DC's Burgundy Glass

2008 Charles Shaw Shiraz

2014-10-10T23:01:00.001-07:00

Yes, two buck chuck. Not just any two buck chuck, it's a 2008! You may be asking why would anyone waste cellar space for mass produce barely drinkable swill. Well, let me tell you, it's more of a thought experiment on whether any bottle can age. Though, to be honest, I had space to burn and why the hell not!

Now, let me tell you, on the initial nose, you pick up signs of an aged wine, faded supple funk. Which is in itself rather surprising given that this bottle was very over the top fruit bomb with its clear label stating it's made in the style of Australian fruit forward wines. There's still berry, dark but there's blood too.

A lot of what's picked up on the nose continues into the palate. It's actually pretty nice, kind of like a hyperactive child whose matured reaching into their mid to late twenties. On the first sip out of the bottle, there was a ferocious fire after burn in the mid palate but it's not present anytime in the next couple of sips.

In the glass, it was pretty inky, dark ruby red getting softer to the top.

Overall a very nice experience.

I'd give it a 84. I've had shiraz that was way over the top to the point where I'd reject it and this was one of them, to be honest.

Definitely will look forward to opening the next in years to come. Got three more I think.

2009 Bordeaux Tasted

2010-07-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

So, while strolling through a wine tasting for a local wine shop that is my stomping grounds, there was quite the surprise! The surprise being an initial release from the lesser known cru's in bordeaux of the 2009 vintage.

Having tasted it, I was rather surprised at how fruit forward it is with very little to no old world action one would come to expect from a bordeaux. This is very much in congruence with what many of the barrel sampling have mentioned in their tw*ts and blogs. It was nicely balanced and drinking well as of this moment with very little to no harsh tannins to get in the way.

That being said, the age worthiness of this may not be present and probably should be drank within the next 5 years at most. This is all fine for me with the current switch over in the philosophy of wine to drink and not to hide.

Even being as young as I, life is too short to hold on to wine and no one should die with a loaded cellar as that would truly be a great tragedy.

Yet another step towards finding the place of my palate...

2010-06-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

Like most people, I'm finding that there is a very soft sweet spot for sweet wines such as ports, dessert wines, and lately, Muscat.

This has been found upon going to a sparkling wine tasting which isn't really that great of an idea when one is sick with the flu in such a warm season! Stuffy nose and coughing didn't enhance the experience by any mean but was determined to enjoy the experience. Anyhow, the point of the story was that most of the sparkling wines, two whites and a rose, really didn't find itself appealing to me till I had reached a 2008 Italian Muscat that was drinking very well for such a young age.

Having gone with a partner of mine to this wine tasting event, we had thoroughly enjoyed the Muscat and really wanted to find that bottle at where they said it would be sold. Fast forward to the weekend and completing another round of 10 wines tasted, we had went to another wine merchant that was said to have the bottle we found very palatable and didn't find it. We, however, found the same varietal that was very delicious in its own rights though not the same flavor profile as the previous Muscat we had. At 9.99 and a 2009 to boot, it was drinking very well and was outstanding considering the price range and youth of the bottle.

I'll have to remember to post the picture of the bottle.

Final self update: Still sick.

No new posts...

2010-06-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

Having been sick has really put the usual wine tasting route on a halt. Though, I was able to enjoy a mix drink tasting that was quite an experience that should be tried when looking for that one mixed drink. That being said, it's been found that rye whiskey based drinks have found a place on my palate getting me at smashed whiskey, delicious.

I'll hopefully resume my rounds this weekend after having gotten finally to the tail end of this odd snap of a sickness at the beginning of summer!

Riesling for the ages!

2010-05-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

At first glance, an Austrian Riesling produced by a top maker from the 2000 vintage should just finally reach it's strides peaking now. One would also think that such a bottle bought right now would cost more than a very pretty penny having that it was maintained in very good provenance as the box it came in would suggest.

