1/22/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Stuff: 100% Petit Verdot from Alice Vineyards
The Swirl: Dark inky plum with beautiful legs after heavy swirl
The Sniff: Slightly musty and earth smell. Pencil shavings and banana. Not overly fruity at first. Eventually opened up to express some flower (Violets I think).
The Sip: A very diverse tasting wine. It seemed to have different characteristics each time I sipped it. Started to pick up on the blackberry and it tasted floral and slightly sour cherries. Not tart on the back end and surprisingly smooth drinking.
The Score: At $30 retail, I score this wine a solid 4. I would buy it again because of the variety of flavor and how different it is compared to the majority of other Washington reds.

1/22/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Stuff: 100% Chardonnay from Connor Lee Vineyards with 100% Malolactic fermentation. Two months in French oak. 760 cases
The Swirl: Thicker viscosity, more pale yellow than a traditional CA Chardonnay.
The Sniff: Mild nose with hints of pear and honey
The Sip: Big and rich butter, vanilla and pear. No oak to speak of. Felt thick and meaty. Finished with a beautiful acidity that washed across the back of my mouth.
The Score: At a retail price of $12, this is a very well made Chardonnay. I score it a 4. So far this is one of the best "value" Chardonnay's that I've had. Kudo's, Mike!

1/19/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

Tasted as part of a flight at a restaurant.

2006 Cline Mourvedre, Ancient Vines, Contra Costa; $12

I’ve had several positive experiences with the Cline brand and this one was no exception. This wine was much smoother and had a nice strawberry tart taste with a hint of smoky oak. Discovering that the wine is only $12 means that this is one I would pick up to share with friends.

1/19/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2008 Pillsbury “Casa Blanca” Pinot Gris, Cochise County $20

The wine had an interesting minerality on the nose. The Pinot Gris’ that I’m used to usually have a very crisp apple, pear, and pineapple aroma. This was a very good wine that seems to be made in the traditional Italian wine making style. The sip provided some nice effervescence and reminded me of Champagne (w/o the bubbles). I would definitely buy it (if I could ever find it in our area).

1/19/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2008 Pillsbury “Casa Blanca” Pinot Gris, Cochise County $20

The wine had an interesting minerality on the nose. The Pinot Gris’ that I’m used to usually have a very crisp apple, pear, and pineapple aroma. This was a very good wine that seems to be made in the traditional Italian wine making style. The sip provided some nice effervescence and reminded me of Champagne (w/o the bubbles). I would definitely buy it (if I could ever find it in our area).

1/19/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

This wine was tasted as a flight in a dimly lit restaurant with other aromas.

Dark inkly color with scents of violets, lavendar and smokey spices. The smell was very purfume like. The sip presented cherry and a zesty spice. A definite score at only $10

1/15/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

This wine was enjoyed with a flight at a restaurant. The lighting was dim and there were other aromas.

Dark cherry color. The nose on this wine was moderate with some nice earth, leather, oak and cherry. The sip was smooth but a little disjointed. The finish was nice.

If I saw this wine in the store, I would buy it for a full tasting experience.

1/12/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Alexandria Nicole Gravity Merlot

The Swirl: Dark plum in the center with a light ruby at glass edge. No visible sign of legs
The Sniff: Spicy leather and cherries jubilee with some chocolate shavings on top.
The Sip: Good tannins but presented a mild hot alcohol on the back end. Not a typical smooth Merlot, had a big bold taste.
The Score: At $24, I score this a 3+. It's a well made wine but seemed a little off balance to score as a 4 or higher.

1/8/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Alexandria Nicole Gravity Merlot

The Swirl: Dark plum in the center with a light ruby at glass edge. No visible sign of legs
The Sniff: Spicy leather and cherries jubilee with some chocolate shavings on top.
The Sip: Good tannins but presented a mild hot alcohol on the back end. Not a typical smooth Merlot, had a big bold taste.
The Score: At $24, I score this a 3+. It's a well made wine but seemed a little off balance to score as a 4 or higher.

