Wine Reviews
Folie a Deux Menage a Trois California Red 2010
My very first impression of this was sensing something akin to cotton candy on the nose. Cotton candy and wood, bit of an odd mix. The first few sips I had I did not enjoy but as the glass emptied I began to appreciate it – funny how that works. I won’t say it’s a [...]
Robertson Winery 2008 Wolfkloof Shiraz Review
I came across this review (for the 2007 vintage) that I feel describes this glass quite well. I honestly don’t know if there was a great difference between the 2007 and 2008 but I would easily give this one an 89 as well and find L.B.’s description to be spot on. [From some quick reading [...]
2008 Charamba Aleveda Douro Review
I can’t say this is a favorite. In fact of the wines I’ve had recently I’d say this one lies pretty near the bottom. There are so many good wines these days, even at the lower end of the price scale that I just can’t recommend a wine unless it’s quite good. This wine is [...]
2007 Chateau Cruzeau Pessac-Léognan
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this. Most whites I’ve had recently have had fairly dominant citrus notes. This one, barely a hint. My first impression, and one that stayed with me throughout was the minerality. You sometimes hear odd expressions when folks try to describe wine tastes and flavor nuances. Licking wet slate [...]
Ironstone Obsession 2011 Symphony
It wasn’t what I was expecting. Not that I knew what to expect from a hybrid grape with a name like symphony. Apparently the grape was invented in California, being a cross between Muscat and Grenache Gris. The aromatics are a little subdued so I thought what would follow would hint at a cheaply made [...]
Costco Julia Wine Bottle Shock Bloc F
Well – here’s about the easiest review I’ve yet had to do: Stinker – good night, thanks for coming. OK – I’ll put in a little effort, but it won’t be nice. I’ve been very lucky to have been tasting many wines these past few months. This is the first time I stick my nose [...]
Chateau Puyfromage Bordeaux 2009
Well it started ok with a nice appearance and nice aromatics – dark fruits like cassis, dark cherry and bit of cedar. I don’t have a whole lot to say about this wine except the main point. There are many better wines available at this price. There simply isn’t enough going on here to warrant [...]
Alves de Sousa Caldas Douro 2009
Now that I’ve reviewed almost 50 wines I need to add a comparative voice to my grading. If this was one of the first wines that I reviewed I might have given it a C rating – which means try a bottle, you might like it. But now I have to think of the group [...]
Blason de Bourgogne Chardonnay Macon-Villages 2010
The first thing you notice with this bright Chardonnay is the citrus notes. Very pleasant indeed, nice way to start a relationship. Burgundy whites come from a few distinct regions, one of which (the more southerly) is Maconnais. That’s right not all great Burgundy is red. We break down the Maconnais region a bit further, [...]
R. H. Phillips 2009 California Syrah
I love the idea of a little family owned vineyard; a close-knit team struggling to make and market their best wines – this is the picture I often have in mind when I glance at a wine bottle label. Of course many vineyards, just like most other industries, are becoming more and more monolithic. Of [...]
