Merryvale Merlot Napa Valley 2007

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

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Several points about this wine.  Firstly, I don’t remember buying it, or the second bottle I found in my ‘to drink’ rack.  Perhaps one of my mates brought them over for Thanksgiving when I was not here yet Moxie has no recollection of this occurring.  Oh well, free booze is free booze.

Secondly, the cork on bottle #1 was badly stained, never a good sign.  I sliced the second one open to see, it is safe.  So…. I will write based on the fact that I suspect this wine to be flawed, which is a shame considering it’s heritage, reputation and price.

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As you can see, pretty grim on the left side.  I shall endeavor to open the other one soon so I have a fresh recollection.   Anyway, back to the details.  Mostly Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc make this more of a Right Bank blend which excites me.  The wine is inky dark in the glass and unfortunately had a slightly oxidized nose of plums and blackberry.  On the palate I was in for a surprise.  The wine had survived nearly intact.  Big juicy black berries and dark plums with a deft addition of the wood and some spices make this a full-on wine of great depth.  The tannic structure is great with some dryness on the back end, right where it should be. I did not sense any imbalance but did notice a slight oxidized note on the finish.  I am lucky this bottle showed so well, now if only I could find it’s source!  I am giving a provisional 90 points and found it online for about $46.  Potentially a 4 star wine for me, we shall have to wait for the re-taste to confirm.  Salut….

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Il Veltro Brunello Di Montalcino 2005

13 Monday Jan 2014

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In case you missed it, Moxie (the wife) and I are on the Paleo diet.  I have had no pizza or pasta for over three months and I feel better for it.  JJ, my daughter loves pasta and is a self-proclaimed 9 year old vegetarian.  This makes it really hard in our short-order kitchen to cater to all the various diets and preferences.  So…. last night I let her chose.  Spaghetti and Marinara sauce. I could not resist her charms and gave in, immediately seizing the opportunity to crack open an uncharted Brunello.  The sauce was dressed up with loads of spicy Italian sausage and I loved every guilt laden mouthfull.

The wine was just ok though.  It was touted as a 90 point wine with bright berry nuances and background notes of spice, cola, tobacco and leather.  I got blackberry, tar and some earth but no tobacco, no leather and very little spice.  What I did get was green tannins and a touch too much of acidity making this wine slightly unbalanced and off pointe.  The flavors were decent, don’t get me wrong.  The balance was very off-putting and I wish it would sort itself out.  I love Brunello yet know so little about it.  I was hoping for something delicious and was left wondering what happened.  I sadly will give this 86 points and hope for the best.  It cost me $25 on sale and will get 3 stars for now.  Hoping for a miracle on the other three bottles I bought.  Salut….

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Broadbent Porto 2003

12 Sunday Jan 2014

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I love Port, but never seem to have any lying around so I only drink it when out to dinner.  I bought two bottles of this Vintage Port before Christmas and gave one to my parents, they love the stuff.  I opened my bottle last week and have been sipping on it every so often.

Gorgeous stuff is all I can say.  Dark flowing purple in the glass it explodes with aromas of blackcurrant, cassis and earth.  Slippery smooth on the palate make this a treat to drink.  Dark plum compote and blackberry tart come to mind with some leather and sweet candy- like twizzlers.  A generous use of wood is balanced out with loads of fruit weight.  The wine is somewhat tannic, which I thoroughly enjoyed along with a balance of fine acidity.  I did not decant the wine but the bottle showed signs of residue in case you have one lying around.  The cellaring potential for this wine is long, perhaps until 2030 at the least.  The back label has a ton of information relating to maturation, varietals, etc.  I won’t bore you with the details, suffice to say it’s a delectable wine that finishes a nice meal in grand style.  93 points from me and a retail price of $60 make this a 5 star wine to be brought out for special occasions (mine happened to be a delayed Christmas season!).  Salut….

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Silver Oak Alexander Valley 2005

12 Sunday Jan 2014

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When searching for the right wine to go with Steak Au Poivre last night, I asked my guest ‘Johnny’ what types of wine he liked. He panned Syrah, liked Pinot and was open to Cabernet.  He loves Pinotage as he comes from Afrika Suid after all.  So, off I went on a mission to find the right bottle.

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon hails from Sonoma County, the Alexander Valley to be more precise- which is located in the northeast corner of the county.  Fully mature now it offers up dark plums, some herbs and a dose of pencil out of the inky glass.  On the palate, more dark fruit, but intertwined with leather, maduro tobacco and some eucalyptus.  The wine is still somewhat dry with tannins in the finish but they were delicious.  The texture of the wine was great with the steaks and peppercorn sauce.

This wine got trashed by WS, an 82 point rating on release was a big shocker for this iconic steakhouse wine.  I think they got it wrong that time.  I am going with 91 points and 4 stars for this $75 treat.  I think it epitomizes higher end California Cabernet with its balance of New World fruit and Old World depth and complexity.  Salut….

