Saturday, February 28, 2015

Robertson Winery Pinotage 2008

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from October 2014 apply.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Tocornal

4th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from November 2013 apply.

First Cape Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release 2013

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin:South Africa
Wine appellation: Western Cape
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: not very expressive, lime, gooseberry, white currant
Taste: medium body, very straightforward fruity profile, lime, white currant,  medium finish
Overall score: 4+6+10+5+6=81
Price: CZK 79 on sale (regular CZK 159)
Stopper: screw cap
Basic and cheap Sauv Blanc, especially for promo price. Otherwise for full price that would be bad choice. Similar to Golden Kaap tasted recently.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Vinselekt Michlovský Rulandské šedé Chateau Dowina 2010 pozdní sběr barrique

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For detailed tasting notes with pics please refer to February 9, 2015 tasting.

Miguel Torres Coronas Tempranillo 2011

Variety: Temprannilo, Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Penedes
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: fruit driven, cherries, sour cherries, some spices
Taste: medium body, red fruit, sour cherries play the major part, supported by cherries and light black currant, good acidity, medium tannins, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+11+6+6.5=84
Price: CZK 280
Stopper: cork
2nd bottle of this wine tasted. I was looking for something fresh and fruity to accompany my pizza for lunch and this was very good choice. Nothing complex, rather fruitier wine, but fine. It drinks very fast though:-). For the pictures please refer to my first tasting on June 6, 2014. 

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Marques de Arienzo Crianza 2003 DOCa

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from February 7, 2015 apply.

Agricola Fontecolle Sololoro Montefalco Rosso 2008 DOC

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For detailed tasting notes please refer to December 16, 2014. Could not agree more on what is written there.

Berberana Number One Shiraz - Tempranillo 2005

Variety: Shiraz, Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Castilla la Mancha
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium garnet red
Bouquet: canned fruit, sour cherries, blackberries, spices
Taste: medium body, canned sour cherries, spices, light acidity, lower tannins, touch of coffee, medium finish
Overall score: 4+6+10.5+5.5+6=82
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork
2nd and last bottle tasted. Reasonable simple wine with good bottle maturity, where nothing stands out in unpleasant way and also not very exciting either. For pictures please refer to my first tasting from October 29, 2013.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Jedlička a Novák Rulandské šedé 2010 výběr z hroznů Botrytis Cinerea

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes as of July 2014 apply.

Viña Tarapacá Syrah 2004

4th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from January 21, 2015 hold.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Bodegas Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor Blend 2006

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. I quite like the blend. Good combination of fruit with pleasant tannins and very good bottle maturity.  For detail tasting notes and pictures please refer to January 15, 2015.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Sileni Tahuna Pinot Noir 2004

18th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from September 14, 2014 apply. 

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Robert Mondavi Woodbridge Zinfandel 2005

10th bottle of this wine tasted. August 2014 tasting notes apply.

Grandi Mori Chardonnay 2011 IGT

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Veneto
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: fairly neutral, red apples, light oxidation
Taste: medium body,neutral, simple, grapes, some bread, red apples, medium acidity, medium finish
Overall score: 4+5+9+5+4+50= 77
Price: CZK 89
Stopper: cork
Basic Chard, not nice drinking. It will be used for cooking risotto.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Viña Tarapacá Syrah 2004

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from January 21, 2015 hold.

Cellier des Demoiselles Chateau de Durfort 2009 AOC

3rd and last bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from January 30, 2014 apply. Very nice wine indeed.

Znovín Znojmo Rýnský ryzlink 2011 Znojmo VOC

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Looking at the first tasting notes from May 2014 the in hardly changed, there is slight dry lemon crust in the taste profile. Scoring is the same.

Misiones de Rengo Chardonnay 2013

Variety: Chardonnay

Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: very fresh, just ripe pineapple, white grapefruit, lime, very light touch of vanilla, quite limey and on blind one would say cool climate type
Taste: medium body, fresh, zesty and limey style of Chardonnay,fresh pineapple,white grapefruit, lime, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: salmon
Overall score: 4+7+11+5.5+6.5=84
Price: CZK 119
Stopper: cork
Quite good value Chard. I would say it is better than other Chile competitors for almost double the price. Quite restrained limey character, which I like.

