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Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $15
Producer: Vina Robles Winery & Vineyards
Region & Country: San Miguel, California, USA
Grape Variety: Red Blend (51% Petite Sirah; 43% Syrah; 4% Tannat; 2% Touriga)
Recommended By: Wine Club
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 9/10/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 10/21/2009
Appearance: Deep, dark purple; full-bodied; dyes the glass
Nose: Plum, lavender, earthy spices
Taste: Deep earth and oak flavor; mocha; bold flavor
Finish: Slightly dry; lemon zest; does not linger long
Overall Impression: This blend had a lovely scent and a wonderful bold flavor! Actually, the aroma and the taste do not match at all, but it's still quite delicious.
Overall Rating: 93/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Ribera Del Duero
Region & Country: Soria, Spain
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Recommended By: Wine Club
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 10/8/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 10/16/2009
Appearance: Dull, garnet red; full-bodied; leaves the sugar residue on the sides of the glass
Nose: Some cherry and berry aromas, but has a "barnyard" stench to it
Taste: Some berries, vanilla and a metal flavor
Finish: Little dry; more metal taste once it settles
Overall Impression: Unfortunately, after tasting the metal in the wine more than the berry flavors, and the smell of the wine after opened, I'm starting to think that this bottle took a turn for the worse. I can taste those delicious vanilla and berry flavors trying to come through, but I think I waited a little too long to drink this wine.
Overall Rating: 83/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $28
Producer: Conn Valley Vineyards
Region & Country: St. Helena, California, USA
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/9/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 10/12/2009
Appearance: Deep dark red-purple; full-bodied
Nose: Slightly hot at first; rich berry scent with cherry
Taste: Light, average-plain; berry taste, but slightly watered down; tastes a little like sugar-free grape Kool-Aid
Finish: Lingers slightly, but lightly; light juicy sweetness
Overall Impression: I like to find wines that can stand alone or be paired with food. This wine is definitely a dinner wine. I really wouldn't want it alone. It has a good palate cleanser and a lot of great berry scents, but it still has that mild grape Kool-Aid flavor that really threw me off. It's just average to me.
Overall Rating: 88/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $25
Producer: Ninquen Mountain Estate Vineyard
Region & Country: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Red Blend (70% Cabernet Sauvignon; 30% Carmenere)
Recommended By: Wine Club
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 10/6/2009
Appearance: Full-bodied; Deep red or blood red
Nose: Cherry, raspberry, oak, a little licorice; smells very rich
Taste: Bold, yet acidic; has some spice to it; earthy
Finish: Very powerful oak, vanilla and berries; lingers
Overall Impression: I rarely come across a wine where the best part is the finish. Usually, it's impressing from the get-go, but this wine had all the best flavors in its finish. You get reunited with the aromas you caught before. I also loved the boldness of this wine.
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2007
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