Layer Cake Shiraz 2009: Review

Pure Love Wines

McLaren Vale, South Australia

Layercakewines.com

14.9% abv

Opening Day

Appearance: deep purple

Nose: moderate berries and dark cherry

Flavors: big juicy sweet dark cherries and boysenberry.  This is all berries. 

Mouthfeel: smooth, lingering what? Yes, sweet berries. 

My Strength Rating: 4

To the Point: Not what I think a Shiraz would taste like.  It’s too sweet and nothing but berries.  I have enjoyed this wine in the past (other vintages) but, I am glad I didn’t buy any extra of this one. 

Didn’t change much the next day.  

Amalaya 2009 Malbec: Review

Bodega Amalaya

Valle Calchaqul, Salta, Argentina

14% abv

Blend: Malbec blend

Malbec, Cab. Sauv., syrah, tannat

Amalaya means ‘hope for a Miracle’

On the bottle: “Cherry and boysenberry with nuances of flowers and white pepper, while the palate is full and long with hints of vanilla…”

Appearance: dense purple with a purple rim

Flavors: sweet black cherry with a sweet vanilla cream swirling through; some light dark berries – like boysenberry or mulberry and they are juicy,

This does not make me think of a Malbec.   It’s nice and interesting. 

Mouthfeel: kind of creamy, smooth, tannins are under control and the acidity is nice. 

The next two days the mouthfeel developed a leathery feel and it was not as sweet. 

To the Point: Looking for an interesting wine this is decent for the price.  Looking for a good Malbec there are better ones out there.  Open the bottle and let it stand for a couple of hours and then cork it and serve it the next day. 

St. Innocent Pinot Noir 2009: Review

St. Innocent Winery

Salem, Oregon, USA

Temperance Hill Vineyard

Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Stinnocentwine.com

$55.00 from a restaurant

Wine aged in  26% new French oak barrels for 16 months. 

Appearance: good looking dark cherry with reddish highlights.

Aroma: this is fruity, sweet cherry, red raspberry

Flavors: this is a juicy fruit Pinot Noir, lots of fresh red berries like red raspberry, a hint of strawberry and touch of red currant, throw in a nice dose of sweet dark cherry and a touch of vanilla along with a silky smooth mouthfeel. 

Mouthfeel: the acidity is low, there is a mineral like quality, silky smooth texture, a touch of oak on the finish and aftertaste, mostly red berry like aftertaste, along the way I get a hint here and there of a light spice box.    

To the Point: While it has a very nice red berry taste it just seems to lack depth, character, and complexity.  Have this with lighter fare.  Their web site says this vintage can be aged for eight years.  

Zen of Zin 2008: Review

Old Vine Zinfandel

Ravenswood

Sonoma, California, USA

13.5% abv

Zinfandel blended with: petite sirah, syrah, and carignane added

Appearance: deep purple body with purple highlights

Aroma: mulberry, slightly inky, black licorice,

Flavors: dark berries, mild toffee flavored coffee with cream, thick earthy tone, little milk chocolate like, oak,

Mouthfeel: fairly smooth, blackberry like bite on the back of the palate, lingering berry and earth notes. 

As the wine opens up I think the aroma becomes a little sweeter and the taste a little juicier. 

My Strength Rating: 5.5 – the berries and the earthy tones help to give it a good medium body

To the Point: a pretty decent Zinfandel and worthy to purchase a bottle to give it a try.  For under 15 bucks you can’t go wrong. 

Peninsula Cellars Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2007 Reserve

Peninsula Cellars

Old Mission Peninsula

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Peninsulacellars.com

$30.00 a bottle

13% abv

34% Cabernet Franc and 66% Merlot

2 ½ years barrel aged

The cork looks in a little ruff shape.  See the picture below.  I hope the wine is not corked. 

Appearance: rich crimson

Right after opening

Aroma: dark berries, earthy tones, oak

Flavors: dark berries, tart cranberry, earthy tones, oak

Mouthfeel: bit of an alcohol note, acidity a little strong, tannins are at work

Let me decant this wine for a half hour.

Didn’t change much.  Overall I found it uninteresting. 

Click here to read about the Cab-Merlot by Peninsula Cellars

Syrah Le Pousseur 2007: Review

Bonny Doon Vineyard

Santa Cruz, California, USA, Earth

13.5% abv

$16.20

It has been a long time since I have had a Bonny Doon Wine.  Back around 2000 they were growing and growing fast.  One day at the doctor’s office I was reading a wine magazine and it had an article about the Bonny Doon owner downsizing because – he wanted to.  He wanted to spend more time in the field between the grape vines and less time marketing his wines. 

Appearance: Purple with a pretty purple rim

Aroma: light, very light, is my glass empty?, did I not pour the wine?, it’s in there but it sure is the lightest bouquet I have ever experienced.

What am I in for?

Flavors: okay, it’s tasty, nothing wrong here so, let’s get to it.  Nice juicy dark berries, a hint of cherry, earthy – soil like, this is strange with the lack of aroma. 

I like the taste that I am experiencing but, I feel like I am being cheated – I know there is more

Mouthfeel: seems to have a nice medium body but, I think I am missing a few notes or flavors due to the lack of aroma and I think that would give me a different read on the overall texture, 

Okay, I’ll light up a cigar and finish this glass while I decant some of the wine in preparation of dinner. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – medium body – the wine never opened up – I felt cheated.

To the Point: a bit disappointing, the flavors are nice but, they could be more with a nice bouquet

Muscedere 2010 Riesling vs Bower Harbor 2010 Riesling

Michigan Riesling vs. Ontario Riesling

First Up: Muscedere Vineyards 2010 Riesling

Coming from: Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Muscederevineyards.com

11.8% abv

$16.00 a bottle

Appearance: bright straw

Aroma: very faint, fresh apple, and let’s call it sweet apple blossom.  You will have to swirl that glass a bit and get the nose down in there. 

Flavors: a mix of fresh apple, maybe a touch of tart apple, and the acidity is giving it a little citrus squeeze. 

Mouthfeel: the acidity is a touch more than I would expect and it comes across like a citrus note. 

To the Point: I don’t know if I would guess Riesling here but, it is a tasty little white wine.  The more I drink it the more I like it.  I would pair this with shellfish – lobster, shrimp, and mussels – oh yes; cook some mussels with this that would be perfect. 

Why would I not guess Riesling?  I think for one it is the apple focus and not peach like and I am not picking up that classic petrol or mineral like quality.  So what – pick up a bottle and you’ll like it. 

Next up: Bowers Harbor Vineyards 2010 Riesling

Coming from: Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Langley Vineyard on Old Mission Peninsula

Bowersharbor.com

10.5% abv

$19.00 a bottle

Appearance: looks just like the Ontario wine – a bright straw color

Aroma: oh, that nice touch of mineral or the good old term of petrol,

Flavors: white peach like on the delivery, washed stone mineral note, a little honeysuckle, just a wee hint of citrus (actually, I think that is more on the aftertaste) and a sweet finish with a touch of petrol on the aftertaste. 

Mouthfeel: a nicely balanced white wine, the acidity seems undercontrol, a lingering touch of sweet citrus with a hint of petrol

To the Point: a nice display of the Riesling grape, very tasty and I think I’ll do this with my fish dinner tonight.