Tag: tuscany

Wine Review – John Duval Eligo 2008

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John Duval Eligo 2008

Country: Australia
Region: Barossa Valley, Eden Valley
Grape: 100% Shiraz
ABV: 14.5%

Colour: Deep purple, slight clear garnet on the edge

Nose:
Clean, medium+ intensity, fully developed. Plum, blackberry, blueberry, pepper, savoury smoke, oak, graphite, touch of leather

Palate:
Dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins, medium+ alcohol, full body, medium+ flavour intensity.
Plum, saline, black cherry, blackberry, liquorice

Finish: Long finish, pepper, integrated oak, waves of dark fruits for a good 15-20 seconds.

Score: 88/100

A great wine from the legendary Australian wine maker – John Duval, and Eligo being their flagship wine. Decanted for 1.5 hours. Fully developed, with some structure to hold onto its prime for at least 2-4 more years, would highly recommend drinking in the near future if you still have a bottle.

The nose is rather intense, showing a great balance of fruit, matured notes, and the classic peppery spice. On the palate, abundant of mellow black fruits, liquorice, and pepper, with a touch of saltiness, followed by a long finish that lingers for 15-20 seconds.

This is a very good wine, riding right on its prime. Although not as complex as a I thought it would been, the wine as a whole is well composed, from the nose, flavour, mouthfeel, and finish. Not the typical fruit bomb of Barossa, but shows a nice balance of power and elegance.

Wine Review – Pierre Sparr Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve 2016

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Pierre Sparr Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve 2016

Country: France
Region: Alsace
Grape: Gewurztraminer
ABV: 13%

Colour: Medium- straw

Nose: Rose pedal, lychee, orange flower water, light honey, faint green tea

Palate: Touch of residual sugar, off-dry. Medium- body, medium- acidity. White flower, chalk, grapefruit

Finish: Medium finish, crushed stone, citrus zest, lemon

Score: 77/100

A rather textbook example of Alsace Gewurztraminer. The usual aromatic nose of rose pedal, lychee is definitely present, with orange flower water, light honey, and faint suggestion of green tea on the back end. The palate is off-dry, and simple, could do with more acidity, fresh notes of citrus and minerals all the way to the finish. I would drink this within a year or two.

Wine Review – Chateau La Fleur Pourret Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

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Chateau La Fleur Pourret Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

Country: France
Region: Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOC
Grape: Merlot based Red Bordeaux Blend
ABV: 13.5%

Colour: Dark purple core, light garnet on the edge, showing some sign of age

Nose: Potpourri, smoke, integrated oak, plum, black raspberry, blackberry

Palate: Full-bodied, dry, medium acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, tobacco, integrated oak, raspberry

Finish: Long finish, plum, drying

Score: 83+/100

I rather nice Bordeaux at this price point, showing signs of maturity, but still have the structure to live on and further develop. The nose is very generous, potpourri, smoke, dark fruits, with a nice integrated oak aroma weaving in and out. Drinking very well now, similar to the nose on the palate, with a nice touch of tobacco giving it extra complexity, followed by a long, drying finish. Perfect paring to a nice prime rib roast. Drink now, or hold for 3-5 more years.

Wine Review – Clarendon Hills Liandra Syrah 2006

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Clarendon Hills “Liandra” Syrah 2006 [Clarendon Hills] [Wine-Searcher]

Country: Australia
Region: Clarendon
Grape: Syrah/Shiraz
ABV: 16%

Colour: Dark purple core, lighter on the rim.

Nose: Ripe black fruits (blueberry, blackberry, plum, blackcurrant jam), chocolate, raisin, bacon fat, touch of herbal, spice.

Palate: Full bodied, medium acidity, medium well-integrated smooth tannins. Plum, blackberry, metallic (iron), vanilla, clove, pepper.

Finish: Long finish, lingering metallic and spicy notes. Well-integrated alcohol.

Score: 87/100

The wine is showing very well, all the components fully integrated with one and other.

The nose was very intense, with concentrated black fruits, chocolate, raisin, bacon fat, a touch of herbal tone that I associate with aged Syrah/Shiraz, and touch of pepper. The nose overall is very balanced, allowing each component to shine through the waves of black fruits, showing a great deal of complexity.

Moving onto the taste, a wonderfully aged, full bodied Syrah. Despite the 16% alcohol, it is very well integrated, drinking more like a 14-14.5%. Aside from the abundance of black fruits, there is this metallic, iron note showing throughout the palate, with a touch of vanilla, clove, and pepper forming a long and lingering finish.

This is a very good wine, with some unusual note going on (the metallic note on the palate), overall a very pleasant tasting experience. The wine is ready, drink before 2020.

Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Riserva 2009

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Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Riserva 2009

Colour: Medium+ garnet core, light garnet rim.

Nose: Leather, cedar, matured plum, tobacco, black cherry, balsamic, white pepper.

Palate: Dry, medium body, high acidity, medium silky tannins. Sour cherry, tobacco, plum, integrated oak.

Finish: Medium finish, touch of pepper, mellow black raspberry.

