Reisten Pinot Gris Classic 2010 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Pinot Gris
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-apellation, Sedlec village, U božích muk vineyard
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Residual sugar: 5.7g/l
Acidity: 8.4g/l
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: very expressive, complex, very mineral, lime, herby, concentrated
Taste: medium body, very mineral, lime curd, hint of herbs, quite high acidity, longer nicely lingering finish 
Recommended food pairing:  
Overall score: 4+8.5+12+6.5+6=87
Price: CZK 210
Stopper: cork
Excellent nose, so much different from basic Pinot Grigio quaffers from Veneto. In the nose the wine is very complex and structured, in the taste it is very mineral, limey, structured, but with sharp acidity given very cold 2010 vintage, which not everyone may like it, but I do:-). It would be fantastic to have slightly more residual sugar, but that was impossible in 2010. Good candidate for further cellaring, however no more bottles left:-(

Weingut Hans Wirsching Iphöfer Kronsberg Scheurebe 2011 Kabinett

Variety: Scheurebe 
Country of origin: Germany
Wine appellation: Franken
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: expressive, lime and minerality, white currant
Taste: medium body, very zesty, apricot, lime, very fresh and pure, with very nice acidity, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+8+12+6+6.5=86.5
Price: CZK 320
Stopper: screw cap
I do like this wine a lot. I have never had this variety before, it should be the cross between Riesling and Sylvaner, which was not confirmed by DNA (the Sylvaner part). It is somehow Sauvignon on the nose and Riesling in the taste, but very fresh and pure and so much drinkable that almost half bottle was finished in 15 minutes:-) 

Herbarium Moravicum Veltlínské Zelené 2011 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Gruner Veltliner
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-apellation
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: hint of pepper, white flowers, citrus fruit
Taste: medium body, dominant is flavor of ripe grapes, supported by hint of lime and green pepper, slightly lower acidity, medium body
Recommended food pairing: on its own
Overall score: 3.5+7+11+5.5+5.5=82.5
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: cork
What is funny I checked my blog and realized that I tasted the same wine almost exactly one year ago in JUne 2012 with notes to almost identical, even the one about the lower acidity and flowers in the nose and grapes in the taste:-)

Stapleton & Springer Pinot Noir 2011 Terasy

Variety: 100 % Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Boretice village, Terasy vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: quite fruity, sour cherries, cherries, hint of earth followed by plum cake and vanilla
Taste: medium body, si milar to nose dominant fruits are cherries followed by sour cherries with quite good acidity, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: on its own, its not really food wine
Overall score: 4+8+11+6+6=85
Price: CZK 484
Stopper: single piece cork
The nose is very different to 09 Trkmanska tasted in November 2012, this one being much more fruity, I do not know the age of the vineyard, but I would guess this vineyard being much younger. Honestly it so far does not reach the potential of 09 Trkmanska, but on the other hand it feels very young and will definitely improve in 3 - 5 years.

Morandé Pinot Noir Reserva 2006

Tasted one month ago in May 2013. I can only confirm the tasting notes and high scoring from then;-) Yummy!

Robertson Winery Chardonnay 2006

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: South Africa
Wine appellation: Breede River
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: overripe fruit, mainly pineapple, slight tones of vanilla
Taste: medium body, round, canned pineapple, good acidity,  vanilla, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6 = 84

Price: CZK 179
Stopper: cork
Tropical style of Chardonnay with hint of vanilla at peak of bottle maturity. 

Domaine des Fines Caillottes Jean Fabiot Pouilly Fumé 2011 AOC

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Pouilly Fumé
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: fresh, white flowers, mineral
Taste: medium body, lime, white currant, white grapefruit, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6+50=84
Price: CZK 450

Stopper: single piece cork

By Chance we ended up with two same bottles, but different vintage out of three bottles of our mini Pouilly Fumé tasting. It was interesting to compare it to 2009 vintage. This one was much more fruitier on one side, but to us slightly less mineral and complex, we agreed that 2009 vintage was better and as such it proved that certain bottles of Pouilly Fumé taste better when at least 3 years old.

