2009 Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard

2005 Copain Syrah Harrison Clarke

2006 Oliverhill Winery Shiraz Jimmy Section

2015 Loring Wine Company Dornfelder Huber Vineyard

2015 Daou Vineyards The Pessimist

2013 Conn Creek Herrick Red

 

 

 

2009 Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard – $46.64

The wine is a nice garnet color.  The inviting nose has black cherries, forest floor, chalky minerals, white pepper, eucalyptus, raspberries and a dried floral note.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate cherries, minerals, white pepper and forest floor grab control immediately with raspberries coming in on the back end.  The finish has great length with a dried floral note joining the cherries, minerals and forest floor.  This shows excellent balance and is a pleasure to drink.  This has 14.9% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  For the wine geeks, the back label challenges Ridge for the most informative label in the business.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Copain Syrah Harrison Clarke – $40.00

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The appealing nose has blackberries, crushed stone minerals, briny black olives, white pepper, wood embers, freshly ground espresso beans, vanilla and dark chocolate.  This has a full body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate blackberries, minerals, black olives and wood embers jump out on the front end with espresso beans, vanilla and white pepper coming in later.  The finish has good length with dark chocolate and a floral note providing nice depth.  To me, this was one of Copain’s lower rung vineyards, normally overshadowed by several others.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Oliverhill Winery Shiraz Jimmy Section – $19.00

This is one of my wife’s all-time favorite wines.  How much does she like it?  Per Cellar Tracker I bought a total of 33 bottles, and his will be the 32nd bottle we’ve opened since December 2009.  It will be hard to let her know it’s all gone when the last bottle gets cracked open.  I should add I like this wine as well.  I still do not understand how it was such a slow mover at the local wine store.  This is part of my last case which only cost me $19.00, a bottle.  A steal based on the $35 release price.

 

The wine is a deep, inky purple color.  The very inviting nose is full of blackberries, black pepper, vanilla, smoldering charcoal, licorice, leather, blueberries,  dry earth, wild flowers and dark chocolate.  This is fairly full bodied with solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate the wine gives a big blast of ripe, juicy berries with spicy oak and black pepper adding nice savory elements.  The finish has very good length with blueberries, dark chocolate and a nice floral note providing great depth.  This is a big, bold and ripe wine that pushes the ripeness but does not cross over into the sweet or syrupy level.  This has 15.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2015 Loring Wine Company Dornfelder Huber Vineyard – $36.66

And now for something totally different, a Dornfelder wine from California.

 

The wine is a deep, dark purple color, almost black.  The impressive nose is full of blackberries, blueberries, dry underbrush, baking spices, chalky minerals and a hint of road tar.  This has a full body with moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate this tastes like a warm berry pie with subtle earthiness and minerals coming in on the back end.  The finish is full of berries and spice with a hint of road tar.  This is a very unique wine from a “different” grape.  Though it lacks in the complexity department, there is no lack of flavor and overall taste.  I wouldn’t sit on this one for an extended time, enjoy this one over the next few years.  This has 14.3% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with the standard Loring twist off closure.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2015 Daou Vineyards The Pessimist – $18.99

This is a blend of 37% Syrah, 31% Petite Sirah, 27% Zinfandel, 4% Tannat and 1% Grenache.

 

The wine is an inky purple color.  The big and bold nose is full of crushed blackberries, blueberries, baking spices, vanilla, toasty oak, crushed stone minerals and scorched earth.  This has a full body with moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity.  This is big and lush on the palate with blackberries, blueberries, spicy oak and vanilla up front with minerals and dried earthy elements coming in later.  The finish has good length with baking spices and berries carrying the majority of the load.  This may be lacking in complexity but it is full throttle on the fruit and spice.  I wouldn’t sit on this for an extended period of time, enjoy this one over the next few years.  This has 15.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Conn Creek Herrick Red – $15.99

This is a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Syrah, 6% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 4% Primitivo from the Napa Valley

 

