This will be my second Moleskine I have filled up since I started taking wine notes in this nifty little format. Now it is time to share with you the wines I have recently tasted. Here goes…
2010 Gnarly Head Authentic Red Lodi, CA … 11.99
Gnarly Head represents some really nice values in wine. I have tasted many of their wines and found them to fall into the right category for the price charged. This is no exception. A blend of zin, merlot & cab it has a nose of jammy blackberry, black currant and a tiny hit of stink and tar. This is not a bad thing, so I was looking forward to what it had to offer on the palate. Sweet tannins, with a little brown sugar element up front mixed with hits of currants. An interesting bright element backs up the fruit notes. This wine is smooth, silky and jammy with brown sugar and currant notes all over the finish. This is a fruit bomb, and I can see a lot of folks seeking this out. A little too fruit forward for me. 86 points
2008 Kennedy Shah La Vie En Rouge (Rattlesnake Hills, WA) … $10.99
Aromas of sweet vanilla spice, blackberries and tobacco leaf. Blackberries come through up front on sweet tannins. Smooth with good structure, a tar element comes through on the middle palate leading into blackberry, Cassis and spice with a hit of vanilla on a long finish. There is a nice tobacco leaf element that is underlying from start to finish. I really enjoy the Kennedy Shah line from Woodhouse Wine Estates. A kitchen sink blend that delivers more then the kitchen sink. 90 points
2005 Duncan Peak Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendocino County, CA) … $9.99
I think the distributor bought a boatload of this juice and found that it did not move as fast at the higher price. Now with a ’05 vintage laying around the warehouse, they decided to reduce the price. I’m glad they did, because this cab is a steal for ten bucks. On the nose currants come through with hits of oak, spice and boysenberry. Spicy currants on the front of the palate backed by silky refined tannins. Slightly thin on front and mid, but finishes strong with notes of spic, mocha, vanilla, currants and tobacco. I think this is a lot of cab for the money and it even delivers a little sediment on the bottom of the bottle. 87 points
2010 Abbazia Di Novacella Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige, Italy) … $19.99
Aromas of apple juice, apple skins with hints of peach and spice. This wine has a nice plumpness on the palate with notes of apple skins and minerals up front. Notes of tangerine and white flowers on the middle leading into hits of lemon zest on the finish. I really am tired of the pinot grigio rage, but this one convinces me they are worth trying.90 points
2010 Abbazia Di Novacella Kerner (Alto Adige, Italy) … $19.99
When is the last time you have tried a Kerner? This is not a very common varietal and many times like this, it costs a little too much for most folks to branch out and experiment. I can understand, but you will not be disappointed with this effort even for twenty bucks. Aromas of figs and white peaches with hints of Formula 409 coming through. (Don’t worry, sometimes household cleaners are evident only on the nose). Notes of peaches and figs come through on the palate finishing with a little kiwi action and peach pit. Vibrant and delicious. 90 points
2010 Abbazia di Novacella Lagrein (Alto Adige, Italy) … $19.99
Here is a grape varietal that I tried for the first time. It reminds me a little of a cross between a lemberger and a cab franc. On the nose I got stewed plums, boysenberry pudding with spice and rose pedal perfume. Very rough on the palate with notes of leather, earth, blueberries and cherry pits with a little hit of bittersweet chocolate dust. This is “old world” juice with a backwoods touch. If you like this style, you will love this wine. Would match up nicely with some sausage or hearty stews. 88 points
2008 Chateau Val Joanis Syrah Cotes du Luberon (Rhone, France) … $12.99
Aromas of blueberries, dried beef, mocha, vanilla and perfumed plums. Solid structure on the palate showing off some tannins. Bing cherries come through with a tiny hit of mint and bacon fat. Nice bright core from start to finish with hits of cocoa dust on the back end. Another great red for the BBQ this summer. 88 points
2008 St. Frances “Old Vines” Zinfandel (Sonoma County, California) … $16.99
I will admit to anyone that I love zinfandel. When I search my cellar for something to drink, it seems as if my zinfandel reservoir is always either low or empty. They do not last long around my place. So when I am offered a sample of zin to try, I immediately uncork it for review.