After having said that, it was all a misconception. The bottle was on clearance due largely in part of the hurting economy for the low, low price of 9.99. Having decanted the wine for... well, over a week, it has been maintaining its strides well until tipping just a day over. Within the duration however, the bottle has been tasted showing little, if any, noticeable changes as the color of the wine has been developing a deeper gold while growing more viscus.

Upon reaching a week in, it hit what I would say is the ultimate peak of complete and utterly deliciousness. The depth of the flavor, the richness of the bouquet, the thickness coating the palate, and the finish struck a wonderful chord. Needless to say, I was blown away by this bottle and looking towards buying one more to replace the one I had opened with my sister.

The price in which the distributer had marked it was at 46 dollars and, clearly, the age-ability and quality gives honor to the price range it rests its laurels on. Where many wines fall apart reaching the week in the decanter, this one has just begun!

CellarTracker: 2000 Prager Riesling Smaragd Hollerin

Will buy one to do a formal report.

Informal Evaluation: Emphatic BUY! [90+]

Note: Though informal, first 90, I think.

Pierre Peters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé - 2003

2010-05-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

With a soft golden glow, it sports very fine bubbles lifting to reach the top bringing with it a very standard chardonnay profile that quickly evolved into something more. Notes of aroma amongst the family had mentioned nuttiness, almond, hints of oak, walnut, and bread dough gradually rising.

The taste had grown profoundly past from the first thirty minutes from a closed off state originally turned me off as it displayed the standard still closed off chardonnay profile to something more appetizing. What was once bread dough from mid palate to finish had shown a profile that was delicious to a level that is quite difficult to describe as the experience was what I recall at this moment. The finish had continued most elegantly through and through to truly make it worthy of every penny and more.

It is to say the least that my family had enjoyed this as much as I did and perhaps more. To those bottles remaining in the collection, stay well!

Evaluation: Buy for those occasions [89+]

Cellar Tracker: http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=554687

Not all chard's are made equally - Extended

2010-05-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

As we continue down the path to self discovery of the wine palate level, it is becoming more apparent that my palate for chardonnay has gained a bias favoring French. This time around the step that has led down this direction was 2003 Pierre Peters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé, which has been thus far the most expensive bottle I have opened. Though, the reason for opening this bottle was a collision of several events making for a wonderous occasion worthy of such. However, I digress.

In having drank this bottle, the path of wine is not all about tasting, the flavor profile had an initial standard chardonnay profile which has put me off but the evolution in which it had undertaken following is what truly shine through. It has shown that even though it was a 2003, it has still a long line and progression left to it to which will offer an experience that is greater than the value of the bottle. To this, I look forward.

Informal tasting notes... COMING SOON!

Glass sizes

2010-05-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

After having gone through and tasting 45 bottles of wine in less than two hours, it has just reaffirmed the constant point that's been driven, size matters. Though, more precisely, size and shape really matters in tasting wine.

However, it really doesn't help that the amount of wine being poured was quite substantial by comparison to the volume in which the glass can hold. It could, however, be that when the person dispensing the samples observes that the taster is spitting, they may be pouring more than those who are swallowing. The more one thinks about it, the more sense it makes since the person who spits are tasting it for the taste rather than drinking it to get sloshed. At the end of the night, even spitting all, it couldn't be helped that I was feeling sloshed at the end of the day.

What had reaffirmed this belief of size and shap matter is the fact that most of the reds had came off as austere, heavily tannic, and rather unpleasant. Its hard to believe that all the reds were too young to be released and increasingly more so that most if not all were closed off. That is to say though, that even in a small venue where there is only but ten wines to taste, there is at least one that would be the most pleasant and enjoyable as oppose to this event where there were very little to none.

Though, this shape did suit well for the sparkling wines which benefit from a long slender glass much similar to that of champagne flutes. Anyhow, enough ranting...

A slight imbalance in my collection...

2010-05-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

After having bought one heck of a steal on a Austrian Riesling from 2000 at 9.99, I've found myself wondering how to balance out my collection of wine which has been very red heavy while moving farther away from the ever so main stay of Rieslings.

