Kaiken Cabernet 2011

Kaiken 2011

Cabernet Sauvignon $12.99

Mendoza, Argentina

14.5% Alcohol

Charles 3 stars

Melissa 2.5 stars

Looks: very dark burgundy, opaque, slow forming legs. Low contrast.

Nose: cherries, earthy, dark fruits, coffee, chocolate, slight spice, maybe clove. not a very hot nose. 

Taste : pretty tannic, peppery, not much sweetness, not strong fruit flavors. Smooth drinking.

Juan Gil Mouvédre 2011

Juan Gil 2011

Mouvédre $16.99

Jumilla, Spain

15.0% Alcohol 

Charles 3.5 stars

Melissa 3.0 stars

Visual:  Very dark color, no staining, quick legs, no contrast.  Very dark purple!

Nose: French oak comes through strong, along with spices (not pepper) and leather.  Vanilla, clove also.  Dark fruits like bing cherries.

Taste: Oak, Vanilla, Strawberry and a backbone of tannins and dryness that hangs around into the finish. 

Would like to test test vs the Olivares Monastrell.

Cline Mourvédre 2011

Cline 2011
Mourvédre $13.99
14.5% Alcohol
Sonoma, CA
Charles - 3.0 stars
Melissa - 2.5 stars

After drinking a Mourvédre last night, we just had to have another, so we bought all of the varietal that our local wine store had.  Luckily for my billfold it was only three bottles.  This was the only one from the US, so lets see how it compares to its Spanish brethren.

Visual: Raspberry colored.  Good clarity, not much contrast to speak of.  Fairly quick forming legs.  No staining.

Aroma: Chocolate, ripe dark berries, tobacco

Taste: Notable tannins. Not much complexity here.  Tastes like it smells, which is a good thing.  Fairly fruit forward and decent bodied.  Carries through into a decently long finish.

The grape itself tasted very similar.  We preferred the Spanish wine as it offered up more complexity and was a touch less tannic.

Olivares Altos de la Hoya 2011

Olivares Altos de la Hoya 2011
Monastrell (aslo known as Mourvèdre or Mataró) $11.98
Jumilla, Spain
14% alcohol
Charles - 3.75 stars
Melissa - 3.5 stars

Visual:  Deep, rich burgundy in color.  Border line purple. No staining with moderately formed legs.

Aromatics: Cherries, Plums, Dried fruits, Leather, Vanilla, Spice, and all things nice.

Sip: Starts soft on the palate and builds into big flavors expected of Spanish wine.  Medium tannin's initially but ease on the back end.  Smooth finish with lingering cherries and a pleasant spiciness which makes you look forward to the cold weather ahead.

I'll admit that I only bought this wine due to the wine spectator clipping that was loosely taped to the rack. It had a good score (90), interesting tasting notes, and a good price.  When I brought it home and started writing this review, I realized I had no idea what the hell it was.  What is "Monastrell?" Apparently its a Rhone grape (Mourvèdre) or as its called in the US, Mataró. I'll try to commit that to memory.

Mourvèdre is believed to have developed in Spain (Catalonia area) and spread into France in the 16th century. It was widely planted until the phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century. Mourvèdre didn't take well to the american root stock (that solved the phylloxera epidemic) and was replanted with other varieties as a result.

Mourvèdre is used all by itself, but is also commonly blended. GSM wines, or Southern Rhone Blends use Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah.  Mourvèdre is known to be fairly tannic and earthy, but is largely dependent on the terroir.


Here are some others I want to try:
California - Cline Ancient Vine Mourvèdre 2011 - $13.99

CASTANO MONASTRELL'11/12 750ml - $9.99
CASA CASTILLO MONASTRELL'10/11 - $11.99

HEWITSON OLD GARDEN MOURVED'10  $75.99

Rutherford Ranch 2009

Rutherford Ranch 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon $15.00
Napa, CA
13.5% Alcohol
2.5 stars

Tasted tart, but flavorful.  Balanced. Fruit Forward.

Easy drinking wine.

Chateau Smith 2008

Chateau Smith 2008
Cabernet Sauvignon $19.99
Washington State
Charles Smith Wines
13.5% Alcohol
2.0 Stars


Dark Red in color.


Not Very Floral.  Cherries, hints of wood.

Very Dry on the palate.

Saldo 2009

Orin Swift Saldo 2009
Red Blend $28.99 (80% Zinfandel, 9% Petit Sirah, 8% Syrah, 3% Grenache)
Napa, CA
15.5% Alcohol
3.0 Stars

Low Contrast.  Dark Color

Fragrant.  Prevalent Alcohol

Jammy, spicy and balanced.

Notes: Enjoyable but lacked the punch of flavor that abstract and prisoner have.  For the price I was expecting a bit more.

Saintsbury 2008 Pinot Noir

Saintsbury 2008
Pinot Noir $24.99
Carneros, CA
13.5% Alcohol
Charles - 2.75 stars
Judy - 3.0 stars

Nose: fresh fruit, cherries. Flowery (violets)

Taste: Silky. Crisp with a tang.

Abstract 2010

Abstract 2010
Rhone Blend $29.99 (Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah)
Napa, CA
15.7% Alcohol
Lauren - 4.5 stars
Judy - 3.5 stars
John - 3.5 stars
Charles - 4.0 stars

Dark, Purple-Red.  Stained legs.  Med/Low contrast.

Sweet and fruity on the nose.  Slight alcohol presence.

Concentrated fruit.  Fruit Forward.

Held up in a taste taste with the Darioush.

