Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: La Mancha
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 13%
Residual sugar: unknown
Acidity: unknown
Color: medium red with ruby hue
Bouquet: sour cherry, hint of black chocolate and surprisingly grapefruit
Taste: medium body, dominant red berry fruits with underlying tones of spices, slightly flat in the mouth, short to medium finish
Recommended food pairing: barbecue
Overall score: 78
Price: CZK 100
Stopper: cork
Quite ordinary Spanish reserva. Simple easygoing tempranillo with a bit of barrel aging. Not sophisticated but would do the job at parties.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Robert Mondavi Woodbridge Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: USA
Wine appellation: California - Nappa
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Residual sugar: unknown
Acidity: unknown
Color: light yellow with green hues
Bouquet: intense aroma of white dead nettle, freshly cut grass, lime, fresh herbs, quite expressive
Taste: medium body, white currant, lime, gooseberry, nicely balanced, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: screw cap
I was completely surprise when openig this bottle of 2005 SB. I did expect to be after the peak and actually i got beautiful aroma in the glass of the fresh grass, dead nettle followed by lime and fruit. I did not expect so grassy SB as it is from hot California, but well wine is predictable, also the screw cap is probably the ultimately best stopper for white wines one can find, it kept it so fresh and nicely balanced after 5 years on bottle with zero aging tones in the smell.
P.S. pic is ilustrative till I take the picture of the bottle
Country of origin: USA
Wine appellation: California - Nappa
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Residual sugar: unknown
Acidity: unknown
Color: light yellow with green hues
Bouquet: intense aroma of white dead nettle, freshly cut grass, lime, fresh herbs, quite expressive
Taste: medium body, white currant, lime, gooseberry, nicely balanced, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: screw cap
I was completely surprise when openig this bottle of 2005 SB. I did expect to be after the peak and actually i got beautiful aroma in the glass of the fresh grass, dead nettle followed by lime and fruit. I did not expect so grassy SB as it is from hot California, but well wine is predictable, also the screw cap is probably the ultimately best stopper for white wines one can find, it kept it so fresh and nicely balanced after 5 years on bottle with zero aging tones in the smell.
P.S. pic is ilustrative till I take the picture of the bottle
Les Maitres Goustiers Muscadet Sevre et Maine 2007
Variety: 100% Muscadet
Country of origin:France
Wine appellation: Val de Loire
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: flowers, quite aromatic
Taste:light body, citrus tones, white grapefruit, lime, higher acidity and slight bitterness at the end, dry, short finish
Recommended food pairing: Asian food
Overall score: 78
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: cork
Dry type of Moscatel wine, it is quite aromatic, but light in the taste with slight hint of bitterness, which makes it less fresh and rather food wine only.
Country of origin:France
Wine appellation: Val de Loire
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: flowers, quite aromatic
Taste:light body, citrus tones, white grapefruit, lime, higher acidity and slight bitterness at the end, dry, short finish
Recommended food pairing: Asian food
Overall score: 78
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: cork
Dry type of Moscatel wine, it is quite aromatic, but light in the taste with slight hint of bitterness, which makes it less fresh and rather food wine only.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Cricova Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Moldova
Wine appellation: ??
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: lighter red
Bouquet: green pepper, hint of black currant
Taste: light body, red currant, higher acidity and higher tannins,
Recommended food pairing: BBQ
Overall score: 78
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork
Lots of medals on the bottle, low price and average wine, drinkable, but not exciting:)
Country of origin: Moldova
Wine appellation: ??
