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 Sam Enos Wine Reviews
2004 - Yalumba Grenache Bushvine Grenache |
Good Grenache |
| Sep 19, 2007 |
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| This wine has a deep purple core, fresh colors, and highlights of fuchsia on rim. The nose is also fresh, fruity, and slightly sweet with a combination of red and black fruits like raspberry and currant. It is lighter than one would expect on the palate but its freshness is undeniable. Decent tannin, more black fruits, and long finish suggest that it could be drunk with food or simply by itself. |
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2003 - Cascina Castlet Barbera d'Asti Passum Barbera |
Modern Barbera |
| Sep 19, 2007 |
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| This is not an unfortunate Italian dirt bomb. Winemaking in Italy has improved tremendously and is ever more appealing to the American palate which this wine makes abundantly clear. Deep purple in color with a slightly brick colored rim, this wine clearly has depth even before taking a sniff. Once in the nose, deep, dark fruits are apparent with a nice hint of blueberry and minimal dusky tones. The palate is rich, ripe and big with a combination of red and black fruits. Strong tannin makes this a good food wine and also one you don’t have to drink immediately – it has staying power. |
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2004 - Fuisse, Chateau Pouilly Fuisse Tete de Cru Chardonnay |
Highly Recommended! |
| Sep 19, 2007 |
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| This is a killer white wine. Its color is a scintillating silvery gold. Melon, mineral, chalk, and citrus jump from the nose. On the palate it is just amazing. It is creamy and mouth filling with melon, more mineral and an incredibly long finish. In our tasting, I had to hold off on the next wine just because the flavors here were still lingering around so long. Top notch! |
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2005 - Mollydooker Carnival of Love Syrah |
Blockbuster red |
| Sep 10, 2007 |
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This wine is absolutely huge. The color is inky black, the fruit is huge, immensely fresh, and it is barely balance by the fine, but strong tannins. Hints of chocolate, carob, and coffee add immediate interest to this mouthcoating wine. Highly, highly recommended! Also this wine should last for years and years if you want to put it down. Great now - probably sublime in 10.
A very similar wine is Mollydookers Two Left Feet. It is close to the same quality, is very similar stylistically, and is a $150 dollars less to purchase!
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2003 - Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Sauvignon Blanc |
Canadian SB? good try... |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| This wine would be too light and crisp if it had not spent time in oak.
However, as it is, the color has deepened and the wine has become round
and soft while still retaining a light zing. The nose displays some
green apple, pear, and a spicy herbality. Nicely mouth filling, more
apple and stone fruit appears on the palate with a good finish that
doesn’t overstay its welcome. |
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2003 - Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Sauvignon Blanc |
Canadian SB? good try... |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| This wine would be too light and crisp if it had not spent time in oak.
However, as it is, the color has deepened and the wine has become round
and soft while still retaining a light zing. The nose displays some
green apple, pear, and a spicy herbality. Nicely mouth filling, more
apple and stone fruit appears on the palate with a good finish that
doesn’t overstay its welcome. |
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2005 - Ste Michelle, Chateau Indian Wells Riesling Riesling |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| Precious metals come to mind when pouring your glass - it is seemingly
a liquid mix of bright gold and silver. Nice stone and tropical fruits
come through on the palate with some mineral and a touch of dried
apricot. As young wine, there is a touch of spritz immediately on the
palate, followed by more dried apricot and tropical fruit. It’s
sweetness is not cloying but the acids fall a bit shy of balancing it
perfectly. Over all, very well done. It would be excellent well-chilled
on one of those glorious spring days we have all been waiting for. |
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2006 - Wild Rock Cupids Arrow Pinot Noir Pinot Noir |
NZ Pinot? Not bad... |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| In the glass, this wine shows nice bright red depth and a fresh light
pink hue at the rim. It lacks some of the dusky hues often associated
with some Pinot Noirs. The nose is surprisingly complex with dried
cherry, sweet chocolate, light earthiness and bramble with a hint of
hard fruit candy. On the palate, this wine is light, as suits a good
Pinot, and shows off red fruits with a sweet edge, developed acid and
tannins, and a consistent finish. This is a good wine to go with pork
or duck dishes that are accompanied by fruit based sauces. |
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2004 - Montebuena Rioja Tempranillo |
Rustic Red |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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This wine has a deep red core with hints of garnet and a light maroon
rim. Aromas of very ripe cherry and cassis are present along with some
rusticity and light white pepper. The body is rather light with tight
acids, more cherry, and carob undertones. Consistent finish. This wine
will go very well with stews and barbequed meats.
