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Monday, December 30, 2019

2018 J.L. Quinson Côtes de Provence



Light and crisp Rosé, with distinctive summer honey meadow note in nose and taste. A bit spicy, a bit citrucy.
Was very good with sea scallops dinner.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

2017 Essere Cabernet


Interesting Cabernet. In blind tasting I would say it's Bordeaux. It's milder than ususal Cabernet. It's criticized a lot on the Web, but I liked it. Was looking for some wine to go with Tuna on Bahamas, but Bordeaux is way too expensive there (>$30). This one was quite good addition to our tuna dinner.

2018 Matua


Very typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp, dry, with specific New Zealand taste you wouldn't confuse with anything else. Was great with seafood.

2018 Berne Romance



Nice Rosè. Crisp and dry. Some honey in nose and taste. Not as good as Provence wines, but was good with fried red snapper.


2015 Anarkos



Powerful red wine from Puglia, Italy. a little bit of sugar.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

2018 Patrick Lesec Côtes du Rhône Villages



Bad. This one is distributed by Costco under Kirkland brand. Harsh alcohol smell, unrefined taste, lots of sugar. Will not buy it again.

Monday, October 21, 2019

2018 Domaine des Hunadiéres


Luberon Rosé. Interesting wine. Strong honey nose, a lot of honey in taste (like real honey was added). Some spices. Maybe 2018 Provence Rosé has some extra honey in it?
Was a great complement to sole grilled on a cedar plank.

2015 Domain du Somail



Bought it because thought it can be like Côtes du Rhône: same grapes, Mourvedre and Syrah. Not even close. Sharp alcohol smell, sour, but with some sugar. Drinkable, but I won't buy it again.
On a side note, Robert Parker gave it 90 points. Well, tastes differ, I wouldn't give it even 80.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

2018 Buti Nages




Different year, different taste. 2016 was grassy and citrusy, this one honey and spices. Still very good Rosè, more like those from Provence.
Was very good with seafood paella.

Monday, October 7, 2019

2016 Château Marjosse


Disappontment. Too much sugar, very average taste. Drinkable, but of 2016 there are better Bordeaux contenders.


2016 Château Petit Freylon



Wonerful Bordeaux. This one is sold under Costco's trademark, Kirkland. Strong taste of black currant, no sugar whatsoever, very good taste overall.
Was exceptional with arctic char pie.

Saturday, October 5, 2019

2016 Santa Cristina



Wonderful Italian wine. Spices, burnt caramel, fruits and something more, something I can't point exactly.
Was perfect with smoked salmon pizza.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

2017 Le Domaine de la Presidente



Probably the worst Côtes du Rhône I've ever tasted. A lot of sugar. Impression of a very sweet fruit drink with some alcohol in it. Not buying again, not this vintage at least.

Monday, September 23, 2019

2017 Les Hauts de la Maurelle


One of not many drinkable Côtes du Rhône of 2017. Well balanced, with a bit of sugar, but not as much as in others.
Was very good with grilled skirt steak, grilled eggplants and chantrelle mushrooms.

2016 Château Bois Redon



Very nice Bordeaux. Black currant and ripe sweet apples in the nose and taste. Well balanced.
Went great with salmon grilled on a cedar plank.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

2012 Parallèle 45



In my memory, it was a good Côtes du Rhône, at least whatever I bought long time ago, 1998, 2000, 2005. This one, not so much. It has classic Rhône wine tones, chokeberry, tobacco, old leather. But way too much sugar. Don't remember that in other 2012 Rhône wines. Won't buy again.

2018 El Coto Rosado


Tipical Spanish Rosé. Was very good with flounder dinner.

2009 Anciano Tempranillo


Very powerful, very Spanish red. Honestly, I expected more from 10 years old wine. But it's good overall and was with lamb filet dinner.

