Antonio Sanguineti 2008: Review

Nessun Dorma

A Supertuscan

Blend: 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot, Syrah 20%

13.5% abv

Toscana, Italy

Appearance: deep purple with a ruby rim.

Aroma: light dark cherries with a little herbal note

Flavors: nice fruit forward notes of dark cherry, blueberry, black raspberry jam. There is a soft mossy earth note and a hint of herbs.  Now and then I get a dusting of a cinnamon feel. 

As the wine opens up the earthy note changes from mossy to an easygoing rich soil feel.

Mouthfeel: a smooth leather texture with lingering dark berries and dark fruits on the palate.  A light dry feel on the aftertaste.

My Strength Rating: 4  - tannins and acidity are low and the flavors are tasty.

To the Point: a tasty wine to sit back and relax with friends or enemies.  This should make you friends then. 

Robert Mondavi 2009 Meritage: Review

Private Selection

13.5% abv

Blend: 41% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon,

11% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec, 3% Cab. Franc

Vinted & Bottled by: Robert Mondavi

Woodbridge, California, USA

mprivateselection.com

$10.00 a bottle

I bought this bottle at the fundraiser for Waggin’ Tails Dog Rescue

Appearance: deep purple with a nice purple edge

Aroma: mixed dark berries with a slight spice

Flavors: spice is right up front, touch of black pepper, hint of blackberry with a dose of boysenberry, there is a slight watery edge that hits the palate.   Once the wine opens a bit there is just a touch of mocha and a hint of coffee and I am going to add a note of Michigan Cherry.

Mouthfeel: smooth; dark berries dance on the tongue; feels a bit thin at first but fills in a little if you get it to breath. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – I was going to do a 4 but, the lingering berry notes said 4.5. 

To the Point: a nice medium bodied Meritage.  Not the most complex wine, a bit thin at first and then fills in a little as it breathes.  For $10.00 a bottle it is a good party wine or a good introductory wine for the newbie.

Hannah Nicole 2009 Viognier: Review

Contra Costa County

14.7% abv
$10.00 a bottle

Blend: 90% Viognier, 10% Sauvignon Blanc

Hannah Nicole Vineyards, Inc

Brentwood, California, USA

Hnvwines.com

Here is what they have to say on the bottle. “Our 2009 Viognier is 100% Stainless Steel Fermented, retaining the fresh clean aromas of Fuji Apple, pear and honeydew melon, that draw you into the crisp subtlety of pink grapefruit, and a kiss of honey on the finish.”

Appearance: wow, as close to water clear as one can get without being so.  Just a faint touch of straw.  A refreshingly beautiful look.

Aroma: fresh apple, slight twist of citrus, crisp

Flavors: apple, honeydew, touch of peach, apricot, pear, hint of floral, touch of honey, a dose of mineral rock water, and the pink grapefruit is what I get on the finish.  It has a splash of red and pink grapefruit that awakens the back of the palate.   

Mouthfeel: fresh and crisp on the deliver.  Citrusy and dry on the back of the palate and these notes linger on the tongue. 

My Strength Rating: 4 - because of the lingering dry notes

I like!

Front Porch Merlot 2007: Review

Napa Valley

C & T Cellars

Blend: Mostly Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon

“…wine to celebrate the simple pleasures in life…”

Appearance: garnet in color with ruby highlights.

Aroma: very aromatic, sweet cherries, berries, and spice.

Flavors: fruit forward and following the nose.  Reminds me of a mulberry or elderberry jam.  Don’t decant. 

Mouthfeel: smooth, lingering sweet berry patch, relaxing, I could sip this all night.

My Strength Rating: 3 – very tasty light bodied red.

To the Point: A perfect summertime red wine whether you are on the front porch or back.  I am on my back porch of my summer place and I may have to fight off a few hummingbirds for this tasty wine.

St. Francis 2005 Old Vines Zinfandel: Review

Pagani Vineyard Sonoma Valley

14.8% abv

St. Francis Winery

Santa Rosa, California, USA

Stfranciswinery.com

$55.00 at a restaurant / around $28 online

Appearance: an attractive deep purple

Aroma: nice mix of red and dark berries on the nose with a hint of spice box.

Flavors: Oh, a good cinnamon and nutmeg pie spice greets my palate.  A smooth dark cherry and mulberry likeness and a slight toasted vanilla oak note mixes with a creamy 60% like dark chocolate.  Very tasty. 

