Friday, October 31, 2014

Sileni Tahuna Pinot Noir 2004

13th bottle of this wine tasted. I love this Pinot, this is my save bet when feeling for good pinot. Tasting notes from September 14, 2014 apply. 

Robert Mondavi Chardonnay Woodbridge 2005

8th bottle tasted. Tasting notes are the same as August 19, 2014.

Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 2005

13th bottle of this vintage tasted. For tasting notes please refer to June 22, 2014 tasting.

Vinné Sklepy Lechovice Pálava 2004 pozdní sběr

2nd bottle of this Pálava was corked. 1st bottle tasted in February 2011

Víno Mikulov Sommelier Club Ryzlink vlašský 2012 pozdní sběr

2nd bottle of the wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as 2 weeks ago.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Sileni Tahuna Pinot Noir 2004

12th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from September 14, 2014 apply. 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Vina Jaraba Crianza 2007 DO

Variety: 80% Tempranillo x 10% Cabernet Sauvignon x 10% Merlot

Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: La Mancha
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: dark garnet red
Bouquet: nice fruit combined with the wood, overripe sour cherries marmelade, vanilla and light touch of chocolate and spices
Taste: medium bodied, similar to nose there are canned black sour cherries, black currant supported by light spiciness with proper tannins nicely integrated in the overall profile, a the end black chocolate and splash of vanilla, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fuet
Overall score: 4+7.5+12+6+7=86.5
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: single piece cork
This is 2nd bottle  (and I guess the last ) of 2007 vintage. As stated in January 2012 tasting notes this wine really had  a nice cellaring potential. Now, being opened, it looks it will  develop even further. I remember tye wine from very early when we tasted 2003 vintage.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Marques de Arienzo Rioja Reserva 2001 DOCa

4th bottle if this wine tasted. For interest check my notes from about 2 weeks ago as the description and the link to June notes really holds. By the way without even looking at the notes I took out dry jamon from my fridge to accompany this superb bottle maturity Rioja. 

Vinařství Přítluky Sylvánské zelené 2012 pozdní sběr

Variety: Sylvaner
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub appellation, Bulhary vineyard, Nad sklepy vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: quite zesty, citrus fruits, spicy, noticeable yeasts
Taste: light to medium body, citrus style, lime, lemon, carambola, pleasanr acidity nicely balanced by light residual sugar,  medium finish
Recommended food pairing: hot and spicy dishes
Overall score: 4+6+10+5+6=81
Price: CZK 200
Stopper:  cork
Very different to 2011 vintage tasted in August 2014. This vintage despite having higher residual sugar is nicely balanced by higher acidity and some freshness.  What I do not like is the slughtly faulty nose of the yeasts.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Michel Torino Coleccion 2005 Shiraz

3rd bottle tasted. Tasting notes are the same as in September 2014.

Robert Mondavi Woodbridge Zinfandel 2005

7th bottle of this wine tasted. August 2014 tasting notes apply.

Domaine De Tholomies La Chapelle Syrah-Grenache-Cinsault BIO 2011 IGP

Variety: Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault

Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Languedoc
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: dark ruby red with violet hues
Bouquet: fruity, blackberries, blueberries, spices, black sour cherries, hint of vanilla
Taste: medium body, similar to nose still very fruity at this point, blackberries, and ripe sour cherries, hint of herby and tar character, pepper, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: steak
Overall score: 3.5+7.5+11+7+7=86
Price CZK 180
Stopper: single piece cork
Quite young at this point the wine is predominantly fruit driven, however it has already some herby and spicy tones. This would be good candidate for cellaring.  Very good price/value ratio. 

Misiones de Rengo Chardonnay Reserva 2006

2nb bottle tasted. Tasting notes are the same as a week ago.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Chateau Valtice Rulandské modré 2007 výběr z hroznů

3rd and last bottle of this wine tasted . ine at the peak hence all 3 bottles bought were finished within 2 weeks. Tasting notes and scoring is the same as 2 weeks ago.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Chateau Lestage 2009 Listrac-Médoc Cru Bourgeois

