4/1/2024 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

What a balanced stunning wine! I’m going to Conspire with the other reviewers… that this is an outstanding Wine …. with a few other descriptors. A bit of rich black licorice, sweet Olallieberry jam, and juicy Logan Berry.
At the $40 price point .. one of the most satisfying CNP of the year.

4/1/2024 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

A dark garnet color with aromas of a predominantly Grenache & Syrah as a nice uplifting support marriage. Love the herbaceousness of the region and the black plum, blackberry, supple black olive, and earthy tones… almost Elegant. Medium bodied and acid with flavors of more black plum, black licorice, bay leaf, black pepper, & medium tannins. An elegant wine with defined flavors … but not as Muscular or complex I would expect from Gigondas at $45. Drink now through 2029

3/27/2024 - Zinslut Does not like this wine:

I have a lot of experience with Petite , and this is far from a stunner. Very muted and depressed aromas and flavors of blackberry, black plum, walnut, dust, mixed herbaceous flavors, menthol, & green marshmallow. The 15% Abv or acid is not the culprit here… but the astringency. It’s dark as tar .. maybe over extracted and has lost its fruit character, it would take Canadian Actress Laysla De Olivera pouring for me to accept another 1/2 glass. Disappointing…… the wine … never her.

7/1/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

A full mouth full of wine at an excellent price. The Macabeo grape from a single vineyard in the Calatayud region of north east Spain. Full bodied with pitty lust of nectarine , white peach , and orange flesh melon. Medium acid … showed well with a bit of chervil and tarragon. At this price .. I will be getting several cases of this delicious wine. Definitely a European profile

7/1/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

As Rickshoe said… this is very polished … with medium + richness of cherries, chocolate, thyme, Effusive Olallieberrie , nice medium toast quality, and a touch of forest floor. It can age 10 years or more .. but the tannins are ripe and accessible and can be enjoyed now. 55 cab, 40 Merlot , 5 Verdot … enjoyable at a good price.

6/27/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Lovely aromas and flavors. Aromas of yellow apple , nectarine, white peaches, pears that continue on the palette. Medium acid and intensity don’t contribute much.
I nice fruity creaminess from sur lees aging …gave a long lasting addition. A very nice wine I feel can age 2-3 years.

6/25/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

La Cave does a fantastic description and review of this wine. I agree with the score and it offers an excellent value east of the Gironde. I absolutely love Semillion .. and it contributes substationally to this bottling. I find the clementines ginger lemon all to have an attractive dose of caramelization adding to the complexity. Maybe not aged in small barrique but possibly some large neutral staves to round the wine. I’m glad I found this … Thanks La Cave !

3/1/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

First of all I love the New Bottle design with hillside label and in bottle classy etching in the glass you see from the most quality producers from around the world. I am very high on 2022 … Cloudy only adds to that excitement. Please read my review of their 2021.
Maybe the most Gorgrous Marlborough Nose I’ve Experience. Racy and Razor sharp tight fresh emerald grass, lime, lime zest, lemongrass, gooseberries, Pomelo grapefruit, kiwi and much more of all of the same … never ending. The wines body and flavor are very tight , restrained, and a bit unfocused vs the nose. I would like to revisit this in 4-6 months to see if it can untangle .. but currently it is not fully revealing it self. It did greatly improve with decanting and aeration… currently do that for the entire bottle and walk away for 1 hour. Flavors warmed to more white grapefruit, crisp gooseberries, and a course key lime edge that is a bit distracting but very enjoyable. As in the movie “Bottle shock” maybe the wine is so well made … it needs time to spread its wings. With time … let it fly. The score is in its current maturation.

3/1/2023 - Zinslut Does not like this wine:

Went to Smart & Final of all places.. the “Cutrer” was discounted from $35 to $17.99…. Hmmm… what a deal…. Well NOT so much. This is similar to the same characteristic as their regular bottling with this being a Russian River Appelation. Not close to the SC bottlings I revered early in my career… to the point I don’t recognize It. Fruit if Any.. maybe caramelized pear is muddled with course tight grain toasted Oak with again a watery non existent finish. Those that called it Balanced are delusional .. elegant .. maybe in a Car Crash…and scoring it in the the 90’s is a 1990 Fantasy.
Please avoid this and don’t be fooled by the Name or the previous incarnations. A’s Pacino said in Scent of a woman “ All honor is Deeeaaad” Drinkable for a watery puckering glass … but I usually curse fruitless Wine. Good luck SC

2/3/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Not the razor sharp cousin many expect from Marlborough SB … but what a true pleasure! A wonderful array of softer nectarine fruit, peal and pith with white peach, kiwi, lemon curd, and dry clover honey. Beautifully balanced and enjoyable with many cuisines it’s density and modest acidity are very satisfying. A bit different but a gem you should become intimate with.

