Tag Archives: 3 stars

Ridgeline Vineyards Meritage 2010

20 Thursday Mar 2014

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I bought this one on ratings and write-ups, having never heard of it before.  It started out with plums and a woody note on the nose with an interesting initial attack that was slightly sour.  I noticed a tremendous acidity, perhaps too much??  The flavors that I came across on the first pass were red currants and raspberry.  The wine is silky with deep, smooth tannins.  Later on I noticed blueberry on the back end with some coffee.  This wine is very juicy, related to the acidity perhaps.  It was a little sharp when first opened but seemed to mellow out after some air time.  I’m not a huge fan of this wine but I think it is serviceable.  I have seen up to 92 points from critics on this one, I am not sure I agree- giving it 88 instead.  I paid $18 and therefore award it 3 stars.  Salut….

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Robert Storey Cellars Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

06 Thursday Mar 2014

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I’m not sure what to think about this wine.  You’ll see why in a few minutes…..

I paid $19 on sale for it and was looking forward to a juicy Napa Cab of sorts.  It started out somewhat lighter in the glass than I imagined and had a nose of Kirsch. The initial attack consisted of blackcurrants and black cherry with a heavy oak influence and noticeable tannins.  On the mid palate it had an interesting Oregano flavor and I sensed a biting acidity.  The wine was quite unbalanced and I noted “Two pronged attack??”  It was different and off-putting.  I finished the first glass with an 86 point impression.  The wine baffled me to the point that I was determined to coax something better out it.  I found some 100% Cacao dark chocolate that was so bitter it re-aligned my taste buds.  The single square of chocolate was all I needed to jerk the wine out of it’s disjointedness.  It came alive and seemed to right itself.  The questionable note regarding split personalities was put to bed, the wine became more focused on the core fruits and nuances.  The acidity seemed more in check and the tannins melded better (they should after the bitter thrashing the chocolate gave me).  The wine came away with an 88 point rating at the end of it all and gets 3 stars.  I am going to re-taste this wine in short order to see if it is the same again.  Ps.  Try the 100% Cacao trick some time, I think you’ll be surprised!  Salut….

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100%Bitter but it did the trick

100%Bitter but it did the trick

 

Mollydooker Carnival Of Love 2010

13 Thursday Feb 2014

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A picture is worth a thousand words….

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This is the second vintage in my vertical tasting. The 2009 Carnival of Love was excellent, and this one continues the streak, albeit in a slightly different way.  Inky in the glass I got a big dose of blue currants and black tea on the nose after I ran it through the Vinturi.  The initial attack was quite simply deelish.  I had to take this picture so you could imagine what I was tasting.  Midway through I started getting sour cherries and blackberry.  I wrote down on my tasting sheet that I noticed quite a bit of acidity, hence the sour cherry component.  On the back end is where the plum compote, spice box and blueberries really came to life. The tannins are slight to the taste, but ever present.

The main difference between these two vintages is the level of concentration.  The ’09 was very focused, this version is somewhat more open ended with more levels of flavors yet not as complex.  The ’09 weighed in at 16%, this one a more palatable 15.5%.  Both are drinking beautifully now and will continue to do so for many years, yet my preference is the ’09.  This wine  scored slightly higher with the pro’s at an average of 94.5.  I am going with 92 and three stars for this $90 beauty.  I served it with spicy pulled pork, it worked a treat.  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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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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D’Arenberg The Cadenzia 2009

27 Friday Dec 2013

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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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Keller Estate ‘Casa de la Cruz’ Pinot Noir 2010

25 Wednesday Dec 2013

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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

25 Wednesday Dec 2013

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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

23 Monday Dec 2013

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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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Louis Latour Ardeche Viognier 2011

20 Friday Dec 2013

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I was preparing our dinner last night when it dawned on me that I needed to pair sweet potato and Thai eggplant Penang curry, Chicken Satay and Thai Beef salad.  A myriad of spiced dishes, not spicy as such, just highly flavored.  Red was out of the question, as was Chardonnay.  What I needed was something aromatic and slightly sweet.  Riesling would have been perfect, but I was up for a challenge, not the easy road.  I thought about a Gewurtztraminer, but settled for a Viognier.  The Louis Latour brand covers many regions and every price point.  I went with the $12 offering from the Ardeche region which is located in the southern Rhone.

This wine is decent, showing off it’s pale yellow straw color and offering up some aromatics of green apple and petrol with some lemon zest.  On the palate, a cutting acidity is immediately noticeable as is some back end bite.  The fruity composure is pale green apple and lemon with some quince in the mix.  I was hoping for more aromatic flavors of rose petals and pineapple, but alas that is not typical of this hot region.  The wine lacked the sweetness I seeked but made up for it with the acidity.  Whilst I enjoyed the wine and thought the pairing was great I had some reservations about the back end bite.  87 points and 3 stars for this one.  Enjoy it with spicy dishes or on the patio in the mid-summer heat.  Salut….

 

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