*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery.

Although it’s spring here in the DC area, we are still experiencing (more) than our fair share of cool nights. Which calls, in our house, for a bold red wine.  What fit the bill tonight was the 2008 Rodney Strong Symmetry, a Mertiage blend from Sonoma. The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 15% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $40.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) This Meritage blend really showed the influences of the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot in the blend.

2.) The Symmetry had the the kind of nose that made me want to dive in and swim in my glass.

3.) I served this with steak. It was a good choice.

4.) At $40ish I think this offers a great value for this type of blend from Sonoma.

On the nose I got spice, earth, black plum, sage, mint, cedar chest and chocolate notes. The herbs on the nose got me excited for my summer herb garden. In the mouth I found spice, licorice, earth, black plum, black berry, black cherry, and more spice. In fact, I wrote “spicy, spicy, and spicy” as the last three words in my notes.

*Disclaimer: I receive this wine as a sample from the PR firm associated with the brand.

I’ve been in a Pinot Noir mood lately.  So I chose the 2008 Muddy Water Pinot Noir from the basement the other night. I’ve been interested in the Pinot Noirs coming out of New Zealand, and this wine proved to be an excellent example. It has a screw cap closure, clocks in at $13% alcohol by volume and I think retails for somewhere around $30.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) It’s really lovely all around.

2.) In fact, my notes say “lovely” at least 3 times.

3.) New Zealand has been producing some wonderful Pinot Noirs lately, this is certainly among them.

4.) Perfect on it’s own, but I think it would be quite nice with spring lamb dishes.

On the nose I found herbs, spice, pepper, white pepper, raspberry, cherry, and dusty chocolate powder. In the mouth I got cherry, raspberry, herbs, spice, and a chocolate note. The wine has excellent body and acidity. I could drink this all night long.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from Cornerstone Cellars.

Today turned out to be a gorgeous day in the nation’s capital, so it seemed a perfect time to bust out some Rose. I plucked the 2010 Cornerstone Stepping Stone Corallina Rose from it’s resting place in the basement to join us on the back porch for some afternoon sipping. The Corallina Rose retails for $18, has a real cork closure, clocks in at 13.9% alcohol by volume, and is made from 100% Syrah.

1.) If you like your Rose with acid to spare, this one is for you.

2.) The palate mimicked the nose perfectly in this wine.

3.) The Stepping Stone line from Cornerstone is pumping out some great wines, my fav is the Cabernet Franc.

4.) We just stopped by Cornerstone on our latest Napa trip, look for that post soon.

On the nose and in the mouth I got lime, raspberry, cherry, strawberry and spice. The red fruits smelled delicious coupled with the racy acidity on this Rose. Pair with BBQ this summer for a great treat.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery.

As a prelude to our recent CA trip, I pulled this bottle of 2009 Jordan Chardonnay from the basement, since we had plans to visit Jordan while in the area.  The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $25. I have lots to tell you about our visit to Jordan, but that is (mostly) for another post!

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Jordan does two things: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. They do them well.

2.) This wine was like an excellent apple pie in a glass.

3.) I don’t think I have ever seen as many stainless steel tanks in one room before, prior to visiting Jordan.

4.) With well-integrated oak lending body and structure to the wine, I think this would appeal to a wide spectrum of Chardonnay drinkers.

On the nose I got pineapple, spice, apple, fresh pear, baked apple pie, baking spice, and lemon curd. In the mouth I found apple, pear, spice, yellow apple, and slight cream on the finish.  The wine had great structure and body, with a long, smooth finish.

Sorry for the radio silence this past week. Mr. Wannabe Wino and I took our annual trek out to Sonoma last week and I tried (as much as possible for someone as addicted as I am) to disconnect from the computer. Helped along by spotty wireless, it wasn’t that difficult! To start back down the Sonoma trail, I thought I’d tell you about a wine I had recently that was just absolutely lovely. Lurking in my basement was the 2008 Bella Ten Acres Pinot Noir Dunah Vineyard. I purchased this wine in club shipment, it clocked in at 14.6% alcohol bu volume, and had a real cork closure.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Bella’s specialty is Zin, but this wine showed the depth of their wine-making program.

2.) In an attempt to find out more about Dunah Vineyard, I learned that the family makes it’s own wine as well. I must try it soon.

3.) Russian River Valley Pinot Noir rocks.

4.) Despite the higher alcohol content, this wine was very well balanced.

On the nose I found cedar, smoke, warm from the sun raspberries, chocolate powder, herbs, sage, and cherries. In the mouth I got pepper, black cherry, raspberry, herbs, more cherries, and a chocolate note. The wine had great acidity and I found the fruit to be fresh and juicy.

