Hedges CMS Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Tasting Date: 9/3/2013

Varietal: Hedges Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Country: Columbia Valley, Washington

Tasting Date Price: $13.99

Rating:

Alcohol Content: 13%

Vineyard Website: click here

Visual Aspect: Straw

Nose: Bright, lively aromas of ripe pear, grapefruit peel, caramel apple and orange blossom.

Palate: The palette is lean, angular and well defined, emphasizing the virtues of structure and elegance.

Food Pairing: This wine is terrific with oysters.

Winery Notes:

76% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Chardonnay & 2% Marsanne

– Hedges CMS Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Valley WA $13.99 Winemaker Notes Sauvignon Blanc, dominant, with small amounts of Chardonnay and Marsanne. A blended white wine with Sauvignon Blanc dominating over 75% of the wine, this was one of the original malic-acid friendly white wines released from Washington State. Rounding out the blend is a touch of chardonnay accompanied by just a pinch of Marsanne. Beautifully structured with wonderful Sauvignon Blanc fruit character, the mouth feel has a delicate balance of acid angularity and defined herbal sophistication.

The palette is lean, angular and well defined, emphasizing the virtues of structure and elegance..  Grapes were sourced from four Columbia Valley vineyards: Bacchus, Dionysus, Destiny Ridge & Arete.

Grapes were sourced from four Columbia Valley vineyards: Bacchus, Dionysus, Destiny Ridge & Arete.

Tangley Oaks Merlot 2009, Napa Valley, CA

Tasting date:             February 06, 2013

Varietal:                     Merlot

Country:                     USA, Napa CA

Tasting Date Price:  $14.99

Rating:                       N/A

Alcohol Content:      13.9%

Vineyard Website:   http://www.tangleyoakswine.com/

Visual Aspect:          Medium garnet

Nose:                       Plums, dark cherry and hints of chocolate

 

Palate:              Bright forward crushed red and black fruit with good structure, underlying cran-blueberry juice and tasty sweetish spice box

Food Pairing:    Steaks & roasts, pastas with red sauce

The wines of Tangley Oaks symbolize the majesty of California’s native oak trees. Much like these grand trees, the grape varietals selected for Tangley Oaks wines represent the enduring legacy of California winemaking. With respect to this rich tradition, each appellation and grape varietal have been carefully selected to best represent the quality of Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley and the Central Coast. Just as these appellations have been carefully selected and cultivated by the great wine masters, it only follows that Tangley Oaks winemakers are as particular when selecting the lots for each bottle.

These lot numbers are printed on the bottles of Tangley Oaks wines, and are a testament to the true expression of the grape varietal, the vintage and the appellation. In short, they indicate the wine is the very best of the vintage. During the winemaking process, Tangley Oaks winemakers follow all the time-honored methods until they reach a critical point. This is when the Tangley Oaks winemakers must select the lots — representing the absolute best parcels from the vineyards that are worthy of bottling.

 

Each member of the Tangley Oaks winemaking team tastes through each lot, carefully assessing the fruit, balance and tannins. This process is repeated for every varietal. Only when the winemaking team fully agrees on the one lot that best represents the varietal, appellation and vintage is the lot number chosen. This is the only way to select the best quality wines for the most discriminating palates.

Greystone Cellars Chardonnay 2011

Tasting Date: 2/6/2013

Varietal: Chardonnay 2011

Country: California

Tasting Date Price: $9.99

Rating: WE 2011 83

Alcohol Content: 13.5%

Vineyard Website: click here

Visual Aspect: Golden apple color.

Nose: Freshly cut apple aromas layered w/ roasted nuts & stone fruit.

Palate: Bright citrus flavors give way to richer butterscotch & guava notes.

Food Pairing: Pair with grilled tuna or chicken

Winery Notes:

Chardonnay, blended w/Chenin Blanc, Colombard & Riesling

Our Chardonnay vineyard sites were specifically chosen for their tropical nature. Cool Santa Barbara grown grapes provide crisp, citrus texture. The Lodi grown grapes give this wine rich and juicy tropical flair. The unusually cool California summer allowed for maximum flavor development for this vintage. The warmer area grapes were harvested mid-September, whereas the coastal fruit languished in the fall weather until early October. This wine would pair very well with grilled tuna or chicken.