2/3/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

A very beautiful and ripe version on the Cortese grape from Gavi Piemonte .. it’s finest region. Cooled by adjacent lake Garada and the swift river the wine has flavors and aromas of red nectarines .. nectarine peel.. Lily white peaches and ripe stone fruits and chalk spice. Mouth filling but a touch flabby in acidity. An extremely well made wine which may include some Sur Lees aging and weekly stirring. It’s weight and extraction makes Cortese special in this bottling. Could age 5 years .. a taste of northern Italian white

2/2/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

What a refreshing return to quality. A very complex and enticing Grigio version from the finest appellation in the region. Beautiful acidity and long finish carry aromas and flavors of underripe pineaple .. pithy passion fruit, kiwi, yellow apples , green caramel apple and toasted clementines. Interesting and expressive. Great contribution from soil types and altitude.

1/21/2023 - Zinslut Does not like this wine:

So this is what the Kenwood label has become… Crafted in the Wild Sonoma but sourced from god know where “somewhere” in California. I picked this up at a convenience store .. Same new Black label from the past 4 years and said .. oh I should try this 2021 vintage… assuming Sonoma .. right? Hell No. the label says Vibrant Fruit Aromas, Balanced Acidity.. refreshing Finish. No…. No … & NO 😳
A darker golden color , not particularly Varietal.. muddled flavors of maybe peach, herbs, dragon fruit, and hay. The finish is short and flabby.. the the signature Sonoma acidity has left the building with a 14.1 abv. It has coarseness and has bitterness with a bit of yellow apple and banana. Kenwood .. don’t be deceptive with the labeling and retailers charging similar pricing for a sonoma bottling. They talk about 50 years of Tradition .. I’d have more fun watching Elvis in Viva Las Vegas 🙄

1/17/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Nice example of the varietal from Pfalz in a true just cresting off dry style ( not sweet) in a modest complex easy drinking style. 12% abv with flavors of lychee , pine, pear, marzipan and dragon fruit. Enjoyable for its simplicity, food diversity and balanced acidity. Easy drinking and will surprise many when it quickly disappears. Good value at $15

1/17/2023 - Zinslut wrote:

This bottling has been a staple in Napa Valley for more that 30 years and allowed petite Sirah to be recognized as a Single varietal. For vinification .. modest Alcohol with abv’s in the mid 14’s is best with French oak aging fits Petite usually with joy. With 3 decades of experience with this bottling … the previous reviewers .. except the OMG are correct in the descriptors , but I find this more muted and underwhelming at $37 price tag. Your not getting the true “petite Sirah experience “ and for me it’s almost non varietal with more herbal notes and chalky tannins. Almost devoid of fruit. Your better grabbing a Sonoma County bottling from Foppiano or Miro for about the same price or less. Disappointing.

1/14/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Beautifully aged with aromas of blackberry, cassis, chalk, baby blueberries, licorice, saddlewood, rich chambord, deep violets and Dalmatian sage. Deep dark color and well extracted with a dose of ink and alcohol. 80% Ripe Grenache and 20% Syrah… nice blend. In the mouth …a bit hot and astringent with similar flavors with course tones. More wood and Tabacco notes with chalky tannins .. that become more congruent with time in the decanter. The tannins are attractive. An element of eucalyptus and juniper Berry that’s adds to the complexity. You need to spend time with the wine for you to adjust to this level of extraction. The acidity .. earth tar and bitterness overfills your mouths future experiece. I can think 3-5 years and try again not ready … extremely extracted.

