Written by eleanor on March 12th, 2013
Vintage: 2011
Type: Rosé (100% Cabernet Sauvigon)
Country: France–Bordeaux–Cotes de Bourg
This is a wine that was suggested to me by Les at the Villa St. Simon (Blaye) for my “Finding Value in Bordeaux” event at the London Business School on 8 MAR 2013. This particular event focused on the Right Bank of Bordeaux and it was a pleasure to start the evening with this bottle. It is a simple, easy-to-drink rose wine that the guests were pleased with.
(Apologies for the picture that I have uploaded. This particular bottle was placed in a bucket of ice and water for a long time, so the label began to peel off.)
Technical Review
Appearance
Clear, medium pink.
Nose
Clean, light aromas of strawberry and peach.
Palate
Dry, medium acidity, low tannin. Light bodied. Similar flavours to the aromas above. Medium length finish.
Conclusion
Good, ready to drink now (not intended for aging).
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2011, Bordeaux, Château Gros Moulin, France, Rose, Rosé de Croûte-Mallard, Wine
Written by eleanor on February 4th, 2013
Vintage: 2009
Type: GSM 62% Grenache, 23% Mourvèdre and 15% Syrah
Country: USA — California – Temecula Valley
This is a “local wine” that I picked up at a specialist wine shop off Market Street in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. The sales guy said that this was one of his favourites. Based on this recommendation, it came back to the hotel with me.
Technical Review
Appearance
Clear, deep garnet. (NB: lighting in the hotel was not ideal but I believe this wine was garnet in colour).
Nose
Clean, medium aromas of ripe plums with a herbacious note.
Palate
Dry, high acidity, medium body. Flavour characteristics of blackberry, raspberry and, again, that unidentified herbacious note.
Medium to Long finish.
Conclusion
Good. Can drink now but has potential for ageing. High price (USD$20+ per bottle).
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2009, California, GSM, Hart
Written by eleanor on January 28th, 2013
Vintage: 2008
Type: Merlot
Country: USA — California — Napa Valley
This is a bottle of wine I picked up at a local grocery store in San Diego. I paired it with leftover pizza but I think this wine deserves much more! It deserves to accompany a proper slow-cooked Sunday meal. It would certainly develop nicely in your glass over an evening of good conversation. This is a very good wine from Napa Valley that reminds me of some wines I have tasted on the Right Bank of Bordeaux.
Technical Review
Appearance
Clear, deep garnet.
Nose
Clean, pronounced aromas of cherry, ripe strawberry and plum. A subtle herbal note.
Palate
Dry, high acidity, light tannins, medium body. Medium alcohol.
Flavour characteristics similar to the nose but with a smooth vanilla feel. Long finish.
Conclusion
Very good with potential for ageing. High priced (approximately USD$20) per bottle.
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2008, California, Franciscan Estate, Merlot, Napa Valley
Written by eleanor on January 21st, 2013
Vintage: 2010
Type: Pinot Noir
Country: USA — California — Monterey
I was recently in sunny, warm San Diego, where I was working in a conference hotel during the day and discovering the city at night. January evenings were surprisingly balmy, which allowed me to walk all around the Gaslamp Quarter looking for interesting restaurants and wine bars.
At the intersection of Market Street and 12th Avenue, you will find a new sushi and wine lounge called Infuzon. Open since mid-2012, this restaurant fuses the art of Japanese sushi rolls with the sophisticated (but relaxing!) atmosphere of a wine bar.
The owner of Infuzon recommended Ranch 32′s 2010 Pinot Noir to accompany his abundant selection of sushi rolls. Ranch 32 is considered a “local vineyard.”
NB: my Japanese boss from Austria always insisted that sushi is best accompanied by fruitier red wines … and he is always right.
This wine on its own might be viewed as weak and lacking in character; however, when specifically paired with Japanese sushi and sashimi, I think it really enhances the dining experience. It won’t be overbearing and drown out the subtle flavours of ginger, radish, avocado, etc. that is found in and beside sushi rolls.
Technical Review
Appearance
Clear, medium ruby.
Nose
Clean, medium aromas of sour cherries and non-specified, unripe dark-skinned berries.
Palate
Dry, medium acidity, low tannins, with light body.
Flavour characteristics of sour cherries and some floral hints.
Medium alcohol and medium length.
Conclusion
Good. Drink now; not meant for ageing. High-priced, especially if sourcing from outside the USA.
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2010, California, Monterey, Pinot Noir, Ranch 32
Written by eleanor on June 5th, 2012
Vintage: 2009
Type: Pinot Noir
Country: France – Burgundy
Hosted on Fotki
Berry’s team of experts were behind this beautiful Pinot Noir from the Bourgogne. Berry’s website describes this wine as intense, perfumed and pretty. I would agree. Save this bottle for a nicer meal at home, for example, when serving a rotisserie chicken with dressed vegetables. When I drink this wine, I can imagine myself dining al fresco on a tiled patio of a Chateau, overlooking the rolling hills covered in vineyards. It’s a lovely wine.