1/3/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Swirl: A dark purple brown color. Good aged looking wine.
The Sniff: Leather, earth, smoke, and then finally the sour cherry fruit. Nice smelling wine.
The Sip: This is a good complex wine that offers enough fruit (cherry and plum) with the smokey tobacco flavor. There is some minerality that keeps me from scoring this higher. This is a nicely aged wine that drank very well for 2 days. I found it interresting and offered a variety of flavors. Not huge on tannin but enough acid to eat with smoked beef, and even some hickory smoked salmon with a dark reduction of some sort.
The Score: At $20 retail, this wine easily gets a 4 from me. If you find it for under $15, buy more than one bottle.

1/3/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Swirl: A beautiful peach juice and honey color. Even on the swirl, I get the impression this is going to be like a nice light syrup
The Sniff: Intoxicating aroma of honey, tropical fruit, and a field of wild flowers
The Sip: Obviously as a dessert wine this is sweet. It is not overly done and has a nice balance on the back end. Could pair nicely with spicey food. I personally could only experience it in small 2-3 oz pours.
The Score: I'm a fan, but not a huge fan of this wine. If you like dessert wines, you'll love it. At $10 per 1/2 bottle, I score this a high 3+ (out of 5)

1/4/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Swirl: This dry Riesling has a nice yellow straw and honey color.
The Sniff: Apples, Pineapples and rose pedals oh my. Very aromatic wine. The sniff gives a hint of carbonation too.
The Sip: Very nice, slightly sweet but not over the top. Good sipping summer wine or pairing with Asian food, Sushi, or Thai food. The peaches and apples come off the palate. Moderate acidity to make your mouth water. A little aluminum on the back end throws off the balance.
The Score: At $12-$15 this is a very good Riesling, I score it a 4 (out of 5).

1/4/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Swirl: A nice bright purple with good clarity. Moderate legs with alcohol content at 14%
The Sniff: Good aroma of berries, cocoa, and a moderate touch of earthiness
The Sip: A good flavor but slightly unbalanced at first. After the bottle sat for an hour experienced a good blackberry, and dark cherry fruit with hints of chocolate on the back end. Moderate acid and tannin.
The Score: At under $10 this is a great tasting value wine. It ranks as a 4 (out of 5).

1/1/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

The Stuff: 85% Cab and 15% Syrah from Colchagua, Chile. Vineyards are original non-grafted wine stocks brought over from Europe - sounds pretty cool. Neat looking bottle, taller than average with a real cork enclosure.
The Swirl: Moderately opaque plum with watery edges
The Sniff: Was difficult to pinpoint at first but the fruit was immediately overwhelmed by evergreen tree, minerals, rocks, and musky dirt. With much effort could smell the black currant.
The Sip: Overwhelming minerality on the back immediately took over the fruit that was trying to come through. Very chalky, like eating dirt.
The Score: At $9, there are way better value Cabernet Sauvignon's out there. I score this a 3-. Could be the youth of the wine, but I'm not going to cellar a $9 wine. (See update below)
This wine strikes out and not only doesn't make the team but gets sent back to Single A ball. UPDATE: After spending some time in Single A (24 hours) this wine is starting to show some promise. The minerality is nearly gone and most of the chalkiness has subsided. Decent fruit flavors of red currant and cherry along with leather. Root1 has moved up to AA ball, but I'm still

1/21/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

I ordered this wine at a restaurant to go with a Pork Occo Busso that I ordered.

The Swirl: Very dark and plum like.
The Sniff: Oh my my, I think a blueberry and blackberry just slapped me in the face. Also, quite a bit of alcohol smell
The Sip: Jam and toast. This is a chocolate rasberry jam.

It was a pleasing wine with dinner. I personally couldn't have more than one glass because it is pretty jammy. Although I can see why people like it.

1/29/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

The Stuff: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Merlot, Cab Franc, Syrah; Barrel aged for 16 months (1/3 new oak)
The Swirl: Deep plum with watery edges
The Sniff: Aromatically challenged for fruit. Did display characteristics of vanilla, cocoa, and woodiness
The Sip: Overall a very smooth with that is tight on flavor. The vanilla and cocoa presents itself with a moderate dose of blueberry fruit. Very little back end structure.
The Score: Considering the $8.88 price I would score this wine a solid 3. There is nothing offensive about the wine and the smooth vanilla, cocoa combination could be a hit with a lot of people. Serious wine drinkers will be disappointed with the lack of character and structure.

