Name: Villard
Country: Chile, Casablanca Valley
Grape(s): Merlot
Vintage: 2006
Colour: Dark ruby colour
Smell: Lots of things happening here. I found it fruity, yet spicy and vegetable levels of the aroma and then a buttery scent would also come through. It was quite pronounced aromas which made me think that this would be a much heavier merlot.
Taste: Dry, medium acidity, medium tannins with a long length. As predicted it was a heavy merlot with lots of body but still tasted velvety. Its thicker denser body made it very smooth and not a rough wine.
Conclusion: An good wine
WINEDEX: 8 out of 10
Final comments: Well we couldn’t hold out too long challenging a Uruguayan Merlot to a Chile merlot. Both very distinct flavours. I really liked this merlot I loved the full body of this wine and really fancied a nice piece of steak to go with it. This was my type of merlot and thoroughly enjoyed drinking it.
If I was to compare them, well they were very different. You could tell that the Chilean merlot came from a cooler climate and the Uruguay was from a warmer climate.
We intend to challenge a few merlots from this region …so let’s see how that goes down. Watch this space.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Uruguay, Ariano, Merlot, 2005
Name: Ariano
Country: Uruguay, Canelones Province
Grape(s): Merlot
Vintage: 2005
Colour: Crimson /ruby colour on the light side of these colours
Smell: Very berry aromas which were quite light. It smelled very clean and had fresh crisp finish.
Taste: Dry, low acidity, low tannin with a light body to it. Flavours were more on the vegetable flavour and oaky touches. Mummy mentioned that for her they had a buttery/creamy finish.
Conclusion: An good wine
WINEDEX: 7 out of 10 for Muscat grape but 8 out of 10 for Uruguay
Final comments: This was my first Uruguayan Red and I have to say I was impressed. This was a light bodied merlot which would be great drunk on its own or with a poultry dish. The label advises that it has a more herby scent so we pulled out some sage, thyme and mint to bring back those smells but to be honest my nose picked up the fruity berry area. Again as a Uruguayan wine I was impressed…it does stand out and was very glubable. I also want to challenge this wine to its neighbouring countries….I think a South American Merlot drink fest is on the cards. Well Done Uruguay.
Country: Uruguay, Canelones Province
Grape(s): Merlot
Vintage: 2005
Colour: Crimson /ruby colour on the light side of these colours
Smell: Very berry aromas which were quite light. It smelled very clean and had fresh crisp finish.
Taste: Dry, low acidity, low tannin with a light body to it. Flavours were more on the vegetable flavour and oaky touches. Mummy mentioned that for her they had a buttery/creamy finish.
Conclusion: An good wine
WINEDEX: 7 out of 10 for Muscat grape but 8 out of 10 for Uruguay
Final comments: This was my first Uruguayan Red and I have to say I was impressed. This was a light bodied merlot which would be great drunk on its own or with a poultry dish. The label advises that it has a more herby scent so we pulled out some sage, thyme and mint to bring back those smells but to be honest my nose picked up the fruity berry area. Again as a Uruguayan wine I was impressed…it does stand out and was very glubable. I also want to challenge this wine to its neighbouring countries….I think a South American Merlot drink fest is on the cards. Well Done Uruguay.
Uruguay - Ariano, Muscat Ottonel 2005
Name: Ariano Muscat Ottonel
Country: Uruguay, Canelones Province
Notes: This grape is a member of the muscat grape variety. Originally from France it was first cultivated in the Alsace region of the Loire valley. This is commonly a dessert wine due to its perfume aromas.
Grape(s): Muscat Ottonel
Vintage: 2005
Colour: Dark gold colour – sort of like the colour of 22 Karat gold. Mummy said it looked like beer which it does actually.
Smell: The first scents were the flloral aromas, sort of like a bouquet of young roses. Very typical of the Muscat family. Smelling more deeply you could pick up the mild aroma of a fruit cocktail…a mixture of tropical fruit flavours.
Taste: Off Dry and acidic with prounounced grapefruit/citrus base at the same time you did think you were drinking roses!!! This had a short length to it.
Conclusion: An acceptable wine
WINEDEX: 6 out of 10 for Muscat grape but 8 out of 10 for Uruguay
Final comments: This was my very first Uruguay wine I had EVER had. I was really looking forward to opening this and see what the Uruguayans had to offer considering their neighbouring countries offered excellent wine. Comparing it to other Muscat wine I gave this 6 out of 10 because I am not keen on the floral aromas and tastes. I love roses but not in my mouth. However, it was a nice wine and I can see why it works well as a dessert variety. I commented that this was an off dry taste but I think really it heads towards being more medium in flavour. It is quite deceptive and it does confuse you….you can think about it one way and then you sip it again and it gives you something else to play with. However, given that this was a Uruguayan wine I was impressed. I would buy this again….and try others. It was surprisingly good. I want to try another Uruguayan wine and compare it to chile and argentina….its going to be good.
