2/3/2015 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Bought @Denns bio market, 10€. My first Greek red, eco wine. Dense ruby red colour, beautiful. 13.5% vol., oily, slow legs. Dark berry nose, cassis, bramble, herbs, woodground, medium intense, essential but slightly alcoholic. Dry & fruity palate, intense berry notes, warm, spicy, strong, tannic but well balanced, needs some time in the glass. Medium-full bodied, dry finish, dark berries again. Overall very good, tasty, a positive surprise. Goes along very well with spicy meat dishes. Nose 11/15, palate 11.5/15, body&balance; 7.5/10, finish 7.5/10 (+50) = 87-88/100p.

2/3/2015 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Bought @rossmann drugstore for only 4€. No expectations but a very positive surprise! Ruby-purple, med windows, 13% vol. After some minutes in the glass: ripe cherry, marzipan, figs, oak & Christmas spices on the nose, med intense. The palate shows soft tannins, refreshing med acidity, subtle oak, sweet cherry fruit, spice, nice balance & has a med body. Dry med long finish, vanilla, cherry & marzipan. Tasty! Overall an excellent qpr & a very good wine. Nose 11.5/15, palate 11/15, body&balance; 7/10, finish 7.5/10 (+50) = 87/100p. By the way, this one got 86-88 @WineSpectator. Cheers!

1/12/2015 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Only 8€, special offer. My first Touriga Nacional. 13.5% vol., dark purple red, impenetrable, big windows. Initially alcoholic, after some minutes the flavours & aromas developed. Intense dried dark fruit, raisin, plum, figue & date, woodground, warm & spicy. 12/15p. The palate is spicy, warm, intense, with lots of dried dark fruit flavours, balsamic. 11.5/15p. Medium+ body, smooth, round & full. 7.5/10p. Medium+ long, dry & fruity finish. 7.5/10p. Equals 88.5/100 p.
An excellent wine with excellent qpr, great pick! Pair with spicy dishes. 88-89/100p.

12/8/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson wrote:

13€/17USD in Germany, 13% vol., 12 months barrel aged, basic category Pinot Noir from this producer.
Eye: Light ruby red with watery edges, medium legs.
Nose: Initially barnyard, asparagus(?), sulphur, a little strange. Later raspberry, sour cherry, vanilla, leather, wet woodground. Not very expressive, rather elegant, opens up after some minutes in the glass (11/15).
Palate: Fresh, vivid, subtle berry notes, sour cherry, smooth medium(-) tannins, present medium(+) acidity, which is dominant, cool, elegant, some spice (11/15).
Body/Balance: Medium-light bodied, balance on the acidity side, very fresh (7/10).
Finish: Fresh, berry notes, medium long (7/10).
Overall: 11+11+7+7(+50) = 86/100
A good or very good, elegant, classic PN from Germany but just not my style. I prefer the "heavier" and ripe PNs. This one is too subtle, too elegant, not very expressive, strange nose, too thin for me. I liked the "Krone PN" much more, which only a little more expensive. I guess this one is best when paired with matching food, e.g. medaillons of pork filet.

12/8/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Bought this one as a special offer, only 18€/24USD per bottle.
Single vineyard, hand selected, unfiltered, 13.5% vol. The 10 year old cork was the most perfect I have ever seen after this time.
Eye: Clear medium brick red with slightly watery edges and a darker core. Little signs of aging.
Nose: Raspberry, vanilla, liquorice, oak, cherry, medium intense, cool and warm at the same time, essential, elegant, versatile (12.5/15).
Palate: Medium acidity and tannins, medium(+) intense, fresh, elegant, complex, ripe, cherry, oak and vanilla, versatile, pretty dry (adstringent) but fruity. (12.5/15).
Body/Balance: Medium body, very well balanced, still fresh and vivid, not overoaked, smooth texture (8/10).
Finish: Very long finish, vanilla, berry, intense, tasty. (8.5/10).
Overall: 12.5+12.5+8+8.5(+50) = 91.5/100
An excellent embassador of a Rioja Gran Reserva, from a very pretty bottle with a gold coated label and at a very reasonable price. Decant or at least open bottle 1-2 hours before drinking. Still has potential to develop. Go get the last available bottles of this special edition!

