SC Wine Joe ratings

My post on December 1, 2013 described the rating system used by the top wine rating web sites. With great trepidation, the SC WineJoe is stepping into this arena. Starting now, the SC wine Joe will assign a rating to the wines available in our area using the same system. First, let me say that my ratings are subject to revision at any time. I can taste a wine today and have a totally different experience tomorrow. Second, your opinion is as good as mine and I welcome your comments. In addition, let me say that rating a white wine is harder than rating a red wine, so I will only assign a numerical rating to red wines for the immediate future. Here is my rating for the reds mentioned in past blogs:

St Francis Cabernet Sauvignon         90
Trim 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon        84
XYZin 2011                                      89
Tranco 2010                                      89
Velvet Devil Merlot 2011                 90
Oyster Bay Pinot Noir                       88

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Dragon Vine, a novel by Steven Laine

It has been a year since I have posted to the South Carolina Wine Blog. However, I was provided with an advance copy of the latest novel by Steven Laine entitled Dragon Vine for my review. Mr. Laine writes novels with a wine focused theme and I reviewed Mr. Laine's previous novel Root Cause in 2019, which I greatly enjoyed. The synopsis of Dragon Vine is as follows: When his father dies in a wildfire, Carmine Cooper takes over the family winery in the middle of harvest, putting his dreams of becoming an architect on hold. He soon finds himself fighting with a vengeful neighbor, blackmailed by a local gang, harassed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities, and the target of an ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives) investigation. Carmine’s only hope to solve his problems and finish his first solo vintage successfully rests in identifying an unknown grape variety his father grew and made into wine for a quarter century wit...

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018

I was aware of the reputation of Ken Wright Cellars for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir but had never tried one of their wines. The winery is most known for single vineyard Pinot Noirs but their entry level wine is a blend from several vineyards. When I have looked for wine from Ken Wright, I have either found the single vineyard wines costing more than $60 or I have found the entry level Willamette Valley blend priced significantly higher than the $22 price on the winery website. One well known wine shop in downtown Greenville actually sells it for $34. I guess that the wine must be really good to command higher than retail prices. Two things have recently happened. Costco has a Ken Wright premium Pinot Noir for around $40 and Whole Foods Market has the entry level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir on sale for $22 rather than their usual price of $27. I chose the entry level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and I am sure glad that I did. Ken Wright Willame...

Cardwell Hill Cellars Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2016

After a recent shopping trip to Total Wine, they enticed me to come back with a 20% off coupon for their winery direct wines. I wanted to try a new Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, but I think I have previously tried every winery direct Oregon Pinot Noir under $20 in the store and never found one that I would buy again. So, I decided to search out the winery direct pinots up to $30 since my coupon would get me under $24. After some online review, I selected Cardwell Hill Cellars Estate Bottled Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2016 ($27.99 reduced to $22.40) and I really made an excellent choice. Caldwell Hill Cellars is owned by a retired Fleur Corp engineer and his wife who love both Oregon and wine. All of their wines are made with estate grown grapes and they use biodynamic farming practices. Dark cherry aromas greet you from the glass. A complex taste of cherry, dark cherry, raspberry and spice arrive first, followed by some oak and tannins. The fi...

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