1/13/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Bedrock’s winemaker and owner .. Morgan Peterson has access to the finest and exotic grapes in California. As someone that has made Zin for 25 years .. I really appreciate this entree level wine made in the style I strived for. The complexity rolls over on the Ridge of similar pricing as it Amazingly pulls mixed Blacks from 5 severely different micro climates. From Dry Creek, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Contra Costa, even an obscure tiny vineyard in San Benito county. There are elements of Mataro, Carginane , Petite Sirah, Alicante, and even contributions of a 2 acre block of the only existing grape “Negrette” in the country. Wow.. so interesting . All the previous reviewers did a nice job with flavors and aromas. It does increase in enjoyment over hours and I would definately decant. It’s only Nock is a sharp courseness and heat in the mouth. Tough to supersede. Should go 15 years and see if the courseness resolves. As a student of all these varietals .. it’s a testimony to Morgan and his staff for not shying from extraction and masterful blending. Time for a NY Strip & Potatoes Au Gratin. Cheers

1/13/2023 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

For a value producer… if this is any indicator of the 2022 vintage .. good things are to come. At $12 a fantastic everyday Marlborough SB. Bright citrus aromas and flavors of lime, gooseberry, kiwi, chalky Pomello peal, and white grapefruit. Very good intensity and decent length of aroma and flavor. Very satisfying for this style .. all fruit .. great acidity and harmony. Back up the truck for case purchases.

12/23/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

I first went to Cloudy Bay in 2002 … and was “there for 2 days” cooking.. racking, eating , drinking. I love this place but the past 10 years have been hit and Miss at times. This is the best I’ve had in 10 years. Almost a Perfect SB creation! Balanced but intense… singing of grapefruit.. gooseberry.. lemongrass.. kiwi .. lime and some grass and minerality. I almost couldn’t believe it being so perfect in complexity, uplifting acidity .. pure fruit and roundness. It’s a Picton dream. I’ve got 1/2 a bottle left … I’m going to watch Jimmy Stewart in .. It’s a wonderful Life

11/25/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

White Bordeaux is in ultimate heaven in Pessac / Graves. Semillion makes such a mark on density, exotic essence , and richness. Flavors and aromas of yellow apple, dry gooseberry, Malura fruit, lemon curd, dry blood orange, Bosc pear, field grass, and warm banana Foster. Mouth filling, warm weight, modest acidity. Very satisfying… just lacks a bit definition and crisp acidity. At $59 a bit overpriced for the experience.

11/25/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

A quick note: I was jazzed for White Bordeaux .. I usually do my research.. TW expert was assisting : told him my focus was Pessac / Graves & a Semillion blend. He Highly Rec this wine .. I never looked. Got home it was from Sauternes and 100% SB …. Oh and CORKED. Next time .. take the advice.. thank him.. go back to your timetested online research.

Has been a while .. but 10 min in … where’s all those fruit descriptions? Why am I only tasting Oak? Why is the acidity flat and soured? Why am I not enjoying this? Why did I take Mr Peabody’s advice? Why did I just waste $37? Why am I wreaked from dreams of W Bordeaux? Why am I embarrassed in front of my friends.
Corked. Put the leftover wine back in the bottle and return it to your retailer … Peabody or Sherman.

11/15/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

I support the previous review as the herbaceous nature is dominating and lack of difined fruit flavors. Its drinkable but not very interesting. Good herbacious nose and decent mouthfeel. As an old School winery I would have expected more. Does taste of the Napa Valley Appelation

10/9/2022 - Zinslut Does not like this wine:

At $32 with statistic on the label of 1 ton per acre, 3.2 Ta , 22 brix at harvest , and 205 cases produced… I took one for the team as it was at a local Lunardies grocery store. I’ve never tasted anything like this except for a young vineyard in Bordeaux. It is so intensely herbal you almost can’t stand it. With such a low ph of 3.0 then how does the wine taste almost flabby. Grassy and medicinal it really should not be served. I support Ca small case producers … as I was myself… but this is to an extreme and not varietal. There are other descriptions I can use , but not complimentary. Too bad… but this was a waste of money. The winery makes a Chardonnay , and several Cabernet based Bordeaux blends in small lots. I hope they are better.

10/9/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

This is a fabulous wine from nose to palate. It has great mouth feel and length … with wonderful complexity of rich very ripe bartlet pear, ripe Braeburn apple, passion fruit, warm kiwi, apple pie spice, sweet fruit flavors and very good concentration. Every sip is a rich fruit wondermount. The best from FC in the last 5 years. Difficult to put the glass down.

