Personal wine selection for 2011
Pinot noir 2009, výběr z hroznů,Malé Žernoseky-Na Dobraji,Litoměřice sub.,Czech,Vinařství sv. Tomáše
( December 2011 )
A glittering bright red colour with pale-orange edge and characteristic watery rim. A typical, elegant smell of forest fruit, complemented by gentle touch of oak coming from used barrique barrels. A very rounded and balanced taste of good lenght offers aromatic notes known from the nose and it finish with pleasant bitterness, kind of the baked bread crust. This is a new vintage of probably the best Pinot noir of the Czech region, made by the most modest winemaker in the most modest cellar conditions. Anyway, let´s come and see it on your own. Bravo, Mr. Vybíral!
My evaluation (degustated 11/11) : 88 points
Tannat 2007, Florina, Macedonia, Greece, Alpha Estate
( November 2011 )
A glorious dark colour of blackberry, a dense, shiny purple rim and a standard sparkle. A rich smell of blackberry, blueberry and cherry is enriched by notes of herbs, vanilla, toast and later also coffee. The firm, well structured tannins need some time to mature still, but the deep fruitiness (blackberry, cherry) of this strong but balanced wine is obvious. Even the lively acids give certain promise of further develop in the bottle. Tannat, the workhorse of Uruguay, originally from southwest of France is quite uncommon guest in greek vineyard-the more cheering is this courageous attempt of Alpha Estate, one of today´s leading wineries at the modern Greek viticultural scene.
My evaluation (degustated 08/11) : 90 points
Gran Reserva 2004 "Conde Galiana", Catalunya DO, Spain, La Vinicola de Gandesa
( October 2011)
A dense, glittering dark ruby colour with orange rim and good sparkle. Look for fresh
forest fruit, touch of oak, cedar wood, liquorice, leather and herbs in the nose. A firmly
structured on the palate, surprisingly vibrant and juicy. A delicious treat easily accessible even for the solohornplayer of the Czech Philharmonic... Viva Espaňa!
My evaluation (degustated 07/11) : 90 points
Silvaner 2009, Kabinett, Nordheimer Kreuzberg, Franken, German, Weingut Wischer
( September 2011 )
A beautiful pale golden colour with green reflections and perfect sparkle. A fresh smell
of citrus fruit (especially grapefruit), decent meadow flowers and mineral notes. Later you can discover also well ripened apple, honey and light spice. A fresh, vibrant, almost ethereal taste is build on magnificently expressed grapefruit and it has very good lenght. Franken is the only German wine region where the king of white wine is not Riesling, but Silvaner. Each sample I brought from there certifies again and again this fact, however the Franken Riesling is also magnificent. In general, it is truly hard task to find average wine in this region recently...
My evaluation (degustated 07/11) : 89 points
Champagne AOC, Brut Souverain, Henriot
( August 2011 )
A rich, mid-coarsed foam, abundant pearls. An elegant and delicate smell of hazelnut, citrus fruit, spice, butter cookie and later also apple baked with honey. A velvety, delicious, fruity taste. Greatly ballanced acids and light spiciness. The aftertaste is quite long. Even after all the bubless have gone, the cuveé tastes surprisingly fine.
My evaluation (degustated 06/11) : 89 points
Merlot 2009 "Boycat", Mc Laren Vale, Australia, Alchemy SA (for M&S)
( July 2011 )
Deep dark red colour with standard sparkle - the wine is evidently unfiltered. The nose is expressive, bursted by cherry and plum, traces of herbals, baked bread crustand also animal notes. However the smell is evoking full bodied taste, the palate is quite subtle, but attractive in its creamy character structured by silky tannins and ripened fruitiness of plum, repleted by herbal and smoky overtones. Maintain the temperature carefully, as the alcohol is ready to take control over the taste of this very beautiful wine.
