Andrew Murray
Bogle
Ironstone
McManis
Pleiades
Sean Thackrey
Stonehedge
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Stonehedge Winery 2001 Chardonnay
This bottle of chardonnay contains some top quality juice, including about 10%
Sleepy Hollow grapes from Monterrey's famous vineyard.
I found the flavor to be tropical with notes of pineapple, lime zest, and apricots.
The mid-palate and finish possess toasty notes of roasted nuts, a true "Domestic Style" offering.
There is a subtle, pleasing, hint of mineral, which I suspect comes from the Sleepy Hollow fruit.
Retail price $8. Tasted October 5, 2003.
An inexpensive chardonnay with tasteful use of American Oak,
earning two out of a possible three  .
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Stonehedge Winery 2001 California Merlot
In a sea of fruity, smooth, uneventful merlots, this inexpensive wine stands out like a beacon.
The blend is about 83% merlot and the remainder is a mix of carignane, carnelian, and zinfandel.
The merlot gives the wine a juicy, ripe canvas,
while the notes of cassis, leather, chocolate, and mint entertain your tongue.
The acidity and tannins structure are smooth and soft.
This is a fruit-forward merlot, with respectable structure and spice.
Retail price $8. Tasted October 5, 2003.
The price and uniqueness earn this little gem two out of a possible three .
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Stonehedge Winery 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
A blend of about 83% cabernet sauvignon and the remaining 17% being petite sirah and merlot.
The fact that this wine is aged for only six months in American Oak allows the true fruit flavors to shine through.
There are notes of blackberries, plums, mint, and white pepper on the finish.
For an inexpensive California Cabernet, this wine offers a great value for the money.
You've got to admire the folks at Stonehedge, they're creating great, inexpensive wines, and they're
not worried about blending outside of the norm.
Retail price $8. Tasted October 5, 2003.
Price and quality earn this wine two out of three .
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Stonehedge Winery 2001 Sauvignon Blanc
Again, another creative blend from Stonehedge.
This wine is 91% sauvignon blanc and 9% chenin blanc.
The chenin blanc adds another dimention to the blend offering sparks of tangerine and honey.
The palate is rich with citrus, melon, and floral notes.
The fruit is rich and the acid ample.
Retail price $8. Tasted October 5, 2003.
Those experts in the "Under $10 Whites" category should definately give this bottle a try it earns a respectable two out of three .
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Stonehedge 2002 Petite Sirah
Go ahead . . . have another slice of blueberry pie.
That the flavor sensation you're tasting when you drink Stonehedge Petite Sirah.
It's so extracted and inky, you dare not drink it over your priceless Persian rug
and forget about your teeth staying white.
It is as inky as it is fruity.
The berry flavors bursts through on the nose and carries over to the palate.
There are subtle splashes of licorice, blackberry, black pepper, and clove are
present underneath a veil of blueberry.
The acidiy is ample enough for pairing this wine with food.
The mouth-feel has soft tannins.
The acidity and soft tannins balances the wine, making it more than just a "fruit-bomb."
Probably the best inexpensive petite sirah I've tasted in years.
Retail price $8. Tasted June 4, 2003. Go ahead . . . have a second slice .
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Pleiades XII Old Vine
Sean H. Thackrey is a bit of a non-conformist, from his unconventional method
of labeling his bottles to his avant-garde blends.
Pleiades XII Old Vine can be described with as many adjectives as it has varietals.
There's eucalyptus on the nose.
The palate is bright, with notes of ripe wild cherries, rosehips, mint, clove, and dried roses.
The wine interacts with your senses; it performs for your mouth.
It is an intersection of Aussie shiraz on the nose and front of the palate
and has the depth of Northern Rhône syrah on the mid-palate and finish.
There's plenty of acidity and some sultry tannins on the end.
The price has best adjective of all, inexpensive.
Retail price $23. Tasted September 16, 2003.
Drink it now or drink it later, it is stellar earning three out of a possible three  .
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Andrew Murray 2000 Enchante
is a Rhône Valley white blend consisting of viongnier, roussanne, and marsanne.
A gem grown in the Santa Ynez area, this bottle of wine is an elegant, rich, alternative to
the domestic chardonnay.
The nose is honey'ed and sparks of green tea.