Darcie Kent Zinfandel — Livermore, CA 2008

Tasting Date: January 02, 2013

Varietal:         Zinfandel

Country:         USA, CA Demayo Vineyard

Tasting Date Price:  $9.99

Rating:           n/a

Alcohol Content:         14%

Vineyard Website:   http://www.darciekentvineyards.com/index.php

 

Visual Aspect:          Dark ruby

Nose:                          Fruity with spice overtones

Palate:                        Black cherry, plum, raisin, vanilla & nutmeg

Food Pairing:               Ripe soft cheeses, blacken fish, carrot cake

 

Winery notes: As a fourth generation vintner and artist, I have both wine and paint running through my veins. In the studio I strive to express the gestalt of the wines on canvas and show the unique characteristics of the grapes grown in a particular vineyard. Since my husband David and I established Darcie Kent Vineyards in Livermore’s Crane Ridge foothills in 1996, we’ve focused on hand-crafting limited production, single vineyard wines using our own estate-grown fruit as well as grapes from several highly respected regional family vineyards. The end result is a line-up of outstanding wines that are vibrant, original and expressive – this is the inspiration for the artwork that adorns each bottle. Enjoy.

Winemaker’s Comments: We’re dedicated to crafting limited production single vineyard wines using premium grapes from some of the fines family vineyard I Northern California.  Much like the area that I create in my studio, each bottle of wine is a vibrant expression of the vineyard where the grapes are grown.

Thomas Patrick Lot 2 Red Blend CA (non-Vintage)

Tasting:          Date: January 02, 2013

Varietal:         Blend

Country:         USA, CA

Tasting Date Price:  $11.99

Rating:           n/a

Alcohol Content:         13.5%

Vineyard Website:   http://www.thomaspatrickcellars.com/wines.html

 

Visual Aspect:          Light ruby

Nose:                          Intense fruits

Palate:                        Wild cherry & ripe raspberry w/hints of cinnamon

Food Pairing:                        Organic steak, vegan tempeh BBQ

 

Winery notes: There is a good reason why early California vintners planted the hot inland valleys with Old World red varietals: they discovered early on that the region’s intensely sunny summer days, blissfully cooler summer nights, and mild winters produced grapes that consistently delivered the characteristic qualities of their type. Our big, bold Lot 2 Winemaker’s Blend showcases both the intense fruit flavors for which the area has long been noted, and the art of selecting varietals for their specific characteristics, then blending them to create a wine that is a unique expression of the region’s terroir. Well-structured and frankly delicious, Lot 2 delivers vibrant, balanced flavors of wild cherry and ripe raspberry with hints of cinnamon and clove in an opulent, ink-dark pour. Try it with an organic steak, vegan tempeh BBQ, or on its own. Be sure to hold it up to the light, and then toast your friends, your family, and the wisdom of generations of winemakers.

Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, CA 2010

Tasting:          Date: January 02, 2013

Varietal:         Cabernet Sauvignon

Country:         USA, CA

Tasting Date Price:  $24.99

Rating:           WE 91

Alcohol Content:         14.5%

Vineyard Website:   http://goldschmidtsisters.com

 

Visual Aspect:          Deep red

Nose:              Spice & smoky vanilla complement the fruit

Palate:            Round fleshy middle palate, with nice concentration and good structure. Finishes with silky tannins and a hint of spice

Food Pairing:  Venison, rib eye and beef stew

WE 91pts Editors Choice One of the best Cab on the market. Deliciously rich in blackberry, currant & chocolate, you’ll want to drink the whole bottle right now. Kudos to winemaker Nick Goldschmidt for producing a wine this good at such a good price.

Winery notes: The thirty acre Crazy Creek Vineyard lies just east of the town of Geyserville in the renowned Alexander Valley wine region. Its old, low vigor vines consistently produce Cabernet Sauvignon with more power and depth than typically found in the appellation. Stylistically, Nick strives for full body and power in the mouth with wood behind the fruit. Few single vineyard Cabernets are offered at such a reasonable price. Blackberry, black pepper, and plum flavors enveloped in sweet oak.

Winemaker’s Comments:  This 100% Cabernet is very rich and forward in classic flavors of blackberries and cassis. Oak barrels bring spicy, smoky, vanilla accents that complement the fruit. The wine is a little soft and herbal in the way of Alexander Valley Cabernets, but is quite elegant, and a good deal for the price

Garnet Vineyards Monterey County Pinot Noir CA 2010

Tasting:          Date: January 02, 2013

Varietal:         Pinot Noir

Country:         USA, California

Tasting Date Price:  $13.99

Rating:           n/a

Alcohol Content:         13.5%

Vineyard Website:   http://www.garnetvineyards.com/Monterey-Pinot-Noir

 

