Kimmel Chardonnay 2012 (California)

Kimmel Chardonnay is consistently very good. This light yellow colored Chardonnay Opens with a mild apple and faint oak bouquet with a hint of honey.

On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely acidic, refreshing and mouthwatering. Crisp apple and pear blend with hints of oak and nice minerality. I also detected hint of quince jelly. The finish is long, dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Chard emphasizes its fruit and is well balanced. A second glass is warranted.

Food friendly or great on it's own. I would pair this wine with grilled lemon chicken or wild mushroom and chicken tortellini smothered with a butter cream sauce.

 



                               

 You can visit Kimmel Vineyards at http://www.kimmelvineyards.com

 

Kimmel Four Blocks 2012 Merlot

This is a big style Merlot that would appeal to those who enjoy red blends and wines with grit as I like to say. This wine has everything I want to experience in a red wine.

Opaque very dark black cherry red colored Merlot opens with a craisin, black raspberry bouquet with a hint of black currant and dark Swiss chocolate.
On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, smooth and fruit forward with flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, baked bing cherry and a slight hint of spice with a touch of oak and a smidgen of dark chocolate and black olive tapenade. The finish is pleasant and displays dry sticky tannins which linger for quite a while. Tastes like it has been aged a few years but is still fairly young.  

 

 

For more Information on Kimmel Vineyards

http://www.kimmelvineyards.com/

Kimmel Four Blocks Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (California)

Another great wine from Kimmel Vineyards. This wine is from their Four Blocks collection.

Slightly opaque and dark ruby colored Cabernet from Mendocino County. Light black cherry with notes of mellow oak and a hint of minerality.
Shines aromatically with rich, dark fruit and beautifully integrated notes of oak. As it opens up, there are layers of red berries, rose petals, black cherries with a kiss of oak.
The palate is sleek and concentrated with dark fruit, spice, vanilla and cedar. The finish is framed by bright acids and big, juicy tannins. I can only imagine how amazing this wine will be after it ages a bit.

For more great wines from Kimmel Vineyards

visit them at http://www.kimmelvineyards.com/

2012 Kimmel unoaked Chardonnay (California)

For those of you who love a nice unoaked Chardonnay, this one is amazing and my absolute favorite!

This pale straw colored unoaked Chardonnay opens with a very mild apple like bouquet with a hint of lemon zest. 

The flavor profile is a combination of pear and tangerine with a hint of honey, green melon, crisp apple and lime. The finish is dry and refreshing and juicy. This wine would be perfect for a summer afternoon at the beach with fish and chips and a bucket of clam strips.

This Chardonnay from California is a really nice offering and quite affordable as well.

For more information on Kimmel Wines visit their website at

http://www.kimmelvineyards.com/ourwines.php

Kimmel 2010 Merlot (California)

Merlots, people seem to love it or dislike it. I struggled to find a Merlot I really liked for many years and Kimmel Merlot as I have mentioned before gave me a whole new love for the varietal.

So I received this wine last week and I could hardly wait to open it. Kimmel Merlot has always been amazing and this one was no exception. Aged 20 months in oak.

This onyx ruby colored Merlot opens with a blackberry, red currant, and mild old oak bouquet with an alluring hint of spice and just the faintest soupçon of strawberry.
On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, plush and juicy. The flavor profile is a rich blackberry with notes of spice, mineral infused plum, vanilla oak with tiny hints of dark chocolate. Smooth and savory, the flavors linger on your tongue long after your last sip.

This is an elegant wine, but don't let the finesse fool you, it has the structure to support 8 to 10 years plus in the cellar.
If you can wait that long to open the bottle.

Visit Kimmel Winery at

 http://www.kimmelvineyards.com/ourwines.php

Kimmel Chardonnay 2011 (California)

If you keep up with my wine blog you know I am a huge fan of Kimmel wines so it goes without saying I was pretty excited to taste the 2011 wines.

This Chardonnay is big and juicy. Pale yellow with aromas of mild oak and honey with a hint of honeysuckle, like summer in a glass. Aged 10 months in oak.
 

Medium bodied wine, slightly acidic and mouthwatering. Toasted almond, buttered peach and succulent fruit flavors. Lemon zest, baked pineapple with a hint of toffee. Dry yet juicy finish with flavors that linger long after the wine is gone.
 

I served this wine with mushroom risotto and roasted
asparagus. Great pairing!

