Wine Reviews You can Use

  Prunish dark black-brown-amber hue with aromas of stewed dark fruit, savory spice Palate--Tart first impression, with odd berry flavors with a line of stewed prunes mid palate, watery texture This Pays Doc (French) Syrah is strained, unusual, and somewhat off putting. It was $8 down from $17.  I'd let this one take a ride on a fast train on a short track.

Purple black hue with aromas of sweet dark berries, blue berries above the rim with cigar ash, some smokey oak, prune whip, and spice. Palate--*"Sweet" first impression with rich ripe black berries a touch of vanilla cream at the end and a lingering finish that is rather non-descript. I was set not to like this wine but I have to say it is actually pretty darn good. It has made me a fan and at $18 give or take I think you can better but its not to say this isn't a nice wine so "raise a glass!"  *This is NOT a sweet wine. But many fruity wines give the impression of being "sweet." 

  Bricking at the rim with aromas of black licorice, fennel pollen, spiced cherry berry fruit,  Palate--Tart first impression with lip smacking tannins, rear palate --that touch of licorice and a fleeting finish. $36 posted price at NH State Liquor store but selling at $16. This essentially 8 year old Tempranillo--pronounced Tempra Nee oh has a nice bouquet with some interesting aromas, showing its age but drinking very well.  Pairing our Christmas dinner of roasted Cornish Game Hens! Open it ASAP and enjoy one of the signature grapes of Spain. And BTW--Merry Christmas! 

  A densely dark hue for a Pinot with aromas of savory spices laced with dark fruit, berries, strawberry hints above the rim,  Palate--Respectable first impression with a sudden burst of big fleshy fruit which I surmise is a result of the warming up of the wine from cellar temp even as it is in my mouth. A slightly smokey edge at the front on my second quaff, with a cherry-ish touch at the rear.  This is an unusual Pinot right out of the gate.  It's a "sourced" California Pinot which has me a bit baffled.  It is a really well made wine, but again, not the least bit characteristic of what I am used to for California Pinot.  I paid a ridiculous $8 for this $17 wine marked down.  Aged 5 yers already I suspect this will be drinking well over the next 5 years so raise a glass!

*Bricking at the rim with dark cranberry jelly hue with aromas of dried cherries, aged fruit, gentle savory spices, and Chinese five spice baking spice. Palate--Tart first impression, subdued cherry fruit, black pepper, some complexity, and delicious mid palate of more mature fruit.  Finishes quickly. This Gamay wine (think, Beaujolais) is an easy quaff and a nicely constructed wine. $25 reduced to $13 so I grabbed it and glad I did.  It is uncomplicated yet interesting, fruity, yet intriguing so raise a glass!  

Light straw hue with aromas of oily, tropical fruit melange, green melon, vanilla, with a cinnamon hint.  Palate--Nice lip smacking acidity, loads of juicy tropical fruit, and somewhat lingering finish with a touch of stones and makes you want to do it all over again.  This Aussie Riesling hales from Western Australia, made by Franklin Estates.  It's a juicy expression and although it even says "DRY" on the label there would be many people who would avoid this saying, "I don't like sweet wines." This is wine is DRY but uber fruity which makes it taste sweet.  Just about every-time I review a Riesling I state that it is a very under-appreciated wine. This one which has some years on it is lovely and classic and I wish now I had bought more.  Marked down from $25, I paid $12 and would have been decent at $25.  I will be serving it with seafood chowder I just whipped up so raise a glass!

Dark cranberry hue with big aromas abounding crushed daffodils, with lovely sweet spiced apples underneath, and tart pie cherries on top. Palate--Impressive beginning to this unbreathed young and vivacious Rhone red. It is expressive, big, and full of dark fruit, red berries, and gobs of spice both sweet and savory. This is a wonderful expression of the classic Rhone blending of GSM--Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and a touch of Cinsault.  The Rhone produces some of the best wines in the world. This young wine is superior and while I don't remember what I paid for it I am pretty sure it was around $12.  This is a steal at that price.  This is an impressive review considering I am reviewing it in real time right on opening.  It is cold (around 57 degrees) and will only get better with a warm up and some breathing.  Wish I wouldHave bought a lot more of this bargain.  Raise a glass to Covid bargains (sadly) due to closed restaurants, and let us drink our way through asinine government ov

Dark blackish hue with aromas of ark berry, blueberry touches, cherry cream bon bon, light cigar ash and savory spice at the rim. Palate--Non-descript first impression with a too-tart front, chewy tannins, subdued fruit, awkward mouth feel, and an austere finish. OK this hasn't started well at all. It may be that it needs to breath and warm up a tad from my winter cellar temp. of around 52 degrees.  We'll see.  This is an uncharacteristic Columbia Valley Red.  It isa a confused haphazard blend of Merlot, Cab. Shiraz, Malbec.  It tastes  rather ucky in all aspects.  It was marked down from $20 to $10 and $10 was $8 too much.  Nuff said! 