On the palate the fruit is rich, with hints of white flowers, pears, honey, and dried apricots.
It is a very smooth wine, yet has enough acidity to pair well with food.
The finish is long, lingering, and luscious.
Retail price $23. Tasted September 16, 2003.
Elegant and stylish, like Rhône Valley white earning two .
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Andrew Murray 2000 "Les Coteaux" Syrah
is a funky Rhône blend that jumps around in your mouth with flavor and texture.
The wine is bright, with rosehips, dried hibiscus flowers, raspberries, and spicy clove.
The wine also has significant depth offering notes of plum and bitter chocolate.
Sultry tannins add an interesting edge to the bright flavors on the front palate.
The bright flavors allow the acidity to dance through your mouth.
Very balanced, very interesting, skillfully blended, an exceptional bottle at a modest price.
A true Rhône blend of this quality would cost double on the shelf.
This wine drinks beautifully now, but will improve for another 6-8 years.
Retail price $26. Tasted September 16, 2003. A gem earning two out of three .
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McManis 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
is grown in what is called the "River Junction" appellation at the
confluence of the San Joaquin and Stanislaus Rivers.
The micro-climate allows fruit to mature and ripen slowly.
I found the McManis Cabernet Sauvignon to be exceptional for the money.
Big cherry and plum flavors, marry with toasted vanilla, and a touch of cedar.
The tannins are smooth.
This cabernet has character and is not just another fruit cabernet from California.
Retail price $12. Tasted June 3, 2002.
A great cabernet for the price earning two out of three .
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McManis 2001 Merlot
McManis Winery specializes in using state-of-the-art equipment and focuses on smaller lot production.
The difference in their approach to winemaking is apparent.
This merlot is very "New World" style, with its big juicy blackberry and cherry flavors,
its toasted vanilla bean notes, and very smooth, but notable tannins.
I was impressed with the wine's presence.
It is fruity and smooth like its abundant peers, yet is interesting and I believe stands with only a few
domestic merlots in this price range.
Retail price $12. Tasted June 3, 2002.
Exceptional flavor and quality earning two out of three .
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McManis 2002 Chardonnay
is very "New World" in style,
with its oak notes.
The fruit is bright with flavors of green apple, pears, and a touch of citrus.
The finish is long and pleasing.
This is a well made California style chardonnay.
Retail price $12. Tasted June 3, 2002.
A good choice earning two out of three .
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Bogle 2001 Petite Sirah
is fruit from Clarksburg and Lodi AVAs.
Petit sirah is thought to be an ansestor of syrah and can be much more extracted and inky than most
syrahs.
Bogle's Petite Sirah is very red-violet in the glass with an assortment of black fruits on the nose.
On the palate, the wine has big, very ripe flavors of black cherries and a touch of rosehips.
The finish is textured with a sweep of white pepper and toasted vanilla.
This is a very affordable, full bodied, well made petite sirah.
A great alternative to cabernet sauvignon and pairs well with cabernet dishes.
Drink it now, or stash it in your cellar for a few years, either choice will be an enjoyable one.
Retail price $12. Tasted March 3, 2003. Solid choice with one  .
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Ironstone Symphony 2002 "Obsession"
is one of the most unique wines I've tasted in this price range.
The symphony grape was a varietal created at U.C. Davis and released in the early 1980s,
by crossing muscat and grenache gris.
This grape can be produced as a still or sparkling wine.
Ironstone has choosen the sparkling option for their delightful, refreshing, fruity, wine.
The nose is reminescent of a flower garden lined with honeysuckle.
The wine is slightly sweet and slightly effervescent.
It has a rich mouth-feel and tropical fruitiness and spice-cake,
which is followed by clean acidity and a zip of bubbles.
Because of it's sweetness, Ironstone Symphony Obsesson would pair well with
Indian, Thai, Mexican, or any spicy-hot fare.
If you have an unwavering white zin drinker on your guest list, offer this wine instead.
White zin drinkers love this wine.
It has the sweetness of white zindandel, but you can actually assess complimentary adjectives to this wine.
(Don't be alarmed, wine drinkers who are in-the-know love this wine too!)
Retail price $8. Tasted May 25, 2003. Try it, you'll like it .
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