May WInes 2016

May wines

Just a quick review of my May wines

Vinos de Arganza Lagar de Robla Premium Mencia 2008

·         Critical Acclaim

o    RP91

The Wine Advocate - "The 2008 Lagar de Robla Premium Mencia spent 18 months in American oak. It is the most complex of these Mencia offerings displaying density, opulence, and length. This pleasure-bent effort can be enjoyed now but will drink well for a decade. "

I may have mentioned this wine before, but it is even better at close-out pricing.  Mencia from Bierzo - still fun to say and good to drink. Once a left over grape that has become a Spanish darling in the hands of skilled winemakers and growers. Dense, plenty of pitted fruit flavor, not too heavy, no tannins, but good round mouth-feel and a nice finish. Under $10, should buy a case.

Bodegas Castano Hecula 2012

·         Winemaker's Notes

Intense and shiny cherry red color, clean. Outstanding fruity expression of plum, fig, berries with intense balsamic aromas and perfectly integrated wooden notes. Soft and silky on the palate, embodying, with elegant ripe tannins and a wide pleasant aftertaste.

Critical Acclaim

o    RP91

The Wine Advocate - "The basic offering from proprietor Ramon Castano Santa, who owns a whopping 1,000 acres in Yecla, is the 2012 Hecula, which is sourced from a non-irrigated, single vineyard planted with 100% Monastrell. Aged in both tank and French oak, it comes from 60-80-year-old vines planted in limestone soils at a relatively high elevation of over 1,600 feet. Its opaque purple color is followed by copious aromas of blueberries, black raspberries, camphor, licorice, white flowers and a chalky limestone/dusty character. Full-bodied, rich and well-balanced, it is an incredible value. "

Monastrell, also known as Mouvredre, is a dark, inky wine that carries a lot of black fruit and herbs and spices in it. A bottle that is around $10 - $12 retail, this is a great value wine. Serve it with beef, or it could overpower your meal. Real nice value bottle (Spain, again).

2012 Li Veli Passamate, Salice Salentino Negroamoro

Color The wine has a dense ruby color with a purple tint.

TasteThe taste of wine is balanced, comprehensive, powerful, soft, fresh and fragrant, with bright acidity and velvety tannins, notes of black fruit and very long finish.

Aroma Intense aroma of wine is filled with tones of ripe and juicy red berries, especially cherries and plums, spicy notes of nutmeg and cinnamon, hints of sage.

Gastronomy The wine goes well with grilled meats, pizza, pasta, vegetable soups and cheese.

I know, Italian wine from me? This was a nice example of Salice Salentino - I used to drink a lot more of it when it was a bargain. This was a new producer to me, but was a very good food wine at the price ($12). Flavors meld well and it can go with a wide variety of foods - not too overpowering with nice balanced fruit and spices echoing in a decent finish.

2009 Bodegas Sierra Salinas "Puerto Salinas" Alicante

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

There are 5,000 cases of this remarkable value, another stunning example of the astonishing palate of Eric Solomon and his ability to ferret out exceptional wines at such ridiculously low prices that most consumers will never guess how good they are based on the price alone. Composed of 66% Monastrell, 19% Garnacha and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for one year in both new and 2-year-old French oak, it displays an inky/purple color along with notes of road tar, melted asphalt, blackberry liqueur, camphor, graphite and forest floor. The wine is complex, full-bodied, rich and intense with terrific purity and wonderful overall balance. It is one more example of a wine that completely over-delivers. (RP)  (6/2012)

91 points Wine & Spirits

 Lush and exuberantly ripe, this wine develops in the glass, gaining notes of spice and fresher fruit. It’s a tight web of tannins, completely filling the mouth with their energy and power. A wine to cellar for five years or more.  (10/2012)

Another Spanish wine - this was in my $100 case from Jacob's Liquor. Great blend, a wine that should cost a lot more.  My first taste was a little disappointing. As it stayed open and the bottle took in air (and my glass), the flavors really developed. Nicely balanced, good food wine - not too overpowering, but still meaty. Black fruit and spices, a surprising blend that really is as good as the critics said. If you see it, buy it!

2012 Cambridge & Sunset Pinot Noir, California

Ripe red raspberry and cherry aromas carry through to the palate, balanced by a crisp yet silky finish. 

