Thursday, March 31, 2016

Cimarosa Estate Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Looking at my tasting notes of  13 vintage tasted in June 2014, the wine is almost the same.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Vinařství Halm Frankovka 2006 výběr z hroznů

5th bottle of this wine tasted. tasting notes from May 12, 2015 apply.

Habánské sklepy Rulandské Modré 2013 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Velké Pavlovice village, Trkmanska vineyard
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: light garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: small red pit fruts, cranberries
Taste: medium body, small red wild sour cheriies, granate apple, very gentle and one would say even flatter in the mid profile, however with good acidity, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+10.5+6.5+6.5=84
Price: CZK 179 on special
Stopper: single piece cork
Fairly good Pinot, very balanced in the nose , taste and the lenght, it misses slightly the mid profile. Check the 11 vintage tasted in February 2014 and 08 vintage tasted in December 2011, both from the same vineyard.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Vinařství Halm Frankovka 2006 výběr z hroznů

4th bottle of this wine tasted. tasting notes from May 12, 2015 apply.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Seabird Island Sauvignon Blanc 2014

2nd botlle of this wine tasted. For detailed tasting notes please refer to March 25, 2016.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Rosemount Estate Diamond Cellars Shiraz Cabernet 2007

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to January 17, 2016.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Quattrocchi Barbera 2006 Gran Reserva

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from November 22, 2015 do apply.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Seabird Island Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: New Zealand
Wine appellation: Marlborough
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: lime, white currant, gooseberry
Taste: medium body, very zesty style, lime, white currant, white grapefruit, crispy acidity,  longer finish
Overall score: 4+7.5+11.5+7+7+50=86.5
Price: CZK 208
Stopper: screw cap
Very nice Sauv Blanc. Looking at the other tastings of the previous vintages, this vintage seems to be better and fresher and more balanced with slightly lower acidity.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Habánské sklepy Zweigeltrebe 2012 pozdní sběr

Variety: Zweigeltrebe

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, čejkovice village, Šatrapky vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium red with lighter meniscus
Bouquet: green pepper, very spicy, red cherries
Taste: medium body, sour cherries, good fruit, medium and slightly harsher tannins, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+10.5+6.5+6.5+50=84
Price: CZK 189
Stopper: single piece cork
Comparing to Saint Laurent this is harsher and less elegant with more masculine style. 

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Habánské sklepy Svatovavřinecké 2011 pozdní sběr

Variety: Saint Laurent
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovácko sub-appellation
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: plums, black cherries, even going to sour cherries preserve with hint of alcohol
Taste: medium body, black cherries,very good structure, pleasant tannins, huge fruit, but nicely aged and edges smoothed out, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6.5+7=85.5
Price: CZK 189
Stopper: single piece cork
Very positive surprise and very droinkable wine indeed. good break from Cab Sauv or other varieties to something more gentle and fruity.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 2015

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: South Eastern Australia
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol content: 13.1.%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: quite expressive on the combination of fruit and oak, green melon, vanilla, slightly smokey aroma
Taste: medium body, green melon, lime, light vanilla and toast, still some light yeasty profile, longer finish
Overall score: 3.5+7+10.5+6.5+6.5=84
Price: CZK 100 on special
Stopper: screw cap
Very young and fruity profile with visible oak. Previous vintage tasted in April 14, 2015 wity very similar taste profile.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Undurraga U Chardonnay 2014

5th bottle of this wine tasted. Looking at my tasting notes from one year ago April 14, 2015 the wine did not change much, the nose is not that zesty, and taste is pretty much the same with white grapefruit anf lime being dominant and some peinapple. There is this slight bitterness in the taste profile, which is not very pleasant. Basic quaffer for very very cheap price.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Viña Albali Gran Reserva 2004 DO

5th botlle of this wine tasted. Same experienc ewith the nose as the 4th botlle tasted in March 4, 2016.

Concha y Toro Sunrise Chardonnay 2011

6th bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to my tasting in March 6, 2016.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Undurraga U Sauvignon Blanc 2014

5th bottle of this wine tasted. For detailed notes please refer to December 30, 2014 tasting.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Vinařství Lahofer Dornfelder 2011 výběr z hroznů

4th bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to November 9, 2015.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Monday, March 14, 2016

Concha y Toro Sunrise Chardonnay 2011

5th bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to my tasting 4 days ago in March 6, 2016.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Herbarium Moravicum Ryzlink vlašský 2013 pozdní sběr (MIkulov, lot: 09011153116)

6th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from January 19, 2016 do apply. Nice WR from cod vintage

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Espiritu de Chile Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2006

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Curicó valley
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: black sour cherries and black currant preserve, vanilla, light coffee
Taste: medium to full body, black currant jam, coffe, vanilla, visible, but smooth tannins, lsome black chocolate, longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7=87
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: single piece cork
4th botlle of this wine tasted. looking at the previous tasting notes the alcohol is now more integrated. the wine is most likely at the peak of botlle maturity.

