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.

From Duckhorn site:

June/July 2007

Dense inky purple hue. Scents of blackberry, walnut and mushroom. Spicy on entry with a continued walnut appeal, and more spicy pepper and clove that lead to loads of black fruit flavors with an elegant backing of cedar-laced tannins. Tart notes on the close with hints of maple and tobacco. 90 points

Wine Enthusiast

March 2007

There’s a beautiful Merlot in here but you’re going to have to paddle against the powerful tannins to find it. It brings to mind the old Duckhorn Three Palms Merlots, which were similarly tough and tannic in youth, but aged well. This wine is ripe in chocolate, blackberry, cassis, coconut macaroon and plum sauce flavors, but needs four or five years to begin to come around. 90 points, Cellar Selection

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

January/February 2007

Ruby-red. Cassis, chocolate, licorice and minerals on the nose; very Napa Valley. Rich, round and oaky, with supple flavors of currant, dark chocolate and spices. Finishes with fairly sweet, fine tannins and a lingering note of medicinal black cherry.

88 points

Restaurant Wine Issue #115

October 2006

A medium rich, supple Merlot, that is full bodied nearly luscious in texture and long on the palate, tasting of blueberry, kola nut, cherry, spicy oak, and roasted nut. Unusually fleshy in style. Four Stars

Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences

August 31, 2006

Fascinating green tea and spice components; nicely layered fruit of blueberry and red fruits. Graceful tannins, good acidity, and excellent balance to pair with medium-weight red meat.
Very Highly Recommended

Tags: Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot 2004, red wine review, wine review, wine tasting

2005 Quintessa

(USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford)

Really solid wine every time I have it.  Has an old world feel that I really like. I like the 04 a little better th

at the 05 just because the 04 was a touch smoother. Dark purple on the color with brown around the fringes. Vanilla and plumb on the nose with a soft silky touch of burnt logs.  This is an elegant wine that gives me the feel of a dark high end New York cigar wine bar. I love the wine but the 05 was borderline on the price.  A couple years more and it will bring this wine to where it needs to be. Berries, plumb, chewy, velvety, and a lavish wine. Give it a try.

From Quintessa Site:

“Quintessa, like all classic wines of the world, bears the same name as the vineyard from which it is made. Our goal is to produce the best expression of this extraordinary vineyard each year. In broad terms, Quintessa is a red meritage wine. The vineyard’s diversity provides us wide stylistic options for the wine. Fruit from each component block of Quintessa is harvested, sorted, then gravity fed into either oak or stainless steel fermentation tanks. Once fermentation and maceration are complete, each block wine is aged separately for up to two years in french oak barrels in our caves. After this ageing period the components are brought together and the final Quintessa blend is created. The wine is then bottled and laid down for yet another year before release. Although each vintage is unique, we have discovered that finesse and elegance best express the character of the vineyard and as such, we blend for harmony, balance, and length of flavors. Above all, our objective is to make Quintessa a delicious wine that is complementary to food.”

Agustin Huneeus
Vintner/Proprietor

Tags: Quintessa, wine review, wine score

1995 Château Ausone

(France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru)

This Chateau Ausone was consistent for a St Emillion bordoux.  Quality wine and this 1995 was ready for drinking.  The color was on the brownish side. The palate started thin and was strong on the oak side but then it transitioned into a good quality Bordeaux.  The palate length was medium. Tannins hit nicely and smooth on the mid pa

late and into the finish transition.  Raspberry on the transition that accompany the oak.  Little earthy with hints of leather, herbal, plum and just a little tart.  Little bit of mineral.  Aged well.  This was a nice experience but I was not blown away.

Their Web Site

Tags: bordaux, Chateau Ausone 1995, wine review, wine scores

1997 Chateau de La Tour Clos Vougeot

(France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru)

This chateau was earthy. Color was on the brownish side from the age and producer.  Pretty typical burgundy that could probably use about 20 years.  However I did not feel like this one would come around.  The nose was smokey and floral with tobacco on the back end.  The start of the palate was very earthy and had lots of minerals.  The fruit was kind of weak compared to a good California Cabernet.  The fruit was dull and most of the late 90s follow this feel.  Its not a bright wine.  You can get a feel of quality but in a subdued way.  The mid palate followed the start and the wine had some hang time.  The finish was a touch bitter and thin.  Good experience but for over 200 bucks I would pass.