VINTAGE: 

California’s 2012 vintage has been described by winemakers across the state as ideal, having produced generous amounts of high quality fruits. The threat of frost passed early on, allowing vines to bud earlier than usual. A mild, even summer season and dry, cool fall allowed growers to keep their grapes on the vine longer to ripen sugars, while still keeping an above average acidity. These outstanding growing conditions resulted in many wines embodying their terroir, reminiscent of the best Bordeaux years, with the flavor concentration and fruit characteristics that exemplify California.

Another of the $100 case - this was what you expect for a cheap Pinot Noir. Decent cherry, red fruit but not a full mouth-feel. Finish was short, not what I call silky. Keep the meal light - chicken, pizza or pasta. Not highly recommended...

Hope you enjoy and remember, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grape vines.

MidWest WineFest

Premier Charity Event in Wichita, Kansas

Notes from the MidWest Winefest Grand Tasting

April, 2016

Here are my tasting notes from the Grand Tasting of the Midwest Winefest in April at Century Two in Wichita, Kansas. There were plenty of restaurants serving small quantities of appetizers, main dishes and desserts – a whole lot of bite size goodness throughout the hall.  Wine stations were staggered through the hall, although the lines became problems when several were stuck together. Here is what I tasted and made notes.

NV Domaine Chandon Brut Classic

A tasty light bubbly which started the night perfectly. Hints of yeast with fresh apple, and pear profiles and a bit of citrus on the end. Very refreshing.

2012 Justin Justification

A nice Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend from one of our favorite wineries from the Paso Robles area.  Good dark color and a round nose of red berries. Balanced mouth-feel, dominated with red and black fruit with hints of toasty spices. A touch soft in the mid-palate but a nice finish. Little tannins, drinkable now or could hold a few years.

2014 Hahn GSM – Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre

Moderate nose of red fruits, but not a big mouth-feel. There is strawberry, a little spice but not much of a finish. Could ber it is young, or just may never flesh out. Probably better with food – nothing too heavy, maybe pork roast.

2013 Hess Collection, Allomi Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Good deep color with a nose of deep, dark colored fruits. Dark berry with hints of graphite give a broad taste and a full finish with integrated tannins. Very nice now, better in a couple years.

2013 The Crusher, Petite Sirah

Light in color for a Petite – a grape I think is overlooked in the wine world. Nose was decent, with red and black berry nuances. Flavor seemed almost hollow – hints of something but not really following through. Finish just disappeared – overall disappointing. (Maybe the wines before wiped out my objectivity, but, maybe not)

2014 Cosentino The Cigar Zin (Zinfandel)

Color a little light for Zin – a grape I’ve enjoyed in all of its styles – and the nose seemed a little short, without much aroma. The taste had some berry and pepper, but they lacked much depth. The finish ended short, as well – I have memories of older Cosentino wines being better…

2012 Girard Artistry

This wine had great deep color and has all 5 Bordeaux blending grapes in the wine. A deep nose of red and black fruit tailed into the taste. A broad flavor with good balance of the fruits (red raspberry and blackberry) with hints of graphite and cocoa. Nice tannic backbone for a long finish and good aging potential.

2012 Duckhorn Merlot

Good color with a modest nose of red fruits. The red fruit has a touch of vegetable in it – could be the bottle or its dumb phase. Nice finish with some tannins – a wine that really would excel with food.

2013 Frog’s Leap Zinfandel

Nice color – modest nose of red berries. Good flavors of red fruits (raspberry and strawberry) with nice spice and cedar notes. Moderate aftertaste with a few tannins. Commendable zinfandel.

2012 Rombauer Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Selection (Reserve)

Very deep dark wine with a good nose of red berry and hints of floral aromas. Big upfront red fruits, followed by a broad mid-palate of berry, cigar box and shades of spices. Aftertaste lingered with firm but not overwhelming tannins. Very nice wine.

2012 Justin Isosceles

Nice deep color; broad nose of red and black fruits. Broad mouth-feel with red and black fruits, with smoky overtones (cumin?). Very long aftertaste with moderate tannins. Approachable now but better a few years down the road. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

2013 Haraszthy Bearitage Red Blend

Light color; modest nose of red fruits. Taste like soda pop – red strawberry – with sweetness included. Very disappointing – obviously a wine only for beginners needing something sweet and quaffable.

