Sean Minor Wines with Stuart Barker/Massandra

Sean Minor is a kansas city native who has moved to california and become a negotiant grape buyer... and makes wine from them. Stuart has an accent that makes me think Australia.

Rose Vin Gris 2012 soft and easy. loads of watermellon and strawberry

Sauv Blanc 2011  lemon lime and herbal.. a little white pepper on the finish

Central Coast Pinot Noir 2010 a beginners Pinot with raspbery and cherry

Cabernet Sauvignon with 20 % Petite Sirah to give some structure. juicy with red and black fruits

The above wines were produced in the 4 Bears line, named for his children

Sean Minor Carneros 2010  smoky and cherry cola, no doubt california but supple maybe a touch herbal

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2010 good with soft tannins

Red Blend 2009  dark color.. made with mostly zin and merlot. pretty blue fruit.. and marshmallow.. a little jammy and a touch of heat on the finish

Overall good line and good value.

Argentine wine/golden barrel

Maipe Argentina
Sauvignon Blanc 2011.. more herbal, not grapefruit.. cleaner

Chardonnay 2011 light stainless steel.. good fruit.. clean

Rose of Malbec 2011  strawberry color, stinky feet nose, somewhat juicy but the earthy/stinky feet carries through

Malbec 2012 darkin in color, blueberry/raspberry nose, dark flavors and somewhat chunky on the palate.. a young vine expression

Cabernet 2011 dark color in glass but very blunt flavors on the palate.. not a fan

Reserve Malbec 2011  nice tannins but not a lot of fruit on the finish

Reserve Cabernet 2010  nice and clear in the glass.. a bit of stinky feet up front.. fruity upfront tannins

Chakana Malbec 2011 the winner of the day.. very tight nose but such wonserful fruit on the palate.. lush and lovely.. a hint of chocolate marshmello.. on the long finish..

Lexicon 2012 Malbec dark concentrated colors.. good berry some oak and fruit.. soft tannins..

wines from vino leonardo

Cheeseburger Red NV a  field blend of california red wines actually not bad except for the cheesy name.. light and juicy.. soft

Tinazzi Amarone 2008.. very juicy and light tannins.. not typical of amarone..

Trefonte "Enne" Negromaro Salento 2009.. light italian stink.. juicy on the palate. nice texture and tannins.. best of this tasting

Boscheti Barbera d'alba.. 2009  italian by nose.. somewhat juicy.. but dirty on the palate.

Colle Maggio Montepulciano d' abruzzo 2008.. dark color, oaky cedar nose.. nice dark fruits on the palate. also a little dirty on the finish.. needs food

Las Acequias Malbec 2007.. fruity on entry which surprised given the age of the wine but sweet almost cough syrupy sweet on the finish.. a little old

wine wednesday part 5

Cusumano Nero d'avola Sicily 2011 a bit of the stink.. but juicy on the palate.. nice finish. good value.. finish of coffee/mocha

Melini Chianti DOCG Reserva 2009.. may be a touch corked.. not showing as well as it should..

Marchesi di Barolo Barbera Maraia 2011.. touch of a green or vegetal nose, juicy black fruit on the palate... intereswting

Argiolas Costamolino Bianco Vermentino Sardinia 2011.. not as earthy as I remember and a little sweeter than i remember..  juicy though.. fun wine

Bottega Vinaia Pinot Noir 2009.. pinot from italy.. why?? boring and light..

wine wednesday part 4/quintessential wines

Simonsig Chenin blanc 2012 South Africa.. smoky slate  nose, uses a small amount of botrytis to achieve some sweetness.

Real Campania De Vinos Verdejo 2012  light mineral with a touch of tropical and lushness that comes from lees stirring..

Cachette Rose Gard grenache 2012  light salmon in color. tight nose and not a lot of stuff

Real Camapania Rose 2012.. grenache with a little tempranillo (?) very dry...

Cachette Cotes du Rhone 2010.. dark in the glass.. dense in flavor earthy.. needs food

Real Tempranillo 2011 dark raspberry/quince juicy on the front and quick finish

Muriel Rioja Crianza 2008 spice box vanilla on the nose, nice enough juice..

