Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2010: Review

Justin Vineyards and Winery

Paso Robles, California, USA

Justinwine.com

13.9% abv

The 2010 vintage has a new look to the bottle … no label.  Personally, I like the old label.

Appearance: deep and dark purple body with a ruby rim

Aroma: bountiful dark berries and nice spice with a vanilla caramel note

Flavors: black current, touch of tart cherry, an interesting touch of cedar wood.  I say interesting because it was aged in American oak barrels for 18 months.  

Mouthfeel: a little tart feel probably coming from the tannins, could use another year of aging for this wine to excel, it was just bottled in April and May of 2012 so it has only been in the bottle for five months at the time of this review, medium body, 

Black Star Arcturos Sur Lie Chardonnay 2011: Review

Black Star Farms

Old Mission

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Blackstarfarms.com

Isidor’s Choice and Capella Vineyards

$22.99 a bottle From Bavarian Inn Frankenmuth

They are overpriced for it should be around $16.00

13% abv

Appearance: very light straw

Aroma: citrus skin, pear, and mineral water

Flavors: citrusy acidity, a tangy grapefruit peel tantalizes the tongue; crisp apple and white grape to add a little balance, nice touch of floral, lingering tart feel on the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: the acidity is very crisp from start to finish

To the Point: this might be a nice one to age a few years; the acidity should mellow with time and the flavors should shine.

Twist off cap

   

L Mawby Conservancy: Review

Extra Dry Sparkling Wine

Methode Champenoise

L. Mawby

Leelanau Peninsula

Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA

12% abv

$21.99 Westborn Market

Lmawby.com

Cuvee 189

en tirage - May 2010

degorgement - January 2011

The Detroit Tigers are heading to the World Series so I had to open this bottle and enjoy a little bubbly like the players are doing in the club house.  Go TIGERS!  Forgive me for all the things I said about you during the regular season.  Well, they did look like crap at times during the regular season.

How about the TV announcers talking about those Tigers and how they came together and played great baseball in the post season - Oh, they didn't! All we heard in the last two or three innings of the game was all about the Yankee Stankees.

The Detroit Tiger were up to bat in the 8th inning and there was dead silence while Young was batting.  To break the dead silence they had to chime in about Derek Jeter.  REALLY - the Detroit Tigers are heading to the World Series and three outs away and they bring up Jeter.  These announces will probably go to the Yankees room after the game and hang out with those losers because they love them.       

Appearance: light straw, nice head, plenty of bubbles

Nose: nice sweet fruits; apples, pear,

Flavors and Mouthfeel: tart apple, sweet pear, dry lemon bread, very dry on the palate and finish, smooth with a fine fizzy feel

To the Point: a nice bubbly for the price, set up the fruit and chocolate fountain and this should be a winner.  

2009 Treana Red

Treana Winery

Hope Family Wines

Paso Robles, California, USA

Blend: 70% Cab Sauvignon; 30% Syrah

15% abv

I don’t have my receipt but, I think it was around $40.00 a bottle

Appearance: deep garnet

Aroma: dark berries, that remind me of black currant and boysenberry, little brown spice,

Flavors: the black currant comes through, dark berries, little tart cherry, and a little dusting of brown spice

Mouthfeel: smooth, stylish, classy mouthfeel.  Firm body.  The tannins seem under control.  The flavors seem to linger on the palate. 

To the Point: a very pleasing wine to drink.  Factor in the price and it is worth what you are paying for.  

Ramos Pinto Porto 20 Years

Twany Port

No Vintage on Bottle

Quinta do Bom Retiro

Produced and bottled by:

Adriano Ramos Pinto

Portugal

19.5% abv

750ml bottle

Appearance: shiny copper with amber edges

Aroma: nutty for sure, reminds me of almond and hazelnut, also vanilla and oak, brown spice, toasted caramel,

Flavors: roasted caramel, roasted almond, touch of hazelnut, dried cherries and candied fruit, oak backbone with toasted vanilla shining through,

Mouthfeel: smooth, the alcohol is not showing (have to be careful for it is tasty), touch of sweetness on the delivery, dry on the mid and finish, pleasing complexity, 

Isidor’s Choice 2009 Blanc de Noir

Sparkling Wine

Leelanau Peninsula

BlackStarFarms.com

Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA

100% Pinot Noir

12% abv

$22.00 a bottle

I reviewed this Sparkling Wine back in the middle of summer.

