- Abtsberg: 14 hectares
- Herrenberg - 19 hectares
- Bruderberg - 1 hectare
A wine rookie's tasting notes and other thoughts on wine
2012-12-10
2010 Maximin Grünhaüser Riesling Qba Feinherb
The Maximin Grünhaüser estate lies within the Mosel region in Germany, a region probably best known for its sweet Rieslings. Maximim has three vinyards in Mosel, and all three are monopoles, meaning that Maximin Grunhauser is the sole owner of the vineyeards. The three sites are as follows:
Tasting note for the 2010 Maximin Grünhaüser Riesling Qba Feinherb
2012-12-07
2010 Taupenot-Merme Gevrey Chambertin
Hey everyone,
I am so sorry for the lack of updates on this blog lately. There's been sp much to do at work so I haven't had time to write here. It is my attention to update this blog way more often than what I have done lately. I apologize for this. That said, let's talk about some wine!
Even though Taupenot-Merme has been making wine in Merey St. Denis since the 18th century, most of the voneyards have been bought after WW2. Today Romain is the winemaker at Taupenot Merme. He is the 7th generation og winemakers in his family. In total, Taupenot-Merme only has 13.2 hectares of vineyards so the yearly production usually is around 70-75 000 bottles.
Romain, the winemaker, tends to use between 25-40% new oak barrels.
Tasting note for the 2010 Taupenot-Merme Gevrey Chambertin
I am so sorry for the lack of updates on this blog lately. There's been sp much to do at work so I haven't had time to write here. It is my attention to update this blog way more often than what I have done lately. I apologize for this. That said, let's talk about some wine!
Even though Taupenot-Merme has been making wine in Merey St. Denis since the 18th century, most of the voneyards have been bought after WW2. Today Romain is the winemaker at Taupenot Merme. He is the 7th generation og winemakers in his family. In total, Taupenot-Merme only has 13.2 hectares of vineyards so the yearly production usually is around 70-75 000 bottles.
Romain, the winemaker, tends to use between 25-40% new oak barrels.
Red berries
on the nose with the dominate flavours being cherries, floral notes and some raspberries.. Medium bodied palate. Love the lightness on the palate and the
silkfactor. Cherries, raspberries and soil . Hints of oak, but this shows that new oak can be well integrated even when the wine is young.
Good finnish where dirt
flavours come in more strongy. Also get som pine needles. Firm tannins but
absolutely drinkable right now. 91 points
Wow wow wow. This is just great and is the definition of why I love Burgundy: red, fresh berries, not overripe, nice acidity and the floral and dirt flavours. This could age for some years, but its worth opening one or two right now.
This is the first TTaupenot-Merme 2010 I've tried. I've also bought some premier crus and put in my cellar, but I think it will be hard to not open some of them young. Given the prices of Burgundy these days, Taupenot-Merme is actually a really good value. Look for the 2010 vintage.
2012-11-20
2005 Domaine Pavelot Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Guettes
Savigny-les-Beaune lies within the Cote du Beaune part of Burgundy. The AOC may be used for both white (Chardonnay) and red wines (Pinot Noir), but about 85% of the wine made here is red. It is an area with 860 acres of vineyards and the appelation produces 1.8 million bottles of wine each year. There are no Grand Cru climats in Savigny-les-Beaune, but there are 22 Premier Cru vineyards.
Domaine Pavelot is one of the better producers in Savigny-les-Beaune. Historically they were negociant producers, meaning they sold their grapes on to bigger negociants who produced the wine. Today, all grapes stay within the domaine. From the around 12 hectares of vineyards the domaine produces on average about 60,000 bottles of wine each year divided into 8 different wines. They make on average about 8,200 bottles of the Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Guettes.
Earlier this year I posted a tasting note on the 2009 Domaine Pavelot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Gravains.
Tasting note on the 2005 Domaine Pavelot Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Guettes
The nose is pretty tight even after a the bottle has been open for a couple of hours. I get some forrest floot and black cherries. The wine is medium bodies with cherries, sour red berries and some floral notes on the finnish. There are also some dirt notes. With even more air I get some strawberry flavours. Good, firm tannins on the back end. 90 points
This wine is probably not in an optimal drinking stage right now. It is a bit shut down, but it still brings a good amount of drinking pleasure. I have some more bottles of this wine and think I will wait opening the next bottle until 2015.
Domaine Pavelot is one of the better producers in Savigny-les-Beaune. Historically they were negociant producers, meaning they sold their grapes on to bigger negociants who produced the wine. Today, all grapes stay within the domaine. From the around 12 hectares of vineyards the domaine produces on average about 60,000 bottles of wine each year divided into 8 different wines. They make on average about 8,200 bottles of the Savigny-les-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Guettes.
