July 24, 2011 Florida Jim Cowan?s 2011 Tasting Notes Archive-Part Two

The 2011 archive part 2 is presented by date the notes were compiled and submitted. Part 1 may be found here. Prior year’s tasting notes may be found here. July 24, 2011 2010 Commanderie de la Bargemone, Rosé: 12.5% alcohol from Provence; pale salmon color; wild strawberry and mineral nose; full flavored red fruit with [...]

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Kirsten Dunst Krista Allen Kristanna Loken Kristen Bell

Be the Sultan of Hideaway Zighy Bay at the Private Retreat

As the name resembles, the Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay is the beach resort located in the midst of the outstanding natural beauty on the Northern Musandam Peninsula in the Sultanate of Oman. The resort is designed in a native Omani village style with the beautiful scenery of the private marina. Along with the luxurious [...]

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Marika Dominczyk Marisa Coughlan Marisa Miller Marisa Tomei

Tasting Report: Current Releases from Banshee Wines

Purchase a half-case or more of our wines and receive 1/2 off shipping with checkout code "750m37"

Although I'm not reading as much doom and gloom about the economic state of the wine industry lately, there seems to be no shortage of high quality juice looking to be liquidated by relabelers. There was a good story in the Sunday Globe about Boston-based 90+ Cellars. Another label that's gaining notoriety amongst my deal hound friends thanks to a push from highly regarded local retailers is Banshee Wines.

Banshee's goal is "to delivery distinctive wines that beat the pants off many costing twice as much." Their focus is on domestic reds - mostly Cabernet and Pinot Noir - made in a plush, approachable style. In their best efforts they succeed in finding an intersection between high quality, deliciousness, and affordability I seek out as a deal hound.

I wrote about the 2007 Banshee Cabernet Sauvignon previously - rating it 93/100 points and assigning it a "Value Alert" moniker.  I've recently tasted through more current releases from Banshee and although none rise to the level of the 2007, at least at this point in my opinion, I'm pleased with the pattern I'm seeing. They're putting some very good wine in the market at compelling prices.

Here are my notes:

2009 Banshee Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
14.5% Alcohol
$27.50 Release Price


I read a lot of tasting notes saying how a wine really opened up after an hour our two. You're about to read another one of those.

I bought quite a bit of this wine so when I first opened it I was a little disappointed. It was a little tight, tart, and awkward. But after sipping on it over the course of an evening it really developed beautifully. The aromas and flavors get darker and and richer over time. Some slightly silty tannins in the background.

All in all I think it's great now and all indications are it would improve from just a little bottle age. Nothing crazy - just a year or two. If you want to drink it now, I'd recommend trying a sip, decanting or aerating, or saving a good portion of the bottle for the next night.

What was remaining in the bottle the 2nd day was very good which is unusual for a domestic Pinot Noir and a good indication this needs a little time. 

90/100 WWP: Outstanding 


2008 Banshee Cabernet Sauvignon
14.5% Alcohol
$35 Release Price

Medium to full bodied. Dusty blackberries on the nose. Satisfying velvety mouth feel. Some chalky tannins - a little grip. Some acidity. Quite smooth considering its youth. Might improve a little with 2 - 3 years of age but no reason to wait too long to open this one.

90/100 WWP: Outstanding


2009 Banshee Rickshaw Pinot Noir Sonoma County
14.6% Alcohol
$14 Release Price

If you can get past the label on their Rickshaw wines you're in for a treat.

This wine is nicely transparent visually but clings to the glass due to its 14.6% alcohol and resulting high viscosity. The nose lacks some markers that would otherwise tip its hand as being Pinot Noir when tasted blind, but in its place it there is ample round fruit and a hint of spice.

Really pleases with root beer flavors on the palate on top of supporting round fruit. Some acidity. Hard not to like this. 90 points if you're in the mood for a relaxing vacation in southern California, significantly lower if you'd rather be reading a book about Burgundy on a cold winter night. 

89/100 WWP: Very Good 


2009 Banshee Pinot Noir Sonoma County
14.4% Alcohol
$27.50 Release Price

So young it practically tastes unfinished to me. Won't open another bottle for a year.

Not Rated - will taste another bottle in a year.

Question of the Day: What do you think of Banshee Wines? What are some other relabeling operations you've been impressed with?


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Patricia Velásquez Paula Garcés Paulina Rubio Paz Vega

Enter and experience the life in a pyramid at the Raffles, Dubai

The ancient Egyptian pyramids are the source of inspiration and design for the spectacular landmark in the skyline of Dubai, the five-star deluxe hotel, Raffles Dubai. The luxurious and marvelous hotel stands in the centre of Wafi City. The rooms and suites in the hotel reveal a color of aristocracy and elegancy in the art [...]

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Sarah Wynter Scarlett Chorvat Scarlett Johansson Selita Ebanks

Pitfalls and Talent at Wine Competitions

Evaluating and assigning (or not) medals to roughly 80 young cabernets and syrahs, over a period of roughly an hour and a half is not hard work. However, to do it well requires certain abilities. I leaned this again this...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FermentationTheDailyWineBlog/~3/ukPoro7XY4g/pitfalls-and-talent-at-wine-competitions.html

Sarah Shahi Sarah Silverman Sarah Wynter Scarlett Chorvat

Helping NJ Work Through Its Issue With Wine

I'm a fairly busy guy. However, I'm never too busy to help out the good folks at the different state legislatures. So, allow me to take some time out from this fairly busy schedule of mine to put the New...

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Katherine Heigl Katie Cassidy Katie Holmes Katy Perry

Summer Hill Country Photos

  About a year ago I started a Facebook group with the same name as my Blog.  I posted a few photos from our summer vacation down in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.  I will be posting more here soon and on my Flickr photo page.  If your on Facebook would love to have you […]

Source: http://thegrapesaroundtexas.com/2011/07/10/summer-hill-country-photos/

Kelly Monaco Kelly Ripa Kelly Rowland Kerry Suseck

Domaine Pierre Usseglio

I frequently participate in press-wine tastings in Copenhagen. Normally its about tasting the recent vintage or vintages from a particular wine producer - maybe with one or two older vintages. Nothing wrong with that. Its always the latest vintage that is going on the shelves and where the need for good press is welcomed. But I [...]

Source: http://www.wine4freaks.com/42/domaine-pierre-usseglio/

Reese Witherspoon Rhona Mitra Rihanna Robin Tunney