2012 Spur Red Blend

From the folks at Wente vineyards – moderate color. Nose was mostly red fruit. The flavor had red fruit, plums and overtones of cigar box. Pleasant blend with a moderate aftertaste –drink now as the tannins disappear. 

2014 Chalk Hill Sonoma County Chardonnay

Golden Green tinted color – nice fruity nose of citrus and apple. Not too oaky, but a little butter and citrus flavors with a hint of floral notes. Good finish, surprisingly long – very nice chardonnay.

2013 Artezin Mendicino Zinfandel

Dusky dark color – modest fruit nose, mostly red and blackberry. Good broad mouth-feel, red fruits, pepper and cardamom with a long finish. A very nicely styled zinfandel.

2013 St. Francis Old Vine Zinfandel (Sonoma)

Deep color with a bright raspberry nose. The full flavor had red fruits and hints of spice and tobacco with a nice long aftertaste. The pepper is understated, but does show up while sipping. As usual, a well made zinfandel.

2013 Petite Petit – Michael David Winery

Moderate color – a blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot. Modest fruit nose with some unusual mid-palate flavors – either sulfur or vegetable. The reviews called it camphor – I call it off-putting. Decent body but the aftertaste was pretty short. Not what I had hoped for in this wine.

2013 7 Deadly Zins Zinfandel

Decent nose with good color. Flavor had a soft mid-palate, with red fruits but lacking much spice or pepper. Aftertaste came up a little short – an average zinfandel

2013 Zac Brown Uncaged Red Blend

Had this in our Celebrity Wine tasting – it did pretty well in the voting. Decent color with a very fruity nose – raspberry and cherry. The flavor is a full frontal assault of the red fruits, maybe a little too forward. The aftertaste is moderate, not carrying too much with it. No real tannins, a wine to drink soon.

I also tasted the 2013 Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon, but it was near the end of the evening and it was OK, but not notable.  I finished with a light dry Riesling, I thought was a Schmitt Sohne Riesling, but they aren’t listed on the wines available. They had a sweeter one, but I drank all of the dry one as an end to a fun night. I saw many old and new friends. A great charity event.

Hope you enjoy - keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

April Wining

April was a great wine month. I only have a few bottles for now; I spent a weekend in Napa, California and the Midwest Winefest was held in Wichita in April. I will be posting tasting notes from the Winefest soon. Tee Napa trip will be coming also, got to finish typing notes and sorting pictures.

2014 Bodegas Filion Garnarcha, Calatayud, Spain.

"The 2010 Filon was sourced from 30- to 40-year-old vineyards. It offers up notes of smoke, mineral, and wild cherry that mingle with layers of ripe cherry fruit on the palate. A bit more elegant than the Retorno bottling but no less pleasurable, this savory offering over-delivers in a big way. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.". Stephen Tanzer, 90 Points. Producer The winery is located in Villarroya de la Sierra, one of the highest areas of the Do made of Paleolithic materials, mainly quartzite and slate. In addition the soils have the right organic content, which provide sufficient nutrients to the plant with proper aeration. The climate offers little rain and large temperature fluctuations between day and night.

Real nice little sipper, went well with foods. Still young, but not something I would age very long. Good acid balance but no tannins.

2011 George DuBoeuf Fleurie Gamay, Beaujolias, France

The name of the wine "Fleurie" evokes the flowers, which the company "Duboeuf" adorns the labels of its wines. Perfectly balanced cuvée "Fleurie", one-eighth of which matures in new oak barrels, has flavor, characteristic of classical Gamay - with hints of wild strawberries and rose petals, cedar nuances.

Wine Spectator: 90 Points

Well-focused and fresh, this stylish red offers creamy flavors of blackberry puree, plum pudding, graphite, anise and smoke. Well-knit, with supple tannins. Drink now through 2020. 5,000 cases made

Stephen Tanzer: 87 Points

Brilliant ruby.  Raspberry and candied flowers on the fragrant nose.  On the jammy side, offering plush red fruit flavors that spread out to coat the palate.  Comes up a bit short on the finish but offers plenty of appealing, straightforward fruit.

You usually don’t drink anything from this region after a few years. I got this on close out and it still stood up nicely, with the fragrant nose and nice fruit flavors and balance. I wouldn’t keep it very long, but great for Spring and Summer drinking.

