01 Monday Jul 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
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.
10 Monday Jun 2013
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Served at a restaurant and I did not read the label or the wine list…. Not my favorite Chianti. Some elements of cherry and oak on the nose and palate, with vibrant acidity and tannins. Missing something though, and I can’t pick it out. There seems to be a slight imbalance, but this wine is still very serviceable. Served up with the biggest ever Veal chop, it was a great companion thanks to the acid. The usual Chianti flavors are somewhat muted though and the wine does not show off the Sangiovese that I have come to love. An 86 pointer that I cannot even rate with any stars due to the lack of pricing info. I would imagine it will drink for another 5 years and hopefully come out of its shell.
28 Sunday Apr 2013
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A Frenchy that acts all New World…. Very nice and easy drinking, yet so totally un-burgundian in flavor profile. I would hazard a guess that some Syrah has been added here as the wine is really much darker, heavier and less Pinot like than what I expected. Very nice flavors of strawberry and blackberry, yet no cherry (unlike most Pinots). Certainly no earthiness to this wine and the fruit forwardness shows a new style of winemaking. Balanced, yet lacking any tannic structure, this wine is an easy drinker that won’t break the bank. We drank it per-dinner and then with some burgers, it played well. I would give this one 86 points technically and 4 stars for being decent at a good price.
28 Sunday Apr 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
A bottle that was brought by a friend and served with some steak and chicken. It took no time to sniff out the two basic ingredients here, Syrah and Merlot. Without trying to be rude, my host asked what I thought of this wine….. “Make-up”. I can’t describe it any better, there was a certain fakeness to this wine that really did not agree with me. On the other hand, it is an easy drinker that is a sure crowd-pleaser for what it is. However, at $20 plus per bottle, a major pass in my books. I really did not care for the almost candy-like flavor of the cherry and strawberry fruit. The tannins were very slight, but the wine was indeed balanced. I hate being a wine downer, but this one was just not for me. Technically speaking, I would imagine it is an 86 point wine, but for the price- 2 stars.
12 Tuesday Mar 2013
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An old favorite to which I have a connection to via some Spanish friends. I have been drinking this wine for many years. The nose is textbook Reserva from Rioja, the Tempranillo jumping out at you. On the first taste I was taken back a bit by the thinness of the wine, but soon settled into enjoying the brooding dark berry meets tar flavors. I know it sounds weird, tar, but it really is a descriptor that works with aged, oaked Rioja. Good oak integration and some earthiness round out the profile.
In the glass , the wine actually looks a little thinner than normal, the ‘legs’ giving tale to the 14% dosage I am about to feel. There’s is a slight off-balance to this thing, I can only hope it will sort itself out after a few years in cellar. The tannins are impressive, if somewhat muted right now. The nagging alcohol is what is throwing me, if that were sorted out this thing would cruise. I might be a bit harsh here, but I think the thinness and off-balance cost this wine big in points and I have to go with 86. For $20 a bottle, it slips into 3 star territory for me. It’s a shame really, this wine has a good pedigree and I have never had a disappointing bottle. Perhaps I shall re-taste it in the near future.
05 Tuesday Mar 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
If you just read my previous post, you will know that I bought this locally at a promotion price of $24 for three bottles, regularly $13 per. With that in mind, this is actually a much better wine than the 2011 Shiraz blend. Staying with the single varietal, I found better fruit, a more precise nose and much better tannins. Albeit younger, this wine was more developed and had a better structure. Red berries and vanilla were the predominant flavors, a good acidity and firm tannins rounded out the palate. We drank this after lunch, but it would be good with pasta, perhaps some grilled steak. Not overly exciting , but for the special price a repeat buy. 3 stars and 86 points.
25 Friday Jan 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
A perennial winner, this wine is consistent for quality and value. Nothing special, just plain old reliable with decent fruit, easy to drink and no harshness. Very light on the tannins, the point of this wine is to enjoy the blueberry and plum flavors without the complexity. It is a pop and pour wine suitable for an evening drink, large party or quick pasta meal. Very widely distributed and easy to find for under $10, every house should have an emergency stash of this stuff in case a block party breaks out. 5 stars for its consistent quality to price and a respectable 86 points (WS gave it 89!).
24 Thursday Jan 2013
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Full on fruit up my snozzzz. Stewed plums and oakiness on the palate with a definite vanilla hit. I do not like this style of wine. It exhibits good tannic structure and a sharp acidity yet I feel it is just makeup. Something is out of balance for me. 86 points and moving on….2 stars.
11 Friday Jan 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
Not sure about this one…. I had to do some research to get a better feel.
Initial impression was a simultaneous sighting of the 14% alcohol on the label and a “woohoo, this has got some kick.” I don’t like that in a wine. If a high alcohol content sneaks by, fair game. When it’s in my face, shame on the winemaker.
So, black currants and alcohol mix it up with some young tannins. The Mencia grape is either from newly planted stock giving a thin light wine, or in this case, old vines that produce darker more complex wines with aging potential. These gnarly 80 year old vines produced a dark purple offering that is just not my style. I love complexity, tannins and older wines but this one is disjointed. I have to disagree with the pro’s and give it 86 points. For the price, it comes down to 2 stars. I’m sure you may find it interesting and worthy, but not for md at this price.
28 Wednesday Nov 2012
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Every year in November we host a Holiday Open House at Moxie’s store. I am in charge of the refreshments and this year was no exception to the rule. Easy going and smooth sparkling wine, chilled and served in flutes with reckless abandon. The ladies love it…. I buy the same wine most years as I have found it to be reasonable, enjoyable and plentiful. I had to fly out of town that night, so only got to sample the wine, not really taste it. Check out my notes and get yourself some for the holidays as this is a 5 star sparkler in my opinion worthy of 86 points, not bad for a $12 bottle.
Nose- fresh pear and yeasty apple (in a good way). Medium mousse with pale golden colors. Creamy bubbles of dried green apple and slight caramel. Long finish that is sure to please. A truly amazing value that keeps on giving. I have bought over 100 bottles of this stuff in the past years, never been disappointed.
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