Herbarium Moravicum Chardonnay 2011 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot: 2505121065)

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. This is round, flowery style with pear and ripe peach tones with slightly lower acidity most likely due to hot 11 vintage. Lower acidity and slight honey profile is good characteristics of the wine, despite that the wine is dry. I would guess the wine would show some tendency for herby character upon ageing. Let me check it as there are 3 bottles more in the cellar:-) Tasting notes from November 2014 are pretty much valid with the precision above. Scoring is the same.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Vinařství Petr Skoupil Rulandské modré pozdní sběr 2011

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Velké Bílovice village, Nová hora vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 14.4%
Residual sugar: 2.3 g/l
Acidity: 4.2 g/l
Color: light garnet red with bricky meniscus, slightly opaque
Bouquet: quite restrained upon opening, but later on start to like it more and more,there are cranberries, strawberry jam,
Taste: medium body,very nicely structured, wild sour cherries, cranberries, very pleasant tannins, good acidity (despite low analytics),warm quite long finish
Overall score: 3.5+7+12+7.5+7=87
Price: CZK 249
Stopper: single piece cork
This was quite positive surprise for me upon tasting the bottle. corked partially leaked through with some mold on it. label almost erased. I did not expect much, rather average Pinot from Moravia, but specifically the taste profile is very nice with good acidity and amazing tannins, which am huge fan of. Now looking at the info about the bottle on net and it won gold medal in Prague Wine Trophy 2013, definitely justified. I really enjoy sipping this Pinot. This was just my only bottle:-( Yes I know it is not Burgundy, but cannot help myself to give it 87 (penalized probably only due to color of this specific bottle due to cork leakage, or one never knows it could have help also on taste:-)). Quite different to 2009 vintage from the same vineyard tasted in December 2010.

Bodegas Nieto Senetiner Chardonnay Viognier Don Nicanor 2006

5th bottle of this wine tasted. This is save bet for nice oaked wine to accompany the food. Tasting notes from January 2014 apply.

Jedlička a Novák Kácary 2007 pozdní sběr

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from October 2014 apply.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Tocornal

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from November 2013 apply. Very good value Cab.

Tasca D'Almerita Nero d'Avola Regaleali Sicilia 2003 IGT

Variety: 100% Nero d' Avola
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Sicily
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: darker garnet red
Bouquet: quite gentle, some spices, canned cherries, hint of coffee
Taste: medium body, sour cherries, very dry, nice mouth drying tannins, medium acidity, spices, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: BBQ
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7=87
Price: CZK 200 on sale, regular CZK 300
Stopper: single piece cork
One of the best Nero d' Avola I tasted so far. Usually I am not a huge fan of the variety as the wine you can get here imported is cheap fruit driven version of the variety. This on the other hand is quite tannic, which I like.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Vinselekt Michlovský Sauvignon Distinqué de Vinselekt 2005 výběr z hroznů

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. As stated a month ago December 2013 describe the wine perfectly even as of today.

Bc.Luděk Vondrák Ryzlink rýnský 2006 výběr z hroznů

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Bohemia, Mělník sub-appellation
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: concentrated, sugared lemon crust, herbs, some petrol tones
Taste: medium to full body, good mouth profile balancing quite nice lemon type acidity, fuller body and slight residual sugar, longer nice lingering finish
Recommended food pairing: foie grass
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7=87
Price: CZK 200 for 0.5l bottle
Stopper: cork
2nd bottle of this wine tasted. I remember buying this wine ages ago in tasting in Gobovka. First botlle was tasted in November 2010. what amazes me is the condition of the wine, despite average cork the wine shows absolutely no oxidation despite 0.5 bottle and 9 years of age, rather very nicely matured fuller slightly sweeter type of Riesling.

Znovín Znojmo Rulandské Modré 2009 výběr z hroznů

Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Slup village, Dívčí hora vineyard
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: good combination of small red pit fruit, forest strawberries and light jammy tones from perfect bottle maturity
Taste: medium body,  forest strawberries, cranberries, supported by pleasant tannins from small wild cherries, good acidity, at the end hint of granate apple, medium to longer nicely lingering finish
Recommended food pairing: game food
Overall score: 4+7+12+6+7=86
Price: CZK 190
Stopper: single piece cork
11th bottle of this wine tasted, what was said in November 2014 about this wine holds. This time I gave it one point more as the I really enjoy the pleasant light tannins. As mentioned previously it should have been oaked.

Herbarium Moravicum Rulandské modré 2012 pozdní sběr (Znojmo, lot:2209142525)

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: lighter red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: gentle, forest strawberries, cranberries
Taste: medium body,small red pit fruit,  wild small cherries, cranberries, good acidity, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6+50=84
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork
Despite being young it is gentle PN with predominantly small fruit characteristics and very light tannins.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Viña Tarapacá Syrah 2003

8th and last bottle of this wine tasted. Not much to add to my notes from one week ago.

