Review: *** $ Cline Zinfandel, California, 2005

Find Cline Zinfandel prices and retail availability.

Original Tasting and Review, February, 2010:

By way of background: Cline Zinfandel from California is an inexpensive zinfandel made of grapes taken from various vineyards across California. The 2005 vintage is finished at 14% alcohol.  The label says "Drink now or hold... it will continue to develop complexity over the next three to four years." So we've now given this five years from vintage date, let's see what we've got...

In the glass: Cline Zinfandel shows as deep burgundy red in the glass, no orange or brick colors coming in yet to indicate age.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, this American zinfandel still has a bit of funkified helium on the nose, meaning it probably needs even a bit more air.  Let's give it some... waiting... waiting... swirling... waiting... Finally, with some vigorous shaking in a partially filled bottle, we were able to discharge most of this off-aroma.

What we get in its place is a ripe, purple berry, along with hints of violets, oak and vegetable stew. 

On the palate: The first element on the palate is smooth, sweet, cinnamon-laced ripe mid-palate fruit - a combination of mashed ripe plums plus ripe red cherries.  Softer notes of oak are apparent too, as the mostly fruit-based flavors travel across your mouth.

And the wrap-up: The finish is carried along on a sweet note, finishing clean with the higher alcohol up-lift, but no cloying sweetness nor really much in the way of tannic oomph.

In summary: Overall, pleasant, rich, uncomplicated new world red wine experience at a value price. Rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.  A best value when obtained at a sale price, and when - as this one was - given some time in the bottle.

Following a two-day decant under vacuum in a partially-filled bottle:  Nose and palate have held fairly consistent.  Palate moving to a bit over-drawn however.  So no further decanting advised.
----------------------------

Updated review, a year and a half later, October, 2011:  Deep red in the glass, a hint of brick coming through at the edges now.  Soft red fruit on the nose, hint of vegetable broth, maybe even a pleasant hint of Play-Doh.  Soft, rich fruit on the palate, a bit mushy but still with enough lift to be energizing.  Remains a best value, even now at six years from vintage date.  

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here. 

Find Cline Zinfandel prices and retail availability.

Review: *** $ Vina Mayor Ribera del Duero Reserva, Spain, 2003 - GOOD VALUE

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Vina Mayor Ribera del Duero Reserva.

By way of background, opening thoughts: Ribera del Duero in Spain is certainly one of the more widely-known regions for Spanish red wines.  Today we are trying a value-priced Ribera, but one with a difference - one that has just been acquired with eight years since vintage date!

Original tasting and review : This is Vina Mayor Ribera del Duero Reserva, Spain, 2003, finished at 14.% alcohol, and made from 100% tempranillo, called "Tinto Fino" locally.

In the glass: Thick, black blood red, brick at the edge and opaque from a quarter inch in.

On the nose: Poured cool and swirled vigorously, shows thick, lightly oxidized prunes and raisins.  From the aroma, seems like this will be rich, perhaps sweet and tired.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact solid, husky raisin fruit on the mid-palate, some some oxidation, but more of a rich, dark red, iron-laden medium-dry prune, carried along with still-sinewy tannins.   Bottles need no more time, but haven't crossed to the dark side yet.

In summary: Overall, rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, and is a perfectly good value at most current retail pricing, a great value when heavily discounted.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Vina Mayor Ribera del Duero Reserva.

Review: **** $$ DeLoach Zinfandel OFS (O.F.S), Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, 2008 - BEST VALUE

Find prices and retail availability for DeLoach Zinfandel OFS.

By way of background, opening thoughts: Zinfandel was one of the grapes that opened the Wild West in American winemaking.  Here is a zinfandel from the Russion River Valley of Sonoma in California.

Original tasting and review : This is DeLoach Zinfandel OFS (O.F.S), Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, 2008, finished at 15.5% alcohol, a real bruiser.  ps, the designation OFS means "Our Finest Selection", representing that this is a higher-end offering in the DeLoach line.

In the glass: DeLoach Zinfandel OFS shows as deep, dark, muddy red in the glass, moving to opaque in the center.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows bright, aromatic and creamy red fruit.   From the aroma, seems like this will be rich, sweet and flavorful. 

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact rich, creamy, sweet red currant and red cherry fruit, all softly wrapped in a light tannin robe. Sweet acids and sweet red fruit define the character, but the tannins show the way to a lasting finish, which is soft, lengthy, yet still clean.

In summary: Overall, rates four stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, making this a best value by our criteria.

Following long decant, full day kept cool in partially filled bottle:  Even brighter on the nose, red fruit with firework highlights.  Richer, redder fruit on the palate, still luscious. 

