Genesis 2007 Meritage

14.4% abv
The Hogue Cellars
Prosser, Washington, USA

This Meritage covers four different grapes from the Columbia Valley region: Merlot 49%, Cabernet Sauvignon 44%, Malbec 6%, Cabernet Franc 1%

The bottle reads, “…juicy berry, cherry and plum flavors and oak, spice and cocoa on the finish.”

I am opening this bottle of wine tonight (11:00pm) to taste it and see if it will be a good match with my filet mignon dinner that I am planning tomorrow.

The first sip seems to have a bite. Little bigger sample and it seems too astringent. This wine needs to breath before sampling. So, I aerate the next sample and swirl it in the glass a little longer and it is still on the harsh side. Maybe, I should have waited another year before opening this bottle – too late, it’s open.

The wine does have a nice dark purple body with some nice ruby highlights on the edges. The aroma is of tart cherry.

I’ll cork it and test it tomorrow. I am going to open another to be ready.

Next day’s notes:

The hash notes are down but, this is a full tasting Meritage wine. Dark strong fruit flavors dominate. I don’t pick up any particular spice or pepper notes. There is a heavy soil earth taste. Overall I am not impressed.

A Wine Review: Peninsula Cellars 2006 Merlot

12% abv

Peninsulacellars.com

This Merlot is coming from Traverse City, Michigan. The winery describes this wine as, ‘Plums and currants mingle with roasted coffee and distant pipe tobacco.’

Appearance: a bright ruby red color

Aroma: berry and cherry like

Taste: distant pipe tobacco? – Really now – only about 100 different pipe tobacco blends. I don’t even get a tobacco taste but that is me. I’ll call it a mossy earth style that mingles with a red cherry and red currant taste. Nothing complex here but, it is tasty.

My Strength Rating: 4

Solaire Pinot Noir 2008 and Red Snapper Smoothered in Black Bean Salsa

Solaire Pinot Noir is from Robert Mondavi. I picked this bottle up at a fundraiser when Waggin Tails Dog Rescue had a wine tasting night. This is a pretty simple Pinot. The aroma is pretty much like the taste. It has a big sweet red cherry taste and a light raspberry note. This is a good wine for lighter fare foods and a milder cigar. This bottle is usually under $15.00 a bottle.

Bruce’s Black Bean Salsa on Red Snapper

Make enough for four filets

¼ cup chopped onion
¼ cup black beans
¼ cup yellow corn
¼ cup chopped green or orange bell pepper
¼ cup chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons of minced garlic
Tablespoon of olive oil
3 teaspoons of Worchester sauce
3 teaspoons of red wine vinegar
Sprinkle in some dry basil
Grind in some black pepper to taste
Add hot sauce to taste

Warm in a sauce pan

Pour basil olive oil in a frying pan and add red snapper filets. Cook till done.

With a slotted spoon place salsa mixture on top of the snapper filets, then with a spoon pour on the desired amount of liquid from the salsa on top of the fish. Pour Sansonetti’s hot sauce over the salsa.

Layer Cake Shiraz 2008

South Australia
14.9% abv

Here are the tasting notes from their web site: “Dark, dense and creamy, complex aromas of black plum, Bing cherry, blackberry and pepper merge with licorice, tobacco, mocha and dark chocolate. This is one inky Shiraz; an explosion of dark, super ripe, wild blackberry, with a touch of cigar box finishing with a mélange of exotic spices. A pure fruit bomb…complete from attack through a long, lingering finish.”

When I think of inky I think of Zinfandels. I could see how one may describe it that way but, I would call it a strong earthy quality. The blackberry and other dark fruits just coat the palate for a thick mouthfeel. The spices are tasty and the dark chocolate just add to this complex Shiraz. This is a must buy. Plan to pair this with game meats, a big porterhouse steak or other full flavored meals. I truly enjoyed this wine.

Trinchero Cabernet Sauvignon 2007: Tasting

Napa Valley Cloud’s Nest Vineyard

On the bottle it describes the taste as, ‘tobacco and tea.’ This is not your everyday Cabernet with that big dark berry taste. The herbal tea like flavors mingle with the tobacco, smoke and portabella mushroom earthy notes. This is delicious. I had this wine at diner at one of my favorite restaurants.

I will be looking for this bottle at my wine store now. A must try.

Villa Rubini 2008 Cabernet Franc

Colli Orientali del Friuli

This 13% abv Cabernet Franc is a true pepper experience. The fine grind pepper profile is the main dish here. There is a solid earthy quality with a nice dark cherry and black current notes to back up the pepper. My overall impression for My Strength Rating: 5.5.  Pretty much a medium bodied wine.  This wine is pretty simple in its taste. Being a Cabernet Franc lover I like to try as many different Francs as I can. While this is not complex I still like this wine because of the peppery experience.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Cabernet Franc grape – well you should be. It is known as the parent grape to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.

See the Cigar Pairing

Renaissance Cabernet Sauvignon 1999: Review

This cabernet comes from the Sierra Foothills in Oregon House, California. This 13.5% abv red wine is still fine eleven years later. There is a nice dark cherry nose. I like the blackberry bite that mixes with the plum, earth, black cherry, spice, and sweet cedar notes. This wine leaves a good thick earthy quality or jammy feel on the palate. This cab has some good body.

