Patria Kobyli Sauvignon 2006 Výběr z Hroznů

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velke Pavlovice sub-appellation
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 17.5g/l
Acidity: 5.8g/l
Color: golden yellow
Bouquet: canned gooseberry, peach, mirabelle, overripe wine berries
Taste: full body, ripe peach, mango, notes of honey, at the end orange marmalade
Recommended food pairing: pumpkin risotto, pork on pear reduction
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 180
Stoper: cork
This is very "full" style of Sauvignon Blanc. It is rather food wine than the wine for drinking on its own. It has overripe fruit tones going towards honey, which makes it ideal for food which is complex and combines meat and fruits.

Tomáš Tetur Irsay Oliver 2006

Variety: Irsay Oliver
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velke Pavlovice sub-appellation
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 12%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: quite aromatic, slight muscatel tones (not heavy), ripe white fruit
Taste: light body, spicy, ripe pear, at the end orange
Recommended food pairing: sweet and sour Asian dishes
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 100
Stopper: cork

This Irsay combines nice aroma with lower acidity and slight residual sugar, which makes it easy drinking, but not dull as many Irsays can be.

 

Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 2007

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: South Eastern Australia  
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: pineapple, citrus tones, green melon
Taste: light to medium body, quite fruity, melon, hint of peach, pineapple with hint of nutty oak
Recommended food pairing: pasta with cream sauce, turkey, chicken
Overall score: 83
Price: CZK 189
Stopper: cork
Very good representative of fruity style Chardonnay with hint of oak texture. Not very complex but easy drinking straightforward wine.

Vinařství Bukovský Sylvánské Zelené 2006

Variety: Sylvaner
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velke Pavlovice sub-apellation
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: mowed greenfield, citrus tones
Taste: medium body, minerality, citrus tones, herbs
Recommended food pairing: salads,
Overall score: 81
Price: CZK120
Stopper: cork
This is easy drinking wine, with fresh grass and lemon aroma. In taste there is visible minerality and herb tones accompanied by nice acidity.

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2005 Tocornal

Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon x 40% Merlot
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central valley
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13%
Color: garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: sour cherries and cherries, black currant, spiciness
Taste: medium body, canned sour cherries, canned black currant, smooth, hint of coffee, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: matured hard cheese, salami
Overall score: 83
This blend is more similar to Merlot I have tasted here than the pure Cabernet tasted here. I got this one on a walk from small Vietnamese shop. I was surprised they had 05 vintage and as I knew it I got the last 2 bottles they had for CZK 150:). It is very good wine for the price. It is slightly worse than my wines as I had them stored in stable conditions for 4 years, this one was most likely in vertical position and changing temperature.
P.S. temporary pic from the net

Ampelos Rulandské šedé 2008 Pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Pinot Gris

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia Znojmo sub-apellation
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Residual sugar: 3.2g/l
Acidity: 6.4g/l
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: very mineral, herb tones, breadstuff
Taste: light to medium body, very dry, mineral, less fruity, higher acidity, kind of nutty (fresh and peeled wallnuts) character as well
Recommended food pairing: dry matured cheese, Pecorino, Spanish queso curado
Overall score: 78
Price: CZK 150

Stopper: cork

This was very interesting comparison to previous Pinot Gris from Alsace, which we finished a couple of hours ago. To me I would mix this Pinot Gris with Pinot Blanc if I did not know the variety. It is less fruity, more on mineral side with the tones of bread.

Cave de Beblenheim Pinot Gris 2007

Variety: 100% Pinot Gris

Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Alsace
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: pineapple, lime
Taste: medium body, very fruity, pineapple with lively acidity accompanied by hint of residual sugar
Recommended food pairing: Asian cousine
Overall score: 83
Price: CZK 139
Stopper: cork
This is lovely example of zesty Pinot Gris. It is very nice fruity and zesty style of PG with excellent acidity, which is accompanied by hint of residual sugar, which given the acidity does not make it dull, but more balanced wine.

