Peninsula Cellars 2007 Cabernet Merlot: Review

Peninsula Cellars

Old Mission Peninsula

The Hog’s Back Vineyard

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Peninsulacellars.com

$30.00 a bottle

13% abv

67% Cabernet Franc and 33% Merlot

Appearance: garnet body with a ruby edge

Aroma: deep rich dark berries.  Later as the wine opens there is a floral note that develops. 

Flavors: dark berries unlimited, black currant, black berry, throw in a little black plum with a good oaky backbone and this is one tasty wine. The earthy style evolves with each sip I take.  It started off soft and now has a good rich soil character. 

Mouthfeel: It says on the bottle “supple” and this sounds good to me.  Nice earthiness and dark berries linger on the aftertaste and coat the palate with each sip. 

To the Point: this is my kind of wine; rich dark berry profile with a good earthy style and the right touch of oak.  This would be great to pair with a fine cigar.  In a matter of fact I am going to finish the bottle off with a Kristroff Maduro Cigar. 

2009 Predator: Review

Old Vine Zinfandel

Predator Wines

St. Helena, California, USA

Lodi Appellation

15% abv

Appearance: deep crimson body with a bright crimson edge

Aroma: wow, different, barbeque, smoked wood, earthy

Flavors: very different, hickory wood, smoked pork, saucy,

Mouthfeel: relatively smooth, it does have a lingering smoky wood and bbq maple sauce note.

My Strength Rating: 6

To the Point: not for everyone, if you didn’t know about this wine ahead of time you might hate it, by knowing about it ahead of time will help you to understand it when you drink it.

Me personally, I don’t care for smoked beers and well I am not a fan of bbq smoked wines.  This wine was easy to give up on.  It is interesting but, is it worth trying?  If you can buy it by the glass and you want something different – sure.    

M. Lawrence Detroit Sparkling Wine: Review

L. Mawby

Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA

Lmawby.com

Demi Sec

Batch #9

12% abv

$15.00 a bottle

A blend of Riesling, Traminette, Vidal and Muscat

Appearance: sparkling straw

Aroma: apple, hint of green apple,

Flavors: Honeysuckle, pear, peach, apricot, with a tart apple note on the finish.

To the Point: I thought it was okay; my wife liked it; worthy to try. 

Demi Sec means ‘half dry’.  It is sweeter than Sec but, dryer than Doux.

Here are the terms for dryness and sweetness in a wine or sparkling wine.

Brut Nature: 0–3: Extra Brut: 0–6: Brut: 0–12: Extra Dry, Extra Sec, Extra seco: 12–17: Dry, Sec, Seco: 17–32: Demi-Sec, Semi-seco: 32–50: Doux, Sweet, Dulce: 50+

The numbers represent the residual sugar per liter (measured in grams).

Felino 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon: Review

Vina Cobos

Blend of 88% Cab., 8% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot

Eight months in French and American oak

Vinacobos.com

Paulhobbsimports.com

$32.00 restaurant price

Here is what they say on the importers web site.

“A deep ruby hue accompanies an earthy nose, rich with aromas of fine-grained leather and licorice. The palate is generous and complex, with intrepid notes of black currant and boysenberry weaved together with graphite and sweet tobacco. Ripe, plush tannins combine with subtle minerality creating an ideal balance and a lengthy finish.”

I ordered this wine with my dinner and then brought the bottle home to finish it off with a fine cigar.  I did not do a review on it but, the licorice was noticeable and there seemed to be a brown spice (cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg), some herbal and mineral qualities with dark berries.

I found it to be an interesting wine to drink.  I’ll have to find it at a store and do a review on it one day.  I would not have guessed it to be a Cabernet Sauvignon. 

CEV Gamay Noir 2008: Review

Colio Estate Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Lake Erie North Shore

Coliowinery.com

12.1% abv

$14.00 a bottle Canadian

100% Gamay Noir

Here are the tasting notes as stated on the bottle: “Scents of dark cherry, cedar spice and strawberry pie foretell the dark cherry, cranberry and pomegranate finish.”

