Vinselekt Michlovský Veltlínské zelené kabinet 2011

Variety: Gruner Veltliner
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovácko sub appellation, Hovorany village, Díly za vinohrady vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: watery with green tint
Bouquet: lime, 
Taste: medium body, zesty and fresh mouth feel, very good acidity, lime, white grapefruit, hint of almonds, medium nicely lingering finish
Recommended food pairing: trout
Overall score: 3+7+11+6+6+50=83
Price: CZK 99
Stopper: cork
Excellent value/price wine. Nice example of fresh fruity GV with proper lively acidity calling for second glass. comparing to Austrian GV tasted recently here, this one can be drunk on its own perfectly chilled in hot summer day.

Bodega Norton Torrontes 2009

Variety: Torrontes
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet:  lychee, carambola
Taste: medium body, grape similar to nose carambola fruit followed by pink grapefruit, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: Asian cuisine
Overall score: 3+7+11+6+6+50=83
Price: CZK 149
Stopper: screw cap
Good quaffer for Asian food. To check the development  please refer to June 2012, November 2011 and May 2011 notes, where you can find the pictures.

Estación Carmenére Reserva 2008

Variety: Carmenere

Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Colchagua Valley
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: darker red
Bouquet: expressive, explosion of overripe black sour cherries, black currant with black pepper and gentle touch of tobacco and toast
Taste: medium to full body, black current with really ripe black sour cherries, smooth, huge fruit, but perfectly balanced with tannins, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: steak
Overall score: 4+8+13+7+7+50=89
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: single piece cork
Excellent Carmenere. Even though recently I am not huge fan of new world wines this is the reason why Chilien wines are so successful. Absolutely perfectly done Carmenere, one of the best I recently had. Excellent combination of huge fruit with oak and toast. The only thing why it did not make 90+ is the alcohol, it could be slightly lower so it needs to be chilled to 17°C to find the perfect balance. Considering the perfect cork closure I will be getting a case to my cellar. It will definitely improve over 3 years.

Terranoble Chardonnay 2010

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light yellow 
Bouquet: tropical fruit, pineapple, green melon, hint of vanilla
Taste: medium body, similar to taste dominant are tropical ripe fruits mainly pineapple, followed bygreen melon and light oak,  medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pasta with cheese cream sauce
Overall score: 3+7+11+6+6+50=83
Price: CZK 109 
Stopper: plastic cork
Reasonable slightly oaked Chard for this low price.

Modrý sklep Chardonnay 2005 pozdní sběr

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub appellation, Načeratický kopec vineyard 
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color:  lighter yellow
Bouquet: very mineral, green apples
Taste: medium to full body,very good acidity despite the age, green aplles, lime, minerality, touch of proper bottle maturity, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fish, oysters
Overall score: 3+8+11=6+7+50=85
Price: CZK 149 in 2007
Stopper: cork (single piece)
I quite like this Chard, The nose is fantastic and mineral, followed by good acidity and minerality in the mouth. There are some wines , which finish very quickly and this is one of them (I need to stop drinking it otherwise the whole bottle would be gone:-)). I wonder how many people would guess on blind tasting this bottle not to be Chablis.

Chateau Lednice Rulandské modré 2011 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Lednice village, Ve starých vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: lighter red with slight vioolet hues
Bouquet: very fruity, sour cherries, feels zesty acidity
Taste: medium body, similar to nose the profile is very fruity straightforward, dominant is black sour cherry with juicy fruitiness supported by nice acidity, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pate
Overall score: 3+6+10+6+5+50=80
Price: CZK199
Stopper: cork
Straightforward fruity PN. Although selection of grapes and very hot 2011 vintage it still has significant acidity, which does not makes it very pleasant for drinking now, but needs at least 3 years to age.

