*** 2002 Chez Ray Red Blend – Cabernet Sauvignon / Zinfandel / Syrah

Posted by Ben in 2002, General, Other, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, zinfandelSep 3rd, 2010 | No Comments 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. 

*** Chez Ray Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004

Posted by Ben in 2004, General, Other, cabernet sauvignonAug 11th, 2010 | No Comments This is made from frozen Napa grapes obtained from Brehm Vineyards, fermented in BDX yeast, and pressed at dryness.

Original Review, August, 2010, five years from vintage date: In the glass, deep burgundy, opaque in the middle.  Aromas are bold, tangy, high-pitched, alcohol-tinged, black fruit.

On the palate, intense, perfumed, tannin-packed extract of ripe plum skins. Three stars. WAY too young to fully judge.  Let's watch it in five years or so.

*** Chez Ray Bordeaux Blend, 2004, Lodi, CA

Posted by Ben in 2004, General, Other, blend, cabernet sauvignon, merlotJul 5th, 2010 | No Comments Original Review, November, 2008: The 2004 Chez Ray Bordeaux Blend (B4) is a mix of 2004 cabernet sauvignon and merlot grapes from Lodi, CA. In the glass, it is medium/deep red, showing purple and brick at the edges.

Aroma is strong, fruity and oaky. Robust and simple - think pizza wine aromas. On the palate, there is a bit of an old-world style; it hits to the back of the mouth, with a bit of smoke and tannin. Not much fruit up front, in contrast with the aroma. The bit of gritty tannin is unexpected, but nice. It allows for a rolling, lengthy finish, where the fruit finally arrives with a bit of shy wave: "Here I am, after all..." it says.

Three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale.

---------------
Blend: I added 40% 2005 Chez Ray Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon to create a rounder middle. Stong blend! The Woodbridge added a middle; the Bordeaux Blend gave the front and back. Nose picks up some licorice and cherry.  Fruiter middle, but still a good pounce at the tail.
---------------

Updated Review, a year and a half later, July, 2010, now six years from vintage date (that is the date of photo):  Mid red now in the glass, brick at edges.  Still pizza-wine aromas in the Lodi grape Bordeaux-style blend.  It is lighter now.  The palate shows a balanced, dry, mid-red style - fairly shy on fruit, with some mineral and acids lacing an older-world dryness.  Solid for food, though I do not believe this has grown more attractive with time.  Believe it would complement a round wine in a blend - similar to what I described above with the Chez Ray Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon.

Actually, right now I'm mixing up a few blends of 2/3 Chez Ray Bordeaux Blend 2004 (B4) with 1/3 Chez Ray Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (WC) and calling it Chez Ray Bordeaux Blend 2004 (BB4).

*** Chez Ray Meritage, 2003, Cabernet/Merlot/Zinfandel/Syrah, Lodi, CA

Posted by Ben in 2003, General, Other, cabernet sauvignon, meritage, merlot, syrah, zinfandelMay 20th, 2010 | No Comments
Original Review, November, 2008: This 2003 Chez Ray Meritage is made from fresh grapes from Lodi, CA - a mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, zinfandel and syrah. It was fermented warm with Pasteur Red yeast, pressed at dryness after about a week's fermentation. The grapes were fermented separately, then blended at bottling.

In the glass, this is medium dusty red, deepening at the center of the glass. Aromas are modest, funky, deep, round; like your nose is in the middle of an almost-overripe plum. On the palate, a middle round sweetness is the first impression, full of ripe blackberry fruit. Following that comes the impression of oak (from the French oak chips used in aging the wine), and a pleasant, even, sweet finish. Tannins have pretty well aged out of the five-year-old wine. Ready to drink now.

Three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale, as I would definitely come back to this again.
---------------

Updated review, a year and a half later, May, 2010:  Consistent color, aroma and flavors.  Holding up well.  Acids coming forward a bit.

Rating: *** 2005 Chez Ray (Wine Kit) Woodbridge Ranch 11 Cabernet Sauvignon – Central Valley, CA

Posted by Ben in 2005, General, Other, cabernet sauvignon, kitDec 4th, 2009 | No Comments Original Review May, 2007: This is wine made from a bag of grape juice! It is called the Selection Estate Woodbridge Ranch 11 Cabernet Sauvignon. I made it more or less following Winexpert instructions.

