2010 Andeluna Malbec

My apologies for not posting anything recently.   Today I decided to try an Argentinian wine.  I think this might be the first review for an Argentinian wine on this blog.  I really enjoy wines from South America -- good bang for your buck.  

Having some homemade pasta (bacon, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, salt/pepper to taste) I decided to open a full body red wine.  This 2010 Andeluna Malbec has aromas of blackberries, cherries, and plums at the first sniff.   The first swirl -- wow, very intense and yes, a full body red. The tannins are well balanced and the finish is slightly spicy (black pepper).   Not bad.  The second swirl was a bit alcoholic, but still spicy and a good balance.  


I am going to give this one 3.5 stars.  I think this is a great table wine and one which you could bring to a casual dinner party.  I purchased this one at Nissin World Delicatessen for Y1,440.   In my personal opinion, a good value for what you are getting.  I'd recommend letting this one open for about 30 minutes.


Summary: Full-body, good balance and slightly spicy finish.  Good value
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,440 (Nissin World Delicatessen Groceries)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y1,659 (Rakuten website)
USA Retail Price: $9.95
Food:  Bacon and tomato pasta

2009 Six Foot Six Pinot Noir

As noted in an early blog posting, I managed to pick up some wines from Australia.  I really enjoy wines from the down under; however I think this might be one of my first Australian wine review. 

An interesting label and name, Six Foot Six 2009 Pinot Noir was great. The aromas were very fruity--blackberries, cherries and some accent of grass.  As most Pinot Noir's do, the color tone was light color red.  The first swirl was nice--A fairly complex, and 'soft' wine that is slightly (and I mean very slightly), sweet.  If you have ever tried an Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir, I would say this was its younger sibling.  


I am going to give this one 4 stars.  I really liked it.  The price is decent, the complexity is really nice and the balance was just right. I purchased this one at Nissin World Delicatessen in Azabu Juban for Y2,250.  I would definitely purchase this one again. 
**PS take a look at the Rakuten link below -- looks like a good sale if you cannot make it to Nissin.  
  
Summary: Medium-body, great balance and nice finish.  Good value
Rating: 4 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y2,250 (Nissin World Delicatessen Groceries)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y2,100 (Rakuten website)
USA Retail Price: $19.95
Food:  NA

2001 Le Haut-Medoc de Giscours

To the best of my knowledge, this 2001 Le Haut-Medoc de Giscours is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  According to wikipedia, Haut-Medoc was a salt marsh for animal grazing back in the day; however these days its producing some good wines (I've had a few from this region and have enjoyed all of them).

The wine has good balance of aromas.  Hint of oak, the presence of berries and spices were apparent.
First swirl was nice--  full body and nice texture.  Tannins were strong, and there was a slight bitter finish to the wine.  Second swirl I am not as impressed;  not bad, but nothing spectacular.  A good wine that is fairly easy to drink.

I am going to give this one 3 stars.  I purchased this bottle from the Wine Market store in Ebisu Gardens for Y2,600.  This price seems about market price here in Japan; however I could not find a listing price in the U.S.  Overall, a good wine, but nothing that knocks your socks off.

Summary: Full-body, Good balance, but nothing spectacular
Rating: 3 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y2,600 (Ebisu Gardens, Wine Market Store)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y2,777 (Rakuten website)
USA Retail Price: NA
Food:  NA

2009 Château Les Canelles

With 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Malbec this Bordeaux is from the Côtes de Blaye region. 

The aromas of the wine are difficult to distinguish.  I smelled some berries, but also it seemed to have a fairly strong alcohol smell as well. I was expecting a full-body wine, but it was a bit lighter in taste (perhaps a medium body Bordeaux).  


Overall, the balance was not great.  The finish was a bit bitter for my liking and I felt like it had some cough syrup mixed in.  It reminded me of the Mouton Cadet bottle I tried not too long ago (see the review here - 

2009 Baron Philippe Rothschild Mouton Cadet Bordeaux).  

I purchased this one at the Wine Market store, in Ebisu Gardens.  Luckily I did not pay full price as it was on sale for Y1,500.  I am going to give this one 1.5 stars.  

