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

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

2004 Qupé Syrah Central Coast

(USA, California, Central Coast)

Ordered this Qupe Syrah in a tasting flight at a restaurant. The color was a typical Syrah. Dark in color with a touch or bright red around the edges. The nose was a little earthy with a mix of some fruit and veggies and a touch of mint and garrigue. Some tobacco lingers on the nose as well. The first sips were solid and this wine has some good body and was a little silky. I got some jam on this wine with a little blueberries. However there was some earthy touch to this wine but it did not integrate with the fruits the way it should. The tannins were medium and mixed well. This Qupe Syrah had a French Bordeaux feel to it. Overall good for the 15 bucks a bottle and would try it. Although, the wine wend stale pretty fast in the glass. After about 45 minutes it felt old. Qupe Website

Tags: Qupé Syrah Central Coast, Red wine, Wine, Wine Reviews

2004 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Appellation Series San Francisco Bay

(USA, California, San Francisco Bay)

Very enjoyable nose.  Plumb pear strong musty ceder and black pepper.  deep purple hinting on brown.  The palate is together and has a little hot bang right on the start.  This wine is zesty and bold with blackberry, green pepper, dark fruits.  It also has some floral ascents.  Some hints of plumb and black pepper. The finish is medium and kind of smooths off the wine.  Not too harsh on the finish. A little tangy on the finish.  Not bad.  this wine is worth a try for the money because it is not an everyday feeling wine.

From Rosenblum’s site:

This is one of the most exotic Zinfandels in our extensive line that we have had the privilege of making. It exhibits a huge core of black cherry fruit with elements of bramble, cassis, and vanilla in the bouquet. The flavors are ripe black cherry and blackberry with hints of spicy plum and black olive in the flavors. The wine goes very well with heavy red sauces, pizza, barbecue and roasted lamb.

Rosenblum site

Tags: Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Appellation Series San Fran, wine review, wine tasting

2004 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les Terrasses

(Spain, Catalunya, Priorat)

The nose has Smoke, herbs, dark cherries and tobacco with some vanilla. Very deep purple in color. Balanced acidity. Smooth mouth feel. Seems a little smother a couple hours into the opening. The palette has strong cherry, chocolate and tobacco. This wine started off a touch disjointed with the finish being a little too bitter with strong tobacco but is smoothed out with time. 2005 is young and I fell a couple years on this wine will do it justice. Good quality for the price, 27 bucks. Worth a try

winemaker’s notes: “A great introduction to Palacios’ style, is the 2003 Les Terrasses, a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A beautiful wine aged 12 months in primarily French, and some American oak, it is a supple-textured, sexy, seductive, deep ruby/purple-tinged offering exhibiting ripe notes of black cherries, currants, licorice, and minerals. Opulent, round, juicy, and alluring, it will drink well for 4-6 years.”

Tags: Alvaro Palacios Priorat Les Terrasses, Red wine, tasting

2006 J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Oaks

(USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)

Nice color, deep purple.  The nose was enjoyable big black berries with ceder, green peppers and black pepper.  The palate was a little hot and a dryer wine than expected.  The palate was somewhat disjointed in that the tannins were a departure from the flavors. It is not an explosion.  It is very vegetable and earthy.  The palate is not exciting.  Its dark, woody with some hints of butter and cherry.  The finish is short and quickly goes into a tobacco and black pepper feel.  Ok for a table wine.  I would not rush our to try.

For close to the same money this wine is much better: CLICK HERE

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From J Lohr site:

2006 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet

The 2006 vintage saw a return to below average rainfall for Paso Robles, and with it came smaller vine canopies, smaller clusters and smaller Cabernet Sauvignon berries. The combination of
these elements in 2006 made for excellent quality in all of our
Paso Robles red varietals, but in particular, Cabernet was the
most positively impacted. The outstanding color and flavor development brought back memories of the noteworthy Cabernet crop from 2001. We incurred no significant heat events after veraison in 2006, and had very mild weather conditions straight through harvest. This allowed sugar, flavor and tannin ripeness to occur simultaneously, producing fruit full of bold and generous varietal and regional expression, and highlighting the dark cherry and black currant fruit that is the hallmark of this great Cabernet winegrowing region.

Cabernet Sauvignon

The predominant fruit for our J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon comes from estate vineyards located directly opposite our J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center. The Seven Oaks vineyard was originally planted on its own rootstock, utilizing some of the original plantings from indigenous Estrella clones. The soils in
our Paso Robles vineyards vary from gravelly clay loam to limestone-based soils over a relatively small parcel of land, and various rootstock and clonal combinations have been used to maximize the expression of each individual site. The different soil types and planting combinations add to and complement the palate of the Seven Oaks Cabernet and the other red varietals we produce, including Merlot and Petit Verdot, to add balance and weight to the wine.

Tags: J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Oaks, wine review, wine tasting

2003 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Crianza

(Spain, La Rioja, Rioja)

This wine was edging toward the Brunello feel.  However the quality level was not there.  The color was deep purple and a hint of dark brown. The nose had some apple and pear.  Not bad nose. It was hot and the alcohol was coming right out and did not settle down with time. The palate was short and hit you with tobacco, bark, black currents, and black liquorish.  It was short and on the dryer side.  I think this wine was ok for the money but I would not rush out to try it.  Had a darker bunello touch to it.

