Darioush 2008 Shiraz: Review

Napa Valley

Darioush, Inc

Napa, California, USA

Darioush.com

$80.00 The Fine Wine Source

It has been a few years since I have had Darioush Cab. Sauv. and that was a great bottle of wine.  So, when I saw the bottle I had to check it out.  I have never had their Shiraz – let’s give it a try. 

Appearance: rich ruby

Aroma: blueberry, plum, fairly light soil

Flavors: lots of dark berries and fruit. Not picking up any spice but, this is the first glass and I did not decant this glass.  Picking up a hint of caramel and a touch of vanilla as I near the end of the first glass.  There is a soft soil note starting to appear.  When the wine has not been decanted it comes across like a Pinot.

Mouthfeel: warm alcohol spice on the back of the palate. 

My Strength Rating: 6

Time for the second glass (been decanted)

Aroma: Ah, there is that Shiraz spicy nose.  There is blueberry and dark current on the nose with a good splash of sweet spice and a very light peppery note.  This makes me think of pink peppercorn mixed with allspice.  Seems a bit leathery on the nose.  While the notes are pleasing it does not come across as big or bold. 

Flavors: Yes, much better. Rich boysenberry with a splash of ripe blackberry greets the palate.  Dark rich soil, touch of vanilla bean, and a very pleasing Shiraz spice quality. 

Mouthfeel: light peppery and alcohol spice on the finish.  Starts to get jammy on the teeth and gums.  Thick dark berries just coat the palate.  Sumptuous is the word for the overall mouthfeel of this tasty Shiraz.  The tannins and acidity seem to be well under control here.

My Strength Rating: 7.5 – nice jammy texture follows some rich and complex flavors.  

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Ironstone 2008 Cabernet Franc: Review

Lodi Appellation

14.5%abv

Ironstone Vineyards

Murphys, California, USA

Ironstonevineyards.com

$25.00 restaurant price

I bought this at a restaurant near my summer place in Grindstone, Michigan.  I have not been to this place in 8 years.  Since my usual place is closing soon I thought I would check out another.  The food was very good and here is the wine that I had with dinner.

Appearance: deep garnet in color

Aroma: dark berries and light earthiness

Flavors: pretty simple here, dark berries, sweet bing cherry, earthy

Mouthfeel: medium bodied, cherry-berry aftertaste, tannins are undercontrol and the acidity seems simple enough. 

My Strength Rating: 5 – not what I would expect from a Cab Franc.  Too simple.

To the Point: a below average Cab Franc.  I would expect this at a bar, dinner or a low end restaurant.  This wine might go good with pizza but not the filet that I enjoyed. 

Gerard Bertrand Corbieres 2006: Review

Syrah & Mourvedre

13.5% abv

Gerard-bertrand.com

France

Opened the bottle last night and had a glass with dinner.  The taste was okay, the nose very nice, but I was too tired to do a wine review.  The taste was simple and boring and I did not even finish the glass.  So, I capped the bottle and here I am today doing the review today. 

Appearance: deep garnet

Aroma: black cherry, dark currants, herbal-spice note

Flavors: Much better today.  Firm earthy quality, nice dark berry blend, nice touch of sweet black cherry, pleasing spice.  As I focus on the spice I notice a touch of thyme and white pepper.   On my second glass there is a good smoky note hitting the nose and this transfers to the taste. 

Mouthfeel: firm, jammy at times, smooth overall, tannins under control, nice acidic structure,

My Strength Rating: 7 – very tasty, on the second day, firm and thick texture for a good medium-full mouthfeel. 

If you get this bottle, decant it for at least 20 minutes to get the flavors to open up. 

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing with this wine

La Fiera 2009 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo: Review

denominazione di origine controllata

13% abv

Sangiovese Red Wine

$24 a bottle at the pizza parlor

Casa Vinicola Botter Carlo &

C. S.P.A-fossalta Di Piave-Italia

Of course Italy

Dinner: Double cheese and pepperoni pizza

Appearance: deep garnet with a ruby edge

Aroma: very berry and fruity with a touch of spice

Flavors: dark berries; currant, mulberry, black cherry, and a splash of blackberry.  Every now and then I get a hint of ink (while eating the pizza).  There is a nice settle herbal and spice quality.

