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Red Diamond 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine has a deep, rich ruby color with nice silky ‘legs’.  The wine opens with a smooth, mellow nose initially followed closely by cherry cola, black licorice, black cherry, and candied fruit.   As the wine opens more berry aromas appear.  It is a very smooth with intense jammy blackberry, cherry and dark chocolate with [...]

Wolf Blass 2006 Shiraz Cabernet (Yellow Label)

A blend of 57% Shiraz and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2006 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz Cabernet is a deep, vibrant red with crimson hues in the glass. There are sweet aromas of blueberry and dark cheery supported by a nice backdrop of oak and clove. The palate is full bodied and rich; there are [...]

Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel (2007)

This wine is very nice and smooth.  To quote the Bogle Winemaker: Head-trained, dry farmed old vines continue to be the source for Bogle’s Old Vine Zinfandel. These gnarly old vines produce concentrated fruit of unsurpassed quality and intensity. This supple and full-bodied vintage begins with brambleberries and raspberry jam. Summertime ripeness and richness integrate [...]

Oak Leaf Chardonnay

Oak Leaf Vineyards does not really exist as a vineyard;it also has No Vintage!. It is simply one of the labels produced in The Wine Group’s, Ripon, Calif. wine production facility. Oak Leaf wine is a private label non-vintage wine sold by The Wine Group (the same folks who make box wine) exclusively to Wal-Mart [...]

Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2003 Shiraz

Just another winner from this wonderful winery. This is a very nice wine, it has good body and pleasant blue & purple berry aromas. The flavors are primariliy raspberry and plum flavors, echoing gently on the polished finish of tobacco, earth tones and dark cherry flavors. The finish ends on a distinct up-note, bright and [...]

Borsao (2006 & 2007)

This spotlight wine is actually 2 wines… a 2006 and 2007.  This vintner (Bodegas Borsao) has proven, to me at least, remarkable consistency and excellence in a bargain wine. The 2007 just like the 2006 that preceded it are a blend of 75% Garnacha (Grenache) and 25% Tempranillo.  Both offer nice aromas of leather and [...]

Another amazing, but older, Columbia Crest wine

I have had the wonderful opportunity to try another Columbia Crest Wine.  This one  was a 2003 Shiraz Grand Estates.  Although this wine is a bit scarce, due to its age;  it is magnificent. This elegant Shiraz provides a rich perfume of black raspberry, honeysuckle and rose petals. The complex, fresh, and voluptuously textured palate [...]

Columbia Crest Two Vines- Merlot 2004

In a slight change in our site usage, I have decided to “spotlight” value wines with a regular BLOG posting rather than simply and entry in our review database. The first wine to go under our Spotlight is the Columbia Crest Two Vines- Merlot 2004.  This wine is simply exceptional for the price.  On a [...]