Friday, November 16, 2012

Cantele 2009 Primitivo--My Pick For The Thanksgiving Table


Cantele 2009 Primitivo, $9.99-$12.99, 90 points, has a dark Tuscan red color with a broad transparent rim.
The delicate toasty black cherry aroma has hints of cinnamon and clove (NICE!)
The medium body carries firm acidity with mild tannin on a texture of velvet. A lovely flavor of black berries rule here, with just a hint of plum. The finish is long on mild spice and just a touch of heat (13.5% alcohol), mint, and eucalyptus. I can't stress enough that this is a delicate wine and will not blow you away like a "big" Lodi Zin, but it is just delicious.
This is the best Primitivo I've had yet! Was a "Last Chance" wine at the NHLS #69
As we get close to Thanksgiving, I'd say so far, this would be my pick for our Thanksgiving table.
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Thursday, November 15, 2012

St. Urbans-Hof Mosel Old Vines 2011 Riesling


St. Urbans-Hof  Mosel Old Vines 2011 Riesling, $14.99-$17.99, 89 points, has a light golden color, and the aroma is an excellent toasty vanilla and apricot.
This dry to off-dry Riesling has a light-plus body carrying good acidity and an interesting, almost spritz-like apple with apricot notes.
The finish is ginger with a good sense of minerality.
We paired this with Buffalo wings, celery, and blue cheese dressing, and were impressed with just how versatile a good Riesling is.
For that Thanksgiving day dinner, I recommend a good Riesling. Make it at least two Rieslings, with a sweeter one for those with a sweeter palate. Let me recommend Fünf (5) Sassy White Riesling. I believe it is still on sale for $6.99 at the NHLS.




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Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes 2011 Riesling



Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes 2011 Riesling, $14.99-$16.99, 90 points, has a beautiful light brassy color.
Melon, gentle honeydew, and with just a smidgen of sandalwood making for a lovely aromatic experience.
Drinking this RSL cold, I found the flavor of grapefruit dominant, but as the wine warmed a transition to Granny apple and ginger usurped the grapefruit and added some of that ginger which followed-through to the finish and ended with an unusual black peppery taste.
Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes 2011 Riesling says semi dry, but I would have described it as off dry (just trying to stay consistent), and the body is light-plus with good acidity. There is some trace mineral quality to this wine, but I was unable to say slate, or granite. You be sure to let me know what you discern!
An excellent wine I'd buy again. We matched this perfectly with Asian cuisine.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Cline Ancient Vines 2010 Zinfandel


Cline Ancient Vines 2010 Zinfandel, $15.99-$18.99, 88 points, has a dense ruby-red color with a clear rim.
The aroma is so mute I had to smell a container of coffee to confirm I hadn't lost my olfactory sense; I was able to tease-out some candy-cane, earth, and heat (15% alcohol).
Textually, this Zin is moderately smooth on a medium plus body, with good acidity and mild tannin.
The flavors are a fairly straight forward blackberry and heat which trail nicely into the butt-kicking spicy finish.
A much better effort than the 2008.








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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Meritage (USA) And Bordeaux Styled Red Wine






This is a work in progress for Mobile (Smart) phones as a quick reference. Meritage USA Bordeaux Styled Red Wine Explained helps to define what denotes a Meritage Red Wine.

Just my own note on the Meritage classification: Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain 2007 Red Wine, Justin Vineyards Isosceles Paso Robles 2007 Red Wine, and Chalk Hill Estate 2007 Red Wine, for example, are USA Bordeaux Styled Red Wines that exceed the quality (In my humble opinion) of almost any wine I've tasted with the Meritage designation, but I see the use of the designation Meritage as a sure way to clearly label USA red wines as being Bordeaux styled without infringing on France's legal or otherwise considered right to the term Bordeaux, and nothing more. I'm sure others will disagree (At some point there is a cost to the Meritage designation) with that assessment. Please don't get overwrought over my opinion on this subject that is not what this cheat-sheet is about. Any more clarification can be researched by the readers.



