Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Wine Review: 2007 Vina Robles RED4 Huerhuero

Name: 2007 Vina Robles RED4 Huerhuero
Producer: Vina Robles
Region: USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 51% Petite Sirah, 43% Syrah, 4% Tannat, 2% Touriga Nacional
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99, Kroger, March 2009
Date Logged: 06/30/2009
Pairing(s): 1) Spaghetti, 2) Chicken Sausage
My Rating: 2-1/2 Stars

Not sure what to make of this wine. At first, I was fairly impressed by it…nice complexity, good mix of plum fruit and vegetal characteristics, decent balance of tannins and acidity, medium-weight mouthfeel, sort of reminded me of a typical Rhone Valley or Chinon wine. It paired up fairly well with the spaghetti, and drank well by itself afterwards. Although it wasn’t exactly a remarkable wine, it was certainly quaffable at this point. The next day, though, it seemed to have become much less so. The alcohol seemed a lot more pronounced, and it had a distinct vinegar aroma and taste to it. I guess it could have just fallen apart overnight in the bottle…sort of a disappointment, for sure. I’m giving it 2-1/2 stars based on its initial impression upon opening. By the time 24 hours had passed, it would have been lucky to garner one star.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Wine Review: 2002 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: 2002 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Producer: St. Supéry Vineyards
Region: USA, California, Napa Valley
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year/Vintage: 2002
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $22.99, Total Wine & More (June 2007)
Date Logged: 06/27/2009
Pairing(s): Grilled Filet Mignon
My Rating: 4 Stars

Delicious! Perfect pairing with a steak. Inky black color, strawberry and cherry cola nose with vegetable overtones. Complex palate with lots of fruit still left up front, some bell pepper, chocolate and vanilla in the middle, and some nice smoke and earthiness mixed in on the finish. Well balanced overall and worth every cent. I plan to look for this one again.