VinoCatrino

Audio

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:18:31 -0400

Audio

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:03:00 -0500

2008 Ridge Lytton Estate Grenache/Syrah Dry Creek Valley...

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:44:00 -0500

2008 Ridge Lytton Estate

Grenache/Syrah

Dry Creek Valley Sonoma

Like a genie out of the bottle, this beaut immediately leaps with expressive scents of charred smoke, cigar box, toasty almonds, blueberries, raspberries and baked red fruits. A bright, balanced delivery of red fruit, fronted by baked cherry pie, blueberries, raspberries, cola, and forest floor. She finishes strong, with stoney minerals; pencil lead, rock, more red raspberries and the like. Like a firework at dawn, it smokes.

2003 Calon Segur St. Estephe Bordeaux Aging nicely, the 2003...

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:57:00 -0500

2003 Calon Segur

St. Estephe

Bordeaux

Aging nicely, the 2003 Calon Segur (60% Cabernet Sauvignon / 40% Merlot) has a deep purple, ruby hue and an opulent nose of mulberries, blackberries, truffles, licorice, and spice. A hot vintage in Bordeaux, 2003s often have more fruit and density than typical Bordeaux vintages. This is no exception; giant berry flavors rush over the palate in a velvety soft attack. Long with minerals and black fruits and a tart, acidic, exclamation on the very end of the finish. Sublime…

2004 Chateau St. Jean ‘Cinq Cepages’

Sonoma

The follow-up to the Calon Segur tonight, was the top drawer release from Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma; the Cinq Cepages. A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (9%), Cabernet Franc (7%), Malbec (4%), and Petit Verdot (3%), exhibits a nose of blackberry, cherry, violets and mocha. Wonderfully Californian but stylistically French, it is aging well and is in its prime now. Drink up!

Audio

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 20:48:44 -0500

Ridge 2008 Mazzoni Home Ranch 50% Zinfandel, 49% Carignane, 1%...

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:21:14 -0500

Ridge

2008 Mazzoni Home Ranch

50% Zinfandel, 49% Carignane, 1% Petite Sirah

Meanwhile back at the ranch… The Mazzoni Home Ranch is a hand crafted field blend of Zin, Carignane and a tiny 1% of Petite Sirah. According to Ridge, Giuseppe Mazzoni & brother-in-law, Abramo Trusendi, purchased the hillside vineyard in 1899 and were producing wine professionally by 1910.

This wine reflects the age and style of this vineyard site. Rustic & brambly, yet elegant and balanced with notes akin to an Italian Field Blend.

Dark crimson and pink around the inside edge of the glass, which is huge. On the beak, abundant black cherries and dark fruits . The fruit mingles with an olfactory jam of savory mint, eucalyptus, cinnamon and a strike of black pepper. The savories hover throughout but there are funky notes of graham cracker, smoky grill and cocoa in there. ZONK!! Medium weight, ripe and finishes with pleasant tannin grip.

**This is an ATP Club wine from Ridge

For Dad (Ken)

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:09:00 -0500

For Dad (Ken)

Château Saint-Georges 2002 Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion...

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:33:18 -0400

Château Saint-Georges 2002
Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion France

Pretty Crimson red color and very little amber age around the rim. Seems to be aging nicely. After 2 hours in the decanter very little fruit was coming through. Mostly cigar box, fig, tobacco leaf, cedar. Elegant wine no doubt. After 4 hours open, some of the dark berry, black cherry flavors started to reveal themselves, alongside more cigar box, fig, brambles & violets. Plush finish with more weight and body than appears in the attack and mid-palate. Like Thor this wine was light on its feet but had intensity (thunderbolt in hand). Great length and definition, I loved it!

Ridge 2009 East Bench Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma...

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:21:00 -0400

Ridge 2009

East Bench

Zinfandel

Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County

100% Zinfandel. Brimming with sour cherry, plums, fresh leather (think Bass Weejuns), pumpkin & Asian spice. Fruit driven but bright, high-toned acidity for Zinfandel. Truckloads of flavor; baked plums, black cherries. Delicious.

