Wine Reviews You can Use

Gorgeous burgundy (color) hue with aromas of gentle savory spices a hint of cocoa and a fruity center. Palate--A lip smackingingly juicy beam of red berries with an acidity that will raise your eyebrows and a tannic presence that is a bit surprising.  It finishes quickly.   At 5 years old, this is holding its youthfulness well and should drink well for another 2-4 years but why wait when you can raise a glass now.  I paid a mere $7 for this marked down from $20 and I will buy more if I have the chance! To demystify the whole Beaujolais wine region it is basically set up like this.  The wines are all made of the Gamay grape and labeled either Beaujolais, Beaujolais Villages, or Beaujolais Cru. These tend to correlate to quality and price with "Beaujolais" being the entry point and going up from there.  Of the Beaujolais Cru there are eight which can wear that distinction.   They are: Saint Amour, Chénas, Moulin-a-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Regnie, Brouilly

Dark cranberry hue with aromas that are greeeeen, and the faint aroma of "cork taint." But what's worse, is it may not be cork taint but the wine as it was made. Beneath the green unripeness is a remnant of dark berries and after a few minutes a nice wafting of eucalyptus. Palate--*Not quite ripe dark berry flavors, savory spice, a somewhat watery texture that is less than tantalizing, and a finish that may be the best part of this wine. I have had a good bunch of Chilean Cabernet's and am a big fan.  This is my first one from tis producer from the Alto Cachapoal region of Chile. *I am going to let this breathe and see if it helps any.  I paid $10 for this marked down from $13. *It did improve some but it's still a pass...

Nice deep black cherry hue with aromas of charred wood, rustic, brambly blackberry fruit with an under layer of dark cherry and cigar ash at the end. Palate-- Bright sweet red berry (but this wine is NOT sweet) fruity and spice laden mid-palate, easy o drink, with a dark berry and prune finish. I haven't had many Zins from Monterey and this one is pleasant and a bit more rustic than some styles that plays well with the savory spicing.  At $12 I'd do it again so raise a glass! *The label says Paso Robles and they make one from Lodi as well.  I couldn't find a label from Monterey so ignore the AVA on the label.

[note--vintage on label is incorrect.] Lightly golden hue with aromas of vanilla, sweet fruity oil (classic Riesling BTW) perfumey, tropical fruit compote with cremé bruleé and a large dose of honey. Palate--A veritable dive into juiced lemons, limes, guava, and clover honey on a somewhat watery feeling texture.  There is an acid weakness which detracts from an otherwise glorious, fruit filled melange. Now--wine geek stuff: How to read a German Wine Label--It is really quite informative and tells you a great deal about the wine.  St. Ludwin is the name of the winery or estate where he wine was made. Bernkastle is the region (much like our AVA's in this country) where the grapes were grown located on the Mosel River.  It is perhaps the most highly recognized and best region of German wine. Kurfürstlay is the actual vineyard from which the grapes were harvested. The name of the grape is Riesling and Kabinett is the "pradikat" or "title" of the particular win

A watery ruby hue with aromas of vegetal, spiced tart red berries.  Palate-- bright red berry with some savory spicing and mouth watering acidity. In spite of my not wanting to like this, it is actually quite flavorful even if simple. This was a gift from a friend.  I am having it with pizza tonight and it will be a tasty addition.  I see it running at the $15 price point and I would pass on this for sure.  It is a tasty wine but it is not a good example of Merlot.

Beautifully rich black garnet hue with lovely aromas of black licorice, a hint of mint, sweet ripe black berries above the rim with cigar box and tar. Palate--Rich plush texture with intense jammy dark berry fruit, a cocoa beam down the mid palate, tar, milk chocolate and lip smacking tannins. This is wonderful Merlot so rich and complex and I would expect nothing less out of one of the historically, iconic folks in Napa.  The Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 90 points.  they were really stingy!  Think 92-93. When the sorry movie Sideways came out Merlot became a byword. I was bewildered as Merlot is one of the great varietals of the world.  I mean the legendary Chateau Petrus is routinely one of the most expensive wines in the world and it is--you guessed it--100% Merlot. I never really got the movie. Anyway, I don't remember what I paid for it but I know it was under $20 and this is a super value and a super wine that will only improve for the next decade so raise a glass.

