[zee ehr fahn'd ler]
buttery on the nose (mf?) with some hints of apricot and a pale yellow color. nice acidity and still very full-bodied. an enjoyable wine, but probably better with food than sipping
Monday, June 9, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Mas Neuf 06
Tradition Blanc
Costieres de Nimes (Rhone)
65% White Grenache, 35% Roussanne
One of the best whites I've had in a while. Wonderful bouquet of flowers and spice. Medium body. Very complex for an 06.
I'd certainly buy again - and will.
Costieres de Nimes (Rhone)
65% White Grenache, 35% Roussanne
One of the best whites I've had in a while. Wonderful bouquet of flowers and spice. Medium body. Very complex for an 06.
I'd certainly buy again - and will.
Nobilo SB
07, Marlborough
refreshing, zippy, easy to drink - great for the warm day which I drank it. Citrus and some slight gunflint - Also, stayed well in the fridge - 3 days later. Would buy again.
refreshing, zippy, easy to drink - great for the warm day which I drank it. Citrus and some slight gunflint - Also, stayed well in the fridge - 3 days later. Would buy again.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Fetzer Gewurztraminer
My all-time favorite cheap white has done it again. This vintage seems as good as last years.
Lovely apricot bouquet. Zippy acidity and a slight effervescence balances the very fruity wine off nicely. Some subtle spices finish it off.
ahh...
Lovely apricot bouquet. Zippy acidity and a slight effervescence balances the very fruity wine off nicely. Some subtle spices finish it off.
ahh...
Friday, May 9, 2008
Marques de Casa Conha Merlot
04. Concha y Toro. D.O. Peumo - Chile
Not an overly fragrant nose - certainly some black fruits and oaky scents...toasty. Very dark color, blackberries and tar aroma. Not very well balanced, and it finishes with pretty strong tannins. It's a powerful wine that needs a strong dish (steak, lamb). A bit too overbearing for my friday afternoon glass but I'd love to try it with a real meal.
Not an overly fragrant nose - certainly some black fruits and oaky scents...toasty. Very dark color, blackberries and tar aroma. Not very well balanced, and it finishes with pretty strong tannins. It's a powerful wine that needs a strong dish (steak, lamb). A bit too overbearing for my friday afternoon glass but I'd love to try it with a real meal.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Hook & Ladder Zinfandel
04. Russian River.
Fantastic Zin. Don't remember the details - but I really liked it.
Fantastic Zin. Don't remember the details - but I really liked it.
Red Truck
05 California Red Wine (Sonoma). Syrah, PS, CF, Mourvedre
Delicious. I really liked this wine (it was cheap - don't remember how much though). Ripe berries and a spicy bouquet. Great texture and firm tannins.
Definitely repurchase. Great buy
Delicious. I really liked this wine (it was cheap - don't remember how much though). Ripe berries and a spicy bouquet. Great texture and firm tannins.
Definitely repurchase. Great buy
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Ridge Tasting at Google
All 06 Vintage.
Geyserville Zin - best of tasting. Lots of fruit up front with a very long finish. Had a bit of earthiness that I really liked also. Paired w/bleu cheese, pair, and brioche
Lytton Chard - the only white - not great, but paired really well with the scallops wrapped in bacon...
Paso Robles Zin - had some medicinal qualities that put me off a little. I wouldn't purchase this wine.
Ponzo Zin - Very good. Probably 3rd best of tasting (after Geyserville and Syrah) (also Russ.River)
Syrah - very nice. Had about 6% viognier which tamed it a bit. I would have like a little more structure though. paired with a chocolate tart
Geyserville Zin - best of tasting. Lots of fruit up front with a very long finish. Had a bit of earthiness that I really liked also. Paired w/bleu cheese, pair, and brioche
Lytton Chard - the only white - not great, but paired really well with the scallops wrapped in bacon...
Paso Robles Zin - had some medicinal qualities that put me off a little. I wouldn't purchase this wine.
Ponzo Zin - Very good. Probably 3rd best of tasting (after Geyserville and Syrah) (also Russ.River)
Syrah - very nice. Had about 6% viognier which tamed it a bit. I would have like a little more structure though. paired with a chocolate tart
Monday, April 21, 2008
Di Arie Zinfandel 06
Amador County, CA
Spicy fragrance - with a lot of dark berries. Took a while to open up, but was quite pleasant. A nice drinking wine (drank with pepperjack and bread) that actually overpowered the food a little, but it was my own fault for pairing so poorly. I'd repurchase if I saw it for less that $15. Had a very quick finish which really let me down though.
Spicy fragrance - with a lot of dark berries. Took a while to open up, but was quite pleasant. A nice drinking wine (drank with pepperjack and bread) that actually overpowered the food a little, but it was my own fault for pairing so poorly. I'd repurchase if I saw it for less that $15. Had a very quick finish which really let me down though.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Chateau Beauregard 02
Coteaux du Languedoc
Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah.
Very nice bouquet of black pepper, sausage, and a day-old cigar. Color was dark with a brown tint - Almost like a ruby port. Body was surprisingly lacking though. Initial reaction was of greatness, but upon the mouthful, it fell apart and disintegrated into nothing. Left a very weak and confused flavor in my mouth. If this had a bit more syrah maybe it would have been nicer.
UPDATE: I left this bottle open for a few days. On the third, it seemed to round out better and was more appealing (although I was in a happier mood - so this could be the cause too)
Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah.
Very nice bouquet of black pepper, sausage, and a day-old cigar. Color was dark with a brown tint - Almost like a ruby port. Body was surprisingly lacking though. Initial reaction was of greatness, but upon the mouthful, it fell apart and disintegrated into nothing. Left a very weak and confused flavor in my mouth. If this had a bit more syrah maybe it would have been nicer.
