Columbia Crest Two Vines 2005 Chardonnay

this is a nice washington state chardonnay that is priced right at about $8. this chardonnay doesn't spend a great deal of time in oak, so the aromas and flavors are not the big buttery style you traditionally get in a california chardonnay. the nose is apples and pears. the palate is pears and spice with a lighter, creamy mouth feel and a nice, easy finish. worth a try for those that don't like big, bold chardonnays. a nice wine that will go well with many foods. try this with some pork chops and steamed vegetables.

Wine Wisdom

The wines that one best remembers are not necessarily the finest that one has ever tasted, and the highest quality may fail to delight so much as some far more humble beverage drunk in more favorable surroundings.

-H. Warner Allen
(From the wine list of Commander's Palace in New Orleans, LA courtesy of John McDonald, Dallas, TX)



i am always looking for good quotes to inspire me and saw this one on the internet, and it struck a chord with me. so true. i have had some very memorable wines, usually based on the company i am with or the circumstances surrounding the time i tasted a particular wine. cheers and happy new year!

Gnarly Head Old Vines 2006 Zinfandel

here is another lower priced zinfandel that i tried recently. selling for about $10 a bottle, gnarly head is worth a try. the nose is raspberries and cherries, with hints of dark chocolate and spice. the palate is full and juicy, with flavors of plums and chocolate. i also got some really nice pepper notes and a licorice taste as well. the finish was a little weak, but not bad. if you are on a budget, this is a nice, drinkable zin. not a huge wine, but at $10 it is pretty good.

Ortas Tradition Rasteau Cotes Du Rhone Villages 2006

this cotes du rhone blend of 70% grenache, 20% syrah, and 10% mourvedre was sitting on display at my local wine merchant with some rather nice descriptions so i thought i would give it a try. the nose was black cherry, spice and a little licorice. the palate was full of ripe red raspberries, earthy flavors of tobacco and spice, followed by some soft floral notes. we enjoyed this with a chicken and smashed potato dinner but it really would be better with a nice steak. it was good but i think it had not yet reached full potential. it sells for about $15 and would benefit from time in the bottle. worth another try.

Gato Negro 2008 Malbec

i am always on the lookout for the low priced, high quality wine. i tried this malbec which sells for about $4 a bottle. the nose was spice and blackberry. nothing too complex. the palate was a bit green, but had some nice spice notes that you typically find in malbecs from argentina. this was more fruit forward, with juicy black currant flavors. there was a little bit of licorice that came through as the wine got more air. not a bad malbec for the price. i've had better ones in this price range.

Cantina Sociale Cooperativa Copertino Riserva 2001

had a bottle of this italian wine some time back and liked it so i had a second bottle laying in the cellar for a while. it is mostly the grape negroamaro. the nose is dark fruits and earth, anise and tar. on the palate, black cherry comes through and is followed by the earthy flavors of tobacco, anise and tar. truly big and bold when it is first opened, this wine softens up nicely as it gets more air. i was getting some nice dark chocolate notes toward the end. nice complex wine that sells for about $12-15.

Ruffino Fonte al Sole Toscana 2006

the comely brunette and i enjoyed this super tuscan with some italian fare recently. there was an interesting nose on this wine of cherry and spice and something earthy. it was almost a little barnyard like, in a good way. the palate was cherry, followed by earthy, woody flavors that reminded me of cedar. this wine is not 100% sangiovese. it has some merlot in it as well and this really makes the wine a little softer in the mouth. very nice long finish. overall, it went very well with our meal and is worth a second look, especially at the nice price of about $8 a bottle.

2004 Mad Housewife Cabernet Sauvignon

had a glass of this at the blondies house. at a price of about $7-8 a bottle you never know what you are going to get. nose was not very complex. black cherry, a little spice and oak. nothing to intense. palate was cherry and mocha, some spice and soft tannins. not a big cab at all. drinkable, but not great, especially compared to the covey run i had about a week ago. on a budget, give it a try and let me know what you think.

Jekel Vineyards Monterey County 2004 Merlot

another gift wine, which is always a nice thing! this merlot is a blend of 78% merlot, 8.6% cabernet sauvignon, 6.3% syrah, 4.2% cabernet franc and 2.9% petite verdot. the nose was a nice blend of plums and mocha with hints of tobacco. the palate was more of the plum with cherry flavors as well. i also got some of the tobacco notes in the flavor as well. medium tannins and a nice long finish. overall, this wine was not too complex, but very drinkable. this was a nice merlot that sells for about $15.

Ponzi 2005 Pinot Noir

i received a gift card for a local wine merchant and this was one of my selections. oregon produces some of the best pinot noirs i have tasted and this one was no exception. the nose was very nice with aromas of strawberry, black currant and earth. the palate was velvety with soft tannins, flavors of strawberries, earthy, mushroom and spice. i also got some chocolate flavor as well. a very nice pinot that sells for about $30-35. this would easily lay for 5-10 years, but is very good now.