Wine

Domaine Dublère Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014, Domaine Antonin Guyon Les Cras Chambolle-Musigny 2012, Rizieri Sori del Ricchino Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba 2015, Teodosio Aglianico del Vulture 2011.

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Domaine Dublère Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014

Colour: Pale straw

Nose: Elegant floral nose, with notes of lemon, crushed stones, touch of grass and vanilla, dried honey, all very well integrated.

Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, medium acidity. Very complex, pineapples, peaches, mineral, and a touch of oak. All notes are in harmony.

Finish: Long finish, well integrated oak and mineral note.

Score:87+/100

Very high quality white Burgundy, everything is so well integrated together which makes it harder to pick out all the notes. This is how real Burgundy should behave, elegant, refined, and harmonized. I can see it ageing well for the next 7-12 years.

Domaine Antonin Guyon Les Cras Chambolle-Musigny 2012

Colour: Clear light ruby core

Nose: Whiff of smoke, greeted by a very savoury nose, ripe apricot, red cherry, sun dried tomato, perfume.

Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, high acidity, medium- tannins. Plum, dusty oak, sour cherry, Chinese medicinal herbs.

Finish: Medium+ finish, plum, mineral, and herbal note.

Score:81+/100

Feels very closed at the moment, more savoury than I would expect. great structure for further development. Should tuck this away for at least the next 5-10 years.

Rizieri Sori del Ricchino Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba 2015

Colour: Clear medium purple core

Nose: Very pronounced cherry candy nose, strawberry swirl candy(crème saver), stone.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, medium acidity, high grippy tannins. Strawberry gum, mineral, and a touch of oak.

Finish: Long finish, strawberry candy, touch of spice.

Score: 72+/100

One dimensional, fruit forward, strawberry dominant thorough-out, lacks balance.

Teodosio Aglianico del Vulture 2011

Colour: Clear medium+ ruby core

Nose: Herbal, diluted cola, black cherry, plums, mineral, and cedar.

Palate: Full-bodied, medium acidity, high grippy tannins, salt, black cherry, black raspberry, crushed stones, touch of tobacco and liquorice.

Finish: Medium+ finish, salty, leather, black raspberry.

Score:80+/100

Very surprising quality, showing good complexity and structure. Should evolve over the next 3-5 years.

Small Gully Mr. Black’s Concoction Shiraz/Viognier 2013

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Small Gully Mr. Black’s Concoction Shiraz/Viognier 2013

Colour: Medium+ purple core

Nose: Immediately greeted by a whiff of smoke, followed by black cherry and black raspberry, liquorice and baking spices.

Palate: Full bodied, medium+ acidity, medium silky tannins. Spices and dark fruits in harmony, a touch of well integrated oak and vanilla. The fruit is well balanced with acidity.

Finish: Long finish, black cherry and lingering spices.

Score: 81/100

I have to admit I have a soft spot for a smoky wine, and this wine delivers. Also at a fantastic price point consider I got it for $18CAD($13.50USD) on a store clearance.

Ortas/Cave de Rasteau Les Hauts du Village Rasteau 2010

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Ortas/Cave de Rasteau Les Hauts du Village Rasteau 2010

Colour: Dark purple core

Nose: Very concentrated nose of mulberry, black raspberry, black cherry, spices. Can’t escape the dark fruits!

Palate: Full-bodied, medium+ acidity, medium tannins. Again very rich and concentrated, the array of dark fruits from the nose translated well onto the palate, along with touch of baking spices.

Finish: Medium+ length, spicy.

Score: 78/100

Changing up my scoring scheme, here is the updated one.

Price does not affect scores

0-49 = Terrible

50-59 = Bad

60-79 = Ok-Good

80-84 = Good

85-89 = Very Good

90-95 = Excellent

96-99 = Magnificent

100 = Legendary

Gets exponentially harder to score higher, only the exceptional ones deserves 90+.

Schroder & Schyler Margaux Private Reserve 1982

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Schroder & Schyler Margaux Private Reserve 1982

Schroder & Schyler own’s the famous Margaux third growth winery – Chateau Kirwan, and this is their “Private Reserve label”, which other than Margaux they also produce a Medoc and Saint-Emilion variant. This particular wine is made from 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Bottled at 12% ABV.

