Red Wine

Mar 232012
 
2008 Lava Cap Winery Reserve Zinfandel, Estate Bottled, El Dorado, CA, $20 (S) – Rating 90

A delicious medium-bodied Zin from Lava Cap Winery. Rich and round Zinfandel flavors of ripe blackberry, plum, black cherry and a touch of oaky vanilla and dark spice. Supple tannins add backbone. This wine screams out for grilled meats or dry-rubbed BBQ.

Mar 202012
 
2008 Patland Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley, CA, $90 (S) – Rating 92

An elegant yet boisterous Cabernet, this beauty from Patland Estate and famed Stagecoach Vineyards offers up a fruit driven nose of dark cherry, plum and spice. The full-flavored wine coats the plate with dark cherry, blueberry, plum, cocoa and dark spice with subtle hints of saddle leather. Supple tannins and well-integrated oak add depth and finesse.

Mar 202012
 
2009 J Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA, $32 (S) – Rating 90

A well-balanced and medium-bodied Pinot Noir with ripe fruit flavors of dark cherry, raspberry and strawberry highlighted with notes of spice, black tea, cocoa and hints of oaky vanilla. Supple and unobtrusive tannins add complexity.

Mar 192012
 
2008 Nickel & Nickel Branding Iron Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley, CA, $95 (S) – Rating 94

A beautiful example of a single varietal/single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. A deep wine that holds your attention. Well-integrated tannins add depth and structure.  About an hour in the decanter and this Cabernet opens to show off flavors of dark cherry, blackberry tobacco, dark berry, dark spice with hints of toasty oak vanilla.

Mar 192012
 
2009 Parlay The Bookmaker California Red Wine, Ramian Estate, Napa, CA, $21 (S) – Rating 88

A red wine blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, this is a big wine that needs a little time in the decanter to offer its full potential. The nose is filled with spicy red berries. On the palate, flavors of red cherry, blueberry, dark berry, plum, coffee, tobacco, and black pepper spice abound. Rich yet well-integrated tannins add to the full-bodied experience.