tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56524676446885114132024-09-14T06:25:06.728-07:00Of good wine you cannot make bad latin.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.comBlogger471125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-14592748009934578142013-04-22T18:24:00.003-07:002013-04-22T18:24:56.840-07:00

17 / 20 Producer: Anselmo Mendes Vinhos Region:Minho Country:Portugal Very subtle bouquet, with a strong mineral side, along with some lovely flowery impressions and a drop of an herbaceous, more vegetable note. In the nose, the overall feel is one of austerity and balance. Impressive in the mouth, feeling very soft at first but quickly building up to a full, long and persistent

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-22682421047014815302013-04-18T16:28:00.001-07:002013-04-18T16:28:20.990-07:00

16 / 20 Producer: Gnarly Head Region:California Country: USA A californian Chardonnay showing a subtle, discreet bouquet where boiled apples and pears mingle with some honeyed notes and a subtle touch of oak. Shows its weight on the palate, feeling unctuous but this is very well supported by a nice acidity and a orange-skin bitterness that is refreshing. It's a pleasant, not

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-12905007417857519192013-04-14T11:34:00.001-07:002013-04-14T11:34:44.578-07:00

16.5 / 20 Producer: Burmester Region:Douro Country:Portugal A really good example of what Touriga Nacional can offer, the bouquet here is very intense, filled with flowery, violet notes along with a strong presence of sweet raspberries. Overall, the nose exposes a very young, powerful wine. The same impression is conveyed by the palate. Structured and mouth-fiIIing, the flavors

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-2855052270126059922013-04-09T17:18:00.000-07:002013-04-09T17:18:03.986-07:00

16.5 / 20 Producer: Bodegas Amalaya Region:Salta Country:Argentina A blend of Malbec - what else? - Syrah , Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, this argentinian red has an inviting, intense bouquet - very fruit-forward with notes of vanilla and a subtle spice background. Although it starts off very Malbec like, I think the Syrah eventually finds its way to the foreground, with some very nice

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-80895112087201881462013-04-07T15:41:00.001-07:002013-04-07T15:41:16.332-07:00

17 / 20 Producer: Luís Pato Region:Bairrada Country:Portugal 100% Bical and staged 9 months in oak, this older white - 5 years - is a reminder that the Bairrada is a prime terroir for whites in Portugal. The nose expresses the wine's age, with dried fruits appearing, along with a glyceric note. But given time, some sweet white fruit also appears and gives it some grace. In the palate,

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-30891963188079214472013-04-05T14:54:00.002-07:002013-04-05T14:54:55.807-07:00

17 / 20 Producer: Quinta do Soalheiro Region:Minho Country:Portugal From one of the best - to my view - Alvarinho producers in Minho (and Portugal), this wine is made from the oldest vines in their farm and is a close match to their Reserva - maybe just lacks some of the aging potential the Reserva has, but still great value for the price. Orange blossom and a slight tropical feel in

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-23422951739679875712013-04-01T15:21:00.000-07:002013-04-01T15:21:02.110-07:00

15.5 / 20 Producer: Quinta do Javali Region:Porto Country:Portugal This is probably a reserve ruby, although that's not explicit from the label or the info on their site. Very fruit forward on the nose, lots of red sweet morello cherries along with some plums and raisins impressions. Keeps the same approach in the mouth, revealing itself as a young, lightly structured wine. Pleasant

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-45253134550924538742013-03-30T04:33:00.001-07:002013-03-30T04:33:49.372-07:00

16.5 / 20 Producer: Quinta da Foz Region:Douro Country:Portugal Intense nose on this red from the Douro, showing some dried plums, a balsamic feel that hints at some evolution and distinct oak/vanilla notes. Later on, some ripe red fruits also join the bouquet. In the palate, starts by showing a medium structure, controlled acidity with some toast/oak but it gains momentum as

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-89322168093366915322013-03-28T18:38:00.000-07:002013-03-28T18:38:16.733-07:00

