PKNT - Gold Reserve

Producer: PKNT (i.e. "picante")
Name: Gold Reserve
Varietal: Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Price: ~ $10

Despite writing about the (oops) Carmenère Merlot earlier, this PKNT Gold Reserve Carmenère was actually my first time tasting a Carmenère. The bouquet smelled of dark rich berries, black currant with a slight vanilla and honey undertone. On the palate it was a full bodied red with predominantly warm oak and black cherries. A slight surprise considering the hot pepper on the label. Well balanced but fairly simple and straight forward—AKA: a nice value.

J

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Rolling Stones Wines - Satisfaction

Producer: Rolling Stones Wines
Name: Satisfaction
Varietal: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, 4% Petite Sirah
Vintage: 2005
Region: Napa Valley, United States
Price: ~ $50

Well what do we have here Mick? Your own wine? I'm very cautious of celebrity branded wine because for the most part it's mediocre wine in a flashy package. The Rolling Stones booth definitely had a lot of flash: numerous banners, TVs playing shows of the Rolling Stones, multiple bottle displays and somewhat of a greasy salesman behind the table. It put me off a little because I was trying to ask the rep about the wine and he gave me a lazy description and moved on to other tasters—namely the females—who weren't even spending time tasting the goddam wine anyway (there's a lot of them at these conventions). It would seem to me that if you wanted to get your wine out there, you'd spend time with the tasters who were actually serious about discussing the wine.

Anyway, the bouquet was actually pretty interesting with notes of cassis, currant and black cherry. On the palate it had strong cherry and spice notes that were quite bold and forward. With slight oak and a full body (almost syrup-like), the wine was complex and well structured with a long spicy finish.

When I looked the wine up online I came across prices in the $50 per bottle range. I'm sorry, the wine was good but not $50 per bottle good. There are far more interesting wines out there for a much better price. Try it to say you've tried it, but there probably won't be an encore tasting.

Peace in the middle east!

J

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Inniskillin - Dark Horse Meritage

Producer: Inniskillin
Name: Dark Horse Meritage
Varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2006
Region: Okanagan, Canada
Price: ~ $25

The Inniskillin Meritage was the first wine that really started piquing my interest in how wine was made. When I was bartending I would sit down with a bottle of this after almost every shift. Thinking about the blend and why they did what they did. Comparing the current vintage with past vintages and how things have changed. A wonderful wine simply for my own selfish and sentimental reasons.

The bouquet is rich with cassis, black cherry, chocolate, earthy notes. It's a full bodied wine with a long dry finish. Tastes of spice, dark berries and chocolate, this wine is balanced and complex that keeps you sitting and contemplating at the bar until the late hours of the night.

J

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