Herbarium Moravicum Ryzlink vlašský 2015 pozdní sběr (Mikulov, lot: 2202165175)

2nd botlle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to March 3, 2016 tasting.

Herbarium Moravicum Chardonnay 2011 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot: 2505121065)

5th botlle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from 3 days ago March 9, 2016 apply.

Friday, March 11, 2016

Viña Tarapacá Syrah 2007

5th bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to October 26, 2015.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Undurraga Aliwen Reserva Chardonnay 2013

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. As stated 4 days ago tasting notes from April 2015 are very much valid.

Concha y Toro Sunrise Chardonnay 2011

4th bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to my tasting 4 days ago in March 6, 2016.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Herbarium Moravicum Rulandské modré 2011 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot:1409131542)

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. the color and nose are exactly the same is the same as the notes from December 2013.  In the mouth you can feel forest strawberries, wild cherries, and even cranberries, very good acidity, gentle and smooth tannins, medium to longer finish. Wine at the perfect window of bottle maturity.
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6.5+50=84.5

Herbarium Moravicum Chardonnay 2011 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot: 2505121065)

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovacko sub-appellation
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: dry pineaaple, lemon crust, hint of herby tones, dry lemon peel
Taste: medium to full body, rounder profile, similar to nose there is penepple, grapefruit, lime, very good acidity profile, proper bottle aged and structure, longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+7+7=86
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: cork
4th botlle of this wine tasted. Fuller mouth profile, gentle and good botlle maturity. lost its expressive young bouquet, but gained and more mature adult profile. Check my tasting notes from tasting the 3rd bottle last year in February 20, 2015.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Herbarium Moravicum Rýnský ryzlink 2014 pozdní sběr (Mikulov, lot:1611154091)

2nd bottle of this wine tasted.  For tasting notes please refer to March 4, 2016 tasting.

Monday, March 7, 2016

Robertson Winery Merlot 2007

Variety: Merlot
Country of origin: South Africa
Wine appellation: Breede River
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: very jammy, cherries preserve, coffee
Taste: medium body, similar to nse there are canned or jammed cherries, coffee, medium to bigger mouth drying, tannins, pleasant acidity,  longer finish
Overall score: 3.5+6.5+10.5+7+6.5=84
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: cork
Average nose is note followed by better taste profile and mainly by the lenght and tannic finish.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Altos de Tamaron 2009 Ribera del Duero DO

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Ribera del Duero
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: dark red
Bouquet: gentle, black cherries preserve, some spiciness
Taste: medium body, black sour cherries, good acidity, medium still slightly unripe tannins, light touch of black chocolate, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fuet
Overall score: 4+6.5+10.5+7+6.5=84
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork
Reasonable Ribera with harder and yet not fully softned tannis.

Concha y Toro Sunrise Chardonnay 2011

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: tropical fruit, orange peel, pineapple
Taste: medium body, pineapple, grapefruit, medium acidity, slight bitterness at the end, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6+10+6+6=82
Price: CZK 179
Stopper: cork
3rd botlle of this wine tasted. Check my previous tasting in August 2015.

Undurraga Aliwen Reserva Chardonnay 2013

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from April 2015 are very much valid even for today, the color is slightly darker, oak nicely integrated.

Stapleton & Springer Blanc Pinot Noir 2015

Variety: 100% Pinot noir,
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Bořetice village, Čtvrtě vineyard
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: onion skin
Bouquet: forest strawberries, small overripe pears, one would say there is still the smell of fermenting fruit, close to the wines of autentists
Taste: medium body, very round, similar to nose forest strawberries, william pears, some biscuit, medium acidity, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: see below
Overall score: 4+7.5+11.5+6.5+7+50=86.5
Price: CZK 363
Definitely wine that would divide the audience. I would say it would be disqualified from many competitions as "faulty", but after 2 glasses I liked it more and more due to its special character. 

Wairau Cove Sauvignon Blanc 2015

8th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as in November 18, 2015.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Friday, March 4, 2016

Viña Albali Gran Reserva 2004 DO

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: visible wood, some animal tones, canned cherries, spices
Taste: medium body, canned sour cherries, lots of spices, light tannins, good acidity, touch of vanilla, slightly flatter in the mid profile, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+10.5+6.5+7=85
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: cork
4th botlle of this wine tasted. Immediatelly upon opening there is huge wood and barnyard, the wine needed to be opened for one day to take the strong odor out, which I quite like anyway. Even after airing this wine would not be a treat for someone who does not like wood as there is quite a lot in the wine. Looking at  my last tasting notes from drinking the 3rd and 2nd bottle in November 2012 the wine changed a lot in the bottle. Downside of the wine is relatively flat and ordinary mouth profile.

Gato Negro Carmenère 2014

Variety: 100% Carmenère
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central valley
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: green bell pepper, sour cherries, spices
Taste: medium body, wild sour cherries, spices, medium tannins, some chocolate, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 3.5+6.5+11+6.5+6.65=84
Price: CZK 119
Stopper: cork
Very good value everyday Carmenere. Check my November 2013 tasting notes of 07 vintage.