Summary: I was not that impressed. The finish was bitter and balance not great.
Rating:   1.5 stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,500 (Wine Market Store, Ebisu Gardens)
Other Japanese Retailers: NA
USA Retail Price: NA
Food: NA

2007 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Riserva

An interesting pick from my new favorite store in Ebisu, this 2007 Montepuciano D'Abruzzo was quite good.  


The aromas were filled with fruit -- berries and plums.  The overall balance was good.  Seems as though this one might have been in oak wood.  The initial taste was ever so slightly sweet followed by a nice finish. The tannins were strong, but not too much where it was bitter.  


This one was purchased at Ebisu Gardens, Wine Market Store for Y1,500 (on sale).  Overall, I am going to give this one 3.5 stars.  I'd recommend that you consume this in one day, as the wine did not stay in the fridge overnight too well (the next day it did not taste as good).  


Summary: Full-body, tannins were strong, but good balance  
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,500 (Ebisu Gardens, Wine Market Store)
Other Japanese Retailers: NA
USA Retail Price: NA
Food: Ham, cheese, crackers, etc.

2009 Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir

The primary reason I picked this bottle up was because of its Beringer label.   I've never tried a Beringer wine so I thought I'd pick this 2009 Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir and give it a shot.  Pinot Noir is one of my favorites to sample as I think there are a wide variety on the market.  I tend to enjoy the ones which have been more on the sweeter side, however the overall depth can be very unique (the color can be very deceiving). 

First sniff -- hint of cherries, blackberries and some type of wood. The color is light red, as most pinot noir's often portray. First swirl -- yes, cherries were there; however I had a taste of vanilla too.   Second swirl--somewhat creamy, however the finish was a bit dull. Comparing some other Pinot Noir's this one is lacking a punch.  


I purchased this one at the Ebisu Gardens, Wine Market Store for Y2,100.  Maybe I was anticipating a bit more, but for that price I think it is not a great value.  I am going to give this one 2.5 stars.  A good bottle to bring to a party or have as table wine, but the price is what brings this rating down to 2.5 stars.    


Summary: Medium-body, Pinot Noir.  
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y2,100 (Ebisu Gardens, Wine Market Store)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y1,995 (Rakuten website)
USA Retail Price: $8.99
Food: NA

2010 Domaine D'Anderzon Cotes du Rhone

An "organic" wine from the Rhone valley, this one was very different from all the wines I have posted thus far.  In addition, it is non-filtered, which made this one a bit more interesting.  

First sniff --lots of berries, perhaps blackberries, with some green grass in the background.  The color tone was dark red (nothing like I have seen before).  First swirl, wow, full-body and fairly spicy.  It also seemed the tannins were a bit strong.  Second sniff -- may sound a bit weird, but I was getting some hint of milk (is that possible?).  Okay, well the second swirl, seemed green and young.  Flavors of berries were prominent -- slightly sour for my liking.  The balance was okay, however this syrah was very different than ones I have drunk before.  Perhaps it is the "organic" part of the wine, or maybe the "non-filter" component (I am not really sure). 


I purchased this one from Ebisu Gardens, Wine Market store.  I am going to give this one 3 stars.  Very unique wine, but not my all time favorite. It's a decent bottle that would be great with a meat dish.   When I finished the bottle, I had some sludge in my glass -- first for me! 


Summary: Full-body, Syrah.  Fairly green and rich. 
Rating: 3 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,606 (Ebisu Gardens, Wine Market Store)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y1,512 (Rakuten website)
USA Retail Price: $13.95
Food: Mexican soup

2009 Nuits Saint Georges Les Poisets

Happy New Year!  


To kick off the 2012 entry, I decided to open a bottle which was given to me by my wife for a Christmas present!  From the Bourgogne region (Nuit Saint Georges area) this wine was really good. 


