Wine Tasting Notes - Sterling Vineyards Vintner's Collection Merlot, Central Coast 2008

Wine Tasting Notes - Sterling Vineyards Vintner's Collection Merlot, Central Coast 2008

Link to the vintner's page

Notes from the bottle:

Our 2008 Merlot combines the classic offerings of this varietal in a smooth, complex, fruit-intensive style. Bright aromas of black cherry and plum hold through the senses as they join ripe, chewy tannins on the palate. The fruit is complemented by ample caramel, mocha and toasty oak from extensive aging in new American oak barrels. With layered depths and silky body, this versatile wine is appropriate for many occasions, as a stand-alone sipper or paired with a variety of dishes, including roasted chicken, pasta or pork.

Here are my notes:

I did find that there was a striking complexity in this wine and it had a wonderful, deep maroon color in the glass that verged on an indigo-black.  The merlot had a light nose and was very soft on the scent, but the first sip was an introduction to the late evening it was when I had this bottle.  Think: soft rain, no breeze, occasional scent of damp earth coming through the window... all of this mixed with this merlot on the first taste and I was very impressed.

The texture of this wine is a bit heavier, almost buttery feel with well-balanced tannins (I think "chewy" is an exaggeration on the label).  I liked the way that this texture collaborated with the complexity of the taste, which I would describe as a combination of black cherry and blackberries with a suggestion of woodsmoke.  The finish was medium and savory.  The interaction of the supple texture, downplayed nose, and deep "chesty" taste made this an excellent wine for our evening.  My wife and I enjoyed it with a thin-crust pizza we made in the oven.

Wine Tasting Notes - Casillero del Diablo Carmenere (Chile, 2011)

Wine Tasting Notes - Casillero del Diablo Carmenere (Chile, 2011)

This past Friday, my wife sent me out to pick up a bottle of sangria to celebrate the end of a long and busy week.  While I was at the bottle shop, I saw an endcap display with the Casillero del Diablo Carmenere on sale for $6.99.  The staff notes on the display looked promising, so I decided to give this wine a try.

The color is a dark red, almost purple hue with a brilliant shine on the edge right where the liquid touches the glass.  I'm not quite sure if there is an official term for this, but it had a beautiful color to it.

I gave it a brief swirl and breathed in deep to savor the aroma.  Ripe berries, plums, and a smoky, roasted flavor drifted up to my delight.  On the backside, I smelled earth and leather.

On first sip, I tasted dark berries and black pepper with soft tannins.  The finish is long and intense, highlighting the earthy taste of wet leaves and rich, dark chocolate.  The acidic qualities linger throughout the finish and I am suddenly reflective of the last two months, reminiscing of autumn, contemplating the coming winter, and savoring the moment.

This was an excellent wine that I enjoyed with kimchi soup that my wife made.

http://www.casillerodeldiablo.com/minisitios/productos_en/reserva/home.php

Wine Tasting Notes - Corbett Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon (California)

Wine Tasting Notes - Corbett Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon (California)

I had a bottle of Corbett Canyon's Cabernet Sauvignon a couple of weeks back and I enjoyed a glass or two out on the porch after the sun went down.  The color presented more clear than any other cab I have ever seen.  Most of the other wines of this variety that I have seen have a more opaque, sometimes cloudy quality to them, but this wine had a noticeable shine to it.

I was not overly impressed with the Corbett Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon.  The aroma was nondescript, almost vinegary.  The taste was more fruit-forward than I prefer, bursting with the flavor of ripe cherries and grape juice.  Not a bad taste, and the price can't be beat.  I just don't see myself choosing this wine to enjoy with friends.

http://www.corbettcanyon.com/wines.shtml

Wine Tasting Notes - Smoking Loon Pinot Noir 2010 (California)

Smoking Loon Pinot Noir (2010)

With a name like Smoking Loon, how can you go wrong?  I picked out a bottle of their Pinot Noir for Labor day and I have a quick review here.

The color is a light semi-clear red that has a little glint of silver in it.  The aroma is light, nothing spectacular of note.  Same goes with the taste- nothing really stands out too much about this wine.  I cand detect a faint taste of strawberries in this pinot noir along with a light herbal taste- maybe sage?

I would definitely classify this one as quaffable- it would go well with sandwiches, seafood, and cold pastas.  Since its taste panel is not overly complex, there is not a whole lot to consider while dirnking this wine.

http://www.donandsons.com/ourwine/smokingloon/pinotnoir.php

Wine Tasting Notes - Skouras Saint George Nemea Aghiorghitiko 2008 (Greece)

Wine Tasting Notes - Skouras Saint George Nemea Aghiorghitiko 2008 (Greece)

Well, it is time for another wine review!  Several months ago, my wife and I had some friends over for dinner- another Korean/American family.  Their daughter likes to play with our daughter and we always have a lot of fun together.  We had this wine for the occasion.