3/1/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

2008 Smoking Loon Pinot Noir

•The Stuff: Not a lot of detail on their web site; 100% California Pinot Noir
•The Swirl: Muted ruby red tone with about 70% transparency
•The Sniff: Mild aromas of sweet cherry and strawberry. Mild smoky campfire bacon. Picture yourself coming back from a long hike and your about 100 yards from the camp site – your nose gets a faint whiff of bacon and your heart skips a beat. That is what is very mild on this nose.
•The Sip: Quite thin on the front end with a touch of sweet cherry candy. A tart backend with a quick finish. Reminds me of the scrawny kid in class that no one pays attention to. As you look back through the year book you say, “Hey, he went to school here?”
•The Score: There is nothing off balance about the wine, it just leaves me uninterested and flat. At only $8-$10 that doesn’t surprise me and still leaves me looking for a surprise value in this price point. I score it a 2 (out of 5).

3/1/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2008 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Pinot Noir

•The Stuff: 100% Pinot Noir, nothing else clearly defined on web site
•The Swirl: Muted red purple jewel tones with 70% transparency
•The Sniff: A strong earthy herb aroma with whiffs of sour cherry and toasted oak
•The Sip: This wine has a big mouth. Definitely herb”ie” (not the Love Bug) and wet dirt along with a candied cherry sweetness.
•The Score: At only $16 this wine will appeal to a lot of people who enjoy Pinot Noir. I’m not a fan of this flavor profile, but it certainly wasn’t boring. I’ll score it a 4 (out of 5) for value and flavor.

3/1/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir

•The Stuff: 100% Pinot Noir from Tualitan Valley Vineyards
•The Swirl: A very light rusty brown purple color. Very translucent and clear
•The Sniff: Bright Rhubarb and Strawberry with vanilla and perfume
•The Sip: A nice sweet front end with a tart cranberry on the back end. A beautiful acid wash to clear the palate.
•The Score: At $40, I score this a 3+ – compared to the Signature Cuvee I had from WVV, this doesn’t quite measure up. Much better than some at $20 but others at this price fair better.

3/4/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Desert Wind Winery Sauvignon Blanc

•The Stuff: 100% Wahluke Slope Sauvignon Blanc, Stainless Steel fermentation; 432 cases made
•The Sniff: Wholly tropical fruit Batman. This wine instantly transported my nose to Hawaii with Guava, Peach, and Pineapple aroma. I instantly fell in love with the nose and wished it could be bottled as a summer body spray for my wife.
•The Sip: Less dynamic on the flavor profile. The guava was mellow on the front and earthy herbs presented themselves on the mid-palate. The finish was lemon/lime tart but washed away nicely after a few seconds.
•The Score: At just $15, I score this a 4 (out of 5). This is a great value and is a wine that will impress at parties and provide a fantastic drinking experience in the summer months.

3/4/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 One Hope Wine Sauvignon Blanc

•The Stuff: 100% California Sauvignon Blanc 50% of profits donated to charities that help save the planet
•The Swirl: Light crisp and slightly darker than water. Very pale
•The Sniff: Floral, melon, lemon peel and acidity
•The Sip: Smooth and tart describes the wine. The wine has a slight Chardonnay buttery coating but then opens up to a crisp tart apple flavor.
•The Score: At $18 (and because of the charitable support), this wine scores a 3+ (out of 5)

3/3/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

NV Szigeti Gruner Veltliner – Austria

•The Stuff: 100% Gruner Veltiner

•The Swirl: Golden yellow tone

•The Sniff: Bright acidity with citrus and tropical fruit tucked into the yeasty toast

•The Sip: Good sweetness with some tartness on the back end. A refreshing bubbly with some good citrus flavor

•The Score: Overall, I was pretty impressed with the quality of this $18 sparkler. I score it a 3+ (out of 5) for flavor and value.