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The easy going nose has cassis, blueberries, dark chocolate, plums, caramel, dry underbrush, vanilla bean and flinty minerals.  This has a full body with soft to moderate ripe tannins and decent acidity.  This is rich and velvety on the palate with a big fruit presence on the front end.  The back end provides some nice savory notes to keep the fruit from getting boring with dark chocolate and flinty minerals.  The finish has decent length and like the palate is fruit driven.  This isn’t built to age and lacks complexity but that doesn’t stop it from being very tasty.  This would be best served with appetizer platters to friends gathered for conversation and not to geek-out over the wine.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

 

I am a big fan of the “Flash Wine Sale” site Last Bottle.  You probably noticed some of the wines in this post were purchased from the site.  All of these wines were purchased at a big discount.  I highly recommend getting on their e-mail list.  Like most of the flash sale sites, they offer one wine per day until it sells out.  They also have a couple two-day marathons during the year.  Last Bottle is a great site to buy special wines at prices low enough to open any day of the week.

 

If you sign up using this link you will get a $10 credit that can be used on your first purchase.  I will also get a credit if you make a purchase.

 

Other than getting a credit as explained above, I have no financial interest in the site.  After you are on the list, you can also get the same credit by introducing friends to Last Bottle.

 

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

I post a lot more pictures and pairing suggestions on my Instagram account, consider joining me at https://www.instagram.com/cbbrown3/

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2017 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but always check out the sale and close out items when in a store.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

2010 Carlisle Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Heirloom Wine Dolinsek Ranch

2011 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

2014 Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel

2009 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes

2008 Stefania Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch

2009 McPrice Myers Altas Vinas

2008 Treasure Hunter Wines Helen’s Helm

2006 Copain Syrah Harrison Clarke

2014 Domaine Loubejac Rosé

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

 

 

 

2010 Carlisle Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard – $38.00

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The stunning nose has brambly berries, black peppercorns, baking spices, dark chocolate, dried leafy herbs, crushed stone minerals, dead wood embers and dry earth.  This has a full body with moderate to solid tannins coming in on the back end and nice acidity.  Peppery, mineral laden berries coat the palate on the front end with baking spices and wood embers coming in later.  The finish has great length with dried herbs and dark chocolate adding depth.  This can easily and gracefully age for several years but is already delicious.  (95 pts)

 

 

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Heirloom Wine Dolinsek Ranch – $35.00

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  Blackberries, smoke, baking spices, meat juices, cherries, cracked black peppercorns, slight herbal note, some earthiness and a touch of dark chocolate on the very nice nose.  This is full bodied with solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity.  Long, spicy finish with the fruit and pepper lingering and very slowly fading.  This is in a prime drinking window and should hold for a few years.  (93 pts)

 

 

2011 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands – $24.92

The wine is a deep ruby to purple color.  The inviting nose has black cherries, dusty minerals, warm baking spices, white pepper, dry earth, violets, strawberries and underbrush.  This has medium body with soft to moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate cherries, minerals and baking spices quickly take control, slowly allowing white pepper, strawberries and dried earth to slip through.  The finish has nice length with underbrush and a floral note entering the picture providing extra depth.  An outstanding value.  This wine has 14.7% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with the normal Loring twist off closure.  (91 pts)

 

 

2014 Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel

The wine is a light pink salmon color.  The inviting and appealing nose has cherries, orange zest, strawberries, minerals and spring flowers.  This has light to medium body with crisp acidity.  On the palate cherries, orange zest and minerals pop out first with strawberries and a nice floral note coming in later.  The finish has good length with nice mouthwatering citrus, cherries and minerals.  This wine has 13.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.   (90 pts)

 

 

2009 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes – $18.99

This is a wine that I generally like in almost all vintages but it’s not a wine I hunt down.  If I can find it at a good price I’ll grab a few bottles.

