Small & Smith Family Estate Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc Single Vineyard 2008

4th bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to my tasting two weeks ago.

Vinselekt Michlovský Rulandské bílé 2009 pozdní sběr

Last bottle from the case tasted. Looking at my tasting notes from February 2014 they hardly changed.

Ruffino Chianti 2007 DOCG

Variety: 75% Sangiovese plus other varieties admitted by code production, such as Canaiolo and Colorino

Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Tuscany , Chianti
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: medium garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: canned fruit (sour cherries), spices, quite woody
Taste: medium body, similar to the nose the fruit is already in transformed form, canned sour cherries, pleasant acidity, accompanied by spices and reasonable tannins, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pasta Bolognese
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6=84
Price: CZK 170
Stopper: cork

We opened the wine to accompany our Spaghetti Bolognese and it went really well. I Tasted the same wine in October 2013, where you can find the pictures. To my surprise the wine holds perfectly.

Znovín Znojmo Rulandské Modré 2009 výběr z hroznů

6th bottle of this wine tasted.. For detailed notes check my tasting from April 14, 2014. Now tasted from Riedel Vinum XL glass the wine is even better:-)

Small & Smith Family Estate Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc Single Vineyard 2008

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to my tasting two weeks ago.

Tesco Finest La Chablisienne Chablis Premier Cru 2007

For detailed notes please refer to my notes from 4 weeks ago.

Chateau Marquisat de Binet 2009 AOC

Variety: 90% Merlot

Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Montagne-Saint-Emilion
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet:  black sour cherries accompanied by spices and hint of wood and earthy  tones
Taste: medium body,sour cherries, spices, good acidity, still slightly younger tannins, round in the mid palate,medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7=85
Price: CZK 269

Stopper: single piece cork
Good value of Bordeuax from one of the best vintage ever. It is more on fruitier side, but comparing to New World wines it has higher acidity and higher tannins, oak is less visible. I got one bottle for tasting. I will buy some more bottles to see the development of the wine in the cellar.

Nové Vinařství Cépage Sauvignon 2007 II

For detailed notes and scoring please refer to my tasting two days ago..

Stanislav Mádl Tramín červený 2006 pozdní sběr

Last bottle of the case. Tasting notes are the same as in March 2014.

Chateau Saint - Louis 2004 Saint-Estephe 2004 AOC

Variety:  50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Saint-Estephe
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: canned black currant, canned cherries, spices, hint of wood
Taste: medium body, canned cherries, spices, slightly flatter in the mid profile, good acidity, gentle tannins, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7=85
Price: CZK 200 on sale  (regular CZK 400)
Stopper: single piece of cork
Amazing how this base AOC Bordeaux is still drinkable despite 10 years of age. There are still (gentle ) tannins and nice acidity combined with spices and wood aged tones. Good value for discounted price, average value  for regular price.

Nové Vinařství Cépage Sauvignon 2007 II

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Morava, Mikulov sub-appellation
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: 2.9g/l
Acidity: 6.6g/l
Color: straw yellow
Bouquet: lime, quite citrus style, white peach
Taste: medium body, lime, amazing freshness considering the vintage, minerality supported by very nice acidity and slightly rounder profile,  medium to long finish
Recommended food pairing: tropical fruit salad
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7=85
Price: CZK 190
Stopper: vino lok (glass stopper)

This is the 3rd bottle tasted. Previous two were tasted in October 2010 and May 2011. Another 2 bottles were found in my cellar upon reorganization. I was really curious how the wine aged and it is amazing how fresh and drinkable it is. We finished it sooo quickly after opening that it says everything especially when some of the 2007 vintages are already tired and behind its peak.

Bodega Norton Torrontes 2009

10th bottle of this wine tasted. Looking at my notes from November 2013 tasting they are almost the same.

Vinselekt Michlovský Malverina 2005 Organic

4th bottle of this wine tasted. Not much has changed from tasting in February 13, 2014.