Mouthfeel: nice full weight on the palate, feels thick and leathery, soft tannins, tender acidity

My Strength Rating: 7 – a firm medium-full bodied wine.  The soft tannins and juicy acidity keeps in out of the full range for me.  The wine has good weight on the tongue and a nice thick feel on the palate. 

I really enjoyed this valued priced wine with the pizza dinner. 

Ruffino Pinot Grigio Lumina 2009: Review

Venezia Giulia

Pontassieve, Italia

12% abv

$10.00

Ruffino.com

I bought this bottle to cook my spicy garlic and buttered mussels in and they were delicious. 

Appearance: pale straw

Aroma: pear, spice, light citrus, floral, aromatic

Flavors: wonderful summertime flavors, red grapefruit, pear, nectarine, grated orange peel, spice, and a touch of floral.

Mouthfeel: crisp feel on the delivery, on the full side of medium in weight for a white wine, spicy notes on the finish with a little warmth from the alcohol. 

My Strength Rating: 5.5 – firm body weight plays on the palate

To the Point: Very tasty white, don’t waste this on some boring white fish.  Grill up the salmon, chicken, veal chop. 

I added this wine to the mussels and added some extra garlic. 

Dutch Henry Cabernet Sauvignon 2003: Review

Napa Valley

Chafen Vineyards

14.6% abv

Pulled this bottle from the cellar and it seemed a bit on the cool side on the temperature scale. I opened it and pour a glass and the feel is on the cool side.  The aroma was dark berry like and the taste was muted by the cool temperature but, seemed like mix berry and a touch of earth.  Time to let this bottle warm up and open up. 

Aroma: Blackberry, black licorice, soil, oak

Flavors: 99% dark chocolate, blackberry bite, dried brown spice

Mouthfeel: the tannins are whistling Dixie here. Super dry and 99% dark chocolate like aftertaste.  

Just grabbed a small piece of 99% dark chocolate and let it melt in the mouth.  Yes, that dry dark chocolate bitterness is real similar to this wine. 

Chateau Bianca 2008 Pinot Noir: Review

13% abv

$15.30 Everyday Wines

Willamette Valley

Chateau Biance, Inc

Dallas, Oregon, USA

Chateaubianca.com

Wow, I didn't take a picture. 

Appearance: ruby red

Aroma: spice box front and center on the nose, Bing cherry,

Flavors: Bing Cherry, red berry mix, and an herbal-spice blend

Mouthfeel: a bit of a flannel like texture with lingering berry notes and that hard describe herbal-spice stuff is on the aftertaste.

My Strength Rating: 5

Next Day

Aroma: nice red berries and cherry on the nose but swirl that glass and the spice box note is right there. 

Flavors: the cherry-berry flavor seems better and the berry flavor comes across more like red raspberries.  That herbal-spice note that I just could not describe is still there but, is more settle.  So, let’s say the alcohol spice has burned off with the bottle sitting an extra day. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – a smidge smoother

Yesterday, all I could say was ‘not bad.’  This also means ‘not good.’  So, it was just okay yesterday.  Today, I say, ‘pretty good.’  So, it is just short of good today, ah, a little improvement. 

Dealing with the issue of drinking your wine the next day is important.  Some people just leave their bottle of wine just sitting around in the kitchen till the next day.  Oh, no no no … place that bottle back into your cellar or just place it in the basement were it is cool. Your kitchen is warm and this could bring out the bitter notes the next day.  So, yes your open bottle of wine that is going to be saved for the next day should be stored properly. 

