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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.5 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 28 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Bill Martin on 9/4/2022 & rated 88 points: Well cellared. Cork getting a little soft but came out in one piece with a 2-prong cork pull. Barely detectable brown edge in the the glass. Youthful mostly Merlot nose with one brief whiff of Cab. No tannins remained, which together with all the fruit made it seem very youthful. Still very enjoyable with peppercorn crusted pan seared beef tenderloin filet. I'm looking forward to opening my newer vintages. (651 views) | | | Tasted by Snoman on 12/19/2012 & rated 88 points: Rich aromas and medium-dark garnet in glass, opens with typical cassis and black currant flavors, sweet oak and soft tannins in a pleasant, medium-bodied style. Light mouthfeel, and a medium finish. (4366 views) | | | Tasted by dkroc on 8/19/2012 & rated 91 points: Awesome. Enough said, was worried that it might of been past it's prime but it paired beautifully with a smoked brisket and German potato salad tonight. Velvety and smooth with firm tannins... I received this bottle as a gift and it was fantastic. (3839 views) | | | Tasted by snowstrm on 1/21/2012 & rated 95 points: Wow! This has become a real beauty. This wine shines from beginning to end, with a full body, but smooth; bright red fruit which explodes mid palate, without becoming too big or dominant; and a looong finish. Complex and smooth. I think this will get even better as the tannins smooth out a little more. Paired perfectly with roasted leg of lamb and stood up as an equal with the 2003 Opus One. Decanted 90 minutes, but definitely improved the longer it sat in the glass. (4064 views) | | | Tasted by winestine on 11/26/2011 & rated 89 points: ready to drink. drank without first decanting. A fair amount of black fruit but lacking the full character of some of the higher end california meritages. Still, a very nice wine. (4371 views) | | | Tasted by Wink on 10/18/2011 & rated 90 points: Clear dark garnet with a brick tint. Nose of dark fruit and vanilla with a hint of cherry, menthol, and earth. Ripe palate with currant, blackberry,vanilla, and an herbal note. Good length. Pleasant acidity. Mellow tannins. Velvety texture. My last bottle. Addendum: after three days, this wine was drinking exceptionally well. (4006 views) | | | Tasted by LCHammer on 6/5/2011 & rated 82 points: I usually love Cyrus but this was disappointing. Seemed like all merlot - tannic/acidic but no cab fruit. It wasn't corked but maybe was a bad bottle. I recommend that drink any you have now. I'll still be looking forward to my 06/07's. (1646 views) | | | Tasted by Wink on 7/9/2010 & rated 90 points: Translucent purple with reddish rim. Open nose of plum, fig, smoke, and celery. Ripe medium palate of dark fruit, espresso, and olive. Excellent finish. Integrated oak - lighter on the palate than the nose. Supple tannins. Pleasant acidity. Very good to excellent wine that will last a bit longer in the cellar, but is unlikely to improve. (2222 views) | | | Tasted by Fozziedoggie on 8/12/2009 & rated 90 points: Luscious and unctuous (see review dated 4/24/2009)....guess I couldn't wait after all! (2620 views) | | | Tasted by brianngibson on 5/30/2009 & rated 90 points: Good solid Cab blend. Nice balanced oak and fruit. Really enjoyed this and reasonable QPR. (2554 views) | | | Tasted by Fozziedoggie on 4/24/2009 & rated 90 points: Nice Bordeaux blend, dark purple in color. Upon opening, very earthy smells; great mouth-feel (very velvety) with lush fruits. This wine got better and better in the glass, by 40 minutes later, much more complex and layered. Great wine that won't break the bank. I have one more bottle scheduled to drink sometime in 2010 -- can't wait. (2760 views) | | | Tasted by jwehner on 11/27/2007 & rated 90 points: had this with soy-seasoned rack of lamb, scalloped potatoes and brussel sprouts (cooked in shallots). it was perfect (3105 views) | | | Tasted by EMichels on 5/20/2007 & rated 84 points: Nose a little green; A good blend but a bit simple; 4-10-14-6 (3096 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Alexander Valley Vineyards Producer website
Alexander Valley Vineyards is owned and operated by the Harry Wetzel family. Founded in 1975, it is located on Cyrus Alexander's old homestead.
The Wetzel Family Estate now grows fourteen grape varieties, on diverse sites stretching from the banks of the Russian River up onto the hillsides. Each grape variety is matched to a specific soil type and exposure. Vineyard Manager Mark Houser and Winemaker Kevin Hall work as a team to maximize fruit flavor in the vineyard and to create balanced wines that capture the grapes’ varietal characteristics. Hank Wetzel oversees the vineyard and winery operations, and his wife Linda continues to oversee administration. Now the third generation of Wetzels has joined the winery. Harry Wetzel, IV is assistant winemaker while younger brother Robert is the National Sales Manager.
Alexander Valley Vineyards produces 100,000 cases annually, 17 varietal wines and proprietary blends. Seventy-five percent of AVV’s production is red wine. Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon constitute roughly half of total production. Other varietals include Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Gewurztraminer, Syrah, Sangiovese, Viognier, and Cabernet Franc.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Sonoma CountyMendocino CountyAlexander Valley Alexander Valley Winegrowers Association | Wikipedia
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