Rioja is probably Spain’s signature wine. Rioja is characterized by its long aging in oak barrels. The Crianzas are the youngest of the Riojas, reflecting the flavors and style of their bigger reserve and gran reserve siblings, but without the structure and depth of the long barrel aging. What results is a vibrant and easy-drinking wine with plenty of fruit, spice, and earthiness.

The Montecillo is typical of Crianzas. Its color is bright garnet with an effusive bouquet of ripe berries and sweet oak. In the mouth there is lots of flavor – cherries, cranberries, and roasted peppers. The oak flavors are somewhat muted and it finishes with soft tannins that are almost musty. Nice layers of flavor and lots of wine for the money. Will go well with pizza, roasted meats, and grilled veggies.

Tags: Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Crianza, spanish wine, Wine Reviews, wine tasting

Heard from John Hazelewood at the vineyard on a post about the Sangiovese.  He mentioned to try the Zinfandel.  He was right and the Zin is much better and has more character than the Sangiovese.  This wine still had the same feel as the others in that they are very tasty compared to the look.  The color is a touch thin and sets you up for a failure but it’s not that way on the palate.  Light purple on the color with hits of bright purple around the edges.  The nose hit me immediately with a Windex smell to it.  This wine have a very clean, crisp, sharp feel to it.  It’s really interesting.  After the Windex the cherry and ceder come through. And consistent with their other wines, the palate is crisp and tasty.  Cherry hits you hard and the ceder matches the nose.  The fruit is plentiful and is still a touch industrial to me.  I just don’t know,  I taste tons of wine and this producer has me baffled because overall it seems like this wine should not be as good as it is.  Its different and I cant put my finger on it.  I want to visit them and gain some clarity.  Try this wine out because it is worth the money.

The J. Keverson Sangiovese post: http://www.thewinebloggers.com/j-keverson-sangiovese-2005-88-p

oints/

From J. Keverson’s site: Web Site

Production Notes: Picked at 23.4 brix on October 26 2006. Crushed, then cold soaked for 4 days. The brix raised to 26.4 after cold soak. Fermented for 12 days then pressed and put into 40% new oak, 40% 1 year old and 20% netural oak barrels. 80% American oak. Barrelled for 15 months. Bottled on Feburary 14, 2008. Winemakers Notes: Sourced from Hales Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley, this lighter-bodied zin pleases the nose with aromas of back pepper, cinnamon, cloves, red cherry/berry, slight tobacco, guaiacol, cedar box, and anise. Like our award winning 2005 vintage, this is a well-balanced fruity zin. The alcohol is in check, not dominating and the acidity keeps this wine lively and fruit forward.

Released on May 25, 2008, this zin is a delicious summertime complement to barbecue beef or a leg of lamb with a berry sauce as well as a nice prosciutto or swordfish. For mid-week enjoyment, pair it with your favorite pizzas and pastas. On the bocce court, friends will love it with sharp cheeses such as teleme or aged gouda. Enjoy with friends now or cellar through 2013.

Tags: J Keverson Zinfandel 2006, wine review, wine tasting

2003 Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

(USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley)

Nice wine for the money. I had a glass of this Lancaster Cabernet Sauvignon at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco. The bottle was opened new at my table and poured right away. This wine was balanced right away, The color was a light to medium purple. It had a hint of bright red around the edges. The nose was soft and velvety with spices, oak and dark fruits and more blueberries. The palate was velvet throughout. Good fruit on the start and it was maintained through the mid palate. When it transitioned to the finish it got a little hot and bitter. Was a little disjointed on the finish with strong black olive and got a little earthy. Might have been a little better if it was decanted for a while. Overall a good wine and I would try again.

Winemaker’s Notes
Estate grown, produced and bottled, our 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits lush black cherry and plum, accented with cloves, anise, and violets. Soft, supportive tannins provide structure for the rich fruit, and layers of complexity carry over the long finish. Aged 22 months in French oak barrels, the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered, to retain purity of expression. 4200 cases produced.

Lancaster’s website

Tags: Cabernet Sauvignon, Lancaster Estate, Red wine, Wine, Wine Reviews

This wine was a surprise because when you pour it the wine is very thin and light in color. Not what I expected from a sangiovese. The wine is very fruity on the nose and taste. This was a little baffling to me because it was very good for a 27 dollar bottle and almost seamed like it must have been artificially flavored. I’m not saying that it is, it is just very good. It is a fresh and clean feeling wine. Crisp. The color is thin bright red. Lots of cherry, strawberries, on the fruit forward palette. It is a medium length wine and the finish is pleasant. The tannins are medium but a little disconnected from the flavors which is why I thought it was baffling.

I would definitely try this wine. Very good for the money.