At first smell, the Pinot Noir has a mixture of dark cherries and raspberries.  Second smell and oddly enough, it also had a hint of wild mushrooms.  First swirl was very nice.  Slightly sweet; however the sweetness  dissipates quite quickly, which is followed by a nutty, creamy taste. A bit 'green'/'grassy', but the dynamics of the wine is very full, yet light and smooth at the same time. Wow, I'm impressed 


I decided to let this one open for about 30 minutes. The overall flavor and taste really improved (letting this one open is key).  The berry flavors came out and the overall balance took form.  


I am going to give this one 4 stars.  I do not know the cost as it was a xmas gift, but I think this one is on the upper end of my typical wine budget.  Thank you very much for the wonderful gift!  
This one would be great wine to bring to a elegant wine party/dinner.   


Summary: A bit green at start, but allow it to open for a bit.  Very smooth and well balanced. The wine has the classic pinot noir color tone -- light red.
Rating: 4 Stars
Purchase Cost: NA (Gift from Shibuya Tokyu Store)
Other Japanese Retailers: NA
USA Retail Price: NA
Food: NA 

Chateau Grand Tayac 2008 Margaux

A nice Bordeaux with an interesting nose. A slight scent of mint, along with pine wood and berries, the aroma was very nice.  


The first swirl was a bit hard to distinct specific flavors, but the finish was long and very smooth. Along with the berries, and wood the second sniff had a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon.  On to the second swirl... I am still having some difficulty distinguishing the taste, but the balance and texture is very nice.  


Overall I really like this wine.  I am going to rate this one 4 stars. The Chateau Grand Tayac 2008 Margaux has a nice, long finish.  A well balanced wine, which I would categorized as a medium body.

Summary: A really good wine.  I could not find another retailer/price for this particular vintage, but seems somewhat on par for the overall quality.
Rating: 4 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y3,900 (Nissin World Delicatessen Groceries)
Other Japanese Retailers: NA
USA Retail Price: $50
Food: Steak, potatoes, and broccoli (went really nicely with the meal)

2009 Baron Philippe Rothschild Mouton Cadet Bordeaux

A Mouton Cadet Bordeaux which is about 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc has a very deep, dark red color.  The first smell --cherries with a hint of Robitussin cough syrup.   My first swirl had some granulated sugar (so it tasted) which quickly disappeared that was followed by a bitter fruit.  Weird. (btw, I decided to eat some saltine crackers, followed by water to see if it was just an anomaly or not.)  Second sniff still has the cherry smell, but the alcohol smell is quite strong.  Second swirl is still weird.  I am still getting this sensation of granulated sugar in the wine.  The tannins seem quite strong (tastes like you're eating a bitter grape skin towards the end).  Yeah, this one is not flying with me. 


Overall, I am not impressed.  It's not absolutely terrible, but just didn't work for me. I would say this is a medium body Bordeaux.  Maybe it needs to open up more, or perhaps it's just not a good wine.  I am going to rate this 1.5 stars (first low rating on this blog).  


Summary: Not impressed.  Cherry smells, but the taste was bitter and not that interesting. 
Rating:   1.5 stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,270 (Costco)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y1,740 (Rakuten website)
USA Retail Price: $11.99
Food: NA

2005 Chateau Arnauld Haut-Medoc

Slightly more expensive than the other wines listed on this blog recently, I must say that I really enjoyed this 2005 Chateau Arnauld Haut-Medoc.  I could be wrong, but I think 2005 is a fairly good year for this wine and the price was reasonable.  With a hint of pine wood or perhaps cedar, this wine is deep with blackberries/blueberries fragrances (very nice).  The first swirl had a medium to full body texture where the berries were definitely present (almost added a sweetness to the wine).  The second swirl--spicy?  Yes, definitely spicy to me--wow.  It almost has a black pepper finish to the wine.  


I purchased this one at Kinokuniya International in Omotesando for Y1,850, which seems market price here in Tokyo.  I am going to give this one 3.5 stars.  Very nice and one which I would recommend to bring to a casual dinner party.


