Wine Reviews You can Use

Inky dark purple-black hue with aromas of fruity savory spices at the front with lovely black licorice in the back.   Palate--Great first impression with loads of spiciness and dark rich blackberries with a texture that is hefty and velvety.  You had me at hello! Every taste is fresh on the palate with 20 megaton fruit bomb presence but a really well done fruit bomb. This wine is barely old enough to be drinking yet it is delicious and will only get better, way better with time.  I paid $10 for this at Trader Joes and I assure you I will be grabbing a LOT more! So raise a glass!

This Bordeaux Superior has a bold, mature dark garnet hue with aromas of lovely sweet berry fruit above the rim. It is still a bit chilly from my temp controlled vault so bouquet is muted. Palate--A tart and watery first impression, savory spices galore, subdued fruit, light cherry cream in the end with a finish of chewy tannins.   Not a great wine by any means not even for a Bordeaux Superior which can be super values. This is on e meah, and while I probably paid around $13 for it, I would not buy it again. It will pair well with my grilled T-bone, but disappointing none-the-less. 

Very pale yellow hue with nice, tiny bubbles and ample aromas of strong lemony citrus. Palate--Off dry fruity (cava) from Spain and a Trader Joes pick.  This is a nice $9 sparkler from TJ's.  Freixnet is my fave inexpensive Cava and the TJ's guy saw me hunting.  He suggested and I grabbed one.  Glad I did.  Certainly a "raise a glass"kind of wine, chilled down with seafood, grilled salmon, appetizers and just about anything really.  I'll be snagging more.

Out of the wine fridge it was a bit chilly which subdued some of the finer details of this wine.  Golden hue with aromas of lemony citrus, creme brulee, and lime juice. Palate--Razor sharp, palate cleansing acidity, with a pronounced lemony beam down the middle with tropical fruit and a compote finish that lingers. This treat ($70) gives you reason to understand how a Napa valley Chardonnay won the famous  tasting of Paris changing the wine world forever. My son opened this on a recent trip to see some of our grandkids.  A memorable wine for a memorable occasion which is wine is so special!  Raise a glass to special wines and special events in life!  

Inky black/purple hue with aromas of what I call, *value "sourced" wine with pleasant aromas of dark ripe berries, some savory spice, sweet cherry berry and a touch of wood. Palate--Full flavored with a big beam of black cherry/berry, lightly spiced, with a lingering finish of pleasant cherry cream, dark chocolates. I want not to like this wine even though I have been to Mondavi Vineyards in Napa a couple times and the last time we just chanced to be there as Robert Mondavi was out and about celebrating his 84th (I think) birthday. For a studied enophile it was quite the treat to see the legendary Robert Mondavi who truly did shape the whole Napa Valley and the California wine experiment into a world force. This is a tasty wine, not exactly classic Cabernet Sauvignon but also not the classic price for Napa Cab.  I generally can find these around the $10 price point.  Higher than that I will pass. 

Black cherry hue with aromas of subdued dark berry fruit with a lovely sweetish but savory spice at the rim. Cigar ash, with a touch of sweet black licorice.  (Needs to warm up and open up!) Palate--     Subdued first impression with nice Cab flavors and understated tannins.  Will return when it airs out... Not much improvement but a solid Cabernet.  Sonoma Cabs are the "bargain" cabs of California. Especially at the lower tier productions, you can expect to pay less than half what you might pay for an equal Napa Cab.  I think I padi about $16 for this Sonoma "looker" and it's a decent value but not exceptional. If you're going to pay $12 for a "sourced" Ca. Cab think about paying $5 more for one branded with an AVA (American Viticulture Area)  Raise a glass!