Bahans Haut Brion ’00

04 Friday Nov 2011

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In case you didn’t read my previous post, I found some of my old treasures being used as props in Moxie’s store.  The occasion was the Annual Holiday Open House.  This bottle sits well with me, remembering it as some awfully good 2000 Bordeaux.  The Bahans is the second label of famed First Growth Chateau Haut Brion.  Let’s put this into perspective for the uninitiated-  This is one level below the top notch stuff, wines that didn’t quite make the cut to be considered the finest.  Rated an average of 89 points, we drank it several years ago, perhaps a little soon, but I remember it to be sublime.   Wine this good has to be tried, the pieces fit together and the wine is super smooth, flavorful and worthy of 5 stars.  The pro’s recommended a drinking period of 2003-2013.  I think I hit it in the middle, when the fruit was evident yet the secondary flavors were starting to emerge.  Soft tannins were evident but not powerful.  Speaking of powerful, nothing says it more so than producing a Magnum, except a Double-Magnum.  I am a keen collector of large format bottles and love to pull them out at parties.  This one was in honor of the hard working gals (and hubby’s) who man Moxie’s store and keep the clients happy.  We do an annual “Fundoo” party at Christmas time and the good stuff just flows out…..  Stay tuned for more vintage finds!

Double Magnum, 3 Litres

 

I found some beauties…..

04 Friday Nov 2011

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As you may know, Moxie (the little lady) owns a gift store, which happens to sell all kinds of neat things in addition to Vera Bradley and Christmas goodies.  Every year she throws down a huge Holiday Open House, complete with awesome Christmas trees, treats and some bubbly.  The event was last night and it was a huge success.  In the end, I was walking around and found some of my old bottles of the good stuff, in large format no less.  Having never taken pictures of them, I seized the opportunity to capture them forever, and write about them (what I remember anyway).  In the next day or so, I will post about the more memorable ones and hope you enjoy.  Meanwhile, here is a collection of photos from the event……

our Troll Queens!

Denisiane ’09

31 Monday Oct 2011

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Second chance with this one- consistently a big thumbs down. Lacking in fruit, tannin and acidity there is not much going on here. No stars and s basic 80 pointer. Save the dough and buy something worthwhile. A big downer from the French.

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A mixed bag

28 Friday Oct 2011

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I have been taking pictures of wine bottles for a short period of time, and have tried to remember my notes to write here on my blog.  If you read my post on the cellar I keep, you will recall seeing a host of bottles, cases, cardboard boxes etc.  My neighbor asked me how I track my bottles, spreadsheet? Paper log? Checklist?  None of that.  I have an uncanny ability to remember what I have bought, what is left, what needs to be drunk soon and maybe how much I paid for it.  Kinda strange, I know, can’t explain it.  A few months back I met up with some of the boys and we did a tasting of some supermarket wines.  Below is the line-up.

From left to right, briefly as it was a long day and the wines were just ho-hum:

Cono Sur, Cab Sav ’08 from Chile- very easy going, not budget busting and tasty.  86 points 3 stars

Nederburg Shiraz from South Africa, ’07- Good stuff, I repeatedly buy this one as it is very good for the money.  Typical Shiraz, but not overdone, it has length and grip, some tannins lurking and a good finish.  88 points and 4 stars.

Chateau Roquecourbe form Minervois ’06-  Carignan, Syrah, Mouverdre amongst other varietals make up this Languedoc offering.  It was okay, the French need to reel in their prices and get a grip.  I would say it was decent, but better values are available.  3 stars and 85 points.

Kaiken Malbec, from Chile- a perennial go-to bottle. Decent Malbec for a decent price.  Nothing special, but consistent and I like the Andes mountain depiction on the label!  4 stars and 85 points.

Some Merlot from France-  Vin De Pays means it’s a generic appellation, from wherever, but a step above ‘table wine’.  IMHO it means they can’t really get it together and are just throwing it out there, hoping you will buy it.  At least they get the pricing somewhat closer on these wines as they know people aren’t rushing out looking for them.  2 stars and 82 points.

El Circulo Rioja-  Seeing as I love Spanish wines I have given this one several tries and am underwhelmed.  Nothing typical of Rioja here, just bland and boring.  1 star and 81 points, don’t bother unless you are already drunk and need another glass (who cares at that point).

Keller Estates Chardonnay ’07

28 Friday Oct 2011

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Picked up a case of this a while back and never got around to rating it.  One thing I have noticed about every bottle I have opened is the amount of crystallized Tartrates in the bottle.  What the heck are those you ask?  The crystals form when the tartaric acid in wine combines with potassium under cold temperature conditions forming potassium bitartrate. It’s basically Cream of Tartar used in cooking or baking.   It doesn’t look pleasant, nor does it taste very nice, better to decant the wine if you see some in the bottle.