Earlier this year I posted a tasting note on the 2009 Domaine Pavelot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Aux Gravains.
The nose is pretty tight even after a the bottle has been open for a couple of hours. I get some forrest floot and black cherries. The wine is medium bodies with cherries, sour red berries and some floral notes on the finnish. There are also some dirt notes. With even more air I get some strawberry flavours. Good, firm tannins on the back end. 90 points
This wine is probably not in an optimal drinking stage right now. It is a bit shut down, but it still brings a good amount of drinking pleasure. I have some more bottles of this wine and think I will wait opening the next bottle until 2015.
2012-11-15
2011 Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling
I've actually never had an American Riesling before, so it was about time. The 2011 Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling is a single vineyard riesling where all grapes are from the Evergreen vineyard in Washington. It has 10 g/l sugar and acidity of 7.8 g/l. I've seen different information on the alcohol in this wine, all from 11% to 12.5%.
Tasting note on the 2011 Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling:
On the nose I get apples, some star fruit and some cardboard. The acidity hits in from the beginning in the mouth which is nice. You feel there is some residual sugar there. Apples and ripe tropical fruit with some hints of minerality. 85 points
It's hard to pinpoint what makes me not like this wine that much. There is something about the fruit flavour, but it is also a tad boring. That said, I expected a lot worse. I was worried it would be overripe and lacking acidity, but that wasn't the case. It is a well made wine, but as mentioned, a bit boring.
On the nose I get apples, some star fruit and some cardboard. The acidity hits in from the beginning in the mouth which is nice. You feel there is some residual sugar there. Apples and ripe tropical fruit with some hints of minerality. 85 points
It's hard to pinpoint what makes me not like this wine that much. There is something about the fruit flavour, but it is also a tad boring. That said, I expected a lot worse. I was worried it would be overripe and lacking acidity, but that wasn't the case. It is a well made wine, but as mentioned, a bit boring.
2012-11-14
2010 Innocent Bystander Chardonnay
Innocent Bystander is a winery established in 2004. The winery does not have its own vineyards but sources the grapes mainly from vineyards throughout the Yarra Valley in Australia. Yarra Valley refers to the upper regions surrounding the Yarra river in Victoria Australia. It is known to have a cooler climate than many of the other wine producing regions in Australia.
The 2010 Innocent Bystander Chardonnay has 13% alcohol and 1.5 g/l sugar. It has been stored 8 months on french oak barrels.
Tasting note for the 2010 Innocent Bystander Chardonnay:
Disclaimer: This wine was tasted at 7.30 am, so there is a chance that my palate was a bit oversensitive.
I get apples, butter popcorn and a bit alcohol on the back end of the nose. The mouthfeel is ok with green apples and citrus. The finnish is not ok with oak and bitterness. 82 points
The finnish is what I really don't like about this wine. The oak is there, but it's not what's bothering me the most, although it isn't very well integrated. The problem is that there is such bitterness to the finnish. The acidity has been replaced with a very bitter finnish.
The 2010 Innocent Bystander Chardonnay has 13% alcohol and 1.5 g/l sugar. It has been stored 8 months on french oak barrels.
Disclaimer: This wine was tasted at 7.30 am, so there is a chance that my palate was a bit oversensitive.
I get apples, butter popcorn and a bit alcohol on the back end of the nose. The mouthfeel is ok with green apples and citrus. The finnish is not ok with oak and bitterness. 82 points
The finnish is what I really don't like about this wine. The oak is there, but it's not what's bothering me the most, although it isn't very well integrated. The problem is that there is such bitterness to the finnish. The acidity has been replaced with a very bitter finnish.
2012-11-12
2008 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
If somebody forced me to choose a desert island wine right now, I'd choose Riesling. On friday I had sushi, and to me, the wine is then given => Riesling with some residual sugar.
Markus Molitor is one of my go-to producers when it comes to sweet Riesling wines. This is a Mosel producer (although 4.5 hectares of 38 hectares of vineyards are in the Saar region) with wines with great quality and very reasonable prices. Molitor focuses on Riesling (95%), but also has 3% Spätburgunder and 2% Weißburgunder.
The grapes from the 2008 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett comes partly from over 80 years old ungrafted vines. The grapes were harvested in the beginning of November. The residual sugar in this wine is 64.5 g/l, the acidity is 7.3 g/l and the alcohol is 7.5%.
Tasting note for the 2008 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett:
On the nose I get some green apples and tropical fruit, but it is a bit aromatically challanged. On the palate I get pear and apples. The minerality dominates the fininsh and it has ok length. The wine is balanced out with good acidity. 89 points
This is a great wine considering the price point. It delivers nice fruit and good acidity and was a great match with sushi. I popped and poured it. It is worth mentioning that after a couple of hours after opening the bottle, the petrol characters took over the show. I think this wine is a drink now if you are not a big fan of petrol notes in Riesling.