16.5 / 20 Producer: Pedra Cancela Region:Dão Country:Portugal A blend from the Dão, this comes across as a modern look at a very classical blend. I don't think I'd ever tasted a wine from this producer, but I'll definitely try to check them out. Very appealing in the nose, with a marked flowery side, mixed with some pine-tree, earthy notes and a healthy amount of wild berries

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-16984462082742676632013-03-24T15:59:00.000-07:002013-03-24T15:59:14.124-07:00

16 / 20 Producer: Casa da Passarella Region:Dão Country:Portugal Ripe red berries on the nose, along with the usual buckroses and some notes of resin, this traditional blend from old vines in the Dão is a very elegant and worthwhile wine. Elegant and soft in the palate, with a good, fresh acidity, reminiscent of cherries, this has a really nice structure, helped along by hard

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-70011783047298203152013-03-21T18:21:00.001-07:002013-03-21T18:21:59.944-07:00

16.5 / 20 Producer: António Saramago Region:Setúbal Country:Portugal Very nice and balanced nose, with the usual jammy black fruit note associated with Castelão in Setúbal, that are seasoned here with light balsamic tones, a hint of spices and an oaky background. Very elegant and alive in the palate, with lively tannins, fresh acidity and some really nice jammy fruit notes. It's a

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-16438643096303719062013-03-19T19:51:00.001-07:002013-03-19T19:51:47.383-07:00

16.5 / 20 Producer: Framingham Region: Marlborough Country: New Zealand As usual for the whites from this brand, a lovely, precise New Zealand white. Very expressive in the nose, showing passion fruit and pineapples without excesses. Very focused, very pure fruit notes that are combined with the greener, more vegetable feel - aspargus and green grass. The vegetable side seems

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-79898808797391198912013-03-15T19:34:00.000-07:002013-03-15T19:34:00.791-07:00

15 / 20 Producer:Quinta do Corujão Region: Dão Country: Portugal Interesting nose in this Dão blend, with cocoa and coffee notes, along with jammy blackberries and a slight vegetable/flowery scent. Less interesting in the palate, coming along as somewhat difuse. The usual fresh acidity from the Dão is here, along with a balanced and elegant feel, but the flavors of the wine seem

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-52260280688752774672013-03-13T16:29:00.000-07:002013-03-13T16:29:03.060-07:00

17.5 / 20 Producer: Messias Region: Porto Country: Portugal The first colheita I tasted from Messias, this 1977 was bottled in 2007 and is showing very well at the moment, the spirits here already tamed and integrated into the whole wine. Really interesting, complex nose where dried fruits mingle with some exotic woods in a sweet, honeyed background. Smooth and layered in the

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-54096067788842160322013-03-11T16:18:00.001-07:002013-03-11T16:18:48.806-07:00

16 / 20 Producer: Soellner Region:Wagram Country:Austria A dry riesling from Austria, this white shows some subtle tropical fruit notes in the nose, along with delicate mineral notes. In the mouth, these impressions are inverted, with the mineral side of the wine coming more to the foreground, along with a marked citrus, lemony side. Feels very elegant and lively, helped by a

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-70738629104079030242013-03-08T18:36:00.002-08:002013-03-10T10:13:30.459-07:00

16 / 20 Producer: Quinta do Escairo Region: Trás-os-Montes Country: Portugal Another wine from the nearly forgotten wine region Trás-os-Montes in Portugal, this is a very pleasant and well made wine, showing some acid red berries in the nose along with some nice cocoa and coffee overtones. Feels very elegant in the palate, with a really nice balance between red fruits and oak,

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-50879324551347169082013-03-05T18:14:00.001-08:002013-03-05T18:14:44.199-08:00

