After giving them permission to enter my home, I uncorked the undead and let them breathe in individual coffins…I mean glasses, for about an hour. Do the undead breathe?
2013 Pinot Noir
Color: Light Garnet
Primary Aromas: Pomegranate, Cherry, Vegetal
Secondary Aromas: Buttered Bread
Tertiary Aromas: Roasted Almond, Vanilla, Dead Leaves in a Graveyard
Taste: Pomegranate, Cherry, Squash, Spice
In the glass this Pinot Noir has the typical transparent aspect of the varietal, but while not being layered and heavy (my red preferences), it does not taste as thin as it looks. I get a hint of cherry/berry flavor, but the fruit that comes forward is a bit more acidic (not in a bad way) like a pomegranate. There’s also this little extra flavor that I think of as zucchini and pumpkin, plus a bit of a spicy bite (on the neck?) for the finish. While I cannot say this is a remarkable wine, I cannot say there’s anything really wrong with it, either. It could simply be a personal taste thing, because I don’t typically choose to drink Pinot Noir. That said, this is easily drinkable and would go well with a cornucopia of foods, like a nice cream sauce pasta or some charcuterie. I had no problem finishing a couple glasses before cleansing my palate to move on to the Dracula Merlot.
2010 Merlot
Color: Deep Garnet
Primary Aromas: Black Cherry, Green Bell Pepper, Roses
Secondary Aromas: Sourdough
Tertiary Aromas: Chocolate, Cigar Smoke
Taste: Sour Cherry, Oak, Raspberry, Clove, Mysterious Carnivorous Plant
As the sun finally set, this second Vampire came out to be drank. Oh my, how the tables have turned on you now, Dracula! Ahem…I may have digressed from the original topic.
Even though it appears much more opaque than the Pinot Noir, this Merlot is only a little bit more dense feeling in the mouth. There’s a sour red fruit and oak melange to start off, and it gives this wine some fangs. (I’m so sorry, I just can’t stop) Then I taste a rotating medley of secondary flavors with each sip, from raspberry and clove (almost like the ghost of a mulled wine), to some green-ish plant flavor that I just couldn’t precisely place. There’s a mouth feel that has me thinking this is a little dryer than some merlots I’ve had in the past. I had two glasses from this bottle as well, to decide what I think of it, and my thoughts say that I like it well enough to opine that the price here gives it a good QPR. Especially if you get it in time to enjoy with some pizza and peanut butter cups on Halloween. I could also enjoy this wine with something as simple as a bacon cheeseburger or a stir fry, to more fine fare like lamb chops or rabbit stew.
Overall Summary: I had my first Vampire wine (a merlot) in a gothic themed bar in San Juan in 2001. It was good enough back then that I bought a few bottles to bring home. When I opened the lab rat shipment today, I was happily surprised to see the Dracula labels, as it brought those merlot memories back from the dead. (Okay okay, I swear that was the last one…almost) These are some of the older vintages that I have had through Casemates and I must say that they have both aged well. I am fairly susceptible to added sulfites and I had absolutely no sulfite reaction to these wines. This marker of quality (in my mind) I typically only find in imported, organic, or greater than a decade old wines. Two wooden stakes up!
Thanks to UPS terribly backwards service I finally got my package tonight. I will hastily try to provide some insights into these two wines. I appreciate your patience and understanding. So here it goes:
2013 Dracula Pinot Noir
Light ruby color. Oakey nose with a hint of Carneros dirt. If you strain, you might find 1 or 2 other notes such as cherry. It’s a big Pinot (as in 14.5% ABV) so expect some heat. Body has a healthy dose of acid. The oak comes through in the otherwise 1-dimensional body. Finish is fairly spicy and lasting. This is not a layered, structured or complex wine by any stretch - FYI. It is fairly uncharacteristic. For some, this is a good thing especially those who pair a lot with big foods. Not for me though.
2010 Dracula Merlot
Rich dark color. Slightly more complex nose with notes of plum, and caramel. The body is more subdued. Mellow but still shows an appreciable amount of structure and character. Once opened it develops a nice, enduring tannic grip on the finish. I would say this Merlot is the star of this show. It has had time to develop and age properly. It is showing well now. Any residual sugars have broken down into more simple sugars and resulted in a more mature wine and not your typical Merlot.