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.

Find prices and retail availability for DeLoach Zinfandel OFS.

Review: *** $$ C&B Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 2009 - GOOD VALUE

Find prices and retail availability for C&B Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.

By way of background, opening thoughts: It makes sense to understand the origins of the wines you drink.  Usually (not always, but usually), a winery will describe the most particular level at which its wines were procured.  So "California" is a much wider range than "Napa Valley", which in turn is a much wider range than a particular section or vineyard within "Napa Valley".  Here we are trying a "Napa Valley" cabernet sauvignon, sourced from multiple regions or vineyards within Napa. In assessing this wine also, please recognize that the term "Reserve" has no formal meaning in California.  If a vineyard has a wine without a "Reserve" designation, then the "Reserve" labeling would mean something.

Original tasting and review : This is C&B Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 2009, finished at 14.1% alcohol.

In the glass: C&B cabernet shows deep, almost black burgundy, opaque a quarter inch from the edge. 

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows deep and soft black fruit, framed with some oak.  From the aroma, seems like this will be bold, sturdy and chewy.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact bold and poignant ripe plums with a solid tannic backbone.  Full ripe plums fade cleanly to the finish, with the tannic robe.  Some red currants showing through as well.

In summary: Overall, with its deep and bright potency, rates a solid three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, almost picks up a plus for its red fruit-driven layers.  May show more with additional time. 

Following long decant, full day kept cool in partially filled bottle:  The nose is more shy, but the palate has grown richer with ripe plums.  Still smooth tannins in the finish.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.

Find prices and retail availability for C&B Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.

Review: **** $ Mas Carlot Clairette de Bellegarde, France, 2009 - BEST VALUE

Find prices and retail availability for Clairette de Bellegarde.

By way of background, opening thoughts: You're forgiven if many of the wines from France confuse you in terms of their grapes versus their regions versus their vineyards.  In this case we are trying a white wine grape named clairette from a region (appelation) called Clairette de Bellegarde.  It is a grape that is new to my repertoire.

Original tasting and review : This is Mas Carlot Clairette de Bellegarde, France, 2009, finished at 13.% alcohol.

In the glass: Mas Carlot Clairette is quite transparent in the glass, with a light hay overtone.

On the nose: Poured quite cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows lightly funky, hay and silky elements.  From the aroma, seems like this will be soft, perhaps chewy, and aromatic. 

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact soft and silky oyster shells with soft, yielding, clean chardonnay-style fruit.  The sleekness, along with some sweet citrus, moves along towards the finish, which is quite clean and mineral, yet lengthy. 

In summary: Overall, rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for the sleekness, making this an easy best value based on its very attractive price point.

Following long decant, full day kept cool in partially filled bottle: More aromatic and sweet on the nose.  The palate is also more caressing and still sleek.  Makes its way to a fourth star and becomes a crazy best value.  And even longer decant, three more days kept cool:  Extremely consistent on nose and palate to the full-day decant. 

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.

Find prices and retail availability for Clairette de Bellegarde.

Review: ***+ $$ Cameron Hughes Lot 247 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA, 2009 - GOOD VALUE

Find prices and retail availability for Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon.

By way of background, opening thoughts:  Cameron Hughes is a negociant, a wine producer who obtains grapes, juices and wines from various locations, seeking to create high-value offerings at given price points.  The cabernet sauvignon here was acquired from a  younger Napa Valley vineyard that sells wine with similar heritage at substantially higher prices.

Original tasting and review : This is Cameron Hughes Lot 247 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA, 2009, finished at a not-too-shy, very American-styled 14.7% alcohol.

In the glass: Lot 247 is deep magenta, opaque about a half in in from the edge.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows remarkably shy, understated fruit.  Digging your nose in deeply, you pick up some fresh plums hiding inside the alcohol.  From the aroma, seems like this will be restrained and young, perhaps waiting for more time to blossom. 

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact much more powerful, with sleek and silty fruit moving across the palate.  So gentle in feel, yet with sweet black cherry and light spices coming through layered in robes of softer tannins.  You almost need to chew your way through to the finish, which lets additional soft red fruit and ripe blackberry squeeze out. 

In summary: Overall, compelling gentleness, power, softness and balance earns three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, falling just shy of the fourth star, but gaining a plus for its elegance throughout.  Definitely a good value.  May become a best value with some time.

Following long decant, full day kept cool in partially filled bottle:  Tiniest hint of lavender on the nose.  Consistent, soft and luxurious on the palate, with chewiness giving way to chocolate.  Makes its way toward a fourth star with this decant.  Still has a wonderful restraint.  

