Wine Reviews You can Use

*Label is for their Riesling not their Gewurztraminer Pale straw hue with loads of sweet aromas consisting of vanilla, citrus, tropical fruit with a lime splash. Palate--mouth watering acid, mouth filling tropical fruit, lime base, with sweet-tart freshness  This $10 Gewürztraminer literally "Spicy Traminer" is one of my favorite German grapes and under appreciated much in the way German Riesling is. If you can get past the name, it's a lovely wine that pairs with Asian foods, spicy foods, or all by itself so raise a glass!

  Medium garnet hue with bricking at the rim.  Aromas of sweet spring flowers at the rim, cigar ash, sweet cherry confectionary.  There's more fighting to the surface but this is right  upon opening. Palate-- Mouth filling, juicy acidity, slightly bitter tannic note (a nice kind that I love!) pie cherry filling.  This was the perfect pairing with our rib roast, roasted root vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy. It will continued to open as the dinner went on and of course there was nothing left to cork... This was a house warming gift from a special guy and very appreciated. Raise a glass! 

Rich and deep dark plum hue with aromas of intense dark ripe boysenberries, with touches of cinnamon, Chinese five spice, and the slightest hint of rose petal on the rim. Palate--Actually rose water on the front palate, thickish with velvety tannins, lip smacking acid, a slightly bitter rear palate (which I am hoping dissipates with breathing) . The finish lingers for some time. Syrah is one my fruit bomb faves, this is my first from the Meyer family. Produced from Mendocino fruit, this is a lush, 20 megaton fruit bomb which can be tricky when pairing. I'm going to give it shot with our Sunday Lou Malnatti's pizza shipped in from Chicago land. I think it will work. Stay tuned...

  Nice inky, dark nearly black hue with loads of aromas of dark berry, blueberry, eucalyptus, and more fruit deep in the bowl with a touch of mint. Palate--This is a 20 megaton fruit bomb filled with ripe blackberries, rich puckery and sweet tannins, youthful structure that will mellow out with time with a lingering finish that hangs on. It has been a while since I have had a fruit bomb as I like to call the style. They are luscious and silky in texture with rich dark berry fruit that is deep and nearly "port-ish."  You either tend to like this kind of wine or not.  Some people think they do not pair well with food but I disagree. You just need the right food to be able to stand up to the monster this wine is. I am pan searing breaded venison chops, mashed potatoes, and a nice big salad.  Good thing opening day for deer is only a few days away as this is my penultimate package from last season.  At $13, this is a really nice wine and will be holding well for 5-8 years! Raise

  A lighter hued Zin with aromas of sweet spicy dark berries. Palate--First impression was "ok" but improved quickly. Hugely spiced with savory offerings and a tannic line that could be a bit off putting but tolerable, a lingering finish which is perhaps its strongest attribute.  Coppola as int eh Academy award winning movie Director has been doing wine for decades. He has several offerings ranging in three basic tiers based on price and style/quality. The red label is the  table wine" offering aka the economy level bottle but they do it well most of the time.  This one ran $14 which is a couple bucks over it's value. It's OK but then again, if it changes with some time open, I'll revise. 

Opaque, nearly black hue, with aromas of ripe sweet perfumey plum with with a bouquet of lilacs just as the cork was pulled. Classy port bouquet that is not developed nearly enough yet with hints of licorice, fennel pollen, eucalyptus, and more. Palate--Elegant, silky with a velvety texture, mouth filling flavors, of all that's in the bouquet. Structurally wonderful and even in its youthfulness at 14 years, it is voluptuous, with a finish of fruit and silk that goes on and on and on. From the fabled vintage of 2007 this earned the Wine Spectator's Perfect score of 100 points. I bought this half bottle on release for $40. A full bottle now will run you over $200--if you can find one. This Port will develop for possibly another 20-30 years.  You read that right!   This lovely creation may very well still be drinking great when I am 6 feet under. Oh well, as glorious as this is, the wine served at the marriage feast of the Lamb of God with the faithful will blow this away. For now