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Domaine Mazilly Pere & Fils Beaune Vignes Franches Premier Cru 2010

12 Sunday Jan 2014

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I was excited to open this Burgundy with some appetizers last night, it’s been sitting in my ‘to drink’ rack for a few months now.  I was expecting Old World nuances in this Pinot Noir, but was greeted with bright cherries and strawberries on the nose.  Quite light in the glass as to be expected- but it was really light in the mouth as well.  Very delicate flavors of white cherries, some cranberry and floral notes plus a touch of herbs.  I sensed some tannic intrusions and the acidity was crisp yet the wine was very light in mouthfeel.  My mate ‘Johnny’ was over for the feast and he agreed that it lacked any body.  I think this wine needs another 5 years in cellar before it comes around.  I am hoping it gains a few pounds, picks up some funk and rewards me for the patience I am bestowing onto it!  One critic went as high as 92, I’m going with a preliminary 88 points for now and 3 stars for this $29 offering.  Salut….

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Mollydooker ‘The Violinist’ 2012

10 Friday Jan 2014

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There is so much I want to say….  I’ll start with my mission- to taste the full lineup of Mollydooker’s wines.  Seeing as my local shop doesn’t carry all of them, the folks downunda were kind enough (no, really generous enough) to send me a sampling of their full range.  With their help I previously managed to procure the 2009 and 2010 Carnival of Love and now also have the 2012.  I will endeavor to get the 2011 so I can do a 4 year vertical.  I digress.

Verdelho is the varietal used in the Violinist.  Predominantly Portuguese, I was surprised to see it on the label of this winery’s sole white wine.  This wine was a gorgeous pale yellow in the glass, telltale of what was to come.   On the nose- pear, apple and a touch of wood.  I was blown away by the initial attack.  Pear, Quince and Yellow apple all mixing it up.  The mouthfeel is superb, with a fullness reminiscent of a Cali Chardonnay.  Gentle and balanced acidity make this a full bodied wine with some nice finishing notes of nut, Asian pear and flowers.  I timed a good 20 second finish on this wine.

Now, back to the chicken and the egg…… Did I cook chicken for dinner because I was having this wine, or did I pick this wine to go along with the bird I was going to cook anyways?  I shall not reveal the correct answer.  Once the chicken was done, I decided to immediately whip up a spicy gravy to go with it.  I just happened to have some fresh stock from the other night, so I dressed it up just so- a dash of sage, some onion powder, a hint of salt and a boatload of Chili and Red Pepper.  The resultant sauce was red in color and fiery in nature.

The combination of the spicy sauce and the somewhat sweetness of the Verdelho- a perfect combo.  This wine sits at a whopping 16% alcohol which is a shocking amount for most wines, let alone a white.  I tip my hat to the winemaker who has managed to hide the alcohol without a trace of heat, well done Andrew.

The majority of Mollydooker’s wines are priced at $25.  For this amount of cash you are getting an exceptional wine with complexity and depth not to mention great taste and mouthfeel.  I am going 89 points and 4 stars for this one and recommend drinking it with some fish or poultry.  Salut….

 

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Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino 2007

09 Thursday Jan 2014

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I don’t get it….  This wine got huge scores, from 91 to a 96 from the man himself.  I must have had an off bottle, or the wine is in a dumb stage.  For me it was a disjointed mess, unbalanced and unsure.  On the nose it was very enticing, with earthy blueberry and a mineral streak.  On the first taste, black cherry and tar were the primary drivers.  The balance was all wrong though with the acidity and the tannins hitting on the front, rather than the mid and back palate.  The wine has potential if given time to sort itself out.  The flavors are interesting, if somewhat subdued.  I hate it when an expensive bottle turns out to be a dud, I so wanted this wine to rock.  I am going to have to give this a preliminary 2 stars based on its $60 price and my 87 points.  I will reserve final judgement for at least two more years and cellar the other bottle in hopes  of a better re-taste.  Salut….

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Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

06 Monday Jan 2014

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A Mclaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon that garnered some pretty high scores from the pro’s.  I thought it was really good as well!  Inky in the glass it developed some interesting aromas after swirling around.  Cassis and black fruits with some earth came through for me.  On the first taste I was taken aback by the smoothness of the wine.  Big, complex and layered with blackberry, blueberry, cassis and a dose of eucalyptus make this a delicious wine.  Silky smooth tannins and a touch of acidity make it a delight to drink.  I reckon this wine has years ahead of it but is drinking nicely now.

I bought Moxie a large cast iron frying pan recently, we cooked some amazing NY Strips with it and I composed a Port and Mustard sauce that was out of this world.  The wine was impeccable with the dinner, but was great all by itself whilst I was cooking.  Highly recommended but pricey at $75.  The man himself gave this wine a 96, others went 93 and 89.  I am thinking its a 91 pointer and worthy of 4 stars.  Salut….