3/3/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

NV Roederer Estate – California

•The Stuff: 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir; 2 years on yeast; 80,000 cases

•The Swirl: Color is more pale yellow, great bubbles

•The Sniff: Bright pear with hints of honey and nuttiness

•The Sip: Very nice flavor profile with good apple, honey and cinnamon

•The Score: At $23, I score this a 4 (out of 5)

3/3/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

NV Segura Viudas ARIA Estate Brut – Spain

•The Stuff: 60% Macabeo, 20% Parellada, 20% Xarelo-lo; 3 years on yeast
•The Swirl: golden yellow (Chardonnay color), moderate bubbles
•The Sniff: Tight nose with apple toast and yeast being predominant.
•The Sip: Strong carbonation with hints of apple and smoky bread
•The Score: At $8, this is not a bad tasting bubbly, but lacks a lot of flavor and has too much carbonation and yeast. I score it a 3 (out of 5). So far this bubbly makes the Under $10 Team (mostly for lack of tryouts)

3/9/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

•The Stuff: Owned by the city of Krems the estate was founded in 1452! 100% Gruner Veltliner grapes with 7 months in stainless steel 12.5% ABV
•The Swirl: Impressed with the clarity and brightness of the color. A very nice golden white.
•The Sniff: Aromatic nose with white flowers, perfume, and lemon peel. Slight herbs too.
•The Sip: Slightly bubbly on the tongue with a good sweetness. The acidity and tartness were well balanced and the finish lingered. Overall impression was good citrus fruit but thrown slightly off by the perfume flavor.
•The Score: At just $16 this is a good showing for Gruner Veltliner and justifiably earns a 4 (out of 5)

3/9/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

2008 Lois Gruner Veltliner

•The Stuff: 100% Gruner Veltliner from Fred Loimer in Kamptal Austria 12.5%ABV
•The Swirl: Presented a nice bright yellow apple color with mild amounts of sediment
•The Sniff: Very mild on the nose with tart apples and dull banana peel
•The Sip: A decent sweetness on the front end that was attacked by a tart bitterness at the end. The finish trailed off quickly. Someone bubbly in the mouth.
•The Score: At under $10, some may like this wine for its dry tartness. I score this a 2 out of 5

3/11/2010 - DrinkNectar wrote:

•The Stuff: 100% Riesling from two Yakima Valley vineyards; screw cap
•The Swirl: Bright pale honey color with a thick viscosity.
•The Sniff: A decent bouquet of citrus, lime, plumeria, and tropical sweetness
•The Sip: I’m not a sweet wine fan – I enjoy my whites crisp, with fruit, but on the dry side. This was a moderate sweet Riesling (6 out of 10) but not syrupy. A decent amount of acidity helped to balance out the sweetness. The finish was quite lengthy.
•The Score: At $14, this is not my favorite wine (mostly preference). I score it a solid 3 (out of 5) for being fairly one dimensional.

3/11/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Stuff: 100% Washington Merlot, 10 months in oak, 13.8% ABV
•The Swirl: Mildly translucent with ruby red undertones. A pretty wine
•The Sniff: Smooth dark chocolate with cherry and oak. I would imagine this would be the aroma an Umpa Lumpa would smell in the chocolate river (if cherries were involved too).
•The Sip: The sip is slightly thin on the front that opens up to a nice moderate fruit – still cherries. Definitely a chocolate covered cherry Merlot.
•The Score: At only $12 (sometimes under $10) – At this price, a solid 3 (out of 5). A trustworthy wine for the money. Good sipper, but the thin front and single dimension leave the score lower.

3/11/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot

•The Stuff: Columbia Valley, 85% Merlot, 7% Syrah, 5% Cab Fanc, 3% Cab Sauv; 13.5%ABV, aged 14 months in a combination of new French and American oak.

•The Swirl: Dark cherry color with moderate translucence and thin outer edge

•The Sniff: Modest cocoa and oak on the nose with hints of cherry and tobacco

•The Sip: Dark cherry blackberry on the mid palate with a nice smooth finish of cocoa. A hint of spice jumps through that makes this a decent Merlot for the money. Nothing is intense and everything is subdued.