Very light raspberry juice colored hue with aromas indistinguishable as I just opened this directly from my temperature controlled wine fridge.  54 degrees is just too cold to get any semblance of bouquet. To be continued... Palate--Loads of spices which are both partly pie spices (sweet) but mostly a bit savory.  Almost over powering. We shall see what time and temperature does. *Aromas of sweet fruit with abundant spices and a palate which is still perplexing which is why I wanted to re-review this a day later after it came to room temp. The hue of this wine was concerning out of the bottle with a slight look of aging at the rim. On re-review the wine tastes older than it should.  It isn't corked, but I do not like this Pinot especially at the over $20 price point. This may be an outlier so I'll leave it here... *24 hours later 

Peculiar hue showing a little age which is unusual for a wine this young.  Aromas of sweet bright red berries with a twinge of strawberry and pie spices. Palate--Nice first impression with lots of delicious Pinot flavors on a lively structured foundation. Some hints of cocoa rear palate and on the end. Finishes with some zip.  Pinot Noir is a finicky grape. Nog everyone can work with it well. It is the signature grape of the greatest Burgundies costing hundreds of dollars per bottle. But California and Oregon has done well by the varietal producing lovely wines in the $20 price point and over as well as under.  This is an inexpensive one yet has a lot to commend it. At $10 this is a value Pinot so raise a glass!

  Mature garnet hue with aromas of cigar ash, fruity berry, licorice, and brambles.  Palate--Elegant structure, smoke on the mid palate, blackberries and rustic red fruit with a finish that hangs on and on. This is a solid single vineyard Zin from Amador Co. with a lovely foundation married with perfect acidity and fruit. At 10 years old it is really holding well.   I have had better single vineyard zins but not since Rosenblum Cellars sold out the man. At around $30 this is pricey. But if you find it on sale (because of it's age) don't let that worry you. This Zin will hold for another 3-5 years but don't chance it, open that bottle now and enjoy optimal Zinfandel pleasure.  I will be pairing it with grilled (if the weather holds off) venison chops and garden fresh potatoes.  Raise a glass!

  Barely any bouquet above the rim and very light as you into the bowl. A rather pronounced aroma of clove accompanied by cinnamon.  Palate--Clove carries through to the palate on first impression, with moderated tight flavors of dark berries and a finish that is a bit awkward.  (In fairness, this is right upon opening) From the label to the wine I am not a fan of this old vine Zin. I am glad I only paid $9 for it but won't do it again. Meah...

  Light straw hue with aromas of lovely seductive fruit-filled bouquet full of sweetness and very light baking spices with a steely edge to the tropical fruit compote. Palate--Vanilla, razor sharp acidity, a foundation of off dry sweetness, a mid palate creaminess, with a citric feel but a lingering finish of tropical fruit salad.  I visited Buena Vista two different times quite a few years ago and they had the best tasting room staff of all the wineries I had been to over the years in Napa, Sonoma and Temecula. This wine is a reflection of the quality of their company in all they do. I don't believe I have ever had a less than stellar experience with a BV wine and this shows why.  This wine was released around $30 but I found it at a State store reduced to $13; an absolute steal! This 5 year old Chard is prime time and showing no hint of going south.  Pairing tonight with New England clam bake dinner and we will be raising a glass!!! 

Deep purple hue with aromas of a fruity, spicy, red berry and cherry melange and sweet fruity cherries above the rim. Palate-- It is rather vigorous on the palate with a very steely first impression, a beam of cherry berry goodness, and even a finish that lingers a bit. I have been a patron of this wine for over two decades. At $8 this is a reliably value wine with a good heritage. It is an all around pleaser in its simplicity and worth a try in any of its productions, red, white or rosé.

  Lighter hued cranberry color with aromas of sweet red berries and dried red fruit with a touch of spice.      Palate--Fruit forward, easy to quaff with soft tannins, and a simple pleasant all around red.  Just don't confuse this with a "real" cabernet Sauvignon.  At $7 (Trader Joe's) let's get real... It's better than two buck chuck!

  Purple/garnet hue with aromas of bright lively red fruit, gentle spices of the savory variety, more warm fruit as the wine warms up.  Palate--Eye popping vibrant acidity which smacks your senses awake! Brilliant Zinfandel profile made in the  *"lighter" style.   Definite beam of cocoa or milk chocolate which makes you think of cherry bonbons.  *Lighter style doesn't mean a wimpy wine or an inferior wine.  It is the discretion of the vintner to decide how to make his wine.  This one works quite well!  This was shared with me by a friend, and it was a nice surprise.  The availability of this wine may be restricted to a wine club but if you have the opportunity it is a different version of all we love about Sins!  Raise a glass!

