Category Archives: Wine reviews

Man ‘O War Sauvignon Blanc 2011

10 Sunday Nov 2013

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This is what my mate Mr. Tormay requested at last night’s Korean/Cajun fusion dinner.  He is fan of the varietal and quickly ordered this without hesitation.  I got a taste in before he polished it off and was very impressed.  In the glass it was more golden in color than I was expecting.  The glass burst with cut grass, apple and tart lemon flavors.  My initial taste was overwhelming.  Cat’s pee (a normal descriptor for Kiwi Sav Blac by the way) meshed with cut grass and green apple.  The waves continued with some citrus and cutting acidity.  The wine had quite a heavy presence in the mouth which made it that much more interesting.  This is not a thirst quenching easy to drink wine, it is much more food driven wine that offers complexity and depth.  I really liked it and will look for it in the shops.  $16 and 89 points make this a 4 star effort for me.  Salut….

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Cosentino ‘The Franc’ 2012

10 Sunday Nov 2013

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Two points to note.  I love Cabernet Franc, and I am a fan of Cosentino wines having visited their tasting room in Napa back in June with Moxie.  I saw this wine on the list at a nearby Cajun-Korean Fusion restaurant.  With no hesitation, the wine was ordered and poured into some rather nice BAG’s (Big Assed Glasses).  This wine is from Lodi fruit and was slightly atypical.  I almost sensed a Zinfandel component.  The red fruits and berry flavors gave way to some plum jam and earth with a peppery spice finishing it off.  The wine itself had good acidity and the tannins were smooth.  The flavors of the package were very delightful. I was expecting the softer more perfumed style of Franc but was happy to have experienced a different terroir and style for this varietal.  It is listed at $22 on the winery’s website and I reckon it delivers the goods.  90 points and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

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Alamos Malbec 2012

10 Sunday Nov 2013

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Cheap and cheerful for $12.  This is a must-have wine for everyday drinking.  It offers juicy Malbec flavors of plums, blackberry, vanilla and it does it all in an easy to drink style.  Slight tannins and juicy acidity give this a great party wine mouthfeel.  It handles pasta, burgers, steaks and just plain old pre-dinner drinking really well.  This winery is consistent and the wine can be found everywhere.  I am a fan and think it’s a  respectable 87 point wine worthy of 4 stars.  Salut….

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Gorys Crespiello 2008

10 Sunday Nov 2013

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This wine got huge accolades from WA and was originally $100.  I got it for far less and was intrigued by the varietal.  Made from old-vine Vidadillo from Spain I was not sure what to expect.  It was dark purple in the glass and had a subdued nose of plums and tar.  I Picked up some Grenache like notes on the palate amidst the thick tannins. The wine was relatively young yet somewhat complex.  Swirling it in the glass again it started to open up after I poured it through the Vinturi.  The black fruits and tar came through more clearly and the acidity was decent.  The pro’s gave it 93 points, I must be missing something here as I would only venture 89 and for the price- 3 stars.  It was an interesting opportunity to try something different but I don’t think I would repeat.  Salut….

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Valley Gate Vineyards Chardonnay Versada Vineyards 2010

09 Saturday Nov 2013

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I tasted this wine before, in July and really did not get to grips with it.  I vowed to wait until re-tasting before I wrote about it.

Honey yellow in the glass it immediately gave up some citrus and pineapple on the nose.  Beautiful mouthfeel with vanilla, butterscotch, lemons and pineapple come through again on the mid palate.  Sharp acidity is making my mouth pucker slightly and the finish is long on this one.  I am really enjoying this wine and think it would absolutely rock a Salmon with dill butter and boiled new potatoes.  The balance is correct and the wine rocks.  I have a few more in cellar and will drink them sparingly for the next 4 years.  Rather pricy at $40 but a terrific Napa Chardonnay.  When compared to equivalent white Burgundy- a veritable steal for this 90 point wine.  I reckon 4 stars and if you like Chard, give it a go.  Salut….

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Lynch Bages 1996, the final bottle

09 Saturday Nov 2013

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I will preface this post by telling you that this is perhaps my top 3 wines of all time.  I bought the case in Paris and hand carried the bottles over when I was working in Europe, two at a time.  I have savored this revered nectar and opened it only on special occasions.  Last night our very best friends came to visit.  We have not seen them in nearly 18 months and ‘Tom’ and I enjoy wine on a grand scale.  I prepared for the evening by buying a Beef Tenderloin, carving out 4 monster Filet Mignons.  Moxie did the rest;  Bang Bang Shrimp and roasted Broccoli with Sweet Potato and Garlic.  My only mission was to fire the charcoal and uncork the gem.

!7 years young and still marching on.  Dark purple in the glass it exploded on the nose.  I used the BAGs (Big Assed Glasses) and they came unto themselves.  The aromas were generous of cassis, tobacco, plums, black berry and tar.  This was probably the most impressive sniff I have ever gotten from a wine.  On the palate, gorgeous caressing tannins offered up waves of dark fruit, the cassis was amazing and the earthy factor from an aged Paulliac was spot on.  Textbook Bordeaux.  I cannot imagine anything finer than the pleasure this wine has offered me over the many years of watching it evolve.  94 points again from me and for sure a 5 star wine.  I paid $60 back in the day.  I look forward to enjoying my later vintages of this wine over the next 15 years.  Salut….