Our warm weather disappeared. How disappointing. So to lift my spirits, I dug around in the basement for something bigger and red. Nothing like a bottle of Zin, my first red wine love, to brighten and warm up a day. Tonight I chose the 2007 Talty Filice Connolly Vineyards Zinfandel, which we picked up on our last trip out to Sonoma (the vineyard is in Napa though) in 2010. I paid around $35ish for this bottle, it has a real cork closure, and clocks in at 14.5% alcohol by volume.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) This bottle reminded me why I need to explore more Zins from Napa. I stick to Sonoma mostly, but Napa has many good offerings as well.

2.) Talty is a winery I’ll be keeping my eye on. Perhaps another visit next week is in order!

3.) There’s just something about your first (wine) love.

4.) This wine had all the black fruit and spice that made me head over heels for Zin in the first place, plus a nice hit of chocolate.

On the nose I found blackberry, black plum, spice, chocolate, black currants, black cherry, and cedar chest.  In the mouth I got black cherry, black currant, spices, pepper, chocolate, and other black fruit. Plenty of tannins on the finish made me think this could mellow in the basement for quite a bit longer. I have another bottle that I will let rest down there for another year or so.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the PR folks for the brand.

Along with my current Cab Franc obsession, I’m also really liking Pinot Noir a lot these days. Perhaps it’s the warmer weather driving me towards reds with lighter flavors. Or maybe I just like wine. Lots of wines. Tonight we tried the 2009 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir which was just a lovely wine overall. The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 14.5% alcohol by volume, and retails for about $45.

Four takeways from this wine:

1.) The price is a little steep, but this is a really well done Pinot.

2.) The nose reminded me a Hope chest. Perfumey with cedar and spice. Yum.

3.) I’ve had some pretty great Pinots from New Zealand lately.

4.) This wine just kept getting better the more time it spent in the glass.

On the nose I found herbs, smoke, spice, cedar, violets, and some spicy notes. In the mouth I got raspberry, cherry, pepper, spice, black cherry, black raspberry, and cedar. The flavors were really deep and the wine had great structure and body.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery.

I’ve been digging on Cabernet Franc lately. Something about the fresh fruit notes and lovely spices and earthy bits is just really appealing to me. I happily plucked the 2007 Maryhill Cabernet Franc from the basement to sip on the other night. It has a real cork closure, clocks in at 14.4% alcohol by volume, and the current 2008 vintage retails for $18.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) $18 is a steal. Run, don’t walk, to scoop up this wine.

2.) The nose on the Cab Franc was pure deliciousness. Hit many of the classic Cab Franc notes.

3.) The flavors followed nicely to the palate with great acidity.

4.) I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve tried from Maryhill Winery.

On the nose I got pepper, violets, black cherry, espresso, chocolate and spice.  In the mouth I found black cherry, spice, cedar, espresso, black plum, raspberry, and a mineral note.  Overall, the fruit was very fresh and it had great acidity carrying the finish.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample.

I originally tasted this wine for a Taste Live event late last year, but the kind folks at Benziger sent 2 bottles in case something was off with one. So I stuck the 2nd bottle into the pile ‘o wine (aka my basement) and figured I’d get to enjoy it at a future date. And enjoy it we did.  I’ve actually had the Benziger Sauvignon Blanc many times in the past as it’s one of my “go to” wines at restaurants.  Tonight we guzzled the 2010 Benziger Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County. It clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume, has a real cork closure, and retails for $25.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Pair it with a creamy dish.

2.) Or an afternoon spent rocking on your porch.

3.) Lots of acidity and clean crisp fruits make this ideal for the 80 degree day we are experiencing today.

4.) This wine disappeared really quickly at my house. I don’t think I got my fair share!

On the nose I got grass, lemongrass, lemon, melon, and slight green pepper. In the mouth I found white peach, melon, lemon, grass, and herbs.  The wine had a great grassy note on the nose and mouth and fantastic acidity.

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery.

Very much so. At least, that’s my opinion of the 2007 Wesley Ashley Intelligent Design Cuvee.  We popped the cork (real) on this 13.8% alcohol by volume wine that retails for $38 on a Saturday evening to enjoy with roast lamb.  The wine is a blend of 51.5% Carignan, 15% Grenache, 14% Cinsaut, 11% Petite Sirah, 4.5% Mouvedre, and 4% Pinot Noir.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) I generally don’t look at blends before I taste the wine. My first note for this wine is “smells like Carignan.”

2.) Carignan is growing on me lately. This is the second heavily Carignan wine I’ve had in the last week, and I’m digging it.

3.) This is like a spiced cherry campfire in a glass.

4.) The lamb was a good call with this bottle.

On the nose I got spice, pepper, earth, campfire, and black cherry. In the mouth I found black cherry, black currant, spice, pepper, and a touch of earth.  Overall the wine was smooth, spicy, and very nicely done. A good balance of fruit, spice, and earth.