  Opaqueish red hue with substantial bricking at the rim. The bouquet is full of ripe, fresh cherries above the rim and cigar ash with savory spices and mint as you go deeper in. Palate--Great first impression brimming with all sorts of spices, mint, both fresh and aged red fruit, still a bit puckery but fully mature and a bit beyond its prime but still quite lovely.  The finish just lingers and speaks to your soul. I paid around $40 for this over ten years ago and I just thought it was time.  I am paring it with honey bourbon marinated steak tips on the grill.  If you happen to have one of these sitting around, I wouldn't let it go much longer!  So raise a glass.

  Lighter ruby hue with nice fruity aromas of sweet spicy strawberries, bright sweet cherries Palate--Dances on the palate with a delicate yet assertive spiciness that sets off the bright gentle red berry fruits. This is a surprisingly fun Pinot that has pinot character even if a bit understated but well made and tantalizing.  I like it! Steamed chicken in foil with garden fresh veggies on charcoal and sweet corn.  Ahhhh Summer--raise a glass to this value Pinot around $10. 

  Rich dark almost black hue with aromas of rich, ripe berry fruit and obscured aromas in the background due to a smoky charcoal grill going outside... Palate--Textured, silky, robust balanced, integrated licorice, black berries, savory spices that are gentle, sweet tannins, a delightful, young Cab that is delicious beyond it's $9 price tag.  Reviewed previously for comparison and this is a super value "raise a glass" wine!

Pale gold hue with aromas of apricots, peaches, mango, with a scented "oily" nuance reminiscent of Riesling.  Palate--Lovely fruit compote flavors of tropical fruit melange, with a nicely acidic back bone to carry the fruitiness which makes it taste "sweet."   But this is not a "sweet" wine by definition. A lot of people make the mistake of of calling really fruity wines "sweet" wines and therefore write them off. But this is a lovely, balanced wine and Fetzer has been making Gewürztraminer from the day I started my journey into the world wine circa 1975. And Gewürztraminer--which means "spicy traminer," "traminer" being the grape varietal and the leading grape of Alsace, France. Germany, which shares it border with Alsace, also makes this wine but both the German and the Alsatian varieties tend to be much "drier" than the domestic varieties.  Either way, you should give the grape a try.  It is a great summer quaffin

  Darker cherry hue with aromas of Spicy bright cherry-berry fruit, cherry pie, sweet tobacco Palate--Really explosive mouth feel with a glorious acidic foundation with loads of cherry berry fruit yet not a run-of-the-mill fruit bomb.  My wife grabbed this as surprise for me and it is a lovely treat!  It is vastly different in its construction from the Zins I have been drinking.  A special care has been taken here not to lose what you love about Zin yet not to be thrown into the big pile of all the zinfandels produced.  It just has that special "something" that makes you want to keep drinking it because it is Zinfandel and yet it goes so well with foo at the same time.  At $21 it is a bona fide treat and worth every penny so raise a glass! 

Ruby hue with aromas of strawberries, a hint of cocoa, and a bit of savory spice. Palate--Bright, fruity, strawberries and spice--just what you smell. Finishes quickly. This is a well made Beaujolais (always made from the Gamay grape) classified Beaujolais-Villages meaning it is a higher quality than the label that simply says, "Beaujolais." The highest quality wine for the region is classed as "Beaujolais Cru" (of which there are 10 "crus) and will have the "cru" on the label. For example Morgon, Fleurie, Chiroubles and so on. These tend to run in the $20-30 price range. I paid $22 for this at a restaurant, [reference price retails is  $12-$18.] In terms of restaurant pricing which is always controversial, THIS was a super bargain and a well made Gamay so raise a glass.

Hue--pale straw with aromas of sweet, minerally, talc, tropical fruit galore, and a slight savory edge that carries it all Palate--A bit *flabby for my liking, but rich and brimming with a cornucopia of tropical fruit flavors.   *"flabby" means lacking in acidity I am pairing this with a bacon and Swiss quiche my wife is making. The sweetness of the Spätlesen will be a perfect foil to the salty bacon and Swiss foundation of the quiche.  At around $12, this is a "good" example but one with more acidity will knock your socks off. 

