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2006 Mas Estela Empordà Quindals

29/06/2010 Jozef Schildermans 0

2006 Mas Estela Empordà Quindals – Spain, Catalunya, Empordà (5/7/2010) Jammy red berries, kirsch, exotic spices and a definite mineral-like element; refreshing acidity, the alcohol still dominates, give it a few months to integrate. Quite tasty wine. 90% garnacha and 5% each of syrah and carinena.(90 pts.)

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2008 Quinta da Muradella Monterrei Alanda

25/06/2010 Jozef Schildermans 0

2008 Quinta da Muradella Monterrei Alanda tinto – Spain, Galicia, Monterrei (5/10/2010) Very clean, fresh smelling nose of red and black fruit (cherries, blue berries) and sweet spices that return on the palate, with a hint of kirsch, refreshing cherry-like acidity, hints of cherry stones, tobacco and milk chocolate… balanced and quite fresh, better on the second day… Made from > Read more …

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Bordeaux-prices go through the roof

22/06/2010 Jozef Schildermans 0

It seems that we can write this article every year during the “en primeur” campaign in Bordeaux. But 2009 “en primeur” prices for Bordeaux wines really are stratospherically high. Editor Michael Carpentier summarized it thus in a recent e-mail: Montrose 2009 costs as much as Mission or Mouton 2008 La Lagune 2009 = Clinet 2008 Haut Bailly 2009 = Las > Read more …

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Plastic disc preserves freshness of open wine

15/06/2010 Jozef Schildermans 1

The Australian inventor Barry Rees has invented a thin plastic disc that preserves the freshness of an opened bottle of wine for several days. You put the disc on top of the wine in an opened bottle with a special tool. The disc protects the wine from oxidation for up to five days, provided that the bottle is stored in > Read more …

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2007 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

11/06/2010 Jozef Schildermans 0

2007 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (6/2/2010) Excellent balance, depth and persistence. Recognizable SHL style, and clearly from a great year. Drinking quite well now. I would drink this on the younger side, to enjoy the delicious fruit fully. (93 pts.)

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AOC Tricastin changes name to Grignan-Les Adhémar

11/06/2010 Jozef Schildermans 0

The French Institut National de l’Origine et de la qualité (INAO) has finally approved the name change for the AOC Tricastin. The name change has been debated since July 2008, after an uranium leak in the nearby nuclear plant Tricastin (near Avignon). The new name is AOP (Appellation d’origine protégé) Grignan-Les Adhémar. The existing vin de pays Comté de Grignan > Read more …