Monthly Archives: July 2013

d’Arenberg Shiraz ‘The Dead Arm’ 2008

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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If you are in a wine store, unsure of what to buy for a spur-of-the-moment host bottle then d’Arenberg is your go-to wine.  The winery makes a bunch of different wines but most have the red/yellow stripe on the label which makes them easy to identify.  Quality and consistency come to mind with this brand.

Dark purple in the glass, it comes off the blocks with blueberry, plum and a hint of oak.  On the initial palate, I was getting licorice and eucalyptus in addition to the fruitiness.  Great acidity kept the wine on track and the tannic structure is built to last.  On the back end, vanilla comes to mind as does blackberry pie.  Drinking well now, it will cellar for another 10-15 years easily.  We drank this with Tenderloins and salad, I cannot think of a better combination.  Pricey at $35+, it scores well at 92 in my books and has to be a 4 star effort.  Treat yourself to some really good Shiraz this summer and try a d’Arenberg.  Salut……

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Argyle Pinot Noir 2011

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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I have had this wine in previous vintages and bought it on reputation…. Mistake.

I was bewildered by it’s pale red color, it appeared watered down.  On the nose, strawberries and cherry got me excited, only to be let down by the thinness of this wine.  It really was not what I had hoped for.  It provided some enjoyment as we fired up the grill on a hot and humid evening, but I could not imagine it standing up to the grilled meats we were about to devour.  Luckily we had a Shiraz waiting in the wings….  83 points and 1 star.

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Château Moulin de Barrail 2009

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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I’m telling you, 2009 Bordeaux was an awesome year. I don’t hesitate picking up any bottle from the region if it was made in this stunning vintage.

An entry-level Cru that was about $13, this wine had all the makings of decent Claret.  Dark purple in the glass, it showed off Plums and earth on the nose.  The initial attack was fruit driven, with purple fruits and some oak integrating.  The earthy component reappeared and there was also a hint of cassis.  Decent tannins and good acidity wrapped the whole package up nicely.  We drank it alongside the Yalumba Shiraz and they just seemed to complement each other.  The cellar potential for this is about 3-5 years, but it is drinking well now.  Not too complex, it would be great with some pasta or Shish Kebabs.  88 points and 4 stars.

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Bargetto Dolcetto 2011

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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An Italian varietal grown in the Santa Cruz mountains south of San Francisco.

Very pale red in color and somewhat thin looking, this varietal is not a powerhouse blockbuster.  It reminded me of Rose meets Pinot Noir.  Strawberry on the nose and palate, with slight acidity and virtually no tannins noticed.  It was a decent drink for a hot summer’s eve following a day out on the golf course- refreshing indeed.  Having said that, it is pricey for the quality and I would only give it 2 stars and 85 points.

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Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz 2011

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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A decent bottle of Barossa Shiraz that won’t break the bank.  Unlike many jammy wines from this region, the Yalumba was more refined, perhaps a little leaner.  Chocolate and plums on the nose translated into dark fruits and gentle tannins in the mouth.  Good balance and acidity made this an easy wine to drink.  I’m not sure it could handle a big fatty steak, but it should pair well with Veal chops or roasted chicken.  88 points and 3 stars for me…

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Chateau Bordenave Sauternes 2010

22 Monday Jul 2013

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A dessert style wine from Bordeaux that is golden yellow in the glass.  On the nose, apricots and golden apples that move onto the palate with some honey and a touch of acidic bite.  Generally decent wine, but the tinge in the mid-palate was worrisome.  The wine was not overly sweet, but had a balanced residual sugar content.  Dessert wines are generally pricier due to the methods involved, yet I cannot remember how much I paid for this bottle.  85 points and if it was under $20, 3 stars.

(re-tasted on 10/20/13)

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Cosentino ‘The Poet’ 2009

22 Monday Jul 2013

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This is my 300th post so I planned ahead and saved something special to write about.  I’ll explain later how and where I got this bottle, meanwhile…

When I took the first sniff, I could almost smell purple.  Weird, yet delightful.  This wine is a Meritage, meaning it is a blended wine made up of the Bordeaux varietals- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  The flavor profile is unlike Bordeaux, more New World and fruitier.  This wine was exceptionally smooth and the tannic structure was impeccable.  I timed the finish for over a minute- amazing.  On the palate, purple fruits galore, with a shaving of oak to balance it out.  Plums, blackberries, dark cherries and the lot.  Complex and deep, this is a show-stopping wine.  Albeit a Meritage, it lacked Old World nuances like leather and cassis, relying on it’s own terroir to provide such crisp fruit outlines.  The main players are 62% Cab Sav, providing the backbone while the 30% Cab Franc gives it the finesse.  The wine is open for business and will last at least 10-15 years.  94 points and 5 stars.

