Monday, November 12, 2012

Green and Red Napa Valley Chiles Canyon 2009 Zinfandel



Green and Red Chiles Canyon Napa Valley 2009 Zinfandel, $23.99, 92 points, took some searching for, and at full price is still worth the effort.
Waves of the deep purple wine clung to the glass-wall, and welling dark to opaque gave this Zinfandel immediate impact.
Pleasant toasty notes, hints of savory and cinnamon make for an aromatic delight.
The medium body carries "velvet heat" (14.8 alcohol) with good acidity and moderate tannin.
Flavors of blackberry, pomegranate, licorice, and hints of coffee  give plenty of complexity.
Finishing fine and smooth with trailing fruit, white and black pepper-corn cap off this very nice wine.
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Sunday, November 11, 2012

Brunello di Montalcino (sanguis Jovis "the blood of Jove")



This is a work in progress for Mobile (Smart) phones as a quick reference.

Brunello di Montalcino For Dummies and for the more Inquisitive.


Antinori "Pian delle Vigne-Vigna Ferrovia" 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva D.O.C.G., $53.99-$58.99, 95 points
Argiano 2011 Brunello Montalcino, $50.99-$59.99, 93 points
ARPA DOCG 2007 Brunello DI Montalcino, $31.99-$60.99, 93 points
Banfi Castello 2004 Brunello DI Montalcino, $49.29-$57.99, 93 points
Castello Banfi DI Montalcino 2004 Brunello, $49.29-$57.99, 93 points Revisited
Banfi Castello 2007 Brunello DI Montalcino, $49.29-$62.99, 92points
Banfi Castello 2010 Brunello DI Montalcino, $29.99-$32.99 (375ml), 94 points
Banfi Castello 2012 Brunello DI Montalcino, $50.99-$59.99, 94 points
Banfi Castello Poggio Alle Mura 2006 Brunello, Montalcino, $60.34-$74.99, 95 points
Banfi Castello Poggio Alle Mura 2007 Brunello Di Montalcino, $60.34-$74.99, 95 points
Cantina Montalcino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino (DOCG), $33.99-$42.99, 94 points
CAPANNA 2006 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO, $47.59-$55.99, 93 points
CAPANNA 20006 Brunello Di Montalcino (D.O.C.G.) Revisited, $47.59-$55.99, 93 points
CAPANNA 2007 Brunello Di Montalcino, $47.66-$55.99, 95 points
CAPANNA 2008 Brunello Di Montalcino, $45.82-$59.99, 94 points
CAPANNA 2011 Brunello Di Montalcino, $50.99-$59.99, 94 points
CAPANNA 2011 Brunello Di Montalcino (D.O.C.G.) Revisited, $50.99-$59.99, 95 points
Caparzo 2006 Brunello DI Montalcino, $32.29-$37.99, 92 points
Caparzo 2007 Brunello DI Montalcino, $31.06-$37.99, 93 points
Caparzo 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, $55.99-$69.99, 94 points
Caparzo 2008 Brunello DI Montalcino, $29.06-$37.99, 93 points
Caparzo 2010 Brunello DI Montalcino, $32.29-$37.99, 92 points
Caparzo 2011 Brunello DI Montalcino, $32.29-$37.99, 92+ points
Caparzo 2012 Brunello DI Montalcino (DOCG), $32.29-$37.99, 92+ points
Caparzo 2013 Brunello DI Montalcino (DOCG), $29.74-$39.99, 92 points
Castel Giocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) 2010 Brunello DI Montalcino Revisited, $33.99-$65.99, nine years later scored 92 points
Ciacci Piccolomini d' ARAGONA 2005 Brunello di Montalcino $39.09-$45.99, 94 points
Ciacci Piccolomini d' ARAGONA Pianrosso 2007 Brunello di Montalcino, $51.66-$59.99, 94+ points
Ciacci Piccolomini D'Aragona 2007 Brunello Di Montalcino (Riserva Pianrosso Santa Caterina D'oro), $50.99-$59.99, 96 points
Col D'orcia 2004 Brunello DI Montalcino, $49.99-$53.99, 91 points
Col D'orcia 2012 Brunello DI Montalcino (DOCG), $33.14-$39.99, 91 points
Coldi Sole Lionello Marchesi 2005 Brunello DI Montalcino, $45.05-$60.00, 92 points
Cortonesi "La Mannella" 2012 Brunello DI Montalcino (DOCG), $29.74-$71.99, 92 points
Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2011 Brunello Di Montalcino (DOCG), $46.74-$57.99, 93 points
Fattoire Barbi 2010 Brunello Di Montalcino, $35.69-$41.99, 93 points
Fattoria La Lecciaia 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (DOCG), $36.54-$47.99, 93 points
Fuligni 2006 Brunello Di Montalcino (DOCG), $64.59-$87.99, 96 points
Fuligni 2007 Brunello Di Montalcino, $63.74-$74.99, 93 points
Fuligni 2011 Brunello Di Montalcino (DOCG), $64.59-$75.99, 96 points
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Easton Amador County 2010 Zinfandel



Easton Amador County 2010 Zinfandel, $15.99-$17.99, 89 points, has a slightly cloudy ruby color with a broad clear rim.
The aroma is spicy red cherry.
A medium bodied wine, juicy with good acidity and mild tannin with a touch of heat (14.5% alcohol), carries flavors of red cherry, coffee, and tart red grape-skin.
Easton 2010 Zin finishes fair with spice and residual heat.
I found this Zinfandel a bit on the edgy side, but better after it was opened for a few hours.








