Bordeaux Blends from Around the World Wine Tasting Presented by the Wine Commanders

Paradiso Restaurant, Athens, Greece
Tasted Wednesday, April 30, 2014 by Yiannis with 573 views

Flight 1 - The More Affordable Wines (4 Notes)

  • 2010 Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon Franschhoek 94 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region, Franschhoek Valley

    Wine of the night for me and another 12 attendees. Gorgeous nose of sweet blackberry, moccha, cedar, high quality oak, mint and perfectly integrated green scents. Full-bodied and round with soft tannins, rich but not overripe fruit and balancing acidity. Long aftertaste. Very enjoyable with great potential. Combines perfectly old world balance and refinement with new world richness and early drinkability.

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  • 2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 90 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

    I have to admit that this time I did not recognise this as Chilean when served blind, something that rearly happens given the easily recogniseable character of chilean wines. Restrained nose with coffee, leafy aromas, cedar and some rubbery notes that made me think South Africa. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a med+ acidity, medium to long aftertaste. There was nothing wrong about this wine but it received only 2 votes, thanks to the superiority of the other wines alongside which it was served.

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  • 2009 Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Superiore 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

    Expressive nose with cedar, clove, cinnamon, red and darker cherries and earthy scents. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and balancing acidity. Vibrant and still youthful but already drinking nicely. Long. 15 votes and the first flight's most popular wine.

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  • 2004 Henschke Abbotts Prayer 93 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Lenswood

    Easily recognized as Australian. At peak right now at age 10. Dark chocolate, mint, lavender, olive, cumin and dark plum on the nose. Full-bodied, balanced and velvety-textured with vibrant acidity. My choice as nr.2 and 7 votes as best of first flight.

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Flight 2 - The Priciest Wines (3 Notes)

  • 2008 Dominus Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This is one of the very few times that I will not assign a score to my tasting note. The nose is restrained and lactic with just scents of anise, chocolate, cedar and chocolate. On the palate however, the wine is fantastic: full-bodied, round and complex with velvety tannins and an almost unique combination of complexity and power. Very long aftertaste. Just give it time to unwind. Potentialy a 95+ wine, but at the moment the nose is so tight that it would be unfair to rate it.

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  • 2007 Tsantali Kormilitsa Gold 70 Points

    Greece, Macedonia, Mt. Athos

    This wine is clearly faulty with an awfully funky nose of sulfur and rarely cleaned WC. On the palate it is full-bodied with high fruit concentration, and coarse tannins resulting in harshness. This wine retails at around 130 euros and is supposedly one of the few Greek fine wines. Shame!

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  • 2003 Château Calon-Ségur 86 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Medium to dark garnet. Restrained nose with overripe, stewed fruit, coarse tannins, balancing acidity and a medium aftertaste. Relatively disappointing. Maybe an off-bottle?

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Flight 3 - Dinner (1 Note)

  • 2011 Donna Olimpia 1898 Bolgheri 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri

    Dinner at Paradiso Restaurant after the "Bordeaux Blends" wine tasting. Dark ruby. Youthful and focused yet very clean and enjoyable with red cherries, cranberries, sweet spices and inky scents. Medium-bodied with vibrant fruit, firm but fine-grained tannins, high acidity and long aftertaste. Absolutely food-friendly, paired perfectly with beef tagliata.

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