My palate has, as of late, been burnt out of the classic Californian Chardonnay but found quite an interest in Burgundian Chards. However, the interest Australian Chards has been fading even though those that I've tried so far has exhibited great minerals both on the bouquet and palate.

I've yet to pick up another Alsatian white though either in fear of tarnishing the measuring stick in which I treat as something to aim for and perhaps not so many have hit the selling block at the price I'm looking to buy.

So, European whites, awaken!

The calming that comes with the guiding hands

2010-04-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Having spent the day off pruning my parent's grape vine, unknown varietal to me, has brought about a sense of calming serenity that is perhaps what I would imagine those who prune bonsai trees. Though with little to no experience in pruning, it still was pleasurable in a sense of almost a level of spirituality that was unique unto itself.

On that day, I had also only need not any further than look to my neighbor to see how a vine that has virtually grown with me has become the way it is. It is a strong gnarly vine that has withstood temperatures no varietal would dare imagine nor should a human endure going from nearly 100 degree below zero to 120 degrees positive.

Vines are simply amazing but we'll have to see how forgiving the vine I had trimmed is this coming year.

Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde Aveleda - 2008 [informal]

2010-04-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

Since looking for a wine to use to cook with the slow cooked Bolognese sauce, I had cracked open the 2008 Quinta da Aveleda Vinho Verde Aveleda. Having come out of the fridge, it had shown some good floral and fruit scents even though the having been in the cold state tends to mute the nose. However, after a day, the floral notes moved towards perfume-like in the direction of almost fake like but the color had shown a great change moving towards golden near chard levels with initial colors being clear.

Just because it's legendary...

2010-04-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

Though, as broad of a statement as it is, the legendary wines from the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape will most likely not be hitting my shelves. However, the price when it does hit a sweet spot may sway. The reason for having come to this is after having tasted wine from that same vintage that was extremely astringent, even though having been opened at least two hours, to say the least. Those CdP's are clearly meant to be aged and held well into the mid to late 2010's.

With that in mind, it is not understandable and now adopted that even CdP's in the lesser vintages can be desired for it's ability to be drank now and stored for later if desired.

2010-04-24T17:43:00.001-07:00

How very interesting, costco has a very affordable Chatenauf du Pape, 2008 for 19.99. Don't have the vintage charts listing the '08 CdP, will see later.

Not all chard's are made equally

2010-04-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, not all chard's are truly made equally. A French chard from Burgundy has truly been a saving grace has brought chard's from a no-buy list completely to a buy it outside of the US and perhaps Australia but haven't had many of those.

From memory alone, it has been a total varietal saving experience that alone has merited it's own post. The very scent and flavors that came from this Burgundy white was unlike any chard I've tasted even with such a limited experience I've gone through.

We'll see what tomorrow's wine tasting brings about.

and so it begins...

2010-04-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

After primarily buying wine from retailers and wholesalers, which unfortunately may have been a proponent of that pesky HR 5034, a wine maker has sparked enough interest to buy directly from the winery itself, largely in part due to WLTV.

The approach of the vintner towards wines really appeals to me on several levels such as affordable and fair shipping, being the key point. Granted, the winery has to charge tax to the state in which it will be shipping to but that still doesn't surpass the price of shipping all these other online wine retailers display at purchase. In addition to this, the winery's approach to wine is aligned with my most recent approach to buying wine, to drink within immediate proximity like now!

The recent change was made since the lack of space and the fact that when I do buy, I buy in triplets, now, later, and later later.

For those interested in what winery has sparked such an interest: http://www.LoringWineCompanyStore.com

Louis Jadot gets the spot light

2010-04-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

In the latest English release of Kami No Shizuku. Louis Jadot's Chablis has obtained the spotlight.

There are a couple of things that really astounds me about this, one of which is this is widely available to the extent of local grocery stores carrying it. Another point is that this is a non-artisan wine which may come off as wine snobbery, but hear me out. After watching the live adaption of the series, it had struck me that most of the wines selected to debut in the series were either small production or artisan wines with hard to obtain status. The adaptation followed the story line fairly faithful to the series and only a lower end of Chablis was mentioned in the episode reflecting this chapter.

