1995 Chateau Gloria (Bordeaux–St. Julien)

This wine exemplifies what a little age (in this case 12 years) can do for an affordable bottle of Bordeaux.

Deep red color. Nice aroma which is a mix of cedar and tabac, leather, and dark earthy fruit. Black currant becomes more evident on the taste. The tannins have softened with the bottle age (or I’m assuming they have as this is the first time I’ve having this vintage.) The soft texture leads to a nice long finish.

A solid B+ wine that I purchased for $25 from the online WineBid.com auction.

2003 Chateau La Vieille Cure (Bordeaux-Fronsac)

This a young wine but I have four more bottles of this and can’t wait to see how it develops over time.

Dark garnet color. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, lead pencil, cedar, and general dark fruit. Loads of tannins and a velvety texture with a long juicy finish. I generally like Bordeaux wines and thing this is going to be fantastic down the road. I’ll give it about three to five years before opening the next bottle.

$25 from Morrell Wines and brought as a future.

2005 Mollydooker Shiraz – The Boxer (Australia-McLaren Vale)

Living up to its name, this wine will KNOCK YOU OUT! Big… That’s the operative word here.

Inky purple-black color. Lots of different aromas going on. Prunes. Blackberry. Dark cherry (to give it a “lighter” note.) It’s also slightly earthy with faint wood and cedar aspects. A “juicy” wine with gobs of fruit through. Namely prunes. Figs. Spices as well, especially on the finish which is very long. The texture is velvety and creamy in a way. There is also a nice surprise at the end which is a bitter chocolate aftertaste if you wait it out long enough as the finish lasts for almost a minute.

If you are a fan of this style of wine, you’re probably going to like it. After all, Robert Parker did give it a 95 score! However, if this style isn’t for you, it’ll be hard to get past the first impressions it leaves.

I’m on the fence on this wine. For aromatics and general complexity, I think its an A. As for my own style and preference, I don’t think I could drink this too often.

$25 at Zachy’s although the 2006 version of this is coming out now.

2003 Chateau Ste. Michelle – Indian Wells – Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington)

Deep garnet color. Blackberry currant and kirsch. Generally “juicy” with dark fruit and toasted oak underneath. Earth and very thick in texture. Very aromatic as well with nice tannins and good balance. Lingering finish. Very nice for the $17 paid at Liquor City in Syracuse, New York. An A grade wine for the value.

2001 Zilliken – Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett “Forstmeister Geltz” (Germany - Mosel-Saar-Ruwar

Light straw/hay colored. Aromas of lemon and lighter tropical fruits and floral notes. Sweet but not cloyingly so. There’s also a pineapple taste that comes through. Light on the acidity which makes this an ok but not a perfectly balanced wine. Medium short finish.
A good effort and a decent food wine but really a B- . This was $20 at Crush Wine.

2005 Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre – Apalta Vineyard – Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile)

Another big wine which is also on the “jammy” side. Plum and fig with maybe a whisper of raspberry on the nose. Fig is also apparent on the taste along with some chocolate notes. Dry… and very velvety texture and a long finish. This was $15 from PJ Wines on sale but it typically retails for $20 to $25 dollars. At the sale price, this is a very good value for the money and a B+ wine for my tastes.

2005 Layer Cake Shiraz (South Australia– Barossa Valley)

Big! Dark purple in color. Actually, it’s almost opaque. Notes of kirsch and raspberry but generally… gobs of fruit with some cedar notes underneath. The raspberry really comes out on the palate. Thick texture with a medium long finish. This is a high alcohol (15%), high octane wine that you’ll probably like if you’re a fan of this style. This was a $16 purchase from Garnet but I’ve seen it elsewhere as well. For my tastes… it’s a B grade wine.

2005 Belle Glos Pinot Noir – Clark & Telephone Vineyard (California)

The Belle Glos - Clark & Telephone Vineyard is a Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley in the Central Coast region of Califorina. The wine is cherry red in color. Bright fruit aroma of strawberry and some raspberry but there’s also an earthiness there, exhibited by tabac and smoky notes. Creamy texture and a medium long finish. Good enough for a B grade. Nice but not outstanding.