Snooth.com - recent reviews by NorCal Wine Nerd

Woodbridge By Robert Mondavi Zinfandel

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:02:46 -0400

Name: Woodbridge By Robert Mondavi Zinfandel
Vintage:
Varietal: Zinfandel
Winery: Robert Mondavi Winery
Region: USA > California
Price: $11.99
SnoothRank: 3/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review: So what we have here is a quality 2000 Zinfandel from Lodi (that most people won’t give the time of day since the label says Woodbridge on it). Great mellow Zin with only 13.5% alcohol, not the normal killer from Amador or El Dorado Counties in California. But with the lower alcohol content it really opens up the Zinfandel fruit. What you will taste on this one is the following: Blackberries, ripe raspberries, slight black currant, and a mellow spice on the finish. So if you subtle (or not so subtle) wine snobs can get past the Woodbridge label you will be in for a bottle that will be empty by the end of the evening (even if you are alone).

As posted on Snooth

Coulson Winery 2002

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:57:46 -0400

Name: Coulson Winery
Vintage: 2002
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend
Winery: Coulson Winery
Region: USA > California > El Dorado
SnoothRank: 3/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review: Ok again having ran out of the '02 some time ago I am going to focus on what I do have which is the '04 Bordeaux blend. The '02 was a great wine, nice balance, decent tannins, quality spice, and nice finish. The '04 is more of that and then some. This is a nice wine to open for an occasion or no occasion at all other than to enjoy life. I like this one with wild rice dishes, BBQ chicken and even a grilled burger. Mellow to most, but some will not appreciate the spice that comes from the Sierra Foothills of California, but for the price again you can't go wrong. Expect to pay under $15 retail and if you head over to the winery they will beat that price all day long.

As posted on Snooth

El Dorado Zinfandel Clarke Vineyard 2001

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:49:44 -0400

Name: El Dorado Zinfandel Clarke Vineyard
Vintage: 2001
Varietal: Zinfandel
Winery: Coulson Eldorado Winery
Region: USA > California > El Dorado > Apple Hill
Price: $24.00
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3.5/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review: A sad day in a reviewers life is when a great Zin like this one is gone. The good news is that I still have some '98 and '03 left of this wonderful wine. The '98 is about done (meaning it is not gonna get any better), and will be finished off soon. Again I would recommend a good cut of red meat on the grill for this one. As for the '03....hmmm well that is a different story all together. Still has a nice spice to it with some flavors of ripe cherries, hint of tobacco, and is a little earth, but it pairs fantastically with chocolate. If you have a bottle of '03 treat yourself and a loved one to a nice night in with some dark chocolate and a bottle of the '03 Clarke Zin, you never know where it will lead to....

As posted on Snooth

Coulson Winery El Dorado Tempranillo 2004

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:44:18 -0400

Name: Coulson Winery El Dorado Tempranillo
Vintage: 2004
Varietal: Tempranillo
Winery: Coulson Winery
Region: USA > California > El Dorado
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3.5/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review:

As posted on Snooth

Coulson Eldorado Safari Vineyard Zinfandel 2000

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:38:56 -0400

Name: Coulson Eldorado Safari Vineyard Zinfandel
Vintage: 2000
Varietal: Zinfandel
Winery: Coulson Eldorado Winery
Region: USA > California
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3.5/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review:

As posted on Snooth

Coulson Barbera 2003

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:32:49 -0400

Name: Coulson Barbera
Vintage: 2003
Varietal: Barbera
Winery: Coulson Winery
SnoothRank: 3/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review: Now I know the label here reads 2003 Barbera, but you know what I don't have any of this left in my cellar. But what I do know is that the 2005 Barbera is awesome!! I recently purchased a half case from the winery and had a bottle just a couple of weeks ago. Not sure how many of you out there appreciate or even have tried the Barbera varietal but here is the one you need to start with. I remember the 03 went really well with some spanish Paella for a main course and for the appetizer sharp white cheddar and spanish olives. The 05 is on par if not one step beyond the 03 in that it has great legs, and years to come of cellaring. Pair with a heavy meal or strong / complex appetizers or if you are like me open up a bottle and share with the neighbors.

