Recent Entries

• 2006 Salus Cabernet Sauvignon

  by Mark January 10
  2006 Salus "Staglin Family Vineyards" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford | Nappa Valley, CA | 750ml bottle | 14.9% ABV Made by winemaker Fredrik Johansson from fruit farmed by David Abreau the 2006 Salus Cabernet Sauvignon from Staglin Family Vineyards in Rutherford, California pours out a d...

• 2006 St Clement Armstrong Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

  by Mark January 9
  2006 St Clement Cabernet Sauvignon Armstrong Ranch Diamond Mountain Diamond Mountain District | Napa Valley, CA | 750ml bottle The 2006 Vintage Armstrong Ranch Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Clement Vineyards in Napa, CA  pours out an inky purple in color. Very fragrant on the n...

• Orin Swift Wine Reviews

  by Mark June 19, 2011
    I've long been a huge fan of Orin Swift wines. I find all their wines to have excellent QPR, with some being a downright bargain. I managed to find a bottle of Orin Swift Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon this weekend. This left me with the full line up of current red wine releases from Orin Swif...

• 2007 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot

  by Mark June 14, 2011
  The 2007 Napa Valley Merlot from Duckhorn Vineyards in St. Helena, CA was harvested between August 31st & October 31st, 2007. It is a blend of 89% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot that was aged in French oak barrels (35% new, 65% second vintage ) for 16 months. The Cabernet Sauvign...

• 2004 Hanzell Sonoma Valley Chardonnay

  by Mark June 12, 2011
  The 2004 Hanzell Sonoma Valley Chardonnay pours out a bright gold in color. Pear, wet stone with hints of nutmeg and honey on the nose. The pear carries through to the mouth, however, citrus is more evident with honeyed, tropical fruit. Nice toast characteristic from the new oak. Full in the mouth, ...

• Driving your wine home

  by Mark June 8, 2011
  Has this happened to you? On a trip, a year or so ago, heading to Carmel, CA from Reno, NV I packed a few bottles of wine to share with my parents. I put them in a nice wine box with styrofoam inserts to protect them on their journey in the trunk of my car. That was mistake number one.   The ...
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• Orin Swift D66

  by Mark April 27, 2011
  Orin Swift releases D66 2009 Grenache Vins de Pay des Cotes Catalanes from their winery in Maury France.   Produced and bottled by Dept. 66, Maury, France Imported by Orin Swift DBA Refugee   Wine 15.2% Alc./Vol. 80% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 8% Carignan Aged in 100% French oak, 25%...

• 2006 Reininger Helix Pomatia Red Wine

  by Mark December 22, 2010
  This Reininger Helix Pomatia Red Wine was another one of my wine purchases where I am walking down the aisle and for some reason or another the bottle of wine catches my eye and I add it to the cart. I had no earthly idea what it would be like but most red blends go over well with me. This red wine ...

• 2009 Anthropolgy Shiraz

  by Mark December 22, 2010
  It is late at night. I'm cruising the wine aisles at the local grocery store looking for something red and fruity. On the shelf there are about 10 different Penfold's Shiraz selections and right next to them I see this 2009 Anthropolgy Shiraz on sale for $6.99. Score! Quite purple in colo...

• 2006 Antinori Villa Antinori Toscana IGT

  by Mark December 22, 2010
  The 2006 Antinori Villa Antinori Toscana IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) from Tuscany, Italy is a red wine blend made up of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Syrah. The wine is aged for 12 months in oak casks followed by another 8 months in the bottle prior to release. T...