This epistle is late because I was in Japan, where I was fortunate enough to spend time with fellow members Hamakko and his yet-to-be-named-but-definitely-in-the-club girlfriend. Enjoying a superb wine tasting most every night for my duration, one particular evening’s sampling featured a pair of Bordeaux in an ongoing battle we called the Left Bank/Right Bank [...]
Category > z malbec
Killer Cabernet Sauvignon tasting (and I do mean KILLER)
Tally-Ho and I (the Bad Man) attended a local wine merchant’s Top-Flight Cabernet Sauvignon tasting the other night. It was BLIND, but you only got the typical 2 ounce pour, and it was difficult (though I of course was able to pull it off) go back and re-taste, so it wasn’t exactly an ideally thorough [...]
Bordeaux, affordable, Assaggio Minoralus
We here at The Royal Tannin Bombs are always on the prowl for cheap yet outstanding Bordeaux (an oxymoron in the best of times), and we continually revisit this pair from that most affordable of Bordeaux regions, the Côtes de Castillon:
Contenders
2005 La Fleur de Laussac Côtes de Castillon, 14% abv, $19.97
2004 Château d’Aiguilhe Comtes de [...]
Bad Man Special Cellar Selection ii – Château Haut-Brion 1999 Pessac-Léognan
Another remarkable Cellar Selection from Bad Man’s very own personal cellar. I’ve been sitting on this wine for 7 years now, stored at room temperature in three different un-air-conditioned and relatively un-heated apartment/townhouse/houses, but it was tucked away in a bag inside a box in a dark closet so the temperature swings were kept to [...]
Côtes de Castillon Bordeaux, affordable, Assaggio Minoralus
Last night The Shadow and I got down to business. I went down to the only store in the three state area that sells Bordeaux and purchased me some from my favourite region – the Côtes de Castillon. Went back to the old house (a good Smiths song (I have the superior 12″ version)), decanted, [...]
New World vs. Old World cab blend tasting – affordable – assaggio majoralus
Here it is: the New World vs. Old World Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot and the other Bordeaux varietals blend tasting.
2004 Château d’Aiguilhe Comtes de Neipperg Côtes-de-Castillon, 13.5% abv, $25.97
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Villa Mt Eden Grand Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.2% abv, $13.99
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, 2% Merlot
2005 [...]
New World vs. Old World cab blend tasting (prep)
Here is the preparation for this Friday’s New World vs. Old World Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot and the other Bordeaux varietals blend tasting.
2004 Château d’Aiguilhe Comtes de Neipperg Côtes-de-Castillon, 13.5% abv, $25.97
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Villa Mt Eden Grand Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.2% abv, $13.99
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% [...]
Cali (mostly) Cabs, an affordable Tier II assaggio majoralus
Okay, it’s in the can. The Royal Tannin Bomb’s Tier II affordable mostly California Cabernet Sauvignon tasting. This is in preparation for the Tier I tasting which at this point looks like it will be the best of the Old World vs. the best of the New World.
Tasting Date: 02/06/2009
Tasting Geeks: Tally-Ho, The Bad Man
Tasting [...]
Bordeaux vs. New World – mk ii – assaggio minoralus
Well, Bad Man (that’s me) is not afraid to admit it – I f’ed up!
Contenders
Château Charmail 2005 Haut-Medoc Bordeaux, 13% abv ~$20
Paoletti Vineyards Piccolo Cru 2005 Napa Valley 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec, 14.1% abv ~$15
Tasted by Bad Man and his arch-nemesis The Shadow – tasted BLIND, as always!
Tasting notes
Bordeaux [...]
Assaggio Majoralus – Bordeaux (affordable)
Stay tuned – tomorrow night is the official Royal Tannin Bomb Bordeaux tasting, of all things! Come back next week to see the results. These are in the under $40 range, so don’t expect First Growth.
