2008 Casillero del Diablo Carmenere

2008 Casillero del Diablo Carmenere

The nose on this wine is a very polite vanilla and chocolate with dark, ripe berries. The palate on the first sip is absolutely wonderful with an explosive flavor of spice and dark, red grapes and berries with a lingering cocoa taste. Fantastic wine with like-minded bold folds.

Tasting Tags: berry cocoa spice vanilla

2007 Layer Cake Primitivo

2007 Layer Cake Primitivo

The nose is a very nice blend of sweet berries, brown sugar, molasses, and tobacco. The palate is molasses, plum, spices, and a hint of coffee. Some bitterness to the back of the tongue on each sip, but not unpleasant by any means. The flavor finishes with a wonderful licorice and molasses note that seems to go on forever. My only complaint with this wine is the same for all zinfandels in that it is a bit too sweet for me, but this has to be one of the least guilty. So far this is my favorite zinfandel.

Tasting Tags: coffee licorice molasses spice

2007 Casa Madero Shiraz

2007 Casa Madero Shiraz

I originally tasted this wine at the vineyard, and enjoyed the flavor so much that I bought a bottle.

The nose immediately introduces itself with heavy campfire notes which reminded me of autumn afternoons. It has a nice black pepper and cherry hint after you sift through the smoke.

The first sip brings a nice, dry mouth-feel with little alcohol burn. The palate is heavy with a lingering smoke and tobacco flavor that finishes with black licorice and cherry.

I absolutely adore this wine, and I can't wait to experience another bottle.

Tasting Tags: licorice smoke spice tobacco wood

2006 Trapiche Oak Cask Cabernet Sauvignon

2006 Trapiche Oak Cask Cabernet Sauvignon

The nose on this Trapiche was a less-than-subtle smoked aroma mixed with vanilla, spice, and berries. The palate was a deep charcoal/mesquite with some dancing vanilla flavors that seemed to cleanse the taste buds and accent the smoke notes. I love this wine!

Tasting Tags: mesquite smoke spice vanilla

1999 Bodega Norton Cabernet Sauvignon

1999 Bodega Norton Cabernet Sauvignon

The color of this wine in the glass was absolutely beautiful. It has a dark molasses color with strong legs that seem to keep the wine clinging to the glass indefinitely. The nose, after left to breathe for one hour, was a fantastic blend of fig, vanilla, currant, pepper, and possible all-spice. The palate introduction was medium-hot with tannins, honey, fig, brown sugar/molasses, and smoke. This was a very complex wine as the palate seemed to shift dominant flavors through the entire bottle. I absolutely loved this wine and I highly, highly recommend that lovers of cabernet sauvignons seek this one out.

Tasting Tags: fig molasses smoke vanilla

NV Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon

NV Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon

The nose introduced scents of honey, berries, and pepper. The palate was a pleasant blend of pomegranate, spice, with a very slight sweet red berry undertone. As much as I ho-hummed Barefoot's Merlot selection I really found myself enjoying this wine. The tannin acidity was present but very mild and even though there was a definite wood dryness on the finish it wasn't at all unpleasant. Great wine for this price.

Tasting Tags: honey pepper pomegranate

2006 Smoking Loon California Pinot Grigio

2006 Smoking Loon California Pinot Grigio

I detected a very orchard-based nose on this wine. Almost like an apple/orange mixture. The palate was a very smoky flavor mixed with a slight apple and pear taste. Although the fruit side of the palate is very underpowered by the smoke and spice it's not an unpleasant characteristic at all. This wine went very well with smoked salmon and hot peppers. The slight fruit sweetness cut through the heat of the peppers and the smoke added a nice compliment to the salmon. I can easily see myself drinking this wine with a curry or even a very sharp cheese. I'll buy this one again.

Tasting Tags: orchard smoke

2003 Barefoot Merlot

2003 Barefoot Merlot

I was very excited after getting a nose full of delicious, ripe, tart berries. With such a pronounced introduction I was really expecting quite a bit more on the palate than the timid muddled mess of flavors that came through. There is definitely a hint of the berry that was detected on the nose and an unmistakable chocolate finish. The problem is that the flavors are just quietly shoved under the door at you instead of knocking and properly introducing themselves like I would expect a merlot to do. There is a very boring, uninspired flavor to this wine that I just couldn't enjoy. Drinkable? Absolutely. Enjoyable? Unless you're specifically shopping for a wine in this price range, no.

Tasting Tags: berry boring cheap chocolate

2004 St. Francis "Old Vines" Zinfandel

2004 St. Francis "Old Vines" Zinfandel

2004 McWilliams Chardonnay

2004 McWilliams Chardonnay

Nose was a bizarre blend of rope and wood which turned me off somewhat. What was even more shocking was the light fruit and melon taste on the palate which completely contradicted the nose. This wine was very nice with roast pork and I'm somewhat positive that I would enjoy the bottle on its own without a food compliment. The only two negative things that I can say about this wine would be the strange nose and that the flavor is a little mild for my taste in wines. Not to be avoided though.

Tasting Tags: melon oak rope