Wine & Beer Reviews...
Since I've failed miserably in the past to do this for myself, I thought that perhaps I might do it if I published it for general consumption.
So, here's the deal. This post will be for the purposes of reviewing any beer or wine that might be of interest to others. This isn't the same as the alkie thread which focuses on asinine quantities of consumption.
The only rule is no reviewing crapola that everyone is sucking down on a weekly basis already.
posted by ANONYMOUS | 6:19 PM
15 Comments:
Demographics:
Ommegang - Belgian style Abbey Ale
8.5% abv
Cooperstown, NY
Purchased at Total Wine in St. John's Towne Center.
Taste:
This reminded me of Dogfish Head's Raison D'Etre. However, it wasn't quite as syrupy/thick as that. Had a really smooth caramel flavor with a pretty thick head to it. Not something you're going to drink more than one or two of due to the high alcohol.
Demographics:
Allagash White - Belgian style Wheat
5% abv
Portland, Maine
Purchased at Total Wine in St. John's Towne Center
Taste:
This is one of my all time favorite Belgian style wheat beers. I used to be able to get this from my local beer distributor in 1/6 keg sizes. Oh, how I miss Philly. Anyway, it is a yeasty, slightly spiced beer. You'll get a bit of a bite on the tip of your tongue with it. Otherwise, it's very smooth and medium bodied. I usually don't do it for this one, but if you're a 'lemon' kinda wheat beer drinker, this beer will accommodate it. (I've had many wheats that tasted like shit after dropping in the lemon.)
ENNNNNT... no go sister.
Riesling is a grape varietal. Mainly produced in Alsace France, Austria and most predominantly Germany. However, there are a few decent producers of it in the States.
If you've got a really good Riesling that you've tasted lately, feel free to post the info.
For instance, I've got 2 bottles of Washington State Rieslings in my fridge right now just waiting for you to show up for a pool day. God knows I'm not drinking that shit.
They are both 2005 vintages, oddly enough, from wineries that I've been to when I went to Seattle. They are actually across the road from each other too. Chateau Ste. Michelle & Columbia Winery.
You can review these two if you want... of course that requires you get over for a pool day, or two. :)
Chateau Ste. Michelle Reisling - excellent stuff. Sorry no wine review here - don't remember all of the specifics, but I've had it up in Rhode Island, and it's top notch stuff!!
Just passing through - beer reviews to come later.....
Demographics:
Ommegang - Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend.
9.8% abv
Cooperstown, NY
Purchased at Total Wine in St. John's Towne Center
Taste:
Wow. This is very similar to the regular Ommegang Belgian style Abbey Ale. The main difference is that this isn't quite as syrupy/heavy. The other is that this sucker packs a whollop! At almost 10% abv, it's one of the strongest beers I've ever drank. The bottle says that Cherry Lambic was added to the blend, however it must be such a small amount that I didn't detect it. It had a huge brown head to it and tasted much better at room temperature than it started out when it was chilled. Again, not something you'll want to be drinking more than one or two.
Demographics:
Ravenswood - Icon Syrah
Vintage: 2003
14.5% abv
Sonoma, CA
Purchased at Total Wine in St. John's Towne Center < $20.
Taste:
I'm not usually a big Syrah fan, as I prefer Petite Syrah, but for the price this one was a nice easy drinker. A bit high/crisp on the alcohol, so it has a bit of a burn on the finish. Additionally, a medium tannin to it as well. Not a big fruity wine, but it has its fair share of raspberry and plum notes.
Bottom line: If you like Syrah, you'll probably like this one, and for the price it's not bad at all.
Demographics:
Sobon Estate - Hillside Zinfandel
Vintage: 2004
14.5% abv
Amador County, CA
Purchased at Total Wine in St. John's Towne Center. < $15
Taste:
You'll need to open this one up and let it breathe for a bit. After, you'll find a silky mouth feel with blackberry and cherry. Not a real big fruity & jammy Zin, but very nice the same.
Bottom line: I've paid double for a Zin that didn't come close to this one. Pick one up if you want an inexpensive Zin.
