Owner: Redneck Wine Review URL:http://www.redneckwinereview.com Join Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:54:38 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: A down to earth look at a traditionally snobbish hobby of tasting wine. Site statistics:Click here
We Have a Winer…I mean Winner! 2007-11-12 16:14:26 Been way too long since I’ve written a post. My apologies to you.
Thanks to Russ over at Californiawinehikes.com for awarding this review of his site the #1 prize - a case of wine!
I’m currently thinking of ways to “redistribute” at least a portion of this prize to the readers here. If you have any cool ideas that would promote this site and would be fun to participate in please let me know by leaving a comment on the About page.
Kudos to the WannaBe Wino as well for taking the runner-up spot. Megan does a fantastic job on her site and I feel lucky to have won out over her. Keep up the great reviews and consistent posting Megan!
Again, many thanks to Russ! We’ll be in his area in Spring of ‘08 and will do the aforementioned Redwoods Hike and will follow it up with a review at that time. If you like the outdoors and wine then it seems you can’t go wrong by contacting Russ and booking your very own California Wine Hike!
Kunde Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2006 2007-08-05 20:47:18
Cork:SCREW TOP!
Name: Kunde EstateSauvignon
Blanc - “Magnolia Lane”
Type: Blend - Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2006
Region: Sonoma Valley
Country: USA
Producer: Kunde Estate Vineyards
Price: $12.99
Purchased at: Vintages Wine & Spirits
Date: 08/3/07
Served With: Roasted Chicken Fajitas Salsa Verde
Appearance: Clean & crisp looking with a slight yellow tint
Aroma: Citrusy
Taste: Very, very grapefruit! Light and clean. Refreshing.
Comments: Though it’s a white wine it has enough consistency to offset the spicy Mexican dinner. The citrus was just what that dinner needed! I would definitely buy this wine again, especially in the dog days of Summer!
It’s interesting how many wines are coming with screw tops lately.
Here’s another take on this sauvignon blanc.
Here’s another review of the 2003 vintage.
Frei Brothers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 2007-07-31 20:47:31
Cork:Authentic
Name: Frei BrothersReserveCabernetSauvignon
Type: Blend - Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2003
Region: Alexander Valley, CA (Northern Sonoma)
Country: USA
Producer: Frei Brothers Vineyards
Price: $14.99 with super duper discount card
Purchased at: Cheers Liquor Mart
Date: 07/17/07
Served With: Some home made chicken and noodle concoction
Appearance: So dark it’s almost black!
Aroma: Alcoholy, oaky, some eucalyptus and mint
Taste: Very well balanced, medium tannins, smoky
Comments: Here’s a wine that is still a bit tight but has a very smooth, balanced, not overly fruity taste. It is very tasty, not overloaded with fruit, has some complexity with the eucalyptus and mint and would be hard pressed to offend anyone. BUT, it normally costs about $19 per bottle. That’s a bit high for me even at the sale price of $15.
Overall, I really liked this wine. It offers the consistency that I look for in lower priced wines like Cellar 8 or Blackstone Cabernet bu
Wildhurst Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 2007-07-29 20:59:23
Cork:Authentic
Name: Wildhurst Vineyards Reserve CabernetSauvignon
2004
Type: Blend - Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2004
Region: Lake County, CA
Country: USA
Producer: Wildhurst Vineyards
Price: $16.99
Purchased at: Vintage’s Wine & Spirits
Date: 07/10/07
Served With: Fillet Mignon prepared Medium
Appearance: Excellent legs, thick and juicy (not the steak!)
Aroma: Dusty, vanilla, cherry, allspice
Taste: Full and rich with a tasty finish. It lingers for a medium finish offering layered and complex flavors of coffee, chocolate and even some carmelization. Light tannins; a bit heavier tannins would have been perfect!
