***+ 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.

**** Chez Ray Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (w/stems), 2006

Original Review, June, 2008: These are tasting notes from the Chez Ray Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (w/stems), 2006, which was first mentioned in an earlier post. Consider this a work in progress, as this is a very early time to sample 2006 reds. This vintage, however, was made with a cool fermentation; this made for a light, early-drinking wine.

What characterized this particular batch of Chez Ray was that it was fermented fully on its stems, adding a brambly overtone to the early wine. So let's see what it has turned in to...

In the glass, medium magenta with light purple tones at the edges. On the nose, good, deep fruit with sturdy oak overlay. Just a bit smoky.

On the palate, the wine touches across the palate, with balanced fruit, touch of charcoal oak, light sweet acids. Finish is generally fast, and overall impression is simple but structured and pleasant. Three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for pleasant friendliness.

After a full day's decanting: even better, rounder, nice smoky undertones.
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Updated Review, six months later, January, 2009: Consistent color and aroma notes. Aroma is outstanding. Sweet touch on the palate, with same mild charcoal overlay. Consistent rating. Fine to continue aging another year or two.
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Updated Review, another year later, December, 2010, now about four years from vintage date (this is a batch made without stems):  Pure magenta in the glass.  Thick, murky, stewed purple fruit on the nose.   Very rich fruit on the palate, bringing overripe blackberries first to mind.  From there, a little bit of huskiness comes in from the tannins, along with a minor acid lift.  Different, thicker experience than a year earlier (with the undestemmed version).   Batch with stems:  this one is much more consistent with the descriptions above.  Nice balance in the aroma, and the palate brings an excellent combination of sweet and smoky.
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Updated review, almost another year later, November, 2011:  Medium magenta.  Medium fruit with some charcoal on the nose.  Gentle, sweet, light-handed fruit comes on at first. Soft red berries.  It picks up a sleek minerality after a few seconds, gliding the fruit and lightly darkened oak across your tongue.  Clean, perky finish, though not acidic.  Reaches four stars now five years from vintage date.