Tag Archives: 88 points

Tranco Monastrell Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

08 Tuesday Jul 2014

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If you followed my last two posts you will know I went to a friend’s 50th birthday bash recently.  When we were all seated this bottle was on our table, waiting to be opened.  Our hosts had hired a private chef, waitresses and set up a whole outside sit-down dinner for 20 people.

I looked this wine up online and was pleasantly surprised.  The price is only $10, and it got a whopping 90 points from RP himself.  On the other hand, I have my own impressions.  It started out with blueberries and heat.  Lots of it.  I had to let it sit for a few minutes to blow off.  When it finally came around the blue fruits persisted with some earthiness, cherry kirsch and a touch of the wood.  Decent tannins were integrating and the juicy acidity was great. I would give this wine a cellaring life between 2014 and 2020.  We had Filet steaks with spinach and gratinated potatoes topped with scallops.  It worked for me…  At this price it’s hard to go wrong with this Spanish blend, but I am reserving points and going with 88 making it a solid 4 star wine that I may look for.  If you are throwing a party you may want to get some as well.  Salut….

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Elderton ‘Friends Vineyard Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

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I was intrigued by this bottle having never seen the Friends series before from this producer. They had a Shiraz as well but I was not in the mood. It priced out at $15, what the heck.
Atypical of Cab for me it had a unique flavor profile. Black and blue fruits on the nose with a touch of cedar. On the palate dark fruits, bramble and some dust (in a good way). Sour cherries on the back end with gentle tannins and good acidity make this easy to drink. 3-5 years cellaring and a wide variety of foods make this a versatile wine. 88 points and 3 stars.
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Elderton ‘Friends Vineyard Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

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I was intrigued by this bottle having never seen the Friends series before from this producer. They had a Shiraz as well but I was not in the mood. It priced out at $15, what the heck.
Atypical of Cab for me it had a unique flavor profile. Black and blue fruits on the nose with a touch of cedar. On the palate dark fruits, bramble and some dust (in a good way). Sour cherries on the back end with gentle tannins and good acidity make this easy to drink. 3-5 years cellaring and a wide variety of foods make this a versatile wine. 88 points and 3 stars.
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Chateau Arnauld 2006

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

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It’s not very often that I find an aged Bordeaux in a local convenience store, but when I do there is this certain curiosity that overwhelms me and I take the $20 plunge.  This was a good find in my opinion.  Slightly bricking on the edges, it is almost past its peak and heading into old age.  I know Cru Bourgeois is not as cellar-worthy as Grand Cru so this ’06 vintage was a bit of a gamble.  The wine has a mature nose of violets and kirsch to go along with some garigue.  This also came across on the initial palate with some funk and plums.  The wine has Haut Medoc terroir stamped all over it and is showing some drying tannins on the finish.  I could smell the 12.5% alcohol, but only just.  This was worrisome as this level should not have been noticeable.  Overall I really enjoyed the terroir and my guests thought it was the bottle of the tasting.  I am going with 88 points and 3 stars- drink up though.  Salut….

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Trivento Tribu Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

29 Saturday Mar 2014

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I happened across this wine in Manila, at the duty free shop.  I have tried various Trivento wines before and have enjoyed them all so I felt confident that my $15 would not go to waste.  I was correct.  Albeit not as complex as the Golden Reserve line, the Tribu was well endowed with currants and tea leaf on the nose.  The palate was very fruity with red berries and a vegetal note that I enjoyed.  Fine grained tannins were very well balanced and the whole package was smooth.  We drank this one before dinner and I reckon it would pair well with some sirloins and gratin potatoes.  Charcuterie would be an excellent choice for an early evening sundowner as well.  I am going with 88 points and 3 stars for this Argentinian wine.  Salut….

 

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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

 

Chateau Rougi 2010

20 Thursday Feb 2014

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This was my contribution to the $9 per bottle party that ‘The Beave’, Edvard and I ended up having.  It comes from the Bordeaux region, more specifically Entre-Deux-Mers and is a typical blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.  It offered white plums on the nose which continued on to to the palate with a delicious cherry pop component.  I noticed only slight tannins but made a note that the wine was juicy.  Great acidity could be responsible for that!  The backbone is somewhat lacking though and I fear this wine needs to be popped and poured rather than cellared for any length of time.  Bang for the buck you could certainly short term a half dozen for casual drinking and pairing with rustic meals like beef stew or Coq-au-Vin.  I’m going with 88 points and 4 stars for the effort.  Salut….

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Cosentino ‘The Franc’ 2012

02 Sunday Feb 2014

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Moxie and I went out to dinner with some dear friends last night at our local Cajun/Korean Fusion restaurant.  Don’t laugh, it’s an amazing combination of flavors and the food is presented in a very neat way that is meant for sharing, Tapas style.  My mate drinks white wine (which I will review later, but his wife Mercedes and I shared this Lodi Cabernet Franc.  It is 76% Franc with 20% Cab Sav and a dollop of Malbec.  I really enjoy this winery’s offerings, they are always well made, smooth and easily accessible.  This one was not far from the mark, albeit on a much more reasonable scale.  At $12 retail, it was a bargain.  Slightly tight on the nose, the purple juice flowed with black currant, dark blueberry and some white pepper.  The structure was firm as expected for such a young wine but it was drinking well.  The Franc had a nice perfume to it once it got going and the Cab Sav did wonders for the tannic backbone.  I enjoyed this wine with dinner and would like to add a few bottles to the cellar for the near future drinking.  88 points and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

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Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2011

25 Saturday Jan 2014

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I recall the first Malbec I ever tasted, Dona Paula from the 2004 vintage.  We drank it in an Argentinian Steak house in Anchorage, Alaska.  In fact it was so good that we finished their whole stock that night (there were 10 of us after all).  I have since been a fan and have tasted numerous other vintages.  I just bought two bottles of the 2011 vintage and enjoyed one of them with some cheese and nuts.  It begs for a steak though.

Brooding dark purple in the glass it reveals plums and black fruits on the nose.  The flavor profile is very similar with a thick core of purple plums and some black tea.  The wine is well priced at $12 per bottle yet drinks like a far pricier offering.  The tannins are gentle yet present, giving way to a juicy acidity.  The wine finishes nicely with elegance and balance.  This Malbec needs a New York strip or Sirloin, something gamey yet not too fatty to bring out its fruitiness.  Bang for the buck this is a good steak wine that won’t disappoint.  I am going with 88 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

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