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine reviewed at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here. 

Find prices and retail availability for Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon.

Review: *** $ Tupun Valle de Tupungato Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2008 - BEST VALUE

Find prices and retail availability for Tupun Malbec.

By way of background, opening thoughts: Malbec and Argentina "go together like a horse and carriage", especially when the malbec hails from the Mendoza region, which is the case here. 

Original tasting and review : This is Tupun Valle de Tupungato Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2008, finished at (a mere) 13.5% alcohol.

In the glass: Tupun is deep black burgundy, opaque from a quarter inch of the edge, with glittering purple highlights, despite being three years from vintage date.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows soft, deep blackberry and some oak with some purple and concord grape overtones.  From the aroma, seems like this will be bright yet substantial.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact an inky and deep bold fruit in the center palate.  It brings dry black cherry with a sleek wrapper of fine tannins and a lifting brightness.  The finish lingers, moving to a lightly cheek-tightening "clench" at the very end.

In summary: Overall, varied layers that rate three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.  Excellent value at acquired price. May have a bit of age-worthiness left.

Following long decant, full day kept cool in partially filled bottle:  Nose is a little softer, but with the same stylistic elements.  Palate is fully consistent.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine reviewed at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here. 

Find prices and retail availability for Tupun Malbec.

Review: *** $ Villa Neri Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Italy, 2009 - BEST VALUE

Find prices and retail availability for Villa Neri Montepulciano D'Abruzzo.

By way of background, opening thoughts: Often Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is an immediately approachable red wine.  In this case, a value-priced offering is even more likely to be so.  Let's see...

Original tasting and review : This is Villa Neri Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, Italy, 2009, finished at 13.% alcohol.

In the glass: Deep magenta and opaque from about a half inch from the edge.

On the nose: Poured at room temperature with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows sweet and juicy grapey fruit, not unlike the aromas I could detect from kit wines used in home winemaking.  From the aroma, seems like this will be easy-going and simple. 

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact soft red fruits, some concord grape juice, and smooth blackberry and red cherry juice blend.  Simple but clean finish. 

In summary: Overall, rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale because I would enjoy it again for a light sipper.  I see no reason to age, as the tannins and acids are light from the start, and any further mellowing might flatten things too much.  Excellent value because it comes in at such a low price point.

Following long decant, full day kept cool in partially filled bottle:  Nose is the same.  Palate comes through with richer fruit, including some apparent oak. 

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine reviewed at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here. 

Find prices and retail availability for Villa Neri Montepulciano D'Abruzzo.

Review: ***+ $ Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, Lake County, CA - BEST VALUE

Find Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc prices and retail availability.

By way of background: Line 39 is a second, modestly-priced line of wines from Cecchetti Wine Company, also maker of the wide-selling, bargain-priced Redtree line. Line 39 offers wines from Lake County AVA, a wine region in California north of Napa Valley. "39" refers to 39 degrees latitude, a latitude shared by this wine line and a number of other wine growing regions of the world.

Line 39 is one of the faster growing wine brands in the United States in recent years. Varietals in the line include cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc and petite sirah.

In this review, we're sampling the Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc, 2006, Lake County, CA. Winemaker Bob Broman finished the sauvignon blanc at 13.5% alcohol.  Review wine provided by Cecchetti Wine Company.


Original review, November, 2009: 

In the glass: Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc is transparent in the glass, but showing a deep vanilla and light yellow cast.

On the nose: The aroma is modest... chalky and minerally with citrus overtones. Less grass and stainless steel than I've come to expect in most modern sauvignon blancs, but it does bring an interesting sweet ginger note to the mix.

On the palate: The first note is an oily-smooth mild citrus note right smack in the middle of your mouth. It builds out from the center of your tongue to the sides of your cheeks. No fist-clenching acids here, but a lightly sweet citrus oil that percolates to the sides of your cheeks and hibernates there.

And the finish: The acids slowly unfold once the oily sauvignon blanc begins releasing into the sides of your cheeks. Then you get little acid sparkles - like pop rocks - that go on for more than a minute. Interesting experience.

In summary: Solid three-star experience on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale. Outstanding value at this price point.
---------------------------

Updated review, almost two years later, October, 2011:  Light yellow in the glass shows some pale olive cast as well.  Shy sweet and light grass nose.  Sweet, almost orange-y citrus in the mid-palate, spreads slowly in a nice mineral flow.  Rating gains a plus for its layers with the extra time in bottle, now three years from vintage date. Awesome best value at its bargain price.

Find Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc prices and retail availability.