  Gentle straw hue with aromas of a melange of citrusy fruit mixed with tropical fruit compote and the characteristic "oily" sweet aroma underlying it all. Palate--Lovely first impression with razor sharp acidity, carrying a delightful compote of tropical fruit salad, with green melon, lemons and limes, mango and stone fruit.  This is a LOVELY Washington State example of the most under appreciated wine grape in the world. It is fantastic chilled down on a hot summer day or a lovely pairing wine with butter rich sauces and seafood.  Grab some Maine lobsters and steamers, with a bath of butter and you'll think you died and gone to heaven.  At $12 this is a super value so raise a glass and then a bottle!  

  Clear dark red with aromas of cherry, savory spices. Palate--Watery texture, bright flavors with mouth watering acidity, cherry fruit, slight vegetal edge, fleeting finish. It's been a good while since I have had a Ripasso and this is a very mediocre one.  But then again, I paid maybe $10 for it and a good one should be closer to $20. Ripasso is a method of vinification using grapes which have already been use for the glorious "Amarone" wines of Italy which will cost you around $30 at least. The grapes are dried and then vinified giving a deep concentrated wine with wondrous pruny flavors, and a texture that can imitate the velvet of a well aged port.   On another taste there is slight "wet cardboard" impression meaning the wine is tainted. So I will drink this with my grilled salmon but do NOT base your experience on this with the very nice Ripasso's that abound. 

Very nice dark pigmented black purple hue with aromas of cola above the rim, somewhat subdued fruit, with lovely big savory spice with a hint of blueberry underneath and tar.  Palate--Big, mouth filling flavors on a bed of luxuriant tannins, tons of plush dark berry flavors that keep on giving in the end. Nice!           This Trader Joe's Cab I grabbed because they didn't have the Corvelia Zinfandel which is extraordinary for the $9 price point. So I figured I would give their Cab a try.  Whoa!  It hails from Paso Robles and is really nice, well made and enjoyable right now and will keep on giving for the next 5 years probably more. My BBQ'd chicken is heading to the grill and it will pair superbly with this wine so raise a glass!

Summer is here--for most of us but for we here in Maine this Memorial Day is rainy, dark, and 50 degrees.  But we cling to what we know and that is a great Summer is coming even if short lived.So get out of your comfort zone this Summer and find the thrill of glorious well made wines that will not kill your retirement savings.  For those hot Summer days poolside, on the  porch, or under the shade tree,  throw some bottles of wines you've never tried.  Forsake the kangaroo and footprint labels and look for inexpensive but well made wines you can chug if you wish.  The most under rated varietal is Riesling! With various styles to choose from what you'll find in the grocery store is domestic gems mixed in with plenty of plonk.   What is plonk? Well,  White Zinfandel for one.  Sure its popular but it is crap. For the same price or literally a couple bucks more, you can actually grab wine that is well made, tastes like wine rather than what I call wine beverage.   Do NOT shy away f

  Beautiful opaqueish deep purple with aromas of thick mocha, a slight vegetal suggestion with a spicy rim and remnant of fresh, sweet bright berries with a touch of floral nuances. Palate--Thickish texture, with hefty foundation supporting the intense, rich, dark berry fruit and finish that clings to your palate.   This is a big, mouth filling wine from Argentia and a great value for the price around $10.  I will be looking for more of this and will lay a couple bottles down to see what the future does to them. These will be drinking fine for the next 8 years or so.  Raise a glass and well done to to the folks at ZOLO sustainably farmed vintners!

  Nice deep garnet hue with aromas abounding of lovely, tantalizing fruit above the rim. Deeper in the bowl there is lovely, pronounced fruity spice, a touch of grapefruit rind Palate--Nice palate first impression of pronounced, finessed fruit, lovely big berry flavors, a midline streak of pleasant bitters, and a zesty finish of more lovely Zin fruit. This Trader Joe's fave is around $8.50 and is a nice super value Zin. Pair it with BBQ, anything smoky, pizza, Italian and well, just about whatever you want.   Raise a glass!

