Bodegas San Huberto Syrah 2002

Variety: Syrah
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2002
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: very elegat, and gentle, forest fruit preserve, spices, bottle age
Taste: medium body, small wild cherries, still very good tannins and acidity, slightly flatter in the mid, palate, but ascending profile, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: game food  
Overall score: 4+8+10+6+6+50=84
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: cork (single piece)
Interesting if you compare this Syrah to Cab Sauv from the same winery and vintage tasted recently here. The Syrah is weaker in the taste and I would expect more round profile with more jammy tones, rather it is slightly flatter and only acidity keeps it alive. It comes from high altitudes (1450) vineyards, perhaps these may not be that suitable for Syrah like Cab
.

Yealands Way Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc  
Country of origin: New Zealand
Wine appellation: Marlborough
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: watery yellow
Bouquet: white currant, gooseberry, nettle
Taste: medium body, white grapefruit, white currant, gooseberry, very dry, good acidity, at the end slight bitterness, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 4+7+12+6+6+50=85
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: screw cap 
Pleasant SB with more grassy character than the passion fruit, which is so typical for Marlborough region.

Vinařství Žídek Chardonnay 2010 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Popice village, Svidrunk vineard
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 12.5%

Residual sugar: 20.2g/l

Acidity: 8.9g/l
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: nice tropical fruit, clean, fresh very fruity, peach and almost candy profile
Taste: light to medium body, white grapefruit, hint of pinepple and lime, considering the high residual sugar it does not feel sweet due to very high acidity, rather offdry, at the end the grapefruit takes dominant stance, medium finish
Recommended food pairing:  fruit salads
Overall score: 3+7+9+5+5+50= 80
Price: CZK 195
Stopper: cork

This was a gift and I was looking fw to taste it as I really enjoy whites from 2010 vintage due to difficult conditions and thus lots of extracts. This one, however, is a dissapointment as it lacks the structure in the mounth and has more bitterness one would expect.

Vinařství Libor Veverka Chardonnay 2008 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic  
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Čejkovice village
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium yellow 
Bouquet: ripe tropical fruit, mango,pineapple, good bottle age 
Taste: medium to full body, very dry, similar to nose dominant is pineapple accompanied bz good mineralitz, at the end there is touch of grapefruit, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pultry
Overall score: 4+7+10+6+6+50=83
Price: CZK 190 in 2009
Stopper: cork
Reasonably dry Chardonnay, which already shows bottle maturity with no oxidation.It looks much fruitier than it is in the nose. The taste is very dry. I guess all residual sugar was transformed to alcohol, 13.5% is not small considering 2008 vintage not being considered hot.

Patria Kobylí Sauvignon 2006 Výběr z Hroznů

Tasting notes are identical to those from November 2012 here.

Víno Mikulov Sommelier Club Ryzlink Vlašský 2007 pozdní sběr

Variety: WelshRiesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub appellation, Mikkulov village, Valtická vineyard
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 11.0%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: herbs, fruits, nuts, bottle age
Taste: medium body, minerality, dry citrus fruit, still good acidity and medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pork schnitzel
Overall score: 85 (4+8+11+6+6+50)
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: plastic cork
Interesting if you compare it my friends tasting in October this year here.

Viu Manent Merlot Reserva 2006

Variety: Merlot
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Colchagua valley
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: deep ruby red
Bouquet: dominant is black sour cherry supported by blackberries and touch of black chocolate
Taste: medium to full body, overripe black sour cherries, good structure and balance between concentrated fruit, pleasant acidity and touch of tannins, at the end bit of licorice and hint of black chocolate, long warm (slightly alcoholic)finish
Recommended food pairing: chocolate based desserts
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6=84
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: cork
Round big fruity and powerful new world style Merlot. Alcohol is slightly more visible at the end than ideal.

Santa Rita Medalla Real Special Reserve Merlot 1997

Variety: Merlot

Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Casablanca Valley
Vintage: 1997
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: deep garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: Expressive, coffee, strawberries preserve, cedar wood, leather
Taste: medium body, arabica espresso, cranberries, strawberries preserve, spices, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: game food
Overall score: 5+9+12+7+7+50= 90
Price: CZK 299
Stopper: single piece of cork 50mm long

This is another surprise from my cellar. I was a bit curious whether the wine will be OK considering its age. The good sine was the super quality cork and initial nose, which was fantastic and overwhelming. in taste the dominant were secondary and tertiary tones lightly supported by fruit. Very pleasant wine showing that some better examples from new world can age appropriately.