Visual Aspect:          Light rosy red

Nose:                          Blackberry & raspberry

Palate:                        Plumb fruit flavors Bing cherry & bacon fat

Food Pairing:                        Orange roughy & tuna

 

From a longtime leader in best-buy pinot noirs, the 2010 Garnet manages to capture more of the pinot noir essence than most of the pricey, steroidal monsters coming out of California. There are no mouth-numbing layers of alcohol and oak to smother the elegant black-cherry aromas and lively acidity of this wine, which should be tried with grilled salmon in addition to the traditional offerings of lamb, beef and veal. It is stocked at Andersons, the Hills Market, Sawmill Beverage, Spagio Cellars, Tutto Vino, Weiland’s and the Wine Guy New Albany, and is on the list at Sushi Thai in Pickerington.

Winery notes: Garnet Vineyards Monterey County Pinot Noir 2010, CA 100% Pinot blended from four estate vineyards. Plump fruit flavors of Bing cherry and bacon fat (yes, bacon fat). Complex & balanced, & finishes long w/ a trace of cinnamon & clove spice.

 

Winemaker’s Comments:  This bright Pinot Noir is blended of small lots from four of our estate vineyards. Cool, foggy weather from Monterey Bay rolls down a 90-mile-long valley: our vineyards, clustered on bench lands in the northern portion, dip in and out of the fog line during the growing season, creating a perfect environment for Burgundian varieties.

Winemakers Notes: This Monterey Pinot Noir has aromas of blackberry cobbler, toasted hazelnuts, Chinese five spice powder, cloves and dried juniper berries. On the palate are flavors of red and black fruits and berries, followed by notes of coffee and vanilla. To us, this wine brings to mind strawberry jam and butter slathered on freshly-toasted home-made bread. The long finish is delicious and mouth-filling.

Tasting Notes: The nose of this Pinot Noir offers generous aromas of blackberry cobbler and raspberry jam with a hint of toasted hazelnuts and five-spice powder. Plump fruit flavors of red and black cherry are complex and balanced, and the wine finishes long with a trace of cinnamon and cloves.

Technical Data: pH, 3.67; total acidity, 6.3 g/L; 6,039 cases produced

J Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles), CA 2008

Tasting:          Date: September 05, 2012

Varietal:         Cabernet Sauvignon

Country:         USA, CA

Tasting Date Price:  $24.99

Rating:  NA

Alcohol Content:  14%

Vineyard Website:  http://www.jlohr.com/

Visual Aspect:  Dark red & purple

Nose:  Generous aromas of black cherry, currant and plum fruit

Palate:  A complex wine with a plump, soft textured mouthfeel and long finish.

Food Pairing:  Highly complementary to a wide range of foods. Try it with tomato based pasta or a London Broil.

Winery Notes: 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 Petit Verdot and Merlot–to add balance and weight to the wine.

Process: Hand and machine-harvested.   Select lots were berry sorted on Vaucher Beguit Mistral to remove shot berries and sunburned fruit. Crushed to small, stainless steel fermenters.

Fermentation:  Small SS tanks and open-top tanks Maturation: 18 months in 225 liter French oak barrels

Post-Maturation: 11 months bottle age prior to release Alcohol: 14.6 % by vol

Delicious upon release, but has the structure to age for up to 10 to 15 years.

Viticulture:    The 2008 growing season presented significant challenges to California winegrowers. Spring and autumn frosts–coupled with heat spikes, which impacted flowering and maturation–claimed much of the prized crop. Yields were at half of normal levels in the Paso Robles AVA, depending on variety, microclimate and cultural practices. This was the second consecutive vintage of drought, which limited vine growth and reduced cluster and berry size. The silver lining, of course, is that the reduced berry size made for high extract, intensely flavored Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The quality of the 2008 vintage is apparent in the wine’s density and strong regional expression of black cherry and blackberry fruit, with melted, dark chocolate tannin flavors.

