Tag Archives: 88 points

Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

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This is not the cheap $8 version from this winery, we ordered it off the wine list at an Argentinian Steak House.  Paying about $35, I figure it should be about a $15 bottle.  Anyway, it was so good that we ordered a second bottle after giving a Malbec a try.  We started drinking this with the appetizers and it was great.  Bluish fruits and a dark cherry component mixed with the oak and gentle acidity made it very pleasing.  The wine is not complex, nor is it basic but it is very drinkable and we all enjoyed it.  The second bottle came with the Filet Mignons and was a great match.  Filet is low in fat and is very tender making it a good match for a slightly less tannic wine that is not as complex.   Overall, a good choice as evidenced by the group’s vote for more of the same.  I would give this 88 points and reckon it is a 4 star effort if it truly were $15.  Salut….

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Tilia Merlot 2012

18 Monday Nov 2013

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Can you say QPR?  In essence, when taking cost into account this wine is a must try.  I paid $9 for it and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Reminiscent of right bank Bordeaux, the Merlot was round, fleshy and tasted of plums, chocolate and red berry.  A certain earthiness came though and the tannins were slight but present.  I found this wine to be a great basic wine with no faults and loads to offer.  We drank it pre-dinner and I reckon it would go well with pasta, steaks and pizza.  Not for cellaring, buy it by the dozen in case a party erupts, everyone will love it.  88 points and 5 stars from me for this Argentinian gem.  Salut….

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Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Clark and Telephone’ 2012

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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I loved the 2008 Belle Glos and was looking forward to this updated version.  It was dark purple in the glass and had a strong nose of cherry and vanilla.  On the palate, very extracted and plush.  This wine is huge in stature and offers a certain level of complexity yet goes against the grain.  In addition to the primary cherry flavors I got plums and berry with some spice on the mid palate.  The oak is well integrated and the tannins are very smooth.  This wine is neither Old World or New, it goes against the rules and strikes out in a new direction.  The extraction bothered me and detracted from the essence of the varietal.  Pinot is supposed to be seductive, intricate and restrained.  This wine was a like a bull, strong and in your face with the 14.6% alcohol cleverly hidden.  I believe it can be had for about $36 and only gets 88 points from me making it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

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Columbia Crest H3 Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills 2008

04 Monday Nov 2013

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An extremely interesting flavor from this Chardonnay that had me bewildered.  I finally figured it out, after the fact.  Quince.

A nice yellowish hue in the glass gives way to a nose full of apple, pear and a touch of oak.  On the palate is where the action happened for me.  The quince was predominant, with apple and citrus in the background.  Crisp acidity and a generous mouthfeel made this an enjoyable wine.  It was brought on the trip by a friend (who we shall name Big Horn) and I will endeavor to find it back at home, I would like a re-taste.  I see this going great with a Nicoise salad, perhaps a cold poached salmon dish with dill.  A quick perusal on the web tells me it can be had for about $13.  4 stars and 88 points from me.  This winery is consistent, they make tons of really good wine with great pricing to boot.  This particular wine was indeed a different Chard that needs to be tried.  Salut….

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Framingham Sauvignon Blanc 2012

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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This weekend finds us at the beach.  The Outer Banks of North Carolina is where we are staying in an ocean front palace with three other families (the prize from a raffle  back in April).  It’s a bit chilly outside, but inside there’s food and wine, games and football and everyone is just chilling.  The beauty of the gathering is that we all brought some really nice wines and get to share them together.  This particular wine was opened as an aperitif.

Straw colored in the glass, it had a distinct Kiwi nose of Sauvignon Blanc.  On the initial attack it was somewhat sweet for the varietal, which made Moxie love it right off the bat.  She is easily pleased by whites that have residual sugar.  The textbook cat’s pee was missing but grapefruit was in full force as was the grass component.  I only had a few sips of her glass so I am not going to pass too much judgement except to say that it was easy to drink but lacked a certain acidity that I need for this type of wine.  88 points and for $17 I would say it’s a 3 star wine for me for this Kiwi wine from the South Island region of Marlborough.  Salut….

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Los Clop Malbec Reserva 2009

20 Sunday Oct 2013

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Last night Moxie banged up some amazing veggie stuffed flank steaks.  I needed a juicy, big , fruity wine to match her culinary skills.  I opened this Malbec from Argentina’s Mendoza region and give her a half cup for the marinade/sauce.  I then went to the glass.  Beautiful purple with some great plums and blackberry on the nose.  A delicious palate of dark berry, purple plums and chocolate.  Medium tannins and good acidity make this a juicy drink for $15.  However, as good as it was while we were cooking, it became muted as soon as I sat down for dinner.  The wine did not hold up to the meat at all.  I was really surprised.  After dinner, it came back to life without any food around.  I have never seen this happen.  A great drinking wine, but not worthy of pairing with food, strange.  Anyway, I would buy it again for the price and simply drink it before or after dinner, perhaps at a party- problem solved!  3 stars and 88 points for me.  Salut….

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Wolf Blass President’s Selection Shiraz 2011

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

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Atypical of Aussie Shiraz, this wine was way more subdued than the Cabernet we tried side-by-side form the same winery.  A beautiful purple color in the glass, the nose offered blackberry and pepper.  Spicy is good, jammy is bad.  Made in a more restrained way, this wine was offering dark fruits and a hint of oak along with some asian plums on the palate.  Very well integrated tannins and good balance made this easy to drink and I would pair it with steaks, burgers and ravioli.  Not a serious wine but certainly a good quaffer.  I enjoyed the 2008 Shiraz and had similar reviews.  It seems to be a consistent wine year in and out.  88 points on a technical merit and 3 stars for this $19 effort that is widely available.  Salut….

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De Martino Estate Merlot 2010

15 Sunday Sep 2013

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Sticking with Chilean Merlot, this one was the third in our tasting and runs at about $14.  A more concentrated wine, with plum and raspberry notes melding with some nice oak and spice.  Very easy to drink, it had the right balance of acidity and a nice tannin framework.  The finish was decent and enticed me to take another sip.  This wine is drinking well now and can be short-term cellared.  I would drink this with pasta, perhaps veal chops and definitely some shish kebabs.  4 stars and 88 points.  Salut….

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Chilcas Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

12 Monday Aug 2013

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Brought by a fellow wino, this was a full liter of delicious Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon.  What it lacked in depth, it made up for in charm.  Purple ink in the glass, it showed off primal hints of blueberry and mint on the nose.  Very easy to drink, it gave pleasure with the blue fruitiness mixed up with some spices (eucalyptus??).  A very subtle tannin structure was enjoyable as was the acidity.  A bargain wine that plays like a middle weight!  Some slight oak was evident, but unobtrusive.  Bang for the buck this is a 5 star wine, and technically speaking 88 points.  I’m thinking you need a few laying around in case a block party erupts.  This wine will please anyone, with or without food.  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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