Matchbook Blockhouse (2004) Dunnigan Hills

August 18, 2007 — -

Matchbook Blockhouse 2004I purchased this Matchbook Blockhouse 2004, a blend of Syrah, Tempranillo, Malbec and Petit Verdot, at a pharmacy/liquor store in Ann Arbor. I also purchased a bottle of Plymouth Gin after reading in The Wall Street Journal that this gin made an exceptional martini [my favorite cocktail].

Well, let me tell you, this Matchbook Blockhouse 2004 is ooooh-la-la delicious! It’s a $19 bottle of wine that was on sale for $12. I knew from reading the description that I would love it, and I was right! I just love this wine. This has an aroma of black cherries and tobacco. On the palate is berries and earth. The tannins are firm and grippy and the finish is long and very satisfying. I would like to find out more about this winery. Wow, it is luscious!

George and TonyI am hopeful that Tom will also blog about this wine and post some pictures from our dinner with Tony (our son) and George (his friend and like our son) who just returned from 3 1/2 months in South America. We had a celebration dinner for their return home with several South American wines, such as Amaicha Bonarda, Barrio La Boca Malbec, and Chiñigue Andes Collection Carmenere. It was great and memorable!

George, Melody, and TonyTony and George told some wonderful stories. Their story of their boat trip on the Amazon (sleeping on hammocks with 200 other passengers) made me laugh so hard it hurt. Tony said that a woman had her hammock over his, hanging very low, and that “I could feel the heat of her back on my thigh.” How funny is that? (Maybe you had to be there, but it was hilarious!)

Posted in Blends, California wines, Over $10. 6 Comments »

Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 (2005)

August 15, 2007 — -

Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 2005Tom and I are pretty whipped after a great little dinner party last night to welcome home our son, Tony, and his friend, George, from their three-and-a-half month trek around South America with only their backpacks. We had a marvelous evening and enjoyed several South American wines. We will post our report on last night soon, when we recover and can think clearly! But tonight is a quiet night; we both worked hard today and need some quiet time to regenerate our batteries.

Tonight, we are having a bottle of this Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 2005 (following a life-giving martini). This Chilean red was a value purchase at Trader Joe’s in Ann Arbor ($6.49). It is a very adequate mid-week quaff. The nose is very earthy and needs some decanting. On the palate is a definite taste of leather along with earth and some ripe fruit. This is a tannic and austere wine but perfect for our dinner of steak and brown rice. This is a very good-value wine.

Tom: This Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon 120 2005 is very good: tannic and chocolaty. A very nice big red.

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chilean wines, Under $10. 2 Comments »

Chateau Andrea Cabernet Sauvignon (2005)

August 12, 2007 — -

Chateau Andrea Cabernet Sauvignon 2005I don’t know if I was just in the mood for this Chateau Andrea Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 or what. But, I like everything about this wine. First of all, I like the look of the bottle and the label. It is classy, not silly. These grapes are grown in Paso Robles, which is hot and hilly. It makes a very fine Cabernet.

The color is deep and dark – nearly black. The aroma is seductive; you just know it is going to be great. On the palate is black cherry, blackberries and currants. This is full bodied with precise, firm tannins. I would guess these grapes are fermented in oak barrels; I can detect subtle hints of oak in the generously long finish. This is a wine that I ohhhh and ahhhh over. I love it. This is one of my favorites. By the way, we are having hamburgers tonight on the grill, with salad and fresh tomatoes from the garden.

Tom: This Chateau Andrea Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 is great. It’s big, tannic, and tasty, with hints of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. Very, very nice and very drinkable.

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California wines, Over $10. 32 Comments »

Il Basso Zinfandel (2005)

August 11, 2007 — -

Il Basso Zinfandel 2005This Il Basso Zinfandel 2005 from Puglia, Italy, is delicious. The aroma is yeasty and inviting. The color is dark red and lush. On the palate is raisins, plums, and black pepper. The tannins are grippy and the finish is long. For dinner, I am making brats on the grill, sauerkraut, potatoes, and sliced tomatoes from our garden. I wanted a bold wine that would hold up to the strong taste of the sauerkraut and brats. I’m sure this will pair nicely with our dinner.

Two more nights until Tony returns from South America!

Tom: This is Il Basso Zinfandel 2005 is delicious: big, jammy, tannic. (Il Basso means The Bottom.) This will stand up to brats, mustard, and sauerkraut.

