Château du Chatelard Cuvée Les Vieilles Vignes

It’s summer so, for me, it’s Beaujolais time. With the hot weather I prefer lighter wines with fruity berry flavors.  This time it’s the Chateau du Chatelard Cuvee Les Vielles Vignes.  This wine is from old vines and aged in concrete tanks for 4 months according to the LCBO website.  Lacking a wine fridge, I chilled the wine in a regular refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes just before drinking.

Wine:  Chateau de Charteland Cuvee Les Vielles Vigne Beaujolais-Village 2014

Location: France

Alcohol content: 12.5%

Sugar content: 5g/L

Price: $17.95

Vintages number: 445320

As advertised, this medium-bodied wine has the strong strawberry and cherry flavors I like in wines made with Gamay grapes. This wine is smooth with a clean finish.

This wine compares very favourably to my standby Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages. The Charteland is probably more complex and may be preferred by connoisseurs but I give the edge to the Duboeuf because of the slightly stronger berry flavors. It is close but the Duboeuf is also $4 less a bottle which erases any doubt for me. All things considered, this is a fantastic Beaujolais-Villages and I will gladly drink it again. 

Recommendation:    Uncork

Rating:                     9.0 out of 10

Chateau Ksara, Reserve Du Couvent 2012

The Reserve Du Couvent is a red blend from Lebanon. It is produced by Chateau Ksara which has been producing wine since 1857 and is the largest winery in the country. It was described as medium-bodied and fruity which is in my wheelhouse, but the main reason I purchased this wine is because I had never tried a wine from Lebanon. Until now.

Wine:  Reserve Du Couvent 2012

Location: Lebanon

Alcohol content: 13.0%

Sugar content: 5g/L

Price: $14.95

Vintages number: 443721

With a dark red colour, the Reserve Du Couvent has an odor of tobacco and blackberry. Upon first tasting, the flavous are of mild blackberry, slight mineral with strong tannins. The finish is mostly clean with a slight mineral flavor and the tannins releasing their hold.

Overall, this is a pleasant, refreshing wine and I have now tried one from Lebanon. I had no idea what I could expect, but after this experience, I look forward to the next offering from this country. I would gladly drink the Reserve Du Couvent again. 

Recommendation:  Uncork

Rating:                   8.0 out of 10

Vylyan Belzebub 2012, Blaufrankisch Blend

The Vylyan Belzebub is a red wine from Hungary. It is made largely with Blaufrankisch or Blue Frankish grapes.  This variety is also known by a number of other names including Frankovka and Lemberg among others. It is known for rich tannins and a spicy character according to Wikipedia.

Wine:  Vylyan Belzebub 2012

Location: Hungary

Alcohol content: 13.5%

Sugar content: 7g/L

Price: $14.95

Vintages number: 437350

The Belzebub is a deep red colour with an aroma of black cherry.  At first, the flavors are extremely mild of light cherry and mineral components.  The finish is slightly astringent and spicy, consistent with the description of the Blue Frankish grape. Despite the finish, there is only a slight aftertaste of the mineral detected at first.

This is my first time trying a Blue Frankish wine. I don’t think it will make my preferred grape list but I will definitely try more wines made from this variety. The Belzebub is a solid effort.

Recommendation:  Uncork

Rating:                   7.5 out of 10

Domaine de La Madone Le Perreon Beaujolais-Villages 2014

Beaujolais-Villages wines are produced by 39 commune/villages in the Haut Beaujolais in France are meant to be consumed within 2 years of their harvest. Beaujolais wines are made with Gamay grapes which have thin skins and are low in tannins.  

Beaujolais have been described as ‘White wines that happen to be red’ and wikipedia recommends that they be served at between 13 and 14 degrees Celsius (56-57F).  I usually prefer a bit warmer around 16 to 18 degrees Celsius to appreciate more of the flavours.  I chill mine in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes before opening. These wines are often fruity with the berry flavours I prefer in the summer months.

Wine:  Domaine de La Madone Le Perreon Beaujolais-Villages 2014

Location: France

Alcohol content: 13.0%

Sugar content: 6g/L

Price: $14.95

Vintages number: 981175

This wines is a ruby red colour, perhaps slightly darker than other Beaujolais-Villages wines I have tried. The aromas are of sweet berry with a slight spice.

The flavours are of berry and spice also however the fruit flavours are not as pronounced as the Georges-DuBoeuf Beaujolais-Villages that is my staple summer wine. The wine is smooth, low in tannins with a pleasant, sweet berry finish.

While I don’t enjoy this wine as much as the DuBoeuf, it is a good wine that I would gladly drink again. For those who prefer more muted fruit flavours in their Beaujolais, you might like it more than me.