UPDATE: I left this bottle open for a few days. On the third, it seemed to round out better and was more appealing (although I was in a happier mood - so this could be the cause too)
Terrazas Chardonnay 06
$7.5/glass - Cascal --- Chile?
Heavily oaked and buttery. Pretty crisp though. It was a fairly good glass and I enjoyed it while relaxing. Nothing I would pay over 12/bottle for though.
Heavily oaked and buttery. Pretty crisp though. It was a fairly good glass and I enjoyed it while relaxing. Nothing I would pay over 12/bottle for though.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Baglio di Pianetto: Ficiligno
Ficiligno. 06. 50% Viognier, 50% Insolia. Sicily
Very delicious. Strong white-flower aroma. med-body.
I'd repurchase. I'm also interested in trying more Insolia (native grape to Sicily)
Very delicious. Strong white-flower aroma. med-body.
I'd repurchase. I'm also interested in trying more Insolia (native grape to Sicily)
Angove's Riesling
06 Clare Valley, AU - $12
Vineyard Select
Very dry and crisp with a definite aroma of mustiness. If it wasn't a screwcap, I would have thought it was corked. I'm not sure if it was a fault. I actually read that Australia dry rieslings usually do have a sense of the mustiness. Either way, I wouldn't repurchase.
Vineyard Select
Very dry and crisp with a definite aroma of mustiness. If it wasn't a screwcap, I would have thought it was corked. I'm not sure if it was a fault. I actually read that Australia dry rieslings usually do have a sense of the mustiness. Either way, I wouldn't repurchase.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Zolo Torrontes 06
Mendoza, ~$12
Very refreshing. Exactly what I was looking for. Another great wine from Mendoza. I think the area is Lujan de Cuyo. Not overly fragrant. Repurchase for a nice SB-like wine.
Very refreshing. Exactly what I was looking for. Another great wine from Mendoza. I think the area is Lujan de Cuyo. Not overly fragrant. Repurchase for a nice SB-like wine.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Cambria Syrah 05
Tepusquet Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara) $18 BevMo
Some black pepper and cinnamon on the nose. Not overly fragrant for a syrah, but certainly present. Very smooth-refined actually. I'm surprised it's a 2005 with the relaxing aromas and medium body. I drank it with a baguette, goat cheese, and capicola and it paired perfectly. I will certainly repurchase.
Some black pepper and cinnamon on the nose. Not overly fragrant for a syrah, but certainly present. Very smooth-refined actually. I'm surprised it's a 2005 with the relaxing aromas and medium body. I drank it with a baguette, goat cheese, and capicola and it paired perfectly. I will certainly repurchase.
Montes Alpha Syrah 06
DO Colchagua Valley (Apalta Vineyard), Chile. ~16 (but I think I paid much less)
I bought a highly rated wine (WS 3/08), Cambria Syrah 05, and I wanted a cheaper wine to compare it to. I thought the Montes Alpha was a cheap purchase from TJs, but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, when put next to the Cambria (blind) - and it certainly held its own. The nose has a gamy, beef jerky quality with a certain brown spice-definite beef jerky though. It is certainly tight and has been opening up over the last half hour - but could probably use some time. The wine, overall, is fantastic. I'm very impressed and will certainly repurchase.
UPDATE: 3/2: This bottle has now been open for 4 days. It is even better now - spectacular even. I will certainly repurchase
I bought a highly rated wine (WS 3/08), Cambria Syrah 05, and I wanted a cheaper wine to compare it to. I thought the Montes Alpha was a cheap purchase from TJs, but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, when put next to the Cambria (blind) - and it certainly held its own. The nose has a gamy, beef jerky quality with a certain brown spice-definite beef jerky though. It is certainly tight and has been opening up over the last half hour - but could probably use some time. The wine, overall, is fantastic. I'm very impressed and will certainly repurchase.
UPDATE: 3/2: This bottle has now been open for 4 days. It is even better now - spectacular even. I will certainly repurchase
Monday, February 18, 2008
Tierra Salvaje Carménère
05; Maule Valley, Chile
Dark, ruby color. Some pepper and a little heat on the nose. Med-full body. Carménère can often taste like a mixture of merlot and CS. This was certainly more on the CS side. Very fruity, jammy, and tannic. Not much complexity.
It was pretty nice, not great. It was a TJs wine, so I think I'll scan for some other bargains before I pick this up again.
Dark, ruby color. Some pepper and a little heat on the nose. Med-full body. Carménère can often taste like a mixture of merlot and CS. This was certainly more on the CS side. Very fruity, jammy, and tannic. Not much complexity.
It was pretty nice, not great. It was a TJs wine, so I think I'll scan for some other bargains before I pick this up again.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Xplorador CS
Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley, Chile, 07 [Concha y Toro]
Nothing special at all. Certainly milk chocolatey on the nose. Follows with cherry and a bit of vanilla - some sweetness. Definitely has some muscle, but not overly powerful. Obvious tannic backbone. If it is under $10 - decent buy. Under $5 is a more logical price though.
Nothing special at all. Certainly milk chocolatey on the nose. Follows with cherry and a bit of vanilla - some sweetness. Definitely has some muscle, but not overly powerful. Obvious tannic backbone. If it is under $10 - decent buy. Under $5 is a more logical price though.
Qupé Syrah
Central Coast, CA, $17
Absolutely fantastic. Very subtle, earthy nose - some black pepper also. Medium body, and a looooong smooth finish. In fact, I would say this is the best syrah I have had for under $20. It is not very powerful. It's more of a sleek sensuous winner.
Absolutely fantastic. Very subtle, earthy nose - some black pepper also. Medium body, and a looooong smooth finish. In fact, I would say this is the best syrah I have had for under $20. It is not very powerful. It's more of a sleek sensuous winner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)