I would indulge in a case of the Merlot by itself. The Pinot feels lost. It is a 1-dimensional wine. It would make a decent second or third bottle on a night with friends. I hate to say this but, these two wines are struggling. Don’t expect either of these wines to make for interesting conversation. If you are okay with that, then at this price point both would make for a decent EDC (Every Day Consumption) wine to keep you from cannibalizing your reserve OR just a novelty gift for your guests with less sophisticated palates, to take home.
There’s always a silver lining. It’s just how you look at it. It’s late now. I will revisit them again tomorrow and see if my thoughts change. Let me know if you have any questions. I hope this helps.
The merlot was offered on w**t awhile back but the notes are gone.
A note on the pinot attributed to the winery:
"Powerful forest fruit and wild strawberry aromas persist on the nose, balanced by hints of fine French oak. The vibrant ruby red colors hint at a young wine, but the taste reveals a remarkable maturity. Elegant soft fruit flavors are already finely integrated into the structure of the wine, as is the oak, adding a subtle but powerful complexity to the flavor. This is a light smooth wine, easy to drink at any time of the year and exhibiting typical character of a young Pinot Noir.
This wine has been made for early drinking using advance cold macceration techniques, but will age well for several years to come. It has a 100% malolactic fermentation - allowing the perfect integration of the natural acides into the structure of the wine.
Vampire Pinot Noir is well suited to Venison and game dishes, and is equally well adapted to pasta dishes featuring basil and tomato sauces. It can also be enjoyed as an aperitif or as an after dinner wine with snacks and blue cheeses. " ~ Winery note
At $350 a case regularly I think you have to be out of your mind or just don’t care how you spend your money.
But for $89 a case that’s probably all its worth and that’s why I’m buying 2 cases of it.
I can cook with it, gargle it, or just drink it for that price.
I’m a member so it’s even a better deal and haven’t got burned on anything I’ve bought yet! Thanks Casemates
@nklb@Superllama7@Winedavid49 Mediocrebot just fills in the standard shipping info. If WD says he’ll get it to you by Halloween, you can count on it. (Even if he can’t spell Halloween. )
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
Dracula Mixed Reds from Vampire Vineyards - $30 = 24.99%
Our Dracula Merlot has wonderful black cherry aromas accented by toasty oak and chocolate, inspiring a soft, velvety and elegant finish.
Specifications
Vintage: 2010
Varietal: Merlot
Appellation: Paso Robles
Alcohol: 14%
2013 Dracula Pinot Noir, Carneros, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Made from grapes picked before sunrise under the Master’s supervision, this wine highlights the incredible nuances and flavors obtainable from pinot noir grapes grown in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. This cuvee was placed in French Oak barrels for 18 months prior to bottling leading to a rich and concentrated wine with raspberry, dark cherry and pomegranted flavors
Winery: Vampire Vineyards
Owners: Michael Machat
Founded: 1985
Location: Paso Robles, CA via Transylvania
Rumor has it that the Vampire Vineyards are actually owned by a circle of vampires and our company’s founder, Michael Machat, an entertainment attorney from New York, is actually just a front. Whether he and his convertible were commandeered by a Vampire is still a subject for debate. The truth may never be known, but we do know however that Michael first began talking about branding wine with the vampire mark back in 1985 after picking up a mysterious hitch-hiker on a late night drive through the pitch black Nevada desert.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
After giving them permission to enter my home, I uncorked the undead and let them breathe in individual coffins…I mean glasses, for about an hour. Do the undead breathe?
2013 Pinot Noir
Color: Light Garnet
Primary Aromas: Pomegranate, Cherry, Vegetal
Secondary Aromas: Buttered Bread
Tertiary Aromas: Roasted Almond, Vanilla, Dead Leaves in a Graveyard
Taste: Pomegranate, Cherry, Squash, Spice
In the glass this Pinot Noir has the typical transparent aspect of the varietal, but while not being layered and heavy (my red preferences), it does not taste as thin as it looks. I get a hint of cherry/berry flavor, but the fruit that comes forward is a bit more acidic (not in a bad way) like a pomegranate. There’s also this little extra flavor that I think of as zucchini and pumpkin, plus a bit of a spicy bite (on the neck?) for the finish. While I cannot say this is a remarkable wine, I cannot say there’s anything really wrong with it, either. It could simply be a personal taste thing, because I don’t typically choose to drink Pinot Noir. That said, this is easily drinkable and would go well with a cornucopia of foods, like a nice cream sauce pasta or some charcuterie. I had no problem finishing a couple glasses before cleansing my palate to move on to the Dracula Merlot.