11/3/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Familienweingut Benzinger private tasting (Campus Kronberg): Being a red wine drinker, this was my favourite of the evening. A really excellent PN from Germany. 18€/24USD in Germany. 13.5% vol, 18 months barrique.
The eye sees a medium ruby red with bright rims. The medium intense nose is warm, herbal, with notes of woodground, leather, vanilla, bramble and raspberry, very good (12.5/15). The palate is very intense, elegant, cool, fruity, has refreshing medium acidity and silky tannins and vanilla notes (12/15). Medium body, very good balance, good texture (8/10). The finish is warm and long, very intense (8.5/10).
12.5+12+8+8.5(+50) = 91/100 - An excellent PN for a very reasonable price. I loved it and bought one more to try a second time. I will get back to this one soon.
Pair with spicy meat dishes with dark and intense sauces.

11/3/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Familienweingut Benzinger private tasting (Campus Kronberg): This Riesling is of very high quality and would surely be an 1.Lage Riesling, if the winery was member of the VDP.
A terroir driven chalk marl / lime scale Riesling from a single wineyard, Kirchheimer Steinacker. 12.5% vol, 16€/21USD in Germany.
The eye sees an intense golden yellow, chrystal clear as a gem. The nose is generous, intense, ripe yellow peach and pear, subtle nut aromas, mineral notes, some sweetness (12/15). The palate is intense, ripe, full, good acidity and sweetness, smooth, some honey(melon), sublte mineral notes (12/15). The body is medium-strong for a white, good concentration, very good balance (8/10). The finish is long, sweet and refreshing (8/10).
12+12+8+8(+50) = 90/100 - I liked this one very much, the concentration is so good! Pair with light meat dishes, fish, creamy pasta or salad.

11/3/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Familienweingut Benzinger private tasting (Campus Kronberg): I was really fascinated by this one. I usually do not care too much about Pinot Blanc. But the way this one was made really caught my attention.

13% vol., some months (don't know exactly) in barriques, 14€/19USD in Germany, available at the winery's online shop only.
Light golden yellow with bright rims, slow legs. Intense ripe yellow pear and citrus on the nose, sweet, nuts, vanilla, some herbs and subtle oak, superb (12.5/15). The palate is creamy, soft, has ripe yellow fruits, some medium(-) acidity and vanilla (12/15). The body is full for a white, the balance is super for me, some might miss a little more acidity (7.5/10). The finish is very long and creamy, vanilla and pear again. (8/10).
12.5+12+7.5+8(+50) = 90/100 - Overall an excellent Pinot Blanc, I loved it. 'White wine for men', one female guest said about this wine. Pair with seafood.

11/17/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Re-visited. I can confirm my previous rating, excellent stuff!
Very smooth, very good to drink, interesting aroma spectrum.

11/16/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

3rd bottle, Kabinett Riesling with 10.5% vol., 15€/20USD in Germany.
Initially muted but grows rapidly with temparature. Petrol, quince and sweet ripe pear first, honey, peach and ripe citrus notes follow. Medium intense nose, you can smell the sweetness and ripeness (12/15). Intense palate with sweetness and acidity upfront, battling for dominance, where sweetness wins tightly but acidity does its job and refreshes. Ripe yellow fruits again, some mineral notes (12/15). The body is medium, has a very good concentration, the balance is very good, could be a little more mineral driven (7.5/10). Some might find it a little too sweet. The finish is also very good, the ripe sweet pear taste stays quite some time (7.5/10).
12+12+7.5+7.5(+50) = 89/100 - A very good wine. We had it with tagliatelle with salmon-fennel-cream-sauce and it was a super pairing. Good menu Riesling, also good for sweet dessert and creamy cheese.

11/15/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

15€/20USD in Germany, 12.5% vol., 16-18 months french barrels, no sediments.
The eye sees a clear medium red with watery edges, rather thin in appearance, medium legs. The nose starts with ripe raspberry, cherry and vanilla, followed by some sweetness, spice and woodground, balsamic. Subtle nose, not very expressive but very good (12/15). The palate is fresh, cool, acidity dominated (medium+), fruity, elegant and with soft, ripe tannins (11/15). This wine is rather light bodied but has a very good texture and intensity, paired with elegant freshness (7.5/10). The finish is long, dry and fruity (8/10).
12+11+7.5+8(+50) = 88.5/100 - A very good and ripe German PN from a fantastic region. Something I am happy to have tried, although a PN is (still) not my favourite wine-style. Will hold up for some more years. Open bottle an hour before drinking.

11/15/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Confirming my first tasting note.
Very smooth and rich wine. Very good nose of ripe dark dried fruits, rum raisins, spice, earth, oak and mocha (12/15). Intense, essential, ripe, fruity and versatile palate (12/15) with a very good balance between spice, residual sugar, barrel oak, acidity and tannins, medium-full body, very good mouthfeel (8/10), long and intense finish (8/10). A super qpr for only 10€/13USD. From the high-quality look of the bottle to the high quality of the content this one is a top bargain.
12+12+8+8(+50) = 90/100 - Excellent.