This cranberry hued Italian is one of my perennial favorites.  The bouquet is a leathery, cranberry jelly delight with "dry" aromas of crushed red berries. Palate--Bright cherry with a gentle balance of savory dried spices and more leather at the rim. This is an uncomplicated, easy to drink red with all kinds of foods. Get outside the clichés about white wine with poultry and red with beef etc.  This wine goes great with  a variety of cheeses, pizza, and red sauced marinara and pastas as well as all kinds of chicken and turkey dishes.   At $14 it's still a decent quaff even though the price has escalated in the past few years. Raise a glass and enjoy!

Midnight black hue with aromas of dense, crushed dried prunes, prune whip, juicy raisins, and tar Palate--Mind blowing thick, silky, rich dense fruit loaded with minced meat, stewed prunes, espresso, and a finish that goes on and on with wheel barrows full of rich dark fruit. I paid $36 for this LBV porto reluctantly and only did so because I had a $21 credit so this only cost me $16.  I love LBV porto for it's economy yet lush rich drinkability and affordability which is why I would never have spent this much on a such a wine.  That being said, it is far superior to many of the vintage ports I have bought for far more money than what this cost even if I had paid for it all.  This is such a treat, such an experience, such a wondrous world of textured balanced, structured desert wine that I could swim in it.  OK lemme come to down to earth.  This is an awesome wine.  If you see this one, not one like it, but THIS one, get it and experience the best of port wine including the top ran

Nice purple hue with aromas of pungent tart pie berries,  (sill cold) Palate--Baked berry pie, nice stricture, rich body with lightly bittered mid palate, more fruit in the finish that lingers. I bought this $24 Zin marked down to $12 at my fave out of state liquor store. It's a big wine, lot's of flavor, well made.  Should have bought more...  The story of my life.  (I once owned Apple at $16 and sold it........ Yup.  LOL raise a glass! 

  Lovely black cherry hue with aromas of dark berry, with a very subtle flash of fresh ripe dark grapes, Chinese Five Spice.   Palate--Delicious, fresh dark berries, savory spice with loads of subtle flavors that again, need to open up.  Thus far out of the gate I am impressed!  This comes in around the $12 price point but can be found for a couple bucks cheaper.  It is definitely a player and a value Cab that doesn't taste "manufactured." The vast majority of wines at this price point made in the USA tend to be a bit offensive in that they sport the Cabernet label but it just doesn't taste like anything other than a "popular wine product."  Now does this taste like classic Cabernet Napa/Sonoma style?  NO!  Does it taste like Cabernet Washington state style?  NO.  It tastes like Cabernet that has been made carefully and with some finesse. It will get better over the next 3 years and will hold for another 3 or more.  Raise a glass!

Very pale yellow nearly clear, with big aromas of luxuriant tropical fruits, sweet banana flavored candies, (think marshmallow circus peanut candy of a day now gone)  Lemon juice, and mango. Palate--Mouth filling flavors of super sweet fresh squeezed lemons, and tropical fruit salad, green melon and not a touch of *grass.  Fumé blanc which is Sauvignon Blanc was coined by the Napa Valley icon, Robert Mondavi. This Fumé was vinified in Stainless steel without a touch of oak.  It is bone dry and yet super "sweet." Which means there is basically no residual sugar and yet due to the uber fruitiness of the grapes, it tastes sweet.  And the reason I put an * by the word grass, is that most Sauvignon Blancs I have tasted from all around the world have a characteristic "grassy" bouquet.  This one does not. I paid a bargain price for this at around $10 but sells more around the $16 price point.  At either price it is a keeper. I am serving scallops on a bed of Basmati pilaf

  Pinot hue with light crystalline burgundy red hue with aromas of Raspberry hints, cinnamon red hots very gentle, spice Palate--Lively minerals on the front palate, robust structure, lovely slightly tart raspberry and strawberry flavors with a gentle lingering of strawberry fruit.  I paid $10 for this Pinot from the Central Coast of Ca. and it's quite a nice wine for the price! Raise a glass!

