The Desert Wine Guy - 2017 Tuatea Sauvignon Blanc

   Today was a busy day in the Vineyard as I had some Pruning to do on the first year Tempranillo vines as well as a lot of general cleanup. After that it was time for a trip to Sam's Club to purchase some Cotton Candy Grapes (yum) and now it is time for a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc which will (hopefully) be enjoyed while sitting out back by the the Pool. So, what wine am I reviewing today? Well guys, today the wine that I am reviewing is the 2017 Tuatea Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand but first, I have a confession to make folks. I have found ny last few wines from the Marlborough region of New Zealand to be rather disappointing. I hope this wine can break that pattern and meet the expectations I have for what is supposed to be the best region in the world for Sauvignon Blanc. So here we go, let's get into this review and see what's up.
   Let's begin with th fact that this wine cost me a mere $5.99 at my local Trader Joe's and the alcohol percentage comes in at 12.6%. The wine is straight 100% Sauvignon Blanc and is not blended with any other varietal. Now I know that you may be asking yourself (or me), what can he be expecting for that price? Let me tell you something, keeping it real here as always with you guys, I am honestly sort of up in the air as far as what to expect from this inexpensive wine but, in the past I have received a lot from certain wines bought at this price point and hopefully this wine will be one of those wines, we will see.

   In my glass this wine presented itself an ever so slight golden in Color with lots of thin legs running down the sides of my glass. As I said, the alcohol is at a fairly low 12.6% and those legs represent that rather well.
   As for the Bouquet I am picking up notes of Honey Dew, nothing overpowering on one hand but yet not exactly shy on the other. Let's just say that this note was rather pleasing. A Note of Guava which was similar in strength to the Honey Dew appears and it is very welcoming. Last but not least is a Note of ripe Nectarine that helps add to the overall tropicalness of the Bouquet. Overall the wine exposes a rather simple yet tropically appealing Bouquet and one that is lively and is truly begging to be enjoyed at the Pool.
   Onto the Palette we go now and here is where the wine expresses it's further attributes nicely. Upon first sipping the wine you will notice an initial note of Lemon Zest that jumps right out at you and while not screaming, it is here and definitely speaking loudly. Subduing this Lemony Zest note just a bit is that note of Honey Dew that was on the nose. Both notes here are about at the same level of presentation and are welcomed by a strong bit of zippy Acidity that begins at mid-palette and simply doesn't end. If you guys are lovers of Lemongrass, you are in luck because as expected, that Note is really present here probably due to where the grapes are grown. The Lemongrass is very effective in the overall Palate presentation of the wine and helps in keeping the wine so lively and spirited. Up front and fruity as well as slightly vibrant, this lemongrass certainly does let you now it is there and it is actually instrumental in steering the direction of the wine. All you lovers of an in your face Sauvignon Blanc, you are in luck because this is not a wine that I would is in any way soft.

This is also an expression of the varietal that knows what crushed stone is and it is more than happy to offer it up freely here on the Palate. As I get further into tasting this wine I have to tell you that brightness & Palate clarity are Notes that this wine also offers up. So far, this $6 wine is really impressing the heck out of me people, I just hope it continues. There is one weird thing that I noticed that the wine exhibits and that is on my Tongue there was a slight fizz that I don't think came from Carbonation as there was none visible but it was almost that type of tingle that I picked up. The good thing was that this feeling actually helped in keeping the Palate lively and continuing on without any down time. Now, I know that I mentioned that the Bouquet of this wine was tropical however the wine itself is a bit restrained in that aspect so if you are expecting a really tropical Sauvignon Blanc you might be a little disappointed. To me, the Sauvignon Blanc varietal is so versatile that it can be good in so many different expressions including this one, it is not locked into being super dry or super tropical. Another thing this wine also brings to the table is a bit of sweetness and this bit of sweetness is just right as it is not overdone and does not take anything away from the rest of the wine. Folks, in case you haven't picked up on it yet, this is a very concentrated white wine, perhaps a hair bit too much actually as I found myself having very slight issues with the acidity on the Finish. Aside from that, this wine is a super tight structured wine for sure and in describing it overall I would certainly have to describe it as a Sauvignon Blanc that exposes a massive greenness to it. If you have ever heard the term "green" used to describe a white wine but never actually experienced it, then you absolutely must try this wine because it is the epitome of the phrase. I actually couldn't think of a term to describe this wine any better.

   Let's go ahead and break all this down as I close this review out. If you love the Marlborough interpretation of this varietal than you found Heaven. This wine (finally) is why the Marlborough region of New Zealand has it's reputation. Vibrancy, acidity, some tropicalness, bright, lively and spirited, this wine has it all and at a superb price as well. On The Desert Wine Guy rating scale, I give this wine 93 points.

                                                                                                                                   The Desert Wine Guy


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The Desert Wine Guy - 2016 Josh Cellars, North Coast Reserve - Cabernet Sauvignon.

   Have you ever had the thought that if you see a wine too often and on the shelves of everywhere you go, that it must automatically be junk? What if Walmart even carries it, would that now cause you to think twice about buying it? If you do think this way and you answered yes to both (me) or either of these questions, don't feel bad guys because rightly or wrongly, I think the same way. As a matter of fact, that was the attitude that cropped up as I was looking on the stores wine shelves today. I saw the usual Tan label, Josh Cellars - Cabernet Sauvignon and thought, nah, I see that everywhere. Luckily, it just so happened that right next to that wine was this wine, the 2016 Josh Cellars, North Coast Reserve - Cabernet Sauvignon. Before I go on with the review I want to ask you guys one other question. What does the word "reserve" really mean when it is applied to a wine? The answer is.....nothing, absolutely nothing. I guess I shouldn't say "absolutely nothing" because it does actually mean something, it means the winery can charge more for that particular wine as the average consumer will believe the wine just has to be something special. What I am getting at is that the word has no legal meaning when it comes to a wine and can be applied to any wine, for any reason and without any justification. Guys, you know I'm The Desert Wine Guy and as such, I am above falling for the "reserve" thing. I am above that......right? In reality, I would like to think that I am but yet my curiosity got the best of me, it still led me to question if this wine behind this label would be different than the wine behind the other label. Is the wine really different though, let's find out.