Sketchbook 2008

Sketchbook 2008
Cabernet Sauvignon $19.00
Mendocino, CA
13.5% Alcohol
John - 2.5 stars
Lauren - 2.0 stars
Charles 2.5 stars
Judy - 2.0 stars

smelled of campfire is the only note I have written down :(

Judging by our scores, this isn't a wine we were that pleased with.  However it should be noted that we were drinking really nice wines that night, and this one couldn't really compete.  Had we been drinking this next to a $10-$12 wine, the scores may have been much different!

Probably should re-taste.

Heitz Grignolino 2009

Heitz 2009

Grignolino $19.83

Napa, CA

13.8% alcohol 

Charles - 2.0 stars

Melissa - 1.5 stars

Visual: Pretty, dark ruby in color, low contrast, slight robing. No staining, quick forming legs.

Aromatics: Blackberries, Strawberries, Pear. Earthiness, sweet. Light molasses scent. 

Taste: Tastes as it smells, has an illusive element that remains unidentifiable though you recognize that you have been exposed to it before. Sweet initially on palate followed by tartness that continues throughout with a slight bitterness on the endnote, almost as though the wine is young.  Good dryness, tannic.  Short finish, almost abrupt in nature. Crisp flavoring with little complexity and one dimensional.  The adolescent of wine. 

Pairings: 3 Cheeses : Etorki - Sheeps milk basque from France; Young Tomme- Sharp cheddar with slight bluing through out; Garrotxa - Goat cheese from Spain.  Wine has very little flavor play with pairing. 

Notes:  Known in its native Piedmont, Italy for its acidity, and traditionally used as a table wine.  Recommeded for a hot day as a suitable replacement for a Rose.  The tartness keeps it light on the palate without any warmth provided from spice or multi-dimensional flavor profiles. Upon decanting, the wine becomes increasingly aromatic but is accompanied with a slight bitterness that is now present from start to finish. 

Mac Murray 2009

Mac Murray 2009
Pinot Noir $20.99
Sonoma, CA
13.5% Alcohol
Lauren - 3.5 stars
Judy - 3.5 stars
Charles - 3.0 stars
John Dillon - 4.0 stars
Lynn T. - 4.0 stars

Light Red, low contrast

Strawberries, very floral, soft fruits

Slightly dry taste with cherry.

Darioush 2008

Darioush 2008
Cabernet Sauvignon $85.99
14.8% Alcohol
Napa, CA
Lauren 3.5 stars
Judy - 3.5 stars
Charles - 3.5 stars
John Dillon - 4 stars

Moderate contrast, dark color (orangish red), lightly stained legs. Thick high alcohol.  Good clarity

Not very fruity. Dry fruits, leather, earth, rainy day, dirt

Tastes like it smells, low complixity.  Slightly dry.  Very long finish.

Wine opened up a lot after 1 hr.  Should have completed the full tasting again after it opened up.  Completely different wine, and for the better.  Would drink again, but would allow it to breathe before tasting.

Fleur 2011

Fleur 2011
Pinot Noir $14.99
Carneros, CA
 2.0  Stars (Melissa)
2.5 Stars (Charles)

Low contrast, good clarity.  Light color, slightly orange.

Does not stain the glass.  Legs form slow and are not prominent.

Not very hot, low alcohol content. Ripened fruits, cherries and plum.  Pretty fruit forward wine.  Maybe a bit of earthiness or moss as an overtone.

Cherries do not come through on the taste, its more dominated by black berry or plum.  Pepper on the back end, with a dry finish. Earthy tones also not present when tasting. Tannins are notable.

For this price range, there are other Pinots that I would spend my money.  Its also not really representative of what I would expect out of a Pinot.  Not necessarily terrible, but worth mentioning. Also I don't taste the Pinot grape.  That disappoints me.

Orin Swift F1 "Locations" N.V.

Orin Swift F1 “Locations” NV

I wanted to like this wine.   Actually I still want to.

I have heard a ton of good talk about F1, and I have been a cheerleader for Orin Swift forever. I think we’ve got a couple of Papillons in the cabinet, and I know there is a Mercury Head in there.

The label suggests a mysterious ambiguity, in alignment with the tradition of Orin Swift, but at the same time reminds me of those cult bumper stickers, OBX, LAX . . . you know the ones.

Aside from the shape of the bottle, and the obvious French flag, there is no indication of exactly where and when.  With these things in mind, I uncorked the bottle and took my first obligatory inhale before pouring: red fruit, cinnamon, done. Burgundy.   I announced this proudly to my wife, check marked a victory in record time, and poured two glasses.

Fail.

This wine is big, but subdued.  It is from anywhere in France than Burgundy.  Rhone is obvious and confirmed from reviews, Grenache, Carignan, and Bordeaux grapes that no one seems to commit to.  I chose not to decant the wine because I thought it was a Burgundy, maybe a misstep there.

Too subdued.  I never really got it, I never understood F1 Locations.   The dark fruit, the leather, the spice, all those things characteristic of great French wine, were still too quiet.

I’m not approaching this wine with criticism, I am admitting I didn’t understand it.  For my first entry into this blog I realize this is a rather weak debut, but I chose to blog the wine before I drank it.

A few possible conclusions: 

F1 reminded me most of what it feels like when you are having a conversation with someone who you believe has something to tell you, but is not saying it. Allusions and expressions can suggest to you that the real conversation is going on, but it’s not on the surface.

Also, maybe F1 really is a bumper sticker.  Maybe like those that show that OBX on the back of their car. They want me to recognize a place that they feel is worth recognizing, but they don’t want me to understand it, else it wouldn't be theirs to show.

Either way, I think that F1 and I need to continue our conversation.