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2006 - Lageder Pinot Bianco Alto Adige Pinot Blanc |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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In the glass, this wine is a lovely scintillating silvery/gold. The
nose is very fresh with stone and tropical fruits. Strong mineral and
nickel come through on the palate with more fresh peach and melon. It
is surprisingly mouth coating and balanced with enough acid to match
any light chicken or fish meal. Great value.
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2001 - Kidron Chardonnay Chardonnay |
Summer Chiller |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| Stylistically, this wine is a ‘light’ version of more typical
Chardonnays. The color and intensity of the wine are subdued by design
with the use of neutral oak barrels. These barrels are generally about
5 years old and do not impart the strong toast, oak, and cream
character of Chardonnays stored in new oak. The result is a very
pleasing, highly drinkable wine that would do well to be nicely
chilled. The color is light silvery yellow and the nose has some stone
fruit, light vanilla and a hint of green. The body is medium and more
stone fruit, a hint of citrus, and a hint of cream come through on the
palate. Medium finish. This wine is perfect for sharing on a hot spring
day out on the porch. |
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2004 - Dona Paula Cabernet Sauvignon Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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Aromas of dark fruits immediately appear in the nose with some
eucalyptus, smokiness, and green pepper. It has a nice mouth-coating
body with tight tannins and a longish finish. This is an excellent food
wine and would complement any meat dish with a sauce that is on the
sweet side. Think duck with a black currant sauce.
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2004 - Janasse, Domaine de la Vdp Terre de Bussiere Proprietary Blend |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| This wine starts in the glass with a nice deep hue and a pinkly
translucent rim. Fascinating aromas of warm berry, bramble, black
currant, raisin and light baking chocolate jump from the glass. The
lightness on the palate belies the nose a bit, but it is pleasant with
a good mouth-feel and blueberry flavors. Best with food. |
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2003 - Bouachon, Maison Chateauneuf du Pape la Tiare de Pape Proprietary Blend |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| his wine is has a vibrant, garnet color with a slightly brick colored
rim. The nose is earthy with dried red fruit, coffee, and baking
chocolate aromas. Medium bodied in the mouth, more dried red fruits
show through with some caramel and nicely balanced tannins. This wine
would go great with a portabella mushroom dish.. |
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2005 - Pillar Box Red Proprietary Blend |
In a word...Huge |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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Subtlety is not a play here with this one. The color is an intensely
dark purple with fuchsia highlights at the rim. Ripe, jammy fruit jumps
from the glass and can be smelled from across the room. It is opulent,
fresh, and huge. Tongue coating flavors of blackberry and currant
linger on the palate with cigar box nuances. Excellent tannic structure
with an enjoyable finish.
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2000 - Columbia Winery Syrah Red Willow Vineyard Signature Series Syrah |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| Without knowing before hand that this was a Washington wine it would
have been difficult to pin down. In the nose, typical Australian Shiraz
notes come through with dark fruits and a hint of mint and bramble. The
palate however seems more old-world with some earthiness, more subdued
dark fruit, and some baking chocolate. An excellent and interesting
wine with a long, consistent finish. |
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2002 - Faiveley Mercurey Croix Jacquelet Pinot Noir |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| This wine is very light in color showing red cherry and highlights of
brick. The nose and palate are another matter though. The cherry is
there throughout but the depth and concentration of flavors belies its
pale profile. The nose not only shows red sweet cherry but also some
nice smoke, spice, and a hint of white chocolate. In the mouth, this
wine is medium bodied with full cherry flavors, hints of ripe fig, and
a solid dose of tannin and acid. This is a good, consistent, balanced
food wine with a long finish. |
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2004 - d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz / Viognier Syrah |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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Wow, this one is huge. All the corresponding descriptors apply – thick,
inky, purple, dense and concentrated. Loads of rich dark berry fruit
integrate nicely with the sweet mature tannin and the touch of
honeysuckle and white pepper on the nose. A truly bodacious wine,
perfect for a nicely peppered steak and toasting the last days of
summer and barbecue.
