A Dalton Israeli Merlot

A Dalton Israeli Merlot

Very recently I reviewed an upscale Israeli Chardonnay that wasn’t Kosher. Now I am changing the grape color, changing the price range, and changing the wine’s Kosher status while keeping its country of production. The Dalton winery was established in 1995. They went very quickly from 20, 000 to 800, 000 bottles a year. The vineyard is located about 800-900 meters (more than 2500 feet) above sea level on a volcanic plateau. The tasting room is open six days a week and the winery’s web site has lots of interesting links. Today’s companion wine is a Chilean wine at less that half the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed

Dalton Winery Safsufa Vineyards Merlot KPM 2010 14.5% alcohol about $22.

There were no marketing materials so let’s start with the back label. “From a selection of our finest vineyards, this Merlot is a soft smooth wine with a deep purple color and a vibrant bouquet of cherries and homemade jam. The nose is further balanced by spicy shades of vanilla and turmeric. Serve at 16-18 degrees C (about 61-64.5 degrees F).” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered plums and some metal. It provided a good balance of acidity and tannins. When paired with crunchy coated Cuban-style peanuts the liquid lengthened. Its acidity stepped up without overdoing it. The meal’s centerpiece, a barbecued chicken leg, rendered the wine long. There was some metal and good, really grease-cutting, acidity in my glass. In the face of fried rice the Merlot was dark and mouth filling, dark and long. Dessert was a square or two of Praline filled Bitter-Sweet Swiss chocolate, which rendered out Israeli friend round and dark. 

This review of A Dalton Israeli Merlot continues on my web site at http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_articles/Elsewhere_wine_articles/dalton_israeli_merlot.php

A Santa Carolina Chilean Merlot

Santa Carolina Chilean Merlot

Over the years I have reviewed lots of Chilean reds including many in this $10 column. This is our second review of a wine from the Santa Carolina winery whose vineyards are located in the Rapel Valley. In case you don’t remember this valley stretches about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean to the Andes mountains. The winery itself was founded in 1875 and a mere two years later they built wine cellars that are still in use. They take unprestigious Carmeniere red grape and make a $100 wine that merited a 92 from the prestigious Wine Spectator. I don’t know whether it’s the $100 or the Carmeniere grape that scares me more. Today’s companion wine is an Israeli Merlot at over twice the price of its Chilean cousin.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Santa Carolina Merlot D. O. Valle del Rapel 2012 12.5% alcohol about $9.

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : Deep brick red colour; Rich, plumy, blackberry fruit aromas and flavors with notes of cedar, earth and spice; Dry medium-bodied with moderate tannins. Serving Suggestion : Beef and pepper stir fry; Roast beef; Lamb.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine displayed good power but it was short and slightly sweet and offered light tannins. When paired with crunchy coated Cuban-style peanuts the liquid’s sweetness remained while its acidity went soft. The meal’s centerpiece, a barbecued chicken leg, brought plums to the fore of my glass and the tannins increased. In the face of fried rice the Merlot weakened at first and I tasted some berries. Dessert was a square or two of Praline filled Bitter-Sweet Swiss chocolate, which rendered our Chilean friend upbeat, long, and dark.

This review of a Santa Carolina Chilean Merlot
continues on my web site at http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_sccm.php

A Lebanese Red Blend

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Chateau Ksara Reserve du Couvent 2009 13% alcohol about $15.

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Description : This wine won a Silver Medal at the 2011 Decanter World Wine Awards. Tasting Note : Well made wine with pronounced blackcurrants on the nose with a hint of spice and menthol. Still very young but great potential. Score – 4 Stars (out of 5). Decanter World Wine Awards, 2011).” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was very, very long. It was mouth filling and multilayered. When I nibbled on Japanese rice crackers black cherries joined into the mix. The meal consisted of ground beef with salsa sitting on a bed of whole-wheat pasta. This libation offered delicious acidity and menthol. It was so long. A generous portion of Chinese hot sauce brought out the taste of metal in the juice. It was dark but still too sweet. Fresh blueberries for dessert removed that sweetness from this libation whose power remained.

This review of a Lebanese Red Blend continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Near_weekly_15_dollar_wine_reviews/Y2013/lebanese_red_blend.php

Another South African Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Reviewed
Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 13.5% alcohol about $9. 

 

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : Deep red violet colour; aromas and flavors of strawberry jam, with hints of leather, blueberry and plum; dry, full bodied and softly textured. Serving Suggestion : Spicy bbq’d meats.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was rather sweet, presenting well-balanced tannins and acidity. When I nibbled on Japanese rice crackers dark cherries surfaced in the mix. The meal consisted of ground beef with salsa sitting on a bed of whole-wheat pasta. In response the libation picked up power and length but was too sweet. A generous portion of Chinese hot sauce rendered the juice peppery. Fresh blueberries for dessert made this Cab dark and almost brooding.

This review of a Obikwa Cabernet Sauvignon continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_asac.phphttp://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_asac.php

A Mass Market French Chardonnay

A Mass Market French Chardonnay

Can you get a decent French Chardonnay at this price?...

Kressmann Chardonnay

I won’t count how many Chardonnays I have reviewed including numerous French offerings. Today’s example comes from the high-volume Kressmann winery, which was founded in 1871. They are so big that their production facilities and offices encompass 7.5 hectares (that’s just about 20 acres), bigger than many producer’s vineyards. Kressmann’s vineyards stretch over 900 acres (365 hectares) in Bordeaux and 650 acres (260 hectares) in Languedoc. Their plant can fill 25 thousand bottles an hour. The companion wine is an Israeli Chardonnay costing more than five times as much.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Kressmann Selection Chardonnay 2011 12% alcohol about $8.

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : Aromas of citrus, apple and pears. Well-balanced with a good finish. Serving Suggestion : Ideal as an aperitif or to complement grilled fish or roast chicken.” And now for my review.
At the first sips this wine tasted of apples and had slightly unpleasant acidity. When I nibbled on Japanese rice crackers its acidity was muted and I sensed some metal. In the presence of a dry, honey garlic barbecued chicken breast this liquid was wispy and not very present. I got pears. Dry General Tao barbecued chicken thighs brought lime to the forefront of my glass. A medley of sautéed red, yellow, and orange peppers continued the limeiness and the libation was fairly long. Commercial potato salad took away the fruit and didn’t leave much else in Chardy.

This review of a Kressmann Chardonnay continues on my web site at
http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2013/wine_lovers_bargain_review_mmfc.php