Tag Archives: grenache

Terroir la Baume Saint-Paul Fitou, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2014

01 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


By far the most interesting label of the year-  a metallic one on this bottle of Fitou.  I was intrigued and had to try it.  Fitou is a region in the Languedoc, southern France and the two main grapes are Grenache and Carignan.

terror la baume saint paul fitou

The wine is a medium shade of purple and offers a nose of garrigue, funk and black cherry.  This may sound horrible to the layman but in wine terms, quite legitimate descriptors and ones that are sought after by certain palates.  On the initial attack I am getting a somewhat thin veil of plums but more importantly, some off-putting tannins.  The wine is a bit disjointed and the balance is off.  It may need some time or a trip through the vinturi (Or in my case, a travel aerator).

The travel aerator

The travel aerator

Ok, after meeting my friend Bendy, the wine mellows a little but the tannins are still green and generally unpleasant.  The fruit is struggling for acceptance here and the structure is not allowing it to happen.  I am wondering if I have an off bottle.  Best I can go is 85 points at this tasting and for $16 this is a 2 star wine.  Happy New Year!  Salut….

 

Paul Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007

29 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


At least once a year my childhood friend comes over for dinner.  We will nickname him Rashad.  He has good taste in wine and a better sense to ask for help at the wineshop.  Last year he brought this beauty along for dinner but I felt it needed time.  I cellared it for a year, cracking it open when he came over the other day.  I had charcoal grilled a boneless leg of lamb, which was a near perfect companion to this wine.  That is correct, I chose the wine and then the meal to accompany it!

Nose of garrigue with some plum torte and a hint of oak.  On the palate- purple fruits, blueberry jam, licorice and fresh tannins. A solid amount of acidity balances the backbone and gives it a freshness. There’s a long mid palate to this wine that carries the fruit all the way to the finish with a hint of pepper, some game and cherry . The ending is long with plum, tannins and some juiciness. 92 points is my vote.  WS gave it 93, RP-91.  I think it is at peak and will drink well for another 5 years minimum.  It can be found for around $50.  A great bottle of mainly Grenache for a big meaty meal!  4 stars from me.  Salut….

paul autard chateauneuf du pape

Cune Crianza 2010

14 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


From Spain’s Rioja came this blend of Carignan, Grenache and Tempranillo that I had a hard time with.  The pro’s were all over the map with scores ranging from 90 down to 82.  I paid $13 for it but found it for $10 elsewhere.

Nose of earth and blue fruits with some hint of oak.  Atypical for Rioja- muted flavors of blueberry and bramble. Slightly rough tannins but good acidity seem to balance out in the end with a very muted finish overshadowed by the tannic frame. 86 points from me and 2 stars.  I think one merits another look as it may be bottle variation.  How is it possible to have such varied impression from others I wonder.  I will look for it in the future and report back.  Salut….

cune crianza

Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Grenache 2007

26 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


As you may know I am a huge fan of the Clarendon Hills winery.  They make smooth, polished, refined wines that ooze class and refinement.  This one was no exception to the formula.  Starting with pencil lead, blueberry and oregano on the nose followed by a fresh and bright intro with young tannins that coat the mouth. Blueberry, plum and a dash of pepper make for interesting notes on the palate while star anise on the finish really pops out.  This is a very young wine that has not filled out yet. 2017-2025 would be a better window unless you like a tannic monster for a juicy steak. 92 points now but the potential to go up in my opinion.  This wine is extracted and precise.   Priced originaly at $75, it’s most likely a Sunday roast wine rather than an everyday drinker.  4 stars. Salut….

