Vino


My Wine Dossier

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifestedhis glory. – John 2.6-11

 

June 2012 Corazon de Plata Syrah (50%) Tannat (50%)  Argentina Tulum Valley 2010 91 Second attempt with this bottle. I really like tannat, but would prefer it straight.
June 2012 L.A. Cetto Nebbiolo Mexico Valle de Guadalupe 2006 92 This is an incredible grape and unfortunately too rare. This is my second experience with Mexican nebbiolo and I was very pleased.
June 2012 Las Vertientes Malbec Argentina Mendoza 2011 92 This is probably the best malbec I have ever had. It is wonderfully unique. Strong peppery overtones that work well for me.
May 2012 Tilia Malbec and Syrah Argentina Mendoza 2010 90 A great taste for the price. I prefer this mix to a straight malbec.
May 2012 Oveja Negra Cabernet Franc and Carmenere Chile Maule Valley 2009 92 I’ve never had this mix before. It was unique and really works well. Quite sweet. 
April 2012 Mirassou Pinot Noir California Santa Clara Valley 2010 89 Overall, not bad. Very inexpensive bottle of wine. Definitely worth the price.
April 2012 Roccalta Sangiovese Italy Puglia 2010 91 One of the best sangioveses I have ever had
April 2012 Anciano Tempranillo Spain Valdepeñas 2001 90 This is the region for the oldest tempranillos. Great price!
April 2012 Casa Lapostelle Carmenere Chile Rapel Valley 2009 90 Full bodied with a richly complex taste. 
April 2012  Valle Las Acequias Malbec Argentina Mendoza 2007 92 Strong oaky taste with hints of plum. Quite a distinctive malbec.
March 2012 Monte Ducay Tempranillo Spain Carinena 2006 90 Pleasantly smooth and always better with aeration. I enjoyed it mucho. 
March 2012 Picton Bay Pinot Noir New Zealand Marlborough 2011 88 Ok, certainly nothing special. For a NZ Pinot, Nobilo is the best.
March 2012 Corazon de Plata Syrah (50%) Tannat (50%)  Argentina Tulum Valley 2010 91 I love the tannat grape. But I can only seem to find mixes locally. 
March 2012 Dellatorri Chianti Italy Tuscany 2010 90 Chianti is such a distinctive grape. For that, I enjoy it. 
March 2012 Montemar Andes Carmenere Chile Curico Valley 2008 90 I like this grape. Similar to a pinot noir, but perhaps sweeter. 
March 2012 Grifone Zinfadel (primitivo) Italy Puglia 2010 89 Smooth. Light bodied. Not notably distinctive from any other zinfadel.
March 2012 Santa Julia Bonardo (charbono) Argentina Mendoza 2008 89 First time with this grape. Tastes similar to a pinot noir to me. It was good, but certainly not life-changing.
March 2012 L.A. Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon Mexico Valle de Guadalupe 2009 88 Not bad for a regular table wine. Not that impressive and not something I would buy again at the price (150 pesos)
Feb 2012 Marques del Valle Cabernet Malbec Mexico Valle de Guadalupe 2010 90 This was a neat mix. I love malbecs. Perhaps a tad too smooth. I am loving Mexican wines.
Feb 2012 Vinos Fuentes Petite Sirah Mexico Valle de Guadalupe 2008 91 An absolutely awesome bottle from Baja. It is sadly not exported out of Mexico making it rather difficult to get a hold of
Feb 2012 Arizona Stronghold Syrah (47%), Grenache (19%), Mourverde (15%), Petite Syrah (14%), Counoise (5%) Arizona Cochise County 2010 91 This wasn’t as good of a mix as the one back in April 2011. Still pretty good stuff, but certainly not worth the price ($25)
Feb 2012 Vinos Domecq Cabernet Sauvignon Mexico Valle de Calafia 2010 87 Pretty good for the price (50 pesos). I would drink this as a regular table wine.
Feb 2012 Vinos Fuentes Cabernet Grenache Mexico Valle de Guadalupe 2005 90 We bought this from their vineyard in Baja. An awesome experience! This bottle was incredible there (which is what I am basing my rating on). The cork on this bottle was bad, so the bottle was less than pleasant.
Feb 2012 Found Object Carmenere Chile Colchagua Valley 2010 90 I’ve never had this grape before, but it tasted very familiar. Very similar to a pinot. Pretty good stuff.
Jan 2012 Nobilo  Pinot Noir New Zealand Marlborough 2008 92 This is an incredible wine! Truly unique for a pinot. Very sweet, but pleasantly so. 
Jan 2012 Don Luis Merlot Mexico Guadalupe Valley 2008 91 Purchased from Bonifacio’s in San Carlos. This wasn’t too bad for a merlot (generally not a fan)
Jan 2012 Bay Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon California Central Valley 2010 85 Nothing notable. Cheap.
