When I taste wines in Denmark I score with danish kroner (DKK). That is a s imple way to see if it is a good buy. if it costs less or close to my score it is a good buy.
- Errazuriz Pinot Noir Wild Ferment, Chile 2011
Black soil, pee, horrible , 5 DKK. Real cost: 150DKK. Confirms that I hate chile wine.
- Chateau la fleur Pourent, Grand Cru, Saint Emilion. 2004
Licorice,m blackcurrant, toast, Pretty good. First saint emilion I ever had I thought was good. But it feels like a watery version of a good napa at 1
50 DKK. Score: 150DKK. Real Cost 230DKK. I ll stick to Paulliac/Margeaux for Bourdeaux, or Chat. Gasparde Prestige Cuv ee.
- Elsa Syrah, Bianchi, Argentina 2013
Blackberry, acid, missing oak, their cabernet is better. 70 DKK , real cost 70 DKK, so it is priced right.
- Les 3 Chevaliers, south france 2009
Funky smell, sweet, sugary, rotten blueberries. 30DKK. real cost 80 DKK
- Crozes Hermitage, Domaine des grands chemins, Delas. 2010
Blackberries, good ballance, smooth tannins, best crozes hermitage I had. C ornas is still better. 220DKK, real cost 225 DKK. I can get Vincent Granite 60 for 240DKK.
- Private Release Shiraz/cabernet Penfolds, Australia 2013
Smokey scent, nice tannins, good body, licorice, smooth finish. But cheese kills it completely, lacking punch. 85 kr, real cost: 75 DKK. so it is a go od buy.
Then on my hunt for wines to get for the tasting I am hosting, I tasted som e more:
- Jean Bousquet Cabernet sauvignon, Reserve , Argentina 2010
This is really a good wine for the money. Rough stoney black berries, cedar , cigar,tannins, more acid than I'd expect form a new world cab, but they say it is made by a french in french style in argentina. that really shows . Wouldnt be interested in the non reserve. 160DKK. real cost: 119DKK!
- Jean Bousquet Malbec, Grand Reserve 2010 [this was from a couple of days ago]
This producer is known to make french style wines. I could see that in the cabernet reserve. But this is new world malbec alright. A bomb in your face . I like it. Lots of dark , oaky fruit. It did seem to evolve during the ev ening, so I will revisit tomorrow and see if things mellowed down a bit, sh owing more to it. Reminded me of Salentein Numina, which is a bit cheaper, but also less in your face. Might prefer that one 1-on-1. But let's see tom orrow. It really integrated all the oak overnight, and showed fresher overa ll feel. so I recognize it as a better wine than Salentein Numina on the 2n d day.
- Quarterback, Mclaren vale 2009
I've often tasted this together with overpriced Torbrecks. (like Torbreck t he Steading is 80$ here! I see on wine.com, wine searcher . com etc. that i t is a 25$ wine!). It is really wonderful ( the quarterback). broken down b lack fruits, earthy, cigarbox, eucalyptus, rocky, huge mouthfeel, lingering finish, and all for 169DKK (28$). It is australian version of beringer kni ghts valley. Except it is a blend of shiraz, cab, merlot and grenache.
- Amancaya, gran reserva 2010, Lafite de rothschild and catena, argentina
So it is a argentina dude collaborative with a french legend. Seems to be p opular these days ( thinking of Jean Bousquet). It is Malbec (ofc, its arge ntina!) and cabernet. Pop and pour. very disappointed. it is not as good as jean B. Cab reserve that is cheaper. Pretty bland. Like a mondavi woodbrid ge cab that costs half. Then after 5 hours I revisited it. Yummy, now it st arted to show up, fresh black fruits, acid, tannins, rough texture, nice fi nish. licorice. The argentina meets frogs is showing in this one too. cou ld wish for more earthiness. I'd be interested in testing this head to head with the Jean B cab reserve. The malbec g.r. is no competition, way too la rge style difference. But out of memory I might find Jean B cab Reserve bet ter. and it is 119DKK versus 139DKK for this one.