 

This has 15% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is an inky ruby red.  The sexy nose has black cherries, tobacco, blackberries, white pepper, dried flowers, mocha, vanilla and a touch of earthy underbrush.  This has a fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity.  Intense red and black fruit grabs your palate slowly allowing pepper and mocha to slip in.  On the back end vanilla and some building earthiness enter the picture.  The finish has good length and veers solidly into the earthy spectrum with just a touch of an herbal note coming into play.  (90 pts)

 

 

2008 Stefania Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch – $33.00

I didn’t get a good tasting note on this wine since it disappeared fairly quickly over dinner.  The wine had a nice backbone of blackberries with olive tapenade, smoky wood embers, licorice, eucalyptus, iron shavings, black peppercorns and dried wild flowers.  This had medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  The finish had good length with the fruit turning more towards cherry and outstanding savory elements.  I’ll do a better job at a good tasting note when I open my next bottle.  I should note, a bottle being emptied that quickly over dinner is fairly rare in my house and it’s always a good sign.  (93 pts)

 

 

2009 McPrice Myers Altas Vinas – $30.40

The wine is a dark, inky violet color.  The big and in your face nose is crammed full of blackberries, plums, baking spices, earthy underbrush, licorice, crushed stones, dried herbs, dark chocolate and dried flowers.  This has a full body with solid ripe tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate this massive wine leads off with spicy, peppery berries and crushed stones with dried herbs and earthy underbrush coming in later.  The finish has good length with dark chocolate and licorice entering the picture.  The wine is big and flavorful but gets a bit boring after a while, it could use a bit more acidity and finesse.  This also shows the 15.8% alcohol on the nose and on the finish.  I’d advise to drink up before the alcohol becomes even more prominent.  (88 pts)

 

 

2008 Treasure Hunter Wines Helen’s Helm – $17.52

This negotiant wine is a blend of 59% Syrah, 18% Grenache, 18% Mourvedre and 5% Tempranillo from Paso Robles.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

This is a deep, dark maroon color.  The very nice nose has blackberries, minerals, baking spices, charred meat, vanilla, cherries, dark bittersweet chocolate, and some earthiness.  This has a fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate a loads of juicy berries, tart cherries, and minerals hit first with nice spice and a meaty element coming in on the back end.  The finish is long and lingering with some dark chocolate joining the spice and berries.  This is a very impressive wine that drinks several notches above its price point.  (93 pts)

 

 

2006 Copain Syrah Harrison Clarke – $40.00

The wine is a dark, inky ruby to purple color.  The very inviting nose has blackberries, white pepper, blueberries, meat juices, charcoal, vanilla, dusty minerals, scorched earth and potpourri.  This has a fairly full body with moderate tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate berries, charcoal, white pepper and dusty minerals immediately jump out with meaty notes, vanilla and dry earth coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with dark bittersweet chocolate coming into the picture.  This is mighty tasty today and should hold up for another year or two.  (92 pts)

 

 

2014 Domaine Loubejac Rosé – $12.74

The wine is a light salmon pink color.  The fresh and clean nose has cherries, crushed stone minerals, strawberry, orange blossoms and lime zest.  This has light to medium body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate tart cherries, strawberries and minerals quickly take control with orange blossoms coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with lime zest leaving your mouth watering for another sip.  This doesn’t offer a lot of complexity but it is quite tasty with a light meal on a warm day.  This wine has 13.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.  (89 pts)

 

 

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – $25.00

I am a big fan of the Loring appellation wines.  These wines are blends of grapes from different vineyards in the region.  These wines may lack some of the uniqueness of the single vineyard wines, but to me they seem to highlight the best features from each vineyard.  The best part is these wines are about half the price of the single vineyard wines so they can be enjoyed without too much guilt any day of the week.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color.  The rich and inviting nose has black raspberries, Asian spices, cola, black cherry, wild flowers, white pepper, and a touch of earthy underbrush.  This has a medium body, moderate, ripe tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the wine has rich, velvety fruit and spice up front with some subtle earthiness and white pepper coming in late.  The finish is fairly long and full of spicy, earthy fruit.  May not be the most complex Pinot out there, but it is delicious and a steal at the mailing list price of $25.  The bottle is sealed with the usual Loring twist off closure and the wine has 14.8% alcohol.  (91 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2015 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but always check out the sale and close out items when in a store.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