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: lighter red
Bouquet: green pepper, hint of black currant
Taste: light body, red currant, higher acidity and higher tannins,
Recommended food pairing: BBQ
Overall score: 78
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork
Lots of medals on the bottle, low price and average wine, drinkable, but not exciting:)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Bodega Cristina Gonzalez Garcia Carbajales Tinto Barrica 2008
Variety: Listan Negro, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Tacoronte Acentejo (Tenerife)
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: black currant, green belly pepper, hint of blackberries
Taste: medium body, sour cherries, black currant, higher acidity, young tannins, at the end hint of bitterness, short to medium finish
Recommended food pairing: BBQ
Overall score: 78
Price: EUR 5.50
Stopper: plastic cork
This was a must buy as one cannot taste local wine when on holiday in Tenerife - Canary Islands. Did I expect more? To be honest not, but I was eager to check it out how volcanic soil and hot climate wine tastes. The wines from Canary Islands are generally more expensive than from European part of Spain and do not offer that excellent value/price ratio. To be fair I may be mistaken, but I do not want to experiment further as for the same price (from EUR 5 to 10) one can get much better wines from Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro, Navarra, etc. But you must taste local wine when on holiday. Just for info on the local market one lady was selling clearly heavily oxidated rose or something like this (it actually looked more like vinegar with lots of particles in it) claiming this wine to be very good, at least we did not buy that, but the one just tasted here :).
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Tacoronte Acentejo (Tenerife)
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: black currant, green belly pepper, hint of blackberries
Taste: medium body, sour cherries, black currant, higher acidity, young tannins, at the end hint of bitterness, short to medium finish
Recommended food pairing: BBQ
Overall score: 78
Price: EUR 5.50
Stopper: plastic cork
This was a must buy as one cannot taste local wine when on holiday in Tenerife - Canary Islands. Did I expect more? To be honest not, but I was eager to check it out how volcanic soil and hot climate wine tastes. The wines from Canary Islands are generally more expensive than from European part of Spain and do not offer that excellent value/price ratio. To be fair I may be mistaken, but I do not want to experiment further as for the same price (from EUR 5 to 10) one can get much better wines from Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro, Navarra, etc. But you must taste local wine when on holiday. Just for info on the local market one lady was selling clearly heavily oxidated rose or something like this (it actually looked more like vinegar with lots of particles in it) claiming this wine to be very good, at least we did not buy that, but the one just tasted here :).
Viña Albali Gran Reserva 2002
Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2002
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: deep dark red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: canned cherries, chocolate, sweet spices
Taste: medium body, nice berry fruit flavor dominated by ripe cherries accompanied together by wood tones and vanilla, nice tannins present in the mouth, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: matured goat cheese
Overall score: 84
Price: EUR 6.00
Stopper: cork
This was very positive surprise for me. For the price the wine has everything it needs: nice fruit and surprisingly not too much oak, it it quite dense and round with nice tannins in it.
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2002
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: deep dark red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: canned cherries, chocolate, sweet spices
Taste: medium body, nice berry fruit flavor dominated by ripe cherries accompanied together by wood tones and vanilla, nice tannins present in the mouth, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: matured goat cheese
Overall score: 84
Price: EUR 6.00
Stopper: cork
This was very positive surprise for me. For the price the wine has everything it needs: nice fruit and surprisingly not too much oak, it it quite dense and round with nice tannins in it.
Condado de Argiz Crianza Tinto 2005
Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: medium red with ruby hues
Bouquet: nice red berry fruits, especially cherries with underlying wood tones
Taste: medium body, very fruity, sour cherries, slightly higher tannins and acidity
Recommended food pairing: pasta with red sauce
Overall score: 80
Price: EUR 2.00
Stopper: cork
Very juicy and fruity style of Crianza, it is unbelievable good value for the price.
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: medium red with ruby hues
Bouquet: nice red berry fruits, especially cherries with underlying wood tones
Taste: medium body, very fruity, sour cherries, slightly higher tannins and acidity
Recommended food pairing: pasta with red sauce
Overall score: 80
Price: EUR 2.00
Stopper: cork
Very juicy and fruity style of Crianza, it is unbelievable good value for the price.
