Snooth.com - recent reviews by adamlevin

Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:21:45 -0500

Name: Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Chateau Montelena Winery
Region: USA > California > Napa
Price: $30.00
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

adamlevin's Rating: 4/5
adamlevin's Review: A beautiful classic Bordeaux style cab from Napa Valley. This is not a museum piece, but a very drinkable, food-friendly wine to enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this. Great restrained style with good fruit and balance.

As posted on Snooth

Château Montelena Cabernet Franc 2003

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:18:49 -0500

Name: Château Montelena Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2003
Varietal: Cabernet Franc
Winery: Chateau Montelena Winery
Region: USA > California > Napa
SnoothRank: 3/5

adamlevin's Rating: 4/5
adamlevin's Review: A very nice Cab Franc. Green pepper on the nose and palate, but this is well tuned with some very dark fruit. Alcohol and tannins keep the wine balanced. I think this would be interesting to taste in another couple of years.

As posted on Snooth

Pepperwood Grove Shiraz 2005

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:41:02 -0500

Name: Pepperwood Grove Shiraz
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Syrah
Winery: Pepperwood Grove Winery
Region: South East Australia
Price: $6.99
SnoothRank: 3/5

adamlevin's Rating: 3/5
adamlevin's Review: Dark color. Blueberry on the nose + a touch of smoke. Decent fruit and tannins and restrained wood. Only a hint of that cheap wine aftertaste, so this works for me in the under 10 category.

As posted on Snooth

Philippe Colin Puligny-Montrachet 2006

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:47:53 -0500

Name: Philippe Colin Puligny-Montrachet
Vintage: 2006
Varietal: Chardonnay
Winery: Philippe Colin
Region: France > Burgundy > Puligny Montrachet
Price: $54.99
SnoothRank: 4/5

adamlevin's Rating: 4/5
adamlevin's Review: Very delicate and fine tropical fruit on the nose and palate. Solid, but restrained mineral backbone. Changes a lot over time in the glass making this an interesting drink. Oak is kept to a minimum.

As posted on Snooth

Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 1994

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:41:41 -0500

Name: Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Vintage: 1994
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Clos Du Val
Region: USA > California > Napa
Price: $65.00
SnoothRank: 3/5

adamlevin's Rating: 4/5
adamlevin's Review: Very youthful wine for how old it is, but I guess 1994 was a great vintage. Very well integrated tannins and nice fresh fruit. A bit of old wine smell on the nose. Lots of red fruit on the palate and pleasing cherry aftertaste.

As posted on Snooth

Schramsberg Brut Reserve Sparkling Wine Napa 1999

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:38:02 -0500

Name: Schramsberg Brut Reserve Sparkling Wine Napa
Vintage: 1999
Varietal:
Winery: Schramsberg Vineyards Company
Region: USA > California > Napa
Price: $92.00
SnoothRank: 4.5/5

adamlevin's Rating: 5/5
adamlevin's Review: Killer wine. This is the first Schramsberg I've ever tasted, but if they are all like this, then wow. Paired well with a roasted beet salad and beautifully with oysters.

As posted on Snooth

Cristom Reserve Pinot Noir 2003

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:32:31 -0500

Name: Cristom Reserve Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2003
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Winery: Cristom Vineyards
Region: USA > Oregon > Willamette Valley
Price: $69.99
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

adamlevin's Rating: 3.5/5
adamlevin's Review: Very good example of Willamette Pinot. A bit too much wood for my taste, but you can tell there is some very nice fruit used to make this wine. I was a little disappointed that it did not open up much and didn't develop too much in the glass. Overall a solid wine.

As posted on Snooth

Cameron Hughes Lot 72 Napa Valley Meritage 2005

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:44:03 -0500

Name: Cameron Hughes Lot 72 Napa Valley Meritage
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Cameron Hughes Wine
Region: USA > California > Napa
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

adamlevin's Rating: 3/5
adamlevin's Review: Pretty good example of a Napa Valley Bordeaux blend. Fruity but balanced. A crowd pleaser.

As posted on Snooth

Artesa Elements 2005

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:52:52 -0500

Name: Artesa Elements
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend
Winery: Artesa Vineyards and Winery
Region: USA > California > Sonoma > Sonoma Coast
Price: $15.95
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

adamlevin's Rating: 3.5/5
adamlevin's Review: For being a Napa Valley fruit and chocolate bomb (not a style I usually particularly care for) this wine was very enjoyable. Layers and layers of chocolate and strawberry on the nose. Alcohol and tannins were very well balanced on the palate. Strangely, as the wine opened up and breathed it became more disjointed than it started.

As posted on Snooth

Toad Hollow - Eye of the Toad Rose Rose USA California Sonoma 2007

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:19:05 -0500

Name: Toad Hollow - Eye of the Toad Rose Rose USA California Sonoma
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Winery: Toad Hollow Vineyards
Region: USA > California > Sonoma > Sonoma Coast
Price: $7.95
SnoothRank: 4/5

adamlevin's Rating: 4/5
adamlevin's Review: Great provence-style rose. Bone dry and crisp. Low alcohol too (11%). Good with spaghetti but could have been equally good at a picnic with cheese or any other food.

As posted on Snooth