Campo Viejo Reserva 2012

At least, we think it was the 2012.  We had the 2005 vintage back in 2011, so maybe the one we had this time was the 2008?  We can't remember. It was good though.  I mean, not great.  But, definitely good.  According to our post on the 2005 vintage, that one was "really good".   Either the wine got worse, or our taste has changed since then.  Probably the latter.


~10$
3.5 / 5

Niel Santofimia

Can't remember the vintage.  Probably after 2012, could have been as recent as 2015.  Second time we've had it.  It's not memorable.

~$9
3 / 5

The Prisoner 2015

Got this one as a gift for Xmas.  Drank it on New Years Eve because champagne is lame.  Watched Se7en while we drank it.  Good movie.  Great wine.  Only got better the more it breathed and warmed up.  Had an almost chocolately after taste.  Dry, too.  Very much the kind of wine we like to drink.  Would definitely be happy to drink it again.  Would like to acquire an older vintage, 2013 or before, to compare.

~$45
4.5 / 5

Santa Maria Cellars Muscat Canelli 2013

Another from our favorite Fredericksberg winery.  Muscat Canelli can be very sweet.  We don't much go for the sweet wines.   This one is not overly sweet and is almost like a champagne, but more drinkable.  It's better chilled, but even at room temperature it has nice flavor.  For a sissy white wine, it's not too bad =)

$22
3.5 / 5

Santa Maria Cellars Malbec 2014

From our favorite Fredericksberg winery, our favorite grape!  More expensive than the Riglos, and not as good, but local!  The Malbec is their premier wine.  I wish it weren't so expensive, but I would still buy more of it anyways since it is local and pretty damn good.  In fact, we have more on the way.  Very much looking forward to drinking it again.

$32
4 / 5

Riglos Gran Malbec 2013

Went to Specs on a whim one night and asked for a good Malbec that doesn't break the bank.  This one was suggested.  And it was very good.  I remember it got a lot better after it had breathed for a while.  I saved the bottle to remind me to make this post so I don't forget we've had this now.  I'd consider buying another bottle, Or 12.  At $30 each, however, its on the verge of bank breaking.  This bottle was just 1 of 33421. So, there are probably a lot more out there.  Don't let the FOMO get you!

4.5 / 5

Finca La Luz Callejon Del Crimen Malbec Gran Reserva 2012

92 pts. Sure doesn't taste like it.  Very .... something... tasting.  Maybe it's the oak?  Or this is what malbec tastes like? It doesn't get better after breathing.  It's still... just not great.  It's good enough though.  Niki likes it.  Phil, not so much.

$18
4 / 5

Primarius, Primarius, 2014

After we drank [most of] the Hippo, we were all out of wine.  So, we did what seemed best and restocked.  The first one of the new stock was this puny Pinot.  Compared to Hippo, this was a lightweight.  It wasn't bad, though.  We drank it all, so it must have been at least OK.

~$15.
4 / 5. Niki liked it more than Phil. 4 is a compromise.

Barons Creek, Hippo, 2013

The last of our Fredericksburg stash.  Barons Creek was the last stop on the wine trail, so by the time we got there, we were proper smashed.  When we had Hippo at the winery, it was AMAZING.  Just now (the other night), it was only good.  It got better once it had breathed for a while, though.  At first, it was very sharp and bitey.  But once it mellowed out, it was quite good.

~$30.
3.75 / 5.  Would drink again.

More Wine

Here's what we're drinking next:

Almaden Merlot (5L of Box Wine!) - $17

Castle Rock Syrah - $11

Red Diamond Merlot - $11

Ergo Tempranillo - $12

Los Cardos Malbec - $11

Fat Bastard Pinot Noir - $12

Cortijo Rioja - $13

We'll take note if any of them are superb.  