Cimarosa Estate Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2013

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. For detailed notes please refer to April 2014 tasting of this wine. Fantastic value SB.

Small & Smith Family Estate Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc Single Vineyard 2008

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to my tasting one week ago.

Ernest & Julio Gallo Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

19th bottle of 2005 vintage tasted. Notes are the same as in February 2014.

Saint Clair Family Estate Vicar's Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2009

For tasting notes and scoring please refer to tasting from week ago.

Bremerton Verdelho 2007

Variety: 100% Verdelho
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: Langhorne Creek, South Australia
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: mineral, lime, green apple, white currant
Taste: medium body, clean fresh, lime, minerality green apple, hint of grassy and rather herby at this stage, superb acidity and amazing freshness considering the age of the wine, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7+50=85
Price: CZK 250 on sale
Stopper: Screw cap

10th bottle of this wine tasted. I am amazed how well the wine aged. for pictures please refer to previous tastings.

Vidal Fleury Cotes du Rhone 2010 AOC

Variety: Grenache (65%),Syrah (20%), Mourvedre (10%), Carignan (5%)
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Cotes du Rhone
Vintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 14,0%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: fruit driven style,  black sour cherries, blackberries, hint of oak
Taste: medium body, very fruity, higher acidity, black overripe sour cherries, accompanied by blueberries and blackberries, medium tannins, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: duck liver pate
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6=84
Price CZK 260
Stopper: single piece cork
I bought two bottles of this wine, first one was tasted in November 2012 when it was too young. It is good representative of base CDR wine with good combination of ripe black sour cherry and forest fruit.

Small & Smith Family Estate Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc Single Vineyard 2008

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: New Zealand
Wine appellation: Marlborough
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: white currant, gooseberry, grass
Taste: medium body, white currant, lime, white grapefruit, hint of herbal tones, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 4+7+12+6+7+50=86
Price: CZK 250 on sale
Stopper: screw cap
NIce example of SB almost towards Loire style.

Viña Tarapacá Carmenere 2012

Variety: Carmenere 

Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central valley
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: very fruity, sour cherries, hint of green tones, pepper
Taste: medium body, sour cherries, pleasant acidity and a bit younger tannins, spices, at the end  alcohol stands out, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: steak
Overall score: 3+6+11+5+6+50=81
Price: CZK 119 special
Stopper: cork

Base Carmenere, I do not like the green tones in the nose and slightly higher alcohol, which is not supported by concentration in the mouth.

Vinařství Přítluky Tramín červený 2011 pozdní sběr

Variety: Gewurztraminer
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: riper grapes, quite light, hint of early summer apples
Taste:  medium body, fairly neutral taste, hardly resembling Gewurztraminer, similar to nose there are ripe grapes with hint of aromatics, white grapefruit at the end, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: pork white sausage
Overall score: 3+7+8+5+4+50=77
Price: CZK 139
Stopper: cork

If this wine was on blind tasting I would have never guessed Gewurztraminer, it more resembles Muller Thurgau. Very basic and disappointing as I remember from the same winery had last year the best rose tasted in that year.

Saint Clair Family Estate Vicar's Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2009

For tasting notes and scoring please refer to tasting from 3 days ago.

Ernest & Julio Gallo Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

18th bottle of 2005 vintage tasted. Notes are the same as in February 2014.

Espiritu de Chile Carmenere 2006

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are almost the same as in December 2013 so I will not reproduce them.

Bodega Matarromera Melior 5 Meses en Barrica 2002 DO

Variety: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon

Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Ribera del Duero
Vintage: 2002
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: dark garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: cherries marmalade, coffee, hint of chocolate
Taste: medium body, very gentle and aged, similar to nose there is cherries marmalade with a hint of both black currant and light touch of blackberries, all supported by coffe tones and mild gentle properly aged tannins, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: dry fermented salami
Overall score: 4+7+11+7+6=85
Price: CZK 220
Stopper: single piece cork

Not very typical Ribera, due to layer of Cabernet it feels more like Somontano region. However it drinks very well and is at its peak right now.