This zin displays aromas of intense black raspberries, vanilla, and blackberries. Borderline jammy on the palate but holds back. Notes of dark cherries and black licorice. Oak notes come through on the mid-palate and beginning of finish. Nice hit of black pepper on the back end with a finish of cherry jam/blackberry jam. Good balance and intensity. Nice price on this wine for what you get, and it hit the middle spot for my zin preferences. 89 points
20011 Stratum Sauvignon Blanc (Marlburough, New Zealand) … $9.99
It never ceases to amaze me how many great sauvignon blancs are coming out of New Zealand for next to nothing. Let it be said, that I would pay more for a sauv blanc that is domestic if it showed the qualities and complexity of the ones coming out of this country. This particular sauvignon blanc did not live up to my expectations.
Aromas of gooseberry, lime and grass with just a hint of stink. Subdued on the palate with notes of grapefruit and gooseberry backed by some grassy elements. This one lacks the acidity I am used to with most from this area of the world. Good juice overall, but no jazz going on. Like a beautiful saxophone just sitting there with no one to play it. 87 points
2010 Muses Estate Savatiano White Dry Wine (Greece) … $13.99
Savatiano is the name of the grape and it is the first time I have ever tried a wine from this varietal. Aromas of light apple, pear and minerals. Nice core of minerals on the palate with notes of melon and apple skin coming through. A little bitterness comes through on the backside with a dry finish. This white is light, but loaded with minerality. 86 points
2010 Pinos White (Crete, Greece) … $16.99
I really need to spend more time with Greek wines to get comfortable with reviewing them. For now I will do my best. This is a blend of 50% Malvasia & 50% Chardonnay. Aromas of apricots,honey and hints of tangerine. The nose reminds me a lot of a viognier. Light tangerine notes on the palate and slightly mouth-puckering. Banana skins, apple skins and minerals linger on a slightly bitter finish. This is a dry martini in wine form. 85 points
2010 Garnatxa Red (Monsant, Spain) … $16.99
On the nose, intense blackberry, boysenberry jam and black currant notes. Vibrant on the palate with blackberry and currant notes on the front with hits of leather. Tobacco notes come through on the mid-palate with hits blackberry jelly coming through. Nice black pepper and tobacco notes mingled with blackberry on a long finish. Vibrant, intense and delicious make for an excellent wine. 91 points
2009 Vina Sastre Tempranillo (Ribera del Duero, Spain) … $19.99
A little stinky on the nose (which I like) with notes of tobacco, currants and dusty leather. Tobacco leaf, leather and spice come through on the palate backed by a beam of bright red currants and blackberries. Huge leather and tannic grip with hits of earth on the finish. This is a muscle bound, gutsy red that could use a little age on it. Cellar it for a few years and you are in for a treat. 90 points
2008 Donati Family Vineyards Paicines Claret (Monterey, California) … $. 14.99
This baby packs in all five grapes of Bordeaux plus a dash of syrah. Aromas of rose pedal, spice, tobacco, plums and blackberries with a hit of smoke. (No doubt from the syrah) Dark fruit on sweet tannins with some tobacco and barbecue spice action on the mid-palate. A little spice comes through on the back on the mid followed by a little tomato stem action on the long finish. This is a “New World” wine with a Bordeaux twist. 90 points
2011 Efeste Riesling Evergreen Vineyards (Washington) … $15.99
The more I try the wines from this producer the greater my appreciation grows for the quirky quality of these wines. I wrote notes on the sauvignon blanc a couple of months ago and loved it. Now, I run across this fantastic riesling.
Sweet aromas of applesauce and minerals. Dry on the palate with notes of Granny Smith apple skins. Nice and bright on the mid-palate with a racy edge to it. Finishes with nice Granny Smith apple notes backed by a large dose of crushed rocks. I love this style of riesling, but I will warn you that it may not be for everyone. 91 points
