I love finding great values in wine and passing them along to you. I also feel a certain responsibility to warn you about some wines that are out there that might be a complete waste of your money. In this segment of “From The Moleskine To You” I found some good wines, and some stinkers. (At least in my opinion). Here is a review of last weeks tasting notes.
2010 Bogle Vineyards Essential Red (California) … $10.99
This is a fairly new introduction from Bogle. I got on Twitter and asked a few of my wine friends what they thought of it and none had tried it yet. Hard to believe but it’s true. I was eager to try it.
Fairly intense on the nose with notes of blueberries, vanilla and a little tar and tobacco. I have to say I liked the nose. Smooth and polished on the palate with dark fruit notes coming through backed by spice, tar and tobacco. On the finish, blueberries, spice and pepper linger for some time. The only flaw I detected in the wine was that it was a bit hollow on the mid-palate. Overall, a nice effort from Bogle at a great price.
A blend of Old Vine Zinfandel, Syrah, Cab and Petite Sirah (B-)
2009 Lock & Key Meritage (North Coast, California)… $13.99
Dusty oats, cherries and a back drop of blueberry and vanilla come through on the nose. Sour cherries and plums in spades on the front of the palate. This is an acid meets dark fruit wine with a strong hit of citrus. The elements of the wine never really integrates leaving an awkward feeling in the mouth. This is oranges meet blackberries. I think there are some elements in this wine that some will like, but I think it is to disjointed. A blend of Cab, Merlot and Cab Franc. (D)
2011 Primal Roots Red Blend (California) …$9.99
A little stink on the nose (which never bothers me) along with some dark fruit notes, black raspberry and black licorice. Red currants and cherries on the front of the palate with a hit of bright acidity. It stays on the brighter side into a finish of minty licorice, blackberries and a hit of spice. I thought this wine was on the simple side, but I liked it. 43% Merlot, 37% Syrah and 20% Zinfandel (C)
2010 Cryptic Red (California) … $15.99
Aromas of perfumed dark cherries, licorice, vanilla, mocha and black plums.(Is that enough for you?) Ripe currants hit you up front with notes of blackberries melding in along with chocolate and mocha that flow into the mid-palate. There is a slight tannic grip on the long finish with hits of spice. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cab (C+)
2010 Dreaming Tree “Crush” Red (North Coast, California) … $13.99
This is a collaboration between rock star Dave Matthews and wine maker Steve Reeder.
The nose does not “Pop” on this wine but it has subtle notes of blackberries and currants which are slightly dusty and perfumed. Polished sweet tannins on the palate with notes of blackberries and red currants. The elements are well integrated in this wine making it seamless across the palate, flowing into notes of tobacco, blueberries and currants with lingering spice notes. This wine scores highly in the delicious category. Not sure on the blend, I could not find anything in my research. (B-)
2009 Thorny Rose Red Blend (Columbia Valley, Washington) … $10.99
Oak comes through on the nose, but it is not too much. Also aromas of perfumed dark cherries, a little tar element and tobacco. Soft tannins back notes of tar, black cherries and blackberries. There is a spicy edge to this wine with some wood tannins showing up on the mid-palate and the medium to short finish. This wine is fairly lightweight but is still interesting. The price is pretty fair also. 48% Cab, 48% Merlot with a splash of Syrah and Malbec. (C+)
2008 Silver Lake Roza Red Blend (Rattlesnake Hills, Washington) … $8.99
Nice purity of fruit on the nose with notes of blackberries, cassis and sage. Plush on the front of the palate with ripe notes of boysenberries and dark cherries on sweet tannins. Good intensity on the palate into the mid-palate where the fruit calms down and tobacco with a beam of currant leads into a dry finish with a little tannic grip. Starts out “New World” fruit forward, and finishes on the “Old World” side with a little tar, tobacco and tannins. And, the price is stupid for the quality. Cab, Merlot & Syrah (B-)
2009 McKinley Springs Bombing Range Red (Horse Heaven Hills, Washington) … $11.99
Aromas of smokey plums, cherries and tobacco leaf with hits of dusty minerals. Plums and boysenberries in spades on the palate backed by silky tannins. There is a freshness to this wine that makes you think it is going to “Pop”, but it never quite goes there. It thins out a little on the mid-palate and finish with notes of blueberries and tobacco coming through. I liked the front hit of fruit on this wine, and the freshness. However, I would have liked to see a stronger finish. 52% Syrah, 40% Cab, 4% Malbec and 4% Petite Verdot (C+)
2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Red (Columbia Valley, Washington) … $16.99
Like a glass full of cooked bacon on the nose with some currants, boysenberries, vanilla and spice thrown in. I swear they threw some bacon in the barrel. The bacon comes through in the mouth with notes of plums, char and spice. Polished tannins and well integrated flowing seamlessly into notes of boysenberries, plums, white pepper and bacon. Some tannins show up on a long finish that features… Bacon of course, with some dark fruit notes thrown in. It is an absolutely delicious wine, and you don’t have to worry about the grease. 60% Merlot, 28% Syrah, 6% Cab, 3% Grenache and 2% Malbec (B+)
2010 Kris “Heart” Rosso Italian Red (All Over Italy…Sicily, Marches and Alto Aldige) … $11.99
Aromas of dusty cedar boards with a little funk. Notes of black cherries, black olives, tar and an edge of vanilla also come through on the nose. This is a simple little red with notes of blackberries, cherries and hits of tar backed by soft tannins. Tiny hits of white pepper come through on the medium finish. The wine is clean and fresh with nice fruit notes and an edge of rusticity. Great red for pizza, hamburgers or pasta with red sauce. It also has a really cool label for Valentines Day…Just sayin’. (C+)
Well, it looks like it was all blends this week. Some great and some so-so. But I think there is something for everyone. May the Moleskine be with you. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