Markus Molitor is one of my go-to producers when it comes to sweet Riesling wines. This is a Mosel producer (although 4.5 hectares of 38 hectares of vineyards are in the Saar region) with wines with great quality and very reasonable prices. Molitor focuses on Riesling (95%), but also has 3% Spätburgunder and 2% Weißburgunder.
The grapes from the 2008 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett comes partly from over 80 years old ungrafted vines. The grapes were harvested in the beginning of November. The residual sugar in this wine is 64.5 g/l, the acidity is 7.3 g/l and the alcohol is 7.5%.
On the nose I get some green apples and tropical fruit, but it is a bit aromatically challanged. On the palate I get pear and apples. The minerality dominates the fininsh and it has ok length. The wine is balanced out with good acidity. 89 points
This is a great wine considering the price point. It delivers nice fruit and good acidity and was a great match with sushi. I popped and poured it. It is worth mentioning that after a couple of hours after opening the bottle, the petrol characters took over the show. I think this wine is a drink now if you are not a big fan of petrol notes in Riesling.
2012-11-08
My recent wine purchases 2.0
So, last time i did this post I wrote that I wanted to buy more wine
from Burgundy, Bordeaux and California. I thought it would be fun now to
see if I have been able to follow my plan. It sounds like it should be
no problem, but it's actually a bit tricky. Because when you follow all
releases and what all blogger and wine critics wright about, wines show
up that I really feel I need to buy even though there not what I had
planned on buying.
The wines I list are only the wines that are meant to be put away in my cellar. I buy wine all the time, but many of them are opened within a week after purchase. So here are my most recent wine purchases:
If you who read this have any wines i need to buy, please leave a comment. I appreciate any tips I can get.
The wines I list are only the wines that are meant to be put away in my cellar. I buy wine all the time, but many of them are opened within a week after purchase. So here are my most recent wine purchases:
- 2011 Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Grosses Gewächs (3 btls)
- 2005 Chateau La Fleur Petrus (3 btls)
- 2007 Vieux Chateaux Certan La Gravette de Certan (4 btls)
- 2010 Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Champans (3 btls)
If you who read this have any wines i need to buy, please leave a comment. I appreciate any tips I can get.
2012-11-07
2009 Charles Audoin Marsannay Clos du Roy
The 2009 vintage in Burgundy is to some degree a vintage that divides the Burgundy fans. For those who like the more fruit forward, riper style Burgs, the 2009 is a great vintage. For those who like the more classical Burgs, the 2010 is a classic vintage. Personally, I have found some great wines in 2009, but believe the 2010 is more my cup of tea.
The Marsannay wines from Charles Audoin is a bit of a value play. There are no premier or grand cru's in Marsannay and that is perhaps one of the reasons why the prices are very attractive. There are some rumours that the best vineyards in Marsannay will get premier cru status. This would surely increase the prices, so you better buy these wines before that happens.
Tasting note for the 2009 Charles Audoin Marsannay Clos du Roy
Powerfull nose with ripe, red fruit and some earth tones. Very good , ripe raspberries on the palate with some floral notes. Clean. The raspberries continue on the finnish but is joined by some earthy notes and a nice, crisp acidity. Balanced wine, and approachable tannins. 90+ points
This is such a great wine. It is not overly complex, but it's so delicious. This is a textbook 90 point wine on paper. The delicious factor though makes it push the 91 point mark. The wine will probably last for some more year, but it is drinking so well right now that I'll have a hard time not pounding the rest of the bottles in my celllar in the months to come.
The Marsannay wines from Charles Audoin is a bit of a value play. There are no premier or grand cru's in Marsannay and that is perhaps one of the reasons why the prices are very attractive. There are some rumours that the best vineyards in Marsannay will get premier cru status. This would surely increase the prices, so you better buy these wines before that happens.
Powerfull nose with ripe, red fruit and some earth tones. Very good , ripe raspberries on the palate with some floral notes. Clean. The raspberries continue on the finnish but is joined by some earthy notes and a nice, crisp acidity. Balanced wine, and approachable tannins. 90+ points
This is such a great wine. It is not overly complex, but it's so delicious. This is a textbook 90 point wine on paper. The delicious factor though makes it push the 91 point mark. The wine will probably last for some more year, but it is drinking so well right now that I'll have a hard time not pounding the rest of the bottles in my celllar in the months to come.
2012-11-05
2006 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf du Pape
Chateauneuf du Pape is a wine region within the Southern Rhone in France. There is prouced both white and red wines in the area, but the majority of wines are red. In total, the wines from this region can be based on a total of 18 different grape varietals, although the predominant grape is Grenache. Personally, I tend to find the reds from Chateauneuf du Pape to be a bit unbalanced with over ripened fruit and to high alcohol. But when you find the good ones, they can trully be great.