Domaine des Fines Caillottes Jean Fabiot Pouilly Fumé 2009 AOC

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Pouilly Fumé
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: good bottle maturity, mineral, herbal, lime
Taste: medium to full body, very dry, mineral, lime peel, round and mouth filling, longer finish
Overall score: 4+8+12+7+6+50=87
Price: CZK 450

Stopper: single piece cork

This was the second place, very tight with the first one. This wine was rounder, slightly more full and less hard than the winner. What was nice it opened up a lot when we drank it changing the nose every 15 minutes.

Jean Dumont Les Cailloux Pouilly Fumé 2009 AOC

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Pouilly Fumé
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: very structured, inerality, stone, lime, nice bottle maturity
Taste: medium body, very bone dry and hard, minerality, lemon, white currant, long and ncely persistent  finish
Overall score: 4+8+12+7+7+50=88
Price: CZK 250

Stopper: single piece cork

Very bone dry with excellent mineral nose, taste and nicely long finish. Winner of our small winetasting of three samples;-)

Vinařství Přítluky Veltlínské červené rané 2012

Tasting notes are almost identical to ones from May 2013. Scoring this time is 3+7.5+11+5+5.5+50=82. Maybe storage for one months in my wine fridge helped it a bit as this was very young  and slightly unsettledwhen purchased.

Císařské sklepy Horák Dornfelder 2005

This bottle was corked tainted, so I poured the content to the sink, what a pity. At least you can check my notes from April 2013.

Nové Vinařství Cépage Rulandské modré 2012 kabinet

Tasted on picnic on hot summer day the wine tasted fantastic. I con confirm the tasting notes and scoring from April 2013.

Santa Carolina Carmenere Reserva 2010

Variety: Carmenere

Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Rapel Valley
Vintage: 2010

Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: dark garnet red 

Bouquet: black sour cherries supported by nice spicy tones, hint of wood
Taste: medium to full body, good combination of very ripe black sour cherries with good acidity and hint of toasty and peppery tones, nice tannins, medium to longer finish

Recommended food pairing:  definitely steak

Overall score: 4+8+12+6+6=86
Price: CZK 210
Stopper: single piece of cork

Tasted already 7 months ago in November 2012 (where is the pic of the bottle) the wine confirmed its quality, very nice big fruit Carmenere with spicy tones supported by barrel aging. It will only improve and  round up in 2 to 3 years.

Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Same notes and score as week ago and thus in April 2013.

Bodega Norton Torrontes 2009

Same scoring and tasting notes as in March 2013.

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc  
Country of origin: New Zealand
Wine appellation: Marlborough
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: elderberry syrup,  gooseberryTaste: medium body, canned gooseberry, elderberry juice, good lime acidity, rounder, at the end white grapefruit, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6=84
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: screw cap
Rounder and riper style of SB. You can compare it to my previous notes here.

Nativa Terra Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2010

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: gooseberry, elderberry flowers
Taste: medium body, similar to nose gooseberry is the main fruit, followed by white currant, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: fish, salad
Overall score: 4+7+10+5+5=81
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: single piece cork
Reasonable SB, good value wine.

Hardys Colombard Chardonnay Bin 141 2007

Variety: Colombard, Chardonnay

Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: South Eastern Australia
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: very tropical, overripe pineapple, hint of mango, good bottle maturity
Taste: medium body, tropical fruit, pineapple, and similar to nose hint of mango, very fruity, but combined with good bottle maturity, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: turkey
Overall score: 4+7+11+5+5+50=83
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: screw cap

Very nice drop, I guess when young it must have tasted very simple and green melony like many Aussie basic chards do. It is quite similar in profile to varietal 2005 range from Hardys tasted in March 2013.

Undurraga Aliwen Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: 70%  Leyda Valley, 30% Curico Valley
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: black currant leaves, lime
Taste: medium body, fresh. white currant, lime, good acidity, hint of white grapefruit, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fish, salad
Overall score: 4+8+12+6+6=86
Price: CZK 159
Stopper: screw cap
I tasted previously 2009 and 2010 vintage so I was interested how 2011 would look like and it is more similar to 2010 than 2009. I guess the main reason is the fact that 2011 have been sourced 70% from cool climate Leyda valley, 2010 was 30% from Leyda valley, whilst 2009 was 100% from Curico (hot climate) valley. Check my notes from previous tastings here. Also what is good is that 2011 vintage is sealed under screw cap as I remember having cork taint opening 2010 vintage 3 months ago. Lastly the alcohol level, although quite high, does not stand out neither from the nose nor taste. This is one of the wine which offers excellent quality/price ratio due to importing by one of the hypermarket chains in Europe directly with no intermediaries. 5 years ago this brand in reserva row was trading around CZK 350 on the Czech market. The markets gets quite competitive here and for example Bodegas Norton, which are distributed by the same chain is now available for 50% of the price I used to taste it in 2008.

