HESS SELECT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, North Coast, California

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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217184

Cost: $21.75 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Red blend with Cabernet Sauvignon being the main grape
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga
Country: United States
Region: North Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hess Family Estates
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Happily surprised that the Hess entry Cab was a nice drinking wine featuring some oak, vanilla, cherry cola, boysenberry, anise, rubbed sage, mocha and artichoke. Medium+ body, dry tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair with mushroom, pepperoni and tomato pizza.

Tasted: 4 Feb 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

JOSEPH CARR CHARDONNAY 2010, St. Helena, California

04 Monday Feb 2013

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Joseph Carr Chard

Cost: $22.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s
Country: United States
Region: St. Helena
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Carr
Alcohol: 14.1 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A pleasant drinking Chard featuring light oak, lemon, quince, pear, peanuts, grapefruit and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a very long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: Use the larger Chard glasses and don’t over chill it. I really like Joseph Carr’s labels as they are clean and classic.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair with rotisserie chicken.

Tasted: 3 Feb 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

NOBILO ICON PINOT NOIR 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Nobilo Pinot

Cost: $27.59 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nobilo Wines
Alcohol: 15 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A medium ruby with a garnet tinge in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A powerful Pinot that features cedar, pine, lavender, dark and sour cherry, cranberry, raspberry, chocolate, vanilla, rosemary and champagne mushrooms. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: 15% alcohol

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair with lavender, black pepper and herb encrusted pork loin.

Tasted: 2 Feb 13

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CASTLE ROCK BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY 2010, Central Coast, California

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Castle Rock Chard

Cost: $14.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga
Country: United States
Region: Central Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Castle Rock Winery Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A deep gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: I am always surprised to drink an inexpensive Chard from the Central Coast and when it’s labeled “barrel fermented” and not be drinking an oak drink with some flavor. This is not a complex wine by any stretch of the imagination, but what does have is good quality. You’ll find medium buttery toasted oak, lemon candy, quince apples with a nice mineral finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with a cheese plate.

Tasted: 1 Feb 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

HESS ALLOMI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Napa Valley, California

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Hess Allomi Cab bottle 001

Cost: $30.50 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Tortuga
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: The Hess Collection Vineyards
Alcohol: 13.7 % Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: An easy drinking Cab featuring sweet oak, plums, blackberry, dark cherry, raspberry, roasted red pepper, allspice and a leatherly finish. Full body with medium to medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with sweet and spicy ribs.

Tasted: 31 Jan 13

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

BERINGER NIGHTS VALLEY BLANC 2009, Knights Valley, California

03 Sunday Feb 2013

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Beringer White

Cost: $25.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay & Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: Jacques Scott
Country: United States
Region: Knights Valley, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Beringer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: A rich gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: On the nose the Chard & Viognier come thru, and the taste turns to tropical Sauvignon notes. The wine features light oak, apricot, peach, melon, pineapple, brioche, lemon, green apples & honeydew. The finish has a nice silky feel. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with lemon chicken with couscous.

Tasted: 30 Jan 13

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

JOSEPH CARR CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, Napa Valley, California

31 Thursday Jan 2013

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53620

Cost: $22.95 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Joseph Carr
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intense nose

Positives: This wine features pine, blackberry, blueberry, anise, turmeric, rosemary, leather, artichoke, spinach and radicchio. Medium+ body and tannins with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Lots of green notes

Interesting Notes: Good value for a quality Napa Valley Cab. Thanks to Roberto for recommending this.

Drink now or over the next 3-5 years with a meat dish such as a T-bone steak.

Tasted: 30 Jan 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17.5+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

KATNOOK ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Coonawarra, Australia

28 Monday Jan 2013

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Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Coonawarra, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Coonawarra
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Wingara Wine Group
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Deep ruby with a garnet tinge and medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A solid Cab showing cedar, blackberry, eucalyptus, olives, blackcurrant, coffee, spinach, graphite, leather, turmeric, green tea and tamarind. Full body with green tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slightly on the green side and too astringent for me. Needs time to mature.

Drink now, but pair it with a protein dish. Better to age this for another 5-7 years.

Tasted: 27 Jan 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 117+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO#: 590471

DOMAINE MICHEL & STEPHANE OGIER LA COMBE DE MALLEVAL CONDRIE 2009, AOC Condrieu, France

27 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, White Wines

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label

Cost: $59.95 (Clearance $42)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Condrieu
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Michel & Stephane Ogier
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: Condrieu is Latin for nectar of the gods. (Not really, but it should be!). A simply delightful wine to drink and at the clearance price, seems even better. The wine has a nice balance showing tropical fruit, stone fruit, a touch of minerality with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: I’m not living in Condrieu.

Interesting Point: Don’t over chill this wine, or any Condrieu. It’s beauty must shine.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Foie Gras or lobster with drawn butter.

Tasted: 26 Jan 13

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value:9.5/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 226704

 

 

BERONIA TEMPRANILLO, 2010 DOC Rioja, Spain

26 Saturday Jan 2013

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Beronia Tempranillo 2008, Rioja Bottle

Cost: $11.95
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Category: Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Beronia S.A.
Alcohol: 14 %
Description: Opaque ruby in colour with medium+ intensity in the nose.

Positives: The nose is just lovely featuring sandalwood, cloves, cinnamon & coconut. The taste features oak, sour cherry, plums and raspberry tea.

Negatives: The taste doesn’t measure up to the nose.

Interesting Things: I reviewed the 2007 in Nov 2011 and in comparison this one falls well below it. It also has a more opaque appearance and a higher alcohol content of 14%.

Drink now on its own or pair it with pulled pork sandwich.

Tasted: 25 Jan 13

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 243055