Gotta admit that I enjoy trying lots of different beers, but I wouldn't have a clue how to review one. I guess I'll stick to music and movies and just stay a reader for the beer/wine reviews...
I feel like beer is much easier to describe/review than wine. The exact same varietal of wine has so many subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, differences based on vintage, geographic location/climate that year, type of fermentation, type of barrel, length of time it was in the barrel, etc...
A type of beer usually tastes the same every time. Bud actually spends millions ensuring that each batch tastes exactly the same as the one before. (My neighbor works at Bud as a mad scientist/brewer).
Just describe some of the characteristics of the beer. Is it hoppy, yeasty, flat, heavy, light, bitter, chug-able, one-and-done, taste similar to something else you've had, taste better cold/warm, etc...
I'm with Maki here, don't know how to describe tastes of beer/wine, not to mention, I don't think my palate is refined enough to distinguish what it is I'm tasting in the beer/wine. Also, I don't really drink much wine, and the beer that I drink is mostly whatever everyday stuff you can grab at the supermarket.
That was one plus of beer distributors in PA, you had to go there, and they had just about anything you could want. Since I was in college at the time, though, we went for quantity, not quality, so I never tried anything out of the ordinary.
Cline Red Truck
Blend of Syrah and Mouvedre with a bit of Cabernet Franc IIRC
Nothing flashy just a very good gluggable red wine at <$10.
Thanks TG!
I'm in total agreement with you on the Red Truck. I had this for the first time late last year and have been buying it ever since. It really is an easy drinking Red. It's the first Red I grab if I'm wanting something decent to go with a pizza or a burger.
I'm wondering if there are other 'Red Truck' blends out there, because the one that I always get is a blend of Syrah, Petite Syrah, and Cab Franc. I haven't had a bottle in a month or two, so I won't try to remember the taste, other than it was pretty dark berry like.
Anyway, sometimes you can find it on sale for as cheap as $6.99. Usually World Market for the sale, but I did just see it last week at Total Wine for about $9 or $10. Either way can't beat the value.
Demographics:
Duckhorn - Napa Valley Merlot
Vintage: 2003
14.5% abv
St. Helena(Napa Valley), CA
Purchased at Total Wine in St. John's Towne Center. ~$40
Taste:
This bottle sits squarely in the middle of the road of all of Duckhorns Merlots. At $40 a bottle, that doesn't make it sound too appealing to most. However, when you consider that their best Merlots run around $70 to well over $100 a bottle, that makes this a sensible choice if you want something from this wine maker.
You will want to let this one open up for at least 30 minutes prior. The most pronounced taste is that of raspberries, followed by some plum. Not a huge fruit bomb like some Zins can be, but still quite a big fruit feel compared to many merlots. Medium tannins and a slightly strong alcohol nose make me think that this vintage bottle will be interesting next year.
I've actually visited this wineries tasting room while in Napa last year. Beautiful wrap around front porch with sofas overlooking the vineyard. Their best Merlot in my opinion is their Three Palms Merlot, but at $80+ per bottle, it is a special occasion only type of thing.
Bottom line: If you want a Merlot from Duckhorn, and don't want to totally break the bank, then this isn't a bad choice. I probably would wait to try this again until some time next year.
Demographics:
Steel Creek - Monterey Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2005
13.0% abv
San Martin, CA
Purchased at Total Wine in St. John's Towne Center < $15.
Taste:
Pinot Noir is not something I usually drink. However the guy at Total Wine strongly recommended it, so I figured I'd give it a try.
This was a really nice red wine. Even though the bottle says it’s a light-bodied wine, I'd put it more in the medium-bodied category. The lower alcohol content does give it a nice silky feel to it to accompany the mostly black cherry fruit that I get from it. The finish lacks the bite of tannins which is a nice change after all of the cabs and merlots I've been drinking lately. This could absolutely be a wine to drink on its own. No food required.
Bottom line: If you're not sure about Pinot Noir, why not give this bottle a try. Especially if you don't want a red wine with a high alcohol and tannic finish. I'll be buying this one again.
I think we are missing a certain Riesling review here...
2005 Columbia from Washington State perhaps?
Although somehow I'm guessing the brain cells that contained most of that info have been drowned... :)
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