The 2006 vintage in Chateauneuf du Pape is by Robert Parker ranked as a 90 point vintage, which is not as high as the 2005, 2007 and 2010 cintage. When it comes to this area, that may not be a bad sign. Parker scores the ripe, hot vintages high, but when it comes to Chateauneuf du Pape with their big, alcoholic wines, those are the vintages that I actually want to stay away from.
Tasting note for the 2006 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf du Pape
Nice red fruit, pepper and plum on the palate. I also get some mandarine and dirt flavours. The initial mouthfeel is promising, but the finish just ruins this wine. To me, the alcohol is so unbalanced on the finnish. It tastes like a vodka & wine drink. 83 points
I have always thougth I was pretty tolerant when it comes to alcohol in wines, but this was just too much. It looks as though I'm in a major minority though. Stephen Tanzer gave this a 94 points, Wine Spectator a 93 and Robert Parker 91 points. No scores on cellartracker are below 88 points. It might have been that the bottle wasn't an optimal one, but I don't think it was flawed.
The 2006 vintage in Chateauneuf du Pape is by Robert Parker ranked as a 90 point vintage, which is not as high as the 2005, 2007 and 2010 cintage. When it comes to this area, that may not be a bad sign. Parker scores the ripe, hot vintages high, but when it comes to Chateauneuf du Pape with their big, alcoholic wines, those are the vintages that I actually want to stay away from.
Nice red fruit, pepper and plum on the palate. I also get some mandarine and dirt flavours. The initial mouthfeel is promising, but the finish just ruins this wine. To me, the alcohol is so unbalanced on the finnish. It tastes like a vodka & wine drink. 83 points
I have always thougth I was pretty tolerant when it comes to alcohol in wines, but this was just too much. It looks as though I'm in a major minority though. Stephen Tanzer gave this a 94 points, Wine Spectator a 93 and Robert Parker 91 points. No scores on cellartracker are below 88 points. It might have been that the bottle wasn't an optimal one, but I don't think it was flawed.
2012-11-01
2009 Chateau Mercier Cuvée Traditionnelle
It's autumn and it's getting colder and darker. You can't find a better excuse from drinking some red vino. The chosen one for the occasion is a cheap Bordeaux from the 2009 vintage. Chateau Mercier is an estate on the right bank, situated in the Côtes de Bourg appelation. The 2009 Chateau Mercier Cuvée Traditionnelle is a blend of 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. The label on the bottle says there is 14,5% alcohol.
Tasting note for the 2009 Chateau Mercier Cuvée Traditionnelle
The nose is dominated by dark cherries and blackberries. I also feel some alcohol comming through on the nose. The palate offers dark cherries, blackberries and some dry plum. The finnish has a decent length with a very dominate vegetal tone and some heat on the back end. 85 points
This isn't a bad Bordeaux considering the price, but the vegetal component on the end is what really takes this down from a 88-89 point wine to a 85 point wine for me.
Btw, I threw away the bottle of 2009 Couly-Dutheil la Baronnie Madeleine Chinon last night. It had been standing on my kitchen counter over the night. I took a last sip of the wine and the vegetal notes were more integrated and not bothering.. It had actually developed into a nice wine. I have some more of the wine in my cellar. Maybe I should give them 5 years and see how they turn out?
The nose is dominated by dark cherries and blackberries. I also feel some alcohol comming through on the nose. The palate offers dark cherries, blackberries and some dry plum. The finnish has a decent length with a very dominate vegetal tone and some heat on the back end. 85 points
This isn't a bad Bordeaux considering the price, but the vegetal component on the end is what really takes this down from a 88-89 point wine to a 85 point wine for me.
Btw, I threw away the bottle of 2009 Couly-Dutheil la Baronnie Madeleine Chinon last night. It had been standing on my kitchen counter over the night. I took a last sip of the wine and the vegetal notes were more integrated and not bothering.. It had actually developed into a nice wine. I have some more of the wine in my cellar. Maybe I should give them 5 years and see how they turn out?
2012-10-31
2009 Couly-Dutheil La Baronnie Madeleine Chinon
Couly-Dutheil is a producer established in 1921. The vineyards lie within Chinon, a sub-region in the Loire valley. Unusually for the Liore valley, there is almost no white wines produced here. To be classified as a Chinon the wine must be beased on the Cabernet Franc grape, but it is allowed to use a maximum of 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tasting note for the 2009 Couly-Dutheil La Baronnie Madeleine Chinon
This is a good Chinon at a very nice price point. It has the green aspect that you often find in these wines, but is not my cup of tea. It’s well made, but I score my wines based on whether I like them or not.
