WINECENTRIC

BALLAST STONE CHARDONNAY - 2005

2008-07-22T11:04:00.003-04:00

From Currency Creek, South Australia with 13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale water-yellow color with aromas and flavors of oak, butter and melon. Extremely long 60 second finish of Tootsie Rolls and caramel. Smooth and simple.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

85 PTS

I bought this bottle on clearance for $2.99 although it retails for around $9. I used it for cooking but it was a pleasant surprise. Solid and serviceable especially for the discount price.

E. GUIGAL CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE - 2003

2008-07-18T13:54:00.004-04:00

80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre.

TASTING NOTES:

Light red transparent color with lots of barnyard and leather on the nose. Dry tannins, especially on the finish, with cherry, black pepper, and earthy, musty funk.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

Not very dynamic or exciting. The more the wine opens up the better it gets but it doesn't really evolve enough to sustain interest. There are other options from Southern Rhone that are more appealing. Retails for around $40 a bottle.

HALIYA MANGO LIGHT FRUIT WINE & HALIYA BLACK PLUM LIGHT FRUIT WINE

2008-07-15T14:39:00.014-04:00

Haliya wines are named after the Goddess of the moon and Protector of women in Philippine mythology. It is believed that everytime the beastly serpent of the night takes a woman’s form and wreaks havoc upon countless villages, it is the Goddess Haliya who comes to their rescue.

The wines are made in the tropical islands of the Philippines. The fruit is picked by hand and aged before release.

TASTING NOTES:

The Mango wine has a pale gold color with a unique nose of stale cigarette smoke and citrus. On the palate, it is light, smooth yet a good amount of viscosity. Flavors of citrus and mellow mango are followed up by a sweet-sour finish of honey. The wine has an alcohol content of 13%.

The 100% Black Plum wine has an burnt sienna/amber color with aromas and flavors of cabbage and fermented vegetables and berries. The wine has an alcohol content of 12%.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

75 PTS - Mango Wine

65 PTS - Black Plum Wine

I wanted to love these wines. I was excited to sample wines from the Philippines. The Mango wine is clearly the better offering, but it is missing the wonderful flavor of mango. It is as if the mango flavor is completely subdued and overshadowed by generic citrus. The cigarette smoke on the nose is intriguing and perhaps the standout feature of the wine. I love vegetal wines but I fear that the Black Plum wine would be too much for even the greatest lovers of Cabernet Franc. There is serious fermented vegetables on both the nose and palate so much so that it comes off as unpleasant.

Stylistically, both wines are very different than fruit wines you'd taste from anywhere else in the world. For a new experience alone you might want to seek these out, but at $14.99 a bottle they are expensive novelties.

Both wines can be purchased at www.finewinehouse.com or at Seafood City Supermarket branches throughout California. You can also obtain more info at haliyawines.com.

WEINGART BOPPARDER HAMM OHLENBERG RIESLIING SPATLESE - 2004

2008-07-13T20:06:00.006-04:00

Spatlese Riesling from Germany with 8% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale yellow color with petrol and citrus on the nose. Lots of minerality on the mid-palate is accompanied by flavors of Asian pear, apple core, and green grapes. Ripe, sweet and juicy with green grapes, a hint of tartness and honey on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

89 PTS

Enjoyable Riesling that pairs well with citrus infused dishes. I paired this with a lime-cilantro based cold avocado soup and lemon drenched tabouli and it worked really well. Retails around $18 a bottle delivering decent value for the price.

KOFERERHOF WEINGUT KERNER - 2005

2008-07-10T10:10:00.000-04:00

Kerner is a grape varietal believed to be derived from Gewurztraminer. From Italy, it has 13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale straw color with a nose full of apples. Dry with lots of acidity yet there's a hint of sweetness lurking. Plenty of charred oak upfront with a mid-palate of Juicy Fruit chewing gum, peaches and tropical fruits. There's a ton of citrus on the finish which begins somewhat tart before transitioning to honey and apple. The tremendous finish goes on for at least 60 seconds.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

This is a fascinating wine. The finish is extraordinary. Tastes like a blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling. I really like this wine but at $26 it is difficult to recommend. If you want a new varietal experience, this one might be worth your while.

DOMAINE DES TERRES FALMET CINSAULT - 2006

2008-07-08T22:39:00.000-04:00

Vin de Pays d'Oc from Southern France (Languedoc) with 13.5% alcohol. 100% Cinsault.

