Category Archives: Wine reviews

Jean Louis Chave Mon Coeur Cotes Du Rhone 2010

14 Saturday Dec 2013

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Having just drunk the more delicate Pinot Noir, this was a smack to the face.  A huge, tannic, rustic wine that was nearly black in the glass.  Full bodied and not afraid to show it, this wine had notes of blackberry, licorice and oak on the nose.  On the palate, very earthy, almost too much even for me.  The garrigue infused funk overpowered the black fruits.  The tannins were great and will hold this wine for at least 5 years but it is drinking great right now.  My personal opinion is 88 points for this wine.  The balance of fruit and secondary flavors weighed the scoring down for me.  For $24 it may be worthy of a try but be prepared for it.  I suggest pairing this Syrah/Grenache blend with a beef stew or lasagna- something hearty.  I’m going with 3 stars for now.  Salut….

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Saint Clair Pioneer Block 15 Pinot Noir 2009

14 Saturday Dec 2013

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A cross between Old World elegance and New World charm for this delicious Pinot Noir.    I have had some really good wine from the Marlborough region of New Zealand lately and this is no exception.  Pale in color as a Pinot should be, the nose was very bright with cherry and strawberry notes.  Old world funk on the palate with bright fruit made for an interesting taste profile.  Cherry spritz comes to mind with some green peppers mingling about.  Hints of strawberry daiquiri and some cedar came through on the back end and the acidity was great.  This was a very interesting wine and we thoroughly enjoyed it with some Pate and cheeses.  I would also pair it with Turkey and cranberry sauce.  $20 and 90 points make this an outstanding 5 star wine for me. Ps. I love the label, very classy.  Salut….

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Henry’s Drive ‘Parsons Flat’ Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

13 Friday Dec 2013

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‘The Beav’ is my buddy’s nickname.  He is a funny guy and good humored.  We have been partnered together on a month long training course that ends this weekend.  We have eaten together, drunk together, taken daily walks together and gone to the gym together.  We have had a really good time with each other and now the end is nigh, so we went big on some wine purchases last night.  He picked this one because the label was so cool.  Little did he know how good it was going to be.

A blend of Padthaway Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon that have melded together beautifully and have integrated a lovely oak presence with some well crafted tannins.  Dark red in the glass and showing black fruits on the nose.  The taste was of black currants, blackberry and dark plums.  Some mocha and chocolate powder popped out on the back end and the mouthfeel was exceptional.  The structure of this wine was great, balanced and easy to drink.  We happened to have a bunch of cheese and salami at the time but it would go well with Tenderloin or perhaps a roasted Cornish Hen.  I thoroughly enjoyed this 91 point wine that the Beav paid $27 for making it a 5 star wine in my books.  Salut….

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Monte Zovo Valpolicella Ripasso 2009

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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Whenever I see a Ripasso in a restaurant, I buy it. I love the elegance of Valpolicella and the brute force that comes when they ‘pass it through’ the Amarone lees and make a Ripasso. Dried cherry and licorice come to mind with some really tasty tannins. The acidic component is slightly off but the fruit over-compensates. This particular bottle was not as aromatic and extracted as I like but it went superbly with our Osso Bucco dinner. 88 points and 3 stars for this $22 effort. Salut….
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Feudo Maccari Saia 2010

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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If you have never had a Nero D’Avola wine before, you must.  From Sicily comes this black wine with ample tannins and great depth.  This particular wine was as expected.  Bold black cherry and dark fruits with a hefty dose of tannin that was somewhat curbed yet providing a strong backbone.  The use of oak was deftly hidden and the acidity was great.  The wine is slightly rustic and needs a big plate of salami, olives and some hard cheeses to really get it going.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend this $25 offering for the uninitiated.  91 points and 5 stars.  Salut…IMG_0537

First Drop ‘Mother’s Milk’ Shiraz 2010

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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Succulent and smooth yet powerful and unabashed.  This is a great wine, no doubt.  A beautiful shade of purple in the glass with some great plum and spice notes on the nose.  On the palate was an array of svelte asian plums, blackcurrant and cedar box- all interlaced by some fine ingrained tannins.  This wine drinks beautifully and impressed all of us.  More impressive is the price- $18.  You cannot beat the value for money than with this type of 91 point wine that is accessible yet could be cellared for another 5 years.  This is what I imagine when I think of Barossa Shiraz.  Expressive but not over cooked, smooth but biting.  Amazing by itself, it would hold up to any meat dish, perhaps even crispy duck.  5 stars from me.  I need to find more!  Salut….

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Chateau Les Chapelles 2009

09 Monday Dec 2013

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From Montagne Saint-Emilion comes this Merlot/Cab blend.  It was very dark in the glass and bitingly tannic with some hidden fruits lurking.  I think I drank it too young as the main flavor was the dryness of my teeth.  I did manage to get plums and coffee with some interesting oak on the back end, but generally a muted wine.  I paid $18 for it and give it 87 points making it a 3 star effort for me.  I think it might improve but the fruit is going to really need to shine and the tannins need to recede for it all to balance up.  Salut….

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Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc 2009

06 Friday Dec 2013

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From South Africa comes this amazing Bordeaux blend for a mere $15.  Inky purple in the glass it showed off dark fruits on the nose with a hint of mintiness.  The flavor was sublime and the finish was nice and dry from the firm tannins.  The purple flavors of plums and blackcurrant were mingled with some slight oak and cassis.  Very balanced and showing complexity, I loved this wine.  I have read about it in several magazines over the years and this is the first time I have seen it in the shops, I  will be back to buy more.  Still young but drinkable, I reckon it will start to peak in 2015 and go for another 5 years.  I would pair this with Venison or Lamb chops all day long.  5 stars for this 91 point effort.  Salut….

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Lionel Osmin Cie Malbec 2011

05 Thursday Dec 2013

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Cahors is a region in central France that produces ‘the Black Grape’.  The Malbec’s from this region are extremely dark, tannic and usually delicious.  They differ from Argie Malbecs because the South American version is far more fruit driven and the Old World style is for deeper extraction and more tannic substance, plus the terroir is totally different.

This bottle was flawed.  It just tasted bad.  It had good intentions, with an almost black appearance in the glass and some enticing aromas of Asian pear and black cherry.  On the palate, there was an off flavor that destroyed any hope of it being enjoyable.  I am not dismissing this wine just yet, I think it was corked.  It’s a shame really as the components all seemed to be in place.  The dryness of the hefty tannins was exactly what I was looking for and the acidity was there to balance it.  I may look for another bottle to re-taste.  This wine got an 89 from WE and it was only $13 which would have made it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

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The Black Wine

The Black Wine

 

d’Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2008

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

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Another wine from this awesome winery in Mclaren Vale, Australia.  This bottle is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot- the cornerstones of the Bordeaux blend.  I was really excited to try this as the blend is right up my alley.  Bold and beautiful in the glass it showed its power right away.  Plums and Black cherries with a rich and smoky oak  came blasting throughout the gripping tannins.  On the backend came a eucalyptus tinge that was very interesting.  The wine is very young and in need of cellaring, perhaps from 2014- 2020 is where I would think it’s peak is.  Great balance and structure make this $23 wine a bargain.  Think Roast Beef and this wine will sing.  91 points and 5 stars from me.  I think I need to get more for the dungeon. Salut….

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