Category: Red Wine

Game of Thrones

Red Blend

Paso Robles, USA

Shira/Syrah

2016 / 13.9% / $20

I’ve been holding onto this bottle for a while now.  Given the way things ended in the series, I felt I needed some time to let the filth of the final season clear from my mouth.  And boy did this bottle of wine just refill my mouth with a whole lot of filth!  You guys already know I don’t like throwing the word “best” around often, because there is so much more to enjoy in life and particularly wine.  But oh man oh man, I don’t mind throwing out the word “worst!”  And this bay boy was the worst bottle I’ve had to date!

If you’re like me – someone who has watched Game of Thrones from very first episode to the last… you had also been dreading the conclusion of the series.  Like many others, I’d been hoping that somehow, the show runners could pull off a Breaking Bad-like ending.  But man did they let us all down.

After waiting several months since the show’s finale, I finally dusted off this bottle with the hopes of sipping one of the finest “Dornish” reds, blood of my blood, etc, etc… and boy was I disappointed.

This was hands down some of the worst wine I have ever tasted.  I’d even grab a bottle of Chateau Diana over this one – and not just because my mother’s name is Diana!  My father is known for drinking some bottom of the barrel wines.  I’ve even witnessed him drink a month old already opened Carlo Rossi, but I would never dream of disappointing my father by having him drink this rot gut of a vintage.

This bottle of wine is as if the creators attempted to throw some jazzy CGI at us with the belief that loyal fans would overlook all of the crappy dialogue, and horrible writing (aside from Season 8 Episode 2).  I’m going to take this bottle and send it far north over the wall to follow Jon as he goes to do god knows what beyond the wall.  Even this bottle knows nothing!

In all seriousness this wine is just bad.  It was way too acidic and made my mouth feel terrible while trying to enjoy it on one of my last summer nights.  I usually try to find flaws in my wine reviews but for this one I struggled to find a positive.  All I could find from Game of Thrones attempt at wine was their intricately designed cork (it had all of the houses on it).  I apologize but I couldn’t bring myself to actually rate it or even bother looking up where you can purchase and where you can get it delivered.  If you go through that trouble, it’s on you.

Just like Tyrion, “I drink, and I know things.”  I drank this wine and know I never want to have another sip of it!

Erath

Pinot Noir

2016 – 13.5% – %15

Dundee, Oregon

Acid – 3.9 out of 5

Dry – 2.5 out of 5

Pinot Noir and Oregon go together like lamb and tuna fish!  Yes, you heard me.  And if you don’t get that reference than you can get the hell out! 

Sorry… but when expressing my love for wine there are few times when I don’t loop in how amazing Oregon’s Pinto Noir’s are.  Wine makers in the state have been producing knock out Pinot’s in Oregon for years.  Some vineyards have even beaten out makers from the finest wine region in the world, Burgundy France.  And that’s why I’ll be taking Secondbottle remote to Willamette Valley very soon!

Now with all of that said.  Damn, did Erath just blow this one!  Erath claim to be grapes from the earth and wines from the heart.  Please next time put a lil more heart into Erath and show us you can back up the words.

I always expect the best from Oregon’s Pinot’s but this one just misses the mark altogether.  It’s way too acidic for my liking and has no back bone to it.  It doesn’t leave me asking for more or really inspire me to put some thoughts together for my loyal readers (I did anyways).  It’s basic – just a basic Pinot from a really amazing Pinot producing region.  The only positive I could find from it was that it did have a pleasant smell.  Plus it hits the mark on a light bodied red and that’s about it.

Hey, if you’ve got a cheap – ahem – basic date that you’re trying to figure out where you want things to go, buy this, what the hell!  If she/he wants another date after sharing this bottle then you definitely know she/he likes you for you!  Drop some knowledge on Willamette’s prowess as a Pinot Region and tell them how their Terroir matches Burgundy’s almost to a tee.  It’s not really about what you know rather how confidently you talk about it.  I don’t know shit about computers, but I can put on the charm and confidently explain it to a bunch of monkeys!

I digress.  Bottle was consumed second bottle will not be purchased.

Taste – 5

Recommend – 4

Price – 9

Smell – 6

Complexity – 5

Overall – 29 out of 50

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Bucaco

Tinto Reservado

Beiras, Portugal

2009 – 13.5%

Touriga Nacional & Baga

I hadn’t intended to do a write up about this wine because it’s pretty impossible to find in the States, but the picture was too good not to show off.  I purchased this bottle while I was abroad in London, and I’d been looking forward to opening it for a while.  A birthday party for my brother and guests was the perfect occasion.  It’s a shame it’s so difficult to find here because boy this is some good wine. 