You can visit the Kimmel Vineyards Website at http://www.kimmelvineyards.com/

Kimmel 2012 Redessence Red Blend (California)

Kimmel Redessence was a highly anticipated red blend. If you are a red wine lover, especially red blend this is a must try! The wine is 85% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 2% Petite Verdot

In appearance, the Kimmel Redessence is a dark onyx garnet purple color in the glass. Little light shown through the wine.  The wine was quite leggy with lots of slow moving, skinny legs inside the glass.

The wine opens with a fragrant burst of blackberry and red currant bouquet with just a hint of anise. On the palate, this wine is a fruit forward bomb. The flavor of blackberry, spiced cherry, ripe blueberry coat your palate with a savory port like finish, a medium bodied, very nicely balanced, and smooth red blend.

This is a red wine that any red wine lover would really enjoy, great served with a meal or simply all on it's own.

Visit Kimmel Vineyards at http://www.kimmelvineyards.com/

Bodega Chakana Estate Selection Malbec 2010 (Argentina)

This wine hails from the Mendoza region of Argentina, where some of the best Argentine wines come from.
100% Malbec, aged in new and 1 year old French oak Barrels for 18 months.

In the glass this wine is very dark purple, almost black. Not unlike most Malbec wines. Floral nose with hints of violets and white pepper. On the palate prominent vanilla oak, black cherry, liquorice, redcurrant and violet perfume. A powerful wine with remarkably good integration of judicious oak and dark cherry fruit. Very juicy and lifted by acidity, this shows a classic New World style.
 
It's seems you either are or are not a Malbec fan, either way you will remember this wine.

 

Chakana winery was founded by Juan Pelizzatti on May 2nd, 2002. Juan was driven to enter the wine industry first and foremost by his passion for wine, and also by the desire to invest his time and money on a product of agriculture. Although Juan did not know it at the time, the company was founded on the same day the Chakana was celebrated on the Andes highlands: on that same day, the Southern Cross (the Chakana for the Inca people) becomes vertical in the night Andean sky.

L de Lyeth Merlot (California)

A Merlot with good enough character, elegance and balance for the price; honestly I did not expect to find such elevated qualities in this wine. It has definitely aged well, but at its peak, right now!
Proof of that is its brownish color and mature fruity taste, but showing an acceptable balance in terms of its bold and approachable tannins, acidity and its not-to-high alcohol level, with a nice oaky and lengthy aftertaste. A good effort here, for a below $10 bottle of wine from CA, after about 5 years of age; that proves how a great vintage the 2007 was, particularly in California.

Milat 2009 Zinfandel (California)

This Wine hails from St. Helena California in Napa County, a mecca of amazing wineries. Milat Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery, situated on 20 acres of estate vineyard just south of St. Helena in the Napa Valley.

Ageing was in 80% American oak and 20% French barrels(20% new) 100% Zinfandel, 15.4% alcohol.

I had this wine at a Christmas Party. I love to see what other wine lovers drink and the Doc had quite a bit of Milat Zinfandel, it was her favorite Zinfandel.

Garnet red in the glass, I just love a dark red wine. The nose was rich with hints of spice, pepper and oak. The palate was fruit forward, dark cherry with intense blackberry spice mid palate and finishes smooth, slightly tannic. This wine would cellar well for a few years. Pairs well with grilled meats, Italian dishes or drinks well alone.

Domaine Lafond Rhone Roc Epine Lirac Rouge 2009 (France)

This wine hales from the Rhone region in France so for all you French Wine lovers I am sure you know about this region.

Funny story when we purchased this wine, we intended to get the Chardonnay but mistakenly grabbed this bottle instead but we were pleasantly surprised nonetheless.
 
This slightly opaque and dark ruby colored red blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5%, Carignan & 5%, Mourvedre
Opens with a strawberry licorice and mild oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, very nicely balanced, and smooth. The flavor profile is a very tasty black currant and mild oak blend with hints of boysenberry. The finish is dry and its moderate dusty tannins linger for quite some time. 

The Lafond family dates it's history back to 1780 when a forefather of the owner today settled in Tavel as a winegrower.
In 1948 Jean-Pierre Lafond’s grandfather, Valery Taulier, built the first private cellar in Tavel. In 1978 Pascal joined his father at the estate and they started to bottle wine with their own label. The name Roc-Epine is the name of a famous race horse. The grandfather of Pascal had a great interest in horse racing.
Domaine Lafond is mainly producing Tavel and Lirac from a total of 85 ha. by which 39 ha Tavel, 24 ha Cotes du Rhone, 18,5 ha Lirac and 3,6 ha. Chateauneuf du Pape.

