Tag Archives: $14

Chateau Ampelia 2007

07 Thursday Aug 2014

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From the Cotes de Castillon appellation on the eastern part of Bordeaux comes this blend.  2007 was not a fantastic year for the region, nor was it terrible, hence my willingness to part with $14 to help expand my palate.  Unfortunately this wine was not showing well and is past its prime.  I knew it as soon as I poured the first glass.  Slightly orange on the edges, a sure sign that maturity is at hand.  Ripe blueberry nose with orange peel tried to welcome me as did the black fruits and brush notes on the palate.  Drying tannins emerged and the wine had a decent finish.  It’s a shame because I reckon this would have been a really decent drop for the price, perhaps 88 points in its youth.  Salut….

chateau ampelia

Wolf Blass Cabernet-Shiraz-Malbec 2012

29 Thursday May 2014

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I have never seen this label before and was intrigued.  From Langhorne Creek this was the ‘original Yellow Label’ wine from Wolf(gang) Blass.  A retro offering showcasing the winery’s heritage I guess.  Nowadays, the blends from them are bottled in the Red Label series, the yellow being used for single varietals.  Nonethless, it was an interesting amalgamation of three varietals.

When I poured the wine, it was nearly blackish purple, appropriate for the grapes used.  It had a nose of candied plums and strawberry twizzlers.  My first impression was ‘tinny’.  A metallic note hit me the wrong way and I was initially put off by it.  I got black currants and plum torte after that and as the wine mellowed out, the tinny component gave way to a minerality that was quite pleasing.  Good acidity and moderate tannins made this an easy to drink aperitif.  I would give it a maximum of 4 years in the cellar and pair it with pasta and red sauce, perhaps BBQ ribs or a big juicy burger.  I’m giving 87 points and 3 stars for this interesting $14 effort.  Salut….

wolf blass cabernet shiraz malbec

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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Apothic Red Winemaker’s Blend 2011

15 Sunday Sep 2013

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I am going to do something completely different today.  I am re-tasting the Apothic Red which I despised back in May of last year.  One of the primary reasons for this tasting is  to calibrate my palate.  Right after I tasted this wine, hated it and wrote about, the Big Man himself proclaimed it to be his ‘wine of the day’.  Imagine what a schmuck I felt.  Anyway, that was last year and it was the 2010 vintage. I have the 2011 vintage and am ready to try it again.  This time, I am going to write about it as I am drinking it.  Here we go……

Dark purple in the glass, there appears to be some effervescence.  (That is not a good thing by the way.)

On the nose, that Zinfandel smell of candy again.  Not liking….

My first impression is…. …. …  Candy.  Again with the sickly sweet, overdone sugar water.  This is a wine that will be loved by newb’s.  It is sweet, lacks structure, has no tannins and is off balance with the acidity.  I cannot recommend this wine, to anyone.  A blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon that lacks any fruit characteristics.

Dear Mr P.  I disagree with your thoughts about this wine.  It is junk and should not be on shelves.  The end.  Your thoughts?

 

For $14, there are millions of other wines that are delicious.  1 star and 80 points (I’m being generous).

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De Martino Estate Merlot 2010

15 Sunday Sep 2013

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Sticking with Chilean Merlot, this one was the third in our tasting and runs at about $14.  A more concentrated wine, with plum and raspberry notes melding with some nice oak and spice.  Very easy to drink, it had the right balance of acidity and a nice tannin framework.  The finish was decent and enticed me to take another sip.  This wine is drinking well now and can be short-term cellared.  I would drink this with pasta, perhaps veal chops and definitely some shish kebabs.  4 stars and 88 points.  Salut….

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