Tasting note for the 2009 Couly-Dutheil La Baronnie Madeleine Chinon
Purple
colour. Very green on the nose but blows away to some extent. Dark fruit and
some earthy tones. To me the palate is dominated by the greenness, represented
by a good fistful of paprika. There is some earthy tones here as well as dark
fruit and some sour cherries. The finish has good length with a very vegetal aspect
and earthy with some sour cherries. 84 points
This is a good Chinon at a very nice price point. It has the green aspect that you often find in these wines, but is not my cup of tea. It’s well made, but I score my wines based on whether I like them or not.
2012-10-26
2011 Fritz Haag Riesling Trocken
I'm back with another short tasting note of a german Riesling. This time it's the 2011 Fritx Haag Riesling Trocken.
Crushed stone, green apples and acidity on the nose. The wine is silky smooth on the palate, almost a cloudy feel. The chrushed stones are on the palate as well. But the dominate flavour is the apples. They are almost more towards the red apples than the green. The finish is a bit short, but I love the focus and the apples. It lacks some complexity. 88 points
Crushed stone, green apples and acidity on the nose. The wine is silky smooth on the palate, almost a cloudy feel. The chrushed stones are on the palate as well. But the dominate flavour is the apples. They are almost more towards the red apples than the green. The finish is a bit short, but I love the focus and the apples. It lacks some complexity. 88 points
2012-10-22
Tasting note: 2010 Battenfeld Spanier Estate Riesling Trocken
It's been more than a year since I last had this wine, and it has improved. I can't the tasting note from last time, but I think I scored it 87-88 points. I think this still has some upward potential. The best thing would be to taste my last 5 wines over the next 4-5 years, but I'm not sure I can wait that long.
2012-10-16
WInes I Buy Every Vintage
I haven't been interested in wine that long, but already now I have found some wines I try to buy every vintage. It's a great way to learn more about vintage variations and what style you prefer. Here's some of the wines I try to find every vintage:
- Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
- Ratti Barolo Marcenasco
- Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero
- Gonon Saint Joseph
- The riservas from Produttori del Barbaresco
- La Gravette de Certan
2012-10-15
2007 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco
Renato Ratti made his first Barolo in 1965 in La Morra. He died in 1988 and the winnery has since then been run by his son Pietro. The quality of the wines that Peitro have been making have been improving over the last 10-15 years, especially the standard Marcenasco wine. I typically find the stndard Barolo to be a great QPR in Barolo.
Tasting Note for the 2007 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco:
Delicious nose with floral notes, leather and blueberry. The flarolity and blueberry jam notes continue on to the palate. To me, the floral taste is dominant in this wine. I also get som plum and some minerality. The tannins are firm and makes the finish dry. There's oak in this wine, but it's well integrated. 92 points
This is a great wine. It is elegant, but has the tannins to last for 10 years more. If your looking for a value driven Barolo, I think this is the wine.
Delicious nose with floral notes, leather and blueberry. The flarolity and blueberry jam notes continue on to the palate. To me, the floral taste is dominant in this wine. I also get som plum and some minerality. The tannins are firm and makes the finish dry. There's oak in this wine, but it's well integrated. 92 points
This is a great wine. It is elegant, but has the tannins to last for 10 years more. If your looking for a value driven Barolo, I think this is the wine.
2012-10-12
2006 Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a wine I bought based on reviews I've read on this wine. Jancis Robinson gave it 17 points, James Halliday gave it 95, Jeremy Oliver 93 and it has a current ranking of 89 on CellarTracker. Given the pricepoint (I gave $19 pr bottle) of this wine I bought 8 bottles of the wine.
The Wynns winery is based in the Coonawarra region in South Australia. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and has 14% alcohol.
Tasting note for the 2006 Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
It has a good nose with dark berries, plum and oak, but there are hints of some alcohol showing. On the palate there's a nice licquorise flavour and good acidity. The fruit flavours are black, with blackberries, blackcurrants and plum. There is also some dirt flavours. There is a good grip from the tannins on the finish telling that this wine has more years to go. It is actually too oaky for me at this stage though. 87- points
Right after pouring this wine I got more read fruit on the palate and it showed less oak. The oak is bothering me with this wine. Maybe I'm just supersensitive to new oak, because 17 points from Jancis is a pretty high score. After drinking this I went to check out the oak use on this. I found out that they used 43% new oak, 31% 1 year old oak and 26% 2 year old oak or older. 43% new oak is pretty aggressive, and for me at this stage, shows too much.
I'm going to sit on the rest of the bottles and see how they develop. There are some great flavours in this wine. It is not over-the-top, but actually very balanced (except from the oak).
The Wynns winery is based in the Coonawarra region in South Australia. The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and has 14% alcohol.