Herbarium Moravicum Rýnský ryzlink 2015 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot:0202165188)

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovácko sub-appellation
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: light  yellow
Bouquet: expressive, white fruit, peach, almst towards apricot
Taste: medium body, mirabelle, peach, apricot, slightly lower acidity, longer finish
Overall score: 3+7.5+11+6.5+7=85
Price: CZK 139
Stopper: cork
Very pechy and apricoty style of Riesling, so typical for Moravia. Despite being classified as dry I would sense slight residual sugar. Will get some bottles more to see the ageing.

Herbarium Moravicum Rýnský ryzlink 2014 pozdní sběr (Mikulov, lot:1611154091)

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: dry lemon peel, some petroleum tones, mango
Taste: medium body, lower acidity, similar to nose lemon marmelade profile, dry and sugared lemon crust, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4.5+7+10.5+6.5+7=85.5
Price: CZK 139
Stopper: cork
Very interesting. The color is very strong, nose would suggest the wine of older age (in good sense). slightly miss the taste profile to follow the color and the nose. 

Herbarium Moravicum Chardonnay 2014 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot: 1409154130)

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovácko sub-appellation
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Color:  straw yellow
Bouquet:  quite gentle, tropical fruit, pineapple,
Taste: light to medium body, gentle, tropical fruit, medium acidity, it misses slightly mid profile, at the end some grapefruit, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6+10+6+6=82
Price: CZK 139
Stopper: cork
Average Chardonnay, nowhere near the one from the same vintage but Znojmo appellation tasted in December 21, 2015.

Herbarium Moravicum Rulandské bílé 2013 pozdní sběr (Mikulov, lot: 2010153107/2)

Variety: 100% Rulandské bílé
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: mineral, zesty, lime, white peach
Taste: medium body, zesty style, quite citrussy, pleasant acidity, minerality, longer finish
Overall score: 3.5+6.5+10.5+7+6.5=84
Price: CZK 139
Stopper: cork
quite different from 14 vintage tasted at the sdame time. This vintage is straightforward, crunchy and zesty style with someminerality, sloightly less expressive than 14 as it was cold vintage, 14 was difficult rather rainy vintage with winemakers leaving the grapes long to get some sugar level and many experiance deseases.

Herbarium Moravicum Rulandské bílé 2014 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot: 0102164073)

Variety: 100% Rulandské bílé
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovácko sub-appellation
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: quite exoressive, orange, tangerine, tropical fruit
Taste: medium body, similar tones, there is tropical fruit, pleasant acidity, fuller mid profile, longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+7+7=86
Price: CZK 139
Stopper: cork
Very plesant and expressive Pinot Blanc, I suspect some botrytis on the grapes to be causing this nose and mouth profile.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Herbarium Moravicum Ryzlink vlašský 2015 pozdní sběr (Mikulov, lot: 2202165175)

Variety: 100% Welsh Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: expressive, melon, white grapefruit, minerality
Taste: medium body, very zesty and fresh, lime, white grapefruit, crunchy acidity, nice longer crispy finish
Overall score: 3+7.5+11+6.5+7=85
Price: CZK 139
Stopper: cork
Still very young and vibrant example of WR. It is very nicely drinkable, but for sure will only improve in 3 years in the cellar.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Wairau Cove Sauvignon Blanc 2015

7th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as in November 18, 2015.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Wolf Blass Eaglehawk Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: South Eastern Australia
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium garnet red
Bouquet: canned fruit, black currant, light minty lement, some spiciness
Taste: medium body, preserve fruit such as black cherries and black currant, medium acidity, light vanilla, low and sweet tannins,  slight bitterness at the end, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+10.5+6+6=83
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork
3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Acidity is still visible, cannot imagine how the wine was when young. Cork hardly soaked, looks like there is some penetration on the side so the wine does not soak in. First botlle tasted in November 2013.

Borpalota Muscat Ottonel 2015

Variety: 100% Muscat Ottonel
Country of origin: Hungary
Wine appellation: Mátrai
Vintage: 2015
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: water pale yellow
Bouquet: aromatic, lychee, white flowers, not heavy and not spicy
Taste: light to medium body, canned lychee, white peach, higher residual sugar,  medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+10+6+7=84
Price: CZK 99
Stopper: screw top
Not bad wine for Asian Cousine. Will buy some more, it is floral and clean, no bitterness and too much spiciness.

Castellari Bergaglio Gavi Salluvii 2014 DOCG

Variety: 100% Cortese
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Piemonte
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 12,0%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: mineral, citrusy, zesty, white flowers
Taste: medium body, very fresh and zesty, lime, green apples, vibrant acidity, easy drinking, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7=85
Price CZK 235
Stopper: cork
Zesty Gavi with pleasant acidity.