Also, finish your wine the next day.  You may be lucky to get two or three days out of your open bottle.  I like to finish the bottle the next day.  My Dad use to say, ‘Son you are buying the wrong kind of wine.  My bottle will last up to a week.’  #1 my Dad did not have taste buds.  He drank day old coffee in the morning.  #2  he bought cheap wine.  Wines filled with preservatives and cane sugars.  Which brings up the issue of truth in labeling in the wine industry but, let’s save that for another day.

Vision Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir: Review

Coster Vineyard

Russian River Valley

Vision Cellars

Rutherford, California, USA

14.2% abv

$42.00 a bottle

Visit visioncellars.com and read about the owners interesting story.

Appearance: ruby pinot color with a light amber edge

Aroma: big summertime plum, touch of berries, and a hint of spice.  Delicate bouquet.

Flavors: dark cherry adds a nice sweetness, plum helps to lighten up the body, black raspberry, a Dr. Pepper quality, nice light touch of spice.

Mouthfeel: velvety smooth, perfect for a relaxing evening.  Lingering berry/cherry notes.  Tannins are light. 

My Strength Rating: 3.5 – velvety, silky, satiny whatever you want to call it’s just damn smooth – I’ll just say it is just plain sexy. 

You want to impress your date or mate, buy this bottle.  Just don’t forget to open it.  And, that is easy – it is a twist off.

93 pts. Wine Spectator

91 pts. Wine Enthusiast

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing

Fess Parker 2008 Pinot Noir: Review

Santa Barbara County

14.5% abv

$29.00 a bottle

Fess Parker Winery

Santa Maria, California, USA

Fessparker.com

 

Aroma: berry bowl mix, spice, and I am picking up the alcohol.

Flavors: I really have to agree with the description on the bottle, which does not happen very often.  Actually, I have found that Fess Parker Winery does a pretty good job with their descriptions.  Here it is, “Bursting with flavors of spice, cranberry, light blueberry, and strawberry, …”  I thought the strawberry and cranberry notes were right on.  The spice seemed delicate but hiding behind some of the alcohol.  Little touch of pink peppercorn and faint oak.

Mouthfeel: smooth delivery, light but bright body, nice lingering berries on the palate.

I had a glass of this wine before dinner with sourdough crackers with Gouda and goat cheeses and another glass with dinner – pomegranate lamb chops topped with goat cheese and parsley.

Four hours later I popped that cork to have another glass.  Wow, the aroma is really different and with the first sip … this tastes different than earlier.

Aroma: The spice has really opened up: Sage, faint white pepper, light ginger, and every now and then a whiff of roasted vanilla. The spice is stealing the show on the nose. 

Hit the spice cabinet and smell the different spices and see what you experience. 

Flavors: toasted vanilla, light oak, faint black licorice, black currant, cranberry, the strawberry is not standing out front and center like it did on the first glass, which I had before dinner.  I am not detecting the alcohol on the flavor.

Mouthfeel: now the alcohol warmth seems to be on the finish.  Rich, smooth, wow tasty, and the light body is raised just a notch.

So, the question is which glass of wine is the real Fess Parker Pinot Noir?  Then, which one do I like the best?  I guess I’ll have to buy another bottle and make a decision then.

To the Point: this is a sexy and tasty Pinot Noir. Very tasty berry notes and when the wine opens up the complexity is just wonderful.  I would give it an A if I was into grading wines.

And, I made it back to The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan to pick up two more bottles.

Preparing the Palate: Apples

With summer slowly approaching (I live in Michigan) it is time to prepare to enjoy some white wines.  One tasting note that you will see in white wines can be the flavor of apples.  It has a Granny Smith apple taste or this wine has a fresh cut apple aroma. 

It is time to visit your local store and pick up a variety of apples.  Pick up a Fugi, Honey Crisp, Golden and/or Red Delicious, Jazz, and sample each one for its unique flavor and texture.  This is a fun activity to add to your next wine tasting party or even a fun day with the kids.  Have each person write down their flavor description and texture experience to each apple. 

Sampling these fruits on a regular base can help you to prepare your palate when trying to review your favorite white wine.