Winegeeks

winelearner

Member since February 2011

From

LONDON, uk

About

I am a bit of a late starter in the World of Wines any help always welcome.


All wines listed are ones have tried/tasted, notes are my own findings; I have no connections with the wine trade & make have no financially gain from any of the listings.

47 Wine Reviews

winelearner

winelearner reviewed HAYES RANCH Hats Off SHIRAZ on May 8, 2011

Wine had a good aroma, plenty of fruit, taste improved when left to open up.

For price a good wine, do not know why wine could not have more Shiraz & less of the other grapes, which to me added nothing, if had to choose would pick Australian Shiraz, over this issue.

winelearner

Sorry about photo, could not lift label.

Picked this up as not come across a Valdiguie Grape in U.K., on opening, felt like pouring away, the aroma of Sweet Cherry was over powering, same as taste, far to sweet. Pleased left wine to open up, as the aroma was not heavy as for taste, on line of fine Gamay, for cost & taste, this was a really good wine.

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winelearner reviewed Benson Rise, Cygne Blanc 2007 on May 8, 2011

Brought this for the Grape " CYGNE BLANC" a new grape not come across before, hence remarks, nothing to compare with.

Wine when first opened had not much aroma, once opened up, picked up a strong aspargus aroma, which came out in taste. Rather high acidity, wine did not do a lot for me, bit on high side for what it was.

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winelearner reviewed FISCHER Premium 2003 MERLOT on April 11, 2011

What can one say about this wine, except out of all wines so far tasted, never given them 100% till I tried this, it’s the best Merlot have tasted. An aroma of fruit with hints of spice, wood & touch of something cannot quite put taste buds on as yet. Taste, pure delight.

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winelearner reviewed TOPIARY The Boxwood Winery on April 11, 2011

Purchased at same time as the Virginia White, have to say this was a cracking good wine, aroma of dark fruits, with slight burnt tobacco in back ground. As for taste excellent a full body red wine, one to enjoy with a Sunday Roast. Only downside maybe a touch expensive

winelearner

Have not come across many wines from Virginia in U.K, decided to give this a try, wine had a good nose if anything slight aromatic, taste, peaches, with orange & mix of grapefruit, slight acidity, nothing to overpower the taste. Overview a good wine, good price.

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winelearner reviewed Marilyn Merlot 2007 on April 11, 2011

Brought this more for the label than content, was very pleasantly surprised when opened after keeping for a year. Had to allow wine to breath for a while, had a really fruity, slight oak with spices on nose, the taste, lets just say yummy.

winelearner

The colour might be a little of putting along with label Melon, aroma nothing like one was expecting, more of peach if anything. Taste, was worried might be sharp, pleased to say not the case, a wine which could be used as aperitif or a snack at lunch time, once in THE glass the taste did improve, a nice wine to find.

winelearner

Had aroma of wild flowers, taste was alright nothing to excite my taste buds, fair price

winelearner

This wine needs to be decanted ( advise given by wine merchant) I did as told & think it was worth doing, not a lot of aroma bit fruit with spice & oak, the lack of aroma made up in taste, a powerful fruity spicey wine, it kept well, needs food, a very good winter meaty food wine, price paid very good, well worth seeking out.

GRAPE 100% BRAUCOL

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winelearner reviewed XURI , 2006, AOC Iroulrguy, on March 25, 2011

Liked the nose on this wine, spring flowers, exotic types of fruit, could not wait to taste, the taste strange a powerful fruity not to sweet, with slight acid lingering to make a great wine, this changed once left, acid had come to fore front, a wine which once opened needs to be consumed.

Grapes 70% Izkirota Haundia (Gros Manseng)
20% Izkirota Ttipia (Petit Manseng)
10% Xuri Zerratia ( Petit Courbu)

winelearner

On opening the wine had aroma of red ripe fruit, with a touch of spice to make it interesting, once opened up picked a slightly leather woody aroma.
The taste did not come up to aroma, more rustic & not to my taste plus a bit expensive, only up side types of grape used :-
60% Bordelesa Beltza ( The Bordeaux Black
30% Axeria ( The Fox )

winelearner

Had this down as a sweet wine, far from it, a good white wine, slight aromatic on nose, with a crispy sweet slight acid taste, all in all not a bad wine, maybe a touch on the expensive side.

winelearner

On nose had the red berry fruity, for taste, slight disappointing, maybe wine I did not leave to open up or should have left a few more years, for me, did not get a lot of taste.

No% of each Grape found.

winelearner

Good colour in glass, the nose, creamy fruit & spices, taste light & fruity, easy drinking wine, both good with or without food

winelearner

winelearner reviewed ROTGIPFLER Heninrich Hartl 2008 on March 21, 2011

A very aromatic aroma, the taste was same, with just the right amount of acidity to stop wine from becoming over sweet, kept well, needs to be chilled.