As posted on Snooth

Sangiovese 2001

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:26:30 -0400

Name: Sangiovese
Vintage: 2001
Varietal: Sangiovese
Winery: Coulson Winery
SnoothRank: 3/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review: There is only one bad thing about the 2001 Coulson Sangiovese....I only have 1 bottle of it left!!! Ha ha ha.....Ok, now to the serious wine review. Here you have another tasty gem from the Sierra Foothills in California. If you drink enough wine you will begin to determine where the wine is made, and this one screams foothills. Quality wine, great price, and with my red sauce I made for pasta all I can say is yum. I am getting hungry just thinking about it!! I also have 2 bottles of the 97 and 1 bottle of the 04 left in the cellar as well and let me tell you the 97 is fantastic! If it all you get a chance to pick up any of these years I would obviously start with the 97, then 01, and of course don't leave out the 04.

As posted on Snooth

Coulson Blended Red -Cabernets 2001

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:21:19 -0400

Name: Coulson Blended Red -Cabernets
Vintage: 2001
Varietal:
Winery: Coulson Eldorado Winery
Region: USA > California > El Dorado
Price: $16.00
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review: Ah yes the Coulson Cabernets (and yes I put the hard T on the end of this one), here is another hit wine that is very drinkable with food or without. Have gone through my collection of the 2001 bottles about a year ago, and now have only 2 bottles of the 2002 left in the cellar. This is a great BBQ wine, whether it be ribs (beef or pork), tri tip, london broil, or even some great pork chops. (Pork chops and applesauce....just kidding). The 01 and 02 have one great thing in common, a smooth red that needs no time to open up. Nice mellow tannins, with a good finish. I recommend picking up some the next time you are on your way to or from South Lake Tahoe.

As posted on Snooth

Coulson Chardonnay El Dorado Reserve 1996

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:14:37 -0400

Name: Coulson Chardonnay El Dorado Reserve
Vintage: 1996
Varietal: Chardonnay
Winery: Coulson Winery
Region: USA > California > El Dorado
Price: $13.00
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 3/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review: Good wine, good winery, great people, and great value!! These are things you will find when you open up a bottle of the Coulson Chardonnay. Settled in the Sierra foothills, this area tends to get a decent Chardonnay crop for the appellation. I remember drinking the 96 and enjoying it with a light fish (Halibut, Orange Roughy, Tiliapia, Basa). It has a nice crispness to it, and the fish really brought out the flavor of the wine. Side note: I was also fortunate enough to pick up 3 bottles of the 95 Chardonnay recently (Oct 07) from the winery as they were closing out on their library wines. Now most of you are saying that why would you drink a "foothill" Chardonnay past the prime? Well I got 2 reasons for you: 1. Cause I can....no no just kidding, mostly cause it was still good!! 2. When do you find a 95 Chardonnay anywhere? That is unless you are paying some ungodly amount of money for it right? Well the good news is that I still have one bottle left in the cellar that will be consumed this summer, and the better news is that those 3 bottles were cheaper than one bottle of the infamous Rombauer Chardonnay.

As posted on Snooth

La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi Pinot Grigio 2004

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:09:58 -0400

Name: La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi Pinot Grigio
Vintage: 2004
Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Winery: Robert Mondavi Winery
Region: USA > California
Price: $14.79
SnoothRank: 3/5

NorCal Wine Nerd's Rating: 2.5/5
NorCal Wine Nerd's Review: Good wine, decent price. Now what we have here is a failure to communicate (I love that line), but what I am getting at is that this "Robert Modavi" wine is not really the Mondavi that most of us in the wine world expect. Now if you were fortunate enough to have the La Famiglia label back in 1999 - 2001 then you know what I am talking about. This Pinot Grigio is a good wine don't get me wrong, but it is no where near the previous vintages. Good luck finding this one, and if you do, it should be well under the retail price of $15 more like $10 and under category. Again good warm spring / summer wine to be enjoyed at a BBQ near you.

As posted on Snooth