  Aubergine hue with aromas of *tennis shoe, savory fruit Palate--Juicy presentation with vibrant red fruit, squeaky tannins, needs sometime to open up. *Sometimes adjectives used in wine reviews are troubling. Tennis shoe does not sound like a positive attribute but then neither is "tar" "lead pencil" and numerous other off the wall descriptors which are not at all negatives.  That is the case here. :)  A pleasant Barbera and a solid value at the $10 price point. Raise a glass (with or without tennis shoes!) 

Straw hue with aromas of gentle vanilla, lime, more vanilla, and citrus. Palate-- Fresh, clean, teensy pin prick bubbles, creamy texture, fresh clean finish that lingers a bit. If you want a great summer bubbly with no animals on the label, tastes like real wine than a manufactured wine beverage, this is a great summer choice. It's a Trader Joe's regular and runs $10.  Raise a glass, sit on your deck or pool side and enjoy!

  Burnt garnet hue with bricking at the rim and beyond; definitely showing its age!  Aromas of wonderful spring daffodils, Hyacinths, I kid you not, subtle aged cherry notes.      Palate--Definitely at its peak and a beyond, but is a marvelous and exemplary showing of a Gamay that can hold its own even after 8 years which is amazing! It is still perky, still has some life, but needs to be drunk NOW. It is very enjoyable and exciting to see this grape do so well which is a credit to the vintner(s) who created this!   Gamay is the premier grape of Beaujolais which can range from the very simplest of joys (Beaujolais Nouveaux) to the Beaujolais Cru which can have structure, finesse and even elegance. I don't remember what I paid for this but it was probably a steal around $12.  Raise a glass!     

Garnet hue with remnants of a youthful purple.  Aromas of spicy cherry,  Palate--Youthful fruitiness, bright cherry and simple red berry goodness with a finish of spice. This simple Portuguese blend is easy drinking, bright, and just one of those "don't analyze it, just enjoy it" kind of wines.  At around $8 it is simple and enjoyable quaff so raise a glass!

      Darker cranberry colored hue with aromas of deep spicy savory dark berry fruit, plum musty oak, and a hint of cocoa. Palate--Big bold dark fruit, edgy tannins, kind of wonky without focus, maybe a blend of syrah or petite sirah, and perhaps pertite verdot and/or Cabernet. This is just OK and will be fine with my grilled chicken and at $9 I would not  be tempted to repeat.  Fetzer was one of the wines I cut my teeth on back in the latter 70's. They have generally produced solid wines of a value nature with some outstanding classics earlier on in their 50 year life.  It's "ok."

  Garnet hue with aromas of a softened, dark cherry bouquet with slight blueberry. Palate--Decent first impression, with solid Zin profile, nice sweet tannins, finessed savory spice on the edges.  A Trader Joes $7 Zin and worth the price.  I mean it's $7! So raise a glass.  

  Lighter purple hue with aromas of sweet and mildly savory spiced berry fruit. Palate--Watery texture, but flavorful Zin presence with a bitter rear palate.  This California sourced Zin is meah, and honestly I have had better Zins for $8. Let this go by...

  Purple hue with aromas of sweet red berry fruit and boiled squash. Gentle spices and not a lot going on. Palate--Bright berry fruit with a nice presentation of big fruit flavors. The finish lingers with more fruit and a gentle hint of savory spice in the end. This Tempranillo is actually quite delightful and will compliment our grilled pork chops. The Wine Enthusiast rather panned this wine but it's better than they reviewed   At $12, it's a raise a glass kind of wine!

  The gorgeous hue is a dark black cherry with tremendous aromas of sweet and savory spices rising from the bowl full of sweet cherries, spring daffodils, the slightest touch of anise, a kiss of prune whip and a nearly minty like black licorice at the end. There is not a suggestion of bricking on this 18 year old Sangiovese. Palate--First impression is of a perfectly integrated wine at its very best. The palate is brimming with different flavors of tart pie cherry, sweet fresh cherry, again a hint of prune, mint and savory spices. It finishes with a lingering reminder of what Sangiovese can be. My temperature controlled cellar (actually a humble wine fridge) is down to 2 "drink now" bottles. Today's dinner choice to accompany the fabulous Italian dish called timballo. (look it up)  It is labor intensive and my wife has been three days putting it together in celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I paid around $20 probably 10 years ago and I

Nice ruby hue with aromas of milk chocolate, savory spices, cherry, aged saddle leather and red berries. Palate--Lip smacking tannins assault your palate with a bright, tart pie cherry front.  This is right on opening and it is youthful (obviously) with rich cherry, and touch of smoke on the finish.  Campo Viejo makes numerous lines of the hallowed grape of the Rioja. From the low cost high production variety that this one is to their more expensive and aged premium creations CV is always reliable and always a decent value.  This is definitely a food wine so experiment with your pairings and at $10 this is a really nice buy!  Raise a glass!