Variety: 56% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdod
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Listrac-Médoc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: black sour cherries, spices, some smoke, it needs one day to open up fully
Taste: medium body, black sour cherries, black currant, generally fruity with quite high tannins and spices to nbalance the fruit, hint of black chocolate, nice longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7+50=87
Price: CZK 369
Stopper: single piece cork
Despite coming from fantastic hot 2009 vintage the wine is still very young though, initially it is very closed and rather fruity when opened. One day after opening the nose gets more visible with good combination of fruit and spices. In the taste it is quite tannic, it is nice Cru Bourgeois which needs cca 5 years to settle down. Also the alcohol is perfectly integrated. Looking back at my tasting notes of Chateau Fonréaud 2009 Listrac-Médoc Cru Bourgeois the wines  are quite similar, whereas this wine is slightly more on fruitier side. I bought one bottle to check it and I will buy a 6 case to cellar it. My guess it will age very nicely.
Technial sheet: http://www.chateau-lestage.com/fiches-techniques-pdf/lestage-fiche-technique.pdf

Domaine Chevalier Père et Fils Aloxe Corton 2007 AOC

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bourgogne, Aloxe Corton
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: dark garnet red
Bouquet: spices, smoke, sour cherries, tobacco
Taste: medium body, sour cherry, toast bread, fleshy, good tannins, wild plum, firm acidity, long finish
Recommended food pairing: pork roast
Overall score: 4+8+12.5+7+7.5+50=89
Price: CZK 990
Stopper: single piece cork
Nice smokier type of Pinot, developed nicely in the bottle next day after opening. Good bottle maturity. 

Kim Crawford Pinot Noir 2007

3rd and last bottle tasted. Tasting notes from 3 weeks ago apply.

Stapleton & Springer Pinot Noir 2009 Trkmanska

Variety: 100 % Pinot Noir

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Bořetice village, Trkmanska vineyard
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light garnet red with bricky meniscus, opaque
Bouquet: quite gentle, forest strawberries, hint of leather and vanilla
Taste: medium body, similar to nose there is quite delicate taste of forest strawberries accompanied by light touch of our cherries, all supported by light touch of vanilla, pleasant acidity, medium tannins, nice lingering longer finish
Overall score: 4+7.5+12+7+7=87.5
Price: CZK 480 in 2011
Stopper: single piece cork
4th bottle tastes of this wine, Looking at the previous tasting notes the wine lost some element of the nose, whereas the taste is still quite gentle with pleasant acidity and tannins with all supporting very nice longer finish.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Robert Mondavi Chardonnay Woodbridge 2005

7th bottle tasted. Tasting notes are the same as August 19, 2014.

Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 2005

12th bottle of this vintage tasted. For tasting notes please refer to June 22, 2014 tasting.

Nederburg Pinotage 2006

Variety: Pinotage
Country of origin: South Africa
Wine appellation: Western Cape
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: our cherries, coffee, spices
Taste: wild sour cherries, hint of spices, slightly higher acidity, red grapefruit, coffee, vanilla, at the end black cholate type tannins, very dry medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11.5+6.5+7=86
Price: CZK 220
Stopper: single piece cork
Oldest from the 3 Pinotages this bottle is slightly restrained in the nose, but quite nice in the taste, there is good mix of fruit, coffee, vanilla and chocolate. It needs time to air, then it shows up. By very narrow distance this was the best bottle, slightly less expressive of Robertson 2007 in the nose, but more complex in the taste and finish.
 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Robertson Winery Pinotage 2007

Compared to 08 this is more adult and more integrated. there are more pleasant coffee tones and slightly less fruits. My notes are almost the same and scoring is the same as 3 weeks ago.

Robertson Winery Pinotage 2008

Variety: Pinotage 

Country of origin: South Africa
Wine appellation: not stated
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium garnet red
Bouquet: canned fruit, cherries, coffee, spices
Taste: medium body, canned sour cherries, good acidity, followed by spices and coffee, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+10+6+6=83
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: cork
This is the first sample of the 3 pinotages. It combines fruit with the coffee, slightly less structure in the mouth.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Berberana Seleccion de Oro Criado en Barrica de Roble Americano Reservas Privadas 2007

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Castilla la Mancha
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: sour cherries, smell of big barrels, pretty straightforward, no complexity
Taste: medium body, similar to nose there are red sour cherries, higher acidity, more fruit driven than 12 months ageing in barrel would suggest, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fuet
Overall score: 4+6+10+6+6=82
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: cork
Quite basic tempranillo. 2008 vintage tasted in September 2011.

Robert Mondavi Woodbridge Zinfandel 2005

6th bottle of this wine tasted. same as 3 days ago I refer you to August 2014 tasting notes.

