Monday, March 29, 2010

Jinda-Lee Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: South Eastern Australia
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 11.0%
Residual sugar: 9.0g/l
Acidity: 6.0g/l
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: white peach, green mellon, very fruity style
Taste: light to medium body, white grapefruit, peach, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pasta with pesto, salads
Overall score: 80
Price: CZK 130
Stopper: plastic  cork
OK summer wine with dominant peach fruit character.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

d'Arenberg the Footbolt Shiraz 2005

Variety: 100% Shiraz
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Residual sugar: 0.7g/l
Acidity: 7.0 g/l
Color: very deep ruby red
Bouquet: cherries, plums, vanilla, mulberry, sweet spices, jammy, carob
Taste: medium to full body, blackberry, sour cherry, cassis, round, soft tannins, nicely balanced wine with nice oak integration, sour cherry acidity in the finish, medium to long finish
Recommended food pairing: steak with port reduction sauce
Overall score: 86
Price: 350 CZK
Stopper: cork
Nice example of Aussie Shiraz, very jammy in the nose with nice mulberry and vanilla characteristics. In the taste it is spicy with visible cassis and blackberries tones. In the end there is this (for Australia surprising) acidity which holds it fresh, but somehow takes the overall impression down. After we tasted it we discovered the acidity to stand at 7.0 grams per liter, which is surprisingly a lot for hot climate region.

Carmin Monsaraz Branco 2006

Variety: Arinto, Antao Vaz, Perrum,Rabo de Ovelha, Síria
Country of origin: Portugal
Wine appellation: Alentejo
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: g/l
Acidity: g/l
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: fruity aroma combined with white flowers, citrus tones
Taste: medium to full body, nice minerality and ripeness, smooth, mirabelle, zesty acidity,white grapefruit, at the end slight bitterness, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: seafood, salads
Overall score: 82
Price CZK 125
Stopper: cork
Nice round example of Portuguese white wine. Quite round, nicely settled with juicy acidity.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Peter Lehmann Stonewell Barossa Shiraz 2002

Variety: 100% Shiraz
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: Barossa valley
Vintage: 2002
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Residual sugar: 1.9g/l
Acidity: 6.29g/l
Color: black with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: canned blackberries, concentrated forest fruits marmalade, coffee, spices
Taste: full body, concentrated aroma of blackberries, black chocolate, coffee, vanilla, nice pepperness, velvety tannins, long lingering finish
Recommended food pairing:nice sirloin steak
Overall score: 89
Price: CZK 1200 on the web
Stopper: cork
Definitely nice Shiraz!! Dense color, with jammy, coffee and chocolate taste and nice long finish. It is peaking now, so I would not risk to store it more if I had some bottles (which I do not :().

Allee Bleue Starlette Rouge 2006

Variety: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz
Country of origin: South Africa
Wine appellation: Western cape
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 15.0%
Residual sugar: 2.1g/l
Acidity: 6.0g/l
Color: deep red with ruby meniscus
Bouquet: village farmyard, animal tones, leather, coffee, hint of black cherries
Taste: full body, black cherries, black chocolate, very nice and integrated tannins, round, balanced, medium to long finish
Recommended food pairing: lamb, Camembert cheese
Overall score: 87
Price: CZK 510 on the web
Stopper: cork
This was absolutely interesting wine, the bouquet was so animal that we had difficulties to recognize any fruit. The taste however was lovely with nice round tannins, fruits, chocolate and slight spiciness.

Clavien Claudy Pinot Noir 2005 AOC

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Switzerland
Wine appellation: Valais
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar:  g/l
Acidity: g/l
Color: lighter garnet
Bouquet:  inexpressive, almost unnoticeable, maybe hint of sour cherries
Taste:  higher acidity, slight tones of sour cherries, a bit harsh
Recommended food pairing: ??
Overall score: 72
Price: CZK 490
Stopper: cork
Absolutely uninteresting wine, did not have any bouquet at all, in taste was dominant acidity and almost no fruits.

Vinextra 99

Variety: 99% Welsh Riesling, 1% Pinot Gris and Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation
Vintage: non vintage, prod. #: 065
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Residual sugar: 2.3 g/l
Acidity: 6.3g/l
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: lime, grass, minerality, flowers
Taste: lighter to medium body, juicy acidity, lime, white grapefruit, medium to long finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 81
Price: CZK 170 in 2009
Stopper: vino lok (glass stopper)
Quite nice example of flowery type of Welsh Riesling, it does not have the complexity of the ones from Mikros or Galant, but for summer it is ideal wine to accompany some nice fish.

Genus Regis Sauvignon Pozdní sběr 2004

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Znojmo-konice village, Kraví hora vineyard
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 12.2%
Residual sugar: g/l
Acidity: g/l
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: expressive, ripe peach, canned gooseberries, minerality, flowers
Taste: medium body, canned gooseberries, orange, nice rounded acidity with slight residual sugar nicely embedded in the taste, medium to long finish
Recommended food pairing: chicken rolls stuffed with olives
Overall score: 85
Price: CZK 150 in 2006
Stopper: cork
This is very nice example of how 2004 vintage, which was famous for its acidity could develop when done properly and allowed to soften and get round. In this wine also it was nicely accompanied by small residual sugar, which kept it and allow it to age properly. yamie, I really liked this bottle:).

