Windsor Vineyards

• October 2009

  Although I seem to remember the odd reference to 'Canary Sack' in old English literature (including Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV), I hadn't really seen much less tasted any until I found myself passing through Tenerife a few years back. I wasn't there all that... Read moreAlthough I seem to remember the odd reference to 'Canary Sack' in old English literature (including Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV), I hadn't really seen much less tasted any until I found myself passing through Tenerife a few years back. I wasn't there all that long, but still have vivid memories of the volcanic landscape, striking folk music, great seafood, and drinking wine in the midst of all of that and even with several banana dishes (I remember a lot of bananas from there... ;-) ). One of the big names is D.O. Lanzarote, with striking bush vineyards planted in the middle of desert-like surroundings. The white Malvasías from there has been good for a long time and was generally anglicized in the past as Malmsey. Some dry and many sweet, with even a hint of sherry-like flavor, though they are unfortified. My guess is they are likely to be part of plenty of wine tours in the islands as the Canaries have upped their tourism (esp. wine tourism) in recent years. Another good D.O. is Tacoronte-Acentejo, in the north of Tenerife, with distinctive reds made from the local Listán grape. Canary wines are very few and far between in Tokyo where I currently live. Some wines I've had this decade when traveling elsewhere (esp. to Spain) include: --Vinos de Terrunos German Gilabert Rosat Trepa --Butan Crater --Tajinaste Blanco Listan Blanco, Tajinaste Tradicional Listan Negro --Enologia Temera Mencia VV --Vevi Rueda Some with vintage appellations, and other NV. There are plenty of others, I'm sure, but those are the ones I remember amidst the wines from other parts of Spain (so many wines, so little time...). You'll commonly find both dry and sweet whites (the old Sack/Malmsey wines were likely quite strong and sweet), One bubbly dessert wine I remember is a non-vintage Cheste Agraria Muscat. Alhough muscat is generally not at the top of my list, versions from the Canaries and Greece are some of the best I've had. And though I haven't yet tried them, and don't know their shipping restrictions, I have run across an online sales site for Canary wines: http://shop.tucanarias.com/categorias.php?cat=1 Finally, some inspiring words from Shakespeare's Henry IV: "But i faith, you have drunk too much canaries and that’s a marvellous searching wine, and it perfumes the blood ere one can say: What’s this?" Recognize the sensation from wines even beyond the Canaries? ;-)    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic What wines from the Canary... by dmcker

  
  

• Sep 20

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  July 2009

  Windsor Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Inscription Signature Reserve 2005

  Snoothrank:

  absolutely the best.

  Wine review by randyvt

  
  

