Tag Archives: Lodi

Jacqueline Bahue Cabernet Franc 2019, Lodi, California

17 Thursday Sep 2020

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This Cab Franc is reddish purple and nearly see through in the glass with some nice legs draping the edges.  On the nose I get a dark, brooding blackberry and smoky oak.    The palate is delicious, tannic and intriguing.  Black currants, black berry and violets interlaced with gum searing tannins and a modicum of acidity.  If I had a Ribeye in front of me, heaven.  The mid palate is bone dry yet there is a core of fruit pushing through to the back end alongside some cigar box and black tea flavors.  The finish is very dry with those tannins holding on to the end.  Black fruit, spice box and a plummy ending make this a memorable wine, if not a touch young.  I am excited for wines from Lodi, they have made great strides in quality and this is a good example.  If you like ’em dry, pour this baby now, or else let it sit until 2023.  Drink till 2028.  89 points and 5 stars, I paid $10- stunning wine for the price.  Salut….

Mt. Luxxe Vineyards Zinfandel 2017, Lodi, California

09 Wednesday Sep 2020

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I don’t drink Zins very often, but when I find one I like- I remember it and revisit.  I was not a huge fan initially of the last Zin I drank, the Turley Zin turned out much better after a day or so.

This one shows semi opaque in the glass and has a lovely reddish hue to the purple color.  On the nose I get raspberries, red currants and cinnamon stick.  The palate is very rich with a nice thrust of raspberry coulis and mulling spices.  There’s a really nice set of tannins that caress the gums without stripping the enamel off my teeth alongside a juicy acidity that hits the mid palate.  The red fruit theme continues with some steeped rhubarb and spices.  This is not a jammy Zin, but is full bodied with rich flavors and a really nice, long finish.  The warmth I get on the backend is also very interesting.  Really tasty with a decent level of complexity and aging capacity make this a 91 point wine IMHO.  I paid a paltry $9.99 for it but it normally retails for $40.  4 stars with a drinking window till 2027.  I’m flash cooking some thin Ribeyes that will pair nicely.  Salut….

Turley Wine Cellars Bechtoldt Vineyard Cinsault 2018, Lodi, USA

30 Sunday Aug 2020

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I wanted to introduce a pure Cinsault to our wine tasting group.  It’s a very difficult grape to source as a standalone because it’s traditionally a blending grape.  I have had some delicious wines that rely heavily on Cinsault, which reminds me of Pinot Noir in its structure and finesse.  In fact- Pinotage is a cross of the two grape varietals.

The wine is very pale red and see-through.  The nose gave us cigar box, perfume, cherry, raspberry, cedar, black cherry, maple syrup, mulling spices, strawberry and cardamom.  The palate was peppery with black cherry, jello, earth, pomegranate, violets and was considered ‘spicy’.

I thoroughly enjoyed this lighter style of wine that had gentle tannins, decent acidity and a really nice mouthfeel.  92 points from me for this $25 charmer that gets 5 stars.  Drink with lighter fare till 2028.  Salut….

Liberty Road Zinfandel 2018, Lodi, California

26 Wednesday Aug 2020

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Semi opaque, medium shade of purple. The nose is somewhat subdued in the BAG (big assed glass). After a vigorous swirl session I get blueberries, violet and pepper.  On the palate it’s a touch spicy with blue fruits, fig and cedar.  The mid palate is a bit tart, backward and thin on the fruit.  The finish is bitter with more blue fruits and that woodsy note.  I enjoy Zins for their fruitiness.  This one lacks a bit on several points unfortunately.  86 points is all I can muster.  $10 makes this a 2 star wine.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Lodi, California

17 Monday Aug 2020

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A pretty shade of purple and nearly opaque.  On the nose it’s brimming with red fruit, some oak and a red licorice note.  The palate is easy going- red berries, chocolate nibs, some oak and a touch of acidity.  The mid palate is very smooth with a smidge of tannin and more red fruit melange.  The finish is simple, decent in length and features the addition of cranberries with their inherent tartness.  This is a very basic wine that will feature well at a burgers and brats barbecue.  The tannins are very slight and the structure is not intended for much cellaring.  It’s a pop’n pour weekday quaffer that gets 86 points from me and at $15- 3 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Cinergi Red Blend 2018, Lodi, California

14 Sunday Jun 2020

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The second wine of our virtual tasting was this Lodi blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Cab Sav.  The nose was magnificent- lush, jammy blackberry, cocoa, dark plums.  The palate was a different matter.  We all immediately sensed a certain sweetness that we were not expecting.  The wine is very fruity and concentrated with loads of black fruits.  Tannins are apparent but not overbearing and there is a decent level of acidity to make for a nice mouthfeel.  The cloying fruit however was a detractor for many in the group.  Funnily enough, it was voted the best wine by a third of the attendees.  I guess that sweetness appeals to some but not all.  Each to his own.  For me it was an 86 point wine that I feel was a little too manufactured and lacked finesse relying heavily on gobs of jammy fruit.  Drink now.  For $14 it gets 3 stars.  Salut….

