Category Archives: Wine reviews

d’Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

24 Sunday Nov 2013

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If you read my previous post about the d’Arenberg winery you will know that I thoroughly enjoy their offerings and find them to be consistent and delicious.  This wine held true.  It was dark purple in the glass, always a good sign, and the nose showed off black fruits and cedar box.  A really delicious palate was made up of blackberry, blueberry, pepper and a hint of oak.  Well balanced and drinking en pointe with smooth tannins and good mouthfeel.  This is a sure fire winner and for $15 it gets 5 stars from me for its 91 point rating.  We drank it pre-dinner but it would hit every imaginable red wine combo.  Salut….

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Hentley Farm Caretaker Shiraz 2011

22 Friday Nov 2013

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A Barossa Valley Shiraz that I loved.  Dark purple in the glass and offering up a generous bouquet of plums, blackberry and a touch of wood.  The mouthfeel is super smooth and allows the plums and black fruit to meld with oak and star anise.  The wine is drinking beautifully now and from the very gentle tannins I would reckon it to be at peak for the next two years.  This is my style of Aussie Shiraz, supple, smooth and offering a certain level of finesse.  This is a good wine with dimension and appeal. For $22 this is a 4 star wine with 90 points in my books.  Salut….

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Sycamore Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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If you read my post on the Santa Ana disaster, it leads into this wine.  My buddy bought two bottles of the nasty stuff and returned one the next day.  They offered him this bottle as a replacement so I don’t know the value of it.  A lighter shade of red in the glass and some hints of raspberry on the nose.  On the palate I got red cherry and strawberry with some earth.  Not my favorite profile for a Cab Sav but I was willing to roll with it.  Nice mouthfeel yet not very complex.  I don’t think this is a serious/expensive wine yet it was intriguing.  Suffering from jet lag and hunger we polished it off and headed out for dinner.  If this was a $10 bottle I would give it 3 stars.  I reckon it is an 85 point wine and think you may enjoy it as an aperitif.  I can’t quite pick a pairing because of the somewhat strange flavors for the varietal, best to be drunk by itself I reckon.  Salut….

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Wolf Blass Red Label Cabernet Merlot 2012

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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This is the third varietal in the Red Label series that I have tried from Wolf Blass.  Cabernet and Merlot blended together are one of my go-to combos.  This wine rolled in at $20 for two 1 liter bottles, do the math.  It’s a very reasonably priced wine that everyone enjoyed.  Easy to drink with raspberry and red currants on the palate and a red fruity nose.  Built for pop-n-pour, it offers no complexity and no associated stuffiness.  The tannins are slight and the acidity very gentle making it very versatile for pairing.  I think this would be an awesome party wine and believe it is widely available.  86 points and 4 stars for this one.  Salut….

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Tilia Malbec-Syrah 2012

18 Monday Nov 2013

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We tasted this wine next to it’s stablemate, the Tilia Merlot.  For me, Malbec is supposed to be very fruity, rich and sometimes jammy.  Syrah has a far greater flavor profile and draws a lot from the terroir where it is grown.  The combination of the two is somewhat bedazzling.  I can’t really enjoy the Malbec side, and the Syrah portion is not to my personal taste.  It does however offer up some decent fruit for the measly $9 price tag.

Darker purple than the Merlot, this wine had a more candied nose of red fruits.  On the palate, raspberry and earth with a touch of cafe’.  There was a slight sweetness to the wine, but nothing off-putting.  The tannic structure is decent as is the acidity.  I think I prefer my Malbec served straight up, no mixing.  Syrah is a wonderful grape by itself or in company with more traditional blends.  I  will look for the pure Malbec from this winery to see the difference, stay tuned.  85 points and 3 stars from me for this effort.  Salut….

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Tilia Merlot 2012

18 Monday Nov 2013

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Can you say QPR?  In essence, when taking cost into account this wine is a must try.  I paid $9 for it and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Reminiscent of right bank Bordeaux, the Merlot was round, fleshy and tasted of plums, chocolate and red berry.  A certain earthiness came though and the tannins were slight but present.  I found this wine to be a great basic wine with no faults and loads to offer.  We drank it pre-dinner and I reckon it would go well with pasta, steaks and pizza.  Not for cellaring, buy it by the dozen in case a party erupts, everyone will love it.  88 points and 5 stars from me for this Argentinian gem.  Salut….

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Santa Ana Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

17 Sunday Nov 2013

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The only reason I am posting about this wine is so I remember to never buy it again.  Enough said.

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Greyrock Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2012

17 Sunday Nov 2013

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A new world version of Pinot from New Zealand.  Pinkish red in the glass, it exploded with strawberry and cherry on the nose.  I usually prefer the Burgundian style of this varietal but every so often I come across a refreshing new world bottle that I appreciate.  This varietal never offers up tannins in the usual sense, making it hard for me to discern and predict aging potential.  This wine seems like it could go the distance yet it offers immediate bing cherry, strawberry and red currants.  The whole package is well balanced and easy to drink.   I found it for $20 and it gets 89 points from me and 3 stars.  Salut….

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Chateau Hanteillan 2010

17 Sunday Nov 2013

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I have had the 2006 Hanteillan before and hated it.  This is a totally different beast.  2010 is a much better vintage and it shows in this offering.  A very young yet approachable wine that displayed a dark purple hue in the glass.  Searing tannins greeted me on the first pass, but after getting acquainted the blackberry and cassis came shining through.  A strong plum chord struck on the mid palate and there was an  earthy component that surfaced on the back end.  Cellaring would be good for this wine and 2016 would be an opportune time to pull some out and pair them with game, steaks and pasta.  I wonder if secondary flavors will evolve and would like to get some for my cellar.  I found it online for about $20 and give it 89 points making it a 3 star effort pour moi.  Ps.  I drank it after lunch on a flight, served with cheese and dessert.  Salut….

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Peter Schweiger Grüner Veltliner Kamptal Terrassen DAC Reserve 2011

17 Sunday Nov 2013

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I believe this is the first time I have tried Grüner Veltliner.  It reminds me of unoaked Chardonnay and I like it.  Pale yellow in the glass, I was getting pears and apple on the nose.  The palate presented the same with some great mid palate acidity and a spice component on the back end.  The crispness of the wine is terrific and I really enjoyed it with a salad and some smoked salmon.  I stayed with it for the main course of pan seared Chicken breast, loving the flavor profile.  I don’t know how much this wine costs or where to get it as it was served on a flight.  I highly recommend it if you like dry whites and reckon it would pair greatly with many lighter dishes.  I love expanding my palate and think this was a great way to get to know a new varietal from Austria.  91 points in my book.  Salut….

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