Psydr Short & To-The-Point Wine Reviews
Below are reviews of fun little finds purchased locally. The typical cost per bottle is $10 or less, and the label probably has a little more pizazz than your traditional Barolo. But don't judge the bottle by the label. These reviews are personal and certainly non-professional evaluations of wines we've tried. Enjoy!
November 7, 2008
November 6, 2008
1 Reviews:
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November 8, 2008 12:10 AM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a sweet Tempranillo for sure. Sweet from beginning to end. Probably could've used a bit more time in the casks. Not a bad vino, just a bit of not-quite-ready. I'm not saying it's grape juice or anything. I just think the vintage is a bit immature...
November 3, 2008
2005 Tomas Cusine Vilosell
YEAR: 2005WINERY: Tomas Cusine
FLAVOR: Red, 49% Tempranillo, 28.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Garnacha, 10.5% Merlot
ORIGIN: Costers del Serge, Spain
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $12
NICKNAME: "Vilosell"
Labels: 2005, 4 STAR, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Mixed Varietal, Red, Spain, Tempranillo, Tomas Cusine
1 Reviews:
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November 3, 2008 9:23 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a very good Spanish offering. It really is. Being an accidental purchase, I was taken a little by surprise. When I placed the vessel in my basket at the store I could not find a price listed anywhere. But having grabbed it from the "lower" shelf with the rest of my sub-ten-buck purchases, I just assumed it was similarly priced. However, upon scanning the item during self-checkout I found the bottle to be priced closer to $14, but the clerk gave me a $2 break since the price was not clearly marked. Sweet!
This is a wonderful blend with a strong Tempranillo base. The other key varietal in my opinion is the Merlot. It's addition really smooths out the tannins in the Tempranillo and Garnacha. The nose is mainly berry with a hint of smokey residue. While the palate portrays blackberry and raspberry I would not call it overly fruity by any means. And then there's a little bite in the end. A good bite though. Just enough of one to let you know it means business. Some other reviews have listed this trait as spicy. At least I believe that is what they're referring to. What do I know???
So, we all know red wines go well with red meat. No other red in my experience has proven this to be more so. There's just something about it that REALLY compliments a thick, juicy, delicious fillet. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but I think you'll understand if you give this vino a try. It's almost a dirty, gritty flavor that is very, very good and carnal.
With just the slightest bit less bite in the end, this wine would be perfect, and I would grant it a 5 STAR rating. As is, I'm officially listing this as a 4.9 STAR. I'm excited to try future vintages from Tomas.
November 2, 2008
2003 Hoodsport Cabernet Merlot
YEAR: 2003WINERY: Hoodsport
FLAVOR: Red, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot
ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $8
NICKNAME: "Hoodsport Blah"
Labels: 1 STAR, 2003, Cabernet Sauvignon, Hoodsport, Merlot, Mixed Varietal, Red, USA
1 Reviews:
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November 2, 2008 11:30 PM ,
psydr said...
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1 OUT OF 5 STARS
Wow! Another crappy wine. This is not a good start for Hoodsport. I can take a hint. I promise not to buy another...
1 Reviews:
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November 2, 2008 8:18 PM ,
psydr said...
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1 OUT OF 5 STARS
Not so hot. This merlot has very little resemblance to an actual merlot. It tastes more like bitter grape juice. Not a juice I'd ever buy again. It's a nasty, bitter mess. Yuk.
October 27, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 27, 2008 5:54 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Fairly smooth for a Cabernet. Just a little edgy in the aftertaste. You definitely taste the earth in this beverage. Perhaps a little too much so... The other predominant flavor is blackberry. But you only notice it for a moment. Then the earth takes over.
Not one of my favorites.
October 25, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 25, 2008 5:51 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
A plumy and bitter Malbec. Honestly, this is what I traditionally expect from a Malbec. It's just that I've had the pleasure of consuming some really delicious, non-standard Malbecs as of late. And in comparison this one is a bit of a disappointment. But maybe it shouldn't be. If you tend to enjoy Malbecs, then this bottle may be for you. It IS quite earthy. I'm just not digging it.
I type this review in the cafe where the bottle was purchased. A nice place. Very poche, uncrowded, and relaxing. I might as well as give them a little free advertising here. It's called Geneve Cafe & Wine Bar. Stop in for a coffee or sandwich... or bottle of wine.
