WineJava: Basic Wine Knowledge

Wine Review "Bogle"

2008-05-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Region: Clarksburg & Lodi CA
Type: Petite Sirah
Producer: Bogle Vineyards
Vintage: 2006

Tasting Notes
The voluptuous finish lingers with toasty oak and lush fruit. The firm tannins make this a wine that can develop for years to come. It has an earth touch and firm anise spice. A softer body and open on contact. Great for meals.

Form and Whiff:
Immediate berry infusion along with touches of black pepper and herbs. Long legs and deep plum color complete wine in both aroma and sight.

Overall Performance:
3 out of 10 – A unique wine good with rich meat dishes of lamb, pork or game and their hearty sauces. Sometimes not as complete of a wine and stronger n the earth side with an over bearing anise flavor.

Wine Review "Robert Mondavi Private Selection - Vinetta"

2008-05-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Region/Origin: California
Varietal/Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend Percentage: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 11% Petite Sirah, 5% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2005

Tasting Notes:
Pleasantly dry with fruit forward flavors. Blueberries with a soft sweet strawberry refreshing taste. Enjoyable consistently open and softly spiced. A smooth, plush texture, well balanced mid-palate flavors and a longer finish wonderfully integrated with its yielding tannins and savory oak tones.

Form and Whiff:
It presents a lavish dark plum, black cherry and blackberry aromas. It is a complex color which is reveled by its blend of dark toned grapes. Complete almost a rich French appeal and contour. To top off this wine its gentle oak aroma suspends its quality.

Overall Performance.
4 out of 10: Great match or any table. A good value which bouts well with hearty foods such as grilled rib-eye or porterhouse, lamb chops, also a treat with strong cheeses.

Wine Review "Claret" Dimond Collection Francis Coppola

2008-05-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

Region: Napa and Sonoma CA
Producer: Francis Ford Coppola
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot
Vintage: 2005

Taste:
Ripe fruitful tannins that are combined for a warm and complete result. A delicate complexity of spice that onsets of pepper and nutmeg delightful yet structured into the wine. This wine is a five Bordeaux varietals blend — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The varieties range from both Napa and Sonoma regions.

Form and Whiff:
A dark milky magenta almost like a exploded dark ink from a pen. Plum with blackberry and sweetened coco aroma. Very pleasant.

Overall Performance:
4 out of 10 – Without question an enjoyable wine. Great deal of complexity that is unmasked as you learn more about the wine. Complimentary to many dishes and perfect on warm, sunny night.

Wine Review "Columbia Crest"

2008-05-07T22:10:00.000-07:00

Region: Columbia Valley
Producer: Columbia Crest
Type: Merlot – Cabernet
Vintage: 2003

Taste:
Fruit first with spice to follow a clean leaning toward blackberry and cherry fruit flavors. The spice pursue balanced with vanilla and pepper slumber. Open spices that are pleasant and enjoying.

Form and Whiff:
A delicate color light and crisp with slow disappearance of color. Hints of spice and cumber fruit aroma are the distinguishing factors from the wines aroma.

Overall Performance:
1 out of 10 – Not even a wine I would recommend to wash dishes with! Granted this is a cheaper wine it still had little spunk – maybe just my mood! Anyway the overall performance was sub par and for the age it did little to trill me.

To Andy's Last Day!

2008-04-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

Countdown To Andy's Last Day

Wine Review "Felsina Berardenga"

2008-04-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

Region: Castelnuovo Berardenga
Producer: Felsina Berardenga
Type: Sangiovese
Vintage: 2003

Tasting Notes:
Elegantly fruity flavors finished with a pepper and black cherry. Marked scents of wild red berries mixed with spices. A dryness that is permissible to the palate and shows excellent fruit supported by giving tannins. Long finish to and a well balance body to do so.

Form and Whiff:
Deep, attractive ruby red color that is completed with a fruity nose. Fat legs and deep color throughout the wine giving no signal of young age.

Overall:
4.5 out of 10 – Great complement to seafood a winner at any table but challenging to compress the wine and enjoy to the fullest without surroundings. A quality Chianti but not the best.