Colour: Medium-tawny core, light red rim.

Nose: Clean nose, worn leather, dust, plum, red currant, dark cherry, touch of spice, faint liquorice.

Palate: Dry, medium- body, medium- acidity, low-medium tannis, dusty plum, red raspberry, cured meat, touch herbal.

Finish: Medium long finish, faint suggestion of dried chili pepper.

Score: 81/100
Do note I score tighter than the average

The top part of the cork didn’t look alright, but after carefully inserting my corkpops needle into the cork via a lot of twisting and fiddling, the cork appears to be fine below.
Surprisingly it’s still alive, got some decent notes from it, but it’s definitely way past it’s prime, doesn’t have the powerful complexity of the more modern Margaux I’ve tried, and this is no match to Chateau Margaux 1982 for obvious reasons. Still have a bottle of Chateau Margaux 1982, will open that in the future and post notes.

Masi Campofiorin 2013

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Masi Campofiorin 2013

A very popular wine in Masi’s lineup, also I believe it’s one of their cheapest? Let’s dive in!

Left in the glass for an hour before consumption.

Colour: Deep ruby core

Nose: Clean nose, intense black cherries, red cherries, red currant, touch of oak and spice.

Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, high acidity, medium- tannins, juicy red cherries, plums.

Finish: Medium finish, plums and touch of pepper.

Score:74/100

–Note my scores are tighter than average.

 

Very solid wine, the nose is very pleasant with waves of sweet red fruits. The high acidity of this wine is mouthwatering, giving the impression of juicy fruits and a touch of spice on the palate. Lacks complexity, at this price point I would be much happier shopping for wines like San Vincenti Chianti Classico 2012 which happens to be slightly cheaper as well.

The wine drinks well on its own or with food such as steak or grilled sausages, and pizza. Great for those looking for something that is easy-drinking.

Chateau Saint-Arnaud Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1993

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Chateau Saint-Arnaud Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1993

Left breathing for 1 hour.

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Colour: Tawny, clear core.

Nose: Initially closed up, showing cured meat, leather, touch of black fruits. After an hour, the nose opened up, with aromas of plums, liquorice, cherries, and a faint hint of vanilla.

Palate: Dry, medium+ acidity, fine grainy tannins, plums, sour cherries, touch of old wood.

Finish: Short to medium finish, sour cherries and touch of oak.

Score: 70/100

Always interesting diving into older wines, 1993 isn’t a good vintage for Saint-Emilion, and this wine is showing that. Definitely past it’s prime, the nose is what you expect from old Bordeaux, the palate falls short on the simple side.

Tintonegro Malbec Uco Valley 2012

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Tintonegro Malbec 2012

Very affordable wine from Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. Let’s see how it goes.

Colour: Medium+ purple core

Nose: Clean nose, liquorice, very fruit forward, blackberries, blueberries, black cherries, and a touch of oak.

Palate: Dry, medium-body, medium+ acidity, medium+ soft tannins, ripe dark fruits, plums, well integrated oak.

Finish: Medium finish, plums, oak.

Score: 78/100

Very good malbec, not overly ripe, decent complexity, paired with canjun chicken after the review, solid buy for $18CAD.

NOTE: I score tighter than the average, and price isn’t part of the consideration.

Chateau de la Maltroye Chassagne-Montrachet 2014, Roux Pere & Fils Les Valozieres Aloxe-Corton 2013, Paolo Scavino Bric del Fiasc Barolo 2011, Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

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939dce840d094944a18ba5913730611b.jpgChâteau de la Maltroye Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 1er Cru 2014

Colour: Pale lemon

Nose: Clean nose, mineral, peach, pineapple, citrus, white flower.

Palate: Dry, full bodied, high acidity, citrus, pineapple, mineral.

Finish: Long finish, mineral and pineapple.

Score: 75+/100

On the simple side, aside from the long finish, nothing special.

Roux Père & Fils Les Valozières Aloxe-Corton 1er Cru 2013

Colour: Light purple core

Nose: Clean nose, cedar, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, floral, touch of smoke.

Palate: Dry, medium body, high acidity, low tannins, raspberry, salt, mineral, sour cherry, pepper.

Finish: Medium finish, raspberry, cherry, touch of oak.

