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Chateau Hanteillan 2009

18 Sunday Oct 2015

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, bordeaux


From Haut Medoc comes this charming, meaty wine that needs to be on your shopping list. Very dark and murky in the glass with a nose of really sweet bramble, cherry and blackcurrant. My first impressions are good. Very pleasing initial attack of black kirsch, blackcurrants and a gradual introduction of some well integrated tannins. The acidity hides in the background yet balances the wine very well. Primary fruit is fully evident but I suspect that this wine has some evolution in it’s near future. It drinks well today but I reckon it will get better in 2-3 years. This 09 Bordeaux sums up the vintage well. Early drinking pleasure coupled with a decent cellaring potential make this wine a must have at $15 per bottle. I am going with 90 points and 5 stars. Roast game is screaming to be paired with this as are some stinky blue cheeses and don’t rule out a braised beef rib.  Salut….

chateau hanteillan

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Domaine B. Serveau et fils Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers 2009

18 Sunday Oct 2015

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$70, 3 stars, 90 points, burgundy, pinot noir


Light purple, typical for the varietal and region. Nose of cherry, earth, a hint of oak and some funk. On the initial attack it is somewhat basic with raw flavors of cherry, strawberry and sour cranberry. This wine is way too young as it only exhibits primal features. Edgy tannins will smooth out and meld with the acidity. I reserve judgement but give it 90 points for now.  I will aerate and try again.
Much softer after double decant with more cherry and some blueberry hints. Still tannic and edgy and the acid hits right in the cheeks.  Sticking with the 90 points initially and for $70, this is a 3 star effort that may need some cellaring to really shine.  Burgundy can be a tricky pick.  Salut….

Domaine B. Serveau et fils Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers

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Havens Black and Blue Napa Valley 2012

18 Sunday Oct 2015

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$19, 3 stars, 89 points, napa blend


Bright purple edges in the glass. Nose of bramble and blue fruits. Bright and airy initial attack of blueberry pie, iodine and vanilla. Cinnamon and crime brûlée hints come out mid palate. Soft tannins and low acidity make this easy to drink now and in the near future. Full flavored yet somewhat light and lithe- this is an easy wine to enjoy with or without food. 89 points. $19 and 3 stars.  Salut….

havens black and blue

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Corymbia 2013

07 Friday Aug 2015

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$25, 3 stars, 88 points, australia, swan valley, tempranillo


I am always in search of the unique, the different.  This wine is one of those that I would classify as such.  Not yet available in the US market, I happen to know ‘a guy’ and got to try some.  Start with the label, which is a graphical display of the sunshine and rainfall on the property for the whole year…. who thinks this stuff up?  Brilliant.  The blend itself is quite intriguing.  85% Tempranillo co-fermented with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Swan Valley in Australia.  Atypical for Tempranillo it reminds me of Burgundy in its softness, melded tannins and mouthfeel. The flavor profile is much more new world though with a nose of plums and blueberry. Carbonic maceration gives it a fruit forward approach on the initial attack much like the Gamay wines of Beaujolais. Loads of blue fruit and some gentle acidity combine with the melded tannins to give a nice mouthfeel. The back end is where I get some firmer tannins and a decent finish. 88 points from me. Aus $35, U.S. $25, 3 stars.  A treat if you can find it because it allows for the broadening of the palate.  Truly unique, it drinks well as an aperitif but would go really well with some charcuterie, perhaps some hard cheese. 2015-2018.  Salut….

corymbia wine

 

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Leoville Barton 2001

07 Friday Aug 2015

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3 stars, 89 points, bordeaux, bordeaux blend


I bought a case of this many moons ago and have just started to drink the wines of this Bordeaux vintage.  The ’01 Leoville Barton I drank before was sublime.  The consensus was a 2022 peak, I’m not so sure now, or else I had bottle variation.