Wine Review "Hartford Court" Pinot Noir

2008-04-24T20:38:00.000-07:00

Producer: Hartford Court (Land’s Edge Vineyards)
Region: Sonoma Coast
Type: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2005

Tasting Notes:
Soft refreshing complex flavor mixed with perfectly ripe, firm black cherries, mixed red and black berries. The tannins are clean and soothing with a cedar smoky finish. All collected wine that has violet concentration and a permitting presence that is great in this pinot. Body has a range and reach to deliver the flavors and pleasure on the palate.

Form and Whiff:
Think lively legs smooth and straight. A light filtering presence showing off its softness. Pleasantful and dark with an allspice and coffee blended with a smoky aroma.

Overall:
5 out of 10 – Great blend of spice and fruity flavors a good body that finish well and a great wine for spring and summer food pairings.

Wine Review "Francis Coppola Pinot Noir"

2008-04-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

Region: Sonoma CA
Producer: Francis Coppola
Type: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2006
Additional Notes: Diamond Collection “Silver Label”

Tasting Notes:
Musty smoky start with a spice after finish this is a vibrant blend between spice and fruit. The contents are a collection of cherry, cranberry and a mystic spice. Tannins are nimble and the finish on this wine is extremely lengthy. Well complied Pinot that stands apart from Oregon Pinot yet has the body and flavor to compete.

Form and Whiff:
French oak aromas completed with a black peppery aroma. The wine is remarkably dark, which is not typical for this vintage and varietal. It cultivates its aromatics and impressive concentration, due to the soils and workman ship in the wine and vineyards.

Overall Performance:
4 out of 10- Well enjoyed wine. Great with a variety of dinners or soft enough to enjoy by itself. I would recommend for any modest cellar and a wine that will age well. A wonderful summer wine with the ideal collection of qualities to enjoy on a summer day.

Wine Review "MacMurray Ranch"

2008-04-13T04:30:00.000-07:00

Region: Russian River Valley
Type: Pinot Noir
Producer: MacMurray Ranch
Vintage: 2006

Taste: Concentrated fruit flavors evident red and black fruits. Deep black cherry complimented by a busting oak rich flavor giving this point a depth to the finish. Enjoyable pinot that is tasteful and moderate body for delightful experiences with food pairings or just by itself. Only downfall is the powerful alcohol expectation from the wine.

Form and Whiff:
The earthy aroma of clove and spice first impact your delights. Followed by the oak aging this whiff is pleasing and whole. Have fun gazing at this pinot. You can see the completeness in the color and texture of this wine.

Overall Performance:
4 out of 10- a fun pinot for sure you can indulge in many aspects of this wine. From the color to form of the wine you will find it pleasurable and cost friendly. Can be complimented with pairings but I could list them out. Here is the producer’s website for more great info on the wine: http://www.macmurrayranch.com/PinotNoir.asp

Wine Review "St. Francis Blend"

2008-04-12T15:48:00.000-07:00

Region: Sonoma
Type: Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon
Producer: St. Francis Winery and Vineyard

Taste: Light refreshing blend that is balanced with spicy berry and cherry flavors complemented with soft tannins. Almost a bust of cherry cask that is light bodied and sharp.

Form and Whiff:
Soft ruby color that is colorless at the end of the strain. A barrel aroma close to a cherry smell.

Overall Performance:
3 out of 10- Not at the top of my wine list. A fine sipping wine but unlike many of the St. Francis wines I have read about it is not a food pairing wine. Plus I had very hard time finding information about the wine. I had tried it at a restaurant and needed some additional information for the review but had little luck finding any.

Wine Review "Gallo Wine"

2008-04-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

Region: Twin Valley California
Producer: Gallo Family Vineyards
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2006

Taste Notes:
So…. A major disappointment! I know I didn’t pay much for the wine but still maybe live up to what the label states.

From the Gallo site:
“A dark red, robust wine featuring a subtle coffee bean aroma, ripe blackberry fruit flavor, and a supple finish.”

There is nothing robust about this wine. It does not have a full body and its true character is bland and tangles. The blackberry flavors and oak barrel ageing is evident but poorly presented in the wine. Personally I would consider this a red bottle of water than a wine. It is not outgoing and featuring as the producer states.

Form and Whiff:
I guess on the positive side of the wine its aroma is excellent with a great oak radiance that is complemented by the rich berry sweetness. On the appearance and form of the wine it presents the a youthful color that is clear as water near the rim and evident thick legs finish this wines appeal.

Overall Performance:
2 out of 10- Just an overall disappointment and truly the producer should reflect the back of the bottle if you want others to report a positive or neutral review. At least don’t say it is robust and full bodied wine when it is not.