TASTING NOTES:

Light red color with muted red berries on the nose. Very light-bodied, smooth and thin with hints of strawberry and not much else. There's a bit of earthiness but not much else is coming through.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

80 PTS

Not unpleasant, but a completely "blah" wine. Non-existent fruit. A quiet, shy wine that hides in the corner and has nothing to say. Retails around $12. Two emphatic thumbs down.

JAUME MESQUIDA CALLET MALLORCA - 2005

2008-07-03T22:02:00.003-04:00

In the heart of the Mediterranean Sea is the island of Mallorca. This wine is made mainly from Callet grapes and has been aged six months in french oak. Product of Spain with 14% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Purple like Prince in color with bright vibrant fruit. Creamy vanilla and milk on the nose with with vanilla-oak, cherries and black currant on the palate.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

85 PTS

Easy-drinking but overly simplistic. Retails for around $15 - $18 which makes this wine a major pass. The only reason to try this wine is to experience the indigenous Callet varietal which is not easy to find. Callet is probably better suited for blending, but it was a fun wine to try for the first time.

LAYER CAKE "PRIMITIVO" ZINFANDEL - 2006

2008-07-02T10:52:00.003-04:00

Made from 100% Primitivo with 13.5% alcohol. From Puglia, Italy.

TASTING NOTES:

Purple in color with black fruit, cherries and whipped cream on the nose. Extremely creamy and ripe fruit with spice and a bit of tartness on the finish. An excellent food wine.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

86 PTS
I think a lot of California Cabernet lovers who like lots of creamy oak will probably dig this wine. It is relatively straight-forward and pretty tasty but doesn't have a lot going on. It leans a bit toward the fake fruit but not a way that is off-putting. Retails for around $15 a bottle which probably makes it a pass.

SYRAH DU MOROCCO "SYROCCO" THALVIN (ALAIN GRAILLOT) - 2005

2008-06-30T01:06:00.004-04:00

While cycling in Morocco Alain Graillot met the owners of Thalvin, who have made wine for decades on the black tirss soil of the rolling hills of rommani. 13% alcohol and 100% North African grown Syrah.

TASTING NOTES:

Purple-red color with very grapey nose and subtle scents of Play-Doh. Blackberry and blueberry on the mid-palate with plum skin on the finish. Very smooth and lush with vibrant fruit.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 PTS

This is a delightful wine with a really nice composition. Simple and delicious. The experience of tasting a wine from North Africa is also part of the appeal here and well worth the $15 admission price.

MONCHHOF URZIGER WURZGARTEN SPATLESE RIESLING - 2006

2008-06-23T21:49:00.013-04:00

10% alcohol, German Mosel Riesling.

TASTING NOTES:

Pear-gold color with citrus and petroleum on the nose. On the palate there's ripping acidity, lemon-lime, peach and sour apple. Lots of frizzante, zippy fruit, and a clean, crisp mouthfeel.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

89 PTS

A very well-structured Riesling but sort of lacks the whizz-bang to make it exceptional. Wine Spectator scored this wine 92 points which suggests it is something more extraordinary. For $22 a bottle, I expected a little bit more complexity. This wine won't disappoint you, but on the other hand it is not a stunner. Many Rieslings in this price range can compete.

JOSEPH PHELPS VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON - 2003

2008-06-20T20:56:00.004-04:00

14.3% alcohol. From Napa Valley, California. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc

TASTING NOTES:

Lush fruit with vibrant color. Dark fruit and creme-de-cassis on the nose. Gobs of cassis, vanilla cream, subtle toasty oak, black and red fruit on the mid-palate with plum on the finish. Smooth and somewhat elegant with a graceful mouthfeel.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

A very polished wine with everything you look for in California Cabernet. The wine completely falls apart on the second day quickly losing all its initial allure. Retails now for around $45 although was available for much less on release.

HITCHING POST HIGHLINER PINOT NOIR - 2001

2008-06-17T09:48:00.004-04:00

From Hartley Ostini, this is the Pinot Noir made famous by the movie Sideways. Santa Barbera County with 13.4% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Garnet color with ripping acidity. Flavors of cranberry, plum and pomegranate are overshadowed by the oak which dulls the fruit. Good mouthfeel and pleasant overall, but needs more time in the bottle.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 - 90 PTS

I really love the racey acidity in this wine. It reminds me of a great Etude Pinot. The wine is drinking like an 88 point wine at the moment but has potential to improve. Two days after the bottle was open, this wine tasted its best like a 90 pointer. It really begins to take shape suggesting that this wine needs more time in the bottle to overcome some alcohol and oak issues.

