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 Carmenere 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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2006 Veramonte Primus

On January 21, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Primus by Veramonte from Chile. This Bordeaux style blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Syrah, 17% Merlot and 16% Carmenere is available for around $20. Kudos to Veramonte for such good labeling of the varietal percentage used.

Day One

I’ve just opened this wine and let it breathe for only 30 minutes.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark purple with a dark ruby rim.

Aroma

On the nose there is quite a bit of oak at first. Next there are dark berries including black berry and mulberry components. In addition, there is a hint of strawberry. Overall it has a good nose and isn’t shy.

Flavor

Loads of oak throughout this wine. It is a bit challenging to find the flavor of the wine. It finishes a little too hot for me as well. It has a medium to full body and on the attack there is some dark cherry and black berry. The mid-palate shows some sour cherry and dry tannins. The finish is long and dominated by the oak with some herbaceous notes such as oregano and thyme. I really like the tannins. It will pair well with smoked meat and strong flavored cheese.

Rating

This wine is not a good match for my palate. I rate it 81 points.

Day Two

The wine has now been open for over 24 hours and was re-corked after Day One.

Aroma

The oak is still quite prominent on the nose of this wine. There are also good components of strawberries, black currant and blackberries. A hint of mint is also noticeable.

Flavor

Blackberries on the attack quickly replaced by black cherry. The mid palate has some nice sour cherry and the finish is really hot with a herbaceous touch. The tannins are impressive, so this wine is probably going to last for a very long time. The only really big difference from the prior day is the intensity of the cherry which has improved the flavor.

Rating

This wine is not an easy wine to drink and isn’t showing well at this stage. As such it isn’t a match for my palate. I rate it 83 points.

Summary

Although this wine improved over time, it never really became enjoyable. It is well made and has some great tannins but needs better fruit for me to really get into it.

Have you had it? If so, did it match your palate?

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2007 Montes Alpha Syrah

On January 6, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Montes Alpha Syrah from Colchagua Valley region of Chile. In the past this has been a blend of primarily Syrah with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier added. Do you know the percentage for this vintage? The Alpha line from Vina Montes has historically been one of the top premium Chilean wines. This one is usually available for under $16.

Color

In the glass it is very dark with black shade of purple.

Aroma

Loads of black currant on the nose. It is deep dark berries galore with some blackberry as well. There is also some Eucalyptus at the end. Very big nose characteristic of a powerful wine.

Flavor

The attack is full of blackberry. It is excellent quality fruit and without the sweet sugary nature of some lesser wines. The mid-palate shows more good dark fruit such as black currant, blackberry and some black cherry components. There is also a little bit of an earthy, chalky component. Then the finish lingers really long with black pepper and a smoky component. The tannins are solid as well. This is a big wine but not what I would call a fruit bomb. It is well balanced and the fruit is intense without being sweet. This will pair beautifully with steak.

Rating

I like this wine and think it is a great match for my palate. It has the dark fruit combined with black pepper spiciness that I like in a Syrah. I recommend trying it and rate it 92 points. Have you had it?

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2007 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rouge

On December 2, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux Rouge by the Perrin Family from the Rhone Valley in France. This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault was acquired for under $8. It comes in an attractive bottle with a screw-cap (yeah!) and a drawing of a rooster and a hen. It reminds me of A Year in Provence (amazon affiliate link), so I am already happy with it.

Color

In the glass it is a dark ruby red. A little darker than I expected for a Rhone Valley blend.

Aroma

There is some dark fruit on the nose at first. Blackberry is noted. I also get strawberry after a while.

Flavor

The strawberry on the attack is sweet. The mid-palate is quite strong with nice raspberry notes taking over from cherry. There is also some black pepper on the mid-palate. It finishes with licorice and smooth tannins which have a black tea flavor. It is well balanced and will pair well with food. I recommend it with chicken and pork. It isn’t quite big enough to pair well with steak.

Rating

I believe this is a decent wine for pairing with food. I rate it 88 points.

This is a widely available wine, have you tried it?

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2006 Glass Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

On November 16, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Glass Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon by Markham Vineyards in California. This is a blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Shiraz. It is aged in oak and I found it for under $6.

Color

In the glass, this wine is closer to a Pinot Noir than Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a bit thin.

Aroma

On the nose, this wine shows some blackberry and woody aromas. It also has a earthy component to it.

Flavor

The blackberry carries through from the nose to the attack on the palate. The mid-palate is pretty plain and it finishes with some oak. There is a little hint of cherries throughout. This is a very simple wine without much flavor other than oak.

Rating

I don’t recommend spending money on this wine. I rate it 75 points.

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2008 Natura Carmenere

On November 8, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Natura Carmenere by Emiliana Vineyards from Chile. The Natura line is their organic line and I found this bottle for under $10. So if it rates well, it will come on strong as a great value for an organic wine. This wine is a blend of 87% Carmenere, 4% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Tempranillo, and 1% Malbec. I’ve previously discussed this maker and tried their 2007 Walnut Crest Chardonnay, 2007 Walnut Crest Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2007 Walnut Crest Merlot.

Color

The color in the glass is very dark with a slight purple edge.

Aroma

This wine took over the room from the moment I poured it. It has a great aroma with strong blackberry and green pepper components. There is also a hint of oak.

Flavor

Great fruit on the attack. Blackberries, black cherries, and black currant are dominate. The mid-palate features some sour red cherries and vanilla. The oak shows up a little on the finish, but it isn’t over powering. This is a smooth wine which shows some good complexity. I think it would pair well with strong flavored meats and other foods.

Rating

This is a good Carmenere and I recommend it. The fact that it is organic is even better. I rate it 89 points.

Have you tried any of the other Natura wines? If so, what is your opinion?

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