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| Thursday, April 27 |
| Jekel Vineyards 2001 Monterey Syrah |
This dry Monterey Syrah had nice deep flavors, a good tannin bite, and a a long finish. It really captures well the best of the Syrah grape - intensely fruity, big and bold, but without being overly ripe (or raisin-like) as is sometimes the case. And it's priced quite well...a real bargain.
A bit about the Monterey region (courtesy of http://www.appilationamerica.com): This massive AVA on the eastern side of Monterey County encompasses the entire Salinas Valley, as well as part of Carmel Valley. The Salinas Valley, affectionately known as ‘America’s salad bowl’, is one of the country’s most important agricultural assets, and hosts the majority of Monterey County’s large viticultural businesses. The valley is a funnel, with its mouth opening onto Monterey Bay. Here, fog rolls in between the Santa Lucia and Gabilan mountain ranges. The fog cools the valley early in the morning, while at midday a cool blast of wind sweeps through. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 75 F., except for the southernmost reaches and in specific microclimates tucked into hillsides. With scant annual rainfall and predominately sandy soils, the valley would be arid if not for the irrigation from the Salinas River. One of the world’s longest growing seasons gives the Monterey AVA characterful wines with balanced acidity.
http://www.jekel.com/
Enjoy with a Spicy Chicken Taco Salad
Around $8 (price varies widely though, up to $14)
Ratings: mostly mid 80s
Day 2 Rating: B+
VR
wine food and drink value wine everyday wine wine snob wine news |
posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 7:10 PM   |
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| Friday, April 14 |
| Ironstone Vineyard, 2003 California Cabernet Sauvignon |
The 2003 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from fruit grown in the family vineyards located in Murphys and Lodi, California. The wine is young and needs some time to aerate upon opening...give it at least 30 minutes and you will be rewarded. It's also one reason why it gets and A for Day 2 - it really benefits from time. While not a very showy wine, its a SUPER value wine, delivering a strong fruit base with some tannic bite.
http://www.ironstonevineyards.com
Around $7
Serve at home with hard cheeses, grilled beef, rich food.
Ratings: few are far between, but mid 80s generally.
Day 2 Rating: A
VR
wine food and drink value wine everyday wine wine snob wine news |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 11:50 AM |
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| WINE VIDEO |
Push Play To See "No Wine Before Its Time" or Click Here For Other Wine Video |
October 5th, 2006 Weekly Wine News Selections
How To Order Wine For A Business Dinner - Forbes.com: "The rules for handling wine at an important business dinner are pretty much commonsense and not very different from the rules for any kind of successful entertaining--be prepared, plan ahead and use the resources at your disposal"
A Vintner's Joy : "Harvest is a busy, crucial time as owners --and customers-- gather the crop "
CRITICS' PICKS: The Wine Country HARVEST BOON: "Grape expectations Now is the richest time to see -- and smell -- Wine Country in Napa and Sonoma. Harvest has begun. "
Web wine: A bountiful harvest for online shoppers: "Lately, thanks in part to a Supreme Court ruling, state law changes and Americans' growing comfort with the Web, the online wine business has been undergoing a sea change: There's a surge in the number and quality of sites devoted to educating consumers, highlighting unusual regions and, mostly, selling a lot of wine.
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The Pour: Decanting Robert Parker: "Thirty years of influence haven't curbed his thirst for wine, or a fight."
Study shows red wine cuts Alzheimer's risk : "Researchers have uncovered yet another reason to toast red wine: A glass a day could keep Alzheimer's disease at bay."
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| ABOUT ME |
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Name: VINORATER (aka VR)
Home: California, United States
About Me: WHY THIS BLOG?
Truth is, it's getting harder to find good wine at an everyday price (around $12 and under). So I've trolled respectable sources far and wide (Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, Robert Parker, Stephen Tanzer, New York Times, and other strong reviewers) for the "best of the best-priced", and tried every wine personally before recommending it. I also only include wines that are fairly easy to find. Plus, I've added useful info on wine pairings, wine terms, and wine news and other interesting wine info.
Let's share, and please pass on any recommendations, thoughts and critics...
Cheers!
VinoRater
See my complete profile
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