Wine Review "Kendall Jackson Merlot"

2008-04-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Region: Santa Rosa, CA
Producer: Kendall-Jackson Vineyard
Type: Merlot
Vintage: 2004

*** So before I review this wine I have to put out an advisory about why I purchased and even tried the wine. This review on the state of Merlots is what attracted me to this Kendall-Jackson. Please read first if you’re interested in learning more about the changing environment of merlots.

Tasting Notes:

A sudden burst of anise which casually gives way for the excellent refreshing black cherry and plum blossom happening as you enjoy. A complexity of flavors wonderfully mixed with a spice finish. A Complete wine with soft tannins and mid body that has been aged well for opening today and in merlot tradition aged in American oak barrels.

Form and Whiff:

Full oak freshness with a purest and balanced aroma from the aging in oak barrels and sweetness of cherry. A complete plum tone and clean calm color throughout the glass. Fat legs that are well presented in a great contexture of wine.

Overall Performance:
6 out of 10– So this is a Merlot! A complexity of flavor that is mixed well for enjoyment with meals or just an evening of drinking wine, I would say this is the reason so many wine drinkers have fallen in love with wine. Merlot’s that are full yet subtle in offering a pure flavor and satisfaction of well spent money.

Wine Review "True Earth"

2008-04-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

Region: Mendocino County
Producer: True Earth
Organic Grown Grapes
Red Blend – Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Petite Siarh

Taste Notes:
A medium-bodied wine - this red blend echoes of blackberry and rhubarb on the nose with a light spicy finish on the palate. Soft tannins that create a cooling effect revealing the flavors and the unique blend on grapes in the wine.

Appearance and Aroma:

A heavy deep plum that resumes the cabernet character yet a quietness of complete texture assimilating the nature of the blend. A well blended appearance. Aroma that is complement and reveling the spice and almost intoxicating personality of the wine.

Overall Performance:

3 out of 10: Not en enjoyable dinner wine but great as a sipping wine among friends. I found the involvedness of the wine hard to enjoy with other items at the table and would have preferred the wine by it self.

Personal Vineyard

2008-04-02T20:26:00.001-07:00

They always say money doesn’t grow on trees! I guess there is also some truth to: money doesn’t grow on vines! Our wealthy upper class and typically older retired aged wine enthusiast are buying up the mini-vineyard market. Something that so many people dream about but often cannot afford considering acres on most US vineyard run in the ten’s of thousands. However this reality is becoming true in countries like Argentina and Romania (Eastern Europe). Although the dollar is not what it use to be it still goes a long way in some Latin and developing counties. This is now making personal vineyards and dreams a reality.

This past weekend an interesting article about buying vineyards became an eye opening view of the hardships one can endure pursuing dreams. Vineyards cost money and lost of investment in time and labor. So much investment is being placed into these often self sustaining but non profiting ventures.

The realization I have come to is when will too many vineyards cost in terms of demand on wine? Can you truly turn a profit or sustain a mini-vineyard when everyone around you has the same grape and the same product? Why create this novelty to be placed in a suburb of vineyards? Is not the joy of wine - its unique ability to be different, stand out from the pack, and honor the tradition all at once? Can mini-vineyards do this and if not why have them? These questions are not posed as a threat on dreams but to create a better market for wine. The welfare of wine is as good as the variables in it and with more small shops with no niche are we really doing any good?

Wine Review "WAWA White"

2008-03-29T19:38:00.000-07:00

Region: Grandview, Wa
Producer: WA. WA. Wines
Vintage: 2004

Taste:
Light soothing tannins that deliver a mid body flavor. Refreshing spring wine that is complements with a wood barrel aging to it. Full vibrant smell with thin light tannins. Overall tasting is refreshing and complete.

Overall Performance:
3 our of 10- An elegant drinking/table wine that is great on a spring evening. Also a complement to most meals. Light red meats and other fish and meats.

Wine Review "Tiziano"

2008-03-27T20:23:00.001-07:00

Producer: Tiziano

Type: Chianti “Sangiovese”

Region: Tuscany

Vintage: 2005

Taste:

A perfume aroma that radiates a presence of excellence. Slight hints of berry and youthful body that carries little flavor. After opening the wine you can since its presence but truly only time will serve this wine best!