With each sip I can taste that moist plum flavor and then the dark fruits kick in to add some body structure to the flavor profile. The spice and woody notes play on the back of the palate for that nice Cabernet Sauvignon finish. I think I’ll give this wine a 7 on my strength scale. (medium-full)

This bottle use to sell for around $27 - $30 a bottle and I just picked up a few bottles at $15.00 each.

Concannon Petite Sirah 2005: Tasting

Central Coast Petite Sirah

Limited Release 2005

Concannon Vineyard

Livermore, California, USA

1.5L bottle
13.5% abv

Listed on the bottle: “It is full-bodied, rich with cherry flavors and has a hint of toasty oak for a smooth, silky finish.”

I am not ready to call it full-bodied but, for $10.00 for this 1.5 liter bottle this is a deal. The dark berry and dark cherry flavor is pleasing and there is a hint of toasty oak. Now, this is not complex, it is pretty straight forward and simple. Did I mention it was only 10 bucks for this big bottle? A fine wine to open up for that party or just to enjoy over a few days. Yes, this wine will be good for a day or two after opening. Actually, I think this wine was better on the next day.

Buy: yes, if you can find it.

I purchased it at the Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan.

2007 CEV Chardonnay Musque

12.4% Abv
Colio Estate Vineyards
Harrow, Ontario, Canada

This has a big apple profile. There is a slight tartness of a green apple on the palate mixed with the freshness of a Fuji apple. I also like that peach like taste. The spice from the acidity keeps things interesting.

Buy: Pick up a bottle.

visit: coliowinery.com

Bry Estate Off-Dry Riesling 2007: Tasting

Bry Estate Winery is located in Traverse City, Michigan, USA. This 13% abv white wine has a very soft straw like color. The aroma is fresh fruit and the taste follows. The white peach taste makes for a nice summer day drink. There is a slight citrus note and delicate spice. Overall, a refreshing white wine that would pair well with salad, shellfish or white fish. I enjoyed this bottle with a shrimp pasta dinner.

Fess Parker 2008 Chardonnay: Review

Santa Barbara County

Fess Parker Winery

On the bottle, ‘Flavors of ripe apple, butter, lemon and melon are perfectly balanced with light toasty oak on the palate.’

They always have a really good written description on their bottles of wine. As a wine drinker I really appreciate a well written description. First, it can help me in the selection of the wine. Then, if I have not had the wine before, it prepares me for some or all of the flavors I am going to experience.

To me this Chardonnay has a nice green apple taste and a slight lemon taste. The lemon is not bitter like ‘lemon rind,’ or puckering like ‘lemon juice.’ It is a very pleasing lemon taste. I could not place the other notes so, that is when I checked the list on the bottle. Melon and butter was left that I did not get.

First the butter, I don’t get it except for a descriptor of the mouthfeel – ‘buttery smooth’. The mouthfeel is smooth like butter. When I started thinking about the melon note that was the other flavor that I could not place. To me it is like a honey dew melon.

This is a perfect white wine for a hot summer day. Very fresh tasting notes and a fine smooth texture to please your palate.

Dizzy Daisy Michigan White Wine 2008: Review

Dizzy Daisy Winery and Vineyard
Bad Axe, Michigan

This 11% abv white wine has a very nice fresh fruit aroma and a light straw appearance.

The fruit flavor is just wonderful on a summer day. The pear, nectarine, white peach, green grapes, with a light touch of lime in the background are some of the flavors this wine has to offer. I would recommend this wine as a must buy.

I plan to make a visit to this winery this week or next and I’ll have to find out more about this ‘White Wine.’ I also hope they have some left to sell.

Smith and Hook 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon: Tasting

I bought this wine while I was out to dinner. This wine went well with dinner. It is not a big Cabernet and did not come across as being complex. When I got home and I had just the wine by itself I then got to experience the true flavors.

By itself there was a stronger bell pepper and a cherry flavor. This was an interesting combination. Actually, I was starting to think I really didn’t like this wine. Then, I decided to have some cheese and a cigar with the wine. The flavor of the wine was better again. There was a better berry flavor to mix with the cherry notes. The bell pepper profile was still there but, not as noticeable.

This wine needs to be paired up with something. By itself I found it ‘strange interesting’ and with food it was at least ok.

Buy: I am Iffy on this one. I would say find another Cab.

Pink Peppercorn

Pink pepper is not related to black pepper. It is not even a peppercorn. Pink pepper is native to Brazil. The aroma is aromatic compared to black peppers pungent smell or white peppers musky smell. The taste of this berry is sweet and mild. When I tasted the pink peppercorn I remember being surprised with the sweet taste. This is good to grind over your filet mignon or pork tenderloins, according to gourmetsleuth.com. Now the guy at Spice Merchants told me it is not good to leave the pink peppercorns in a grinder (all pink being used) because they have more moisture in them compared to the black pepper family. So, they do not grind up as nice as real peppercorns. That is way we see them mixed in with the other peppercorns and not by themself.