2000
Bogle Petite Sirah
$
(11.00) 
Please
make sure you enjoy big red wines before uncorking this one.
This is a full-bodied, berry rich and mildly tannin wine
that will benefit from spending time with you outside the bottle before
consumption. This will unveil
plum and boysenberry fruit with chocolate, and tobacco nuances.
Enjoy.
1999 Abadia Retuerta
Selection Especial $$
(23.99)
A nice example from Spain containing 65% Tempranillo, 30% Cabernet
Sauvignon and 5% Merlot showing an inky dark ruby, full-bodied wine that has
a great amount of lush red berries and an olive hint at the finish.
Faustino
I Rioja Gran Reserva 1994 $$ (21.00)
Tempranillo, Mazuelo, & Graciano. Aged for at least 30 months in
oak casks and 4 years in the bottle, it is magnificent on the palate. Warm
ruby tones reflect the wine's mellowness. This rich and elegant wine has
great length and finish. A frosted bottle and gold netting give a
distinctively individual presentation.
2000 Mas Igneus Barranc dels
Closos $ (19.99)
There is little for me to discuss on this wine. It is a blend of
Granatxa, Carinyena and Cabernet Sauvignon but I was hard pressed to find any
resemblance of fruit.
2000 Tikal
Corazon $$ (24.99)
This blend of Bonarda and Malbec is a good tasting, medium-bodied wine
that has a strong backbone, with a spicy dark fruit flavor.
Good at the cost, but if this ever was priced below twenty dollars, it
would be a fantastic wine; hints of smoke and raisins develop late in this one.
1998
Marques de Murrieta Rioja Ygay Reserve $
(11.99)
The name says it all. "Rioja", I mean, not "Ygay",
though that is a strange name for a wine in my opinion.
Largely Tempranillo, this is not the best example of the fruitiness
of this grape. Ok for a pizza,
but not much to impress your friends.
1995
Torres Gran Sangre de Toro $
(15.99) As I continue my Spanish wine kick, this blend of 75% Granacha (my
Rhone roots) and 25% Carinena make this a delicious wine that is medium
bodied and packed with plum, black cherry and strawberry.
The Granacha brings with it the spicy black pepper and black licorice
flavors that have me intrigued with this wine style.
1998
Stags Leap Petite Syrah $$
(29.00) This delightful red wine has a big berry flavor with a pleasantly
distributed amount of white pepper. A
beautiful compliment to a French dip lunch special.
1997 Nance
Alexander Valley Sangiovese $
(17.99) How’s this for a grabber on the label - "scents of strawberry,
spicy cranberry and the scent of blood for which the varietal was named
for..." This wine shows more brash astringency than fruit at the
moment, more fruit less brash. The
owner, Joni Nance, appears to be a WinoStuff demo with her Nance collection, Venus
Vineyards Goddess Series and Wild Women.
1999 Capcane
Mas Donis $ (7.99)
This Spanish gem comes from the Tarragona Region and is composed of 80%
Grenache and 20% Syrah. This wine is soft and fruity with a medium body that is all
dark cherry, tobacco, chocolate and spice.
A sleeper, enjoy it now, for it will not stay under 10 dollars for long.
1998 Gran Clos de J.M. Fuentes
$$ (40.00)
Big, thick and inky, with plenty of dark fruit and a hint of chocolate,
tobacco and spice. Not for the
weak-kneed or faint hearted. This
is a serious red wine and should only be left in the hands of the professional
red wine drinkers.
2000 Les
Amoureux Tortoise Creek $
(9.99)
This blend of Merlot and Cabernet Vin de Pays has an unpolished finish
that detracts from the fruitiness for the wine.
OK for wine when you don’t want to open the good stuff.
1999 Kempton
Clark Petite Sirah $ (12.99)
The promise of lush fruit teases your nasal passages and create a
Pavlovian salivation for big red lovers. Unfortunately,
the oak and tannins step on your throat and diminish the pleasure this wine
could deliver.
1999
Vinicola del Priorat Onix, Priorat $
(10.99) A purplish hue floats in the glass and the wine comes
out hot so give this room to open its wings.
Concentrated with mouthfuls of sweet dark cherry and plum.
The mint aroma surprises you every so often since rosemary and black
pepper dominate. A meat lover’s
friend.
2000
Altos de Medrano Malbec $ (14.00)
Don’t be shy
with this wine. It will step up and grab you.
Chock full of tannins and fruit, the first sip will wake your mouth with
a roar. Blackberry and oak
spiciness.
1999
Millbrook Cabernet Franc $
(8.00)
This is a good example of the wines coming from the Hudson Valley of NY.
Cabernet Franc grows well in the climate and delivers a solid everyday
drinking wine with good fruit and flavor.
1997
Gran Sangre de Toro $
(8.99)
A
winner for a bottle under ten dollars, this blend of 75% garnacha and 25%
carienena hails from the Penedes region of Spain.
The Torres family has been producing great wines for 4 generations and
this is a great complement to the turkey, eggplant casserole I enjoyed.