Posted in Italian wines, Over $10, Zinfandel. Leave a Comment »

Feudo Zirtari Sicilia (2004)

August 10, 2007 — -

Feudo Zirtari Sicilia 2004This Feudo Zirtari Sicilia 2004 is a blend of Nero d’Avola, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tom bought this wine at Trader Joe’s in Ann Arbor for around $6. As I sniff and taste this wine, I realize I have noticed a pattern in the Italian reds. Like many other Italian reds I have tasted lately, this one is astringent and light bodied. There isn’t much fruit taste but the finish is quite fascinating. The finish is minty and fresh — maybe cloves. It makes for a very pleasant sipping experience. This is a very adequate end-of-the-week quaff. Because I am harvesting tomatoes from my garden, this will accompany our dinner of grilled hamburgers (with sliced tomatoes, natch), corn on the cob and a fresh salad.

Well, I take that back. We opened this bottle last night so that means we’re finishing this bottle before dinner and will open something new to serve with dinner. Oh. . . a teaser. Stay tuned for more details!

Tom: This Feudo Zirtari Sicilia 2004 is very, very nice: dry, tasty, medium-bodied, and very drinkable. A classic Italian red table wine. And a great value.

Posted in Blends, Italian wines, Under $10. 2 Comments »

Château Saint-Sulpice Bordeaux (2004)

August 8, 2007 — -

Chateau Saint-Sulpice Bordeaux 2004This Château Saint-Sulpice Bordeaux 2004 is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. It is extremely fragrant — the aroma of pencil shavings was noticeable even before I reached for the glass. On the palate is a blend of warm sunshine (it’s the only way I know how to describe that special taste) and fruitcake. The body is light. This is a dry wine that makes your mouth pucker. It’s fabulous; if you love dry red wine, you’ll love this one.

Posted in Blends, Bordeaux, French wines, Over $10. 1 Comment »

Cherry Creek Montage (2005)

August 7, 2007 — -

Cherry Creek Cellars Montage 2005This big Cherry Creek Cellars Montage red has always been my favorite Michigan wine. We discovered the wine during a wine tasting a few years ago and purchased a case of the Cherry Creek Cellars 2003 Montage. The Montage we are having tonight is a 2005 that we tasted recently at Cherry Creek Cellars winery. As my husband well knows, I‘m crazy about the 2003 Montage.

The 2005 is also very, very good. It is big and bold, but it is different than the 2003 variety. I would need to taste them both, side-by-side, to identify exactly how they are different.

I would certainly expect the 2005 to be different than the 2003. That is just one example of what makes wine so fascinating! This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chancellor Noir is simply delicious. The nose has a hint of cloves. The taste is rich and woody with hints of blackberry and a lengthy finish. I will always be a big fan of this wine. Anyone who has any doubts about Michigan producing a big red needs to taste the Cherry Creek Cellars Montage.

Posted in Blends, Michigan wines, Over $10. 1 Comment »

Château Du Buisson Bordeaux (2005)

August 6, 2007 — -

Chateau Du Buisson Bordeaux 2005This Château Du Buisson Bordeaux 2005 is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Wow. I was very pleasantly surprised at this wine. Tom bought this wine tonight at Trader Joe’s in Ann Arbor for around $7. The color is deep reddish purple. The nose is fresh and exhilarating. On the palate is a hint of licorice, some vanilla, and oak. This is a very dry and tannic wine. What I love about this wine is that it is not sweet or overly fruity — I am not a fan of jammy wine. I really like this wine very much!

Tom: This Château Du Buisson Bordeaux 2005 is a very nice, big-tasting red. The label says that it’s raised in oak barrels (elevé en fûts de chêne). It’s dry, a bit on the soft side (82% Merlot), with hints of cherry and vanilla. Very nice, very drinkable.

Posted in Bordeaux, French wines, Under $10. 7 Comments »

Villagiachi Chianti Vendemmia (2005)

August 5, 2007 — -

Villagiachi Chianti Vendemmia 2005This Villagiachi Chianti Vendemmia 2005 is rich and jammy, with hints of blackberry and tobacco. Medium body and medium tannins. Very nice and very drinkable. This will be pair wonderfully with our spaghetti tonight.

Posted in Chianti, Italian wines, Over $10. 1 Comment »

Lindemans Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet 2006

August 5, 2007 — -

Lindemans Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet 2006This Lindemans Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet 2006 is definitely fruity. There’s some spice from the shiraz, but the overall taste of this blend is juicy and on the sweet side. It’s very fruit forward. It’s luscious if one’s taste leans toward fruit dominance. It’s too much if one’s taste leans toward dryness and acidity. The price was way, way below $10, so it’s definitely a value.

Posted in Australian wines, Blends, Under $10. 3 Comments »
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