It has a good nose with dark berries, plum and oak, but there are hints of some alcohol showing. On the palate there's a nice licquorise flavour and good acidity. The fruit flavours are black, with blackberries, blackcurrants and plum. There is also some dirt flavours. There is a good grip from the tannins on the finish telling that this wine has more years to go. It is actually too oaky for me at this stage though. 87- points
Right after pouring this wine I got more read fruit on the palate and it showed less oak. The oak is bothering me with this wine. Maybe I'm just supersensitive to new oak, because 17 points from Jancis is a pretty high score. After drinking this I went to check out the oak use on this. I found out that they used 43% new oak, 31% 1 year old oak and 26% 2 year old oak or older. 43% new oak is pretty aggressive, and for me at this stage, shows too much.
I'm going to sit on the rest of the bottles and see how they develop. There are some great flavours in this wine. It is not over-the-top, but actually very balanced (except from the oak).
2012-10-10
2011 Occhipinti SP 68 Nero d'Avola e Frappato
The 2011 Occhopinti SP Nero d-Avola e Frappato is made by the young winemaker Arianna Occhipinti. The winery is based on the in Vittoria on the southwestern tip of Sicily, a island off of Italy's Mediterranean coast. The first vintage was 2004. The winery has a total of 10 hectares Nero d’Avola and Frappato vines. Since 2009, the vines have been farmed using biodynamic methods.
The Occhipinti SP 68 Nero d'Avola e Frappato is a bland of 60% Frappato di Vittoria and 40% Nero d'Avola. The Nero d'Avola and Frappato grape are both some of the most used grapes in Sicily. The alcohold level of the 2011 wine is 12.5 %.
Tasting note for the 2011 Occhipinti SP 68 Nero d'Avola e Frappato
Raspberries and som dark berries on the nose with come cherry canyesque flavours. Strawberries and sour red berries in the mouth, Nice lightness and concentration. Plenty of freshness and acidity. On the back end I first get some dirt, then some sour cherries and then it ends up with some soily flavours again. 86 points
This wine is on the lighter side with a focus on the sour berries. It isn't thin, it is just focused. For me personally it is a bit too much over on the sour side. It is by all means a well made wine.
I went back to tasting this after 3.5 hours, and the wine had calmed down a bit. I got less soureness and more strawberries and some mushrooms. If scoring the wine at this stage I would be more around 88 points.
The Occhipinti SP 68 Nero d'Avola e Frappato is a bland of 60% Frappato di Vittoria and 40% Nero d'Avola. The Nero d'Avola and Frappato grape are both some of the most used grapes in Sicily. The alcohold level of the 2011 wine is 12.5 %.
Raspberries and som dark berries on the nose with come cherry canyesque flavours. Strawberries and sour red berries in the mouth, Nice lightness and concentration. Plenty of freshness and acidity. On the back end I first get some dirt, then some sour cherries and then it ends up with some soily flavours again. 86 points
This wine is on the lighter side with a focus on the sour berries. It isn't thin, it is just focused. For me personally it is a bit too much over on the sour side. It is by all means a well made wine.
I went back to tasting this after 3.5 hours, and the wine had calmed down a bit. I got less soureness and more strawberries and some mushrooms. If scoring the wine at this stage I would be more around 88 points.
2012-10-09
My recent wine purchases
Thought it would be fun to post my most recent wine purchases from time to time here on the blog. This list does not include the bottles I buy for consumption right away. These are wines that I'll maybe try one of and then put them in the cellar.
First, here is a list of what regions that currently are most represented in my cellar (% of total bottles)
I guess my recent purchases should reflect these wished, but they don't. My most recent wines purchased are:
What are your most recent wine purchases? Leave a comment below.
First, here is a list of what regions that currently are most represented in my cellar (% of total bottles)
- Piedmont - 22%
- Germany - 16%
- Burgundy - 15%
- Northern Rhone - 15%
I guess my recent purchases should reflect these wished, but they don't. My most recent wines purchased are:
- 2007 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (4 btls)
- 2010 Taupenot-Merme Nuit-St.-Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers (4 btls)
- 2011 Riffault Sancerre Les Chailloux Silex (4 btls)
What are your most recent wine purchases? Leave a comment below.
2012-10-08
Tasting Note for the 2001 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial
La Rioja Alta is one of Rioja's most traditional and consistent traditional producers. It was established back in 1890 by five vine growers. La Rioja Alta is now listed on the stock exchange but the majority is still controlled by the five founding families.
The Vina Ardanza bottlig was first produced in 1942. Originally it was aged for 42 months in oak barrels, but this is now cut down to 36 months. The 2001 vintage is classified as "Reserva Especial" a labeling only wines from the best vintages gets. This was only the third time the Vina Ardanza got labeled Especial, the other vintages being 1964 and 1973.