Jan 2012 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin California Central Valley 2009 90 Rich, dark, quite fruity. Enjoyable.
Jan 2012 L.A. Cetto Petite Sirah Mexico Valle de Guadalupe 2009 92 I love Mexican wines, sadly they’re far too difficult to get outside of Mexico
Dec 2011 Clos du Bois Zinfadel California North Coast 2010 90 Zinfadels are so different than the others. I really enjoyed this bottle.
Dec 2011 Gancho Spur Malbec Argentina Mendoza 2010 90 I love malbecs and this was no exception
Nov 2011 Evodia Garnacha Spain Calatayud 2009 88 Not too impressed here, a rather odd taste for a garnacha.
Nov 2011 Red Guitar Tempranillo (52%) Garnacha (48%) Spain Navarra 2008 92 My fourth try with this label. Apparently it’s getting better.
Nov 2011 Marques de Riscal Tempranillo Spain Castilla y Leon 2006 90 Not bad, but not worth $24/bottle
Oct 2011 Artero Tempranillo Spain La Mancha 2010 93 This was a very impressive Tempranillo at a mere $10/bottle
Oct 2011 Nostrada Tempranillo Spain Tarragona 2010 90 This is a solid tempranillo
Sept 2011 Red Guitar Tempranillo (52%) Garnacha (48%) Spain Navarra 2008 90 Third time with this bottle. It’s worth the price, but nothing too distinctive here.
Sept 2011 La Finca Tempranillo Argentina Mendoza 2010 89 Distinctive oak taste. A great price.
Sept 2011 Garnacha de Fuego Garnacha Spain Calatayud 2009 91 A pretty standard garnacha
Sept 2011 Nostrada Garnacha Spain Campo de Borja 2010 90 Strong, but pleasant.
Aug 2011 Finca La Estacada Tempranillo Spain Uclés 2008 96 This is a tad sweeter than the 2009 – both are equally exceptional
Aug 2011 Finca La Estacada Tempranillo Spain Uclés 2009 96 This is my favorite bottle, sadly I can only buy it from NY. Even so, it is worth it!
Aug 2011 Casa Gualda Tempranillo (90%) Cabernet (5%) Merlot (5%) Spain La Mancha 2010 91 This was a wonderful and unique tempranillo mix
Aug 2011 Viña Borga Garnacha Spain Campo de Borja 2010 90 You can really taste the tanins in this bottle.
Aug 2011 Venta Morales Tempranillo Spain La Mancha 2010 89 Pretty light. Too light. Nothing special
Aug 2011 Terum Garnacha Spain Aragon 2009 92 Purchased from NY. Smooth for a garnacha. 
Aug 2011 Sangre de Toro Tempranillo Spain Catalunya 2008 90 A great tempranillo and quite affordable
Aug 2011 Viriato Tempranillo Spain Toro 2007 92 Light. Fruity. Very nice.
Aug 2011 Viña Borga Garnacha Spain Campo de Borja 2010 91 Strong (even for a garncha)
Aug 2011 Muriel Tempranillo Spain Rioja 2004 90 Very enjoyable, but certainly not worth the $40/bottle
Jul 2011 Cala Blanca Garnacha Spain Calatayud 2008 90 Very smooth, pleasant (requires aerator)
Jul 2011 Panarroz Monastrell (60%) Garnacha (25%) Syrah (15%) Spain Jumilla 2002 92 Monastrell and Garnacha make an exellent mix!
Jul 2011 Old Vines Gran Reserva Tempranillo Spain Valdepeñas 2002 91 Pleasant, but twice the price.
Jul 2011 Albero Monastrell Spain Jumilla 2009 89 Not bad for a monastrell.
Jul 2011 Ergo Tempranillo Spain Rioja 2008 89 Too light.
Jun 2011 Red Guitar Tempranillo (52%) Garnacha (48%) Spain Navarra 2008 92 Second time with this bottle. Not bad.
Jun 2011 Wrongo Dongo Monastrell Spain Jumilla 2009 90 Strong. Woody. Very woody.
May 2011 Viñedo Tempranillo Spain Carinena 2009 95 Very impressive – now my favorite tempranillo
May 2011 La Gozada Tempranillo (55%) Cabernet Sauvignon (35%) Graciano (10%) Spain Navarra 2008 93 Quite complex taste – very oaky.
Apr. 2011 Chapillon Reves Carigan (40%) Garnacha (35%) Syrah (25%) Spain Priorat 2006 90 Simple, no complexity.
Apr. 2011 Arizona Stronghold Syrah (31%) Garnacha (24%) Mourverde (24%) Petite Syrah (21%) USA Arizona 2009 97 Major deviation from the wines of Spain, but so worth it. This was probably the best bottle of wine I’ve ever had.
Apr. 2011 Condesa de Sarabella Garnacha Spain Calatayud 2008 90 pretty smooth – quite light
Mar. 2011 Tepeña Tempranillo Spain Tierra de Castilla 2009 94 Best tempranillo I’ve had
Jan. 2011 Red Guitar Tempranillo (52%) Garnacha (48%) Spain Navarra 2008 92 great great mix!
Jan. 2011 Terrenal Tempranillo Spain Yecla 2009 86 Too light – tastes like water.
Jan. 2011 Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo (60%) Shiraz (40%) Spain Tierra de Castilla 2008 91 I like this mix. Let it breathe.
Dec. 2010 Marques de Montaña Garnacha Spain Calatayud 2009 91 excellent, strong
My Wine Dossier