Herbarium Moravicum Rulandské modré 2011 pozdní sběr (Znojmo, lot: 1103131579)

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: lighter red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: precise bouquet of Pinot, small red cherries, slight earthiness, wild strawberries
Taste: medium body, very nice , gentle and subtle in the mouth dominant are wild cherries supported by touch of small wild plums, excellent structure in the mouth, nice lingering longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pork loin

Overall score: 4+7+11+7+7+50=86
Price: CZK 140
Stopper: cork
Perfect price/value ratio of Pinot. Somehow Herbarium Moravicum is never wrong. I expected this to be good due to hot 2011 vintage, but not as good as it was:-)

Andean Vineyards Malbec 2011

Variety: 100% Malbec
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red with violet hues 
Bouquet: ripe black sour cherries, blackberries, spiciness
Taste: medium body, black cherries, blackberries, very big fruit followed by black chocolate, still young tannis, medium  to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: steak
Overall score: 3+7+12+6+7+50=85
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: plastic cork
The wine got 88 in blind tasting of Malbecs at Prague Wine Trophy so I wanted to check, It is very good price/value for sure, so far it is still young and needs aging of at least 2 years to round up to show the potential.

Chateau Valtice Neuburské 2007 pozdní sběr

I tasted this wine about 1.5 year ago in October 2011. So i was wondering how the wine developed since then. Looking at my paper the notes are almost the same as last tasting so as the scoring. So please refer to these notes. Also my comment about the wine being very drinkable is valid, the bottle finished with Schnitzel and mashed potatoes very very quickly:-)

Wegenstein Gruner Veltliner Reserve 2011

Variety: 100% Gruner Veltliner
Country of origin: Austria
Wine appellation: Wachau
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: very light yellow
Bouquet:  green pepper, lime
Taste: medium to fuller body, round, lime, citruss tones, white grapefruit, peeled almonds, medium  finish
Recommended food pairing: pork schnitzel
Overall score: 3+7+11+6+7+50=84
Price: EUR 7 on web (gift)
Stopper: screw cap
Surprisingly fuller style of GV, not really representing typical zesty style for Austria. Definitely food wine.

Hardys Chardonnay Varietal Range 2005

Variety: Chardonnay

Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: South Eastern Australia
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: overripe pineapple, towards mango
Taste: medium body, tropical fruit, pineapple, similar to nose touch of mango supported by little oak, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pork loin
Overall score: 4+8+11+6+6+50=85
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: screw cap

I was quite surprised how the wine developed. I remember having the bottle about 5 years ago and it was just regular fruity Chardonnay. Unfortunately I did not make my notes on the blog. I quite like the heavy oily tones and nose and taste of overripe fruit.
See borrowed pics of different vintage from web

Vinařský dům Vinohrad Cabernet Moravia 2011 pozdní sběr

Stunning example of Cabernet Moravia, perfect fruit due to extremely hot 2011 vintage. This variety can have green tones when not made from perfectly ripe tones, which is not the case of this bottle. For tasting notes please refer to November 2012 tasting as they are almost the same. Scoring is 4+8+11+6+6+50=85.

Viňa Albali Reserva Cabernet Tempranillo 1999

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Tempranillo 15%
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 1999 
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: dark garnet with brownish meniscus
Bouquet: coffee, spices, sweet wood,canned black current, leather
Taste: medium body, considering its age very good and smooth tannins, which still dry nicely your mouth,  canned black currant heavily supported by nice wood tones, hint of spiciness,  medium finish
Recommended food pairing: game food
Overall score: 4+8+12+6+7+50=87
Price: EUR 10
Stopper: cork
This was my last bottle from the cellar. After drinking some good quantity of huge fruity Cab yesterday on some party I felt like something more complex and gentle:-). Last time I drank this wine was in November 2009 so I was really surprised how it holds. I really like it mainly due to very nice tannins the wine still has. It is still plesantly woody with tannins supported by fruits, not something for new world wine lovers with huge fruit.