17 / 20 Producer: José Maria da Fonseca Region: Alentejo Country: Portugal A blend containing 65% of Grand Noir (a bit unusual) from Reguengos de Monsaraz, this is a really good Alentejo red from one of the biggest wine making companies in Portugal. Jammy red and black fruits on the nose, with some oak and vanilla notes. There's also a scent of raisins and dried plums, hinting at a

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-68508234636272357732013-03-03T11:02:00.002-08:002013-03-03T11:02:52.439-08:00

15.5 / 20 Producer: Adega de Pegões Region: Setúbal Country: Portugal Certainly one of the best valued whites in Portugal, this oak-staged white from near Setúbal has been very consistent in its quality, although I was a bit disappointed with one of the last vintages, since the sweet fruit notes seemed a bit too much. This vintage showed a better balance, although sweet fruit notes

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-36560983107154900302013-03-01T19:23:00.003-08:002013-03-01T19:23:56.715-08:00

16 / 20 Producer: Boschendal Region: Boschendal Country:South Africa An interesting blend for a still white, the first impressions on this South African white instantly take us into Champagne territory, with a lot of toast notes combined with some boiled apples and pears. Also present is an interesting mineral side and some spices impressions which gives it an edge. Good, enticing

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-4986520084372916482013-02-25T17:46:00.001-08:002013-02-25T17:46:24.631-08:00

16 / 20 Producer: Aneto Region: Douro Country:Portugal The nose on this Pinot from the Douro is somewhat unexpected, showing some sweeter and more intense cherries than you'd expect from a Pinot. There's also a slighty peppery, greenish feel and a touch of cellar that goes away with time. More to the background are some vanilla and coffee/cocoa notes. More restrained in the palate,

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-75533291154181006292013-02-23T08:07:00.000-08:002013-02-23T08:07:18.359-08:00

14.5 / 20 Producer: Adega Cooperativa de Pinhel Region: Beira Interior Country: Portugal Fruit forward and exuberant in the nose, feeling very young and showing some subtle oak notes. Those same oak, vanilla notes are present in the palate, where it shows a light structure that, combined with a marked acidity, results in a fresh, young wine with some wild red berries notes. It comes

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-36775066722464219232013-02-21T15:15:00.000-08:002013-02-21T15:15:28.250-08:00

15.5 / 20 Producer: J.P. Chenet Region:Pays d'Oc Country:France Starting out with some notes of green bellpeppers, this later morphs into a very fruit-forward wine, with lots of jammy blackberries appearing in the nose, alongside with some spices. Very inviting in the palate, a soft, round body with a balanced acidity and soft tannins, the jammy fruit notes are also in the foreground,

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-89219412090246191672013-02-19T17:19:00.000-08:002013-02-19T17:19:54.093-08:00

16 / 20 Producer: Quinta de Arcossó Region: Trás-os-Montes Country: Portugal The wines from the northmost region in Portugal are relatively unknown, even in Portugal. I can think of one brand coming from there - Valle Pradinhos, although there are some more and I distinctly remember having a really interesting Reserva from one of the Adegas up there a couple of years ago. This farm is a

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-27382235168497908152013-02-07T14:44:00.001-08:002013-02-07T14:44:26.669-08:00

15.5 / 20 Producer: Bodega Familia Schroeder Region: Patagonia Country: Argentina I had some good expectations about this, since the other wines I've tasted from this producer from Patagonia had been very enjoyable - I really liked their Select Malbec, for instance. This particular brand of wines is fermented in the oak barrels (as opposed to aging there after fermentation). I think the

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652467644688511413.post-7582842401440993752013-02-03T03:44:00.001-08:002013-02-03T03:44:41.693-08:00

17 / 20 Producer: Herdade do Esporão Region:Alentejo Country:Portugal Part of this year's reconciliation with Syrahs from Alentejo, supported by a great 2-week vacation there, this varietal from the Herdade do Esporão (great wine tourism spot and a lovey restaurant by the way) is a great example of what this grape type can offer in the Alentejo. Strongly scented, intense and

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10128789224394004822noreply@blogger.com0