About an hour after opening, black cherry, plum, and raisin lead. As the wine breathes, toffee flavors show. Grassy or leafy notes along with fennel and black pepper add complexity, along with cedar wood and earth.
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Somerset Winery 2014 Tempranillo
The oak flavors on this wine stands out the most. Charcoal, tobacco, peat smoke, clove, and cedar hit first, followed by hints of vanilla. A layer of tart red cherry and plum add complexity.
Doffo 2016 Syrah
Dark plum and black cherry take center stage, along with blackberry. The fruit notes together come across as stewed, tart, and a little jammy. Oak elements include smokey charcoal, clove, vanilla, and resin.
Fazeli Cellars 2015 Meritage
This is an outstanding representation of a “Right Bank” Bordeaux.
Danza del Sol 2017 Sauvignon Blanc
In the glass, Danza del Sol’s 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is a clear, crisp, pale lemony yellow. One characteristic you might note is how viscous the wine looks. As you’ll read below, that is largely attributed to the alcohol content.
Europa Village 2016 Sangiovese
It’s worth noting the quality of 2016 Sangiovese. It lacks some of the spiciness and oakiness you’ll commonly find in wines from that varietal, but I consider that a positive. The fruit doesn’t need to hide behind these secondary flavors, something indicative of the grapes being picked by hand as opposed to machine-harvested. The result is a pleasant, easy drinking experience which appeals to most palates.
The Importance of an AVA
I was planning to post a new wine rating & review this weekend, but noticed when I opened the cork something interesting: there was no AVA on the bottle. That’s troubling.
Baily 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
One quality which makes this specific wine truly unique is it comes from the oldest commercially planted grapevines in the Temecula Valley, planted in 1968.
Monte de Oro 2014 Petite Sirah
Monte de Oro is a Temecula winery which makes impressive reds — if not only for the quality, because all of their wines use estate grown grapes. In other words, the Monte de Oro winemaking team oversees the entire process from bud to bottle.
An Introduction
Greetings! My name is Aaron Saltzman, and I’m the administrator for Temecula Wine Ratings. I’m a WSET Level II certified wine and spirits professional. I’ve had a passion for wines and spirits since 2011, when […]