Mouthfeel: silky smooth as the wine glides across the tongue with a pleasing cherry-berry aftertaste.

My Strength Rating: 4.5

I think if you can find this wine for around $25 it is a good buy

Meiomi Pinot Noir 2008 Belle Glos: Review

The grapes to make this Pinot came from three different vineyards Sonoma County 65%, Monterey County 20%, and Santa Barbara County 15%.  It is said that the Santa Barbara grapes add to the spice-filled aromas; Sonoma adds to the bright berry flavors; and Monterey has the rich texture to give it some substance. 

13.9% abv – why not 14 – I feel cheated

Belle Glos Wines

Rutherford, California, USA

Meiomiwines.com

My Strength Rating: 3 – truly velvety smooth

Appearance: a rich ruby color

Aroma: red fruits, reminds me of the red raspberries I had for breakfast this morning. Overall, a pleasing aroma to this wine.    

Flavors: If you want to know what the term ‘fruit forward’ means – try this wine, for it is fruit forward.  Notes of; sweet strawberry, red currant, tasty raspberry to name a few.  

Mouthfeel: I really like the mouthfeel of this wine.  Creamy was my first word that came to mind.  Then, velvety smooth came to mind.  The mouthfeel on this Pinot Noir is a great experience. 

Here are the wine notes from their web site – I can’t wait to see how I did.

“Deep garnet color. Luxurious and dynamic aromas of ripe strawberry, bright cherry and faint notes of spicy oak and vanilla. The complexity of the palate smoothly layers rich red currant notes and baking spice flavors with light smoke, earth and leather. A balanced, velvety texture and supple tannins carry the wine through to a lingering, succulent finish.”

They call it deep garnet and I think it is a medium ruby at best

Triple Overtime 2006 Merlot: Review

Napa Valley

Igor Larionov Select Wines

St. Helena, California, USA

Iltripleovertime.com

Blend: 77% Merlot, 14% Cab Sauvignon, and 9% Franc.

14.6% abv

$20.00 a bottle

Appearance: rich ruby body

Aroma: a wonderful spicebox nose

Flavors: the spice follows the nose, dark and red currants, and plum. 

The second glass displays some more character.  I would recommend opening this bottle and letting it breathe for 15 or 20 minutes (decant) before serving just to get those flavors involved. 

The spice, currants, and plum are still present but, the earthy tones open up to a mushroom and mossy style.  There is also a smooth sweet mocha note in the mix.  

Mouthfeel: smooth, elegant, macho like finish with sweet dark cherry.  The acidity and tannins are low. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – This wine just glides across my tongue.  The weight is light and the flavors are plentiful.

To the Point: above average Merlot.  If you like smooth and medium bodied Merlot's this should work for you.  I would buy the Hattrick Reserve Merlot before this one. 

The Hattrick 2005 Reserve Merlot: Review

Igor Larionov Select Wines

Stags Leap District

Napa Valley

14.5% abv

$45.00

On the back of the bottle, “The Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Franc Exhibits a deep ruby – garnet color as well as dense, smoky black cherry flavors, medium to full body, soft tannins and plump finish.”

Iltripleovertime.com

Appearance: deep ruby it is

Aroma: smoky, dark berries, touch of oak

Flavors: earthy notes of rich soil and minerals, toasted oak, tobacco, black currants, I am not thinking of black cherry (sweet) it is more like a Michigan cherry (tart) especially on the finish,

Mouthfeel: smooth in delivery, a slight tartness on the back of the palate, a dry oaky note and dark berry like lingering note

My Strength Rating: 7  a very good medium-full bodied red wine.

Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing with this wine

The cork reads, “Hockey is my life – wine is my passion”

Pirineos Mesache Tinto 2005: Review

13.5% abv

50% Old Vine Garnacha, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and 10% Parraleta which is a rare grape from Somontano, Spain. 

Only $22.00 from a restaurant

Appearance: deep black cherry color

Aroma: there is a strong ‘old’ musty nose that is bothersome, some dark berries behind that musty smell.

Flavors: yep, the musty smell carries over to the main flavor.  The cork did not look bad but, this has that cork musty old wet wood note.  There are some berry notes mixed in here but, nothing special here. 

Buy: Nope, much better out there.