Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon round it all out, along with Petit Sirah and Merlot. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit comes from an alluvial fan on Ritchie Creek in Calistoga, and the 8% Merlot and 8% Malbac comes from a vienyard along the Napa River. Terrezas de los Andes. Reserva Malbec 2009. The Climber 2010. 21.99.

The Show is a big, rich, deep Cabernet, although according to the website there are also small quantities of Merlot for softness, Cabernet Franc for earthiness and acidity, and even Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot to give it a deep ruby color. all aged in French and American oak. Big is the key descriptor here.

Last year I reviewed a 2007 Petite Sirah from Concannon Vineyard , so I was delighted to recently receive the 2008 vintage. The Petite Sirah is one of three red wines I have began to appreciate much more over the past year and this would be my first one of this vinatge. could not wait to open the 2008 Petite Sirah.

2007 Wilson Winery Petite Sirah. Style note: Really delicious Petit Sirah with tamed red fruits, lively acidity, and a pleasing velvety texture that can pair excellently with steak and especially winter stews. 2007 Star Lane Vineyard Merlot. This week I've tasted some excellent wines! 2008 Wilson Winery Zinfandel.

Getting time to clean out the old wine fridge. After two months of laying around, drinking coffee, tea, water and gatorade and laying off the good stuff I am beginning to feel the need for a long day of wine shopping, but the fridge is full and I will just have to do my part in making room for more. Here the grapes for Frascati are grown.

My second choice was a 375ml bottle of white Merlot that was given to me by winery owner Dave Mansfield when I visited his Three Brothers Winery in May. Our visit to the winery just happened to be the same day that the white Merlot was being bottled. The white Merlot has been released and can be purchased at the winery for $17.

Winemakers notes: A classic Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. 61% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. I don't often go with Shirley and Pam to the Saturday morning Central New York Regional Farmer's Market, but I made an exception today. King Ferry Winery was founded in 1984.

I've been holding out on the wine reviews until everything gets back to normal after my surgery. At present, my Cardiologist has OK'd 3-4 oz. of wine per day and, for me, that just don't cut it. do cheat a bit and I also skip some evenings. That is what happened with the first bottles I opened. little lighter bodied than what I'm used to in Zin.

Last March I posted a press release on a new collection of artisan wines in an innovative attractive new package. An international wine collection with six brands and ten items packaged in a new exciting premium 3L wine cask from the Octavin Home Wine Bar ™. The Chardonnay was not impressive. Definitely a good party wine.

With May and New York Riesling month coming to close soon, it is safe to say that I tasted more Riesling this month than any one year in my life. The hard part was deciding which ones I would post on the blog. After this article I will post once more on a NY Riesling and may list all those I have had. Both were opened with a BBQ chicken dinner.

This past Monday evening was a first for me on-line. Because of my work schedule and Shirley's extra long 'honey-do' list I never have the chance to do a tweet up on Twitter or follow a wine party on Facebook. You can add comments or photos or just sit back, relax, read what others are having and just sip away on your own wine.

This past weeks edition of the Syracuse New Times, a weekly alternative newspaper published in Syracuse, New York, contained an interesting article on Finger Lakes Riesling. Gary noted four wineries, one of which I vaguely remember from an article written by Evan Dawson for the New York Cork Report. Sipping later was delightful.

Now looking forward to 4 day trip to New York City and some Long Island Merlots and some more Hudson Valley wines. To continue Riesling month here in New York, I wanted to find something other than my favorites from the Finger Lakes region. Doing so seemed almost impossible. Brotherhood also happens to be America's oldest winery.

Just finished watching the movie "Avatar" while sipping on my first Riesling of the summer. Finger Lakes Riesling of course. This month is Riesling month in New York and this will be the first of many I'll enjoy over the next 30 days. The 2008 Red Tail Ridge semi-dry Riesling was suggested by my sister-in-law. This is now one of her favorites.

Most notably, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Tonight I am enjoying a Petite Sirah from the Livermore Valley, a Concannon Convservancy 2007. John Concannon 4th Generation Vintner Winemaker Notes: The 2007 Petite Sirah, Conservancy has fantastic depth and character. few of the issues are for how long and where.

The 2004 vintage is 96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah. I'm leaving Chile(till later) and heading over to California to try a few more Zin's. I'm starting to surprise myself with what I am finding with Zinfandel and also a bit disappointed that I wasted so many years with such a limited selection or narrow palate. Not that I am old??

This is the third of the Carmenere wines I tasted this month. As I stated in my previous two articles, Carmenere is one of the wines I've pushed aside in the past, but have placed on a list to re-examine in 2010. The first two left me with mixed feelings about the wine. did enjoy this with some Muenster and Dubliner cheese. It'll be fun!!!

It's been a few years since I tasted Carmenere. If I remember right, it was a take it or leave it, nothing special, too many other fine wines, don't shop for wine. My last review confirmed that feeling, but in a very serious attempt to expand a lazy palate I purchased a few different labels to compare. The first was disappointing.