2014 Simone Scalletta Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy

Red ruby brilliant color with violet reflections, it opens on the nose with fresh and fruity aromas of blueberry and violet and velvet notes of almond. In the mouth it expresses harmony and pleasantness, with an almond note at the end. Even if it may be drunk when still young, it doesn’t fear ageing for some years.

Dolcetto is not a real common Italian wine for most Americans, but I have had a number of nice ones. This wine showed very well with the Italian meal served with it – could have stood to even heartier fare like lasagna.

2012 Vietti Tre Vigne Barbera d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy

Ruby purple color with ripe red cherry aromas with hints of mineral and vanilla. A dry, medium bodied red wine with refreshing acidity (making it perfect to pair with food) and soft tannins, the Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is well balanced with good integration of oak, good complexity and a finish of more red cherries.

I have had many Barbera’s – some god, some not. This is one of the better ones I’ve had – always stick to Italian ones, California ones have always disappointed. Went well with the meal and was very popular at the tasting/meal. Perfect for a true Italian dinner.

Time "March"es on

March came in like a...

2012 Colonia Las Liebres, Bonardo, Mendoza, Argentina

The Bonarda grape varietal in Argentina has experienced a contested and confused history. At one time classified in Argentina as Bonarda Piemontese from Italy, recent studies contend that it is instead, an ancestor of Corbeau from Savoie, France. Recent genetic tests were conducted in order to compare the Argentine rootstock to those of Piemontese and Corbeau, and the study found identical molecular markers to Corbeau. This same grape is vinified in California and called Charbono. –

A luminous red-purple hue and expressive red and black fruits on the nose provide a strong first impression of the unique Bonarda Argentina grape. On the palate the wine is fresh and lively, with a silky, smooth mouthfeel and nice volume. This wine receives no oak treatment in order to show the purest  expression of the Bonarda grape. Enjoyed best at temperatures from  60-64 °F.

Got this on a close out price of around $8, I’ve had it before for $10. A good version of the Bonardo grape – no oak, very little tannin, but nice acidity for heavier meals. Nicely rounded with black and red fruit and a pleasant, not to long aftertaste. Worth the price.

2011 Il Palagio, Message in a Bottle, Rosso Toscano, Tuscany, Italy

A complex aroma of cherries, wild blackberries and spices.
Sangiovese 70%, Syrah 15%, Merlot 15%
Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months
“…it is my personal opinion that the work that Trudie Styler, Sting and the entire Il Palagio team have done to create a vineyard filled with bio-dynamics and bio-diversity is paying off huge dividends. This wine is fantastically concentrated with pure, elegant expressions of varietals and local terroir. On the nose are huge aromas of wild blackberries/blueberries, musky notes like damp forest floor and wild mushrooms and the sophisticated finish of freshly crushed black peppercorns (thank you Syrah). The palate is fresh, clean, brisk and alive! Medium+ red currant/young raspberry acids work symbiotically with a full, fine yet chewy tannin structure to deliver flavors perfectly in-sync with the bouquet. Excellent balance, structure and concentration, this wine drinks superbly now (thanks to Merlot) but will reward cellaring. Enjoy 2015-2020+”

Of the Celebrity wines I tried, this was without a doubt the most food friendly of the bunch. Good acidity, nice fruit balance with some earth-tones, this would match many different styles of food. Not a bad sipper, it blooms with food.  With a price around $20, this is a good buy and nice wine.  The cork has S O S on it, look up the song from The Police, if you don’t get it.

2013 Z. Alexander Brown Uncaged, Red Blend, North Coast, California

The Z. Alexander Brown 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon unfolds with rich aromas of black cherry, cola and mocha. Bold tannins frame a powerful mid-palate layered with mouth-filling flavors of ripe blackberry, black currant and chocolate covered cherry, as well as subtle hints of baking spice. Smooth and balanced, an elegant finesse defines the long and lingering finish. 

The 2013 vintage produced a record-breaking crop of exceptional quality. Early bud break and a mild, sunny growing season marked by few significant heat spikes and virtually no high winds provided ideal conditions for optimal fruit development. This remarkable vintage resulted in balanced wines with rich mid-palates, bright, concentrated flavors, structured tannins and big personality.                        - John Killebrew, Winemaker

This was a nicely made wine, mostly made of Cabernet Sauvignon, that had a decent balance nice fruit and was a nice wine.  It had a medium body, a fairly rich nose of red fruits and a good finish, with just a little tannin. Not one I was overwhelmed with, although at around $15, it is priced about right.

