13 Saturday Jul 2013
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Dark fruit on the nose and purple in the glass. Not overly fruity, this wine was decent and a good value for the price. On the palate I got some earth, dark berries and a touch of oak. Good mouthfeel, balanced and slight tannins made it easy to drink. A basic California Cabernet for quaffing that I think should get 85 points and 3 stars in my books.
13 Saturday Jul 2013
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I’m a big fan of this winery, having had their Zinfandel on several occasions. You can’t beat the sub $10 price for this inky purple offering that plays like a 25 dollar wine. On the nose, some spice and blue fruits that translated into plum and blackberries on the palate. Not overly complex, but interesting. I am into Petite Sirah in a big way (not to be confused with Sirah-totally different grape folks). It offers power, yet not in a jammy, over the top style. This wine was very balanced in my opinion and hit the spot with some teriyaki skirt steaks and corn. Structure wise, I am not sure it will age beyond 5 years, but who cares, it’s ready to tango right now. I might need a few bottles in the cellar in case a party breaks out, this wine won’t disappoint. Technically speaking, this would probably rate an 88 by the pro’s but it’s a 5 star wine for me.
01 Monday Jul 2013
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For about $8 you cannot go wrong with this wine. Very basic Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile with red currants and a touch of oak. Relatively smooth, with very tame tannins and a decent finish. If you are entertaining, this is a must-have. It drinks easily and could also pair with pasta, burgers and grilled meats. A 4 star effort worthy of 86 points that wont break the bank.
01 Monday Jul 2013
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I’m a big fan of this winery and have had this wine from the 2008 and 2009 vintages. I sang the praises of the 2009 yet missed out on the 2010 for some reason. Anyway, this latest wine is a little young in my opinion. Delicious and inviting with its dark fruit and brooding tannins. Inky purple in the glass, it exudes power and depth. The acidity is quite pressing, and the tannins are a little green, but given time this wine is going to be delicious. I imagine it will start to rock in 2015 and continue to roll until 2020 at the very least. Potentially a 90 point wine, at $22 it rates 5 stars with me. I am going to cellar a few of these and watch the evolution.
01 Monday Jul 2013
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Plums, plums and more plums. On the nose, this wine was very aromatic and inviting. On the palate, good weight and as mentioned, a plum component that was juicy and vibrant. Good tannic structure and acidity made this a fun wine to enjoy while not being overly complex. For about $12, this wine bangs the drums. You can’t go wrong here folks, you are getting good fruit-forward, ready-to-drink pleasure for a bargain. I would stock up on this for a party, serving it with any form of grilled meats, pasta dishes and even roast duck. 4 stars for the price/quality and 87 points IMHO.
01 Monday Jul 2013
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When you mention Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, the first few things that come to mind are: cat’s pee, grapefruit, cut grass and green apples. This wine had it all, plus a cutting acidity that balanced the fruit nicely. In the mouth, very smooth and inviting, making me pucker up for more after its long finish subsided. It went perfectly with the salad course, and I imagine it to be a stunner on a hot summer’s eve. This region in New Zealand has been excelling in the varietal, making delicious and lush wines. I would imagine it to be an 89 point wine and for about $15, worthy of 4 stars.
01 Monday Jul 2013
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Next up on the flight to Bali was this Aussie Shiraz. I will admit that between this flight and the return one I sampled this wine from 3 different bottles, all pretty much consistent. Very muted nose that was giving me no signs of fruit, perhaps the dry environment of an aircraft cabin did it no justice. On the palate, raw blackberry jam mixed with earth, but slightly dry. I did notice some gripping tannins and the mouthfeel was ok, but nothing stunning. Overall, a very atypical Shiraz that did not do much for me. 84 points and 2 stars.
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