•The Score: At $9.95 I score this a 3 (out of 5). This is an average Merlot that will provide many enjoyable nights.

3/12/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

2007 14 Hands Merlot

•The Stuff: Washington State, 85% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 1% other red grapes; Aged 12 months in a variety of new and used American and French Oak.

•The Swirl: Dark plum and slightly cloudy

•The Sniff: Tight on the nose with hints of plum and sweet candy

•The Sip: A muddy combination of cherry syrup, sweet candy, and woodiness. Very flat back end with a lack of tannin and little acidity.

•The Score: At $9.99 I score this a 2 (out of 5). The character is undefined with little structure. There are better under $10 Merlot

3/16/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

•The Stuff: The bottle says Napa and references Costa del Sol Cellars. My online investigation revealed next to nothing about this wine. The retail on the Grocery Outlet shelf said $60, but I was unable to validate that anywhere.
•The Swirl: Dark plum with a good color. Thins out toward the edge and is mostly opaque.
•The Sniff: The nose opens up with a nice black fruit and cassis. Hints of stone and oak come through as well.
•The Sip: The mouth feel is a Jekyll and Hyde. The initial attack is modest with good fruit but the finish is very bitter, woody and sharp.
•The Score: At $15, I score this wine a 2 (out of 5). A purchase price of $25 and over, I’d be ticked. At $15, I’m slightly disappointed, at $10 it still doesn’t make the Under $10 Team.

3/16/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

The Stuff: This wine comes from AU Vineyards in South East Australia. The winery is responsible for AU, Buckley’s Cove, 12 Apostles, Element 79, Fly, and Tambourine labels. This is a 2009 vintage blend of Shiraz and Cabernet. The web site availability shows US distribution is limited to Grocery Outlet stores.
•The Swirl: Very bright purple (neon), moderately thin with medium translucence.
•The Sniff: Sugary grape or cherry jolly rancher and sweet candy. Reminded me of those sugar candy you dip the stick into.
•The Sip: Very thin throughout. The wine is very off-balanced with a sugary sweet front end and then a bitter tart back end.
•The Score: At $3, I score this wine a 1 (out of 5). This is a not recommended at any price.

3/18/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

The Stuff: 93% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Chardonnay from Paso Robles

•The Swirl: Pale yellow, straw•The Sniff: A hint of lemon but a predominant yeast / bread smell

•The Sip: At first the wine presents a really nice citrus and straw flavor but the back end kicks you with a tart finish.

•The Score: Even at $5 I have to compare this to some other good Sauvignon Blanc’s from Arbor Crest ($7) and Yellow + Blue ($9). I can give this a 2 (out of 5). Some people may love the crisp flavor but there isn’t a lot going on here.

3/18/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2006 Imagine Chardonnay

•The Stuff: 100% Russian River Chalk Hill estate Chardonnay. Aged in oak. A portion of each bottle benefits disadvantaged children.
•The Swirl: Clean and well filtered with a nice golden yellow color
•The Sniff: Melon and pear/apple aroma with hints of oaky vanilla
•The Sip: The wine has a nice mouth feel but the mid-palate seems slightly off structure. There is a mild butter toast that includes an effervescence like a sparkling wine. A good apple flavor comes through as well.•The Score: Retail of $22, I wouldn’t re-buy this Chardonnay, but at $11 this is a good 3!

3/23/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Stuff: 100% Grenache from the McLaren Vale; Aged 10 months in used oak 14.5%abv
•The Swirl: Brighter plum with hints of ruby red jewel tones.
•The Sniff: BAM – I just hit in the nose with a raspberry / blackberry fruit. Soft tones of oaky smoke are there too.
•The Sip: My mouth eagerly welcomed this Spanish lover! The fruit was intense but not over the top. It smoothed out nicely and provided just enough spice, leather and smoke as the finish lingered.
•The Score: At $22.50 retail, this is a good wine – at $12, this is a great deal. I score this a 3+ (out of 5)

3/23/2010 - DrinkNectar wrote:

