2/23/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

This is how good a Shiraz can be. Too often the Aussies come out with both barrels blazing, ending in a wine with all heat, and no character. This wine was a perfect balance between Aussie strength and a an enjoyable Shiraz. The Velvet Hammer.

2/23/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

A big kick in the nuts. Lots of fruit, finish, and overall character. Merlot Rocks!

1/29/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

It's not getting any better. Still hot and big.

1/29/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

A perfect execution of Malbec at any price. I've never had an expensive Malbec, but it couldn't be much better than this. Great balance and acidity, making it a perfect food paring wine. Light fruit and no bracing over characterization.

1/29/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

Big and fruity, typical of the Aussies. A great sipper with light acidity. It need acid foods (tomato-based) to compliment a meal. A great effort for the price. We would buy more.

1/29/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

Nothing special. I had better be much better for my health, because the lack of body and character trade-off may not be worth it.

1/11/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

Cheap and pleasant.

1/10/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

Very nice compliment to our Dinner at Infusion Martini Bar. Smooth with very little of the typical Syrah/Shiraz punch. Good fruit levels, body, and just enough acidity to make it pair well with food.

1/7/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

A simple guzzler with nothing wrong, but nothing exceptional. Maybe not the best with food, due to the high fruit and low acidity components, but great for a party.

1/5/2009 - thevandelindes wrote:

Dumped it after two nights. Tight and flavorless.

8/24/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Heavy and fruity on the nose, like a PX, but crisp and light on the palette. A great Summer or Evening sipper.

8/24/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Had this wine with Dinner at The Crow Bar in Corona Del Mar, a new Gastropub. This wine was the perfect pairing for the salty, rich, up-scale bar food. Enjoyed with Mushroom Flatbreads, Lobster Mac & Cheese, and a Bistro Salad with Bacon and Quail Egg. Great food wine.

7/27/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Great Napa standard cab.

6/29/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Past it's drinking window. Flat.

6/29/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Evening sipper. Lots of fruit; boardering on a Syrah or Shiraz in fruit load. Nice but not typical of the varietal.

6/29/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

White Clam Pie on the BBQ with tons of garlic. Perfect Summer Sipper.

6/29/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Served this to the Cohen's and Zaic's at a Tri-Tip Barbeque. Perfect compliment to the spice and oak on the meat.

6/22/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

OK, so I screwed up, froze the bottle overnight in the freezer. So, we thought we'd thaw it out and give it a try. It was still great. These guys are great, and wine is a great value.

6/19/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

A winner for the price. Great food wine. Italians ROCK!

6/19/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Too much fake wood for my taste. Taste like a shiraz soaked with wook chips. Susan like it a little more. It was a gift. We wouldn't purchase on our own.

6/19/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Very drinkable. Nice sipper. Nothing fancy, but neither is the price.

5/31/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Still a perfect warm weather wine. This would be perfect with Shrimp Scampi, Appetizers, or poolside snacks.

5/31/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Although we've just been enjoying this one during the evenings this week, it would be much better with food. It has that touch of acidity that makes it perfect with rich, sweet Italian dishes.

5/11/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

An amazing Tuscan from Washington State. Smooth, Complex, and a perfect companion to anything Italian. We enjoyed this with our Italian Mother's Day feast.

3/20/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

A little too in-your-face for a Merlot. Typical BIG Aussie, but I was expecting a little more elegance. Needs an hour+ to open up and calm down.

3/20/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Enjoyed this with a Grass Fed Rib-Eye. The perfect compliment to a perfectly prepared steak. The light body and acidity of the wine paired perfectly with the fatty, charred beef. It's a shame, I hear that the winery may be out of business.

2/21/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

We opened this bottle for OTB night. I was enjoyed with our first taste of 100% grass-fed organic rib-eye. The grass fed beef had a lamby quality that played nicely with the flavor profile and Rutherford Dust on the wine. Admittedly, a great bottle of wine, but is it worth $150++? There are plenty of great $30-50 Cabs out there that give up very little to this wine. My last bottle will rest comfortably for many more years.

2/19/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Tough to enjoy as a sipper. Really does need the salt and fat component of food to balance out the tannins and vegetal flavor. A good value for a Summer BBQ wine.

2/19/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Great little appetizer or cooking wine. Nothing special. Lots of citrus bite on the nose and front end. Good value.

2/19/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

A great wine. My previous comments still hold true. This bottle tasted a bit tighter than the last. I'll let it lay down a while longer before we pull another.

2/19/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Amazing. A perfect execution of a value priced chardonnay. It is still beyond me why you would pay three times the price for a Chard that only an expert could assertain is better than this. Enjoyed it tremendously.

2/13/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Light bodied cab fruit structure. Strawberry on the nose. Probably wouldn't repurchase.

1/30/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Solid Dinner Party wine for Italian or Spanish cuisine. Good match for any Tomato or Mushroom based dish/sauce.

1/30/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Very nice Cab for the price. Not SUPER big like some Napa Cabs, but still complex and a good representation of the varietal and Napa Valley.

1/21/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Like eating dark berries from a Cuban cigar box. Perfect.

1/21/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

A solid performer that I always return to for an everyday drinker. If you need a crowd pleaser, this is your wine! Nothing to showy, to put off wine newbies, and nothing to be embarrassed by if you have a few snobs in the crowd.

1/6/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Very nice, typical Malbec, at this price point. Argentina continues to deliver reliabe, everyday wine.

1/6/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

Still a favorite of the wife. Great all-around performer with food or just sipping. No heavy Oak influence. Closer to a SB, than a Napa Chard.

1/6/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

I'm going to tell everyone it's terrible until I buy a case. AMAZING!

1/6/2008 - thevandelindes wrote:

I'm sure this wine is good, but not my cup of tea. Too thin and too light in fruit. I prefer a recent Jumilla Luzon. I was also trying this after a KB Zinfandel. WOW, that was a big wine!

12/29/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

Another dumper from Trader Joe's. Don't waste your money.

12/29/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

A simple, straightforward cab. Nothing fancy, but a good sipper. If you needed a lot of wine for a party, this would be worth considering.

12/28/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

Very nice with a chicken and pasta dish. I would imagine this would be a great appetizer or party white. Good balance of fruit and acidity, but leaning towards fruit. Little to no oak present.

12/23/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

Enjoyed a steak salad with this one. Tara was home for Christmas break. Still a great food wine for the price.

12/21/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

Thin on the nose and taste. Plenty of alcohol on the nose, but not enough fruit; unbalanced. More time in the bottle may be necessary.

12/20/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

Very nice on the first night. Tighter and not as full on night two, but that may be due to an off-pairing.

12/16/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

Decanted for over 3 hours. Enjoyed this with the Seymours, for their going-away dinner. Grilled Rib-Eye, Caesar Salad, Breadc and Coffe Creme Brulee. Perfect wine. Notes of cedar on the a mild and elegant finish.

11/29/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

Wonderful deep sun-yellow color. Right balance of fruit and acidity. It's not try to be anything else. A great sipping wine for parties.

11/28/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

Big jammy, dark fruit similar to a big Zin. Lots of blueberry pie filling. A great compliment to tapas or hearty cuisine. Light tannins on the finish, but a little hint of pipe tobacco? Fun wine for the price.

11/25/2007 - thevandelindes wrote:

For the price, a real winner. If you're having a dinner party for several friends and need a reliable, food-friendly wine for reds and tomato-based dishes, this is it. Mellow tannins and plenty of leather and herbal notes on the nose. So much better than anything domestic at this price point.