Tag Archives: 4 stars

d’Arenberg Shiraz ‘The Dead Arm’ 2008

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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If you are in a wine store, unsure of what to buy for a spur-of-the-moment host bottle then d’Arenberg is your go-to wine.  The winery makes a bunch of different wines but most have the red/yellow stripe on the label which makes them easy to identify.  Quality and consistency come to mind with this brand.

Dark purple in the glass, it comes off the blocks with blueberry, plum and a hint of oak.  On the initial palate, I was getting licorice and eucalyptus in addition to the fruitiness.  Great acidity kept the wine on track and the tannic structure is built to last.  On the back end, vanilla comes to mind as does blackberry pie.  Drinking well now, it will cellar for another 10-15 years easily.  We drank this with Tenderloins and salad, I cannot think of a better combination.  Pricey at $35+, it scores well at 92 in my books and has to be a 4 star effort.  Treat yourself to some really good Shiraz this summer and try a d’Arenberg.  Salut……

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Château Moulin de Barrail 2009

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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I’m telling you, 2009 Bordeaux was an awesome year. I don’t hesitate picking up any bottle from the region if it was made in this stunning vintage.

An entry-level Cru that was about $13, this wine had all the makings of decent Claret.  Dark purple in the glass, it showed off Plums and earth on the nose.  The initial attack was fruit driven, with purple fruits and some oak integrating.  The earthy component reappeared and there was also a hint of cassis.  Decent tannins and good acidity wrapped the whole package up nicely.  We drank it alongside the Yalumba Shiraz and they just seemed to complement each other.  The cellar potential for this is about 3-5 years, but it is drinking well now.  Not too complex, it would be great with some pasta or Shish Kebabs.  88 points and 4 stars.

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Casalvento Chianti Classico Riserva 2009

18 Thursday Jul 2013

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Wow, a full power Chianti with years ahead of it.  Purple in the glass, the nose offers dark brooding fruits and a hint of earth.  On the palate, a very definitive tar component mixed with dark cherries and black berries.  A very powerful tannic structure is making my mouth pucker and the acidity is great.  This wine is 4 years young and will last another 10 at the minimum.  Mainly Sangiovese, it weighs in at 13.5% alcohol, a decent number these days.  It does not follow typical Chianti/Sangiovese profiles (which I love), instead there is a departure from the norm and you can tell this is a well crafted wine.  92 points I reckon, and a 4- perhaps 5 star rating for its $35 price point.  I think this wine needs another 3 years in cellar, and should absolutely rock any pasta dish you could throw at it.

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Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Classic Series 2011

01 Monday Jul 2013

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For about $8 you cannot go wrong with this wine.  Very basic Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile with red currants and a touch of oak.  Relatively smooth, with very tame tannins and a decent finish.  If you are entertaining, this is a must-have.  It drinks easily and could also pair with pasta, burgers and grilled meats.  A 4 star effort worthy of 86 points that wont break the bank.

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Nederburg The Winemaster’s Reserve Shiraz 2011

01 Monday Jul 2013

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Plums, plums and more plums.  On the nose, this wine was very aromatic and inviting.  On the palate, good weight and as mentioned, a plum component that was juicy and vibrant.  Good tannic structure and acidity made this a fun wine to enjoy while not being overly complex.  For about $12, this wine bangs the drums.  You can’t go wrong here folks, you are getting good fruit-forward, ready-to-drink pleasure for a bargain.  I would stock up on this for a party, serving it with any form of grilled meats, pasta dishes and even roast duck.  4 stars for the price/quality and 87 points IMHO.

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Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2012

01 Monday Jul 2013

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When you mention Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, the first few things that come to mind are: cat’s pee, grapefruit, cut grass and green apples.  This wine had it all, plus a cutting acidity that balanced the fruit nicely.  In the mouth, very smooth and inviting, making me pucker up for more after its long finish subsided.  It went perfectly with the salad course, and I imagine it to be a stunner on a hot summer’s eve.  This region in New Zealand has been excelling in the varietal, making delicious and lush wines.  I would imagine it to be an 89 point wine and for about $15, worthy of 4 stars.

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Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay 2011

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

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Moxie and I traveled to Bali for a wedding, via Napa Valley.  We ended up getting delayed on our arrival and missed out on winery visits, but the hotel had a beautiful terrace where we ordered this bottle to enjoy as an aperitif.  Very young, and served from 375 ml, this was definitely a treat.  Not too oaky or buttery, it was slightly more austere.  Great apple meets lemon on the nose traversed to the palate where it was smoothly mixed with some butterscotch on the back end.  Reminiscent of Burgundy, I sensed very aligned acidity, yet not razor sharp.  There is a time and a place for that kind of component.  This wine was very balanced and smooth.  I enjoyed my glass immensely and would highly recommend it for a pre-dinner drink, but it would pair amazingly with some poached salmon and boiled new potatoes.  I’m guessing this wine has at least 10 years in it and would be interesting to watch it’s development.  At $36 per bottle on average, you are getting what you pay for here.  Quality Napa Chardonnay at a fair price.  4 stars, 90 points….

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Tenute Arnaces Prosecco NV

25 Tuesday Jun 2013

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Bought this for Moxie, she likes the bubbly stuff.  Good nose of apples and cider with generous bubbles that tickled on the way down.  Dry on the palate, it was not as sweet as I was imagining.  A decent length and ease of drinking made this quite an enjoyable aperitif.  Being NV (non-vintage) I imagine that the quality is pretty even throughout the years and this would be a good addition to a cellar to make sure you had a reasonable and decent sparkler on hand.  4 stars and 89 points in my books.

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Clarendon Hills Syrah Piggott Range Vineyard 2006

04 Tuesday Jun 2013

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An iconic name from Australia that crafts some monumental wines.  Normally this varietal is called Shiraz downunder, yet Clarendon makes it in an Old World style and reverted to the Syrah moniker.  Unlike typical Aussie Shiraz, this offering is refined, understated and showing great class.  Plum compote, chocolate and some earth transcend from the nose to the palate.  Layers of fruit emerge in this complex wine and the tannins are ever so subtle, yet omni-present.  Extremely balanced and smooth, this is finesse at its finest.  Pricey at about $100, this is no Thursday night pop-n-pour.  I served it up on a Sunday evening with London Broil and roasted potatoes.  It would pair well with Lamb chops as well as by itself.  I believe that the pro’s ranged from 92-98.  I would give it 93 personally and 4 stars (Price taken into account).  I have three more in the cellar and will watch for further development, anticipating a drinking window from now until 2020 at the least.

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Chateau Puynard 2010

27 Monday May 2013

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Dense and lovely.  On the nose, red cherries and earth translate into currants and some hints of oak.  Slightly young, but not overly tannic, it is drinking well and will do so for another 4 years. A Bordeaux wine with a decent price tag that will give pleasure with stews, steaks and roast chicken.  For the price, 4 stars and 89 points.

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