  First impression is a subdued bouquet on an almost inky dark black cherry hue.  Loads of savory spices edge their way through the yet too cold wine brought up from my temp. controlled cellar. Cigar ash, with loads of Dark cranberry and minerals at the outset.  Palate--Intense dark fruit with gentle tannins, a touch weak structure, rather simple, a fleeting finish. This is a 20 megaton fruit bomb which a lot of wine people don't care for or at least they say they don't... (Insert snide looking smirk here) A super fruity, rich, uncomplicated wine seems to be anathema to some trying to be "wine aficionados."  I DO understand the legitimate sentiments on this point but they fail on the fact that that people like what they LIKE! I am confident that the majority of people who might taste a classic wine with some age on it would not want a second glass.  What I would say to give perspective is that a ton of people love Thomas Kinkade "art."  But to a "real&q

Sorry--Blogger is messed up again! NO label pics and wonky layout. Very pale straw with tropical fruit aromas of warm peach nectar,  baby powder, mango, lemon/lime and sweet spiciness. Palate--Luscious fruit with a decent acidic line carrying the tropical fruit melange, in this off dry, tasty Gewurztraminer.  Pronounced-- ga-VERTZ-tra-meener this is a wine that gets no respect which is too bad because it is a lovely aperitif, a great summer quaff all by itself chilled down, or a nice accompaniment to briny raw oysters or a steamed lobster or clam or seafood chowder.  Some people will taste this and blurt--"I don't like sweet wines!"  But this wine is not sweet, it is just mega-fruity which makes people think sweet.  Because they are so unappreciated you can find some decent ones around the $10 price point as this one is.  But there are better ones out there as this one is bit mediocre.  Tasty but mediocre. :) 

  Beautiful dark purple hue with ever so slight bricking at the rim.  Aromas abound of glorious ripe raisins, sweet black berry bon bons above the rim, dark berry cream, cigar ash, sweet cream to boot.  Palate--Lovely ripe blueberry, intense sweetness of all the berry, prune raisin loveliness all wrapped in one continuous blanket of joy.  Finish just keep reminding you of why Porto is so much joy. I grabbed this from a local shop for $35 which seemed a bit over the top for a LBV but this one is special and worth the price.  If you can't afford a nice aged vintage port, this is a great affordable alternative that gets you close.  Enjoy it, and raise a glass! 

  Intense purple with aromas of light yeasty bread, bright bold dark berries, darkCherry cream bon bons, gentle savory spices Palate--Nice first impression with big flavors, gentle though immature tannins, rich textured foundation of loads of big berries with a lingering finish that hangs on for some time. This is obviously young but made to  be enjoyed right out of the gate. It will pair well with my grilled steaks and should be enjoyable for the next 5-8 years.   At $11, this is kind of ridiculous for a Napa Valley cab so take advantage of a nice value and raise a glass!

  Dark black hue with aromas of milk chocolate, baked bread, ripe black berries, and loads of spice. Palate--Relaxed structure, with nice fruit forward first impression with loads of rich blackberry, dark berry, nicely integrated acidic foundation, and ripe tannins. Seghesio gets lots of shrift in the Zinfandel world which in my limited experience with them is over-hyped or perhaps better, over-priced.  This is a tasty Zin for sure but it cost me $26!  It is Good--yes; it is very good and Sonoma is my favorite region for Zin.  But my yard stick are the myriad single vineyard Zins that, for years, were created by Rosenblum.  Once they were purchased their Zins went to crap.  So the bottom line here is this, would I pay $26 for this wine again?  My answer is an emphatic NO. I have since discovered several Zins which cost a third what this one cost and they are just as good or close to it.  

A dark slightly maturing hue with slight bricking at the rim. (Actually under better lighting, I will recant on the bricking! Aromas are perfumy, wonderful bouquet of freshly pressed grapes ever so faint with nice rustic spices galore, chocolate cherry bonbons, black licorice  Palate--This is a wine with super presence and intensity yet with silky tannins, and a solid acidic foundation. It all carries the fruit on a magic carpet of wonder with a twinge of its age muting the dark berry somewhat. This wine is past its prime will drink for another 3-5 years. The finish just holds on reminding you of what liquid joy can be. Ornellaia is one of the legendary icons of Italy and this is a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.  The big boys rated this wine from 95-99 points which I am not seeing especially the upper end but in fairness, this wine is past peak so all bets are off. It's still a wonderful experience. For $200 you could have experienced

Hue looks bricked (aged browning) however Nebbiolo typically takes on this appearance. Bouquet is is spicy cherry, eucalyptus or licorice, and cigar ash. Palate--Tasty first impression with wild cherry and rustic spices, sweet red candy impression front palate, with a lip smacking, mouth watering tannic structure.  Finishes a bit thin. I love Nebbiolo and at the $25 price range this is classic if a little rustic.  Homemade lasagne here we come.  Raise a glass.

