Tuesday, December 20, 2005
GPCI - Personal tasting notes (MORE every week)
In this column, I'll share some of my latest personal tasting notes.
Please remember, this is my presonal humble opinion. YOU can best judge the taste you like when tasting wines... As a reference, here are he GPCI scale/score (I'll move to 100 scale in the future):
1 / 5 - poor - not my type
2 / 5 - poor to average (ok) - not exciting enough
3 / 5 - average to good
4 / 5 - good to very-good
5 / 5 - excellent / WOW !
1994 Faustino 1, Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain - US$45 (3 years ago)
GPCI - 4 / 5
The Temparnillo grape after many years is so unique and wonderful.
If you have the opportuinty to drink this wine (the 1995 is released on Feb 18, 2006), don't expect the fruitiness found in young "new-world" wines - the 1994 Faustino is all about elegance and balance. Search for perfect integration of the flavors: the oak, the vanilla, lots of leather and a perfume like bouquet.
A 12 years Spanish wine, that can lay down for 3-5 more in the cellar.
2003 Malivoire Old Vines Foch, Limited Edition, Canada - $24GPCI - 4.5 / 5
Only 108 cases were produced.
This wine is all about balance and elegance. Outstanding !
It has bright clean red-purple color with a pink-light-red rim. The oak is well integrated with a mixture of exotic wild flowers and hints of leather. The taste... oh, well, here is Foch at its best - Very smooth with a combination of ripen fruit with blueberries and strawberries. An after taste of liquorish and hints of tar. Excellent long finish - inviting you to try more...
It is ready to drink now but can lay down for 3-5 years more.
1999 Chateau Gaillard, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, France - ~$30GPCI - 3.5 / 5
1999 wasn't the best year in this side of the river. A surprising good Merlot-based wine. Dark purple color. Full body. Thick texture. Complex flavors, hints of dark chocolate but a little bit green and bitter at the finish - needs more time in the cellar (at least 4 years).
2003 Vina Casas del Bosque, Reserve, Chardonnay, Chile - $14.95GPCI - 4/5
a great value Chardonnay. nice yellow-brown colour, right balance of oak. a very smooth texture - butter-oily.
I loved it when it was chilled.
Went beautifully with seafood alfredo-pasta.
it can be drank now or sit for 1-2 years.
2000 Rosso Del Conte, Sicily, Italy - $40+GPCI - 4/5 ; WE - 91
a powerful (15%) red from Sicly.
Made from 90% Nero d'Avola and 10% Perricone grapes.
lots of berries and cherries (tastes dark). long balanced finish.
Drink now or until 2010.
2000 Hewitson, Barossa Shiraz - $30+GPCI - 4.5/5 ; WS - 88 ; RP - 90
This is what Shiraz is all about: complex, dark flavors of blackberry, licorice and aniseed dominate. The texture is silky-inky.
Long lasting finish. Loved it !
Can lay down until 2010+
2001 Ottimino, Von Weidlich Vineyard, Zinfandel, California - a present GPCI - 4.5 / 5
Now, maybe because we had it after the disappointing Cote Rotie (see below), but this wine definitely met the expectations of an intense and powerful Zin (14.8%).
Very smooth, young (can lay down for additional 2-3 years), complex. Layers of cherries, plums, liquorish, dark chocolate and a hint of vanilla. An after taste that makes you want more...
Excellent wine with beef. Thanks a lot John M!!!
1995 Cote Rotie E.A.R.L Jasmin, France - $95GPCI - 2.5 /5
Disappointing for such a Cote Rotie ($). I was expecting intense and complexity like the Syrah from this part of the Rhone provides. Instead it was light-medium body, lacked finish (dissolved too quickly). moldy and musty smell even after 90 minutes. May need a longer decanting process. May lay down for few more years.
2004 Cotes Du Rhone, Antonin Rodet, FranceGPCI - 3.5 / 5
We had it in a Chanuka party with friends. I'm guessing it costs in the $15-$20 range, which is a good value Cotes Du Rhone.
Dark ink colour. meduim body. Fruit and spice - the Syrah is well noticed with its pepper. The tannins are a bit strong at this stage. I believe it will benefit from laying down for 2-3 years.
Very good young wine from an excellent producer (Antonin Rodet).
1999 Torres, Mas La Plana, Cab Sauv, Spain (Penedes) - $ 39.95GPCI score - 5 / 5
absolutely wonderful! Cab Sauv at its best!
it's pefectly balanced - dark-black-purple colour. smooth tannins, round and silky texture. the right amount of oak and a long finish (more than 20 sec).
the taste of quality ! drink now until 2010.
