2007 Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Cabernet Sauvignon Los Vascos

On February 6, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua Valley in Chile. This bottle of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was purchased for under $8.

Color

In the glass this wine is dark ruby red.

Aroma

A strong blackberry component dominates the nose. It is quite aromatic and also has some black currant, black pepper and bell pepper. Nice nose.

Flavor

On the attack there is black currant and some mild tannins. The mid-palate starts to get very green. What I mean by that is that instead of the sweet fruit of some wines, this wine shows lots of vegetables. I get asparagus, celery, turnips and even a little tomato juice. The finish shows more of the dry tannins and a bit of sour cherry. This is definitely not a fruit bomb. It is really dry and green and I like the fact that the oak treatment is not prominent, so you can taste the flavors. It is medium bodied and will pair well with pizza and pasta dishes.

Rating

I like this wine. It is unusual and you have to know your palate to determine if it is a match. If you prefer sweet, oaky, fruity Cabernet Sauvignons then avoid this wine. I rate it 87 points.

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2009 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc

On February 5, 2010, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc from the Valle Central of Chile. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc based wine was purchased for under $8 and comes attractively packaged with a Double Headed Duck engraving. This wine is not aged in oak barrels. I’ve previously reviewed the 2007 Anakena Sauvignon Blanc, so it will be interesting to compare these vintages.

Color

In the glass it is surprisingly golden for a Sauvignon Blanc that has seen no oak. Very attractive.

Aroma

On the nose there are lime and grapefruit components. It comes across as very fresh and full of citric acid notes.

Flavor

The lemon and lime shows well on the attack with more of a lemon custard component on the mid-palate which is really nice. The finish is little hot but showing good acidity and grapefruit. The flavors linger for a decent amount of time. This wine is food friendly and will pair with salads, shrimp, and lighter fish.

Rating

This is a simple but decent Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn’t have any incredibly interesting flavors that make it notable on its own, but I recommend it be consumed with a meal. I rate it 86 points.

I found this vintage to be about as pleasing as the 2007, although the flavors and aromas do vary. Have you compared vintages over time? Did you see any changes in the flavors and aromas or do you think your palate might have also changed over time?

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2007 Dominio de Eguren Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

On February 3, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Tempranillo by Eguren from Spain. This Tempranillo based wine was purchased for under $8.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark purple, but very thin.

Aroma

On the nose there is black currant and oak. There is also a licorice component and damp leaf litter from the forest floor. Not uncommon for this varietal.

Flavor

On the attack it is simple. With nothing much more that a sweet raspberry note. The mid-palate then explodes with sour cherries which hang around through the finish and are combined with smoky flavor that lingers. This is a light-bodied wine and doesn’t have many 2nd or 3rd tier flavors that bigger wines bring, but the sour cherry is very strong. It will pair well with pork and herbed chicken.

Rating

I find this wine very easy to drink and could see it working well as a food pairing during the week. I rate it 84 points.

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2008 Domaine de la Presidente Côtes du Rhône Grands Classiques

On February 2, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Cotes du Rhone Grands Classiques by Domaine de la Presidente from the Southern Rhone region of France. This Rhone blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, and 10% Carignan was purchase for under $10.

Color

In the glass it is a light, but bright ruby red.

Aroma

This is a very aromatic wine. It is bursting out of the glass and taking over the room. Strawberry and red currant are definitely present on the initial inhale. There is also a earthy clay aroma. Overall the nose has no artificial notes.

Flavor

On the attack there is a cherry component. The mid-palate has more of a sour cherry cola flavor. The finish has some mild but enjoyable tannins and a little heat, but not much else. Unfortunately, the finish does disappear quickly. This is a wine that will be at its best when consumed with food. On its own, it is just too light and simple. It will pair with pork and turkey.

Rating

For my palate, this wine is not a good match by itself. It does work with food. I rate it 80 points.

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2007 Grao Vasco Dao Tinto

On February 1, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Grao Vasco Dao Red wine from the Dao region of Portugal. This blend of Jaen, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Nacional grape varietals was acquired for under $7.

Color

In the glass it is a beautiful dark red almost turning black at times.

Aroma

On the nose there is a strong sulfur component which gives it an earthy characteristic. This is complemented by some fruit notes such as strawberry and blackberry. I also get a hint of green pepper and black pepper.

Flavor

The attack has strawberry and is sweet. The mid-palate continues with strawberry and then sour cherry starts to show. The finish is relatively quick with a bit of black cherry. This is a medium to light bodied wine and comes across as fresh. It is food friendly and will pair with many dishes, but on it’s own it is plain.

Rating

This is not a complex wine, but is easy to drink. I rate it 83 points. Have you tried it? What aroma and/or flavors did you get?

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