2018 l'Aurate



Nice Rosé from Sicily. Hard to describe subtle points, I was jet lagged. But it went great with cod dinner.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

2016 Château Montet




Very nice Bordeaux. Complex nose, mixed berries in taste. There is one note in the taste I couldn't place, but very nice. A bit on a lighter side.
Went perfectly well with salmon smoked on a cedar plank, grilled eggplants and vegetable salad.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

2017 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Red

Disappointment. Too sweet, too much sugar. Getting better after aerator, and even better after some time in a glass. Maybe it needs some time. Will try again later.

2017 Delas Saint Esprit

Disappointed. Too much sugar. Maybe it needs some time, I'm keeping couple of bottles for later. 

Update. Not just a disappointment, total disaster. After more than a year, tried again, not drinkable. Ended up as a cooking wine.


2016 Les Abeilles de Colombo


Disappointment. Most of 2016 Côtes du Rhône wines are pretty good. This one... There is something in it, it's kinda drinkable, some berry notes. But it all is killed by sugar. If I want a sweet wine, I'd take some dessert one. Like port or Commandaria.
Was drinkable with a grilled skirt steak. But I will not buy it again.

2018 Gobelsburg Cistercian Rosé



Very nice Rosé, nose and taste like from Provence, lots of honey, a bit of citrus and spice.
Went pretty well with seafood paella. But it's expensive in US, like all Austrian wines, and not exceptional to justify price.

Friday, July 26, 2019

2018 Fleur de Mer


Very nice, classic Rosé from Provence. All features: honey in the nose and taste, a bit of meadow smell.

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

2016 Château L'Oiseau



Another good Bordeaux from Total Wine. Multiple berries in taste, a bit on a stronger side. Just a tiny little bit of sugar.

Update: not consistent. Second bottle was somewhat rough. Got better after a while, but it's not a good quality.

Was very good with salmon grilled on a cedar plank.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Saturday, June 29, 2019

2016 Château la Rose de Vitrac



Good Bordeaux. Black currant, tannins, spice in the taste. A bit of sugar, but not much. Should be very good with grilled food.
Was excellent with grilled tuna.

Saturday, June 15, 2019

2014 Leo de Gaffellére


Classic Bordeaux. A bit spicy, a bit tangy, prominent taste of black currant. No sugar at all.
Enjoyed it with veal seared with porcini and chantrelles.

2016 Chateau David Beauleu

Great Bordeaux! Nose and taste of spices, red berries and black currant. No sugar at all. Some tannines in the taste, but subtle, not overpowering. Was great with smoked salmon and shrimp pizza


2018 Zuid Punt

Classic South African Rosé.


2017 Delor rosé

Very nice rosé Bordeaux. Subtle taste and nose, was very nice with turkey breast pan seared with wild musrooms.


2017 Joseph Castan Excellence Grenach Syrah Rosé

Very good rosé. Nose and taste of good Rhône rosé. Went pretty well with fried skate and fried potatoes.

2014 Chateau de Lafaurie-Monbadon

Very interesting Bordeaux. Tired today, can't judge nuances. Nice spicy nose, berries in taste, instead of usual for Bordeaux black currant, I feel prominent red currant. Mature wine, ages in the glass.
Was great with veal and mushroom dinner.


Saturday, March 16, 2019

Saturday, February 9, 2019

2016 H&M Hofer Zweigelt Rosé



Great Rosé! Spicy, citrucy and buttery. Slightly flowery nose in the beginning, powerful nose of wild summer flowers after wine was drunk.
Was great with seafood paella.

Saturday, February 2, 2019

2017 Château Foncrose


Second bottle from Costco Christmas box. Decent Bordeaux. Obviously not mature, even aerator doesn't help much. Might be very good in 3-4 years, but who knows.
Went good with pizza.

2016 Chianti Sagrato



A bottle from Costco Christmas box. Nothing to right about. Drinkable, but that's about it. Will not buy again.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

2014 La Reserve d'Angludet


Wonderful wine. 2014 was great in Bordeaux, and this wine is an exceptional specimen of the year. Soft, with good balance, mixed berries nose and taste.
Was a great compliment to a duck dinner.

2017 Franschhoek Cellar Rosè



South African Rosè. Never tasted bad one. Even average one. They are all good and all different. This one is very good. Slightly tart, with strong citrus note. Was very good with pan seared veal.