Appearance: ruby body with an amber-ruby edge and a crystal rim. 

Aroma: I like the cedar spice, cherry and currant nose.  I also get a little earthy tone here as well.

Flavors: Wow, on my first few sips (after swirling the glass) the cedar comes through.  It is like a cigar box cedar with each sip and sniff. And, I have smelled a few cigar boxes in my day.  Dark berries on the taste with some nice green peppercorn spice along with that cedar note and rich soil for the earthy tone. 

Mouthfeel: It started off feeling a little thin (on the first few sips after opening the bottle) and when it opened up (a few swirls of the glass) it filled out the palate.  There is a blackberry bite that greets the palate.  The cedar, spice and dark berries linger and cling to the palate.  I can feel it coating my teeth and gums.  Dry finish, tannins semi-smooth, acidity under control. 

My Strength Rating: 7 – truly coats the palate.

To the Point: You can’t go wrong with this $14.00 bottle.  Nice medium-full feel without being overwhelming.   

The wine held up just fine when I paired it with some 9 year old white cheddar and then a whole grain cracker with horseradish cheese. 

This wine should go well with a fine cigar.  Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing with this wine. 

I just noticed that I did a review of this wine back in January of this year.  Click here to read that review. 

Clos de los Siete: Review

Clos de los Siete Winery

Mendoza, Argentina

By Michel Rolland

14.6% abv

$35.00 at A Matter of Taste Restaurant

Blend: 56% Malbec, 21% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot

I had a glass and a half at the restaurant and brought the rest home to sit back to do a review and then smoke a fine stogie with it. 

Appearance: deep dark garnet, this is pretty close to black with a purple edge.

Aroma: very dense dark currant note, smoky, it smells like the dark chocolate with berries in it, earthy – mineral soil like

Flavors: heavy soil earthy tone, dark berry concentrate, 90+% dark chocolate that covers the palate, bold and intense.

Mouthfeel: thick and very dry on the palate, tart, earthy, the dry finish reminds me of 95% dark chocolate, leathery texture, lingering aftertaste

You can feel this wine just clinging to your teeth and gums. 

My Strength Rating: 8.5 – this full bodied blend is hearty.  It deserves a big steak.  I think I’ll make plans for that one day.  

Chronic Cellars Sofa King Bueno 2009: Review

15% abv

Paso Robles, California, USA

Blend: 25% Syrah, 20% Petite Sirah, 18% Mourvedre, 16% Zinfandel, 15% Grenache, 5% Tempranillo, 1% Tannat

$22.99 The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan

Appearance: deep purple

Aroma: rich dark berries, sweet spice, delicate earth

Flavors: mixed dark berries, the cinnamon slaps you silly, a touch of vanilla, 60% dark chocolate style,

Mouthfeel: thick, jammy on the tongue, long thick layers of dark berries linger on the palate,

My Strength Rating: 6.5 – the long lingering notes raises the point value. 

To the Point: If you want to know what a cinnamon note is like in wine then, get this bottle and have a drink.  Very interesting and tasty wine. 

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing

Vin du Lac of Chelan: Review

2007 Cabernet Franc

Columbia Valley

Chelan Wine Company, LLC

Chelan, Washington

Vindulac.com

14.5% abv

Blend Merlot 18%, Franc 82%

Washington Wine Quality Alliance seal is on the back of the bottle. 

Appearance: deep garnet, almost black

Aroma: rich dark berries, rich soil earthy tone and there is an alcohol note here fresh out of the bottle.  The alcohol back bone on the aroma settles down as the wine opens up.  A smoky note appears as well.

Flavors: heavy dark berries, mineral soil earthy tone, 55% dark chocolate like quality, herbal-spice notes,

Mouthfeel: medium-full body.  Nice thick feel on the palate, coats the checks and gums, not quite jammy but getting there. 

My Strength Rating: 6/6.5