Columbus IPA (beer!)

By way of background:  This will be a hoppy IPA, entirely made with Columbus hops - for bittering, flavoring and aroma.  Procured as kit from MoreBeer.  Made approximately November 15, 2011.

Ingredients:
Malt: 9 pounds light malt extract.
Steeping grain: 1.5 pounds crystal 15L
Hops, all Columbus:
      Bittering, 1 oz, boiled for 60 minutes
     Flavoring, 2 oz, boiled the last 5 minutes
     Aoma, 2 oz, boiled the last 1 minute
Clarifier: Whirlfloc, 1 tablet, added the last five minutes of boil
Priming sugar: 4 oz corn sugar, boiled with 2 cups of water for 5 minutes

Stats:
Original gravity: 1.065
Yeast strain: Safale Dry
Temperature of wort at pitch: 80 F
Lag time for onset of fermentation: 1 day
Fermentation temperature: 70 F
Days in primary: 5
Final gravity: 1.015

ABV = (1.065-1.015)* 131 = 6.5% ABV
Cost, incl yeast, approx $37.

Tasting notes:
Color: full-brewed orange pekoe black tea
Aroma: tangy hops
Palate: peppery, slightly bitter hops that curl your cheeks, leave pepper on the roof of your mouth.  Clean finish with that bitter element still embedded.  Feels like it may want to mellow with time.

*** Chez Ray Sangiacomo Vineyards Merlot, 2006, Carneros, Sonoma, CA

Original Review, December, 2008: The Chez Ray Sangiacomo Vineyards Merlot of 2006 is from Brehm Vineyards frozen grapes from Carneros, Sonoma, CA. The vintage was fermented cool, with Assmanshausen yeast.

In the glass, this merlot is light/medium ruby red - looking more like a pinot noir than a merlot.

Aromas are fresh, clean and airy, like laundry flapping in the sunny breezes. Touch of ink - or is it Play Doh? Very pleasant.

On the palate, you first note a light, crystalline, high-pitched clean sweet berry. Just the faintest hint of tannins and acids follow. Finish is surprisingly long, given such a delicate start. Actually finishes with just a little touch of light milk chocolate. Three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale.
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Updated review, over three years later, January, 2012:  Consistent light color.  Intriguing light, red, fresh berry aromas.  Now a balanced sweet delivery to the mid-palate of ripe, sparkly red fruit, bringing a wonderful sweetness, clingy-ness and still lightness.  Finish is both silty and silky.  Delicious in a medium body red.  Four stars now.

Tasting notes: *** Chez Ray Rodger's Vineyard Syrah, Mendocino CA, 2008 (SR8V)

By way of background:  This is Chez Ray Rodger's Vineyard Syrah, Mendocino CA, 2008 (SR8V).  Grapes, yeast and process are described here.

In the glass: Dark magenta, opaque from about a half inch from the edge. 

On the nose: Poured cool without a decant and swirled vigorously, shows a soft and furry, lightly oaked fruit nose. 

On the palate: The first element on the palate is round ripe fruit compote, a mix of black and red berries.  It is soft and turns aromatic after a few seconds, bringing some violet aloft.  Finish is brief, but full and clean.

In summary: Overall, a soft, solid, mid-palate experience, generating three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.

Tasting notes: ***** Chez Ray 2007 Alexander West Side Syrah, Sonoma CA (SA8A)

In the glass: Dark magenta, opaque from about a half inch in from the edge.

On the nose: Poured cool without a decant and swirled vigorously, this syrah shows shy, sweet, dark violets.

On the palate: The first element on the palate is a bold, lifted, cloaking sweet deep violet robe in the mid-palate.  It lifts up to the roof of your mouth, coats it, and slowly slides down the sides of your cheeks, releasing deep, sweet whiffs of black violet fruit as it sinks.

And the finish: Soft, fragrant, lasting.

In summary: Among the best we've seen from Chez Ray.  the Alexander West Side Syrah's have shown their preeminence across a range of yeasts.  Overall, an absolutely compelling Chez Ray offering, rating five stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.

*** Chez Ray Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley CA, 2007

Original review, December, 2010:  This is a first bottle sampling of the Chez Ray Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley CA, 2007 vintage (code CR7), whose preparation was described here.

In the glass Chez Ray Rutherford Cab 2007 shows as deep, dusty magenta red, with brick hues at the edges of the glass.  That brick coloring seems a bit surprising for so young a cabernet (I'd be expecting more purple this at this young age).

Served cool and with a brief decant, this high-end vineyard cabernet shows rich, concentrated prune juice on the nose.

On the palate, this remains dry and tight, with just a hint of remaining funk (that will probably still blow off).  Good tannins and grit in the structure, but it is still hiding the fruit.  Will need to mellow in the bottle a year or two longer.   Right now, two stars on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a big plus for potential.
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Updated review, a year later, December, 2011:  Medium deep red in the glass, still brick at edge.  Lighter prunes, some old red currants on the nose.  Light, delicate red fruit is emerging in a base of sleek tannins.  This is coming into its own, touching three stars.  Creating an almost pinot noir-like experience, with potential pairing with foods that would similarly complement: I'd consider turkey and salmon.

