Zinfandel, Amador County, $15
Starts with a beautiful aroma that’s dramatically chocolaty and dark fruit. On the palate you find layers of black cherries, black raspberries, and oak. Lush, creamy, and dry mouth feel finish off this spicy Zin, Great Job! Drink now thru 2010.
Archive for June, 2008
29 Jun
2006 Easton Zinfandel 91 points
28 Jun
2007 Colombelle White 86 points
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Colombelle White 2007 $8
Light, bright, and easy to drink. This crisp white opens with granny smith apples, pears, and white peach. This fresh white has a mineral undertone to finish it off, drink now.
26 Jun
2005 Diamond River Cabernet Sauvignon 86 points
Diamond River 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Lutzville Valley); $10
This easy drinking Cab has a big fruit nose, but light on the palate. A nose of pepper, dark fruit, and coffee grounds and a less fruity palate makes this a likable but less complex red wine at a great price. Drink now
25 Jun
2007 Drylands Sauvignon Blanc 92 points
Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, $15
Another fabulous vintage from Drylands, intense, multi-layered nose of tropical fruit. Pink grapefruit, mango, lime, and, passion fruit blasts on the palate with intensity and restraint. Clean and crisp with a bone dry finish…drink this lip smacking best buy now.
24 Jun
2004 Quinta Do Encontro 87 points
2004 Bairrada; Portugal $8
This red blend is so dense you could almost cut it with a knife. Savory dark berry’s with chewy tannins, it is rich, and well balanced. Add some plum and chocolate to a rich, powerful finish, drink this nice red table wine thru 2010.
23 Jun
2005 Madrona Cabernet Franc 91 points
Cabernet Franc, El Dorado, $16
I love Cab Franc, medium-bodied, inky-purple, and elegantly complex. This wine has beautiful black cherry, licorice, and currant that shows structure and suppleness. Dense on the mid-palate, with soft balanced tannins and acids. It’s hard to find a Cab Franc at such a good price, drink now thru 2012.
22 Jun
2006 Rosenthal-Malibu Estate Chardonnay 91 points
Rosenthal-Malibu Estate 2006 Chardonnay (Malibu-Newton Canyon); $25
Elegant and structured with just the right amount of oak and smoke. Pineapple, lime, peach, and butter-nut meld to the palate beautifully. This wine has a long, crisp finish with a punch of smoke to delight the palate.
21 Jun
2006 Morgante Nero d’Avola 91 points
Nero d’Avola from Sicily, Italy $20
Well done; Tight, ripe, and, concentrated. This beautiful red bursts out of the glass with leather, black cherry, earth, and spice. Notes of vanilla come out on the finish, with balanced silky tannins for this bold red.
20 Jun
2006 Columbia Crest 10 White Wine 89 points
Two Vines Vineyard White Blend, Washington, $8
Clean, crisp, rich, and off-dry white blend, with a great price. A powerful tropical nose and a broad floral and citrus palate, easy drinking at a great price with no oak finishes off this value white blend.
19 Jun
2007 Sebeka Sauvignon Blanc 87 points
Sebeka 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Western Cape); $10
This is a big production wine for a great price, and perfect for the summer. Light, clean, and refreshing with big tropical fruit. Zesty lime and pink grapefruit with crisp, lively acids. Mineral notes with a zing finish off this great value Sauvignon Blanc, drink now.