Appearance:

Light plum color throughout! Very much a delicate color and long thin runny legs complete the age and appearance of this Chianti.

Overall Performance:

3 out of 10 – Maybe it was my own fault for this wines performance. Impatience can ruin a wine. I am sure with a few years of cellar life this wine would grow into the fine taste we have appreciated from Tiziano Chianti. Both 2001 and 2003 were fabulous years for the Tiziano and at reasonable prices I would suggest those vintages over the 2005 unless you plan to hold the wine.

Wine Review "Louis Martini"

2008-03-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Producer: Louis Martini

Type: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Sonoma Valley

Vintage: 2003

Taste:

Light tannins with a deep plum and blackberry flavors. The vanilla from the oak makes a perfect blend between flavors. A mid body that tingles as it slowly evolves it balance of tobacco and coffee.

Appearance:

Very ruby red with a deep full color. The radiance of age is even throughout the tone of the wines color. A well established deep color that is presentable and pleasing to the eye.

Overall Performance:

5 out of 10 – This is a great American cuisine wine. Its mid range yet fuller feel is perfectly balanced with many American dishes. This is a common wine at traditional American restaurants and its character fits this type of establishment. I would say on the whole it is a pleasing experience with the expected flavors and tastes you would come to anticipate form a traditional American cab.

Italy's Finest Wine - Barolo

2008-03-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

This past weekend the NPR show "The Splendid Table" aired an interview with Lettie Teague, an editor at Wine and Food magazine. The interview was based on her article entitled "Is Barolo Still Italy's Greatest Wine?" found in the September 2007 issue of Food and Wine magazine. The article addressed one of Italy's most famous wines. Although we dedicate our writing to basic and beginner wine knowledge, I enjoyed the interesting and detailed review on Barolo and how the demand for wine around the world has changed over time and economies (demand for wine around the world). For the common wine drinker like myself, Barolo would not even appear on our immediate list of wines to drink. In many cases this wine is on the high range of price (low 100's to 1000's) and often kept for many years before enjoyed. However this is still a perfect time to reveal the beauty of wine and its long history which is incessantly changing.

Barolo is from the Piemonte region of Italy, part of the North West corner of the county, and Barolo itself is a town and region within Piemonte. The tradition of Barolo was refined over hundreds of years ago by a Frenchman who took the wine to its current famous status of "King of Wines". As the King of Wines, Barolo has enjoyed many years of fame and standing. However the wine consumer of today has developed new respects for wine, many of them considered part of the modernist movement in wine. This divide between modernist and traditional wine making has become self evident in the Barolo producers of Piemonte. This modernist movement of fruity flavors and palatable pleasurable wine has transformed even the most traditional wines like Barolo. In this interview you hear Lettie describe this change as a crusade and battle between traditionalist and modernists.

For new wine drinkers I would recommend listing to her interview and her experience with the changes to wine. As with many other great desired indulgences fashion and trend often take hold of the market. Take a hard look at your style of pleasure with wine. Reach for what is truly yours and reach out to the producers and care takers of your style. As economies and trends push wines in mass markets toward palatable and high consumption trends, new and old wine drinkers around the world will have to prepare accordingly.

Wine Review "CK Mondavi"

2008-03-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Overall Performance:
2 out of 10- A fun wine if you have a large group gathering and the wine experience is not important. Enjoyed with few pairings like salad and dips.
Region: St. Helena, CA - WildCreek Canyon
Vineyard: CK Mondavi
Vintage: 2005
Type: Merlot

Taste:
Mid body light cherry flavor with a slow finish that is both refreshing and standard. Not a punching wine but cleanly a table wine which is soft and flat.

Color:
Deep plum color with soft thin tannins and a running water look with nice food coloring.

Overall Performance:
2 out of 10- A fun wine if you have a large group gathering and the wine experience is not important. Enjoyed with few pairings like salad and dips.

Wine Review "Nipozzano"

2008-03-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Region: Tuscany Italy (Firenze)
Type: Chianti Rafina (Reserva)
Vintage: 2002
Vineyard: Frescobaldi Nipozzano

Taste
This 11th century vineyard from Tuscany which grows in the Sangiovese region has acclaimed Chianti’s. The 2002 vintage has a Full bodied layered taste of fruit and a long sensation when finished. This wine is a true value within the midrange Chianti options.