2010 Merlot
Color: Deep Garnet
Primary Aromas: Black Cherry, Green Bell Pepper, Roses
Secondary Aromas: Sourdough
Tertiary Aromas: Chocolate, Cigar Smoke
Taste: Sour Cherry, Oak, Raspberry, Clove, Mysterious Carnivorous Plant
As the sun finally set, this second Vampire came out to be drank. Oh my, how the tables have turned on you now, Dracula! Ahem…I may have digressed from the original topic.
Even though it appears much more opaque than the Pinot Noir, this Merlot is only a little bit more dense feeling in the mouth. There’s a sour red fruit and oak melange to start off, and it gives this wine some fangs. (I’m so sorry, I just can’t stop) Then I taste a rotating medley of secondary flavors with each sip, from raspberry and clove (almost like the ghost of a mulled wine), to some green-ish plant flavor that I just couldn’t precisely place. There’s a mouth feel that has me thinking this is a little dryer than some merlots I’ve had in the past. I had two glasses from this bottle as well, to decide what I think of it, and my thoughts say that I like it well enough to opine that the price here gives it a good QPR. Especially if you get it in time to enjoy with some pizza and peanut butter cups on Halloween. I could also enjoy this wine with something as simple as a bacon cheeseburger or a stir fry, to more fine fare like lamb chops or rabbit stew.
Overall Summary: I had my first Vampire wine (a merlot) in a gothic themed bar in San Juan in 2001. It was good enough back then that I bought a few bottles to bring home. When I opened the lab rat shipment today, I was happily surprised to see the Dracula labels, as it brought those merlot memories back from the dead. (Okay okay, I swear that was the last one…almost) These are some of the older vintages that I have had through Casemates and I must say that they have both aged well. I am fairly susceptible to added sulfites and I had absolutely no sulfite reaction to these wines. This marker of quality (in my mind) I typically only find in imported, organic, or greater than a decade old wines. Two wooden stakes up!
@DanFielding good work!!
@Winedavid49 Thanks!
@DanFielding
So, you don’t think the 2010 Dracula Merlot is getting a little long in the tooth?
@chipgreen
@chipgreen Bloody well done.
I wouldn’t say it’s immortal, but it has some time left before it gets ashed.
@DanFielding Truly excellent rattery. Well done. I’m in.
Thanks to UPS terribly backwards service I finally got my package tonight. I will hastily try to provide some insights into these two wines. I appreciate your patience and understanding. So here it goes:
2013 Dracula Pinot Noir
Light ruby color. Oakey nose with a hint of Carneros dirt. If you strain, you might find 1 or 2 other notes such as cherry. It’s a big Pinot (as in 14.5% ABV) so expect some heat. Body has a healthy dose of acid. The oak comes through in the otherwise 1-dimensional body. Finish is fairly spicy and lasting. This is not a layered, structured or complex wine by any stretch - FYI. It is fairly uncharacteristic. For some, this is a good thing especially those who pair a lot with big foods. Not for me though.
2010 Dracula Merlot
Rich dark color. Slightly more complex nose with notes of plum, and caramel. The body is more subdued. Mellow but still shows an appreciable amount of structure and character. Once opened it develops a nice, enduring tannic grip on the finish. I would say this Merlot is the star of this show. It has had time to develop and age properly. It is showing well now. Any residual sugars have broken down into more simple sugars and resulted in a more mature wine and not your typical Merlot.
I would indulge in a case of the Merlot by itself. The Pinot feels lost. It is a 1-dimensional wine. It would make a decent second or third bottle on a night with friends. I hate to say this but, these two wines are struggling. Don’t expect either of these wines to make for interesting conversation. If you are okay with that, then at this price point both would make for a decent EDC (Every Day Consumption) wine to keep you from cannibalizing your reserve OR just a novelty gift for your guests with less sophisticated palates, to take home.
There’s always a silver lining. It’s just how you look at it. It’s late now. I will revisit them again tomorrow and see if my thoughts change. Let me know if you have any questions. I hope this helps.
The merlot was offered on w**t awhile back but the notes are gone.