I did not use the bentonite for clearing and I made it to about 5.5 gallons rather than 6 gallons. The major change I made was to add a bunch of skins from my own Lodi and Napa fermentation to potentially give this a bit more aromatic and tannin "punch". We'll see what came of all this...

Color is an even deep red. While swirling, grape juice aromas jump out of the glass. On closer examination, aroma is a mild liquor-like cherry, maybe like smelling the inside of a chocolate-covered cherry, but without the chocolate. The favor fills the mouth with a round, smooth touch, no complexity, no aromas, but big and round in the middle. Just a touch of cherry around the edges. And a finish that flits past you before you even notice.

In total, this is like some kind of mixture of wine, grape juice and new port. Not quite wine; but not quite a liquor either. Not something to write home about; but not a total abomination. For ratings, I'm stuck between two-plus and three-minus. I guess I'd open another bottle, so that's three-minus. (But, to give full disclosure, part of the reason I'd so readily open to another bottle is probably that I've got a couple dozen of them from the five-gallon batch!)

For comparison, here's what the manufacturer says about this bag 'o juice:"Our Cab has trademark black currant and cherry flavors, but its true triumph is the subtle weave of complex flavor compounds that contribute to the overall experience. Oak and tannins, pepper and spice, combining structure and rich fruit for a red wine that dazzle from first aroma to long elegant finish."

Well, that sounds a bit "je ne sais quoi" to me!
---------------------------------

Updated Review, October, 2008: Still a nice mid-palate, round and cherry. Not enough before or after, though.
---------------------------------

Updated again, December, 2009:

In the glass: Deep blood red and purple, opaque from within about a quarter inch of the glass edge.

On the nose: Poured without a decant and swirled vigorously, still has that cherry cordial element.

On the palate: Think now more like a cherry caramel, sweetness lifts up and to the top of your palate, with light acids descending.

And the finish: Seems a bit longer than I noted before, with light caramel drifting away.

In summary: Not so bad an experience overall. I'd go with three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale. It has actually held up pretty well to the four years in bottle.

Suisun Valley 2009 Grapes Arrive

Posted by Ben in 2009, General, Other, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petite sirahOct 4th, 2009 | No Comments Grapes for the 2009 Chez Ray vintage arrived this weekend from Lanza Family Vineyards in the Suisun Valley, just southeast of Napa Valley, CA.

Although I had plans to subject the entire 2009 vintage to Enoferm RP15 (aka VQ15, VQ-15, or RP-15) yeast, the grapes arrived before my yeast. So my yeast and grape schedule was as follows:

Lalvin ICV-D254
Lanza Merlot (ML9A)

Lalvin ICV-D80
Lanza Merlot (ML9B)

Lalvin BM45
Lanza Merlot (ML9C)

Mixed: Lalvin D254, D80, BM45
Lanza Cabernet Sauvignon (Rock Vineyards) (CL9)
Lanza Cabernet Sauvignon (Koch Vineyards) (CK9)
Lanza Petite Syrah (PSL9)

I used Go-Ferm to reconstitute yeast, and built an approx half-gallon starter by adding crushed grapes during the course of a day. I'll get the ferment going at room temperature, then move to a cooler basement ferment after a couple of days. Basement fermentation proceeded at approximately 65 degrees F.

Review: ***+ Chez Ray Lanza Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003, North Coast, CA

Posted by Ben in 2003, General, Other, cabernet sauvignonSep 7th, 2009 | No Comments Review: This cabernet sauvignon is made of 100% frozen grapes acquired by Brehm Vineyards from Lanza Ranch in the North Coast, CA, area. It has now had over five years of aging.

In the glass, it is medium deep red, just starting to brick at the edge. Aroma is bold and sweet fruity with red currant. On the palate, a sweet, tannic, ripe plum first hits the back of your palate, bringing a sinking sweet robe of fruit as follow-on. Touch of ripe raspberry melds with the mild acids to turn the tannins into a long-finish. Three stars with a plus on the Spirit of Wine scale.

