Jul 01 2009
Orin Swift Papillon 2006, 90 points
Jun 29 2009
San Luigi Chianti 2005, 89 points
2005 San Luigi Chianti
(Italy, Tuscany, Chianti)
Color was purple hinting on the brownish side. The nose was very floral with lilacs and roses with hints of red fruit. Very nice smell to this wine and initially felt serene. The palate was much more floral than I expected for a Chianti More floral than fruit. The transition was non eventfull and the finish lingered with little fruit. The finish had a nice solid spicy tannin feel. That is where the Chianti came out. This is a softer more mild wine for a Chianti. Not in a bad way because it was somewhat balanced but not lots of fruit. OK for the money.
Jun 27 2009
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, 86 points
2006 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon
(USA, Washington)
Loads of butter, cherry and vanilla on the nose as well as some dark berries. Nice start and could not wait to jump into the tasting. The color was a real deep Violette. The palate was only medium on the fruit. Overall just a good wine so far. This wine was a more dark with then a typical bright fruity cab however there was some sweetness. The tannins were strong and hit the sides of the tong strong. The transition was fast and the finish was spicy with little fruit. The nose was better then the palate on this wine. Worth a try but don’t run out to get it.
Jun 24 2009
Greg Norman Estates Cabernet-Merlot 2006, 88 points
2006 Greg Norman Estates Cabernet-Merlot
(Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast)
Blackberry and very soft on the nose. You can tell the tannins are present in the smell. The palate is velvety and balanced. Softer on the start though. Not a bang. Has blackberry, black current with oak and a touch hot on the alcohol. I think that the Merlot softens up this Cabernet a touch too much. This is a soft wine and a little on the darker side. It is just ok to me. Worth a try but don’t rush.
Jun 22 2009
Tintara Shiraz 2005, 90 points
2005 Tintara Shiraz
(Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale)
In Redondo Beach LA for meetings and ate at Baleen in the Portofino hotel. great meal and had the Tinara Shiraz in a flight of 4. This one was clearly the best with the Kobe Stake. Love the chocolate nose with loads of espresso and burnt log. Great nose on this wine and very intriguing. The palate starts with lots of chocolate and spices. very nice. I like this wine allot because it has some nice characteristics. Very soft wine for a shiraz and the tannins are on the softer side as well allowing the flavors to come through. I highly suggest this wine. great for the money at about 20 bucks a bottle. Give it a try.
Jun 21 2009
Francis Coppola / Niebaum-Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label Claret 2007, 87 points
Had this wine at Flemming’s in Scottsdale AZ. The color was a dark purple. The nose was nice and complex. Bold fresh and floral on the nose. The palate was overall a let down. Not a bang and was kind of mellow and dark. I think the Merlot in this wine mellows it out. I was hoping for more from this wine but I was not impresses. I woud not rush out. Good wine but not outstanding.
May 26 2009
2006 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot,
2006 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
(USA, California, Napa Valley)
OK… the 06 was very disappointing. Duckhorn Merlot has been one of my favorite Merlot until the 06. This wine got thin and industrial with little character. I put my 04 and 05 reviews below for your reference. Color is medium purple. The nose has lots of spices and hints of Windex. The nose is kind of thin with very little fruit, more spices and white pepper. The palate is really short and uneventful. Almost no fruit on the start. Almost nothing to write about. the mid plate is non-existent and the finish is bitter with no real lingering memories. Sorry folks, Duckhorn missed the boat on the 06 vintage. Very disappointing to me when this was one of my favorites. This is a pass for me at this price.
30 minutes into the decanting, the cherries and tobacco came out some on the nose. Got a little red fruits on the palate but not a huge change.
ePrevious entry:
2004 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
(USA, California, Napa Valley)
This Duckhorn Merlot 2004 was definitely more velvety and softer than the 05 and 03. Nicely done on this one. Intense yet well balanced. Love the dark fruits and floral on the nose with hints of tobacco. Full bodied with plum, chocolate, mocha, and vanilla on the nose. Nice and powerful. Solid deep purple in color. The palate is velvety and well rounded right through the mid palate. Strong black fruits. The finish is not too hot and has length with tobacco mocha and just the right oak and earthly feel. Plum, blackberry and spices. Although I am not a huge Duckhorn Cabernet fan for the money, I really like this 04 merlot and it’s worth a try.
May 19 2009
Paradigm cabernet 2005, 93 points
Do you like Screaming Eagle? Then you will love this wine at the price. Wine maker Heidi Barrett brings this wine to you as one of the better Napa cult wines. I call this the little brother of Screaming Eagle. The color was very dark and inky. The nose had the old work feel to it that I like with Chocolate, cherries and an earthy edge to it. Lots of fruit and some layers of toased oak. This wine was silky onto velvety finish. Very mouth coating BANG to the palate. This wine will cellar for many years. After about 45 minutes in the decanter it really rounded out nice and got softer.
At around 60 bucks a bottle it is a definet try.