Tasting Note for the 2001 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial
Dark fruit, some oak and dirt and some cigar box on the nose. On the palate it shows a good body and consistency. I get leather, dark fruit, integrated oak and leather. There is also some red fruit here offering some sourness balancing this wine out. The finish is long with some dirt showing up and at the end I get a strond floral component which is very good. 92 points
If you want old world wines that are reasonable priced Rioja is a great place to start. There are some producers here that offer great entry level wines at very good price points. My favourite producers in this category are Lopez de Heredia, Marques de Murrietta and La Rioja Alta.
For more on this wine check out:
Wine-Searcher
K&L Wines
Ny Times
The Vina Ardanza bottlig was first produced in 1942. Originally it was aged for 42 months in oak barrels, but this is now cut down to 36 months. The 2001 vintage is classified as "Reserva Especial" a labeling only wines from the best vintages gets. This was only the third time the Vina Ardanza got labeled Especial, the other vintages being 1964 and 1973.
Dark fruit, some oak and dirt and some cigar box on the nose. On the palate it shows a good body and consistency. I get leather, dark fruit, integrated oak and leather. There is also some red fruit here offering some sourness balancing this wine out. The finish is long with some dirt showing up and at the end I get a strond floral component which is very good. 92 points
If you want old world wines that are reasonable priced Rioja is a great place to start. There are some producers here that offer great entry level wines at very good price points. My favourite producers in this category are Lopez de Heredia, Marques de Murrietta and La Rioja Alta.
For more on this wine check out:
Wine-Searcher
K&L Wines
Ny Times
2012-10-04
Tasting Note: 2010 Bonterra Chardonnay
I've been feeling like such a sellout since I started blogging. Why? Because all of the wines I've tried have been really good. Thankfully though, I tried a Chardonnayvfrom California yesterday that changed all this.
I havn't had much Cali Chard and those I have had have been carefully selected based on my preferences for old world Chardonnay. Yesterday I felt like giving a low priced Chard a try. I brought home the 2010 Bonterra Chardonnay which I knew nothing about.
Tasting note for the 2010 Bonterrra Chardonnay:
On the nose I pick up some apricot, peach and oak. Already at this point I'm starting to fear this wine. I like oak if it's balanced, but this nose points in the direction of that this might not be the case. One the palate I pick up peach and butter and one more thing: oak, oak and more oak. This wine is so heavy and so over-oaked that it makes me nauseous. There is no acidity to balance it out. 74 points
Wow, this was fun and very painfull at the same time. Fun because I haven't had a lot of wines that are so over-oaked and unbalanced and painfull also due to the over-oaking and the lack of balance. A couple of hours after I had a glass of this wine it still felt like I had wood chips stuck in my mouth that needed to be pulled out.
I'm sure there are people out there with palates that would apreciate this wine, but for me, this is just a bad effort.
I havn't had much Cali Chard and those I have had have been carefully selected based on my preferences for old world Chardonnay. Yesterday I felt like giving a low priced Chard a try. I brought home the 2010 Bonterra Chardonnay which I knew nothing about.
On the nose I pick up some apricot, peach and oak. Already at this point I'm starting to fear this wine. I like oak if it's balanced, but this nose points in the direction of that this might not be the case. One the palate I pick up peach and butter and one more thing: oak, oak and more oak. This wine is so heavy and so over-oaked that it makes me nauseous. There is no acidity to balance it out. 74 points
Wow, this was fun and very painfull at the same time. Fun because I haven't had a lot of wines that are so over-oaked and unbalanced and painfull also due to the over-oaking and the lack of balance. A couple of hours after I had a glass of this wine it still felt like I had wood chips stuck in my mouth that needed to be pulled out.
I'm sure there are people out there with palates that would apreciate this wine, but for me, this is just a bad effort.
2012-10-03
2011 Dönnhoff Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken
Dönnhoff is a producer from the Nahe region in Germany and has been in business since 1750. They have 25 hectares of vineyeards mainly consisting of volcanic and slate soils. 80% of all their vines are Riesling with the rest being Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.
Donnhoff has an very high brand equity especially in the US. They produce some of the most sought-after and highly scored Rieslings in the world. Even so, you can still get the wine I tried for 25$. I haven't had much Riesling from Dönnhoff. I've felt like there are so many other good producers that you can get for less money, but I found the 2011 Dönnhoff Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken on the shelfs of my local store yesterday and thought it was a good time to check it out.
The 2011 vintage for Rieslings in Germany has gotten alot of praise, and it couldn't come at a better time. Although I loved the acidity in the 2010 vintage, it is nice to be able to buy the more easy and approachable wines from 2011.
