2008 Anakena Indo Cabernet Sauvignon

On February 26, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Indo Cabernet Sauvignon by Vina Anakena from Cachapoal Valley of Chileicon. The Indo designated wines are one of the premium levels produced by Anakena. I found this bottle for under $10. Unlike prior vintages which contained Cabernet Sauvignon – Syrah on the label, this does not. I’ve inquired with the vineyard to find out if this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and will update this post if I hear back.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark ruby red. It is a little thinner than a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon wines I have had before, so that leads me to believe there is little or no Syrah blended with it.

Aroma

Right off the bat, I can tell that this is not going to be a jammy fruit bomb so common in the New World Cabernet Sauvignons. It has notes of cedar and eucalyptus. There are also blackberry and raspberry components as it opens up more. There is a hint of bell pepper as well. Overall it makes for a quality nose.

Flavor

On the attack the blackberry transitions from the nose and then in the mid-palate the tannins are very noticeable. There are black cherries on the mid-palate and the finish consists of a sour cherry cola component along with solid tannins. This wine is definitely young. It will probably age well and be a bit more approachable in a couple of years. But one of my favorite things is the long lasting tannins on the finish. I recommend decanting it if you are drinking it soon.

Rating

This is an interesting wine. On the one hand it pleases me that it isn’t over extracted sugared up fruit, nor is it over-oaked. But on the other hand it is a bit plain. I didn’t detect a lot of flavors, but I do think it will please a lot of palates, especially if you like tannins. I rate it 85 points.

Have you tried this wine? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it and whether it was a better match for your palate.

Update: Andrés Tauber, the export manager at Anakena, was kind enough to write me back and let me know that this is a blend of 15% Syrah and 85% Cabernet Sauvignon. I really appreciate the quick customer service from Anakena. I think I will be on the lookout for that Indo Sauvignon Blanc next.

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2008 Luigi Cecchi & Figli Bonizio Sangiovese di Maremma Maremma Toscana IGT

On February 23, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Bonizio Sangiovese di Maremma from the Tuscanyicon region of Italy. This wine by Luigi Cecchi is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% other red grapes. It was purchased for under $8. I haven’t been able to find any evidence of aging in oak, nor do I know what the other 10% red grape varieties are. Do you know?

Color

In the glass this wine is surprisingly dark purple.

Aroma

There are notes of blackberry and red currant on the nose. It also exhibits aromas of cedar and a hint of oregano. Overall it is pretty tight.

Flavor

On the attack there is a flavor of raspberry which is quickly replace by cherry and then sour cherries on the mid-palate. It finishes a tiny too hot from the alcohol, but also has some mild tannins. The finish is actually quite short. The flavors are basic and are found in many Chianti wines from Italy. This will pair well with pastas and pizzas.

Rating

I found this wine to be a bit dull. For my palate it doesn’t bring a pure fruit flavor of a new world wine, nor the green rustic flavors of the old world. It instead tends to be a combination where each is watered down. But for the price it is not offensive or flawed either so it might match your palate. I rate it 82 points.

Have you tried this wine?

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2007 Torres Mas Rabell

On February 22, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Torres Mas Rabell from the Catalunya region of Spain. This wine is a traditional Mediterranean blend of half Garnacha (Grenache) and half Carinena (Carignan) grapes. It was acquired for under $9 and has been aged in oak for 6 months.

Color

In the glass it is a pretty ruby red.

Aroma

On the nose this wine exhibits a mixture of strawberry and blackberry cobbler aromas. There is also some wet compost enriched soil components and a hint of the oak. Pretty strong nose.

Flavor

On the attack there is a lot of cherry. In the mid-palate I get quite a nice flavor of the tannins and it finishes acidic with sour cherry which lingers. This is a medium bodied wine which will pair well with pork and winter vegetables. I think the dryness (astringency) and tannins of the Carignan is well balanced by the Grenache.

Rating

I think this is a food friendly wine and recommend it with a meal. I rate it 87 points.

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2009 Nobilis Vinho Verde

On February 21, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Nobilis Vinho Verde from Portugal. This “green” white wine was purchased for under $7 and comes with a screw-cap.

Color

In the glass it is a very light golden color typical of this style.

Aroma

On the nose there are excellent lemon notes combined with a fresh cool water aroma. Reminds me of cold cold tap water perhaps due to a bit of chlorine component.

Flavor

On the attack there is a lot of lemon and lime but without the sweetness of Sprite. On the mid-palate there is a bit of quinine which reminds me of tonic water. The finish exhibits grapefruit notes. Over all it is a crip light, citric acid style which pairs very well with light dishes. Nothing is negative with this Vinho Verde, nor is it complex.

Rating

I like this wine. It is exactly what I expect for its style and price. I rate it 88 points.

Did you know quinine is used to treat malaria and other diseases? Hence the “tonic” in tonic water. Wonder what this wine will help with.

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2007 Arturo Garcia Bierzo Hacienda Sael

On February 17, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Arturo Garcia Beirzo Hacienda Sael from Spain. This bottle of 100% Mencia grape based wine was purchased for under $8. It will be interesting to taste the Sael Estate’s tintobeirzo.

Color

In the glass it is a dark ruby red in color.

Aroma

On the nose there is a earthy, barnyard component at first. It is one of the strongest aromas I’ve come across in a while and could turn off some. Even for me it is a bit challenging. It is followed by fresh mint component and cherry notes.

Flavor

On the attack there are some good black cherry and strawberry flavors. The mid-palate has nice sour cherry notes and the brief finish shows mild tannins. This is a light to medium bodied wine which pairs well with garlic chicken dishes.

Rating

This is an interesting wine and will definitely do better with food. Even so it has astonishing aromas and will not match every palate. I strongly recommend decanting it to see if the aroma changes for the better. I rate it 80 points.

