February 19th, 2009 Tasting Notes.
(by Raymond R. Wells, Ed.D.)
2007 Round Hill Pinot Grigio, California, $9.50. Apple, spice, and raw almonds with light vegetal notes on the nose. Medium, simple fruit with a fairly short finish. Drink by itself or with lighter dishes because this wine can’t compete with heavy or strongly flavored foods. The Raymond Rating = 83 points.
2007 Round Hill “Oak Free” Chardonnay, California, $9.50. Initially, there was a strange chemical note on the nose which cleaned up with exposure to air; then I got tropical fruits with apple and pear aromas. A clean, refreshing Chardonnay with good, but simple, fruit. The Raymond Rating = 85 points.
2006 Incognito Viognier, Lodi, California, $18.90. A lovely, perfumed nose with aromas of spices, walnuts, and sweet milk-chocolate. Lush fruit, full-bodied, long finish, and some complexity. Though not really varietally correct, it is a delicious wine that has the guts to stand up to fairly heavy or strongly flavored foods needing a white wine. The Raymond Rating = 90 points.
2006 Douglas Hill Merlot, California, $5.95. A pretty nose of berries with light spicy notes. Clean, simple fruit. A soft, easy-drinking quaffing wine. But best of all, it is a fantastic bargain! The Raymond Rating = 84 points.
2007 Douglas Hill Shiraz, California, $5.95. Berries, mushrooms, and slightly meaty notes on the nose. Clean, simple fruit. A soft, easy-drinking quaffing wine. But best of all, it is a fantastic bargain! The Raymond Rating = 84 points.
2005 Douglas Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $5.95. Lightly perfumed black cherries with spicy notes on the nose. Clean, simple fruit. A soft, easy-drinking quaffing wine that had a little more tannin and structure than the Merlot or Syrah. But best of all, it is a fantastic bargain! The Raymond Rating = 85 points.