Tasting note for the 2011 Dönnhoff Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken
Apples and lemons on the nose. Green apples, sitrus and a touch of honey on the palate, but the one thing that really stands out is the chalkiness or crushed stones. This is not the same type of minerality as i got on the Kuhling-Gillot. This minerality tastes like if you take white stones and crush them into powder and put it in your mouth. It has a great length for a Riesling Trocken. It's balanced and smooth with the acidity balancing out the apples and the crushed stone nicely. At this stage it has very primary fuits and flavour profile. 91 points
This is a stunning 2011 Riesling Trocken from Donnhoff. I can easily see this wine improve for at least 5 more years, although it's drinking very well already. At 25$ this i a BUY.
Donnhoff has an very high brand equity especially in the US. They produce some of the most sought-after and highly scored Rieslings in the world. Even so, you can still get the wine I tried for 25$. I haven't had much Riesling from Dönnhoff. I've felt like there are so many other good producers that you can get for less money, but I found the 2011 Dönnhoff Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken on the shelfs of my local store yesterday and thought it was a good time to check it out.
The 2011 vintage for Rieslings in Germany has gotten alot of praise, and it couldn't come at a better time. Although I loved the acidity in the 2010 vintage, it is nice to be able to buy the more easy and approachable wines from 2011.
Apples and lemons on the nose. Green apples, sitrus and a touch of honey on the palate, but the one thing that really stands out is the chalkiness or crushed stones. This is not the same type of minerality as i got on the Kuhling-Gillot. This minerality tastes like if you take white stones and crush them into powder and put it in your mouth. It has a great length for a Riesling Trocken. It's balanced and smooth with the acidity balancing out the apples and the crushed stone nicely. At this stage it has very primary fuits and flavour profile. 91 points
This is a stunning 2011 Riesling Trocken from Donnhoff. I can easily see this wine improve for at least 5 more years, although it's drinking very well already. At 25$ this i a BUY.
2012-10-02
2006 Cantina Fratelli Pardi Sagrantino di Montefalco
This is another wine I tasted some time ago. I bought this wine after watching Gary Vaynerchuck's episode on the Sagrantino di Montefalco wines on WineLibrary TV. Sagrantino di Montefalco means Sagrantino from Montefalco so these are wines based on the Sagrantino grape from the Montefalco region.
Motefalco is a small commune within Umbria in the middle of Italy. The Sagrantino di Montefalco wines does not neccesarily have to come from vineyeards that lie within the commune of Montefalco. It was awarded a DOCG status in 1991. There are only 25-30 producers and only 250 acres of land dedicated to the grape Sagrantino.
To be a Sagrantino di Montefalco the wines have to be 100% Sagrantino. It is one of the more tannic grape varietals that exist. These are massive wines.
Tasting note for the 2006 Pardi Sagrantino di Montefalco:
Ink and dark berries on the nose. Opens up after some air. Shows licquorice, leather and plum on the palate. Firm tannins that gives a really dry mouthfeel. Should develop further with some years on the back, but drinks very well right now. 91 points
This wine is so dry and tannic. I was blown away by the dryness of this wine, so that is something you should be aware of before you buy these wines. It is a massive wine, but it has complexity. It is also traditional with real fruit flavours. This is not new world style.
I have some more of this wine in my cellar. The wine is drinking so good right now, but I'm sure they can last for 5-7 years more. The tannins are definetly there to make it last, but it also have enough fruit to last for years to come.
Great wine. Good QPR. And last but not least, it's a really fun wine to drink to expand your palate and try wines from regions and areas you haven't had wines from before.
Motefalco is a small commune within Umbria in the middle of Italy. The Sagrantino di Montefalco wines does not neccesarily have to come from vineyeards that lie within the commune of Montefalco. It was awarded a DOCG status in 1991. There are only 25-30 producers and only 250 acres of land dedicated to the grape Sagrantino.
To be a Sagrantino di Montefalco the wines have to be 100% Sagrantino. It is one of the more tannic grape varietals that exist. These are massive wines.
Ink and dark berries on the nose. Opens up after some air. Shows licquorice, leather and plum on the palate. Firm tannins that gives a really dry mouthfeel. Should develop further with some years on the back, but drinks very well right now. 91 points
This wine is so dry and tannic. I was blown away by the dryness of this wine, so that is something you should be aware of before you buy these wines. It is a massive wine, but it has complexity. It is also traditional with real fruit flavours. This is not new world style.
I have some more of this wine in my cellar. The wine is drinking so good right now, but I'm sure they can last for 5-7 years more. The tannins are definetly there to make it last, but it also have enough fruit to last for years to come.
Great wine. Good QPR. And last but not least, it's a really fun wine to drink to expand your palate and try wines from regions and areas you haven't had wines from before.
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