10/7/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Beautiful medium golden color. Cold weather terrific restraint that opens in the palette of Bosc pear, Breaburn apple, carmelized papaya, nice butter, balance toast plus American oak, and a touch of cinnamon. Very complex in the nose. Similar flavors
And nice acidity tension and mouthfeel are very good but a a crashing bit of heat & bitterness that is distracting . A better example, of the Arroyo secco AVA

9/16/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

A Classic Rutherford nose .. I would even recognize in a busy Manhattan Italian restaurant . What’s revealed is wonderful acid and French grey sea salt with limes, lemons, white grapefruit, nectarine peal.
Elegant, classic, Bordeaux in similarity, and expressive …. Every reason for me other than Graves to dream of Rutherford Appelation Sauvingnon Blanc. I just had my wallet stolen before a business trip .. so this picked up my spirits. Beautiful fruit and touch of grass on the long elegant finish. One of my best wine of the year. Serve well chilled. I may sell my old SUV and buy cases of this at $22 at Bevmo. Long Meadow .. thank you for your exquisite commitment.

9/14/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

A Big and pleasant suprise .. especially all $14.
Very vibrant in the nose and mouth with great acidity, Limes, Lemons, lemongrass, green jelly bean, touches of pear and pineapple and the oak discussed in another review I did pick up for the first 30 min in the nose .. it does dissipate , but it is felt in structure and mouthfeel. A great Chile contribution… at a great price. Multi case purchases required for an every day wine. Mucho Bueno.

9/14/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Deep golden color , I decanted it from experience. Puckering acidity uplifts the hay, somewhat dried apricot, honeycomb, under ripe Fuji apple , French grey salt, Pithy apricot, golden rasin, wintergreen, with bitterness on the finish. It’s a very interesting and enjoyable the how the acidity works with the fruit .. how the acidity greets you .. introduces you to the flavors and takes over the room Aloha. The new French oak fermentation and eight months aging sur lees is dominant in the nose… but adds some great mouthfeel in the center of the wine . Very Semillion dominate which I love. Already 5 years old .. with all the dried fruit I’d like to see it in 5 years but I don’t see this as a long range aging wine. Very enjoyable

9/13/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

I’ve spent alot of time in Sancere ( who wouldn’t ) I have some experience of the many varieties of terroir the region shines in interest. This bottling is a positive sentiment to this. Beautiful soft golden color, terrific Sancere aromas of stones, fruits, and herbs. Soft wet river rocks, Rose flat stone, Asian pears, soft nectarines, under ripe pineapple with roundness and ripeness at 14 abv. This is not overdone as there is some complimentary acid to support. The medium finish has some interesting herbs of chervil, soft chive , and a hint of tarragon. At $21 at Whole Foods it’s a steal … I’m sure other places have it maybe better price. But it incapacitated the Sancere experience… so as a winemaker…. Please take a bow. Drink well chilled.

9/11/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

A brilliant gold / green crisp color. Looks great in the glass. Bernardus does not disappoint will a full flavored and medium bodied wine. Carmelized ( funny the winery is from Carmel Valley) jazz apple, comice pear, dry tangerine peal, tight guava, and a light touch of butterscotch and bitterness with ample acidity. This is very fruit driven, but some toast plus American oak is complimentary and may be the source of the bitterness. A touch of apple pie spice on the finish. I would rate this higher but the astringency and bitterness are too dominate. Have with food

9/3/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Clean golden color.. very dry and medium bodied with fruits of white peaches, Rose Anne nectarines
Gooseberry, Persian limes, and a course but satisfying acidity and finish. The wine gains with aeration. A deep and attractive warm river stone roundness and finish. A great contribution of minerality. A very interesting and enjoyable wine.

9/2/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

Very extremely Green and intense in aroma and flavor. I rarely taste a wine like this … maybe underripe and over pressed adding over green notes and press fragments to the experience. Some might find it interesting or fun but I don’t enjoy 2 tons of gooseberries dropped on my head. Flavors of gooseberries , green pine, lime zest, and course pitty bitterness. Drinkable if you haven’t had recent dental work…. Just not for me and maybe others.

9/2/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Have enjoyed Brander wines since there early beginnings ..and they have been a leading force in styles and terroirs of Santa Ynez Adjacent to Santa Barbara . They make a central coast, this bottling and a few others only available from the winery.
Herbaceous and grassy / hay on the nose with clean yellow green color… pretty classic. Nice citrus, body and balanced weight with a well made profile. Exotic and regal fruits of crisp pineapple, guava, lime, salt, and a light touch of tangerine. A bit of oak contribution adds to the complexity. Blind, someone might mistake this as a White Bordeaux. One of the best efforts in years with balance from this great producer. Very varietal showing off the Los Olivos district of Santa Barbara….. butting heads with Rutherford. Definitely a multi case purchase.