From Chateau de La Tour site

Produced from the celebrated Pinot Noir grapes from our best vines, the wines from Clos Vougeot Château de la Tour are classified among Burgundy’s Grand Cru. Their elegant bouquet and flavours of “truffles, liquorice, violet and wild mint” develop harmoniously with age.
Their great quality is unanimously recognized by both wine-lovers and wine journalists.

Tags: Chateau de La Tour Clos Vougeot, Red wine, Wine Reviews, wine tasting

2003 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape
(France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

This wine was a little surprising in that it was one of the better rhones for the price. The nose had green pepper, ceder, coco, and a touch of floral lavender. Had a hit of dirty dippers. The color was a little thin, kind of a lighter purple with lavender around the edge. The palate did not have ay peaks and valleys, it was pretty consistent through the finish where it hit you with black liquorish and the alcohol stayed lingering. The start of the palate was nice and earthy with Blackberry, plumb, bell peppers, white pepper and tobacco. It was tight in the beginning and loosened up in about 30 minutes, especial the nose which got way floral. The palate was spicy and hit the sides of the tong. Overall it was pretty balanced but the alcohol lingered a touch too much toward the mid and finish. Had a good earth and veggie feel to this wine. This wine was level lined and there were no hot spots in it, it was just overall consistent and not tremendously complex. It was enjoyable and worth a try for 65 bones a bottle.

From thier web site:

* Eye : Deep dark red.
* Nose : Spices and mature red fruits.
* Palate : Round tannins with powerful complexity. A rich unctuous wine with notes of mature plums, hazelnuts and red fruits.
* Overall : Very rich wine full of harmony and balance.

Tags: E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Red wine, rhone wine, Wine Reviews, wine tasting

2004 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Nose very dark and foggy. little meaty and interesting and a step up from an everyday wine. a little minty on the tail end.  The palate was of good quality, this is a good wine; good flavor; the tannins were a little hot and a touch disjointed;got some green pepper thought and was leaning toward a Brdeaux-like approach with   cocoa; and tobacco coming through.  Had a nice old world feel to it.  Worth a try for the money.

From Bennett Lane web site:

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Price: $55.00

Our current release 2005 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon was just awarded 93 Points by renowned wine writer Robert Whitley; “Bennett Lane is a relatively recent addition to the landscape around the village of Calistoga. Its strongest suit is pure, bold, mouth-filling Napa Valley cabernet, and there is no finer example of that than the 2005 vintage. It delivers a gorgeous nose of ripe cassis, with a hint of cedar and vanillin. The texture is slightly grippy in the most positive sense, and there is tremendous fruit lift through the mid-palate. This is a darkly fruited cabernet of uncommon depth, with exceptional palate length and persistence of flavor. And it’s supple enough to enjoy tonight, though this is one Napa cabernet I wouldn’t hesitate to lay down for several years.” With all of the incredible accolades of our 2005 vintage, this is another release that is sure to sell out fast!

This release opens with aromas of bing cherries and violets and continues with elegant subtle notes of clove and cedar. On the palate the wine has a nice mouthfeel, with flavors of black cherry and plum leading to a full velvety finish. The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of both our Estate Lynch Family vineyard and select growers from throughout the best regions of the Napa Valley. Our Viticulturist Doug Wight farms nearly all of these properties, lending an added degree of consistency and cohesiveness.
Wine Profile

Vintage: 2005
Appellation: Napa Valley
Harvest Date: October 2005
Aging: 18 months in French Oak, 20% New
Bottling Date: June 2007
Alcohol: 14.7%
Recommended Cellaring: 2009-2013

Tags: Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, wine rewiew, wine tasting

2005 Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

(USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley)

This Lancaster was a serious contender.  Very solid and complex wine.  Strong earthy feel to it.  The color was deep purple hinting on brown.  The nose was very dark and mysterious with strong notes of black olive, blueberry and ceder/oak.  The palate was smooth and velvety and consistent to the earthy feel.  Black olive and blueberry were prominent.  The palate was long and the finish stayed dark and held the quality feel with burnt log and charcoal. This wine has character and is far from a table wine.  A couple more years will do this 05 well.  Solid, complex, mysterious.  This bottle was tight and deep when first opened up.  The concentration really rounded of in about 30 minutes.  This is a definite try for 75 bucks.