Soft and fruity with plenty of blackberry and cherries, clove and pepper
and well rounded tannins. I read a
comment on the label that I should see "delicate hints of forest
undergrowth" - I
most have missed this.
1997 Siena $$
(36.00)
A California blend of the Tuscan style wine, this delightful wine delivers red
and black cherry, and plum fruitiness with the enhancement of cassis and cedar.
Do not be afraid to order this at your next meal in a fine Italian
restaurant.
1999 Kempton
Clark Petite Sirah $$
(32.00 rest)
Fruit, fruit, and more fruit with a touch of tannin to make this
drinkable now with the hint of chocolate to tempt you to come back for more.
1999 Amano
Primitivo $ (8.99)
Too rough around the edges for this to be a fun wine.
The fruit takes awhile to develop and most winos would not have the
patience to wait for this one, unless you are stuck at someone’s house or too
lazy to spill it out.
1994 Conde
de Valdemar Reserva ?
This Rioja blend of 18% Mazuelo and 82% Tempranillo delivers a rich, full-body,
dark ruby beverage that is chockfull of vanilla, dark berries and clove. Big and bold with a long velvety finish make this a wine to
savor.
1997
Concannon Petite Sirah $$ (28.00) Deep ruby color, with a peppery nose and a full body
that fills your mouth with fruit you need to chew.
Full, long, and luscious with flavors of black pepper and plum.
This has a long, lengthy finish, smooth and silky.
A must for Big Red Wine Lovers
1994
La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva $$ (40.00 rest.)
Medium-body
and heavily oaked, this wine has a great cedar and vanilla flavor.
Good acidity-to-fruit balance makes this a fun summertime wine, with
loads of cherry flavors. Blended with 80% Tempranilla and 20% Granacha.
1999
Cellar Cooperatiu de Capanes Mas Donis $ (15.00)
Full-body, deep, dark color with violet shades. This blend of 80% Granacha and
20% Syrah brings weight to the palate and tons of fruit.
Hold on for the ride, this has a long finish and a moderate amount of
tannin. A great dinner wine for Big
Red drinkers.
1999
Kanonkop Pinotage $ (12.00)
South Africa’s specialty, the hybrid between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, this
wine leaned more to the darker, richer Rhone grape than the Burgundian fruit.
Medium acid, good fruit, vibrant and snappy.
This is a wine for easy drinking.
1994
Vina Arana La Rioja Alta Reserva $$ (27.00) I
am not rating this wine due to the fact that the aroma was offensive to me, I
spilled the wine out. The taste was
not the issue; the pungent, musty odor offended my palate and made this an
unpleasant experience.
1996
Bodgegas y Vinedos Alion $$ (43.00)
Medium body, red fruit and mild tannins, this wine came on a bit strong up front
but mellowed nicely in the glass. Not
a long wine but a great compliment to light fare.
Cherry and vanilla flavors delight the senses.
1996 Ferrari- Carano Tresor Reserve
$$$ 74.00
Prepare yourself for the abundance of tannin that keeps your mouth dry through
most of this wine. Leave this one
in the cellar for at least another year. Earthy
nose and mushrooms flavor this wine that is gripping and intense.
1997
Pepi Two Heart Sangiovese $ (14.00)
This fruity little firecracker wine has soft tannins and a load of black cherry
flavor. This wine comes from the
heart of Oakville, California and is silky smooth.
Good value wine.
1998
Ochoa Bodegas Ochoa $ (12.00)
This blending of Tempranillo and Garnacha make this Spanish wine of
Navarra more complex than some I’ve had.
The Garnacha adds a hint of cider and spice to the nose and the taste of
this wine. The Tempranillo gives
you forward fruit and the spicy finish.
1998
Trapiche Malbec
$ (11.99)
A
blending grape from Bordeaux, planted in
Argentina, this wine holds little for me. A
closed nose, dilue and feminin. Can be best described as
"flabby." Shortness keeps
this from becoming a friand.
1998
Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre $ (15.99)
I found this wine to be a wonderful olfactory sensation.
From the time I uncorked this wine, there was a cornucopia of aromas
wafting in the glass. As I smelled the cork, a strong cinnamon scent struck me.
As I swirled the glass, burnt wood, vanilla and a dried summer grass
scent came to mind. Then
I tasted this, and I was lost. It
did not have length and the dark cherry flavor was a bit thin.
1998 Pedroncelli Petite Sirah $ (15.00)
This was
a wine that is very hard to find in NJ, but I had the pleasure to taste.
This has a good nose with solid fruit and a smooth finish.
A good value wine.
1998
Primus Veramonte $ (20.00)
Wow,
this wine pours out blurple (that’s black and purple).
It is thick and full like a blackberry brandy.
I have never seen a wine so dark. The
aroma was very fruity and did remind me of a lightly oaked cabernet.
Full-Bodied Red winos, find this grape.
This wine will coat your mouth and teeth and throat with thick syrupy
nectar that dances between a Merlot and Cabernet with rich intense fruit and
tannins that greet you but do not stay to ruin the party.
This wine is 85% Carmenere and 15% Cabernet and should be on your list
for BIG RED WINES. Pour it an hour or two before serving and tell your guests to buckle up
in your dining room chairs. Red wine, not for the faint of heart.
