The Big Easy 2009: Review

Origianl artwork on the bottle by Diane Millsap

Fess Parker Winery

Fessparker.com

Santa Maria, California, USA

61% Syrah, 23% Petit Sirah, 16% Grenache

14.9% abv

Appearance: deep garnet, plenty of leg action after each swirl of the glass,

Aroma: just wonderful, I wish I could do it justice; big juicy blackberries, mulberries, mixed with a good dose of red berries – reminding me of raspberry and sweet cherry, smoked pecan wood, the hint of vanilla reminds me of the butter horn rolls that I pick up at Zehnder’s for some reason,

Flavors: a lot of the nose follows along with some dark chocolate likeness, a little sweet vanilla cherry, hint of spice

Sorry, I didn’t get to finish mouthfeel.  I got called away and I never came back to finish the review but, I did finish the bottle and it was terrific.  I’ll finish and update the review when I open another bottle.  

The coon skin cap Daniel Boone wore

Parker Station Pinot Noir 2009: Review

Parker Station Inc.

Santa Maria, California, USA

Fessparker.com

Appearance: light ruby

Aroma: the spice is noticeable as you pour the glass, let me call it spice box; red fruit like strawberry and cranberry; hint of oak

Flavors: the spice box is front and center to me, a little green spice and an herbal mix with pinch of green peppercorn; strawberry plays a good role; light tart cranberry; plum skin; 

Mouthfeel: on the bottle they call it medium to full bodied.  I call it mild-medium in body weight.  I’ll give it a 3.5 maybe a 4 on my strength scale.  Not a very long aftertaste.    

To the Point: a worthy Pinot Noir.  While tasty … it seems a tad thin at times … something is not bringing it all together. 

Edna Valley 2007 Pinot Noir: Review

EdnaValleyVineyard.com

Paragon

San Luis Obispo County

California, USA

13.9% abv

$18.00

The description on the reads: “…cherry, plum and pomegranate … with a hint of spicy oak.”

This wine must be past its prime.  There is no spicy oak or spicy anything.  The berry is pretty much nondescript.  To me it was rather boring. 

Frontier Red: Review

Barbecue Edition

Lot No. 122

NV

California Red Wine

Fess Parker Winery

Santa Maria, California, USA

Fessparker.com

14.9% abv

$10.00 a bottle (case price)

I purchased this at the Fine Wine Source in Livonia Michigan.

This NV – no vintage wine had me interested when I sampled it at Jimmy’s store. 

I have to say that for a 10 dollar bottle and a no vintage on top of that this is one damn good bottle of red wine. 

Appearance: this has one dark body for a wine at this price, deep purple with a shiny ruby edge.

Aroma: this is one complex aroma for any price.  It is just a guessing game waiting to happen – ‘what do you smell’.  Big time berry bowl – I’ll call it black cherry, black currant, boysenberry; a nice touch of spice – a little pinch of sage and white pepper; there is a good smoky note and it also reminds me of a fresh box of cigars in a quality cedar box and with 800 cigars in my humidor I think I know that smell. 

Flavors: this is not one of those wines that just fool you with a nice bouquet and then quits on the flavor.  Take all those notes from the nose and add a little sweet 50% dark chocolate and a touch of hardwood.

Fess Parker Played Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett in Movies and TV Shows 

To the Point: this wine tasted really good in the store and so good that I bought a case.  I think I’ll get another one if there are any left.  (Jimmy save me a case)  If you ever see this one don’t buy just one bottle you will be disappointed if you do.  Dollar to Taste = Value; and that means this is the best value out there.  Most $10.00 bottles I water the grass with them.     

Here are the Vineyard Notes:

73% Camp Four Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley, 20% Schied Vineyards in Monterey County, 4% French Camp Vineyard in Paso Robles, 3% Rodney’s Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Vallery.

Here is the blend:

40% Syrah, 20% Merlot, 18% Grenache, 9% Petite Sirah, 5% Mourvedre, 4% Cinsault, 2% Caringnane, 2% Tempranillo.  I think they should have found one or two more grapes to add this assemblage of fine grapes.  I wish they put the years to each of the grapes.  

Cooper’s Hawk 2008 Cabernet Merlot and Camacho Legend Ario Bertha Maduro: Pairing

The Wine

Cooper’s Hawk 2008 Cabernet Merlot

Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards

Harrow, Ontario, Canada

Coppershawkvineyards.com

VQA Lake Erie North Shore

Blend: 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot

16 months in oak

14% abv

$15.75 Canadian

Two winters ago I went to the London Ontario Wine and Food Show and Cooper’s Hawk was there to promote their wines even though they were about six months away from opening their winery.  I try this wine at that show and liked it.  So, last year when I finally made it to their winery I pick this one up. 

Appearance: rich garnet

Aroma: very nice peppery spice on the nose with some dark berries

Flavors: a focus on blackberry and a squirt of tart cherry with a bit of dark currant; nice touch of spice upfront,

Mouthfeel: mild-moderate blackberry acidity, tingling spice, nice lingering tart cherry.  The first few sips came across thin and then seemed to develop a little body along the way.  Once in a while a little watery edge appears. 

My Strength Rating: 4.5 – medium overall

To the Point: a decent blend, some tasty notes and some thin spots, I do like it, I think this is pretty damn good for their first bottle on the market for this new winery. 

The Cigar

This cigar has been around for so long I don’t even remember who’s it is.  All there is is a foot ring band.  I think eventually they put a regular band on the cigar. 

LA is on the label and Prima Calidad.  I think it was or is a Camacho Cigar.  Let me do some looking.

Oh yes, Camacho Legend Ario Bertha Maduro

Size: 6 x 60 Toro Granda

Flavor Profile: heavy earth, dark roast coffee, toasty hardwood, and a good touch of spice.  Constant correction was need to keep it burning evenly.   I think I’ll give it an 8 on my strength rating scale. 

I remember now, I use to really like this smoke back when it came out (before I started blogging this stuff).  I found it deep down in the humidor tonight and said, what is this?  And, I thought a good maduro would go well with this Cab Merlot wine.  Now, I just wonder if they even make this stick any more.  I sure like it, still. 

The Pairing

This cigar really helps this wine.  The tasty dark berry style of the wine seems to develop a little more body while enjoying this smoke.  That watery edge that showed up now and then seems to be missing during this pairing. 

This wine also helps the cigar.  This is a good medium-full to full bodied smoke and this wine really helps to refresh the palate.