2011 Arrowhead Red & Gold Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bidwell Creek Vineyard, Sonoma, Ca
The grapes that go into each bottle of Perfect Season are meticulously grown and cultivated to the exacting standards of our winemaking and viticultural teams.  At harvest, grape clusters are picked by hand and placed in small micro-bins to prevent skins from rupturing.  In the winery, whole clusters are first sorted, removing any damaged or imperfect ones, and gently crushed and de-stemmed.  The resulting individual berries are then hand-sorted again before fermentation.  In essence, each berry used to create Perfect Season has been personally selected by our team.
 “There are 306 cases of this gorgeous, sensual, dense ruby purple-hued 2012 offering.... notes of cassis, graphite, chocolate and loamy earth. Full-bodied, opulent and alluring....” 94 Points - Robert Parker
Exquisitely handcrafted by Philippe Melka, the 2012 vintage of Perfect Season is a wine that transports you to a place of quiet thought and reflection. Its intriguing layers reveal themselves slowly and purposefully, and at first, offer aromas of dark sensuous berries, baking spices and the soil from which the wine was born. Alluringly, these expand to include chocolate, fragrant vanilla, and a hint of jalepeno pepper in a long and rewarding finish.  Philippe was joined by viticulturist Jim Barbour in capturing the essence of the 2012 growing season in this extraordinary 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
This is a big, broad shouldered, tannic monster that will lay in your cellar for several years and continue to get better.  The tannins are heavy on the aftertaste, though the fruit is vibrant and shines though in the mid-palate.  Pricey, at $40, but tastes like most of the $100 cabernets that are out there.  If you serve it, cook a big steak to go with it. Anything else  would just be overwhelmed.  Of course, this is owned by the Hunt family, owners of the Kansas City Chiefs.

2013 Wayne Gretzky #99, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, Ca.
"The flavors skate around the palate with exotic spices like ground pepper and cumin, black currants, and tea leaves persist. It finishes like Wayne Gretzky, focused on the goal with American Oak, zippy acidity and some tannin structure but still pure finesse." ~Wayne Gretzky Estates
75.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Zinfandel, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Vino Rosso

A crowd pleaser, this is a nice little cabernet – not one to age for very long – but good for drinking now. Priced from 13 – 17 dollars, not a bad price. It doesn’t really stand out, but is a decent wine – watch for it on sale. The California Gretzky wines are made by the Foley Wine group.

Hope you enjoy the spring wines. Catch you later, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

February has sped past us

 Before I w(h)ine a little more, I'll say a couple things about the most recent tastes. The area of Southwest France are not known age-worthy fabulous wines. For many years, it was mostly cheap plonk, wines with no distinction and very little flavor. Very little hit our shores because no one would buy it. But like every where else wine grapes are grown, prices for land skyrocket and good vinters seek out other locales to grow good grapes. Many of the vines were ripped out and better varietals were planted. The crops were cut down, to bring more intensity to the remaining grapes and there are a bunch of decent wines coming from this area. Are they wines to keep and try a number of year later? Nah, they are meant to be drunk now and at a price that if you get a clunker, you are not out too much. Now on to the wines!

2014 Domaine LaRoque , IGP Clte de Carcassonne, France


100% Cabernet Franc from the Southwest of France. Situated between the Pyreneese mountains and the Black Mountains, the area is mediterranian weather tempered by the Atlantic Ocean. Decanter said “ Cabernet Franc transfers perfectly to the Southwest France: a nose of raspberries, ripe palate with lovely middle fruit and good acidity. A most charming and interesting wine – Steven Spurrier.


This wine can be bought under $10 – a pretty good example of Cabernet Franc. Not much violet in the nose or taste, but good acidity and overall red berry flavor. I’d buy it again.

