Ryan O'Donnell's Activity

Recent Comments showing 1-10 of 83

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  2002 Merlot, from Hengehold Family

  posted on February 19, 2010 at 6:01pm

  Loads of sage aromas with notes of licorice and clove. Easy entry, dried red cherry flavors that lingers into a chewy finish with notes of oak wood espresso and sweet tobacco. Enjoyable nuances for those that enjoy herb and dried fruit qualities.

• How do you infuse chocolate or other ingredients during winemaking?

  posted on November 17, 2009 at 10:54pm

  Do you just pitch in whatever ingredients into the must BEFORE fermentation?

• Rancho Sisquoc Winery

  posted on November 16, 2009 at 10:00pm

  The ranch is huge! Seems like the winery is a small part of it but doesn't take a back seat at all. Their mantra is good wine and reasonable prices and they deliver that. They're the only winery making Sylvaner, a german varietal, that was really nice no less! Their reds were all very enjoyable and approachable too. There were some wine-snob dudes next to us and the woman pouring seemed bothered by them too but she kinda ignored us too. We were definitely the youngest folks there by 10 years so maybe she was judging us on that note... either way, she did eventually warm up to us and explained all about the behind the scenes of the winery... the supply a LOT of other wineries in the area and even some big conglomerates. We had a great time and walked away with a lot of good wine and will definitly watch them vintage after vintage.

• Silver Horse Winery

  posted on November 16, 2009 at 9:45pm

  It was a quiet day when we tasted here. Just couple others there with us but the person pouring knew how to handle a full bar all while making it a pleasant experience for everyone. The wines are big and bold and very much in styles I enjoy. Jammy, smokey, earthy... just awesome wines. The ground are gorgeous too. Boccee, horseshoes, picnic tables, and event center and views that will make you slow down and enjoy a glass of wine while rocking in the swing bench. I want to return and just hang out all day long... I wish I could live there!

• Kenneth Volk

  posted on November 16, 2009 at 9:41pm

  The wines were really nice. The tasting room was small and we happened to arrive after a tour bus dropped off a group of tasters who liked drinking but didn't give shit about the winery or winemaker views... that part is really annoying to me. We squeezed in and tasted through the lineup but couldn't speak to anyone about the wines so the experience lacked a personality I expect from that area. Still, I love the Negrette, the Tempranillo, Chardonnay and even the Cab Sauv... remove the "lush train" and I'm sure it would have been a completely great visit.

• Barrel 27 Wine Company

  posted on November 16, 2009 at 9:30pm

  Popped in on a random Sunday afternoon and we were the only people there tasting. A nice, young woman poured the wines and we have a great time chatting it up about everything. Most every wine we enjoyed thoroughly and every thing was reasonably priced. High on the Hog white rhone blend is AWESOME as is the Hand of Fist Syrah. Seems like a fun, tight-knit group of folks behind the winery that is producing really nice wines.

• 

  2007 Zinfandel, Rockpile from Seghesio Family Vineyards

  posted on November 8, 2009 at 4:43pm

  a day later and this wine really wafts of dark chocolate truffles, jammy berries and fresh herbs. So smooth and elegant. Awesome concentration and a long, chewy finish that commands your attention. Just an awesome wine.

• Seghesio Family Vineyards

  posted on November 7, 2009 at 9:50pm

  Year after year after year... their quality somehow gets better and better. Their smaller production wine is tough to find but worth the effort. They seem to bringing back into focus the Italian varietals paying homage to their family roots a bit. They simply don't make a bad wine.

• Concannon Vineyard

  posted on October 30, 2009 at 6:13pm

  Their still putting together their new tasting room but it looks to be quite posh for the Livermore Valley. My wife and I stopped in to try them since its been YEARS since we last tasted their wines. I think the quality of the wines has gotten better for sure but there wasn't anything that blew me away. Each wine they poured (7 in total) were crafted well but lacked that "umami" aspect. All their reds seemed to have a small percentage of Petite Sirah which they're most known for. Apparently they do all their blends in a democratic fashion and the owner and winemaker give their thumbs up or thumbs down until the majority agrees on the final makeup. Which tells me the winemaker isn't putting his own spin on any of the wines... they're basically all wines to please the mob. The tasting experience was typical of a large commercial winery... pay for the tasting upfront, keep the glass, folks pouring didn't engage us in conversation... it felt very "pony up to the bar, drink your tasting, buy or not, then leave" experience. Concannon's wines are well distributed so there's an appeal to visit if you're from out of town but for the locals, it comes off as a bit pretentious. When I finally spoke to someone pouring, they spoke negatively of a new, small winery in town as if their attempt to be a winery was comical. I felt like saying, "hey, we all have to start somewhere" but he made his opinion well known and didn't seem to open to another perspective. Oh well... there's plenty other places to visit and take friends.

• Occassio

  posted on October 30, 2009 at 5:43pm

  Stopped by to pick up my club shipment and happily tasted their wines one more time to confirm my original opinion-- still amazing wines. The production is crazy small so I scored a few more bottles to enjoy since they seem to selling out quickly too. The young woman who pours at the tasting room is very personable (her name escapes me, sorry!) and is incredible helpful and insightful. Their Merlot release party is in a couple weeks. Only 25 cases and the rumors are that it's a great example of what Merlot can be. If I can make I'll go but I think I'll be out of town then. Looking forward to an upcoming Zinfandel and Zin Rose soon too!