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Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Quivira Vineyards
Region & Country: Sonoma, California, USA
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Recommended By: Wineclub
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 2/2/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 12/20/2009
Appearance: Full-bodied; Glossy, purple-red
Nose: Black and raspberry; oak, tobacco and spices
Taste: Smooth and juicy; raspberry, oak and spices
Finish: Lingers and dry
Overall Impression: I thought after smelling this wine that it was going to be much bolder and spicier. Yes, there was a great bold aroma, but the taste was very smooth. This was a great Zin. I love when wines surprise me!
Overall Rating: 93/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2003
Price Range: $13
Producer: Remhoogte Estate
Region & Country: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grape Variety: Red Blend (57% Cabernet Sauvignon; 40% Merlot; 3% Pinotage)
Recommended By: Dean Noonan @ WineStyles
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 12/3/2009
Appearance: Dark cherry red; Full-bodied
Nose: Cherry, oak and vanilla
Taste: Spicy cherry, vanilla and oak; layered tastes
Finish: Cherry comes through more; lingers warmly on the throat
Overall Impression: This blend has a familiar flavor, as if I have drank it before. Despite being average, it's still pretty delicious. It has a nice spice and boldness on top of its great fruit flavor.
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $12
Producer: Celliers Jean d'Alibert
Region & Country: Languedoc, France
Grape Variety: Grenache Syrah (85% Grenache; 20% Syrah)
Recommended By: Maggie Noonan @ WineStyles
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 8/6/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home; 11/4/2009
Appearance: Deep, dark blood red; Light-medium bodied
Nose: Easy berries and heavy spices; oak, deep cherry and blackberry
Taste: Juicy, bold flavor; smooth going down; taste of cherry and oak
Finish: Vanilla and a little oak; lingers softly
Overall Impression: This was a great, smooth wine! I loved how it had bold flavors with a clean taste and finish. This was also a great stand-alone wine. I would bring for a party or present it for a wine tasting.
Overall Rating: 95/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
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
Price Range: $26
Producer: Seghesio Family Vineyard
Region & Country: Healdsburg, California, USA
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
Recommended By: Christmas gift from Anne Mansfield
Place & Date Purchased: Christmas Gift, Chicago, IL - 12/24/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 9/5/2009
Appearance: Full-bodied; Dark, blood red
Nose: Mixed berries, faint sweet jam scent and a rose scent
Taste: Rich, bold and full flavored; sweet, but not sugary; matured berries
Finish: So smooth with lots of fruit flavors
Overall Impression: Anne sure impressed with this gift. Sure, it took me nine months till I drank it, but it was well worth the wait. This Zinfandel was awesome! It was a great wine from beginning to end. With this bold flavor, I could almost taste it with steak. But it can definitely hold its own if you want to drink it by itself.
Overall Rating: 97/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2000
Price Range: $10
Producer: Agustinos Estate Vineyard
Region & Country: Cachapoal Valley, Chile
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: Alpha Food, Liquor & Gifts - Chicago, IL - 5/15/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 8/21/2009
Appearance: Very dark red - almost black; very cloudy; full-bodied
Nose: Berry jam scent, but somewhat hot
Taste: Some berries, somewhat sour and heavy
Finish: Dry and lingers slightly; the finish is the best part
Overall Impression: So I took a chance by purchasing this wine. The bottle many have not been touched for quite some time. Plus, I'm suspicious that there may have been a little cork rot. I just needed to let this one breathe... a lot! Seriously! I wasn't very impressed by it. It was just way too sour and very hot even after I gave it plenty of time to breathe.
Overall Rating: 70/100
Overall Value: * / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $11
Producer: Bodegas Navarro-Lopez
Region & Country: Spain
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/9/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 8/13/2009
Appearance: Black, cherry red; medium-full bodied; opaque
Nose: Jam fruit, cherry, chocolate, slightly hot
Taste: Sweet berries (cherry) with acidic wash; bold but with a light texture
Finish: Dry, but causes tongue to water creating a jammy after-taste
Overall Impression: The acidity isn't so bad once you have a few tastes. The berries and jam begins to show more. I thought that this was a little sugary though. Also, you might want to drink it within 24 hours. I corked it well and after a couple days went to have a glass... Yuck. You could smell the vinegar. So, drink fast, Kids.