Stapleton & Springer Pinot Noir The Best Of Jaroslav Springer 2009

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Bořetice village
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 11.1%
Color: light garnet red with bricky meniscus, opaque
Bouquet: quite fruity, wild sour cherries, plums
Taste: light to medium body, quite gentle, wild forests strawberries, wild sour cherries, hint of red grapefruit, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 3+7+10+6+6=82
Price: CZK 360
Stopper: cork
What is strange it has this feel of light sparkling despite there is no refermenting visible in the color nor in the nose, which brought the score down.  This was the last and 2nd bottle of this wine, bought in Moravia at the winery the wine is at the peak. For the label please refer t my first tasting from January 2014.

Herbarium Moravicum Veltlínské Zelené 2011 pozdní sběr

8th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as a week ago.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Viña Tarapacá Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2003

4th botlle of this wine tasted. Nothing much to add to my September 2014 tasting notes. I very much like the coffee and spices element with super tannins, the oak is perfectly integrated. On blind I would not guess NW wine.

Chateau Les Maréchaux 2010 AOC

Variety:  Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Cote de Blaye
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium ruby red with violet hues
Bouquet: very fruity, black currant, overripe black sour cherry, mulberry, some spices
Taste: medium body, black sour cherries, black currant, almost towards blackberries, higher acidity, higher tannins, longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+10+7+7=85
Price: CZK 169
Stopper: single piece cork
There is lots of everything, but the wine is despite from excellent vintage very young. I like the tannins and the length in the mouth. It needs 3-5 years to settle down. Will buy some more to cellar.

Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay Reserva 2008

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: toast bread, overripe pineapple, hint of vanilla
Taste: medium body, round and creamy style, grilled pineapple, toast, butter, touch of vanilla, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: cream sauce dishes
Overall score: 4+7.5+11.5+7+7=87
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: single piece cork
2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Round, tropical and toasty. Very dry, and less vanilla, rather toast being present. Very good bottle maturity. For pictures please refer to August 2013 tasting.

Misiones de Rengo Chardonnay Reserva 2006

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Rapel Valley
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: tropical fruit, fresh pineapple, peach, green melon
Taste: medium to full body, fresh pineapple, good lime acidity, pomelo, hint of coconut, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: salmon
Overall score: 4+7.5+11+6+7+50=85.5
Price: CZK 159
Stopper: single piece cork
Another discovery in my cellar. I was a bit afraid looking at 09 vintage tasted notes that I already tasted 5 bottles the wine will be "gone".  To my surprise the wine is quite different, paler in color and no way so round and full and less oaky, rather fresh and quite drinkable.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Undurraga Aliwen Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah Reserva 2007

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: dark ruby red
Bouquet: fruity, cassis, blackberries, spices, very clean and precise, hint of black chocolate, alcohol slightly standing out
Taste: medium body, canned forest fruit, blackberries, black currant, pepper, medium tannins, black chocolate, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: steak
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7=85
Price: CZK 170
Stopper: single piece cork
Technically precise NW wine. The percentage of the varieties is not stated, but it looks like there is quite a lot of Shiraz from both the nose and taste.

Ernest & Julio Gallo Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

6th bottle of 2006 vintage tasted. The notes are the same as in June 2014.

Podere La Prendina Estate Pinot Grigio 2013 IGT

Variety: Pinot Gris
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Alto Mincio, Lombardy
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 12,5%
Color: watery, almost see through
Bouquet: zesty, lemon, pear
Taste: light to medium body, slightly flatter in the mid palate, white pear, light citrus acidity and I d say slight residual sugar, still being dry though, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: salad
Overall score: 3+7+10+5+5+50=80
Price CZK 200
Stopper: screw cap
Straightforward PG.

Robertson Winery Chardonnay 2008

4th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from July 25, 2014 still apply.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Jedlička a Novák Ryzlink rýnský 2011 pozdní sběr

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as in February 2014. 

Ernest & Julio Gallo Family Zinfandel 2005

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from July 2014 apply.

Robert Mondavi Woodbridge Zinfandel 2005

5th bottle of this wine tasted. August 2014 tasting notes apply.