   So, as I said. today's review is on the 2016 Josh Cellars, North Coast Reserve - Cabernet Sauvignon. I bought this wine from my local Supermarket for $17.99 as compared to $12.99 for the tan label Cabernet. The wine comes in at  14% on the alcohol scale and the grapes for this wine are from Napa, Sonoma, Lake County, Mendocino, and Red Hills.
   I will continue now and talk about the label on this wine. If this weren't the normal step in my reviews, I certainly would have made an exception for this particular wine. Just amazing, that is what my first thought was in relation to the label when I saw the bottle on the shelf. Eye catching is another thought I had and that I also believe fits this label as stunning Fonts and their colors exist in combination with one another. Look at that Gold and it's relation to the rest of the label guys, wow! If this wine isn't screaming elegance, I don't know what other wine is. On the shelf my eyes were just locked onto this bottle and I had to have it, and of course, because it was a reserve :)

   Let's move onto the Bouquet of the wine and see how it holds up to the labels silent promise of elegance. As I bring the wine to my Nose I have to say that I am certainly getting at least some immediate confirmation in reference to the labels  promise. Right away the wine is presenting a Cinnamon Note that is not exactly soft as it is certainly leading the way in the wines expression of perceived classiness. Helping this Note is a sense of what seems like a warm Cocoa Note which also seems to mix expertly with a bit of an alcohol Note. Together these three notes are simply all telling, teasingly delicious and together they present an awesome, incredible sense of perceived plushness as well. Slight oak mingles itself in here but is far from being dominate or even trying to dominate this wines Bouquet. Adding to this is a Cigar Box Note which is thankfully slightly more prominent than the oak and adds a bit more power to the wines Nose presentation. When everything is put together this wines Bouquet is very expressive and tells it like it is without being shy or pulling any punches.
    Let us go ahead and actually look at the wine now. On the Pour, I will tell you right now that the wine is very dark. Holding a white piece of paper below the wine the wine was just barely visible. There was an ever so slight clarity to the very edges but the wine was amazingly close to being completely dark red in totality. Massive and long Legs were ever-present on the sides of my glass and they ran quickly down the sides.

   Whew boy, I am excited to taste this wine folks. Looking at all that has been presented so far, what a shame it would be if the wine fell flat on its Palate presentation. Let me go ahead and get to that right now. When the wine hit my Palate and I swallowed it, I felt a slight alcohol burn that  lingered onto the Finish and slightly beyond. This actually isn't a negative as it not only went well with the Cocoa on the Bouquet but here on the Palate as well. After a short bit, this Note disappeared and left a lot of other Notes that this wine has to offer up and it certainly does have a lot to offer up. As I continue on here, Cinnamon & Cocoa Notes transferred on over from the Bouquet to the Palate nicely and they were rather upfront as well. The plushness, that the label seemed to promise is really evident here and is very forward as well. I don't want you thinking however that these Notes block the other Notes that the wine has to offer up because it certainly does not so don't worry. These Cinnamon & Cocoa Notes are present from the Opening all the way to the Finish (which is long). What really jumps in and helps these Notes be even more effective is that ability to create that awesome plushness, it's incredible. Massive ripe black fruit is so very in your face in this wine as well. There are spicy accents that seem to come in and out rather quickly all the while keeping the Palate in a constant state of juiciness & liveliness. Fresh and ripe Black Cherry just explodes onto the Palate combined with a roasted nut Note as well. These Notes are so super forward and also mesh so very well with a bold, Black-Current Note. The Black-Currant doesn't come close to presenting itself as Tannin's sometimes can. In this case, the Note adds a sense of depth & a bit of Tannins as well to the wine which is really nice. Speaking of Tannin's, they are present but are really fine-grained in this wine and are not Tongue coating. Let's talk about a juicy Blackberry now. I find this note coming in just after Mid-Palate and it is ripe. Here is where I begin to find fault with the wine. This ripeness the wine loves so much is where an issue crops up concerning the wine for me and leads me to telling you that this is unfortunately a rather fruit-forward wine with a good bit of jamminess to it.

 Let me talk for a second about the jamminess for a minute. Some of the Notes in the wine such as the Cinnamon do their best to try to lessen the impact of the jamminess and make it a bit more palatable but in the end, it is in a fight where it is in way over its head because jamminess & fruit forwardness is really over the top. As I move away from this big fault, the other Notes seem to know their place in the wine and they come in at just the right point on the palate. Let's go ahead and talk about a Mid-Palate Note of Clove because there certainly is one. This Clove Note is like I said at Mid-Palate but it is like a transporting vehicle of sorts as all the rest of the Notes seem to ride on it which in the end is almost but not quite a sort of saving grace for this jammy, fruit forward wine. Topping all this off are light Mid-Palate Notes of Toast & Tobacco. Both of these Notes shine through very nicely and are also a prominent part of why this wine excels to the point in which it does. There is an intensity to the wine as it harnesses all of its flavors in order to present to you everything it can.
    Alright folks, so we are at the conclusion paragraph of this review. I have to begin here by coming back to my warning that this wine is big time fruit-forward & jammy? Normally, this would immediately kill a red wine for me but in this particular case, I sort of don't mind it. The wine has a lot to offer in the way of a decent level of complexity and that certainly helps. The wine brings a richness along with it but certainly has more than enough to elevate it beyond the usual fruit forward & jammy red which is so very common today. Folks, the wine is juicy, semi-complex and lush, all at the same time. It is hard for me to rate this wine as I am normally very hard on these types of wine as I find most of these types of wine really have noting going for them but in this case, this is not your normal wine. The wine manages to pull it out though but overall this is one of those wine where I am going to give it two ratings. On The Desert Wine Guy rating scale, I am giving this wine 90 points BUT I can certainly see the newer generation of Cabernet Sauvignon lovers giving it 93 points so take your pick as Old School says 90, New School says 93

.

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The Desert Wine Guy - 2017 Matua - Pinot Noir Rose.