Cameron Hughes Lot 636 Zinfandel 2016, Lodi, California

24 Friday Jan 2020

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Nice shades of purple with medium opacity.  Zins tend to have higher alcohol and this one shows off its 15.5% very nicely on the legs.  The nose is interesting- honey, blackberry preserves, cinnamon stick and black oak.  On the palate it is very approachable right off the bat with blackberries, tea leaf and an intro to the very fine grained tannins.  On the midpalate there is a stringy astringency that is putting me out of whack.  The fruit subsided very quickly to make way for some bitter tannins unfortunately.  Greeness prevails from that point to the finish.  I’m trying to coax more of that delightful, jammy goodness but I’m being overpowered.  This wine might need some cellaring but the green tannins will always be green unfortunately.  86 points from me and 3 stars for this $13 wine. Drink now. Salut….

Scotto Family Old Vines Zinfandel Lodi Central Valley California 2012

05 Monday Dec 2016

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I picked this bottle up on my trip to the Wine Library in New Jersey, they were pushing it as a good Thanksgiving choice.  I had other plans for Turkey day but liked it enough to buy a bottle.  In the glass it shows decent purple hues, but is somewhat lighter looking.  On the nose- Christmas cake, cherries jubilee and spice box.  On the palate, a really smooth intro of black fruits, dark cherries and cedar shingle.  Very smooth indeed, with subtle tannins and a touch of acidity.  This wine is very easy to drink due to the gorgeous mouthfeel but beware, it only hits 13% alcohol and you might find yourself sipping all night!  As the wine hits the mid palate it shows off some typical Zin notes of plums and pepper.  The finish is decent and mid length with some tannins showing up right at the end along with some plum torte.  This wine does not need food, it flows ever so nicely but I can see why they recommended it to pair with Turkey.  It would also go beautifully with a grilled Pork Chop, bone in.  Given the choice I will pick old vine Zin every time, they are more refined, smoother and in my opinion easier to drink with lower alcohol.  This wine is a great example.   I am going with 91 points and 5 stars for a delicious effort that costs $13, what a bargain!  I’m ordering more for sure.  Salut….

scotty family cellars old vine zinfandel

Cosentino ‘The FRANC’ Cabernet Franc Lodi 2014

24 Monday Oct 2016

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A see through purple that indicates to me a textbook amount of extraction for this seductive and silky grape.  A nose of black fruits, oak and black cherry.  I have come across this profile before, but not in a Cabernet Franc.  On the palate there is a really delicious black cherry component that mixes it up with violets.  The tannins are well integrated yet offer a certain dryness that goes well with many foods.  The mid palate and finish continue the tastes found initially and the wine rounds out with a decent mid length finish that has a tar component.  I am really enjoying this wine, not just because I love Cab Franc, but because it adheres to some of the basic tenets of the grape yet goes into uncharted territory for me.  89 points from me and for $13 it is a good deal worth 4 stars.  Salut….
cosentino the franc

Michael David Petite Petit Lodi Central Valley California 2014

12 Wednesday Oct 2016

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Moxie and I went to the local Costco yesterday and I steered us into the wine aisle…  I picked up some interesting wines but the label on this one sold both Moxie and me.  She’s a graphic artist by trade and has a good eye for marketing.  This label was a winner.  I glanced at the back label and immediately decided I needed to try this blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot.

Wow, what a beautiful dark purple in the glass.  A nose of twizzlers, strawberry jam and some oak.  It’s not my favorite profile but I’ll wait to taste.  The initial taste is deelish.  This is a rich wine that starts off with black cherries, dark stone fruit and strawberries on the mid palate.  Ripe tannins round it out for a balanced mouthfeel. The wine finishes strong with notes of cherries jubilee laced with some tannins.  I’m loving the flavor profile if not the aromas.  I bought this wine for $12.89 at Costco.  You know I love both Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot which makes this wine really appealing.  It rates a 90 with me and that makes it a must buy and 5 stars.  I’m getting more in the morning.  Drink now till 2019 with red meat, venison and stews.  A perfect fall wine.  Besides, look at that cool label- winner!  Salut….
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