Wine tasted on Saturday, October 19 at 8:10 PM

Faustino VII, Tempranillo, 2010, Oyon, Rioja, Spain. Purchased a bottle at Publix for $8.99. ALC. 13%.

This Tempranillo is poised at the edge between a light and a more hearty red, as would be expected from this early summer grape. It presents a light red, almost transparent color, with relatively little nose, though old oak is quite evident and almost overpowering other more subtle tastes. There are hints of plum, vanilla and other fruits in a nicely balanced light wine. It is smooth and quite easy to drink, with low tannins and it palate is relatively long and pleasant. It pairs well with food, for instance a steak with heavy lefty vegetables and olive oil. This wine is definitely better with food rather than as a stand-alone drinking experience. And for the price, it is undoubtedly worth trying. So go ahead, try it and see if you agree with the foregoing.

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Wine Tasted on Friday, October 11, 2013, at 10 PM.

Sterling Vintner’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010, Sonoma, Central Coast California. Purchased at CVS in Fort Lauderdale, FL for $11.69 (normally priced at $14.99). Alc. 13.5%.

This is a favorite stand-by of mine. Sterling Vineyards manages to somehow keep a consistent good quality over the seasons and years, despite the fact that it sources its grapes from many different vineyards in California’s best wine country. This Cab has a very good nose, with hints of sweetness, possibly from honey, but with a lot of complexity and a spicy feel. It feels very smooth to the palate, and a number of flavors of berries come strongly forward upon first tasting it. Despite a deep red color that portends a certain heaviness as expected from a Cab, it is actually quite light. Its goes down very easily and its low tannins make for a pleasant drinking  experience, with or without food. With food, it should be paired with relatively light dishes, such as salads or vegetarian fare.

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Wine tasted Wednesday, September 25th at 6:25 PM

Augey Bordeaux, Red blend, 2012, Entre-deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France.  Purchased Wine at Publix.  Augey was on special 2 bottles for the price of one at $9.99.  12.5% ALC

This wine has a clear deep ruby red color.  Slightly dry and smooth.  Would go nicely with cheese.

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Wine tasted: September 19, 2013 at 5:00 PM

De Gras Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, Colchagua Valley, Chile. Bought at Santa Isabel Supermarket, Valdivia, Chile. (CH$4.199, or around US$8.20). Alc. 13.5%

The Mont Gras vineyard has become one of my favorites among Chilean wine producers. Elsewhere in this website, we reviewed a specially produced Mont Gras wine for the hotel/shipping company Australis, which was extraordinary. The Reserva denomination here is meaningful in this regard, and signifies a particularly well balanced wine. It has a very good nose upon opening the bottle, with suggestions of fruit and subtle oakiness. The color is dark red, befitting a Cabernet Sauvignon that is both heavy and subtle at the same time. Strong fruitiness, clean and a strong palate with a long finish makes this an exceptionally well balanced wine with a lot of personality. I am sure it would be great with cheeses, meats and even, dare I suggest it, sweet and light chocolate. A great buy at this price!

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Wine tasted: Wednesday, October 4, 2013 at 8:00 PM

Altas Cumbres 2012 Malbec by Lagarde, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina. Gifted. Priced a bottle at $10.14 (www.getwineonline.com). Alc. 13.9%.

This is a good, very drinkable wine as would be expected from a Malbec, an emblematic Mendoza grape that consistently makes for good and even extraordinary red wines. It presents with an intense, deep ruby color that portends a full bodied wine. It has a nice, interesting bouquet, including a hint of honey, berries and cassis. It has somewhat heavy, but pleasant tannins when swilled around the tongue, and a very long palate. This 100% Malbec is from plantings in 1906 and 1995 in the small but very bohemian and quite wonderful town of Lujan de Cuyo, right next to the city of Mendoza. All around, quite a nice wine and an excellent price/value ratio. I would recommend it highly with meats of any kind, and particularly with pastas and sauces.

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