Francis Coppola - Diamond Collection Claret 2007

This week’s selection:

Winery: Francis Coppola
Varietal: Cabernet-based Bordeaux Blend
Price Paid: $23.99 on sale for $18.99
Vintage: 2007
Area: Napa, Sonoma and Eldorado, CA
Alcohol: 13.5%
Purchased: Meijer (even less at Costco or Sam’s Club)

Overall: Very good Cabernet blend for the price. It tasted even better the 2nd day and still drank well the 3rd day. Definitely taste the dark fruits: blackberry and dark cherry. It is an intense cab for the price. I have never been disappointed by this wine.


Reviews

Winemaker Comments:
A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc.

The 2007 vintage got underway earlier than most years as a result of premature bud break. This occurred because of an unseasonably warm winter. The season lasted longer than normal as well because of prolonged moderate temperatures. These conditions were ideal for creating physiologically perfect fruit, which is why winemakers have declared this one of the best vintages of the decade. Our Claret is always elegant, but this year it's a true show stopper; lush with a beautiful tapestry of smooth tannins, intense flavor, and seductive aromas. With a deep crimson color, this wine gives way to aromas of blackberries, plums and vanilla cream while flavors of wild berries, cherries, spice and mocha dance on the palate.
When paired with classic dishes such as beef stroganoff, leg of lamb or potato gratin, you can create a sublime dining experience.

K and L Wines
2007 Francis Coppola Diamond Series Claret

What's claret, you ask? Don't be fooled. Claret is just the British word for Bordeaux style blend! And that's exactly what Coppola's Diamond Collection Claret is…a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot from Napa, Sonoma and El Dorado. Wrapped in a crimson-colored robe, this affordable blend has an evocative nose redolent of black fruit and vanilla, and an equally appealing raspberry, cherry and blackberry-filled palate with hints of coffee and chocolate on the finish!

Sangria Blanca or Limonada

1 bottle of fruity white wine (Spanish Albarino for example)
1/2 cup thawed of frozen, undiluted,raspberry lemonade concentrate
1 lemon thinly sliced
1/2 cup of vodka (optional)
16 oz. club soda
1 cup raspberries

Ice for glasses
1 thinly sliced lemon for glasses
Additional raspberries for glasses

Chill all ingredients. combine white wine, raspberry lemonade, lemon slices and vodka in a pitcher. Add chilled club soda and raspberries just before serving and stir gently to combine. Place a few ice cubes in each tall glass and pour Limonada over ice. Place a lemon slice and a few extra raspberries in each glass.

Perfect for summertime. Looks great and gets rave reviews!

Castle Rock 2008 California Cuvee Pinot Noir

This week’s selection:

Winery: Castle Rock
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Price Paid: $13.69
Vintage: 2008
Area: California Cuvee – Geyserville, CA
Alcohol: 13.8%
Purchased: Bella Vino Fine Wine and Spirits, 12 Mile East of Orchard Lake Rd


Overall: Decent Pinot Noir for the price, simple, fruit forward, cherry and strawberry flavors. But, I would opt for the Oyster Bay Pinot Noir over this for the $5 more a bottle.


Reviews
Castle Rock Winery Comments:
Our Castle Rock Pinot Noir is produced from grapes grown in a carefully selected group of California vineyards, at which the climate and soil conditions provide excellent growing conditions for this Burgundian varietal. The wine is elegant and medium-bodied, offering aromas of cherry, tea and herbal spice. On the palate it is smooth with a silky texture and mild tannins, giving flavors of black cherry, plum and spice, and finishing long and harmoniously, This versatile food wine pairs well with lamb, veal, salmon and light pasta dishes.

Rated: 85 by Connoisseurs' Guide, Oct 09 Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines
Okay, it's direct, a little on the grapey side and fairly soft on the palate. No one is going to accuse it of challenging for a place in the cellar, but it is also tasty in an up-front way and comes with enough cherry character to suggest its varietal heritage. GOOD VALUE