Tag Archives: 4 stars

Château Cheval Brun 2009

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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By the time we got to this wine, it was late and our ‘palates’ were suffering ‘fatigue’.  Let me re-phrase… we were plain old drunk by this point, or we would have realized that we had brought the best bottle out last.  The number one rule of wine drinking (versus tasting) is to start with the best and finish with the rotgut because everyone is usually hammered and can’t taste much.

Oh well, I do remember that this was a really good bottle, yet again from the much heralded 2009 Bordeaux vintage.  Beautiful purple color in the glass and a very defined blueberry note on the nose translated into a gorgeous palate of oak, cassis and plums.  A certain earthiness lent itself well to this wine and should be interesting to watch it evolve.  I wish I had been in a better position to really taste this wine, because I reckon it would have more depth than I was able to record.  For the price, a 4 star wine that I estimate deserves 90 points.  Definitely stick some in the cellar and start drinking in 2-3 years.  Delicious.

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Chateau Bonnet 2009

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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A 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Emilion made in the 2009 vintage.  At $15 this wine is a good deal, plain and simple.  Most decent Bordeaux doesn’t even hit the shelves at under $30 these days, so this one initially makes one pause and wonder how good it could possibly be.  Well, as we know, 2009 was a tremendous year in France with all levels of producers bottling balanced, fruity and ageworthy wines.  This particular offering hit the ground running with dark fruits on the palate opening up to plums and earth.  Oak use is apparent, but not obnoxious.  Still really young, the tannins are nicely integrating and will help this wine mature over the next 5 years.  I would cellar this one for another 2-3 years before it is ready.  Bang for the buck, 4 stars with 89 points.  At 13.5% this is an easy wine to relax and enjoy with friends, or you could pair it with Steak Frites and Bearnaise sauce (yummmm).

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Ortas Les Viguiers Cotes du Rhone 2009

14 Sunday Apr 2013

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My friend brought this bottle to the party, claiming “France- 2009, you can’t go wrong”….. He is quite correct.  At $9.99 a bottle, this little beauty is a winner.  Blended with 70% Grenache, 20% Carignan and the last 10% Cinsault, this wine has much to offer.  A deep purple color in the glass, it translated into dark fruits on the nose and the palate.  Blackberry and red currants meet an earthy quality swirling around in some pretty young tannins.  This wine is still young, with some tannins still to be resolved.  I reckon it will develop nicely in two years and be much better.  For now, 88 points and 4 stars.

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Bodegas Valduero Gran Reserva 2001

18 Monday Mar 2013

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Woops, and I mean a big-time woops.  I picked this bottle out of my ‘daily drinkers’ rack and porked it with the almighty Rabbit Corkscrew before I realized I had just bludgeoned open a rather expensive and mature bottle of wine on a Monday-afterballet-rushhome-cookdinner-kidshomework night (whew).  Once the realization sank in, I knew I had to make the most of it and to enjoy this pricey gem for what it turned out to be, rather than what it was supposed to be.

I was saved, by the Moroccans.

Earlier today I realized that I had a busy evening playing chauffeur to the kids and needed to prepare for a mad dash to the kitchen after ballet to get dinner on the table.  I bought some Lamb at the market, dressed it up with Apricots, Dates, Cinnamon, Cumin and garnished the whole lot with a sprig of Rosemary from the garden- all in my new favorite cooking utensil:   The Moroccan Tagine.

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Back to the wine- a stunning purple color so rich.  On the nose, complex blueberry and spices kept me intrigued for a while.  The palate was unmistakeable blueberry and plums meet oak.  Stunning tannins are in full force, balanced by a gentle acidity.  This is a serious wine, yet not reminiscent of typical Tempranillo.  And then came the meal.  This wine just took off like a scalded cat when I took my first sip after eating some Lamb.  The spices of the meat seemed to exponentially magnify this wine’s allure.  The flavors sharpened up, the tannins melded and the whole package came together.  I don’t recall the last wine that changed so much when food was introduced.  I am really dumbfounded.

This wine is awesome.  It exhibits youthfulness and vibrancy at 12 years of age, combines balance with elegance, shows structure like I have only seen in a few wines, and pops like a firecracker when added to ‘spice laden’ dishes.  I would imagine 92 points are due.  For me, at $85+ per bottle, I must defer to 4 points.  The price doesn’t justify the taste for my particular palate.  I love Tempranillo’s, but want that specific flavor profile.  This is a great wine, just not my absolute favorite.  That’s what makes this blog fun.  I can guess at what a pro would rate wines at, but get to add my star rating based on price/quality/flavor and my own personal preferences.  Would I buy this wine again?  No, but I do have another bottle or two in the cellar from the original purchase.