  Nice black cherry hue with aromas of green fruit, grapefruit, *tire rubber, slight fruit down in the glass with black pepper, sweeter black cherry above the rim. (Not liking the way this is starting out...) Palate--subdued, harsh, unripe fruit, lip smacking tannins, slightly bitter finish with the slightest hint of fruit. Okay--this is at cellar temp which right now is about 55 degrees which is too cold to appreciate. It is also such a very young wine, it needs the help of some air but... *I'll be back and re-review this Chilean Cab. Wine mag used this descriptor and it is exactly what I could not put my finger on. Not actually what I want to find in ANY wine... Wine mag gives this an 87 which is just WOW, over the top. More like a 67!  *Review stands...

Pretty intense black cherry hue for a Barbera with nice aromas of fresh bright red fruit, finessed blackberry, and a touch of blueberry, and spice. Palate--Bright fruity flavors, nice structure, easy quaff and great with food or all alone.   After a bad run of very mediocre or bad wines, this is nice change.  I paid $12 for this and it is a very nice wine by itself or with food and cheeses.  Raise a glass!

  Inky dark purple hue with aromas of Big jammy blackberry and cherry cream bon bons, and a touch of cocoa. Palate--Bright dark cherry with big bold blackberries and a hint of blue berries. A gentle touch of rustic spice and you're done! It is a cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah blend.  Although it is more Cab than Syrah the Syrah tends to dominate and the two work together quite well.  It finishes quickly,  I had the pleasure of meeting Charlie Shaw years ago at a wine tasting in Freeport, Maine. He is unpretentious, straight forward and a darn good vintner. His creations over the year have never let me down. At around $13 you should open this, let it come to room temp (if it isn't) let it open for a while and then enjoy this fruit forward quaff.  Raise a glass!

  Garnet hue with aromas of rustic black berry, a touch of blueberry jam, talcum powder, and spice. Palate-Stewed dark fruit compote, robust structure with lively acidity, nice Zin flavors and integrated overall and a twinge of smoke way in the back of the finish.  This is drinking great right now and will hold for another 2-3 years, maybe more. Grab a bottle for $11 and change and raise a glass!  Bogle is one of those wineries who just seems to make their wines well regardless the price point. *Keeping this short--When you see "California" on a label like this, (versus, something like Napa, or Sonoma, Lodi, or any number of what are called AVA's, (American Viticultural Areas) it means the grapes were sourced from anywhere in California. What does this tell you about the wine? As a rule of thumb--to which there exceptions--the more specific (narrowly defined) the source of the grapes are the better the quality.  As I say, there are exceptions but they are not predictable.

  Nice rich looking deep red hue with aromas of sweet read berries, as well as spicy blackberry Palate--Bright, flavorful, savory spice, lip smacking tannins, a finish that actually hangs on for good bit.  OK, you can't make too much or too little out of a sourced varietal at an inexpensive price point, ($10-$14) and Bonterra tends to do it as well as you can with what you choose to work with. The grapes sourced from anywhere in California depends on what vineyards the grapes came from.  This economy wine drinks ok but just don't make up your mind about any varietal, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, as to whether you like that grape or not.  A $10 Cab is NOTHING like a $30 Cab on up.

  Light red hue with aromas of spicy sweet baking spices, strawberry Twizzlers, and light strawberry. Palate--Classic Pinot flavors with a touch of grapefruit out of the gate. Delicate on balance, lighter finessed presentation. Easy to drink and a lovely accompaniment to lighter fare or as an aperitif. I think I paid around $9 for this at Trader Joes and it's a decent value so raise a glass!