Jedlička a Novák Kácary 2006 pozdní sběr

Enjoying the wine almost at the peak of bottle maturity. For tasting notes lease refer to December 2012 tasting notes.

Viña Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2005

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Maipo Valley
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: canned black currant and sour cherries, good bottle maturity
Taste: medium body, similar to taste visible are red cherries, black currant, still visible, but pleasant acidity and milder tannins, at the end hint of coffee, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: dry salami
Overall score: 3+7+10+6+6+50=82
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork
Properly aged CS and Merlot blend from Chille. When young the tannins must have been quite wild as they are still present considering 7 years the wine has.

Cuvee Prestige Cotes du Rhone 2011 AOC

Variety:   Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Cotes du Rhone
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: quite fruity, violets, black sour cherries, blackberries
Taste: medium body, fruity, sour cherries, for me still young tannins accompanied by higher acidity, alcohol despite its 14.5% is not standing out, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: duck liver pate
Overall score: 3+7+10+6+5+50=81
Price CZK 120
Stopper: plastic cork
Cheap CDR, quite thin with alcohol and not complex, will not improve I guess.

Stormhoek Chardonnay Viognier 2008

Tasting notes are the same as one month ago, no development since then, very nice full bodied food wine.

Kabaj Beli Pinot 2008

Variety: 100% Pinot Blanc
Country of origin: Slovenia
Wine appellation: Goriška Brda
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: bread, nuts, hint of vanilla, but very gentle
Taste: medium body, round taste profile, ripe apples followed by nutty tones, still good acidity, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: salmon
Overall score: 4+8+11+6+7=86
Price CZK 390
Stopper: Single piece cork
Nice round barrel aged Pinot Blanc, definitely food style of wine.

Herbarium Moravicum Sauvignon Blanc 2011 pozdní sběr (Znojmo, lot:2111121062)

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation

Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light yellow with significant viscosity
Bouquet: very round, white peach, white currant, white flowers
Taste: medium body,similar to taste profile it is not zesty rather rounder style of Sauvignon Blanc, white peach is the main fruit followed by tones of ripe white currant, lower acidity and higher alcohol makes it very round and warm in the mouth, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fruit salad
Overall score: 3+7+10+6+6+50=82
Price: CZK 130
Stopper: cork
This is very different from excellent cool 2010 vintage tasted in October 2011, it comes from very hot 2011 vintage and as such it is more towards round peach, more similar to 2009 vintage tasted as well in October 2011.

Leone de Castris Rena Rosso 2009 IGT

Variety: Negroamaro, Malvazia Nera
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Salento
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: sour cherries, some spices, not very complex
Taste: medium body, pretty flat profile with sour cherries playing the main fruit supported by quite high acidity followed by hint of coffee, at the end slight bitterness, medium finish
Overall score: 3+6+8+5+5+50=77
Price: gift (EUR 8 on web)
Stopper: cork
Somehow I cannot enjoy this wine, it is pretty weak and heavily acid, the problem is I tasted it yesterday and today with cheese only and it probably needs fat pork to balance it.

Beamonte Navarra Crianza 2004 DO

Variety: Tempranillo x Garnacha x Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Navarra
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium garnet red with bricky meniscus 
Bouquet: spices, clove, dry orange peel, cherries marmalade
Taste medium body, slightly flatter in the mouth one would expect from the structured nose, canned sour cherries, touch of spices and coffee supported by vanilla, wood is nicely lingering in the mouth with gentle tannins, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: veal, rabbit
Overall score: 4+8+10+6+6+50=84
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: cork
Considering the price this is excellent value/price wine. I really liked the nose which set very high expectations that were not meet in the mouth. However the taste is fair considering the price and it would be bargain if it did. What I like on this wine is that considering the age it is still quite woody, however it is not accompanied by brutal fruit and more gentle aged fruit. Tasted already 4 times on this blog 3 times I am referring to my  February 2012 notes here and one tasting is from January 2010 where you can find the pics of the bottle. Thjis was my last bottle in the cellar. I remember tasting recently 2010 vintage and it was much frutier.