A note on the pinot attributed to the winery:
"Powerful forest fruit and wild strawberry aromas persist on the nose, balanced by hints of fine French oak. The vibrant ruby red colors hint at a young wine, but the taste reveals a remarkable maturity. Elegant soft fruit flavors are already finely integrated into the structure of the wine, as is the oak, adding a subtle but powerful complexity to the flavor. This is a light smooth wine, easy to drink at any time of the year and exhibiting typical character of a young Pinot Noir.
This wine has been made for early drinking using advance cold macceration techniques, but will age well for several years to come. It has a 100% malolactic fermentation - allowing the perfect integration of the natural acides into the structure of the wine.
Vampire Pinot Noir is well suited to Venison and game dishes, and is equally well adapted to pasta dishes featuring basil and tomato sauces. It can also be enjoyed as an aperitif or as an after dinner wine with snacks and blue cheeses. " ~ Winery note
At $350 a case regularly I think you have to be out of your mind or just don’t care how you spend your money.
But for $89 a case that’s probably all its worth and that’s why I’m buying 2 cases of it.
I can cook with it, gargle it, or just drink it for that price.
I’m a member so it’s even a better deal and haven’t got burned on anything I’ve bought yet! Thanks Casemates
@pisawno LOL! Crackn’ me up
Intrigued!
In for a case
Dracula Mixed Reds from Vampire Vineyards
4 bottles for $39.99 $10/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $89.99 $7.50/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2010 Dracula Merlot
2013 Dracula Pinot Noir
Hopefully they can find a way to get it here by Halloween… Wait, is it legal to hand out wine to kids in costumes? Asking for a friend
@Superllama7 oh yes, delivered by holloween for sure!
@Superllama7 @Winedavid49
I wouldn’t be so sure, mediocrebot says the following:
Estimated Delivery
Monday, November 4th - Thursday, November 7th
@nklb @Superllama7 @Winedavid49 Mediocrebot just fills in the standard shipping info. If WD says he’ll get it to you by Halloween, you can count on it. (Even if he can’t spell Halloween.
)
@nklb @Superllama7 that’s an auto thingy.
IT WILL GET THERE WELL BEGORE HALLOWEEN
@Winedavid49 even on the east coast?
@jml326 yes! I’ll fly it out myself if I have to!
@Winedavid49
/giphy patriotic-narcissistic-kraken
I’d settle for a sizeable coupon
@Superllama7 mine was just delivered in the Midwest!!
@Superllama7 Got mine today in North Carolina. Thanks @Winedavid49
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
Dracula Mixed Reds from Vampire Vineyards - $30 = 24.99%
Someone promise me Halloween delivery, and I’m in
@apathy0 confirmed!!
@Winedavid49
/giphy maddening-literal-offer
Dracula Mixed Reds from Vampire Vineyards
2010 Dracula Merlot, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Our Dracula Merlot has wonderful black cherry aromas accented by toasty oak and chocolate, inspiring a soft, velvety and elegant finish.
Specifications
2013 Dracula Pinot Noir, Carneros, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Made from grapes picked before sunrise under the Master’s supervision, this wine highlights the incredible nuances and flavors obtainable from pinot noir grapes grown in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. This cuvee was placed in French Oak barrels for 18 months prior to bottling leading to a rich and concentrated wine with raspberry, dark cherry and pomegranted flavors
Specifications
Included in the Box
Case:
4-bottles
Price Comparison
$350.40 at Vampire Vineyards (for 6 Pinot Noir + 6 Merlot)
About The Winery
Winery: Vampire Vineyards
Owners: Michael Machat
Founded: 1985
Location: Paso Robles, CA via Transylvania
Rumor has it that the Vampire Vineyards are actually owned by a circle of vampires and our company’s founder, Michael Machat, an entertainment attorney from New York, is actually just a front. Whether he and his convertible were commandeered by a Vampire is still a subject for debate. The truth may never be known, but we do know however that Michael first began talking about branding wine with the vampire mark back in 1985 after picking up a mysterious hitch-hiker on a late night drive through the pitch black Nevada desert.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Friday, November 8th - Tuesday, November 12th
/giphy garrulous-thematic-bucket
When I saw this, I wanted there to be no or bad tasting notes…
Alas.
/giphy last-premium-pet
What, still no shipping to Transylvania? Oh wait, there it is . . .
/giphy bewildered-real-tiramisu
