Tag: wine review

Chateau Bel-Air Lussac-St-Emilion 1999

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Chateau Bel-Air Lussac-St-Emilion 1999

Colour: Dark ruby core, light ruby-brown rim.

Nose: Concentrated red and dark fruits, notes of plum, blackcurrant, raspberry, leather, dust, oak, and a hint of violet.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, medium+ acidity, medium soft and smooth tannins. Plum, cedar, raspberry, leather, light tobacco note.

Finish: Medium finish+ finish, mocha, herbal, wood smoke.

Score:84/100

 

What a pleasant surprise! I believe this is a cheap bottle of wine originally, but look what it turned out to be after 18 years! Decanted for 2 hours, but closely monitored how it’s opening up.

Nice complexity on the nose and palate, still holding onto a lot of fruit, nice leather and floral on the nose. Great balance between fruit and wood influence, the tannins are resolved and I believe which contributed to the leather on the nose. Interesting note suggesting mocha and herbal on the finish. Drink now!!

Tenuta Poggio Verrano Dromos Maremma Toscana 2007, Chateau d’Armailhac Pauillac 2013, Château Rauzan-Segla Margaux 2013, Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2013

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Tenuta Poggio Verrano Dròmos Maremma Toscana 2007

Colour: Clear medium ruby core

Nose: Smoked meat, roasted red and green pepper, cedar, savoury, black cherry, blackberry, oak.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Juicy cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, cedar.

Finish: Medium+ finish, plums, mineral, oak.

Score: 83+/100

Exceptional nose, smoky and savoury, with a touch of green for extra depth. Concentrated dark fruit and integrated oak influence on the palate, with nice and soften tannins. This wine is exceptional value for $40CAD(Price does not affect score). Ready to be consumed now!

Château d’Armailhac Pauillac 2013

Colour: Medium+ purple core

Nose: Fresh rose which faded away, plum, sweat, oak.

Palate: Dry, Medium+ bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, blackcurrant, oak.

Finish: Medium- finish, dark fruits and touch of spice.

Score:76+/100

I suppose this wine is in its “dumb phase” at the moment, the nose fades away rather quickly, and the tannins still a bit tight. Not much to say about it. Would hold off for 2-3 more years.

Château Rauzan-Ségla Margaux 2013

Colour: Medium ruby core

Nose: Blackberry, violet, white flower, black cherry, smoke.

Palate: Dry, medium+ bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, light cherry candy, tobacco, oak.

Finish: Medium+ finish, oak, mineral, and a touch of savoury note.

Score:81+/100

Rather elegant wine, great balance of fruit and floral notes on the nose, with a touch of smoke. The palate carries a nice array of dark fruits, integrated oak, and tobacco note. The finish is decent length with a kick of savouriness on the back end. Very approachable now, but could also be cellared for few more years.

Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2013

Colour: Clear dark purple core

Nose: Dentist office, blackberry jam, vanilla, mint, green note.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, medium acidity, full tannins. Blackcurrants, vegetal, earthy, dark fruit jam.

Finish: Long finish, oak, plum.

Score: 79+/100

Not sure if it’s just this bottle, but the nose has a weird dentist office note. The rest are rather standard for higher priced Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, a big and powerful fruit, but a bit one-dimensional. Would be 80+ if it didn’t have that weird note on the nose. Drink now or cellar for 3 more years to soften the tannins. Would go wonder with a nice slab of steak!

Diemersfontein Pinotage 2015

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Diemersfontein Pinotage 2015

Colour: Clear dark purple core

Nose: Strong whiff of cured game meat, espresso, with undertone of blackcurrants, and green peppercorn.

Palate: Dry, medium acidity, medium+, cured meat, coffee powder, juicy blackberry, touch of mineral and oak.

Finish: Long finish, blackberry and smoke.

Score:79/100

Rather unusual for a Pinotage, very dominant smoky, meaty nose, which follows through onto the palate. This wine is very rustic, would need some rustic food such as curry to go with it! Drinking well now!

The Lane Vineyard Block 5 Shiraz 2014

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The Lane Vineyard Block 5 Shiraz 2014

 

Colour: Clear dark purple core

Nose: Mint chocolate(After 8), vanilla custard, blueberry, liquorice, faint plum puree, baking spice.

Palate: Dry, medium-full bodied, medium acidity, medium fine tannins. Ripe cherry, spice box, faint mint, vanilla.

Finish: Long finish, plums, pepper, and baking spice.

Score: 79/100

 

Overall pretty well-made Shiraz from The Lane Vineyard. Very inviting dessert-like nose. On the palate it shows fine grainy tannins, red fruits, touch of mint, and spices. The finish is long and well rounded. Easy drinking but not too complex. Drinking well now, and would do so for at least 5 more years.