So, true to GaryV's motto, money != quality!

Now with all that said, I shall now stroll to the local super mercado to pick up a Louis Jadot Chablis regardless to the fact of being in a place where Chard's just don't have quite the interest as I'd like it to be.

Bordeaux 2009 Futures

2010-04-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

So, it would seem that the first "tranche" of the 2009 Bordeaux wineries have released their pricing and has been channeled down to my local wine shop, that I often find myself at. Having seen what the shop offers, one truly stands above the rest since it comes from a region of personal interest for one reason or another that slips my mind.

Anyhow, a great deal of critics have cited that this vintage does not necessarily live or match up to what was considered the "legendary" vintage of 2005 as per those same critics. But, the positive aspect that comes to mind from a lot of those critics is that this wine will have a much earlier drinking window for those who do not wish to wait, like I.

Some of the things that seems pretty odd is a few of the critics noting that it is growing towards the new world style of wines, having greater fruit notes rather than the traditional old world which Bordeaux have come to embody.

For now, an approach of caution and walking the safe lines it is with a hits on the foul like that surely will produce a wonderful learning experience regardless of the level of offensiveness.

Charles Shaw Nouveau - 2009

2010-04-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

Color: Similar to some Pinot Noir, bright ruby red.

1st Glass
Nose:

Aggressively fruity on the initial progressing with iron and graphite minerals blending with soft clay like mud damp after an over night rain with a distant city or lightly populate area.

Taste:

Initial: Seemingly, unabashed, unapologetic, and proud to be fruity.
Mid: Shows no sign of letting down it's pride carrying on to be a bit much more louder about it being a fruit bomb with soft edges and light acidity.
Finish: Still fruity fruit juice with sour apple, pear with a touch of the damp clay like mud.

1st Hour
Nose:

Still boldly fruity that has gone in a much darker direction with the earthy tones of the clay mud softening as ground black pepper comes to be prominent.

Taste:

Initial: Remains consistently fruity, however, now featuring a slight hit of cream, dash of black pepper, and a hint seasoning.
Mid: The fruitiness progresses from the initial as the cream with the cream transitioning more towards a cream made from half and half as the acidity begins to pick up.
Finish: Fruits, and fruits, and fruits galore mixing with a sweet apple, pear and chocolate similar to popular candy bars as cream and acidity from mid palate continues to follow through ending with a grape flavor common in children's medicine.

1st Day
Nose:

What was once boldly fruity now comes together as a fruit and berry pie with cinnamon and spice carefully dolloped with sweet creme as the earthy minerals maintain consistency.

Taste:

Initial: The earthy notes from the nose now carries into the initial palate and flows into the mid.
Mid: Maintains consistency from the previous times of tasting it; though in addition to the fruit, berries, and cream, earthiness of soft soil, acid and spice enters the fray.
Finish: The mild earthiness as found from the mid palate enters the back ground and begins to leave the stage as the fruits become more profound with sweet apple, pear, and cream.

Notes: After a day or two, the fruits starts to move towards a dried fruit and raisin like flavors as the earthy notes begin to enter center stage.

Evaluation: Worth a try, [85].

CellarTracker: http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=777679

Charles Shaw International Chardonnay [Downunder] - 2008

2010-04-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

This review predates the formatting decision.

Straight from the bottle:
+ Bouquet: Apple and pear like scent to it but wasn't so distinct.
+ Taste: I can't exactly recall it at the top of my head.

Decanted [0-3 Hours]:
+ Bouquet: The apple and pear came through with a bit more creamy scent to it with perhaps a little spice
+ Taste: Considerably better showing some nice acidity to it as well as a bit of a nuttiness with a finish that was surprisingly clear with a fruit that came to my mind as I examined it but don't know it.
+ Note: It has shown a much more vivid and yet deeper yellow.

Decanted [20-24 Hours]:
+ Bouquet: It would seem that the bouquet has been more integrated with each other rather than being distinct to each other
+ Taste: Almost the same but the acidity slightly dialed up a bit and the finish changed somewhat to a spice with the fruit.
+ Note: Slightly darker

Interesting spectacle.