October 24, 2008
2007 Working Girl Wines Go Girl Red
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Working Girl Wines
FLAVOR: Red, 85% Merlot, 15% Lemberger
ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $10
NICKNAME: "Working Girl Awful"
Labels: 0 STAR, 2007, Lemberger, Merlot, Mixed Varietal, Red, USA, Working Girl Wines
1 Reviews:
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October 24, 2008 1:27 AM ,
psydr said...
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0 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is cran-raspberry juice with a wine label slapped on it. Nothing more. Seriously, I'm appalled someone actually decided to bottle this stuff and SELL it (as wine). It is no wonder I found it on sale for $9.99 marked down from $15.99. I can't imagine anyone was willing to pay such a hefty fee for such swill. At least not more than once. The first round of buyers were suckered, plain and simple. I'm curious as to what percentage of these sales ended up poured down the drain. Surely none have finished a bottle. Not without gagging.
Perhaps this IS a breakfast wine. It might be a decent replacement for orange juice on occation... Well, not really. It's just terrible. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this is the worst wine I've reviewed to date.
Barf!
October 21, 2008
2006 Mano a Mano Tempranillo
YEAR: 2006WINERY: Mano a Mano
FLAVOR: Red, Tempranillo
ORIGIN: Spain
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $9
NICKNAME: "Mano a Mano Red"
Labels: 2006, 3 STAR, Mano a Mano, Red, Spain, Tempranillo
1 Reviews:
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October 22, 2008 1:12 AM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
A nice change from the other vino I've had this evening... even though I'm going to give it the exact same rating (3 STARS). I just happen to like Tempranillo more at the moment, but I can't let that sway my judgment.
Clearly dog is the motif for this evening as both reviewed beverages have canines on their labels. That wasn't on purpose. That's just how things turned out.
Oddly enough, I find this Tempranillo to be sweeter than the Merlot I consumed just an hour ago. It's a good sweet. Right now, I prefer it.
There are some earth and oak tones here as well. There were clearly oak casks involved in the aging of this beverage. While there usually are, there's no doubt here. Licking the actual casks would be the only way to create a stronger oak palate. Watch out for splinters.
A small amount of bitter and a slightly pungent nose. Not a terrible pungent. Just a hint of not-quite-right.
All-in-all this is an average vino.
1 Reviews:
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October 22, 2008 12:22 AM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
A nice Merlot. Good nose and such. There's just a bit too much anise in the palate for my taste. And the color is extraordinarily dark and almost opaque. Other than that, it's fine. I don't think you'd upset anyone by severing this wine at your next gathering. It does have a good blackberry flavor. Anise is just overwhelming in my opinion.
The label is rather sheik, and certainly their cause is worthy. It's my understanding that 50 cents of each Doghouse purchase goes to help the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization.
October 20, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 20, 2008 1:07 AM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
A little dusty for my taste. Earthy yet tart. Similar in palate to a Malbec. A little dirty tasting if you will. And the slight dark bitters from the Merlot show as well.
This wine is unsweet and seems not quite ready for harvest. The danglies could've used a bit more time on the vine perhaps. This is the type of wine that does show promise, but as is, it's just not very good.
That said, I am curious about the Carmerene. Let's see what else comes about.
October 19, 2008
2006 Goats do Roam Red
YEAR: 2006WINERY: Goats do Roam
FLAVOR: Red, Blend
ORIGIN: South Africa
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $7
NICKNAME: "Goat Red"
Labels: 2006, 3 STAR, Goats do Roam, Mixed Varietal, Red, South Africa
1 Reviews:
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October 20, 2008 12:17 AM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Plum. Tons of plum.
While the blend is not listed, if I were to guess, I'd say Shiraz was the predominant varietal. It has the same sweet characteristics and color. The nose, however, is of plum. Smooth. No bitter tannins. And a slight fruity aftertaste.
A decent wine from South Africa. I'm tempted to give it 4 STARS, but I just can't.
October 18, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 27, 2008 9:23 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Not a bad Cabernet. Dark purple in color which is consistant for a cab. It has that standard Cabernet bite. Just a tinge of bitter and tannins. Then there is a slight sweetness to the palate. This is unexpected for a Cabernet, yet I feel it balances the beverage quite nicely. The aftertaste has a slight flavor of metal. If I had to pick a metal, I'd choose tin to describe it. While there IS an earthy tone to the wine, I feel the metalic portion slightly overwhelms. Therefore, only 3 STARS.
