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  • 2009
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • January
      • Hedges Family Estate 2004 Three Vineyards
        01/24/08
        ~$21 Retail

        Sweet red currants, cigar box, oak spice. Big & Ripe. A good example of new world Bordeaux. The oak treatment on this wine is substancial, but surprisingly the fruit manages to stand up to it. Decant for an hour or two if you're drinking now. Would benefit from a

      • Freemark Abbey 2002 Bosche Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
        01/24/08
        ~$71 retail

        Very smokey, cedary with mint and dark cherry, dried leaves, plum and some black currants. Palate is gentle and elegant with some oak and ripe notes in a fairly long finish.

        Overall: Very fine Cabernet. Bit pricey, but holds its own against comperable Old School N

      • Freemark Abbey 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
        01/24/08
        ~$35 retail

        Very dark and ripe, oak and smoke along with very ripe fruits especially Merlot notes (plum, blueberry), blackberry, tar, licorice, old Napa Oak notes. Palate is ripe, full and lush, tannins are med + but a combo of grape and wood, softening due to age, med + alcohol, med aci

      • Rays Station 2005 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
        01/24/08
        ~$15 retail

        Same color as the Ray's Station 2003 Merlot, cedar and berry seed aromas, some greeness, tighter and more tannic than the Merlot, as it should be, sweet red cherry. Bit thinner than the Merlot and a bit higher alcohol than Merlot. Tannins med+, Alcohol med+, Acidity med,

      • Ray's Station 2003 Sonoma County Merlot
        01/24/08
        ~$15 retail

        Deep and dark, rich aroma of dark cherry, prune, tobacco and later some blueberry and hint of plum. Spice and sweet fruit notes in the palate. Nice balance, alcohol and tannins present, medium + but balanced, medium+ finish.

        Overall: Excellent Value Merlot

      • Preparing for Wine Exams
        01/15/08
        As a wine student (once one - forever one) and wine educator, I am frequently asked how to prepare for wine exams. This is especially true now as I am about two weeks away from testing my current group of Sommelier students at my Sommelier Society of America/Sommelier Wine Academy venue in East Quog

  • 2007