I’d love to hear your tasting notes as this wine is definitely different than a lot of Spanish fruit bombs.

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Wine Varietal: Carménère

On February 16, 2010, In Education, By dcpatton

The Carmenere grape is a variety originally planted in Bordeaux, France where it was known as Grande Vidure. Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, Carmenere is considered part of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux. It is an ancient grape going back to the time of the Roman Empire. It was wiped out in France by phylloxera. Today, Chile is the largest producer of Carmenere followed by Italy and the USA.

Wait a second, this isn’t Merlot!

Carmenere is Chile’s signature grape variety. It was rediscovered in 1994 where it had previously been thought to be Merlot. DNA testing has shown that it is derived from cuttings of the Grand Vidure vines taken in Bordeaux in the late 1800s. Carmenere makes up about 6 percent of Chile’s planted area.

Aromas and Flavors of Carmenere

Similar to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, I find Carmenere to be good on its own or when blended with other red wine grapes. It usually isn’t overly tannic and is approachable. I have gotten a combination of red fruit and dark fruit along with chocolate. Occasionally it shows a bit of green vegetable character. Of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux I find it to be the most like Merlot and Malbec.

What is your favorite Carmenere based wine?

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2008 Conquista Malbec

On February 12, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Conquista Malbec from the Mendoza region of Argentina. This Malbec based wine was acquired for under $9. I believe it is a blend of 88% Malbec, 6% Bonardo, 3% Shiraz and 3% Merlot. Anybody got the details? One interesting note is that Bonardo is produced more than Malbec in Mendoza. It is also known as Bonarda or Charbono.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark garnet red.

Aroma

Blackberry and strawberry mix together on the nose of this wine. I also get a refreshing peppermint component. There are also earthy, clay notes showing as well.

Flavor

On the attack there is a sweet plum flavor with blackberry and black cherry in the mid-palate. The tannins on the finish are big and last for a good length. The alcohol is kept in check and there is some vanilla too. This is a good wine to drink on its own or pair with grilled vegetables and meats.

Rating

My only complaint about this wine was that seems a bit muted and lacks acidity. But for the price I can’t complain too much. I bet it will match many readers palates well. I rate it 86 points. Have you had it?

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2006 Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Barossa Cuvée

On February 10, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Terra Barossa Cuvee by Thorn-Clarke from the Barossa region of Australia. This cuvee (a blend of grapes from different vineyards) is made of 47% Shiraz (Syrah), 29% Petit Verdot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Cabernet Franc. It was purchased for under $12. This wine was aged in oak barrels for 12 months.

Color

In the glass this wine is a gorgeous black ink color. Very dark purple.

Aroma

There is a big nose of blackberry and oak. Black currant is also present and is showing up more like creme de cassis. There is also a hint of eucalyptus and smoke from a pipe. Considering the blend I expected a little more green components, but suspect the oak is overpowering them which is too bad.

Flavor

On the attack the blackberries and black currants are strong and true. There is also a hint of the greenness such as broccoli. The fruit is definitely high quality. The mid-palate exhibits a hint of black cherries and dark chocolate. The finish is long with medium tannins and plum flavors. I also get a cigarettes and coffee note on the finish. The 14% alcohol is kept in check by the fruit. There is a bit of oak through out this palate and it doesn’t seem to add much weight or creaminess to the mouthfeel. This medium bodied wine will pair well with dark chocolate.

Rating

I think this is a good blend with some interesting aromas and flavors. I like it. I rate it 88 points.

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2005 Château De Saint Philippe

On February 8, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2005 Chateau De Saint Philippe Cotes de Castillon from the Bordeaux region of France. It was purchased for under $11. Cotes de Castillon is an AOC on the right bank region of Bordeaux where the wines are Merlot based and also contain some Cabernet Franc. I do not know the percentages for this wine. Do you?

Color

In the glass it is a dark garnet color.

Aroma

Notes of blackberry are prevalent on the nose of this wine. It also shows some black plums and a hint of raspberries. Overall a good nose.

Flavor

On the attack there is a good amount of chalky, earthiness to it. The blackberry transitions form the nose. The mid-palate has very faint notes of cherry and it finishes with mild tannins and cherries. This is a light to medium-bodied wine. Thinner than I expected, a bit simple and the fruit is too bland. It pairs well with pasta dishes and burgers.

Rating

This was a little bit disappointing. I was hoping to have found a good value from a minor AOC. I rate this 82 points.

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2008 Doulce France Vouvray Alfio Moriconi Selection

On February 7, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Doulce France Vouvray by Bougrier Depuis from France. Like most Vouvray wines, this is probably made from 100% Chenin Blanc. I acquired this bottle for under $10. Although it has Doulce (Sweet) in the name the back label declares it to be “OFF-DRY”. Vouvray wines come in sec, demi-sec (off-dry), moelleux and doux levels of sweetness with sec being the most dry. So, I am excited to try this demi-sec version.

Color

In the glass this wine is a nice pale yellow straw color.

Aroma

On the nose there is a dominate lemon component. It is accompanied by green apple and pear. There is a hint of a floral component such as lilies. Overall it comes across as fresh and showing the aromas of raw fruits. Very pleasant.

Flavor

On the attack there is peach and apple. The mid-palate has some honeydew melon in the mix and it finishes with a hint of lemon and red grapefruit. This is a sweet wine. I was a little surprised at how sweet it tastes. Not a lot of acidity but will pair well with a desert that isn’t too sweet. I am thinking of a pound cake or lemon cake.

Rating

For my palate this wine was a bit too sweet and awkward. Perhaps I need to find a sec or even a sec-sec (dry-dry) Vouvray next. I rate it 82 points.

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