2014 Château la Jalgue

Interesting Bordeaux. Classic note of black currant, tannins and a subtle bitter note, usually foind in Médoc.
Was good with mahi mahi dinner.

2014 Château Senau

Graves is not my favorite Bordeaux appelation. This wine is not bad. Has strong citrus note in the nose and citrus notes in the taste as well.
Had it with desert. Not sure I want to repeat.

2014 Château Lagarere

Wonderful Bordeaux. Never seen it in US One of things to enjoy on St. Martin. Strong note of black currant followed by a subtle note of red currant after aerator.
Enjoyed it with veal liver (one more thing to enjoy here).

2015 Château la Gordonne

Good Provence rosé. Nose of a meadow on a hot July day. Taste of honey and spices.
Enjoyed with seafood paella.

Update: 2016 is as good as 2015.

2015 Resérve de Bonpas

Very nice Côtes du Rhône. Usual tones: a little cherry, chokeberry, leather. But also a strong note of black olives, quite unexpected. Would buy again.
Enjoyed it with slow cooked rabbit.

Don't know what happened. Maybe Haskell's stored it wrong, maybe wine is not consistent. But bought it a week ago and was thoroughly disappointed.

2010 Le Vieux Donjon

Best red wine I ever had. Yes, I paid $70 plus tax for a bottle. Can afford for my birthday. It worth every penny. Wine Spectator lists some notes they found in it. Robert Parker found something else. I'd say I felt everything listed in both reviews. Don't want to list here, I just enjoyed it. Try it at least once, try it before in moved to 3 digit price range (it will).
Enjoyed it with slow cooked rabbit.

2014 Marquis de Talandier

Last bottle from Costco box. And the best one. Bordeaux with a twist. It has usual Bordeaux notes: black currant, a little bit of sour cherry. Also a little bit of bitter tannin note, usually found in Medoc. But the most surprising is a strong lemon-pepper note, more pronounced after aerator and even more strong in the aftertaste.
Enjoyed it with smoked trout pizza.

2015 La Valette

From Costco box. Good, classic bordeaux. Strong black currant note, a little bit of sugar. Was pretty good with smoked salmon pizza, would be good with light meat and high end fish (salmon, tuna, mahi-mahi, swordfish)

2015 Segneur de la Tour

From Costco box. Interesting Bordeaux. A little bit light, with a complex taste. Was good with smoked salmon pizza, would be good with meat, but not with fish.

2015 Chateâu Haut Sociondo

A bottle from Costco Christmas box. Classic Bordeaux. I don't care it's Appellation d'Origine, not Appellation Controlleé. Strong black currant note, a little bit of sugar and powerful red currant note in the aftertaste.
Enjoyed it with trout pie.

2014 Delas Côtes du Rhóne

A masterpiece. I like Delas. Liked great years 2007, 2009, 2010. 2011 and 2012 were not so great, but better than many Rhone wines of the same years. Waited for 2014. The wait is over, the wine is great! Complex nose, complex taste. Being physically exausted today, couldn't catch the full palate, but main things are: berries: cherry, chokeberry and something else, can't put a finger on yet; leather, just a hint of sugar and, unexpectedly for a Rhone wine, nose and taste of a lot of flowers. No honey in the taste and nose at the same time.
Was great with veal, mushroom and potato dinner, would buy more (lots more!).

2015 Gran Passion Veneto

One more find from Costco. Good Italian wine from Veneto region. A little bit sweet, lots of fruit, berries, some leather. Was pretty good with smoked salmon pizza.
Update: sorry, it was 2015.

2016 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Noveau

Good. Maybe not great (I still remember 2003), but pretty good. Nose and taste of pear (a lot), caramelle (subtle). No banana. Enjoyed it on Nov 17 with desert.

2015 VillaViva

Nice Rosé from Côtes de Thau region. Some honey, citrus, a little strawberry in the taste. I'm glad we are getting some wines from previously unknown in US wine regions. Was pretty good with seafood paella. Would buy more.

2014 Château Francs Magnvs

Good Bordeaux. Quite typical for 2014, black currant in the taste and nose, a little bit of sugar doesn't spoil the taste. Interesting feature: this wine feels much better with food than when tasting.

Was pretty good with smoked salmon pizza.

