Monthly Archives: April 2013

Orin Swift ‘The Prisoner’ 2010

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

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I hate it when the host waits for us to get half-in-the-bag before pulling out a really good (read expensive) bottle.  Well, that’s what happened, yet again.  The facts:  I did not buy this so I had to look it up, $40 ish.  Pro points- 90.  Blend: 51% Zinfandel, 19%Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 12% Petite Sirah and some Charbono and Grenache to finish it off.

My take, initially….. in-your-face-Cali-Cab, fruit forward, New World bomb.  I instinctively thought Napa Cab overdone, but now realize it was the ripe Zinfandel that was leading me astray.  Dark purple in the glass, a huge blueberry nose leads into a blackberry and fruit compote palate.  This is not my style of wine, way over-extracted and too much fruit.  It was miraculously balanced and slightly tannic.  Miraculous in the sense that you have to work really hard to mess with very ripe fruit, extract the last ounce out of it and still maintain acidity balance and control the alcohol (It weighs in at a whopping 15.2%, yet it is well cloaked- beware).  The tannins are much more subdued than I had expected of such a young wine, perhaps the Zinfandel is the culprit again.

The wine has a long finish that translated back into a certain blueberry note that I enjoyed.  Overall though, a 3 pointer for me.  I would have guessed at 90 points and agree with WS.  For $40 there are others out there I’m afraid.  If you like highly extracted (I don’t mean complex or heavy) wines that are really fruity, this might fit right up your alley.  For me, I prefer a little finesse and slightly lower alcohol.

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Domaine Lalande Pinot Noir 2009

28 Sunday Apr 2013

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A Frenchy that acts all New World….  Very nice and easy drinking, yet so totally un-burgundian in flavor profile.  I would hazard a guess that some Syrah has been added here as the wine is really much darker, heavier and less Pinot like than what I expected.  Very nice flavors of strawberry and blackberry, yet no cherry (unlike most Pinots).  Certainly no earthiness to this wine and the fruit forwardness shows a new style of winemaking.  Balanced, yet lacking any tannic structure, this wine is an easy drinker that won’t break the bank.  We drank it per-dinner and then with some burgers, it played well.  I would give this one 86 points technically and 4 stars for being decent at a good price.

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Scheid ‘Odd Lot Red’ 2010

28 Sunday Apr 2013

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A bottle that was brought by a friend and served with some steak and chicken.  It took no time to sniff out the two basic ingredients here, Syrah and Merlot.  Without trying to be rude, my host asked what I thought of this wine…..  “Make-up”.  I can’t describe it any better, there was a certain fakeness to this wine that really did not agree with me.  On the other hand, it is an easy drinker that is a sure crowd-pleaser for what it is.  However, at $20 plus per bottle, a major pass in my books.  I really did not care for the almost candy-like flavor of the cherry and strawberry fruit.  The tannins were very slight, but the wine was indeed balanced.  I hate being a wine downer, but this one was just not for me.  Technically speaking, I would imagine it is an 86 point wine, but for the price- 2 stars.

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It’s my birthday

21 Sunday Apr 2013

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Well, it was and we celebrated a bit early because I was traveling.  Moxie indulged me with some Filet Mignons and I dutifully obliged with one of my last 1996 Lynch Bages.

I bought a case of this wine at a Parisian wine shop circa 1998 soon after its release.  I have been slipping a bottle out of the cellar every Christmas for a few years and decided to treat myself to one this week.  I can honestly say that this was one of the finest bottles of wine I have ever had.  There is little else a bottle of wine can do for me that this one didn’t.  Stored in the dark cave, it has matured and is starting to hit its peak at 16 years of age.  On the nose pure Paulliac cassis and blueberry.  On the first wave of palate covering richness there was blackberry, cassis and tobacco, followed by leather and cedarbox.  Not a hint of imbalance and absolutely gorgeous tannins caressed my mouth.  I forgot to time the finish, but it seemed to last forever.  The depth of concentration was so amazing that I just kept sipping, almost not wanting to spoil the tasting with food.  I could have sat there all night savoring every drop, but alas the steaks had to be grilled.  I pray that I still have more in the cellar and will vow to drink the next one in one year’s time.

A show stopping 95 pointer that I must give 5 stars to.  I just looked at pricing- currently running at about $150 per bottle, I think I paid $45 back in the day.  Stupendous wine that has truly rewarded my patience and cellaring.  I am grateful to the have been able to enjoy such magnificence.  Good night.

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Chateau Bel-Air 2004

21 Sunday Apr 2013

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I bought two magnums of this St. Emilion several years ago to test a theory on storing magnums versus regular sized bottles.  I just needed to prove to myself that a magnum ages slower.  Damn straight.  This bottle is still young and exhibits plenty of youth with its rather obtrusive tannins.  Not overly complex or heralded, it is nonetheless a Bordeaux.  Bright cherries on the nose translated into cranberry and leather on the palate.  A decent finish and balance were evident as were the tannins.  I don’t think I paid very much for these magnums and am pleasantly surprised.  I will hold the other one for another 3-4 years and re-visit.  I might mention that I drank from this bottle over three nights, with the second night being the smoothest.  The third night showed too much oxidation and the first night it needed air.

