I believe this is a $5 wine from Trader Joe's (at least it used to be). Ruby in color. The nose has cherries. On the palate, this is light with cherry jam flavors. Some heat on the finish. I suppose for $5 there is good value here. Nice choice for people on a budget. Seems to be holding up ok, not sure how much life it has left.
Ruby in color. The nose has nice cherries, slight sour note and some spice. On the palate, this is easy drinking. Not a lot of depth. Lighter in style. Not a lot of acidity. OK finish. A very solid wine.
This wine is in the beginnings of its prime drinking window IMO. It should be good for at least another decade. Purple in color. The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, cherries, raw meat, and floral notes. On the palate, this has a great almost soft texture. Slight tannins. Layers of black raspberries, black cherries, licorice and earth. This is a very clean wine. Nice acidity especially for the vintage. Long finish. This kept improving all night. It worked well my pasta dish after being open for a few hours.
Ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose has red currants and spice. On the palate, this is easy drinking. Some Red currant fruit. Plenty of spice and lumber. No tannins. Light. Probably should have been drunk earlier as the oak seems to have outlasted the fruit though there is some fruit left.
Ruby/purple in color. The nose has cassis, cherries, cedar and spice. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, this has nice fruit in a more restrained mode. Cherries and cassis with cedar. Medium tannins. Decent balance. Slightly clipped finish. This is a more restrained style of Cab but drinks well right now. Not sure if it will make older bones so I would drink in the next five years.
Ruby/purple in color. The nose is very nice with black raspberries, black pepper some grilled meats and just a bit of bacon. On the palate, this is fully mature but not past. Black raspberry fruit layered with charred earth. Nice complexity. Good acidity. Still fresh. Nice finish. This wine is drinking great and much younger than I might have expected it to. Bottles vary though and I wouldn't wait too long on this one.
This is a very good, middle of the road, straight forward Zin (in a good way). Purple in color with some ruby swirls. The nose has dark cherries, raspberries, bramble and black pepper. Full bodied with a nice texture. Juicy black cherries and raspberries. Some depth. Drinking great but should age a bit and last a decade. Works with bigger foods or on its own. Delicious.
Another winner from this winery making lower alcohol, cooler climate wines from California. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, char, black olives and roasted herbs. On the palate, this is medium to full bodied. Black raspberries with an underlying char. Also some earthiness. Good acidity. Nice finish. Very food friendly with some potential upside over the next few years.
There are a lot of Vin Santos out there. Very few are very good and even less are outstanding. This is one of the better ones. Iced tea color. The nose is very nice with slight chocolate covered raisins but also a bit of blood orange and caramel. Clean and not oxidized. On the palate, this is viscous. Caramel, blood orange and raisins. Complex. It is sweet not cloying but a little goes a long way. Long finish. Worked well with a not too sweet dessert.
This is a former Wine Spectator Wine of the Year. It was nice to revisit this wine. It seems to be at peak and drinking as good as it will get. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has cherries, spice, chocolate and dried cherries. On the palate, this is full bodied with a lush texture. Just a wisp of tannins. Layers of chocolate covered cherries and slight earth. Long finish. Food friendly. Certainly one of the best California Merlot's I have had. Even Miles from Sideways would like it. It still has five to ten years, at least, left if well stored.
