18 Monday Feb 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
A Cru Bourgeois from the 2009 that has textbook qualities at an affordable price. Plums and earth on the nose translate well to the palate. Slightly edgy and a touch acidic it has decent tannins and should cellar well for another 5 years. Not our favorite of the tasting, but all things considered I would buy this again. 3 stars, 88 points.
15 Friday Feb 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
I’m not a huge fan of Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, but wow! This is good wine, straight up. Rich blackberry on the nose translates to blueberry, plum and deft oak on the palate. Very complex, this wine is making me pucker up. The tannins are beautiful, rounded and powerful. This wine is just starting its crusade and should last until 2020 at the very least. Well balanced, it should take a steak in stride, but would absolutely marry a rack of lamb. Loving it with 4 stars and at least 91 points.
15 Friday Feb 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
Last night Moxie and I celebrated our 22nd Valentine’s day, albeit a day early. We took the time and did it right by going to our all-time favorite restaurant. We have dined in some of the finest restaurants, always regretting, always pining for our little country bistro. Chez Francois is a Washington institution with a long history and extensive list of accolades and awards. Nestled down a windy country road in Great Falls, Virginia, it offers an unparalleled gastronomic experience.
I chose the 2009 Chateau Beau Site from the menu as I just read about this wine recently. A Cru Bourgeois from St. Estephe, I was expecting a bit of power. What I got was smooth and fruity. For a young Bordeaux, this vintage is hitting it. Offering up plums and earth without being jammy or tart. A very primal fruit right now, but with all the right pieces to evolve. Crisp tannins are unobtrusive, yet present. The mouthfeel is great, caressing. It amazes me that this wine is already drinking beautifully yet is just in its infancy, with 10 years at least to evolve.
I must say it’s a 90 pointer, but for $35 retail (I paid $90 in the restaurant) it may be pricey. I really think it will live up to its potential and hereby give it 4 stars for its all around deliciousness and its potential longevity.
04 Monday Feb 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
Made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape in the Sancerre region of France, this wine was very delicious. Typical of the varietal, and the region- grapefruit and lemon zest on the nose. Transitioning to the palate, the wine was balanced with excellent acidity. I love Sav Blancs that cut your tongue with razor sharpness. More lemon and apple on the palate mixed with a certain minerality that I found intriguing. A very serviceable wine that could be enjoyed with any fish plate, a summer salad or as an aperitif. 89 points and 4 stars.
04 Monday Feb 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
Another wine from a friend…this time from Argentina. The ‘M Blend’ immediately steered me to Malbec of some sort. I was right, and wrong. On the nose, classic Malbec fruitiness with blueberry and plum. On the palate is where I got stumped. I guessed Syrah as the blended portion, only to find out it was Bonarda. Not as fruity as other Malbecs that I have had, it still offered an interesting twist on the varietal. The Bonarda addition was intriguing, as was the use of oak. This wine is slightly young and could do with another year to meld all the pieces. Tannins were evident, as was a good acidity. For about $20, this is a 3 star wine and possibly an 89 point effort. I enjoyed it to a certain degree, but just not my favorite style of Malbec. The label rocked though!
04 Monday Feb 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
A Rioja made primarily from the Tempranillo grape, this was a treat from someone else’s cellar. Good nose of fruit that has been tempered by oak aging, giving way to classic tempranillo flavors. Balanced and fuity on the palate with a tannic structure hiding in there somewhere. I don’t know how much this wine costs so I cannot give any stars, but for quality, an 89 pointer in my opinion.
01 Friday Feb 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
From the cellar door- this is a stunning wine. Plain and simple, I love this 4 year old. I will start with the rich purple color, the complex nose, layered palate and end on a mouthwatering finish that lasts and lasts.
Take a breath……… On the nose I am getting Bordeaux-like aromas of blackberry, tobacco and earth. A full on palate-attack of layered red and dark berries mixed with an earthiness and leather. Excellent balance between acidity, tannins and alcohol pave the way to a long finish. A serious 5 star wine that I imagine deserves 90+ points. Loving it… Who knew Virginia could bang out such rockin Merlot?
30 Wednesday Jan 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
A fresh and vibrant New World Pinot Noir that I thoroughly enjoyed. Shaved cherry mixed with strawberries form the initial attack whilst stealthy tannins are hiding in the background. Great balance with a hint of dryness make this a mouthwatering wine made in a fruit forward style. You know how I love Burgundian style pinot with all that earth and funk- so it takes a lot to get me going. This one did….
I initially got cherries on the nose, telltale for the varietal. The color was a beautiful shade of red. A longish finish once again defined the winemaker’s skill. A really nice bottle of Pinot to be savored with just about anything! I’m thinking it deserves 92 points, and gets 5 stars from me.
26 Saturday Jan 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
Yet another showstopper from the great ’09 Bordeaux vintage. A nice purple/red color that hinted of red berry and oak on the nose and transcended to show currants, raspberry and blueberry on the palate. A really good tannic structure will make this wine last yet it is drinking beautifully right now. Balanced and classy, this is a good drinking wine. I’m stumped at what I would pair it with though. Bang for the buck gives this 4 stars and 89 points in my book.
26 Saturday Jan 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
Tags
A blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon that hit well with the pro’s yet I despised. I guess I just don’t like overly worked Shiraz, Aussie style. Structurally speaking, it had all the right components for an easy drinking reasonable wine. Tannins, acidity and balance. Overly oaky in my opinion- it was dark purple in the glass. On the nose- very ripe black berry notes that revealed plummy jam and berry on the palate. Like I said, not my style of over-extraction. For me 2 stars and 84 points. The pro’s gave it about 87 points.
Wine reviews 