From Lancaster site:

2005 Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker’s Notes
Estate grown, produced and bottled, our 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon has lush ripeness, with deep black cherry and cassis characters, accented by anise, cacao, vanilla and bittersweet chocolate. Supportive tannins and layers of complexity extend over the long finish. Aged 22 months in French oak barrels, the wine was bottled unfiltered to retain purity of expression. 4,100 cases produced.

Lancaster Estate
Founded in 1995, Lancaster Estate is a family owned winery, dedicated to crafting wines that are Estate grown, bottled, and produced. Situated on 53 hillside acres at the southern tip of Alexander Valley, near the confluence of the Knights Valley and Chalk Hill appellations, this location enjoys the warm climate, depleted soils, and rugged hillsides uniquely suited to growing Bordeaux varieties.

2005 Vintage
Budbreak began early with warm temperatures in March, followed by rains in spring and early summer. A long, consistent growing season with temperatures warming in October led to clusters that were full and plump, with excellent flavor development and complexity. Yields were larger than average, showing excellent structure, with dense, full flavors.

Composition & Analysis
90% Cabernet Sauvignon
5% Malbec
2% Merlot
2% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot
22 Months French Oak Barrels
Titratable acidity 0.55 g/100mL
pH 3.75
Alcohol, by volume 14.4%

Tags: Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Red wine, wine review, wine scores

2005 Jakes Fault Winery Shiraz

(USA, California, Sonoma County)

I try and try on the 10 dollar wines but very rare to hit one.  This wine was no different.  This wine is very industrial to me and feel fake.  The nose had loads of fruit and the palate had lids of fruit but hinted on new world tank feel.  The tannins were very far from in the mix.  huge gap between the taste and tannins.  Not much to write on this one because its a typical table wine to me.  Sorry folks but not my style.

Tags: Jakes Fault Winery Shiraz, Wine Reviews, wine scores

Medium color, off nose but good taste.  I’m not really a huge Sterling fan but the reserve is worth a try.  I found it a little off from a typical Cabernet in that it was more of a earthy and Bordeaux style.  The nose was subdued with vegetable and ceder.  The palate hit the ceder strong.  The balance was a little off in that the heat and flavors were somewhat of a departure from each other. This was a little boring for a reserve. Palate was ceder, blackberry, chocolate and green pepper. Given all that, the taste was unique and is worth a try because it may be your style.

Tags: Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, wine review, wine tasting

2005 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes

Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

Black olives and dark fruits on the nose.  Very strong jammy feel. The color is a deep solid purple.  The tast is jammy on the start and has the taste on the Orin Swift Prisoner for starters.  Kind oj jammy and lots of suger on the palate in the beginning with some tartness. Hits the tong strong on the sides with the tannins. Good strong start and gets better over time, about 30 minutes.  However it goes a little stale in the glass fast and has some mineral of metal taste to it. The mid palate goes bitter fast and the overall finish is short and has a strong tannin taste that lingers.  The alcohol does come out and is a little disjointed from  the flavors.  I like this wine for the money. The second day on this wine is much smoother.  Give it a try.

Tags: Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes, wine review, wine tasting

2003 Rutherford Hill Merlot

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Veggies throughout.  Deep purple in color and the color and body is decent.  The nose has loads of green pepper, black olive, plumb and dark fruits.  The nose is better than the palate.  This wine is kind of boring and borders on an everyday table wine.  The wine is shallow and short.  Very little fruit and what fruit you can taste disappears fast and transitions into a very disjointed taste and feel.  This wine goes dark fast and is very bitter on the finish.  Really short.  I would give this a pass.

Rutherford site

From their site:

Variety: Merlot
Vintage: 2004
Appellation: Napa Valley
Varietal Composition:Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Color: Magenta
Aroma: Berries, cocoa, vanilla, and cinnamon with hints of tobacco
Flavor: Dark cherries and rich chocolate with a hint of oaky sweetness
Approximate Lifespan in a Proper Cellar: 5-7 years
Bottling Dates: Summer 2006
Alcohol Content: 14.2%

Tags: Rutherford Hill Merlot 2003, wine review, wine tasting