2005 Iron Horse Cabernet Franc

2005 Iron Horse Cabernet Franc

Phenomenal wine. Had never tried Cab Franc before. Nutty, deep, smoky, fruity. Not too much oak (which I prefer), lots of velvet undertones, great nose. Plenty of fig, plenty of berry (I want to say blackberry). Surprisingly smooth - I wish I had purchased more bottles.

2005 J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot

2005 J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot

This wine is a smooth treat to drink. It is excellent with meat dishes or as a by-the-glass drink with cheese, crackers, and friends.

It's able to support strong flavors, which I like.

Tasting Tags: merlot nutty red smooth

2005 Bolla Valpolicella

2005 Bolla Valpolicella

This is a wine I consistently keep on hand for "everyday" drinking. It is fantastic both by itself in a glass to unwind or served with a meal.

It has a pleasant smell when uncorked, reeking of flowers, cherries and a little bit of what seems like vanilla. For those of us with the Irish curse of becoming red faced after just a glass of high tannin, high sal. acid wine, this wine is low on tannin and has a light acid content.

I love this wine with a hearty meal, like a lasagna, a stew, lamb, roast or steak. It doesn't over power the meat, and can hold up to a variety of courses for people who prefer one bottle open at a time.

This wine is an exceptional value for the low cost.

Tasting Tags: cherry flowers red valpolicella vanilla

2003 2003 Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 2003 Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon

Our local tavern has begun to increase its selection of wine, and this is one of the new vineyards on its menu. It is a wine in the low to median price range, and quite affordable.

It has a dark color that is almost murky, and a sharp odor right into the glass that almost put me off further tasting - kind of... pickle like, on top of a pile of dirt. My table mates also said they smelled berries and coffee in it, but frankly, the other smells overwhelmed all else for me.

Once you delve into the wine however, the scent doesn't detract from the taste. It's a nice, solid, affordable dinner wine that needs some beef to prop it up. I wouldn't go out of my way to find it, but it's a respectable choice for an average tavern.

Tasting Tags: berries coffee dirt earth musty red