First Drop ‘Mother’s Milk’ Shiraz 2010

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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Succulent and smooth yet powerful and unabashed.  This is a great wine, no doubt.  A beautiful shade of purple in the glass with some great plum and spice notes on the nose.  On the palate was an array of svelte asian plums, blackcurrant and cedar box- all interlaced by some fine ingrained tannins.  This wine drinks beautifully and impressed all of us.  More impressive is the price- $18.  You cannot beat the value for money than with this type of 91 point wine that is accessible yet could be cellared for another 5 years.  This is what I imagine when I think of Barossa Shiraz.  Expressive but not over cooked, smooth but biting.  Amazing by itself, it would hold up to any meat dish, perhaps even crispy duck.  5 stars from me.  I need to find more!  Salut….

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Chateau Les Chapelles 2009

09 Monday Dec 2013

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From Montagne Saint-Emilion comes this Merlot/Cab blend.  It was very dark in the glass and bitingly tannic with some hidden fruits lurking.  I think I drank it too young as the main flavor was the dryness of my teeth.  I did manage to get plums and coffee with some interesting oak on the back end, but generally a muted wine.  I paid $18 for it and give it 87 points making it a 3 star effort for me.  I think it might improve but the fruit is going to really need to shine and the tannins need to recede for it all to balance up.  Salut….

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Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc 2009

06 Friday Dec 2013

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From South Africa comes this amazing Bordeaux blend for a mere $15.  Inky purple in the glass it showed off dark fruits on the nose with a hint of mintiness.  The flavor was sublime and the finish was nice and dry from the firm tannins.  The purple flavors of plums and blackcurrant were mingled with some slight oak and cassis.  Very balanced and showing complexity, I loved this wine.  I have read about it in several magazines over the years and this is the first time I have seen it in the shops, I  will be back to buy more.  Still young but drinkable, I reckon it will start to peak in 2015 and go for another 5 years.  I would pair this with Venison or Lamb chops all day long.  5 stars for this 91 point effort.  Salut….

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Lionel Osmin Cie Malbec 2011

05 Thursday Dec 2013

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Cahors is a region in central France that produces ‘the Black Grape’.  The Malbec’s from this region are extremely dark, tannic and usually delicious.  They differ from Argie Malbecs because the South American version is far more fruit driven and the Old World style is for deeper extraction and more tannic substance, plus the terroir is totally different.

This bottle was flawed.  It just tasted bad.  It had good intentions, with an almost black appearance in the glass and some enticing aromas of Asian pear and black cherry.  On the palate, there was an off flavor that destroyed any hope of it being enjoyable.  I am not dismissing this wine just yet, I think it was corked.  It’s a shame really as the components all seemed to be in place.  The dryness of the hefty tannins was exactly what I was looking for and the acidity was there to balance it.  I may look for another bottle to re-taste.  This wine got an 89 from WE and it was only $13 which would have made it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

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The Black Wine

The Black Wine

 

d’Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2008

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

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Another wine from this awesome winery in Mclaren Vale, Australia.  This bottle is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot- the cornerstones of the Bordeaux blend.  I was really excited to try this as the blend is right up my alley.  Bold and beautiful in the glass it showed its power right away.  Plums and Black cherries with a rich and smoky oak  came blasting throughout the gripping tannins.  On the backend came a eucalyptus tinge that was very interesting.  The wine is very young and in need of cellaring, perhaps from 2014- 2020 is where I would think it’s peak is.  Great balance and structure make this $23 wine a bargain.  Think Roast Beef and this wine will sing.  91 points and 5 stars from me.  I think I need to get more for the dungeon. Salut….

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Barwang Big Sky Shiraz 2012

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

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A bottle we bought at the bar for some crazy price, it should cost about $14.  Dark purple is always a good thing in Shiraz, this wine was spot on.  Plums and oak on the nose translated straight to the palate.  Adding some coffee and spiced pepper made this wine quite complex and the subtly oaky finish was very smooth.  I think this is my style of everyday Aussie Shiraz, flavorful yet not jammy and over da top… 88 points and 4 stars from me.  I would drink this again with some BBQ or a bold pasta dish.  Salut….

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Chateau Bel Air 2008

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

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A Bordeaux Superier from a modest vintage that did not break the bank.  $12 buys an everyday Cab/Merlot blend with tasty red fruits and some cassis.  The tannins seemed a little unripe to me, almost like they had let some green stems stay in the must a little too long.  The result was a slightly angular back end finish.  I would buy it again and pair it with a cheese platter and some cold cuts.  Nothing special here yet appealing for some reason or another.  85 points and 3 stars.  Salut….

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Kate Radburnd Vines Velvet Pinot Noir 2011

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

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From New Zealand comes this stunning Pinot Noir.  Delicate in the glass, it had notes of cherry and cranberry with some earthy mix in there.  On the palate, extremely smooth and luscious with white cherry and raspberry flavors.  Balanced and tart at the same time it was refreshing and medium in body.  The tannins in Pinot are difficult for me to discern, but I felt that this wine was well made and would go the distance.  Made in a New World style that appeals to me I’m going with 91 points and for about $15 this is a must find 5 star wine.  Amazing stuff.  Salut….

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Chateau Musar 1999

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

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By far one of my favorite wines, Musar is elegant, soft, seductive and powerful all at the same time.  I visited the winery several years ago and came away with 4 Magnums from 2 vintages that I am saving for the right occasion.  This particular wine was served at a birthday dinner at the famous Peak Lookout Cafe on Hong Kong island, perched on top of the world.  I don’t see Musar on many wine lists so I grab it when I can.  I remember buying it in the Dubai Duty Free on arrival for $16 per bottle and drinking it with pizza.  Nowadays it must run closer to $50.

The wine is mainly Cinsault, with Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon supporting.  Pinkish red in the glass with some bricking on the edges leaves you wondering if the wine is too old.  Alas, it is always this way and this wine is young and vibrant.  A delicate nose evolves and cinnamon, earth and red fruits come wafting out.  The first taste reminded me of all those bottles I have had in the years gone by.  No two bottles, let alone vintages are exactly the same with this winery, yet they all have that unique Musar taste.  One of my mates hated it, the others loved it.  It’s just that way.

The red fruits and spices really melded well with the funk and earth of the wine and the silkiness was amazing.  The wine was well balanced between acidity, underlying tannins and fruit.  As you can tell I am passionate about this wine and look forward to every bottle with anticipation.  95 points for me and 5 stars for this beauty.  We drank it with Lamb Chops and mint sauce, a perfect combination.  Salut….

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Beyerskloof Pinotage 2011

29 Friday Nov 2013

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When eating at a South African restaurant, it’s obligatory to drink Pinotage.   I am really digging this grape as the winemakers have transformed it from lazy plonk to good quality table wine.  Originally derived by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsault varietals, it is only grown in South Africa.  This particular one was ordered to go along with some rather awesome Ribeyes.  Dark purple in the glass, it gave off the telltale notes of plum and oak.  On the palate, the plums and spice give way to black currants and a decent grippy finish of dryness from the tannic structure.  Medium acidity round the package out and I must say it was a good balance for the steaks.  It can be found for about $15 and I rate it 87 points with a 3 star medal.  Salut….

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