Wino Blogger

Producer: Maison Louis Latour
Name: Domaine de Valmoissine
Vintage: 2006
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Coteaux du Verdon, France
Price: ~ $13

A nice gift from my cousin and a fairly decent value for the price. This was my first Vin de Pays wine or "Country Wine". And although it's not an AOC classification (I believe it's only one step up from Vin de Table) it's still a decent wine for the price.

It had a smokey clarity with a burgundy colour. The bouquet has notes of ripe black cherries, strawberries and easy mint. The tasting was decent with easy spice, light cherries and slight oak. It had a light to medium body with an easy and quick dry finish. The only thing I could say about this wine is that it's maybe a little too understated. The flavours could stand to be "turned up" a little. But a very easy drinking wine.

J

Robbed again Tarantino! Inglorious Bastards is an excellent movie...

     

Click here to download:

Maison_Louis_Latour_-_Domaine_.zip (213 KB)

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Producer: Changyu-Castel
Varietal: Cabernet Gernischt
Vintage: 2003
Region: Shandong, China
Price: ~ $20

This was my very first Chinese wine. I wasn't completely sure what to think but many good Chinese wines were grown from grapes imported from Europe and the US. The Cabernet Gernischt was is a rare varietal imported from Bordeaux in 1892 but is now extinct in much of Europe.

The bouquet smelled of oak and strong earth with underpinnings of strawberry and rhubarb. It was definitely a full-bodied wine draped in the darkest burgundy I've seen in a long time. The palate had flavours of oak, moss and rich soil with a long and dry finish. I would say though that it would've been nice to have some sweetness in there to balance the acidity a bit more.

It was really interesting to try this one. There weren't a lot of people clamouring to taste the wine but in all honesty it wasn't bad and how often can you say that you've had a wine from China (at least in Canada). It will be really interesting to see how Chinese wine will grow. In previous years almost all Chinese wine has been exported, but the local market is beginning to take notice, and quite frankly, it's the biggest market in the world.

Okay... peace out!
J

PS: Let's go Kevin Martin!!!

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Producer: Mezzo Mondo
Name: Negroamaro Salento
Region: Puglia, Italy
Vintage: 2007
Price: Unknown

I'm pretty sure a family member brought this wine. Sure it doesn't have a specific appellation but I have to at least try it out. The bouquet smells of heavy black cherries, spice and a hint of vanilla. Straight forward, it tasted of rich black spice, dark cherries and blackberries with subtle notes of oak. A balanced and dry full bodied wine with a medium finish.

I wish I could remember who brought it. That's one of the great things about hosting a party—to the host go the spoils!

Okay peace out!

     

Click here to download:

Mezzo_Mondo_-_Negroamaro_Salen.zip (237 KB)

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Producer: Tsantali
Name: Kanenas
Vintage: 2006
Varietal: Mavroudi, Syrah
Region: Mavroudi, Greece
Price: ~ $25

Haven't had a lot of Greek wine but this Kanenas by Tsantali seemed to be popular at the tasting. Tsantali offers a variety of Greek wines from all over northern Greece. Kanenas comes from a northern area that has deep "argyllic" and dark red soil and hot summers with cool northern winds. This is really shown in the colour of the wine as it exhibits a deep red. The bouquet on this 2006 has ripe cherries, slightly earthy and is highlighted by spice. On the palate the spice and pepper notes come out more followed by more cherry and dark berries. The full body of the wine finishes nice and long.

The winery almost borders Turkey so It was nice to try something new like this. Greece doesn't often come to mind when you think of a nice wine for dinner but I could really see this going well with a lamb shank with Greek spices or with another Greek-style dish. Seriously, who doesn't love a good gyros? Or saganaki? Mmm... fried cheese...

J

   

Click here to download:

Tsantali_-_Kanenas_Tags_Wine_R.zip (147 KB)

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Producer: Rocca delle Macie

   

Click here to download:

Rocca_delle_Macie_-_Chianti_Cl.zip (209 KB)

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Gawd!! I forgot to attach the images! Well what do you expect after hours of tasting wine!

     

Click here to download:

Rosemount_-_Show_Reserve_Tags_.zip (205 KB)

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Producer: Rosemount

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Producer: Spy Valley

   

Click here to download:

Spy_Valley_-_Pinot_Noir_Tags_W.zip (215 KB)

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Producer: PKNT (i.e. "picante")
Name: Gold Reserve
Varietal: Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Price: ~ $10

Despite writing about the (oops) Carmenère Merlot earlier, this PKNT Gold Reserve Carmenère was actually my first time tasting a Carmenère. The bouquet smelled of dark rich berries, black currant with a slight vanilla and honey undertone. On the palate it was a full bodied red with predominantly warm oak and black cherries. A slight surprise considering the hot pepper on the label. Well balanced but fairly simple and straight forward—AKA: a nice value.

J

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Producer: Rolling Stones Wines
Name: Satisfaction
Varietal: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, 4% Petite Sirah
Vintage: 2005
Region: Napa Valley, United States
Price: ~ $50

Well what do we have here Mick? Your own wine? I'm very cautious of celebrity branded wine because for the most part it's mediocre wine in a flashy package. The Rolling Stones booth definitely had a lot of flash: numerous banners, TVs playing shows of the Rolling Stones, multiple bottle displays and somewhat of a greasy salesman behind the table. It put me off a little because I was trying to ask the rep about the wine and he gave me a lazy description and moved on to other tasters—namely the females—who weren't even spending time tasting the goddam wine anyway (there's a lot of them at these conventions). It would seem to me that if you wanted to get your wine out there, you'd spend time with the tasters who were actually serious about discussing the wine.

Anyway, the bouquet was actually pretty interesting with notes of cassis, currant and black cherry. On the palate it had strong cherry and spice notes that were quite bold and forward. With slight oak and a full body (almost syrup-like), the wine was complex and well structured with a long spicy finish.

When I looked the wine up online I came across prices in the $50 per bottle range. I'm sorry, the wine was good but not $50 per bottle good. There are far more interesting wines out there for a much better price. Try it to say you've tried it, but there probably won't be an encore tasting.

Peace in the middle east!

J

       

Click here to download:

Rolling_Stones_Wines_-_Satisfa.zip (519 KB)

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