Sunday, December 30, 2012

Víno Mikulov Tramín Červený 2006 výběr z hroznů

As the tasting notes are almost identical to those from May from this year I will not reproduce them, rather include the link here.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Vinařství Vinofol André 2009 pozdní sběr

Could not agree more with tasting notes from November this year here. It is very nice Andre.

Terredora Falanghina 2007 IGT

Variety: Falanghina
Country of origin:
 Italy
Wine appellation
Campania
Vintage
2007  
Alcohol content13.0%
Color: golden yellow
Bouquet:  apple strudel, ripe pineapple, dry lemon peel
Taste: medium body, complex bouquet of dry fruits mainly apple, spices, good minerality all is upheld by good lemon acidity, medium to longer finish  
Recommended food pairingdry cheese
Overall score: 85
Price: CZK 199 in promotion 
Stopper: cork
Final bottle of the 6 case. for comparison check the notes from July 2010 January 2010 where you can find the pictures of the bottle as well.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Habánské sklepy Chardonnay 2002 pozdní sběr

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Čejkovice village, Helezný díl vineyard
Vintage: 2002
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: golden yellow
Bouquet: honey, dry orange peel, dry pineapple, bottleness
Taste: medium body, round, dry tropical fruit, lower acidity,quite round with tertiary tones from the aging in bottle without showing the oxidative character yet, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: Camembert cheese
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 180 in 2005
Stopper: cork
This wine is more food-style wine, it is more round and less lively now.

Pavel Binder Rulandské bílé 2010 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Pinot Blanc
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Velké Pavlovice village, Trkmanska vineyard
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: white flowers, lemon, orange peel
Taste: lighter to medium body, lemon, green melon, quite zesty and refreshing given the acidity, which is perfectly balanced by light touch of residual sugar, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: salads
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 220
Stopper: cork
As almost the rule this wine proved to me that 2010 vintage was excellent for white wines. Although the vintage was extremely difficult due to lower temperatures and rains, the wines have fantastic acidity and very good aromatic character determining them to age very well in the cellar.

Concha y Toro Sunrise Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: very dark red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: red currant, cassis, red cherries, cranberries
Taste: medium body, black currant, sour cherries, considering the age very good acidity and pleasant tannins drying the mouth, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: beef casserole
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: cork
Quite good example how this entry level Cab Sauv can develop when left to age properly, still has about 2 years to go.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Tanzberg Zweigeltrebe 2005 jakostní

Variety: Zweigelt
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Novosedly village, Stará hora vineyard
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: quite fruity, 
Taste: medium body, red sour cherries, touch of black currant, quite fruity, good acidity,slightly medium finisch
Recommended food pairing: steak
Overall score: 82 
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: cork
Lighter style of fruity Zweigelt.

Jedlička a Novák Kácary 2006 pozdní sběr

Variety: Pinot Noir, Saint Laurent, André
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Bořetice village
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: dark ruby red with lighter meniscus
Bouquet: quite expressive, black sour cherries, plum jam (povidla), chocolate, spices
Taste: medium body,black sour cherries, quite nice acidity, spices, black chocolate, medium finish
Recommended food pairing:
Overall score: 85
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: cork
The wine had very good nose, almost going to black chocolate. In the taste and finish we lacked slightly more complexity and roundness. Although alcohol is quite high it does not burn and stand out.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Stapleton & Springer Roučí 2008

Variety: 50% Pinot noir, 50% Saint Laurent
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Boretice village, Čtvrtě and Trkmanská vineyard
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: very subtle, strawberry jam, cherries, touch of leather and animal tones
Taste: medium body, sour cherries,cherries, raspberries, good acidity, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: game food
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 360
Stopper: cork
This time we scored it slightly higher than in May tasting this year described here. There you can find also the pictures

Stapleton & Springer Roučí 2007

Fantastic wine. For tasting notes please refer to my notes from May this year here, they are almost identical, the only difference is the total scoring, which we agreed this time to be 88 points.