   Today I moved wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of soil as I prepared my new pond in the Backyard. Between that and the digging in the Florida Humidity, I am ready for a nice glass (or two) of the 2017 Matua - Pinot Noir Rose. Yes readers, you did read that correctly, I, The Desert Wine Guy, am reviewing a Rose. Ahhhh.....Desert Wine Guy, what's up with you buddy, judging by your review history, you never touch a Rose? I am sure that is what you are thinking right now and honestly, so am I because it's true. I have to assure you that the purchase of this wine was indeed, accidental. Ya see, the other day, I went to the store to buy the Matua, Sauvignon Blanc and thought that I was actually picking that wine from the shelf, but I made a mistake and picked up this one instead. I had actually done a review (https://desertwineguy.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-desert-wine-guy-2019-matua.html) of the Matua, Sauvignon Blanc in the past, loved it and was going to give it a re-look but I guess that is not to be, at least not right now. When I finally was able to sit down today to do my review is when I first noticed that I actually did not buy the wine that I thought I had purchased.

Pinot Noir Grapes On The Vine

Well, it's too late now to run back to the store so a review of a Rose it is. I have to admit, I have my reservations on this wine because as I have already eluded to, I am not really a Rose drinker. If I want a wine with a bit of sweetness and tropical fruit I always go to a good New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc (thank you Matua), a Riesling or even perhaps, if I am really desperate, a good old fashioned, Wine Cooler (oh no). While I thoroughly enjoyed the Matua Sauv Blanc, I hope in the end I can say the same for this wine. With all this in mind, here goes my review.
   The price for this wine was $14 but there was a deal of buy one, get one free so in actuality, I spent $7.00 for it. The bottle is screw cap sealed unfortunately as was the Sauvignon Blanc varietal I believe. The wine comes in at 13% alcohol and according to the Tech Sheet (https://www.matua.co.nz/-/media/Files/Matua/Tasting-Notes/Regional-Range/Matua-Marlborough-Rose-2017-Tasting-Note.ashx?la=en-US&hash=70D63EF22DA5FDD3DDA357CE812D4FA0211650DB) this wine is all Pinot Noir and the grapes for the wine all come from the Marlborough region of New Zealand.
   Let's check out the label on this wine. I have to admit that I liked the label better when its bottle held some wonderful Sauv Blanc :) The label itself though is nice and I think the blue goes nicely along with the white words. The Fonts chosen are very nice and when combined together just scream, Summertime. One really cool thing about the label is that it has a Snowflake symbol on it and when it turns blue, the wine is chilled to the perfect temperature, and yes, it works.

Matua Warehouse

   Now to the Bouquet. I am getting an ultralight Strawberry Note here but nothing really to speak of or that is truly worth talking about. I am picking up the tiniest bit of a Nectar Note which is on the end of the Nose but really nothing that has any bragging rights. Overall I have to say that as far as the wines Bouquet goes, there is really nothing that impresses me.
   Let's look at the wine now as this should be interesting. The main body of the wine has almost an orangish/reddish tint to it and the Lip (edges) of the wine is a darker Orange. These colors seem to overall have a watery type dilution to them as well. Looking at the wine now as it sits in the glass on a table, I see a peachy/orange colored liquid.
   Now, onto the Palate of the wine. The wine is dry folks, like, really dry. There is very little if any sweetness to it. That is what I feel I need to say right upfront. The first Note up is a fairly serious Nectarine Note which is followed by a Note of Peach but these two fruits seem to be missing any tropicalness or really any sweetness to them. To me, it is almost as if these fruits were picked unripe and remained that way. The wine does however have a nice crispness or acidity to it which helps to create a mouth watering Note to it so that is good. Following this up, there is a Cranberry Note and it comes in just before Mid-Palate.

Bill Spence - Co-Founder Matua Winery

This Cranberry Note is nice but does actually add to the dryness that the wine exhibits in abundance. Following all this up is a bit of a Grapefruit Note which lies just before the Finish and is decent and well placed. I am getting a good bit of pepper to this wine as well and that I really am enjoying.  Deep within the wine is a Strawberry Note that transfers over from the Nose of the wine and is presented fairly decently.
   Guys, I'm sorry but I really can't go on writing about this wine as I really do think I have said enough and told you all that there is to know about it. On The Desert Wine Guy rating scale I am giving this wine 83 points which means that the wine is simple, mediocre. While the wine is drinkable it certainly does exhibit some unfavorable characteristics to it. If you love an ultra (and I mean ultra) dry Rose than perhaps you have found your next pool wine or leisure wine but do be aware that guests might be put off as that dryness is a good bit over the top. The wine is missing tropicalness and any sweetness which should be coming from ripe fruit and to me, this is a killer. I can deal with dry but missing the two Notes I just listed really does the wine in for me, I definitely would not buy the wine again. As a last Note here I have one last note of caution in reference to this being a pool wine, I think $14 is a way too high to pay for this wine. Even if you can get the deal I got for $7.00 a bottle I would still say, stay away.

 
                                                                                                                                The Desert Wine Guy

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Let's Talk About Wine Folly

 

   As someone who writes about and reviews wine, there are times when I myself need to do some research online as believe it or not, I do not know everything when it comes to wine. There is one particular website that seems to have become my "go to" wine site in order to find a lot of information from including some amazingly wonderful graphics & charts.

Madeline Puckett

Today I want to talk a bit about that website as I do believe that if you want to educate yourself on the topic of wine, they are worth taking the time to learn about. The site I am talking about is named Wine folly (https://winefolly.com/). Anyone who uses the internet to do some learning about wine has come across this site as they are pretty popular and for good reason. Let's go ahead now and dig a little deeper into this website.
   Wine Folly was started in October of 2011 to very simply, educate people on wine. The company was founded by three friends, Madeline Puckett, Justin Hammack & Chad Wasser. In case your are wondering, Madeline is the CEO of the company and the one responsible for all those great graphics & maps that really teach and elevate the site from just an ordinary wine site into a powerhouse of wine learning, she is also a certified sommelier. Chad is the guy behind the scenes as he is the cameraman.  As for Justin, he is the web developer & Director of Marketing (among other things) for Wine Folly. Wine Folly is located in Woodinville, Washington and is estimated at having around 70 employees while making around $41.5 million dollars a year. Recently, Wine Folly has ventured into a new project named Global Wine Database (https://www.gwdb.io/) which is basically a PR company and also a way for wineries to promote themselves better.

