If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Cork:Authentic
Name: Wildhurst Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Type: Blend - Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2004
Region: Lake County, CA
Country: USA
Producer: Wildhurst Vineyards
Price: $16.99
Purchased at: Vintage’s Wine & Spirits
Date: 07/10/07
Served With: Fillet Mignon prepared Medium
Appearance: Excellent legs, thick and juicy (not the steak!)
Aroma: Dusty, vanilla, cherry, allspice
Taste: Full and rich with a tasty finish. It lingers for a medium finish offering layered and complex flavors of coffee, chocolate and even some carmelization. Light tannins; a bit heavier tannins would have been perfect!
Comments: This was a great wine. Do you think it had anything to do with the great fillet I had it with? Sure it does! As I’ve mentioned before the atmosphere and food pairing can have a large influence in the way I enjoy wines. I think it truly affects everybody. I drank this the night that I was trading wine glasses with my wife and it made for great conversation and fine tastes. The medium finish on this wine with its complex flavors led to a lengthy exchange of what I tasted vs. what Robin tasted vs. what glass we tasted them from.

Also, I actually took out my aroma card/cheat sheet to help me define some of the flavors we were enjoying. On the one hand it was helpful in helping to define some flavors but on the other hand it may have been an aid in reaching for flavors that may or may not have existed. I believe that the flavors were actually there and the card was a great tool to aid in explaining the tastes of the wine.

My recommendation is to try a new bottle of wine with multiple types of wine glasses and an aroma card. Your wine drinking experience could grow by leaps and bounds!

Cork:Authentic
Name: The Other
Type: Blend - 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Syrah
Vintage: 2005
Region: Lodi, CA
Country: USA
Producer: Peirano Estate Vineyards
Price: $12.99
Purchased at: Vintage’s Wine & Spirits
Date: 07/10/07
Served With: 3 Cheese Ziti, house salad w/bleu cheese
Appearance: Looks a little thin…uh, oh…Merlot!
Aroma: Raisins, prunes, some cloves and maybe cinnamon
Taste: Very mellow and balanced. A fruity start with a somewhat dry and balanced finish.
Comments: This is the second time that I’ve had this wine and I think it was better the first time which involved more people, a lively atmosphere, more wine to follow and even a different blend ratio (see more below). In this instance it was the only wine I was drinking for the evening and while it paired well with the dinner I couldn’t help thinking…MERLOT!! There is a certain taste, call it the Merlot grapes if you must that just makes this wine not my favorite. Maybe if they change the blends around from the Merlot and the Syrah it would be a bit more stout?

Overall, I like this wine. It’s easy to drink, unoffensive if thin and merlot-like. I think it could be a hit with a red sauce-based dinner or even a steak. It’s priced right and can easily be enjoyed by many!

NOTE that there are different versions of the blend out there. I believe that the first time I had this it was in the Syrah section of the menu and I had the version like the one described here that was the Syrah-heavy blend. I’ll keep my eyes open for that one too and see if we can’t get a higher rating for it because I sure recalling it tasting a bit better!

Cork:Synthetic
Name: Judd (Judd’s Hill)
Type: Syrah
Vintage: 2002
Region: Napa Valley
Country: USA
Producer: Finkelstein Vineyards
Price: $18.99
Purchased at: Vintage’s Wine & Spirits
Date: 07/10/07
Served With: Hershey’s Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate w/Toffee & Almonds
Appearance: I can’t see through it! That’s usually a good thing. Very deep, dark purple.
Aroma: Black berry, black currant (cassis)
Taste: Very fruity on the front end and slightly tart on the finish. A bit alcoholy on the long finish. It’s a little lite on the tannins for my tastes.
Comments: Very thick. Very Rich. Very intense. 14.2% Alcohol. Too fruity for me. I bought this on a recommendation from the store owner. I told her I like smooth syrahs that aren’t to alcoholy and I like some fruity taste. She translated that into a silky, aged, intensely fruity wine. This was not her fault at all, I simply expressed myself incorrectly. Also, to be fair this wine is probably better served with an entre.

While the wine is OK I will finish the bottle but I won’t buy it again for 2 reasons: 1. It’s nearly twice as much as I normally like to pay for a bottle of wine and 2. I think I’ve just discovered that I prefer a more earthy taste to a fruity taste. I guess I’ve known that for a while now I just didn’t know how to express it. Maybe I’m getting better at it now.

I find it interesting that as I drink more wine and study it a bit more than I used to - and the slap upside the head from the Spectacular Shiraz that has caused me to go outside my comfort zone to find something similar - my vocabulary expands and I yearn for a way to express what I see, smell and taste in a wine because I want to drink what I enjoy. Most people who drink wine and aren’t connoisseurs don’t have the knowledge to express what they like in a wine other than “fruity”, “dry”, “sweet” and the like; this, I believe, is the biggest hurdle the wine industry constantly struggles with.

