Wine Review: Cellar No 8 Pinot Noir

There are great tasting Pinot Noir wines for under $10. Looking for strawberry jam, medium-bodied, spicy, subtle tannins and a tropical flavor with just a touch of nutmeg you may want to try Cellar No 8 Pinot Noir. A great wine for the dinner table and back yard events. The wine offers a fruity and subtle flavor that will not overpower your casual wine drinkers. 

The winery was started in California in 1881 by an Italian immigrant family. They invited others come and work the land for a profit. They eventually formed their own community on the 1,620-acre parcel of land. Over the years they expanded and developed a colony of 6,000 acres with dozens of families working together for a profit. No 8 was the name of one of their cellars and holds some of the colony’s history.

Great tasking wine is not the only Cellar No 8 is offering. Pinot Noir is full of resveratrol that according to a 1999 study in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture it can improve cardiovascular health, nervous system functioning, and fight cancer (1). Women should drink no more than one 5 oz glass a day and men should drink no more than 10 oz a day to receive the maximum benefit. 

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Wine Review: Castle Rocks Pinot Noir for Summer Sipping

Summer is almost here and it is time to switch from hardy winter wines like Merlot to something a little softer like a Pinot Noir. Castle Rock’s Pinot Noir has a strong showing in the market with a number of enthusiasts on the Web stating it is a great wine for the price of under $10.00. Wine and Spirits Magazines rated it as one of their top 17 American Brands with a specialty in Pinot Noir.

In relation to other Pinot Noir brands, Castle Rock is also a dry wine of rose pedal aroma. There is a touch of strawberry and raspberry in the taste. A warm and light after taste that doesn’t hang past five seconds. The color is soft red much like a rose wine. It would make a great selection for meats and vegetables due to its light and subtle taste.

Castle Rock is not your normal winery and can be better classified as a virtually winery. What this means is that they do not actually own the land or winery but found a way to lease the extra capacities of other wineries. They buy the grapes from growers and then make their wine at their locations to create a variety of styles and offerings. A nice way of doing business without all the fixed overhead.

http://www.castlerockwinery.com/

Wine Review: Leese-Fitch's 2012 Pinot Noir

Leese-Fitch 2012 Pinot Noir is a medium body wine that works well for nearly all occasions. Light aroma with ruby red color. It is a dry and sweet taste with little acidity or tannin aftertaste that hangs for about 8 seconds. It is easy to notice the dark cherries, plumb, and strawberries within the wine.  It is also possible to discern just a touch of vanilla.

Pinot Noir is a difficult grape to grow and requires special care. Grown in northern California’s cool coastal land the sweetness is unmatched. It is a versatile wine that pairs well with most other foods ranging from sauces to poultry. Most people consider it as a step up between white and red wine.

According to the website the brand can be described as, “The wines of Leese-Fitch celebrate the restoration of the Leese-Fitch building located in the Sonoma Square. Built in 1836, this historical landmark in Sonoma Plaza was named after Jacob Leese and Henry Fitch, brothers-in-law to General Mariano Vallejo, the founder of the town of Sonoma.”  You may learn more about the company HERE.

This wine is a keeper.

Wine Review: Nothing Wrong with a Mad Housewife

On an occasion, a Mad Housewife is a good thing! No…we are not talking about the cold shoulder and the burnt fruitcake. The Merlot Mad Housewife by Mad Housewife Cellars in Manteca California is a ripe fruity medium-bodied wine that maintains a smooth disposition despite its quick legs and burgundy red cheeks. With plumb, blackberries and vanilla mixed with a touch of spice you will find the taste pleasing.

Their philosophy matches their wild style.  “Above all else, wine should be fun, relaxing, and something you can afford to look forward to at the end of each and every day. This is your time. Time to enjoy a moment to yourself. A moment without the madness.”  To them, every homemaker may need a little time off.

It s body and taste is something that would go well with a little greasier food. This is not to mask the quality but to complement their offering. Think in terms of steak, bacon, hamburgers and kabobs. It is a backyard or everyday type wine at a wholesale price.

Their Merlot wine has won a couple of local awards giving testimony to the quality of the value for around $10.

Bronze Medal, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2012
Gold Medal, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2011
Bronze Medal, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2010
Bronze Medal, Florida State Fair International Wine Competition 2010
Silver Medal, National Women’s Wine Competition 2010
Bronze Medal, Next Gen Wine Competition 2010
Bronze Medal, Grand Harvest Awards 2010
Silver Medal, Riverside International Wine Competition 2010
Silver Medal, Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition 2010
Bronze Medal, San Francisco International Wine Competition 2010
Silver Medal, Dallas Morning News Wine Competition 2009
Silver Medal, Denver International Wine Competition 2009
Bronze Medal, Florida State Fair International Wine Competition 2008

http://www.madhousewifecellars.com/

http://moderndaymoms.com/whine-o-wednesday-presents-mad-housewife-merlot/

http://www.examiner.com/article/wine-deal-of-the-week-mad-housewife-merlot

Wine Review: Beringer's Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Beringer's Cabernet Sauvignon offers a light ruby red wine with a high fruit taste. Think of black berry, plumb, cherry and a touch of pepper. Upon opening you should expect an aroma of high pitched fruit cocktail. Its contour is smooth and offers a mild tannin kick on the back of the tongue with a light palatable aftertaste. Hanging tears are average and the wine is medium bodied in volume. 

The Beringer winery started with an interesting immigration story. A German by the name of Jacob Beringer immigrated to New York in 1868. He and his brother moved to California and started one of the first wineries in Napa Valley in 1875 with their purchase of 215 acres for $14,000. They produced 40,000 gallons of wine in the first year which is considered an astonishing amount. In 1967 the winery became a historical landmark and is visited by people from around the world. 

The winery has tours open to the public for around $25. You may see the 1,200 foot Chinese labor built linear tunnel for storage, the Rhine House, Hudson House and much more. One can also consider joining their wine club which offers a variety of different options and prices based upon the exclusivity of the wine shipped. 

Even though Cabernet Sauvignon is a relative new wine of the 1700’s it has grown in worldwide popularity. French growers decided that they would crossbreed Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc to create an easy to grow and resilient grape.  At first it took hold in the new homes and vineyards of California before becoming popular in other states who found it adaptable to their environments.

Enjoy!

http://www.beringer.com/about