Overall Rating: 89/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $20
Producer: Coldstream Hills Winery
Region & Country: Coldstream, Australia
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Recommended By: WineClub
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 3/2/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/25/2009
Appearance: Deep, glossy purple; light-bodied
Nose: Over-ripened berries and some spices; there is an unpleasant smell of something, but I can't quite put my finger on it
Taste: Sweet, almost sour fruit; starts of tasting juicy
Finish: Dries up and acidic; the sweetness lingers with a hint of ash
Overall Impression: This was definitely not the best Pinot Noir I've had, but I would say it's pretty average. Christie couldn't say anything when she tasted it because she informed me that she was going to gag. I wasn't that dramatic about it. I think the sourness of the fruit seems to throw off the taste.
Overall Rating: 85/100
Overall Value: ** / 5 Stars
Oh my! Excuse my language!
Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $20
Producer: R Wines
Region & Country: Eastwood, Australia
Grape Variety: Grenache
Recommended By: Easter Gift from Erika Swain
*Nothing says "Happy Easter" than presenting someone with a bottle
Place & Date Purchased: The Swain's, Chicago, IL - 4/12/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/24/2009
Appearance: Glossy, slightly translucent and yet cloudy; full-bodied
Nose: Strawberry jam and cherries; strong fruit scent
Taste: Sweet berry taste that has a juicy smoothness at first and then also has a spicy kick to it
Finish: Dry, lingers and slightly acidic
Overall Impression: When I was presented this wine, I seriously didn't know what to expect. After tasting it, I loved it. After discussing with Erika that I loved it, she was surprised. She said that when she had it, it tasted like "wine and cigarettes" to her. So, I'm wondering if the following is the reason:
A) Our taste buds are completely different
B) She was probably smoking cigarettes while drinking it
C) She had a bad bottle
It could be a number of things. Here's another thing I'm pondering. If it was so bad, why was she giving it to me? Erika, you got some 'splaining to do. But I thought that this was a fantastic Grenache! I loved the boldness and the finish. I loved how it smelled like jam, but it didn't taste like it. And for the price, you can't go wrong.
Overall Rating: 96/100
Overall Value: ***** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $23
Producer: Mosby Winery
Region & Country: Buellton, California
Grape Variety: Dolcetto
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 1/31/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 7/1/2009
Appearance: Deep, cherry red; full-bodied
Nose: Vibrant, smells juicy, cherry, candy apple sweet
Taste: Juicy cherry; huge burst of fruit, but with a lite texture
Finish: Lingers smoothly with sweetness on the tongue
Overall Impression: This Dolcetto definitely goes right up there with some of the other great Cabs & Malbecs I have tried. The explosion of fruit boldness is something I love most about reds, but it is so lite. It is not heavy, so it seems like the perfect summer, stand alone wine. It actually has a delicious, mouth-watering flavor.
Overall Rating: 97/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2008
Price Range: $12
Producer: Don Miguel Gascon
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Malbec
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/30/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/30/2009
Appearance: Deep, dark purple; opaque and medium-bodied
Nose: Black berries, white pepper, spices, little cinnamon & mocha, cherry
Taste: Bold taste of black berry & cherry; slightly dry
Finish: Lasting taste of bitter mocha
Overall Impression: The aroma of this Malbec is much more enticing than its taste, yet it still has a great, juicy bold flavor of fruit.
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Luigi Bosca
Region & Country: Mendoza, Argentina
Grape Variety: Bonarda
Recommended By: WineStyles
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 3/2/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 6/2/2009
Appearance: Deep, dark purple; full-bodied
Nose: Slightly hot with hints of cherry and roses
Taste: Juicy cherry taste with hints of rose and violets
Finish: Slightly dry and lingers; strange aftertaste
Overall Impression: This Bonarda has a bold fruit and flower taste. The finish is strange though. I think it may be due to the floral taste or maybe the skins of the grapes were tart.
