Every so often I head to Esquin and blind-buy a few inexpensive wines. Since I've been on a non-Chardonnay white kick, I picked up a few random Sauvignon Blancs. Normally this is hit and miss, although I have to admit to more hits than misses. That might be more indicative or my palate being crappy than Esquin only selling good wines, but who knows.
The nose is slightly tropical, with hints of green apples and grapefruit. I also get a floral that is hard to pinpoint. Quite complex on the nose for a $12 blind buy.
The palate has quite a bit of complexity as well. Green apples, honey, and grapefruit in the mid palate. A bit of subtle grassiness at the finish, with a slightly bitter, citrus-rind type of bitterness.
It isn't acidic enough to hold up to a lot of foods, but it is a nice refreshing white with a surprising bit of complexity. Can't go wrong for the price. I think I'll pick up a few more...
Monday, January 12, 2009
Friday, December 26, 2008
2005 Cougar Crest Anniversary Cuvee
Quick write-up on this one...
Nose is unremarkable. I get a bit of sour cherry, but otherwise pretty flat. I remember this being a lot better when I tasted it the first time. I'll update if there is a difference in bottle two.
On the palate, there is good acidity, and a sour cherry/cranberry mid palate. There isn't a heavy tannin taste, but the wine dries on the tongue as if there is. Finish stays fruit forward and has a lingering cherry note.
A good drinking wine. I have to look at what I paid, but I would hope well under $20. if so, good table wine. If not...
Nose is unremarkable. I get a bit of sour cherry, but otherwise pretty flat. I remember this being a lot better when I tasted it the first time. I'll update if there is a difference in bottle two.
On the palate, there is good acidity, and a sour cherry/cranberry mid palate. There isn't a heavy tannin taste, but the wine dries on the tongue as if there is. Finish stays fruit forward and has a lingering cherry note.
A good drinking wine. I have to look at what I paid, but I would hope well under $20. if so, good table wine. If not...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
2006 Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Valley Caberbet Sauvignon
Amavi was a fun Walla Walla find. End of the day on Saturday, we were winding down and saw a sign for Amavi. As many of you might know, visiting a winery after a day fo drinking is dangerous; every wine becomes fabulous and you seem to need a case of it. But by the time we got to Amavi, we were winding down and honestly not really wanting much more.
The people at Amavi were wonderful and accommodated us, even though we arrived right as they were about to close. I welcomed the chance to give our purchases a taste in the light of... complete soberness.
One the nose, this Cabernet Sauvignon has oak notes combined with a fruit sweetness that is hard to pinpoint on the nose. Definitely jammy, and possible blackberry or currents. One the palate, the tannins are strong with a cedar/oak component. The fruit is towards the end and is pronounced berries, fading into a bittersweet chocolate. Even later is a nice raspberry and strawberry. It seems to get sweeter and jammier as it fades.
A nice wine. I think it could use some more time (open 3 hours as of tasting, maybe a decanting would be good).
As good as I remember it, but a bit more oaky in the nose. Overall not an "end of day don't know what I'm doing" wine. I have a second bottle I'll put aside for a few years.
The people at Amavi were wonderful and accommodated us, even though we arrived right as they were about to close. I welcomed the chance to give our purchases a taste in the light of... complete soberness.
One the nose, this Cabernet Sauvignon has oak notes combined with a fruit sweetness that is hard to pinpoint on the nose. Definitely jammy, and possible blackberry or currents. One the palate, the tannins are strong with a cedar/oak component. The fruit is towards the end and is pronounced berries, fading into a bittersweet chocolate. Even later is a nice raspberry and strawberry. It seems to get sweeter and jammier as it fades.
A nice wine. I think it could use some more time (open 3 hours as of tasting, maybe a decanting would be good).
As good as I remember it, but a bit more oaky in the nose. Overall not an "end of day don't know what I'm doing" wine. I have a second bottle I'll put aside for a few years.
OMG, do you like everything?
OK, a bit of a secret. So far, the wines I've written about are pre-screened. What that means is that I either bought them after a trip to the winery, or had them in a tasting and picked up bottles of what I liked. Soon I hope to get into more blind tastings, where I 'm sampling something I just picjed up blind, or based on someone else's recommendation.
