Light ruby, similar to that of a Pinot Noir of comparable age. The bouquet is a bit lacking. Somewhat cooked; maybe simply a bad bottle or one that was exposed to heat before I purchased it. (The case was filled from bottles already on the shelf.) With swirling, though, the flavors emerge--red fruit acidity and minerals. Still has the detail and definition that I found in previous bottles. Pinot Noir delicacy and texture. Still a very enjoyable wine.
Deep and dark violet ruby. From the first sniff and taste, I was impressead by the depth, complexity and concentration. Great balance between the ripe fruit, firm tannins and Sangiovase acidity. Cherries, flowers and vanilla on the nose Red fruit, leather and spice on the palate. Powerful wine. Later in the meal, the tannins seemed to dominate. I would like to taste it in 2029 or later, but at this price it is a good choice for drinking now or later.
Medium dark crimson. Probably Syrah rather than oaj. Ripe red berries and herbs on the nose. Dark cherries on the palate with a peppercorn finish. More tannin than to be expected from a CDR but still very approachable now and for at least a few more years.
Light straw. Fresh and clean from start to finish. Green apples, white peaches, lemon zest. Less herbal than Italian Pinot Grigios such as MezzaCorona and lighter bodied than Alsace or Oregon Pino Gris. A pleasant twist of sweet fruit on the finish. The chart on the label shows this wine as semi-dry, but it comes across as crisp and tart because of the vibrant fruit flavors.
At $10 to $12, it is a good value every day white.
Very dark, old gold color. Nothing fresh in the smells or flavors. More oxidation than I can tolerate. My view is that it has been exposed to too much heat at some time or is over the hill. It may just be a bad bottle. It may just be my tasting bias. I don't know, but if you see this wine on the shelf, I advise you to try it first before buying in quantity.
Reddish violet. Flowers and fresh fruit in the aromas Red berries and plums with hints of cinnamon and mint. Lifted flavors on the mid-palate and a long, lovely finish. From the winemaker: "fruity delicately complex."
Vajra makes many great Barolos for long aging. This Rosso is for current enjoyment, although I am sure that this bottle is better than the ones we had several years ago.
Deep ruby red with not as many Nebbiolo orange tints as I expected. Probably has had some new oak maturation. Beautifully aromatic. Roses, ripe red and black berries. Tannin is noticeable but well balanced by red fruit acidity. Sweet vanilla flavors on the finish. Now in its 14th year but improves noticeably with two hours of aeration. On the third night after being opened and re-corked, it is showing beautifully.
Fonseca produces a number of excellent vintage and tawny ports. Anticiclone is decidedly dry. It received 90 points from Wine Spectator and was included in the publication's top 100 wines of 2024.
Deep red with slight bluish tints. Black berries, dark chocolate, coffee. Comes on with bold strokes then settles into an elegant mid-palate and a spicy, peppery finish that is far from simple.
Deep, dark red. May have had some new oak aging but, if so, it has not been to the detriment of the wine. Still has a traditional profile. Upfront smells and flavors of fresh red and black berries and spice. Medium bodied (despite 15% alcohol content). Actually, it carries 15% quite well. No heat, no heaviness. Classic Southern Rhone pepper and spice.. Long, delicious finish. The best value in CDR that I have seen in many years.
Second night: The oak and the alcohol are clearly showing tonight. If you are a hard core Southern Rhone traditionalist, as I claim to be, you might want to try a bottle before you load up the trunk. But it's an enjoyable wine at a good price that might suit your non-traditionalist friends and family better than an old-timey CDR.
Dark red. A high percentage of Mourvedre was included in this vintage and it shows. Scents of violets, more black than red fruits. Firm on the mid-palate. Deep fruit under the tannins. After a couple of hours of aeration, Grenache red fruits start to appear. Long, peppery finish. At 10 plus years of age, I think this could go even longer.
Deep brilliant ruby shading to garnet. The wine was aged in large vats--traditional Slavonian oak and not so traditional French oak. Enchanting floral/fruity smells but a bit laid back at the moment. On the palate, dark cherries, red berries, balsamic and a bit of licorice on the tail end. Very dry, Barolo dry, on the mid-palate. Has a lot to offer, either mid week or for a special occasion.
Fairly deep ruby for Nebbiolo but some garnet at edges. Opens with beautiful scents of rose petals, violets and fresh fruit. Dark cherry compote expands on the mid-palate, takes on some licorice tones and then slinks into a finely textured finish. Softer tannins than a Barolo or Barbaresco but the fruit flavors are just as intense and profound.
Color may be a tad lighter than that of the Cabernet but still dark and bluish. Dark cherries, mocha and sweet spices. Silky texture, good acid, delicious fruit flavors.This wine suffers mainly by comparison to the luscious chocolate creme brulee. It has been a long night and a lot of food and wine. I would like to try this wine again with a less fatigued palate.
Donna and I were introduced to Goldeneye Pinot Noir by our good friends, Dave and Nancy Randall, who live in Redding, CA, withing driving distance of the Anderson Valley. Goldeneye is usually priced a bit high ($50 a bottle) for my wine budget, but the enjoyment I got from those early bottles lured us into a satisfying relationship with other Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs such as those from Toulouse, Couloir, Mary Elke and Phillips Hill. I was anticipating good things from this Goldeneye Pinot, and I was not disappointed.
Medium light ruby shading to garnet. The lightest color of all of the Duckhorn reds... and rightly so. Haunting smells and flavors: raspberry, cherry, red currants, black tea and a hint of mushrooms. Great acidity to match the spicy marinara sauce. Long, intriguing finish.
The 2023 Lucky 9 White wine is a blend of nine varietals--Muller Thurgau (25%), Chardonnay (24%), Gewurztraminer (19%), Sauvignon Blanc (15%), Riesling (11%) and Early Muscat (5%), not to mention Pinot Gris, Semillon and Muscat Canelli. Grapes are not necessarily from the estate or even the Willamette Valley but purchased from other areas of Oregon, Washington and California.
Light, bright straw color. Very forward fruity nose. Apples, lime zest, melon--fresh and lively. If I had to guess (and I did before researching the wine), I would have identified Riesling as the dominant grape, and it does have some petrol tones associated with Riesling. The blend works well, producing a wine of substance and interest that drinks well with just about any meal. Lucky 9 White sells for about $15 but if you are on the Sokol Blosser mailing list, you often qualify for discounts. I have enjoyed the Evolution Pinot Noir and the Evolution Sparkling Pinot Noir. The bottles of single vineyard Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir and Estate Chardonnay I had were spectacular.
Medium deep ruby, bright and clear with good saturation. Smells and tastes like Syrah: black fruits, cassis, black olives and some herbal tones. A bit more stand-offish than it was in 2023, but I think that augurs well for it. Should be even better in a couple of years.
