Roundup of this week's wine reviews (21 August 2013)

From a bunch of playful and fun Old World whites (Pinot Grigio, Vinho Verde, Viura and other exotic-sounding varietals) to some seriously serious Burgundies that bring out the best in your roast duck, check out what our resident wino has been drinking...sorry, tasting.

Pasqua Collezione Pinot Grigio Garganega 2011
Valpolicella, Italy
Main varietal: Pinot Grigio, Garganega
Ratings: 3 stars (out of 5); 89pts (out of 100)

Round and pleasant.


Casca Douro Monte Cascas Colheita Vinho Verde 2010
Portugal
Main varietal: Vinho Verde
Ratings: 2.5 stars; 86pts

The nose is not clean but the palate has considerable presence. Complex notes. Good food wine.


MontGras Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Rapel Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 3 stars; 89pts

Pleasant cassis with a hint of complexity. Some presence.


Santa Rita Medalla Real Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Maipo Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

A classy presentation with layered cassis and restrained complimentary green notes.


Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 1999
Langhe, Piemonte, Italy
Main varietal: Nebbiolo
Ratings: 4.5 stars

Rich, fine-grained tannins accord a serious backbone to this layered and complex treat. The wine took about 30 minutes to blossom and occasionally hinted at some oxidation, but all is forgiven as it took on and enhanced a homemade quatro formaggio (four cheeses) pasta.


Pinol Nuestra Señora Del Portal Blanco 2011
Tarragona, Spain
Main varietal: Garnaxta / Garnacha
Ratings: 3 stars; 88pts

Floral and green apple notes. Well-balanced and decently persistent.


Marqués de Cáceres Blanco Barrica 2011
La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Viura
Ratings: 2 stars; 83ps

Pleasant but fairly nondescript.


Carlos Serres Viura 2010
La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Viura
Ratings: 2 stars; 80pts

Some basic citrus notes. Simple.


Marqués de Cáceres Crianza 2009
La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Tempranillo
Ratings: 2.5 stars; 87pts

Soft cherry flavours with a mild hint of vanilla. Good balance, some persistence.


Santa Luz Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2010
Chile
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 88pts

Clean pinot cherry notes and nice layering with dark fruit flavors and some green notes adding to the complexity. However, it lacks structure and acidity somewhat. Could have been better last year.


Ponsot Morey Saint Denis Cuvée des Grives 2001
Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars

The initial Burgundy stink promised to behold some hidden delights and boy did they unfold! Great depth obvious from go. Complex secondary notes unfold through layers. The fruit is somewhat understated, but this is forgivable given its complexity and depth.


Palliser Estate Martinborough Chardonnay 2009
Martinborough, Wairarapa, New Zealand
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Intense and minerally. Hint of butterscotch over pears.


Château de Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone White Le Poste 2009
Southern Rhone, France
Main varietal: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Picpoul
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Great breadth and nice complexity.


Robert Chevillon Les Vaucrains Nuits-Saint-Georges 2001
Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Drinks from go with complex yet clean pinot fruit, lined softly with secondary notes and supported by a bed of minerality. Went beautifully with roasted, smoked duck breast, and with roasted duck.


Domaine Faiveley Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru 1995
Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 93pts

Deep and complex pinot cherry notes ooze and seduce from this brooding Burgundy. Not shy, this one has aged and is drinking well.


Central Otago Pinot Noir Gold River 2008
Central Otago, New Zealand
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

A very pleasing pinot. Open from go with a hint of secondaries showing later. Would not cellar much longer. Fleshy with savory notes and a hint of minerality nicely balancing this offering.

18 August i-1-wine journey (I WANT WINE!): As storm clouds brew

Our arriving wine journey participants glance nervously at the gathering clouds, wondering perhaps if they should have opted for the No. 1 Malaysian activity on a rainy day - sleep.

Greeted by our usual array of tasting glasses and decanters though, they are soothed and even start to look forward to the private wine cellar tour that marks the initiation into this very private and exclusive of clubs: the KL wine lover.

Then the class starts in earnest! What are single varietals vs blends? How to recognise a wine fault? Is there a spicy edge to Chilean wines that's a distinguishing characteristic? How to go about organising a visit to a wine region? Are all wineries open to visitors, even the prestigious chateaux? How to open a bottle of bubbly? What is an "Ah-so" and how to use one? How to decipher those darned Italian wine labels? We discuss all these and more till the angry skies thunder us a warning and strongly hint that we should be moving onto the tasting.

A 9th bonus wine is added to the growing list of wines we taste, and soon our participants lose their initial shyness and reserve, getting into heated discussions of the flavours they smell and taste in their wines. The spittoons are seen as merely decorative items, and we're pleasantly surprised that none of the shiny glasses ends up in shards on the floor.

