Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc Single vineyard Awatere Valley 2010

6th bottle of this wine tasted. Nothing to add to my tasting from 5 days ago.

Herbarium Moravicum Ryzlink vlašský 2012 pozdní sběr (Mikulov, lot: 0309142033)

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

MVZ Bzenec Ego No.81 Ryzlink Rýnský 2005 výběr z hroznů

Variety: Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Dobré pole village, Staré vineyard
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: golden yellow
Bouquet: very expressive, dry fruits, honey, orange crust, herbs and a bit of benzin
Taste: medium body, round, dry fruits, orange marmalade, honey, nicely combined with minerality, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 5+8+12+6+7=88
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: single piece cork
4th bottle of this wine tasted. First bottle tasted in September 2014, where you can find pictures of the bottle.

Herbarium Moravicum Rýnský ryzlink 2013 pozdní sběr

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. As stated in October 2014, tasting notes from September 6, 2014 still apply, The wine only  lost a bit of edges, however keeps good freshness and acidity.

Chateau Valtice Aurelius 2010 výběr z hroznů

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Looking at my tasting notes from September 2014 they are pretty much valid as of today.

Vinselekt Michlovský Vinum Palaviense Rulandské bílé 2007 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Pinot Blanc
Country of origin:Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation, Perná village
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: expressive, lime, herbs, honey, ginger
Taste: medium body, minerality, lime, dry lemon crust, herbs, vibrating acidity nicely balanced by higher residual sugar, longer finish
Overall score: 4+8+13+7+8=90
Price: CZK 360 in 2010
Stopper: single piece cork

Very nice Pinot Blanc, very extractive, mineral, good balance of honey tones with herbs and acidity.

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Tocornal

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Looking at my tasting notes from November 2013, there is not much to add, the wine has hardly changed.

Nové Vinařství Cépage Ryzlink rýnský 2008

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to April 2013 tasting.

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenère Organically Grown 2007

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from December 21, 2014 apply.

Golden Kaap Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin:South Africa
Wine appellation: Western Cape
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 12.%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: not very expressive, lime, white currant
Taste: medium body, fruity profile, lime, white currant, pretty straightforward, no big complexity, medium finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 4+6+9+5+6=80
Price: CZK 79
Stopper: screw cap

Very basic and cheap Sauv Blanc.

Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc Single vineyard Awatere Valley 2010

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: New Zealand
Wine appellation: Marlborough, Awatere ValleyVintage: 2010
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: expressive, grass, nettles, pine needles, mineral, fresh lime
Taste: medium body, minerality, lime, superb acidity, white currant, white grapefruit, herbaceous tones, long finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 4+8+13+7+8+50=90
Price: CZK 450
Stopper: screw cap
5th bottle of this wine tasted. For label and detailed tasting notes please refer to my first tasting on July 2013. Excellent Sauv Blanc. Very austere, mineral and grassy profile.

Bodega Tamarí Malbec Reserva 2006

Variety: Malbec
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14%
Color: dark ruby red
Bouquet: intense, black cherries, plums, blueberry, vanilla
Taste: medium to full body, smooth, round, black cherries, blueberries, vanilla, light to medium tannins, longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+7+7=86
Price: CZK 250

Stopper: single piece cork

Big round and fruity Malbec with good bottle maturity and light oak.

Víno Mikulov Sommelier Club ryzlink vlašský 2012 pozdní sběr

Variety: Welsh Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub appellation, Milovice village, Strážný vrch vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: neutral, lime
Taste: medium body, yellow fruit, minerality, lower acidity, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pork schnitzel
Overall score: 4+6+11+6+6=83
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: plastic cork
2nd bottle of this production batch tasted (and 4 of the other production batch were tasted previously). Average WR rather on fruitier side. First bottle was tasted on February 2014.where you can find the labels.

Leopard's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007

Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
Country of origin: South Africa
Wine appellation: Western Cape
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Residual sugar: 3.2 g/l
Acidity: 5.3 g/l
Color: medium red
Bouquet: canned sour cherries, black currant jam, hint of coffee

Taste: medium body, quite straightforward, canned balck currant and cherries, good matured tannins, medium acidity, at the end a bit of coffee,  medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6+10+6+6=82
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: plastic cork

Average Bordeaux blend from SA. Nothing in fault, nothing that would shine:-)

Robertson Winery Pinotage 2007

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from October 5, 2014 apply.