My evaluation (degustated 05/11) : 88 points
Rulandské šedé 2009,výběr z hroznů,Lovosice-Pod Lovošem,Litoměřice sub.,Czech,Žernosecké vinařství
( June 2011 )
Light lemon colour, perfect clarity, very tiny sparkle. The appealing, fresh smell exposes first a subtle touch of hazelnut and rich fruitiness of sweet apple, mandarin and pear, followed by notes of honey and spice as the wine became warmer. The taste is firm, quite strong and very fresh, stuffed by playful acids well balanced with litle amount of residual sugar. Slight grapefruit or hazelnut-like bitterness emphasizes the overal freshness of this fine wine.
My evaluation (degustated 04/11) : 88 points
Monte vide eu 2005 (Tannat/Merlot/Tempranillo), Montevideo, Uruguay, Bodega Bouza
( May 2011 )
The extraordinary potential of this top wine made by leading winery of Uruguay is
obvious already by the first sight - it has magnificently shiny, deep colour of
ripened cherry and great viscosity. The massive but elegant smell of rich palette
of black fruit with overtones of vanilla, coffee and other spices haven´t reach the peak
yet evidently. So the very deep, long, perfectly structured taste of concentrated fruitiness framed by oak and well ripened, sweet but still powerful tannins needs many years to mature. An evening in the companion of this nectar is a holiday! Also its adjustage is ideal...
My evaluation (degustated 05/10) : 95 points
Riesling 2008 "Cuvée",pozdní sběr,Dobšice-Ke Křídlůvkám,Znojmo sub.,Czech rep.,Vinselekt Michlovský
( April 2011 )
Shiny golden colour. Velvety, rounded smell of meadow honey, orange and grapefruit with decent notes of cinnamon and minerals. Look for the spicy and herbal notes over the fruit base of overripened apricots in the elegant medium-long taste. The acids are typically Moravian - refined but juicy. This wine will please you also thanks to its price...
My evaluation (degustated 02/11) : 88 points
Pinotage 2009 "Barista", Western Cape, South Africa, Val de Vie
( March 2011 )
Dark raspberry colour with good sparkle and viscosity. The attractive, however quite
glossy smell is bursted with striking notes of chocolate, roasted coffee beans, caramel
and white coffee exposed over magnificent fruit base of blueberry, cherry and plum jam. Look for the same attributes on the palate. The taste of good lenght is well structured thanks to ripened, sweet tannins. This wine is not acting Chateau Lafitte, but in spite of its approximately 60 times lower price it will be welcomed surprise even for an experienced enthusiast. I acknowlege the simply smart-smartly simple adjustage.
My evaluation (degustated 02/11) : 89 points
Chateau Beau - Site 2005 (Cru bourgeois supérieur), Saint - Estéphe AOC
( February 2011 )
An attractive morello – blackberry colour with a thin watery circle on the meniscus, glittering. First impressions of the aroma – chocolate tones and wood are alternated by earthy minerality with a hint of smoke and still a bit coy fruitiness. The taste of the wine is very smart, long, full-bodied and colourful, predominantly spicy with a subtle fruity base of black currant and blueberries in the background. The tannins are still firm, but they allow for a tasting because of their maturity given by the excellent vintage. A great wine that requires some more time.
My evaluation (degustated 11/10) : 91 points
Sylvánské zelené 2009, pozdní sběr, Vetlá-Sovice, Litoměřice sub., Lobkowicz. zám. vin. Roudnice n/L
( January 2011 )
A glittering light golden colour with greenish gleams. Immediately after the wine has been poured, a strong mineral earthy tone ascends from the glass, which introduces very pleasant and uniquely colourful aroma of freshly cut meadow flowers, citruses, a hint of perhaps even strawberries (its fruitiness reminds of the smell of Czech fruit bonbons LIPO) and a pinch of flower honey. The taste of a medium length and intensity cannot conceal well matured grapes, pleasant fruitiness with a predominance of citruses and quite vivid acids – that is attributes that are not usually standard for the Silvaner wine. Sovice, in case of this excellent wine, proves its status of a very unique and exceptional Czech vineyard, as it did countless times in the past.
My evaluation (degustated 11/10) : 88 points