GRAPE " ROTGIPFLER" ( Have left Typicity open as first of this type tried)

winelearner

This wine has everything, plenty of aroma, toasted chocolate, the taste just as good, not sweet, slight burnt cherry, wine kept well, a good purchase

winelearner

winelearner reviewed SURUS Patagonia Select on March 21, 2011

This wine had a really strong fruity aroma, which opened up more in the glass, taste slight acid but not overpowering, a good wine.

winelearner

winelearner reviewed LABORVM Limited Edition Torrontes on March 21, 2011

Could not pick any aroma, this was made up by taste, fresh & fruity, with long creamy aftertaste.

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winelearner reviewed HOFBAUER Neuburger Halblehen 2007 on March 18, 2011

Did not know what to expect with this wine, the colour was off putting, more a green off white, this was made up with the aroma, not thing to start, wait a while & the wine wakes up, melon, grapefruit with hint of spring flowers, as for taste, well worth the wait, honey, flowers, fruits, this wine has it, a real find & good price.


NOTE Label has grape spelling as NEUBURGER

winelearner

The aroma of this was really off putting, a real farmyard, once you get off the aroma, the taste is pure magic

winelearner

Wow, this really had aromas jumping out the glass, as for taste just as good, vanilla fruity with just a hidden background of smoke, a class wine.

winelearner

winelearner reviewed CICCARIELLO Rosso BARDOLINO DOC on March 11, 2011

Had this at local Italian Restaurant, was quite a pleasant little wine, nothing to heavy on nose or taste, just a nice easy relaxing wine which went well with first & second course, cost factor for restaurants very good value for money.

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winelearner reviewed BERCIAL, El Perdio The Lost Plot on March 11, 2011

When opened, gave off a earthy aroma, left to stand wine opened up, could not pick up a lot of fruity aroma, taste was rather too tannic for me & over oaked, maybe had past its best or maybe did not have with right food, needs a strong meaty casserole stew.
NOTE THE 20% is BOBAL

winelearner

Not come across AOC Fronton or Negrette Grape before, gave this a try, the aroma was not what thought would be or anything like winemakers notes, taste plenty of pepper & spice, no fruity taste, needs to be opened well before consuming, if looking for something different worth trying except cost factor a bit on high side.

winelearner

As per the wine merchants notes, “This is one of those real finds” & he is right, has a aroma of vanilla, bit of honey with slight hint of toasty in background, taste if you like slight oaked chardonnay, you will like this has, it ticks all the boxes, most enjoyable wine, on its own or with a light first course.

winelearner

winelearner reviewed SINFO Tinto Joven 2006 Cigales D.O. on February 25, 2011

Was looking for something other than a Rioja, saw this & gave it a try. The aroma & taste are same as an entry level Rioja, maybe price for this wine a little less than Rioja of same standard, was not a bad wine, maybe would have beenbetter to stick with the Rioja I know.

winelearner

Came across this something different to try in the summer, aroma was one of apple mixed with pear, nothing to excite, taste not what expected, more a honey mix of fruits, but not to sweet also not to dry more a creamy honey wine, not having tried many Chenin Blanc other than ones from France, feel all in all this was a good wine. (Grape bio-dynamically grown.)

winelearner

Aroma was one of some sort of berry fruit, something light, the taste got a raspberry feel with strawberry lingering in background. Was not a bad wine, my own feelings, did not like the strawberry trying to come out, if honest, prefer French Gamay & New Zealand Pinot Noir Wines

winelearner

Having liked some of the Syrah produced by Australia, wonder what this New Zealand would be like. It had more of a light fruity aroma, not like some of those jam packed Australian issues, taste was more lightly as well, fresh floral, more in line with something from the Rhone Area, in fact thought at one time bottle had wrong label as it seemed to me more like a New Zealand Pinot Noir.

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winelearner reviewed JORDAN " BLANCE FUME" on February 14, 2011


This to self had a aroma of Pea Pods & Asparagus, on tasting, picked up what would say was call Smoky Oaked Asparagus, wine was not to dry or had acidity, easy drinking wine, pleased brought.

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winelearner reviewed KINGS RIVER Viognier 2007 on February 14, 2011

A rich fresh apricot, peach & lemon aroma, taste same with slight wood finish. For self found a touch to dry with a high alcohol than expected, if going for another 100% Viognier, would look more to France.

winelearner

Saint Valentines Day, what could be better than a bottle of Saint-Amour, a light fruity wine, aromas of fruit & herbs, a perfect wine for that romantic dinner, everything a Gamay should be, saying this, prefer a Brouilly or Morgan if had to chose Beaujolais Village.

