Osborne Dominio de Malpica (2001) Cabernet Sauvignon

July 21, 2007 — -

Osborne Dominio de Malpica Cabernet Sauvignon 2001Osborne bullWe purchased this Osborne Dominio de Malpica Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 from Spain for $16.99 at A&L Wine Castle in Ann Arbor. Initially, the bouquet is quite startling in that it is strong and overpowering. But, now that it has been swirled and allowed to breathe, the nose is more subtle and sophisticated. The full and rich feel in the mouth is fruity with tastes of oak and wet grass. The longer I sip and swirl, the more refined it becomes. This is a wine you definitely want to decant and allow to breathe. For dinner, I have a pot of garlicky bean soup (with ham bone) simmering, a loaf of sour dough bread, (and some sharp cheddar) and I think this wine will be the perfect complement. I wanted to take advantage of the cooler weather today and make some soup. It’s a gorgeous day in Michigan!

Tom: This Osborne Dominio de Malpico Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 has a strong, slightly astringent, attention-getting initial aroma that mellowed with breathing. It is an interesting, unusual cabernet, with a dry but fruity taste that also has a slight vegetal quality. It’s different and interesting and will stand up well to our bean soup. (We understand that the black Osborne bull is iconic in Spain.)

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Over $10, Spanish wines. 2 Comments »

Amaicha Bonarda (2005)

July 18, 2007 — -

Amaicha Bonarda 2005While I was attending a conference in Austin, Texas, Tom found a need to stop at Trader Joe’s to peruse the wine selection. He bought a dozen bottles, and this Amaicha Bonarda 2005 was one of them.

This is the first time I have tasted a wine from the Bonarda grape. It is bursting with fruit while, at the same time, dry and full of body. Very smooth on the palate with a pleasant, spicy aroma. We’ll have this with a stir-fry chicken and broccoli tonight. One might think this is too strong a wine for chicken, but because the chicken is marinating in spicy szechuan sauce, I think it will be just fine. This is a drinkable and pleasant big wine at a great price ($4.99). Nice shopping, love of my life!

Tom: This Amaicha Bonarda 2005 is quite interesting. The Bonarda grape is from the northeastern Piedmont region of Italy and is widely grown in Argentina. This wine is tannic, has a strong berry-fruit flavor, and has a strong, slightly astringent quality (as though it has strong alcohol, although it’s a normal 13%.). We always love tasting wines from South America but particularly while Tony and George are traveling there. They are in Brazil now, in Rio de Janeiro.

Posted in Argentine wines, Bonarda, Under $10. 3 Comments »

McManis Syrah 2004

July 16, 2007 — -

McManis Syrah 2004Melody is still out of town and I finished some McManis Syrah 2004, which is very good. It has a big, rich fruit taste, a noticeably aromatic bouquet, a definite pepperiness, with hints of cherries and vanilla. An interesting, tasty, and complex wine.

Posted in California wines, Over $10, Syrah. Leave a Comment »

Barrio La Boca Malbec (2005)

July 15, 2007 — -

Barrio La Boca 2005Melody’s out of town and, with thoughts of our son Tony and his friend George who are backpacking in South America and are currently in Brazil, I’m having this La Barrio La Boca Malbec 2005 from Argentina.

Tony and George have actually left Buenos Aires, Argentina and are now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but Argentine wine is as close as I can get. (Do they make wine in Brazil?)

This La Barrio La Boca Malbec 2005 is a fun, dry, fruit-forward (cherries) wine at way, way under $10. Very pleasant, very drinkable, went great with hamburgers tonight.

Tony and George did some wine-tasting of some high-end Malbec in Argentina and raved about it. If this La Barrio La Boca Malbec 2005 is any indication, I’m sure their experience was excellent.

Posted in Argentine wines, Malbec, Under $10. 5 Comments »

Robert Mondavi Vinetta (Private Selection) 2005

July 13, 2007 — -

Robert Mondavi Vinetta 2005We bought a second bottle of Robert Mondavi Vinetta 2005 after having the first bottle at our dinner party. I was actually concerned that I hadn’t paid enough attention during my first tasting because I was happily distracted by our dinner guests. So, Tom bought us a second bottle.

I can say it is as delicious as I described in an earlier post. I first noted the deep, ruby color as I poured it into the glass. I think this blend of grapes — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc — produces a delightful quaff just right for a TGIF evening at home. (Althought this is marked as an “over $10″ it’s important to note that it was only a few cents beyond the $10.)

Tom: This is Robert Mondavi Vinetta 2005 is very good. It’s jammy, peppery, and medium-tannic. It would be fun to do a blind tasting between Mondavi’s Vinetta and Coppola’s Roso Classico, both big-name, big-red blends.