1998
Ca Del Solo Big House Red $ (9.99)
Intriguing is the variety of grapes used to concoct this wine.
Listed like an all-you-can-eat $3.99 buffet at a Vegas Casino, this wine
has "sangiovese, carignane, zinfandel, Mourvedre, voldiguie, barberre and
too many others to mention".
Awaiting a chewy, full-bodied red, this wine didn’t do it for me at
all.
1997 Deux Amis
Petite Sirah - $25.00(?) A full-bodied,
deep, dark red with medium tannins and a big berry taste. Lots of fruit
for a big wine and lots of alcohol (14.5%). Rated 89 JH
1994
Balbas Reserva $ (15.99)
Trying
to stay away from the hot Rioja region, I selected a reserva from the Ribera del
Duero, the up-and-coming wine region of Spain. Now I know why Rioja is the choice region.
This wine was thin and watery and had nothing of a finish.
Next time I will stick to the wine region that made Spain famous. Save your cash.
1998
Bogle Petite Sirah $ (9.99)
Not much to say, there was a watery color to this wine and a faint nose.
The fruit was weak and the finish was short.
Why waste words, this was not enjoyable for me.
1997
French Creek Ridge Cabernet Franc
The nose on this one was quite unique in that I was first greeted with
the familiar scent of Cabernet Sauvignon. The
difference was that as the wine oxidized, a sweet scent reminiscent of toasted
marshmallows stayed through the remainder of the glass.
The wine was fruitful and smooth, but lacks the depth to stand alone for
the red wine lover in me.
1998
Coppola Rosso $ (10.99)
Rosso is made up of
Zinfandel, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese grapes and brings up a nice
fresh fruit taste. This is not a
dinning room wine, but a kitchen table Saturday night pizza wine that everyone
will enjoy.
1997
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Petite Sirah $$ (25.00)
I took the spelling of Sirah
from the label so don’t tell me I spelled it wrong.
This is a delightful wine, rich in fruit flavor, after the breathing time
necessary to muffle the tannins that dance on your tongue at first sip. A wine that will be great 5 years from now, but if
placed in a crystal decanter one hour before dinner, you will enjoy this wine
with a nice juicy porterhouse.
1996
Stellenbosch Mulderbosh Faithful Hound $$
(21.99)
This Bordeaux style wine from one of South
Africa’s premier wine families is comprised of 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40%
Merlot, 10% Malbec and 9% Cabernet Franc. As
you can see by my mice count, this is a winner.
Great Bordeaux nose, drinkable now, under 25 dollars.
A great fruit-tannin balance
which gives structure to the wine without taking away from the heartiness of the
fruit. Find it. Buy it. Drink it.
1998
KWV Pinotage $ (8.99)
I
give this 3 mice not because it is a wine on the level with world famous
California Cabs or Bordeaux’s. I give this 3 mice because it is a great
value wine. For 9 dollars, you can
enjoy a very drinkable young wine with low tannins and good forward fruit.
This is a porch wine, to drink with friends, not a formal dinner table
wine. It is a wine that is reasonable by the case and will go with a wide
variety of dishes from heavier fish to meats without too many spices.
Buy it, drink it, enjoy it and share it with your friends.
1997 Cheetah Valley Pinotage $
(10.99)
From the pour, this wine bore characteristics of a male dominant
Pinot Noir grape, light in color and a burgundyish nose.
This showed a raspberry
overtone and would be good for a mixed party of couples where the women want
something light and mild in acidity and tannins.
This
is a good value wine at 10.99, but definitely not for the Rhone-lovers among us.
1996
Shooting Star Cote de Columbia $ (9.99)
It states on the label that this wine is made from Washington State
Grenache, the cork carries the Steele Winery logo and the back label reads
“bottled by Shooting Star Wines, Lake County Kelseyville California.
So my question, is this a California or Washington State entry into the
category??
This
has a real fruity flavor, low tannin, low acidity, but no depth and no length.
The fruit comes and goes much too quickly for a wine to accompany food.
But I will say, for hacking around on a Saturday with casual wine
drinkers, this is a good value wine. Do
not serve this to the company that would have high hopes for a Rhone when they
saw the Cote de Columbia on the label.
Spadaio Red Tuscan Table Wine $
(23.00).
Yes folks, this is a half of rat friends and cheese.
As you can see from the description, there is little on the bottle, all I
know is that it’s a blend, non-vintage and grape names that don’t make the
top ten. This was harsh with a
lasting unpleasantness that made me serve this up to the sink drain without even
getting a second glass. We live and
learn; I learned that this will not be served to my guests at the next Italian
Pasta dinner we host.
Vina
Alberti Tempranillo Rioja 1993-$
As soon as I opened this bottle, and looked at the color, I
knew this was going to be disappointing, the wine showed very thin and the taste
followed suite. The wines usually show a great fruit flavor and stand up well to
add sliced peaches and orange slices. But this wine had little depth. For a
Reserva wine, this will not be on my purchase list anytime soon. BS - 2/6/00
