I had a "new world" tasting and focussed on California, Argentina and Austr alia, since I dont like chile and south african wines. It was arranged in c ategories: "Chards", "Pinot is queen", "Typical good value types", "Cab is King". General consensus in the group was that Kistler, Forefront, Quarterb ack , Bousquet Grand Reserva malbec, and the two Beringer cabs were best.
We started with Burgundy glasses and switched to Bordeaux glasses after the pinots.
-Trivento Reserve Chardonnay, Argentina 2013 ***
A nice cheap slightly buttery chard with notes of breadcrumbs and apple, no finish. But it is cheap, did I mention that?
-Thorn-Clarke, Mount Crawford Chardonnay, Australia 2010 **
Twice the price, half the flavour. one guy said he preferred this over the argentina one. I didnt. Smells better than it tasted. it was rather sour. c itrus, apple, barely any oak. Was a real letdown.
-Kistler Chardonnay, Les Noisetiers, CA 2012 ****
Cloudy yellow colour, creamy scent, some said "like whiskey!" full body for a white. fruity buttery primary taste with earthy mushroomy nutty notes hi dden , that pops up in the finish, which stays on and then you sip again an d blend those earthy nutty flavours with the fruity flavours, and you swall ow it the nuts are back. Very interesting. It cost 475 DKK and I rated it 3
00kr. So it cant get 5 stars.-Salentein pinot noir, Argentina 2012 ***
The best cheap pinot noir I know. Strawberry, yummy, medium finish, good bo dy, pleasant ballance.
Forefront Pinot Noir, CA 2011 **** Creamy strawberry, nice structure, long finish, best buy for better pinots in Denmark.
-Beringer founder's estate Merlot 2010 ***
Jammy, floral, pepper, bombastic body, simple.
-Gnarly head Old Vine Zin, CA 2012 ***
Sweet and a bit tannic, very fruity, a bomb. simple, cheap, nice.
-Thomas Hyllands Shiraz, Australia 2010 ***
Blackberry, licorice, really nice, decent tannins for texture.
-Quarterback, Australia 2009 *****
Very mature with transcended black fruits, barnyard, smooth tannins, eucaly ptus, amazing for this price.
-Bousquet Grand Reserve Malbec, Argentina 2011 ****(*)
Lesser scent than the quarterback, but more powerful taste, broken down bla ck berry, full body, medium finish. some commented it was almost too much f lavour without a nice steak. Guess that is a sign of lacking balance. But i t is a good price for this package.
-Bianchi famiglia Cab, Argentina 2010 ***(*)
A nice budget cab, but wiht the right dark berry notes, oak and structure t o break down the fruits, which is hard to come by at this price range.
-Bousquet Reserva, Argentina 2011 ***(*)
A new kid on the block, similar price and quality as the bianchi. The winer y go for french style, and it is similar to the Bianchi but with a balance more to the acid side. This divided the group. Some hated this, others pref erred it. It is a bit fresher. I sometimes feel for one or the other, I can t say one is better than the other.
-Beringer knights valley, CA 2010 ****
This one is better, though. It twice the cost, mind you! It is more mineral with notes of rocks, calcium, blackcurrants, licorice, earthy, some tannin s that the other cabs lacked. I find this better than the nromal Napa Valle y cab (not tasted today).
-Beringer Quantum, CA 2011 *****
Beringers Bordeaux blend but unlike other napa wineries it is prices betwee n the napa cabs and the reserve cabs, instead of above the reserve. And bes t thing is that in Denmark it costs the same as in USA, making it the best option in Denmark for this type of wine. Others are 150-200%. This means it is my first purchse of this type in Denmark. But how is it? Yummy! black currants, black fruit, lots of tannins, structure, leather, sp ice, vanilla, toast, long finish. I am very pleased and happy with this fin ding. It is better than BV tapestry and Stature, but lesser than georges La tour and Cambrium (and ofc their own private reserve cab). This is the best wine I know that I can get here that can give a satisfactory Napa Valley f ix when I really miss the good napa reserve wines.
Grades:
- Horrible "cheap chile wine"