 Meritage (USA) And Bordeaux Styled Red Wine

 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain 2007 Red Wine, $50.99-$59.99, 93 points
Atalon Napa Valley Pauline's Cuvée 2012 Bordeaux-styled Red Wine, $25.49-$29.99, 89 points
Beaulieu Vineyard~BV~Napa Valley Tapestry 2010 Red Wine Reserve, $41.99-$55.99, 93+ points
Chalk Hill Estate 2007 Red Bordeaux Style Wine, $63.74-$74.99, 94+ points
Chappellet 2014 Mountain Cuvée Proprietor's Blend Red Wine, $25.49-$32.99, 91 points
Chappellet Napa Valley (Pritchard Hill) 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, $53.54-$62.99, 92 points
Darioush Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Franc, $50.99-$59.99, 93 points
Darioush Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $74.69-$82.99, 95+ points
Del Rio Vineyards Rogue Valley Claret (Bordeaux-styled Red Wine), 87 points, $14.99-$34.99
Dry Creek Mariner (2012), $45.00, 95 points,
Dry Creek 'The Mariner' 2013 Meritage (Bordeaux Styled Red Wine), $20.97-$44.99, 91 points
Duckhorn Howell Mountain NAPA Valley 2005 Red Wine, $34.99, 92 points
Etude Carneros AVA 2007 Red Wine, approximately $40, 91 pointsGeyser Peak Alexander Valley 2005 Meritage, $17.99-$35.99, 89 points
Hahn Central Coast 2009 Meritage, $11.99-$18.99, 91 points
Havens Luxury Collectio North Coast 2012 Meritage, $5.99-$19.99, 84 points
J.Lohr Cuvee P A U Paso Robles 2006 Red Wine, $18.69-$49.99, 90 points
Honig Napa Valley 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, $31.44-$39.99, 92 points
Joseph Phelps Napa Valley 2007 Insignia Red Wine, $144.99-$225.99, 97 points
Justin Vineyards Isosceles Paso Robles 2007 Bordeaux-Style Red Wine, $50.94-$64.99, 94 points
Justin Vineyards Isosceles Paso Robles 2008 Bordeaux-Style Red Wine, $50.94-$64.99, 97 points
Luke Donald Collection (LDC) Napa Valley 2012 Red Wine, $14.99-$45.99, 88 points
Lyeth Sonoma County 2006 Meritage, $12.74-$17.99, 87 points
Murphy-Goode Alexander Valley 2010 Claret, $13.50-$22.50, 85 points
Mount Veeder 2006 Napa Valley Bordeaux-Style Red Wine, $29.99-$44.99, 92 points
Orin Swift "Papillon" 2013 Bordeaux Styled Red Wine, $53.54-$76.99, 93 points
Ravines Finger Lakes 'Maximilie' Bordeaux-Styled Red Wine, $22,94-$26.99, 90 points
Purple Heart Napa Valley 2013 Bordeaux-styled Red Wine, $17.99-$19.99, 88 points
Ridge Monte Bello 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $124.79-$155.99, 95 points
Ridge Estate 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, $27.89-$42.99, 91 points
Ridge Estate 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $38.39 (bought two years ago), $52.99 (now), 92 points
Ridge Estate 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, $49.29-$57.99, 95 points
Robert Mondavi 50th Year Anniversary Napa Valley Maestro 2013 Red Wine, $42.49-59.99 (gift), 91 points
Shafer Napa Valley 'TD-9' 2015 Proprietary Red Wine, $56.86-$59.99, 94 points
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Red Wine (USA) Not Meritage

Red Wine (USA)



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

Need to know what a Red Wine is: Check-out (Ben's Wine Humor).

* Indicates miscellaneous single varietal (75%-100%).

