Daniel P. Drake 
Tamarack Cellars
Firehouse Red Columbia Valley Merlot Blend 2008
Tonight I have opened the 2008 Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red. I have been sitting on this for awhile. This is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 16% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 3% Sangiovese, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmènere. A different kind of blend but nice none the less.
On the nose the is lots of jammy dark fruit, black raspberry, black cherry, black plum, black currant, mocha, licorice, sweet tobacco, herbs, pencil shavings, menthol and wet soil.
On the palate are big dark plummy fruit, black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black currant, licorice, chocolate, herbs and menthol.
The wine is well balanced full bodied red silky smooth with medium + acidity, medium + grainy tannins with a long finish that carries the fruit with it. After 9 years this wine has a lot of life left that will easily at least go another 10 years.
On this 4th of July weekend I urge that we all take precautions to stay safe and enjoy the holiday. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 21 days ago
Au Bon Climat
La Bauge Au-Dessus Pinot Noir 2010
This wine from Jim Clendenen is the 2010 Au Bon Climat Le Bauge Au-Dessus Pinot Noir. You can't go wrong with a pinot from Jim Clendenen. His wines are in the burgundian style which I real lean toward in my pinot noirs.
The nose has nice red berries, red raspberry, strawberry, rose petals, along spice and a good dose of minerality.
On the palate is tart raspberry, tart strawberry, red currant, black pepper, clove, and earthy soil.
This is a well balanced seamless wine with nice medium + acidity and medium + dry tannins with a little grip.
I have always enjoyed Jim Clendenens wines and this is just another example. Have a great Fathers Day and be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — a month ago
Averaen
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015
Tonight on this the start of the weekend I had a taste for Willamette Valley Pinot and so I went to my store of choice in Chicagoland. I picked up a couple and not the usual choices. I wanted to try some under $20 Pinot. So the one I have opened is the inaugural 2015 Averean Pinot Noir. This is a new brand from the makers of Banshee and it shows with the California influence.
The nose is very aromatic with notes of strawberry, cranberry, cherry, red raspberry, cola, vanilla, an earthy component and a touch of smoky oak.
On the palate the nose is confirmed with cherry, cranberry, ripe strawberry, red raspberry, vanilla, spice, and rich soil.
Definitely not your typical Oregon Pinot Noir. More California influence than Oregon. Medium bodied and well balanced with medium + acidity, medium tannins. This is not what I look for in a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir but is a very pleasant wine and drinkable all night long. Please have an enjoyable weekend and as always stay safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 8 days ago
Cantina Terlan
Terlano Pinot Grigio 2015
Tonight's wine is also from Alto Adige, Italy, the 2015 Cantina di Terlano Pinot Grigio.
The aromas a alive and opulent with notes of ripe melon, apples, nectarine, pear, honeysuckle, white flowers and a mineral play.
On the palate there is nectarine, white peach, pear, spice, saline, minerality and a nice almond on the mid palate.
This is a medium to full bodied wine with crisp medium + acidity that takes you to a pleasingly long finish. I am pleasantly surprised with this Pinot Grigio. A well serviceable wine that I would have again. Have a safe and enjoyable rest of your weekend. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — a month ago
Tamarack Cellars
Reserve Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Blend 2011
This 2011 Tamarack Cellars Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Reserve Red Mountain Bordeaux Blend. 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc.
The aromas are full of dark fruit, black raspberry, black cherry, black currant, cocoa, violets, tobacco, spice, clean soil and a mineral component.
The palate confirms the nose. There is exciting dark fruit, cherry, black raspberry, black currant, clove, mocha, black pepper, graphite and an earthy soil.
This wine is full bodied with a silky smooth mouth feel. There is medium + Tannin, medium + acidity with a long smooth finish. Very impressed with this wine. Happy Fathers Day and have a safe rest of the weekend. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — a month ago
Heidi Schröck
Rust Gelber Muskateller 2012
The wine I am having this evening is the 2012 Heidi Schröck Gelber Muskateller.
On the nose there are very expressive notes of white flowers, melon, peach, citrus peel and honeysuckle.
This is a very easy drinker with notes of fresh grapes, floral notes, peach, spice and limestone.
The wine has that flat low to medium body with medium + acidity and a long fresh finish. Enjoyable summer drinker. Have a great week and be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 13 days ago
Domaine Berrien Cellars
Lake Michigan Shore Cabernet Franc 2014
Tonight's wine is the 2014 Domaine Berrien Cellars Cabernet Franc. Domaine Berrien is my go to winery in Southwest Michigan. Wally and Katie Maurer run a very good operation that I know I can count on for good expressions of Southwest Michigan wine.
On the nose is pronounced red berry fruit, cherry, sweet strawberry, sweet raspberry, pepper, herbaceousness, baking spice and dusty soil.
The red fruit continues through to the palate, tart strawberry, red raspberry, green bell pepper that I Love in my cab franc, tart plum, a touch of oak and a nice minerality.
This is a medium bodied wine with medium + acidity, medium smooth tannins and a long enjoyable finish. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and please be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 14 days ago
Kellerei Bozen
Alto Adige - Südtirol Pinot Grigio 2015
Today being the middle of the week, I decided to stop this afternoon to pick up something different. I made up my mind to try some Pinot Grigio from Italy. The 2015 Cantina-Kellerei Bozen Pinot Grigio Südtirol Alto Adige.
The nose has very good aromas of green apple, pear, lemon, honey with a saline minerality.
The palate gives up lemon, lime, pear, green apple, ginger, saline and limestone.
The wine has medium acidity with a medium bodied mouth feel, just a little weaker than I would like. Enjoy your rest of the week and be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷 — a month ago
Mayacamas Vineyards
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2014
The evenings wine is the 2014 Mayacamas Chardonnay, the 125th Anniversary. This is a very nice chardonnay that is easy to drink and pleasing to the palate.
At first opening the were loads of citrus, apple, lemon, honeysuckle, praline, vanilla, white flowers and an earthy minerality.
The palate shows rich notes of lemon, green apple, lemon zest, lemon curd, honeysuckle, vanilla bean and a stoney minerality.
This wine brings out a crisp, lively and clean long finish that continues the fresh citrus notes. There is also medium + mouthwatering acidity.
A clean chardonnay that is pleasing to the palate and can be enjoyed with many foods. Have a great week and enjoy life to its fullest. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 2 months ago
Daniel P. Drake
Sticking with the pinot's I have opened the 2013 Tabali Talinay Coastal Limestone Vineyard Pinot Noir from Chile.
On the nose there are beautiful fruit and complex notes of cherry, cranberry, raspberry, floral notes of violet, vanilla, light oak and an earthy component.
On the palate a wonderful notes of cranberry, raspberry, cherry, forest soil and a bit of minerality.
This is a medium bodied wine with medium + acidity and medium fine tannins that leads to a lovely long crisp finish with good fruit right to the end. It just doesn't seem to want to quit and it will carry you right into the next sip. I am totally into this wine and may have to go and purchase a few more bottles. Have a wonderful rest of your week and please be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 days ago