October 15, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 15, 2008 10:48 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is a decent Merlot. There's your standard hint of currant, and the fluid is a tad on the thick side. Pretty good though. Goes down smooth. Didn't cost much. And it has a groovy label. What more do you need?
I have nothing glowing or disparaging to say about this beverage. I guess if I was more into Merlots at the moment, I might have given the bottle a 3.5 STAR rating.
October 14, 2008
2006 Red Guitar Tempranillo Garnacha
YEAR: 2006WINERY: Red Guitar
FLAVOR: Red, 55% Tempranillo, 45% Garnacha
ORIGIN: Navarra, Spain
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $10
NICKNAME: "Red Guitar Red"
Labels: 2006, 3 STAR, Grenache, Mixed Varietal, Red, Red Guitar, Spain, Tempranillo
1 Reviews:
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October 27, 2008 9:27 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This one is a surprise. At first whiff I was sure I was to be disappointed. Nope. This is a good wine. The nose betrayed it's actual character by releasing a scent of sweet, sweet licorice. Not being a licorice fan, I'm usually immediately turned off by such wines. But this one wasn't so bad. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. It was a tad sweet and a bit leggy. And there IS a hint of anise in the palate. However, it wasn't overpowering, and the hint of pepper helped dull down the sweet. Overall it was a good balance. If you enjoy licorice, then this is the bottle for you. I see no reason not to purchase this wine. It's a good bottle to "throw in the mix" every now and then...
1 Reviews:
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October 27, 2008 9:30 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Quite a startling contrast to the vino I just had. While the previous blend from The California Wine Party was smooth and without a hint of acidic bitterness, this is the polar opposite. Very acidic. I feel as if the enamel is being stripped from my teeth as I write this review. The wine makes me want to brush my teeth. I don't know. It's probably not the most bitter beverage I've tried as of late, but it's certainly not inviting me back to purchase it again. I don't like it. It's almost chalky. Ick. No thanks Crucillon.
2006 The California Wine Party Franc/Merlot
YEAR: 2006WINERY: The California Wine Party
FLAVOR: Red, 70% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 4% Petite Sirah
ORIGIN: California, USA
PURCHASED: Trader Joe's, Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $5
NICKNAME: "Wine Party Red"
Labels: 2006, 4 STAR, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Mixed Varietal, Petite Sirah, Red, The California Wine Party, USA
1 Reviews:
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October 27, 2008 9:33 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
Good nose. Maybe slightly sweet in smell. Dark and slightly clouded. Not the clearest of beverages. Good flavor though. Not bad at all for a cheap wine. Surprisingly, there is very little aftertaste. For some reason I was betting on a bit of the bitters after swallowing. Maybe because the color was a little off. Or maybe is was something I sensed in the aroma. Either way, I couldn't have been more wrong. This wine starts off smooth and finishes in exactly the same way. Some might describe it as having a slightly watered down feeling, but personally, I just think it's a nice, smooth vino. I tend to prefer a thinner wine at times. They just seem more refreshing.
Anyway, this is a good buy and can be found at your local Trader Joe's. Pick up a bottle and let me know what you think.
October 13, 2008
1 Reviews:
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October 27, 2008 9:35 PM ,
psydr said...
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3 OUT OF 5 STARS
This is what I would refer to as a "medium" wine. Every aspect of it seems to fall somewhere in the middle of any given range. It's neither smooth nor does it have great bite. There isn't a significant acidic bitterness involved, but it's certainly not sweet. The legs are neither strong nor weak. In general, this wine would be a great crowd pleaser at a party where no one really knew anything about wine. Nothing wrong with that. And, really, that's probably a pretty good audience to gather if your a small wine maker from Argentina. Nothing wrong with that at all. I don't think I'd buy it again, mostly just because I like a little bit more of an argument in my beverages. There isn't one here. You open the bottle. It says, "hello." You drink it. It says, "good bye." No real story. No passion...
September 8, 2008
2007 The Wolftrap Syrah
YEAR: 2007WINERY: The Wolftrap
FLAVOR: Red, 60% Syrah, 39% Mourvedre, 1% Viognier
ORIGIN: Western Cape, South Africa
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $11
NICKNAME: "Mixed Wolf"
Labels: 2007, 4 STAR, Mixed Varietal, Mourvedre, Red, South Africa, Syrah, The Wolftrap, Viognier
1 Reviews:
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September 9, 2008 9:35 AM ,
psydr said...