The Stuff: Sourced from a top Petite Sirah producer in Lodi then re-introduced to oak barrels for 12 months; 6000 cases produces 13.5%abv
•The Swirl: Dark brooding wine with a rusty purple tinge.
•The Sniff: Subtle and subdued but gives off hints of dried cranberry, blueberry, violets and nutmeg (Thanksgiving in a bottle)
•The Sip: Slightly disappointed because the nose was so nice, the structure seems very thin. The hint of cranberry on the front loses itself pretty quickly. The seems to be average tannin on the back end, but not as bold as I would hope for a Petite Sirah. Could be a decent sipper for some folks.
•The Score: G.O. says the retail is $15, but Cameron Hughes website says $11. The price I paid was only $6. At $6 I can score this wine a 3 minus (out of 5). Some people may love it, I was on the fence.

3/25/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Longshadows Pedestal Merlot

•The Stuff: 75% Merlot, 15% Cab Sauv, 7% Cab Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, Aged 20 months in 80% new oak, 2005 cases, 14.7%abv
•The Swirl: Dark, dark, dark. Looks like the midnight sky with some hints of purple.
•The Sniff: Once you get past the tree hugging oak, some big blackberry fruit springs forth. A small shot of spice shoots out too.
•The Sip: Intense and immense are the words that come to mind. A concentration of fruit with enough acidity to not make you think fruit bomb. The oak flavors are more subdued on the palate and some nice tannins firm up the back end. Still a young wine but provides intense flavor with 60 second finish
•The Score: At $45-$55 I score this wine a 4 (out of 5) – lowered slightly because of the price. An incredibly well made wine for those that want an intense Merlot experience. I would think laying this down for 5 years would reveal a supurb wine for the future.

3/25/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2006 Fielding Hills Merlot

•The Stuff: Single vineyard Wahluke Slope AVA, 80% Merlot 11% Cab 9% Syrah, aged 19 months in 77% new oak, 14.3%abv, 163 cases
•The Swirl: Dark plum with beautiful jewel tones toward the edges. Mostly opaque
•The Sniff: Overwhelming aromas of cherry, smoke, and hints of spicy bacon. Amazed at how aroma profile changes as it comes through the nose.
•The Sip: A mouthful of joy! The black cherry fruit skips across your tongue and then transforms into undertones of smooth violet perfume, that then release themselves to cocoa flavors. The acidic finish brings a nice wash across the back of the mouth as the finish lingers for eternity.
•The Score: At $36, I score this wine a 4+ (out of 5) and would easily buy it again and again. The balance between complexity, flavor, and drinkability are impeccable.

3/25/2010 - DrinkNectar wrote:

2007 Hogue Cellars Merlot

•The Stuff: 99% Merlot and 1% Syrah, Columbia Valley, 31,606 cases produced, 13.9%ABV
•The Swirl: Moderatly cloudy and slightly translucent. Dark cherry tones leaning toward a plum color
•The Sniff: Fairly tight on the nose at first but opens up to cherry, dust, and cocoa
•The Sip: A little thin on the front and thick fruit flavors on the mid palate. The wine is singular in dimension (dark cherry fruit) and provides a good sipping experience.
•The Score: At $9-$10, you won’t blow anyone away with this selection, but it will suffice as a standby everyday drinker. Some wines in this Hogue family can be hit or miss, but this Merlot is a good trusty label. I score it a 3 minus (out of 5)

5/3/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Concannon Petite Sirah (Conservancy)

•The Stuff: 97% Petite Sirah and 3% Petit Verdot from Livermore Valley. 24 months in French and American Oak (new/used not specified); 6000 cases, 13.5%abv

•The Swirl: Upon the pour of this wine you are immediately struck by the dark and brooding purple storm clouds that role in. A beautiful bright violet ring forms around the edge of the glass making the wine feel less intense.

•The Sniff: Plum jam with a little more sweetness. A hot spice (or could be alcohol) comes through as well. The use of American oak is evident on the nose.

