This is a $10 bottle of Zinfandel. It is just about exactly what one would expect (in a good way). Purple/ruby in color. The nose has cherries with some alcohol. Slightly candied. On the palate, cherries with some heat. A bit dusty. No complexity but nothing really off either. This would make a nice choice at a large party.
Deep ruby in color. The nose has cherries, slight bramble, and a bit of pepper. On the palate, this is lighter in style. Cherry fruit. Some warmth. It doesn't seem like this will improve but it makes for enjoyable drinking. Works better especially well with spicy Indian food. Probably should be drink in the next few years.
This was surprisingly open and drinking well if still youthful. Purple in color. The nose has boysenberries, char, and black pepper. On the palate, this has a nice texture. Boysenberry fruit with some pepper. Nice complexity. Good finish. This should improve for the next five years. Needs big food.
Purple in color. The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meats, some black pepper and hints of violets. On the palate, this has a great texture. Lush and almost seamless. Black raspberries layered with spice and slight roasted meats. Good balance. Nice finish. This would work great with heartier foods or spicy ones too. Drinking quite well though not yet at peak. It might have some more upside as it continues to develop. A real crowd pleaser but if drinking soon, give it some air. Probably will peak in five years and be good for a decade or more after that.
The name for this wine comes from the fact that way back in the day, these were the youngest vines in the Champoux Vineyard. They may still hold that distinction, but these wines are getting close to thirty years old now. This wine is a great example of Washington Cabernet. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cassis, cherries, slight spice and some leather. On the palate, this seems to be getting close but not yet at peak. Layers of cherries, cassis and dry earth. Mild tannins. Nice finish. This will go well with heartier foods. It may still have some upside and certain
Purple in color. The nose is nice with black raspberries, some char and a bit of leather. On the palate, this is nice with black raspberry fruit. Some complexity. It doesn't seem like this will improve. It is a very good wine but, this is from perhaps the best Syrah vineyard in California. The expectations were high and this did not meet up to those expectations. That may be unfair, but there it is. This sold for around $50 on release.
This was drinking quite well although it has years left. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is very nice with black cherries, cedar, chocolate and cigar box. On the palate, this is youthful but ageing well. Layers of cherries, black cherries and tobacco. A nice back bone of acidity. Good finish. This can be drunk along but shines with food. Obviously Italian food but really a wide variety. Probably about 5 years from peak and should be there for 8 to 10.
This is an under $10 Sauvignon Blanc from France. It is made in the style of a Loire Valley wine, that is more mineral based with some fruit and good acidity. Light golden in color. The nose is fine with minerals, and slight grapefruit. On the palate, this is slightly bitter. An underlying minerality. Slightly flabby. Innocuous. For the price, it is fine, but don't expect magic.
Light golden in color. The nose is clean with slight lemon notes. There is some lumber on the nose too. On the palate, this has little fruit but some. There is a bitterness. Decent acidity. At around $8, it drinks ok with or without food. No obvious faults but nothing amazing either.
A birthday/birth year wine. Iced tea in color. The nose is nice with nuts, orange peel, and slight chocolate note. On the palate, this is a bit nutty with some alcohol showing. Good acidity. Complex layering. Long finish. Like all 1958's, this is not quite mature but doing quite well. ;-)
