Ratings Explained
84 & Below – Not Posted ‘cause we won’t drink it
85 + A good wine. Buy if the price is right
90 + A very good wine, in our humble opinion
95 + An awe inspiring wine – Possibly life altering
All wine reviews are based solely on the personal tastes of the authors.
Disclosure: Samples are designated by an “S” beside the wine reviewed.
We’re still objective. Robert Parker doesn’t buy his wines either
At first I was a bit suspect of a Washington state Zinfandel, but I am now a convert. We wrote about Naked Winery and their line of “Orgasmic Wines” in our Valentine’s post Valentine’s Day Wine – Sensual or Sexy? This is a very food friendly Zin with lighter jammy flavors of dark berries and black cherry.
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Uppercut Cabernet is more often found on steakhouse wine list (over priced) than in your local wine shop (great value price). However, we did find it recently at our local shop. At $20-$25 this is a must buy Cabernet! The alcohol is a bit hot when opened but settles down into a well balanced Cabernet after a bit of decanting. The flavors of dark berries, dark cherry, currant and spicy pepper pair wonderfully with with a grilled steak or lamb chops.
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J Vineyards Russian River Chardonnay takes a few minutes to open up but as with a beautiful flower you are rewarded with a elegantly structured food enhancing wine. A very well balanced wine with hints of Meyer lemon, tropical, floral and herbecous notes. Just enough oak and vanilla to create a luscious creamy mouth-feel.
The unusually warm and sunny San Francisco February weather retreated in favor of a cold windy downpour as we arrived for our first 2011 wine country visit. We had much on our blogging plate for the ten days. Winemaker interviews, winery visits, wine tastings, the Vintners Hall of Fame Dinner, Symposium for Professional Wine Writers and the Premiere Napa Barrel Tasting and Wine Auction were more than enough to make the average liver cry uncle. As you can see being a wine blogger is just “damn hard work.”
After the 90 minute rain soaked drive to Napa, our first pit stop was not a winery, but Target to buy a new massive suitcase to replace the one whose wheels had suffered irreparable damage in the gentle care of too many baggage handlers. After dragging the heavy broken-wheeled bag through SFO, on to the tram, then through the rental car building only to drive in a downpour, we were ready for some wine to revive the soul.
Our first stop was the John Anthony Wines Tasting Lounge in downtown Napa next door to the Avia Hotel. The hip décor includes a tasting bar as well as comfortable seating to just sit back and drink some wine. At night the Tasting Lounge turns into more of cool wine bar scene. We liked the wines and atmosphere so much we met friends there for a pre-dinner glass of wine, later in the week. Continue reading »
This is a excellent go-to Zinfandel at a good price. Fruit from two Dry Creek Valley vineyards are blended into a soft jammy utterly enjoyable zinfandel. 14% Petite Sirah in the blend adds a bit of spice and darker fruit flavors. Not as complex as some from Wine Guerrlla, just sit back and enjoy the jam.