Still bright purple but a broken cork and low top fill gave me cause for concern.  Classic Bordeaux cassis nose with blueberry and cherry entrance were overshadowed by the fact that the wine was a little thin. Tasty mid palate but it lacked weight. Good acidity and firm tannins. Drink sooner rather than later unfortunately.  89-91 points.  3 stars now but I’m hoping it was a one-off bottle.  Salut….

leoville barton 2001

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Mystery label from Montepulciano 2011

07 Friday Aug 2015

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90 points, Italy, montepulciano


I drank this over the 4th of July weekend, took notes, a picture but forgot the name.  No idea of pricing either as it was my friend’s offering.  It was good, but young.

Nearly black in the gas with a nose is of blackberry and tar.  More black fruit, tar and earth on the initial attack. Tannic and brooding. Mid palate had some vegetal, herbaceous and acidic components. Longish finish of black cherry and tannins. 2017-2025, 90 points.  I can’t give it a star rating as I don’t know the price.  If you have seen this or know it’s name please comment!  Salut….

IMG_2811

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Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

07 Friday Aug 2015

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$8, 3 stars, 86 points, cabernet sauvignon, chile, colchagua


Bright purple. Oaked up nose of blue berries and green peppers. Not my style as it has a strange tinge to it. Much better on the palate with some plums, blue fruits and some mint. A slightly green mid palate with sharp acidity comes through midway. Mild tannins and a shorter finish. 86 points and 3 stars for this $8 offering.  Salut….

montes cabernet sauvignon

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Deakin Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Series 2013

07 Friday Aug 2015

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$11, 4 stars, 87 points, Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, australia, cabernet sauvignon


Nice purple color. Nose of black currants, cinnamon and elderberries.  Initially some slight tannins and a good presentation of dark berries and brush. Some earthy elements come across in the mid palate. A very basic wine that provides enjoyment and will drink well with barbecue, roast game and pizza. Nice acidity counters the gentle tannins and it leaves you with a nice mouthfeel. 87 points. 2015-2017.  I paid $11 making it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

deakin estate cabernet sauvignon

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Edmeades Zinfandel Mendocino County 2012

19 Sunday Jul 2015

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$15, 4 stars, 89 points, mendocino, zinfandel


If you read my write up on the Lagarde Malbec you will know that we were at dinner with friends.  The Malbec never made it to the table, this tasty Zinfandel was more than up to the task of handling our beef short rib dinner.  I made some quick notes as Moxie was giving me the evil-eye for using my phone at the table.

Reddish purple with long legs in the glass. Nose of cinnamon, plums, orange peel and some vanilla.  Initial tastes of plum and cinnamon with gently spiced cola. Tannins are subdued with a balance of acidity. 89 points and very food friendly. It sorted out the ribs with their strong flavors and offset the fat found in such a tender and delicious cut.  The finish is mid length. This wine will pair well with any marbled meats and could stand up to a hearty BBQ with its spice component.  A bargain at $15 this one may need to bought in bulk.  4 stars from me.  Drink 2015-2018.  Salut….

Edmeades Zinfandel Mendocino County

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Lagarde Primeras Vinas Malbec 2011

19 Sunday Jul 2015

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$40, 5 stars, 93 points, Argentina, Malbec


We went over to our friends house for dinner last night.  My buddy, known as Big Red, had bought this one specially for our dinner of short ribs.  It never made it to the table as we opened it soon after we polished off the Carneros Pinot I brought for appetizers.  None of us could wait to try it.  We were not disappointed.

Reddish color that was somewhat unique in a Malbec, they usually run the gamut of dark purple to the black wines of Cahors.   Red currants, strawberries and iodine were some of the hints we picked up on the nose.   A super smooth entry of red fruits, some ink, black cherry and a Tempranillo-like medicinal tinge were what treated us in the first wave.  Mid palate is where the tannins finally kicked in having lurked initially.  Supremely balanced with acidity and a touch of oak the whole package is well rounded and polished. The length is ideal. 93 points and begging for a steak, perhaps some shaved ham. $40, 93 points. Full bodied Argentinian ready to drink till 2022.  A top wine if I may say so myself.  5 stars for sure, seek this one out.  Salut….

lagarde primeras vinas malbec

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