Goose Ridge G3 2006 – Red Wine

Sep 15 2009

On my way to Wine Wednesday at Zinful in downtown Kennewick, I’m sitting in the van thinking that I didn’t know one wine from another. I’m not an experienced wine drinker. I never understood why people drank wine if it tasted like “that.” I always thought that wine was meant to be drunk with food. I didn’t realize that it could be an alcoholic beverage that could be drunk alone such as a beer or a margarita and that the taste is savored and compared. I come from South Texas. The common bottle of wine I would find in people’s fridge was the gallon jug of Lambrusco or the classic boxed wine. This was rolling with the “high society.” This is what I knew of as “wine.” Yeah, I can hear your reactions to that. I’m learning. I’m learning.

We grabbed a table next to Claire and Shelly . Staring at the menu, trying to figure out what kind of wine to order, Craig mentioned that I wasn’t familiar with wines and didn’t know what to order. Claire asked me if I wanted to drink a red or a white wine this evening. I thought white would be a good choice, but quickly interceded that I would prefer to drink red tonight.

With excitement, Claire suggested that we should try the Goose Ridge G3 2006. I’ve always thought that any red wine I tasted was bitter. The white wines were less bitter and had a different flavor. So okay, let’s try it out. We ordered a bottle of the G3.

The bottle arrived and my glass was poured. The initial smell of the wine came on strong. The smell of cherry and vanilla were distinctive to my nostrils. The color was a deep red and when I took the first sip, I was surprised of its rich flavor. Yes, it did have a slight “bitter” taste as a non-wine drinker would think, but it is smooth and explosive to the palate. It did not possess the heavy after-taste as other wines I have tried. This was very good.

The Goose Ridge G3 2006 is a blend of 49% Syrah, 35% Merlot and 16% Malbec. The blackberry and dark cherry flavors are blended with vanilla and toasty oak as a result of the aging process of about 20 months in oak barrels both French and American. This intensifies the flavor in your mouth.

After several glasses of this very flavorful wine, I decided that I would definitely add it to my stock list. Still being new to the wine tasting field, I have to say that this was definitely a good experience. Thanks for the recommendation Claire.

Five Star Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (2006 – Red Wine)

Aug 7 2009

There’s nothing like discovering you don’t have a taste for cab the week before your review on a cabernet is due – right? So, instead of reviewing cab, I am going to spend the next 200 or so words telling you why PalateBomb is such an awesome site and you should advertise here so I can get paid. I’m kidding (well, not about the getting paid part).

After trying several cab “fails,” I went to the Kennewick Yoke’s and explained my dilemma to the totally awesome wine department associate (Chrystie B.). She showed me some different bottles at various prices, but in the end, I saw the sign and had to pick Five Star’s cab (Five Star is located in the Walla Walla Valley). The sign in front of the bottle reported it having notes of chocolate. Maybe it’s a girl thing, but I was sold.

At the suggestion of Chrystie B., I picked up some chocolate to go along with my tasting as she said it might help train the palate to accept the more fuller bodied flavors of cab. And, you know, yeah chocolate! On the nose, the wine has a rich dark cherry smell (the sign did not lie!), but it’s not overwhelmingly harsh (as I’ve noted with the other cabs I did not like). It actually smells sweeter than most reds I’ve tasted. This definitely impressed me.

When it came to tasting I held my breath (not literally – it’s better to breath so you can take in all the subtleties while you are drinking. And… WOW. This was nothing like the cabs I had rejected in the past. Absent were the harsh tannins that caused me to cringe, and it was just a smooth, peppery, slightly fruity taste. It went down easy and lingered pleasantly on the back of my tongue. I was enjoying the wine so much, I didn’t initially note that I did not taste the chocolate that had initially led me to purchase it.

Paired with dark chocolate, this was a wonderful treat that I am, right now, pleasantly letting myself believe was zero calorie. Chocolate and cab do not have calories, right? Thought so. Time for another glass!

Hogue Cellars Cabernet/Merlot Blend (Red Wine – 2006)

Jul 24 2009

When it comes to reds, I’ve had my share. I’ve had oaky, spicy, sweet and everything in between – and much like pictures of Ryan Reynolds without his shirt on, I have yet to find one that I don’t get some sense of pleasure out of (my particular favorites have usually been reds from Red Mountain AVA winery Hedges Family Estates).

But I decided to take a challenge for this particular review: find a cheap red that was suitable for a variety of meals. A coworker and friend of mine mentioned the Hogue Cabernet/Merlot blend as something she, who is not typically a red wine drinker, enjoyed. I was familiar with the Hogue winery (I’ve read enough about it throughout the years) and they are clearly a dominating presence, but I tend to shy away from large-production wineries. Perhaps this is the most snobby thing I do as a wine drinker, but I tend to shy away from the bigger wineries. There’s just something about that small ma-and-pa winery that I love that somehow, most likely irrationally, makes me think I’m getting something better.

Of course I was wrong (will accept it…this time). Upon swirling this wine in my glass for the first time, I smelled a rich and fruity bouquet. When tasting, the wine was actually moderately sweet. Not a “this is a sweet wine” type of sweetness, but it definitely a nice and balanced blend. The black cherry or another dark berry-like fruit provide the perfect balance that is nice and easy to go down. The fruit lingers long after you’ve swallowed, but in a pleasant manner that makes you eager to take another sip. I can see why someone who is “not a red drinker” would enjoy this.

This blend is slightly spicy, slightly oaky – more so if you’ve allowed to it to sit a little longer – but it’s not significant enough to play a huge role in the taste.

Because this is a very moderate red blend, it is easier to pair with more flavorful dishes without competing for the palate. I could definitely see myself pouring this with some grilled chicken or perhaps a warm dish of pasta.

Aside from the < $10 price, one of the best things about this wine is the screw cap. Screw wine “purists” (pun totally intended here) with their corks. I absolutely adore the screw cap. Not only does it keep the wine better without fear of oxidation (not that wine lasts that long in our house), but it makes weak chicas like me more apt to purchase it if I don’t have to worry that I’m going to have an unfortunate cork-fail incident where it breaks/ falls in/ doesn’t move or other various circumstances that keep me from my glass of wine.