Deadbolt 2012 Winemaker’s Blend

Deadbolt is a big, bold California blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Syrah and Syrah. The pour is deep purple in the glass. The nose is powerfully fruity and jammy. On the palate, black cherries, plums, and currants mingle. The Merlot offers a wisp of earthiness and the Zinfandel, a pinch of spice. TheContinueContinue reading “Deadbolt 2012 Winemaker’s Blend”

Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Layer Cake wines are as well advertised and distributed as you would expect from ex-investment banker turned winemaker, Jayson Woodbridge. I’m surprised it took us until now to try one. We crack open the screw cap on a Cabernet Sauvignon 2011. The nose is full of cherries and berries with a light wildflower scent. TheContinueContinue reading “Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon 2011”

Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Decoy wines are the lower priced line from Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley. The Decoy Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Black cherry dominates the nose with traces of nutmeg and mushroom. The cherry and other berry flavors follow through on theContinueContinue reading “Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon 2012”

Buena Vista Legendary Badge 2012

Some very stormy weather prevented us from enjoying a summer wine on the deck so we decided to crack open Legendary Badge from Buena Vista Winery. The Buena Vista Winery was established in Sonoma County in 1857 by one of California’s first elected sheriffs. The website describes the colorful life of the founder and howContinueContinue reading “Buena Vista Legendary Badge 2012”

Thorny Rose Red Blend 2011

Thorny Rose from Columbia Valley, Washington has a funky, youthful label and a screw cap. I get a little put off by screw caps, especially in restaurants that mark up as much as 300-400% on wines. But I’ll try to be open-minded and give it a chance. Thorny Rose is a Bordeaux style red blendContinueContinue reading “Thorny Rose Red Blend 2011”

Don David Malbec 2012 Michel Torino Estate

Don David is named for David Michel who emigrated from France to Argentina in 1892 and founded Michel Torino Estate in Cafayate. The high altitude winery features over 1500 acres of vineyards that thrive on warm days, cool nights, and low humidity. The color is deep plum. There are three qualities of the nose thatContinueContinue reading “Don David Malbec 2012 Michel Torino Estate”

To chew or not to chew, that is the rib question

Serious fans of BBQ ribs can be fervent and I’m fearful that what I’m about to say may be taken as sacrilege. I’ve always been a follower in the “meat falls off the bone” flock. When my husband said he wanted his ribs to be chewy, I thought he sounded a bit cracked. But heContinueContinue reading “To chew or not to chew, that is the rib question”

Gnarly Head 2012 Old Vine Zin

Gnarly sounds like surfer dude language to me, but in this case it describes the 35 to 80 year old gnarled vines that have been pruned in such a way so that they form a knotted, mangled top. Old Vine Zin is an audacious, full-bodied fruit bomb. There’s nothing subtle about the blood red colorContinueContinue reading “Gnarly Head 2012 Old Vine Zin”

Menage a Trois Rose 2012 by Folie a Deux

It’s refreshing to have a chilled wine when the weather is hot but I’m having trouble selling my drinking partner on whites. Maybe a Rose would do the trick? We tried a Tavel Rose last summer that was predominantly Grenache and the “dry minerality” as described in the tasting notes was not our preference. ThisContinueContinue reading “Menage a Trois Rose 2012 by Folie a Deux”