09 Wednesday Jan 2013
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Right up my grill with plums, lots of em mashed up with blueberry. It’s almost like a plum salad on the palate, really delicious in its own way. Good acidity detracts from a tannic frame that I sense exists to give this wine some aging potential. I am liking this wine for different reasons, it’s interesting, has depth and it’s making my mouth water…. 4 stars, 90 points easily.
09 Wednesday Jan 2013
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2001 Bordeaux is underrated. Following on the heels of the hyped 2000 vintage, it was overshadowed- and I’m glad. Prices were much lower, while quality remained high. I have just started to open my ’01’s and have found them to be approaching the ‘Claret’ age that I like. This particular chateau is peaking with fruit, tannins and secondary flavors all coming together. Classic Pomerol on the nose, there are dark berry fruits and cedar on the palate. Cassis rolls in as does some earthiness. Well integrated tannins are smooth, yet starting to fade ever so. A long finish gives the ultimate gratification. It’s hard to numerically score an aged wine, but I think this is a definite 91 pointer and worthy of 4 stars.
17 Monday Dec 2012
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At 6 years of age, this blend of Napa and Sonoma Cab Sav is still young. Grippy tannins are prominent yet unobtrusive and meld nicely. On the nose, dark, brooding berry fruits. On the palate, chocolate and plum that finish nicely with the caressing tannins. Good balance and acidity make this a really good bottle, coupled with the decent price makes this a 4 star wine. I would give it 90 points and serve it up with some New York Strips on the charcoal. Really yummy.
02 Sunday Dec 2012
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A Californian blend whose majority is Sangiovese, made by the famed Ferrari-Carano winery. Instant pleasure for most people. It comes off as an easy drinker, yet has some depth and complexity to impress.
Strawberry and Raspberry form a bright attack, with good balance and some very hidden tannins. The structure surfaces after a while, as do some tertiary flavors, giving this wine some street cred. A dry finish lasts for a while, which is making my mouth water. I am digging this wine. 4 stars and 89 points IMHO.
29 Thursday Nov 2012
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An indigenous South African grape that had bad press for many years- Spier has made the climb from the ‘bad wine abyss’ and is on track to make Pinotage a formidable variety. Crossed between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, you can only find it in SA. During Apartheid, the varietal took a slide in quality and reputation. It’s been a battle ever since, but I have faith. I have had other Spier Pinotages, this being their entry-level offering.
On the nose, bing cherry in syrup. On the palate, I can feel heat amongst the plum and cedar shavings. Weighing in at 14.5%, I’m a little surprised. Tannins are evident, giving this wine a structure to evolve for at least 5 years. I would love to re-taste in a few years as I feel it will evolve towards earthy minerality, which excites me. For the price, a definite 4 star wine. If I were a pro, probably 88 points. Juicy, go and try some…..
28 Wednesday Nov 2012
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Not widely available in my area, this was a gift from some South African friends. A nice gift at that. Extremely juicy, like make your mouth water juicy- which I find extremely appealing. The taste is a cross of dark blue fruit and vanilla. In balance, there is no harsh tannic feel to this wine and I suspect it is designed for early drinking. Smooth and appealing, it is sure to make any host proud to serve it. As a gift, I really enjoyed receiving it.
4 stars and I would give it 87 points. Really good stuff.
18 Sunday Nov 2012
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From Sancerre, this Sauvignon Blanc is delicious and very typical of the region.
On the nose, citrus and slate, which slide into the palate very smoothly. Grapefruit and lemon zest differentiate Loire valley wines from New World (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blancs. Leaner, more precise, this style is ‘sharper’. The acidity is not racy in this wine, but it is balanced.
I bought some bottles for Thanksgiving, it will do great with Turkey…. and cranberry. I tasted this wine at room temperature and was impressed. Chilled slightly, it’s gonna rock the white wine house! 4 stars, 89 points.
08 Thursday Nov 2012
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A lighter purple shade in the glass gives up a very fruity nose. Full on, this one hits the palate full bore with plum and blue berry. Instinctively I thought it was going do be candy-like after taking a whiff, I was wrong. Serious depth and some excellent tannins make this a rather serious Malbec. For $25 a bottle it takes on an air of superiority, and handles it well. Slightly off-put by the sugary nose, the rest of the package more than makes up for it. 4 stars, 88 points IMHO.
29 Saturday Sep 2012
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Finally, @United Airlines has changed their domestic first class wine. Not a moment too soon. This very serviceable Malbec should be in everyone’s party portfolio. Easy to drink, smooth, without pretension and easy on the wallet. Not complex, it shows balance with tasty primal red fruits. For what it is, don’t expect any cellaring potential. This wine is a very reasonable way to keep many guests happy without breaking the bank.
Malbec comes in several forms from the black and tannic Cahors to the jammy fruit bombs and on to the easy quaffers like this one. 4 stars for its Quality/Price ratio and I reckon it would get 86 points from a pro. Everyone needs an emergency case of this stuff lying around.
22 Saturday Sep 2012
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Finally. I have been in a Shiraz/Syrah slump recently, not being able to find anything worth a damn. This wine came through for me. If you have read my previous posts on Aussie Shiraz, you will remember that I am not a huge fan of the monster jammy style, preferring a more subdued approach to managing the awesome potential of this grape. Elderton has done it with this wine, and for a decent price. Red fruitiness and good balance lead into a nice tannic mouthfeel that caresses with more plummy fruit and good acidity. The wine is somewhat young but drinking nicely already with another 5 years to maturity. My kind of wine for a meaty dinner, perhaps a beef stew. Good balance and a crowd pleaser. 4 stars, 91 points for around $22.
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