Category Archives: Wine reviews

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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Columbia Crest H3 Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills 2008

04 Monday Nov 2013

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An extremely interesting flavor from this Chardonnay that had me bewildered.  I finally figured it out, after the fact.  Quince.

A nice yellowish hue in the glass gives way to a nose full of apple, pear and a touch of oak.  On the palate is where the action happened for me.  The quince was predominant, with apple and citrus in the background.  Crisp acidity and a generous mouthfeel made this an enjoyable wine.  It was brought on the trip by a friend (who we shall name Big Horn) and I will endeavor to find it back at home, I would like a re-taste.  I see this going great with a Nicoise salad, perhaps a cold poached salmon dish with dill.  A quick perusal on the web tells me it can be had for about $13.  4 stars and 88 points from me.  This winery is consistent, they make tons of really good wine with great pricing to boot.  This particular wine was indeed a different Chard that needs to be tried.  Salut….

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Spier 21 gables Pinotage 2010

04 Monday Nov 2013

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This bottle was brought to the weekend retreat by my mate, we’ll call him Johnny.  He originally introduced me to Pinotage and I have been a fan ever since.  This particular bottle is a ‘Private Collection’ from Stellenbosch that could be had for $25.

Dark and lurking in the glass it offered up generous fruit on the nose.  On the first taste it was different from other Pinotages- more serious, complex and richer.  I instantly thought of black fruits and figs.  Rich oak and a delightful tannin backbone are interlaced with some great acidity.  The wine blossomed and offered up some secondary flavors of licorice and earth.  A thoroughly enjoyable wine that kicked the flank steaks into high gear.  If you have some spare cash and want to broaden your reach, Pinotage is becoming a must-try in my book, this example being rather terrific. 90 points and 5 stars from me.  Salut….

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Alouette Pinot Noir 2012

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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A Sonoma Pinot Noir made in a New World style.  And I disliked it.  Sorry, but the flavor profile was not to my liking with Strawberry and Cherry Kirsch on the palate mixed with a cloying component.  My first impression when I saw the dark purple wine in the glass was that it was over-extracted.  Pinot Noir is supposed to be delicate, pale and complex yet this wine was extremely fruit driven and in my face.  This varietal almost never shows off tannins like other reds do, but the acidity was decent.  If you are a fan of this style you can certainly give it a go for $25.  86 points from me and 2 stars.  I probably would not buy it for my cellar.  Salut….

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Framingham Sauvignon Blanc 2012

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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This weekend finds us at the beach.  The Outer Banks of North Carolina is where we are staying in an ocean front palace with three other families (the prize from a raffle  back in April).  It’s a bit chilly outside, but inside there’s food and wine, games and football and everyone is just chilling.  The beauty of the gathering is that we all brought some really nice wines and get to share them together.  This particular wine was opened as an aperitif.

Straw colored in the glass, it had a distinct Kiwi nose of Sauvignon Blanc.  On the initial attack it was somewhat sweet for the varietal, which made Moxie love it right off the bat.  She is easily pleased by whites that have residual sugar.  The textbook cat’s pee was missing but grapefruit was in full force as was the grass component.  I only had a few sips of her glass so I am not going to pass too much judgement except to say that it was easy to drink but lacked a certain acidity that I need for this type of wine.  88 points and for $17 I would say it’s a 3 star wine for me for this Kiwi wine from the South Island region of Marlborough.  Salut….

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Chateau Laplagnotte-Bellevue 2009

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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Moxie and I went out for dinner with friends and after perusing the menu I decided on this wine.  I was going to order Venison, my mate was getting a braised and roasted Beef rib.  We needed a somewhat tannic and juicy wine to pair with these two meaty dishes.  The wine was spot on.  The precise blackberry on the nose and palate was delicious.  I later got a slice of blueberry pie and some vanilla bean on the finish.  The tannins are what impressed me the most.  Crisp and linear but not over the top.  The dryness was perfect and the mouthfeel was exactly what we needed to cut the fat of the beef yet not too dry for the venison.  The wine was definitely old world and not overly fruity which worked to our benefit.  The acidity was excellent and the overall balance was great.  I love it when a plan works out!  We paid around $56 at the restaurant but I believe it can be had for about $22, a veritable steal.  90 points and 5 stars from me for this Merlot based St. Emilion.  Salut….

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