2015 Domaine Laroque

Old friend. Remember, about 7-8 years ago this wine was available locally and I liked it a lot. Then it disappeared. Now it's here again, bought it at Surdik's. Rare species, wine made of 100% Cabernet Franc. Always interesting, always different from mainstream Cabernet and Bordeaux. A little bit spicy, a little bit of sour cherry in the taste, lots of black currant. Another feature, quite surprising. We tasted it at the shop and were told that this wine is juicy. Quite unusual characteristic of wine, hard to imagine. But then we tasted it and... agreed.

Enjoyed it with smoked salmon pizza.

2015 Marquiés de Cáceres Rosé

Surprising. I tried and liked 2014 rosé, but this one is different. There are notes which I'd expect more from Provence wines. I probably wouldn't even think it's Rioja in a blind tasting. A lot of honey in smell and taste. Overall pretty good wine.
Enjoyed it with shrimp pizza.

2011 Marquiés de Cáceres

This producer always made classic Rioja. But not this year. This one has notes unusual for Rioja. Some honey in smell and taste, a little bit on a lighter side (if you can say such thing about Rioja). Great wine nevertheless.
Enjoyed it with mutton shepherd pie.

2012 Château de Macard

I loved 2011, decided to try 2012. Well, some producers managed to make good Bordeaux that year, but this one didn't. It's not a complete waste, we managed to drink the whole bottle, but it lost distinctive features of 2011, on a sour note and too light for good Bordeaux. Will not buy again.

2012 Château Mouquet

Unexpectedly good Bordeaux from below average year. All you expect from good Claret: black currant in taste, a hint of sour cherry. Also a distinctive bitter note, which you usually expect from Medóc.
Pretty good with salmon grilled on a cedar plank.

2015 Aimé Roquesante

One more nice rosé from Povence. Nose of a blooming meadow. Honey, spices and unexpected note of licorice in the taste.
Was perfect with grilled shrimp.

2014 Les Rastellains White

One more masterpiece from this producer. I loved 2012 red (here) and 2014 Rosé (here). This white is interesting. I expected something crisp and dry, similar to Rosé, but it's completely different. Distinctive sweet note. Usually I don't like sugar in table wine, but here it was right in place, together with complex nose (like a blooming prairie on a hot summer day) and some flowery notes in the taste.
Great with grilled shrimp.

2014 Les Rastellains Rosé

I loved 2012 Les Rastellains red (here's my review). Didn't try 2014 red yet. But Rosé is great! Crisp and dry, with complex nose and smell. It was wonderful with grilled shrimp and with white fish.

2015 Domain de la Sanglière

One more good Rosé from Provence. Honey and spices in the nose and taste. Was great with grilled shrimp and fruit salad.

2015 Le Dome du Grand Bois

I like this company. Picture on the label is strange: gates and no château. But I tried 2009, 2010 and 2011 before, all were good. This one is good too. Little bit young, needs some time to breathe. Plums and a hint of chokeberry. Some other fruit, close to yellow kiwi, but I'm not sure. At first taste you think it's sweet like jam, but no, almost no sugar.
Again, very young yet. Leave it open for at least half an hour, then aerate.
Was very good with grilled veal hamburgers.

2014 Château Haut Peruguet

Was at Surdyk's yesterday, saw it. Remember 2011, it was good, so I bought half a box. I was right. This is good classic Bordeaux. Complex taste, complex nose. Notes of black currant, just a hint of sour cherry. Almost no sugar, which I like.
Enjoyed it with salmon grilled on a cedar plank.

2015 Les Ligériens

Very nice Rosé d'Anjou. Smell of a blooming prairie in the middle of hot summer day (and I mean it literally, it's hard to decompose it and I see no need). Fruity taste, with distinctive citrus note. Some sweetness, usual for Anjou wines, but not much. Feels young.
Enjoyed it with grilled shrimp, should be great for any seafood.

2014 Château Haut-Sorillon

When reviewing 2012 Haut-Sorillon, I promised a review of 2013. Well, I was wrong. Bad year everywhere. Even for Haut-Sorillon. Don't buy.
This one is a complete different matter. Better than 2012 (don't forget to aerate, it's quite young). Classic Bordeaux, the way I like it. Complex taste and nose, medium bodied. Enjoyed it with salmon, smoked on a cedar plank.

2014 Prieuré de Cénac

Nice surprise from Cahors. Before, all wines from this appellation had a strong note of an old barrel used to pickle cucumbers (hard to explain otherwise, who felt it once would never forget). Not the most unpleasant smell, but I don't like it in wine. Not in this one. Actually, I would mistake it for Bordeaux in a blind tasting. Significant black currant note, very complex nose and taste. Would buy again.
Enjoyed it with salmon grilled on a cedar plank.