–update–

After a day in the bottle this wine has decanted very nicely. It’s still not one of my favorites but I’m getting very strong strawberry jam tastes coming through. It is enjoyable!

–end update–

Cork:Authentic
Name: Boeger Barbera
Type: Barbera
Vintage: 2005
Region: El Dorado
Country: USA
Producer: Boeger Winery
Price: $14.00
Purchased at: Barbera Winery
Date: 05/12/07
Served With: Shredded Chicken Tacos
Appearance: Looks a little thin, long legs, medium body
Aroma: Smokey, oaky, rhubarb pie
Taste: Dry. The smoky aroma carries over into the taste. Different, decent.
Comments: This is the first time I’ve had a Barbera. It certainly has a different taste. As far as the body is concerned it lies somewhere between a Zinfandel and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

I’m not particularly crazy about this wine. I can’t find any other reviews online of this wine. From what I can gather, and correct me if I’m wrong, Barberas are typically used as a mixer/blender. DrDebs points out the how and why of blends in a great post about a wine that isn’t quite as good as it used to be.

Cork:Authentic
Name: Lava Cap Zinfandel Reserve
Type: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2003
Region: El Dorado
Country: USA
Producer: Lava Cap Winery
Price: $15
Purchased at: BevMo
Date: 05/20/07
Served With: Hershey’s Special Dark with Almonds Nuggets
Appearance: Great raspberry color, nicely dispersed legs that drop long and slow
Aroma: Licorice and oaky
Taste: Black cherries, black currants, spicy!
Comments: Rich, heavy, bold…just my style!

This wine fits nicely as a daily drinkable. I was drinking this after dinner with a little dessert but I think it makes an excellent 2nd bottle with or without food. The variety of tastes in this bottle - black cherries, currants, etc. - make it enjoyable. I’m actually surprised that I can give this wine a solid 7 corks when drinking it immediately after the Spectacular Shiraz.

For a review of the same wine in a 2004 vintage have a look at the Wannabe Wino blog.

Cork:Authentic
Name: Canonbah Bridge Drought Reserve Shiraz
Type: Shiraz
Vintage: 2003
Region: Western Plains
Country: Australia
Producer: Canonbah Bridge
Price: ~$30.00
Purchased at: Vino Volo
Date: 05/12/07
Served With: Grilled chicken, roasted asparagus, sweet potato and Rice-a-Roni
Appearance: Smoke on the Water! Deep Purple, nice legs
Aroma: Musty, allspice, oak?
Taste: Wow! Complex, balanced, soft tannins, fits nicely on the palate, brooding!
Comments: Can I change my rating on all previous wines? Maybe I need a new rating scale? Maybe I just need to give this fabulous wine a score of 11 on my 10-point scale. Whatever the case make no mistake that this wine is head and shoulders above anything previously reviewed on this site. The only other wine that might come close is the Le Volte but that was so early on in my wine life that I’m not even sure it merits comparison.

When I think of drinking fine wines this wine is what I wish all wines could taste like. Unfortunately, the price of this wine, even at some of the more discounted online sites, doesn’t allow it to fit into either of my top review categories <$11 or <$25. In the past I would say that I couldn’t tell the difference between a $10 bottle of wine and a $100 bottle of wine or anything in between for that matter. I am afraid, however, that I my weekly wine budget will now increase as I search for more wines that are as satisfying as this one. This bottle was purchased by a friend of mine at a Vino Volo in the Sacramento airport on her way home from a visit to the Lodi area. The wine was recommended by the store clerk and he didn’t get it wrong.

I am compelled to rate this wine a 9 even though it is the best wine I have tasted to date. I must leave room for a better wine which I’m sure exists but will I ever taste it?

This wine shall forever be referred to as the “Spectacular Shiraz”.

I love the weekends because I can and frequently do drink lots of wine with no regrets (unlike those 3 bottle events on Tuesday nights when the roosters crow too damn early the next morning). This weekend was a great one for discovering 3 new, excellent wines one of which is fantastic.

The first excellent wine came during dinner on Saturday night. We were out to eat with some friends to celebrate - kinda (more details later in post). One of my wine buddies (read: wino) ordered a bottle of Liberty School Syrah (tried to find another blog to give some link-love to for this wine and couldn’t!). We each had different dinners so there was only one thing we had in common that we all liked very much and that was the wine. I didn’t have the facilities to do an official review and I don’t like to do reviews from memory but just know that this wine will probably hit the < $11 List when I do buy and review it.

I also had a glass of Peirano Estate Lodi - The Other Red 2005. I found it very satisfying and my wino buddies were jealous that I always seem to pick the wine that they should have ordered. I’m really in to Syrah/Shiraz lately. We jokingly call it a “phase” but unlike the Merlot “phase” which I don’t think I will ever drink again, I can easily add Syrah/Shiraz to my repertoire and still drink Cabs, Zins, etc. Again, I couldn’t do an official review of this one but I hope to in the future. For now check out this review on Peirano Estate Lodi - The Other Red 2005.

