Santa Rita 120 Viognier 2011

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from May 16, 2015 apply.

Saint Clair Merlot 2004

Variety: Merlot
Country of origin: New Zealand
Wine appellation: Marlborough
Vintage: 2004
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color:  medium garnet red with bricky meniscus
Bouquet: very gentle, canned sour cherries, chocolate, coffee
Taste: light to medium body, canned sour cherries, plums, coffee, light spices, very gentle with low tannins, still pleasant acidity, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6+11+6+6+50=83
Price: CZK 200 on sale
Stopper: screw cap

Wine that started going down, more in case of the color and nose profile, in the taste it still keeps the acidity and is not broken. 

Herbarium Moravicum Chardonnay 2013 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot: 3004153089)

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes are the same as 5 days ago.

Mikrosvín Mikulov Donawitz Kerner 2013 pozdní sběr

Variety: 100% Kerner
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: white flowers,  apricot, lime
Taste: medium body,  rounder style, white peach, with oranges, acidity is nicely balanced by slight residual sugar, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+11+6.5+7+50=85
Price: CZK 189
Stopper: cork

Pleasant drinking, young at this point of time, needs time to show up.

Flaxbourne Sauvignon Blanc 2014

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. For detailed tasting notes please refer to April 22, 2015 tasting.

Franz Hirtzberger Spitzer Donaugarten Gruner Veltliner Steinfeder 2008

Variety: 100% Gruner Veltliner
Country of origin: Austria
Wine appellation: Wachau
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 11.0%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: pepper, herbs, dry lemon crust, nice bottle matured tones
Taste: light to medium body, lemon, zesty, minerality, with the green bell pepper, and good spiciness, slightly flatter in the mid palate, nice longer finish
Overall score: 4+7.5+11+7+7.5+50=87
Price: CZK 400
Stopper: single piece cork

GV at the top of bottle maturity profile with very good spiciness and minerality. 

Herbarium Moravicum Chardonnay 2013 pozdní sběr (Slovácko, lot: 3004153089)

Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Slováckosub-appellation
Vintage: 2013, lot: 3004153089
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: very floral, white florals, pineapple, orange
Taste: medium body, clean profile, tropical fruit, pineapple, lightly pear, with good acidity and slight residual sugar, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7=85
Price: CZK 100 on sale, regular CZK 159
Stopper: cork

Very nicely drinkable unoaked Chardonnay. Fruit driven style, despite classified as dry I would say it has slight residual sugar, but perfectly masked by crispy acidity.

Tyrrell's Old Winery Pinot Noir 2003

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to May 10, 2015.

Habánské sklepy Rýnský ryzlink 2013 pozdní sběr

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to April 25, 2015.

Saint Clair Family Estate Vicar's Choice Pinot Noir 2007

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to May 10, 2015.

Šlechtitelská stanice vinařská Velké Pavlovice Ch.C.André Rulandské modré 2011 výběr z hroznů

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub appellation, Velké Pavlovice village, Nadzahrady vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 15.0%
Color: medium red, darker for pinot noir
Bouquet: overripe black cherries, povidla, plum jam, some spiciness with sweeter undertones
Taste: medium to full body, similar to nose the dominant playb are overripe black sour cherries (srdcovky), which are completely black and dense with the support of povidla combining nicely plum jam character with some spiciness, rounder with nice full mouth feel, pleasant tannins, longer nicely lingering finish
Overall score: 4+7+12+7+7+50=87
Price: CZK 250
Stopper: corkThis is the bottle that I bought with the intention to check whether it is really the same wine as the one bottled for Tesco under Poštor brand. The conclusion is : yes it is. Very nice Pinot and as expected it improved from my last tasting of the Poštor row in January 2014.

Viña Leyda Reserva Chardonnay 2013

Variety: Chardonnay
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Leyda Valley
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol content: 14.0%
Color: light yellow

Bouquet: green melon, tropical fruits, lime
Taste: medium body, pleasant acidity, lime, pineapple, white grapefruit,  good texture,  medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+12+6+7=86
Price: CZK 100 on sale, regular CZK 200
Stopper: Screw cap

Fresh, fruit driven Chardonnay from cool climate region, nicely done, very good value.

Moselland Divinum Riesling 2008

4th bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to my tasting 3 days ago on May 18, 2015.

Jacob's Creek Chardonnay 2005

20th bottle of this vintage tasted. Tasting notes from June 22, 2014 are valid.