Barón del Cega Valdepenas Gran Reserva 2001

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2001
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium garnet red with lighter meniscus
Bouquet: gentle wood tones, leather, spices, canned cherries
Taste: medium body, canned sour cherries, round, pleasant tannins supported by still very good acidity,touch of vanilla, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: dry salami
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 159
Stopper: cork
It is amazing that although this wine is 11 years old it has still very pleasant tannins and good acidity combining with nice cheery fruit making it ideal companion for winter evening.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Tesco Finest Block 13 McLaren Vale Viognier Marsanne Roussanne 2009

Variety: Viognie,r Marsanne, Roussanne
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: grilled pineapple, light smoke, touch of menthol and mango
Taste: full body, lime acidity, pineapple, apricot, good acidity, medium to long finish 
Recommended food pairing: pork loin
Overall score: 85
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: cork
Does not feel like big Cote du Rhone wines made from the same varieties, but made it nice post Christmas dinner wine. 

Weingut Walek Gruner Veltliner 2005 Spatlase

Variety: Gruner Veltliner
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Austria, Niederosterreich
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: staw yellow
Bouquet: good bottle age, stewed pear
Taste:  medium body, round, dry lemon peel, at the end touch of of almonds, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: dry cheese
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: cork
Good example what proper GV that aged quite well.


Vinařství Pavlov Muller Thurgau 2005 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Muller Thurgau
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Dolní věstonice village, U Kapilčky vineyard
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: quite mineral, white flowers, touch of lime peel
Taste:  light to medium body, dry lemon peel, good minerality,  medium finish
Recommended food pairing: schnitzel
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: cork
Quite untypical Muller Thurgau, very mineral and more complex than easy goings Mullers as one may recognize.


Sunday, December 23, 2012

Vinařství Josef Valihrach Chardonnay 2004 výběr z hroznů

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub appellation, Krumvíř village, Nivy vineyard
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: nice meadow flowers, honey
Taste: medium body, citrus fruit, meadow honey, very good balance between the sugar and acidity, quite nice minerality, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: Gorgonzola
Overall score: 86
Price: CZK 350
Stopper: cork
What I like on this wine was excellent bottle maturity with perfect balance between the residual sugar and acidity. The wine is classified as dry, but I would guess the sugar is around 5g and the acidity is compensating it so it can be classified as dry. Very nice piece, although alcohol is 14.0% it does not stand out at all.


Vinselekt Michlovský Chardonnay 2008 pozdní sběr

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovácko sub appellation, Hovorany village, Díly za vinohrady vineyard
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: white flowers, pear
Taste: medium body, round mouth feel, grapefruit, green pear, very good acidity, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: salmon
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 159
Stopper: plastic cork
Quite nice, easy drinking Chardonnay smoothed by 4 years in bottle.

Chateau Laffitte- Carcasset 2007 Cru Bourgeois

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Medoc
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: blackish red
Bouquet: black sour cheries, cassis
Taste: medium body, dominant is black currant, black cherries, pleasant tannins, medium finish
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 300
Stopper: cork
This ended on before last (7th) place, it (to my surprise) fell apart after one hour of being open.

Chateau Bourbon La Cgapelle 2009 AOC

Variety: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Medoc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: less expressive, cassis, slight smoke, rouch of cedar wood
Taste: medium body, dominant is black currant, quite good fruit, slightly higher tannins nicely drying,touch of wood, medium finish
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 300
Stopper: cork
It ended on 5th place, but I liked it more then the Chateau Lauriol on 4th place.

Chateau Tour Prignac 2008 Cru Bourgeois

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon based blend
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Medoc
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium red
Bouquet: black cherries, sour cherries
Taste: medium body, cherries, fruity,  pleasant tannins, slightly higher alcohol, medium finish
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 350
Stopper: cork
6th place

Chateau Barreyres 2009 Cru Bourgeois

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon based blend
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Haut-Medoc
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: dark black red
Bouquet: less expressive, spices, leathre, black cherries, nice wood,hint of coffee
Taste: medium body,black currant, pleasant tannins, spices, slightly higher acidity, medium finish
Overall score: 85
Price: CZK 400
Stopper: cork
Nicely done bottle, second place.