Stapleton & Springer Pinot Noir 2006 Ben's Reserve

5th bottle of this wine tasted. Looking at my notes from January this year the wine has hardly changed.

Znovín Znojmo Rulandské Modré 2009 výběr z hroznů

5th bottle of this wine tasted. one of the best value/price Pinots I have. For detailed notes check my tasting from April 14, 2014.

Luis Felipe Edwards Cimarosa Chardonnay Limited Edition 2013

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Chile

Wine appellation: Cassablanca Valley
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: fresh tropical fruit, grilled pineapple
Taste: medium body, pineapple, lime, good acidity, hint of vanilla, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: salmon
Overall score: 3+7+11+6+6+50=83
Price: CZK 149
Stopper: single piece cork
NIce example of barrel aged Chardonnay for good price.

Saint Clair Family Estate Vicar's Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc 

Country of origin: New Zealand
Wine appellation: Marlborough
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: white currant, white grapefruit, gooseberry, dead nettle flowers
Taste: medium body, lime, perfect acidity, white grapefruit, white currant, gooseberry,  medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 4+8+13+7+7+50=89
Price: CZK 399
Stopper: screw cap 

Saint Clair is always good guarantee of the quality. I had one bottle of 2005, 2 cases of 2007 vintage, which finished recently and now opening 2009 vintage, which confirms the previous experience.

Stapleton & Springer Roučí 2006

Variety: 50% Pinot noir, 40% Saint Laurent, 10% Modrý portugal
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Bořetice village, Čtvrtě and Trkmanská vineyard
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light garnet garnet with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: very subtle, jammy, strawberries, plums, hint of spices and bottle maturity
Taste: medium to fuller body, strawberry jam, wild sour cherries, plums, hint of coffee and spices, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: game food
Overall score: 4+7+12+6+6=85
Price: CZK 360
Stopper: single piece cork
The wine improved from the last tasting in May 2012. It has perfect bottle maturity at this stage. The nose is less gentle than Znovin tasted just before with more bottle maturity and coffee tones and less fruits, similar profile is in the taste. Lat bottle from my cellar.

Znovín Znojmo Rulandské Modré 2009 výběr z hroznů

I quite like this pinot. check my notes from one month ago.

Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Dry 2009

Variety: Furmint, Harslevelu, Sargamuskotaly

Country of origin: Hungary
Wine appellation: Tokaji
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: mineral, lime, hint of tropical fruit
Taste: medium to full body, round style, lime, good acidity hint of grilled and hazelnut tones, medium to long finish
Recommended food pairing:  pork 
Overall score: 4+8+11+6+6=85
Price: CZK 229

Stopper: cork

Rounder fuller style of wine with good acidity and minerality. Check my tasting notes of 2006 vintage in August 2010.

Vino Hort Merlot Rosé 2013 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Merlot

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Micmanice village, Lamperberg vineyard
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Residual sugar: 5.3 g/l
Acidity: 8.0 g/l
Color: very pale pink (staroruzova, the one used for decoration of churches)
Bouquet: quite expressive, pink grapefruit, hint of raspberries
Taste: medium body, very zesty and refreshing, similar to nose the dominant fruit is pink grapefruit, lime and hint of raspberries, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+8+12+6+7+50=87
Price: CZK 2č8
Stopper: vino lock

Clearly the winner of our Rose tasting at Grobovka. Excellent dry and zesty rosé with superb acidity. 

 

Vino Hort Zweigeltrebe Rosé 2013 kabinet

Variety: 100% Zweigeltrebe
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Vrbovec village, Waldberg vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Residual sugar: 9.5 g/l
Acidity: 6.8 g/l
Color: very pale salmon pink
Bouquet: strawberries, yogurt, cream
Taste: light medium body, similar to nose the major fruit strawberries supported by white flesh cherries, slightly higher residual sugar is nicely balanced by high acidity, at the end hint of pink grapefruit, medium finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+5+6+50=83
Price: CZK 218
Stopper: vino lock

Reasonable Rose from Hort. Dran at out Rose Grobovka party among other roses:-).

