Marques de Grinon SVMMA Varietalis '08
Spain
Red blend
$30ish
Poundability: 2./5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
Deep dark ruby color with a woodsy nose, medium body.
Tasted a lot more wood on this vintage and just more pronounced/stronger flavors then the '05. Spicy, black currant with a strong wood/cedar taste.
Less tannic and much more acidic. Had a harsh alcohol taste at beginning but mellowed after bottle had been open. It tasted like a bigger stronger bolder version then the '05. Took over four hours after being open to really start to show. A few more years in the bottle will really help this wine reach its true potential, especally after witnessing what cellaring it for a few years does to improve the wine and add a lot of complexity and mellow some of the harsh edges out. Would definitely repeat.
Picture pending.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Marques de Grinon SVMMA Varietalis '05
Spain
Red blend
$30ish
Poundability: 2.5/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Dark ruby color with a spicy black currant nose, medium body.
Strong oak influence off jump, with vanilla, black currant, black cherries and spices following. Stewed tomatoes and a herbaceous hit at the end.
Amazing tannin/acid combo with a long and complex finish. Needed many hours of being open before it really started to show. Super smooth with a nice tannic finish. The fruity berry flavors were slightly biting, making it a sipper and bringing down poundability. Very cool and unique wine. Big fan of everything I've tried from Marques de Grinon, which is why I had been cellaring this bottle for a few years. Which is also why I had to try the next vintage available the following night.
Picture pending.
Spain
Red blend
$30ish
Poundability: 2.5/5
Value: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Dark ruby color with a spicy black currant nose, medium body.
Strong oak influence off jump, with vanilla, black currant, black cherries and spices following. Stewed tomatoes and a herbaceous hit at the end.
Amazing tannin/acid combo with a long and complex finish. Needed many hours of being open before it really started to show. Super smooth with a nice tannic finish. The fruity berry flavors were slightly biting, making it a sipper and bringing down poundability. Very cool and unique wine. Big fan of everything I've tried from Marques de Grinon, which is why I had been cellaring this bottle for a few years. Which is also why I had to try the next vintage available the following night.
Picture pending.
Squadra Rosso '15 13% (Organic)
Italy, Sicily
Red blend (75% Nero d'Avola 25% Nerello Mascalese)
$14ish
Poundability: 2/5
Value: 2.5/5
Overall: 2/5
Light purple color with a spicy over ripe fruit nose. Medium body.
Spicy pepper, light cinnamon with black over ripe fruit. Hints of licorice and banana (drankan' pantna' did NOT agree on the banana). Got some slight raisin, umami smoke and plums after it was open awhile. Tastes "organic" as well, dirty and earthy.
Super acidic, almost the first thing I noticed/thought of after trying. Has some nice tannins but acid over powers. Tastes "hot" like a lot of Sicilian wine. Not a knock, just an opinion. Not very complex and a short finish doesn't help matters. Harsh alcohol burn at finish. While some of the rough edges on the wine mellows as it's open, the harshness is still to overpowering to give a higher rating. Overall I don't think I would repeat, not a terrible wine but can get better wine in a similar style at same price point.
Picture pending.
Italy, Sicily
Red blend (75% Nero d'Avola 25% Nerello Mascalese)
$14ish
Poundability: 2/5
Value: 2.5/5
Overall: 2/5
Light purple color with a spicy over ripe fruit nose. Medium body.
Spicy pepper, light cinnamon with black over ripe fruit. Hints of licorice and banana (drankan' pantna' did NOT agree on the banana). Got some slight raisin, umami smoke and plums after it was open awhile. Tastes "organic" as well, dirty and earthy.
Super acidic, almost the first thing I noticed/thought of after trying. Has some nice tannins but acid over powers. Tastes "hot" like a lot of Sicilian wine. Not a knock, just an opinion. Not very complex and a short finish doesn't help matters. Harsh alcohol burn at finish. While some of the rough edges on the wine mellows as it's open, the harshness is still to overpowering to give a higher rating. Overall I don't think I would repeat, not a terrible wine but can get better wine in a similar style at same price point.
Picture pending.
Karl Kaspar Kabinett Riesling '15 7.5%
German, Mosel
Riesling
$12ish
Poundability: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 3/5
Pale yellow color with a slight petrol and lime/citrus nose. Light in body and sweetness.
Got flavors of honey suckle, pear and peach. Some lime as well but not in that New Zealand sauv. blanc style, much softer and restrained. Very fruit forward with some hints of tropical fruit - melons and mango's. Hints of minerality at the back end.
Slightly to sweet for my taste - but not cloying at all. Strong acidity with a short and mildly complex finish. All in all would repeat!
Picture pending.
German, Mosel
Riesling
$12ish
Poundability: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 3/5
Pale yellow color with a slight petrol and lime/citrus nose. Light in body and sweetness.
Got flavors of honey suckle, pear and peach. Some lime as well but not in that New Zealand sauv. blanc style, much softer and restrained. Very fruit forward with some hints of tropical fruit - melons and mango's. Hints of minerality at the back end.
Slightly to sweet for my taste - but not cloying at all. Strong acidity with a short and mildly complex finish. All in all would repeat!
Picture pending.
Dom. Boisson Cote du Rhone '15 13%
France
Cote du Rhone
$14ish
Poundability: 2.5/5
Value: 2.5/5
Overall: 2.5/5
Dark purple color, medium bodied with black pepper on the nose.
Thyme, black pepper, slightly floral. Hints of glycerol and dried plums. Pretty standard C-D-R profile, nothing to special or offensive.
Strong tannin and acid profile with mild complexity. Easy drinking enough but with that light alcohol burn at finish, naturally bringing down enjoyment and poundability. Certainly not a bad wine by any stretch but overall I just found it to be....meh. With the competition at the $14 price point I wish there was a little more going on. Honestly, probably won't repeat.
Picture pending.
France
Cote du Rhone
$14ish
Poundability: 2.5/5
Value: 2.5/5
Overall: 2.5/5
Dark purple color, medium bodied with black pepper on the nose.
Thyme, black pepper, slightly floral. Hints of glycerol and dried plums. Pretty standard C-D-R profile, nothing to special or offensive.
Strong tannin and acid profile with mild complexity. Easy drinking enough but with that light alcohol burn at finish, naturally bringing down enjoyment and poundability. Certainly not a bad wine by any stretch but overall I just found it to be....meh. With the competition at the $14 price point I wish there was a little more going on. Honestly, probably won't repeat.
Picture pending.
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