2010 Xplorador Merlot

Taste: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Price: <$10

From the Xplorador website: Chilean Merlots are friendly, fruity and light bodied, meant to be drunk young.  Well-ripened red and black fruits lend a bit of sweetness.  This merlot is soft and round, with flavors of black cherry, cassis and dark chocolate.   Liked it a lot!

2010 Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel

Taste: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Price: $19


This Old Vine Zinfandel comes from vines with an average age of 85 years.  Black raspberry, cedar shavings, pepper and spice on the nose.  Medium-bodied, with berries and dark cherry flavors, balanced with firm structure and a silky texture on the palate. This wine has a smooth and lingering finish.  I found it the absolute best tasting on day three! 

2010 Saurus Select Pinot Noir

Taste: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Price: $17

 

Another great Wine Club find from Patagonia, Argentina, by The Wine Merchant, Cincinnati OH!  “The 2010 Saurus Select Pinot Noir has light red currant and strawberry notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and pointed on the entry with tart cherry fruit and touches of strawberry jam and cranberry on the focused finish. This is commendable, if missing the persistency of a great Pinot Noir. Drink now.” Wine Advocate, 87 points.  I think this could make a wonderful Thanksgiving wine given the balance and cranberry finish.  Interested to try their Malbec...Leonardo Puppato - Winemaker.

2010 Amado Sur Malbec

Taste: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Price $15

 The 2010 Amado Sur is a meticulous blend of Malbec, Syrah and, the recently rediscoverd, Bonarda (Genuine Bonadra Piemontese is, as the name suggests, a red Piedmont grape which is now somewhat rare in its native Italy.) Dark red with violet hues and crimson reflections. Generous aromas of fresh red fruit combine with notes of clove, smoke, vanilla and toast. "This floral red exhibits juicy blackberry, raspberry and plum notes supported by medium tannins. The grippy finish unfolds with hints of mulled spice and licorice. Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. Drink now." Wine Spectator, 90 points.  Even better on day two, with intensified spice and berry flavors.

2006 La Puerta Reserva Syrah

Taste: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Price: $11 (on sale from $16)

At $16, this would be a steal.  At $11, I went back for two more bottles!  This is probably one of the best QPR wines I have ever had.  I immediatlely got layers of cocoa, followed by dense berry and some earthy tones.  This is an intense wine that benefits from decanting.  Stood up to grilled steak very well.

2009 Castle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

Taste: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Price: $8-$13

And I thought Castle Rock only made Pinot Noir (and lots of them)!  I didn't care for this wine on wine night, perhaps because it was #6 or #7...much better the 2nd, or was it 3rd day.  I found this to be nicely balanced with a dark fruit finish. 

2011 Acronym

Taste: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Price: $10

My husband and I bought this for a teacher friend as part of a long-standing joke about acronyms vs initialisms.  Turned out, the joke was on us - the wine was pretty good!  Our friend returned the favor by bringing a bottle to a recent wine tasting (which is why you are getting two posts on the same date).  Of the six wines we tasted, this was by far my favorite.  Although that evening, I doubted I would repurchase it, on day two I found it quite pleasant.  Balanced, fruity. a little earthy, I would put it on par if not better than Apothic, which I occasionally find a bit heavy on the vanilla.

2011 Domaine R De La Grange Vin De Pays Du Val De Loire Chardonnay

Taste: 2/5
Value: 2/5
Price: $13

Description from the Winemaker: The Domaine R de la Grange Chardonnay is gown in the cool Loire Valley on clay and silica soils. This unoaked Chardonnay offers beautiful restrained fruit and bright acidity and exhibits a harmonious, fruity and floral nose. Smooth and crisp on the palate, this wine is easy to drink for all occasions. Serve as an aperitif or with salad, fish, pork, or cheese.
Goes to show you can make anything sound good - I found this wine unpleasantly flinty and sharp.  "Restrained" fruit translated to near non-existent for me.

2010 Jacuzzi Chardonnay

Taste: 5/5
Value: 4/5 - 5/5 depending on price sourced
Price: $20 (have seen a range from $12-$20)

This is a nice, crisp, full-bodied and well-balanced Sonoma Coast (Carneros) Chardonnay, which I have found to be the source of my favorite Chardonnays.   Only lightly oaked with bright fruit flavors of peach, pear and apple.  I paired with a Parmesan crusted salmon and kale salad with vinaigrette, pine nuts and Parmesan cheese - delightful!

2011 Panzenello 'Le Piazzole'

Taste: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Price: $15


Le Piazzole is 70% Sangiovese and 30% Merlot.  Fresh cherry on the palate with a pleasant dusty/earthy spice.  Paired with spaghetti with meat sauce - delicious.  Will buy again!  If I can find it in the $12 range, I would give it 5/5 in value, although even at $15, it tastes more expensive.

2012 Tamaya Carmenere Reserva

Taste: 5/5

Value: 5/5
Price: $15.99

Apparently, this was Tamaya week at my house!  This was a Dec 2012 Wine Club wine, and much preferred over the Chardonnay.  This was deep and inky, powerful and spicy, while remaining fruit forward. The mouthfeel was round and full with a finish of peppers, blackberry and plum.  A great pairing with steak fajitas!  A close tie to another favorite - Tarima Hill Monastrell.

2009 Vina Casa Tamaya Chardonnay Reserva

Taste: 3/5

Value: 3/5

Price: $15.99

 

This was a wine club wine from Jan 2012 and was an interesting Chardonnay.  Great if you're looking for a non-buttery, citrusy white wine.  For me, I would pick up a Sauvignon Blanc for that.  For the record, I kept thinking this WAS a Sauv Blanc.  The wine club description listed white peaches, fresh pears with citrus tones of mandarin orange and lemon.  I got neither cream nor vanilla nor body that I would usually expect.  I did get a tense finish, crisp and high in acidity.  Not bad, just not what I'd pay $16, although it did rate 90 points from Wine Spectator.