Chateau Haut-Beausejour 2005 Cru Bourgeois

Variety52% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Côt
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Saint-Estephe
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Colordark black garnet red
Bouquet: nice bottle maturity, canned black currant, earth, quite delicate, hint of wood
Tastemedium body, similar to taste canned black currant,  pleasant tannins, nice dryness all over the mouth, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 87
Price: CZK 500
Stopper: cork
This was a clear winner, it had excellent bottle maturity and perfect balance between the fruit and wood.

Chateau Balac 2008 Cru Bourgeois

Variety: Cabernet based blend
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux,Haut-Médoc
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Colordark ruby red
Bouquet: spices, black sour cherries, leather
Taste: medium body, sour cherries , quite spicy, pleasant tannins, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 300
Stopper: cork
More spicy and leathery style of Bordeaux. Ended up on 3-4th place.

Chateau Lestruelle 2007 Cru Bourgeois

Variety
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Médoc
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Colordark ruby red
Bouquet: fruit, cassis, marmelade, cedar wood
Taste: medium body, sour cherries , black currant, plesant tannins, medium finish
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 350
Stopper: cork
More fruitier style of Bordeaux, ended on the last (8th) place.

Chateaux Lauriol Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2007 AOC

This served as zero sample in our tasting of Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois. For notes please refer to my last tasting one month ago. This time I scored it 83 points.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Bodegas Peñafiel Ribera del Duero Miros de Ribera Reserva Coleccion Privada 2001

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Ribera del Duero
Vintage: 2001
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: black red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: deep and expressive, animal, leather black sour cherry, secondary blackberries and black currant with coffee tones
Taste: medium body, nice round tannins,black sour cherry, cinamon, touch of vanila, long finish
Recommended food pairing: dry fermented salami
Overall score: 93
Price: EUR 30
Stopper: cork
Fantastic wine, excellent bottle maturity, intense black color with expressive nose and very good structure i the mouth.

Marques de Caceres Reserva 2001

Please check the tasting notes from 3 years ago here. This time the wine was more towards leather and coffee. nice smokiness and wood stayed there.

David Moreno Gran Reserva 2001

Variety: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Grenache
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Rioja
Vintage: 2001
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: dark garnet red
Bouquet: very expressive, black chocolate,wood, coffee, canned black sour cherries,touch of vaniila
Taste: medium body, nice matured wood tones and spices, coffee, nice tannins present in the mouth, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: jamon serrano
Overall score: 87
Price: gift on web CZK 350
Stopper: cork
Very nice matured Rioja with excellent bottlr maturity going towards leather and coffee tones.







Friday, December 21, 2012

Domaine Valentin Zusslin Riesling Grand Cru Pfingstberg 2005

Fantastic Riesling!! Comparing to the tasting one year and 10 months ago described here this is absolutely stunning!It has excellent nose, very petrol and benzin tones, excellent minerality in the taste and acid and complex structure. This time it has 89 points.

Vinařství Petr Skoupil Rýnský ryzlink 2005

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Velké Bílovice village, Přední hora vineyard
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Residual sugar: 20.2g/l
Acidity: 6.4g/l
Color: deep yellow
Bouquet: Very expressive, hint of benzin tones, concentrated dry fruits, almost straw wine type of flavor, honey, good feel of bottleness
Taste: medium body, dry fruit,touch of orange peel, honey, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: foie grass, or Roquefort cheese
Overall score: 86
Price: CZK 200 in 2007
Stopper: cork
It is interesting especially if you compare it to my tasting two years ago here, it developed quite well over these two years. It got more petrol tones in it but nicely supported by the residual sugar.