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

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

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 Tenuta San Leonardo Merlot Villa Gresti

(Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige)

Had this wine at the Catalina Jazz fest a couple weeks ago and it was good but not great.  This wine was definitely more that a table wine, and was bordering toward a Bordeaux.  Its intense and a little hot in the beginning and looseness up in about 30 minutes and the fruits came out more.  Ruby red on the color and little inky.  the nose was very nice with floral and pepper, and a little earthy. Had some tobacco and vanilla. The palate was of dark fruit and herbs.  Medium length and the tannins were just a touch too much in the beginning.  The finish was white pepper and earthy with just a little bitterness.  Really heads toward a Bordeaux.

Tags: Tenuta San Leonardo Merlot Villa Gresti

2005 Château Boswell Chardonnay Dutton Ranch/Sebastopol Vineyard

I’m not a huge chard fan but this wine was a good time. Has an old world feel to it and I feel overall this winery is all quality and produces nice tasting wines. This chard has a nice gold color but not too dark. The tannins were just right and a hint of sweetness rounded it off. The palate hung on for a bit longer than most chardonnays. Burnt sugar, melon, citrus, and smoke on the taste. give it a try

Check out this other Chateau Boswell video

Check out this other Chateau Boswell video

Tags: Chateau Boswell Chardonnay, white wine, wine rating, wine review

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.

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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

1997 Chateau Lynch Bages

(France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac)

We were in a Bordeaux mood and tried this beside a 91 Chateau Mouton Rothschild. The 1997 was another tough year for Bordeaux, Parker rated it 83 and the 1991 78. I have to say I tend to agree on this. Although the Lynch-Bages was a bit more exciting than the Rothschild, it was still on the thin and weak side. Not as fruitful and complex as the 89, 96 and 2000 vintages.

The color was a deep purple and much thinner that it’s Cabernet brothers. We decanted this wine for an hour. The nose was still earthy and typical of a Bordeaux. The berries came through more than the tobacco and wet leaves. Really had matured in the nose. Old world quality but not overwhelming. The start on the palate was good with some pepper and blackberry. It was pretty rounded on the start and nothing was outstanding about it. The mid palate got into some floral qualities with a hint of eucalyptus and got a little earthy fast. The finish had the tannins really integrated and quickly transitioned into a bitter and stale feel to it. I got the feeling that this wine has peaked and has nowhere to go. To me this is an everyday type wine that needs some food parings with it but in that case is over priced at 50 bucks. Another pass for the French.

Tags: Chateau Lynch-Bages, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2002 Schramsberg Vineyards J Schram Schramsberg web site

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

I stopped in at the Schramsberg vineyards to do a wine tasting and a tour. I highly recommend a visit when in Napa Valley. Great tour of miles of caves and millions of bottles of Sparkling wine. Schramsberg is the main supplier to the White House and for good reason. We did a 6 glass tasting and the J Schram was the last tasting. It’s one of their finest. Great experience, Excellent quality. Very solid sparkling wine. A nice toast feel and taste with hints of apricot, lemon, and peaches. It was crisp and well rounded. Light gold on the color and the finish lingers. Well made and worth the money and I suggest a try at about 90 bucks per bottle. I joined the club as a result, especially so that I can get the J Davies Cabernet.

From Schramsberg’s website

J. Schram

From the inception of our efforts in 1965, we have sought to achieve the greatest elegance and individuality possible in our sparkling wines. J. Schram epitomizes our philosophy to create a wine in which no effort has been spared and no care has been omitted. This wine is a fine expression of American individuality and innovation.

Wine grapes from the finest vineyards of Northern California are nurtured throughout the ripening process, before they are hand-picked. Complexity is gained through fermentation in both oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Some small lots undergo malolactic fermentation to enrich aromas and infuse creaminess on the palate. The wine is then aged in our historical mountainside caves for over five years.

Dedicated to our founder of 1862, Jacob Schram, this special bottling has been a great success since its first
release in 1992. J. Schram reflects Schramsberg’s continuing role as a pioneer in world class sparkling wines. It is our nominee when you want an American statement of international excellence. J. Schram is appealing as an aperitif or enjoyed with fresh shellfish, caviar, smoked salmon, mild cheeses, seafood brochettes and risotto with prosciutto.

Tags: J Schram, Schramsberg, Schramsberg Vineyards, Sparkeling wine, Wine Reviews

Goldeneye (Duckhorn) Pinot Noir 2005

(USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley)
Nice Pinot. The wine jumped right out at you because it was very hot and bothered. The nose was leathery with chocolate and espresso. It was fun to smell and very different in a quality way. The palate was better than most pinot noir because it was not thin and weak. I’m not a huge pino fan but this Pino Noir was exciting to me and I can’t wait to open another. This Goldeneye really had some life to it except it was a little disjointed and the tannins over powered the taste with the spice. Lots of oak, black liquorish, leather, Plum vanilla and some coke. It’s definitely an experience but overall not a super quality wine, just good. I would try it just for the experience of a different pino Noir.  Other duckhorn

Tags: anderson valley, duckhorn wine, Goldeneye wine, pinot noir, Wine Reviews

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.

Tags: napa, Palmaz, Palmaz Vineyards vine, riesling, white wine, Wine Reviews

2001 Schramsberg Vineyards Reserve - Schramsberg web site

(USA, California)

Deep golden color,soft and smooth with a rounded feel. Citrus with green apple notes. a little short but clean, very crisp.

Tags: napa, Schramsberg, Sparkeling wine, Wine Reviews, wite wine

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.

Check out this other Chateau Boswell video

Tags: chateau boswell, Château Boswell Jacquelynn Cuvée Blanc, napa, Wine Reviews, wine tasting