Intensely dark black cherry hue with aromas of floral, savory spices in the glass, with sweet dried fruit at the sides. Palate--Mouth watering acidity, a solid beam of dried pie cherries and red fruit. A hint of cocoa in the middle with a short finish os savory spices. This is a really nice Valpolicella and at $9 it is a great value and good paring with Italian, tomato based foods and sauces brimming with oregano, Bayleaf and garlic.  Raise a glass.

Such and intense dark black cherry hue I pegged it as a Syrah or Petite Sirah blend, and the bouquet only confirmed this--I thought. Big jammy bouquet full of fruit and black berries galore with a touch of blueberry with loads of savory spices and tar. Palate--Big fruit forward, fruit bomb with lots to like if your life fruit bombs which I do.  Loads of blackberry jam with a beam of dark berry/cherry fruit and a finish which lingers. From what I could find, this is a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Zinfandel/ Petite Sirah blend.  Well, Zin for sure and Petite Sirah even more so. At any rate, I like it and at $10 it's nice if you love this style so raise a glass!  And by the way--Happy New Year in 2020.  May the Lord have mercy on our nation and draw hearts unto Himself.  He is our only hope for true peace and joy! 

Slightly opaque, dark garnet hue with aromas of mint, fresh flowers, a elements of mixed red fruit. As it warms up, tart pie cherries arise. As this warms up the mint becomes nearly overwhelming and lovely! Palate--Really perky, red fruit-filled first impression with lively acidity, relaxed tannins, and big berry fruit that will become pronounced as the wine warms up. It finishes rather quickly but that too could change as it breathes and come up to temp. Cabernet Sauvignon is often a blending grape for the awesome "super tuscans" rather than a varietal. Tomassi is one of the reliable producers of Tuscan wines and this is a real treat with a unique bouquet.  What is amazing about wine making today is how such young wines can be made to be enjoyed upon release. This is drinking well even though barely 4 years old.  I paid $15 for this Tuscan, non-Sangiovese, varietal.  This is a great example of the differences Cabernet Sauvignon can be made to display. Bruce Sanderson-

Deep ruby hue showing a touch of age.  Spicy front with cherry berry fruit but the wine is cold and needs to warm up to be fully appreciated. Okay, with some air and warmth, we have a wine that is gargantuan in savory spices laced with cherry cream bon bons, and licorice, Palate--Big spicy front with loads of sumptuous berries ready to pop with ripe juices, touches of sage, and fruity goodness. I paid $8 for this although you will probably see it for near twice that.  This is a winner so enjoy it if you find it and raise a glass!

Decent garnet hue with aromas of berry rich, jammy fruit, mildly spiced. Palate-Nice Zinfandel bouquet and palate with lots of jammy fruit, blueberries, and an easy quaff that goes down pleasantly with Zinfandel goodness. This Mendocino Zin from the good folks at Fetzer (Napa Valley icons) is tasty and rich. However $18 for a "California" sourced Zinfandel is over the top.  (You can find it for considerably less...) This is a sturdy Zinfandel with what you expect in a Zinfandel, Jammy fruit, rich berry goodness, spices galore, but it's still a sourced varietal.  Never-the-less, it is a winner and a tasty wine so raise a glass!

Nice cherry hue with aromas of prune, creamy cherry chocolate bon-bons, sweet savory spices and a touch of evergreen. Palate--Nicely integrated flavors on a finessed structure, with a solid beam of very nice dark red berry fruit with those spices found in the bouquet. It settles out gently with a lingering gentle finish that just screams for another sip and then another and another... This Tempranillo, the signature grape of the Rioja, Is right at its peak and should be nice for another 3-5 years. I paid $10 for this $20 wine and it is wonderful so raise a glass!