EL MOLINO PINOT NOIR - 2001

2008-06-15T20:54:00.005-04:00

From Napa Valley. Bottled in St. Helena, CA. 14.4% alcohol. Founded in 1871, El Molino was one of the first wineries in the Napa Valley.

TASTING NOTES:

Transparent ruby red color with leather and dark berries on the nose. Cherry and mellow oak upfront with cranberry and pomegranate on the mid-palate. Silky smooth with spice and figs on the tart finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88+PTS

Delicious and mellow with good acidity. This wine has definitely peaked already and is on the decline. I'd say its at the very tail of its drinking window. With the explosion of top-notch Pinot Noirs on the marketplace, at $50 a bottle there are better options available.

PRADO AYALA RIOJA - 2006

2008-06-12T14:26:00.004-04:00

90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. Grown in Zone 3 in the town of la Guardia, Rioja in clay, limestone and sand soil.

TASTING NOTES:

Transparent purple-red color with barnyard, wild berries and cherry kirsch on the nose. Cherry, black pepper, Sweet Tarts and charred oak dominate the mid-palate with hints of green pepper and tart cherries on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87 PTS

There's too much alcohol/heat on the back-end of this wine but it has very nice fruit for a $10 wine. Lots of Old World earthiness progresses to an explosion on the mid-palate of over-the-top Australian-esque fruit bomb. A very interesting wine worth exploring given its price.

CATENA ALTA CHARDONNAY - 1999

2008-06-10T22:39:00.003-04:00

13.7% alcohol from Mendoza, Argentina

TASTING NOTES:

Golden color like a Sauternes. Butter and oak on the nose with flavors of citrus, pear, piña colada, honey and caramel apple on the finish. Somewhat oily mouthfeel yet soft with good acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

91 PTS

Elegant and structured with good complexity. A step up from the Catena Chardonnay, this wine packs more of a punch on both the aromatics and flavor profile. Retails for around $30 a bottle.

PETER LEHMANN STONEWELL SHIRAZ - 2004

2008-06-05T08:56:00.004-04:00

Peter Lehmann's special high-end Barossa Shiraz is made from the best wine of each vintage and from small old vineyards with low yields. The wine has 14.5% alcohol and was matured in 90% French and 10% American oak hogsheads for about 18 months.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark purple-red color with a somewhat subdued nose of dark cocoa, Sweet Tarts, and black fruit. Huge fruit bomb with a big tannic structure, tremendous saturation and intensity. Flavors of goji berries, cranberry/pomegranate and briary berries are mixed with charred oak and lots of fresh red plums on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

With only 300 cases imported and priced at $90 a bottle, this is purely a collector's wine. There's great power to this Shiraz and it could definitely benefit from some time in the cellar. Right now there's a bit too much alcohol on the back-end and that needs to settle down. Despite its quality, it is hard to recommend due to its high price point and the fact that there are many $25 - $40 Barossa Shirazs that do this just as well.

PETER LEHMANN MENTOR - 2004

2008-06-03T09:38:00.004-04:00

This Barossa, Australia Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented and matured in 100% French oak hogsheads and has an alcohol content of 14%.

TASTING NOTES:

Purple-black color with a pretty nose of blackberry, flowers, cassis and vanilla oak. Silky smooth, beautiful and supple with blackcurrants, charred oak and hints of baking spices underneath. On the second day, tart fresh cherries emerge on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

92+ PTS

This is a phenomenal effort. The oak is perfectly balanced. The alcohol is exceptionally integrated and almost non-existent. The tannins are just enough to make you pucker without over-drying your mouth. The feel is sleek and elegant. Reminds me of much more expensive Cabernets. My only criticism is that the mid-palate flavors are a bit simplistic. If this had a bit more complexity this wine could have been a 93 - 95 point wine. Retails for around $38 a bottle and will only get better with a few years in the cellar.

PETER LEHMANN EIGHT SONGS SHIRAZ - 2003

2008-06-01T19:15:00.006-04:00

From Barossa, Australia with 14.5% alcohol and fermented in 100% new French oak hogsheads. The name of the wine was inspired by the operatic work, "Eight Songs for Mad King," first performed in the Barossa in 1993.