May 17 2009
Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, 90 points
Had this 2005 Plumpjack at a stake house in Miami. Great wine with a bone in rib eye. Color was a nice deep purple. The nose was a nice balance of fruit and a little floral. Lots of plum as well. The palate at the start hit just a bit too hard with the tannins however the toned down in about 20 minutes. The fruit was just right on this wine. Very impressive overall. Nothing was overbearing. Plum, lots of strawberry, jam and a touch ot cigar tobacco with some spices. Good dark cherries on the mid palate into the long finish. Couple more years on this wine and it will settle a little and get into the 94-95 point range. Pretty good wine for the 90 bucks range. Give it a try.
May 11 2009
E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2004, 88 points
2004 E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Just had the 2004. Love the nose on this because it is different. Kind of like baby wipes with carnations definitely a baby diaper and flowers. Little eucalyptus. Very earthy. The palate is dynamic. Cinnamon and velvety. Still has a dirt taste with some cigar and dark fruits. Some white pepper and soft cherry and herbs. This wine is all over the place. Tannins are medium in balance. The finish is a little dark and a little bitter. This wine is intriguing. Not an everyday table wine and not a home run. It is worth a try but borderline at 60 bucks. I like it only because it is different and not because it is great.
30 min later. Lost the fruit and got smoother and now the tannins are over killing the wine.
May 07 2009
Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah Limited Release 2004, 85 points
Color was very deep red/purple. Cant even see through it. The nose at open had blackberry, little cherry and alcohol, and a very unique smell that smells like a perm for hair with some ammonia. Really strange. The palate was short that went very bad at the finish like metal. The start is lush with some fruits and it is soft. The tannins were under control and not overbearing at start and kicked in on the mid palate. The mid palate was a little sharp with some tobacco and no fruit. The finish is bitter and all metal. I mean lots of metal with bad after taste. This wine feels new world industrial and even at 11 bucks I would stay away. This wine is a pass for me at opening.
Hour later did not get mush better. Sorry.
May 05 2009
Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, 83 points
2004 Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon
(USA, California)
A good friend asked me to rate this wine. 2-buck-chuck as they call it, was very industrial. Overall not much character. The nose had lots of cherry and chocolate but it was hinting toward artificial. Little bit of stainless steel and veggies on the nose. The color was medium purple with brown and the sides of the glass showed hits of sulphur. The palate was weak on the fruit and transitioned fast to the mid palate which was uneventfully. Tannins were light. The finish was quick and was pretty consistent with the start with very little fruit. This wine was simply OK. For the wine enthusiast I would definitely pass however for an everyday table wine it is great for 2 bucks.
May 02 2009
Palmaz Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Gaston 2002, 89 points
Palmaz Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Gaston
(USA, California, Napa Valley)
My second tasting of Palmaz but this is a 2002. Quality from the start. Nice soft and balanced wine. I emphasize soft. No one flavor or characteristic came out which made this feel like a real quality wine with very good balance. The nose was mild with light oak, more like American oak with floral, eucalyptus and cherry. The color was s mild to dark purple and was still a little cloudy. The palate had cherry on the start and was a little on the dry side. Feels like it wants a couple years. oak was prominent and fell in line with the nose on the floral side. A touch tight at opening. This Palmaz has a dark mystery about it. It is way beyond a table wine and has characteristics that are different than most Napa cabs. Not over the top and good quality. I still say this wine may be a touch expensive at 100 bucks a bottle but that does not mean it is not good.
1 Hour later. The nose went more floral and oak with less fruit. The palate got VERY soft and the tannins came more into line. Got softer and better.
2 Hours later. Real soft but went stale fast. All oak and no fruit. Looks loke 45 minutes is the magic number on this 02 wine in 2009.
Apr 30 2009
Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon Signature 2005, 89 points
Bought this wine at Christens restaurant in Radondo Beach CA. Opened and poured right away. The nose
was very soft and balanced with raspberry and cinnamon. Also some strong coffee. Very pleasant on the nose and created a nice anticipation. The palate was very velvety with vanilla and soft tannins. It was full and pleasant thought the mouth. Lots of chocolaty, spicy oak with good blackberry and black currant fruit. Really nice structure and nice finish. Had some bark on the finish and it was long. This wine’s finish was lingering way back on the back of the tong. very interesting. Overall this was NOT a fruit explosion and was a little darker that expected. Having said that I still recommend it because it is a nice experience. Little pricey for a restaurant bought wine at 130 bucks. I have bought retail for 65 and it is worth a try at that price.
Nice effort.
Enticing aromas of vanilla bean, blackberry and crème de cassis introduce this bold, yet harmonious wine. A rich and well-focused palate is endowed with layered flavors of wild black cherry, plum and espresso. An elegant and generous finish is accented by delicate hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and spice box.
Apr 25 2009
Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Allomi 2005, 88 points
2005 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Allomi
(USA, California, Napa Valley)
Smooth wine. Deep red-purple color. Out of the bottle the nose was a little tight and hot. Immediately got chocolate and Cinnamon with some fresh peppers. Palate was similar, with lots blackberry, sweet plums, sweet currant, vanilla. Fruit on the start and the transition to the mid palate gets hot on the sides of the tong then transitions to a darker wine with a little bitter and tobacco. This Hess cab is definitely a try for the money. Not a home run but this is a smooth solid wine that has some character. I do feel it is a little short on the fruit but the start has a nice fruit forward and velvety feel and then transitions quickly all over the palate.