2013 Black Beret, Vin de Pays d’OC, Languedoc Roussilon, France

Black Beret is produced in the Languedoc, one of the largest wine producing regions in France that covers nearly the entire south of France. While Languedoc is known for its warm Mediterranean climate, Black Beret comes from the northern part of the Languedoc at the foot of the Black Mountains. As a result, it benefits from cooler weather, which results in a fresher wine with balanced acidity. Black Beret is a joint project between négociant Jean-Christophe Calvet and winemaker Hugh Ryman. Made in the style of the sun-drenched Rhones, this wine will seduce you with its rich, luscious fruit, pepper, spice aromas and soft tannins.

Nice label – the wine has a nice nose; good  red fruit. The mouthfeel is surprisingly lush, with good fruit, spice and a touch of tannins. An interesting mix of Syrah and Grenache – the two blend well, like a Rhone style wine. Another wine around $10 – a really good school night wine.

2012 Chateau Bellevue Peycharneau, Bordeaux, France

A blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. On the palate, it’s full bodied, fleshy, structured and velvety. Good tannic balance; beautiful, savory finish, with long aromatic persistence.

Interesting note, this Chateau ages their wine in both American and French oak. You know something is different – not bad, just different, then you find out about the American oak barrels.

This wine had a big nose, with expressive fruit. Much darker and heavier than the earlier wines described, this big boy had dark fruit and vanilla running through the mouth. The finish lingered with quite a bit of tannic backbone. This is a wine you could age a few years and it would be better – and at a retail of about $20, you can’t miss with this Bordeaux Superior wine.

2011 La Atalaya, Red Blend, Almansa, Central, Spain

Roasted aromas of berry and hickory come with tons of char and BBQ notes. This is thick, almost to the point of being syrupy, while flavors of herbs, blackberry, creamy oak and mint are more savory than bright. If this were any more rich and oaky, it might be considered too fat and heavy.  87 Points, Wine Enthusiast

A big wine that is made of Monastrell and Garnarcha – this is one heavy wine. The review was pretty much spot on, a wine that really needs food, not a porch sipper. Surprising for a wine around $10; match any BBQ or grilled red meat with it.

2011 Terra Prima, Massis del Garraf, Penedes, Spain

Indicative blend: Cabernet Franc, Grenache and Syrah.  Terraprima Red, a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Garnacha, and 10% Syrah aged for 12 months in seasoned French oak. Fresh herbs, olives, cherry, and raspberry aromas inform the nose of this racy red.

This wine is a little lighter, somewhat like a pinot. Works well with food, although too heavy of fare will overwhelm it. Raspberry is the prime flavor and the acidic balance is adequate. On sale for $10, well worth another bottle – no real aging potential.

Well - another month - I'll be back at the end of March with some more wines. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out in the grapevines! Dr. Wineaux

Happy New Year

Another year has come and gone

Sorry I'm late - time slipped away too fast.

2005 Ramey Napa Valley Claret

From Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Inky ruby. Finely etched cassis, blackberry, cherry and tobacco aromas are complicated by dried rose and white pepper. Bright red and dark berry flavors are crisp and unadorned (this saw no new barrels), with gentle tannins adding grip to the finish. Ramey told me that this is made from his cabernet press wines and that it's 'for roast chicken, not steak.' " (May/Jun '08) From Robert Parker: "Fashioned from lots culled out from all of David Ramey’s Cabernet projects, the 2005 Claret is a stylish, delicious red that is meant to be consumed during its first 7-8 years of life. It offers up aromas of cherries, underbrush, black currants, and cedar. Evolved and medium-bodied with a silky finish, it will drink well for 5-7 years." (Dec. 2007) From Wine Spectator: "Aromas of strawberry and plum jam are medium-bodied, supple and graceful. Well-balanced and easy-drinking, firming up on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2016. 6,100 cases made." (Jul. 31, 2008)

88 Points | Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine

89 Points | Stephen Tanzer's IWC - May/June 2008

86 Points | Wine Spectator

($38) Inky ruby. Finely etched cassis, blackberry, cherry and tobacco aromas are complicated by dried rose and white pepper. Bright red and dark berry flavors are crisp and unadorned (this saw no new barrels), with gentle tannins adding grip to the finish. Ramey told me that this is made from his cabernet press wines and that it's "for roast chicken, not steak."

This wine was drinking wonderfully right now. A good Bordeaux blend from California, it had good fruit with hints of spice. Tannins had mostly gone, but the wine was nicely balanced with acidity and a fairly long aftertaste.  Very nice – received as a gift from the Matt man.