Posted in Blends, California wines, Over $10. 5 Comments »

Panilonco Merlot Malbec 2005

July 10, 2007 — -

Panilonco Merlot Malbec 2005This Panilonco Merlot Malbec 2005 from Trader Joe’s was excellent. It has a big, bold, fruit-forward, dark-berry taste. Very drinkable. And a great price, well under $10.

Posted in Argentine wines, Blends, Malbec, Under $10. 1 Comment »

Vila Malbec (2005)

July 10, 2007 — -

Vila Malbec 2005We opened this Vila Malbec from Argentina with thoughts of our son, Tony Reifel, and his friend, George Royce, who are still traveling throughout South America on a 97-day journey with only their backpacks. Tony will be a senior at Eastern Michigan University this fall, majoring in International Business. He is fluent in Spanish and we are very proud of him (and also George, whom we love dearly).

So we have been especially interested in sampling wines from South America and this Vila Malbec is a great one. The tannins are firm, the nose is a pleasant mineral and fruit; the finish is intense. It is dry and medium-bodied. Mmmmm. We do love these Malbecs. We will drink this wine tonight with grilled chicken, sauteed spinach & garlic and brown rice. We’ll see how it fares but I think there are strong enough flavors (especially with the sauteed garlic and spinach) to complement this wine nicely.

Tom: This is a really great wine. It’s dry but has a big fruit flavor; it’s fruit forward but not fruit bomby. Really excellent. The Argentine wines we’ve tried recently have been excellent. Malbec, on its own or in a blend, makes for a great big red.

Posted in Argentine wines, Malbec, Under $10. Leave a Comment »

Bourgeon de Cassis Cabernet Sauvignon (2005)

July 9, 2007 — -

Bourgeon de Cassis Cabernet Sauvignon 2005We purchased this delicious Bourgeon de Cassis Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 at Trader Joe’s in Ann Arbor for well under $10. One swirl and sniff of this wine and I knew I was going to like it. I had actually avoided opening this bottle because (okay, this is dumb) but the label didn’t appeal to me and I tend to “judge a book by its cover” when I know better. But, Tom opened this bottle tonight because Trigger is on my lap and I didn’t want to disturb her. This is really a lovely wine! The name means “bud of black currant.” It is very fruity and tannic. On the nose are blackberries and cloves. On the palate is a wonderful explosion of complex flavors, predominantly ripe, black fruit. The finish is moderately long. I must say, I am surprised; this wine is delightful.

Tom: This is a vin de pays (“country wine,” the third-highest of four wine-quality levels in France) from the Pays d’Oc, a region in the south of France on the Mediterranean Sea. So it doesn’t have a fancy pedigree, but it’s excellent: both tannic and rich in fruit. It’s well named: black currant.

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, French wines. Leave a Comment »

Robert Mondavi Vinetta (Private Selection) 2005

July 8, 2007 — -

Robert Mondavi Vinetta 2005Last night, several of our neighbors (backyard, side yard, and one street over!) joined Tom and me for cocktails and dinner. We so enjoyed the company of these wonderful friends. Following cocktails (gin & tonics – our standby summer refreshment), we had a long and leisurely dinner that lasted into this morning, and we never left the table (padded, comfy dining chairs help a lot). It seems every time I turned around, Tom was opening another bottle of wine but I did pay special attention to the Robert Mondavi because it was the last wine of the evening; also, it was new to me and I had heard good things about it.

This Robert Mondavi Vinetta is a combination of Cabernet, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc — an enticing blend. The nose was rich with spice, flowers and chocolate and the taste was bursting with ripe blackberries, dark chocolate and a hint of licorice. The finish was lovely, like velvet. Tom purchased this bottle at our local “Polly’s” grocery store. Yum. A fun summer night to remember. . .

Posted in Blends, California wines, Under $10. 2 Comments »

Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (2004)

July 6, 2007 — -

Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004I purchased this Beringer Founders’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon at Busch’s grocery store in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I only stopped for their fresh Michigan strawberries, but my cart pulled me over to the wine section and I had no choice but to look at the selection (very nice, I must say; I liked how the wines were separated by country). This wine was on sale; the regular price at Busch’s is $12.59 and I think I paid $10.99 for this bottle (don’t quote me on that — I only remember that I thought it was a decent price at the time).

I am drinking this wine on the second night – we opened it last night. Yet, it is every bit as good on night #2, if not even better. The wine presents a deep color with green tea, black olives, vanilla and berry aromas. Following that luscious nose is an explosion of big berry fruit (with hints of oak) on the palate. The tannins are right there — assertive. By that I mean “it takes your spit away,” as my father-in-law, Joe Werner, has been known to say. I like this wine very much. I will purchase this again.

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California wines, Over $10. Leave a Comment »
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