ZV Bzenec Ego No.69 Ryzlink Vlašský 2009 výběr z hroznů

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from April 25, 2015 apply.

Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: USA
Wine appellation: California - Nappa
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 13,5%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: quite fruity, sour cherries, hint of cassis
Taste: medium body, fruit driven style, sour cherries, black currant, medium tannins, some spices,  medium to longer finish
Overall score: 3+6.5+11=6+6.5+50=83
Price: CZK 200 on sale
Stopper: screw cap

Average Cab still predominantly fruit driven. I used to have 05 and 06 vintage and the wine needs time to get better.

Vinařství Pavlov Rulandské šedé 2003 výběr z hroznů

4th bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to February 9, 2015. Amazing wine indeed considering its age.

Reisten Riesling Maidenburg 2009 pozdní sběr

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For detailed notes please refer to May 10, 2015.

Moselland Divinum Riesling 2008

Variety: Riesling
Country of origin: Germany
Wine appellation: Mosel
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 10.5%
Color: medium yellow
Bouquet: dry lemon rust, nice petrol and hint of herby tones
Taste: medium body, lemon marmelade, sugared citrus fruit, hint of herbs, good acidity nicely balances the residual sugar, hint of pink grapefruit at the end, medium to longer finish

Overall score: 4+7.5+12.5+6+7=87
Price: CZK 129
Stopper: screw cap

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. The wine developed slightly from the first tasting in October 2013. It got more matured profile both in the nose and taste with the sugar even more integrated. excellent value.

David Duband Hautes Cotes de Nuits Bourgogne 2011 AOC

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bourgogne
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: light red with orange meniscus
Bouquet: red currant, raspberries, cranberries, even towards roses
Taste: medium body, red cherries, raspberries, good acidity, light tannins, no extra complexity, but very pleasant, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+12+6+7+50=86
Price: CZK 299 on sale regular CZK 600
Stopper: single piece cork

Very good value for discounted price, not that great value for the full price. Reasonable village Burgundy with slightly perfumed nose.

Chateau Candastre Gaillac 2012

Variety: Merlot , Cabernet , Syrah , Duras
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Gaillac
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium ruby red
Bouquet: red currant, sour cherries
Taste: medium body, sour cherries, red currant, good acidity, higher mouth drying tannins, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: pate
Overall score: 4+6+11+6+6+50=83
Price: CZK 99
Stopper: cork

Quite tannic wine. Interesting to taste Gaillac region. Better than the this one tasted in December 2013.

Santa Rita 120 Viognier 2011

Variety: Viognier
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Central Valley
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: light yellow
Bouquet: pineapple, light apricot
Taste: medium body, similar to nose, predominantly tropical fruits with apricot tones, medium acidity, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6+11+6+6+50=83
Price: CZK 150
Good value/price Viognier, slightly less typical nose than I would expect for the variety.

Morandé Cabernet Franc Edición Limitada 2009

Variety: Cabernet Franc
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: MaipoValley
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: deep ruby red
Bouquet: expressive, overripe black cherries, black sour cherries, spices, black chocolate, vanilla
Taste: medium to full body, dense, black chocolate, black cherries, pleasant tannins balancing the huge ripe fruit profile, powerful mid profile, longer finish
Overall score: 4+8+12+7+7+50=88
Price: CZK 500
Stopper: single piece cork

Powerful big NW red. If I compare it to Wunderlich 06 tasted in September 2014, this is more fruit and jammy style. Bought 2 bottles to check. Next bottle will remain in cellar for couple of years.

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

Variety: Welsh Riesling
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Mikulov sub-appellation,
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Color: light to medium yellow
Bouquet: minerality, lime, hint of herby character
Taste: medium body, minerality, lime, starting to get more matured tones than just pure lime, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+7+11+6+7+50=85
Price: CZK 140
Stopper: cork

3rd bottle of this wine tasted. Looking at my tasting notes from September 18, 2014 the wine is starting to develop nicely in the bottle. 

Znovín Znojmo Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 výběr z hroznů

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Znojmo sub-appellation, Slup village, Dívčí vrch vineyard
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Color: medium ruby red with violet hue
Bouquet: black sour cherries, cassis, fruit driven, hint of plums
Taste: medium body, black sour cherries, black currant, lively acidity. light touch of chocolate, still slightly edgy tannins, medium to longer finish
Recommended food pairing: schnitzel
Overall score: 4+6+11+6+6=83
Price: CZK 150
Stopper: cork

Wanted to try the Moravian Cabernet after so many years of not having it from quite good vintage and one of the best producers and well simply we do not have the climate for Cabernets I think. It is not bad wine though and for reasonable price, but the wine misses the oak and more structure as it is predominantly fruit driven style.