Señorío de los Llanos Gran Reserva 2003
Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: medium red with ruby hues
Bouquet: very decent, sour cherries, wood, coffee
Taste: light to medium body, canned sour cherries, cherries, sweet spices
Recommended food pairing: dry salamis
Overall score: 75
Price: EUR 3.50
Stopper: cork
One of the importer I usually get Spanish wine from calls these types of wines "social reservas". In this case it was even social gran reserva, i.e. reserva for ridiculously low price making it accessible to wide social classes::). In glass it even does not look like wine, which was 24 months in aok barrel and which is 7 years old. Given its slight ruby tones I suspect some cheating here. Same is confirmed in the taste, it was simply "social" gran reserva:)
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Residual sugar: n/a
Acidity: n/a
Color: medium red with ruby hues
Bouquet: very decent, sour cherries, wood, coffee
Taste: light to medium body, canned sour cherries, cherries, sweet spices
Recommended food pairing: dry salamis
Overall score: 75
Price: EUR 3.50
Stopper: cork
One of the importer I usually get Spanish wine from calls these types of wines "social reservas". In this case it was even social gran reserva, i.e. reserva for ridiculously low price making it accessible to wide social classes::). In glass it even does not look like wine, which was 24 months in aok barrel and which is 7 years old. Given its slight ruby tones I suspect some cheating here. Same is confirmed in the taste, it was simply "social" gran reserva:)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Pago del Rey Blume Verdejo DO 2008
Variety: 100% Verdejo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Rueda
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: g/l
Acidity: g/l
Color: medium yellow with green hue
Bouquet: very fresh, citrus tones, freshly cut grass, lime, white flowers
Taste: medium body, lime, lively acidity, very zesty, green apple, hint of grapefruit
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 84
Price: 4 EUR
Stopper: plastic cork
Very zesty style of Verdejo, nice and lively lime acidity is accompanied by nice lingering mouth feel of green apple with white grapefruit at the end.
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Rueda
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: g/l
Acidity: g/l
Color: medium yellow with green hue
Bouquet: very fresh, citrus tones, freshly cut grass, lime, white flowers
Taste: medium body, lime, lively acidity, very zesty, green apple, hint of grapefruit
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 84
Price: 4 EUR
Stopper: plastic cork
Very zesty style of Verdejo, nice and lively lime acidity is accompanied by nice lingering mouth feel of green apple with white grapefruit at the end.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Bisenc Rulandské Bílé 2005 pozdní sběr SUR LIE
Variety: Pinot Blanc
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovacko sub-appellation, Skoronice village,
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: g/l
Acidity: g/l
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: overripe fruit, yellow melon, mango, white flowers at the top of the glass
Taste: medium to full body, dry pineapple, generally dry fruits, very high extract, round, smooth, mango, slight residual sugar, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: Parmigianno Reggiano with orange marmalade
Overall score: 86
Price: ?? (bought in 2006 and I do not remember the price but the occasion, found it now on the web for CZK 198)
Stopper: plastic cork
Very nice wine, excellent color with dense arches slowly going down the glass. In the bouquet it is predominately overripe tropical fruit with a bit of honey. In taste it is so smooth and round that almost let you forget the time of the day, very nice fruity character is repeated with lingering finish. It actually is the type of wine where the bottle is somehow finished without even noticing it.
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovacko sub-appellation, Skoronice village,
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: g/l
Acidity: g/l
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: overripe fruit, yellow melon, mango, white flowers at the top of the glass
Taste: medium to full body, dry pineapple, generally dry fruits, very high extract, round, smooth, mango, slight residual sugar, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: Parmigianno Reggiano with orange marmalade
Overall score: 86
Price: ?? (bought in 2006 and I do not remember the price but the occasion, found it now on the web for CZK 198)
Stopper: plastic cork
Very nice wine, excellent color with dense arches slowly going down the glass. In the bouquet it is predominately overripe tropical fruit with a bit of honey. In taste it is so smooth and round that almost let you forget the time of the day, very nice fruity character is repeated with lingering finish. It actually is the type of wine where the bottle is somehow finished without even noticing it.
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