Reviews

Reviews

Wine reviews by the team.

The Team:

Name:

Bertrand

About:

Former cockel picker but now all round decent chap. Bertrand loves big reds!

Name:

Andy

About:

Knows everything about wine, might be gay.

/

Name:

James

About:

Drinks every drop in sight

Le Prestige André Roux 2007

Thursday, 21 January 2010 18:04

Description

Deeply satisfying red from a historic vintage and highly skilled winemaker. Master of the Rhône André Roux has been a friend for decades. Thanks to our friendship, we've persuaded him to make special cuvées by appointment to you, like this top-vintage release.

Deep ruby red colour and seductive blackberry, dark cherry and wild herb aromas. Plenty of peppery black fruit, earthy, savoury notes and supple tannins. A red for hearty roasts.

Grape:

Country: France
France

Alcohol:

Body:

Recommended Reidel Glass: Vinum XL/Cabernet Sauvignon
6416 00

Comments

Chris: quite an odd smell, I have smelt that before but do not know what it was from .. almost medicine like
James: a fruit sensation on the nose, apple black current, cranberry
Andy: I love it
Bertrand: so balanced
Adrain: quite a bit of strawberry
Andy to John: you have to try this
James: almost poppers
Bertrand: Like poppers but without the red face almost shitting yourself
Andy: the best nose so far
Andy: that’s a fantastic balance and superb length
Bertrand: It’s a reminder why I fell in love with wine in the first place
James: bouquet promised more then it delivered …
Bertrand: this is like the anticipation after a first date …
Andy: I reckon another hour and that prestige ….

The Tasters

The Evidence

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Corralillo Winemaker's Blend 2006

Thursday, 21 January 2010 17:49

Description

Corralillo represents the name of the still-standing century-old wine cellar and winery in Rosario Valley where wine of the old Mission grape was once made. Rich and full-bodied, from 85% Merlot which gives the wine structure and warming spices, and 15% Malbec providing the delicious wild berry flavours and round tannins.

Grape:

Country: Chile
Chile

Alcohol:

Body:

Recommended Reidel Glass: Vinum XL/Cabernet Sauvignon
6416 00

Comments

James: that’s dessert on your nose
Andy: that’s a fruit salad … lets give it a taste [drinking] “ohhhhhh that nose delivers more ….”
Andrian: goes down very smoothly
Bertrand: very sugary
Bertrand: storm of blackberries
Chris: don’t like that one
Andy: great nose but under delivers, its not aweful
Adrian: I am disappointed
Andy: when you smell that you think its going to be great … it really isn’t
Adrian: I was hoping for good things from this … not quite what I was hoping for …
Andy: if you hold it in context, its only disappoint on the nose, its not as great as it smells, but its an alright wine

The Tasters

The Evidence

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Château Caronne Ste Gemme 2002

Thursday, 21 January 2010 17:32

Description

Medium-full colour. Good fruit and class if without a great deal of depth on the nose. Good structure. Ripe, plump and balanced on the palate. The finish is long. There is more to it than I thought on the nose. Good plus. I tasted it a second time at the Château. The fresh sample there was very impressive. Very good plus. From 2007

Grape:

Country: France
France

Alcohol:

Body:

Recommended Reidel Glass: Vinum XL/Cabernet Sauvignon
6416 00

Comments

Bertrand: just right cherries … like a young linda lucadi [continued mumbling]
James: Black currant with a hint of mint
Andy: something a bit “minerally”
James: blood red, almost like a Hungarian wine …
James: a hint of cigar
Andy: a bit of length there
Bertrand: the daddy of Ribena for taste … [Andy disagrees]
John: “I had to go to a fucking petrol station …” as he tries t o justify the “amazing” bottle of wine he brought …[an 8% white]
James: Fruity. Great on the throat [Bertrand gags] …. I really like that one, since it warmed it has really grown on me
Andy: black fruits, hint of oak, good length, NICE !!!
Adrian: there is quite a bit sediment in that bad boy

The Tasters

The Evidence

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Opi Malbec 2008

Thursday, 21 January 2010 14:19

Description

Trophy success for Opi Sadler's deeply fruited, spicy Malbec at the Decanter World Wine Awards!

This delicious, full-flavoured red is an exclusive cuvée made by Rodolfo 'Opi' Sadler, chief winemaker at Andean Vineyards. The winery is one of the most accomplished and awarded in the country, whilst Rodolfo has built up quite a reputation himself, with many accolades to his name. He is also rated among the Top Ten in the country - he scooped 'Best Malbec of Argentina' in 2008, a formidable feat.

The Malbec for this red was hand-picked from vineyards in the Maipú region of Mendoza, where the vines benefit both from long sunshine hours, and an altitude of over 630 metres. The result is grapes with good freshness, fruit concentration and acidity. Six months in oak has given it extra depth and spicy complexity.

Grape:

Country: Argentina

Alcohol:

Body:

Recommended Reidel Glass: Vinum XL/Cabernet Sauvignon
6416 00

Review:

Review due soon

Comments

James: Like a fruity blancmange
Betrand: a little bit of sulfer
Adrian: Much sweeter nose
Andy: not quite sure what to make of that
John: all these wines smell like BO
Adrian: it tastes very different then it smells
Bertrand: Its tickling my unami glands
[Overall this wine caused the most discussions thus far … many comments on odd smell of the wine]
Andy: I am not happy with that smell .. but I like it. A bit overoaked …
Andy: its full bodied …. “urgh” as james brings out a pinot (he was about to say something smart lol)
Andy: quite alcoholic …
James back on Opi: there is more raspberry this time … this is a wine that surpasses my expectations.

The Tasters

The Evidence

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