Marks & Spencer Corbieres 2008

Variety: Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Languedoc, Corbieres
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: dark ruby red
Bouquet: predominantly fruity nose with some spiciness
Taste: medium body, dominant sour cherries underpinned by blackberries, some power on the palate, very drinkable, savory medium  finish
Recommended food pairing: casserole
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 149
Stopper: cork
Very drinkable similar to Cotes du Rhone style of big fruity wine.

Chateau Assena Car Assen Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of Origin: Bulgaria
Wine appellation: Plovdiv
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium garnet red
Bouquet: wide and ample with dominant black currant jam accompanied by canned cherries and underpinned by hint of coffee and aged tones
Taste: medium body, very dry, black currant, cherries, strong tannins, but not unpleasant, touch of coffee, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: dry salami
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 120
Stopper: cork
Vinification: Wine is made according to special technology at low temperature. Grapes are picked in their technologic ripeness with sugar content above 21% and are transported to the wine making devices in containers. Wine is made in rotovinimatics with infusion of grape mark at low temperature - 12-14 °C. During fermentation, for which a special strain of yeast is used, a strict enological control is implemented.
Maturing: This wine matures in barrique type oak butts 225 l
I remember I had this wine about 3 year ago and I could not remember the taste so when I saw it in the shop I got the last bottle there curious to check. It is definitely "old" world style of wine with less fruit and more tannic structure, which makes it interesting.

Limbeck Chardonnay 1995 beerenauslese

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of Origin: Austria
Wine appellation: Burgenland, Neusiedlersee
Vintage: 1995
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: dark gold towards amber
Bouquet: very expressive, dry tropical fruit, banana, honey
Taste: medium body, very concentrated and  round, canned pineapple and peach, honey , but balanced with nice acidity as well, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: desert, blue cheese
Overall score: 86
Price: CZK 250 in 2006
Stopper: cork
This is finally the notes from the end of Xmas dinner. I had it on the draft and finally today I took the pic of the bottle. The wine was stunning. It was very interesting to check how can sweet botrytis cinerea style of wine develop over 15 years and definitely it was worth the time left in the cellar.

Kovacs Ryzlink vlašský 2005 pozdní sběr

I opened the second bottle of this Welsh Riesling from Kovacs and the tasting notes are almost identical as the first one tasted here 2 months ago.

Stonehead Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: sour cherries, a bit of sulfite
Taste: light to medium body, similar to nose dominant characteristics are sour cherries with slightly stronger tannins and grapefruit at the end of the palate, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: summer barbecue
Overall score: 77
Price: CZK 70
Stopper: Plastic cork
"Supermarket" style of wine. Uninspiring Merlot. Cannot imagine it being younger, it must have been undrinkable.

La Consulta Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Uco Valley
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: dark red with lighter meniscus
Bouquet: blackcurrant marmalade, cherries, plums
Taste: medium body, canned black currant, sour cherries, slightly higher tannins, touch of mocca, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: 
Overall score: 80
Price: CZK 80
Stopper: plastic cork
This Cab Sauv is better than the Malbec tasted here. It offers very good value/price ratio. Not complicated, but reasonable for drinking.

Chateau Valtice Neuburské 2003 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Neuburger (Red VeltlinerxSylvaner)
Country of origin: Czech Republic  
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulv sub-appellation, Dolní Dunajovice village, Pod Slunným vrchem vineyard
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow 
Bouquet: ripe apples 
Taste: medium body, red ripe apple, grapes, lively acidity in balance with bottle tones, very drinkable, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: turkey
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 170 (in 2006)
Stopper: cork
This was the last of the four bottle we drank this year. Somehow I delayed the notes to this last one. I was amazed by the freshness of the wine given the age, we finished it in 30 minutes, somehow you want to continue drinking it.