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Summerfield 2006
 
Now THIS one is a keeper - and for $4, I'm going to keep a few on hand to help
wash down some of the swill I come across while tasting the many offerings at
our new wine store,
Total
Wine.
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Top Rated Wines at Total
Wine.
Amon-Ra Shiraz Barossa Valley 2006
Red
Wine: 3 ratings, avg. 5.0 $74.99
Castello Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino
Red Wine: 3 ratings, avg. 5.0 $53.99
Caymus Vineyards Conundrum California 2006
White Wine: 4 ratings, avg. 5.0 $21.99
Chateau D'Yquem Sauternes 1997
Sweet Wine: 3 ratings, avg. 5.0 $145.99
Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 1998
Red Wine: 9 ratings, avg. 5.0 $599.99 |
Buffalo Grove 2005
 
This is a pretty good $5 bottle as well. It is very flavorful but has
little smoke or oak taste to it. |
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Cruze Alta 2005
 
This was an OK choice, but for 10 $ I expected a little more. The texture
was rather 'shallow' and 'thin' although quite tasty. There was very
little Oak and Smoke - now that I think of it, don't bother.
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2006
 
This is a pretty decent wine for $5. It's very fruity (black
raspberry mostly) but is pretty tasty all in all. I got a
bunch of the "wallet friendly" mixes. I'll let you know how they turned
out soon.
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Maison Nicolas 2006
This is pretty good for a $5 bottle. There are lots of berry things
going on but very little oak or smoke. It is probably a stainless steel
creation. |
Trinitas
2004
 
I ordered this from an online place called
Wine Access Direct.
I signed up and get regular emails - this was an offer as their most
popularly ordered wine last year. It has a very subtle taste that
keeps lingering on urging you to have more. It is a very smooth swish with
very little bite and just stays smooth as silk through the whole bottle.
Luckily, I bought 12. !!!The pictures enlarge to you can read their take.
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Tupungato 2004
 
My neighbor who works at
Total Wine
gave me this one. I asked for a full bodied, robust, heavy oaked and
smoked red that I could chew. This wine was created for JUST that set of
requirements. This was 'robust' to the point that I could not drink the
whole bottle in one setting - a rarity for me.
These pictures also enlarge when clicked.
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PHEBUS 2006
Phebus is as advertised, "A big, robust, spicy wine from Argentina's most famous
grape variety." This one goes down very smoothly with nary a hint of
anything harsh or naughty. Anything you might be able to identify as
standing out is cleverly hidden in the blend of flavors all of which you can
identify but not brag about. The swish is tasteless but the
afterglow is wonderful albeit subdued. By the time you identify what's
going on with Phebus, you will be looking around to see who swilled that whole
bottle while you were enjoying a few sips. A great re-do and a case of
this 9$ a bottle is definitely on my to-do list. |
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Angeline
The secret here is "Sonoma County".
We had this new store move to town called "Total
Wine". Turns out the lady who moved into the house next to mine works
there. I was touring their GRAND OPENING and heard this cheery "Hi
Neighbor" from behind me. I told her I liked rich full bodied reds and
especially those from Sonoma county. She agreed that there are no bad
wines from Sonoma county - and - she's RIGHT!This is a real soft, smooth,
rich, smoky, oaky red that really swishes smoothly and lingers tartly with a
sweet/sour afterglow. There's almost a slight corn husk or sour green
grape or rhubarb after taste that disappears very quickly drifting into a rich
chocolaty plumb flavor. I will definitely be buying more of this $12
beauty.
(Good choice Jessica.) |
Costa do Pombal 2003
Red Wine - Vinho Tinto ROURO
Denominaqũo de Origem Controlada
(If you understand this - please inform.)
