Tasting - Radius Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Name: Radius Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Washington (Columbia Valley)

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $13

Winery Review: Expertly crafted, this full-bodied Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of red berry and black cherry, leading to distinct flavors of cassis, vanilla, and toasted oak and finishing long with velvety tannins.

My Review: First note that hit my nose was of oak and fruit. Black berries such as blackberry and black cherry were quite noticeable with some plum and a bit of vanilla. The taste was berry forward as well with blueberry and black currant. This is a bold wine with big tannins. It is almost chewy. It has a long finish and is a quality wine.

Tasting - Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: South Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2018

Price: $15

Winery Review: A fruit forward style with rich ripe red berry fruit and dark plum flavors. The palate is enhanced with subtle characters of French oak that lifts the perfumed aromas and provides complexity to the lingering dark berry fruit flavors. Enjoy now with a range of red meat dishes. 

My Review: The nose is very fruit forward with lots of dark berries coming through. Blueberry, blackberry and plum are the predominant fruits with some oak on the back end. First sip is lots of berries. Black currant and blackberry come through first. The wine starts off kind of hot but then mellows out. Light to medium tannins on the mouthfeel. It has a long finish. A good Australian Cab at a good price point.

Tasting - Highway 12 Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Highway 12 Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and about 10% Merlot

Region: California (Sonoma County)

Country: USA

Year: 2019

Price: $17

Winery Review: The 2019 release showcases when depth, strength and elegance meet. Blended with 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and about 10% Merlot, the wine was aged in French oak and showcases cedary overtones supported by the round mid-palate body and tingly tannins on the edge of the finish. Entry exhibits soft earthtones on the nose with hints of cherry, blueberry and a vanilla-oak softness. Medium to full-bodied the wine reveals wonderful fruit ripeness supported by richness and a slightly chewy core.

My Review: The nose has quite a bit of spice on it coupled with black fruit. Notes of currant and licorice mixed with some earthiness shine through. I could detect some oak as well. The first taste was bold of black fruit. Blueberry and black currant dominant on the palate. The body is solid with the mouthfeel of medium quality. Very mellow throughout with a long finish. Nice bottle of wine.

Tasting - Sanctuary Vineyards Coastal Collage

Name: Sanctuary Vineyards Coastal Collage

Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: North Carolina (Currituck County)

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $30

Winery Review: Throw a steak on the grill and uncork this fine red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its our example of the quality of Bordeaux varietals grown in North Carolina. Dried Cherries, Blackberry, Violets and Cinnamon jump out of the glass. Medium bodied with a slightly tannic finish. Aged 16 months in 2 year old French Oak. Enjoy over the next 2-3 Years or hold up to 5.

My Review: The nose is quite fruit forward full of red fruit. Raspberry, red currant, and cherry really come through with a slight oak and vanilla quality to balance it out. The taste is mainly berries such as blackberry. There is a slight earthiness to it with some oak. It is very mellow with medium tannins combined with a long finish. A good quality North Carolina wine.

Tasting - Sanctuary Vineyards Morton Red Blend

Name: Sanctuary Vineyards Morton Red Blend

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot

Region: North Carolina (Currituck County)

Country: USA

Year: NV

Price: $20

Winery Review: An elegant approachable blend of our winemaker's choice red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot carefully blended to reveal black cherry flavors with sweet oak and spice on the nose.

My Review: The nose is of red fruit and berries with notes of raspberry and red licorice. Green pepper makes itself known before finishing with vanilla and spice. The palate is more red fruit with bits of blackberry and some blueberry. The body seems light and watery at first but then has some strong tannins on a short finish. It is very smooth with almost no heat. A very nice wine and one of the best North Carolina wines I have tried.

Tasting - Stags’ Leap Petite Sirah 2018

Name: Stags’ Leap Petite Sirah

Variety: Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache, and Rhone varietals

Region: California (Napa Valley)

Country: USA

Year: 2018

Price: $36

Winery Review: The 2018 Petite Sirah exudes strong notes of blackberry, blueberry and black cherry fruits interwoven with more savory notes of black pepper and cocoa power. On the palate, juicy flavors of creamy cassis, macerated blackberry, cherry kirsch, black licorice, and peppery plum envelope the rich, saturated mouthfeel. This wine is smooth and silky with velvety tannins and a generous lengthy finish, encouraging you to enjoy it now, but has the depth and complexity to age for many years to come.

My Review: The nose is full of red berry like raspberry. Some blackberry is present too. There’s a light vanilla and oak note that comes through on the end. It is like smelling a berry compote. The first taste is of black fruit. It is slightly fruity but not overtly so. Hints of black currant followed by pepper and spice coat the palate. It would do well with some more breathing but it was very nice at the time of my tasting. It had a long finish and was an absolute delight.

