2004 Toscar Monastrell Reserva

On September 3, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2004 Monastrell Reserva by Salvador Proveda from Alicante, Spain. This wine is primarily, if not 100%, Mourvèdre (Monastrell) varietal and was under $11. I’ve previously tasted the 2007 Toscar Monastrell and the 2008 Toscar Monastrell. Note that this is the Reserva version so it was aged in new oak barrels for 12 months and then probably 24 months in the bottle. So, this wine is aged more than the crianza or the regular versions of their Monastrell.

Color

In the glass the age of this wine shows with just a hint of brown at the edge of the red. It is a caramel color.

Aroma

On the nose the oak is present. It is combined with a musky soil-like component and smokey aromas. It reminds me of port and has some pine notes too.

Flavor

On the attack there is a brief flash of fruits including pomegranate, cranberry, cherry and raspberry. Then the complexity of this wine starts to take over and vanilla and meaty flavors take over the mid-palate. It strongly reminds me of a dry sherry. The finish is incredibly long and complex with more smokiness and more vanilla. This medium bodied wine absolutely takes over the palate with Old World style.

Rating

I thoroughly enjoyed this wine. It was very complex and not a fruit bomb. That being said, it is a touch heavy on the oak and a little old so it isn’t for everyone. I do recommend giving it a try and think it is fairly valued. I rate it 91 points.

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2008 Chilensis Sauvignon Blanc Reserva

On September 1, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Reserva by Chilensis from the Casablanca Valley of Chile. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc based wine was acquired for under $10. This is the first wine from Chilensis (note that the link to ingles on the site doesn’t work) that I have discussed on PalateMatch, so it will be interesting to discover the aromas and flavors it is showing now.

Color

In the glass this wine is a pretty yellow straw color.

Aroma

This isn’t a very aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. I only can detect limited aromas of lemon and grapefruit even when warmed up.

Flavor

On the palate this wine is quite thick for a Sauvignon Blanc. The weight is heavy and reminds me of a Chardonnay. Perhaps it is a bit old? On the attack it is showing some lime components and it transitions to lemon on the finish. In the mid-palate there is some sweetness similar to white grape juice.

Rating

For my palate this Sauvignon Blanc is not the best match. It may work well if you prefer a Sauvignon Blanc that is heavy and sweet. I rate it 83 points.

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2009 Gazela Vinho Verde

On August 24, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Gazela Vinho Verde by Sogrape Vinhos from Portugal. This blend of Loureiro, Pedernã, Trajadura and Azal grape varieties was purchased for under $8.

Color

Extremely light in color. Almost clear with a hint of yellow.

Aroma

Not the most aromatic Vinho Verde, even after warming it up. I detect aromas of grapefruit and lemon which lead it to give a impression of freshness.

Flavor

On the palate there is an attack of lime which clearly changes over to lemon in the mid-palate. The finish turns even more sour with a passion-fruit component. There is only a small amount of bubbles in this wine. Overall it is really zesty and the strong acidity pairs with appropriate foods.

Rating

I really enjoyed this wine and recommend it as a light refreshing wine with lots of citrus. Plus at 9% alcohol, it can be consumed more freely on a hot day or night. I rate it 88 points.

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2008 Anakena Indo Carmenere

On August 22, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Indo Carmenere by Vina Anakena from the Cachapoal Valley in Chile. This 100% Carmenere based wine was purchased for under $11. I’ve previously tried both the 2009 Anakena Indo Sauvignon Blanc and the 2008 Anakena Indo Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Color

In the glass this is a medium ruby red.

Aroma

On the nose there is a hint of dirt. It isn’t a strong earthy wine though. There is also blackberry aromas and a big eucalyptus component. The eucalyptus is so strong that it clears the sinuses when you get way into the glass after swirling. Definitely distinctive.

Flavor

On the attack there is some dark cherry flavor which leads to red currant and a hint of chocolate on the mid-palate. The finish shows some cedar notes. This wine is a little hot on the finish for me. Overall it improves after breathing as the fruit begins to show more.

Rating

This wine was a lighter bodied Carmenere than some others. It was decent and I rate it 86 points. However, for my palate, I think there are better matches for this price range. What about you?

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2009 Natura Carmenere

On August 17, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Natura Carmenere by Emiliana Vineyards from the Colchagua Valley in Chile. The Natura line is their organic line and I found this bottle for under $10. I’ve previously tasted the 2008 Natura Carmenere which I recommended. This wine is a blend of 87% Carmenère, 4% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Tempranillo, and 1% Malbec.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark garnet red.

Aroma

The nose of this wine is very green. It reminds me of plants in wet dirt. It has a lot of mint and pine notes. Although there are no sweet fruit aromas, it does show some blackberry.

Flavor

On the palate this wine is remarkable smooth. The attack has black cherry and black plum notes. The mid palate shows some sour cherry components and the long finish is a combination of cloves and a smokey flavor with mild tannins. The wine has a decent weight and could pair well with dark chocolate.

Rating

I enjoyed this Carmenere and recommend it as a great dry wine without strong tannins (no puckering potential). I rate it 90 points.

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2009 La Vieille Ferme (Perrin & Fils) Côtes du Ventoux Rosé

On July 28, 2010, In Rose, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 La Vieille Ferme Roseicon from the Cotes du Ventoux in France. This blend of Grenache and Cinsault grapes was purchased for under $7.