2000 Mitchell, The Growers, Grenache, Australia - was ~$ 20
GPCI score - 3 / 5
Brownish color (more than expected from a 5-6 years old wine). Sweet-bitter on the palate. vanilla. a bit alcoholic - lack balance. needs a long decanting. The second day was significanly better - more fruit, less traces of alcohol. reminds me of a Cote du Rhone Village but lacks the spice and complexity some 0f the wines in the Rhone have.
Drink now.
2002 Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Australia - was $ 19.95
GPCI score - 4 / 5
close your eyes, take a sip and think cherry jam - that's what you get from this lovely Shiraz from Wynns. They've never failed before and with the 2002 great vintage they provide us this smooth, smokie, full body wine.
Drink now to 2008+
1997 Amarone Della Valpolicella Aldegheri, Italy - was $ 49.95
GPCI score - 5 / 5
An unbelievable Amarone! WOW is the best way to describe it. Dark deep purple color, with hints of liquorish and prunes. After more than 3 hours in a decanter, it was an intense, fat, powerful, full body, port-like wine with long finish that just doesn't want to let go. Drink now until 2010.
2001 Merlot Reserve, Peninsula Ridge, ON, Canada - was $ 36
GPCI score - 4 / 5
A very good Merlot. A bit expensive. However, since this wine can be cellared for 10-12 years, it has a good GPCI.
Complex, medium-full body. Hints of dark chocolate, flowers. After 2.5 hours in the decanter, the presence of the tannins is still strong. Will definitely reward from additional 3-5 years in the cellar.
2002 EXP, Syrah, California - $ 19.95
GPCI score - 4 / 5
The very artistic-modern label caught my eyes. A very good Californian Syrah for a great price. It's a medium-full body. Expect vanilla, pepper, spice, black berry, smoke and a bit of oak. Drink now - 2007.
1996 Laguna de la Nava, Gran Reserva, Argentina - was $ 16
GPCI score - 4 / 5
I opened it for my wife's b-day because of the similarity to her name (Nava).
What a treat... So smooth, round and elegant. Lot's of red berries, leather and herbs. Very Bordeaux-like, not so similar to other Spanish/Rioja I've tasted before. Needs decanting for at least 1.5-2 hours.
Drink now until 2010. Great wine and amazing value!
2000 "Heritage" des Caves des Papes, Cote-du-Rhone, France - $ 15.10
GPCI score - 3.5 / 5
Great value for a lighter version of Cote-du-Rhone. Light to medium body, balanced, shares elegancy of fruit. Needed some time to open up. Slightly oakie. short-medium fininsh. goes well with Chicken. Drink now 2007.
2002 Famiglia Bianchi, Malbec, Argentina - was $15.95
GPCI score - 4 / 5
Malbec at its best. great value. if you like oak and smokie (Salami) taste, this is for you. Full body, complex, lots of berry fruits, clean, balanced and smooth tannins. really good.
will go well with chicken or steak. now to 2008.
2003 Penfolds, Bin 2, Shiraz (81%) Mourvedre' (19%), Australia - was $19.95
GPCI score - 4.5 / 5
What a great wine. This is what you should expect from a Shiraz blend wine. The combination between the Shiraz and the Mourvedre' grapes is excellent. The Mourvedre' adds spicy and meaty taste.
It's a complex-dark-ruby wine. very interagted and balanced. Multi layers of black berries, leather, liquorish and scent of flowers. Very soft tannins. midium finish. Great as a drink alone wine and could be nice with a steak or blue cheese. Drink now to 2008.
2001 Reserve Cabernet
Heritage Road Bethany Creek Vineyards, Australia - was $19.95
GPCI score - 3 / 5
A relatively lighter than usual Australian Reserve Cabernet. Assuming the wine was in barrels for few months (that's why they probably called it reserve, right?), it lacks some of the complexity and oak one would expect.
The back lable implies it is a full body- intense wine which I have to I admit didn't find. The taste left my plate a bit too early. The wine has a dark ruby color that somehow doesn't match the relatively simple/one dimension taste. It's a nice, elegant, balanced red for the summer. Drink now.
2001 Reserve Shiraz Heritage Road Old Mundulla Vineyards, Australia - was $19.95
GPCI score - 3.5 / 5
A good Shiraz. Taste "black" (in a good way...). Sense of oak, vanilla, black berries. a bit bitter after-taste. Medium-full body. Medium length finish. compare to other Australian Shiraz, it lacks the "chewy" texture - it's like the difference between drinking yogurt vs. drinking milk; this wine is like the latter compare to other shiraz that are more silky and mouthful. Drink now until 2007.
2000 'Mamre Brook' Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Saltram Wine Estate, Australia - was $19.95
Winepros - 90 ; now-2010. GPCI score - 4 / 5
A very good Shiraz.
An intense, full body, round, complex red which extracts the most out of this grape. long finish. Lot's of dark berry (almost jam), hints of vanilla and oak.
Great value for such a great shiraz! Buy at least 3 bottles.