 

Vinselekt Michlovský Merlot Chateau Dowina 2008 pozdní sběr nefiltrováno barrique

Variety: 100% Merlot
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Perná village, Věstoňsko vineyard
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0 %
Color: medium ruby red with violet meniscus
Bouquet: predominantly fruity, black cherries, touch of plums with hint of oak
Taste: medium body, sour cherries, good acidity,slightly spicy at the end of the taste profile, light tannins, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: beef casserole
Overall score: 83
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: cork
Good Merlot from Moravia. Nice combination of fruit and very light oak.

Peter Mertes Turmfalke Grauer Burgunder 2007

Notes are identical as in September 2012. Very nice PG indeed!

Bodegas San Huberto Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2002
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: cassis marmalade, canned cherries, hint of coffee
Taste: medium body, canned black currant, very plesant and mouth drying tannins, touch of mocca, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: game food  
Overall score: 86
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: cork (single piece)
Comparing to Merlot from the same winery, but 2005 vintage tasted in November 2012, this Cab Sauv is much better. I think the main reason is the real cork stopper in this one, which preserved it much longer. It is perfectly aged with excellent tannins.

Tesco Finest Viña Mara Rioja Reserva 2004

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Rioja
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: expressive, animal tones (wet leather), cedar wood, vanilla with, cherries preserve, spices
Taste: medium body, very good structure, starting with wild cherries following with the spices, cinamoon, perfect acidity followed by gentle and refined tannins rounding it up nicely, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: dry salamis
Overall score: 4+8+12+7+8=89
Price: CZK 199 in promo
Perfect wine, especially considering the price I got it for. Please check the other vintages in the search engines of the same wine. It is made by Baron de Ley - very good producer in Rioja.

Viña Albali Gran Reserva 2004 DO

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from November 2012 apply.

Georgian Wine Saperavi

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Ukraine
Wine appellation: ??
Vintage: NV, from the web we guess 2009
Alcohol content: 10.5 - 12.0%  
Color: deeper ruby red
Bouquet: ripe sour cherries, slightly sweet fruit
Taste:medium body, savoury flavor, black sour cherries,herby, very good (but still young) tannins, medium t longer finish
Overall score: 4+8+10+6+6=84
Price: CZk 146
Stopper: cork (horribly short and pieces smudged together)
Interestring choice, horrible label, but wine OK. Needs aging, but with this label?

Undurraga Aliwen Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Carménère 2010

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Rapel Valley
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: dark ruby red with violet meniscus
Bouquet: cassis, blackcherries, spiciness, hin of black chocolate
Taste: medium body, black cherries, black currant, nice pepper tones, plesant acidity, still visible and slightly harsher tannins,medium finish
Recommended food pairing: steak
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 170
Stopper: screw cap
Needs to age for 3 years at least to round and soften up, but already show nice potential.

Garcia Carrion Antano Rioja 2007 Crianza

Variety: Tempranillo Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo
Country of origin: Spain 
Wine appellation: Rioja
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: raspberries, cherries, cedar wood
Taste: medium body, red sour cherries, still very austere acidity, oak, touch of black chocolate, good tannins,  medium finish
Recommended food pairing: dry slami
Overall score: 84
Price: EUR 5.50
Stopper: cork (pieces)
Perfect value/price ratio Rioja. It feels still young due to considerable acidity and not as mild tannins as one would expect. It would probably go better in 2 years.

Gran Sangre de Toro Reserva 2000

Variety: Grenache, Mazuelo, Syrah
Country of origin: Spain 
Wine appellation: Penedes
Vintage: 2000
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: deep garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: raisins, jammed sour cherries, some oak, hint of coffee
Taste: medium body, canned sour cherries, spices, mild and pleasant tannins, surprisingly good acidity considering the age,  medium finish
Recommended food pairing: venison
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 299
Stopper: cork
Found this bottle whilst organizing my cellar. I remember When I got it in 2005. The wine is probably peaking. I was surprised of the acidity it still has, it must have been quite unpleasant when young.

Les Maitres Goustiers Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2007 AOC

Tasting notes are identical to ones from 2nd January this year here.

Finca La Emperatriz 2004 Reserva

Variety: 90% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 2% Garnacha, 2% Viura
Country of origin: Spain 
Wine appellation: Rioja
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: deep ruby red
Bouquet: funky, wood, vanilla, fresh overripe mullberries, blackberries with overripe black cherries
Taste: medium to full body,  perfctly balanced between the fruit, excellent tannis drying our mouth, and wood, round, black sour cherries, fantastic tannins, long finish
Recommended food pairing: fuet
Overall score: 5+9+13+7.5+8=92.5
Price: EUR 20
Stopper: cork
Excellent Rioja, very complex nose is followed by similar taste profile where the big fruit is balanced by wood and stunning tannins, which stays in the mouth forever.

