WineLife365 » 2-Star http://www.winelife365.com Enjoying Life with Wine 365 Days a Year Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:43:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 The Deadly Rock http://www.winelife365.com/the-deadly-rock-trio-wine-review/ http://www.winelife365.com/the-deadly-rock-trio-wine-review/#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:15:08 +0000 Mark http://www.winelife365.com/?p=7472 As I was drinking the 2004 Oriel Setena, the 2007 Vina Gormaz Tempranillo and the 2007 El Jamon Tempranillo, one word that came to mind:  Kryptonite.

All three of these red wines are products of Spain and all three tasted like minerals and rocks to me – more specifically, wet metallic stone.  Not that I’ve spent much time with rocks in my mouth, but there was an almost flinty kind of thing stirring around that completely overpowered any fruit and spice components that these wines might have possessed.  Although I embrace the infinite tastes and qualities offered by different types of wine, I have to admit that I’m a bit challenged by this characteristic.  For now I’ll keep an open mind, but in the case of the 2004 Oriel Setena  (MSRP $18.50*), the 2007 Vina Gormaz Tempranillo ($9.99) and the 2007 El Jamon Tempranillo ($9.99), the metallic quality was acting more like kryptonite robbing these wines of their ‘super powers’.

2 Stars out of 4.
* Sample

]]> http://www.winelife365.com/the-deadly-rock-trio-wine-review/feed/ 0 Looking For Fireworks http://www.winelife365.com/concannon-central-coast-shiraz-2007/ http://www.winelife365.com/concannon-central-coast-shiraz-2007/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:22:03 +0000 Mark http://www.winelife365.com/?p=7345 “Just give me one more chance” seemed to be the message that the 2007 Concannon Central Coast Shiraz was trying to send me by the second sip on night #1.  It wasn’t too long ago that I was in a similar situation with another Concannon Vineyard red wine.  However, on that occasion the Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah had won my taste buds over by the third night.  Could lightning strike twice?

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the 2007 Concannon Central Coast Shiraz.  I held out hope over a two day period for a similar rousing experience.  Sadly though, that something special that happens when a wine hits your tongue and fills your mouth, so that you almost don’t want to spoil the moment by swallowing it, just didn’t happen with this American Shiraz. 

The 2007 Concannon Central Coast Shiraz delivers a one-dimensional upfront dosage of moderately sweet red berries, partnered with lots of toasted vanilla-oak flavors, and struggles to display any fireworks on its finish.

2 Stars out of 4. 

SRP: $10.00

]]> http://www.winelife365.com/concannon-central-coast-shiraz-2007/feed/ 0 Abandoned Halfway Up The Mountain http://www.winelife365.com/snowline-pinot-gris-2008/ http://www.winelife365.com/snowline-pinot-gris-2008/#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:51:28 +0000 Mark http://www.winelife365.com/?p=6597 It’s from Oregon, it’s Pinot Gris, it’s got a pretty picture of snowcapped mountains on the label, but unfortunately the 2008 Pinot Gris from the peeps at Snowline Vineyards just doesn’t quite hit the same elevation as many of its Oregon peers.  The 2008 Snowline Pinot Gris dials up the right acidity, but doesn’t quite muster up enough crisp fruit flavors to get your taste buds all the way to the top of the mountain – it dumps you off the lift somewhere in the middle.

 2 Stars out of 4.
(Price: $8.99)

]]> http://www.winelife365.com/snowline-pinot-gris-2008/feed/ 1 Blah, Blah, Blah http://www.winelife365.com/alamos-cabernet-sauvignon-2008/ http://www.winelife365.com/alamos-cabernet-sauvignon-2008/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:47:53 +0000 Mark http://www.winelife365.com/?p=6336 You know exactly what I’m talking about people: Wines that are, well…just ok, but you’ll drink them ‘cause there’s nothing offensive or bad about them, or maybe there’s nothing better in your house at the moment.  As you’re drinking it, you’re fantasizing about your taste buds being curled up nice and cozy with something other than what’s been planted squarely in front of you.  Such was case with my experience with the 2008 Alamos Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza, Argentina.  This Cab retails in most places for about $10.  Let me first say, if you’re interested in trying a solid Argentinean Torrontes for under $10, the peeps at Alamos make a pretty good one!  This was the very reason why I decided to give their 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon a whirl.  Unfortunately, nothing really popped out of the glass to give my palate a workout.  Although it was not offensive, it just tasted a bit tired and dull.  It was just OK.

On that note, I give the 2008 Alamos Cabernet Sauvignon 2 Stars out 4.  Do yourself a favor and grab a bottle of their Torrontes – It’s much better than “OK”!

]]> http://www.winelife365.com/alamos-cabernet-sauvignon-2008/feed/ 17 Wine Review – 2006 16 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon http://www.winelife365.com/16-hands-cabernet-sauvignon-2006/ http://www.winelife365.com/16-hands-cabernet-sauvignon-2006/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:55 +0000 Mark http://www.winelife365.com/?p=2583 16-hands-cabernet-sauvignonFrom: South Africa

Price: $8.79

 

Full Disclosure:  I openly admit that I am personally not a big fan of most red wines from South Africa, especially Pinotage.  Why my beef with South African red wines you ask?  Because most that I’ve tasted over the years are just way too smoky for my liking.  So many that I’ve tried have made me feel as if I was smoking the wine rather than drinking them.  And since I refrain from smoking cigarettes and other peace pipe offerings, I’d also prefer not consuming any nicotine in my liquid libation just the same.

But on this occasion, I had a pre-op plan before heading down that all too familiar smoky mountain, South African road.  To be on the safe side, before opening up the 16 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon, I slapped on a nicotine patch just in case this South African red was ready to deal me a generous amount of smoky tobacco flavors that would bring back memories of my grandfather’s beloved Red Man chewing tobacco and one little boy eager to try a pinch, and afterwards turning green inside and out.

red-man-tobacco

 

So with my patch in place, I was ready to give this red wine a worry-free whirl.

 

Thank goodness for the pre-plan, because the 2006 16 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon screamed smoky!  I was greeted with a decent punch of sweet cherry tobacco, cedar, and dark fruit that left me feeling a little green like my childhood experience.  Needless to say, the 2006 16 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon was not for me.  But if you don’t personally mind a shot of nicotine in your gut, I mean glass, then this red wine might be palatable to your taste buds.

 

I award the 2006 16 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2 stars out of 4.  I realize now that the “smoky factor” is a common and “natural” trait found in most South African red wines – especially Pinotage.  Unfortunately, that cherry tobacco cigar box flavor just doesn’t sit right with me.

WineLife365 Rating: 2-Star

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