I had never tried a Greek wine before and I was super curious about what Greek wines are like.  I had been saving this bottle for a few months and was excited to crack it open with our friends.  This wine has a deep red color with a bit of a shine to it.  When pouring this wine into the glass, it explodes with aromas of spice and dark red fruits.  There is also a hint of smoke that brings the fruit and spice aromas together.

When it first hits the palate, this wine as a very soft, silken texture that is a delight.  The acid and tannin content is present, but not overbearing; personally, I enjoy the texture of tannins and I found this wine to have a supple amount that was pleasing on the tongue.  The raspberry and blackberry flavors that the aroma promised along with a touch of the spices are in the forefront of the flavor of this wine with a deeper, earthy base that came as somewhat of a surprise to me, as I did not detect this when I sniffed the wine.  After researching this wine a little bit, I found that the Aghiorghitiko varietal grows in clay soil, so this must have crept its way into the flavor of the grape.  The finish is long and satisfying with the spice and smoke aromas and flavors mellowing into a mild black pepper note.

We couldn't believe how much we enjoyed this wine!  All of us commented on how wonderfully smooth it was to drink and how excellent the taste was!  Even into the second glass, the taste continued to grow on us and it was our favorite wine of the evening.  The Saint George Nemea Aghiorghitiko is a hidden gem among the wines that are available.  I've only been able to find it since then in larger warehouse-style liquor stores next to the Italian aisle.

http://www.skouraswines.com/

Wine Tasting Notes - Concannon Pinot Noir 2009 (California)

We picked up this bottle last weekend to go with the remainder of the brie that we had around.  Upon pouring it a brilliant, transluscent, ruby-red color is observed.  Even at night with the lights turned low, this wine shines and has a marked brightness to it.  This brightness translates into a wonderful aroma of raspberries and a hint of brown spice.

The taste is a little drier than many pinot noirs that I've tried.  The aroma of raspberries delivers as promised with a smooth taste.  The finish is lacking, though, and I found the aftertaste a bit shallow.

Notes from the Vineyard:

Vineyard Notes:

Our Selected Vineyards wines are well-loved varieties from select Central Coast vineyards and represent remarkable value. California’s Central Coast offers unmatched blending diversity from its multitude of microclimates. Cool region grapes contribute distinctive fresh fruit nuances and warm region grapes add depth of flavor and complexity.  These highly acclaimed wines take no shortcuts and are easily worth twice their modest price.

Winemaker Notes:

The 2009 Pinot Noir, Selected Vineyards is rich in both color and fragrance. With aromas of raspberry and ripe strawberry, this medium-bodied wine is very food-friendly. Balanced by warm spice accents of cloves and cinnamon, the bright red fruit flavors finish round and smooth.

Wine Tasting Notes - Racha Malbec 2010 (Argentina)

So, I am not an expert at wine by any means!  I just know what I like and what I don't like.  This is my very first attempt at writing a review.

I had been reading about how wonderful Malbec is and since I had never tried one before, I decided to pick up a bottle on Friday.  After baby was asleep, we sat down, opened up the rest of the brie, and uncorked the Malbec.

As I poured the wine I was struck by the dark, opaque, brick-red color as it filled the glass.  Where the wine touched the glass, there was a faint gray hue that had a nice appeal to it.

A quick swirl and sniff released a deep, rich aroma that smelled of damp earth and wood with an air of spice definitely in the forefront (possibly nutmeg and cinnamon).  There was also a bit of a darker scent in the glass that reminded me faintly of tobacco leaves.  The scent intrigued me so much that I took another deep smell to make sure that I didn't miss anything.

On first taste, the sensation that reached me the strongest was the suppleness of this wine.  It is thick in the mouth and has a pronounced weight to it.  The tannins most likely caused this attribute, and it is a good, dry sensation that remains.  Cherry and blackberry flavors burst on the palate with all of the spice that the aroma promised.  The aftertaste carried a unique flavor that was more on the woody side that was a joy to savor.

This wine is definitely a sipper.  We drank slowly and enjoyed the brie on water crackers, this delicious Malbec, a long conversation, and a cool September night creeping through the window.

Notes from the vintner:

RACHA MALBEC
This estate grown and bottled Malbec gets the majority of its fruit from Luján de Cuyo in the Vistabla district. We blend in fruit from higher elevations in Consuelo to add to the complexity of the wine. This dark ruby colored wine has an alluring bouquet of cedar, fresh red cherry, and cigar box. On the palate it is a bold Malbec with a smooth texture, ripe fruit flavors, and no hard edges. This wine was aged for 12 months in American and French Oak barrels.