Appearance
Deep purple tone thought this wine has surly hit a prime in ageing and can be enjoyed at any occasion. The color tone is evident throughout the wine and its silky tannins possess the flavor of blueberry, blackberry and vanilla. The red ruddy like color is extend both flavor and aroma in the intense beauty of this wine.

Overall Performance
6 out of 10 - An excellent value if you see this wine on your store shelf BUY IT! The value is there and its shelf life is close to an end. Enjoy this bottle soon.

Merlot Where Have You Gone?

2008-03-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

This Friday the Wall Street Journal columnist’s Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher reached their 10th year anniversary. They often say that with age comes wisdom, many of the recommendations and reviews shared by their columns have blossomed the common mans wine vocabulary, we thank them and solute them to many more years.

In Friday’s column they revisited the Merlot and focused on the midrange varieties that you can still pick up at the local store. The instant realization they came to was that so much of the selection was bottled in poor taste. I am not referring to the packaging but the contents inside. However over time they discovered a few shining starts and they certainly are not what you would expect.

The Kendall-Jackson “Grand Reserve” 2004 and 2005 where two wines that climbed the mountain. And we mean this literally – The producers of the wine stated that many of the grapes grown for merlot had been on mountain slopes. This seems to be the perfect location for merlot production in the Kendall-Jackson vintage. Overall it seems from both this column and much of my resent experience with merlot that many of the recent producers are sacrifice quality for notoriety of name. This may soon come back to haunt them as almost all producers in American have a merlot!

My question is when will the old days of merlot return? This truly exquisite yet affordable wine of American must take its place on the grand stage again. For so many years we have permitted wine producers to exploit our trust in the name of merlot.

Wine Review "The Reserve [Yellow Tail]"

2008-03-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

Vineyard: Casella Wines
Region: Wakley Road, Yenda, New South Wales, Australia
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005 (The Reserve)
Brand: Yellow Tail

Taste
A spice infusion with a burst of mint and oak finish: The aromas are softened by the berry blend of black cherry and a complex connection with vanilla. Clearly a wine which establishes its taste, while keeping its refreshing light dryness. Much care has been given to this Australia mate!

Appearance
Spotty think tannins with a lighted cherry color not full throughout the wine. Evidence of youthfulness in both color and body of the wine. I would suggest one to two more year of cellar life would do this reserve some good.

Performance
4 out of 10 – A well enjoyed wine that is classy and a step beyond the typical yellow tail your college friends bring. A complement to roasted meats including duck or tenderloin.

Wine Review "Meridian"

2008-03-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

Vineyard: Meridian
Region: St. Helena And Napa California
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005

Remarks
Bold fruit filled southing blend with a refreshing finish. A sold spice with approaches the pallet carefully and with pleasure. A plum tingle and a hint of peach round the fruity flavors. Invisible tannins that give way to the fruity burst of enjoyment.

Appearance:
Wise aged color throughout the wine with a youthful expression of lightened red. Thin silky legs giving the wine a sophisticate appearance.

Overall Performance:
5.5 out of 10- great youthful wine! Recommended for easter or passover with lamb or tender yet flavorful cut of meat. Fine for dinner or a evening glass of wine. Great car is taken in producing this wine which is clear in the overall taste and enjoyment.

Wine Review "Estancia"

2008-03-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

Vineyard: Lucia Range Ranches
Producer: Estancia Monterey
vintage: 2004
Type/Grape: Merlot

“This 2004 vintage embodied a variety of weather patterns. The early part of the season was cool with a punctuated period of warm weather. Those warm periods happened to coincide with the bloom for much of the Merlot, which is particularly delicate at that time.” From producer!

Appearance
A bright yet deep red tone color Merlot with soft and content flavors. A blend of spices that never takes hold yet slowly delivers its concentrated flavor.

Overall Performance
2.5 out of 10- Not a robust or powerful flavored wine may be due to the weather patterns described by the producer. Pairing is difficult and best suited for table enjoyment.

WiNe FoOd Scam???

2008-03-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

Ohh sure you don't want to think its true! Could someone possibly take advantage of a hard working middle aged couple looking for nice meal paired with a complimenting wine. Once you dig deeper into the art of paring you soon realize that is it not as simply as an educated guess. At the moment you try this fine suggestion of a wine the wait staff proliferates how well the wine fits there braised pork tenderloin.

------ Let the truth be told -------

our friends at vinography have outlined the common misconceptions with wine paring's!