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Jan 10, 2008Manzanita Creek Old Vine Zinfandel, Alfonso Vineyard, 2004
I got this in my fall wine club shipment, and was excited to try a new zin from my favorite Dry Creek winery.
Rich, blackberry pie, spiced raisins with a chocolate finish and some notes of figs hiding behind the slightly over the top alcohol. This is NOT a wine for the faint hearted, but on a cold rainy day when you want a big red wine and a blankey in front of the fire and don't want a cab, this will do the trick.
Jan 09, 2008Hogue Cellars Fume Blanc, 2006
An intense nose of citrus, grass, and some tropical notes. Taste is a little acidic, and also has a good deal of citrus flavors (mainly lemon).
There is a slight bite at the end, and an overall lively sauv blanc. A decent wine for the price (BevMo 5 cent sale, 2 for $10.04), would probably pair well with food, such as a jerk chicken dish.
Jan 09, 2008Bishop's Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
A very nice and delicate cab at this price point. I get some dark ripe fruits, some cigar box, and subtle spice.
Well balanced and velvety on the palate. Not your over-the-top sticky cab, and some might say it's a bit thin.
I actually ended up getting this bottle for $5.99, as it was mis-marked at the grocery store. I didn't realize until I opened it and was like, wow, this was $5.99? Then I looked at my receipt and it read $12.99. The store offered a refund because it was their mistake. I think it's a great deal at either price.
Jan 09, 2008Rombauer Chardonnay, 2006
After so many rave reviews I had to try this wine. This is indeed a fine chardonnay with delicious flavors of sweet apple, crème sucrée and healthy oakiness. The nose is also very pleasant and inviting with aromas of caramel and freshly baked apple pie. I think what makes this wine great is its ability to exhibit the characteristic of a heavy, creamy chard in a surprisingly subtle way.
Jan 09, 2008Rombauer Chardonnay, 2003
My favorite Napa Chard. For those who love creamy, buttery chardonnay, this is for you. Very big, excellent chard. Price point makes this a "special occasion" wine, but definitely worth it.
Jan 09, 2008Conundrum, 2006
Light vanilla and citrus bouquet. Tastes of juicy apples and pears. Delicious wine, but a little expensive.
Jan 08, 2008Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, 2007
Probably the most intense sauv blanc I've ever tasted. I just noticed even the bottle says so, here's the first sentence: "Fresh, crisp and intense."
The nose contains some grass and floral notes, along with strong citrus aromas. Then it hits your palate like someone threw a lime at your mouth. There's so much tart acidity that it triggers those glands at the back of your jaw under your ears.
It might be a little rough on the edges because of it's young age (2007). It should also definitely be paired with some type of food. Regardless, I think you're going to need to be a sauv blanc lover to appreciate this wine.
Dec 25, 2007Del Dotto Vineyards Sangiovese Napa Valley, 2005
Big fan of this winery but this one wasnt what i expected. A little thin with a big cherry hit and light pepper. Finish is comes around and gives you a little more depth.
Dec 24, 2007Trivento Select Malbec, 2004
Something funky on the nose, not particularly inviting. Tart on the palate, red raspberries, some spice, and a mineral nature to it. A bit thin and one dimensional, nothing really impressive here.
Dec 24, 2007Trumpeter Malbec Syrah, 2004
What you'd expect out of a malbec-syrah blend ... A rich inviting nose of ripe fruits, red brick, and other earthy notes. There was an initial tartness on the palate the opened up quickly with a little airtime, and a bit wet. Nice black pepper spice as the finish begins, moving into ripe cherry notes. An overall soft, enjoyable wine for the price.
Dec 24, 2007Black Bart 'Stagecoach Vineyard' Syrah, 2003
2003 Black Bart Syrah, Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley
I've tasted this wine is a professional setting many times, however last Friday we enjoyed it at our company Christmas Party from a 3 liter Bottle.
Given a few hours to unwind this wine is simply marvelous!
Deep, dark, inky and purple in hue with aromas of milk chocolate intermixed with bramble fruits, cassis liqueur, exotic spices and spring flowers. Very full-bodied without being heavy or over-saturated (the way many Syrahs can be), with great persistence and balance, beautiful acidity, and a layer of fine, silky tannins that coate the tongue completely in creamy complex chocolaty notes, before culminating in a persistent, yet remarkably fresh finish. Absolutely gorgeous juice on par with the best from anywhere, any varietal. Wonderful with a pan-seared steak smothered in shallot butter.
Dec 19, 2007Sagelands Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, 2005
Lots of rich dark fruit and light spice make this go down easy.
I found fig, plums, and other dark fruit with a touch tobacco on the finish.