Massandra Cabenet Sauvignon 2009

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Ukraine
Wine appellation: ??
Vintage: NV, from the web we guess 2009
Alcohol content: 11.0%  
Color: medium red
Bouquet: small red cherries, tomatoes wines, hint of earth
Taste:light to medium body, canned black currant, slightly more vegetal with good tannins, but lacing the profile, flat and shortb to medium finish
Overall score: 3+7+9+4+5=78
Price: CZk 148
Stopper: cork (horribly short and pieces smudged together)

Spice Route Shiraz 2001

Variety: Shiraz
Country of origin:South Africa
Wine appelation: Swartland
Vintage: 2001
Alcohol content: 14.3%
Residual sugar: 1.9g/l
Acidity: 5.9g/l
Color: deep black red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: canned forrest fruit, mainly blackberries, smoke, coffee, touch of vanilla
Taste: medium to full , perfectly round, blackberries preserve, black pepper, stunning smooth and adult tannins, very dry, but feels sweet due to alcohol and tannins, long finish, taste stays in the mouth for ages
Recommended food pairing: roast beef, steak
Overall score: 4+8+13+8+8= 91
Price: CZK 500
Stopper: cork
Excellent Shiraz! Stunning bottle maturity and balance between fruit, oak and still very visible yet mature tannins.
2001 was a Flagship vintage. It was harvested from cordon pruned vines at Rheeboksfontein in Malmesbury. The vineyard is on a South facing slope, at an altitude of about 150m above sea level. Sea breezes cool the area down at night. The soils on this farm are red ferric Oakleaf. These are suitable for dry land viticulture as they hold moisture well. The yield of these 14-year-old vines was 5 tons/ha in 2001. The fruit was very small and concentrated in colour and flavour.

Bundu Star Chenin Blanc 2008

Variety: Chenin  Blanc
Country of origin: South Africa
Wine appellation: Western Cape
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet:  canned gooseberry, lemon, slight bottle age
Taste: medium body, similar to taste canned gooseberry, lime acidity, medium finish 
Overall score: 80
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: plastic cork
Basic Chenin serve as preparing the taste buds.
 

Terre dei Roveri Barolo 2007 DOCG

Variety: 100% Nebbiolo
Country of origin: Italy 
Wine appellation: Piedmont
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: light garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: structured, leather, canned fruit, mainly cherries, vanilla
Taste: medium to full body, red cherries, mouth drying tannins, plums, longer finish 
Recommended food pairing: dry salami, sausages
Overall score: 88
Price CZK 500
Stopper: cork
Plesant, more tannic style of Barolo, leave it to age for 2 more years.

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Tocornal

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appelation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13%
Color:dark garnet red
Bouquet: black currant preserve, hint of coffee
Taste: medium body, dry red fruits, black currant preserve, sweet tannis , touch of coffee, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: chocolate cake
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: plastic cork
NIce properly aged cab sauv.

Castello della Sala Cervaro della Sala 2008

Variety: Chardonnay, Grechetto
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Umbria
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: very expressive and seductive, grilled pineapple, toast with hazelnuts, perfect marriage between fruits and oak
Taste: medium to full body, very ripe tropical fruit character, grilled pineapple, mango, toasts, butter, long enjoyable finish
Recommended food pairing: mushroom cream sauce and pasta, pork loin
Overall score: 90
Price: CZK  1300
Stopper: single piece of cork (45 mm)
Perfectly done oaked chardonnay, style is between great Burgundys and oaky Californian Chards. We had pasta with cream mushroom sauce and I was looking for oak Chard to go with that and opened this one and to be honest I made very good choice!

Roquevale Tinto da Talha Grande Escolha 2003

Variety: Touriga Nacional, Aragones
Country of origin: Portugal
Wine appellation: Alentejo
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: blackish red
Bouquet: black sour cherries, touc of blackberries and black chocolate
Taste: medium body, similar to nose dominant are black sour cherries, excellent and delicate mouth drying tannins, black chocolate, still very good acidity, long finish
Recommended food pairing: pepper fuet
Overall score: 89
Price: CZK 347
Stopper: cork
Very good wine,  I love the big black sour cherries fruit taste with perfect tannins, good acidity and nice black chocolate. On top of that this all is wrapped in very good priced bottle considering the quality!

Concha y Toro Sunrise Chardonnay 2007

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium yellow 
Bouquet: tropical fruit, pineapple, citrusy
Taste: medium body, similar to taste dominant are tropical ripe fruits mainly pineapple, followed by touch of toast and orange peel, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pasta with cheese cream sauce
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 179 
Stopper: cork
Very good example of properly done Chardonnay for very good price. Check the previous vintages on the blog Sunrise is allways best value/price wine from Concha y Toro.