d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original 2010

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Another winner from the d’Arenberg winery is this Shiraz Grenache blend.  Dark purple in the glass and smelling of plums and lavender with some earth.  A unique flavor that bursts with black currants, raspberry and a floral sweetness that was really interesting.  The structure is good with some tannins residing between the acidity and the fruit.  A good mouthfeel makes this a pleasing wine to drink, it would work all by itself or do battle with a big NY Strip steak.  The wine is 3 years old and has a good cellaring potential but is drinking en pointe right now.  I paid $17 and am giving it 91 points making it a 5 star effort.  Get some.  Salut….

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Meerlust Rubicon 2008

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The nice thing about Christmas time is that my friends inevitably pull out some good wines.  I have had the 2007 Rubicon before and was treated to the ’08 last night.

Like it’s older brother, a tannic, brooding wine just waiting to be unleashed.  Black in the glass with some serious notes of blackberry and plum jam.  I also got tea, mint and a dose of oak on the palate which was harmoniously balanced and very dry from the huge tannins.  The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot- a classic Bordeaux blend.  The aging potential for this wine is at least 20 years, with it starting to open up in another 3-4 years.  I feel we drank this too young and it will develop into something special with time.  I did a quick price search, it can be had for around $26.  I am giving it 92 points and 5 stars.  I need to get some for the corner of my cellar and hide it away for a few years. Great stuff.  Salut….

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Santa’s treat


As you may know, I missed the actual Christmas day with my family.  We celebrated early and then I returned to Asia to complete my course.  Santa still arrived on Christmas eve and my two little ones figured he would be tired, hungry and thirsty.  Traditionally he would have gotten a glass of milk and some cookies, this year was the exception.  I will let you read their letter to Santa.  Cheers to you all out there and may you have a wonderful New Year.  Salut….

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D’Arenberg The Cadenzia 2009

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A classic Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from Mclaren Vale made by this consistent producer.  I have already written about several of D’Arenberg’s wines and am working my way through their offerings as quickly as I see them.

The Mourvedre is a mere 5% of the blend with the Syrah and Grenache providing the backbone, the dark purple color and the linear tannins.  Black fruit is evident on the nose and it pushes through onto the palate with some leather and anise.  I got some dusty earth on the back end as well which was unexpected.  The wine was bold and full bodied but lacked a certain complexity for me.  At 4 years of age it is drinking well and will last another 4 at least.  I cannot see much evolution but it will provide enjoyment when paired with charcuterie and perhaps a Beef stew.  I paid $19 for this wine and am going with 88 points.  WS and some other pro’s went as high as 91.  3 stars from me.  Salut….

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Neil Ellis Pinotage 2009

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I have spent the past five weeks on a training course in Hong Kong, paired up with my friend ‘The Beave’.  Last night was our last proper dinner before the course ends and he decided on a steak house for the gang.  There were 10 of us and we proceeded to order copious amounts of beer before dinner as we settled in to our boys night out.  I ordered Lamb Cutlets when we were seated and was promptly handed the wine list by some eager Steak eaters.  I chose this Stellenbosch Pinotage as I figured it would have the flavor to hold up to to the Lamb and Mint sauce in addition to being smooth enough for the others Filets.

I really enjoy well made Pinotage and have been on a mission to seek it out as much as possible.  This wine was no exception.  It was a dark purple offering that had plum aromas and a touch of cedar on the nose.  The first taste confirmed my choice as correct.  This wine exploded with dark plums and black cherries with some good oak integration.  Spicebox and sandalwood came through on the mid palate and the tannins were fine and refreshing.  A balanced mouthfeel is always appreciated and the acidity was ever so slight yet present.  The weight of the wine was perfect for the mint sauce and the boys really enjoyed theirs with the steaks.  Restaurants always gouge on the prices so I will go with the retail pricing of about $17.  I feel this is a 90 point wine worth seeking out, 4 stars from me.  Salut….

