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 Anakena Syrah Single Vineyard

On June 23, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Single Vineyard Syrah by Vina Anakena from the Rapel Valley of Chile. This 100% Syrah based wine can be found for around $14. It is aged for 6 months in oak. I’ve previously enjoyed the 2007 Anakena Single Vineyard Carmenere.

Color

In the glass this wine is a very dark purple in color similar to a lot of Syrah based wines.

Aroma

This wine has a good nose with lots of blackberry notes. There is also a earthy component which might stink to some but is quite nice to me. I enjoyed the aromas offered by this wine.

Flavor

On the attack there is a lot of sweet fruit. Strawberry comes first and then is followed by cherry which continues through the mid-palate. There is also a hint of mint in the mid-palate. The finish ends with a bit of pepper and smoke. It is not a bad finish. Overall the wine is medium bodied and not as dry as I would prefer.

Rating

This Anakena wine is not the best match for my palate. Considering it is one of their premium wines, I wanted a dryer wine with more herbaceous notes. Instead it was pretty simple and sweet. I rate it 85 points.

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2008 Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon

On May 28, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon from the Valle Central region of Chile. I applaud Cono Sur for their commitment to CarbonNeutral delivery of this product. This wine was purchased for under $8 and is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Syrah and 2% Carmenere. I have previously had the 2007 Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon, so it will be interesting to compare them.

Color

In the glass it is a dark purplish red color.

Aroma

There is a lot of blackberry and black currant on the nose of this wine. It is almost like a cobbler. That is to say it is very much a cooked or over ripe fruit aroma. There is a also a mint component. It is a rich full nose.

Flavor

This is definitely a fruit-forward, new world style of wine. I like the fact that it is not heavily oaked. The attack is more a mix of black and red currant. In the mid-palate I get some cherry flavors and then the finish has some minor tannins and a bit of a beef jerky note. Perhaps it is better described as a smoky note. The finish is longer than I would have expected.

Rating

For the price this is a decent everyday wine. It goes with strong flavored dishes, but for sipping on its own I find it a bit sweet for my palate. I rate it 85 points.

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2007 Almira Los Dos

On May 12, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Almira Los Dosicon from the Campo de Borja region of Spain. This wine is 85% Grenache (Granacha) and 15% Syrah and I acquired it for under $8. Los Dos or “both” is not aged in oak and is one of the signature offerings of Almira. The other is Los Dos En Barrica which is aged in oak.

Color

In the glass, the wine is a pretty red. Not super dark, but adequate.

Aroma

This wine literally takes over the room. The nose is intense with blackberries and black currant. There is also some earth components. Wet rich soil comes through. I also get some strawberries and red cherries. This is a great nose!

Flavor

On the attack, Los Dos is full of sweet fruit, but not over the top. The strawberry and red cherry flavors are there. The mid-palate is first class with a complex combination of cherries and hints of strawberry, black pepper and raspberry. The finish is very long and fruity. The tannins are soft and sweet, so drink this now. This is a medium-bodied red wine and it will pair with most cheese and meat dishes.

Rating

I highly recommend this wine. I am very impressed by the blend and style. The fruit and terroir are at their best here without any interference from oak. Great job Almira. I rate it 92 points. It also represents very good value.

If you haven’t tried this, I suggest you try it soon. If you have, what did you think of it?

My Wines Direct 6 Wines for $79, 468x60

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2007 Château de Landure Minervois

On March 19, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Chateau de Landure Minervois from France. In case you are not familiar with Minervois, it is an AOC in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region. This bottle was purchased for under $8 and is a blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre. Great labeling by the importer, Clock Tower Imports. There is a lot of value coming out of the south of France (e.g. 2008 Ropiteau Vin de Pays d’Oc Pinot Noir), so I am intrigued by this wine.

Color

In the glass this is a dark ruby color which I expect with so much Syrah and Mourvedre in the blend.

Aroma

When first poured there is quite a bit of wet dog, sulfur aroma. It quickly blows off and there is a great mix of dark and red fruit components. I get strawberries, blueberries and red cherries mixed with a cedar component.

Flavor

On the attack there is a combination of strawberries and cherries. It is quite fruity at first, then in the mid-palate the cherry remains but is subtle. The wine disappears a bit in the middle. It finishes with sour cherries and mild tannins. I also get a really nice black pepper note on the finish. If you exhale at the end you almost feel like you just put pepper on a dish while cooking. This wine is medium bodied and will pair well with food higher in fat. I think the fruit will complement it well.

Rating

I like this wine. I think it strikes a nice balance of fruit and structure. Think food friendly wine at a good price. I rate it 88 points.

Have you had this wine?

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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 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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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 Errazuriz Single Vineyard Carmenere

On January 31, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Single Vineyard Carmenereicon by Vina Errazuriz from the Don Maximiano Estate in the Aconcagua Valley of Chile. You can find some great notes on the harvesting and production of this 97% Carmenere and 3% Syrah based wine. This wine can generally be found for around $15.

Color

In the glass this wine shows excellent color of dark purple.

Aroma

The nose makes you immediately aware of the 12 months in new oak barrels that this wine was aged. It also exhibits a piney menthol note which might be some eucalyptus showing. There is good blackberry components along with a intriguing red beet aroma.

Flavor

On the attack the blackberry is dominant, followed up by sweet blueberries. The mid-palate exhibits cherry flavor with good tannins. The finish again shows some oak but also a bit too much alcohol. This wine is rated at 14.5% alcohol. The wine starts with a thick sweet nature and ends hot and dry. Quite a roller coaster on the palate. After breathing for a while, it starts to show some red fruit components such as strawberry on the mid-palate. Also of note is the length of the finish which is quite impressive. This is a big wine and will pair well with steak or blue cheese.

Rating

I enjoyed this wine, particularly after letting it open up some. It should age nicely. I rate it 89 points.

This wine has been reviewed by a lot of other bloggers and it is interesting to see what aromas and flavors they detected. How about you?

Here are some of those reviews for you to check out:

CheapWineRatings.com

A Good Time With Wine

2 Days Per Bottle

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