Tedeschi Lucchine Valpolicella Classico 2010

The Wine
Region: Italy

Vineyards: Lucchine
Grapes: 25% Corvina, 25% Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 10% Molinara, 10% Rossignola, Oseleta, Negrara, Dindarella 

Oak: Steel, 3 months

Price: $12

Tasting Notes
Blech.  Not good.  Really sharp attack, not much evolution and a sour finish.

Beso de Vino Seleccion 2009

The Wine
Region: Spain

Vineyards: Aguaron
Grapes: 85% Syrah, 15% Garnacha

Oak: French Oak, 3 months

Price: $10

Tasting Notes
Very good. RP 90.

Quinta de Cabriz 2008

The Wine
Region: Portugal

Vineyards: ?
Grapes: Alfrocheiro, Tinta-Roriz, Touriga Nacional

Oak: French Oak, 6 months

Price: $10

Tasting Notes
Very good. WS 90.

More Wines

Blogger's new interface is weird.  I don't like it because it is different and new.

Anyways...

Let it suffice to say that we have drank all the wine we bought last (and never reviewed) and quite a bit more (that we also never reviewed).  Here's the new list of wines that we'll maybe hopefully remember to review.

Alto Almanzora Este (Spain) - $9
Beso de Vino Seleccion (Spain) - $10
Chateau Pequie Terrasses (France) - $12
Owen Row Ex Umbris (Columbia Valley, USA) - $26
Quinta De Cabriz (Portugal) - $10
Tedeschi Lucchine Valpoicella (Italy) - $12

Upcoming Wines

We went wine shopping again.  Here's what's we got:

Carchelo 2009 - $15
Xplorador Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - $7
Xplorador Malbec 2010 - $7
Xplorador Carmenere 2009 - $7
Turtle Run Traminette 2008 - $11
Chateau Ste Michelle Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - $11
Veramonte Pinot Noir 2009 - $15
Delas Saint-Espiry Cotes-du-Rhone 2008 - $14

Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 2009

The Wine
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State

Vineyards: Chateau Ste Michelle(?)
Grapes: Chardonnay

Oak: yes, but i don't know for how long

Price: $13

Tasting Notes
Look: pale yellow

Smell: pear, alcohol

Attack: spicy
Evolution: sweet and spicy

Finish: wet, lingering

good.  actually pretty good for a white wine.  may get again, but it didn't blow our socks off.

Flipflop Merlot 2009

The Wine
Region: California

Vineyards: California
Grapes: Merlot
Oak: ???

Price: $5

Tasting Notes
Look: medium-dark red

Smell: alcohol, slight berry

Attack: dry
Evolution: plums and mocha (so says the bottle). we can't tell.  plum maybe, mocha not so much.

Finish: not too long, but good.

I quote our review of the Cab Sav: "Surprisingly good for $5 bottle of wine.  We will probably buy again."  Also, Niki says :"This isn't bad, for cheap."  As usual, she's right.

Indy Mini

The Indy Mini Marathon is on Saturday.  Since we ran (rather, barely survived) our half marathon back in October, we have trained a grand total of 20 minutes.  This weekend will likely be going very badly.  Also, the forecast is thunder storms.  A part of me is hoping the race gets cancelled.

Flipflop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

The Wine
Region: California

Vineyards: California
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Oak: ???

Price: $5

Tasting Notes
Look: dark red

Smell: berry

Attack: dry, berry
Evolution: pepper, blackberry, cherry

Finish: lingering, good

Surprisingly good for $5 bottle of wine.  We will probably buy again.

Upcoming Wines

This will be a new type of post to help us remember what wines we will be having and how much they cost (because, despite my obsessive receipt saving, I can never find the wine receipts).  I'll do this every time we restock our wine.

$5 Flipflop Merlot 2009
$5 Flipflop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
$15 Solanera Yecla 2005

Campo Vieja Reserva 2005

We have not been taking notes about the wines we've been having lately.  It's only been 2 or 3.  But this one was worth noting after the fact.  It was GREAT!

WS 89. very good. will buy again if we can.