My Wine Notes

No, I didn't say whine.
Just in case you want to give a gift of wine, my notes may be helpful in choosing. Although, it's based on wines I've purchased/tasted in NYC. Since you don't know what I'm basing my ratings on, nor my wine taste preferences, I like red full-bodied (with a nice thick viscosity (i.e. legs), smooth, complex taste of any of the following: dark plum, cherry, berries, oak, chocolate, licorice taste, with a nice complex finish. Would love it if you'd offer up nice wines (and their descriptions) that you've tasted. So that I could taste and add to my list. Thus far, I've listed them by location I purchased them in, and then by country of production.

I keep astonishing my neighbors and Sanitation Dept. with the wine bottles I place in my recycling bins . Just kidding. I really don't know what they think. I could be correct, though.
Wines I've tasted and rated (two stars are my favorites; one star are second favorites).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

REDS:

Purchased in Bensonhurst at E&F (2002 - 2008):
Africa:

*KWV 2001 Merlot; Western Cape, South Africa; ($7.99 on 8/26/05); appearance: dark ruby, legs; nose: dark chocolate; taste: full, cherry, tanins(s), very smooth finish; drank 1/2 hour later: wow!!!; heavy on the velvety chocolate

KWV 2001 Pinotage, South Africa; $8.99 on 1/15/06: nose: purple grape; intense fruitiness at first; softened quickly; then complex; nice finish

Australia:
*Rosemount 2002 (70% cabernet; 30% merlot) (Silver Medal); Rosemont Estate; S.E. Australia; ($7.99 on 8/26/05); appearance: dark opaque purple; nose: purple burgundy; cherries taste: pleasant, mild fruits, lasting finish, very nice, smooth
McPherson Cabernet 2000; Australia; $8.99 on 11/27/05; nose: sharp upon opening; 10 minutes after opening: more mellow, complex, lingering finish; taste: oak, complex finish (lingering)

Lindeman's Reserve Merlot 2001; South Australia; $9.99 in 1/14/06: nose: fruity; taste: muted crisp, dark fruits

Lindeman's Reserve Cabernet 2001; South Australia; $9.99 in 1/14/06: nose: quite crisp; 20 minutes later: complex, fruit; taste: very complex; almost fizzy on your tongue; 20 minutes later: very complex, but nice; comments: nice, distinct long-lasting legs

France:
Lafite (Reserva Speciale) Baons de Rothschild; Bordeaux 2002; France; $11.99 on 9/13/06: app: ruby; nose: deep & dark; taste: subtle and crisp at the same time; complex, berry finish

*Chateau Camplay Bordeaux Superieur 2003; Le Cellei de Saint-Louis, France; $12.99 on 9/13/06: app: deep burdungy (opaque); nose: dark; taste: gentle fruit; yet crisp; lingering crisp finish; comments: very nice

Italy:
**Remole (85% sangiovese; 15% cabernet), 2003 (Toscany, Italy); Marchesi di Frescobaldi vineyard: appearance: dark burgundy; nose: dark berries; taste: complex; smooth; nice lingering finish; soo nice ($9.99 in 2006)
Roca Della Machie (90% sangiovese; 5% merlot; 5% canaido) Chianti Classico 2003; $12.99 in 2006?: app: deep burdundy; nose: complex fruits; tast: tanins, complex, fruits, nice finish
*Ruffino il Leo Chiangi Superiore 2004; $9.99 on 11/25/06: very nice

Chianti Classico 2003; $10.99 on 11/25/06: nice

Portugal:

**Quinta de Parrotes (85% castelao; 15% cabernet) 2001; Allenqueu, D.O.C., Abunque, Portugal; $5.99 on 1/24/04): app: very dark burdundy, opaque; nose: full bodied bouquet; taste: (1) immediately: crisp, slight oak, crisp finish; (2) later: very full finish on tongue; comments: what a lovely surprise; this is a very nice surprise (but, I was never able to find it at the store again)
United States (California, Washington):

Smoking Loon Merlot 2003; California; $8/9ish: app: ruby; nose: dark fruit; taste: suble fruit

**Caymus Cabernet 1992; Nappa, CA; $? 12/24/06; gift from Bryan; taste: multi berries; comments: very nice; subtle

*Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet 2002; Columbia Valley, Patterson, Washington; $gift from Pat P.: comments: I liked this very much; neglected to do the taste-note taking, but I liked it.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Purchased in Astoria (either at Broadway Liquors or Best on Broadway, 34th Ave. Liquors or 36th Ave. Liquors)(2008 -09):

Africa:

*Indaba Shiraz 2010 (South Africa), imported by Cape Classics, NY, NY., Produced by Indaba Wines - $7.99 at 34th Ave. Liquors: This was not bad at all. And, for this price, I would get several more bottles. I didn't bother rating it, but it's nice. Could use a bit of breathing. Description on the bottle is: fresh, juicy shiraz flaunts ripe, jammy flavors of blueberry, blackberry, and black cherry, with hints of white pepper, earth and spice. I didn't catch the black pepper and earth and spice, but did the other ingredients mentioned. Just let it breath for about 1/2 hour.

