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Presenter: Harry Rose
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February 2013 minutes:
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| Wines |
Region |
Country |
Source |
Cost |
Comments |
Type |
1.
Santa Rita 2010
Medalla Real Gran Reserva
Chardonnay
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Leyda Valley
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Chile |
Majestic
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£11
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14%. Very
perfumed with an almost oily nose and a decent
balance on the palate. Rich, dense with a touch of
oak (7 months).
Group Comments: “pleasant wine”,
“acidic”, “not to buttery”, “more citrus”, “oily”,
“waxy”, “alcohol burn”, “not particularly hot”, “No
shrinking Violet”.
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White |
2.
Catena 2009 Chardonnay
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Mendoza
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Argentina |
Majestic
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£13
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14%. Rich on the
nose with a little fudge/toffee. Fresh on the palate
with some butterscotch, the oak is more overt and
the lighter body accentuates the woody edges.
Group Comments: “sweet and sour”,
“Chablis like”, “lemon shebet”, “acidic”, “not well
integrated”, “toffee”, “caramel”, “butterscotch”.
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3.
Bodegas
Escorihuela Gascó 2009, 1884 Reservado Shiraz
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Mendoza
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Argentina |
The Wine
Chambers
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£11
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14%. Winemaker
Gustavo Marin ages Syrah for 8 months in French and
American oak. There's lots of fruit but also a
smoky, ashen nose. On the palate it's initially
soft, then hardens on the mid-palate, before giving
a stewed aspect on the finish (and on the nose after
some time in the glass). A little simplistic.
Group Comments: “smoky, dusty”,
“good but hard tannins”, “1 dimensional”, “Ribena”,
“stewed”.
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Red |
4. Ventisquero
2008
Grey Glacier Shiraz, Apalta
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Colchagua Valley
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Chile |
The Wine
Chambers
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£14
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14.5%. From the
Roblería Vineyard (see Vertice) in the Apalta.
Eucalyptus/menthol on the nose with some smoke.
Rich, smooth and soft at the front with interesting
edge tannins, thick, extracted fruit and a long
finish. There are fresh, lifting vapours although
the tannins and complexity could be a bit more and
there's a slightly tinny finish.
Group Comments: “vanilla”, “fruit
bonbons”, “rich smooth”, “lighter wine (than last)”,
“lack of extract”, “reserved”.
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5. Lapostolle
2001
Cuvee Alexandre Merlot, Apalta
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Colchagua Valley
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Chile |
Majestic
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£16.24
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14.5%. (Organic,
85% Merlot; 15% Syrah, wild yeast ferment). A
complete nose; fruity, promising, fresh but not
young. Tannins are very ash-dry on the palate with
bouncing acidity and beautiful flavours, a very good
wine which probably needs another 2-3 years.
Group Comments: “quality wine”,
“has grip”, “not like a Merlot”, “will be smoother
with age”.
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6.
Luca 2009
Uco Valley Malbec
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Mendoza
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Argentina |
Majestic
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£22
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14%. Average
vineyard elevation 3,150ft (960m), hand harvested
from 47yr vines with 16 months in 60% new French &
40% second use French barriques. A heavyweight wine,
literally with a massive bottle. Creamy, rich with
dark berry fruit, (too) fresh acidity and integrated
tannins. Dense fruit and complex flavours makes this
a delicious wine with plenty going on, although some
found it a little too soft.
Group Comments: “too soft”, “sweet
and toffee like”, “smooth tannins”, “dense fruit”,
“chunky”, "a “ladies wine”, “soft & cuddly”.
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7.
Ventisquero 2007 Vertice Carménère/Syrah, Apalta
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Colchagua Valley
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Chile |
The Wine
Chambers
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£25
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14%. A "creative
partnership of John Duval and Felipe Tosso gives
life to a unique marriage of Carménère and Syrah.
Grapes are sourced from the most elevated section of
the Fundo Roblería estate in the Apalta Valley".
Delicious cassis, herby fruit and dense flavours;
smooth, soft, cool and sweet with soft-grain
tannins, although the sweetness was off-putting for
some.
Group Comments: “smells and tastes
of chocolate”, “sweetness to it”, “great depth”,
“blackcurrant/Ribena”, “liquorice”, “seems soft”,
“lacks definition”.
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8.
Cousino
Macul 2007 Finis Terrae
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Maipo Valley
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Chile |
The Wine
Chambers
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£19
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14%. (Cabernet
Sauvignon / Merlot / Syrah). Dark fruit nose,
concentrated (and a little stewed) cassis. Rich,
grainy tannins and restrained, chocolaty fruit. A
good wine with no harshness although it is not
particularly exciting, a touch 1 dimensional.
Group Comments: General debate
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9.
Pulenta
2008 Gran Corte VII, Lujan de Cuyo
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Mendoza
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Argentina |
Richard Granger
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£24
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14%. (43% Malbec,
31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot
and 4% Cabernet Franc, from the Pulenta estate). A
closed nose with a subtle, earthy perfume. Acid and
tannins stand out rather than fruit, this has decent
texture and a pleasant chewiness, although the
acidity comes across as a little artificial.
Coffee/espresso shows in the glass.
Group Comments: General debate
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20/02/2013 |
Raffle wine: Montevista Viognier Reserva 2010
Won by: Carole Fletcher |
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