Score: 82/100

Chianti Classico is one of my favourite affordable wine region, for food pairings. Always offering up good QPR and this wine is no exception.

Decanted for 1 hour. Starts off with a classic matured Chianti Classico nose, full of leather, black cherry, plum, balsamic, and tobacco notes. The palate is well-integrated, resolved tannins and acidity. The fruit is on the soft side, the classic sour cherry and tobacco, with a nice touch of oak; followed by a medium finish with a touch of pepper, and mellowed black fruits. Drinking very well now, and would continue to do so for the next 2-3 years

Fattoi Brunello di Montalcino 2007

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Fattoi Brunello di Montalcino 2007

Colour: Medium garnet core, light tawny rim.

Nose: Meaty, savory, cherry, plum, dried rose, tobacco, leather, grilled red pepper, baking spice, sweet dates, undertone of crushed stone.

Palate: Dry, medium body, high acidity, medium- tannins. Blast of sour cherry, plum, blackberry, touch of sweet cherry, faint leather, touch of green.

Finish: Medium finish, faint grasp of herbs and spice on the very end.

Score: 83/100

Greeted by a very attractive, and savory nose. Very meaty, followed by waves of red and dark fruits, tobacco, leather, grilled red pepper, with a touch of baking spice and mineral hanging around.

Mouthwatering acidity, followed by a noticeable lack of tannins, still a touch grippy in the mouth. The palate isn’t all that complex, with the usual sangiovese notes, with a touch of sweetness and green note. Faint suggestion of herbs and spice in the finish.

The acidity makes this wine excellent to be had with food, just like majority of the offerings from Italy. The wine is ready to drink, and I don’t see it evolving much more with that lack of tannins already at such a “young” age for a Brunello. Drink now or over the coming 2-3 years.

Castelsina Chianti Riserva 2010

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Castelsina Chianti Riserva 2010

Colour: Clear medium ruby

Nose: Dried cherry, plum, sweet herbs, violets, smoke, meaty, touch of green.

Palate: Dry, medium body, high acidity, full tannins. Cherry, plum, sapling, earthy.

Finish: Medium finish, drying cherry note.

Score: 74/100

 

Fairly standard Chiranti, got a good nose, but not too much in terms of complexity on the palate, doesn’t carry much interesting notes either. Need food with this wine due to the high acidity and rough tannins. Drink now!

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+. Price does not affect my scores.

Château De Lavernette Cuvée Jean Jacques De Boissieu Pouilly Fuisse 2013, Château du Tertre Margaux Grand Cru Classe 2013, Castello di Bossi Corbaia 2011, Raymond Usseglio Cuvée Impériale Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2013.

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Château De Lavernette Cuvée Jean Jacques De Boissieu Pouilly Fuisse 2013

Colour: Pale straw

Nose: Sour green apple, unripe peach, light yeast, floral, crushed stone.

Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, high acidity. Green apples, pineapple, mineral.

Finish: Medium finish, pineapple.

Score: 77+/100

Decent Pouilly-Fuisse, the nose shows a lot of sour fruits, and touch of yeasty/bready aroma. Mouthwatering acidity, showing true to the nose with green apples and pineapple note, touch of minerality as well. Should develop well with a few more years in the cellar.

Château du Tertre Margaux Grand Cru Classe 2013

Colour: Clear medium ruby core

Nose: Juicy plum, black raspberry, touch of barnyard and forest floor.

Palate: Dry, medium bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, blackberry, strawberry, salt.

Finish: Long finish, savoury, and a touch of pepper.

Score: 79+/100
The 2013 vintage of Chateau du Tertre is still quite young, and the colour was surprisingly light. The nose and palate is rather simple, and the structure isn’t there to support it. Fruit dominate, doesn’t have the complexity of a good Margaux even at this age. Approachable now but hold till 2020, would expect a shorter drinking window.

Castello di Bossi Corbaia 2011

Colour: Clear medium ruby core

Nose: Red cherry, light rubber band note, potpourri, dried apricot, orange peel, black tea.

Palate: Dry, medium+ bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Red cherry, salt, plum, pressed flower.

Finish: Medium+ finish, touch of mineral.

Score:84+/100

Well-made super Tuscan, very attractive nose of floral and dried fruit elements. Great structure and balance on the palate, the dark fruits and floral notes shows decent complexity. Could use a few more years for the notes to fully harmonize. Would hold till 2019-2020.

Raymond Usseglio Cuvée Impériale Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2013

Colour: Clear dark purple core

Nose: Whiff of vanilla, strawberry gum, plum, touch of black currant leaf, pepper and touch of floral.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, medium acidity, medium+ tannins. Mandarin orange peel, plum, raspberry, tree sapling, blackberry.

Finish: Medium+ finish, tree sapling, pepper.

Score:80+/100
Not my style of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, I prefer a less fruity, and more rustic style, preferably with smoky and meaty notes. But this does show decent depth and potential, above average complexity. On the fruity side. Approachable now or hold for 3-5 more years.