2014 Château Poyanne

Might be used as cooking wine. Not drinkable at all. Sour. Huge disappointment, 2014 was a pretty good year in Bordeaux, but as usual, a lot depends on producer. Shame on this one.

2014 Château la Rose de Bren

Never thought much of Fronsac appellation. Yes, it's Bordeaux. But this one is interesting. Can't put the difference in words, can't even analyze taste and nose properly, somehow I'm not in a good shape for it today. But I'll definitely buy it again (if I can still find it at Trader Joe's).
Was a good companion to grilled veal burgers.

2012 Château dArthus

Strange feeling. Not a total loss, but I won't buy this particular wine. 2012 was not a good year in Bordeaux and there aren't many good choices from that year. This is not one of them. But I feel some potential here, mostly unrealised, but noticeable. If/when available, I'm going to buy different year (2014 would be a good choice). Waiting for World Market to bring it...
Nevertheless, this wine didn't spoil grilled swordfish dinner.

2010 Kirkland Rioja

Costco's Kirkland label means good wine for a decent price. Sometimes though, wine doesn't match my idea of it. Not this time.
Perfect Rioja. Strong, with big cherry flavor and taste. Well balanced, with just a bit of sugar. Will buy more if still available.
Enjoyed it with grilled mutton.

2011 Château de Macard

Very good Bordeaux. World Market made me happy again. First impression: it smells and tastes wrong for Bordeaux. Second impression: great! Smoky nose with some spiciness. Smoked wood, leather and just a hint of cherry in the taste. But the main thing about it, it's so well balanced that you forget about all intricacies and just enjoy it. And I enjoyed it with salmon grilled on a cedar plank. Great BBQ wine.

2014 Château Brannens

Bought it at Trader Joe's. There, you can buy great wines for cheap, or decent wines even cheaper, but sometimes you get something strange. And sometimes, total failure. This one is not a total failure, but strange it is. 2014 was a pretty good year in Bordeaux, but something depends on producer, and this one is not up to the task. And this is Graves appellation, should be something distinctive. Well, the only distinctive thing about it is a strong smell and taste of sour cherry. I don't mind this note, in moderation. But when it's like cherry juice, no. Aerator helped a bit, but not enough.
Would not but again.

2015 Pierre Cainier Rosé d'Anjou

Nice Rosé. Would buy it again, if can find it here, in US. Bought it in a small supermarket in a small Dutch city, enjoyed a lot...

2014 Caves du Fournalet

I don't remember how long I am familiar with this producer. More than 10 years for sure. Always good, always inexpensive. This release in not an exception. All notes of a good Côtes du Rhône wine: chokeberry, spices, leather, spices. A little bit of red currant, just to make it interesting. Had it with veal burgers, excellent pairing. Would be great with any red meat.

2011 Château Grivière

Very good Médoc for low price. Bought it at World Market, hope to buy more. Was surprised at first taste, it tasted like nice Bordeaux, but didn't have specific Médoc bitter note. Put it through aerator: completely different wine. Bitter note is there. with other classic Bordeaux notes: black currant, little spice. A little bit of sugar, but not enough to spoil the taste.
Was great paired with salmon grilled on a cedar plank. Would be great with any red meat as well.

2015 Grandiose

Nice Rosé. Combination of Syrah and Consult grapes is interesting. Honey, spices and herbs in nose and taste. Unfortunately, no information about producers. No appellation. Region is unknown. Zip code on the bottle points somewhere close to Spanish border, but that might be traders, not winemakers location. Anyway, enjoyed it with flounder, would be good with and seafood.

2014 Marquis d'Alban

Nice Bordeaux, a bit on a lighter side. Tried it to compare with 2015 (later about that in a different post. Wouldn't buy if better producers are available. But not much choice in the Dutch countryside. Was a good pairing for schnitzel.

2014 Les Dierres Brisées by Louis Bernard

Nice Côte du Rhône. Little bit lighter than I like. Smell and taste of a mix of red berries, with a little bit of spices. Was very good pairing for beef liver meal.

2014 Les Ligeriens' Rosé d'Anjou

Another wonderful Rosé from Anjou. Crisp, dry, with nice finish. Taste and nose are too complex and I was a little bit tired and hungry. There is a hint of honey, some citrus, and lots more.
Enjoyed it with grilled shrimp.