This is hotel wine.  That’s right. Alexandre de Almeida Hotels – the largest hotel chain in Portugal – produces this wine.  It’s specifically bottled for their Palace Hotel do Bussaco, which unless you’re staying there, have fun trying to find it for a reasonable price.  Most of my Portuguese wine tastings have included wines from the Douro Valley, which knocks them out of the park.  However, these grapes are from the Doa wine region of Portugal.  And I must say, as I’ve started exploring the wines of the world, Portugal is producing some of the best table wines I’ve tasted – especially if you like big full-bodied reds.

In the words of one Marty Hird, “this wine reminds me of the hedge rows along the country roads of Hampshire, where the rabbits chase one another during mating season.”  I mean I’ve never been to Hampshire, nor have I witnessed rabbits during mating season, but hey!  That sounds like an apt description to me!  He’s a man of few words but when he talks you know he isn’t fudging the truth.  I can only try to imagine how memories of the lush green country side and the beautifully landscaped hedge rows paired with this wine brought him back to his childhood…. Not to mention the local rabbit population looking for love.

This wine definitely goes with mature cheeses and heavy meat dishes.  While I was drinking it, I wanted to pair it with was some BBQ pork chops on a cool summer evening.  If you’re ever staying at an Alexandre de Almeida hotel and you see this bottle, go ahead and purchase it with your dinner.  It will leave you completely satisfied… unlike the rabbits who never caught up to their mate.

Taste – 8 out of 10

Recommend – 9 out of 10

Price – 6 out of 10

Complexity – 6 out of 10

Smell – 6 out of 10

Overall – 35 out of 50

Ken Wright Cellars

Pinot Noir

Carlton, Oregon

2015 – 13.5%

Pinot Noir

Dry – 2.5 out of 5

Acid – 4 out of 5

$20

Let me paint an image of my time with Ken Wright’s Pinot Noir…  It was the first “outside kind of dinner” – evening, book in hand, bowl of pasta and a bottle of Willamette’s best.  Living in the suburbs has some perks compared to my time in the city.  I can walk out my front door, drop my toes in the grass, enjoy a nice barbeque on the patio, and listen to the sounds of chirping birds instead of honking horns.  On this particular evening I was entertained by my neighbor’s 10-year-old chasing squirrels in his front yard.  It seems the youth of today bait squirrels with kale chips instead of the sweets I was used to.  The wine and pasta were fantastic in and of itself, but I stayed for the show.  Just an observation, there are way too many squirrels and way too many unathletic youths.

Now back to the wine.  In the glass, Ken Wrights Pinot Noir has a classic, beautiful ruby color to it with hints of raspberry, oak, and earthy characteristics.  On the nose It was light – absolutely perfect for those cool spring evenings. 

On the tongue, the gentle texture of the wine followed through throughout my tasting experience.  I’m usually not the biggest fan of acidic wines especially on their follow through, but because of how light this wine was it was an excellent complement to its finish. 

This is the kind of wine you pair with pasta.  I may have not been having fettuccine alfredo but the next time you cook some up, pair it with Ken Wright’s Pinot Noir.  You will certainly not be disappointed. 

Willamette Valley is at the top of my list for the next vacation because of the wines they’re producing.  If you want a budget friendly pinot you can’t go wrong with Ken Wright.  Of course, you can spend more for pinot’s that challenge even the best burgundies.  However, if you’re looking for a light pinot that will want you filling up another glass and asking for a second bottle, look no further than this gem.

Value – Casual Night/ Impressing Company

Overall – 7.3

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Bodegas Volver

Single Vineyard

La Mancha, Spain

2016 – 15%

Tempranillo

Dry – 3.8 out of 5

Acid – 4 out of 5

$20

Winter may be coming in the land of Game of Thrones, but it has slowly been loosening its grip on the Northeast.  So, I thought this would be the perfect time to crack open a full-bodied wine.  It may be Spring, but it doesn’t quite feel like it yet. 

My expectations were high for this bottle, especially since it’s produced by the same winemaker as my number 8 in my top 10.  Unfortunately, it did not live up to the standard set by Volver with their Tarim Hill.

I knew before cracking open this particular wine not to expect it to rise to the level of Tarim Hill, but I wasn’t expecting to completely dislike it.  On first glance it’s a beautiful looking wine.  As well as looking good in the glass, it had a very aromatic nose to it.  It has a very robust smell, with hints of dark fruits, chocolate, and spice.  I was completely expecting the nose to translate to the tongue, but it left me wanting less of it.