Backyard 4/28/2012

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:43:34 -0400

Backyard 4/28/2012

2010 Tablas Creek Vineyard Grenache Blanc This GB delivers the...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:15:00 -0400

2010 Tablas Creek Vineyard

Grenache Blanc

This GB delivers the goods on a hot afternoon! I kept asking myself, “why is this varietal not more popular?” Perfect ‘in-between’ weight. Like a Pinot Grigio (Ital.) x Chardonnay. Aromas of flowers, apples and spice with soft green apple and apricot flavors on the palate. Encores with a touch of unmistakable white pepper. 89 PTS

2007 Ridge Lytton Estate

Syrah (88% Syrah; 12%Viognier) [ATP release]

A pretty serious wine here. I was thinking it was going to be and I was correct. Decanted for hours and she was still clammed up so after a night in the fridge and a full 24 in the decanter she was ready. Sexy nose filled with dark cocoa and coffee aromas. Blackberry, fig, plum, & exotic spice abound on the palate which carries long with mineral and more dark fruit flavors through the finish. (48 cases made) 91 PTS

Lever Boy By Trey Anastasio & Tom Marshall

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:45:42 -0400

Lever Boy

By Trey Anastasio & Tom Marshall

Photo

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:13:00 -0500

2008 Folie à Deux Amador County Zinfandel I have always found...

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:54:00 -0500

2008 Folie à Deux Amador County Zinfandel

I have always found this wine delicious and 2008 starts off in true form, with attractive aromas of sweet plums, black cherry and wood. Rich, juicy blackberries, cherries and plums on the palate. Rainy, dank forest floor (think Muir Woods) and some Amador spice hanging out as well. Love that! Full and ripe, it’s an easy drinking, good timing Zinfandel.

Ridge Three Valleys Zinfandel 2008 Decant this for a few...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:05:49 -0500

Ridge
Three Valleys
Zinfandel 2008

Decant this for a few minutes/hours before diving in (‘Don’t ask why, just do it’). Sweet nose of dark chocolate, coffee bean, blueberries & eucalyptus. This is what I want in Zinfandel; done right and at $18-20! True, rustic style; brambly, dark berries, soy sauce, and hints of dark chocolate, dried herbs and peppercorn. Find it, it’s available.

2007 Flora Springs Napa Valley Merlot Nose of strawberries and...

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:33:18 -0500

2007 Flora Springs Napa Valley Merlot

Nose of strawberries and cherry with a little spice back there in the darkness. Pretty straight forward stuff here but enjoyable no less. Ripe red fruit and plush, soft dried cherry and subtle notes of clove. I used to really dig the old label on the Flora Springs wines, they’re Cabernets were always killer as well. Seems they’ve streamlined their looks and their wine.

Chicken Tortilla Soup Homemade and served with Sliced Radishes...

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:07:07 -0500

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Homemade and served with Sliced Radishes and Red Cabbage

Wine: 2007 Flora Springs
Napa Valley Merlot

Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter Bend, OR If a Porter can...

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:18:22 -0500

Deschutes Brewery
Black Butte Porter
Bend, OR

If a Porter can be refreshing, then Deschutes Brewery has achieved just that. I usually (only) drink Porter in the Fall & Winter months and think of them as a warming, almost comfort food. This beer is not that. It has all of the malty, nutty and caramel notes one wants out of such a brew but goes down so smooth, creamy and light on it’s feet. Roasted espresso, hops and hints of vanilla bean are present. Go find some!

Moroccan Chicken Tagine Free range chicken thighs & breasts,...

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:21:57 -0500

Moroccan Chicken Tagine

Free range chicken thighs & breasts, curry, cumin, garlic, onion, orange and red bell pepper, orange zest, orange juice, white wine, brown sugar, dried apricots, cilantro. Served over brown rice.

Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2008 Dank nose of...

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:43:14 -0500

Mauritson
Dry Creek Valley
Zinfandel
2008

Dank nose of caramelized BBQ sauce, mint & raspberry pie. A considerably big, ripe attack of blueberries, blackberries & soy sauce but not ‘jammy’, somewhat bright in fact with great acidity. The finish is long and savory with more mint and a rosemary+thyme+sandalwood hippie jam going on. Delicious.