Recommendation:  Uncork

Rating:                  8.0 out of 10

El Guardian, Rioja Crianza 2011

Our latest selection in another Spanish rioja. I like trying different varieties from different countries but sometimes you just need to go to your comfort zone, and tempranillo wines are in my wheelhouse. 

I selected this wine not based on any recommendations or inside information. It is simply because I wanted a reasonably priced rioja and I kind of liked the label. 

Wine: El Guardian Rioja Crianza

Location: Spain

Alcohol content: 12.5%

Sugar content: 2g/L

Price: $13.95

Vintages number: 429670

El Guardian rioja is a medium-bodied wine, ruby red in colour with pleasant berry fragrances. The flavours are extremely mild.  You can taste slight strawberry and leather. The wine is balanced and smooth with a nice finish. Because the flavour profile is very neutral, this wine is extremely versatile and could be paired with many different meats and cheeses or enjoyed on its own.  I usually prefer slightly stronger fruit flavours but this wine is pleasant and I would drink it again.

Recommendation: Uncork
Rating:                  7.5 out of 10

The Year in Review

To make it easy to review what I have tried, there is a summary of the wines and ratings listed below. I will try to update this list periodically to make it easier to find the better reviewed wines.  I would welcome your feedback.  Let me know if you think my reviews are useful or if you disagree. You can reach me by e-mail:  odyssey_732@yahoo.ca

Happy drinking.

Rating	Wine
9	Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages
9	Radio Boka Tempranillo 2013
9	Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port, 2009
8.5	Beronia, Rioja, Tempranillo Elaboracion Especial
8.5	Borsao Tinto Garnacha
8.5	Purcari Rara Neagra de Purcari 2013
8.5	Villa Wolf Pinot Noir
8.5	Wakefield Promised Land Cabernet Sauvignon
8	Alazani Valley Red from Tbilvino
8	Ezimit Merlot
8	Plantaze Monte Cheval Vranac
8	Tamada Mukuzani 2011 - Kakheti Georgia - Red
8	Trapiche Vina Jorge Miralles Terroir Series Single Vineyard Malbec 2009
8	Vila Regia Douro 2013
7.5	Angels Gate Gamay Noir 2013
7.5	Domaines Vincon Feteasca Neagra 2009
7.5	LAN Crianza Rioja 2010
7.5	Radio Boka Tempranillo 2014
7	Domaine Boyar Cabernet Sauvignon
7	Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013
6.5	Peljesac Plavac Mali
6.5	Solaz
6	Boutari Agiorgitiko Nemea Red 2012

Purcari Rara Neagra de Purcari 2013

You may not be familiar with the wines of Moldova, but this Eastern European country, bordering Romania and Ukraine, has been producing wines for some 5,000 years.

Most of it's commercial wines are produced for export and the industry is vital to the country's economy. Russia has been the main destination for Moldovan wines however that is changing as Russia has imposed bans on the importation of wines from the country due to 'Phyto-sanitary' concerns. In reality Russia is trying to discourage Moldova from seeking closer ties with Europe.

I have no concerns about the quality of Purcari wines.  The LCBO tests the products it imports and the Queen of England imports one of the 1990 vintages for personal consumption.  If it's fit for the Queen then it is fit for me.

This particular wine is made with babeasca neagra grapes.  This variety is cultivated in Romania and Moldova, but is also grown in Ukraine and New York State where it is known as Sereksia.

According to Wikipedia, the Romanian words mean "Grandmother's Black" but are known to produce light-bodied, fruity red wines. This wine however is full-bodied, as we will discuss below.

Wine:  Purcari Rara Neagra de Purcari

Location: Moldova

Alcohol content: 14%

Sugar content: 6g/L

Price: $20.95

Vintages number: 426262

The wine is an extremely deep red colour making the 'neagra' name understandable. The smells are subtle but I detect slight vanilla, spice and berry. At 14% alcohol, it is classically defined as a full-bodied wine (According to my sources at Winepair.com).  I have previously incorporated the flavour profile in my understanding of light, medium and full-bodied wines but this is apparently not the accepted definition.  Apparently it refers almost exclusively to the alcohol content of the wine. The more alcohol the more viscous the wine feels in your mouth.

For people who have been following my blog, this is a reminder that I am an amateur who appreciates wine but is definitely not a connoisseur.  I will correct this in future reviews but judge past reviews accordingly. 

Like the smells, the flavours are more subtle than one might expect. Plum, vanilla and slight spice with a slightly astringent finish. Of the previous wines I have reviewed, I would say the flavour profile is reminiscent of the Romanian Domaines Vincon and the feel similar to the first wine I reviewed, the Tamada Mukuzani from the Republic of Georgia.

Although this wine does not contain the strong berry flavours I usually prefer, this wine is a pleasure to drink.  Smooth with a clean finish, this is a wine I would gladly drink again.  

Recommendation:  Uncork

Rating:                  8.5 out of 10