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My top 20 wines of 2013

03 Friday Jan 2014

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It is difficult for me to pick my top 20 of the year, I have had the opportunity to taste so many wonderful wines and more importantly- to share them with family and friends.  This year, I started adding the price onto each blog post so you could better understand how I rate the wines.  The value of a wine is a balance of it’s technical merits versus the price paid.  For 2013, I looked at all the 5 star wines and decided from that list which ones were the standouts.  I included my personal experiences in the decision when choosing the top.  In my list are 5 whites (one sparkler), 3 from my state of Virginia, 3 from France, a South African and a smattering of Australian and Kiwi wines as well as the American contingency. 

20.  The Clos Du Bois Chardonnay Calcaire from the 2010 vintage was an amazing, crisp white that I gave 91 points to.  

19.  Trivento’s Amado Sur was a unique blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah.  Available locally for about $15 it is sure to please.

18.  From Virginia comes the Barboursville Chardonnay, which I re-tasted last year.  I also wrote about the winery visit, a great day out if you happen to be in the middle of Virginia.

17.  From Bordeaux comes the Virginie Thunevin from the amazing 2009 vintage.  Priced right, it offers up everything a claret should be.

16.  The only one of it’s varietal, the Van Ruiten Zin was a delicious California gem that I have been on the lookout for.

15.  The Parsons Flat Shiraz from Henry’s Drive was an amazing Cabernet made more special because it was brought to the table by my friend ‘The Beave’ whom I shared 6 weeks of training with over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

14.  First Drop ‘Mother’s Milk’ was probably one of the smoothest Shiraz’s I have tasted.  A delicious, yet complex wine with an amazing label.

13.  A delicious Napa Cab from Burgess Cellars slips into lucky 13 with it’s 2002 vintage.  A seasoned, mellow and nuanced offering that hits it just right for me.

12.  Mollydooker’s Two Left Feet was an impressive wine that I experimented using the ‘Mollydooker Shake’ to open the wine up.  Very approachable and delicious, it screams for a grill and some good times!

11.  From California came the Carpe Diem 2009 that Moxie and I drank on our trip to Napa.  A great wine and an amazing visit to the west coast enroute to Bali.   

10.  Vergelegen is the South African wine that made my list.  This claret styled wine was spectacular for an amazing price.

9.   Another stunner from Mollydooker, ‘The Scooter 2010’ was an approachable and fun wine that I could drink all the time.  Easygoing and smooth for a decent price.

8.   One of two Pinot Noir’s on my list.  The Kate Radburnd was an amazing effort from Wairarapa that we drank on Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak.  Deelish…

7.   The other Pinot on my list also hails from New Zealand.  The Saint Clair Block 15 was an astounding wine that managed to balance old world and new in a delicious package that had me reeling for more.

6.   The third white in the lineup comes from Barboursville as well.  The Malvaxia is tied for my highest scoring wine with 96 points.  A stunner that needs to be beholden.  I was speechless after drinking it.

5.   When Moxie and I visited Napa, we stopped at the Cosentino winery where I picked up the Poet 2009.  Apart form the huge 94 points I gave it, there was something special about the whole winery experience and the bottle itself.

4.   Bella’s Garden 2010 would have gotten 6 stars if I my scale went that high.  This offering form Two Hands was sublime, a wine drinker’s paradise in a glass.

3.   The last of the whites is another from Barboursvile in Virginia that would also have gotten 6 stars if allowed.  The 94 point, $16 Non-Vintage Phileo was a show stopping wine that makes me realize how lucky I am to have discovered this winery.  This is a bucket list wine folks.

2.   There is no doubt that Dom Perignon is one of the Kings of Champagne.  Served at my parents 50th anniversary made it all the more special, delicious and memorable.  At 95 points, the price did not matter.  This wine oozed class and was savored by the whole family.

1.   I have written about Lynch Bages on many occasions so it should not be a surprise that my last two bottles of the 1996 vintage made me award them the #1 spot.  The first bottle was opened on my birthday, I gave it 95 points.  The final bottle was opened in November with our best friends, it got 94 points.  Wine is for sharing, for the memories and for our enjoyment.  I hope you have the opportunity to try at least one of my top 20.  Happy New Year and the best success for 2014.

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Silver Oak 1996

31 Tuesday Dec 2013

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An iconic wine from Mr. Leebering’s cellar, this was my last wine of 2013.  A hefty $30 corkage was levied at our New Year’s eve dinner, but well worth it.  It was hard to delineate the color of this wine in the dark lit restaurant, but it sure smelled good.  Plums and black fruits were interlaced with an oaky infusion and some leather.  This mature Napa Cabernet was very smooth and displayed great balance of acidity and fading tannins.  The length was impressive and the wine had a surreal earthiness to it. I believe this wine runs in the $75 range and I am going with 92 points.  This is the type of wine that really rewards cellaring and goes great with steaks.  I am going 5 stars on this wine.  Happy New year and Salut….

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