   Why am I writing an article on Wine Folly? For the past year or so, I have been meaning to write this articular actually and I finally scratched myself out to do it as it is well deserved and they are certainly due my appreciation for having occasionally "borrowed" some of their graphics for my articles. Time after time, I find myself going to their website to gain information on a geographic location or on a lesser known grape varietal that might be in a wine blend that I am reviewing. Lately I have discovered that Wine Folly even has a YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/Winefolly/videos) where Madeline will occasionally taste wines and discuss various wine topics in general. I love her bubbly personality and how she really enjoys what she does and I think you will as well. I think when you watch her videos you will leave with a new appreciation of wine, definitely a lot more wine knowledge then you had prior to visiting her channel and perhaps a little happier as well. Madeline also has a knack for explaining things in a simple and down to Earth way. If she uses a word that she feels someone might not understand, she immediately explains what it means and why it is important.
   While doing some research for this article, I have noticed that it seems as if people love to attack Mrs. Puckett rather than Wine Folly itself, almost like they have something personal against her.

Wine Folly - The Master Guide

These comments range from attacking Madeline herself all the way to the information she puts out. Madeline has been in the wine business for a good amount of time and doesn't seem to play into wine snobbery and I think this deeply offends those who do as they believe that the wine world should remain a mystery where as Madeline (and yours truly) clearly does not. These criticisms make me wonder how many people have bad things to say about me. Keep in mind that wine is pretty subjective folks, A writer for Wine Folly, or any other wine project might like one particular wine but you might not and that is fine and normal. What I suggest is that you find a wine site such as this wine blog and or Wine Folly where their wine tastes are more suited to your liking, this way you will feel comfortable with their future wine recommendations. As I finish this little review off, I highly recommend that you check out the Wine Folly site and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
                                                                                                                                   The Desert Wine Guy

 

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The Desert Wine Guy - 2016 Peju - Merlot

2016 Peju - Merlot

   Ya know that feeling you experience when you walk into your favorite wine establishment? If you are like me, you feel like a kid walking into a candy store. That is how I felt earlier today because not only did I find a new favorite wine store here in Central Florida but they carry numerous Napa Valley labels that I have not seen since moving from the West Coast. It seems like every time I walk into a wine shop near me and ask for some Napa wine, I get looked at as if I have three heads or I get told, "let me see if that is available" and of course, it never is. As soon as I walked into this store I saw these Napa labels I had been asking for and I had to find out if they carried any wine from my absolute favorite winery which is Peju (https://www.peju.com/). The answer amazingly, was yes, they did and I was pointed over to the correct section where I saw both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varietals. I honestly didn't feel like spending the $45 for the Cabernet Sauvignon (which by the way is a great buy) so instead, I chose the Merlot to perform the tasting on. Today I will be doing that review and sharing it with you guys so, get ready because hopefully this will be a great wine. One last item of interest here is that as well known and awesome as the Peju Winery is, it is very difficult to find their wine outside the winery for some reason. Thankfully, that problem no longer exists for me.

Yours Truly W/ Herta Peju

   Let me continue here by talking a little about the winery and tell you that Peju has unapologetically always produced "Old World" style red wines which are made for wine lovers who are not afraid of Tannin's, Spice, French Oak and Acidity just to name a few different possible tasting Notes. Ever since I first stepped foot into the winery and tasted their wines many years ago, I have been in absolute love with them. The wines are in your face, certainly able to age and ready to knock your socks off now or years from now. Located in the Rutherford AVA of the Napa Valley, Peju was founded in 1983 as a family-owned winery, which it still is today. The winery was founded with just 30 Acres of land but the actual winery itself wasn't built until 1991. Today, the winery has expanded to 204 Acres in four different sub-Ava's of the valley.
   Now, let's talk about the actual wine folks. Today's wine up for review is the 2016 Peju - Merlot. This wine cost me $25 retail but sells for $48 at the winery or $43.20 if you join one of their wine clubs. The wine is cork sealed (of course) and is a small blend of 95% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon & 1% Petit Sirah. All of the grapes for this wine come from the Persephone Vineyard in Rutherford, California and the wines alcohol percentage is at 15%. As a last bit of info here, the Winemaker for this wine is Mrs. Sara Fowler who was named Best Local Winemaker by Napa Valley Life Magazine in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
   As usual, let first us get to the label here on this wine now. I have to be honest as always with you guys and tell you that while I don't have anything really against the label that Peju has chosen for not only this wine but some of their others as well, I think it is just simply, okay. The label shows an image of the winery however it is sort of plain and nothing really to look at, I wish they would come up with a big re-design.

Tasting Menu - Peju Winery

   It is Bouquet time now folks and as I pour the wine and bring the glass to my nose, there most definitely is a nice Note of baking spice leading off here. Happily, I am also getting a nice bit of cocoa that is going just perfectly along with that baking spice. I am also thankfully, not getting any sense of this being a sweet or fruit forward / jammy wine. Following these two Notes up is some nice oak but not so much where I have to sit back in my chair and scream, "Oak Monster" as Gary Vaynerchuk would say. Adding to these Notes is one of Cigar Box and while not overwhelming, this Note is truly effective as well and helps in creating a Bouquet of seriousness and certainly one of anticipation. Overall, the Nose on this wine is acting like a hand that is reaching out and pulling me into the glass, without any resistance of course. The only think left to do now is actually taste this wine.