Produced and Estate bottled by
VALLEGRE, Vinhos do Porto, SA - Pinhão
PRODUCT OF PORTUGAL
I think this is a TRADER JOE entree that is frankly Pretty
Darned Good. I can taste some berries and cherries and smoke and chocolate
and coffee (can you believe all these tastes together are considered GOOD?)
dahh da dahh da dahh... but there's something else going on that's hard to
discern. [ WOW a close one - I almost burned my mushrooms I'm
sautéing - Steaks, Mushrooms and Vino and of course friends on
the internet - life just doesn't get much better.]
OK switching wines to CK Mondovi -->
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CK Mondovi
This is kind of a 'pale brother' (AKA
Crackli' Rosie' du Jour) to the
afore mentioned Costa do Pambal 2003. We still have some
berries and smoke BUT a lot of the basement or 'infrastructure' is missing.
We expect to have our palate tickled as so many POSH vinos are
wont to do, but alas, we are
left smacking a flat palate like stepping down from the Grand Princess Ball to
the after hours employee night-fever swaree with all the free Thunderbird and
Ripple you can hold. Sure there's bad news BUT the high point is
that we know the queen personally, and we can elevate our current squeeze to the
level we expect by simply imagining we are
Swaying with Snow
White herself..... 'cuz, we bin there, - an' we like it. !!
(OK, Sway with the ol' guy.) |
TRELLIS
Cabernet Sauvignon
This is from Trader Joe's and is REALLY REALLY good.
There are a lot of things going on in there.
The price is only 5$
I need a case of this stuff.
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Don't waste your time on this swill. It won't make you ill but you will go unthrilled. This stuff is too plain, too common - to ordinary. Skip this and enjoy a good vodka martini instead. |
Joya 2001
This is really a great wine. I bought it on a whim from TRADER JOE's on
the sole fact that it was made in Sonoma County. I'm here to tell you,
Sonoma County is THE place to make wine. |
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Joya
Sonoma County Red
Try this one - it is really nice....Trust Me !!
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Lewinsbrook Shiraz 2001
This is a very flavorful one with lots of cherry and smoke flavors.
I think this was bought locally for around 10$. |
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Have you ever heard the phrase,
"It's so good it makes your tongue wanna slap your brains
out?"
This one comes real close! |
Simunye 2004
Wow, another keeper from South Africa. This gem is really
rich and full of flavors we know and love to find in a 'buxom'
brew. The berries are great but they do not dominate, the smoke is very
full yet gentle on the palate, (don't ask me how - I just drink them, it's like
jumbo shrimp or maximum minimum) and the very subtle chocolate-vanilla-coffee
blend of tastes is out of this world. How the heck do they get all those
flavors out of grapes anyway? |
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Black Opal 2003
Now THIS is one for which I have been looking. (Gotta keep Ma happy.)
This is just full of berries, smoke, oak and all sorts of tasty little
things. |
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I got this at Costco and two bottles were plastic wrapped together in a pair.
Very good stuff - definitely a 'do over'.
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This one wasn't too bad but it pales in comparison to the Black Opal above. |
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Yeah, I know, it's hard to read. It is getting all the attention here that
it needs.
If this is all you can find, you won't be disappointed but it is definitely not
at the top of any list of which I am aware.
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DE SALINE PINOT NOIR
This is my first try at a plain pinot noir without being
blended with a Merlot or Cabernet. This was really quite smooth and is
definitely the tart or sour taste common in most blends I have tried. |
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I enjoyed this one as a treat but I missed the berries
and oak smokey flavors I
am used to.
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Koonunga
Hill Shiraz Cabernet
South Eastern Australia 2003
This is a real nice change from the last one. This has a lot of berry and
fruit things going on. There's some smoke and possibly some chocolate
flavors mixing in as well. This one isn't nearly as sour as the Charing
Cross Syrah described below, it's almost sweet by comparison.
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This one is definitely a bit tart and makes me want ice cream unlike the Charing
Cross which made me desire (and eat) chocolate.
Chocolate-coffee-cherry-mint cough medicine.....how's that for a taste
combination? (do not operate heavy machinery after consuming this
one.[The ice cream had chocolate
in it - a double win.]
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Ferrari Carano Merlot
2003 Sonoma County
All pictures here enlarge - RT Click - Save As..