Neiderberg Pinotage; $9.99 at B'way Liq. on 10/6/08: nose: nice, smooth; taste: mild but a little after bite

Oracle Pinotage 2007 (36 Ave. W & S (7/16/09) $6.99) - To be drunk & reviewed

**Robertson Winery, Gewurztraminer, Special Late Harvest, 2009, (36 Ave. Liquors), Importer Indigo Wine Group, Venice, Fla. 34285, $7.99 - Bottle description: Sumptious honeysuckle and rose petals in bouquet. Rich and smooth beautifully balanced sugar and acide given extra interest by a touch of honeyed botrytis. This was such a lovely surprise. I don't usually drink white wines, but was picking this up as a holiday gift. I'll be getting more of these for myself. Very nice.

Argentina:

*?Urban Uco Malbec 2005; Valley de Uco- Mendoza, Argentina; $12.99 on 4/25/08; Best on Broadway: app: deep ruby; nose: full bodied; taste: complex, full, pretty smooth, nice finish

Urban Uco Malbec-Tempranillo 2005, Valley de Uco-Mendoza, Argentina; $12.99 on 4/25/08 from Best on Broadway; app: opaque burdundy; nose: tanins; taste: quite complex

*Norton Reserva Malbec 2005; Mendoza, Argentina; $14.99 at Broadway Wines on 10/6/08: complex upon opening; pretty nice; let's wait and see when it has aired a bit

**Pascual Toso Cabernet 2006, Mendoza, Argentina; $9.99 at Broadway Wines on 10/6/08: nose: cavernous (only way I can describe it. ??); taste: complex; lovely vanilla'sh finish; I like this wine pretty much

Australia

**Greg Norman 89% Cabernet 11% Merlot 2006 (Limestone Coast)(Australia Estates) (36th Ave. 7/16/09 $15.99) - bouquet: hard to describe. best I like to say is dark; taste, very complex; appearance: deep and opaque plum; nice legs; this is a very pleasant wine to me. It's not the melowest that I've had, but it makes up for it with the nicest complexity of tastes.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz (South Australia) 2009, 34th Ave. Liquors, $10.99, Imported by FWE Imports, Napa, Ca. - This is a nice wine and is always a good standby when you can't get your favorites. Bottle description: opulent red berries, spice and violet characters are beautifully captured in this shiraz. Oak adds subtle cedar and vanilla nuances, while fine tannins round out the palate.

Fat Tree Shiraz Cabernet 2008 -- This is a lovely wine. Only thing is I don't know who the importer is, and it must be a small winery. I'm having trouble getting more of these.

Chile

Oops (Carmenere) Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (36th Ave. 7/16/09) $9.99 - bouquet: (from the bottle) cavernous humid cave, (from the glass) dark plum; appearance: dark opaque burgundy; viscosity: nice legs; taste: dark "sedate" (not bright) plums, grapes. So far it's nice. Let's see in another 45 minutes. It's about 1.5 hrs later. Still sipping this. It's musty (hence the cavernous bouquet). I'm not enjoying it that much anymore. Don't even know if it's worth using for cooking. (Maybe I'll freeze it in ice cubes and decide later.)

PKNT Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (36th Ave (7/16/09) $8.99) - to be drunk & reviewed: aroma: Dark cavernous; nice legs; appearance: opaque burgundy; taste: a variety of dark fruits; very nice so far
Italy:

*Castello di Monastero (Sangiovese, Toscana) 2004; Castelnuovo, Berardenga, Italy; $9.99 4/2008; Broadway Liquors: taste: ripe cherries?; commments: very nice; sangiovese comes through again

Serafina Chianti Classico 2006 (95% Sangiovese; 5% Merlot) $27.98 (I certainly didn't intend to pay this much, but that's what my receipt tells me. A definite mistake on my part. It was nice, but not that nice. No, not a mistake. That price is for two bottles, but it still advertised it at a $10.99 sale.) (mfgr's description: distinctly rich and well structured; medium-bodied; soft tanins; rich cherry fruit flavors; enjoy with grilled meats, pizzas, hearty pastas). I had this with pizza and totally agree with mfgr's description. This was quite nice with pizza.

United States:
Leaping Horse...$5.50 per glass. Melissa had this w/me at the JJ Ranch (4/1/11) with our dinner. Melissa liked this a lot. I liked it, but not as well as the Rutherford. Leaping Horse was fruity, but not as complex as I like, and was smooth. Again, I got the name off the dinner receipt, so think it is a cabernet from California. I'll have to google it to see if that's so.

M. Kaiken Cabernet; $9.99 at Broadway Wines on 10/6/08: oaky/tanins upon opening; strange indescribable aroma (not sure if desirable). Not bad once it's been aerated. It was okay, but not great..