   Now, I finally get to taste this wine and I have to tell you that I really am just dying to do just that. Okay, guys, straight out of the gate here, after taking my first sip of this Merlot I want to throw out one word and that one word is "powerful". Talk about having to sit back in your chair to take it all in, that is what I am having to do here, please give me a minute :) Okay, I am back and I think it is great how already, I am finding something awesome about this wine and I am only in the beginning stages of this review. Up first, I want to talk about an incredible acidity that is definitely not shy but certainly not over the top either. In my humble opinion, it is classic Peju and is perfect. I do believe that what maintains this incredible acidity at the perfect presentation level is that wonderful baking spice that was so available on the Nose and thankfully also transfers on over here nicely. Let me continue now with another word and that word is "juicy". The wine certainly wets the Palate as it also exposes a big-time juiciness which is in complete harmony with both the baking spice and incredible acidity. Having said this, you might begin to believe that the wine is all about being in your face and while it definitely is about that, there is also an underlying bit of softness to it in the sense of that cocoa Note that transfers from the Nose and it is very content with being able to express itself with a bit of softness and not fighting for any more attention. This cocoa Note comes in just slightly before Mid-Palate and immediately begins to impart its flavor onto the wine. Adding to all this is a slightly rich Blueberry Note that really stands out but thankfully not for a sweetness factor because that is not a problem in this wine. This Blueberry provides a lushness here and thankfully as I said, forgets to bring along its usual friend which is sweetness. Yes, I am getting just a touch of sweetness but it is just enough to ensure that the wine is able to present a slight break from the other Notes and nothing that tries to lead the wine.

Entrance - Peju Winery

As I move on here, you need to do something for me. I want you for just a second, to just sit back and think about all these Notes in conjunction with one another. Think about what I am tasting and how much in Heaven I am. I hope you are picking up that his is a serious wine I am reviewing here guys. I want to tell you red wine lovers that for a Merlot, a red wine which is not supposed to be exposing this much energy and flavor, the wine is kicking butt. Folks, I'm not done here because Black Currant makes its appearance and let me tell you, it is freaking awesome. The amazing darkness and depth this Black Currant adds to this wine is outstanding and just adds to the wines big structure. The Black currant Note comes into play just after the opening and seems to love its placement in this wine and it uses that placement to the fullest extent. As I said earlier in this review, Peju reds are normally pretty serious wines and from what I have tasted, the winery does not want to be known for making reds for today's newer wine drinkers. If the wine even started to think about heading the way of an overly fruity and jammy wine it wouldn't get very far as there are way to many serious Notes in its arsenal to stop it. These Notes pull the wine back from even the tiny bit of jamminess over reach and it is held in proper check. In other words, this wine is NOT anywhere in danger of becoming a Generation Z, or New World type red wine so please don't worry. The bit of jamminess that is present is used to actually work for the betterment of the wine. As if all this weren't enough, I am getting some fresh Cinnamon here on the Palate and it is perfectly proportioned to help elevate this wine into stardom. The balance of this wine is simply amazing and there is no tearing of the palate in different directions.

American Oak Holding Peju Wine

It seems that every Note this wine throws out latch onto one another and they all agree to be best of friends. So, how about boldness, how does that sound in your Merlot? Well folks, if you want boldness in your Merlot, you are in luck here because there is amazing boldness that flat out jumps from the wine as it is not laid back and is also not what I would call merely "approachable" at least for the new wine drinker or even the wine drinker who considers Barefoot or Sutter Home to be real wine (sorry folks). One last point to make concerning the boldness of the wines Palate presentation is that it is direct and straight to the point. As I describe all this, I also can't forget to tell you that the wine also has the ability to present a lovely smoothness to a certain point. That smoothness comes into play with that lushness at Mid-Palate and it is almost as if they were meant to just present themselves together and have a limited (although effective) impact on the overall wine. These Notes amazingly don't subdue this wine so don't think they do, they simply add a layer of complexity to it.

   Folks, I do believe that I have said enough here. I think you certainly understand my feelings on this Merlot. I need to wrap this up for you and give you my rating on the wine. Now that we have come to the final paragraph, I want to simply say.....amazing! How's that the one descriptive word to sum this wine up. I need to add the words, strength, boldness & balance, these three words also must be said as this wine exhibits all of these characteristics and wraps them up into a huge generous package called the 2016 Peju - Merlot. This is not your typical Merlot folks so don't expect to be. I can very easily tell you with confidence that this expression of the varietal can be offensive to the average Merlot drinker but not to the people this wine was created for. I am very impressed by winemaker, Mrs. Sara Fowler as she really outdid herself. I think at this point that I have said enough about this wine....plus it's all gone and I'm sad. It is certainly time to give you my rating and on The Desert Wine Guy rating scale I am giving this wine 96 outstanding points.

   For those of you interested in a little bit more concerning this wine, here is the Tech Sheet (https://shop.peju.com/Catalog/PRT_16111_PARTTECHSHEET_20200616_125723.PDF).

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The Desert Wine Guy - 2016 Murphy Goode - Red Wine

   The other day I was in my local Supermarket and came across the 2017 Murphy-Goode, Sauvignon Blanc which cost me $12. I reviewed the wine the same day I bought it and I really enjoyed it. Today I went to the same Supermarket and noticed that all of the Murphy-Goode wines were on sale as the tag said "buy 1, get 1 free". That would make each bottle $6 a piece and I couldn't resist that offer, so here we are.
   Today's wine up for review is the 2016 Murphy-Goode, Red Wine and i'll start off by telling you that this is a blend of six different red varietals which are 34% Zinfandel, 27% Merlot, 16% Petite Sirah, 13% Petit Verdot, 6% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. That's crazy huh? Finishing this section up, the wine comes in at 13.5% Alcohol and is sealed with a Screw Cap.
   Let's go ahead now and learn a little bit about the Murphy Good Winery (https://www.murphygoodewinery.com/wine). Back in 1985 three friends who all loved wine decided they were going to put their money together and form a winery, the Murphy-Goode Winery. Two of those guys, Tim Murphy, who is actually considered the "Father" of Sauvignon Blanc in Sonoma County, and Dale Goode, were the actual grape growers of the trio and the third, Dave Ready, was the marketer of the team. Today, Daves sons are the winemakers for Murphy-Goode, and Tim Murphy's three sons oversee the vineyard operations.
   Let's now for a second go ahead and look at the label and see what I think about it. Looking at this label I for some strange reason think of a Bourbon or whisky bottle. Perhaps this is because of the Fonts used, I don't know. I also like how it seems that the label is broken into segments as well. Overall, my impression of the label is it is simply, okay and nothing special.