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 Copyright 2012 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
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Saturday, November 10, 2012

Edmeades Mendocino County 2009 Zinfandel


Edmeades Mendocino County 2009 Zinfandel, $14.99-$16.99, 89 points, has a slightly cloudy ruby color with orange tints and a broad clear rim.
The aroma is toasty red grape and sweet red licorice.
Having good acidity, mild tannin, and some heat (15.5% alcohol), plenty of flavors complement here; with red cherry, java, licorice and eucalyptus, but the finish is only fair with the trailing palate, some spice, and more heat.
This is a value Zinfandel, if you like a bit of heat, but the flavor is very good.
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 Copyright 2012 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
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Friday, November 9, 2012

Green and Red Chiles Canyon Napa Valley 2007-2008 Zinfandels Revisited

 


Green and Red Chiles Canyon Napa Valley 2007 Zinfandel, $18.99, 90 points get's a new review after more than two years in the cellar sitting side-by-side with the Rabbit Ridge Zinfandel; the idea behind tasting this wine and vintage again, is to demonstrate that a good Zinfandel's quality doesn't just collapse. I would say that the 2007 Green and Red has peaked, but it still should be quite good for another two years (I'll let you know).
It is important and good for the soul to admit that this newbie wine taster has gone through some changes as  David Bowie alluded to way back when, and that might be reflected a bit in this third review of the 2007 Green and Red Zin.

 To the wine: The color is a crushed black currant and almost a Shriaz purple with a clear rim.
A sweet cooking spice with hints of turned earth and licorice, are pleasant.
The medium body carries good acidity, moderate tannin, flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, and a hint of licorice; finishing long, smooth, and spicy, with a touch of heat (14.8% alcohol). I still recommend this Zinfandel!

 Green and Red 2008 Zinfandel Chiles Canyon Napa Valley, $20.99, 91 points was tasted side-by-side with the 2007 vintage and had similar notes, yet was a bit more robust, the nose is more a toasty grape as well, there were sweet cooking spices with hints of turned earth and licorice. If you have a choice between the two, I'd go with the 2008, all-the-while I'll be looking for the more recent vintages, and if you find them first, let me know what you think.

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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Rabbit Ridge Paso Robles 2007 Zinfandel



Rabbit Ridge Paso Robles 2007 Zinfandel, $12.74-$16.99, 81 points, requires some comment: Zinfandel usually is a wine people drink young, though I've heard of people drinking them, with satisfaction, as old as twenty years or so, but these are the better, proven Zinfandels. VinoGirl from Vinsanity recently mentioned with pleasure the Fritz Winery 1998 Late Harvest Zinfandel, and others have mentioned some of the older Ridge Zinfandels, but a rule of thumb with these wines is to drink early, drink young.
I prefaced my comments concerning the Rabbit Ridge Paso Robles 2007 Zinfandel, because it was awkward and not satisfying at all, but I doubt that it was "bad", just too old.
The color is a bit cloudy orange red, still has a clear rim.
The aroma is prune with a vegetative note, almost like asparagus (usually a sign of age or spoilage).
The medium body has fair acidity and unnoticeable tannin.
The flavor is big, overbearing with a sour prune, coffee (which can't save this wine), alcohol (14.9%), and spice which continues long into the spicy finish (still can't save this wine).
I've dug out of the cellar a bottle of the 2007 Green and Red Zinfandel to compare, since these wines were bought and kept together for some time now, they should show some of the same characteristics, unless, as I suspect, Green and Red is just a better Zinfandel.
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Frog's Leap Napa Valley 2009 Zinfandel


Frog's Leap Napa Valley 2009 Zinfandel, $26.99-$28.99, 91 points, has a slightly cloudy cranberry red color with flashes of ruby orange.
A toasty red grape aroma has hints of coconut and chocolate (very nice).
The juicy medium body of this Zinfandel carries good acidity and moderate tannin.
The flavors of bright tart red cherry, plum, with hints of violets, licorice, and dried herbs are well blended.
Frog's Leap 2009 Zinfandel finishes long on cayenne pepper with a pleasant citrus note (unusual for a Zin).
This wine is drinking great now, but I'm guessing it will develop for some time.


Frog's Leap 2009 Zinfandel

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