wine Archive

2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Gary’s Vineyard
Score: 90

Very nice, “burgundian” style pinot. It really opened up as it warmed up a little and was decanted. I am going to wait probably another 24 months before opening the other bottle.

Typical cherry and earthy nose, it started out extremely fruit forward but as it decanted more it smoothed out. The finish was extremely long and pleasant with very earthy tones, really complementing the subtle fruit flavors.

2003 Johannes Egberts
Riesling
Score: 90

An excellent wine. Soft and refreshing, not sryupy or buttery. Peaches and a hint of minerals make this a very light and fun wine, a great wine for summer.

2001 Steele Sangiacomo Vineyard ‘Carneros’
Pinot Noir
Score: 86

I had this wine at Kres Steakhouse, which I will review in a moment with scallops and steak. The wine was served by the glass for a very reasonable $11 a glass. Smoky with the signature cherry and currant flavors you would expect from a Pinot. The pairing was wonderful as it brought out the steak and vegetables, but did not overwhelm the scallops. Nice finish, not too lingering, again a good thing considering the delicate nature of the scallops.

2003 Argyle Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Score: 60

These twist caps had better be a fad. I would rather taste the earthy wood of a cork than the twinge of the metal. A decent wine, but nothing fancy, I like other pinot\’s quite a bit better. Cherry and cinnamon on the nose, which really was much better than tasting, which was flat and only single faceted with a flavor completely muddled and no excitement. Perhaps it needed more aging, we will wait on the second bottle.

1995 Faustino Rioja Gran Reserva I
Tempranillo Blend
Score: 70

My wife would go higher than 70, but this wine was bland and boring. Overpriced at about $50 a bottle, the wine itself is not impressive, and after only about 20 minutes open, the bottle has lost all complexity. Not worth the price! If this bottle was perhaps only $10, then it would be a good deal. Typical Tempranillo characteristics, nothing special. Past its peak, perhaps should have been opened 3 years ago.

2003 Ruffino Fonte Al Sole Toscana
Merlot & Sangiovese Blend
Score: 50

I strongly dislike Merlot and this is a blend with strong overtones of the sweet almost sickly smell often found with that grape. If you like Merlot, this could be a good wine to branch into the more complex Italians from, as it is not nearly as complex as a good Super Tuscan, but drinkable. ‘barely’. Must have with food to help offset some of the more ill begotten aspects, but not too bad for a cheap wine. I will not purchase again.