  Light straw hue with ebullient aromas of lemon curd, candied fruit, sour vanilla cream, and a melange of tropical fruit. Palate--Wonderful first impression of big mouth filling tropical fruit with razor sharp acidity, delicious mouth watering structure with a fruity finish that goes on and on. I bought this a few years ago and just laid it down forgetting about it. I don't remember what I paid for it but I know it was a song as I bought two; maybe $10! At 7 years old I expected this to be on its way out.  It is youthful, vibrant, lovely and quite amazing. If I could buy another case of this I would, it is that spectacular. Central Coast is producing some nice wines and this unoaked Chard is proof so raise a glass! 

  Intense Dark purple to black hue with aromas of marvelous blackberry jam with bread, tar and cigar ash. Palate--Elegant first impression on the palate with gargantuan dark blackberry fruit in overload, a steely end with a finish that is lingering but shorter than I would have thought.  This is a lovely expression of my favorite grape from my favorite Zin region. It is well made, pretty well integrated for such a young wine and should hold for many years more. Around $30 you should expect a lot from a wine and this delivers. It is drinking well now and will only continue to develop so raise a glass!

  Aubergine hue with aromas of bright cherry, sweet pie cherry, gentle sweet spices, and sweet cream. Palate--Really nice bright fruity presentation with loads of acidity to pair with many Italian dishes with tomato based sauces. It finishes with some savory spice and steel. This wine is a Trader Joes product running at $7 which is a crazy good value.  Raise a glass but drink it when you open it and do not keep it over night!  

Nearly inky black hue with nice aromas already reaching my nose as the glass sits.   The bouquet is rich with spices, gentle fruit (it is at cellar temp so it needs to warm up) light green pepper, with cigar ash.   Palate--Front palate is impressive with loads of dark rich berries and a candy like *"cherry" first impression. Silky tannins that are still youthful but the well structured foundation foundation carries everything in a harmonious meshing of characteristics even at this youthful stage. Finish is lovely and lingers for a good while. *I will come back and add to this as it is bound to open even more lovely than it is. I paid $22 for this Napa Cab (Healdsburg) which is a steal. I t will only get better with age although it's really drinking well right now. Another 8 years is not out of the question and it was the salvation of a meal featuring some really chewy short cut steak on the grill. I plan to pick up another bottle if I can find one and lay it down for a fe

  Intensely dark black cherry hue with aromas of dense rich tarry dark berry fruit bomb aromas which are lovely with loads of spice and this hasn't even opened yet. Palate--Luscious, mouthwatering structure with a huge beam of rich, ripe dark black berries, and plum pudding with sweet spices.  Delicious!   Previously reviewed, this is a Trader Joe's offering and I have had about 3 cases of it in varying vintages. It's young, it's awesome, and it is a stupid crazy value at $8 so raise a case! 

  Pale golden hue with nice aromas of sweet vanilla curd, lemon, and a hint of pineapple life savers! Palate--Lively acidity on the palate, spicy, fruit salad with tropical fruit melange, bone dry yet wonderfully fruity that makes you think  it's sweet (we call that "off-dry"). Finish actually tarries a while. All in all this is a really decent Chard for the price of around $14. Put a slight chill on it and enjoy it as an aperitif, or with cheeses and bread or even a Maine lobster.  Raise a glass!

Garnet hue with aromas of pink grapefruit, subtle milk chocolate covered strawberries Palate--Steely front with a new world presentation which is rather surprising, chewy tannins and a nicely acidic foundation.  Finish is practically existent but I like this wine! Not certain but I probably bought this at Trader Joe's for around $9.  If I am aright I will be picking up several more bottles.  It is tasty, pleasant, tastes like real wine (as opposed to manufactured) and will be easy to pair with many culinary creations so raise a glass!