Yummy, this is a good one. It's a
little on the sweet side but very full of plumb and black cherry flavors.
This starts out thick and seems to thicken as you swish it. You can feel
some intense flavor things going on while swishing but you can't really tell
what they are until you swallow and feel the rush of fruit and smoky oak flavors
fighting for control. My wife thinks there's some cafe-mocha things going
on but I don't taste any. This one isn't quite as 'busy' as some I've
tasted but what you get is really nice. |
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Charing Cross Syrah
Paso Robles 2003
This one has a little bit of bitter in it
like an unripe grape or like when you eat water melon too close to the rind.
I tried on two different days to find something interesting to say about this
one but nothing meaningful ever came to mind. It's really pretty plain, a
bit sour, has some oak and smoke highlights but just nothing that sticks out as
memorable if you know what I mean.
Oh well, there's always tomorrow.
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THORNHILL 2003
MERLOT
San Luis Obispo County
OOOHHH BABY...
Grab Your Taste buds for this one,
this is a smooth one. Have you ever had Canadian Club blended whisky?
It blends out all the harsh tones you get in some of the 'virgin'
thoroughbreds. The tastes are really subtle here - it's a good thing I have two
bottles. There are some faint berry and smoky things going on, but they
fade very quickly. They fade so quickly, I can hardly tell what they are,
they are definitely smoky, oaky berries though so I will pursue. What a
cheap trick to get me to drink more.! The fade is cleverly cloaked in the
13.9% alcohol buzz but isn't completely unidentifiable. There are some
tart sour berries in here, possibly black raspberry or dark red cherry
muted with the tang of a lemon or lime. The sour is a green type of sour
like maybe a very young purple grape which is green on the vine when tasted.
(yes - we had purple grape vines in our [Michigan] back yard - and of course I
bit them early - what kid wouldn't? You're killin' me.) That alcohol
smoke afterglow sure does a plain city boy like me in with shameful ease and
assurance.!
This is a keeper.
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RUFFINO
IL DUCALE
TOSCANA 2003
This is a very tasty red, with some
tart sour berries performing on a heavy oak and smoke stage. The tang of
'Smarties' comes to mind first (they were Sweet-Tarts when I was growing
up) but without the real sweet follow through. The Oak-smoke has a kind of
green wood flavor (have you ever walked through the woods and cut a small green
twig from a tree and chewed on it?) but not to the point where it offends or
overwhelms. This one's tart after taste almost overwhelms the berry and
fruit foreground you think is going to develop but never quite arrives.
That fruity / berry after taste is in the SDZ described
below. The cotton-cheeks you experience attest to the great alcohol
level - be careful !
Alcohol = 13.5%
See
www.ruffino.com |
Gallo Sonoma Reserve 2003
Cabernet Sauvignon
Oh Yeah, Baby!!
This is a lot like the 7 Deadly Zins next door except there is no trace of
berries, fruit, or dark cherries. There IS however, a real alcohol
cheek-numbing thing going on masked cleverly with oak smoke and something
'green' like water melon rinds or VERY green grapes. Are you familiar with
the pucker you get from really 'green' purple grapes right off the vine, how
about green apples off a crab-apple tree (yes, I have tasted both)?
Soak those in
Everclear, add some ripe purple grapes, sour red ( apple pie)
cherries, menthol, and wintergreen strips like mint Listerine and you are 90% on
the way to this beauty. The SDZ next door is better... what can I say..?
This was about $10 at Costco.
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7 DEADLY ZINS
LODI APPELLATION
ZINFANDEL - 2004
This one is very fruity - mostly plumb and dark cherry I think.
OK, this is my last shot - well at least until I buy some more. I put half
a bottle away for a few days (unfortunately my spouse gets ill every time
she sips red wine - aaawwww) and I really tasted plumbs and dark red cherries
upon second-sipping. This stuff is really 'meaty' and deep in fruity
flavors. I'll definitely do this one again and fill in any blanks.
