Tommasi Poggio al Tufo Maremma Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Wine Review (NW)

Date: Fri, Nov 9, 2012 Wine Tasting

Tasting notes:

Intense black cherry and charcoal on the nose

Medium bodied and roasted flavor on the palate

Moderately tannic finish with dark berries, plum, and spice

Summary:

This wine is a touch exotic with charcoal and spice notes over the fruit. It's made from Cabernet Sauvignon in the Maremma region of Tuscany and is a nice alternative to similar priced Cabs from California and other "new world" regions. Retail prices hover around $18. Raise a glass!

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La Petite Perriere Sauvignon Blanc 2011 wine review by (PB)

Date: Wed, Nov 7, 2012 Wine Tasting

Pale golden hue with big aromas of grassy, grapefruit and an undertone of ripe melon.

Palate--A structure with a lethargic presence, subdued and slightly off grapefruit flavor with a flaccid spine that makes this less than appealing.

This only cost $8 and in this case it is what you paid for. Pass on this and grab any number of other varietals at this price point. New Zealand, Chile, S. Africa and domestic S. Blancs are available and tasty. Raise a glass of something else.

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Wild Rock Pinot Noir 2009 winew review by (PB)

Date: Mon, Nov 5, 2012 Wine Tasting

Bright cherry hue of the lighter persuasion with good strawberry aromas with some light spice.

Palate--Surprisingly chewy presence with a citrusy grape fruity note that is astounding. Not your crazy fruit forward variety of Pinot you get from Oregon and California. This Central Otago (New Zealand)is a wine unto itself.

Really interesting. We'll see how it breathes...

The citrusy beam dissipates as it breathes; I like this style of Pinot Noir and at $9 it was a nice treat but it sells for around $19 normally. I paired it with a seafood soup and it was a nice accompaniment so raise a glass!

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Bodega Monteviejo Festivo Torrontes 2010 Wine Review (NW)

Date: Fri, May 18, 2012 Wine Tasting

Tasting notes:

Incredibly fragrant nose of sweet floral and white peach notes

Light bodied and sleek on the palate

Crisp citrus and mineral finish

Summary:

Don't miss what's happening with the Torrontes grape in Argentina. These are fragrant, light wines at bargain prices. For $10 or so, this wine will suprise you with its fragrant nose and clean texture. It's guaranteed to put you in the mood for Summer. In fact, I recommend this wine as an aperitif to sip on a warm afternoon. Raise a glass!

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Ramey Syrah Sonoma Coast 2007 wine review by (PB)

Date: Mon, May 14, 2012 Wine Tasting

Dark garnet tomato hue with thick bouquet of rich berry fruit and cigar box goodness with a touch of menthol or eucalyptus. (On opening there was a distinct presence of meat. but that has dissipated on breathing.)

Palate--Rich textured, big fruit palate with pleasure filled balance. Mid palate there's a subtle hint of baked wood with a bready undercurrent and a toasty oak and charcoal finish that keeps on going. This is a BIG bold fruit forward quaff with the popular palate that will appeal to the masses of budding oenophiles.

It is purely coincidental that(NW)just posted a Ramey Cab. I am grilling Loin Veal chops and wanted something hefty to stand up to the charcoal (none of this gas grill business) and the Italian rub I am putting on the chops. This will be a nice pairing.

At $32 this is a splurge and a nice one at that. Raise a glass!

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Ramey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Wine Review (NW)

Date: Sun, May 13, 2012 Wine Tasting

Tasting notes:

Black cherry, anise, and earthy notes on the nose

Full bodied and moderately firm texture on the palate

Nicely integrated dried currants, roasted herbs, and smoky cedar on the finish

Summary:

For Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a very good, refined, classy style. I don't get too worked up over the style debate surrounding Napa Cab, because with the incredible variety of well made wine there's a place for almost anything. Big, high alcohol Cabs don't scare me off and the austere, old-world styles are also welcomed at my table. I mention this because Ramey somehow strikesthe middleground beautifully, with good fruit and rich texture while being somewhatrefined andrestrained. Let the debate continue but know that some wines reside in the middle and, well, they're worth seeking out.

Pair this one with roasted meat or stew and enjoy sipping through the evening. Expect to pay around $45 or so, and raise a glass!