Znovín Znojmo Pálava 2013 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Pálava
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Hnanice village, U chlupa vineyard
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Residual sugar: 15.3 g/l
Acidity:  7.0 g/l
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: white flowers, apricots, peach, lime
Taste: light to medium body, apricot, yellow mirabelle, some spiciness, lime, residual sugar is nicely balanced by higher acidity, white grapefruit at the end, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 3+7+11.5+6+7+50=84.5
Price: CZK 160
Stopper: single piece cork

Despite classified as semisweet it is nice clean zesty Palava due to higher acidity so typical for 2013 vintage. 

Tesco Finest Viña Mara Rioja Reserva 2004

Variety: Tempranillo
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Rioja
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: expressive, very leathery, animal, spices, cedar wood, at the end hint of cherries, elegant cigar box, with very light vanilla, some coffee at the end 

Taste: medium body, yammie, sour cherries, quite lot of spices, good wood, proper acidity with elegant tannins,, longer finish

Recommended food pairing: dry salamis
Overall score: 4+8.5+13+7+8=90.5
Price: CZK 199 in promo

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. First tasted with my friend in January 2013. The wine growed fantastically. I very much like Rioja anyway. I started to enjoy the region ages ago, now drinking it, I am asking questions why would I need to search further, especially for this value??

Viña Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2005

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Maipo Valley
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium to darker garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: canned cherries, quite a lot of coffee and spices
Taste: medium body, quite gentle profile canned sour cherries, black currant, coffee tones, good bottle maturity, medium tannins, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: dry salami
Overall score: 4+6.5+10+6+6.5+50=83
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork

3rd and forgotten bottle in the cellar. Looking at my last tasting notes from October 2013 I expected the wine to be fully down, which to my surprise was not the case, however it is very average bottle, yes with good bottle maturity, bust just quite ordinary.

Ventisquero Pinot Noir Queulat Gran Reserva 2010

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Casablanca Valley, Queulat Vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: gentle, forest strawberries, canned cherries, vanilla
Taste: medium body, gentle, fruitier and oaky side of the taste, small cherries, forest strawberries nicely accompanied by good acidity, lower tannins, medium to longer finish

Overall score: 4+7+12+6.5+7=86.5
Price: EUR 15
Stopper: single piece cork
I expected much more from cool climate Casablanca valley and single vineyard. It is very gentle forest strawberries and vanilla type Pinot with limited tannins and tertiary tones from bottle ageing.

Šlechtitelská stanice vinařská Velké Pavlovice André 2007 výběr z hroznů

Variety: André
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub appellation, Velké Pavlovice village, Nadzahrady vineyard
Vintage: 201
Alcohol content: 13.ř%
Color: dark ruby red with garnet hue
Bouquet: not very expressive initially, opened after an hour, canned cherries, coffee, some spices
Taste: medium body, quite gentle, canned fruit, mainly sour cherries with good acidity, and spices, slightly flatter in the mid profile, still visible tannins (but in matured form), medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: venison
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6.5+50=84.5
Price: CZK 250 in 2009
Stopper: single piece cork

I expected more. The wine is fine, but it misses the mid profile in the mouth, yes there are tannins, spices, acidity, but slightly flatter than expected. I'd say the wine is at the peak, despite the tannins and acidity are still there I would not leave any bottle in the cellar longer(actually this was the only one I had).

Tesco Finest Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: New Zealand
Wine appellation: Marlborough, Awatare valley
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: expressive, nettle, grass, white currant, light white peach
Taste: medium body, white currant, with lime and white grapefruit,  pleasant acidity and good texture, medium to slightly longer finish
Recommended food pairing: fish
Overall score: 4+7+13+6+7+50=87
Price: CZK 179 on special, regular CZK 249
Stopper: screw cap

This time 2013 is made by Yealand and the wine is slightly different than previous vintages. It is very drinkable indeed.

Bodegas Murtia Cármine Monastrell 2008 DO

Variety: 75% Monastrell (Mourvedre), 15% Syrah
Country of origin: Spain
Wine appellation: Jumilla
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: darker ruby red
Bouquet: black sour cherries, dense
Taste: full body, black sour cherry and some blackberry, hint of black chocolate, higher acidity, heavy mid profile, higher tannins, longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+7+7+50=86
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: single piece cork

Big on everything. Huge fruit, big body, higher alcohol (well integrated) and good tannins. If you search for something big and not just New world fruit, this is the choice.

Viña Tarapacá Syrah 2004

Variety: Syrah
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Maipo valley
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: dark red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: forest fruit preserve, blackberries, hint of black chocolate, alcohol slightly standing out
Taste: medium body, similar to nose major profile play blackberries and blueberries almost in the preserve form, rounder profile, lighter tannins, touch of black chocolate and spiciness, longer slightly alcoholic finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+10.5+6.5+6.5=84
Price: CZK 200 

Stopper: cork

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. First bottle tasted in November 2013, Rounder fruit driven wine, good bottle age, however I do not like the alcohol level, which is not integrated either in the nose or in the taste.  