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2004 - Beaulieu Comtes de Tastes Bordeaux Blend |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| This is a good Bordeaux for under 20 bucks. It has a vibrant red/purple in color with hints of light red brick.
Charmingly smokey in the nose, this wine also displays ripe blackberry,
currant and blueberry aromas. On the palate it is light bodied with
more smokiness, black fruits and a short, but satisfying finish. |
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2004 - Perrin Cotes du Rhone Reserve Blanc Proprietary Blend |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| This is a light, tight, and crisp wine. It starts with a nose of floral
cream notes and with light citrus and stone fruit on the palate. There
is something very slightly sweet here like candied green apple. Good
finish. It would go well with salads with any type of vinaigrette. |
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2003 - Finca Luzon Altos de Luzon Proprietary Blend |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| This wine is simply fantastic. It is inky, purple/black in color. The
last time I saw a wine with color like this was in a Kongsgaard Syrah
which costs more than the down payment on most homes. Rich, deep plum
fills the nose with chocolate, a touch a vanilla extract, and dark
cherry. It is very well balanced with integrated tannins and an
excellent, long finish. The body is a little lighter than I expected,
however, the flavors remain quite rich. |
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2006 - Annie's Lane Riesling Riesling |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| Light golden yellow in the glass with silvery highlights, this wine is
nicely fruity up front with citrus, mineral, and light melon. It is
initially quite sweet on the palate but is later tempered by decent
acidity. The palate has lime, light tropical fruits, and something that
oddly reminds me of gummy bears. An excellent, well-chilled sipper. |
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2004 - Kilikanoon Shiraz Killerman's Run Syrah |
Big, Booming Syrah! |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| This wine is huge and utterly pleasant from start to finish. The color
is an opulent, royal purple with striking density. The nose is sweet
and ripe without being cloying with minty eucalyptus and pleasing
warmth. The palate is mouth coating with blackberry and a lingering
finish. Perfect to drink now by itself or with food. |
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2001 - Rockbare Shiraz Syrah |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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This wine is vibrant red in the glass with a dark purple/red core.
Warm, ripe, but subdued fruits come through in the nose with a hint of
mint. Big bold fruits and a big body fill the mouth and the finish is
juicy, long and consistent. Not a subtle wine but it is in line with a lot of what Australia is producing on the low end.
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2005 - Thorn-Clarke Shiraz Milton Park Syrah |
| Aug 30, 2007 |
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| Thick, dark black and purple core with hints of fuchsia on the rim. The
fruit is very ripe, sweet and jammy on the nose, with wild herb hints
in the background. The wine is soft and sweet on the front of the
palate, building to a full, lush mid-palate with full jammy blackberry,
boysenberry and hints of oak that linger in to the finish. |
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2001 - Marbuzet Bordeaux Blend |
Nice Value Bordeaux |
| Aug 08, 2007 |
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| Dark purple and maroon in the core surrounded by a bright maroon rim
edged with brick highlights. The nose is full and rich with roasted
coffee, toasted oak and light peat coming overtop bold dark rich
cherries and raspberries, followed by a hint of dusty minerality. The
wine enters the palate with a nice bold feel. Strong acids support a
nice core of fruit. Dark cherry and plum are surrounded by toasty
vanilla and earth, leading to a medium finish accented by notes of
nickel. |
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2004 - Cosentino Winery Merlot Legends Merlot |
Larry Bird's Surprise Shot |
| Aug 08, 2007 |
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Cosentino Winery and Larry Bird teamed up to make a value priced Napa merlot. Here is what I thought of it:
"A nice deep core of dark red/brick is immediately visible is the glass.
Ripe red cherry, a hint of pepper and poached plums come through on the
nose. The palate is nicely balanced with fine, ripe tannins, a delicate
spiciness, and velvety mouthfeel. More cherry complements the nose and
follows through nicely on the finish."
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