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Chevalier de Lascombes 2007

07 Thursday Mar 2013

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This is the ‘second wine’ of a ‘Second Growth Bordeaux’.  I’ll save you some time if you are unfamiliar with these terms.  In 1855, the Bordeaux wine region classified the best (read expensive) wines into 5 top levels, or Growths.  The First being the top notch wines, all the way down to the 5th.  There are 14 Chateau in the Second Growth tier.  When the winery makes its wine in barrel, sometimes the quality is not as high as required for the main wine.  This could be because of new vines, poor weather or whatever reason they deem.  These slightly inferior wines are then blended into the ‘second wines’ and sold at a considerable discount from the main wine.  The principle wine from a Bordeaux Classed Growth winery usually has a long aging potential, and as a consequence, it is not drinkable or mature for many years.  I find that most Growths are unapproachable for the first 10 years of their cellaring.  The ‘second’ wines are not made in the same method and mature much earlier. Whilst they don’t have the same aging capacity, they are drinkable much sooner.

I digress….  This wine is delicious.  Dark purple in the glass, it offers up some spiciness in addition to the black berry and earth I got on the palate.  Very smooth tannins are on point and the balance is great.  The finish is long on this one, and it leaves you puckered up for more.  2007 was not the greatest vintage, but the pedigree of this wine is evident.  It may be the ‘second’ fiddle but it hits all the right notes for a Margaux wine.  I would imagine 90 points from a pro, I’m giving it 4 stars.  Delicious on its own, it would pair well with Duck, Beef stew or Braised Lamb.

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San Elias Chardonnay 2010

07 Thursday Mar 2013

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Chardonnay and Thai food, it works well!  This particular bottle was the only white available at our local Thai joint, so we thought we would give it a try after filling up on Singha beer and curry.  Golden yellow in the glass, the nose was buttery with some hints of lemon.  Very oaky, but not gross, it hit the right notes with me.  The lemon I sensed earlier was there on the palate, but slightly sweeter.  Strange to be describing it this way, but it lacked the acidity normally found in whites, yet it didn’t bother me.  For once I was happy with an inexpensive, over-oaked chardonnay that I simply enjoyed.  It was very easy to drink, and had been chilled to the right temperature.  Albeit not a great wine, I think it deserves 85 points, but for me it was a 4 star wine.  I would most definitely buy this again and drink it with any spicy dishes, or as an aperitif.  Planning a party this summer, buy this one by the case.

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Domaine Fond Croze Cuvée Confidence 2009

28 Thursday Feb 2013

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From the initial sniff I knew I was going to love this wine. Primal red fruit and a floral component teased my senses. On the first sip, red berries and some blackberry hints mixed it up nicely with some pretty decent tannins. Very puckering, this wine begs to be drunk. Good balance, just a bit basic in complexity. I had a glance at the back label and noticed that this wine is predominantly Grenache (love it), hence the florality and smoothness. The Syrah is giving it some edge. I like this wine, especially for its price. 4 stars, and I reckon 89 points.

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Langmeil ‘Blacksmith’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

15 Friday Feb 2013

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I’m not a huge fan of Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, but wow! This is good wine, straight up. Rich blackberry on the nose translates to blueberry, plum and deft oak on the palate. Very complex, this wine is making me pucker up. The tannins are beautiful, rounded and powerful. This wine is just starting its crusade and should last until 2020 at the very least. Well balanced, it should take a steak in stride, but would absolutely marry a rack of lamb. Loving it with 4 stars and at least 91 points.

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Chateau Beau-Site 2009

15 Friday Feb 2013

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Last night Moxie and I celebrated our 22nd Valentine’s day, albeit a day early. We took the time and did it right by going to our all-time favorite restaurant. We have dined in some of the finest restaurants, always regretting, always pining for our little country bistro. Chez Francois is a Washington institution with a long history and extensive list of accolades and awards. Nestled down a windy country road in Great Falls, Virginia, it offers an unparalleled gastronomic experience.

I chose the 2009 Chateau Beau Site from the menu as I just read about this wine recently. A Cru Bourgeois from St. Estephe, I was expecting a bit of power. What I got was smooth and fruity. For a young Bordeaux, this vintage is hitting it. Offering up plums and earth without being jammy or tart. A very primal fruit right now, but with all the right pieces to evolve. Crisp tannins are unobtrusive, yet present. The mouthfeel is great, caressing. It amazes me that this wine is already drinking beautifully yet is just in its infancy, with 10 years at least to evolve.
I must say it’s a 90 pointer, but for $35 retail (I paid $90 in the restaurant) it may be pricey. I really think it will live up to its potential and hereby give it 4 stars for its all around deliciousness and its potential longevity.

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Jerome Gueneau Sancerre Le Clos Chartier 2011

04 Monday Feb 2013

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Made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape in the Sancerre region of France, this wine was very delicious.  Typical of the varietal, and the region- grapefruit and lemon zest on the nose.  Transitioning to the palate, the wine was balanced with excellent acidity.  I love Sav Blancs that cut your tongue with razor sharpness.  More lemon and apple on the palate mixed with a certain minerality that I found intriguing.  A very serviceable wine that could be enjoyed with any fish plate, a summer salad or as an aperitif.  89 points and 4 stars.

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