On the tongue, I was really struck with how acidic it was more than anything else.  It was too much for my liking and had massive characteristics of smoke and oak.  Despite giving this wine plenty of time to breathe both in the bottle and in the glass, it never seemed to open up nicely.  Though certainly a very full-bodied tannic wine; I was hoping for its tannins to be a bit smoother, but I was quickly let down.

In all honesty it pained me to find ways to write about this wine.  I was struggling to come up with characteristics of this wine that would translate a picture of the beauty wine can present.  This wine gave me none of that, it mostly left me with a “meh” feeling.  That this producer can make such knock outs as Tarim Hill but miss the target with their single vineyard, is a testament to the difficulty of winemaking.

Value – One Time Buy

Overall – 4.8 out of 10

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Bodega Chacra

Barda

Patagonia, Argentina

2017 – 13%

Pinot Noir

Acid – 2

Dry – 3.5

$20

This was a first for me.  I’ve had very few South American wines before and have disliked each one of them with a passion.  However, this being a Patagonian wine, I didn’t even know what to expect.  But oh, was I intrigued.  The picture I have of Patagonia is of the mountainous land, snow-capped cliffs, massive grasslands, and the driest of deserts.  This was however, a beautiful view in its own regard.  Not your typical Patagonia view but just as stunning.

In Patagonia, Chacra is considered a special piece of land destined to pomology and thought to have a vital energy center with the ability to connect the universe.  Well this pinot connected me to what Chacra’s founder Piero Incisa Della Rocchetta has perfected in Patagonia.  This wine does what many wines don’t succeed at.  Being able to transmit you through the growth of the wine.  In a sense, you’re tasting each part of the winemaking process.  And that complexity is what truly makes Barda stand out in an Argentinian sea of Malbecs.

In the glass, Barda has a dark ruby slightly purplish color to it.  On the nose, this wine has some interesting characteristics.  My initial sensation from this wine is of freshly tilled, wet soil.  As the wine opened up in the glass I started to get hints of cinnamon, orange peel, oak, and vanilla.  Woods and earth were definitely the most common scents that I experienced throughout the tasting.

However, on the tongue this wine turned into a completely different animal.  I was first struck by just how smooth and “plush” this wine felt in my mouth.  You could say it felt velvety with lingering flavors of strawberry.  Its finish was where its tannins really came through along with a touch of vanilla.  During my tasting, Barda was felt most in the very back of my throat.

Barda would definitely pair well with a few different dishes or foods.  It fits a broad spectrum of palates, from penne vodka to beautifully grilled venison steak.  Funny enough, what I was craving while enjoying Barda was a slice of margherita pizza.

What I’m left with most after drinking this wine is how I’d like to buy another bottle and cellar it.  I feel that this wine would do well to sit and develop more structure and complexity to it.  Cellaring this wine will give it a chance to mature which in turn will make its tannins more present.  While it’s fresh as a young wine, I will absolutely buy a few more to throw in the cellar.

Value – Impressing Company

Overall – 7.5

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Colossal

Reserva

Lisbon, Portugal

2015 – 14%

Touriga Nacional – 30% Syrah – 30% Tinta Touriga Nacional – 30% Alicante Boushet – 10%

Acid – 2.8 out of 5

Dry – 3.8 out of 5

$9!

This shit right here!  This shit right here!  Let me just start this off with, “this is a BULK BUY immediately!”  If that were a value, my goodness this would be ordered case on case on case.  This bad boy costs $9 and oh man is it good.  You know these Portuguese have nailed down Port but who knew they could throw out budget friendly bangers too!  Don’t get it wrong I’ll splurge from time to time on a wine – but I’d drink this bottle of pure poetry any day of the week.  As much as I want to stop the blog right here.  I’ll get more into detail about Reserva.

In the glass the wine has a beautiful garnet color.  On first sniff, I’m delighted by the fresh raspberry smell, hints of spice, and oak subtleties.  This wine is quite refreshing to smell.  It’s like when you’ve had your windows closed all winter and that first warm spring day rolls up.  You open all your windows and let the smells of crisp, fresh spring air hit you right in the nostrils!  It warms up your soul and gets you excited for the birds to start chirping and the flowers to start budding!

On the tongue this is a very robust wine.  If you’re a full-bodied kind of wino, this is your go to.  There is no mistaking the Touriga Nacional and its rustic characteristics.  There is a hint of acidity that you first get in the back “roof of your mouth” but is really brought together with it’s phenomenal finish.  It leaves this lingering wonderfully pleasant taste after you have sipped it.  The tannins let you know they’re present at the finish, and the wine also has a nice smoky follow through.

