About the Wine Journal
Here are selected excerpts from the Wine Journal I’ve been keeping since Thanksgiving 2006.
The original version is a notebook I carry around to wine tastings and parties. (My writing can get illegible after the 5th-6th-7th pour on occasion but I’ve managed to decipher a few of those scrawlings to post here.)
Many entries have both a rating from 1-5 stars (*****) and a few words about the taste, appearance and scent of the wine. Some occasions, I’ll be more into the descriptive phrases and not bother with the star rating.
Part of the fun of wine tasting with friends is hearing how each individual experiences different flavors in their wine, prefers different qualities and varietals, and uses their own unique vocabulary to describe it all.
Tasted 11.27.06
|
Edna Valley • Paragon Chardonnay (San Obispo County), 2005
Stephen – Buttery, rich ****
Karl – Good, let’s have a Pinot. ***½
Jon – Citrusy ***
Harvest Moon • Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley, Santa Rosa), 2004
Andrea – Light, salty ***½
Stephen – Mild, light, “white-red”, airy
Karl – Mmmm, buttery, buttery ****
Jon – Clean
Chateau Souverain • Merlot (Alexander Valley), 2002
Andrea – Good, berryish ***
Stephen – Too young? Tangy **
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards • Durif (McDowell Valley), 2003
Andrea – Rich and sweet ****
Karl – Got a mild bite ***
Bogle • Petite Syrah (Clarksburg, CA), 2004
Andrea – A bit too alumy, but okay ***
Karl – Mmmm, good
Stephen – I’m fucked up, but it’s good. ***
Jon – The ground’s fucking with me.
Pat – Fuck wine.
|
Tasted 12.06 |
Rodney Strong • Merlot (Sonoma County), 2002
Andrea – Warm, toasted ***½
Stephen – Starts out with flavor, but weak in middle and no finish. **½
Rockhouse • Chardonnay (North Carolina), 2004
Andrea – Sour, tangy, okay **
Stephen – Pretty good
Lissa – Damn good for middle of nowhere North Carolina **½
Aaron – **½
Rabbit Ridge • Zinfandel (Paso Robles, Westside), 2004
Andrea – Berryish ***½
Stephen – Fruity ***½
Ahlgren • Cabernet Sauvignon (Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains), 2001
Andrea – Perfect *****
Stephen – ****
Lissa – Good nose
Aaron – Really good, inky, best Cab in years ****
Harvest Moon • Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley), 2004
Andrea – ***½
Aaron – Black cherry
Lissa – Smooth, spicy
|
Tasted 01/07? |
Endrizzi • Teroldego Rotalino, Reserva, Speriore (Italian), 2001
Andrea – Light, salty ***
Stephen – Tangy, tannins go well with salad
Karl – Chianti-like acidic kick at the end ***
Ripasso • Capital della Crosari, Monopolio Montressor (Verona, Italy), 2003
Andrea – Very drinkable, good ***
Stephen – Sweet, raisiny
Karl – Spicy, smooth, with a bit of a kick ***½
|
Tasted ?/07? |
Hahn • Meritage (Central Coast, Soledad/Monterey), 2004
Andrea – Tart, sharp **
|
Tasted 02.07.07 |
Harvest Moon • Late Harvest Zinfandel, Estate (Russian River Valley), 200?
Andrea – Rich, syrupy sweet *****
Stephen – Sweet and tangy *****
|
Tasted 02.10.07 |
Black Mountain • “Fat Cat” Cabernet Sauvignon (California), 2003
Andrea – Tasty, sharpish, a bit young tasting for 03. Not very rich. **½
Stephen – Alright
Gnarly Head • Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi), 2005
Andrea – ***
|
Tasted 02.13.07 |
Evenus • Zinfandel Port (Paso Robles), 2003
Andrea – Thick, smooth, sticky ****½
|
Tasted ??.07 |
Thomas Fogarty • Gewurztraminer 200?
Andrea – Good for white, especially ice cold ***
Stephen – Crisp and sweet ****
|
Tasted ??.07 |
Bargetto • Dolcetto (Santa Cruz Mountains), 2004
Andrea – ***
Laura – Would age well, fruity, bright ***
Greg – A bit dull.
Grizzly Flat • Shiraz “Big Bold Red” (Central Coast), 2003
Andrea – Caramel aftertaste ***
Stephen – Strong, fruity, very drinkable
Lissa – Very good
Aaron – A little weak on the finish
Sonnet • Pinot Noir (York Mountain, Kruse Vineyard), 2004
Andrea – Smooth, light
Stephen – Wow, dark
Lissa – Really good flavor
Aaron – Tasty, nice and light
Karl – Fruity, spice
Martin Ranch • Cabernet 200?
Andrea – ***½
Stephen – Buttery all through
Lissa – Melts in your mouth, low tannin
Karl – Buttery soft
|
Tasted ??.07 |
David Bruce • Petit Syrah (Central Coast) 2004
Andrea – Sweet, smooth, good ***½
Stephen – Oaky, smooth, mild
|
Tasted ??.07 |
Rodney Strong • Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) 2005
Andrea – Lots of flavor, and perfumey scent ***
|
Tasted ??.07 |
La Crema • Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast, Windsor) 2005
Andrea – ***
Stephen – **½
|
Tasted ??.07 |
Wecker • Red Blend (Germany? Marin County?) 200?
Andrea – Sweet ***
Aaron – Actually pretty good
Lissa – Tastes of honey
|
Tasted ??.07 |
Chateau Bonnet • Bordeaux (France) 2004
Andrea – Pretty good ***
|
Tasted ??.07 |
Barefoot Cellars • Chardonnay (Modesto) 2003?
Andrea – Okay, drinkable **
|
Tasted 07.11.07 |
Thomas Fogarty • Skyline Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains) 2006
Andrea – Tangy ***½
Stephen – Crisp citrus, not as buttery, but still good ***½
Karl – not too sweet, nice, light and fruity ****
Berra – Good
Storrs • Merlot (Central Coast) 2002
Andrea –****
Karl – ***
St. Supery • Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) 2002
Andrea – Very Cab, and spicy, rich ****
Clinton – Not bad, good, nice and smooth
|
Tasted 07.13.07 |
Moshin Vineyards • Merlot (Dry Creek, V. Molinari Vineyard) 2005
Andrea – Tastes like meat juice.
Ahlgren • Chardonnay (Ventana Vineyard, Monterey) 2004
Stephen – Crisp, but not dry, okay, but flat
Lissa – Citrusy, not much going on... but opens up buttery later.
|