7 Moons California 2015 Red blend, $9.99-$11.99, 86 points
14 Hands Hot To Trot Columbia Valley 2010 Red Wine, $8.99-$10.99, 87 points
14 Hands Kentucky Derby Columbia Valley 2012 Red Blend $9.99-$11.99, 87+ points
Chronic Cellers Paso Robles 2018 Purple Paradise Red Wine (Zinfandel), $17.09-$18.99, 90 points
Cline Cashmere 2011 Red Wine, $10.70-$17.99, 86 points
* Clos de Gilroy Monterey County 2013 Grenache (Bonny Doon Vineyard), $15.29-$19.99, 88 points
Columbia Crest Grand-Estates Amitage 2008 Red Wine, $10.80-$12.50, 88 points
Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills 2010 Red Wine, $11.99-$14.99, 86 points
Cupcake Red Velvet 2009 Red Wine, $8,99-$10.99, 88 points
Cupcake Red Velvet 2011 Red Wine, $6.99-$10.99, 88 points
Desert Wind Wahluke Slope Washington State "RUAH" Proprietary 2014 Red Wine, $9.34-$21.99, 89 points
Duck Dynasty' Robertson Family (in partnership with Trinchero Winery Napa Valley) Duck Commander Triple Threat 2012 Red Wine, $10.49, 86 points
Etude Carneros AVA 2007 Red Wine, approximately $40, 91 points
Fall Line Exhibition Yakima Valley Red Wine, $24.00, 90 points
Ferrari-Carano Siena Sonoma County 2008 Red Wine, $16.79-$27.99, 92 points
Fess Parker Estates Epiphany Revelation Rodney's Vineyard 2012 Red Wine, $30.99-$34.99, 88+ points
Fess Parker Frontier Red Wine Lot No.113, $10-$12, 89 points
Fess Parker Frontier Red Wine Lot No.122, $9.99-$11.99, 86 points
Fifty Shades of Grey 2011 Red Wine, $14.99-$18.99, 89+ points
"for a song" Washington State 2012 Red Wine, $7.99-$14.99, 85 points
FreakShow 2014 (Michael David) Lodi Red Wine, $16.99-$19.99, 87 points
Frog's Leap Napa Valley "Granite" 2015 Red Wine, $19.99-$39.99, 90 points
Game of Thrones Paso Robles 2016 Red Wine, $9.15-$19.95, 86 points
Ghost Pines 2009 California Red Wine, $12.60-$18.00, 88 points
GIFFT: Kathie Lee Gifford Estate Grown "Gifft" 2011 Red Wine, $9.59-$13.99, 90 points
Grape Tamer, Patrick McNeal Paso Robles 2013 Red Wine, $11.89-$34.99, 90 points
Hahn 2009 GSM, $12.99-$19.99, 90 points
Havens Napa Valley "Black And Blue" 2013 Red Wine (Syrah), $16.99-$39.99, 88 points
Hedges Red Mountain 2008 Red Wine, $26.99-$30.99, 91 points
Hourglass "HG III" Napa Valley 2014 Red Wine, $40.79-$47.99, 92 points
It's A Head Snapper 2014 Radiant Red Wine (Livermore/Ripon, Ca.), $8.99-$11.99, 87 points
* Jade Mountain Evangelho Vineyard Contra Costa County 2005 Mourvèdre, $13.40-$24.99, 88 points
* Jed Steele's "Shooting Star" Lake County 2012 Barbera Red Wine, $6.79-$13.99, 87 points
Joseph Phelps Napa Valley 2007 Insignia Red Wine, $144.99-$225.99, 97 points
Kathie Lee Gifford Estate Grown "Gifft" 2011 Red Wine, $9.59-$13.99, 90 points
Kendall Jackson AVANT 2012 Red Wine, $11.99-$14.99, 88 points
Kentucky Derby 14 Hands Columbia Valley 2012 Red Blend, $9.99-$11.99, 87+ points
Kuleto Frog Prince Napa Valley 2009 Red Wine, $18.69-$39.99, 90 points
Kuleto "Native Son" Napa County 2013 Red Wine, $11.89-$24.99, 93 points
L'Ecole No 41 Columbia Valley "Frenchtown" 2013 Red Wine, $10.99-$22.99, 90 points
L'Ecole No 41 Columbia Valley 2012 Red Wine, $17.84-$22.99, 90 points
Labelle Granite State Red Wine (Non-Vintage) was a gift from a friend, $15.99 (approx.), 85 points
LaBelle "Red, White, And Blue-berry" (non-vintage) $16.14-$18.99, 82 points
LE Mistral Monterey County 2007 Red Wine, $19.99-$38.99, 90 points
Luna's Lunatic 2010 "Blood" Red Wine, $13.99-$16.99, 90 points