9/2/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

This is definately an aperitif wine with food items matching fresh vibrant hard citrus like dorado ceviche or green chile goat cheese. The underripe Lime is dominant with a few touches of white grapefruit and Meyer lemon. At Bevmo for $16 my first wine from Uruguay … very clean, well made from young grapes but rather Simple and One note
…again for a greeting , light , fresh wine. If your looking for more… plenty of choices. Would be very difficult to pick this as a varietal Albarino.

8/31/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

A medium bodied and texture Chablis with some enjoyable French minerality, lime, lemon, white nectarines with some decent length in acidity. At $7 cheaper it could be a deal but there isn’t enough
To really keep your interest here. No Wow factor and enough complexity for my interest. Maybe other vintages might be better.

8/30/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

I must appreciate Mr _D’s review as it is spot on!
Interesting back story as well. In addition the label has 2 addition tiers at $22 & a petite Chablis at $13.5… might be interesting to evaluate the brand.
My only taste contribution woulld be a lack of acid for a Chablis and a touch of carnelized Bosc Pear and Braeburn apple. If the price was $10 less , I may be grilling Nova Scotia Lobsters with Mr D in frequency … Cheers friend.

7/2/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

Straw color with a hint of green, aromas of subtle stone fruits dry minerality, yellow apple , cantelope , sweet pea, a touch of grass and plantain. Medium acidiry supports the expression although odd. Tight yet we’ll expressed as the wine gets air more nuances prevail in ginger, chalk, kiwi, & a salty green papaya edge.

7/2/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

Clear Straw color, aromas of effusive honey crisp apple, quince, pineapple, chalk, minerals, and crenshaw melon. Complex, fresh, and a higher level of Pinot Grigio than my experience. Medium to lower acidity is disappointing and the flavors are captivated by Melon & more melon ( which is something I flee from.) fall stones, kumquat, melon peel, and wintergreen. Nice package but not to my tastes.

6/18/2022 - Zinslut Does not like this wine:

Do You like Melon? Well you came to the right place! Simi has every type of melon you would desire. Honey dew, cantelope, orange flesh, Crenshaw … It’s All For You! But in this wine THATS IT. I personally despise all melon in SB and it’s unfortunate in this case. There is nothing else this wine has to offer. I’m able to understand there is this only and nothing else seriously. Medium bodied and relatively flabby acidity. Sorry Simi, you were my first Love.

6/18/2022 - Zinslut Does not like this wine:

Tastes and smells like wet cardboard and raisins of yellow apple. No varietal character, flabby, watery , and a astringent brown vine leaf, and wet dirty sock. Appeared at a 7-11 .. made by Gnarlly Vines in Central Valley , hot Manteca etc. enough said… Avoid!

6/17/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

Giving my long history with this winery, this was a major disappointment. Underipe yellow apple, persimun, grass, bitter acidity, with indescribable other elements. The wine is plain and basically one note with equal weight you would expect. Maybe a tough of underipe banana, but nowhere can this be represented as Sauvignon Blanc. Finish doesn’t really exist other than acid. See my 2020 review of this bottling. You are better served there. Drinkable butter nothing to really appreciate.

5/26/2022 - Zinslut Does not like this wine:

This is Hierz cellars? Many have been compromised in these tough times. The fuller the better.

5/25/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

Ferrari Carano is one of the highest visited wineries in Sonoma county. This 2021 fume’ version is a complete disappointment to me. Buying Sauvignon Blanc in Alexander valley for years and 100’s of cases, I found out there was another clone of Sauvignon Blanc called Musque’ that was highly planted and not distinguished. When you have training making a peticular varietal and the results of flavor profiles , then another is mysteriously substituted , it tough to get the flavor results you desire. This FC Fume I’m confident is mostly Sauvignon Musque… melon on cantelope melon on orange flesh melon on honeydew melon…. Have I said Melon. Other than a hand full of spearmint, this is what your looking at in a wine experience. For me HELL No! The additional flavors of orange blossoms remind me of my Alex Vly SB vinefyed incorrectly because it was Sauvignon Musque … a totally different vinification process. I guess know what you buy. FC you may want to go back into the vineyard and deal with Musque differently than it’s cousin . This wine is well technically made, but the fruit is ALL MELON … so sorry but it is what it is.Melon fans in SB add 7 points. Cheers.