Color

Darker in color than some other Rose wines. It is a slightly metallic pink.

Aroma

On the nose I detect a strong floral note. It shows rose petals along with a hint of minerals. There are fruit components including guava and strawberry. Overall it is a weak nose and I had to work hard to find those aromas.

Flavor

The palate is also not very exciting. There are flavors of cherry and strawberry on the attack and mid-palate. It finishes with a note of honeysuckle. This wine is a dry wine which will help it pair well with salads and other lighter dishes

Rating

For my palate, this wine is definitely not a match. I tried it warm and chilled. Both ways, I found it to be too bland. I rate it 75 points.

Have you tried this wine? I am sure others like it more than I do and that is great that it is in tune with their palate. Anyone recommend a dry rose with a bit more flavor and aroma?

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2009 Maipe Malbec

On July 25, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Maipe Malbec from Proviva S.R.L. in Mendoza, Argentina. This 100% Malbec wine was purchased for under $9 and is partially aged (10%) in oak for 3 months. I previously have tasted the 2008 Maipe Malbec and I really liked the complexity on the palate.

Color

In the glass this wine is an attractive dark purple in color.

Aroma

I love the strong nose of this wine. It has some funky earthy notes when first opened. After breathing there are notes of raspberry and mint showing. Solid nose of a Malbec.

Flavor

The palate starts with a sweet attack of raspberry and blackberry. This is followed by black cherry on the mid-palate with a great cherry note in the 3rd quarter. It finishes just a tad hot with some red fruit. I don’t find this wine to be oaky and I enjoyed the finish. The tannins are mild, but the fruit doesn’t come across as a heavy syrup style. I found it to be a medium bodied wine. Although it doesn’t strike me as being a complete fruit bomb, this wine is certainly New World.

Rating

I enjoyed this wine and recommend it as an easy to drink red wine with some complexity. I rate it 89 points.

Have you tried it? What flavors and aromas did you detect? Interestingly, I didn’t enjoy the 2009 as much as when I tried the 2008 in the past. I don’t believe the vintages differed that much, so I suspect my palate is changing. Have you noted any change in your palate through the years?

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2007 Haras de Pirque Cabernet Sauvignon

On July 14, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Haras estate Cabernet Sauvignon by Vina Haras from the Maipo Valley of Chile. This wine is made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% Syrah, and 1.5 % Cabernet Franc grapes. It was purchased for under $10. It was aged for 12 months in oak barrels.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark garnet in color. It seems a bit darker than others, perhaps due to the Syrah.

Aroma

There is a raspberry component on the nose combined with a bit of mint. I also detect the oak as a cedar note. However the fruit on the nose is quite strong and so the oak is kept in check.

Flavor

On the attack this wine is not the fruit bomb the nose led me to expect. There are some blackberry notes at the beginning but then the mid-palate is good with vegetable components which I appreciate. The finish has a nice length and shows some sour cherry and dark chocolate. Although the alcohol level is high this wine is not hot and remains relatively smooth throughout. It should complement bold food well. It is medium-bodied.

Rating

I like this Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a solid wine and really works well if you are looking for a dry wine. I rate it 88 points.

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2008 Hacienda Araucano (Lurton) Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva

On July 13, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Hacienda Araucano Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon from Valle de Colchagua in Chile. This Cabernet Sauvignon based wine was purchased for under $11. The Araucano is a very interesting tree in Chile and let’s hope this wine is as interesting.

Color

In the glass this wine is a medium garnet red in color.

Aroma

On the nose this wine exhibits a very good earthy component combined with ripe blackberry notes. In addition there is a hint of cloves and some cedar. Not a bad nose but it definitely indicates a New World style.

Flavor

On the attack I detect lots of dark cherry notes which are quite sweet. The mid-palate has some sour cherry joining the sweet fruit and the finish is long with medium tannins. I found the finish to be a little too hot. Considering that this wine is 13.5% alcohol, I would have expected the fruit to keep the heat in check.

Rating

This Cabernet Sauvignon was not a good match for me and I believe there are better choices at this price range. I found the fruit to be too simple, sweet and syrupy for me. I rate it 84 points.

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2007 Anakena Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard

On June 29, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Anakena Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rapel Valley of Chile. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon based wine was acquired for under $10 and is aged in oak for a year. I’ve previously really enjoyed the 2007 Anakena Cabernet Sauvignon so it will be interesting to see how this Single Vineyard version fairs.

Color

In the glass this is a thin for a Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a ruby red.

Aroma

On the nose this wine initially has a great earthy note. It is really strong and reminds me of soil freshly fertilized with manure. After a while it blows off and then black plum and blackberry components show well. There is also a hint of mint which I detect after the wine has been breathing in the glass. Overall it is a good nose.

Flavor

On the attack there are sweet black fruits such as blackberry and black currant. It isn’t too sweet though and the wine is a medium-bodied style such that it isn’t over syrupy. There is a blueberry note in the mid-palate and the finish shows some mild tannins. Despite the aging in oak, no oak is detected. The flavors of this wine tend toward the New World fruit style with little of the Old World vegetable style. I don’t get any chocolate such as some Cabernet Sauvignon shows.

Rating

I found this wine to be standard and without any remarkable deficiencies or merits. I rate it 87 points.

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