Cecchi Chianti Classico 2007 DOCG

Variety: 90% Sangiovese, the remaining 10% are Canaiolo and Colorino Toscano
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Tuscany
Vintage: 2007  
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 2.0g/l
Acidity: 5.2g/l
Color: deep red
Bouquet: black cherries
Taste: medium body, very smooth, black cherries, ripe sour cherries, pleasant acidity and hint of vanilla
Recommended food pairing: dry fermented salami,roasts
Overall score: 83
This is quite pleasant Chianti. It is very fruity with hint of oak, quite smooth. It is not that complex like the one tasted here, but it is much cheaper :). I got it for CZK 130.

Cecchi Orvieto Classico 2008 DOC

Variety: Grechetto, Drupeggio, Procanico and Trebbiano
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Umbria
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Residual sugar: 1.5g/l
Acidity: 5.05g/l
Color: pale light white - yellow
Bouquet: decent, white flowers with some nutty or almondy notes
Taste: light to medium body, pleasant citrus tones accompanied with this kind of tones that remind me Gruner Veltliner, at the end there is a taste of white grapefruit
Recommended food pairing: fish, poultry
Overall score: 80
I checked on the producer site and this wine was apparently aged from 9 to 12 months in barique barrels. I personally would not guess it. Probably these were old barique barrel, rather the new ones. I may explain this almondy taste. The wine is OK, but nothing surprising. It is very neutral taste, it has some nice acidity, but it lacks complexity.

Highcliff Chardonnay 2002

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: South Eastern Australia
Vintage: 2002
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: Straw yellow, towards golden
Bouquet: pear, tropical fruit, honey, very round, vanilla (nicely integrated)
Taste: medium to full body, very round, canned pear, nicely aged integrating fruit with vanilla
Recommended food pairing: pasta with cream sauce, turkey, pork
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 170

Stopper: cork

Very nice round tropical fruit aged chardonnay. The color is beautifully golden. Somehow it feels proper to drink the white wine, which has this amazing color and it is not pale like water as some mass production from supermarket. We actually decanted the wine and it was better and better with every glass as it opened up with time. This is typical wine to accompany some nice food. It is round, complex and requires something to eat to complement it. I tasted this Chardonnay for the first time with my friend about 6 years ago when I moved to my current flat. We drank it in summer on a balcony and tasted it with other chardonnays. This one won, so I got a case and somehow I forget this bottle in the cellar and found it last week whilst tidying it up :). I like this surprises:)

La Carraia Sangiovese 2007 IGT

Variety: 100% Sangiovese

Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Umbria
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: deep ruby red with violet hues
Bouquet: not very strong, cherries, fruity
Taste: medium body, fruity, cherries, not as expressive as 2006 vintage tasted here, alcohol slightly standing outslightly
Recommended food pairing: barbecues, pasta,
Overall score: 82

Price: CZK 170

Stopper: cork

Very interesting comparison as we had 2006 and 2007 vintages of the same wine and the wines were very different. this 2007 was more fruitier than 2006 and also lacked the complexity. I would guess it was more due to vintage variation than the aging process itself..

La Carraia Sangiovese 2006 IGT

Variety: 100% Sangiovese
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Umbria
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: dark ruby red
Bouquet: black overripe cherries, fruit nicely integrated with hints of chocolate
Taste: medium to full body, black sour cherries, pleasantly fruity with small refreshing lively acidity, black chocolate
Recommended food pairing: barbecues, pastas, pizza, and sausages
Overall score: 84
Price: CZK 170
Stopper: cork
This was the winner of the tasting, however I scored it less than San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico 2007 DOCG because it was more on fruitier side then the Chianti. This Sangiovese is very nice example of excellent value wine. It has a rich berry flavor that is very smooth and drinkable.

Coli Vino Nobile de Montepulciano 2005 DOCG

Variety: Sangiovese
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Montepulciano
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium red
Bouquet: canned cherries, spices, vanila, clove
Taste: lighter medium body, canned red fruit, vanilla, smooth, but not expressive
Recommended food pairing: pasta with red sauce
Overall score: 80
Price: CZK 149
Stopper: cork
This was the third sample of Sangiovese tasting. The wines is regular medium body sangiovese with hints of vanilla in it, not bad, just OK.