Vina Albali Crianza 2004 DO

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Valdepenas
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: lighter to medium red
Bouquet: quite restrained, sour cherries, hint of wood
Taste: medium body, quite basic acidic profile, unripe sour cherries, with hint of spices, medium slightly harsher tannins, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: BBQ, straightforward stuff, nothing complex
Overall score: 3+5+10+5+5=78
Price: CZK 89
Stopper: single piece cork
2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Looking at my notes from first tasting in November 2009 the wine hardly improved. Very basic staff.

Spielberg Pinot Blanc 2009 Austerlitz pozdní sběr

5th bottle of this wine tasted. As mentioned on January 11, 2015 I really like it. Tasting notes from December 29, 2014 apply.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Reisten Riesling Classic 2006 pozdní sběr

Variety: Rhine Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub appellation, Mikulov village, Valtická vineyard
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: minerality, lime, light benzin tones, quite austere and limey profile, despite the age, very light bottle maturity
Taste: medium body, lime, very mineral, super acidity keeping the wine very fresh, the end mouth profile follows lemon crust with nice lime acidity, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pork schnitzel
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7=87
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: cork
Another treasure from my cellar, very mineral with super acidity and light petrol tones, this is the style of Riesling I very much like. Kind of what Chablis is to Chardonnay this similar mineral profile of Mikulov area makes it very distinct to other Moravian Rieslings. Fair to say there is limited fruit profile apart from lime and overpowering minerality, so this is not to everyone palate. What I like is the condition of the wine despite 9 years of age, which on blind tasting no one would guess.

Víno Mikulov Sommelier Club ryzlink vlašský 2012 pozdní sběr

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from January 2015 apply.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Herbarium Moravicum Veltlínské Zelené 2011 pozdní sběr

10th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as iOctober 15, 2014.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Herbarium Moravicum Veltlínské Zelené 2011 pozdní sběr

9th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as in October 15, 2014.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Santa Rita Chardonnay Reserva 2010

Variety: Chardonnay

Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Casablanca Valley
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: quite gentle, white flowers, lime, fresh just ripe pineapple, hint of vanilla
Taste: medium body, lime, grilled pineapple, good and pleasant acidity,at the end touch of white grapefruit, medium to slightly longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+12+6.5+7=86.5
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: single piece cork
Quite good chardonnay with good acidity profile and not overpowering oak. After drinking 3 bottles of 06 vintage I was expecting slightly more, but the truth is the wine is still quite young and I would leave it longer in the cellar.The problem is that I believe I have only one bottle.

Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 2005

14th bottle of this vintage tasted. Looking at my last tasting notes of the same bottle from June 22, 2014 they are valid as of today as the wine did not move from then.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Herbarium Moravicum Ryzlink vlašský 2013 pozdní sběr (MIkulov, lot: 09011153116)

Variety: Welsh Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation,
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: very fresh and zesty, meadow flowers, lime
Taste: medium body, crispy,  lime, minerality, citrus fruit, very good acidity, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7+50=85
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork
Very fresh and nicely drinkable WR with good acidity so typical for 2013 vintage. Good candidate for cellaring.

MVZ Bzenec Ego No.69 Ryzlink Vlašský 2008 výběr z hroznů

3rd botlle of this wine tasted. For detailed tasting notes please refer to April 2014 tasting.

Chateau de Chamirey Les Ruelles Monopole 2008 Premier Cru

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Burgundy, Mercurey
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: earth, spices, canned cherries
Taste: medium body,very good spiciness, wild small cherries, nice plesant slightly lighter tannins, good acidity, slightly longer finish
Overall score: 4+8+12.5+7+7.5+50=89
Price: CZK 1231 (EUR 27.50 on Cave Mancel)
Stopper: single piece cork
Pleasant Burgundy at the peak of bottle maturity, 4 hour decanting really helped the nose, which was upon opening quite restrained.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Vinařství Pavlov Rulandské šedé 2003 výběr z hroznů

Variety: 100% Pinot Gris
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Velké Němčice village, Kolébky-Pindule vineyard
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: orange, pineapple, citrus fruit, bottle maturity, light touch of honey
Taste: medium body, ripe pear, pineapple, orange, pleasant minerality, all nicely combined with honey tones, light residual sugar,  nice longer finish
Recommended food pairing: cheese cake
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7=87
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: single piece cork
Very good PG at the peak of bottle maturity with nicely integrated residual sugar, fruit and light minerality.

Vinselekt Michlovský Rulandské šedé Chateau Dowina 2010 pozdní sběr barrique

Variety: 100% Pinot Gris
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Perná village, Bergrus vineyard
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: white flowers, pear, pineapple, light vanilla
Taste: medium body, similar to niose the wine is rather on fruitier side with white pear and pinepple being the most notable, followed by good lime acidity, vertty light vanilla, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+11+6+6.5=84
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: single piece cork
Despite 2010 cold vintage the wine is on fruitier and slightly rounder style. Oak is almost not noticeable and I miss a bit of minerality too.