Chateau Valtice Ryzlink rýnský 2008 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling

Country of origin: Czech Republic  
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Brod nad Dyjí village, Brodské stráně vineyard
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Color:  medium yellow
Bouquet: linden tree flowers, minerality, hint of benzin tones
Taste: medium body, dry lemon peel, minarality and very good lime acidiyt supported by hint of residual sugar, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: trout
Overall score: 4+8+12+6+6+50=86
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork

Felt like something with good acidity and slightly more complex than Sauv Blanc in this extremely hot weather. Found this bottle in my wine fridge and it was good choice. I really enjoy bottle aged Rieslings like this one, especially if it has a bit of residual sugar, which otherwise could feel a bit juicy. I checked the blog and I tasted the same bottle 3 months ago in March 2013, the notes this time are slightly different so I put the ones above. 

Ironstone Obsession Symphony 2008

Variety: Symphoni (Muscat of Alexandria x Pinot Gris)
Country of origin:USA
Wine appellation: California 
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium yellow 
Bouquet: intense, ripe grapes, muscat flower, orange peel
Taste: medium body, quite spicy , reminds me orange marmelade with ginger, quite good acidity complemented with higher residual sugar, medium to longer and spicy finish
Recommended food pairing: Assian food
Overall score: 4+8+11+6+5.5=84.5
Price: CZK 190
Stopper: Screw cap
The wine developed quite nice it is more concentrated when I remember it year ago in May 2012 (where you can find the pictures of the bottle) and would go fantastic with spicy ginger based dishes.

Terredora Falanghina 2008 IGT

Variety: Falanghina
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Campania
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: straw yellow very shiny
Bouquet:  very expressive, minerality, herby, dry lemon peel
Taste: medium body, very nicely structured, layered, dry fruits like lemon peel and pineapple, high extract, dry rosemary in hot dry field, perfect minerality still hold by very nice acidity, medium to longer finish  
Recommended food pairing: dry cheese
Overall score: 5+8+12+6+6=87
Price: CZK 150 in promotion 
Stopper: cork
Bought last bottle on sale for this stunning price, I love the wine, the color, the nose, the taste. We had first bottle of Falanghina 2002 vintage in September 2009, then knowing the wine I bought a case of 2007 vintage tasted several times thorough the time having special requests from my girlfriend to open this wine during the year asking naive quastion what would like to have (anything)?. Then I needed to go and dick the Falanghina in the cellar:-). This vintage is stunning I only regret when I got to the open door of the importer this was the last bottle:-(. Somehow the old world has still something to say. I wish new world whites would age like this.

Bremerton Matilda Plains Sauvignon Blanc Verdelho 2012

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: Langhorne Creek, South Australia
Vintage: 20012
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: very pale yellow
Bouquet: grassy supported by lime and hint of green apples, surprisingly quite fresh
Taste: light to medium body, very fresh style lime, green apple, white currant, slightly flatter in the mouth, but better at the crispier finish with hint of white grapefruit, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 3.5+7.5+11.5+5.5+5+50=83
Price: CZK 200 on sale 
Stopper: Screw cap
Very zesty and fresh style of wine, it is not tropical at all, it must have been picked very early as the main character is lime in both nose and taste supported by green apples and hint of herby character in the nose. Although this should be the export range I found the wine in au web showing the price of 16 AUD, hence it is cheaper to buy it here like many Australien wines due to overproduction in homeland:-) I personally prefer their standard non export range such as the Verdelho tasted in April 2013.

Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Same notes and score as in April 2013. It is definitely better than 2009 vintage tasted lastly couple of days ago here.