This one I bought at Costco for $12.88 I think. Well worth the price. |
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Turning Leaf
2004 Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon
California
This used to come in two varieties, white
label and gold label - that were about 1 dollar different in price. The
gold label was definitely worth the extra buck and now it almost seems like they
have blended the two into this 2004 vintage. It's not bad, don't get me
wrong, it just isn't quite up to the older gold label. This is still very
fruity and smoky as I remember but just not quite as 'full' as I thought it
might be. The label brags of 'deep dark fruit complimented by hints of
spice, vanilla, and oak'. While all that is true to a certain extent, it
just isn't full like the BIONDI or SIMUNYE described below. This is a good
9$ choice from Fry's - you won't be disappointed.
9/30/06 |
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ROBERT MONDAVI
PRIVATE SELECTION - 2004
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Well now. This
is a real treat for my poor abused tastebuds. The alcohol
content is 13.5% which is nothing to sneeze at - unless of course you are
alergic to good hooch, and the smokey-oakey taste is very heavy.
If you don't like oakey-smokey, don't even try this one. The
swish will pucker you up like a sun dried prune and the after glow is very
heavy in berry smoke. I can't even tell which berries they are, but
after a score of swishes - I don't even care. This was $7.99 at Albertsons
with a 2$ off coupon so I just couldn't resist. The after-taste is
so dry, you couldn't spit if you had to - and the smoked berries taste
wonderful. Boy, it just doesn't get much better than this - don't
waste your money on some fancy brand name with this stem-cell of the purrfect
vino waiting to sooth you into a sweet and ultimate vino submission.
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BIONDI
PETITE SIRAH
California 2003
THIS is a real 'do-over'
for sure. It is just FULL of berry and fruity flavors that really
fill your buds with a tingling blast from the fruit trees. There
are fruits that when processed in this manner, produce flavors of chocolate,
vanilla, and coffee. I don't know how they do it BUT this wine is
a real palate pleaser. I definitely taste blueberries, black
berries and a rich sweetie like plumb or apricot. What a treat this wine
is.
From the back label..
The resurgence of this classic
California and Rhone varietal has been quite a phenomena. We have
been working with Petite Sirah for over a decade but this is our first
bottling of a "stands alone" Petite. In keeping with the Biondi style
of wines - varietally distinctive, fruit-forward, and ready to enjoy upon
release - our inaugural offering showcases the deep black fruits, the full-bodied
robustness, and the meaty chewiness characteristic of classic petite.
Enjoy"
Enjoy for sure - this is a keeper!!!
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LINDAVISTA 2000
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MAIPO VALLEY
Well,... you know... I like wine
and all, BUT this just seems like it was a valiant effort by an enthusiastic
apprentice. A lot of tastes are here but there's a background tang
of what I believe is tannin. That's the bitter
foundation you get with some wines that are mass produced or over fermented
or something. Evidently tannin is introduced on purpose to help 'clarify'
and help 'settle' the sediment in the brew. (I'm thinking a
centrifuge could accomplish the same task without introducing the down
side of inviting the vinegar family to the mix. I believe that
Tannin
and vinegar are close cousins. I'll study up on this and file a report
later.) Don't get me wrong, I like a little 'zing' to my fruit and
I love vinegar in the right setting - wine just isn't that
setting.
On the plus side - I've had worse!. |
Nobili
Terre A Montefioralle
(The name above is a link.)
Toscana Vendemmia 2003
This isn't vinegar but I believe
someone might have kept some in this bottle before it was used for this
wine. It's a subtle aftertaste but it does linger after the first
mildly pleasant but tart grape and smoky berry flavor fades. The
taste is completely gone in about 30 to 60 seconds and you find yourself
wondering what that strange mix was.
This was in a case of 12 bottles
we got in the mail as part of our 'membership' in wine delivery program.
This is the case that sat outside in the 110 degree Arizona heat for a
day or two. Possibly that explains the less than repeat performance
of this swill from Chianti Italy.