Appearance: bridal blush pink

Aroma: bubbles tickle the nose, dusty grapes,

Flavors and Mouthfeel: the first thing I notice is the effervescence and then the dry mouthfeel, hint of muskmelon with a touch of strawberry, lightly tart cranberry, with a pinch of pink peppercorn

To the Point: I don’t know about having this sparkling wine on a hot summer day like today (95 degrees with 80+ humidity).  I wanted something different on this hot day and this has been sitting there waiting to be selected for at least six months.  I thought a little sparkling wine might go well on a hot day.  I don’t think the dry mouthfeel fits the bill.  Save this for a cool fall night. 

I do like this sparkling wine just not on a hot day.  

Peninsula Cellars 2010 Dry Riesling: Review

Peninsula Cellars

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Old Mission Peninsula

12.5% abv

$15.00 a bottle

Appearance: yellow crystal

Aroma: soon as I opened the bottle I knew I was going to like it.  First off I did not smell straight out lemon.  I am soooo tired of lemon.  A lot of the beers I had this summer and spring had a lemon note, some stronger than others, and then when I would have a white wine guess what note was prominent you got it lemon.  So, I had to read this bottle first before opening and I did not see the word lemon.  It did had lime but, no lemon.  Back to the aroma: tropical fruit all right; mango, white peach, Fuji apple, pineapple acidity,

Flavors: apple, green apple, summer stone fruit, touch of tangerine and a dose of lime. 

Mouthfeel: crisp notes, there seems to be an ever so slight watery edge that hits the tip of the tongue but, right after that ‘tip’ it is nothing but dry baby. 

To the Point: between the aroma and the flavors this is a real treat.  This would be good with white fish.  I love shark, tuna, and swordfish and I think this would be good with the pineapple, mango, and ginger sauce I make to put on my swordfish.  

Concha Y Toro Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009: Review

Serie Riberas

Conchaytoro.com

Product of Chile

I picked this bottle up at a restaurant on their half off a bottle Wednesday special.  I think it cost me $16.00.  I have not had Concha Y Toro in a long long time. 

Appearance: nice garnet body with a ruby edge.

Nose: dark berries and rich black soil earthy tone

Flavors: the dark berry style reminds me of blackberry and dark currants; a 60% dark chocolate like feel – a little creamy and semi-sweet;

Mouthfeel: nice acidity, tannins seem under control for this three year old, firm body, just on the edge of feeling jammy with each sip,

To the Point: to me – a typical Concha Y Toro Cab not complex (not a bad thing) but, damn tasty for the money.  The berry flavor is just right and it feels like it has some good body weight to it to make it feel like you are drinking a good wine.  And you are. 

I am enjoying this wine tonight (Thurday) with a La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro No. 4 Limited Edition.  Size: 5.25 x 54.  Guess what?  It truly is a Limited Edition.  So many cigars have on their labels ‘Limited Edition’ and they have been around for 5 or 50 years – they are on the shelf every day of the year.  I read somewhere that they ship out about 500 boxes, of each size, in December and July. 

This is one tasty cigar in my book.  Rich coffee bean; soil, Portobello mushroom, and wood earthy tones; toasty sweet grains; with a good dash of white peppercorn. There is a note swirling around that I just can’t put my finger on it – is it an herbal note or a floral note.  This is flavorful and smooth. 

This cigar paired extremely well with this Cabernet.  Both have an excellent body that complemented each other.  The dark berry flavors of the wine mingled well with the earthy tones of this cigar.  This was a very good medium-full bodied experience.  

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.  

David Bruce 2003 Petite Sirah: Review

Vineyard Designate Series

Davidbrucewinery.com

Paso Robles

Shell Creek Vineyard

14.8% abv

Looks like I have had this bottle around for a little while.  Time to review and drink it up.  I was not planning to review this bottle but, it tastes so damn good I might as well say some good things about this Petite Sirah.

Appearance: Deep purple almost black body with a purple rim. 

Aroma: rich black berries, pencil lead, some spice hitting the nose

Flavors: oh, juicy black berries that are just yummy, 85% like dark chocolate, a little earthy feel bringing it all together, hint of pepper late on the finish. 

Look at the dark purple end of the cork

Mouthfeel: smooth, almost creamy berry feel today, a little jammy feel is building on the palate here on the first glass.  Tannins are under control and the acidity works with the big berry taste.  I’ll bet this was a lot bolder four or five years ago.  

To the Point: I sure wish I had more of this 2003.  It is one tasty Petite Sirah now at nine years old.