Miscellaneous Red Wine Wine Tasting Notes

2005 Bargetto Rosso,
California, (Dolcetto, Zinfandel, Merlot, Tempranillo, Carignane, Refosco and Nebbiolo) $12
Score: 92.0
An interesting blend of Italian, French and Spanish varieties, it weighs in at 14.5% alcohol. Of all of its components, it most resembles Tempranillo -- a velvet covered whip -- silky smooth with a spicy-acidic kick on the extraordinarily long finish. The fruit tends toward raspberry and cranberry, with vanilla and light milk chocolate tones in the background. Only 490 cases produced. Amazing value

2006 Don Miguel Gascon
Mendoza Argentina Malbec $12
Score: 88.0
The Gascon Malbec is a full bodied wine with jammy loganberry fruit, oak spices (vanilla, nutmeg, graham cracker and toast), supple tannins and good acidity. At 14.2% alcohol, it's at the acceptable limit for a table wine; the pleasant finish is warm and extremely long. It's a tremendous value.

2005 Ironstone Vineyards
Lodi Petite Sirah $9
Score: 90.0
Such a deal! Full-bodied and rich with layers of blueberry, black cherry, nutmeg, roasted meat and black pepper. It's well-balanced with reasonable alcohol (13.5%), soft tannins and a long pleasant finish.

2005 Mosby Winery & Vineyards
Santa Barbara County Dolcetto $20
Score: 89.0
This distinctly Californian rendition of Dolcetto lives up to its name better than most from Italy. While Dolcetto means "little sweet one," and the wine is entirely dry, it does give the impression of very ripe blueberry fruit, with a dusting of nutmeg. It's full-bodied, fruit forward, well balanced, under 14% alcohol, and has a measure of minerality underlying the fruit in the finish. Made for current consumption, it will keep through 2012. Just 421 cases made.

2005 Mosby Winery & Vineyards
Santa Barbara County Teroldego $30
Score: 89.0
Always a fascinating quaff, the 2005 serves up ripe, concentrated strawberry and logan berry jam, with a light minerality and light tannin, a hint of mocha an a pleasantly long finish.

2001 Bargetto La Vita
Regan Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Dolcetto, Refosco, Nebbiolo $50
Score: 90.0
Made from three Northern Italian varieties (Dolcetto, Refosco and Nebbiolo) grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this is a very rare and interesting wine. The nose brings to mind concentrated dark fruits (plums and berries), along with an underlying minerality and a deep floral (red rose) edge that follows through to the mid-palate. The tannins are already soft, but it's still a wine that will benefit greatly from another 3 to 4 years in the bottle. Just 355 cases made.

2004 Mosby
Vigna Della Casa Vecchia Dolcetto $18
Score: 88.0
Dolcetto, meaning "little sweet one," is a Northern Italian variety that is quite rare in California. Though this version has more fruit character (blackberry-blueberry), it also has a complex earthy note that I've not found in the original.

2002 Martin Weyrich Il Vecchio
Paso Robles Nebbiolo Lampia and Michel Clones, Reserve $19
Score: 88.0
In aroma and flavor profile this is as close as any California producer has come to emulating Barolo - it has the requisite tar and roses character, yet it adds a bit of green peppercorn as well. Its only deficiency is a high alcohol (14.6%), which shows in the finish. The tannin is firm, as is typical of the variety, but it is aging appropriately. It should hit its peak around 2010.

2002 Martin Weyrich Insieme
Paso Robles [Miscellaneous Red Wine] $18
Score: 88.0
This is one of the most fascinating blends I've come across. It's a combo of Calfiornia grapes whose antecedents hail from Italy and France. Barbera (39%) is a northern Italian grape. Petite Verdot (26%) is one of the grapes that makes up a small portion of Bordeaux wines. Petite Sirah (Duriff - 26%) is traditionally fokund in southern Rhone blends, and Sangiovese (9%) is from central Italy. It offers up deep dark berries - blackberry, loganberry - and dark plums, accented by cinnamon notes. It's dry, of medium body and tannin, and shows the structure necessary for extended aging. Give it another 5 years in the bottle. Only 193 cases produced.

1997 Banfi
[Italy] Dolcetto dAcqui DOC $14.00
Score: 87.0
"Heres a case where a wine need not be complex to be thoroughly enjoyable. This is a lighter style, elegant Dolcetto, with silky texture and vibrant berry fruit. If you want to search for it, theres a hint of soil-leather character in the background, but what matters here is the fruit and the exquisite balance. A great value, drink over the next year or two. Pairs well with roast beef, smoked salmon, cheese and pasta dishes. "

1999 Montevina
Amador County Sierra Foothills Nebbiolo Rosato $7.50
Score: 89.0
"A dynamic rose that will make believers of even the most stuck up oenophile. Its just off-dry, with delightful floral-strawberry fruit, good acidity and balancing astringency. A great quaff for a picnic or with salmon or pork chops. Needless to say, a fabulous value."

1999 Mosby
Vigna della Casa Vecchia Santa Barbara County Dolcetto $14.00
Score: 85.0
"Dolcetto is usually lighter weight than this. Meaning 'little sweet one,' the Dolcetto grape makes a wine often compared to Pinot Noir. This one shows spicy plum and roasted tomato character, with toast and spice notes on the palate, and medium tannin. A big, rustic wine to pair with hamburger or spaghetti."

1999 Concha y Toro Terrunyo
Peumo Valley Carmenere $29.00
Score: 79.0
"Tarry licorice, smokey, bittersweet chocolate, moderate tannin, slightly bitter finish. Interesting, but the fruit is lacking."

1998 Delas Freres
Les Reinages Gigondas [france] [red rhone]
Score: 81.0
"The nose is characterized by black plum and black pepper, while the astringent palate adds some licorice notes with some unpleasant bitterness in the finish. "