Muriel Reserva 2007.. sawdust on thenose, again with the spice box.. a lot going on.

wine wednesday part 3 jk wines

Las Vides Torrontes Famatima valley argentina 2010... interesting older nose... a little diesley.. almost alsace. not typical of torrontes

Las Vides Malbec Famatima Valley 2012.  young vines aromas.. bing cherry flavor... leaner style

99 Red Blend California nv.. mostly zinfandel.. a touch juicy but blunt on the finish

99 Cabernet Sauvignon California NV.. also with a blunt finish.. not a fan

Las Vides Malbec Estate 2012.,. a touch of iodine or medicinal on the nose,  soft fruit though on the palate.. cool label

wine wednesday part 2/ bommarito

Shadow Chaser White 2012.. chardonnay this time around.. stainless and pretty tasteless.. not a long finish.. pretty lean

Shadow Chaser Red 2012.  grenache this time around.. younger vine aromas.. stainless steel medicinal fruit. gripping tannin.. may need food

Tenuta sant'antionio Torre Mellotti Cabernet Sauvignon 2009.. light italian stink.. juicy on the palate with black fruit. and nice carry through.

Ramsay Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast 2011. typical california cab.. cassis and dark fruit.. soft tannins.. hint of oak

wine wednesday part 1

banfi collectors club

Banfi Brunello di montalcino 2007  beautiful aromas of dried meats and fruit.. soft tannins and long finish

Bolla La Poiane Valpolicella a more rustic version.. italian stink.. a bit of raisin, lots of middle palate but not much finish

Coyum Red Chile dark red.. spicy nose, lots of spice on the palate.. a field blend with everything but malbec.. interesting and flavorful

Sartori Amarone 2008.. more of the new world style.. soft fruit nose, very juicy.. fruit forward with good tannin from both fruit and wood..and would handle food very well.

vintegrity/ vintage59/ debra lewis

Closerie des Lys, Limoux a vin de pays wine.. 2011 Chardonnay all stainless steel and lots of tropical fruit from france.. a bridge or gateway wine for people wanting to go from Cali to Burgundy  Closerie des Lys Pinot Noir  fruity and lightly sensual..  liked the chard better but still nice

Gilbert Picq Chablis 2011.. bright fruit.. young vines and stainless..

Jean Michel Gaunoux Meursault 2009.. least favorite of the bunch.. may just be a little old.. or a little corked.. green apple on the palate but not much other

Bachelet Monnot Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres 2010.. what white burgundy should be.. perfect from start to finish.. lean and lush at the same time.. beautiful nose and lovely finish...

Joseph Voillot Volnay Vielles Vignes 2010   surprising fruity nose, some acidity.. a very feminine version of pinot noir

Lucien Muzard Santenay Clos des Mouches 2010 more masculine version of Pinot.. structured tannins on the palate.. more iron in the soil translates to more finish.. more terroir on the nose than the Volnay

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bernie lee with wine from Glazer

Due Uve Bertani Italy 2011 due uve means two grapes.. pinot grigo and sauv blanc... the strong smell of feline urine... not so much from the pinot grigio..

Treana White Blend marsanne and Viognier 2010.. nose of fruit and green olive... typical of this grape blend.. viognier nose and marsanne body.. try me again in 5 years when the green olive turns to honey...

san francisco wine golden barrel

Milbrandt Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Columbia Valley fruity on the nose but earthy on the finish.. needs food

Beronia Crianza 2008 touch of oak.. some fruit but pretty boring

Beronia Reserva Rioja 2007... much better than the Crianza.. an old world nose, spice box and cedar on the palate.. very nice.

Yali Sauvignon Blanc 2012.. more herbal side of sb... nice acidity... may be at the summer tasting.

David Bruce Santa Lucia Chardonnay 2010.. off nose, and fruit on the palate

David Bruce California Petite Sirah 2010  fruity , tannic and long finish.

David Bruce Pinot Noir 2010 Sonoma Coast vegetal nose, a bit herbacious on the palate.. was hoping for more..

Hedges winery/Alexander Hedges Appellations

Hedges CMS White Sauvignon Blanc 2010  a blend but predomanintely Sauv Blanc.. with some Semillon and Marsanne, hence the CMS... very steely and bright fruit.

Independent Producers Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2010.. single vineyard sourced unoaked, no malo just pure fruit...with stirring on lees to give a little creamy character. good for those wanting to get away from all that butter and sweetness

Hedges CMS Red Cab, Merlot and Syrah 2010 soft and juicy.. has more substance than apothic or Menage, and a very dry finish.. earthy almost

Independent Producers Merlot 2010.. my least favoritee of the group for sure.. messy label.. and a green wine on the nose.

Hedges Red Mountain Red 2010.. predominately Cab with Merlot and Syrah. cab pencil lead nose in the lead.. a bit dusty or earthy on the finish.. seems to be the house style