Production Notes: Picked at 23.4 brix on October 26 2006. Crushed, then cold soaked for 4 days. The brix raised to 26.4 after cold soak. Fermented for 12 days then pressed and put into 40% new oak, 40% 1 year old and 20% netural oak barrels. 80% American oak. Barrelled for 15 months. Bottled on Feburary 14, 2008.

Winemakers Notes: Sourced from Hales Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley, this lighter-bodied zin pleases the nose with aromas of back pepper, cinnamon, cloves, red cherry/berry, slight tobacco, guaiacol, cedar box, and anise. Like our award winning 2005 vintage, this is a well-balanced fruity zin. The alcohol is in check, not dominating and the acidity keeps this wine lively and fruit forward.

J Keverson website

Tags: J. Keverson Sangiovese, Red wine, sangiovese, Sonoma, Wine Reviews

2004 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - 89 points (USA, California, Napa Valley) Very nice nose and has an old world to it. Lots of smoke and oak on the nose. Red fruits on the palate with a medium length on the finish. The transitions and consistently full of flavor. Good quality and well balanced wine. Tannins are a plenty. Give it a few more years, or decant for a few hours. Definitely try for 30 bucks.

From Mount Veeder’s Website:

Rugged mountain conditions produce grapes with intensely concentrated fruit and big, rich tannins. Taming these tannins and preserving flavor are the high-altitude winemaker’s biggest challenge. Because Mount Veeder’s growing season starts late and often stretches well into November, harvest is a waiting game.  But patience is rewarded with fully-developed flavors and ripe, rich tannins in the skins and seeds. We handle Mount Veeder Winery grapes as little as possible, using tested techniques to bring out the concentration and power that mountain grapes reveal.  All lots are given a cold soak and frequent punch downs to achieve maximum extraction of fruit flavors and color, while extended contact with the skins encourages the tannins to soften and meld. Finally, aging in finely-grained French oak barrels promotes harmony and integration, and blending enhances the strengths of each varietal to achieve balance in the final wine.

Tags: Mount Veeder, Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, napa, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2005 Franciscan Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 88 points
(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Very nice old world nose with Blackberry, plum, clove, and espresso. I really like the medium French oak and vanilla. Color was dark. The palate was very nice start and well structured with nice plum and espresso and strong sour cherries. It was full and bold. This wine was a little hot. The finish was not bad but a little harsh. As good as this wine was I was somewhat surprised that it went stale in the glass kind of fast. I would try again and a good effort.

Tags: Franciscan Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2005 Jacobs Creek Grenache/Shiraz

(Australia, South Australia)

This producer seams pretty consistent however, constantly average. The wine was simple and kind of like and average hotel type wine. It has some nice body and a deep color. The nose was fresh, cherry fruit aromas, with hints of rose. The palate had a cherry syrup and berry confection to it. If you like that feel and taste you will like this. I like an old world wine and this is far from that. This wine felt very industrial. It was soft and fleshy though, with surprisingly persistent length of flavour to a clean smooth finish. The tannins were soft. Overall just OK for a 25 dollar wine.

Tags: Jacobs Creek Grenache Shiraz, Red wine, Shiraz, Wine Reviews

2006 Orin Swift The Prisoner

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Loads of personality in this wine. Very big and jammy. The nose was not as surprising and the palate. Had black olives, caramel and an overall soft earthy smell. The color was a deep dark purple and had some nice body to it. The palate was a BANG! This wine has loads of body and a very big initial taste with burnt caramel, sour cherries, black olives and a hint of pepper. A little hot and needs to be open for a while. Not as earthy as the nose but more jammy. Definitely worth 30 bones because this is an experience.

The 2006 blends the lush berry flavors of Zinfandel(51%), the power and concentration of Cabernet Sauvignon (23%), the dark black fruit of Syrah (12%), the intensity and structure of Petit Sirah (6%), the flesh of Charbono (6%) and a hint of Grenache (2%) - all combined for a decadent wine with great complexity.

Orin Swift Website

Tags: Orin Swift The Prisoner, red blend, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2004 The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Allomi - Hess web site

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Holy tannins explosion. But in a good way because this is a nice balanced wine overall. The tannins really attack the sides of your tung and stay for a bit. Love the ceder and cherry on the nose. It had a hint of Welches grape juice feel to the nose in a nice way. This wine distinctive bing cherry and anise flavors and hints of plum and black licorice and a health dose of cedar. Nice deep Cabernet in color and taste. I thought this was beyond an everyday wine and I enjoyed the experience, and that is what this was, an experience. It really rounded out after about 30 minutes. 25 bucks is more than fair for this wine and I will be getting more.

Vineyard Notes:
Grapes were harvested from Hess Collection Veeder Hills vineyard at an altitude of 600 - 1,120 feet.

Production Notes:
21 months in 55% new French oak.

Winemaker Notes:
Blend: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot
The 2004 vintage started with an early spring giving the vines a boost to start off their growing season. This strong start was followed by a warm, consistent weather pattern in summer that ended with several hot fast ripening periods. This short and sweet harvest produced a memorable 2004 vintage with low yield, high quality grapes characterized by ripeness and intensity.

Tags: Allomi 2004, dry wine, Hess Collection, napa, Red wine, Wine Reviews