Grape Advice

Frei Brothers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:11:00 GMT

Frei Brothers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 -A nice everyday Cabernet from Sonoma County

Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:06:00 GMT

Again,a nice Cabernet from Paso Robles. Juicy

Artesa Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:56:00 GMT

Oh, but another California Cab! I love my Cabs, especially Californian.Artesa makes some fine affortable Cabs and is located in Napa Valley. Artesa sources their cab grapes from both Napa and Sonoma Valleys for this vintage making a fine, affordable wine. This one is a steal at $15/bottle. I even like the label and understand the winery has some great artwork.

Getting to the wine... it was very drinkable after breathing about 1 hr before sampling. Nice dark red in the glass. Fine hints of black cherry with a nice smooth mid palate. Extremely pleasurable at this price. Should drink even better after 5 years.

Will try to search for some more, especially at this price.+

Country: California,Napa Valley

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Deloach Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:30:00 GMT

What's a person to do in theses perilous times? Stock market crashing everyday. Fools running for President. The world on the brink of a global stockmarket meltdown. The only answer to me is to drink wine!! At least I can still enjoy something. California wine is still affordable if you don't go crazy. There are still some bargains out there, though I don't know for how long considering California is always on fire!

I had this Deloach at a restaurant this weekend I it was quite enjoyable. Nothing spectacular. Just a little above " good for everyday" drinking Cabernet.Nothing too complex with decent balance. In the glass it was deep garnet with some nice legs.

The bouquet was currant with hints of blackcherry. The finish was medium. I would only say that this bottle would only get better in another 3-5 years.

WIld Horse Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:31:00 GMT

Paso Robles is located in the Central Coast region of California and is one of the fastest growing wine producing regions in California with over 250 wineries, producing wines from over 40 different grape varieties.

Wild Horse Vineyards produces some nice everyday Pinot Noir as well as Cabernet Sauvignon. Their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is very fruit forward with aromas of black cherry and cassis. In the glass the wine is a deep garnet color. On the palate it is smooth with a medium finish rounded out by its aging in a combination of French and American Oak barrels.

Not the most complex Cab I have tasted recently but fine for everyday drinking! What makes Wild Horse so different is that they source their grapes from 16 different AVAs in California. The 2005 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvginon is made from a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon,Malbec,Syrah,Petite Verdot to round out and soften the wine. Good everyday Cab at a reasonble price

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Stelzner Stag's Leap District 2005

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:44:00 GMT

Stelzner Vineyards is located in the heart of the Stag's Leap District of Napa Valley and produces some excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It's a small vineyard and not very well known.

The 2005 Cabernet had a great deep garnet color in the glass with well defined legs. Once inside my glass the aromas of black currant and smoke were apparent. On the palate the fruit was ripe with smooth tannins with some oak.

I loved this wine, like I do most Napa Cabs especially from smaller vineyards. The wine was aged in French Oak barrels and was drinking really well. I expect it will only get better in complexity during the next couple of years. With this said I'm going to try and get some more.

Country: California, Napa Valley

Grape Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Chateau Haut Gardere Pessac-Leognan 2005

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:56:00 GMT

Though I am hooked on Napa Cabs, it's now time to get off that train and try something a little French. Why not try a 2005 Bordeaux which has gotten some great press recently. All the reading I have done has pronounced the 2005 Bordeaux crop as something soon to be classic with even the lesser vineyards having produced some great wine.

I found this great little Bordeaux at one of my favorite shops The Wine Library. Though the wine may be somewhat young now, it was quite enjoyble with a great bouquet. THe tannins were firm and this little wine had a nice long finish. I understand that you could probably lay this bottle down for at least another 5-8 years and it would only get much better. It was also quite a buy at $ 19/bottle. I'm going tbuy some more, if I can find some!

Country: France,Bourdeaux, Pessac

Grape Varietal: blend Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc

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Bennett Lane Maximus Feasting Wine 2004

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:43:00 GMT

I'll make it short and to the point. I really enjoyed this wine. We entertained guests for a Labor Day BBQ and had this wine as part of our Cabernet tasting and had the Bennett Lane with steak. Very dark inky color with apparent aromas of berries and currants. I let it breathe approx. 1 hr before serving and was very impressed with the flavors of blackcherry and the nice long fininsh. This wine is comprised of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest a blend of Merlot and Syrah. Wine Spectator rated the Bennet Lane Maximus 2004 90 Points. I loved this wine a will defintely try to ge some more. A little pricey but worth it(to me!). Everyone seemd to enjoy this one at the BBQ tasting.

Country: California,Napa

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah

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Hendry 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:33:00 GMT

I had this lovely Cabernet at Daryl's Wine Bar as part of my wine tasting. The tasting was quite costly but I really enjoyed this wine. The Hendry 2004 Cabernet was a deep garnet color but what truly amazed me was the dominant aromas of tobacco and cassis. It truly blew me away. The wine was very drinkable with a nice long finish. They wine steward told me if you like it now, try it in a couple of more years and it will be even better. Maybe I should buy a bottle and check it out.

Made from 100% Cabernet, this wine had a great backbone with smooth tannins. Good find!

Country: California,Napa Valley

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Willamette Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006

aturner@i-netsolutions.us — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:44:00 GMT

Why is it that it seems that the price of Oregon Pinot Noir has taken off? Eveytime I go into the liquor store and try to purchase a decent Oregon Pinot, it seems they try to rival California Cabernet's in price. Some of the Pinot's are now above $20-$25.

In the heart of the Willamette Valley, in the Eola Hills district of the Valley is the vineyard. A large vineyard making some nice everyday drinking Pinot Noir. I tasted this Pinot Noir as part of my wine tasting flight at the vineyard and even bought a bottle home. It's a good eveyday drinking Pinot Noir not full bodied even a little thin on the palate-that is to me. There were hints of tobacco and cherry upon opening, with a short fininsh. Classic Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley with some nice fruit. Goes well with BBQ. Goes well with your wallet. Under $20.

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