Tag Archives: 92 points

Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

01 Sunday Sep 2013

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Jam on the nose, the dark purple kind I used to eat with toast as a kid in England….. On the palate, somewhat confusing. Atypical of Napa Cabernet, I get sublime hints of Herbs Du Provence, plum and cassis Kinda weird and exciting. Sulking beneath this complexity hides a strong tannic frame, very well integrated and adding to the yummy mouthfeel. I am digging this wine, but can’t pinpoint why…. It’s different, fruity, complex and interesting. 92 points and for $39- 4 stars. I think it’s drinking nicely now and will cellar for 7 years at the least.

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d’Arenberg Shiraz ‘The Dead Arm’ 2008

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

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If you are in a wine store, unsure of what to buy for a spur-of-the-moment host bottle then d’Arenberg is your go-to wine.  The winery makes a bunch of different wines but most have the red/yellow stripe on the label which makes them easy to identify.  Quality and consistency come to mind with this brand.

Dark purple in the glass, it comes off the blocks with blueberry, plum and a hint of oak.  On the initial palate, I was getting licorice and eucalyptus in addition to the fruitiness.  Great acidity kept the wine on track and the tannic structure is built to last.  On the back end, vanilla comes to mind as does blackberry pie.  Drinking well now, it will cellar for another 10-15 years easily.  We drank this with Tenderloins and salad, I cannot think of a better combination.  Pricey at $35+, it scores well at 92 in my books and has to be a 4 star effort.  Treat yourself to some really good Shiraz this summer and try a d’Arenberg.  Salut……

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Casalvento Chianti Classico Riserva 2009

18 Thursday Jul 2013

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Wow, a full power Chianti with years ahead of it.  Purple in the glass, the nose offers dark brooding fruits and a hint of earth.  On the palate, a very definitive tar component mixed with dark cherries and black berries.  A very powerful tannic structure is making my mouth pucker and the acidity is great.  This wine is 4 years young and will last another 10 at the minimum.  Mainly Sangiovese, it weighs in at 13.5% alcohol, a decent number these days.  It does not follow typical Chianti/Sangiovese profiles (which I love), instead there is a departure from the norm and you can tell this is a well crafted wine.  92 points I reckon, and a 4- perhaps 5 star rating for its $35 price point.  I think this wine needs another 3 years in cellar, and should absolutely rock any pasta dish you could throw at it.

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Quinta Do Crasto 2009

15 Wednesday May 2013

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A re-taste from 2012 that gave me nothing at the time.  The Quinta Do Crasto 2009 that I previously tasted was absolutely closed, off-limits, nada, nothing.  This time around, much more open on both the nose and the palate.  Indeed, a rather high scoring wine.  Let’s start with the beautiful purple hue in the glass.  On the nose, gorgeous plums and blueberry.  On the attack, blackberry and spicy oak.  It’s hard to nail any varietal because this one is a  blend according to the label.  I do however, get some Touriga notes, which I love.  This Reserva was bottled in 2011 after 16 months in oak, both French and American.  I will say that I am starting to notice a little heat, wondering if the 14.5% alcohol is in balance.  I think with some more time, it will hide behind the really silky tannins that are still in force.   A long life ahead for this unfiltered wine, with further evolution that will be interesting to see.

I keep sniffing the glass, getting more depth all the time.  This is a serious wine folks, I’m glad I reserved judgement.  I would like to visit it again in 2015.  For now, this bottle is giving me a 92 point opinion  and at the decent price of around $40, 5 stars.  I would get a few for the cellar if you like Portuguese wines, this one rocks.

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Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Clark and Telephone Vineyard’ 2008

12 Sunday May 2013

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A cloudy looking Pinot in the glass, this is an interesting beast.  I have never seen a wine look so unfiltered, yet taste so refined.  A whopping 14.7% alcohol was so deftly masked that it can really sneak up on the unsuspecting.  A mix of Old and New World styles, I was intrigued by this wine from Santa Barbara County.  It showed off an interesting mix of cherry and cloves, a certain spiciness I have never tasted before.  Very smooth, I mean like ‘Buttah’.  Very well integrated tannins and a juicy acidity leave you with a nice mouthfeel.  We drank two bottles and they were identical, no variation.  A serious Pinot Noir that is hitting peak and should last another 5 years minimum.  At $40 plus, it’s not an everyday drinker, but certainly worthy of a Sunday Roast, perhaps Veal Saltimboca or even a cheese plate after dinner.  4 stars and 92 points in my books.