Lunatic, American Canyon, California, 2014 Red Wine, $7.99-$17.99, 86 points
Marietta Old Vine Red Lot Number 52, $15.30-$16.99, 87 points
Michael David 'FreakShow' 2014 Lodi Red Wine, $16.99-$19.99, 87 points
Niner Twisted Spur Paso Robles 2009 Red Wine, $15.29-$37.99, 89 points
Noble Vines {1} 2011 Red Blend, $11.99-$14.99, no rating*, but as of today CT had an average score of 83.3 points
Noble Vines 'The One' North Coast 2013 Red Wine, $11.99-$14.99, 88 points
Once Upon A Vine California 2012 Red Wine, $9.99-$11.99, 86 points
PAPA'S ALL~BLACKS North Coast Old Vines 2011 Red Wine, $25.49-$29.99, 90 points
Paraduxx Napa Valley 2009 Z Blend Red Wine, $23.79-$49.99, 92 points
Patrick McNeal 'Grape Tamer' Paso Robles 2013 Red Wine, $11.89-$34.99, 90 points
Paul Dolan Deep Red 2009 Mendocino Red Wine, $15.99-$39.99, 89+ points
'Perfect Union' Whitehall Lane Winery 2009 Red Wine, $16.14-$35.99, 91 points
Petroni Estate Rosso Di Sonoma 2011 Red Wine, $13.59-$35.99, 90 points
SC Cellars STC California LCNS 2 Chll 2020 Red Wine, approximately $16.00, 69 points
Scaggs Vineyard Napa Valley Mt. Veeder 2012 Montage (Rhone Style Red Wine), $33.14-$38.99, 90+ points
Sebastiani Secolo 2006 Sonoma Red Wine, $19.99-$39.99, 89 points
Sean Minor Napa Valley 2009 Red Wine, $14.44-$19.99, 87 points
Sean Minor Napa Valley 'Nicole Marie' 2013 Red Wine, $15.99-$22.99, 90 points
Skinnygirl California 2013 Red Wine, $7.64-$11.99, 80 points
Sokol Blosser Evolution Red Wine 2nd Edition, $14.31-$18.99, 91 points
Storybook Mountain 2012 Antaeus Red Wine, $29.74-$34.99, 92 points
* T-Vine Napa Valley 2012 Grenache, $14.99-$35.99, 90 points
Tablas Creek Vineyard Paso Robles 2014 Côtes de Tablas (Rhône-styled) Red Wine, $25.49-$29.99, 92 points
Tenshen Santa Barbara County 2014 Red Wine, $14.99-$27.99, 88+ points
Tête-à-Tête, Domaine de la Terre Rouge Sierra Foothills 2008 Red Wine, $17.92, 90 points (GSM)
the Dreaming Tree Crush North Coast 2009 Red Wine, $11.99-$14,99, 88 points
The Offering 2008 Red Wine, $28.15-$31.99, 90 points
Three Saints Santa Barbara 2007 Steak House Red Wine, $16.99, 88 points
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if you see kay red wine


If You See Kay, $19.99, 87 points, makes me wonder: will the fooling around ever stop? Not as long as people are looking to market their products.
This is New Hampshire's wine, rather wine label, of controversy, but I'm really interested in what's in the bottle, the wine itself (Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with a dollop of Petite Verdot, and Primitivo-Italian Zinfandel) and is it worth the money? Yes, and no!
The color is very dense ruby with a transparent rim.
There is almost no aroma, but I was able to tease some red cherry and spice out of it.
The full body is stain your teeth purple thick, smooth to almost syurpy, with fair acidity and mild tannin.
Flavors of red cherry and plum were what whetted my palate, but the finish was fine on spice.
This wine is made ironically in Italy by an American.
Is the iysk wine worth $19.99? The decision is a close call, but in my humble opinion, not for the wine, but yes for what retrograde Hippies and Hell's Angels could do with it, or someone who likes this style of straight-forward and full-bodied red wine.
As for Thanksgiving? Give thanks that you're still alive! You know who you are!
Apropos song by Neil Young: Unknown Legend

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