Murphy-Goode Founders - Tim-Murphy,Dale-Goode,David-Ready

   So as I pour this red blend into my glass I am looking at a wine that is a fairly dark Burgundy in color. The very edges appear to be the only difference as they are clear. Now when I say edge, I mean there just barely is an edge as it seems that Burgundy color seems to almost have throughout the entire wine. I am liking the way this wine looks guys, it is rather impressive in its appearance.
   As I move to the Bouquet of this wine I am getting a deep note of both Black Cherry & Cola with both coming softly up from the bottom of my glass. These notes are also giving off a rather nice perceived sense of some depth to this wine. Now, whether or not that will turn out to be a reality remains to be seen. A Cedar note is also coming on strong here and along with the other notes brings a great sense of warmth on the Nose but not an alcohol warmth. I would be remiss if I didn't mention a Black Plum Note to add to this wines ever so satisfying and rich Nose presentation. On the very back-end of the Bouquet is a note of Cocoa that I wish there was a tad bit more of. All in all I have to say that this wine is showing off a Bouquet way above its price tag folks. As for 'Legs" on this wine, there weren't many but the ones that are present are slow dripping.
   Alright now, so I have been tasting this wine as I went along here and I actually want to just cut to the chase so to speak and tell you my conclusion and what I overall think about the wine right now but, I will restrain myself. Let me begin by letting you know about the bit of Oak and a touch of Cinnamon that I am picking up. These two Notes both combine together very nicely in general and present a bit of richness on the Palate. The Cinnamon Note also however does also bring along with it a touch of sweetness which does unfortunately expand a bit as the wine sits in the glass. I will talk more about this sweetness later on. Aside from that drawback, this richness also helps in presenting the wine as a rather nicely done, slightly rich, oaked, powerhouse of a red wine. Adding to this are Notes of both Mullein & Black spice which joins in for the fun to help add to the wine an earthy Palate feel which is overall delicious.

Murphy Goode - Winemaker -  Dave Ready Jr.

Thankfully, I am not getting any fruit forwardness here in the wine but do keep in mind that there is a bit of sweetness that some may confuse for it. Now please note that I differentiated between what in my opinion is the nasty taste of a fruit forward wine and the ultra controlled release of some sweetness in a wine as there is a difference. As for Tannin's, there are none but that is okay as this wine doesn't require them in order to offer up a big mouthfeel and the wine is more than capable of sanding on its own without them. As I move on now, I wonder if you have ever tasted a Bing Cherry. For those of you who grew up with this fruit as I did when I was a kid in Brooklyn, you will find this wine to have an identifiable taste, that being of Bing Cherry. This note comes into play just before Mid-Palate and is ever present afterwards as it thankfully doesn't just fade away. This wine also manages to presents a good bit of acidity as well which adds some explosiveness on the Palate as well as a moderate mouth watering  bit of juiciness that I for one certainly appreciated and enjoyed. Do you guys like a wine that showcases a medium note of ripe Blueberry? If you do, your in luck as the Blueberry presents a softness along with it and seems to work together with that Cinnamon I mentioned previously for the benefit of the wine. Well guys, I do believe that I am done with this review as I have some wine to enjoy and so it is time to get to the conclusion section. I will see you there.

Murphy-Goode, Winery

   As I begin this conclusion paragraph I will start off by addressing that bit of sweetness in the wine that  promised I would. One of the only real drawbacks to this wine comes from that sweetness presented. At first the Palate exposure to the sweetness is perfect as it is not offensive but as the wine opens a bit it does become somewhat of a challenge to overlook it and I simply couldn't. Having said this, I have to tell you something else about sweetness in my red wines. I normally am not a big lover of sweetness in my reds and I am pretty sensitive to it. If you happen to be less sensitive to the note of sweetness in your red wines then you may consider this to be a blockbuster wine. In actuality though, I believe people who have either preference will still overall enjoy this wine as much as I did. Doing my research on this wine I have found read that a lot of people have commented that this is a "very easy drinking wine" but I must disagree, this wine is not for the person who wants an average red wine to pass the time or enjoy at the pool. Go ahead, don't listen to me, serve this wine to your non red wine savy friends and see the reaction you get but don't say I didn't warn you. This wine is just a bit too much "in your face" to please the average non Palate educated drinker. Between the acidity and the influence of the other Notes, this wine is slightly above your average daily drinker Guys, this wine took me by complete surprise and I enjoyed it. On The Desert wine Guy rating scale, I give this wine 92 points but it may have scored higher if not for the bit of sweetness that prohibited further elevation. I am glad that I have another bottle on hand to enjoy as I did get one free. Would I recommend that this wine end up in a wine cellar, certainly not but I do think that it should be kept on hand for a good time.

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The Desert Wine Guy - 2019 "The Crossings", Sauvignon Blanc

  Welcome back everyone to The Desert Wine Guys wine blog. Today I am going to be doing one of the last Sauvignon Blanc reviews for a while because I do believe it is time to expand my varietal horizons a bit. I am open to suggestions that you guys might have as far as different white wine varietals to try so please, go ahead and put them in the comments section at the end of this review.
  As you already know, today I will be reviewing a Sauvignon Blanc, to be more specific, I will be reviewing the 2019 - The Crossings, Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough (Awatere Valley) region of New Zealand (https://www.thecrossings.co.nz/). I bought this wine the other day at my local supermarket on clearance for $9.20 but it normally retails for $11.99. The wine is screw cap sealed, comes in at 13% alcohol and the grapes for the wine come from various vineyards in the Awatere Valley.
  Checking out the label now, I like it as I think it fits well with being on a bottle of white wine. The label sits low on the bottle and is also on the narrow side so as to show off more of the wine as it rests in the bottle. I like the fonts and script used as well as their sizes and placement.

Wine In A Bag.....Wait, What?