Wish I had a nice Canadian wine tonight so I could toast the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team on their winning of the Gold medal. am not an avid hockey fan, but I do watch occasionally and tonight enjoyed one of the best ever games. Instead, I uncorked an Arboleda Carmenère 2006 from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. Bring on the steaks!!! Wine Acidity: 5.31

BTW, they are Zinfandel, Syrah, Pitite Sirah and Carmenere. This past week-end I started ordering the Petite Sirah at the Lounge and tonight I opened what is, as of now, the best. The Bogle Petite Sirah was the perfect match. At least I am no longer afraid of Petite Sirah. Bogle Winery 2007.

Somewhere among my 50 New Year's resolutions (99.9% failure rate) was to leave my wine comfort zone more often as I continue to expand my trapped palate. To do so, I will have to taste, I mean drink, more wines that I never tried or wines I just never liked. So, to start off the new year I opened one of my least favorite wines, Zinfandel.

55% zinfandel, 22% carignane, 18% petite sirah, and 2% mataro, aged in 12% new American oak (the balance 1-5 years old) the Geyserville is from the western edge of Alexander Valley. From 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 4% Petite Verdot,5 % Cabernet Franc.,5% But the predominant note on day 1 was the vanilla.

Varietals grown and produced include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Sirah." Warning: This is a knock your ass to the floor wine. You will be tempted to drink the whole bottle in one sitting. That would be a mistake. Deep and brooding; virtually opaque. The nose was stewed plums and black cherries. Try not to. At 15.5%

recently checked out some of their unique single varietal appellation wines (Carignan & Petite Sirah) and was so (surprisingly) impressed by their quality that I included them in a blog post  with some recommendations.  My favorites of the day were still the appellation Carignan and Petite Sirah.  And taste I did. 

No Merlots (OK, maybe 1) and no Cab's (OK, maybe 1 or 2).  And two wines in their appellation series that are of interest are the Carmel "old vine" Carignan & the Carmel Petit Sirah.  Those are: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot & Malbec. I'm sorry for the delay in writing this post. 

There was also a Merlot, Cab, and then 4 zinfandels. Their 2004 cabernet which is actually a Bordeaux blend of 76% Cabernet, 18% merlot, 4% Petit Verdot & 2% cab franc. Their 2005 "Home" Zinfandel, blended with 3% Petit Sirah, had a very pleasant minty menthol thing going on that went very nicely with the ripe fruit.

We had some Merlot & Cab from both a regular series and a reserve one. Following the Cab I had a Petit Sirah and finished with an old vine Zin PORT that I REALLY enjoyed. The Zin was blended with about 7-8% Petit Sirah & a touch (about 1%) of Cab. But it was ideology's 2005 Merlot that I preferred.

Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 This Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California is made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Sirah, 5% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 1% Malbec- quite an intense mix, but it works. Here are 7 of my most recent favorite inexpensive but good wines. alcohol.

This Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California is made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Sirah, 5% Syrah , 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 1% Malbec -- quite an intense mix, but it works. Stainless steel fermentation, then 14-16 months in oak casks. a glass. alcohol

could write about the fabulous Israeli Cab or the not so fabulous French Bordeaux, the overrated California red, or awful Israel Merlot (it was BAD) but who cares?!?!! Merlot, Cab, Syrah - been there done that. lighter wine than a Cab, merlot or Syrah, Barbera is said to be the most (or second most) planter varietal in Italy.

Also in the $13-$14 range from Galil Mountain and worth checking out is their Merlot &/or Shiraz. In our present category you will find an atypical blend from Recanati - their Reserve Petite Sirah/Zinfandel blend. Bustan's wines are 100% varietal - a Cabernet , a merlot & a Syrah. Buy it up, drink it and be proud.

The 2003 "1er Etage" Cab Franc was blended with 2% Petit Verdot and had very subtle green notes but was was nice as well. And their 2004 "Right Bank" Red, a blend of Cab Franc (53%), Merlot (30%), Petit Verdot (9%) & Cab Sauv (8%) was beautiful. She had a nice Sauvignon Blanc and very pleasant Merlot as well.

The first is a Petit Sirah from California. Petit Sirah is a varietal I had initially understood to be a blending grape - one that could provide color, strength & structure to a blend (often with Zinfandel). PS I love you - The PS being for Petit Sirah). And two stood out, as they were priced to TRY.

Well ladies and gentlemen, the results are in. will be copying a list of wines & their scores from Israeli Wine Critic Daniel Rogov's "Wine & Food Forum".  I am waiting for my physical copy of the issue to arrive before I comment specifically.  More comments later.  Without further ado, the scores.

Not merlot, cabernet sauvignon or zinfandel. No, the choices I had were petite sirah and.ready for this. The petite sirah was only eight bucks and the nebbilolo was sixteen. wanted them both but was a bit tight on cash so my budget gave me the petite sirah. just hope y'all are stickin' with me. Cetto.