  Nice intensely blackish hue with aromas of sweet perfume, lovely dark berry fruit, chocolate cake, with more sweet ripe berry notes.  Palate-lackluster structure, but nice fruit forward, mocha and black berry flavors, bold flavors, staying power in the mid-palate and a finish that hangs on more than one would expect for a wine at this price point. A friend just dropped this off having found it locally for less than $8 and as high as $14. For a California sourced wine, this is a decent quaff and a bargain at $8 so raise a glass!  Thanks Mark!  :)

  Lovely magenta intensity and nearly black. Aromas of stewed prunes, fresh raisins, a hint of anise,  Palate-Full bodied, hotter than usual, intense sweetness but the alcohol is overpowering the flavors of the fruit. The foundation is coarse rather than elegant. The finish is lovely with a long lingering fruity ending.  This *LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) Port is out of balance and really detracts from what the wine could be. AT $22 I would not get this again. I will enjoy it with friends and my wife's flourless chocolate tort.  It is an unbeatable combination.  I recently had the same wine in the 2008 vintage and it was to die for. (See that review here) *What is Late Bottled Vintage Port? Borrowing from Roger Voss with the Wine Enthusiast:  " The official definition says that it is a “ruby Port from a single year, chosen for its high quality and bottled after aging for four to six years in wood.” It is a vintage Port in style, but not in price." LBV is ready to drink when

Nice dark burgundy colored hue with aromas of Steel, minerals, fresh plum at *6:00 in the rim and vigorous savory spices at 3:00.  Palate--Rich savory fruit, black raspberry, plum, loamy foundation and chunky tannins. Finish has a lovely lingering blackberry ending that lasts a good while.  This was a gift from a friend for Christmas. It is lovely to go back to Bordeaux now and again to remind ones self of the vast difference between old world and new world wine. But even going to Bordeaux, there has been such a swing to vinification to the more modern, drink early palate, that the classic Bordeaux can be a challenge to find at an affordable price. Don't get me wrong, wine consultant Michele Roland can be a dirty word in some sectors of France but his consultations with French and Argentinian wineries made wine much more accessible to the "every-man" who wasn't about to shell out some hefty bucks only to lay a wine down for the next 10 years.  * when tasting wine, a l

  Nice rich looking, deep purple to black hue with aromas of sweet dark berry fruit, cigar ash, a savory edge Palate--Tart first impression, loaded with steel, austere, tightly wound, juicy, lip smacking tannins. This wine is just way too young to be drinking. There's a lot going for it but it simply isn't ready. It really needs another year or two but then again I just opened it, *it is at cellar temperature and it may surprise me as it warms up.  If it does, you'll read an addition here. At the $16 price point this is just young so I will grab a couple if I can and lay them for another year.   *Definitely opened up a bit with some airtime and warmth.  On second review though, I don't think this will improve all that much. 

Lightly opaque garnet with aromas of slight vanilla cream and black cherry bon bons, a blast of savory spice on the rim with a hint of horseradish--interesting! Palate--Cinnamon spice at the front with black pepper, again a little touch of horseradish in the palate which a whole new taste experience for this thousands of bottle of wine guy over the past 45 years.  The finish is quite lingering with a resilient, cherry beam and more pepper. This is the most interesting wine I have had in ages. I bought it because of it's home of record being Alexander Valley. I have had little experience with Primitivo because each one I have had was unremarkable and even off putting.  This grape is the genetic progenitor of America's Zinfandel!  That being said, the Primitivos I have had are nothing like Zins--but this one, had I tasted it blind would probably have said it was a unique Zin or Zin blend.  I paid $10 for it out of state and regret not having bought more. The list on it is $20 and

Dark garnet showing some age at the rim with aromas green fruit, Dark berries and a touch of spice Palate--Watery texture, blackberry, savory spice.  This Aussie Cab is not a winner.  Posted at $22 on sale for $10. Even at that it is a wine to pass up. For $10 grab yourself a Columbia Crest Cab and enjoy it.   

  Ruby garnet hue with aromas of lighter stewed tomatoes, lighter spice, a light touch of vanilla, and dried stewed prunes. Palate--There's something about mass produced, casually made Zins that have the same profile. This is what this reminds of. Lots of berry fruit up front, some gentle spicing, but it just has a "meah: impression.   I reviewed this last year and it was somewhat different and a touch more favorable.  At Trader Joe's price of around $7 it's a wine worth getting so raise a glass!