Overall Rating: 87/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2004
Price Range: $18
Producer: Baglio Di Pianetto
Region & Country: Sicily, Italy
Grape Variety: Ramione (Merlot, 50%; Nero D'Avola, 50%)
Recommended By: WineClub
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 5/4/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 5/30/2009
Appearance: Deep purple, very opaque; full-bodied
Nose: Berries, spices and floral scent
Taste: Soft on the tongue with berries, but after it has a bold, slightly dry kick
Finish: Lingers slightly, smooth; the berry taste returns in the very end
Overall Impression: This wine was so well-developed and balanced. It had a great, mature taste. This was a great blend of grapes and went well with spiced steak. I would get this wine again and again!
Overall Rating: 93100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2007
Price Range: $20
Producer: F.W. Langguth
Region & Country: Pfalz, Germany
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir (Pinot Noir, 90%; Regent, 10%)
Recommended By: WineClub
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 4/5/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 5/28/2009
Appearance: Rose red; transparent, yet brilliant gloss
Nose: Cherry, watermelon candy and floral scent
Taste: Juicy; tons of fruit flavor
Finish: Linger slightly; sweet after tones, yet not sugary
Overall Impression: For a Pinot Noir, it's delicious. Usually some Pinot Noirs, to me, have an ashy flavor to it. Not this one! It also was not dry whatsoever. This was all around good and I would get it again in a heart beat!
Overall Rating: 90/100
Overall Value: ***.5 / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2005
Price Range: $20
Producer: Le Chatelaine
Region & Country: Cotes du Rhone, France
Grape Variety: Red Rhone Wine - Grenach 50%, Syrah 25% & Cinsault 25%
Recommended By: WineClub
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 11/2/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 5/12/2009
Appearance: Deep purple; Medium-bodied
Nose: Soft floral, almost a perfume scent
Taste: Lite fruit with a very mellow taste; good acidity
Finish: Slight perfume taste and lingers warm on the throat
Overall Impression: I enjoyed this one a lot. It didn't seem to even have to try to be good and I think it's because it was so mellow. This was definitely a good mix of reds. I didn't aerate it, but I didn't think it needed to be. This is just a great, easy going wine. It is perfect for any occasion.
Overall Rating: 91/100
Overall Value: *** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
Price Range: $20
Producer: Clos La Chance Winery
Region & Country: San Martin, CA
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: WineClub
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 12/8/2008
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 5/5/2009
**HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO**
Appearance: Raspberry red and full-bodied
Nose: Fruity, earthly and sweet scents
Taste: Light, fruity & sweet; Very juicy taste
Finish: Fruitiness lingers; not acidic
Overall Impression: This Cabernet Sauvignon seems to just wet the mouth perfectly. It's so juicy and fruity, but the best part is that it's not acidic at all. It's just lush, delicious and sweet. I think this would make a great summer cab.
Overall Rating: 97/100
Overall Value: **** / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2004
Price Range: $17
Producer: Cecchetti Wine Company
Region & Country: Graton, California
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Recommended By: N/A
Place & Date Purchased: WineStyles, Evanston, IL - 2/7/2009
Place & Date Tasted: Home - 4/21/2009
Dinner: Giordano's Stuffed Pizza
Appearance: Deep red, but slightly brown; medium bodied
Nose: Copper/Mineral scent, like a penny; a little hot
Taste: Copper and ash; almost like blood; tastes hot also, even after airing
Finish: Lingers with an ash taste and acidic; it just leaves a horrible after taste
Overall Impression: Not impressed at all. It's been a while since I have had a Cabernet that was just not good. There may be a fruit or berry taste, but I could never tell you which one. It was just overall metallic and not very good. This seriously should have been a "Critter" wine.
Overall Rating: 70/100
Overall Value: *.5 / 5 Stars
Vintage: 2006
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