15 Friday Feb 2013
Posted in Wine reviews
I’m not a huge fan of Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, but wow! This is good wine, straight up. Rich blackberry on the nose translates to blueberry, plum and deft oak on the palate. Very complex, this wine is making me pucker up. The tannins are beautiful, rounded and powerful. This wine is just starting its crusade and should last until 2020 at the very least. Well balanced, it should take a steak in stride, but would absolutely marry a rack of lamb. Loving it with 4 stars and at least 91 points.
24 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in Stuff...., Wine reviews
I have had this wine before, from the 2008 vintage. More fruity, the 2010 starts out as dark purple in the glass. A strong whiff of really blue berries leads to a full-on attack of the fruit when I took the first sip. This wine was delicious, almost too much so. The texture was strangely ‘thicker’. I can’t describe it very well, but this wine was almost (syrupy?). Not as tannic as the 2008 vintage, it still offers a balance and smoothness that are really good. I recall some pluminess and tobacco on the palate in addition to a long finish. A very nice wine, perhaps more suited for drinking than pairing with food. I see this as a 4 star wine that would get 88 points. In a pinch, this wine will please most people that is affordable and widely distributed.
24 Thursday Jan 2013
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New World nose of mushrooms and red fruit. Sharply acidic on the palate, it is also offers some raspberry and plum. Not obvious, there are some fine tannins in the background. This 2008 vintage is at peak now and offers a certain quality that is hard to pinpoint. My guess is that it started life as a 90 pointer and I would value it as a 3 star wine (for my palate versus its price).
02 Sunday Dec 2012
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Wow! I am absolutely stunned by the nose of this wine. Unique, full force and unfamiliar. This wine is a different beast that has really peaked my interest. Hard core Cabernet on the nose, with black and blue fruits fighting for pole position.
Somooth….. Like buttah. I’m talking about mouth caressing tannins co-mingling with the over-abundant fruit in this hedonistic effort. Dark brooding fruit and balanced acidity on the palate hold out for a medium finish. I wonder if this wine will further improve….. Who cares, it’s so good you need to drink it now. A serious 5 star wine in my books, 91 points or higher if I were a pro taster….this is not a BBQ wine. It is fine by itself and would pair nicely with Filet.
28 Wednesday Nov 2012
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Not widely available in my area, this was a gift from some South African friends. A nice gift at that. Extremely juicy, like make your mouth water juicy- which I find extremely appealing. The taste is a cross of dark blue fruit and vanilla. In balance, there is no harsh tannic feel to this wine and I suspect it is designed for early drinking. Smooth and appealing, it is sure to make any host proud to serve it. As a gift, I really enjoyed receiving it.
4 stars and I would give it 87 points. Really good stuff.
08 Saturday Sep 2012
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NV means no vintage. Not a bad thing for certain wines, like champagnes that are blended from several vintages- but in red wine…….Makes me wonder. Then again, it is on an airplane, United Airlines to be precise, where I got to sample this little gem. Perhaps I’m being a little harsh, I have reason. Airlines generally serve crap, at high prices, it’s part of the deal. United in particular has tried to cut every cost. They must, or risk disappearing.
With that off my chest, this wine is not bad. Cherry candy on the nose brings some really tasty/chewy red currants on the decently balanced mid plate, fruitiness that has a good acidic component and even some puckering tannins.
Come to think of it, this I better than the crappy Smoking Loon they serve in First Class on United. I may have to decline the courtesy upgrade they gave me for next week.
Timing the aftertaste, a good 20 seconds or more. I have no idea how much this one costs, but I bet it’s bargain basement, and for that: 4 stars. Well worth it for a big party on a summers day, throwing down some BBQ. The Shiraz is not jammy, like too many Aussie reds, and the Cabernet gives it the structure it needs to pull the whole thing off. Kudos. I am taking a stab here and guessing it is worthy of 88 points. You should keep a few laying around in case the boys show up unexpectedly.
13 Monday Aug 2012
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A very decent offering from Napa that won’t break the bank. A nice nose full of blue fruits gives way to a blueberry infused compote on the palate. Very slight tannins are set up nicely for immediate drinking that will last until 2015 at least. I must say, it’s rather ‘juicy’, which is perfect for me right now. They have a done a great job with this wine. For QPR, it doesn’t get much better than this. A good buy for just about any occasion that balances pleasure, drinkability and budget. Bang for the buck gets this one 5 stars and perhaps a pro rating of 89- go get some…..
06 Monday Aug 2012
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Blueberries on the nose that translate through to the palate in this delicious Columbia Valley Cab that has a touch of Merlot and Cab Franc added in. Extremely youthful at 7 years, the wine shows great potential and vibrancy. Very similar in style to a Napa Cab, with tons of fruit up front and a long finish. It is drinking nicely now, but I think it has yet to peak. I reckon this wine will further evolve and last until 2018 at least. I really enjoyed the mouthfeel; no harsh tannins, balanced acidity and good fruity taste that seemed to go on for ever. I think this wine was underrated, it deserves 91 points. It’s a 4 star effort in my books.
10 Thursday May 2012
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A blend from California of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and the peppery Zinfandel that pops out at 13.1% alcohol. First impression, sweeeeet. Not my style and over the top with dark berry fruit. Decent structure and smooth tannins make this a wine that can be enjoyed for what it is, an everyday drinker that will appeal to the beginner. No complexity was noted and for under $10, none was expected. I really can’t think of what to pair this with as the sweetness was cloying and that would overshadow most grilled meats. As a stand-alone drinker, I got bored with it after my first glass. I think this would be an 80- point wine, but only 1 star in my books. I will pass on it in the future.
05 Monday Mar 2012
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I have to be fair to this wine and tell you it was up against some big guns. We started the tasting with two of my favorites, a ’96 Napa Cab and an ’04 Reserva from Rioja. We followed them with the Trivento Malbec that a friend brought, and ended up with this offering from Chile.
Once you have stained your palate with exceptional, aged wines costing up to 8 times the price, it is hard to be partial- here goes.
Fruit, BIG-BOLD-BLUE-FRUIT. Blueberries and blackberries were in abundance. On the nose, very sweet hints of Blueberry. On the palate, decent fruit coupled with subdued tannins and a good finish. The winemakers state red fruit as the predominant flavor, with subtle blue fruit. I disagree, and could not find the vanilla they talk about. Perhaps my taste buds were skewed by the previous bottles. Anyway, this is a decent bottle for most people, just not my style with the way it shouts “Fruit Forward”. I prefer slightly more subdued styles and have had many Chilean Cabs that fit the bill. Some people may love this wine for what it is, especially in a relaxed surrounding, perhaps a BBQ, with some grilled meats. For the price, it is a definite buy if you are in the hunt for something that will please a crowd and not break the bank. 3 stars and perhaps an 86 point rating in my books. Besides, what an awesome label!
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