006
Flavored Water at its finest. Drinkable cheap PInot but thats about it. Trys to develop a little mouthfeel but cant quite make it.
Jan 14, 2008Cosentino Meritage M. Coz, 1999
What a steal! On the nose I sensed notes of ripe cherry, leading to cherry cola, with a hint of chocolate. This wine had a multi-dimensional, well-structured palate that was dry with medium to heavy tannins with great balance. The finish brought a good amount of spice with some lingering stickiness. Overall a great example of a CA Bordeaux blend.
Jan 12, 2008Vina Quintay Sauvignon Blanc Clava Classic, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2006
Lime lime lime. Not just the acid and citrus flavors, but i swear the skin too. Pair it with a burrito and a margarita, and you could be a happy camper.
Jan 12, 2008Aresti Estate Selection Pinot Noir, 2006
Cherry tobacco and some unidentified funk on the nose. Very potent for a pinot, bold and spicy. Reminiscent of a merlot or heavier wine on the finish -- there's even some palatable tannins in this.
Only prob is that it isn't very characterstic of a pinot -- but still nice wine.
Jan 11, 2008Rioja Vega, 2006
Subtle fruit with hints of earthy spice. Rather simple Spanish Rioja. NIce for the buck