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This is a very nice wine. There's a slightly woody/oak palate with a bouquet of cherry and other red berries. Smooth going down, and a nice color. Not too shabby. It even complimented the stir fry I wokked up for dinner this evening. In general this is a good purchase. And even though it's a tad over our proverbial $10 ceiling, I would recommend it to any of you wishing to try a wine from South Africa.
This is our first South African wine review. They're off to a good start!
September 7, 2008
2007 Gato Negro Merlot
YEAR: 2007WINERY: Gato Negro
FLAVOR: Red, Merlot
ORIGIN: Central Valley, Chile
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $7
NICKNAME: "Black Cat Merlot"
1 Reviews:
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September 7, 2008 9:33 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Honestly, this is more of a 1 STAR wine in my opinion. It's mostly flavorless and a little too chewy for my liking. The smoothness kinda makes up for the uber legs. But in general, I just can't describe this vino as "good." Don't get me wrong. It's not terrible either.
So, why do I give the bottle a 2 STAR rating? Because my father has always enjoyed this wine. And, if he likes it, it can't be awful.
September 6, 2008
2006 Smoking Loon Pinot Noir
YEAR: 2006WINERY: Smoking Loon
FLAVOR: Red, Pinot Noir
ORIGIN: California, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $10
NICKNAME: "Smokin' Loon Pinot"
Labels: 2006, 4 STAR, Pinot Noir, Red, Smoking Loon, USA
1 Reviews:
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September 6, 2008 8:11 PM ,
psydr said...
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
So, I was standing there at my local corner store racking my brain trying to decide which of their lovely wines would best compliment my jalapeno cheddar dip and Tostitos scoops when my eyes came upon this Smoking Loon. After quietly pulling up the Psydr Wine Review site on my new iPhone, I was quickly able to determine I have yet to review this bottle. Soon I was out the door with my new discovery. Now, sitting on my favorite couch, I have the following information to dispatch:
This is an excellent Pinot. Great nose. Almost refreshing like that first whiff of coffee in the morning. While a little leggy visually, the wine itself does not have a thick or sticky texture. The palate is very, very, cherry-berry. How's that for a description? Sorry. That's just what came to mind on first swallow. It's a very smooth wine which is fairly typical of the Pinot and probably why I tend to enjoy them so much.
I think you'll be a happy little camper if you choose this wine. Sometimes they DO carry the good stuff at the corner store. Whadaya know...
Okay, so now it's time for the chips and cheese. I was holding off for the review. Enough of that! I'm hungry.
September 5, 2008
2005 Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon
YEAR: 2005WINERY: Columbia Crest
FLAVOR: Red, Cabernet Sauvignon
ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $9
NICKNAME: "Columbia Crest Double Cab"
Labels: 1 STAR, 2005, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Crest, Red, USA
1 Reviews:
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September 5, 2008 8:28 PM ,
psydr said...
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1 OUT OF 5 STARS
It makes me sad to have to give such a lowly review to a wine from Columbia Crest, because, in general, I believe them to be one of the best providers of decent wines under our little $10 bubble. This, however, is NOT one of them. And I believe they tend to pride themselves on their Two Vines selections.
The earthy Cabernet nose is there and the color is of dark, dark blackberry. But the palate is really quite unpleasant. There is a strange bitterness I can't quite describe. It's not tannins. It's more as if the wine has expired... not corked though. The "flavor" doesn't mess around. It's not an aftertaste. It hits you the moment the liquid hits your tongue. It's almost as if I had just brushed my teeth...
I don't know. Personally, I'm hoping I just picked up a bad example if this CC offering. I really hope so. I'll make an effort to pick up another bottle and give it another review shortly.
September 4, 2008
2006 Snoqualmie Syrah
YEAR: 2006WINERY: Snoqualmie
FLAVOR: Red, Syrah
ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $7
NICKNAME: "Snowqualmie Syrah"
September 1, 2008
2004 Silverlake Roza Red
YEAR: 2004WINERY: Silverlake
FLAVOR: Red, 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Franc
ORIGIN: Columbia Valley, USA
PURCHASED: Seattle, WA
AMOUNT: $7
NICKNAME: "Silver Rose"
Labels: 2 STAR, 2004, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mixed Varietal, Red, Silver Lake, Syrah, USA
1 Reviews:
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September 1, 2008 9:44 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Semi-tart. Not very interesting in general. Vanilla. Perhaps a bit overdone. Smells of bad vino, but I don't think it's corked.
