Tag Archives: four

Gumdale Merlot

Gumdale Merlot

gumdale-melot-013

Gumdale Merlot is a very interesting Merlot.  The single best word to describe this wine is fresh.  I once sampled a wine as it was being bottled and this wine reminded me of that experience.

What I love about Australia wines is that they seemed to be made exclusively for a good time.

This wine has a hint of liquorice to it.  It seems to add to the overall experience.

Overall I would give this one a 4/5.

Buffalo Merlot

Buffalo Merlot

buffalo-merlot-004

Buffalo is a California wine.  It is dangerously drinkable.  It has a hint of dryness to it.  There isn’t anything distinctive.  There aren’t any outstanding flavors.  It is just easy to drink.

Personally I can only drink 2 glasses of this wine before entering the danger zone.

Overall I give this one a 4/5 because of how drinkable it is, but not a 5 because it doesn’t make my mouth sing.

Mallee Point Merlot

Mallee Point Merlot

Mallee Point  009

Mallee Point Merlot is an Australia wine which gives me hope right off the bat.  Australians like to drink and seem to have a good sense for drink ability over whatever passes for proper wine in other areas.

You can smell the berries in this wine as you pour it.  It is very inviting.

The initial tastes include oak and cherry.  This wine clearly has a lot of tannins which I normal try to avoid like the plague.  For some reason it doesn’t seem to matter in this wine.  They probably process it differently in Australia to allow the tannins without the ill effects.

Even with the tannins this wine is surprisingly smooth.  As I drank this wine I thought it maybe a headache waiting to happen, but it will be a delicious ride.  To my surprise I did not suffer a headache the next day as I would have if this were an American wine with that many tannins.

If you really enjoy the taste of tannins, but do not like the after affect I would highly recommend this particular wine.  They just seem to do it right in Australia.

I give this one a 4/5 overall.  It verges on a 5.

Norma Jeane Merlot

Norma Jeane Merlot – winery site

Norma Jean Merlot 6

When I purchased this bottle of 2014 Norma Jeane Merlot I figured it was merely a gimmick.  Technically it is, but at the same time the wine fits Norma Jeane.

It is very pleasant on the tongue and has a burst of, what I can only describe as, excitement.  Perhaps it is my imagination, but this wine has the most amazing aftertaste.

Norma Jean Merlot 7

I would serve this wine with dinner with the expectation of a laugh from any wine expert.  I think your guests will be happy with the flavor.

I give this one a 4/5 that leans towards a full 5.

Beringer Merlot

Beringer Merlot – winery site

Beringer Melot 13

Beringer’s Merlot is a perfectly fine Merlot.  Like all Beringer products it a simple go to wine.  There is nothing unusual about it.  No strange or exciting flavors, but no horrid flavors either.

If you do not know what to get this one is worthy of serving to your guests.

I give this one a 4/5.

A3 Red Blend

A3 Merlot

A3 Merlot 1

Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone that is the A3 red blend.  This is a California blend designed for Anyone to drink Anytime and Anywhere.

Needless to say I liked this particular wine.  It isn”t offensive in anyway.  It is just a very drinkable wine.  It doesn’t have the dryness of merlots or the oddness of pinot noir.  It isn’t super sweet.  It just is good.

Should you serve this to guests, yes.  Any guest should enjoy this wine.  It will not overly impress that guest, but anyone else will enjoy it.

I will give this one a 4/5.  A high 4 out of 5.

River Road Pinot Noir

River Road Pinot Noir

River Road Pinot bottle

This wine was also recommended to me by the wine clerk as one that she really likes.  She was correct in stating that this is a good wine.

This is a very drinkable wine.  It is also a rather simple wine.

It should be OK to serve for dinner.

I give this wine a 4/5 score.

Les Brebis Pinot Noir

Les Brebis Pinot Noir

Les Brebis label

This Pinot Noir was recommended to me by the woman at the wine shop.  It is one of her favorites and she was right to recommend it.  It is a good pinot out of the Oregon area.

It has a pleasant flavor.  I enjoyed this pinot quite a bit.  It is a normal pinot noir.  It isn’t unbelievably good, but it is also not bad at all.

I would serve this one at dinner.

I give this pinot a 4/5.

Naked Riesling

Naked Riesling

I believe that this Riesling was very good the first few times I had it.  Good enough that we bought several bottles.  I recall it being smooth and not too sweet or bitter.  Perhaps on the level of a cabinet.

One thing that I must state is that this wine should not be stored in a sun room.  No wine should ever be stored in a room that turns into a greenhouse everyday.  This made my last experience with this wine not very good.

Naked Riesling bottle

That being said I do think that this wine is a very good wine.  There is nothing wrong with the flavor.  It is very smooth and drinkable as any good Riesling should be.  It isn’t amazing, but it is good.

This wine would pare well with fish and pork.  Pork maybe even better than the fish.  I would definitely serve this wine to guests.

I would rate this wine a 4/5.

Left Coast Cellars Pinot Noir

Left Coast Cellars Cali’s Cuvee Pinot Noir

This wine was suggested to me as a smooth wine from Oregon.  Two words that will always peak my interest when speaking about Pinot Noir wines, smooth and Oregon.

The wine seller was right that this is a good wine.  It is not too expensive, fifteen to twenty range.  It was fairly smooth with only an ever so slight bitterness.  The flavor was in no way overwhelming and not cumulative.  For me any negative flavors tend to come out and start to overwhelm me the more I drink.  This wine was just as good with each sip, if not better.

Left Coast Cellars Pinot Noir bottle

This is an interesting wine to have in your cellar.  I kind of wonder if this one wouldn’t be better a little aged.  It tasted like it had potential.

This particular wine was estate grown and bottled which should mean they used their own grapes and did not mass purchase those grown somewhere else.  This gives you an idea of the quality of the estate.  You generally try to put your best wines in bottles that you announce that you grew the grapes.

Overall I would give this wine a 4/5 rating.  Have no fear serving this wine at a dinner party.