  Let's dig a little deeper into this wine now and check out what it's all about. Let's continue here with the wines Bouquet. As typical with this varietal from Marlborough, the wines Bouquet is strongly on the gooseberry side and the Note is dominate which is not necessarily a bad thing. I also get a bit of grapefruit, grass and perhaps just the tiniest bit of melon as well.
  The review of the Palate of this wine will actually come in two different parts and you will see why as you read on. Starting off here, that dominant Gooseberry that I got on the Nose just transfers right on over here and it is dominant here as well, like, really dominant. Again as well, that grapefruit Note also comes across as well and it is not exactly willing to take a backseat here. When put together these two Notes unfortunately present the wine as being a very astringent expression of the varietal. Adding to this is what would normally have been some rather nice acidity but unfortunately when combined with that gooseberry & grapefruit astringency that the wine appears so proud to be putting on display, it really makes for an over the top astringent, harsh and truly Palate offensive wine. If you can somehow manage to put these Notes aside, which will be hard, you might manage to get a taste of a hidden bit of tropical fruit but not much. As an example, I am getting (barely) an unripe Nectarine that is actually trying to soften the other Notes but really has no chance at being successful and in the end falls flat in that endeavor.
  

   So, fast forward about a half an hour or so now. You always hear about drinking a white wine really cold but for me it seems that when I drink a white wine cold like that, I seem to come across wines that presents themselves as this one does which is harsh, astringent and Palate offensive. It is only as these wine warm just a bit that they begin to open and develop on the Palate and that is what happened here..... kind of. So, the wine has now warmed just a bit but enough to be a little more open on the Palate. Yes, that Gooseberry Note is still present and dominant but it has begun to give way a bit to other Notes such as one of grass. This grass Note seemed to play right into what a normal New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc should posses and it was decent but still had a battle to fight. That Nectarine that I got earlier which was unripe and lacking any sweetness at all has now been allowed to express at least some sweetness and it is just enough to allow me to at least have some hope for the wine. Getting back to the gooseberry for a minute, I don't want you thinking that the gooseberry Note has lessened any as it hasn't, it just seems to be playing a little better with the other Notes, that's all. I am now also getting some Pineapple intermixed with the gooseberry and other Notes. That over the top grapefruit Note has been lessened as well by just a bit and is now ever so slightly enjoyable rather than just simply offensive. With this wine the word "herbal" is not just a word here as there is a nice herbal Note present that I rather enjoyed. Finishing this wine up is a light Passion Fruit Note which is just after Mid-Palate and I think the one fruit that really was at least a bit effective in providing a small amount of a change to the wine later on but once again, not enough to make any difference. This and every Note in this wine seems to unfortunately take a back seat to that darn gooseberry and grapefruit and I am disappointed. Okay guys, I think I have said more than enough about this wine, I must get to my conclusion now as quite honestly, I am at about half a bottle and I have tasted more than enough so let's do that.

   Well, here we are at the final paragraph of this review. I just want to come out and say that I really, truly did not care for (I didn't like it) what this expression of the wine had to present. I didn't mind the actual Notes of the wine themselves including the gooseberry and grapefruit, but I did mind the strength at which these two presented themselves as they were the cause of the wines harshness/astringency. I did mind the lack of any real sweetness or tropicalness. No, for those of you who may ask, I am certainly not asking for a sweet wine as that is what a wine cooler, Moscato or a Riesling are for. All I wanted is a Sauvignon Blanc that didn't forget it was supposed to possess at least a bit of sweetness as well as a bit of tropicalness as that sweetness and tropicalness unfortunately was not to be had in any effective amounts. What was to be had is a wine that went way over the edge of harshness to a wine that I almost found to be undrinkable. Now, there are those who will read my review and run right out and buy this wine because what I described in this review is a wine which in their opinion is what the varietal from this region is supposed to be. If this is you then I say go buy the wine because you will enjoy it, you will certainly have no competition from me at the shelves. If however, what I want in this varietal is what you want then I say stay far away because you will find this wine as offensive as I did. Before I leave you, I want to let you know that this wine is available in a bag (yeah, really) and a carton as well as a bottle. Perhaps that is the type of wine I was reviewing (Fetzer anyone), I don't know but that would certainly explain why I rated the wine at the rating I did. Having said all this, on The Desert Wine Guy rating scale I am giving this wine 85 points which means that it might perhaps be okay as a pool wine but other than that I would stay far away from it as there is much better for the price. I also would not present this wine to anyone with a distinguishing Palate as they will lose respect for you as far as wine goes. At the same price range I would recommend searching out a wonderful Matua Sauvignon Blanc or perhaps for a few dollars more a Whitehaven.

                                                                                                                                The Desert Wine Guy



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The Desert Wine Guy - 2018 Hess Select Sauvignon Blanc

   The other day I was doing some shopping with Mrs. Desert Wine Girl in our local Supermarket here in Florida and as we walked in I noticed that there was a display which read "buy one get one free" in reference to this wine which is the 2018 Hess Select - Sauvignon Blanc. Well I figured it was from the Hess winery so how could I resist. Today you and I will find out together if I should have resisted. Let's go ahead and get into this wine review now.
   Lets start off with the fact that the wine cost $20. Now I found out later that the wine actually  averages $10 for a bottle so this buy one, get one "deal" was really no deal at all. The wine is sealed with a Screw Cap unfortunately and comes in at 13.5% Alcohol. The Hess "Select" Collection Sauvignon Blanc comes from the North Coast of California and the wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.
   As I go ahead and pour the wine into my glass, what am I seeing as far as legs (Gibbs-Marangoni Effect) go is that they are thin and flowed slowly down the sides of my glass. As for the color of the wine now, I get an almost clear liquid with perhaps some slight silver showings in my glass.
   Moving now onto the Bouquet I'll tell you straight out that I loved it. This wine presented a very tropical Bouquet and one which made me think of ripe melon and Guava, I'm totally feeling it. Honeydew is presented as well and is brought out in such a way that it doesn't dominate over the other Notes. Topping the Bouquet off is a note of Pineapple as well and it matches the strength of the Honeydew in its presentation.
  Alright, now onto the Palate presentation of this
wine now. Beginning off here there was a  