San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico 2007 DOCG

Variety: 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation:
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Residual sugar: 1.4g/l
Acidity: 5.9g/l
Color: medium red
Bouquet: cherries, vanilla, plums, quite expressive
Taste: medium to full body, black cherries, vanilla, higher tannins
Recommended food pairing: matured cheese, parmigiano reggiano
Overall score: 86
Price: EUR 15
Stopper: cork
Second sample we have tasted and for me the best. It had very nice complex bouquet, followed by big mouth feel, nice cherries with vanilla from the oak and accompanied by slightly higher (but not harsh ones)tannins, it will definitely improve over 2 to 3 years easily. At the tasting I scored it 85 but now remembering my notes it definitely deserved 86.

Cantina di Montalcino Sangiovese Poggio del Sasso 2006 IGT

Variety: 100% Sangiovese

Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Tuscany
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium ruby with violet hues
Bouquet: very fruity, cherries, sour cherries
Taste: light to medium body, cherries, pink grapefruit at the end slightly unbalanced
Recommended food pairing: BBQ, pasta with red sauce
Overall score: 79
Price: CZK 199
Stopper: screw cap
First sample we have tasted in our Sangiovese wine tasting. This is easy drinking Sangiovese, more on a fruitier side, good choice for your pasta dish.

MiToMa Grand Collection Neronet 2003

Variety: Neronet

Country of origin: Czech Republic

Wine appellation: Moravia, Velke Pavlovice sub-apellation

Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 11.3%
Color: dark red with hint of violet meniscus
Bouquet: black sour cherry, green pepper
Taste: light to medium body, sour cherries, hint of black coffee, surprisingly long finish
Recommended food pairing: duck pate with cranberries
Overall score: 78
Price: CZK 120 (in 2006)
Stopper: cork
Although it is 6 year old wine, it still has visible acidity of sour cherries, also from taste I would never guess that low alcohol as it has warm and long lasting finish, otherwise it is average representative of Neronet Variety.

Leopard's Leap Lookout Chenin Blanc Colombard Chardonnay 2008

Variety: Chenin Blanc x Colombard x Chardonnay
Country of origin: South Africa
Wine appellation: Western Cape
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: very fruity, green melon, lime, gooseberry
Taste: pineapple, green apple, lime acidity (most likely from Chenin Blanc)
Recommended food pairing: summer drink, salads
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 99
Stopper: screw cap
Easy drinking new world wine, it has nice tropical fruit bouquet and still nice acidity in a taste and also the alcohol is not killing it like many other new world wines. This wine cost me CZK 140.

Bodega Norton Torrontes 2008

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: very aromatic, tropical fruit, lychee, white flowers
Taste: very different from the bouquet, I would expect more fruity, it is quite dry, green apple, with a hint of green tones on a palate
Recommended food pairing: vegetable salads, excellent summer drink
Overall score: 83
Price: CZK 149
Stopper: screw cap
Tne bouquet of this wine is far better than the taste, I have extreme sensitivity for what I call green tones and I can feel them in a taste. I suspect it must be due to the fact that the grapes were not quite ripe when harvested (notice quite low alcohol for new world). The score is mainly given its bouquet, which is very nice and also comparing to Sauvignon Blanc tasted here it is better balanced in case of alcohol content. I got it for CZK 150.

Bodega Norton Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: overripe fruit, mango, passion fruit, at the end you can feel the herbs, alcohol slightly standing out even though the wine is chilled at 6°C
Taste:  medium to full body, round, peach, gooseberry, medium finish with hint of grapefruit, less acidity I would expect
Recommended food pairing:  Elaborated dishes of fish
Overall score: 82
Price: CZK 149
Stopper: screw cap
Reasonable Sauvignon Blanc of heavier style, quite fruity with higher alcohol than what I would consider adequate. I got this for CZK 150.