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.  

Bowers Harbor 2010 Riesling Block II: Review

90 degrees outside makes the bottle sweat a little

Old Mission Peninsula

Bowers Harbor Vineyards

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Bowersharbor.com

12% abv

$20.00 a bottle

I tried this yesterday and doing the review today.

Appearance: pale yellow

Aroma: faint floral and mild citrus meat,

Flavors: the citrus bite is bigger than I was expecting, lemon mineral water with an extra squeeze on the lemon, once in a while I think a note of some other fruit shows up but, the lemon just dominates. 

Mouthfeel: pucker power, acidic, very dry, like biting on a lemon wedge

To the Point: I thought my taste buds were off yesterday and thought I needed to wait one more day to review this … it is a lemon drop.  I had to stop after one glass yesterday because the acidic nature of this Riesling started to bother me.  I think I’ll cook some shrimp and scallops with the remainder of this bottle.  Not what I think of as a Riesling.  Maybe with this high acidity this Riesling could be aged and the flavor profile may mellow with time.  

Bry's Estate Pinot Grigio 2010

Bry’s Estate Vineyard and Winery

Old Mission Peninsula

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Brysestate.com

13.5% abv

$22.00

Appearance: straw

Aroma: delicate citrus notes

Flavors: lemon is the main profile here along with a touch of orange meat.

Mouthfeel: light and refreshing for that summer day that calls for a white wine.

Arcturos 2010 Pinot Gris: Review

Black Star Farms

Old Mission

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Montague Estate, Capella and Mountana Rusa Vineyards

Blackstarfarms.com

$18.00 a bottle

12% abv

Here is what they say on the bottle: “… crisp and refreshing with distinctive fig, melon and white flowers in its aroma and pronounced ‘slate’ on the palate.”

Appearance: yellow diamond.  This is as close to water in color without being water.  Okay, there is a very slight yellow hue. 

Aroma: you may have to swirl the glass to pick the aroma up.  Very delicate with fresh honeydew melon on the nose.

Flavors: fresh melon, mineral water that reminds me of mountain stream water washing over some stones, a little lemon twist but ever so slight, citrus on the aftertaste and lingers in the back of the palate. 

Mouthfeel: very crisp and delicate

To the Point: I wish I had a few bottles to age another one to three years.  This is a near perfect summer time white wine on a hot summer day.  Too bad they don’t have this vintage anymore.  But, good news the 2011 is on the market.  Looking forward to getting there this summer.  

Bry's Estate Pinot Noir / Riesling: Review

No vintage date found on bottle

Bry’s Estate Vineyard and Winery

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Blend: 73% Pinot Noir; 27% Riesling

Brysestate.com

12% abv

$14.99

Appearance: liquid strawberry

Aroma: light red fruits like strawberry and pomegranate mixed with a hint of melon and fresh pear.  

Flavors: a little more tropical like than I expected.  A little acidic pineapple twang, red fruits similar to the nose,

Mouthfeel: a refreshing and lightly sweetened red fruit style on the delivery with the tropical notes hitting my mid-palate with that acidic pineapple tone on the back.

There is also a tart note playing in the back of the palate.  Nice balance.

To the Point: have to say it again; I am not a fan of rose or red and white blends.  BUT, and as you can see that is a big but, I think I like this one.  I like the red fruits and the light strawberry sweet/tart aftertaste. 

On their web site they say to have this with BBQ.  Well, it’s summer, so go pick up a bottle and light up the grill.  

Wine Bottle Cooler: Review

I bought this wine cooler for around 20 bucks last December.  In January I did this test to see how well it actually works.  I had two bottles or Riesling from Blue Water Winery (one Dry and the other Semi-Dry) and I placed one in the cooler and left the other just sitting on the counter.  The house temperature was 66 degree on that January night.  I poured each one into a glass and measured the temperature on the half hour for a total of 2 hours.  So, let’s see if this helps to keep your bottle cooler than just sitting out on the counter. 

I opened the bottles at 8:00pm

The Semi-Dry poured at 46 degrees

The Dry poured at 47 degrees

Half Hour Later

The Semi-Dry (in the cooler) poured at 50 degrees

The Dry poured at 51 degrees

One Hour Later

The Semi-Dry (in the cooler) poured at 51 degrees

The Dry poured to the temperature of 56 degrees

One and One Half Hour Later

Semi-Dry 52 degrees

Dry 60 degrees

Two Hours

Semi-Dry 53 degrees

Dry 63 degrees

Two hours later the bottle in the wine cooler saw a temperature increase of 7 degrees, while the bottle just sitting on the counter increased 16 degrees.

I did not handle either bottle in-between the times.  I did drink each little pour of wine with some help from my wife. 

I started using this wine cooler for my large (750ml) bottles of beer and I have to say I was impressed. 

I am planning to do this experiment again on a warm/hot summer day.  So, stay tuned.  

Click here to read about the wines in this posting
Blue Water Dry Riesling
Blue Water Semi-Dry Riesling

Blue Water Dry Riesling 2009: Review

Blue Water Winery

Carsonville, Michigan, USA

In the Thumb of Michigan 

Bluewaterwinery.com

12% abv

$14.00

Appearance: Light straw with a yellow hue

Aroma: green apple

Flavors: green apple tartness, citrus zip with a lemony touch

Mouthfeel: very dry and has a little pucker power.

To the Point: if you like it dry, this should work for you.  

Blue Water Semi-Dry Riesling 2009: Review

Blue Water Winery

Bluewaterwinery.com

Carsonville, Michigan, USA

12% abv

$14.00

Appearance: light straw

Aroma: green apple and a hint of cat pee.

Cat pee is an old term that they don't use anymore. I think they call it guava now.  

Flavors: a mix of green and red delicious apple flavors, touch of pear and a hint of sweet nector

Mouthfeel: it lives up to the name ‘semi-dry’

To the Point: I would try this again.  A decent Riesling for the money.