Comments: This was a great wine. Do you think it had anything to do with the great fillet I had it with? Sure it does! As I’ve mentioned before the atmosphere and food pairing can have a large influence in the way I enjoy wines. I think it truly affects everybody. I drank this the night that I was trading wine glasses with my wife and it made for great
Peirano Estate The Other 2005 2007-07-25 21:47:24
Cork:Authentic
Name: The Other
Type: Blend - 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Syrah
Vintage: 2005
Region: Lodi, CA
Country: USA
Producer: Peirano Estate
Vineyards
Price: $12.99
Purchased at: Vintage’s Wine & Spirits
Date: 07/10/07
Served With: 3 Cheese Ziti, house salad w/bleu cheese
Appearance: Looks a little thin…uh, oh…Merlot!
Aroma: Raisins, prunes, some cloves and maybe cinnamon
Taste: Very mellow and balanced. A fruity start with a somewhat dry and balanced finish.
Comments: This is the second time that I’ve had this wine and I think it was better the first time which involved more people, a lively atmosphere, more wine to follow and even a different blend ratio (see more below). In this instance it was the only wine I was drinking for the evening and while it paired well with the dinner I couldn’t help thinking…MERLOT!! There is a certain taste, call it the Merlot grapes if you must that just makes this wine not my favorite
What’s in a Wine Glass? 2007-07-19 18:56:44 What’s in a wine glass? Hopefully, wine!
What makes a wine glass? The shape.
Don’t believe me? Heck, I didn’t believe it until the other night.
We were drinking a very nice bottle of wine and waxing poetic about the various flavors and tastes and smells in this wine. Out of nowhere my wife asks me to trade glasses with her. “What for?” I ask. After all, I have my favorite wine glass that I drink out of and she has her favorite glass that she drinks out of. However, the glasses are different shapes.
Forget about the fact that both of these glasses have white wine in them. You know that as a Level 4 I rarely drink white wine. Our glasses were full of red wine! My glass is on the left and Robin’s glass is on the right.
My wife always likes to show me up about her wine glass and tease me about how attached I am to mine but I indulge her and swap glasses for a taste of wine. What followed was interesting…I got a different set of tast Read more:Glass
Wine Blogs and Wine Reviews 2007-07-18 14:28:27 Tom Wark ran a survey a few weeks ago about wine bloggers, wine reviews and consumer choices. I took the survey myself and was looking forward to seeing the results.
Tom released some of those results on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 and I’m not surprised at what I saw. However, I did want to point out a few things.
According the the results over 65% of the respondents admitted to having purchased a wine based on a review they read on a wine blog. Is that a scary thing? What if the blog is the Redneck Wine Review?? Who would buy a wine recommended by a self-proclaimed Level 4 Redneck?
I think many people would and that’s why I started this blog in the first place.
Let’s be frank, there are much better wine reviewers out there than me. People who are professionally trained, have decades of experience, whose palates are fine tuned instruments, education and worldly travels, etc. But, isn’t that the problem in the first place? Do the vast majority of wine drinke Read more:Blogs
Wine Country Revisited - Episode 3 2007-07-17 12:16:42 This is the 3rd installment of a trip down memory lane about my first visit to Wine Country
. You can catch up here for Episode
1 and Episode 2.
Friday June 30, 2006
After a relatively short night that involved more coma than sleep we arose the next morning to cram in a few more things while we were in the bay area.
We first had breakfast delivered to the room and then headed out across the bridge Sausalito. I had been there once before but it was a new experience for Robin. What a cool little town Sausalito is. We walked the main street shopping here and there. We got a coffee and marveled at what it must be like to live in this place. We decided that if the 3 of us got 2 jobs each and put the 2 dogs and 1 cat to work we might be able to afford to share a garage apartment somewhere near San Francisco or Sausalito.
One of the few things I bought that wasn’t wine or chocolate was a set of photos from the Mark Reuben Gallery in Sausalito. He has a neat little store off Read more:Revisited
, Wine Country
A Review of CaliforniaWineHikes.com 2007-07-15 16:46:22 What is California Wine Hikes? Well it’s exactly what the name says!
California Wine Hikes is a website offering guided hikes, wine tastings, fine dining & accommodations in the California wine country. The primary angle of the site is as a wine country vacation destination. The thing is, the destination changes depending on what type of vacation you want.