Moravíno Valtice Rulandské šedé 2006 pozdní sběr

7th bottle of this wine tasted.  January 2014 notes still apply. Excellent wine. Superb minerality, herby character, amazing freshness combined with bottle maturity, difficult to describe, but both are there. Taste profile is just amazing! For me the best Pinot Gris tasted so far 5+8+14+7+8=92

Vinselekt Michlovský Rulandské šedé 2011 pozdní sběr

5th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from November 23, 2014 apply. 

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Viña Tarapacá Syrah 2003

Going through my cellar I discovered 2 bottles of this Syrah. This is my 7th bottle tasted. Not expecting much I was quite surprised on superb condition of the wine despite 12 years of age. Looking at my June 2014 tasting notes they are pretty much the same today and remain valid.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Robertson Winery Chardonnay 2008

5th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from July 25, 2014 still apply.

Vinselekt Michlovský Rulandské šedé 2011 pozdní sběr

4th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from November 23, 2014 apply. Very clean, crispy and mineral PG indeed.

Marques de Arienzo Rioja Reserva 2001 DOCa

5th bottle if this wine tasted. June 2014 tasting notes hold.

Marques de Arienzo Crianza 2003 DOCa

Variety: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and Mazuelo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Rioja
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet:  leather, spices, hint of animal tones, canned cherries, vanilla
Taste: medium body, canned fruit profile, mainly cherries, vamilla, spices, good acidity,plesant ripe tannins,  longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fuet
Overall score: 4+7+11+7+7=86
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: single piece cork
2nd bottle of this wine tasted. First tasted in November 2013. Good Rioja at the peak of bottle maturity. Remaining four bottles will be drunk this year for sure.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Finca La Emperatriz 2004 Reserva

2nd botlle of this wine tasted. Fantastic Rioja. Tasting notes from January 2013 are pretty much unchanged.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Reisten Riesling Classic 2009 pozdní sběr

4th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from a month ago apply.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Sileni Tahuna Pinot Noir 2004

17th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from September 14, 2014 apply. 

Monday, February 2, 2015

Tanzberg Rýnský Ryzlink 2003 pozdní sběr

Last (6th) bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from May 2014 are still valid. Perfect aged Riesling.

Jedlička a Novák Rulandské šedé Barrique 2007 výběr z hroznů Botrytis Cinerea

Variety: Pinot Gris
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Bořetice village, Terasy vineyard
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: expressive, grilled pineapple, toast, roasted onion, minerality, pear, nuts
Taste: medium to full body, tropical fruit, pear, orange, lively acidity with good minerality all nicely rounded with light toast and vanilla, slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pork loin
Overall score: 4+7.5+12.5+7+7=88
Price: CZK 200 in 2009
Stopper: single piece cork
2nd bottle of this wine tasted. First bottle tasted in April 2014 (with the pics). Excellent example of oaked aged Pinot gris with superb profile, despite alcohol to be quite high it does not bother neither in the nose nor in the taste. No more bottles in the cellar:-(

Jedlička a Novák Rulandské šedé 2010 výběr z hroznů Botrytis Cinerea

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes as of July 2014 apply.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Bestheim Riesling Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé 2007 Vendanges Tardives Alsace Grand Cru

Variety: Riesling
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Alsace Grand Cru
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 12.50%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet:  honey, peeled almonds, herbs
Taste: medium body, rounder, honey, herbs, pear, oily, light acidity, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: foie gras
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7=87
Price: CZK 199 on sale (regular CZK 349)
Stopper: plastic cork to my surprise
Nice sweeter side Riesling for very good price.

Vinselekt Michlovský Vinum Palaviense Rulandské bílé 2006 výběr z hroznů

Variety: 100% Pinot Blanc
Country of origin:Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Perná village, Věstoňsko vineyard
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: ripe peach, pear, honey
Taste: medium body, ripe pear, hint of bread tones, honey, light acidity with higher residual sugar, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7=85
Price: CZK 360 in 2010
Stopper: single piece cork
Comparing to 07 vintage tasted 2 days ago this is much less of expressive in the nose with lower acidity and higher sugar in taste (I guess mostly due to hot 06 vintage).

Vinařství Petr Skoupil Rýnský ryzlink 2005

Last (6th) bottle of this wine tasted. Previously tasted in May 2014, where I made a reference to December 2012 tasting notes. Looking at those there are pretty much valid even today with the detailed scoring to be as follows: 5+7+12+6+7=87.

Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc Single vineyard Awatere Valley 2010

7th bottle of this wine tasted. Same as yesterday for detailed tasting notes please refer to tasting one week ago.