Tenute Silvio Nardi 2010 Rosso Di Montalcino, $24.99, 91 points, poured a deep pomegranate red with a thin transitioning orange ring before the clear rim.
Red cherry, roses, and a whiff of alcohol (14%) were pleasant.
Medium bodied with good acidity and comfortable background tannin carried lush truffle, cola, black cherry, cardamom, and plum flavors.
The long finish had a spark of tart pomegranate with gentle spice notes.
Paired well with my sausage lasagna, but was very good by itself.
Index-of-reviewed-winesCopyright 2010-2014
Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Flowers Sonoma Coast 2011 Pinot Noir, $41.64-$48.99, 92 points, was a rainbow of red to orange hues with just a hint of violet with a very broad clear rim.
The nose was cranberry and red cherry with a lovely subtle cedar and an evolving floral note.
Light-plus bodied with good acidity and gentle, but accelerating tannin.
Flavors mirrored the nose with the addition of a lovely spearmint and cola.
Finished long on the trailing palate, pomegranate, plum, mild spice notes, and a well integrated 13.2% alcohol.
Index-of-reviewed-wines
Copyright 2010-2014
Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Bonterra Mendocino County And Lake County 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $10.19-$14.99, 89 points, poured a very delicate light gold color at the core, shading clear toward the glass wall.
As with the color the aroma was a delicate bouquet of seamless citrus, melon, and a kiss of vanilla.
The light fairly acidic body carried a gossamer web of flavors, with honeysuckle always in the background, but green fruits were dominant, a flutter of licorice, and a hint of lemongrass.
Finished with a well integrated 13% alcohol and a gentle ginger note.
Drink as an aperitif or pair with sushi and gently flavored white fish; tempura fish and shrimp with most cocktail sauces may overwhelm this white wine.
Index-of-reviewed-wines
Copyright 2010-2014
Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Line 39 California 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $8.99-$10.99, 89 points, poured a silver/green with brass highlights.
The aromas of the straight-forward grass/fresh-cut hay with tangerine notes were very good.
Crisp light body carried mouth-watering acidity with flavors that mirrored the aromas.
Finished long with citrus, watermelon, ginger, and a touch of the 13.5% alcohol.
The quality/price/ratio (QPR) of this white wine makes this an excellent choice for friends and family at your clambake.
Index-of-reviewed-wines
Copyright 2010-2014
Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
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.
Began in the glass as a bright ruby with some bricking just before the broadly transparent circumferential ring.
Not being a chemist and drinking this wine after the Insignia, I hesitate with declaring the "1" wine flawed, but showing smells that were rubber-like ("The Fresno odor"?), barnyard order (typical of Brettanomyces), and prune (a sure sign that somewhere this wine was over heated) leaves little room for just saying I didn't like this wine at all. What is amazing is having all of these ostensible flaws together. I did let the wine sit overnight and did use a copper penny which helped to make the wine almost drinkable, and even showing some fair spice in the finish.
Overall, the near full body carried fair acidity and mild tannin along with flavors of cherry syrup and prune.
Finally finished on the same notes as the palate with a hint of the 13.5% alcohol.
* Winefolly A Tutorial on Wine Faults
Index-of-reviewed-wines
Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Joseph Phelps Napa Valley 2007 Insignia Red Wine, $144.99-$225.99, 97 points, poured core black trending crushed blackberry red toward the clear rim.
Vibrantly aromatic with roses, sweet hibiscus, black fruit, cedar, cinnamon, with just a hint of clove. One of the finest bouquets I've had the privilege to experience.
The full body carried good acidity, layered rich tannin, and the best fruit-forward wine I've yet tasted.
Balanced and nuanced textures were velvety and dense, with flavors married to the aroma (plus a lively cola flavor), all of which added to a sense of proportionality that makes almost any other full-bodied red wine seem awkward and clumsy.
Finished long on the trailing palate, white and cayenne pepper, a well integrated 14.5% alcohol, and a hint of plum.
Varietals are 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot.
On the occasion of my son's 25th birthday, I brought this wine out of the cellar for our celebration.
Index-of-reviewed-wines
Copyright 2010-2014
Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
Girard Napa Valley 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, $12.75-$19.99, 89 points, poured a light misty lime green.
Aromatic white grapefruit, honeysuckle, with a hint of lemon grass and cantaloupe were robust.
The crisp light body carried good acidity, a single-minded flavor profile that mirrored the aroma, and tart green apple.
Finished long with rich ginger, accelerating grass notes, and a hint of the 13.9% alcohol.
Index-of-reviewed-wines
Copyright 2010-2014
Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