massive Palate overdose of Apricot as well as a good bit of a Lemon/Lime harshness.While the Bouquet of the wine was nice and tropical, the Palate was really missing this tropicalness big time. As I continue on here I must tell you that the wine was overall abrasively harsh on the Opening which was followed up by a big Mid-Palate misfire due to its overall flatness and lack of ability to show anything off. In reality I could end this review right here and give you the Desert Wine Guy rating but I won't do that so just yet so let me backup a bit for you guys. When you first taste the wine, for a split second there is a bit of a fruity tropical melon note on the Palate and you first think that the tropicalness from the Bouquet transferred on over to the palate but that is definitely not the case. The melon note lasts for just that second and then is gone, for good. As the wine warms a bit that tropical melon lasts just a slight bit longer but not long enough to be really worthwhile or of note. An overdone and harsh Lemon Zest is what this wine seems to be proud of and is in love with exposing and presenting these notes in an over abundance. That is it, as you can see, the wine is super limited in as far as its taste goes. This is NOT what a Sauvignon Blanc should be, not even close.
   Guys, I'm sorry, I am just totally not feeling this wine. What could have possibly given this wine some sort of life was some nice tropical fruit Notes and at least some type of structure, but neither were to be had at all. Even if the wine lost a heck of a lot of its Palate abrasiveness and harshness, this wine would be a flop. On The Desert Wine Guy rating scale I am giving this wine a weak, sink pouring, 86 points. I definitely should have resisted.

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2018 Firebrand, Reserve Chardonnay

   Hey guys, today I am reviewing another small label wine which is the 2018 Firebrand, Reserve Chardonnay. Let me go ahead and open up this review by telling you that I paid $12.99 for it and it is cork sealed. The wine comes in at what I believe is a rather high alcohol percentage for the varietal which 14.5%. This was one of those wines that is from small wineries which usually seem to line the main walkway of the big box liquor stores. In actuality, that was actually cool as it was my plan to buy one of these wines to review that day anyway so, mission accomplished there. The Firebrand label is made by O’Neill Vintners & Distillers (https://www.oneillwine.com/) and O’Neill Vintners & Distillers is owned by Bogle vineyards (https://boglewinery.com/#).
    Let's go ahead and talk about the label on this bottle for a minute. Simply put, I love the presentation of the label. The front label is Black with the words being in gold & Chestnut Brown. Looking at the fonts I have to tell you I'm in absolutely love with them. Vibrant label colors against a wine that appears as a goldish brown in the bottle looks fascinating. What a wonderful presentation it all creates when combined all together. Here is a label created by someone talented in the design field.

Chardonnay Grapes

   Let's now check out the visual presentation of the wine itself. As I look at the wine in the glass and while being held over a piece of white paper, I see that it has a super nice gold edge. Past this super nice gold edge, the overall wine itself has a very light beautiful golden appearance. I am really liking what I am seeing right now Chardonnay fans. This is a beautiful and visually classy looking wine sitting in front of me in the glass. While the review is still in the very early stages and a wines appearance doesn't always translate into it being a good wine, rightly or wrongly, I am beginning to have some high expectations for this wine.
   Right off as I start on the Bouquet, there is a big ripe nectarine Note here folks combined with a spicy, oak type aroma here as well. Intermixed with these two notes is a very forwardly presented Honeysuckle Note. Overall I think the Bouquet is super nice.
   While everything so far is appearing to be rather nice, the wine on the Palate presents overall a somewhat different story unfortunately. Starting off here is a bit of a nectar type Palate presentation right up front. The Honeysuckle I got on the nose transfers over from there and onto the Palate and comes in just under that nectar Note in Palate dominance levels but it also brings with it a big sweetness to the wine, an overdone sweetness. There is a nice bit of oak just after these notes which also comes over from the Nose of the wine and it is actually nicely presented. Being a Chardonnay I wasn't surprised that the wine showed a bit of butteryness to it from that oak. This butteryness is not exactly light on the Palate but at the same time, it wasn't overpowering either, however, you will taste it. Here in my opinion comes the Note that really put this wine over the top as far as sweetness and simply killed it. A butterscotch Note is certainly here as well and it is not shy. This butterscotch is where another dose of sweetness comes into play and that is not a good thing as the wine does not need any more sweetness then what it received from the Note of nectar. By the way, this butterscotch Note in a Chardonnay usually comes into being when the varietal spends a little too much time in oak. To me this butterscotch note is way overdone guys and helps to make for a very sweet, almost syrupy wine. There are a couple of nice notes here and at times you can tell that the wine really wants and tries so hard to be a good wine but the overdone sweetness and sense of syrupiness overall, really simply does this wine in. One of the notes in particular that is really nice is the note of a wonderful pepper spice. This note is presented pretty nicely, is forward on the Palate and does it's best to impact the Palate in a wonderful way, here I was very impressed. Trying to enjoy this peppery Note unfortunately just made it harder to drink the wine because I kept thinking of what the wine could have been yet try as I might these good Notes simply weren't enough to save the wine. Look guys, I can go on telling you about the my disappointment but why bother, it's time for the closing paragraph.

   If you aren't expecting a Chardonnay or know what one tastes like, you will enjoy this wine, it is tropical/Honeysuckle/butterscotch and sweet to a fault in my humble opinion. The wine itself however is a decent pool wine and guests I think will will enjoy it for that. As a whole however, I do think it is overpriced and should be selling for no more than $5.99, sorry.  I am going to issue a caution here, do not attempt to offer this wine up as a Chardonnay to a critical wine drinker or anyone who has a Palate developed enough to be able to identify varietals because you will be laughed out of your own gathering. In this case, tell your friends that you bought a white Summer blend specifically made for the pool at.....$5.99. A wonderful label, a beautiful looking wine but it is all for nothing as if falls flat in the long run. On The Desert Wine Guy rating I am giving this wine 86 points, certainly NOT recommended if you are expecting a Chardonnay in any way, shape, or form.

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