As dinner-time draws near and the storm clouds all spent, we proudly pat ourselves on the back to have swirled, smelled, tasted and debated the following wines:

• Nederburg Brut Sparkling Wine N.V., South Africa
• Pasqua Pinot Grigio Garganega 2011, Italy
• Ohau Gravels Pinot Gris 2011, New Zealand
• Santa Luz Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Chile
• Marqués de Cáceres Blanco 2011, Rioja, Spain
• La Forge Estate Syrah 2010, Pays d'Oc, France
• Manzoni Barbera D'Alba, Piedmont, Italy
• Fleur du Cap Merlot 2009, South Africa
• Carlos Serres Reserva 2005, Rioja, Spain

Roundup of this week's wine reviews (14 August 2013)

From a couple of delightfully fresh Sauvignon Blancs to some seriously plush and mocha-textured Pomerols and other Bordeaux blends, we certainly traverse the world with this week's set of wines.


MontGras Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Central Valley, Chile
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Ratings: 3.5 stars (out of 5); 90pts (out of 100)

Capsicum and grass notes. Some sweetish floral notes and complexity. Mid-weighted and well-balanced. Not aggressive on the palate and quite pleasurable.


Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Tygerberg, South Africa
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Good presence with the usual sauvignon blanc pungency albeit a bit more perfumed than most. Good balance and persistence.


Legras & Haas Cuvée Prestige Exigence N.V.
Champagne, France
Main varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

This bottle has further aged. Nice biscuit and lees notes with great persistence.


Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1998
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Ratings: 5 stars; 95pts

Complex and balanced New World expression of a Cabernet blend. My highest scoring and favourite South African wine to date. Still extremely youthful. Cassis with wafting hints of smoke, blueberries, vanilla and secondary notes. Incredible texture and layering.


Juniper Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Margaret River, Australia
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

Brooding cassis and fruitcake notes. However, it is so tight that a decanter or better still a few more years would be required to allow this wine to optimise.


Château Le Bon Pasteur Pomerol 1998
Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 93pts

Very youthful in appearance and on the palate. However, it quickly evolves to show more mature notes. Rich mocha over cassis nose. Hint of cedar and fruitcake. Continually evolving. Tannins and mouthfeel a bit drying so not what I'd expect or enjoy in an older Pomerol.


La Gravette de Certan Pomerol 2007
Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

Cassis over mocha with a hint of soya and other savoury stuff. Seductive on the nose. The palate is a bit disappointing initially, but subsequently develops weight and presence and length. Yummy.


Château Petit-Village Pomerol 2008
Pomerol, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

This is a big boy! Cassis and fruitcake notes with cedar, tobacco and a whole host of other nuances. Great complexity and persistence.


Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Merlot 2009
Tygerberg, South Africa
Main varietal: Merlot
Ratings: 4 stars; 90pts

Mulberry cassis and mint. Good layering and depth. Nice length.


Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2008
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Main varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 89pts

Good structure but fruit and other notes are rather shy.


Orlando Lawson's Dry Hills White Label Pinot Noir 2010
South Island, Australia
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Clean pinot strawberry notes with nice pinot spice slowly pitching into the offering.


Norte de Espana Rioja Cune Reserva 2008
La Rioja, Spain
Main varietal: Tempranillo
Ratings: 3 stars; 90ts

Mellow cherry-like notes with a hint of orange. Soft tannins and very palatable.


Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2011
Barossa, Australia
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 2.5 stars; 88pts

Green apples and a hint of vanilla.


TerraVin Marlborough Te Ahu Pinot Noir 2009
Malborough, New Zealand
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 91pts

Drinking straight from the bottle displaying pretty raspberry notes with subtle spice complexity.


Morgenhof Merlot Reserve 2001
Coastal Region, South Africa
Main varietal: Merlot
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

12 years old and fresh as a daisy! Inky deep layered cassis and blackberry notes. Superbly textured. Re-tasted this 3 days later and still marvelous! This will last another 12 years but is drinking at its very best today.

Roundup of this week's wine reviews (7 August 2013)

It was a heady Burgundy week, with many lovely and pinot spiced samples tasted. In conjunction with our South Africa tasting on 2 Aug, some promising wines from the country as well as some old champagne (Krug!!) and a Bordeaux round up our wines for the week.


Nederburg Premiere Cuvee Brut N.V.
Western Cape, South Africa
Main varietal: Cape Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Colombard
Ratings: 3.5 stars (out of 5); 91pts (out of 100)

Biscuity nose with fruity/citrus undertones followed by fresh palate with good vibrancy and persistency. Some quince-nectarine notes and complexity.


Cloof Pinotage 2005
Darling, South Africa
Main varietal: Pinotage
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 92pts

Ripe plum and other dark stone fruit. Good and layered depth. Age has softened the acidity and tannins and the wine can appear almost flaccid. Overall though, quite rich and attractive.


Robertson Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Robertson Wine Valley, South Africa
Main varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Ratings: 3 stars; 89pts

Floral wafts with citrus and gooseberry notes. Less crisp for a Sauvignon Blanc but still very palatable.