This French Rosé has a very pale pink hue with aromas that are surprising!  It is full of spicy sweetness and cinnamon red hot candies that reminds me a bit of Gewürztraminer, a touch of savory spice and cherry juice.  Really enticing!           Palate  -- A sharp pleasantness on the palate with a delicious minerally, off-dry red berry succulence that keeps you coming back for another pour.  My wife grabbed it in the close out bin at a local grocery store and paid $6.50 for it. It was a nice snag for sure.  Just paired it with fried calamari and was perfect. I haven't had a rosé in ages as many, may years ago I started noticing a profound improvement in the many cheap rosés out there.  They were plonk but these started showing character, structure, a touch of complexity and place and all around the $8 price point.  Within 5-8 years rose's made a big comeback to where you now have to shop the myriad choices and countries out there, some plonk some lovely. This happens to be a lo

Purple hue a bit surprising for this 4 yo Cab. with aromas of spicy sweet red berry/cherry with cigar box, and savory spiced dark fruit in the bowl. Palate--  Front palate of Spring daffodils, with mouth drying tannins, on a base of fairly rich dark berries, with a lingering finish of nice blackberry fruit. I reviewed this wine at the end of August which I don't even remember reviewing it that recently.  Fairly consistent review at any rate.  This is a bargain Cab at the $13 price point, is well made, will cellar for another 5-8 years and is drinking well right now so raise a glass. 

Nice crystalline garnet hue with spicy aromas of strawberry and very subtle vanilla pudding.  Palate--Very nice steely, fruit forward bright red fruit with a real spine to carry the delicious fruit on a beam of acid.   Finishes with some residual strawberry/raspberry and smoke?  Castle Rock is always a value when it come to their pinot noir.  This was $8 which is ridiculous and it is REAL wine, not manufactured plonk. It rivals many $20 price point pinots I have had so raise a glass of a perennial favorite.

Real time review) I love the inky dark nearly black hue!  Aromas of elegant dark berries with gentle touches of savory spices, chocolate cherry bonbons but this is just the beginning as it is at wine fridge temp and needs to warm up and breathe.  With air the bouquet is expansive with a lovely blend of fresh berry fruit and candied mocha cherry.  Lovely! First impression--super tart with lip smacking tannins but a lovely foundation that will support the new world fruit bomb without it being fruit bombish--I think.  Again--it needs some time to open.  With a bit of time and warming up, the tartness is mellowing out a bit, the fruit is lovely.  This is a really nice unique expression of Santa Barbara Cabernet blend with 230% Cab Franc. It is delicious and will drink its best in another 2-4 years.  We paid on the $20's for it and it is delightful so raise a glass!

Dull garnet hue with slight bricking at the rims with aromas of dried cherries, licorice, rustic spices  Palate--Super steely front with bright cherry on the front palate with loads of tart pie cherries mid palate, lovely hints of forest floor, and mature fruit with a finish that lingers a bit of dried cherries.  Querceto  has been a perennial favorite as I have tasted numerous vintages of this steady Chianti.  Having been to its "birth place" every time I open a bottle I am taken back to romantically dank cheese cellars, abandoned, ancient Tuscan tombs on an obscure roadside, and touring in a brand new BMW rental car when our crappy little Fiat was not available. (Given to us for the same price!)  A wine really can have a sense of "place" when tasting the terroir of nicely crafted wine. This one takes me back to the Tuscan hillside, mountain top villages, and striped smoke stacks of Siena in the distance. I paid $10 for this absolute steel so raise a glass!

  This Oregon quaff with the hard to pronounce name is a lightly golden hue with a bouquet of aromas full of light lemon merengue, creme brûlée, a veritable spray of tropical fruits, sweet powder and that's all "above the rim!"  In the glass you get a slightly oily (riesling like) with sweet and savory spicing with Chinese five spice to finish it off.  Wowzer this is wonderful. Palate--A nicely balanced acidic structure carries this bone dry Gewurz making it seem like it is a really sweet wine when it is not.   A novice mistake with many white wines is they are shunned for being too sweet when they have no residual sugar! Fruitiness and sweetness are often confused. The tropical fruit presence is a bit subdued but there's plenty to enjoy in this really nice Guh-VERTZ-stra-meen-er!  You should find this for around $15 and it is a really nicely made Gewürz (pronounced GuhVERTZ) so raise a glass! 