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Top of the Block Pinot Noir ‘Blockheadia Ringnosii’ 2011

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

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A fresh and vibrant New World Pinot Noir that I thoroughly enjoyed. Shaved cherry mixed with strawberries form the initial attack whilst stealthy tannins are hiding in the background. Great balance with a hint of dryness make this a mouthwatering wine made in a fruit forward style. You know how I love Burgundian style pinot with all that earth and funk- so it takes a lot to get me going. This one did….
I initially got cherries on the nose, telltale for the varietal. The color was a beautiful shade of red. A longish finish once again defined the winemaker’s skill. A really nice bottle of Pinot to be savored with just about anything! I’m thinking it deserves 92 points, and gets 5 stars from me.

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Cosentino Pinot Noir Reserve Selection Sonoma Coast 2011

20 Thursday Dec 2012

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Deelish…. I am loving this wine. Starts out with strawberry on the nose and comes across as a New World Pinot powerhouse. Strong strawberry on the palate mix it up with bing cherry and they keep on going. Pinot Noir is a difficult variety for me to judge tannins, as they don’t behave the same way as those found in Cab, Merlot, Syrah etc. They are not as easy to identify, yet this wine made my mouth pucker ever so. I am dying to re-taste it in 5 years to see what secondary flavors emerge from behind its fruity/tannic cloak. This wine is a sure 92 pointer and I like it so much that I feel 5 stars is a fair representation of its price/quality. I drank it with rotisserie chicken, but it would go well with other light game and perhaps filet mignon. Very balanced and smooth, this wine will please everyone. Good job!
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Armida Poizin 2009

26 Friday Oct 2012

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Who could argue with this label and the packaging?  This is the second wine I have tried from Armida, and I’m happy to say they both rock my inner Zin.  Weighing in at 14.5 % alcohol, you could be misled into thinking this would be an overripe, jammy, hot Zinfandel.  Wrong….  By a mile.

On the nose, blackberry meets plum with a dose of freshness.  On the palate, blueish berry compote and plum with a faint hint of spice that is characteristic of Zinfandel.  Very balanced and complex, with no hint of the heat, this wine is drinking beautifully right now.  I could not get any tannic structure, but feel like it would last another 3-5 years.  It’s a strange beast, with all the pieces of the the big, jammy, highly laden Zin, yet it fits a completely different mold.  Subdued, a charmer with strength and poise.  This is a great Zinfandel that defies logic and hits it for me on all cylinders.  5 stars, and 92 points.  BTW, I paired it with Moroccan Chicken cooked in a Tagine with apricots, cinnamon, raisins and cumin.  The sweetness of the meal was perfectly balanced by the boldness and acidity of the wine.  PPS.  Before I forget, I tasted this wine as I started cooking dinner and noticed myself salivating after 30 seconds.  It really is that good.

Miller ‘The Works’ GSM 2007

08 Saturday Sep 2012

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The great blend of the Rhone- Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre. Very gorgeous plummy nose gives way to red fruits exploding in a certain freshness that leaves a great mouthfeel. A child at 5, the tannins are well stocked and ready for the next 10 years of drinking. A very well made wine IMHO. I would love to revisit in 5 years- betting some barny type secondary stuff comes out, the kinds that excite me. 5 star effort, 92 points if I were rating it.

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Meerlust Rubicon 2007

05 Sunday Aug 2012

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This wine happens to be the favorite of two mates from South Africa.  When I saw it for sale, why not?  I was a little surprised at the relatively low cost of this iconic wine from Stellenbosch.  A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, I just knew I was going to enjoy it.  I was right.  Inky in color with tremendous young tannins, this is right up my alley.  Black fruits, black tea, balanced oak and razor sharp tannins meld together in this big wine.  It is not for the faint of heart, this wine is large, with layers of fruitiness and a constant tannic reminder to cellar this brute for a few more years to let it grow up.  I did not get much on the nose (perhaps the wrong glass?), but with coaxing and the aid of a Vinturi- you might get some blackberry compote and perhaps some mint.  I would like to re-try this bottle in my home with my glasses to see if there is more to it.  I might get some extra bottles to cellar, betting that this wine will indeed last many years. It will be interesting to see what secondary flavors evolve as I think this wine has at least 15 years in it with good balance to withstand time.  I’m giving this one 5 stars and reckon it’s a 92 pointer.