Wine Reviews You can Use

After a few year hiatus from my "real" wine blog, you can now find my reviews at the winecask.blogspot.com  I started this blog many years ago and was ranked the #8 wine blog on the world wide web.  I am a regular guy with a very limited wallet so I drink what you drink with rare exceptions. So scoot on over there, follow me if you want short, no non sense wine info.  Raise a glass!

(blogger image publishing is wonky.... Dark purple hue with aromas of sweet purple berries with a perfumy aura, blueberry/chocolate cream bon bons. Palate--Warm silky sweet tannins, savory spices at the edge, plush ripe berry=ies abound with a well structured quaff.  Another Alamos hit and a nice value wine from Argentina. Selling for around $10 I would raise a glass!

Pretty Dark Garnet with aromas sour cherry, rustic spices, with touches of sweet forest floor scents Palate--Sweet/tart front with sharply acidic foundation, beautiful cherry foundation, with gentle tannins and a finish that lingers a bit.  Masciarelli knows how to make wine and this one is value keeper!  I paid around $11 I think and it is really delicious. My wife is making potato/Italian sausage soup and it will be a perfect pairing so raise a glass!

  Purpley hue with aromas of fresh yeasty bread dough rising from the glass. Savory spice, with dark dried, crushed berries, and a sweet subtle nougat cream at the rim under all the spice and ash. Palate--*Sweet first impression with mouth watering acidity, cracked black pepper corns, finishes with a momentary lingering ending of slight hint of baking spices. Monastrell isn't a well known grape by this name but it is the signature grape of the Jumilla region of SE Spain but much better known in France with the prize blend of the Rhone region known to wine devotee's as GSM.  This stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre (pronounced MORE-ved) which is the colloquial name for Monastrell. Primarily a blending grape in France it is the signature grape of the Jumilla region of Spain.  At the ubiquitous price point of $10, given its Wine Spectator score of 90, it a great value creation so raise a glass! *"Sweet" in this situation is not actually sweet meaning residual sugar...

*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...

  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. F...

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.