Imported by Lionstone International,
Lake Forrest, Illinois
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Simunye 2004
Wine of South Africa
OK, we have a keeper this time.
It 's probably not fair that I'm about 350ml in to this bottle as I write
because now I can't real accurately describe the aroma like I could have
an hour ago. This beauty is full of berries and oak-smoke to say
the least. As I swish, I don't really get any flavor info going on
after the first hint of a coming berry blast, just the gradual tingling
and jingling of my taste buds getting pickled at 14.5%. NOW the real
treat is when you let go and swallow - the mix of berries and oak-smoke
really lets loose and fills your whole oral and nasal cavities.
The wonderful flavor mix stays present for about 15 seconds as it morphs
into the various berries -boysen and black and finishes with the toasted
smoke. You don't have to chew this one but it sure feels like you
could.
I found the words on the bottle
amusing...;
Simunye is an African term
meaning "We are one", and is symbolic of the spirit of unity that defines
the people of south Africa. This same essence is captured in the
harmonious blend of classic red varieties that distinguishes this wine.
Voluptuous fruit flavours are balanced by judicious use of oak to create
a wine that expresses Simuney... We are one.
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Raven Ridge Merlot
2001 California
Patty ordered this from an eMail she got. $10
It's pretty dry but definately
NOT sour or tanic in any way. There is a lot of plum and berry overtone
of some sort like blackberry or something else but it's very subtle and
blends very nicely with the delightful oak background. Swishing
is very mild and gentle with that delicate alcoholic aftertaste that kisses
you gently on your busy palate. (that brings back sentimental highschool
memories.) The aftertaste fades quickly leaving that dry, puffy innercheek
tingle we all love from our dry reds. A litre slips by unnoticed.
Maybe $4 a glass out, profit=$1.50
/ glass (%60)
Raven Ridge Vineyards, San Martin,
CA 12% |
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Refreshing White
FRANZIA House Wine Favorites
This is a 5 litre box - cost 7.95
Well, this is just about what you
might expect. It isn't a gag or anything, but it's pretty dry and
leaves you tomorrow wishing you had stuck with diet soda tonight, especially
for the dumb comments you made (in front of all your buddies) because of
it. (The sweet/tart keeps you sucking until you can't walk - or maybe
that's something else.) It goes down ok, kind of a smartie flavor
which can dupe you into drinking more. (I always od on Smarties)
It's really OK, better than staying sober, - but watch out for the revenge.
(A little knot that sticks until noon - or dinner.) This is the $2.50 a
glass stuff out in public. Profit = ~$2.05 a glass. (%455)
Franzia Vineyards, Ripon, CA
9% |
White Grenache
FRANZIA House Wine Favorites
This is a 5 litre box - cost 7.95
This is the pink version of the
Refreshing White above. It's a little sweeter than the RW and has
an interesting aftertaste. There' a little tingle of alcohol coming
out your nose that disappears quickly. It's a fruity, semi sweet
little vamp that slides down pretty smoothly. After a few glasses,
you notice your inner lips sticking to your teeth - just like the good
stuff. (Warning - this is the early warning sign of impending exuberent
stupid behavior.) If you can imagine the sterile backbone of
a wine aged for days in stainless steel, this is it. It isn't bad,
it just isn't particularly good. No oak taste, no berry or plum overtones,
just sugared, fermented green grapes. This is more
of the $2.50 a glass stuff out in public. Profit = ~$2.05 a glass.
(%455)
Franzia Vineyards, Ripon, CA
9% |
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POGGIOALTO 2001
SanGiovese Del Rubicone
eMail ordered at $10
This came with the Raven Ridge
but isn't quite as smooth. Not quite as deep red as Raven and a little
tanic which is most noticable as an after taste. Swishing is
very nice with no bite at all and my cheeks recover quickly from the alcohol
pucker it gives. The legs are pretty weak and the clarity is sterile
like a well strained, stainless steel lab petrie experiment.
There is no evidence of oak or berries and the nose is a mild grapey virgin.