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

5th bottle of this wine tasted. First bottle tasted in September 2014, where you can find pictures of the bottle. Tasting notes from January 2015 apply. Excellent wine. Was bit of bored of the young wines so grabbed this as safe choice.

Moravíno Valtice Ryzlink rýnský 2013 pozdní sběr

2nd bottle of this wine tasted. For tasting notes please refer to April 7, 2015 tasting.

Castillo de Molina Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2006

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of origin: Chile
Wine appellation: Cachapoal Valley
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Color: deep dark black red with garnet hue at the meniscus
Bouquet: so new world style! very precise, strong cassis, nice wood, overripe black cherries, vanilla, hint of coffee and toasts
Taste: medium to full body, black currant, black sour cherry, firm and and dry wine with gentle and rounded tannins, acidity is still there in gentle form, high content black chocolate, tongue drying at the end, nice longer finish

Overall score: 4+7.5+11.5+7+7=87
Price: circa CZK 250
Stopper: single piece cork
Typical NEW world style Cab, but at the perfect state of the bottle maturity, Check my tasting of 07 vintage.

Vinařství Halm Frankovka 2006 výběr z hroznů

Variety: Blaufrankisch
Country of origin: Czech Republic
Wine appellation: Moravia, Velké Pavlovice sub-appellation, Velké Pavlovice village, Lizniperky vineyard
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium to darker red with despite 9 years of age with ruby hue
Bouquet: subdued, canned cherries, light touch of spices
Taste: medium body, similar to nose there is canned fruit, cherries, sour cherries, good and pleasant tannins, spices, pepper, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+10.5+6+7=84
Price: CZK 200
Stopper: single piece cork
2nd bottle of this wine tasted. Coming from very hot vintage the wine is fuller and darker than I would expect for regular Frankovka. It is more pleasant in the taste than nose with nice tannic matured structure. Bought ages ago as nice example of Frankovka to my friend. check my notes from July 2014.

Chateau Moulin a Vent 2008 Moulis en Médoc AOC

Variety: 60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc
Country of origin: France
Wine appellation: Bordeaux, Médoc
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: medium to darker red with garnet hue
Bouquet: cherries, black currant, spices, hint of animal tones, some earth, but upon airing the wine gets more towards canned fruits
Taste: medium body, canned sour cherries, lively acidity, good tannins, very dry, spices, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+6.5+10.5+6+6.5+50=83.5
Price: CZK 299
Stopper: single piece cork

Pleasant drinking Bordeaux, very dry style, firm tannins, but already in drinkable state, misses the wow effect, but not boring.  From 2009 all newer vintages are typically classified as Cru Bourgeois based on the re-introduction of the Cru Bourgeois classification. 

Vinselekt Michlovský Rulandské šedé 2011 pozdní sběr

6th bottle of this wine tasted. Tasting notes from November 23, 2014 apply. Very mineral and lime driven style.

 

Šlechtitelská stanice vinařská Velké Pavlovice Poštor Rulandské modré 2013 výběr z hroznů

2nd bottle of this wine tasted, this time together with 11 vintage. Yes the vintages are very different, 11 is more bold and tannic, 13 is more gentle with higher acidity, but with till nice tannins. For detailed tasting notes please refer to my tasting one week ago on May 3, 2015. Tasting now 11 vintage is more preferable to me, but who knows how it will change in 5 years time.

Tyrrell's Old Winery Pinot Noir 2003

Variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: Australia
Wine appellation: South Eastern Australia
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Color: garnet red
Bouquet: canned strawberries, vanilla, coffee, hint of without the fruits and past its time
Taste: medium body, very gentle canned fruit profile, mainly cherries, strawberries, vanilla, lower acidity, lower tannins, medium to longer finish
Overall score: 4+5+10+6+6=81
Price: CZK 150 on sale, regular CZk 300
Stopper: cork

I kind of expected the wine would be behind its zenith, but still I bought 3 bottles to check it out. Surprisingly the wine is drinkable, not at the stage to be poured to sink, yes it has quite a lot of canned fruit profile though and less acidity as one could expect.