Full and round without being overpowering in a cult cab sort of way.
This could easily be a $20 cab, so for the price, this is excellent.
Dec 18, 2007Ruffino Chianti, 2004
I had expected a lot of this chianti based on what I heard from others, but found myself disappointed with this mid-priced wine. The flavour is similar to most cabernet sauvignons. There is certainly a flavour of cedar and blackcurrant, the former imparting a mild spiciness. It is fairly dry. Pretty alright for the price, but I'd rather check out some other of Italy's wine before picking up another bottle.
Dec 18, 2007Black Swan Shiraz Australia, 2005
To start off, this wine is awfully sweet with a very intense fruity flavor. Some apple, balckberry, and vanilla hints with a grape taste similar to that of Concord grape wines. I wasn't much of a fan and it mixed disharmoniously with my family's recipe of meatball and cheese soup.
Dec 18, 2007Vila Regia Douro Tinto, 2004
This portuguese wine is surprisingly excellent for the price -- lusciously smooth taste that would go well even with lighter meats or by itself. It is mellow and mildy sweet, not all that dry, comparable to a good merlot. I very much enjoyed this and purchased another bottle today.
Dec 18, 2007Concha Y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Frontera, 2005
I got the box, as I drink wine every night and the boxes tend to maintain flavour longer and are cheaper. The scent is very sharp, and not very far behind the flavor. There is a spicy aftertaste that lingers a while. It tastes and smells very mildly of acetic acid (vinegar), and is very dry, just barely sweet.
Dec 17, 2007Ladera Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
Had this wine at a Christmas party that had a tasting. Pretty big red! Rich berry and cherry. At first the tannins domninate but it finishes really nice and soft. I really enjoyed this wine. Loved having all the bottles to myself!
Dec 15, 2007Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc Charlottes Home, 2006
An ideal sauv blanc, for me. Citrus and tropical notes on the nose, not too much though. The palate experience is nice and clean; similar to the nose, those same characteristics are there. The typical sauv blanc acidity is there as well, but it's balanced by the slight sweet notes of melon and pear.
As you ease into the finish it's subtle, but great, begging for more. Highly enjoyable and recommended, especially due to the price point. I'm a big fan of sauv blancs and I will be back for more of this in the near future.
Dec 15, 2007Martin Ray Pinot Gris Mendocino County, 2006
Smells like a creamy/oaky chardonnay. Tastes the same, but nice and balanced, with vanilla being the dominant taste.
Some needed acidity begins to sneak through as your work your way to the finish, and the finish hangs around for a bit.
Again, this doesn't taste at all like a pinot gris/grigio, but for not really liking chards (because that's what it tastes like) this wine was somewhat enjoyable for the price.
Dec 14, 2007Firriato Chiaramonte Nero D'Avola, 2005
Yet another step into the wonderful world of Nero D'Avola, and so far so good. This wine has a fruity nose and starts out with flavors of berries and creme de cassis that slowly transition into minted vanilla and maybe a bit of tobacco. A little acidic but overall well balanced, this is a great bang for the buck. Viva Sicilia!
Dec 11, 2007Bogle Petite Sirah California, 2005
The posse says ...
- Wet dog, jam, bread - vegetal. 81
- Spicy, vegetal, not very distinctive, 81
- Easy to drink 87
- Silky berry, extremely pliable, could be merlot, and thank god because i'm tired of Petite Sirah! Pepper finish. 86
Dec 11, 2007Concannon Vineyard Petit Sirah, Central Coast, 2004
The posse says ...
- Cinnamon, cherry, oak, anise -- holiday. But, 1-D. 85
- Easy drinkin' 86
- Not much definition, smooth 82
- Processed CA wine, 82
Dec 11, 2007Huntington Petite Sirah, 2005
The posse says ...
- Aspargus and berry, green bell peppers. 87
- Spicy, like Glögg. Smooth. 88
- Marzipan and Tar, bitter, rough. 77
Dec 11, 2007Storrs Winery Petite Sirah Santa Cruz Mountains, 2004
The posse says ...
- Blood, blackberry, brambly, high alc, burning 85
- Burning, spciy. Iron rust, soft finish 79
- Peppery, very spicy 88
- Viscous and tannic, silky, smoky and long. Very nice. 88
Dec 11, 2007Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards Mcdowell Valley Vineyards Durif, 2003
The posse says...
- This is a food wine 88
- Rust, marzipan, iron, tart licorice, smoke, heavy tar 90
- Soy sauce, smoke, plums, 87
- Silky fuirt w/ blueberry and licorice. 86
- Jammy strawberrys w/ texture like Amarone. 86
This was our overall fave from the 12/10/07 tasting.
