16 Sunday Sep 2018
Posted in Wine
The second bottle at the wine shop tasting…. unfortunately not a good sample.
A dark red in the glass, more serious for a Pinot Noir. The nose is off as the wine has been open too long- however…. the palate offers a much richer expression of dark red fruits and cinnamon. No rating as it would not reflect well. However, a search on the web shows it available for $60 and gets decent 90+ scores. Salut….
07 Monday May 2018
Posted in Wine
A darker purple then expected from Pinot Noir. Nose gives off gobs of strawberry, cherry pie and cedar plank. The palate gives me some spicy notes of red fruits, violets and fig paste. The finish is lengthy with very caressing, smooth tannins that are in perfect balance with the acidity.
This is a delicious wine that will reward instant gratification yet will cellar well for another 10 years. I paired it with some of the best Lamb Chops I have had in a long time. 91 points and 5 stars for this $40 effort. I’m buying some for the cellar. Salut….
13 Sunday Aug 2017
Posted in Wine
Very dark purple for a Pinot? On the nose- it screams heavy duty new world Pinot Noir- Except it isn’t. I was misled by the bartender who stated it was PN, not a blend of Zin, Syrah and Pinot Noir. No wonder I was confused!
Strawberry, raspberry, a touch of wood, and some espresso bean comes across on the nose. On the palate it’s a whole lotta strawberry meets cherry jam and reb currant coulis. Very rich and flavorful. This is not a subtle wine, more like ‘HELLO, IT’S ME!’
I like this wine, a lot- albeit it’s not my preferred style. It offers depth, muscle, extraction and is not afraid to show it. The mid palate continues the same theme as does the long finish. Some would say this is one -dimensional, I like it every so often. It is focused on its core elements and sticks with it. The tannins are barely perceptible as is the acidity. Drinking beautifully now, I would pair it with Filet Mignon and creamed Swiss Chard, perhaps a roasted duck with earthy veggies. Deelish and worthy of 92 points from me. I think it can be found for around $20, which makes it a steal. (My rating was way higher than others, I guess I must see something in this wine.) 5 stars. Salut….
27 Saturday Feb 2016
Posted in Wine
Pale gold color with long legs in the glass and a nose of apples, pears and honey. The first impression is of a somewhat flabby wine, mouth filling and full of charm. The mid palate comes alive with quince, gooseberries and a touch of vanilla. The acidity is restrained and the wine has a decent finish. Very Cali-styled wine that got 91 points from the pros. I’m just not that into the level of Malolactic fermentation and the weight of the oak used. Some might love this style. I am going with 90 points and for $38 retail it gets 3 stars. I think it needs some fresh fish, perhaps oysters Rockefeller. Salut…..
08 Wednesday Apr 2015
If you recall reading about my trip to California with my son, this is the winery that we took a tour of. I was so impressed with the warmth the staff showed and the casual way in which they took great care of us on our tour. The winery is located off the beaten path and has cellars cut into the hillside. The Pinot was an interesting balance of styles. Quite a bit heavier than most Pinots, it also had a delicacy about it. Nose of new world Pinot with strawberries and bing cherries. Initial hints of white cherry and strawberry with some nutmeg and spice on the palate. Very smooth mouth feel which includes very slight tannins and a touch of acidity. Nice and rounded for a balanced profile that drinks well by itself but begs for some smoked salmon and capers. Roasted chicken and a risotto would take a close second. 2015/2020 91 points. 4 stars for this $28 effort. Thanks for the tour and the memories! Salut….
Me and Jet, checking out the cellar
The entrance to the cellar
Alexander Valley Vineyards
The unofficial tour guide that Jet loved
The Russian River, from above
19 Sunday Feb 2012
Posted in Wine
Given to me at Christmas, I have been waiting for the right time to try this one out. Strawberry on the nose and initial attack give way to New World Pinot. I really enjoyed this wine for what it is, modern and fresh. This grape, and particularly this wine-making style have been made popular recently by a movie. I can’t argue that it is not well made, nor that it has appeal, yet it is no Burgundy. I cannot see any complexity, long-term potential or the justification for its average retail price of $32. Scored an average 88 points by the various peeps, I would give it 3 stars. It appears to have some backbone in the tannin structure that would give it another 5 years tops. The word ‘refreshing’ comes to mind, and this wine feels like it should be drunk on a warm day with some lighter fare. Don’t try it with a hefty slab of beef, perhaps some game hens or a Salmon steak.
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