2006 Martin Ray Pinot Noir

Excellent bottle of Wine. Classic cherry with hints of vanilla and oak. I know this winery produces the Angeline wines and this is a steal at 18.00 per bottle. Couldn't put the glass down till the whole bottle was finished.

GreatAmerican Wine Taste 2/27/09

Its been a long month and Deb was todays provider of the grape juice. We started with a 2005 Jacobs Creek Grenache Shiraz. The wine boasts a blend of 60% grenache and 40% shiraz. Smooth at the start and the finish was (not exagerating here) a blast of sweet raspberry. Very fruity. The second was a 2006 Zen Of Zin Old Vine Zinfandel. This was my first zinfandel and some of my friends would describe Zins as bold, full bodied wines. I found this wine very tame with flavors of black berries and spice and leather with a smooth finish. Again excellent choices.

Feb 20 Great American Friday Taste

Joe's designated night tonight. We started off with a 2005 Rabid Red California red wine. Defininate full bodied full flavored wine with a bold spice taste followed by oak. Uses the Cabernet and Petit Sirah grapes to make this wine. The second wine was the always smooth 2007 Castle Rock California Cuvee Pinot Noir. Cherry, blackberry and plum combine to make this a very good Pinot. Once again the wine ghost somehow slipped a white in the tasting tonight which was a 2006 Schug Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp with a bold grapefruit/citris flavor. A good summer time wine.

Lindeman's Australian Pinot Noir

A friend brought over a bottle of Bin 99 Lindeman's 2007 Pinot Noir from Australia and proclaimed "its a good cheap wine". Can those words really be used (considering I have noticed this wine in the grocery store on sale 2 of $9). This pinot is much sweeter , light bodied and a different spice taste but has the traditional raspberry flavor along with a slight oak finish.

John Ernest Winery Tama Iowa

To my knowledge the only Iowa winery producing Pinot Noir is the John Ernest Vineyard and Winery in Tama Iowa. This wine has all the character of a typical Pinot Noir with cherry and raspberry exploding in your mouth and an oak finish. What differs is the "earthy" or "dusty" taste from this wine that I never had in a Pinot. After calling the winery I found the juice is shipped in from Chile which has a tendancy to have an earthy flavor. Try Iowa's only Pinot Noir at www.johnernestvineyard.com

Friday GreatAmerican Wino Tasting 2/13/09

Brook to thank for this evenings wines. We started with Sebeka 2006 Shiraz Pinotage Cape Blend from South Africa. 60% Shiraz 40% Pinotage the wine had flavors of Blackberry, Dark Cherry & Spice of the Shiraz and Red Berry of the Pinotage. Some coments included "earthy" and another said this would be a good wine to pair with a pasta/cream cheese dish. A different taste but very good. The 2nd was a Banrock Station 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon South Eastern Australia. Soft plum and cherry along with an oak finish. Very smooth for a Cab almost light bodied. Again an excellent choice. Somehow a 3rd bottle appeared (bad week perhaps) a 2006 Elk Cove Pinot Gris Willamette Valley Oregon. A crisp refreshing white wine with hints of pineapple, citris, grapefruit. Thanks wine ghost for the extra tasting tonight.

Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2007 Pinot Noir

NCAA basketball and a few glasses of Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir. Always a good bottle to have on hand for friends or parties. Cherries, berries, spice and oak at the finish make this a classic California Pinot Noir. Light bodied excellent wine under $12.

J. Lohr 2006 Riverstone Chardonnay

A slight change of pace last night with the 2006 J Lohr Chardonnay. Not your typical buttery Chardonnay with a strong flavor of grapefruit and long finish of spice. Nice flavor well balanced. Friends enjoyed this selection.

Estancia 2007 Pinot Noir

This weekend brought a very fine Pinot in the 2007 Estancia Pinot Noir Monterey County. Definate berry flavors of Cherry and Raspberry with a smooth finish of spice. Bravo to the winemaker on this one as this would be an excellent pinot with food or with friends. Priced at 17.99..

Cedar Ridge Vineyards 5 Seasons Red

Dinner tonight included a bottle of 5 Seasons Red from Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery Cedar Rapids Iowa www.crwine.com. This wine is a blend including grapes St Croix, Marechal Foch, Frontenac and Geneva Red all grown at their vineyard and then Merlot to finish. Dark berry flavor, deep red color and a taste of spice at the finish. I enjoyed this with a burger but I also enjoy this by itself.

Feb 5 2009 GreatAmerican Thursday Wine Taste

Brett was the designated buyer this evening and treated us first with Penfords Koonunga Hill 2005 Merlot from South Australia. The description claims to be medium bodied with plum and berry fruit flavors. This was very smooth for "medium bodied" especially an Australian Merlot and a definate fruit flavor. Excellent choice. The 2nd wine was a Pinossimo 2005 Pinot Noir from France. A typical Pinot taste of cherry and raspberry, light bodied and smooth as silk. The group recommended both wines this evening purchased at Benz Beverage Depot Cedar Rapids Iowa. Visit them at www.benzbeveragedepot.com

Columbia Crest Cabernet

Great way to watch the superbowl Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon. Definately a full bodies Cabernet with flavors of Vanilla, Black Cherry and Oak. Inexpensive at $10.99 per bottle. Ok for an everday wine.