Kimmel Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (California)

What a fabulous Cabernet!

Dark ruby color with a garnet edge. Complex nose of sandalwood, cedar, cassis, black cherry, dark chocolate and a touch of spice.

On the palate, it is extremely rich and mouth-coating and has a long finish of concentrated fruit, smooth, like velvet on your tongue with medium tannins. This wine is remarkable in how it continues to evolve in the glass over the course of a meal enticing you to drink more, and I did!

For more information on Kimmel Vineyards visit their website at

http://kimmelvineyards.com/

 

Kimmel Cabernet Franc 2010 (California)

Father of Cabernet Sauvignon perhaps Mother....

As Janice Robinson said "I can see that Cabernet Franc might be described as the feminine side of  Cabernet Sauvignon. It is subtly fragrant and gently flirtatious rather than massively muscular and tough in youth.

Being a huge fan of Kimmel Wines I was excited to get a bottle of their Cabernet Franc. Wow..what an amazing wine! Kimmel has done it again!

In the glass this wine is rich indigo with dark amethyst hues. Aroma wafts from the bottle upon un-corking, violet, ripe black cherry and spiced plum. Silky tannins caress the palate with big fruit, luscious blackberry, baked cranberry, ripe wild berries, bits of dark chocolate and a touch of spice. The finish is long, supple and lands softly with hints of gentle raspberry. This is an elegant sexy wine to be enjoyed young or cellar and enjoy later. We enjoyed ever last drop in the bottle and wished we had another.

I served this wine with baked dill salmon, vegetable medley cous cous and roasted butternut squash...perfect pairing!

For more information on Kimmel Wines, go to their website http://kimmelvineyards.com/

Chateau St Jean 2010 Fume Blanc

First and foremost what is Fume Blanc?

Fume Blanc is a quality white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grape in California. It began as the brainchild of renowned winemaker Robert Mondavi, as a way of cultivating the negative image held by the Sauvignon Blanc grape in California at the time. Not anymore of course but at one time..I know..I know hard to believe!

So I decided to try something different and purchased this bottle for $15 and some change at a local wine shop. I was not sure what to expect and really it was not half bad.

This wine has a terrific nose of kumquat oranges and melon with a very light hint of dried herbs. The flavors change across the taste buds first starting with lemon zest, a touch of lime and Bradford pear notes, developing into melon notes and finishing with a terrific fresh fig flavor, perhaps a bit of grass. Sort of reminded me of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc which always seems to have grassy notes. The oak comes through in a subtle smokiness with a touch of fig flavors. This wine would work well with menus of chicken or pork in a creamy mushroom sauce or butter sauteed sea foods.

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (California)

And, when the soul is touched with passion's flame, We look around and ask- Who burns the same?" — Faust (Goethe)

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I'm excited to present another wine from Augstin Huneeus (Vintner of Faust Wines) among others. At some point in your wine drinking career you stop following individual grapes or regions and begin chasing individual winemakers and importers.  In 2010, the Huneeus family partnered with winemaker Dave Phinney and Orin Swift Cellars to take ownership and direct sales and marketing of two edgy wines, The Prisoner a Napa Valley red blend, and Saldo, a Zinfandel from some of California’s most revered vineyards.

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot

In the glass this wine was dark cherry red with a nose of cedar, black cherry, and a touch of tobacco leaf. Rich black cherry flavors with a bit of dark chocolate and mild tannins follow. It's a great wine to savor and the second half was just as nice. We consumed the entire bottle but I am sure it would have held up for another day.

The name of the wine comes from Goethe's play, in which a man makes a deal with the devil Exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. 

I served this wine with grilled strip steaks, twice baked potatoes and grilled asparagus..perfect meal to compliment such an amazing wine.


I don't know much about history, and I don't know much biology either. But I do know this: this wine is splendid....Amadeous said.

Cline Zinfandel 2010 (California)

I have yet to try a Cline wine that I did not like, needless to say this wine was no exception and I really enjoyed it. Cline 2010 Zinfandel. I am a huge fan of Zinfandel wines and this wine was well worth the $15 of so I paid for it. Cline Cellars is actually pretty well known for their zinfandel.  It’s their specialty, along with Rhone varietals, and they produce seven different zinfandels, that I know of, maybe more.

The grapes in this wine come from Lodi 46%, Contra Costa County AVA in Oakley 43% and the rest comes from Sonoma and other regions.  The wine was aged for eight months in 30% medium-toast new French oak.