As much as this wine pairs perfectly with a heavy winter meal what I look forward to most with this wine is drinking it around a campfire with some delicious grilled meat.  This isn’t just a wine that needs to be paired; I’d also drink this wine any night of the week by itself.  All in all, this is table wine done right, plain and simple…

Value – BULK BUY!  Casual night or Impressing Company

Overall – 7.7 out of 10

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Bodegas Virgen de la Sierra

Old Garnacha Vines (OGV)

Calatayud, Spain

2015 – 14%

Grenache

Acid – 3.7 out of 5

Dry – 4.5 out of 5

$15

For this review we head to the region of Calatayud Spain.  Spain is another one of those countries that I have yet to visit but is high on my list.  This wine is made up of one of my favorite Grapes, Grenache.  Or as it’s called in Spain, “Garnacha.”  Grenache is most famously grown in France, but the grape itself most likely originated in Spain due to its tolerance of hot and arid climates.  Grenache is easily paired with a lot of foods because of it’s medium bodied texture, fruit forward hints, and soft tannins.  It’s also widely appreciated for its ability to drink while it’s young.  Now enough about young grapes… lets get down to the business end.

In the glass, this wine has a very deep red color, almost blood red.  On the nose this wine brings forward scents of plum, dark chocolate, and spice.  It becomes very robust as you let it breath in the glass and it is very fruit forward.  As Grenache’s tend to have a higher alcohol level, you can certainly smell the alcohol coming from inside the glass.

On the tongue, I’m first struck by how dry this wine is.  You certainly feel it from first taste to last.  The acidity level is there as well, which at times is not the most pleasant.  This wine was very robust throughout the tasting experience and would do well paired with food.  I certainly would not drink this wine by itself.  Its finish follows through with soft tannins while the wine is felt most in the roof of my mouth.  Overall, I think this is an entry-level Grenache that may do well by aging a few years.  However, it is right for the price and for my evening it paired well with some roasted chicken, kale, and potatoes. 

Funny thing, I did start to like it the more I drank of it.  But I’m going to attribute that to the fact I was hammered when I was done drinking it!  Cheers.

Value – One time buy

Overall – 4.5 out of 10

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Loveblock

Pinot Noir

Central Ontago, New Zealand

2015 – 14%

Acid – 2.7 out of 5

Dry – 3.6 out of 5

            I couldn’t think of a better occasion to crack open this bottle than Valentines Day.  Yes, this wine just so happens to be in my personal top ten (#7 as a matter of fact) and it’s there for good reason.  I’ve enjoyed this wine two times before and unfortunately did not have the opportunity to review it.  I was looking forward to my next time so I could really capture in writing how this wine exemplifies the beauty of the grape.

Yes, it’s Valentines Day so excuse me while I get a little romantic about this baby.  Wine has the magical ability to not only tell you about its place of origin but to transport you there.  Wine can transmit a sense of place, culture, people, and time.  You can feel the love and devotion that’s put into a beautifully sculpted bottle of wine.  What other product can you truly enjoy that may have been developed over a hundred years ago?  Today, you can open up a bottle of Madeira or vintage port produced more than a century ago that is not only drinkable but also delicious.  But, I digress.  Back to my Loveblock. 

Even though I’ve never been to New Zealand, this wine brings me to a tall mountain range overlooking lush green scenery.  The smells of blossoming flowers followed through with the cool salt air of the Tasman Sea.  When I think of New Zealand, more often than not, I think of scenes in Lord of the Rings… especially the small hobbit homes covered in wild grow and buzzing with beautiful wildlife.  Those thoughts make me want to light up my corn cob pipe, pour myself a tall glass of Loveblock, and enjoy the landscape.

            In the glass, Loveblock has a very light ruby color to it.  On the nose, I’m struck by just how beautiful this wine smells.  It’s followed through with hints of moss, rose pedals, black cherry, and strawberry. 

            Now to the good part; the drinking of this gem.  For such a light colored wine, it sure does have the tasting characteristics of a medium bodied bold wine.  Its tannins are present throughout the experience.  From first sip your senses are brought to the spice and tobacco notes, with the finish coming through in a well-balanced fashion. 

What’s fantastic about this wine is how well it follows through throughout your tasting experience.  From first sip to last, you get a sense of just how crisp this wine is and the dedication that was put into the process of creating this wine.  Other Pinots that I’ve tasted have been fruity from nose to tongue.  This one however was fruity on the nose but remained earthy and complex throughout the whole tasting process, which honestly was a very pleasant experience.  I hope you find the time to enjoy this wine just as much as I did.

Value – Top Tier

Taste – 4

Overall – 4

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