Don't know what else to say. I guess I'd just avoid from purchasing in the future. But don't get me wrong. It's not terrible. I just don't like it.
I'd rather go play with my new iPhone than spend any more time on this wine...
1 Reviews:
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September 1, 2008 9:28 PM ,
psydr said...
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2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Somehow, this is the first Malbec I've reviewed here. Yet I know I've consumed several over the past many months. Perhaps they were above what I considered an acceptable price-point for this blog. Or, I just didn't take time to review them. Malbec is not among my favorite varietals, and truth be told, you folks only see reviews for about half the wines I purchase. I just don't have time to review them all.
Anyway, here goes... This is an okay wine. It's typical of a Malbec: Dark in color. Slightly leggy. Strong scent of earth. There's also the standard bitter aftertaste.
And then there is a quality I just don't quite have the words for, but it seems to be present in most, if not all Malbecs. Here's my best shot: There's this scene in The Christmas Story where one kid triple dog dares the other to stick his tongue to a frozen pole on the playground. Well, it is my belief this is the flavor Malbecs exude. Let's label it as cold steel. If you've ever licked a cold metal rod of any sort, you might know what I'm talking about.
There. Done.
1 Reviews:
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September 1, 2008 1:39 AM ,
psydr said...
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0 OUT OF 5 STARS
Okay, so sometimes I pick up a bottle based on the label alone. It's kind of like reading a book by its cover... Well, kinda. And with a prologue like "Evil" and a mantra of "It's just wrong," how could I resist? Vessel purchased!
Excited, I scurried the bottle home from the local grocer with a little extra skip in my step. Upon reaching my humble abode, I popped the cork... Oh, no, wait... I unscrewed the cap and poured a small sampling into one of my favorite tester glasses. You know. The ones having a line revolving the center point saying, "optimista" above and "pesimista" below. No? Then by all means go out and purchase a set. They're great!
Moving on. Next came the pour and a moment or two of wait while checking the color and sampling the nose. Color: dark. Almost a muddy grape. Nose: tobacco and licorice. And I'm afraid these are the same two characteristics I would use to describe the palate. I'd almost go as far to say my sampling tasted as if I had lifted someone's dip cup to my mouth accidentally.
This vino is aweful. It really is. I appologize Evil Winery. I really do. But you folks will have to come up with something a little better to put in a 750ml bottle if you're planning on selling it to me. I will NOT purchase such a Cabernet again. Ever...
2 Reviews:
3 OUT OF 5 STARS
Another sweet beverage. There is however a little more substance to this vino. There's more Earth and tannins. A bit too much for my taste.
I picked these two bottles up due to their price and label. Nifty label. Good price. I figured it would be a good opportunity to sample a Tempranillo and Garnacha from the same vineyard simultaneously and compare the two side by side.
The result is... I believe I prefer the Tempranillo to the Garnacha. But the Tempranillo wins by only the slightest of margins. It's ever so slightly sweeter and has less of an aftertaste. However, I'm pretty certain the Garnacha would be the preferred beverage with food.
I know I'm only giving this fellas a 3 STAR rating, but I would not hesitate to purchase either again. They're both decent wines and probably crowd pleasers on any given day...
Another sweet beverage. There is however a little more substance to this vino. There's more Earth and tannins. A bit too much for my taste and too much of a contrast to the sweetness I'm experiencing. These are both immature wines that could use some more time in the bottle. The sugars have yet to break down properly.
I picked these two bottles up due to their price and label. Nifty label. Good price. I figured this would be a good opportunity to sample a Tempranillo and Garnacha from the same vineyard simultaneously and compare the two side by side.
The result is... I believe I prefer the Tempranillo to the Garnacha. But the Tempranillo wins by only the slightest of margins. It's ever so slightly sweeter and has less of a bitter aftertaste. However, I'm pretty certain the Garnacha would be the preferred beverage with food.
I know I'm only giving these fellas a 3 STAR rating, but I would not hesitate to purchase either again. They're both decent wines and probably crowd pleasers on any given day...
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