Tag Archives: california

Magistrate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

20 Monday Oct 2014

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This wine rounded out our trio of Sunday Cabs-with-Football.  I recognized the label right away when my friend poured us a taste.  I wrote my notes based on this bottle and just now looked up the previous vintage that I tasted.  Yup, I hated the Magistrate 2011 just as much as I disliked this offering.  Sorry, but candied plums and oak again make me realize that there are far too many nasty wines out there that are merely juice with oak chips and tannin powder.  This one in particular had a slightly lighter body with purple fruits and wild flowers with slight tannins and a hint of acidity.  83 points and 1 star.  Major pass, yet again for this $13 bottle.  Salut….

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Milestone Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

20 Monday Oct 2014

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A very basic Cali Cab that we added to our Sunday afternoon football/wine tasting extravaganza.  This was brought by a friend. Candied plums and wood on the nose were kinda intriguing.  On my first taste I knew what I was in for-  Violets, plum and twizzlers on the initial attack with a heavy dose of oak.  I just wish they had toned down the wood, this wine just is not my style at all.  Mild tannins and a hint of acidity make up a very basic backbone to this casual drinker.  84 points and 2 stars for this $9 offering.  I think I would pass, there are many wines that suit my taste for the same price.  Salut….

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Chapellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

18 Saturday Oct 2014

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The difference between me and a pro is their ability to taste many wines in one day.  I tend to linger and allow my thoughts to transcend to the next bottle.  Unable to cleanse my palate or my mind of what was, I can’t accurately taste what is.  Last weekend we entertained friends at a great restaurant where we started out with the De Toren Fusion V.  I enjoyed it so much yet when it was finished I wanted something else, I was greedy and looking for two home runs off the wine list.  I scoured the offerings and decided to go with this Napa Valley icon.  I had only had it once before and remembered it as somewhat tannic, yet delicious.  Bring it on…

Deep purple hues with plums galore on the nose started me off .  Chocolate and espresso mixed with dark fruits on the palate made for a rather complex wine that had silky tannins and balance in acidity.  I would say it was technically a very good wine, 91 points in my books.  My only concern was that I had poisoned my thought process with one style of wine yet here I was trying out a totally different one, wishing it could be like the first, a conundrum.  I must learn to get past that in the future if I am to spend large amounts of cash trying several pricey wines in one sitting.  Alas I digress, I did hit two home runs that night.  $50 and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

chapellet cabernet sauvignon

Primus Signature Zinfandel 2006

22 Monday Sep 2014

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My friend ‘The Beave’ was hosting the Reno Air Race party this year and invited me to raid his cellar, which I took literally.  Out popped this beauty that was the highlight of the evening.  Beautifully aged Sierra Foothills Zinfandel that offered silky purple plums with beautiful acidity and restrained tannins.  Bottle aging has smoothed this wine out like a well worn pebble.  A sweet cherry finish was the capstone of this atypical Cali Zin that strayed from the high octane, jammy wines that Zin has a tendency to become.  No idea on pricing but this is a 91+ point wine that I would give 4 stars to if it was sub $30.  Salut….

primus signature zinfandel

Oak Savanna Cabernet Sauvignon Rancho La Zaca 2001

11 Monday Aug 2014

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Moxie and I went to a friend’s home for appetizers and wine before venturing out for dinner.  They had just moved house and it was my luck that he offered my choice of wines.  This one was not to be missed from his selection.  Not often do you get to try a 13 year old Cali Cab on the fly.  The only downside of this wine was a crumbled cork.

Plums with a nice oak nose welcomed us to imbibe in this smooth wine.  Cassis, plum torte and a hint of eucalyptus were the opening act with some leather and earth coming into mid-palate play.  Fully integrated tannins and great acidity made for a great mouthfeel that you get from aged wine.  I made note ‘Mature in a Bordeaux way’, but believe this was once full on fruit- tempered by time.  Slight bricking in the glass tells me this wine is absolutely at peak, start drinking if you have any more.  I have no idea what this bottle retailed for, but if it was in the $35 range back in the day it would not surprise me.  I give it a solid 91 points and potentially 4 stars if I knew the price.  Delicious wine that has rewarded extended cellaring.  Salut….

oak savanna cabernet sauvignon

Handcraft Petite Sirah 2012

06 Thursday Mar 2014

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I just love Petite Sirah.   It’s thick, powerful and in my face.  I also like delicate wines that ooze class and reek of finesse.  Tonight though is for the unabashed.  This wine is a serious dark shade of purple, a warning shot of what is to come.  Blackberry and creosote on the nose, in a good way.  Dark fruits and a jammy plum element hit me right off the bat.  The grape is full on with tannins and juicy acidity.  This is night 2 of this bottle and it is drinking beautifully.  Balanced with tons of potential make this a stellar wine.  Retailing at $12 it gets a solid 90 points from me for its depth and complexity.  You know what that means folks- 5 stars!  I am in need of a few more bottles for a dark and stormy nice with some chili, or a beef Bourguignon.   Cellaring for another 5 years would reveal a treasure.  Salut….

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Sycamore Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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If you read my post on the Santa Ana disaster, it leads into this wine.  My buddy bought two bottles of the nasty stuff and returned one the next day.  They offered him this bottle as a replacement so I don’t know the value of it.  A lighter shade of red in the glass and some hints of raspberry on the nose.  On the palate I got red cherry and strawberry with some earth.  Not my favorite profile for a Cab Sav but I was willing to roll with it.  Nice mouthfeel yet not very complex.  I don’t think this is a serious/expensive wine yet it was intriguing.  Suffering from jet lag and hunger we polished it off and headed out for dinner.  If this was a $10 bottle I would give it 3 stars.  I reckon it is an 85 point wine and think you may enjoy it as an aperitif.  I can’t quite pick a pairing because of the somewhat strange flavors for the varietal, best to be drunk by itself I reckon.  Salut….

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Estancia Estates Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

13 Saturday Jul 2013

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Dark fruit on the nose and purple in the glass.  Not overly fruity, this wine was decent and a good value for the price.  On the palate I got some earth, dark berries and a touch of oak.  Good mouthfeel, balanced and slight tannins made it easy to drink.  A basic California Cabernet for quaffing that I think should get 85 points and 3 stars in my books.

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Christopher Creek Petite Sirah 2005

10 Sunday Jun 2012

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Neither petite, nor a Sirah. Similar to the Shiraz/Sirah grape, this varietal is my style. Dark, brooding, tannic, ageable and full bodied. This particular wine is 7 years into its life and is still a baby. Dark purple in the glass, the nose shows Berry and, dare I say it- alcohol. At 14+ % it packs a punch. However, smooth on the palate, with Cassis coming through along with a hint of red fruit. A very tannic backbone shows good integration and the promise of excellent cellaring potential. The balance is just slightly off with the alcohol, perhaps this too shall pass. I really like this style and am enjoying the wine immensely. 4 stars and 90 points. I forgot to mention ghd length, amazingly long. Not sure if you can find it anywhere though, pity.

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Apothic Red ’10

10 Thursday May 2012

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A blend from California of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and the peppery Zinfandel that pops out at 13.1% alcohol. First impression, sweeeeet. Not my style and over the top with dark berry fruit. Decent structure and smooth tannins make this a wine that can be enjoyed for what it is, an everyday drinker that will appeal to the beginner. No complexity was noted and for under $10, none was expected. I really can’t think of what to pair this with as the sweetness was cloying and that would overshadow most grilled meats. As a stand-alone drinker, I got bored with it after my first glass. I think this would be an 80- point wine, but only 1 star in my books. I will pass on it in the future.