Tesco Finest Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Last (7th) bottle of this wine tasted. detail tasting notes from June 2014 apply.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Cantine Settesoli Fiano 2008 IGT

6th and last bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as in April 2014.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Marques de Arienzo Rioja Reserva 2001 DOCa

3rd bottle if this wine tasted. As mentioned in July 2014 there is really nothing to add to my June 2014 tasting. I was looking for some nice Old World style wine as I am quite overpowered with the intensity of the New World wines and that was superb choice, perfect bottle maturity, fruit already transformed into proper canned form accompanied by leather, earth, spices. One of the treasure from my cellar recently discovered upon organizing it. Now I understand the hobby of storing old old world wines, this would be very exceptionally replicated with the new world wines (yes there are some exceptions, I know).

Herbarium Moravicum Veltlínské Zelené 2011 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Gruner Veltliner
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation
Vintage: 2011, Lotte: 1705121156
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: canned fruit, hint of green pepper
Taste: medium body, lemon marmalade, lower acidity, hint of green pepper, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pork
Overall score: 4+6+10+5+5=80
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: cork
7th bottle of this vintage tasted. For previous tasting look here (you can find pictures there). The wine started to loose the freshness, so the remaining bottles to be finished soon.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Chateau Valtice Rulandské modré 2007 výběr z hroznů

Tasting notes and scoring is the same as 2 days ago.

Víno Mikulov Sommelier Club Ryzlink vlašský 2012 pozdní sběr

Variety: Welsh Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub appellation, Milovice village, Milovické terasy vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: fruity, hint of apricot, greengage
Taste: medium body, rounder style, lower acidity, similar to nose there is apricot with light citrus fruits, grapefruit being the major one at the end of the taste profile, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pork schnitzel
Overall score: 4+7+10+6+6=83
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: plastic cork
Not bad  wine but not exciting Welsh Riesling either, the bottle looks exactly the same as this one tasted in February 2014, but it is from different vineyard (despite being from the same village).

Vinné Sklepy Lechovice Sauvignon 2011 kabinet

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub appellation, Božice village, Stará hora vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: grass, hint of nettle
Taste: medium body, lime, zesty, white currant, higher acidity, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 4+7+10+6+6=83
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: plastic cork 
despite 2011 being hot vintage the wine is very fresh and zesty. I liked the acidity a lot, but this is too much as there is no counterpart to it neither in the nose nor taste.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Finca Agostino Malbec 2007

Variety: Malbec
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: , Mendoza, 50% Maipo, 50% Uco Valley
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: deep ruby red wit garnet hues
Bouquet: eucalyptus, plums, dark overripe cherry, coffee, hint of tobacco, mint
Taste: medium body, sour cherries preserve, plums, wood, medium very pleasant mouth drying tannins, good acidity, longer nicely drying finish
Recommended food pairing:
Overall score: 4+7.5+11.5+7+7=87
Price: CZK 235
Stopper: single piece cork
Tasting at the same time with Finca Flichman this is different level, in color it is darker, in the nose it is less fruit driven more complex style and in the nose it feels more adult, less childish. 

Finca Flichman Malbec Reserva 2013

Variety: Malbec
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red with violet hue
Bouquet: very fruity, black cherries, plums, raspberries
Taste: medium body, similar to nose it is quite fruity wine, raspberries, black cherries, medium  (still slightly unripe) tannins hint of coffee and oak,  medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing:
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6=84
Price: CZK 159
Stopper: single piece cork
Still quite young Malbec with higher unripe tannins. It needs 3-6- years to be drinkable.
VINO FINCA FLICHMAN MALBEC RESERVA 750 ML

Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2010

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium to darker ruby red with violet hues
Bouquet: cassis, overripe black sour cherries, vanilla, hint of toast
Taste: medium body, excellent fruit, black currant, black sour cherries, very good acidity, medium tannins (not green nor harsh at all), vanilla, toast, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: BBQ
Overall score: 4+7.5+11+6+7=85.5
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: single piece cork
Casillero del Diablo is always save bet, properly done new world Cab Sauv, nothing more to it, but also no disappointment and properly "engineered" Cab. It is perfectly drinkable at the moment, but will improve over 2-5 years for sure.

Ernest & Julio Gallo Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

5th bottle of 2006 vintage tasted. The notes are the same as in June 2014.

Argento Selección Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red with lighter red meniscus
Bouquet: subdued, black currant and cherries preserve, hint of coffee
Taste: medium body, cherries, black currant preserve, light tannins, hint of coffee and spices, at the ed burning alcohol, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: venison
Overall score: 4+6+9+5+5+50=79
Price: CZK 110
Stopper: screw cap
Very ordinary Cab. I lack the fruit, but at the same time there is no animal or leather character to it. Unappealing drinking.