Tasting - Delectus Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Delectus Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California (Napa Valley)

Country: USA

Year: 2019

Price: $23

Winery Review: A dark, inky wine, this Cabernet shows o¬ powerful dark fruit and spice on the nose to match. Silky smooth tannins practically melt across the palate spreading flavors of plump blackberry, rose, pine, and vanilla-oak.

My Review: Very fruit forward which opens up into red berry mostly raspberry. There is a slight woodiness to it. The taste is slightly fruity but seems like it is missing tannins which make it a bit watery. The flavors are muted. The predominant note I get is strawberry. The wine has a short finish.

Tasting - Fetzer Gewürztraminer 2020

Name: Fetzer Gewürztraminer

Variety: 100% Gewürztraminer

Region: California (Monterey County)

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $9

Winery Review: Crafted in an off-dry style, our Gewürztraminer balances subtle sweetness with crisp acidity and vibrant varietal character. An exotic swirl of rose petal, honeysuckle, peach and mango entices the nose, leading to a richly nuanced palate of honeyed apricot, peach cobbler, cashew nuts and pastry. No surprise: this aromatic white hits the mark with spicy foods and sipping on its own alike.

My Review: Tropical notes come through right away with hints of pineapple, peach, lychee, and mango. It is a very interesting assortment of smells that entices the awaiting palate. The taste is fruity with stone fruit being predominant. Hints of apricot and peach mixed with honey make this wine very flavorful. It has a crisp mouthfeel and pleasant to drink.

Tasting - L’uva Bella Winery Purple Rain

Name: L’uva Bella Winery Purple Rain

Variety: 100% Concord

Region: Ohio

Country: USA

Year: NV

Price: $8

Winery Review: Our multi-award winning Purple Rain Concord is a must try! Our Concord is special because it is sweet, but not too sweet, and is perfectly balanced with a crisp acidity that will refresh your palate with every sip. if you want a new favorite "must have" in your wine pantry, this one is for you!

My Review: From the first pour it smelled like I opened up a jar of grape jelly. I was taken back to church communion. There were slight notes of raspberry and strawberry although subtle. The mouthfeel was very syrupy. I felt like I was drinking liquid Welch’s grape jam. After getting passed that grape bomb I got hints of currant and strawberry. There was a taste of butter that was reminiscent of cherry pie. This wine was also super sweet. I have had non-alcoholic grape juices that were less sweet. This wine was not for me. I am not real used to Concord wines but this didn’t seem the most balanced to me.

Tasting - Castello di Albola Chianti Classico

Name: Castello di Albola Chianti Classico

Variety: 100% Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany (Radda in Chianti)

Country: Italy

Year: 2019

Price: $14

Winery Review: Ruby-red in color, trending toward garnet, this wine is bursting with notes of strawberry, red berries, sage, spice cake and subtle earth on the nose. It is vibrant and medium bodied, revealing lively cherry and exotic spice and leading to polished tannins and a delicate finish.

Pairs well with most types of grilled, barbecued, marinated, roasted and stuffed meats and fish

My Review: Very red fruit forward on the nose. Notes of cherry, raspberry, and red currant dance around with a slight hint of oak. The taste is also fruit forward with cherry taking command. Currant balances out the cherry with a slight hint of vanilla that plays well with the other fruits. The wine was smooth but kind of light on tannins with a short finish.

Author’s Postscript Note: My architectural thesis was a winery located in the general vicinity of this winery.

Tasting - Barboursville Octagon 2017

Name: Barboursville Octagon 2017

Variety: Merlot 62%, Cabernet Franc 31%, Petit Verdot 7%

Region: Virginia (Monticello AVA)

Country: USA

Year: 2017

Price: $54

Winery Review: Nearly opaque bright deep violet color; bright, roasted aromas and flavors of baked berries, coffee beans, and dark chocolate with an even, lively, dryish body; warming, complex marinated cherries and beets, nut skins, with chewy, dusty tannins and moderate oak. Very dry, old-world style.

Pair with Osso buco alla veneziana, chicken braised in Octagon and black olives or sage and walnut-crusted lamb chop in rosemary jus.

My Review: This was a fruit bomb on the nose. I’m hit with notes of red fruit such as cherry, raspberry, and currants. There is a hint of vanilla and strawberry on the end. The taste was fruity as well mostly of cherry with some black fruit. Blackberry is present too. This wine is smooth smooth smooth right out of the bottle. Silky even. There is a slight oakiness that lends itself well and doesn’t overpower the other components. Long finish. This is a very good wine and the quality is readily apparent.

Tasting - Harry & David Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosé

Name: Harry & David Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosé

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Oregon

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $18

Winery Review: Extremely pale in color and dilute in flavor, this might be reminiscent of watermelon, and could go down easily on a warm day. But there's not much here in the way of actual flavor. (2015 Vintage)

My Review: The nose was fruity with tropical notes. Pineapple and strawberry were most predominant. More strawberry comes through on the palate. The fruit notes are very subtle and light. Some stone fruit comes through as well. Short finish. It is easy porch drinker wine and inoffensive but nothing superb going on here.