Score: 80+/100

Lacks layers of complexity of a great burgundy.

Paolo Scavino Bric dël Fiasc Barolo 2011

Colour: Medium purple core

Nose: Clean nose, black tea, banana, light red fruits, floral, touch of earthiness.

Palate: Dry, medium+ body high acidity, full tannins, raspberry, sour cherries, blackberries, well integrated oak, touch of spice.

Finish: Medium+ finish, red fruits, oak.

Score: 86+/100

Classic Barolo on the nose, drinking quite well now but will definitely improve in the next 5-15 years.

Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2012

Colour: Dark purple core

Nose: Clean nose, liquorice, black currant, bell pepper, black currant leaf, black cherry, raspberry, mineral.

Palate: Dry, full body, full grippy tannins. Black currant, blackberries, raspberries, liquorice, well integrated oak, floral, pepper.

Finish: Long finish, black fruits, oak, and a touch of spice.

Score: 84+/100

Classic Napa cab sauv, showing great depth, great refinement. Wouldn’t pay $275CAD asking price for it.

**Do note I score tighter than average, and price isn’t part of the considering for scoring.

Conclusion: Burgundy and Napa over priced as usual, and there are better Barolo for less.

Foreign Affair Dream 2012

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Foreign Affair Dream 2012

Foreign Affair is an Ontario VQA winery, based in the Niagara region. They are famous for using the Italian wine making technique “appassimento”, this technique used for one of Italy’s most famous wine – The Amarone. Appassimento style wines tends to blend grapes that have been dried after picking, therefore concentrating the flavour and sugar content, creating a more powerful wine. They make wines in both partially and fully appassimento style.

The Dream 2012 is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, aged for 26 months in select French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels and the final blend is made up of 15% appassimento wine.

Decanted for 1 hour before consumption.

Colour: Clear dark purple core.

Nose: Ripe juicy cherries, blackberries, plums. Notes of cigar box, vanilla, leather, liquorice, and a hint of spice.
The vanilla notes is rather dominate on the nose, smells almost dessert-like.

Palate: Off-dry, medium acidity, medium silky tannins. Dried dark fruits, consists of dried cherries, raisins, blackberries. Touch of vanilla and well integrated oak.

Finish: Long finish, touch of tingling pepper on the back end.

Score: 83/100

A great wine at a great price, would buy another or two to see how it develops with time. Off-dry, dark fruit forward with a touch of spice and well integrated oak to balance the flavour. Great length on the finish, would recommend to both beginners and enthusiasts.

Overall really enjoyable wine, on its own or with food, I am afraid this might not have enough tannins to cut through some of the fatty meats, would work well with stews and lamb.

Ready to drink, could be cellared for at least 5+ years.

**Do note I score a bit tighter than the majority.

Chateau Vignelaure Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence 2007

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Chateau Vignelaure Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence 2007

Frist experience with wines from Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, which is located in south of France, it’s the second-largest appellation in Provence.

The Chateau Vignelaure Red wines are blend from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah grape. Aged in small oak barrels for 18 months, then further aged in the bottle for at least 2 years before release. (From vignelaure.com)

Left in the glass for 2 hours before consumption.

Stemware: Schott Zwiesel Enoteca Bordeaux Premier Crus

Colour: Dark purple core, light brown rim, shows sign of ageing.

Nose: Clean nose, high intensity.

Before the 2 hour rest, it was showing dominate notes of stewed mushrooms, concentrated dark fruits and touch of smoke.

After 2 hours, the nose opened up, showing notes of black and red cherries, black currant, black raspberry, cocoa powder, well integrated oak, touch of earthiness.

Palate: Dry, medium acidity, medium+ silky tannins, juicy black fruits, plums, black currants, pepper, hint of nutmeg.

Finish: Medium length, touch of mineral note.

Score: 79/100

Diving into the wine with a very promising nose, showing a lot of black fruits, touch of cocoa sweetness. The nose carries onto the palate, well integrate oak, along with waves of juicy dark fruits, and a touch of spice. The finish is a bit of a letdown, decent length but it transitions to a mineral finish. Overall can’t fault a 2007 for $35CAD(~$26USD), this wine is ready to drink, and should drink well for another 5-8 years.