Ps. I noticed that it had a double back label.  Someone has very precisely laid the label on top of the original.  I wonder if that was a labeling issue or if they needed to change it for import reasons.  I tried to slice it off but the sticker merely tore in my hands, intriguing.

clarendon hills blowout springs grenache

Orin Swift D66 2011

18 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


I have sampled Orin Swift’s The Prisoner and am familiar with their full on style.  Heady and high in alcohol with great extraction.  This wine is no different.  It all began with a rich dark purple hue in the glass.  Wild flowers, blackberries, earth and plum come across on the nose.  Violets and plums with layers of dark fruit compote and an earthy component attack the palate full bore.  I loved the very smooth mouthfeel that hides the whopping 15.2% alcohol.  Melded tannins and a balanced acidity contribute to the silkiness.  This wine is made from Grenache, Syrah and Carignan from the Catalan region.  Terroir of the French countryside is evident. Old world in fruit yet New world in extraction and style.  It finishes with a touch of cinnamon and blueberry pie. 2014-2020 would be my guess for a drinking window.  I give it 92 points and for $33 it deserves 5 stars.  Deeeelish.  Salut…..

orin swift d66

El Angosto Los Almendros 2009

08 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this Spanish blend of Garnacha Tintorera, Syrah and Marselan but it sure looked good in the glass.  Oregano, violets and black fruits on the nose were intriguing.  Pepper, blackberry, tar and capsicum on the initial attack were delightful.  Pinpoint tannins and a nice balance of acidity gave this wine a rounded and smooth mouthfeel.  The tannins are long , tingling the gum for over a minute- surprising.  I drank it with smoked pork one night, but ended up drinking several more bottles of it this week with other dishes, all delightful pairings.  Focus on  juicy steak or hearty stews for the best results.  This is a really versatile and delicious wine with a drinking window of 2014-2019.  It gets 91 points from me and 4 stars with its $25 price point.  Salut….El Angosto Almendros Single Vineyard Tinto

Cat Amongst The Pigeons Shiraz Grenache 2008

16 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


I bought this one sight unseen from my local dealer who was having a bin-end sale.  It normally retailed for about $16.  I liked it, a lot.  From the Barossa Valley it oozed class and warmth, starting with a full-on nose of Asian Plums, black cherries and blackberries- gorgeous.  Picture a bowl full of dark fruits….

Brooding black berries and eucalyptus with some smoke and tar hit the palate nicely with some polished tannins and slight acidity.  A long finish of chocolate and earth mingle with some plum jam to finish things off.  At 5 years of bottle age it is at peak and will go on for another 3 years I reckon.  For the price I paid I would get more if I could.  92 points and 5 stars in my book for this 57% Shiraz, 43% Grenache blend that hid it’s 14.9% alcohol perfectly.  Plus, it’s a cool name and a great label!  Salut….

cat amongst the pigeons shiraz grenache

Pablo Gran Viu Finca Santiaga 2004

03 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Wow, this wine was good….Blackberry and herbs on the nose after coaxing, it seemed closed at first but opened nicely.  Juicy acidity, melded tannins and a core of black fruits with an earthy touch were my introduction.  The wine is big, bold and powerful, packing a 15.5% punch which never showed up. Plums on the mid palate with some teeth searing tannins became evident as the wine evolved.  What had started out as a mature wine quickly transformed into a rather young wine (at 10 years of age already).  I timed a long finish with some road tar, black berries and orange peel on the tail end, quite complex.  This wine is till too young- 2015-2025 would be my guess.  It is a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Vidadillo from Aragon in Spain. It got high marks from the pro’s and I agree with their 94 points.  I found it online for about $60.  4 stars for this complex wine with great cellaring potential.  Salut….

IMG_1103

 

Chateau Sainte Marthe 2011

18 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I picked this Languedoc blend up for about $9 for a casual drink with the boys.  I knew nothing about it except its origin and vintage.  I guessed at the blend, 50% Syrah with the rest being Grenache and Mourverdre.  I initially got some red cherries on the nose which later turned somewhat oxidized.  A certain phenolic component also came through after the bottle had been open for a while.  On the initial palate I was rewarded with straightforward flavors of kirsch, red currants and a rubber component akin to car tires (kinda weird, I know).  The structure of this wine is very basic and meant for easy, short-term drinking with very little tannins but decent acidity.  The wine took on another dimension as I mentioned with some air time, it became more rustic with that oxidizing nose which did not really bother me.  I have another bottle which I will try, reporting back with any major deviations.  I would think this wine is a solid 83 points and 2 stars in my book.  It’s hard to find decent wine for under $10, but this bottle should do in a pinch, even with its mid-bottle morphing.  Salut….

IMG_0651

d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original 2010

29 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


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….

IMG_0601