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Mollydooker ‘The Boxer’ Shiraz 2010

09 Saturday Nov 2013

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I have always wanted to try this wine, it’s list of accolades is long and distinguished.  I had my chance last night, pre-dinner with some very close friends.  I unscrewed the cap and poured a small taste into the glasses, not sure of the need to decant or aerate.  My hunch was correct and out came the Vinturi.  A very young wine, with brute strength and bold fruit.  Inky purple in the glass it offered up plums and blackberry on the nose.  The first attack was blackberry tart and plum torte.  I later picked up the vanilla and oak mingling in the fray.  This wine is not a jammy Aussie Shiraz, but more like a fruit concentrate ready to burst.  Albeit young, the tannic component seems subdued.  The one thing of note is the deft masking of the massive 16% alcohol.  This is a feat in and of itself.  I prefer lower alcohol but appreciate the winemakers touch when such camouflage is executed so perfectly.  The result is a delicious wine, somewhat young and in a dumb phase I reckon.  I will cellar the rest and wait another 2 years before I venture there again.  $22 and 90 points from me make this a 4 star effort.  Salut….

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Sparkling wines

09 Saturday Nov 2013

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Last night Moxie hosted her 10th Annual Holiday Open House at the store.  I mixed it up this year with several different sparklers to wow the gals as they shopped.  The first bottle I opened was a sparkling Shiraz that had caught my eye and Moxie’s taste several years ago at a wine bar.  Not to everyones taste, it sure is different and delicious.  A fruitier sparkling Riesling was next in line followed by the perennial favorite Francois Montand and finishing off with a South African jewel.  I will preface this by saying all the wines are in the 85-87 range and considering they all came in at about $14 on average they all ranked 5 stars in my book.

The Chook Sparkling Shiraz NV

A lush dark red mousse came flowing up the flute as I poured this sparkler.  It was truly a sight to behold.  The wine had a unique red currant and Ribena nose to it that was magnified on the initial attack.  Very smooth and creamy mouthfeel with the fizz being just the right size.  The wine took on some plum characters and ended with little acidity.  I finished this one up at home later after a period of being open.  The bubbles were persistent to the end and kept the wine fresh for over two hours.  Atypical of sparkling wines yet a must-try in hopes of palate expansion.  Give it a try and see if you like it!  87 points on this one.

APEX Sparkling Riesling

From Columbia Valley comes this  little charmer.  It came in at $17 so was the priciest of the bunch.  When I first opened it the bubbles were massive and the nose was heavy on the brioche and apple.  I was expecting a sweeter wine but enjoyed the crispness and acidity of this wine.  The palate was a mix of pear and apple bubbling all over the place.  The color was stars like as I compared it to the next wine.  The only major flaw was that the effervescence only lasted about 20 minutes.  The wine literally went flat and lost its appeal.

Francois Montand

If you read the link above you will know that I love this wine.  It overperformes every time for about $13.  Pale yellow in the glass it pops out with apple and citrus on the nose.  The creamy mousse is always a treat and the mouthfeel is smooth with yeast and brioche swirling with the apple and caramel.  Zingy acidity kept it fresh and lively.  This was the wine of the evening by far.

Graham Beck

From South Africa comes this sparkling Chardonnay. It was much darker yellow than any of the other wines. It offered up citrus, apple, and a yeasty component throughout the nose and palate. Very well composed with good acidity and a nice mousse. The flavors held longer than the rest and this wine was definitely a close runner up to the Montand.  I bought extras and will open one soon for a more in depth tasting.  This could become part of my ‘schtick’.

The Chook

The Chook

APEX Cellars

APEX Cellars

Francois Montand

Francois Montand

Graham Beck

Graham Beck

APEX vs. Montand

APEX vs. Montand

Montand vs. Beck

Montand vs. Beck

Mario Pelassa Bricco Enrichetta 2012

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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From the Langhe region in Piedmont comes this Nebbiolo/Barbera blend.  Big Horn’s wife Ronny brought this offering to the weekend retreat.  Typically Nebbiolo is a fruity and full flavored grape that matures to a Burgundy-like silkiness after a few years in the cellar.  Barbera is a lighter more acidic grape with lower tannin levels.

This particular wine was rather thin on the flavor profile and did not have the weight I would have expected.  It was almost pink in color and very see-through.  Cherry-like nose and red currants came through on the palate with a touch of dryness from the tannins.  It was pleasant enough but lacked any secondary fruit and is obviously not built to cellar.  Ronny pointed out the hidden 14.7% alcohol on the label which did not show up in the glass.  I would have thought that such a high level would translate into more depth and extraction.  This wine can be found for $15 but only got an 85 out of me and 3 stars.  Unfortunately the retreat has ended and we dash back to reality tonight after the long drive home.  Salut….

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Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Clark and Telephone’ 2012

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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I loved the 2008 Belle Glos and was looking forward to this updated version.  It was dark purple in the glass and had a strong nose of cherry and vanilla.  On the palate, very extracted and plush.  This wine is huge in stature and offers a certain level of complexity yet goes against the grain.  In addition to the primary cherry flavors I got plums and berry with some spice on the mid palate.  The oak is well integrated and the tannins are very smooth.  This wine is neither Old World or New, it goes against the rules and strikes out in a new direction.  The extraction bothered me and detracted from the essence of the varietal.  Pinot is supposed to be seductive, intricate and restrained.  This wine was a like a bull, strong and in your face with the 14.6% alcohol cleverly hidden.  I believe it can be had for about $36 and only gets 88 points from me making it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

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