TASTING NOTES:

Deep red color with rich berries, perfume/floral notes and brand new baseball card bubblegum on the nose. On the second day aromas of shaved chocolate emerge. On the palate there's lots of plum on the mid-palate, candied fruits, vanilla, hints of clove and tart cherries on the finish. Smooth and concentrated.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88+ PTS

A very good Barossa Shiraz with saturated fruit and alcohol that is kept pretty much in check. Anyone who's tasted a lot of Aussie Shiraz knows that the alcohol on these reds are often out of whack. That's not the case here although the wine is a bit sugar-shocked and leans into the fake fruit flavors a little too much for my taste. On the second day the wine is still incredibly vibrant and shows some prune and fig undertones. Retails for an expensive $38 making this a questionable recommendation.

BIO-WEINGUT H. u. M. HOFER GRUNER VELTLINER FRIEBERG - 2005

2008-05-29T11:37:00.005-04:00

12.5% alcohol Gruner from Austria

TASTING NOTES:

Pale champagne color, lots of frizzante, with wild tongue-stinging acidity that has a mouth-tickling Pop Rocks effect. Loads of pear and minerality and hints of citrus. There's ample honey and caramel on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

89 PTS

This wine packs a phenomenal sensory experience and I'm not talking about taste or smell. I'm talking about the way this wine feels. Yes, that sounds crazy, but this white has an amazing zip that you'll want to experience. I love this wine and it retails for around $13.

CLONE 5 CABERNET SAUVIGNON - 2006

2008-05-27T15:56:00.002-04:00

13.5% alcohol, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend.

TASTING NOTES:

Deep cherry-red color with a bonfire-esque nose of smoke and BBQ oak. Medium to full-bodied with licorice, vanilla and black fruit on the mid-palate and black cherry candy on the finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

87+PTS

Nowhere near as good as the 2005, but decent for $20 California Cabernet. Lacks the complexity and nuances I had hoped for.

CHALONE VINEYARD SYRAH - 2002

2008-05-20T10:40:00.002-04:00

Central Coast Syrah with 14.2% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark purple-red color with aromas and flavors of stewed prunes, raisins, black cherries, and currants. Silky smooth with nice acidity.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

89 PTS

This wine feels like it is past its prime and on the decline. The fruit is no longer vibrant although it still has a pleasant profile. Drink up if you still have this one in your cellar.

CHATEAU HENYE TOKAJI ASZU 3 PUTTONYOS - 2000

2008-05-18T20:09:00.003-04:00

14% alcohol and 500 ML bottle.

TASTING NOTES:

Light vibrant gold color with aromas and flavors of honey, apricots, petrol, charred oak, golden raisins and Toblerone caramel. Mid-level sweetness and acidity. Decent structure and finish.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

90 PTS

Light and clean without being overly sweet. Not as rich or enjoyable as the 5 or 6 Puttonyos but a solid offering for $20 a bottle.

ROBERT FOLEY VINEYARDS CHARBONO - 2005

2008-05-10T16:00:00.003-04:00

Bob Foley is a legend in Napa making wine there since 1977. Charbono is one of my favorite varietals. It is distinctively grapey with deep colors and flavors. This wine has 13.5% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Purple-black color. Aromas of green pepper, asparagus, oak, vanilla, dark ripe cherries and sweet tobacco leaf. As the wine begins to breathe aromas and flavors emerge of blue and black fruit, cherry cola, mint, pine, and hints of dusty dark chocolate. The finish is austere with high acidity, green pepper and tart cherries. Complex and complicated.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

93 PTS

As the wine opens up it really gains momentum and balance. I adore this varietal and Bob Foley is a master producing it. Retails for around $35 a bottle so it doesn't come cheap, but there is great artistry in the glass.

CHATEAU BOURGNEUF POMEROL - 2001

2008-05-07T10:08:00.002-04:00

Red Bordeaux with 13% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Deep red color with seductive smokey, toasty oak and blackberry on the nose. Gobs of blackcurrant, licorice and smoked meat. Full-bodied, rich and alluring with hints of dark red fruits underneath.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

92 PTS

Delicious! This is what I love about Bordeaux and what has me more excited about the Right Bank. Where else can you get those sexy smokey aromas? Purchased for around $25 - $30 and worth every penny.

TAMAYA CARMENERE RESERVE - 2006

2008-05-03T23:48:00.003-04:00

From Limari Valley, Chile with 13% alcohol.

TASTING NOTES:

Dark purple-red color with aromas of black currant, blackberry and charred oak. Flavors of blackberry, black currant, gobs of black licorice, BBQ-oak, and hints of cherry kirsch underneath.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

88 PTS

If you love that smokey charred oak that is the signature of red wines from Chile, then you'll appreciate this wine. A full red that is smooth on the mid-palate but shows a bit of tartness and tannin on the back end. Retails for around $13.