5/25/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

I spent a month in Marlborough, and did I get an education. Now where on wine growing earth can slightly underripe fruit flavors be beautifully incapulated in brinx like 22 or 23. This is not a typical style , but the fruit incapacitated effect from Mcbribe sisters with razor acidity , is much like my first Nz SB experience with a back in the day Villa Maria in a Picton restaurant. Amazing aroma’s and flavors of white nectarines, ripe spiced guava, gooseberry, Pomello, kiwi, and key lime . The tension between these tight fruits and acidities keep you completely mesmerized. At Lunch I didn’t want to leave the table. Like my first NZ girlfriend, I left the table, grabbed the chilled wine , and finished it myself on the pateo. @ $21 buy everything you can, shit I’m considering Mortgaging my house. Enjoy all… after what we all have gone through to get to 2022 ….. you’ve earned this experience.

5/23/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

Very nice golden green color with good viscosity. The nose has a good pedigree of oak a ripe fruit. High toasted oak, orange spiced marmalade , lime zest and passion fruit. Medium bodied with oak aged dry canned underipe an bitter cocktail fruit. Yay I Don’t like where this is going Either. I can’t remember having an Albarino that was so heavily oaked or barrel fermented to a point of stealing all possible fruit and excitement of the Sea. You can tell the winery had the fruit and equipment to pull this off, but lost control in execution. No shimmy
Here Mr Curry

5/23/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

Everything you want from Sancere! To love Flint and French minerality, get in line for this bottling , it’s worth it! Beautiful thick medium gold color, aromas of grass, Bosc pear, rich minerality, spice box, and a jazz apple. Flavors mimic the aromas in a uplifted full bodied but balanced even at 14.5 abv. A pleasure to drink and continues to suprise. Terrific length and more finish with dancing minerals and crunchy sun baked pear resin in a delightful way.
I need to live in Loire.

5/21/2022 - Zinslut Likes this wine:

One entire single note of Lychee fruit in the nose and mouth. No crisp acidity, flabby and watery in the mouth. More and more Lychee with a deal breaker experience filled with terrible burnt flavors, plastic bag, bitterness, egg yolk marsepan which at $12, I decided to toss the rest for a new contender. Was pumped for a gewertz, but this was very disappointing . Not what i would expect from AVV.
I don’t know the source of the raw burnt flavors weather it was local fires are poor new oak and someone trying to get cute but it all backdrafted to a poor experience.

5/21/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

There is not a definate distinction on CT about this bottling as the lable says 81% Monterey 19% Napa counties. I’m going forward with the review. Full golden color. Nice balanced nose of apples, pears
Honeysuckle and integrated oak with a touch of wet cardboard( sorry). Medium bodied with flavors of yellow apple, d’aujou pear, orange, rose apple, oak, but a very limited and flabby finish. Drinkable at an art show but not something you would sit down with or to enhance your meal. Maybe I was nostalgic picking this up , but at $14 its not something I would waste my time with. Sorry Franciscan.

5/20/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

Have drank Kenwood SB in sane family settings since I was 17. It was a quintessential Sonoma white wine in my innocent eyes and palate. But in my USA travels , I always found it again over the years. An odd pure yellow color that lacks viscosity and tention at 14.1 abv. Aromas of yellow and Fugi apples, a touch of Asian pear but that’s about it. Similar limited flavors with the SB leaving SB land with a flabby acidity and character. Kenwood now sources 1/2 this lot from Lake County, which has not panned out as many like Kendall Jackson thought it would for premium varietal wine. Having experienced summer days and nights at Clear Lake at 118 F , I understand where all the Acid and Flavor went…. Into the hot breezes. Drinkable but completely uninteresting , sorry Kenwood but I’m Driving back to the Beltane Ranch. You deserve better.

5/20/2022 - Zinslut wrote:

Many consumers would be surprised to know Kimmy Crawford makes 2 million cases a year. It wouldn’t shock me if they have an advertisement Blimp for Rugby matches for the All Blacks. Bright medium golden color. Classic Razor cut aromas of grass, gooseberry, lime zest, stone fruits, and white grapefruit. Took 20 min to open up. Completely dry with very underripe and disappointing similar acidic notes of difficult to distinguish fruits. Lime zest water finish that has me scratching my head why I paid $20 at a 7-11 at midnight after work. Nice label in a French green bottle … I guess that’s were the money is going …. Oh that’s right I forgot about The Blimp. There are so many fantastic NZ SB … don’t waste your time cracking the screw top. Paired with roasted salted pistachios.