Robertson South Africa Limited Release Chardonnay 2012

Robertson Wine Valley, South Africa
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Ratings: 3 stars; 89pts

Ripe peach over a hint of butterscotch, vanilla and toast. Nice vibrancy but otherwise quite average overall.


Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavières, Savigny-Les-Beaune 1er Cru 2009
Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot noir
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 90pts

Expressive pinot fruit notes over a mineral backbone. More prowess and depth expected for the vintage though.


Domaine des Chezeaux Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes 2001
Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot noir
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

Wonderful perfume and complexity. Initially grainy but the nose and palate get cleaner with time.


Château Fleur Cardinale 2008
Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Merlot
Ratings: 4 stars; 92pts

A 2-hour decant revealed a robust textbook Bordeaux with great balance for an "off" vintage.


Krug Champagne Brut N.V.
Champagne, France
Main varietal: Pinot noir, Chardonnay
Ratings: 5 stars; 95pts

Ethereal balance, sublime ageing. Fresh and soft at the same time, complex potpourri of citrus, floral perfume and biscuit notes.


Anne Gros Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru Le Grand Maupertui 2001
Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot noir
Ratings: 4.5 stars; 94pts

Clean modern depiction of Burgundy. Heady, seductive, weighty and deep. On first pour, it appears to lack the horizontal spectrum and savory notes of a great Burgundy, but on subsequent pours the pinot spice emerged, quite impressively.


Louis Jadot Corton-Pougets Grand Cru 1996
Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot noir
Ratings: 4 stars

Savory pinot notes on a well-aged example, drinking at what I feel is slightly past optimum maturity for this wine at years of age. Was worried it was over the hill when initially opened, as fruit was repressed and shy. Good structure, enough persistence and overall nice.


Mommessin Clos de Tart Grand Cru 2004
Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot noir
Ratings: 4.3 stars; 94pts

Pinot spice bursts forth from this wine as soon as it leaves the bottle. Still purplish and so powerful.

Roundup of this week's wine reviews (31 July 2013)

South African wines galore, as we prepare for Wine Daddy's Tutored Tasting on 2 August. For more info, check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/WineDaddy

Bellevue Estate Morkel Pinotage 2001
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Main varietal: Pinotage
Ratings: 4 stars (out of 5); 92pts (out of 100)

Cassis and complex berry jam on toast with a hint of vanilla. Blueberry and cream with raspberry, occasionally peaking out. Lovely mouthfeel with good persistence.


Fleur Du Cap Bergkelder Selection Merlot 2009
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Main varietal: Merlot
Ratings: 3.5 stars; 91pts

Initial musty cassis gives way to scented mulberry and plum notes. Vibrant and persistent palate.


Fleur Du Cap Bergkelder Selection Pinotage 2009
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Main varietal: Pinotage
Ratings: 3 stars; 89pts

Blackberry with a hint of smokey vanilla. Juicy texture.

Roundup of this week's wine reviews (24 July 2013)

"A heady and seductive note..." - Read on to discover which heavenly grape juice I'm describing!


Chandon de Briailles Les Vergelesses, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru 2005
Burgundy, France
Main varietal: Pinot Noir
Rating: 3 stars (out of 5); 90 pts (out of 100)

A basic burgundy. Nice savory notes, balanced fruit and spice. Great with food.


William Fevre Chablis Premier Cru Fourchaume 2007
Chablis, France
Main Varietal: Chardonnay
Rating: 4.1 stars; 93pts

Powerful and focused. Great complexity. Perfectly aged. Fig and pear notes on a soft mineral bed. Great with food.


Château de L'Estang Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux 2005
Libournais, Bordeaux, France
Main varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Rating: 4.2 stars; 92pts

Good cassis over mineral presentation. Nice intensity with good complexity as well. Well-balanced with medium length.


Capel Vale Margaret River Chardonnay 2011
Margaret River, Western Australia
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Rating: 3.3 stars; 91pts

Initially oak notes stick out in an unattractive manner. This quietens down to show a reference to New World Chardonnay with balanced fruit (peach and nectarine), minerality, good depth and intense yet restrained fruit. Slightly reductive? Needs two years to show better.


Taylors Estate Chardonnay 2010
Clare Valley, South Australia
Main varietal: Chardonnay
Rating: 3 stars; 91pts

Clean pear and peach notes on a bed of butterscotch, not shy. Drank well even after a week in the fridge.


Fanti Brunello di Montalcino 2007
Montalcino, Italy
Main varietal: Sangiovese
Rating: 4.2 stars; 94pts

A heady and seductive nose which follows onto a palate with great balance and acidity. Complex cherry with hints of fig, compote and nuts. Elegance personified. Quietly persistent, patiently passionate.


E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône 2007
Southern Rhone, France
Main varietal: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre
Rating: 3.6 stars; 90pts

A real brooder for a generic. Still needs hours to open up even given that this bottle is 6 harvests past. Dark stone fruit with complexity beyond its pedigree. Nice evolution but can be frustrating for those who lack the time to listen to what this wine has to say.