Summary: Full body, very nice color (ruby).  Has a kick at the end with some black pepper taste.
Rating:  3.5 stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,850 (Kinokuniya International)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y1,890 (Rakuten website)
USA Retail Price: $12.95
Food: Nabe (Japanese hotpot dish)

2009 Clefs des Murailles Vacqueyras

From the Rhone region, the 2009 Clefs des Murailles was quite pleasant.  Although it was difficult to pinpoint distinct characteristics of the wine, everyone seemed to have enjoyed the balance and texture (brought to a dinner with my in-laws).  Personally, I smelled some oak; however others could not. Apparently the wine is 70% Grenache, which surprised me because it did not have that typical berry/cherry taste. My in-laws joked as they recently read my posting about wine glasses and mentioned that perhaps it was the wine glass and nothing else.  


For the price and overall balance of the wine, I am going to give this 3 stars.  I want to try this one again, as I think I might be underrating this wine.   Purchased at Costco for Y980 I think it was well worth the price.  


Summary: Good balance and texture; however distinct characteristics were difficult to identify
Rating: 3 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y980 (Costco)
Other Japanese Retailers: Could not find another retailer with the same vintage
USA Retail Price: $17.99
Food: Rolled cabbage, vegetable tempura, fruit salad, and Japanese rice (lovely food!)  Thank you!

2004 Marques de Caceres Rioja Reserva

Tonight's dinner was a special one as it was my mom's birthday dinner. I picked a 2004 Marques de Caceres Rioja Reserva (Spanish wine) to go along with our Italian meat sauce lasagna (no offense intended there...yes, next time I will pair with an Italian wine).  

The wine was very good.  First sniff was tough, but we definitely smelled berries and some type of wood (maybe cedar?).  First taste-- it was a full-body, rich red wine; the berries were definitely prominent in the first swirl.  We decided to take a second sniff; this time we smelled blackberries. The wood smell was still hard to define, but it was definitely present.  Now to the second taste-- even better.  The wine is very balanced and has a deep texture. The finish was probably the most notable.  Through the complexity of the wine it finishes with a distinct taste of (creamy) vanilla. I was quite impressed. 

This bottle was purchased at Kinokuniya International (near Omotesando Station); however it was in their sale bin, which had random single bottle wines on discount.  This bottle had a price tag of Y2,500. I am rating this bottle 4 stars out of 5.  The taste of vanilla really pushed this wine to the next rating level, otherwise it would have finished with a strong 3.5.  I think it would be a good wine to bring to your friend's dinner party. 

Happy Birthday Mom.

Summary: Full-body, red from Spain (good color).  The twist at the end made this wine great.
Rating: 4 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y2,500 (Kinokuniya International)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y3,080 (Rakuten Website-scroll down--last one on the list)
USA Retail Price: Around $28.99
Food: I paired with meat sauce lasagna (both the lasagna and the pairing were good!)

Kim Crawford 2009 Marlborough Pinot Noir

Overall I am a big fan of Kim Crawford's Sauvignon Blanc wines (New Zealand).  Today I decided to try Kim Crawford 2009 Marlborough Pinot Noir -- a first for me.  


The smell reminds me of a sweet strawberry that still has some dirt on the leaves (earthy).  My first whirl/taste; first impact is good, but the flavor tapers off pretty quickly.  It's okay. My second whirl....  Yeah, not overly impressed. It has some berry flavors, but the berries are a bit sour.  It's one of those wines where you think it's a bit young, but even if you let it age overtime it's a wine that wont change a bit.  In other words, it is what it is.  Almost similar to the wine earlier this week (Napa Station), an okay table wine, but not one to bring to a dinner party to impress.  


Again, I purchased this at Costco and it was reasonable (comparing it to Rakuten it is a steal ~65% discount--I would never pay Y2,000).  I am going to give this wine 3 stars.

Summary: Okay Pinot Noir from New Zealand (classic Pinot Noir color -- light red).  Good initial taste, but it did not last to really impress.
Rating: 3 Stars
Purchase Cost: Y1,198 (Kawasaki Costco)
Other Japanese Retailers: Y1,980 (Rakuten Website-scroll down a bit)
USA Retail Price: Around $13.95
Food: I did not pair it with any food today