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This had aroma of some form of spice with touch early budding roses, taste slight acid with spices to front, with an aromatic sweetness not to over powering taste.
The Winemakers notes say this is probably one of the best Gewurztraminer made by Villa Maria, as with other Gewurztraminer this is a good wine to have with Asian Food, maybe not very hot dishes.

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winelearner reviewed ROARING MEG on February 13, 2011

Being a fan of Pinot Noir brought it & pleased did so. The aroma was heavy fruits, red & berry type with touch of oak. Taste just like aroma rich fruity balanced with oak spice coming out, nothing like Pinot Noir had from France, all in all a very good wine, both in taste/aroma & price. Went well with roast lamb.

winelearner

Not seen this in U.K, will look out for it, as like wines from this area. Thanks

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winelearner reviewed La Raia. Gavi DOCG on February 11, 2011

Tried a Gavi some time back, saw this & who could not help buying with such a Cheerful Looking Bird on the label. The aroma slight citrus fruit, lemon/orange with hint of toffee. Taste, not too zippy, refreshing lemon but not over powering, good wine to have either as aperitif with nibbles or light first course. This Gavi is made from organic grapes

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One could be forgiven in thinking this is either Germany or Austrian, it comes from Sudtriol Alto Adige Region of North West Italy. Goldmuskateller, being the Germany name for Moscato Giallo Grape.

As for the wine, a very sweet nose, honey, very aromatic, the taste bit of a surprise, has high acidity which stops the sweetness overpowering the taste, liked this, makes an ideal aperitif wine, only drawback cost factor bit on the high end of the scale, but worth it if pushing the boat out.

winelearner

Having tried a Lagrein & not being a fan of Rose Wines, thought one had to give this a try. Have to say sorry not for me, taste rather bland with a high aroma of Strawberry, will pass on this wine.

winelearner

Picked this up as liked the name & not had a Western Australian Wine before. The aroma was one of Melon, Peach, touch of Citrus. Taste not being oaked or held in wood one could pick up the fruity taste with just a touch of acidity, all in all a very fine Chardonnay.

winelearner

Brought this to try as grapes not ones which spring to mind when picking wine from Australia. The aroma was chocolate & fresh ground coffee beans, as for taste different to what thought, more a sweet spicy taste, the two grapes work well together. With regard food, my thoughts go to something like Pasta.

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winelearner reviewed BOBBIE BURNS Durif Limited Release on February 11, 2011

Wow, this was a great wine the aroma jumped out the glass, plum blackberry with coffee in the background, the taste was just as good, plenty of fruit with a coffee aniseed lingering around, not a lot of tannins as expected, a real gem. Wine went with good red meats. This issue was 2007, opened Christmas 2010 maybe could have kept a few more years

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winelearner reviewed TARRANGO Estate Bottled Victoria on February 10, 2011

Put this is as found it to be something different, wanted to try a red wine to go with an Indian Take Away, this did the trick.

On nose you get raspberries with a touch of some sort of spice, taste very smooth & not to dry does go well with a curry.

Maker provides a small peel off label on bottle which recommends one serve the wine slightly chilled.

( Did it right this time )

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winelearner reviewed ELLISSI Bianco on February 10, 2011

The last bottle brought at the Wine Fair & out of the three the worse one. Aroma was very weak nothing to shout about, taste same weak rather plain; it’s said to be a wine to have as aperitif Hor-D-Oeuvers, wine did nothing for me.

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winelearner reviewed GRILLO Bianco on February 10, 2011

This is 2nd Wine brought at wine fair, Very hard to pin point aroma & give taste, Grillo being a new grape to me & quite different to other wines tried.

The aroma had plenty of fruit, taste again plenty of fruit apples pears etc ,no acidity, what I found strange about this wine, the taste seemed to change with each sip, will try another 100% Grillo to compare. This wine if looking for something different on a summer’s eve with a light first course or fish soup would be worth thinking about.

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winelearner reviewed JACARANDA Bianco on February 10, 2011

Brought this wine at a Wine Fair. When opened liked the aroma of Spring Flowers & Ripe Fruit, on taste, could pick up the floral scent of the flowers & ripe fruit, apples etc. quite nice, what was good the small added Grillo stopped the Sauvignon Blanc from over powering the wine also found not a lot of acidity came out, had first tasting with white fish, went well. 2nd tasting wine had lost the aroma & taste, acidity came out. All in all not a bad wine easy drinking, once opened needs to be consumed same day. (Sorry about other postings, will do all again, hopefully got hang of things now)

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winelearner reviewed DEVILS CORNER TASMANIA on February 8, 2011

Saw this in a Restaurant, not had a Pinot Noir from Tasmania, this one was as one would expect bit fruity on nose, same with taste, stood up to some of the New Zealand Pinot Noir have tried.

Only drawback price, being a restaurant would have marked up quite a bit.

Also please note it should be Devils Corner Tasmania .