Category Archives: Wine reviews

Trivento Torrontes Reserve

14 Friday Sep 2012

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Extremely aromatic with scents of flowers and rose water, this white wine is very tasty, with a full-on mouthfeel. Lacking in razor sharp acidity, it comes across as a drinking wine, although I reckon it would go very well with Turkey. In the mid-palate I am getting some citrus mixed with a dryness that I can only think (tannins). It is leaving a nice feeling in my mouth and a long after taste that is most enjoyable. This style of wine reminds me of Gewurtztraminer: highly aromatic, very tasty, low in acidity and not everyone’s cup-o-tea. I love it and will stick a few in the fridge. A great party wine, good for casual BBQ and in my opinion- a well made wine deserving 4 stars. My guess is it’s a 90 point wine. I have loved Trivento’s red wines, the whites are on the same path. Salut

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Cosentino Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

13 Thursday Sep 2012

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This is classic Napa Cabernet….. Dark blue fruits on the nose mixed with some spice transition to a beautiful palate of blueberry meets plum and cassis. Notes of spice come through that mix it up with the well integrated tannins and help form a mouth-puckering finish that lasts a long time. I was worried about this bottle when I inspected the cork and saw a wide line all the way up the side….

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But alas, all was well. Seven years of age and this wine is showing nicely with at least another 7 to go. Unfortunately, this winery had some issues ( google Cosentino winery). A shame really as the wine fulfills the requirements of Napa Cab in all the right ways at a price that wont kill ya. I reckon at least 4 stars and 91 points, (it keeps getting better as I write). Glad I have more! Cheers

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Fox Grove Shiraz/ Cabernet Sauvignon NV

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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NV means no vintage. Not a bad thing for certain wines, like champagnes that are blended from several vintages- but in red wine…….Makes me wonder. Then again, it is on an airplane, United Airlines to be precise, where I got to sample this little gem. Perhaps I’m being a little harsh, I have reason. Airlines generally serve crap, at high prices, it’s part of the deal. United in particular has tried to cut every cost. They must, or risk disappearing.
With that off my chest, this wine is not bad. Cherry candy on the nose brings some really tasty/chewy red currants on the decently balanced mid plate, fruitiness that has a good acidic component and even some puckering tannins.
Come to think of it, this I better than the crappy Smoking Loon they serve in First Class on United. I may have to decline the courtesy upgrade they gave me for next week.
Timing the aftertaste, a good 20 seconds or more. I have no idea how much this one costs, but I bet it’s bargain basement, and for that: 4 stars. Well worth it for a big party on a summers day, throwing down some BBQ. The Shiraz is not jammy, like too many Aussie reds, and the Cabernet gives it the structure it needs to pull the whole thing off. Kudos. I am taking a stab here and guessing it is worthy of 88 points. You should keep a few laying around in case the boys show up unexpectedly.

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Miller ‘The GM’ 2007

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Really purple hue from this blend of Petite Sirah (love it already) and a Portuguese grape called Tinta Cao gives me a funky nose of chocolate and blackberry. On the palate, thin tannins reveal a blueberry and jam core of fruit. Not as prominent as the GSM, this is well made and balanced. A puckering after taste is long and delicious, giving this wine a bump in my books. 4 stars and. 90 point effort that excites me because it’s a different blend, and it works. Well done….

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Miller ‘The Works’ GSM 2007

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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The great blend of the Rhone- Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre. Very gorgeous plummy nose gives way to red fruits exploding in a certain freshness that leaves a great mouthfeel. A child at 5, the tannins are well stocked and ready for the next 10 years of drinking. A very well made wine IMHO. I would love to revisit in 5 years- betting some barny type secondary stuff comes out, the kinds that excite me. 5 star effort, 92 points if I were rating it.

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Miller Shannon Vineyard Grenache 2008

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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Grenache is a great grape, used in blends and as a standalone. This offering is very smooth, if not a touch hot. Sweetness on the palate from a floral mixture and some red currants. Some plum is evident in the jammy mid palate. I like this wine and think others will too. It’s time to drink up as I think it has about 2-3 years of its peak. 4 stars, perhaps a 90 pointer….

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Quinta Do Crasto Reserva 2009

07 Friday Sep 2012

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I enjoy Portuguese wines for their uniqueness and flavor profile. This old vine offering is a blend of the winery’s varietals that have an average age of 70 years. The label indicates 16 months in both French and American oak. They advise decanting and/or cellaring for the full enjoyment. I agree. I popped and poured and am somewhat stupefied. It is very closed on the nose and palate. A beautiful purple color is its first redeeming trait.
After an hour I tried the trusty Vinturi, still nothing. A bust, a shambles. Glowing reviews and high scores for this wine are all lost on me. I am going to have to revisit at a later date. For now, I am leaving it alone. I think it has potential and I don’t want to slam it yet. Stay tuned…

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Prima 2009

05 Wednesday Sep 2012

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I’m excited…. Tempranillo always has the opportunity to rock my world, this one did. Vegetal, herbal and a certain stink of donkey all come through from the nose to the palate. Mixed with a fruity compote of cherries and flower (violets?),a smooth mouthfeel give loads of entertainment. A long finish and good balance offset the lack of long term tannic backbone, but at this price- who cares???
I am truly impressed and think this one is 4 star worthy. With more backbone, it would have been a 5- 89 points.

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Flora Springs Cabernet Franc 2009

04 Tuesday Sep 2012

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If you have read my older posts, you will know that I love Cabernet Franc…..just not this particular one. It, is, alright. Nothing more, nothing less. I was really excited about this wine and had to open two bottles now to form my opinion, average. I can smell the alcohol (14.2%) and perhaps some dry blueberry. On the palate, rough tannins and very little fruit. Did I catch this wine in a dumb faze? I hope so- and am willing to cellar some for a while. Without further wafting, I am dispatching this wine with a 1 star provisional rating. Yup, a major pass at this point- but I will re-taste it in a year or so. Perhaps an 85 pointer???? But for the price, there’s far better out there.

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Lyeth Meritage 2009

31 Friday Aug 2012

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A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot and Cabernet Franc that make this my style of wine. Purple in the glass and full of blueberry on the nose it hits the palate with a nice dose of tannin, acidity and blue fruitiness. Definitely California in heritage, it shows what can be done in the blending room. Rich and mature fruit combined in a Bordeaux style that us drinkable right now and has some cellaring potential. I would be really excited to see this vintage in 3-5 years. I reckon it has potential to develop some tertiary flavors which gets me excited. For the price, this is good and I will give it 5 stars for its sheer ability to impress at such a great QPR. I think it got high 80’s scoring. 89 would be about right. I’m serving it up with some London Broil tonight- yummy.

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