I wondered how this was possible as the wine was not cheap, I suspected some very cold storage or transportation issues.  Either way, it won’t hurt you and is actually proof that the winery has not “cold stabilized”, filtered or messed with the wine too much- this is a good thing.

So, back to the vino itself- pretty good stuff.  Made in a more restrained style, it shows good California fruit, balance and the ever-important acidity.  The use of oak is very gentle here, not chewing on a wood stick, no butter, just straight forward quality of the Chardonnay grapes.  The pro’s gave it 89, I am adding my two cents with a 3 star review.  Would I buy it again?  Perhaps, if on sale. 

Evans & Tate ’09

28 Friday Oct 2011

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Junk, pure and utter garbage. Reminiscent of candy, mixed with juice, bottled, corked and shipped the hell out of Australia to some unsuspecting newbie. Very poor effort not worthy of any stars and a pitiful 70 point rating. I have never had such abysmal juice. The consensus was unanimous and we left half the bottle.

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Trivento ’08

28 Friday Oct 2011

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After a long day we continued with the Malbec theme. The Trivento was good, typical Malbec with everything in place. Smooth, fruity with balance and soft tannins. Textbook everyday drinker. 3 stars and probably an 88 pointer.

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Dona Paula ’09

27 Thursday Oct 2011

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The label may have changed, but the wine remains the same- really good.
I first heard of this wine when a friend read my Wine Spectator magazine, took notes and reported back that he liked it. Shortly after, I ended up at an Argentinian steak house in Alaska. They had it on the menu and thus began my affair with Malbec. Last night, after a long hiatus, I found myself back at the same restaurant, ordering the 2009 vintage. Very fruity, soft tannins and balanced. Not quite the fruit-bomb of previous vintages, Dona Paula has tamed the Malbec and created a very pleasant bottle that retails for about $16.
I would recommend looking for it and perhaps drinking if over the next 3 years, it won’t last much longer. 5 stars for sure and a respectable 89 points would make this a sure winner for steaks, even stews and a cold winter night by the fire.

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Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle ’99

23 Sunday Oct 2011

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Iconic, pricey, and not so good. The label states that this wine will mature for 30 years, in Great Vintages. 1999 was not. It doesn’t help that the quality of this Domaine has declined since then either. Often seen on the auction circuit, the reputation of this wine is fearsome, but in 1999 something went amiss. I bought a case on discount, hoping for the critics to be wrong, they averaged 90 points, agreed.
Tonight, the nose is almost cooked, the wine highly alcoholic in taste even though it’s only 13.5%. The fruit is non-existent and the tertiary flavors have not evolved. The producers of Hermitage won a law suit against Penfolds in Australia preventing them from using the name Hermitage on their Grange bottlings. Perhaps they should have spent more time making it than defending its name.
I bought these bottles in 2002, and the decline started happening in 2006. I thought is was passing a “dumb” period- wrong. This stuff is over the hill and I’m assigning it to the “hurry up and drink the rest” bin, giving it 2 stars. Don’t bother looking for it, waste of cash and cellar space.

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Boedecker ’06

22 Saturday Oct 2011

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I have a great friend who introduced me to this Oregon Pinot Noir after she met the winemakers at a wine festival. I subsequently added another case to my cellar and pull it out every so often- like tonight with Cherry and Apple stuffed Pork Chops (yummmm).
The nose is pure Pinot with a touch of earth, just the way nature meant it to be. You see, my opinion is that Burgundy knows how to funk this grape up and make it sublime, yet have that certain J’ai nes se qua…. The barnyard, the ass of donkey, vegetal, forest floor. Whilst you may think I’m crazy to describe wine in such a way, have a top notch Burg and compare it to some new world stuff, just not the same.
Pinot has to have some bing cherry flavors when young, end of story. Without it, you might as well suck Syrah through a straw. With age you get the nastiness that we appreciate. This bottle has 5 years in it and is just turning the corner to greatness. elemental fruit is starting to meld, the tannins, although noticeable, as very soft and the finish is very long. Pinot is a sexy wine, sublimity is key. It should flow, seamlessly. The choice to drink this with lighter fare is obvious as it has delicacy and balance, like a ballerina.
One of my fav Pinots outside Burgundy, this beaut has 5 stars stamped all over her and I would guess a 92 point rating from the champs who know.

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