Country: Uruguay, Canelones Province
Notes: This grape is a member of the muscat grape variety. Originally from France it was first cultivated in the Alsace region of the Loire valley. This is commonly a dessert wine due to its perfume aromas.
Grape(s): Muscat Ottonel
Vintage: 2005
Colour: Dark gold colour – sort of like the colour of 22 Karat gold. Mummy said it looked like beer which it does actually.
Smell: The first scents were the flloral aromas, sort of like a bouquet of young roses. Very typical of the Muscat family. Smelling more deeply you could pick up the mild aroma of a fruit cocktail…a mixture of tropical fruit flavours.
Taste: Off Dry and acidic with prounounced grapefruit/citrus base at the same time you did think you were drinking roses!!! This had a short length to it.
Conclusion: An acceptable wine
WINEDEX: 6 out of 10 for Muscat grape but 8 out of 10 for Uruguay
Final comments: This was my very first Uruguay wine I had EVER had. I was really looking forward to opening this and see what the Uruguayans had to offer considering their neighbouring countries offered excellent wine. Comparing it to other Muscat wine I gave this 6 out of 10 because I am not keen on the floral aromas and tastes. I love roses but not in my mouth. However, it was a nice wine and I can see why it works well as a dessert variety. I commented that this was an off dry taste but I think really it heads towards being more medium in flavour. It is quite deceptive and it does confuse you….you can think about it one way and then you sip it again and it gives you something else to play with. However, given that this was a Uruguayan wine I was impressed. I would buy this again….and try others. It was surprisingly good. I want to try another Uruguayan wine and compare it to chile and argentina….its going to be good.
Jordan - Grands Vin de Jordan - Machareus Region, Madaba, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc 2003
Name: Grandes vins de Jordanie
Country: Jordan – Machareus region, Zumot Vineyard of Madaba
Notes: A jordan wine which is situated on one of the best lands in this area.
Grape(s): Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2003
Colour: Light golden lemon colour
Smell: A light earthy aroma which is a strong indication of the chardonnay grape in this blend. The scent is not very pronounced. You do really have to sniff this drink to pull in the aromas. I was expecting more heavier aromas given that it was 5 years old
Taste: An off dry mild grapefruit flavour, light in intensity – The length of the drink was also quite short. A nice taste which was quite distinct from its aromas.
Conclusion: This was a acceptable wine.
WINEDEX: 7 out of 10
Final comments: This was my first Jordanian wine I had ever tried. My initial thoughts were that this was going to taste vile. Jordan is not exactly famed for wine. However, I have to say that I was quietly impressed. Given that it was already 5 years old I was expecting stronger more intense flavours but not at all it had a short length and really tasted like it was only a few years old…if that. It held all the characteristics of a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc. It was unpleasant at all and really held its own. I would buy this again and I would serve this up to folk at a dinner party because of its blend it would smell and taste great for both Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc drinkers. I saw on the Zumot website that they have a red which is a blend of pinot noir and Cabernet sauvignon so I look forward to drinking that one.
Country: Jordan – Machareus region, Zumot Vineyard of Madaba
Notes: A jordan wine which is situated on one of the best lands in this area.
Grape(s): Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2003
Colour: Light golden lemon colour
Smell: A light earthy aroma which is a strong indication of the chardonnay grape in this blend. The scent is not very pronounced. You do really have to sniff this drink to pull in the aromas. I was expecting more heavier aromas given that it was 5 years old
Taste: An off dry mild grapefruit flavour, light in intensity – The length of the drink was also quite short. A nice taste which was quite distinct from its aromas.
Conclusion: This was a acceptable wine.
WINEDEX: 7 out of 10
Final comments: This was my first Jordanian wine I had ever tried. My initial thoughts were that this was going to taste vile. Jordan is not exactly famed for wine. However, I have to say that I was quietly impressed. Given that it was already 5 years old I was expecting stronger more intense flavours but not at all it had a short length and really tasted like it was only a few years old…if that. It held all the characteristics of a chardonnay and a sauvignon blanc. It was unpleasant at all and really held its own. I would buy this again and I would serve this up to folk at a dinner party because of its blend it would smell and taste great for both Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc drinkers. I saw on the Zumot website that they have a red which is a blend of pinot noir and Cabernet sauvignon so I look forward to drinking that one.
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