Dark amethyst red in the glass, the color will tell you alot about a Zinfandel, at least from my experience. I like a wine to speak to me color wise and of course taste and this Zinfandel did. The first thing to stand out on the nose of this wine is the cherry aroma, big and intense. The nose also shows some vanilla, spice and cola aromas. The palate had great spice, cherry and plum flavors.  The tannins are sufficient, as is the acidity. It finishes relatively long, with a nice, spicy sour cherry flavor. I will remember this wine as I do many that I enjoy as much!



Ghost Pines Red Blend 2009 (California)

Many wine makers are coming out with a red blends these days. Zinfandel-based blends are especially popular. If you are a Zinfandel, better yet an old vine or ancient vine Zin lover you will more than likely enjoy a red blend.

Composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah this wine is 46% Napa County, 36% Sonoma County and 18% San Joaquin County so you get an array of terroir in this bottle.

I tasted this wine at a tasting and purchased a bottle which we drank that evening. The color was rich garnet red. The nose has a sweet coffee smell that I have only ever found in Zinfandels and Zinfandel-based wines. Red fruit is also prominent on the nose. The palate is heavy with strawberry, cherry, and licorice. Soft tannins that are complex and finishes with a nice mild spice.

http://www.ghostpines.com/our_wines.asp

Bell 2007 Syrah Canterbury Vineyard (California)

This wine hales from the Sierra Foothills of California. Being a 2007, I had fairly high expectations.

Bell Canterbury Vineyard Syrah is beautiful deep ruby color with a medium-full body.  Acidity was a bit on the livelier side and balanced well with the medium level of tannins.  In the glass, I picked up flavors of blackberry and cocoa, with just a bit of smoke and a very pleasant savory quality.  It was the essence of what a Syrah should be.  

The labeling on the bottle further complimented the experience with detailed notes about the harvest, technical wine-making details, and even a synopsis of where it was grown.

Savory and even meaty characteristics are quite normal with Syrah and is often expressed as smoke or earthy.

Kimmel Four Blocks 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (California)

Being such a Kimmel Wine fan I was more than excited to open a bottle
of the Kimmel Four Blocks 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine hails
from Mendocino County California, Potter Valley and is aged in French
Oak.

In the glass a fabulous deep garnet red with expressive layers of aroma.
Dried cherries, warm spice, blackberry, cassis and a pinch of saffron with more subtle notes of vanilla and sweet tobacco. I knew this wine would taste amazing and it did. Rich, supple, full-bodied velvety texture saturates your palate with intense flavors of raspberry brittle, cherry-current, plum and a touch of toasted oak and vanilla with a slight hint of leather on the back end. This complex beauty had soft tannins, good acidity, smooth, round, and well-balanced, with a lovely silky mouth feel that expanded into a lingering mouth watering finish.

For more information on Kimmel Wines or to order visit  

http://kimmelvineyards.com/

                                                                                                                                                                          

Ritual 2009 Veramonte Pinot Noir (Chile)

I had this Pinot about a year before I actually opened it, perhaps saving it for a special occasion but any night you open a great bottle of wine is special occasion right?


The 2009 Ritual was aged in 100% French oak barrels for a period of 12 months. This wine hails from the Casabalanca Valley of Chile.
Located 41 miles northwest of Santiago, the Casablanca Valley was first planted to vine in the mid-1980s. It quickly turned a page in Chile’s wine making history. Chile’s first cool-climate coastal region soon turned out crisp, fresh wines that caught the world’s attention, and Chile’s search for new terroirs was on. Cool Mediterranean climate with pronounced maritime influence. Proximity to the ocean creates cool foggy mornings ideal for top quality Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

The color was dark and rich and the aroma was amazing. I have a knack after one sniff of knowing if I am going to Love a wine or simply like a wine and I was pretty sure I was going to love this wine and I did.


On the nose subtle hints of spice, fresh baked bread, ripe raspberry and pipe tobacco. Equal to the aroma with an added thread of a higher note in the flavor: spiced cranberry, dark chocolate and enough complexity to keep you interested. It’s like a handsome man: tall and striking, buff but not a bully. Smooth and swanky. Classy, with an edge of spice. Full-flavored, round, mouth-filling, and not a bit of jamminess. Absolutely delicious. Pipe tobacco. Soft tannins. Its tight structure whispers “French oak and you need another bottle" 

 Casablanca Valley