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Corked wines


Ten percent off all wines are corked.  That’s right, one in every 10 is ‘off’.  I must say that my percentage is a lot less, perhaps less than 1%.  When it happens, it’s annoying and I feel cheated.  My last wine was a 2001 Spanish Rioja that I had spent a pretty penny on a few weeks ago.  I opened it last night with great fanfare, only to be embarrassed by it’s poor health.  I bought it in Hong Kong at a local wine merchant, no doubt they won’t be able to help.  Of note, I took a bottle of Domaine Serene Evenstad back to my local wine merchant and was immediately given another.  I have purchased form online retailers and only had two bottles go bad,  a credit was issued to my credit card.  It’s merchants like these that earn my business.  So, this one will just be chalked up to bad luck.  I hope your averages are as good as mine.  Salut….

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Corked!

Chakana Estate Selection Malbec 2009

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Christmas dinner in a restaurant- not ideal but we made it work.  I started off with a pint of Guiness, because it’s good for you.  The appetizer was baby lobster with caviar and wild greens.  The most amazing soup followed that was drizzled with truffle oil, I nearly asked for seconds.  The moment of truth arrived when the Filet Mignon’s were served and this Malbec was poured.  The food was incredible and the wine held its own.

Dark purple in the glass as was expected from this varietal, it offered some dark plums and black cherry notes on the nose.  A very smooth initial attack was a concoction of ripe plum and blackberry jam, but not overpowering.  In fact, the wine was very balanced and restrained.  Many times I feel that Malbec is over extracted and over the top.  This wine had a certain level of civility which was appreciated on the occasion.  The Filet cut of beef is rather mild and does not need an overly tannic fruit bomb.  This wine paired perfectly and was a hit at the table.  The structure is well built and this wine could cellar easily for 5 years .  We paid restaurant prices but this wine can be had for about $22.  I am giving it 90, even though WS gave it 89.  4 stars for me and I’ll be on the lookout for it at my local wine shop.  Ps. Love the label.  Salut and Merry Christmas….

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Christmas morning sleigh ride

Christmas morning sleigh ride

Christmas dinner with silly hats

Christmas dinner with silly hats

Keller Estate ‘Casa de la Cruz’ Pinot Noir 2010

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I am a fan of this winery and have had many bottles of their regular Pinot.  I brought this particular wine from home, all the way to Asia and opened it on Christmas day with the fellas before dinner.  The wine is labelled a Sonoma Coast product yet it merges Old World Pinot with New World fruitiness.  A great cherry component with underlings of earth, iodine and strawberry.  The cherry fruit becomes a bit muted on the mid palate and is replaced with red currants and some cola.  The mouthfeel is good and the acidity is present but not biting.  Perhaps this particular bottle is suffering some jet lag. I think it is somewhat muted and could use a few days to settle down after the journey.  I paid $20 for it and am going with 88 points right now.  It potentially could go to 90 if it balances out after some cellaring.  3 Stars from me, Salut….

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Tudor Pinot Noir 2006

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From the Santa Lucia Highlands comes this modern styled Pinot Noir.  Bright cherries and gobs full of green pepper swirled around in some decent acidity with a nice finish. Not exactly my style of Pinot, but certainly well made and delicious.  I would bet this wine is popular with New World fans as it offers upfront fruit and a touch of the wood.  It is very smooth at 7 years of age and will probably go for another 5 years.  I don’t see much evolution a’la Burgundy but it will retain its freshness.  WS gave it 91, I’m going with 90.  I believe it can be found for $42 now which makes it a solid 3 star wine for me.  I would drink this with Roast Chicken or by itself, keeping a watch on the sneaky 14.2% alcohol so it doesn’t sideswipe you.  Salut….

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Manzanita Creek Winery Three Vines Zinfandel 2010

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I’m back in Asia, re-united with my partner in crime- The Beave.  He brought this highly rated Sonoma Zin from home for us to share.  Black cherry and tar with some Asian plums and a hint of oak.  Extremely smooth with gentle tannins that caress the mouth yet manage to hide the whopping 14.8% alcohol.  A long finish and good acidic structure make this a really good wine that could be cellared for a few years, but why wait?  I think he laid out about $20 for this 90 pointer and I am going with 3 stars.  Salut….

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