Viu Manent Carmenere 2006

Variety: Carmenere

Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Colchagua valley
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: dark garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: canned cherries, plums
Taste: medium body, jammed fruit, cherries, plums, higher alcohol, low tannins, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: chocolate based desserts
Overall score: 3+7+10+6+6=82
Price: CZK 149 
Stopper: plastic cork

Wine already started to go down, I suspect the plastic cork having quite a share in this. It is still drinkable though:-). For interest check 2003 vintage tasted in January 2010.

Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Vaillon Cuvée Guy Moreau 2011 Premier Cru

Amazing how the wine managed to get more to mineral character and less fruity and oaky. it is perfect representative of the region, same scoring slightly different taste though:-) Check my notes from last year.

Casa Defra Il Leone e la Luna Cabernet Sauvignon e Cabernet Franc 2002 IGT

6th and last bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes and scoring from October 2013 apply.

MVZ Bzenec Ego No.69 Ryzlink Vlašský 2005 výběr z hroznů

For tasting notes and scoring please refer to April 2014 tasting.

Vinařství Petr Skoupil Rýnský ryzlink 2005

Looking back at my notes from December 2012, despite being 1.5 years older the wine hardly changed. Good combination of benzin tones, bottle maturity, herbaceous character and proper residual sugar with honey.

Ernest & Julio Gallo Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Yes, Lenka drinks like a lemonade:-)17th bottle of 2005 vintage tasted. Notes are the same as in February 2014.

Tanzberg Rýnský Ryzlink 2003 pozdní sběr

Variety: Riesling

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Mikulov village, Turold vineyard
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 13.61%
Color: straw to golden yellow
Bouquet: round, mineral, quite benzin tones, bottle aged tones, dry lemon crust
Taste: medium to full body, rounder style, similar to nose dry lemon crust in sugar, at the end hint of citrus based marmalade, good minerality, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pork schnitzel
Overall score: 4+7+12+6+7+50=86
Price: CZK 229
Stopper; single piece cork

Previously tasted in April 2013 and in January 2010 (with pictures) the wine holds perfectly. Faithful to MIkulov sub-appellation it develops very nice benzin tones without showing oxidative elements of red apple so typical for aged Rieslings from other regions.  I very much like it, but it is not for every palate:-)

Tasting of Moravian Rieslings - Znovín Znojmo Rýnský ryzlink 2012 Znojmo VOC

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Strachotice village, Dívčí vrch vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: expressive, lime, slight hint of tropical tones, apricot
Taste: medium body, very pleasant lime charcter supported by hint of apricot  and tropical fruit, medium to longer finish

Recommended food pairing: schnitzel
Overall score: 4+7.5+12+6+7=86.5
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: single piece cork.

Best Riesling of the tasting, very nice example of VOC Znojmo apellation system. expressive in the nose and in the taste.

Tasting of Moravian Rieslings - Znovín Znojmo Rýnský ryzlink 2011 Znojmo VOC

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Tasovice village, Kamenný vrch vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 12.0%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: subdued, white flowers, minerality, lime
Taste: medium body, lime acidity slight minerality, medium acidity, medium to longer finish

Recommended food pairing: schnitzel
Overall score: 4+6.5+11+6+6.5=84
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: single piece cork.

Quite similar to Herbarium from Mikulov, with slightly lower minerality and acidity.

Tasting of Moravian Rieslings - Stanislav Mádl Rýnský ryzlink 2012 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling

Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Velké Bílovice village, Vinohrádky vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: white flowers, apricot candy
Taste: medium body, pleasant acidity, apricot, lemon, at the end hint of white grapefruit, medium to longer finish

Recommended food pairing: schnitzel
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6=84
Price: CZK 140
Stopper: plastic cork

Pleasant apricot style of Riesling with good acidity.