Archive for 2006/10


Wine Tasting:
Blackstone 2001 California Merlot

Winery: Blackstone
Brand/Type: Merlot
Vintage: 2001
Country: USA
Region: California
Alcohol content: 13%
Closure: Synthetic cork
Appearance: Dark, inky, ruby red
Aroma/Bouquet: Pungent blackberries, noticable alcohol odor
Noticeable wood and spice flavors. Smooth, dry with a crisp spicy finish. Has a slight vinegar aftertaste.
Blackstone is a fairly popular/common brand name. Not sure why they feel it important to note that this is a “California” [...]

Wine Tasting:
Franz Reh & Son 2002 Pinot Grigio

Winery: Franz Reh & Son
Brand/Type: Pinot Grigio
Vintage: 2002
Country: Germany
Region: Pfalz
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Closure: Synthetic Cork
Appearance: Pale gold
Aroma/Bouquet: Lemon, pine
Dry, slight bit of oak, strong sharp finish with a hint of pear at the end.
An affordable wine that is very respectable. This is a fairly simple wine without much complexity but you can do far worse with [...]

Wine Tasting:
2003 Bonny Doon Madiran Heart of Darkness

Winery: Bonny Doon
Brand/Type: Madiran
Vintage: 2003
Country: USA
Region: California
Alcohol content: 13.5
Closure: Synthethic Cork
Appearance: Dark Ruby/Garnet
Aroma/Bouquet: Blackberries, mmm, nice, rich, ripe blackberries!
Complex, heavy on the tongue, sharp finish.
Just in time for Halloween! Don’t let the Ralph Steadman label scare you! This is a robust and complex wine that begs to be savored slowly. If you let it out [...]

Wine Tasting:
2003 Fetzer Valley Oaks Merlot

Winery: Fetzer
Brand/Type: Valley Oaks Merlot
Vintage: 2003
Country: USA
Region: California
Alcohol content: 13.1%
Closure: Natural Cork
Appearance: Dark Ruby
Aroma/Bouquet: Deep, rich, blackberries and currants.
This is a very nice Merlot. Ample flavors, complex body, softly smooth and satisfying. Slight cherry and spice, a hint of oak. Not “too” dry.
Of special note; Fetzer grows all of their grapes organically.
Fetzer is one of [...]

Wine Tasting:
2005 Chateau Chantal Pinot Noir

Winery: Chateau Chantal
Brand/Type: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2005
Country: USA
Region: Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Closure: Natural Cork
Appearance: Purple to ruby red
Aroma/Bouquet: Barely there… “wine-ish”.
Flat, little flavor, vague cherry, plum, smoke.
Rather disappointing. Considering that this was sampled at their tasting room, perhaps this was a bottle that was left open from the night before?




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