• April 2009

  A wrap up of last week's tasting Flight 1 – East of Napa 2005 Berryessa Gap Yolo County 15.8% $16.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/berryessa-gap-vineyards-zinfandel-2005/ Ok so this was defective with high alcohol, residual sugar and volatility out the wazoo! I still liked it. Go... Read moreA wrap up of last week's tasting Flight 1 - East of Napa 2005 Berryessa Gap Yolo County 15.8% $16.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/berryessa-gap-vineyards-zinfandel-2005/ Ok so this was defective with high alcohol, residual sugar and volatility out the wazoo! I still liked it. Go figure? 2007 7 Deadly Zins Lodi 14.5% $13.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/michael-david-7-deadly-zins-zinfandel-2007/ This packs a pretty impressive punch way above it's pay grade. Not complex but rich and intense. 2006 Terra d’Oro SHR field blend Amador County 14.5% $25 http://www.snooth.com/wine/montevina-terra-doro-shr-zinfandel-2006/ This was a bit lean or admirably fresh depending on one's point of view. Solid and fresh let's say. Flight 2 - Get us some young vines, these vines are “old”! 2006 Ravenswood Sonoma County Old Vines 15.0% $15.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/ravenswood-zinfandel-sonoma-county-2006/ Passable but there are so many better options out there. 2006 Rodney Strong Sonoma County Knotty Vines 14.8% $20.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/rodney-strong-zinfandel-knotty-vines-estate-vineyard-2006/ All around solid utility player that doesn't surprise at all but doesn't let you down either. 2006 Dry Creek Vineyard Sonoma County Old Vine 14.5% $25.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/dry-creek-vineyard-old-vines-zinfandel-2006/ A little youthful but with a bit of time this will be a notch above the Rodney Strong, albeit in a similar mold. Flight 3 - Sonoma 2006 Valley of the moon 14.5% $20.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/valley-moon-zinfandel-2006/ Uninspiring though popularly styled. 2006 Simi Sonoma County 13.5% $20.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/simi-zinfandel-2006-1/ Low alcohol, gentle and a bit innocuous but not bad. I'ld drink a glass. 2006 Four Vines The Sophisticate Sonoma County 14.8% $24.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/four-vines-zinfandel-sophisticate-2006/ POW. This is not subtle but I'll give them sophisticated. A piercing note of raspberry syrup and plenty of wood spice offers a lot of bang for the buck. Flight 4 - Home to the Dry Creek Valley 2006 Windsor Sonoma Dry Creek Valley 14.9% $24.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/windsor-sonoma-zinfandel-2006/ A simple, elegantly styled wine. 2004 Carol Shelton Maple Zin 14.9% $33 http://www.snooth.com/wine/carol-shelton-zinfandel-maple-vineyard-maple-vineyards-2004/ This is not for the shy. Packed with tannin and yet richly fruited this is a big, bad boy! 2007 Dashe Dry Creek Valley 14.7% $24 http://www.snooth.com/wine/dashe-dry-creek-zinfandel-2007/ . Nothing is obvious yet the wine remains nervous and tense in the mouth with gobs of black grapy fruit. Give this 12 to 18 months for it to calm down and it should be great. Heck it's great now if you're in the mood for breakfast: toast, grape jelly, coffee cream... And that about wraps things up on the Zin front. Onto Grenache did I hear somebody say??    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Post your Zinfandel GTi notes... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  
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  January 2009

  Windsor Vineyards Platinum Series Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma 2004

  Snoothrank:

  No written review

  Wine review by Dawnmichelle

  
  
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  December 2008

  Windsor Oaks Vineyards & Winery-Zinfandel 2003

  Snoothrank:

  Hard to find and worth the effort. Concentrated fruit, great acidity balance. Not overly oak-y. a gem.

  Wine review by ynlover

  
  
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  July 2008

  Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Private Reserve 2004

  Snoothrank:

  I usually don't like cabs but liked this one, very smooth, low tannins, think the price is lower than stated though.

  Wine review by drift75

  
  
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  December 2007

  Windsor Oaks Summit Syrah 2003

  Snoothrank:

  The most lovely mountain block of vineyards in the Russian River Valley, with one of the most powerful wines. The JEEP tour was very fitting! Big wine structure matches the mountan. vineyard...

  Wine review by winemaker J

  
  

• July 2007

  Another new week, and I'm happy to bring you this week's 25 new partners: ... Cycles Gladiator Wines Windsor Vineyards Oakville Ranch Vineyards Trefethen Vineyards Prix Vineyards Hagafen Cellars Terra Velentine Russian Hill Estate Calistoga Cellars St. Helena Road... Read moreAnother new week, and I'm happy to bring you this week's 25 new partners: ... Cycles Gladiator Wines Windsor Vineyards Oakville Ranch Vineyards Trefethen Vineyards Prix Vineyards Hagafen Cellars Terra Velentine Russian Hill Estate Calistoga Cellars St. Helena Road Vineyards Brooks Wines Naughty Cellars A full 40% of these are wineries not yet on Snooth, and we're very excited to have the companies as partners and to continually expand our offering. Have a good week    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Its Monday so its partnership... by Philip

  
  

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