The Climber Red Wine 2006 is a blend of 32% Zinfandel, 28% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon,  11% Merlot and 4% Petite Sirah.  Most of the grapes come from Somerston Vineyard, east of the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley.

Deep, intense purplish-red color is indicative of the fruit aromas you’ll find in this wine.  Dark fruits abound in the nose of this one.  Blackberry, currant and black cherry leave no subtlety to the fruit.  There is also a wisp of cedar weaving in and out of the fruit aromas.  Intense fruit on the palate continues the powerful theme with this wine.  Slightly jammy boysenberry, plum and black cherry, followed by black pepper and cocoa on the mid-palate and into the finish.  It’s big, bold and tasty, but I would not call it elegant.  Still, it’s a very enjoyable wine if you’re into fruit-forward wines.

This would make a great wine with barbecue… it almost makes me want to eat some smoked ribs with it.  But then, I’m a pescetarian.  I guess I’ll just enjoy the wine.

Wine: Clif Family Winery - The Climber
Variety: Red Blend
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14.7%
Rating: 88
Price: $17.00

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My first impression is that it’s a risky play from a business perspective, but potentially a smart move. Some wine brands launch with a “big name” winemaker and have immediate cachet—at least with the wine geeks. But many wine brands try to build brand equity by growing a following gradually over time, as consumers discover their wine and like it they develop loyalty. New brands have a hard time standing out in an overcrowded shelf. And most wine marketing, in my opinion, is full of cliche, making it even more difficult to stand out. So it would seem that licensing a name that has a lot of clout in consumer’s minds would help you stand out.

And stand out is one thing the Sopranos wines do well. The artwork on the labels is eye catching. It jumps out and catches your attention right away. I have a shelf at home where I organize the wines that I have in queue for tastings, and when guests were at the house while these wines were in that mix it was the first thing they would comment on. They ooo’d and ah’d at these wines, without ever tasting them. That’s some valuable brand equity. But while a gimmick may get a first time buyer, if the taste of the wine disappoints you’re not going to get repeat customers.

The first thing I had to try was the Chianti lineup (other Sopranos wine reviews will be forthcoming). I love a good Chianti, but surprisingly this is the first time I’ve reviewed any on this site. Sopranos has three different Chiantis, at progressively higher price points. The Chianti ($10.95), Chianti Classico ($23.99), and Chianti Classico Reserva ($29.99). The last two are higher priced than the wines we usually review, but since we had them to taste why not post the reviews?

When I taste different “grades” of wine from the same producer I’m always hoping to find the low-priced one to be the best, but I have yet to see that happen. And this one continues that trend, with the more expensive being the best of the three.

Sopranos Chianti

This wine is predictable for an inexpensive Chianti, but that’s not a bad thing. Cherry, straw and a hint of strawberry make up the nose. It almost has a subtle bubblegum aroma. The nose isn’t very intense. The palate has good acidity and the flavors are mostly cherry. There’s a little black pepper too, and some strawberry on the finish. It’s a good Chianti.

Wine: Sopranos
Varietal: Chianti
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 12.5%
Rating: 84
Price: $10.95

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Sopranos Chianti Classico

The intensity on the nose is similar to the base Chianti, but the aromas are more earthy and smooth. A dusty cherry, soft blackberry and toasted oak make a very nice bouquet. The palate is also very smooth. The tannins are heavier than the base Chianti, but not overpowering… in fact, they are just right. The flavor profile is mostly cherry. It gets a little bitter on the finish. It’s a good Chianti and would be even better with food.

Wine: Sopranos Chianti Classico
Varietal: Chianti
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 85
Price: $23.99

Sopranos Chianti Classico Riserva

This is their “Reserva” for a reason. It’s much more interesting on the nose, with a rose aroma adding a lot of character to this wine. Additionally, you’ll still find the cherry aromas you expect from a Chianti, vanilla and caramel. The palate is rich and smooth. Very well structured black cherry, blackberry and cocoa fill your palate. The acidity is perfect and the tannins are velvety. The finish is good, although a little short. All told, this is a great wine.

Wine: Sopranos Chianti Classico Riserva
Varietal: Chianti
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 89
Price: $29.99

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The X3 gets its name from the fact that grapes are sourced from three different counties in California: Lake County, Sonoma County and Napa County.  The breakdown of percentage from each county differs slightly from one vintage to the next.

I’m glad to find that the quality is consistent with these two vintages.  There are some differences in characteristics, but qualitatively I call them equals.

2006 X3 Cabernet Sauvignon

While not overpowering, the nose on this wine is exactly what I love about Cabernet Sauvignon.  It has a nice, structured blend of deep, rich earthy aromas alongside voluptuous dark fruit.  Dusty raspberry, cassis and black cherry make up the fruit, while on the earthy side there is toasted oak, mushroom and soft leather aromas. A touch of clove adds even more complexity.  The palate is equally pleasing in this Cabernet.  The tannins are perfect, giving it a full, velvety mouth feel.  Black cherry, blackberry and chocolate flavors make for a pleasing palate.  The finish lingers for a good bit too.

