Tag Archives: 91 points

d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original 2010

29 Sunday Dec 2013

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Another winner from the d’Arenberg winery is this Shiraz Grenache blend.  Dark purple in the glass and smelling of plums and lavender with some earth.  A unique flavor that bursts with black currants, raspberry and a floral sweetness that was really interesting.  The structure is good with some tannins residing between the acidity and the fruit.  A good mouthfeel makes this a pleasing wine to drink, it would work all by itself or do battle with a big NY Strip steak.  The wine is 3 years old and has a good cellaring potential but is drinking en pointe right now.  I paid $17 and am giving it 91 points making it a 5 star effort.  Get some.  Salut….

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Christopher Creek Petite Sirah 2005

18 Wednesday Dec 2013

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I have just returned back from a month in Asia, eating at restaurants and not having access to my own cellar.  Well, my first meal at home was a huge success.  Moxie threw together some Korean Short Ribs, mashed Cauliflower, Carrots and a Kale salad.  I needed a rustic, powerful wine to go with the multi-dimensional ribs which had been slow cooking all day.  I decided on the Christopher Creek from the Russian River Valley as I remembered it to be rather full bodied and high in alcohol, something I figured might help cut the fattiness of the meat.  I was spot on.  What I did not realize was that the wine has evolved since I last drank it 18 moths ago.  Smoother, more mellow and not visibly showing off it’s 14.3% alcohol any more.  The baby fat is gone off this brooding monster.  Dark purple and ready to go with black currant, black berries with a touch of cassis.  Very smooth with fine grained tannins and a good cutting acidity.  This wine keeps getting better and I reckon will further evolve, perhaps drinking well until 2018 at the least.  The pairing was awesome and my love of Petite Sirah has been cemented yet again.  I believe it used to retail for $33.  I am going with 91 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

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Henry’s Drive ‘Parsons Flat’ Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

13 Friday Dec 2013

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‘The Beav’ is my buddy’s nickname.  He is a funny guy and good humored.  We have been partnered together on a month long training course that ends this weekend.  We have eaten together, drunk together, taken daily walks together and gone to the gym together.  We have had a really good time with each other and now the end is nigh, so we went big on some wine purchases last night.  He picked this one because the label was so cool.  Little did he know how good it was going to be.

A blend of Padthaway Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon that have melded together beautifully and have integrated a lovely oak presence with some well crafted tannins.  Dark red in the glass and showing black fruits on the nose.  The taste was of black currants, blackberry and dark plums.  Some mocha and chocolate powder popped out on the back end and the mouthfeel was exceptional.  The structure of this wine was great, balanced and easy to drink.  We happened to have a bunch of cheese and salami at the time but it would go well with Tenderloin or perhaps a roasted Cornish Hen.  I thoroughly enjoyed this 91 point wine that the Beav paid $27 for making it a 5 star wine in my books.  Salut….

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Feudo Maccari Saia 2010

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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If you have never had a Nero D’Avola wine before, you must.  From Sicily comes this black wine with ample tannins and great depth.  This particular wine was as expected.  Bold black cherry and dark fruits with a hefty dose of tannin that was somewhat curbed yet providing a strong backbone.  The use of oak was deftly hidden and the acidity was great.  The wine is slightly rustic and needs a big plate of salami, olives and some hard cheeses to really get it going.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend this $25 offering for the uninitiated.  91 points and 5 stars.  Salut…IMG_0537

First Drop ‘Mother’s Milk’ Shiraz 2010

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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Succulent and smooth yet powerful and unabashed.  This is a great wine, no doubt.  A beautiful shade of purple in the glass with some great plum and spice notes on the nose.  On the palate was an array of svelte asian plums, blackcurrant and cedar box- all interlaced by some fine ingrained tannins.  This wine drinks beautifully and impressed all of us.  More impressive is the price- $18.  You cannot beat the value for money than with this type of 91 point wine that is accessible yet could be cellared for another 5 years.  This is what I imagine when I think of Barossa Shiraz.  Expressive but not over cooked, smooth but biting.  Amazing by itself, it would hold up to any meat dish, perhaps even crispy duck.  5 stars from me.  I need to find more!  Salut….

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Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc 2009

06 Friday Dec 2013

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From South Africa comes this amazing Bordeaux blend for a mere $15.  Inky purple in the glass it showed off dark fruits on the nose with a hint of mintiness.  The flavor was sublime and the finish was nice and dry from the firm tannins.  The purple flavors of plums and blackcurrant were mingled with some slight oak and cassis.  Very balanced and showing complexity, I loved this wine.  I have read about it in several magazines over the years and this is the first time I have seen it in the shops, I  will be back to buy more.  Still young but drinkable, I reckon it will start to peak in 2015 and go for another 5 years.  I would pair this with Venison or Lamb chops all day long.  5 stars for this 91 point effort.  Salut….

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d’Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2008

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

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Another wine from this awesome winery in Mclaren Vale, Australia.  This bottle is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot- the cornerstones of the Bordeaux blend.  I was really excited to try this as the blend is right up my alley.  Bold and beautiful in the glass it showed its power right away.  Plums and Black cherries with a rich and smoky oak  came blasting throughout the gripping tannins.  On the backend came a eucalyptus tinge that was very interesting.  The wine is very young and in need of cellaring, perhaps from 2014- 2020 is where I would think it’s peak is.  Great balance and structure make this $23 wine a bargain.  Think Roast Beef and this wine will sing.  91 points and 5 stars from me.  I think I need to get more for the dungeon. Salut….

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Kate Radburnd Vines Velvet Pinot Noir 2011

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

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From New Zealand comes this stunning Pinot Noir.  Delicate in the glass, it had notes of cherry and cranberry with some earthy mix in there.  On the palate, extremely smooth and luscious with white cherry and raspberry flavors.  Balanced and tart at the same time it was refreshing and medium in body.  The tannins in Pinot are difficult for me to discern, but I felt that this wine was well made and would go the distance.  Made in a New World style that appeals to me I’m going with 91 points and for about $15 this is a must find 5 star wine.  Amazing stuff.  Salut….

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Aristos Baron d’A 2007

29 Friday Nov 2013

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I bought this Chilean wine in Hong Kong for Thanksgiving day.  We opened it first because I could not wait and besides, never leave the good stuff till the end.  Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, it gets a touch of Syrah to soften it.  Dark purple in the glass it had a beautiful nose of blackberry and mint.  Eucalyptus was present in the taste as were black fruits and a figgy component.  Extremely well crafted tannins were evident but unobtrusive.  This is a multi layered wine that shows off class and depth.  The mouthfeel was silky smooth and the finish- long.  I must say I enjoyed this wine as we paired it with appetizers and caviar.  It was on sale for about $44, regularly priced at $54.  Im going with 91 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

 

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d’Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

24 Sunday Nov 2013

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If you read my previous post about the d’Arenberg winery you will know that I thoroughly enjoy their offerings and find them to be consistent and delicious.  This wine held true.  It was dark purple in the glass, always a good sign, and the nose showed off black fruits and cedar box.  A really delicious palate was made up of blackberry, blueberry, pepper and a hint of oak.  Well balanced and drinking en pointe with smooth tannins and good mouthfeel.  This is a sure fire winner and for $15 it gets 5 stars from me for its 91 point rating.  We drank it pre-dinner but it would hit every imaginable red wine combo.  Salut….

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