Rutherford Ra (Cabernet, I think)...$8.50 per glass. I had this up at the JJ Ranch with Melissa while dining (4/1/11) . This was very nice. It had a nice full body to it, dark fruits, tannins, and complex. I liked it very much. I don't have the full name (as I got it off my receipt), but I believe it comes from California and is a cabernet. I'll have to google it to see if that's so.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Grand Liquors (30th Avenue N stop) (2008 - ):

France:

*Markovic Estates Cabernet Reserve 2006; south France; $9.99 at Grand Liq.: nose: fruity/bright; taste: full bodied, plus, effervescent; pretty nice thus far; very nice and smooth; slight hint of sweetness

Italy:

*Angelica Nero D'Avola, Sicily, 2001 (36 Ave. Wine & Spirits (7/16/08) - $9.99) - To be drunk & reviewed: aroma: dark cherries; appearance: luminescent burgundy color; taste: medium/full bodied, dark berries. My first impression upon uncorking it was, "wow!! Dark cherries aroma!" But that seemed to be on the cork alone. But, bottom line, this is not a bad wine at all. I actually enjoyed this quite a bit.

Sorelli Family's Scuola Toscana 2004, Tuscany, Italy $13.99 on 11/25/08: nose: dark cherries; taste: complex, oak

Umberto Cesari Sangiovese 2005 (36 Ave. Wine & Spirits (7/16/08) - $14.99) - Nose: Dark cherries immediately upon opening and smelling into the bottle; into glass it has that cave-like smell (whatever that might mean to you; I have my own definition of that); taste: dark cherries; appearance: burgundy, clear, nice legs; complex finish. This may turn out to be one of my usual sangiovese tastes that I like. Will have to check it again after it's aired for a while.

*Villa Santera's Primitivo di Manduria 2005, Italy; $14.99 on 11/25/08 at Grand Liq.: nose: berries; taste: smooth, complex, very nice on the finish, velvety; gave it a star (mfg'rers description:very dark ruby; fuity bouquet, very rich with hints of cherries and liquorice; full bodied, velvety).

Il Bastardo, Tuscany, Italy. If you every find this bottle, it's not a bad purchase (at $5.99). It's a Sangiovese wine. The label is great. That's the only reason I bought it. That, together with the name. It's a label with a fat Italian man, with a fat face, sitting on a chair, outside, with a glass of wine in his hand. I love the label!! Actually, the wine itself wasn't that terrible. My notes were: nose: fruity; taste: fruity but not sharpe.

Spain

Palacio Quemado, Spain, 2003: Ripe fruits. (nice)

WHITE:

an additional one which i forgot to include (2008 - ):

Germany:

Blue Fish Sweet Riesling 2007, Germany. (Broadway Liquors): This one was very nice. I got this, together with a Blue Fish Pinot Grigio for the Dinner in the Dark but never ended up serving them. The reisling was nice. the pinot was okay. ??
United States:

Chateau Riviera Chardonnay (bought a 1/2 litre; don't know where; I think in my local supermarket?): dry, very nice. Yep, it was at Bravo's Supermarket. I just found it there again. This time it was a 750 mg. size and it cost $5.99. Ha!! Cheap! This is the first supermarket in NYC that I've found has wines in it. Very nice to have that available.

To Be Tasted and Reviewed:

4/19/20:

Villa Wolf Gewuztraminer $11.99 (as I remember, this was nice. I took it to Kathy Schneider's party) at 36 Ave. Wine

Excelsior Cabernet $7.99 at 36 Ave. Wine

Tenuta Coppadoro Ratino $12.99 at 36 Ave. Wine

Vinasde Balbo Bonardo/Malb ec $3.99 at Broadway Wine (this was a clearance)

Sofia Cab/Sav. $3.99 at Broadway (same clearance)

Preston Reserve Cab/Sav. $4.99 Broadway (clearance)

Red Rooster Cab $11.99 Broadway Wines

11/5/2010

Casa Silva Reserva Carme $11.99 at 36 Ave. Wines

Arrogant Frug Syrah/Viog. $8.99 at 36 Ave. Wines

Excelsior Cab $6.99 at 36 Ave. Wines

12/30/10:

Gascon Malbec $11.99 at 36 Ave. Wines

1/31/11 (at California Wine Merchants, Manhattan)

Dante Cabernet Reserve Calif. $12.99 (very nice)



1/28/11 at 34th Ave. Liquors

Urgan Uco Malbec/Tempranillo $11.99

Vega Sindoa $12.99

2/6/11:

Menage A Trois 2009 -blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from California $10.99 - nose: dark fruit; appearance: very dark plum, opaque; taste: dark plum-like fruit; dark sweet, but not too much; nice legs; viscosity is thick. I like it. This is a good price too.

Vega Sindoa Cab 2007 (Spain) $12.99

Casillero del Diablo Carmeniere 2009 (Chile) $8.99

Venta Morales Tempranillo 2009 (Spain) $7.99