Moravíno Valtice Rulandské šedé 2006 pozdní sběr

Variety: Pinot Gris
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Mikulov village, Pod valtickou vineyard
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: very expressive, dry orange peel, Nice bottle aged tones going towards hey, which are typical for Mikulov appellationTaste: medium body, very round, layered structure of orange marmelade with minerality and still good acidity, the fruit are also reminding me dry pineapple and yes there is a bit of overripe mango in it, which is in my previous tasting notes, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: matured sheep cheese
Overall score: 4+8+13+7+7+50=89
Price: CZK 180 in 2007
Stopper: cork
Excellent mineral PG with proper bottle maturity. Few more bottles in the cellar will be drunk very quickly:-)

Inzolia Pinot Grigio 2011 IGT

Variety: Inzolia, Pinot Gris

Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Sicilia
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 12,0%
Color: very pale yellow, almost see through
Bouquet: zesty, lemon, lime, green apple
Taste: light to medium body, very refreshing, lime, white grapefruit, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 3+7+10+6+6+50=82
Price CZK 150
Stopper: screw cap
Very zesty and refreshing wine and although from hot Sicily it has  very good lime acidity. 

Barón del Cega Valdepenas Gran Reserva 2001

Tasting notes are almost the same as in December 2012 tasting where you can find the pics as well.

Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: overripe tones of gooseberry and white currant
Taste: medium body, similar to nose dominant fruit is gooseberry, followed by white peach, round mouth profile, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: vegetable salad 
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6+50=84
Price: CZK 150
Good value/price ratio Sauv Blanc from Chile.

Vinařství Krásná Hora Zweigeltrebe 2011

Variety: Zweigeltrebe
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slovácko sub-appellation, Starý Podvorov village
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Color: lighter violet red
Bouquet: predominantly fruity character with sour cherries and red currant being the most dominant
Taste: light to medium body, similar to nose fruity type of wine, pleasantly done, not very complex, black cherries, hint of plums, almost no tannins at all, low acidity (I guess due to hot 2011 vintage), medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pate
Overall score: 3+8+11+5+6+50=83
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: single piece cork
This was my testing Zweigelt bottle. The wine received gold medal in Prague Wine Trophy with 88 points so I decided to check. Luckily I did not buy a whole case , but just single bottle. It is nowhere Zweigelt for 88 points, do not get me wrong I finished the whole bottle very quickly, it is nicely drinkable due to low alcohol and good fruit, but there are better Zweigelts on the market and definitely this one is not 88 points:-)

Vinselekt Michlovský Vinum Palaviense Sylvánské zelené 2004 pozdní sběr

I really liked this Gruner Sylvaner, the tasting notes are almost identical as in January 2013 so I will not reproduce them, I am positively surprised how perfectly the wine lasted and aged. To demonstrate the specifics minerality and terroir of Palava appellation I attach this time the picture of the wine stone in my last glass;-)

Chateau Valtice Ryzlink rýnský 2005 výběr z hroznů

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic  
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulv sub-appellation, Novosedly village, Kamenný vrh vineyard
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color:  medium yellow
Bouquet: expressive,  concentrated tones of dry lemon peel, good bottle aged tones, hint of benzin
Taste: medium body, lemon peel, very good concentration and minerality, touch of honey,excellent balance between residual sugar, acidity and bottle maturity, medium to long finish
Recommended food pairing: trout
Overall score: 4+8+11+6+7+50=86
Price: CZK 170 (in 2006)
Stopper: single piece cork
Perfectly aged mineral Riesling from Mikulov where it can age very nicely towards hint of Benzin tones. This one balances everything in it, still fruity, slight residual sugar with good acidity and bottle age.
For comparison and pictures please check October 2010 tasting.