Very intense fruit breaks through on the nose with cherry, cassis and vanilla. Ultra ripe fruit flavors of cherry, plumb currant and a spicy hit at the very end of the long finish. The tannins are lingering and will mellow over time. The wine is still a little young and could use some additional (1-2 years) bottle time.
2005 Powers Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Champoux Vineyard (Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills)
2007 Treana White Mer Soleil Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast)
Very rich and intense fruit flavors of apricot, kiwi, tangerine and pineapple all working together well in a very pleasant mix. Good acidity keeps the combination from becoming syrup like. Viognier and Marsanne.
Excellent with fish.
2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Indian Wells (Columbia Valley)
Deep purple in color. the nose gives off aromas of vanilla and black cherry. The black cherry holds on through the palate along with a smokey note. The finish is medium length with fine grained tannins. Very good but just short of outstanding.
2006 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile (USA, California)
Understated with flavors of plumb, anise seed and blackberry. This wine is smooth but slightly lacking in the depth you would expect from this producer. At $20 it’s the entry level Turley so one would imagine that it’s not on par with some of the other vineyard designated Zins produced. Good QPR. Drink now.
2006 DuMOL Syrah Eddie’s Patch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)
Deeply extracted color of India ink and purple.Rare beef and bramble-berry notes begin the journey which leads to mid palate flavors of Asian spice and blackberry. The tannins are fine grained and linger on the mid length finish. Not quite as fruit forward as one would expect from this producer but still outstanding nonetheless.
2004 Nine Stones Hilltops Shiraz (Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales)
Tart cherry and blackberry are the dominate flavors for this moderately spicy Shiraz. The palate also picks up some green bell pepper through the finish. If you like the plush Aussie Shiraz style then this wine might not be for you but it is good in it’s own rustic style.
2007 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County (USA, California, Sonoma County)
Aromas of blackberry and vanilla lead the way. Across the palate it’s a heavy dose of jammy black fruit, spice and cherry. The thing that sets this wine apart is the deft balance of acidity and concentration of the fruit flavors. It all works well together. Deserving of all the attention and hype and easy on the pocketbook as well.
2005 Girard Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill (Napa Valley)
Well structured with currant, black cherry and vanilla working well together. The finish has traces of cedar and the vanilla continuing through the medium length finish that has a fair dose of fine grained tannins. Still needs some time to open to it’s full potential but it’s tempting now. Best to wait another year. Excellent.
2007 Alban Vineyards Viognier (California, Central Coast)
Aromas of honeydew melon and white peach hang on through the palate which also picks up a touch of citrus and mineral. There is a touch of cedar in the medium length finish. Interesting and very well put together. A great value at $24.