•The Sip: The wine softly seduces you with thin fruit on the front and then grabs you by the neck and chokes you with big try tannin and tartness. Those that like to play with Syrah or Zinfandel will not enjoy this wine. A decent structured wine that would definitely come alive with the right food pairing – BBQ Chicken, Smoked Lamb

•The Score: The lack of fruit on the front palate and overly thick back end lowers the score of this wine to a 3 (out of 5). Not a bad score, worthy of a try at only $15 retail.

5/3/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2008 Concannon Chardonnay (Conservancy)

•The Stuff: 100% Livermore Valley Chardonnay; Aged in French and American Oak (no mention of time). 6000 cases, 13.5%abv

•The Swirl: Clean and clear with a nice yellow hue. Lacks the typical Chardonnay viscosity.

•The Sniff: The wine presents a delicate blend of melon and lemon with a hint of creamy butter on the back end.

•The Sip: This is one of those Chardonnay’s that comes across even from front to back. There are no over the top flavors, but the wine showcases just enough to be enjoyable and interesting. Good flavors of tropical fruit and honeydew melon. A mild undertone of vanilla from the oak is pleasing. There is good acidity as well. As mentioned in the video there is an off flavor (mineral) in the finish that struck me as slightly disjointed. Very subtle but distracting.

•The Score: At only $15 this can easily be your stand by Chardonnay. If you like your Chardonnay to still retain the traditional hints of butter, toast, and oak without being over the top, you’ll love this wine. It earns a score of 3+ out of 5

4/2/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Saint Helena Syrah

•The Stuff: 100% Syrah from Gamache and Goose Ridge vineyards; 222 cases, 20 months in new/used French/American oak, 14.1%abv
•The Swirl: Dark blackberry plum color, opaque with good ruby color toward the edges
•The Sniff: A little evergreen tree with notes of black berry and hints of hot sulfer (indicating youthfulness)
•The Sip: A good presentation of dark fruit, slightly jammy but has good acidity on the back end to balance out the sweetness. Lacks typical spice found on some Syrah, contains a slight woodiness.
•The Score: At $28, I think this wine is a solid 3 (out of 5). Get the price down to $24 and it could move to a 3+

4/2/2010 - DrinkNectar wrote:

2007 Nonna Viola Red Wine

•The Stuff: 50% Syrah, 25%, Cab, 25% Merlot from Milbrandt, Gamache, and Goose Ridge vineyards, 292 cases, aged 22 months in new/used French/American oak, 13.9%abv
•The Swirl: Bright and young with black cherry color, moderately translucent and watery out toward the edges
•The Sniff: Tight nose with hints of cherry, perfume and traditional merlot cocoa
•The Sip: Pretty light and watery on the front palate that opens up to moderate cherry and plum fruit. The finish is mellow with a hint of pepper.
•The Score: At $24, I can score this a 3 minus (out of 5). The serious wine drinker may find themselves underwhelmed but if you’re looking for an easy drinking red blend, this may appeal to you.

4/8/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2004 Smith Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon

•The Stuff:82% Cab , 8% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc; 22 months in American oak, 2164 cases, 13.9%abv

•The Swirl: Dark inky plum with some brilliant bright purple undertones. Nice ruby colors toward the edges, opaque.

•The Sniff: The hills are alive with bright cherry fruit, earthy evergreen trees and smoky tobacco. A bouquet that causes you to get lost in time, forgetting the final stages of sip and spit.

•The Sip: The flavor profile was slightly off balance with a good earthiness on the front end but a hollow mid-palate that lacked the fruit. The finish did show off cedar chocolate covered cherry finish with good tannin structure. The wine could show very well in 3-5 years.

•The Score: At $45, I can score this a 3 (out of 5). The sour burnt cherry and hollow mid-palate lowered the score a bit at this price range.

4/8/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2007 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay

•The Stuff: 100% estate Chardonnay, 11 months in oak, 754 cases, 14.3%abv

•The Swirl: Pale gold color with hints of thicker viscosity, clean and clear

•The Sniff: muted undertones of toast, pear, and citrus fruits. Pleasing and crisp

•The Sip: Slightly effervescent and very crispy pear and citrus. A good thickness indicative of a Chardonnay, but could be mis-diagnosed during a blind tasting as a Sauvignon Blanc. Excellent acid with finish of stone minerality.