Not to be outdone by Saturday night, Sunday night had the debut for me of a truly spectacular wine. I will be doing an official review on it this week but as a teaser - suffice it to say that this wine has me questioning the ratings on all my previous reviews. It too is a Shiraz and I think will be seen as a milestone in my wine education when I look back a few years from now in much the same way that the Le Volte Meritage was for me nearly 2 years ago.

Last week I told you about 4 wines I was going to review. I did review 3 of them but the 4th will go un-reviewed. Reason being that we are right in the middle of moving and all we had to drink wine out of last week were plastic cups. I’m usually not snooty and would normally get off on doing a review of a wine from a Dixie cup instead of some fancy, really expensive glass. However, in keeping to true and honest, usable reviews I couldn’t bring myself to slam the PETS Petite Syrah as a wine that tastes like the purple stuff you get at church, or grape juice with a kick or any other non-flattering correlation. I’ll try it again some other time in a real wine glass and see if it’s any different.

Anyway, to finish up the celebratory remark early on we are relocating back across the country to Colorado Springs, CO. As I said earlier all of our stuff is packed up, living in a PODS box currently being transported to our new residence there. We are currently staying with a wino buddy and she has an excellent selection of wines - one of which is the forthcoming review of the spectacular Shiraz. We’ll be hitting the road on Friday morning and I should be back up and blogging by Sunday night if not sooner. The celebration was a send off by all of our friends here in San Antonio, TX. For those that were there - Thanks for a great night!!

In the meantime keep a close eye here this week for several new reviews including the spectacular Shiraz and the first review on this blog of a Barbera.

Cork:Authentic
Name: Ravenswood Vintners Blend
Type: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2005
Region: California
Country: USA
Producer: Ravenswood
Price: 9.99
Purchased at: D & B Wine & Liquor
Date: 06/15/2007
Served With: Pepperoni Pizza
Appearance: Pours thinner than a cab, active legs, deep color
Aroma: Just uncorked can smell a bit of alcohol though it quickly fades. Nice berry aromoas
Taste: BOLD, strong, makes a statement. Could be a bit raw and overpowering.
Comments: This makes an excellent 2nd bottle of wine among friends. Why? Because it can be a bit in-your-face for a novice wine drinker and if you’re not eating anything with it - even more so. However, after the first bottle of wine your palate is a bit numb (maybe your nose is too) and this is a nice pick-me-up. I like to drink this wine with extra-sharp cheddar cheese, blue cheese and anything else that has a very distinct flavor to it.

If you look at the Ravenswood website you’ll see that their slogan is “No Wimpy Wines!”. This wine certainly is NOT wimpy!

Buy the 2004 Napa version here.

Cork:Authentic
Name: Peachy Canyon - Incredible Red
Type: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2005
Region: Paso Robles
Country: USA
Producer: Peachy Canyon
Price: 11.99
Purchased at: D & B Wine & Liquor
Date: 06/15/2007
Served With: Pepperoni Pizza
Appearance: A bit thin, looks of medium body, weak legs
Aroma: Black raspberries, oak
Taste: This has the distinct taste of a raspberry Jolly Rancher. Definitely medium body, ok tannins
Comments: In keeping with “all wines are good” I didn’t particularly dislike this wine…it just didn’t stand out to me. It was of pleasant taste and medium body and the ladies loved it. Even with the Jolly Rancher liking it wasn’t particularly sweet. I supposed I’m just used to Zinfandel’s being bold, rich and strong. This Incredible Red was more like a Zinfandel Lite.

You can see some reviews from the 2004 version of Peachy Canyon Zinfandel here.

Cork:Authentic
Name: J. Lohr
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005
Region: Paso Robles
Country: USA
Producer: J. Lohr Winery
Price: 9.99 (on sale)
Purchased at: D & B Wine & Liquor
Date: 06/15/2007
Served With: Pepperoni Pizza
Appearance: Deep Purple Man
Aroma: Smells high in alcohol content, oaky
Taste: Bold but smooth. Gets better after decanting. Pairs with just about anything to compliment the food.
Comments: I like this wine a lot. Its one of my favorites but is typically more than my $11 self-imposed limit for everyday wine drinking. This is one wine that I notice that benefits from decanting. I run it through a funnel with sprinkler-like opening at the bottom and let it sit in the decanter for 10-15 minutes. You can buy that funnel here but you can definitely find it much cheaper elsewhere. It virtually eliminates the alcohol smell and takes the edge off. This is a very versatile wine in that it will enhance just about any food you’re eating. It brings out the spiciness in a pepperoni pizza and is also a nice companion to chocolate after dinner.