Russ Beebe, the founder of the business, has found what I think is a spectacular niche involving vacations, hiking and, my favorite, wine! California Wine Hikes is actually a tour company that allows Russ to combine hiking and wine tasting. The company currently offers 19 different tours ranging from EASY to STRENUOUS hiking levels and the opportunity to take in spectacular scenery and excellent wines.
As I perused the site I found one tour in particular that caught my eye: Romp Through the Redwoods. Having always wanted to see the great Redwoods I can tell you that when I do I will do it through Russ and California
Judd Syrah 2007-07-14 21:39:38
Cork:Synthetic
Name: Judd (Judd’s Hill)
Type: Syrah
Vintage: 2002
Region: Napa Valley
Country: USA
Producer: Finkelstein Vineyards
Price: $18.99
Purchased at: Vintage’s Wine & Spirits
Date: 07/10/07
Served With: Hershey’s Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate w/Toffee & Almonds
Appearance: I can’t see through it! That’s usually a good thing. Very deep, dark purple.
Aroma: Black berry, black currant (cassis)
Taste: Very fruity on the front end and slightly tart on the finish. A bit alcoholy on the long finish. It’s a little lite on the tannins for my tastes.
Comments: Very thick. Very Rich. Very intense. 14.2% Alcohol. Too fruity for me. I bought this on a recommendation from the store owner. I told her I like smooth syrahs that aren’t to alcoholy and I like some fruity taste. She translated that into a silky, aged, intensely fruity wine. This was not her fault at all, I simply expressed myself incorrectly. Also, to be fair this win
The Wine Hiker Case 2007-11-19 21:37:18 It arrived today. The famous case of wine from the California Wine Hiker
. One week after winning the award I have 12 fabulous bottles of wine to share with you all!
I know you would like to know what the inventory consists of. I know because if I were you I would want to know!
Before I reveal what this great case of wine consists of I want to whet your palate a bit. I know that wine ratings aren’t everything but this is, after all, a wine review blog and it’s worth noting that not a single rated bottle of wine in this case came in less than 90. There is one bottle that is not rated but after seeing everything else in the case I thoroughly trust the Wine Hiker.
Additionally, It seems to me that Russ put a lot of thought into choosing each bottle. I can’t say enough how appreciative I am of not only the wine but the thought that went into it. From Malbec to Muscat and Rose to G.A.M. the list doesn’t disappoint!
Now, let met pimp another site for just on
Chessman Old Vine Zinfandel 2005 Reserve 2007-11-18 09:35:07
Cork:Authentic
Name: Chessman Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel Reserve
Type: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2005
Region: Paso Robles
Country: USA
Producer: Chessman Vineyards
Price: $13.99
Purchased at: Cheers Liquormart
Date: 11/18/07
Served With: Chili & Cornbread
Appearance: Dark & rich, deeper in color than most Zins
Aroma: A bit of blackberry and oak on the nose
Taste: Very mellow with a subdued fruit start, small hints of vanilla and a lingering, spicy finish!
Comments: Here’s a wine that came recommended by one of the wine guys at Cheers. He said it was one of the best Zins he’s had lately. I must agree! I really do like the old vine zins much better than regular zins for the most part. They seem to have a much smoother, longer finish and some offer hints of vanilla as this one does. Though some advertise “Old Vines” zins they can bowl me over with heat and fruit but this one has good balance and mellow”ness” that I like in a rich, robust Old V
The Problem with Texas Wines 2007-11-16 11:20:27 While answering some comments lately I decided to address the issue of Texas
wines. Thanks to David for bringing this up (though TX wineries may not be thanking him!).
I’ve recently relocated and don’t live in TX anymore. Yet, even when I lived there I didn’t drink much TX wine. IMHO, Texas Hills Vineyards was the only one making anything close to comparable in wines I’m used to drinking in terms of reliability and taste. However, the main problem with TX wines is the cost of TX wines! It’s rather discouraging that these inferior wines are $5-$6 more per bottle than most CA wines that are better in almost every facet. Once the TX wineries get the pricing thing figured out they can begin to lure more wine drinkers to their wine, particularly, locals. Incidentally, as I recall, Texas Hills Vineyards also grows Lavender, which my wife was very impressed with.