One probably could drink the whole litre of this but it wouldn't be all
that satisfying. This is described as, "Ideal with a good tortellini,"
which is a good idea so you have the taste of something left in your mouth.
POG disappears as clean as Houdini in an English dungeon.
Product of Italy 11% |
Lomas
Del Castillo
Tempranillo
This little beauty came in the
mail and is welcome anytime. It's a deep, full bodied red with plenty
of body. It's a full enough flavor you wouldn't even expect it to
be swishable - but it certainly is. The treat really happens as you
swallow after swishing and the toasted oak and berry flavors echo wonderfully
out your olfactory orifice. The tart little after burn is softened
by a slightly musky taste blended with a rose like odor. You are
definitely out in the garden enjoying nature with this joyous taste treat.
I give it a 95.
"It's got a great beat AND you
can dance to it"
Product of Spain
Produced by Romeral Vinicola
S.I. |
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CANYON CREEK
RED TABLE WINE
2001 Bordeaux Blend
THE REGION: The
California viticultural*
area from which this wine's grapes come is the Central Valley also known
to Califomians as the BigValley, the Great
Central Valley, (most of interior Ca) or just the Valley. It is simply
colossal in size, spanning over more than 35,000 square miles of relentlessly
flat, sun-baked farmland sprawling as many as 70 miles wide.The grapes
for this Canyon Creek Bordeaux Blend were grown on the western slopes of
the Central Valley —where cool fogs creep over the mountain tops and descend
upon the vines in the evening.
THE WINE: In
recent years it has become the fashion for the better wineries in California
to produce "Bordeaux
Blends"**—wines
typically made with the varietals most associated with Bordeaux: Merlot.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, often with small amounts of Malbec
and Petit
Verdot blended in. Typified by concentrated flavors of red fruits,
firm tannins and great structure, these wines are sought by the most discerning
consumers arid collectors willing to pay more than $1,O0O per bottle for
California cult wines! Having secured excellent fruit, David Coleman,
owner of Canyon
Creek (click the link at the bottom),
set out to make his "affordable" Bordeaux Blend. The result is a rich and
heady wine with concentrated fruits, notably ripe plum, black cherry and
red currant, underscored with an earthy; leathery accent. On the palate
this wine is concentrated and rich with a velvety texture, firm
tannins***and
a lingering finish.
THE PRODUCER: Canyon
Creek was created by David Coleman, owner of the famed Adler
Fels Winery ****, to produce Bordeaux Blends at a reasonable price.
Asked about Canyon Creek. Dave said, "If I've learned anything in the last
22 years of making wine, it's that 90 percent of the time a blended wine
is better than the single varietal wine."
SERVING:
Serve the Canyon Creek Bordeaux Blend with grilled and roasted meats, duck
and strong cheeses.
MY OPINION:
This is really good wine. The deep, rich, fruity, tart taste stays
on your palate long after you sip. It's almost creamy as you 'swish'
but turns back to dry red as you swallow. Your inner lips get that
chalky, puffy feeling showing you you have a really good sipper here.
The legs are great and the oak, fruit, tart after glow will keep you coming
back for the whole 750.
Canyon Creek Cellars, Santa Rosa
Ca 12.5%
* the cultivation or culture
of grapes especially for wine making
** $75 a bottle - probably
NOT !!!
*** Funny how we 'treat' ourselves
to luxuries like tannins and botox
**** Anti-climactic at the
least... |
Koongarra 2001 Merlot
Very nice - fruity (berries)
and quite oaky. This is a keeper as it slid down like velvet and
had a wonderful aftertaste.
Imporetd by:
Lionstone
International
13801 W. Laurel Drive
Lake Forrest,
Ill, 60045
Riverwood Vineyard
P.O.Box 148
Cessnock NSW 2325
Produce
of Australia
Actual
Order Product here |
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Coming Soon
My Fav - Sonoma Valley Cabernet
Savgion
Deep red with a megafull body.
Yum. |
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