October 23-25, 2009 – Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaking Experience

Posted by Scott Young in First Crush Winemaking Experience, General, Mitchella Winery, Other, Paso Robles, Red Wine, Styles, Wine Tours, cabernet sauvignonJun 24th, 2009 | No Comments

Make your own wine from Berry to Bottle with First Crush winemaking experience in Paso Robles.

This complete winemaking experience includes accommodations, local transportation, welcome reception, breakfast and lunch in the vineyard, winemaker dinner at Mitchella Winery, two cases of your own custom-made, privately labeled Cabernet Sauvignon wine, and more. 

Visit http://www.firstcrushwinemaking.com/ for pricing and details.

Reservations required.

Registration deadline:  September 18, 2009. (805) 434-2772

Rating: ***+ 2004 Chez Ray Cabernet Sauvignon (CS4, C4, C’4), Lodi, CA

Posted by Ben in 2004, General, Other, cabernet sauvignonJun 14th, 2009 | No Comments Original review, September, 2007:
In this glass, this is ruby red, the color of a medium feminine pinot noir, not a burly cabernet sauvignon. Aroma is powerful, though, of bright aged ripe fruit and oak. On the palate, bright sweet cherry cola flavors encircle the taste buds with a hint of acid, following with a mild, lasting sweet cherry finish. Not classic cabernet, but a friendly, just off-dry wine giving great pleasure.
Three plus stars out of five.

Updated review, June, 2009: Similar color, now beginning to brick. Aroma is a bit more spongy and sweet now. Sip brings more muted flavors now, round, still with elements of cola, evenly touching palate with only hints of acid. Clean, cherry finish, lightly sweet.

Blending the 2005′s: Tough Work but SOMEONE’S got to do it!

Posted by Ben in 2005, General, Other, Pinot Noir, blend, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, zinfandelJun 7th, 2009 | No Comments Further explore wine blending.

Start with eight or ten single varietals from a vintage that is getting ready to be drinkable, line 'em up and figure out the blends that may work. A hundred sips later, you may have a few workable blends.

Indeed, for the 2005's, I did manage a couple worth noting.

PM5 (Carneros Sonoma Pinot Noir(P5)/Carneros Napa Merlot 2005 (M'5)): First, the Sonoma Pinot Noir (P5) is still taut - but mixing with 1/2 measure of another bright varietal, the Carneros Napa Merlot (M'5) gives it just a bit of fruit and brightness. So this combo, which I'll code as PM5, is probably a good serving option for the 2005 Pinot Noir for the longer term. Corlor is deep ruby red. Aromatics are subtle, with a touch of red currant fruit. Bright palate, but spreading clean fruit in the middle. Still some tannins for age. Clean finish. I like this better than either of the components, so that makes for a successful blend.

B5 (Bordeaux blend 2005: State Lane Yountville Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (CS5)/Carneros Sonoma Merlot (M5)/Russian River Sonoma Cabernet Franc (F5)): Each of these wines had a similar style - ready to drink, silky, lightly aromatic. Together, they comprise an excellent blend. In the glass, very deep red, hints of brick. Aromas are solid, sweet and yielding, just a little bit leafy. On the palate, a lightly sweet, bold and balanced attack in the front - wonderful tannins, aromatic deep red fruits, outstanding lingering finish. One of the best ever from Chez Ray! Each of the components is an outstanding offering in its own right, but I loved the balance in the blend.

A5 (Aromatic blend 2005: Russian River Sonoma Zinfandel (Z5)/Rutherford Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (CR5)): Both of these wines were stand-outs as aromatically-rich, quite youthful, bright wines. The combo makes a uniquely potent, aromatic blend. Color is very deep red, almost opaque. Nose is rich, sweet and inky - black sweet ink that you want to guzzle from the fountain pen like it's a lick'em'aid stick. On the palate, a sweet, viscous, peppery assault runs across your mouth. The powerful tannins stick to the roof and sides of your mouth, bringing the rich, black nectar slowly down. Takes a minute or more to dislodge from the crevices. Awesomely lingering finish. Not for the faint of heart. Sweet steroids. Can mellow out for years to come.