Wine: X Winery X3
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 88
Price: $17.99

2007 X3 Cabernet Sauvignon

The winemakers at X Winery must like their Cabernet a bit on the earthy side, as the 2007 vintage of X3 has a similar dusty and earthy quality as the 2006.  I liked it in that vintage and I like it in this one too.  While there are some similarities, there are some differences.  The fruit gives more of a blackberry, cherry and cassis aroma in this vintage. It still has the toasted oak and mushrooms, but there’s a touch of coffee in this one.  The palate is big and well structured.  Cherry flavors pop on the the palate (yes, I basically just said “it pops cherry”).  Blackberry and cocoa round out the flavor profile.  And the tannins in the 07 are just as velvety as the 06.  While there are some nuances that distinguish it from the 2006 vintage, qualitatively it’s comparable and again gets an 88.

Wine: X Winery X3
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 13.9%
Rating: 88
Price: $17.99

Primus is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenere.  I’m certainly not the first one to proclaim this wine as good.  The past few vintages of Primus have gotten numerous accolades and it has consistently proven to be a great wine at a decent price (decent, although at the top end of the budget for us cheap wine folks.)

The nose is very well rounded with raspberry, black currant and vanilla.  The palate is equally well rounded.  It’s fruit forward and has a full mouth feel.  The tannins are just right.  Big cherry and blackberry flavors dominate the palate.  There’s some black pepper in there too.  Although it may be steep for the bargain hunters out there, I still think the quality-to-price ration is good.  It’s a great wine.

Wine: Veramonte Primus
Varietal: Red Blend
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 88
Price: $20.00

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There are a couple different varieties of wine available under the Haras Character name, and it varies by vintage. This one is a red blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere from the Maipo Valley in Chile.

Overall, it’s another tasty red wine from Chile.  Cherry tobacco, meaty notes, green pepper and a subtle hit of strawberry give good complexity and interest to the nose.  The palate is filled with smoky black cherries and I get a hint of strawberry on the palate too.  The tannins are fairly dense… a bit more dense than I would like them to be.  The finish is a little chalky, but very long and enjoyable.

Wine: Haras Character
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenere blend
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14.8%
Rating: 86
Price: $21.00

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Although the grapes are sourced from a cool weather region, there is a lot of heat on the nose of this wine.  (No, those two facts are not necessarily related).  Aside from the heat it also has caramel and vanilla aromas that are very nice.  Underneath those aromas you’ll find some dark fruit.  The palate is a little bit jammy.  Cherry, blackberry and cocoa make up the palate.  It’s a nice wine, although it’s another one that’s priced slightly above my usual $20 limit.

Wine: Undurraga T.H.
Varietal: Syrah
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 13.7%
Rating: 87
Price: $24.00

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As a single vineyard wine, it’s intended to have an expression unique to the soil where it the grapes were grown.  Most single vineyard wines are pricier than their bulk-sourced brethren, and this is no exception.  It’s priced slightly above my normal $20 price limit, but wanted to post the review anyway to provide a point of reference if nothing else.  And besides, I really found it to be a great wine.

It has a deep, rich color.  Black pepper, green pepper, black cherries and toasted oak make for an interesting nose.  It’s a very bright and lively nose too.  The palate brings plums and rhubarb followed by a tongue-coating caramel flavor.  It has a bright and crisp quality overall in the palate.  The finish is divine.

It may be a little more pricey than I like to spend for everyday drinking.  But it might be worth a splurge.  And who knows, if you shop around you may luck out and find it for closer to $20.

Wine: Errazuriz Single Vineyard
Varietal: Carmenere
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 89
Price: $26.00

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Santa Carolina is an old producer with a long history in Chile, and yet in a way it’s a young brand as well.  It was founded in 1875, but it operations had been somewhat neglected (for lack of a better word) until relatively recently.  The quality of their wines was nothing to get excited about and investment was lacking.  But this began to change in 2004, when new management was put in place and operations and wine making techniques were overhauled.

I found this wine to be an indication of good things to come from Santa Carolina.  Blackberry pie on the nose, dark fruit and vanilla, along with a slight earthy characteristic make for an enjoyable bouquet.  The palate has an outstanding mouth feel.  The tannins are thick in this one.  It’s a very earthy wine and I’m enjoying that fact.  There is also some plum and black pepper on the palate.  It’s a nice wine.

Wine: Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia
Varietal: Carmenere
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 86
Price: $14.99

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I really liked the 2005 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon and I equally enjoyed this Reserve, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Syrah and Malbec.

This wine has a complex and earthy nose, with leather, mint, chocolate, smoke, dark cherry, raspberry… there’s a lot going on in this wine.  The fruit is ripe on the palate, where there is loads of black cherries, blackberries and plum. The fruit has a slightly dusty characteristic to it.  The tannins are a little heavy, but not overpowering.  There is a nice brightness to the finish.  Yes, I like it.

Wine: Los Vascos Reserve
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 87
Price: $20.99

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I’ve previously reviewed the Cono Sur Organic Pinot Noir and I liked that one, so I was looking forward to tasting another Pinot from the Cono Sur portfolio.

This Pinot is grown on old vines in a cooler part of the Colchagua Valley.  It’s a little aggressive right out of the bottle, but mellows out to a smokey, bright cherry and raspberry nose after opening up.  A couple of those tasting this wine were harsh on it, but I felt like they just didn’t give it a chance to open up. Strong acidity on the palate gives a sour cherry and apple flavor with raspberry coming in on the mid-palate.  It has good structure and supple tannins.  It might not totally knock your socks off, but it’s a great Pinot Noir for the price.  I actually enjoyed this one even more the second day after tasting some other wines I found the acidity refreshing.

Wine: Cono Sur - Vision
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 86
Price: $15.00

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