Winemaker’s Comments: A buoyant red-purple color with bright hues. Generous aromas of black cherry, black currant and plum fruit, complemented by vanilla, tar and toasty notes from the twelve to fourteen months in barrel. On the palate, the fruit flavors echo the aroma, complexed with blackberry and a plump, softly texture mouthfeel and finish.  Jeff Meier, winemaker

 

J Lohr Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir (Monterey County) CA 2010

Tasting:          Date: September 05, 2012

Varietal:         Pinot Noir

Country:         USA, CA

Tasting Date Price:  $17.99

Rating:  WE 85

Alcohol Content:  13.65%

Vineyard Website:  http://www.jlohr.com/

Visual Aspect:  Garnet red

Nose:  Red fruit, lilac, rose petal, vanilla and notes of sage and thyme

Palate:  Soft tannins on the palate give way to the fine, talc finish

Food Pairing:  Pan-seared Ahi tuna with sesame, smoked salmon & cheeses

 

Winery Notes: J. Lohr Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir 2010 Monterey County, Central Coast, CA 2010 represents the second release of J. Lohr Estates Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir from Monterey County. The 2010 growing season was the coolest we’ve seen since 1998 and was ideal for expressing Pinot Noir varietal character with modest Brix levels and outstanding acidity. Lower than normal temperatures in May led to a protracted bloom and set. A very unusual 108-plus degree heat wave came in August; Pinot Noir was hard hit with losses amounting to 20-30% of the crop. Then, beginning in late September, mild autumn temperatures spiked a bit to bring about typical harvest dates.

Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir is produced from cool climate grapes grown in select vineyards within and surrounding the Arroyo Seco region of central Monterey County. This region has earned a well-deserved reputation for producing world-class Pinot Noir. Over the past decade, the introduction of Dijon clones of Pinot, along with the old standby Pommard clone, has dramatically increased the quality of the varietal here. These newer clones are the backbone of Falcon’s Perch, named for the bird which has made its home in the lone pine tree among the vines, safeguarding the grapes from vertabrate pests while preserving the ecosystem’s natural balance.

 Technical Data: ECHNICAL DATA Origin:  Monterey County, California Composition:  100% Pinot Noir

Total Acidity: 0.64 g/100ml pH at Bottling:  3.81 Alcohol:  13.65% by volume

Vilification:  Fermented in 6 to 12 ton lots in open-top punch down tanks. Temperatures peaking at 95 degrees rendered high complex color in the wine.

Maturation:  Matured in stainless steel with a minimal fraction aged in French oak barrels

Winemaker’s Comments:  This wine has a garnet color, and is adorned with aromas of red fruit, lilac, rose petal, vanilla and notes of sage and thyme. Tar, beeswax and oak frame the complex varietal character unique to Pinot Noir. Soft tannins on the palate give way to the fine, talcy finish on this very food friendly wine.  —Steve Peck, Red Winemaker

 Food Pairings: Pairs well with pan-seared Ahi tuna with sesame, smoked salmon on savory crackers, or a cheese plate with Humboldt Fog.

Wine List Description Aromas of red fruit, lilac, vanilla, sage and thyme complement notes of tar, beeswax and oak

J. Lohr Los Osos Merlot (Paso Robles) Central Coast, CA 2009

Tasting:          Date: September 05, 2012

Varietal:         Merlot

Country:         USA, CA

Tasting Date Price:  $16.99

Rating:  WE 87

Alcohol Content:  13.9%

Vineyard Website:  http://www.jlohr.com/

Visual Aspect:  Plum red

Nose:  Blueberry, raspberry & violet

 

Palate:  dried cherries with a bouquet of vanilla, caramel & toasted oak

Food Pairing:  The heartiest beef, lamb or wild game dishes; cheese tortellini, crab bisque or herb roasted chicken.

WE 2008 87 Good price for a Merlot this tasty. It’s softly tannic & juicy, rich & fat in black cherry pie, bacon & toast flavors. A versatile full-bodied red wine for drinking now.

Wine Notes: Traditionally, we harvest our estate-grown Merlot grapes across a range of sugar ripeness. The early picks usually capture the classic varietal definition of Merlot, while the fruit harvested later adds depth and intensity to the wine. Clone and rootstock combinations, along with variations in soil, add complexity to our Los Osos Merlot, as does the introduction of recently planted Italian clones. We grow our Merlot grapes in Nacimiento-Los Osos, Arbuckle-San Ysidro and Arbuckle- Positas complex soils in our vineyards in Paso Robles, where these well drained but relatively poor soils have chalky or gravelly components.

Vilification: Fermentation: Whole berry fermentation in stainless steel tanks Malolactic: 100% malolactic Maturation: 12 months in barrel Alcohol: 13.9% by volume Cellaring: Delicious now, but has the structure to age up to 5 years.

Winemaker’s Comments: The 2009 J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot has a mature red color with a raspberry hue. Black cherry and pomegranate aromas are accentuated by the high fraction of Malbec in this year’s blend. The toasty oak signature is reminiscent of hazelnut and dark chocolate. This soft red wine has a fine texture on the palate and finishes with a bright Rainier cherry fruit signature. —Steve Peck, red winemaker