Sign In Sign-Up

Welcome!

Close

Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...

Yes, Please make this my home page!

No Thanks

  Don't show this to me again.

Close

August 1, 2000
15/20 points. Columbia Crest, Columbia Valley Merlot/Cabernet. Price $7.99 at Costco. Bright medium ruby color, exceptionally beautiful nose of blackberries, crushed red fruit, and cassis. The Cabernet fruit flavors really shine through with the dusty, plummy flavors of the Merlot keeping the Cabernet under control. Very much like a good Cru Bordeaux or a very good Bordeaux Superieur. Finishes with good grip, bright acids, and dusty tannins. This is a no-brainer, buy it by the case!

August 6, 2000
13/20 points. 1998 La Berardiere, Cotes du Rhone. Price $7.00 Wine Club Selection, K & L Wines. Probably one of the more elegant Cotes du Rhone's I've had. First off, this wine is very closed and could use some cellar time. It may get a better score in 1 or 2 years. It has a good but muted nose of cassis, blueberry and blackberry. It is a little light in the mouth, but cherry, blackberry, and bramble with a good dollop of acid and somewhat drying tannins finish off nicely.

August 7, 2000
16/20 points. 1998 Sonoma Creek California Cabernet. Price $7.49 at Costco. Medium ruby color. Very good nose of dusty cherries and oak. Bing Cherries, cassis, plums, and sage along with an exceptional mouth feel fill out the palate. Finishes off with crispy acids and dusty tannins. Excellent value!

August 8, 2000
12/20 points. 1999 Pascal Jolinet Sancerre. $13.49 at Costco. If you like a non-oaked Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is for you! Straw gold color, nice nose of grapefruit. Pascal Jolinet Sancerre is a very nice departure from the overly oaked whites found in most wine shops. Good flavors of grapefruit and nectarine are supported by crisp, mouth watering acids and a slightly herbaceous finish. At $13.49 it's a little on the high side for me, but went very well with good old homemade fried chicken.

August 11, 2000
11/20 points. Beringer 1997 Alluvium Blanc. $9.95 at Costco. Light straw color, ummm excuse me, I've got to spit out splinters! Ok, back to the review. Nose of oak, vanilla, and some peach. Oops, more splinters, oh yeah, lots of oak on the palate with even more oak and some tropical fruit flavors. Finishes with decent acids and....you guessed it, more oak! If you like oak, this wine's got it. Hey Ed, a little less oak next time!

August 15, 2000
17/20 points. Clos Du Bois, 1998 Sonoma County Pinot Noir. $9.99 at Costco. This is as close to a Burgundy as you will get without going to France. Very "Burgundian". It starts off with aromas of raspberries, strawberries, and bacon. An absolute festival of flavors begin with thyme, sage, berries, and meat. A medium long finish of strawberries and bacon make this one of the most interesting $10 wines I've ever had. Another buy it by the case wine! Enjoy!

August 17, 2000
12/20 points. 1998 Beaumes De Venise, Cotes Du Rhone Villages. Price $7.00 from K&L Wine Club. Medium ruby color. Nice but simple nose of berries and cassis. It's a little light with the body, but the flavors of red berries, rose, and cassis are complex enough to be interesting. Decent acids and a lingering finish make for an average but enjoyable wine. Very good cost/value ratio.

August 22, 2000
12/20 points. 1997 Redwood Hills, North Coast Chardonnay. Price $2.99 at Grocery Outlet. Straw gold color, nice nose of peaches, pineapple, and wet stone. The fruit flavors follow through on the palate, with nice bracing acids for good palate cleansing. Finishes with oak and vanilla flavors. This is a surprisingly good wine for the money. Don't let the points fool you. It's a little simple in structure, but quite acceptable for the price.

August 26, 2000
15/20 points. 1998 David Bruce, Paso Robles Zinfandel. Price $9.99 at Costco. Dark garnet color, very distinct nose of plums and berries. Classic flavor of plums, bramble, and earth. Followed with blueberries and somewhat chalky tannins. Good acids, with a slightly hot finish (13 1/2% alcohol). A "serious" zin for $10 bucks. Wow!