Evaluation: Worth a try, [81].

CellarTracker: http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=720222

Charles Shaw Shiraz - 2008

2010-04-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, yes. El cheapo presidente del vino.

Color: Dark Velvet with a little ruby

1st glass
Nose:

Fresh baked bread, melting margarine, little cedar action, some soft dirt, over ripe strawberry, plum, a dark rose that has been sitting a little below room temperature on the back end

Taste:

Initial: Butter cream on the attack as well as black cherry
Mid palate, crushed sweet red cherry, candied plum, mild acidity, oak prominent but not over whelming
Finish: Soft acidity with spice, fresh ripe strawberry on the finish with a tad touch of heat.

1st hour
Nose:

Strawberries are much more prominent, baked white bread now midway, black pepper on the back end in addition.

Taste:

Initial: The black cherry seems take center stage with no butter cream present now
Mid palate: the palate seems pretty similar though a hint of strawberry and slight tannic
Finish: fresh strawberry, cherry.

1st Day
Nose:

Fresh baked bread takes the lead once again, dried strawberries, crushed berries, soft currant, dark plum, ground black pepper, slight mineral, drying rose on the back end

Taste:

Initial: Dominant crushed sweet cherry and spice
Mid Palate: Plum, Strawberry, Cherry, touch of acidity
Finish: Mid palate continues on through as tannins take grip towards the end

So far, pretty fair and in all consideration pretty good with an interesting nose to say the least. Will see how it develops toward the last glass.

Evaluated as: Worth a try, [83].

CellarTracker: http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=772625

Quinta da Aveleda Douro Charamba - 2007

2010-04-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Color: Dark like black midnight in the forest day where light can only go through when in direct sight burnt maroon.

1st Glass:
Bouquet:

Large bouquet as it had well extend beyond the glass as I was preparing dinner that almost came off merlot like. Plenty of spice, black pepper, cardamon; blue and black berry following it through with soft earth like after a light rain, plenty of dark fruit moving towards the back jammy as sweet butter creme just rounds it off at the end.

Taste:

Initial: Old world on the initial with a muddy black berry plum combo attack that's sweet and a touch of acidity.
Mid: Acidity begins to pick up with spices varying from black pepper with the dampness of the forest floor continuing through as the berries and very dark fruit washes around.
Finish: Acidity peaks with black cherry, dark strawberry that isn't over ripe and spice to boot.

Notes: Very pleasant at the pop.

1st Hour
Bouquet:

The bouquet has come through more now as moist forest floor with moss, wood breaking down to mulch, and a touch of mushrooms. Along with this, a pungent spice of fresh green pepper and ground black pepper come through midway. Dark fruit comes on the back end with blue berry and ripe strawberry being more prominent.

Taste:

Initial: Light earth with bright crushed berries largely cherry as acidity mingles softly across.
Mid: Acidity takes the foreground with largely cherry crushed berry as the soft soft mud mingling along.
Finish: The spices come forth striking followed by slicing acidity and then ripe ripe cherries softening the sting.

1st Day
Bouquet:

Unlike yesterday where the bouquet had soft damp forest floor, it would have come to a much more firm earth that had time to dry out. The berry scent that was once there seem to grown to be a bit more prominent rather than seated in the background with sweeter fruit. It's grown to be much more new world over time with some black pepper and fresh baked bread coming through on the back end.

Taste:

Initial: Plum skin comes out the moment striking the tongue following into darker cherry juice transitioning into a drying strawberry as it moves to the mid pallet.
Mid: The acidity wasn't prominent but there were some bitterness to it. There were dusty dry earth among the sour crushed cherries dancing about.
Finish: Finish is a bit light with the spices having grown softer rather than stronger with cherry continuing through as strawberry stem becomes clear.

Excited about how it turns out the longer it stays in the decanter airing.

Evaluation: Worth a try, [87].

Cellar Tracker: http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=694884