IMG_2217How and where…. Moxie and I were on our way to Bali for our 20th anniversary and our friend’s wedding.  We decided to stop in Napa for a visit before crossing the ocean.  Our flight departed Washington, and returned.  We eventually left 6 hours later and missed our whole Napa adventure, save the delightful dinner and wine on the terrace of the Westin Napa.  In the morning, Moxie was showering when I checked the status of our flight to Hong Kong, alas a 6 hour delay, now leaving in the evening versus lunchtime.  We took the opportunity to drive up the Silverado Trail and down the other side of the valley, only stopping at one winery- Cosentino.  It was 10 am and they had just opened.  Moxie was in no mood to swill wine at such an hour, and I was legally obliged not to allow alcohol to touch my lips (you’ll see why later).  Anyway, the staff at the winery were super friendly, full of advice and sent us on our way with this offering.  I was planning to open it in Bali, but never had the right opportunity, hence I saved it for this moment.

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Moxie getting a ride on my flight

Moxie getting a ride on my flight

Balinese sunrise

Balinese sunrise

Dom Perignon 1998

21 Sunday Jul 2013

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The iconic Champagne that every wine drinker has heard of.  You can’t mention the region or the style without thinking of this brand, and for good reason.  It is absolutely delicious, no doubt about it, and it’s also pretty pricey.

Yesterday, we celebrated my parent’s 50th anniversary.  Dad had been saving the 1998 Dom for years, and stuffed it into a carry bag filled with ice and brought it along on our day trip to St. Michaels, Maryland.  Before digging into the bountiful lunch of seafood and Blue Crabs, a toast was made with this 15 year young sparkler.  Apples and yeast on the nose prepared me for what was to come.  The mousse was smooth, rounded and extremely pleasant, allowing the flavors of nuts, apples and perhaps some caramel to come through the perfect acidity.  The mouthfeel was incredible, perhaps the term ‘slick’ comes into play, for it was so easy to drink.  This wine is a baby, with years ahead and is drinking beautifully now but I reckon it could last a long time if cellared correctly.  Very complex with levels of flavors, I loved it.  I’m not well versed in sparkling wines, but for me it performed like a 95 point wine should.  5 stars is hard to give a wine that is now available for about $200, yet it seems right.  There’s a time and a place for everything; yesterday, they both happened and will make the day that much more memorable.

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Nana and Jido with some of the grandkids. Moxie made the bibs at her store...

Nana and Jido with some of the grandkids. Moxie made the bibs at her store…

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Chateau Denisiane 2009

19 Friday Jul 2013

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Before we begin, (it’s going to be brief), check out my previous post on the Denisiane.  Not much has changed, it’s still a really bad wine.  The basic profile is nothing more than candied cherries and a sharp retractive initial palate attack..  I was hoping for evolution, perhaps something, anything…..nothing.  A major downer, 80- points and no stars at this point.  Ugh….IMG_2203

Casalvento Chianti Classico Riserva 2009

18 Thursday Jul 2013

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Wow, a full power Chianti with years ahead of it.  Purple in the glass, the nose offers dark brooding fruits and a hint of earth.  On the palate, a very definitive tar component mixed with dark cherries and black berries.  A very powerful tannic structure is making my mouth pucker and the acidity is great.  This wine is 4 years young and will last another 10 at the minimum.  Mainly Sangiovese, it weighs in at 13.5% alcohol, a decent number these days.  It does not follow typical Chianti/Sangiovese profiles (which I love), instead there is a departure from the norm and you can tell this is a well crafted wine.  92 points I reckon, and a 4- perhaps 5 star rating for its $35 price point.  I think this wine needs another 3 years in cellar, and should absolutely rock any pasta dish you could throw at it.

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