2005 Copain Syrah Harrison Clarke

2009 Foncalieu Côtes du Rhône Villages St. Gervais La Réserve du Crouzau

2010 Treasure Hunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Panjanatan Paso Robles

2008 Big Basin Vineyards Odeon

2008 Villa Creek Avenger

2007 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah

 

 

Due to ongoing unpacking and organizing from our move and the holiday season, most of these wines only have a tasting note without any other text.  These posts should return to normal next week.

 

 

 

2005 Copain Syrah Harrison Clarke – $40.00

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The deep and dark nose has blackberries, olive tapenade, minerals, wood smoke, black pepper, vanilla bean, blueberries and damp earth.  The wine has medium body with fairly resolved tannins and good acidity.  On the palate olives and berries pop out first with black pepper and damp earth coming in on the back end.  The olives and earthy elements linger on the decently long finish.  I’d advise consuming this wine over the next year, maybe two.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Foncalieu Côtes du Rhône Villages St. Gervais La Réserve du Crouzau – $8.95

I bought several bottles of this wine at the local store at a fantastic price.  I’ve held off opening a bottle for six months, but I really want to open one.  These could probably use another 6 months to a year in the cellar, but it’s time to check in and get a read on how long before these hit their stride.

 

Winery history

Les Vignobles Foncalieu are like no other cooperative.  Their technical teams include international talents who revel in this mosaic of huge terroirs.  So it comes as no surprise to learn that Michel Bataille and the 1,200 winegrowing estate owners made the choice to produce upmarket wines.  In order to achieve excellence in terms of quality, they have invested in cutting-edge facilities.

 

IN THE VINES

Very strict vine management specifications: pruning, green harvesting, picking dates, convocation to the vine plot…

GIS (geographic information system) cartography.

Computerized plot monitoring.

High-tech ripeness tracking.

Grape analysis, segmentation and control over the harvest adapted to the product profile with Dyostem©.

 

IN THE WINERY

Creation of a vinification plan for all the vineyards, taking account of client needs and brand profiles.

Precise definition of aromatic profiles.

Full traceability process guaranteeing regularity in the quality of wines.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark ruby color.  The outstanding nose has black cherries, blackberries, minerals, dried herbs, charred meat, earthy underbrush, and violets.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  The palate has very nice fruit and dried herbs with some spice and earthy elements in the background.  The finish shows considerable promise until the tannins and acidity kick in clipping it a bit.  Give this one another year in the cellar or give it some air.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Treasure Hunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Panjanatan Paso Robles – $19.79

I grabbed several bottles of this wine, since a social media friend, Mark Adams, was the wine maker.  I’m glad I loaded up since the past few bottles have all been very good.  It’s always nice to get a good Cabernet for around $20.  Mark Adams is also the owner/wine maker of Ledge Vineyards and the Assistant Wine Maker for Saxum.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby to maroon color.  The deep and dark nose has blackberries, cassis, cedar, dried herbs, minerals, smoke, licorice, baking spices, and violets.  This has medium to full body with fairly solid, ripe tannins and good acidity.  The wine is rich and velvety on the palate with spicy fruit, dried herbs, and minerals leading the way.  The finish is fairly long with nice spicy fruit, dried herbs, and a touch of earthiness.  A nice, rich, but not over the top Cabernet from Paso Robles.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Big Basin Vineyards Odeon – $40.00

For the last few years I’ve felt Big Basin was one of the wineries to keep an eye on.  I think they are one big score away from popping onto most wine drinker’s radar.  Could they become the next Saxum?  In my opinion, the sky is the limit for this winery.

