2005 Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve
(USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)
I felt the regular Bosswell cab was a bit more exciting. The reserver was good quality and softer but not as BANG as the regular cab. Dark purple. Blackberries, chocolate on the nose and palate. Tannins are there but not as hot as the cab. I liked this wine but I would try the Bosswell Beckstopper cab for less money. The wine was together, soft and a good paring wine. Still had me thinking Harland estate on this wine. Nice but not a reserve.
(USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains)
Deep purple in color with lots of Draper perfume. Good hints of cream and black currant, blackberry and blueberry on the nose. Liked this wine because it was bold and had an explosion on the palate. The rich flavors had lot of fruit that is more than approachable, a good quality, silky tannins, balanced acidity and a finish that lingered with some nice tannins.
A surprisingly warm spring triggered early budbreak on Monte Bello, but cool summer temperatures extended the growing season. Several weather systems passed through during harvest, bringing anxiety, but little moisture. Three-quarters of the grapes were in when, on the weekend of October 18, heavy rain brought harvest to a halt. Fortunately, the following week was sunny and windy. The fruit dried, sugars recovered, and we continued picking each parcel as full flavor developed, finishing on October 23. After natural primary and secondary fermentations ended, we began assembling the Monte Bello and this outstanding Santa Cruz Mountains. Based on blind tastings, we included selected portions of the early-ripening merlot and the last-picked cabernet, all of the first press, and the richest of the second. By April, assemblage was complete. Twenty-two months in air-dried american oak has integrated the wine. It is beautifully balanced, and can be enjoyed now, yet will develop still greater complexity with five to ten years of bottle age.
2006 Palmaz Vineyards Johannisberg Riesling - Palmaz web site
(USA, California, Napa Valley)
Soft and buttery wine with citrus, nice fruit base and strong golden pear. A touch spicy, just enough tannins and a well rounded reselling. I enjoyed this wine and it was refreshing and could be a nice tasting wine. Went great with a strong cheese. Give this a shot because it’s very enjoyable.
I have to say that Duckhorn is the only Merlot I like but I am starting to feel that its over priced.
Dark ruby. Nose is rich and creamy with ripe cherries and spices and a hint of vanilla.
Medium body, with ripe fruits, nice oak with a good dose of vanilla, little earthy, black olives and spices.
Not real complex and it a nice wine but, again, overpriced at 70 dollars.
2007 Château Boswell Jacquelynn Cuvée Blanc -Web site
(USA, California, Napa Valley)
Not even released yet and it was very good. Did a tasting at the winery with the owner josh. Very nice place. Small, quaint and reeks of quality.
This 2007 Cuvee Blac had a complex nose and was an big part of the experience. Smokey with melon, caramel and vanilla. A nice golden color, almost like a saturnine. The taste was almost as good as the nose but it clearly is young and will age well. nicely rounded pallet and had some good hang-time into the finish. The finish felt young but the overall palate was great with a Smokey herbal and fruit forward taste. 60 bucks might be a touch high for the blanc, but it is right on the edge. Overall, I highly suggest you try this wine. If you can get your hands on it, LOL.
Decanted for an hour. Beautifully nose right from the start of very old world, mature wine with softness. A great bottle of wine. The nose had cedar, vanilla, almond and loads of spice which matched with it flavors. It seems like this 95 has peaked. It wall full and bountifully and was well balanced. Dark fruits, ceder, spice, plum, and not hot at all after the decanting. There was not any one flavor coming through stronger than the others. Not too fruity or oakei. It was just a solid effort and was very adult. The finish was smooth and tastefully tailing off. Give it a try.
2005 Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon & Dr. Crane
(USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)
Nice old world feel. Rich with mouth coating flavor and the tannins were perfect. Complex with black berry and coffee espresso and a bit earthy. AWESOME nose that is inviting with balanced oak and herbal. Great character in the palate with a finish lasting. This wine reminds me of Harland estate for much less money. Right about 90 bucks and if you like wines for an experience try this out. Not an everyday wine and a really nice old world tasting and feeling. Quality all the way.
Dark purple with aromas of jammy berry. Nice nose. Nectar with medium tannins. Thick wine with loads of chocolate, raspberry, blackfruit, vanilla, and a hint of citrus. The finish is long but a little disjointed. I like the Duckhorn merlot but I still feel the cabs are over priced at 100 Bucks. If you like this wine, try a Chateau Boswell for 95 bucks and taste the quality difference.
2005 Il Poggione (Roberto Franceschi) Rosso di Montalcino
(Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino)
Strike out on this one. Like the big brother much better; Brunello. Little rough to start even after decanting for an hour. Some cherry, prunes, and a little oak/cedar. The nose had some wet leaves and wood, very earthy and interesting however not real strong. Kind of weak in the nose and color. A light thin purple. The tannins were a little hot and were overwhelming the fruit in the wine. The transition was quicker than expected but did have some nice white chocolate and cinnamon on the changeover. The finish reveals more fruits but eds with to much bitterness. I would pass on this one and go for the burnello big brother.
Grapes: 100% Sangiovese
Harvesting: hand-picked
Fermentation: 12-15 days’ submerged cap fermentation at controlled temperatures of 25° 28°C.
Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels and barriques, followed by a period of bottle aging
(Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley)
Very good wine but I thought it was a little thiner than expected. Red fruit on the nose. Blueberry and raspberries on the palate with hints of cream and butter. The spice hits nice on this,the alcohol seemed a tad high for me. I like Two Hands wines but this was a bit overpriced for me. $102.00 per bottle was not worth it but don’t get me wrong. It was a nice experience. Probably would say pass for the money.