I just did a quick price search, the ’09 can be had for $20.  Bang for the buck, 4 stars.  Quality-wise I reckon this wine would have to be 88 points.

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Château Cheval Brun 2009

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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By the time we got to this wine, it was late and our ‘palates’ were suffering ‘fatigue’.  Let me re-phrase… we were plain old drunk by this point, or we would have realized that we had brought the best bottle out last.  The number one rule of wine drinking (versus tasting) is to start with the best and finish with the rotgut because everyone is usually hammered and can’t taste much.

Oh well, I do remember that this was a really good bottle, yet again from the much heralded 2009 Bordeaux vintage.  Beautiful purple color in the glass and a very defined blueberry note on the nose translated into a gorgeous palate of oak, cassis and plums.  A certain earthiness lent itself well to this wine and should be interesting to watch it evolve.  I wish I had been in a better position to really taste this wine, because I reckon it would have more depth than I was able to record.  For the price, a 4 star wine that I estimate deserves 90 points.  Definitely stick some in the cellar and start drinking in 2-3 years.  Delicious.

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Chateau Bonnet 2009

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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A 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Emilion made in the 2009 vintage.  At $15 this wine is a good deal, plain and simple.  Most decent Bordeaux doesn’t even hit the shelves at under $30 these days, so this one initially makes one pause and wonder how good it could possibly be.  Well, as we know, 2009 was a tremendous year in France with all levels of producers bottling balanced, fruity and ageworthy wines.  This particular offering hit the ground running with dark fruits on the palate opening up to plums and earth.  Oak use is apparent, but not obnoxious.  Still really young, the tannins are nicely integrating and will help this wine mature over the next 5 years.  I would cellar this one for another 2-3 years before it is ready.  Bang for the buck, 4 stars with 89 points.  At 13.5% this is an easy wine to relax and enjoy with friends, or you could pair it with Steak Frites and Bearnaise sauce (yummmm).

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Ortas Les Viguiers Cotes du Rhone 2009

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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My friend brought this bottle to the party, claiming “France- 2009, you can’t go wrong”….. He is quite correct.  At $9.99 a bottle, this little beauty is a winner.  Blended with 70% Grenache, 20% Carignan and the last 10% Cinsault, this wine has much to offer.  A deep purple color in the glass, it translated into dark fruits on the nose and the palate.  Blackberry and red currants meet an earthy quality swirling around in some pretty young tannins.  This wine is still young, with some tannins still to be resolved.  I reckon it will develop nicely in two years and be much better.  For now, 88 points and 4 stars.

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Beaucanon Estate Longwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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On the nose, distinctive aromas of spice.  Dark purple in the glass, the spice shapes up on the initial attack and comes in with some plum flavors as well.  Very ‘sharp’ tannins are intriguing, as well as tasty.  The finish was long on this one and I really enjoyed it.  I think it has good aging potential and will mellow in three years to be quite delicious.  The wine is well made and warrants 90 points but for the price, I am giving it 3 stars.  I would cellar some bottles and drink them with juicy NY Strip steaks and sauteed mushrooms.

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Tour de Lagarde 2010

07 Sunday Apr 2013

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I don’t normally pop and pour such young Bordeaux, but this vintage was stunning and has produced some really tasty early drinkers. A St. Emilion blend of 75% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Cabernet Franc (love that grape..). Too young I’m afraid. But I managed to massage the wine with my Vinturi, artificially aging it in the process and softening the tannins.
On the nose, blueberry and coffee lead into a tannic blueberry and earth on the palate. The tannins are very strong with this one, yet they are smooth. This bodes well as the wine has a backbone on which it can age. I cannot however find much complexity, so where it evolves is anybody’s guess.
I lit the charcoal tonight and served up some searingly spicy Jerk Lamb to which I figured this wine would match- I was correct. Most red wines cannot hang with spicy foods, especially Indian. The lamb, well trimmed and charred on charcoal, was fatty enough to warrant a tannic monster, yet was not overpowering on the spices to dull the fruit of this wine.
Post-dinner, I had the opportunity to swirl this wine some more, trying to coax additional notes. The bottle has been open for almost two hours and I am still getting loads of earth on the nose. On the palate there is a nagging alcohol compound that is worrisome. The tannins are searing now, really coating my gums. Overall, this wine has aging potential, yet lacks depth. It has tasty fruit, yet one dimensional. I can’t give it more than 3 stars and fathom it’s worth 88 points. Drink from 2015-2020.

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