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Campo Delle Piane Boca 1985 Wine review by (PB)

Date: Wed, May 9, 2012 Wine Tasting

Brown hue on the rim yet with fresh bouquet of sweet cherry rising on what seemed like a classic Tuscan licorice, fresh grape, and a hint of pipe tobacco. This is however a Piedmont creation of Nebbiolo.

Palate--Lively, with a touch of tartness on a cherry foundation, complex layers of whimsical fruit with nuances of all kinds of goodness.

This was a special treat opened by the courtesy of our gracious hosts. Again wine is special--and this one will stay in the memory banks! Raise a glass D and R!

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St. Urbans-Hof Bockstein Ockfen Mosel Riesling Kabinett 2009 Wine Review (NW)

Date: Mon, May 7, 2012 Wine Tasting

Tasting notes:

Bright lemon and pear notes on the nose

Medium bodied and lively on the palate

Flavorful layers of stone fruit, honey, and mineral notes on the finish

Summary:

This is a beauty! It combines richness and big flavor while staying light and lively. That's the magic of a good Riesling Kabinett from Germany. Known to be extremely versatile with food, this wine has excellent acidity and a low 8% alcohol content. Expect to pay around $20, and raise a glass!

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Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells 2009 Merlot wine review by Billy

Date: Mon, Apr 30, 2012 Wine Tasting

Nose: blackberry jam and plums
Palate: medium tannins and soft acids give this just enough backbone to stand up. Mild.
Finish: long finish of plums and fruit. Nice length for this value wine.
Overall: I paid about $9 for this wine on sale. Pair with mild sauces and cheeses. Good value Merlot from this Washington State winery.

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Castalia Russian River Valley Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003 Wine Review (NW)

Date: Sat, Apr 28, 2012 Wine Tasting

Tasting notes:

Fragrant cherry and accents of smoked bacon on the nose

Medium bodied and silky on the palate

Smooth finish of cranberry sauce, cherry, and spice

Summary:

Smooth, flavorful, and borderline exotic! I stumbled onto this wine and was hoping I found a treasure overlooked in the back of the wine shop. Sure enough, this wine delivered and I was impressed with how it tasted at 9 years of age.It runs about $40 and is a beautiful expression of a Russian River Valley Pinot from the famed Rochioli Vineyard. It's versatile with food and will compliment a nicemeal.Raise a glass!

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Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2008 Wine Review (NW)

Date: Sat, Apr 28, 2012 Wine Tasting

Tasting notes:

Fragrant lemons, apples, and floral notes on the nose

Full bodied and richly textured on the palate

Rich finish of floral notes, honey, and apricot

Summary:

This is a nice wine with lots of character. It's richly textured and has interesting layers from start to finish. I recommend that you enjoy this with fish, chicken, or vegetable dishes and start off with it well chilled. As you allow it to come up in temperature in your glass, notice the aromas and texture evolving.

Yalumba has produced excellent Viognier for years in Australia. Expect to pay around $17 for this one. Raise a glass!

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Waterbrook Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Wine Review (NW)

Date: Sat, Apr 28, 2012 Wine Tasting

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Sterling Merlot "Three Palms" 2006 wine review by (PB)

Date: Sun, Apr 22, 2012 Wine Tasting

Black cherry hue with slight touch of age. Bouquet--Big black cherry fruit with sage or cedar, sweet candy and red fruit from a distance. Palate--Still a young presentation with ample fruit, tight sweet black cherry and maybe notes of tar. This was a "good" Merlot but; I paid $26 for this bottle reduced from $50. It was "OK" for $26. At $50 I would have felt ripped off. Sometimes its a good idea to do some research before you lay out more than $20. Sterling was one of the marquis producers a couple decades ago. Not so much anymore so be careful.

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Four Vines Zinfandel "OVC" 2009 wine review by (PB)

Date: Sun, Apr 22, 2012 Wine Tasting

The color of this wine is unexpectedly light for a Zin which would lead one to think there isn't much to this wine. Surprisingly this wine is a really good value Zin. Palate--Spicy, glorious brambly berry aromas with deep Zin flavors that betray its light color. Solidly varietal and tasty so raise a glass at the $10 price point.

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