***+ Chez Ray CRR7 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley, Sonoma

CRR7 (2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley, Sonoma):

Tasting notes from blending party, May, 2011:

Ray: color medium brick; aroma deep fruit and alcohol; flavor clean bright but light, 2+ for bright fruitiness.  Karin: delicate flavor, sweet finish, 3.  Jim, good fruit.  Eric, L aroma not much smell; flavor, very nice tannins, strong finish, rich flavor but not too remarkable (though very enjoyable!), 3+.  Rob: color, deep red; aroma, tarry; flavor, alcoholic, 2.

Updated review, over six months later, December, 2011:  Deep ruby red in the glass.  This bottle was corked!  Cracked open a second bottle....  Same color.  Shy red fruit on the nose, some hint of plum.  Soft and rich palate, though, excellent mouthfeel, gentle red and black berry flavors.  Three stars with a plus for its outstanding mouthfeel. 

Barrel Tasting Review: *** Chez Ray VSP Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California, 2011

This is a brand-new 2011 Chez Ray cabernet sauvignon ( CL11 ), vinted from fresh Lodi vertical-shoot-positioned (VSP) cabernet sauvignon and prepared according to this overall plan.  The last step, aging with additional wood chips, was not done for this sub-batch, which was sulfited and bottled early.  Let's see what we've got...

In the glass, this is light to medium red with hints of purple at the edge.

Served cool and swirled aggressively, shows subtle purple fruit with hints of charred oak - but just hints.  Some underlying Band-Aid aromatics.  Seems like this may be light, fruity, but flavorful.

On the palate, the fruit is still apparent, but sleek and not cloying, just slightly off-dry in tone.  In fact, the mid-palate does show more mineral than fruit, with a light tangy acidity that brings the finish along into your cheeks.

Seems young, but promising.  When it grows up, however, it will have more the body more of a pinot noir than of a robust cabernet sauvignon.

Three stars now on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.

***+ Chez Ray Napa Merlot, California, 2004 - Homemade Wine Tasting & Review

 By way of background, opening thoughts: As best I can recall (can't find notes), Chez Ray Napa Merlot for 2004 was fermented warm with BDX (Bordeaux) yeast, and pressed with still a couple degrees of Brix (sugar) left.  That created a harsh initial taste, with much purple fruit.  Let's see what has happened in the intervening seven years. Grapes were acquired frozen from Brehm Vineyards.

Original tasting and review : November, 2011.

In the glass: Dark brilliant magenta, opaque from a half inch in from the edge of the glass.  The bottle shows considerable residue along its side from its time in cellar.  The wine - as you might have expected - is unfiltered. 

On the nose: Poured cool and swirled vigorously, shows bold, bright lifted purple ink.  Seems like this will be bright and mouth-filling.  Perhaps still harsh?

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact much more layered and fruity than expected.  The fruit is not primary, but friendly and welcoming, showing dark ripe plum with an oak mantle, followed by a powerful balanced hit of tannins and acids that almost curl your cheeks.  But the cheek-curling is done with rich purple fruit, which lingers for a good long time. 

In summary: Overall, the potent aromatics and palate rate three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for its lingering intensity.  I would say in five years this wine may still be stretching towards four stars or more.

Following long decant, three days kept cool in partially filled bottle:  Brilliant, lifted purple ink on the nose.  Unique and almost exhilarating.   Consistent palate.

***+ Chez Ray Merlot, Suscol Ranch, Napa CA, 2007- Homemade Wine Tasting & Review

Original review, November, 2010:  This is an early tasting of the 2007 Merlot, Suscol Ranch, Napa CA (Brehm code: 515 - 07SRM (SR7) (MS7)) .

The winemaking process and grapes are described in more detail here.

In the glass, this is deep magenta, moving towards opaque in the center.  Poured cool with a brief decant, this Napa merlot still shows primary, sweet, fibrous fruit.  Seems like it is much too young for full enjoyment, but let's see...

The palate is still quite fruity, but rich and concentrated, with a nice sleek backbone.  Light acids, but gentle tannins carry the finish along well.  It seems as though this will take on nice weight with some age.  Three stars on the five star Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for its distinct promise.
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Updated review, over a year later, November, 2011:  More deep brick red now.  Poured cool, more dark oak sneaks in around the core of fruit.   On the palate, a smoky and deep fruit center is supported by lush, almost creamy, tannins, which bring a long, slow, layered finish.  Awesome, complex and delicious - fresh and still with good depth.  Four stars now. Following long decant, three days kept cool in partially filled bottle: Lightly funky motor oil in the nose.  Soft middle, but just turned to lightly oxidized style. 

Tasting notes: Lanza Merlot 2009

This is Lanza Merlot from Suisun Valley, California.  The grape arrival was described here.

Two years after harvest, this shows as deep purple magenta, opaque from about a half inch from the edge of the glass. 

On the nose, it shows bright purple ink with lifted alcohol.

Still quite primary and fruity on the palate, with rich deep fruits, but a light hint of acetic acid.  Finish is lively and clean.  Three stars on a five star scale, with a plus for deep potency.