Beautiful jellied cranberry hue with aromas of luscious cherry and darker berry fruit with musty (but nice) spices on the edge and the subtlest touch of cocoa. Palate--Very tasty first impression of steely but ripe, dark fruit and velvety tannins.  Nice structure, textured, and easy to drink. I paid $15 for this and I am pretty sure you can find it cheaper. It has been a while since I have bought any Cline Zins. No reason really just so many others to try.  Cline has always produced a value Zin regardless the price point and this is not an exception.  This is the most seductive of many I have had in a while.  It's well made, and will be drinking well into the next 5 years. Right now, it is really nice so raise a glass!

This Paso Robles Cab is a mature opaque garnet hue with pure aromas of cherry berry danish pastry above the rim with hints of vanilla, rose petals, spicy menthol, cigar ash. Palate--This is a pure, cherry berry supple, and robust cabernet that is absolutely, shockingly delicious!  This is Paso Robles?  I am blown away.  The Wine Enthusiast gave this Cab an 86 points out of 100.  I am not sure when they tasted it but this is woefully underscored.  Easily 90 pts. in my book though I don't use a numerical rating.  Not sure how much the reference price is on this not do I remember what I paid for it but I believe it was around $20. It is definitely at its peak but will drink for another 18 months but this is the TIME to enjoy this treat. I will be pairing it with grilled rib eye and I will be in heaven so raise a glass!

Black cherry hue with aromas of black pepper, savory spices, chocolate on the edge, burnt wood. Palate--Loaded with easy drinking fruit, there is a lot to like in this $6 Zin I grabbed at an out of state liquor store. Front palate says, drink more now, with fruit forward, and loads of savory spices, sweet tannins, and a finish of *sweet tasty dark fruit. Lodi doesn't tend to put out complex Zins but of late they sure have been putting out some tasty Zins worth your attention. I paid $6 for this wine ($18 reference price) on a NH State Store "Power buy" and it is quite pleasant especially at the price. If you grill anything on a charcoal grill this will pair greatly with it no matter what it is! If they happen to have more lying around the next time I get down there I will have to grab more. So, raise a glass!  *In this case "sweet" does not mean SWEET as in sugary but as in super fruity...

  Really beautiful hue like garnet aubergine with aromas of spiced red licorice (weird right?) with rocky red fruit, jellied cranberry sauce, earth, daffodils, and cigar ash.  (There's a lot going on here!) Palate--Course, lip smacking tannins, spicy red and dark berry fruit, rustic, forest floor and earth notes with a slightly bitters ending with a fleeting memory of rustic fruit. I paid $13 for this and bought 3 bottles so I could cellar it for a while.  It has potential and will age for another 3-5 years.  I am pairing it with a grilled T-bone and it should be great so raise a glass! BTW--I love the label of this wine; well done!

  Bricking at the rim with aromas of cherry and chocolate, gentle black licorice note. Palate-is acidic and tart on opening but mellows out nicely with some breathing.  Velvety texture with all the above but with a surprisingly fleeting finish. This bottle was around $70 when it was given to me a decade ago. I have had it cellared in a temp. controlled fridge. It was a nice pour with our grilled teriyaki steak tips but a bit disappointing all things being considered.  

Immature, dark purple hue with aromas of lovely robust, dark ripe black berry fruit with wonderful Zinny spicing. After breathing, there is a lovely though faint stripe of fresh red berries. Palate--A monster Zin, heavy, textured, silky tannins, a 20 megaton fruit bomb, with spectacular Zin foundation with tons of rich, lush fruit and a lingering finish with just a hint of sweet spice.  Another Trader Joe's spectacular wine for $9-$10. I must have more so raise a glass!

   Intense garnet/cranberry jelly hue (more deep purple after opening) with aromas on opening of sweet blackberry jam above the rim, with spicy zest at the rim and a lovely gentle milk chocolate presence at the rim more like chocolate covered cherries.  An over abundance of alcohol due to the wine being too warm is obscuring what is there. I will refrigerate for a bit and come back to this.  Boom!  Alcohol out of the way and more beautiful bouquet emerges. Amazing spruce notes at the rim, with a touch of Twizzlers cherry licorice! :)  Palate--A burst of rose petals out of the gate, then a bunch of heat--ouch!--due to the immaturity of this wine. With a slight chill, the heat is toned down. It isn't quite the heft that the 2014 had but let's get a grip; this Sonoma Zin at Trader Joes was $8.  WHAT?  Yeah, and now it's gone--I believe.  If you happen to find it your local TJ's, snag it and enjoy raising several glasses!  (Special thanks to my wine courier MB!)