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Morande Carmenere 2002

I checked the tasting notes from September to see any development of the wine and I must say i would score it 85 points now. I would add to the characteristics described here nice spiciness in the bouquet and taste we have experienced this time. It was fabulous

Golden Kaan Shiraz 2005

I checked my tastings notes from November tasting of this wine and they fit perfectly so I will include just the link.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Chamarre Cabernet Sauvignon Grenache 2007

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache
Country of origin:France
Wine appellation:??
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: very fruity, sour cherries, cherries, black currant, hint of black chocolate
Taste:medium body, similar fruity characteristics as in the nose are repeated in the taste with dominant black currant and cherries, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pate with cranberry marmalade
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 130
Stopper: plastic
Quite nice example of Cab Sav blend with nice fruitiness accompanied by chocolate tones and some spiciness.

Jurtschitsch GrüVe 2008

Variety: 100% Gruner Veltliner
Country of origin:Austria
Wine appellation:Kamptal
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: pale yellow with green hue
Bouquet: expressive, citrus tones, lime, white pepper
Taste:light to medium body, very zesty, juicy acidity, lime,crisp, peppery spice with lingering medium finish
Recommended food pairing: summer drinking on hot day with excellent fish
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: screw cap
Amazing very fruity zesty, refreshing style of gruner veltliner with crispy acidity and nice pepperness.

Jedlička a Novák André pozdní sběr 2007

Variety: 100% Andre
Country of origin:Czech Republic
Wine appellation:Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Bořetice village,Kraví hora vineyard
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Residual sugar: 1.5 g/l
Acidity: 5.5 g/l
Color: ruby red with violet hue
Bouquet: very fruity, cherries, straightforward
Taste:light to medium body, higher acidity, sour cherries, young in the mouth, shorter finish
Recommended food pairing: BBQ
Overall score: 75
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: plastic cork
Very fruity style of Andre, slightly harsher than I would expect, it should definitely age for 1 to 2 years to round up.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Quattrocchi Barbera 2007

Variety: 100% Barbera
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.9%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: medium red
Bouquet: very fruity, red currant, sour cherries, slight spiciness
Taste:medium body, black sour cherries, a bit higher tannins, alcohol slightly standing out, at the end red grapefruit, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: steak, BBQ
Overall score: 83
Price: CZK 165
Stopper: plastic cork
Quite nice wine for everyday drinking. The only problem I had with this unoaked Barbera is slight bitterness at the end with and a bit higher alcohol.

Rosiere Syrah VdP 2005

Variety:Syrah
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Languedoc
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: medium rd, watery meniscus
Bouquet: canned strawberries, blackberries, spiciness,
Taste:lighter body, canned strawberries, little sweet, flat, short to medium finish
Recommended food pairing: dessert
Overall score: 72
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: cork
Not worth commenting.

Chateau Belén Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: ??
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: medium ruby
Bouquet: almost not present, orange, some spices
Taste:light body, empty, some cherries, flat, short finish
Recommended food pairing: nothing
Overall score: 69
Price: CZK 60
Stopper: cork
This wine can only be used for cooking:)

Vega Libre Reserva DO 2003

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Utiel Requena
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: light garnet with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: marmalade, canned sour cherries, vanilla
Taste:medium body, sour cherries, medium acidity, vanilla, medium to long finish
Recommended food pairing: matured cheese
Overall score: 83
Price: CZK ??? (on web EUR 6)
Stopper: cork
Reasonable style of reserva, it has marmelade tones with vanilla in the nose. Acidity in the taste differentiate it from more complex reservas.

Viña Tarapacá Syrah 2003

Variety: Syrah
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Maipo valley
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: deep red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: coffee, leather, forest fruit preserve
Taste:medium body, canned fruit, spiciness, coffee tones, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: T-bone steak
Overall score: 83
Price: CZK 200 in 2005
Stopper: cork
Very nice example of bottled aged Syrah, deep color, leather notes in the nose followed by taste of marmalade from blackberries with coffee.

Familia Schroeder Deseado de FS

Variety: 100% Torrontes
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Patagonia
Vintage: non vintage
Alcohol content: 9.8%
Residual sugar: 75.16 g/l
Acidity: 7.27 g/l
Color: light yellow, not intensive sparkling
Bouquet: flowers, citrus tones, quite aromatic
Taste:sweet, lighter body, muscatel intensive type of flavor, lychee
Recommended food pairing: desserts
Overall score: 75
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: cork
Not my favorite as it has quite a lot of residual sugar for me.

Santa Ema Merlot Reserve 2007

Variety: 100% Merlot
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Maipo Valley, Isla de Maipo
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: deeper ruby red
Bouquet: cherries, sour cherries, plums, vanilla
Taste:medium body, very soft and round, cherries, vanilla accompanied by nice oak tones from barrel, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pate with cranberries
Overall score: 86
Price: CZK 300
Stopper: cork
very good example of Merlot, nice, soft round, fruity with vanilla tones.

Santa Ema Carmenere Barrel Select 2007

Variety: 100% Carmenere
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Cachapoal Valley, Peumo
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: blackish red
Bouquet: forest fruit, blackberries, mulberries, overripe black cherries
Taste:medium body, very juicy, ripe berry fruits, black cherries with hint of spiciness and tones of chocolate, round tannins, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: caserrole
Overall score: 87
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: cork
Excellent example of Carmenere, very deep color, overripe black cherries, tones of black chocolate underpinned by nice spiciness.

Santa Ema Cabernet Sauvignon Selected Terroir 2008

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Maipo Valley, Isla de Maipo
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Residual sugar:
Acidity:
Color: deep ruby red
Bouquet: black currant, sour cherries
Taste:medium body, black currant, cherries, sour cherries, hint of chocolate
Recommended food pairing: Camembert cheese
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: screw top
Typical CabSauv, intense cassis tones, very fruity and still young.