•The Score: At $30, slightly more than I would pay for a quality Chardonnay, but a good score of 4 out of 5. One of the better Chardonnay’s I’ve had from the 2007 vintage.

4/12/2010 - DrinkNectar wrote:

With a label that is banned in Alabama due to the naked lady artwork I had high hopes for this wine. Who couldn’t use more naked ladies in their life? Web Site

•The Stuff: 100% California Pinot Noir, 13.9%abv

•The Swirl: Very light, typical Pinot, with slight rusty brown tone, extremely translucent

•The Sniff: I get a woodiness on this wine (and it’s not the naked lady) along with a bright candied cherry. Pretty good nose for the price of the wine. Earthy funk that is found on a lot of Pinot

•The Sip: A good cherry candy cola flavor with slight earthy dirt on the mid-palate. The finish is slightly off balanced with some bitterness.

•The Score: At just $11 this wine scores a 3 minus out of 5. A pretty good Pinot Noir for the price considering that most under $20 are suspect

4/12/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

2007 Duck Pond Syrah

•The Stuff: 96.3% Syrah and 3.7% other reds, aged 11 months in French and American oak, 13.5%abv, 5900 cases produced

•The Swirl: Dull thin plum color

•The Sniff: Moderate nose with hints of oaky vanilla and only a whiff of dark berry fruits. Very little spice or fruit as you would expect from a Syrah (even a lower priced Syrah)

•The Sip: Very hollow on the palate with only hints of fruit. A mellow mouth fell with a smooth finish that trails off quickly.

•The Score: At $12 retail, I score this 2 out of five. While there is nothing wrong with this wine, it doesn’t provide much to make it stand out even at $10.

4/12/2010 - DrinkNectar Does not like this wine:

•The Stuff: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cab Franc from Columbia Valley, 13.5% abv – The guess is that it’s an off brand to dump some excess or inferior juice without tarnishing the main brands.

•The Swirl: Very light in comparison to most Cabs. Watery toward edges, leathery plum color

•The Sniff: Not very aromatic. The heat of the alcohol comes through toward the end with some moderate oaky cherries

•The Sip: Earthy cherries with hints of white pepper. Not overly flavorful but no off flavors either. Very little tannin and low acidity

•The Score: At only $7, this is not a terrible wine but there are other wines out there for $10 that perform much better. I score this 2 out of 5 and send it back to single A ball to work on its form.

4/14/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

2009 Viognier

•The Stuff: 100% Viognier, 91.5% stainless fermentation 8.5% new French oak fermentation for 60 days; 14.5%ABV; 414 cases made

•The Swirl: Light, nearly clear with hint of lemon lime soda coloring

•The Sniff: I think Don Ho came up singing Tiny Bubbles bringing aromas of lychee, peaches and other tropical fruits. Reminded me of some mixed drinks I got in Florida last year.

•The Sip: The tropical fruit was mild on the front palate with good zing of lemon zest and minerality on the mid palate. Amazingly strong acid finish was perfect for palate cleansing. The finish was beautiful and balanced

•The Score: At just $15 this is another winner from the desert heat of Desert Wind. I score this a 4 out of 5. A strong recommend for summertime pleasure or served with spicy foods.

4/14/2010 - DrinkNectar Likes this wine:

The Stuff: 94% Semillon, 3% Chardonnay and 3% Sauvignon Blanc; aged six months in neutral oak. 100% barrel fermented; 14.5%ABV; 568 cases

•The Swirl: Bright golden wheat color, with honey tones, seemingly thick viscosity

•The Sniff: Light undertones of lemon, vanilla and pear. Subtle but pleasing

•The Sip: Great mouth-feel, velvet and soft with mild fruit flavors of pear or apple and hints of lemon shavings. Reminiscent of light lemon shortcake.

•The Score: At $15 this is a mellow wine that provides simple flavor profile. Would definitely recommend with creamy shellfish pasta or smoked salmon. I score this a 3 out of 5