Now, having said all that TX wines are head and shoulders above any CO wines I’ve tast Read more:Problem
, Wines
Meridian Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 2007-11-25 13:35:30
Cork:Authentic
Name: Meridian VineyardsCabernetSauvignon
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2000
Region: California
Country: USA
Producer: Meridian Vineyards
Price: $12.99?
Purchased at: Cheers Liquormart
Date: 11/09/07
Served With: Teriyaki Chicken & White Rice
Appearance: Deep purple, rich
Aroma: Faint berries, very light, not much, if any, oak
Taste: A layered wine with smooth cherries on the front with a citrusy finish.
Comments: Hmm…I had to think about this one for a while. This wine doesn’t have the characteristics that I typically applaud in a Cabernet Sauvignon. However, as my wine education grows one of the things I’ve learned is not to judge this, or any, wine based on what I like, rather judge or rate it based on the wine itself and what it is telling me. Kinda like “Deep Thoughts”, with Jack Handy! Anyway, there are some layers present here but no tannins to speak of. I had to go back and double-check the label to make sure this w
Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2007-11-29 20:00:27
Cork:Authentic
Name: Grgich HillsCabernetSauvignon
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2003
Region: Napa Valley
Country: USA
Producer: Grgich Hills Cellar
Price: $55.99
Purchased at: Wine.com
Date: 11/09/07
Served With: Salmon marinated in reduced balsamic vinegar with capers and herb-scented olive oil
Appearance: Like a garnet stone; deep burgundy with red on the edges where the light shines
Aroma: Cherries, crushed red roses, berry cobbler, currant, oak
Taste: Yummy, slightly fruit taste on the front of the tongue, a mellow middle and a balancing tannic finish.
Comments: If a cobbler was cooked cherries, currants and sweet tobacco in an oak-fired oven it might come close to the taste of this wine. Add the alcohol, of course!! This is one of the more balanced Cabernet Sauvignon wines I’ve had. I loved the balanced tannic finish…it’s like the flavor spreads evenly around your mouth as you swallow creating a very satisfying, warm experience. We decanted this wine
Rosenblum Zinfandel 2005 2007-12-15 10:03:10
Cork: Synthetic
Name: Rosenblum Richard Sauret Vineyard Zinfandel
Type: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2005
Region: California Central Coast, Paso Robles
Country: USA
Producer: Richard Sauret Vineyard
Price: $25.99
Purchased at: Wine.com
Date: 11/09/07
Served With: Ala Carte
Appearance: Looks pretty hearty for a Zin. Nice legs. Doesn’t look thin at all.
Aroma: Now this smells excellent - classic American oak, black pepper and hints of vanilla. It even smells complex!
Taste: Great complexity, spicy and smooth on top, finishes with baking spices.
Comments: We really enjoyed this wine. The aroma and initial flavors were reminiscent of the Spectacular Shiraz though not quite as full bodied. Yet it was very robust for a Zinfandel! This is quite possibly the best non-old vines Zin that I’ve ever had, certainly as robust as any Zinfandel I’ve ever had.
The bottle has a great “Pull Tab to Remember” feature on the back label. What a great way to conveniently remember
Molly Dooker Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon 2007-12-08 16:59:17
Cork:Authentic
Name: Molly
Dooker Gigglepot
Type: CabernetSauvignon
Vintage: 2006
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Producer: Molly Dooker
Price: $54.99
Purchased at: Wine.com
Date: 11/09/07
Served With: Dry Rub Pulled Pork Sandwiches, cole slaw
Appearance: Wow! This is the deepest, darkest, richest looking Cabernet I’ve ever seen. Makes my mouth water just looking at it!
Aroma: Ripe dark berries, Maybe some black pepper
Taste: Very jammy…plummy. Balanced and smooth.
Comments: This was a very nice bottle of wine to enjoy with friends. It’s fun to say the name and I could stare at the glass all night! I just could not get over how luscious this looked. While it had some very jammy flavors it was not too sweet by any means. I found it to have great tannins which helped define a finely structured and layered wine that I enjoyed for as long as I possibly could.
One of my friends who is really on a Shiraz kick lately really enjoyed this wine (as we all
Recommend Site To A Friend