Chateau Tour Baladoz Saint Emilion Grand Cru 1998

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Chateau Tour Baladoz Saint Emilion Grand Cru 1998

Colour: Dark ruby core, clear ruby rim.

Nose: Old leather, red cherry, blackberry, liquorice, rice candy undertone, touch of floral note.

Palate: Dry, medium bodied, medium acidity, medium silky tannins. Red cherry, red currants, cocoa powder, liquorice, earthy.

Finish: Medium+ finish, liquorice, touch of menthol, and a touch of oak.

Score: 78/100

The wine is still alive, shown from its acidity. The nose is very typical of ordinary old Bordeaux, showing leather, liquorice, and some fruits. The palate is quite juicy, but rather single dimensional, still alive but not for much longer. Drink now.

Trimbach Riesling 2013

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Trimbach Riesling 2013

Colour: Pale Straw

Nose: Greeted immediately by notes of citrus, green apples, and a touch of peach skin.

Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, high acidity. The nose translate well onto the palate, fresh lemon, green apples, and peaches showing well.

Finish: Medium finish, mineral.

Score: 74/100

 

To me, this is a box standard Alsace Riesling, a great intro to the basic profile of dry Riesling. Showing a good amount of fruit on the nose and palate, balanced out by the acidity and mineral note.
Very pleasing and simple to drink, great with the usual pairing of seafood and chicken. Works perfectly well by itself as a wine you don’t have to think much about. This was a quick casual drink as you can tell I poured in my casual glassware.
This is widely available world-wide, and very consistent in quality. Would recommend those who wants to try out a dryer Riesling.
**Notes taken at about 12-14°C(~54-57°F) for better capture of aroma and flavour. Would recommend serving at 9-11°C(48-52°F).

Chateau Le Crock St. Estephe 1995

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Château Le Crock St. Estèphe 1995

Colour: Dark purple core, clear light red rim.

Nose: Still alive, leather, cigar box, blackberries, raspberries, musty oak.

Palate: Dry, medium+ acidity, medium tannins, blackberry, red raspberry, mineral.

Finish: Medium finish, plum.

Score: 70/100

Surprisingly still holding up, perhaps on its very last stage of life, past its prime. Got some fruit left, the tannins are well integrated, with some mineral notes to make it a touch more interesting. Still have two bottles, wonder how those developed. Drink up!

Château Castigno Secret du Dieux Saint Chinian 2011, Bolla Le Origini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009, Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2011, Gundlach Bundschu Vintage Reserve Red 2012.

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Château Castigno Secret du Dieux Saint Chinian 2011

Colour: Clear medium ruby

Nose: Lower intensity nose, dates, ripe red cherry, touch of plum sauce, liquorice.

Palate: Dry, medium+ bodied, medium acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, red cherry, touch of pine.

Finish: Medium+ finish, spice and dark fruits.

Score: 76/100

Drinking well now, could also use a few more years in the cellar.

Bolla Le Origini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009

Colour: Clear medium garnet

Nose: Surprisingly savoury nose, roasted red pepper, smoked meat, undertone of dried cherry, plum, and a touch of peppercorn.

Palate: Dry, medium-full bodied, medium+ acidity, medium tannins. Cherry, plum, integrated oak, Chinese five spice, hints of tobacco.

Finish: Long finish, soft plum.

Score:82/100

The roasted red pepper note caught me off-guard, surprisingly savoury and dry for Amarone, guessing more producer these days trying to go for a drier Amarone rather than an off-dry style.

 

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2011

Colour: Clear medium garnet

Nose: Cured meat, white-out, cherry, dried strawberry, raspberry, plum, and a touch salt.

Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, high acidity, medium tannins. Plum, cured meat, liquorice, cherry candy, touch of dry flower.

Finish: Long finish, touch of oak and salt.

Score: 84/100

Still needs a few more years to get things together, got good complexity and structure to back it up. While the 2011 is approachable now, I’d say cellar for at least 3-5 more years and check back.

 

Gundlach Bundschu Vintage Reserve Red 2012

Colour: Clear dark purple core

Nose: Strong liquorice, blackberry, blackcurrant, green leafy note, oil paint, hint of eucalyptus.

Palate: Full-bodied, medium+ acidity, high grippy tannins. Plums, black currant, black cherry, touch of green note again, mineral.

Finish: Long finish, plums and oak.

Score: 82/100

Prime example of really ripe crop, have decent complexity and structure for further development, the tannins needs to be soften up for another 5 or so years. Personally not my style.

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+.