2004 Tyrus Evan Ciel Du Cheval Claret
Tyrus Evan is Ken Wright's small boutique winery. It produces Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah and Claret, all in small quantities. We came across it the first time quite by accident. Their tasting room is in the old railway station in Carlton. We tasted through a flight and fell in love with the Clarets.
The nose of the 2004 Ciel Du Cheval is peppery, with red fruit and a touch of (as Gary V. would call it) poop. On the palate I get ripe raspberry and blackberry, ripe plumbs, solid tannins, and a peppery, cherry finish that lingers nicely. I find it to be surprisingly fruit-forward. The nose would lead you to believe it will be much heavier in tannins and pepper, but it it balanced nicely.
As I drink this, my wife and I both agree another trip to Willamette is necessary. This was our last bottle of the Tyrus Evan and we need to stock up.
The nose of the 2004 Ciel Du Cheval is peppery, with red fruit and a touch of (as Gary V. would call it) poop. On the palate I get ripe raspberry and blackberry, ripe plumbs, solid tannins, and a peppery, cherry finish that lingers nicely. I find it to be surprisingly fruit-forward. The nose would lead you to believe it will be much heavier in tannins and pepper, but it it balanced nicely.
As I drink this, my wife and I both agree another trip to Willamette is necessary. This was our last bottle of the Tyrus Evan and we need to stock up.
Friday, December 19, 2008
2006 Kennedy Shaw Tempranillo
The giant killer...
I'm almost embarrassed to say that this was originally an impulse buy at Costco, purchased more for its price-point than anything else. Boy was I ever surprised...
The nose is a nice blend of oak and dark fruit. Perhaps even a bit of cedar. On the palate, there is a nice full cherry, some pepper, a hint of dark chocolate, and a slight hint of raspberry. The finish is long with hints of bittersweet chocolate and dark cherries. It smells good and tastes good. Quite amazing for a $15 Costco bottle ($30 elsewhere).
We hosted a blind wine tasting of "bold reds". In the mix were 7 wines, all tasted blind. The prices ranged from $15 to close to $90. This wine came in second overall, and was clearly the value wine of the night.
I'm actually a bit afraid to tell the public how good this really is. Right now it can still be found at Costco, but I worry that as soon as word gets out, it will disappear.
I'm almost embarrassed to say that this was originally an impulse buy at Costco, purchased more for its price-point than anything else. Boy was I ever surprised...
The nose is a nice blend of oak and dark fruit. Perhaps even a bit of cedar. On the palate, there is a nice full cherry, some pepper, a hint of dark chocolate, and a slight hint of raspberry. The finish is long with hints of bittersweet chocolate and dark cherries. It smells good and tastes good. Quite amazing for a $15 Costco bottle ($30 elsewhere).
We hosted a blind wine tasting of "bold reds". In the mix were 7 wines, all tasted blind. The prices ranged from $15 to close to $90. This wine came in second overall, and was clearly the value wine of the night.
I'm actually a bit afraid to tell the public how good this really is. Right now it can still be found at Costco, but I worry that as soon as word gets out, it will disappear.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
2004 Torii Mor Pinot Noir
Torii Mor has a lovely Japanese-themed tasting room in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. I've always found their wines to be hit or miss. On one trip, their whites will be great, and on another their reds. Digging through the wine cellar, I found a bottle of their 2004 Hawks View Vineyard Pinot Noir stashed in a corner and decided to open it.
The first shock was the color. It was light, but had a brown-ruby color. I was surprised by the color. It waasn't offputting, but definitely had a strange color.
I found the nose to be a bit tight an hour after opening it. It had a hint of carmel and red fruit. On the palate, it seemed pretty well balanced. The acids and tannins were nicely balanced. The oak comes though as carmel and lingers in the finish. The fruit is a blend of strawberry and raspberry. Overall it is light on the palate and has a nice finish.
This is not my personal favorite style of Pinot Noir, but it is a nice Pinot for sipping.
The first shock was the color. It was light, but had a brown-ruby color. I was surprised by the color. It waasn't offputting, but definitely had a strange color.
I found the nose to be a bit tight an hour after opening it. It had a hint of carmel and red fruit. On the palate, it seemed pretty well balanced. The acids and tannins were nicely balanced. The oak comes though as carmel and lingers in the finish. The fruit is a blend of strawberry and raspberry. Overall it is light on the palate and has a nice finish.
This is not my personal favorite style of Pinot Noir, but it is a nice Pinot for sipping.
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