http://www.creovino.com Wine Making, Recipes and General discussions about wine. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:17:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.creovino.com/archives/1828 http://www.creovino.com/archives/1828#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:17:00 +0000 Ben This is an eight-year-old blend of mostly "kit" wines, including RJ Spangols Cellar Classic "Rosso Grande", Wine Art Gold cabernet sauvignon, Brew King "Old Vines Zin" and real grape syrah from Yakima, WA.   In the glass, 2002 Chez Ray Red Blend is deep burgundy with distinct brick tones at the edges.

Aromas are sweet, deep, cherry, appearing over-aged and slightly oxidized. 

The palate is more solid.  Round, sweet and full, it is just a bit too friendly and easy, not showing vigor in tannins, acids, or finish.  Still, it is a nice, deep cherry experience.  Just touches three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.  This wine is definitely NOT looking for any more years in the bottle. 

]]> http://www.creovino.com/archives/1828/feed 0 http://www.creovino.com/archives/1810 http://www.creovino.com/archives/1810#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:21:00 +0000 Ben Todd:

Chez Ray Old Vines Zinfandel 2002: Young jammy nose with evident alcohol; Fruit forward on palate with grape jam flavor & lively acidity. Bark & alcohol in medium finish.

Earlier description of this wine here.

]]> http://www.creovino.com/archives/1810/feed 0 http://www.creovino.com/archives/1038 http://www.creovino.com/archives/1038#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:27:00 +0000 Ben maceration does.)

In the glass, the wine is medium magenta in color, showing both purple and brick highlights - seemingly poised between youth and age. Aromas are yummy - yeasty and lightly-oaked deep fruit. Touch of shoe leather. Inviting.

On the palate, a top-note of toasty oak first hits the roof of your mouth, cascading to mild fruit in the middle. Light acids move to a modest finish. Nice tone overall. Age has done it well - but a couple more years wouldn't hurt it either. Three stars out of five.

-----------------
Updated Review, September, 2009: Wow. Age has done this well. Color has taken on a bit more brick. Aromas still of shoe-leather, less yeast. Palate even more rounded and velvet. Smooth, sweet acids swirl to a lingering finish. Now adding a plus to the three stars for voluptuousness.

]]> maceration does.)

In the glass, the wine is medium magenta in color, showing both purple and brick highlights - seemingly poised between youth and age. Aromas are yummy - yeasty and lightly-oaked deep fruit. Touch of shoe leather. Inviting.

On the palate, a top-note of toasty oak first hits the roof of your mouth, cascading to mild fruit in the middle. Light acids move to a modest finish. Nice tone overall. Age has done it well - but a couple more years wouldn't hurt it either. Three stars out of five.

-----------------
Updated Review, September, 2009: Wow. Age has done this well. Color has taken on a bit more brick. Aromas still of shoe-leather, less yeast. Palate even more rounded and velvet. Smooth, sweet acids swirl to a lingering finish. Now adding a plus to the three stars for voluptuousness.

]]> http://www.creovino.com/archives/1038/feed 0 http://www.creovino.com/archives/266 http://www.creovino.com/archives/266#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:58:00 +0000 Ben
Review: This is one of my earliest experiments - "wine in a bag" from 2002. A 6 gallon kit wine made to just over 5 gallons. Let's see what this is like...

In the glass, deep magenta still, though bricking at the edge. Aroma has that characteristic "grapey kit" feel, along with some heavy oak dust. Hint of iron in there too.

On the palate, a friendly, round, sweet, playful middle. A "curling up with Teddy Bear" wine. Actually, a solid balance between fruit and acids with still a touch of mild tannins.

Aromas are just a tad off from what I might hope. But I'll award this three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for that playful edge.

]]>
Review: This is one of my earliest experiments - "wine in a bag" from 2002. A 6 gallon kit wine made to just over 5 gallons. Let's see what this is like...

In the glass, deep magenta still, though bricking at the edge. Aroma has that characteristic "grapey kit" feel, along with some heavy oak dust. Hint of iron in there too.

On the palate, a friendly, round, sweet, playful middle. A "curling up with Teddy Bear" wine. Actually, a solid balance between fruit and acids with still a touch of mild tannins.

Aromas are just a tad off from what I might hope. But I'll award this three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for that playful edge.

]]> http://www.creovino.com/archives/266/feed 0