*** $ Cameron Hughes Lot 185 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, CA, 2007 - Wine Tasting & Review (BEST VALUE)

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Original Tasting and Review:

By way of background: This is Cameron Hughes Lot 185 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, CA, part of the popular and expanding Cameron Hughes negociant line. This wine comes from the well-regarded Havens Winery, more known for its merlot. The 2007 vintage is finished at 13.4% alcohol.

In the glass: CH Lot 185 is very light vanilla in color, with the merest hint of green.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, this Sonoma sauvignon blanc brings a crisp and peppery dry fruit to the nose.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are a rich, mellowed, honeyed mid-palate, showing little or no grass, more pear than apple, and a gentle, light and lifting sweet acidity.  

In summary: Overall, a rich experience, showing more the fleshy side of sauvignon blanc. Rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, and may be interesting with some bottle age.  Best value at its bargain price.

Following long decant, two days under vacuum in partially-filled bottle: Now on the nose, there is a slight element of funky hay coming through too. Slightly more fleshy on the palate now, with the same honey and dry pear elements.

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*** $ Cameron Hughes Lot 170 Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi, CA, 2008 - Wine Tasting & Review (BEST VALUE)

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Original Tasting and Review:

By way of background: This is Cameron Hughes Lot 170 Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi, CA.  This lot sounds much like lots 160 and 163, both Lodi zins as well from Cameron Hughes, the wine negociant. The 2008 vintage is finished at 14.9% alcohol, same as the other lots mentioned.

In the glass: CH Lot 170 Zinfandel is deep magenta red with wings hinting of brick.

On the nose: Poured at room temperature with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, this Lodi zin shows a tangy/bright nose of slick fruit and clean laundry, with elements of stewed strawberries. 

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are sweet tobacco and richly-ripe strawberries, spiked with enough acid and alcohol to hold the flavors aloft for a long finish. Sweet red currant is the lingering note on the finish.

In summary: Overall, a robust, intense and impressive showing for a Lodi zinfandel. Rates three full stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for intriguing complexity.  Best value.

Following long decant, two days under vacuum in partially-filled bottle:
Consistent aromas and flavors. On the palate, however, each flavor comes through now as just a bit more "candied". Interesting.

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**+ $ BV Century Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004, CA

Original Review, august, 2008: Medium deep red in the glass. Mild aromas of deep blackberry fruit. On the palate, you notice the juicy, grape-y middle, followed by an easy, brief, friendly, just-lightly-acid finish. No tannins of note. Two stars out of five. Friendly enough, but you won't be able to remember it. I guarantee you!

Updated review, two years later, August, 2010: this is a non-vintage tasting. Consistent color. Nose is faint blackberry and clean laundry. Middle is a bit less grape-y, with a bit more grit. Simple and fun. Let's go ahead and add a plus for the fun.

***+ $$ Sherwood Estate Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2008 - Wine Tasting & Review

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Original Tasting and Review:

By way of background: This is Sherwood Estate Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand. The 2008 vintage is finished at a mere 12.5% alcohol.

In the glass: Deeply hued ruby red.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, this New Zealand pinot noir shows a deep, dry, slightly earthy and leafy nose. 

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are sweet, rich, red cherry and red currant, moving on a solid acid and mineral core.  Hint of raw tobacco emerges too.  The clean, sweet fruit moves up gracefully into your cheeks, where it lodges playfully til the next sip.

In summary: Overall, a sweet, classic mid-weight experience. Rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for its underlying power.

With a one-hour decant:  Nose takes on a cleaner, laundry-esque element.  Same elements on the palate, but they knit together with somewhat less acidity.

With a long decant, one week under vacuum in a partially-filled bottle:  Tobacco, peppery red now on the nose.  Very consistent palate notes.  This one holds up well to decant.  May hold up well in the bottle too... we'll find out in a year or two!

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*** $ Tin Roof Cellars Merlot, 2005, CA - Wine Review and Rating (BEST VALUE)

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Original Review, April, 2009: Tin Roof Cellars Merlot is in some ways a classic American wine - modestly-priced merlot from the "California" appelation, meaning it was not sourced from one or another of the more exclusive areas of California, but is a blend of Central and North Coast vineyard grapes. It is a forgotten sort of wine today, in the post - "Sideways" world . Tin Roof Cellars Merlot, 2005, is blended with a touch of cabernet sauvignon and petite sirah.

Let's see what the wine itself brings. In the glass it is medium deep red, turning almost opaque in the center. The aromas are substantive and fruity, bringing ripe plums up to your nose. The palate is smooth, simple, full, slightly sweet but fairly balanced. You get sweet, full, bright blackberry fruit lifted to all portions of your mouth, followed by a clean, even, modest - though fairly simple - finish.

This yields three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale, since I would potentially try this again. Excellent value at its modest price. OK to allow aging for a couple more years, or offer a substantial decant before pouring.
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Updated review, over a year later, August, 2010, served cool with brief decant:  Aroma is quite consistent with the additional year of bottle age.  And the palate has held well too.  Now it is slightly rounder, perhaps, but still simple, clean, rich and tasty.

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