Bordeaux Blend

This has a different shaped ullage so saying low-shoulder fill is quite accurate.  The fill was about four inches down from the top of the cork.  The cork was removed and the bottle blew off stink for a bit and then we tried it.  It did get a bit better over the subsequent 20 minutes before dying a quick death.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and a bit flat.  On the nose there is dust, saddle leather, dusty attic and just a hint of dried cranberries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is just a hint of cherries with leather and earth.  A bit tart.  Clipped finish.  There are surely people

From Magnum.  This is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Verdot and 5% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dominated by Brettanomyces which comes across as a "ripe" barnyard.  Some people love this while others are averse.  This is a spoilage yeast that will only bloom when the bottle sees warmer temperatures.  In addition, there are plums and cassis with some green bell pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks a bit cleaner.  Very earthy with cassis, bell pepper and black cherries.  Medium tannins.  Long fin

This is a blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon,  and 15% Cabernet Franc that sees 100% new oak.  .  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice and slight cigar.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cherries, some black cherries and underlying earthy tobacco notes.  Moderate finish.  This will work better with food than on its own.  Slow cooked, braised beef or lamb would work well.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

This is a "Bordeaux Blanc" styles wine from Washington state.  It is 69% Sauvignon Blanc and 31% Semillon.  Very impressive and a dead ringer for a Bordeaux white in style and quality.  Light golden in color.  The nose has apples, wax, sweet herbs, minerality and a touch of cedar.  Light to medium bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, apples, slight citrus, wax with underlying minerality.  Fresh and lively.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Versatile.  This drinks great on its own and will work with with sea food, pork or fowl and also spicy Asian foods.  Drink over the next few years for its

Expectations and hopes.  Its hard not to have them but they do affect ones enjoyment of wine.  This was an excellent wine but for whatever reason, vintage, cork, etc., was not up to expectations.  A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spice and some cherries.  On the palate, this is amazingly integrated and smooth.  Cassis with some underlying spice.  Not as deep nor complex as this wine can get in other vintages.  That said, it drinks so easily, the bottle is drained quickly.  I

This is a blend of Merlot 52%, Syrah 26%, Petit Verdot 14%, and Cabernet Sauvignon: 8%.  It works quite well.  Garnet/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose smells like a great Bordeaux blend; cassis, cherries, cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has some depth and complexity. Cherries, black raspberries with some char and spice.  Light tannins.  This drinks great on its own and would work with roasted meats (or veggies).  This should drink well for the next seven to ten years.  A really good value.  

A more elegant side of a Napa blends but outstanding.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight cigar, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, moderate tannins.  Great texture.  This is young-ish but delicious and showing some complexity.  cassis and black cherry fruit that is concentrated and unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  Give this another five years and it should be nearing in on maturity.  It should last another twenty after that.  Still some upside on this wine.  Great on its own or with food.  A steak or brisket would be a nice match.  

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Romania.  Deep garnet in color, flat, and opaque.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, and some cassis, along with some smoke.  There is a slight stewed raisin quality to the fruit which is intentional.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries, some char, some black pepper and some raisin especially on the finish.  A resemblance to an Amarone with a bit less acidity.  This seems like it should drink well for the next eight to ten years.  It will work well with meats or fowl in a wine reduction sauce and would be nice at

This is a Napa wine made in the style of a right bank Bordeaux blend.  Mostly Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, black cherries, slight chocolate, cigar box and slight earthy funk.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Flavors of black cherries, some spice with underlying earthiness.  Good balance.  Delicious.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now but may still get better as it matures.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  This drinks well on its own and will work

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 80%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Merlot 5%, and Petit Verdot (5%).  In Chile this qualifies as a Cabernet but in the EU it does not for example (must be 85%).  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, spice and smoke.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is ripe with good black cherry fruit.  Light tannins.  Nice acidity.  Seems to be close to peak.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Drinks well on its own, this would work well with chili con carne.