Viña Bisquertt Petirrojo Chardonnay Reserva 2014

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For detailed tasting notes please refer to November 24, 2014 tasting.

Císařské sklepy Horák Ryzlink rýnský 2011 pozdní sběr

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to July 30, 2014 tasting.

Wieninger Wiener Gemischter Satz 2011

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from December 18, 2014 apply.

Vinselekt Michlovský Rulandské šedé 2011 pozdní sběr

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from November 23, 2014 apply.

Terredora Aglianico 2008 Campania IGT

Variety: Aglianico
Country of origin: Italy
Wine appellation: Campania
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium red with garnet meniscus
Bouquet: initially slightly restrained, but opened very nicely on the second day, sour cherries, spices, blackberries
Taste: medium body, austere profile, massive wild sour cherries, good acidity, spices, some meaty components,  nice higher mouth drying tannins, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: steak
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7=87
Price: CZK 269
Stopper: single piece cork

Very dry, quite rustic wine. I like the tannins but I miss slightly the elegance, which probably is not the characteristic of Aglianico grapes.

Viña Tarapacá Chardonnay 2014

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: pale yellow
Bouquet: fresh, slightly unripe pineapple, lime, green melon
Taste: medium body, very fresh lime, pineapple, light touch of white grapefruit, light acidity, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 3+6+10+6+6=81
Price: CZK 109 on special
Stopper: cork

Basic fresh Chardonnay with good lime acidity.

Doña Paula Los Cardos Chardonnay 2009

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country of origin: Argentina
Wine appellation: Mendoza, Luján de Cuyo y Valle de Uco
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: overripe pineapple, hint of mango
Taste: medium body, rounder style, ripe pineapple, with the hint of grapefruit, lower acidity, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6+11+6+6=83
Price: CZK 150 on sale
Stopper: screw cap

Simple basic Chardonnay. 

Znovín Znojmo Jubilejní víno Augustiniánského opatství Rýnský ryzlink 2012 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Rhine Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Rasovice village, Kamenný vrch vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: apricot, mirabelle, hint of lemon
Taste: medium to fuller body, rounder profile, apricot with ripe tropical fruit, gentle slightly lower acidity, longer finish
Recommended food pairing: schnitzel
Overall score: 4+7.5+11+7+7=86.5
Price: CZK 180
Stopper: cork

Quite apricoty in the nose, comparing to VOC tasted at the same time this one has more tropical fruit character and less minerality and lime. They are both pretty much at the same level, this one would be more of the choice for lovers of more fruity wines. It has slightly longer finish too.

Znovín Znojmo Rýnský ryzlink 2012 Znojmo VOC

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. In May 2014 this was the winner of my small tasting of Moravian Rieslings. The wine did not change a lot and today tasting notes are almost identical.

Domaine Pujol Grande Réserve 2005 Minervois AOC

Variety: Syrah, Cinsaulr, Grenache, Carignan

Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Languedoc, Minervois
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium red
Bouquet: spices, forest fruit preserve, chocolate
Taste: medium body, mineral, spices, forest fruit preserve, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: stewed beef
Overall score:4+7+12+6+7=86
Price: EUR 11
Stopper: single piece cork

Good Syrah based blend with nice spiciness and mineral structure.

Viña Tarapacá Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Variety: Sauvignon
Country of origin: Chille
Wine appellation: Central valley
Vintage: 2014
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet:  white currant, lime
Taste: medium body, fresh, zesty style, lime, white currant, gooseberry, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: salad
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+6=84
Price: CZK 100 (promotion)
Stopper: cork

Quite nice zesty and crispy style, very fresh lime, white currant character. Fresh and good value.

Znovín Znojmo Jubilejní víno Augustiánského opatství Pinot Noir 2012 výběr z bobulí

Variety: 100% Pinot Nir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Stošíkovice na louce village, U tří dubů vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: Light red with water meniscus

Bouquet: wild sour cherry, wild forest strawberry, quite extraction, alcohol slightly standing out
Taste: medium to fuller body, round and jammy profile, wild sour cherries, red currant jam, light acidity, at the end hint of granate apple, longer but slightly alcoholic finish
Recommended food pairing: game food
Overall score: 4+7+11+6.5+6.5=85
Price: CZK 190
Stopper: cork
Alcohol is slightly not integrated in the nose, taste and mainly the finish. Also I lack a bit of tannins, otherwise, it is very gentle Pinot Noir with warmer characteristics and higher extract.