Technical Review
Appearance
Clear, light Ruby.
Nose
Clean, with aroma characteristics of raspberry and vanilla.
Palate
High acidity, with flavour characteristics of raspberry, strawberry and cherry. Light body, light tannins but a long finish.
Conclusion
Outstanding
Posted in ED Silver Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2009, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Burgundy, Extra Ordinary Red, France, M. Roche de Bellene
Written by eleanor on May 25th, 2012
Vintage: 2009
Type: Pinot Noir
Country: New Zealand – Marlborough
This is another wine that I sampled at the Tesco Wine Fair 2011 and I just had to buy a case. At first sip, I fell in love with the Burgundy-style wine. This is Brancott’s 7th iteration off this flagship T wine (its predecessor won several Silver medals at international competitions) and it does not disappoint. Enjoy this wine with a rich meal, like a creamy mushroom risotto with venison sausages. That would be excellent!
Technical Review
Appearance
Clear, deep Garnet.
Nose
Clean, pronounced aromas of cherry, vanilla and spice. Some plummy notes.
Palate
Medium-high acidity. Light tannins. Medium body. Flavour characteristics of ripe cherries and hints of mocha.
Conclusion
Very Good.
Posted in ED Silver Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2009, Brancott, Brancott Vineyards, Marlborough, New Zealand, Pinot Noir, Terraces
Written by neal on May 10th, 2012
Vintage: 2009
Type: Red Bordeaux Blend
Country: France – Bordeaux – Pomerol – Château Feytit-Clinet
Another excellent wine Berry’s. The Pomerol is full of blackberries and dark fruit with a full body and excellent finish. Good value for money and will age well for a few more years.
Technical Review
Appearance
Deep purple
Nose
Clean, pronounced notes of blackberries, black fruits a bit of plum and spice
Palate
Dry, medium acidity, high tannins, full body with lots of black fruit and a bit of oak. Medium finish
Conclusion
Very good especially for the price point
Posted in ED Silver Award, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2009, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Berry's Own Selection, Bordeaux, Château Feytit-Clinet, France, Pomerol
Written by neal on May 3rd, 2012
Vintage: 1999
Type: Port – Bottle Matured Late Bottled Vintage
Country: Portugal – Douro
A very nice LBV at a decent price. Full of sweet plums, vanilla and price with a long finish.
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 1999, Bottle Matured, Douro, Late Bottled Vintage, Port, Porto, Portugal, Warre
Written by eleanor on February 5th, 2012
Vintage: 2010
Type: Red Blend
Country: Portugal–Douro
This is a wine that I sampled at the Tesco Wine Fair held at the Royal Horticultural Halls this past autumn. I wasn’t considering buying any Portuguese wines to stock the racks at home but after swirling this wine around and around my glass, it grew on me. This is a perfectly acceptable blend of various regional grapes, appropriate to serve with a basic dinner or selection of cheeses. Tesco describes this wine as, “a deep coloured, rich and warming red wine with aromas of violet and black fruits.” I would not disagree but I do recommend swirling small amounts in your glass for a few minutes in order to encourage aeration. After some minutes, taste it. If it is still highly tannic and a bit sour, just give it a bit more exposure to air.
Technical Review
Appearance
Clear, medium Ruby.
Nose
Clean, with aroma characteristics of flowers (violets, in particular) and dark, black fruits.
Palate
Medium acidity. Strong tannins. Medium body.
Conclusion
Good.
Posted in Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2010, Douro, Portugal, Tesco's Finest
Written by eleanor on February 1st, 2012
Vintage: 2006
Type: Bordeaux Blend
Country: France – Bordeaux – Graves
This is a bottle that came in a Bordeaux sample pack provided by the merchant, Adnams.
Given that this is a Bordeaux blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, I knew that it would be an acceptable bottle to drink.
This wine was aged 3 months in oak barrels and then another 9 months in stainless steel vats.
Appearance:
Clear, medium Garnet
Nose:
Clean, medium nose of red fruit (strawberries and cherries), as well as vanilla.
Palate:
Full-bodied, high acidity, medium tannins. Characteristics of sweet spice. Medium finish.
Conclusions:
Good.
This is a claret that would go well with simplistic, lightly-flavoured, traditional English food, like Chicken and Mushroom pie or Toad in the Hole.
Posted in Wine, Wine Reviews | No Responses »
Tags: 2006, Bordeaux, Chateaux Trebiac, France, Graves