 

This is a blend of 57% Santa Cruz County Syrah and 43% Monterrey County Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

The wine has 15.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

Big Basin Vineyards was founded in 1998 in the Santa Cruz Mountains next to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, with a new winery building completed in 2003.  Proprietor and wine maker Bradley Brown sources his wines from three Estate Vineyards – Rattlesnake Rock, Old Corral Block and Homestead Block.  All of the Estate vineyards are planted to Alban Selections on steep hillsides with mudstone and shale soils – 7 acres of Syrah, 2 acres of Grenache and 1 acre of Roussanne – and are farmed organically.  Additionally, Bradley works closely with Coastview Vineyard located at 2400 ft on a mountain top in the Gabilan Mountains overlooking the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay (several miles due south of Mt. Harlan).  He has contracted with the vineyard to purchase Syrah planted in 1998 and to bud over certain sections of the vineyard to Pinot Noir and Grenache (in 2008) and plant a new block to an Alban selection of Syrah.  This vineyard is also farmed organically and managed according to Bradley’s direction.  Beginning in 2006, Big Basin started making Pinot Noir sourced from the Santa Cruz Mountains.  As of 2009, Big Basin is making three different single vineyard Pinots from the Santa Cruz Mountains (Alfaro Family, Lester Family and Woodruff Family Vineyards), plus the Pinot from Coastview Vineyard in the Gabilan Mountains.

 

Much more information is available on their website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The stunning nose has cassis, charred meat, vanilla, dark chocolate, minerals, blueberries, and a touch of cedar.  This has a full body, moderate ripe tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate this is very big, rich and plush.  Though it pushes the ripeness to the top, it does not go over.  This is loaded with fruit and savory elements on the palate with a nice tannic backbone and just enough acidity to hold it all together.  The finish is impressively long and decadent.  I don’t think I’d want to stash this in the cellar for too long, but this will offer a lot of pleasure over the next few years.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Villa Creek Avenger – $29.75

The Avenger is my favorite wine from the Paso Robles based Villa Creek.  This is generally a full bodied, big boned, and brawny Rhone Ranger blend.  This vintage is a blend of 70% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 15% Grenache from the Booker Vineyard in Paso Robles.  I have been and probably will always be a big fan of this winery.  This is the last winery that I get an automatic shipment at every release and usually add on extra bottles.  In my house, there is no such thing as having too much Villa Creek in the cellar.

 

Winery history

In the spirit of the great wine producers of the southern Rhone and the bodegas of Rioja and Priorat, blending is what Villa Creek does best.  The area’s finest Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Tempranillo Vineyards are just a stone’s throw from the west Paso Robles winery where these blends are lovingly produced by winemaker Cris Cherry and his wife JoAnn.

 

The grapes of the area’s most progressive vineyards, James Berry, Denner, Ohana and Booker, currently grace the wines of Villa Creek Cellars.  Per acre contracts insure that the fruit comes off the same blocks each vintage.  The Cherry’s own 70 acre estate on the west side of Paso Robles boasts elevations of 1400-1800 feet, calcareous soils, south facing slopes and ample water.  In the spring of 2012, the Cherry’s finished planting their first grape vines, 3.5 acres of Grenache.  They look forward to planting Mourvèdre and Carignan in the months to come.

 

Much more information is available on their website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, ruby red color.  The sexy and inviting nose has black raspberries, graphite, incense, cherries, plums, fresh wild flowers, melted licorice, vanilla, dark chocolate, and some subtle earthiness.  This has a full body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate, besides a load of nice fruit, there are abundant amounts of dark chocolate, pepper, vanilla, and a floral element.  The finish is very long and highlighted by juicy, crushed berries, dark chocolate, and a some earthiness.  This is still on the young side and improved greatly with some air.  No hurry on this one, enjoy it over the rest of the decade.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah – $28.80

 

This wine has 13.77% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The nose is full of blackberries, crushed stone minerals, vanilla, fresh ground espresso beans, white pepper and a touch of barnyard.  This has medium to full body with good acidity and moderate to solid tannins.  On the palate blackberries, espresso beans, stony minerals and vanilla grab hold first with white pepper coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with some barnyard entering the picture.  This wine is entering a nice drinking period and can be enjoyed over the next several years.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2015 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!