2012 Château Loumelat

Three weeks ago I tried 2011 Château Loumelat. It was good. But, 2011 was a good year in Bordeaux. This one, not so good. 2012 was below average, there are some good wines, but they are more exception than a rule. I don't know why it received a medal, probably I differ with Bordeaux tasters.
It's a drinkable wine. No sugar, a little bit on a lighter side. Not enough body for a good Bordeaux. Would not by again.
But, I'm waiting for 2014. That was a good year, and judging by 2011, Château Loumelat might surprise us once again.
Light as it was, went fine with grilled tuna.

2009 Château Langoiran

Good Bordeaux. First nip was disappointing: too sweet and not balanced. Aerator helped somewhat. Ten minutes late, completely different wine! Sugar gone (don't know how can it happen), good, balanced taste, classic Bordeaux. Black currant, a little spicy, just a hint of chalk.
Was pretty good with grilled salmon, wood be good with any red meat or high end fish.

2013 La Cacciatora Nero d'Avola

Love Sicilian reds. They are powerful, intensive, different from all other Italian wines. This one is not an exception. A little bit lighter than usual for Nero d'Avola, but with complex taste and nose, with strong honey aftertaste.
Was a good pairing for chicken tajine. Would be good with any meat.

2011 Château Loumelat

Nice Bordeaux. Initially I didn't think much of it. But with every swallow, it tasted better. It's on a lighter side, with strong nose and taste of black currant. A little bit of sugar. No chalk at all, I don't like it in wine.
Aerate it a lot, better yet, open at least an hour before drinking.
Went nicely with grilled marlin

2014 Belleruche Red

Looks like 2014 becoming a good, and maybe great year for Côtes du Rhône wines. Belleruche by M. Chapoutier is a kind of a standard for me. I enjoyed 2007, 2009, especially great 2010, but also 2008, 2011 and 2012. 2013 was borderline, after which I decided if Belleruche is just tolerable, everything else shouldn't have been released at all. But 2014 was a pleasant surprise. Powerful, dark, with all tones of good Rhone wine: old leather, smoked wood and chokeberry.

Great pairing for any read meat.

2011 Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles de Colombo

Wonderful Côtes du Rhône. Different, unusual. Strong nose and taste of mountain-ash. Undertones of leather and smoked wood. No sugar. No chalk. Very dark color. I don't remember where I bought it, but would buy more if still available.

Enjoyed it with smoked trout pizza.

2014 Cuvee Catherine

Very nice  Rosé d Anjou. Complex taste, with pronounced honey aftertaste. Was perfect with baked turbot.

2013 Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz - Viognier

M. Chapoutier is the biggest producer in Rhone region of France. So I was surprised to see his name on this bottle from Australia. Bought it, of course. Was pleasantly surprised. This mix is pretty unusual, but tasty. Milder than I expected, after all Australia shiraz is pretty intensive. A little bit of sugar, not much. Very complex taste, can't get all the components, but has pronounced red currant note.
Had it with mutton shepherd pie. Would be great with any red meat.

2010 Château Hanteillan

Wonderful wine. A little bit deceptive: I would never say it's Haut-Médoc, there is no distinctive Médoc bitter note in it. 2010 was a great year in Bordeaux, this wine is a proof. Very powerful, with strong taste and nose. So good, I couldn't even separate taste and nose notes. Just enjoy it if you can buy it. I bought it at Costco years ago, it's not there anymore.

Had it with smoked trout pizza, it would make meat or smoked fish dinner great!

Update 03/19/16: It's still available at Costco! Yes!!!

2014 Acantalys

Interesting Cotes Du Rhône. I wouldn't rate it as high as Delas or Belleruche, but it's different. Together with usual Grenache and Syrah, it also contains Carignan grapes, which probable makes it different. Usual notes of old leather and chokeberry, some spices, some sweetness, but not too much to spoil the taste.

Had it with grilled steak. Would go great with any read meat.

2011 Gérard Bertrand Fitou

I love Gérard Bertrand reds. The only reason they are not called Côtes du Rhône is because grapes are not grown on the approved appellation contrôlée lands. In the blind tasting, I'd never say it's not Côtes du Rhône. This one has a little sugar in it, but well balanced, with distinctive taste and nose of chokeberry, a little chalk and a lot of honey, especially in aftertaste. Smell of honey (my wife says, dark honey) is especially strong if you let an emptied glass to rest a while.
Went perfectly with smoke trout pizza. Would be great with any red meat, especially with venison.