The 2011 Moniker Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon begins with pleasant aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum, spice and a little vanilla and other oaky notes. When tasting this very flavorful wine you’ll find lots of oaky, spicy notes (the wine spends 14 months in used French oak) along with juicy black cherry, plums, leather and cola. Dry, grippy tannins leads into more juicy fruit streaks plus tobacco notes on the long, lingering finish. Pretty darn tasty right now but I’d venture a guess it’ll be even better in a year or two

94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petite Sirah from Mendocino County, California.

Not bad, but not one for long term keeping.  Fruit was good in it, although the balance wasn’t as refined as I would like.  Consider it a little rough around the edges, but OK for under $10.

2013 Force of Nature Zinfandel, Mossfire Ranch, Paso Robles, Ca.

TASTING NOTES:

Vintage 2013 Varietal  100% ZINFANDEL Vineyard  MOSSFIRE RANCH Clone ROCKPILE  A.V.A. PASO ROBLES Time in Barrel  12 MONTHS New Oak 20% NEW FRENCH, 80% AMERICAN (3yr) Alc. by volume 14.7% Aging Potential  10+ YEARS

Atypical for Paso Robles zinfandel, this gem exudes spicy raspberries in a dusty field of lavender and lilac.  Opulence; an engulfing mouth feel of velvet cherries, rhubarb, brittle chocolate and finely crushed peppercorn.  The finish is uplifting, with layers of bright acidity dancing on fine lush tannin.  Part Primitivo in style, part California zinfandel, this is the progeny of a dusty Paso Robles farmer and a stunning Italian minx.  Drink now through 2015.

The first thing about this wine and other wine from this winery are the striking labels. The picture does not do justice to the actual bottles. Just awesome – you’d want to keep the bottles for your display shelf. Then, the wine is really good – wow.  This is a gentler zinfandel – not all in your face with red fruits.  A refined style, with plenty of mouthfeel and some tannin.  Has red fruit layers, with hints of spice and nice acidity to go well with food. Or not, good as a straight sipper.  This is on sale around $20, a real nice Zin at that price.

2009 Ravenswood Barricia Vineyard, Sonoma  Valley, California

There’s bracing heat in this Zin that’s blended with 20% Petite Sirah. The heat comes partly from the high alcohol, partly from the notes of crushed white and black peppercorns, partly from the charred new oak and partly from the baked quality that marks the blackberry note. Everything about this lusty, delicious wine begs for grilled and roasted meats and poultry—especially game birds.

90 Pts Wine Enthusiast

Winemaker Notes: Ripe black raspberry, cherry pie, cracked black pepper, and spice-driven scents with hints of smoke, dry earth, and new leather add complexity to the aromas classically associated with Barricia vineyards. Delicious, sweet dark fruit flavors at the heart of the wine give way to an intense finish with silky tannins and lingering flavors of blackberries and candied cherries. This is a wine with lovely structure and focus.

Only 600 cases were produced – this is one of the pricier Single Vineyard designates that Ravenswood puts together.  Although the winery was purchased a few years ago, Joel Peterson is still steering the ship and putting his heart and soul into wines like this. What makes this different from the everyday Ravenswood zin? Wow, where to start – modtly everything. This zin is built on a cabernet chassis – the tannins are very large, needing a couple more years to mellow out. The fruit is big and upfront – red fruits everywhere with spiciness, herbs in a tightly structured wine.  Not a wine for the weak of taste, this bad boy is meant for a chunk of red meat. Not cheap, if you can find it, but still under $40. Freak out your “Cab” only friends with something like this!

2013 The Great American Wine Company by Rosenbloom, Red Blend, California

Winemaking - Our blend is made from Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each varietal was vinified individually then blended together to create a well-balanced, fruit-forward wine. The Zinfandel forms a fruit-forward base, complemented by the rich color and bold structure of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage 2013 Varietal Composition 74% Zinfandel 20% Petite Sirah 6% Cabernet Sauvignon

Barrel Aging 12 months Appellation California Alcohol 13.0% Acidity 6g/L pH 3.6 Ageability 2014 – 2016

OK - I had about 1 of each of these - this was the best. A zinfandel blend that was good with food, fruit forward, no tannins but very pleasant. Non-red wine drinkers could have this, as well as more novice drinkers. Nice for the price - around $10.

That's it for now, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grape vines!