Bodegas Muga Reserva 2011

One of the most brilliantly executed wines I have had in some time.  Keep Drinking and Keep Believing. 

Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano 2006

Carmignano is an Italian wine region located in the Tuscany region and centered around the city of Carmignano, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of Florence and were know for creating “Super Tuscan” wines before they became en vouge.   I was so excited to try this wine from this special region.

I am making an assumption that this wine could have been a little corked judging by the continuous dank flavor in the mid palate venturing all the way through the finish, but this wine as a whole was extremely unbalanced and had a rugged tannin that was very unpleasant.  On a good note, this wine did have a nice bouquet of musk and violets and some rich flavors of dark chocolate, tobacco and toasted oak, but for the most part, this wine was extremely disappointing.  Keep Drinking and Keep Believing.

Pedroncelli Dry Creek Valley Merlot Bench Vineyards 2009

Soft, easy sipping with wonderfully balanced flavors of vanilla, ripe red raspberries and cherries with a hint of nutmeg.  Paired absolutely perfect with our grilled Balsamic Vinaigrette marinated chicken breasts and a magnificent buy for $15.  Keep Drinking and Keep Believing.

2 up Shiraz 2004

Medium bodied with flavors of rustic earth, gunflint, plum, dark plump cherries, dark chocolate and a huge clay component, this Australian Shiraz has a lengthy finish of toasted oak and red apple. A very good value at $10.99.   Keep Drinking and Keep Believing.

Easton Amador County Zinfandel 2007

Adequately rounded Zin with a moderate amount of jaminess and a bouquet of perfume, clove, toasted vanilla, musk and spectrum of red fruit.  With flavors of cranberry, eucalyptus, accompanied by a hint of spice, this wine besides lacking a sturdy finish is a decent buy at under $15. Keep Drinking and Keep Believing.

Casa Lapostolle 2009 Carmenere

Chile has taken this forgotten Bordeaux blending grape often mislabeled as Merlot and turned it into a very quaffable, easy sipping wine.  With a deep tar hue and a bouquet of green pepper, wheat and rich fruit this wine is a good value at $10 and has consistent flavors of sweet berries and earth. Keep Drinking and Keep Believing.

Oddero Barbera D’Alba 2007

Found this lonely, dust laced last bottle of Barbera D’Alba at Costco and decided to take a chance on it and see if it was would bring disappointment, or a little Love.

SO MASSIVE!!!!!!!!   With an spectacular refined bouquet of Cigar Box, Cranberry, and Pomegranate while lending hedonistic amounts of balanced flavors from the Whole Spectrum of Dark Fruit integrated with subtle nuances of violets and dark chocolate, this wine keeps giving and giving and is truly not the Red Headed StepChild of the family! At $12.99, this wine is absolutely off the charts and I would buy several cases of it if it were still available.  WHAT A STEAL!   Keep Drinking and Keep Believing.

Magness Merlot 2007

Scored this Napa Valley Merlot for a little under $13 on sale and thought the wine was pretty typical of lower price point California Merlots.  Mild and easy sipping with flavors of toasted oak, clove, vanilla, ripe raspberries and cherries, this wine is perfect with a slight chill if you are looking for something to kick back with on the back porch after a long day, or serve for undiscerning guests. I feel it is a good value at $12, but not as much at $18 or over.  Keep Drinking and Believing.

Pendulum 2006 Red Wine

Medium body with flavors of tobacco, black licorice and limited dark fruit, this Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend falls a tad flat;  Fear not and Keep Drinking and Keep Believing.

Big Fish 2007 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

   Happy Monday to all and hope everyone had an outstanding Weekend!   What an awesome Summer so far and tasting this massive Zinfandel from Big Fish Wines last night just made things that much better.

Out of the gates this Zin was riveting lending a seductive bouquet of toasted vanilla, dill and concentrated gobs of hedonistic fruit that would have the power to seduce even the most stubborn of cynics. Rich, refined and with glorious depth and polished smooth tannin, this Zin by a landslide is one of the best Zins i have ever tasted with a consistency and finish that keeps rewarding the blessed sip after sip.  Keep Drinking and Keep Believing.