Snooth.com - recent reviews by Muchkabouche

Napa Cellars Chardonnay 2008

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:28:48 -0500

Name: Napa Cellars Chardonnay
Vintage: 2008
Varietal: Chardonnay
Winery: Napa Cellars
Region: USA > California > Napa
Price: $17.99
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: 3.5/5
Muchkabouche's Review: It starts with a fruity yet spicy aromatic, and pours with a deep color. Caramel, toasted oak, and buttery mouth feel, yet crisp and lingering finish, 10-15 seconds. Taste of pear, citrus, nectarine, with a hint of bitterness, perhaps "minerality", that is really good on it's own. It held up and pared surprisingly well with a NY strip, and it's peppery side came out as a result. Bravo for $18.

As posted on Snooth

Napa Cellars Chardonnay 2008

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:23:05 -0500

Spelletich Cellars Zinfandel Alviso 2005

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:27:06 -0500

Name: Spelletich Cellars Zinfandel Alviso
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Zinfandel
Winery: Spelletich Cellars
Region: USA > California > Amador County
Price: $21.79
SnoothRank: 4/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: 5/5
Muchkabouche's Review: This is a HUGE WOW wine. Beautiful rich, deep purple/beet color in the glass, that just clings to the side. The 16.5% alcohol just begged to be decanted, so we did for 30 minutes. An initial "sample" pour provided for some comparisons to the decanted wine as it developed. First reaction on aromatics is alcohol, then a woody bramble combination of branches and oak barrel. What a well-balanced, HUGE wine. Not at all "hot" with alcohol, as the tannins helped calm it down, but not over-powering. It was full of fruit, but not sweet, juicy, well-balanced, and big on structure.

An amazing, complex wine that said "perfect combination" to my taste buds. The fruitiness of Marietta's lots, the chewiness of Chateau Montelena zins, all to a well-crafted beauty. All of this for $20.99 (less quantity discount). Be sure to save the glass for a sensational aromatic experience afterwards.

As posted on Snooth

Bogle Vineyards Phantom 2007

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:12:32 -0500

Name: Bogle Vineyards Phantom
Vintage: 2007
Varietal:
Winery: Bogle Vineyards
Region: USA > California
Price: $19.99
SnoothRank: 3/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: 3.5/5
Muchkabouche's Review: Dark plum color into the glass, with some long thick legs clinging to the glass. Nice deep earthy, woody aromas that warm up into berries, hayfields and peppery notes. Great firm structure, with tannins present, giving it a mature feel in the mouth, medium chewy. This pared so well with Trader Joe's Truffle flat bread and a mixed green salad with green olives, goat cheese and strips of tenderloin. The finish was about 8-11 seconds. It is reminiscent of a milder "poor man's" bottle of Chateau Montelena Estate Zinfandel 2006. At $16.99 per bottle, a very good buy that will hold up and only improve in the cellar for another couple of years.

As posted on Snooth

Altovinum Evodia Grenache 2007

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:42:19 -0400

Name: Altovinum Evodia Grenache
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Grenache
Region: Spain > Aragón > Calatayud
Price: $8.99
SnoothRank: 3/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: 3/5
Muchkabouche's Review: Medium-dark plum color at first pour, with minimal aromatics. On it's own, drinkable but not noteworthy. Light on the palate, some nice acidity. Better with cheese. Best pairing for this was a mixed baby green salad with goat feta cheese, black and green marinated olives, tomatoes, fresh pork flank strips and a lime-citrus vinagrette. The dressing really opened up the flavors to the wine, and it was simply divine. This wine definitely likes the company of some food. A nice value for $9.00 at World Market.

As posted on Snooth

Mas Que Vinos Ercavio Roble 2007

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:31:10 -0400

Name: Mas Que Vinos Ercavio Roble
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Tempranillo
Winery: Bodegas Ercavio
Region: Spain
Price: $11.99
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: N/A
Muchkabouche's Review: Just to add to my comments on this wine. It is good now, but in my estimation could benefit by a year or two in the cellar. Complex, and able to age a bit.

As posted on Snooth

Mas Que Vinos Ercavio Roble 2007

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:29:42 -0400

Name: Mas Que Vinos Ercavio Roble
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Tempranillo
Winery: Bodegas Ercavio
Region: Spain
Price: $11.99
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: 3/5
Muchkabouche's Review: Rich purple color in the glass, with a nice plum fruit and rich aroma. Medium mouth feel, clean and 7-10 second finish. Tannins present, in nice balance with acid. Nice to drink alone, and changed with addition of asiago hard cheese. Become more mellow, and paired well. With hard salami and gorgonzola stuffed green olives very nice, and picked up some spicy notes. A great value at $10-$12. Available at World Market.

As posted on Snooth

Bv Tapestry Reserve 1997

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:14:04 -0400

Name: Bv Tapestry Reserve
Vintage: 1997
Varietal:
Winery: Tapestry Vineyards Pty
Region: USA > California > Napa County > Napa Valley > Rutherford
Price: $82.95
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: 4/5
Muchkabouche's Review: Sampled at a wine tasting with friends in August 2009. Dark purple, thick color, enough to stain your teeth purple! Sediment in the bottle. Aromas of a dank cave (perhaps starting to turn), dark plum fruit and earthy. Very smooth on the palate, complex tastes of chocolate, plums, meat, and cave as it warmed up. Real long finish. Totally different wine experience for me. To relate it to something, this was like a peaty scotch of wines. Decadent, a real slow sipper. Awesome.

As posted on Snooth

Chateau Montelena Zinfandel Estate 2005

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:16:35 -0400

Name: Chateau Montelena Zinfandel Estate
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Zinfandel
Winery: Chateau Montelena Winery
Region: USA > California > Napa
Price: $24.99
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: 4/5
Muchkabouche's Review: Earthy, chewy, a nice peppery bite when paired with some spicy food (really good with a peppercorn filet), and full of berries. Even so, more on the brambly and tobacco side than fruit. I really enjoyed it now, with or without food. I will try to avoid the temptation to drink it all now, and save some bottles for a few years.

As posted on Snooth

Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:11:19 -0400

Name: Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Chateau Montelena Winery
Region: USA > California > Napa
Price: $38.99
SnoothRank: 4/5

Muchkabouche's Rating: 4/5
Muchkabouche's Review:

As posted on Snooth