11/11/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Last of three bottles, confirming my previous ratings.
Still a little muted nose but when it opens it is great. Vanilla, ripe cherry, warm, elegant, mineral notes (12/15).
Palate is still young and fresh with focus on medium(+) acidity, medium tannins, vanilla berry notes, menthol and mineral freshness (11/15).
Body is medium, balance is a little too much on the acidity side but in general this Crianza is well balanced (7/10). The finish is dry, long and dominated by vanilla and berries (8/10).
12+11+7+8(+50) = 88/100 - A very good wine, pair with tapas.
Was best on day 2, open bottle at least a good hour before drinking. Will easily hold up for some more years.

11/7/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Third an last bottle. This one has improved in my opinion. It was served at a private semi-blind tasting, we only knew that we a had a Chilean Syrah among 7 bottles. 14% vol., 20€/27USD in Germany.
All of us thought it was a spicy Cabernet, none of us recognized a Syrah here. It really has more Cabernet than Syrah attributes.
Initially mineral notes, cool, elegant, cassis, bramble, wood and vanilla, a little bit of leather/smoke, medium intense (12/15). The medium intense palate was also mineral and cassis driven, with hints of well integrated wood, first a little sweetness but then present medium(+) tannins and medium acidity adds freshness, followed by some gentle spice (12/15). The medium-strong body has character, is adstringent but fruity-smooth, has pleasent acidity and oak, good balance (7.5/10). Very good finish, long lasting, dry, vanilla and berry notes (8/10).
12+12+7.5+8(+50) = 89.5/100 - Overall a very good to excellent wine. I liked it very much on its own but I find it a little bit too expensive. The comparable Villalar Syrah 2008 costs half and tastes equally good.

11/7/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Tasted a second time with Antipasti. 14% vol., 8€/11USD in Germany.
Barnyard stench upfront, put it aside for some minutes. Then strong cassis and blackberry, jammy, little bit of leather, sweet, intense (11/15). Very fruity palate with lots of berry flavours, juicy, some vanilla, medium tannins, medium acidity, present oak, dry (11.5/15). Strong body, good balance, present oak (7.5/10). Medium long, strong, dry, berry dominated finish (8/10).
11+11.5+7.5+8 = 88/100 - Overall a very good wine. I still prefer Cali Cabs.

11/7/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Tasted a second time with Antipasti.
First rather muted nose, takes some moments. Then cassis, vanilla, a little bit of oak, sweet, some herbal spice, medium intense (11/15). Fruity palate with lots of berry flavours, smooth, juicy, again vanilla, medium tannins, medium(-) acidity, easy to drink but not boring, tasty (12/15). Medium body, very good balance, some oak adds more balance (7.5/10). Tasty medium long, berry dominated finish (7.5./10).
11+12+7.5+7.5(+50) = 88/100 - Very good wine and excellent qpr. Super crowd-compatible steak and bbq wine.

11/4/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Surprisingly good I have to admit. Saw it as a new item in our supermarket, 7€/10USD. Rather expensive for a usual supermarket wine but in general I'd consider this one as low priced.
According to the website, Dark Horse is a Gallo project. I have had good experience with Gallo wines (not meaning the standard ones) so I gave it a try.

The eye sees a dark ruby red with a dark core and purple rims. Pretty dark for a cab. The legs are slow, oily. The nose needs a little time, but after some minutes in the glass bursting blackberry, cassis, vanilla and mocha flavours jump out of the glass. I really like the nose, very expressive and interesting (12/15). The palate is a mirror of the nose, with good acidity (medium) and sweet, slightly adstringent (medium) tannins (12/15), also very expressive and intense. The body is strong but not overdone, the balance is very good (8/10). This one finishes dry and leaves your palate with long lasting berry and mocha notes (8/10). The mocha taste is quite remarkable, I wonder how they do this. Overall, to me, totally convincing, excellent. Yes, I really did like it. My girl also liked it a lot. 12+12+8+8(+50) = 90/100. Will buy more.

10/26/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson wrote:

Re-visited. This time I did not like it as much as first time.
Nose stays 11/15.
Palate down to 9/15, slightly bitter and too much acidity.
Body and balance: A light one but a little off balance 6/10.
Finishes tasty but a little too short, 6/10.
11+9+6+6(+50) = 82/100 - an okay wine but I'd rather spend 5€ more to get a solid Rheingau PN.

10/20/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

100% Pinotage, 14% vol., 10€/13USD in Germany.
Pop&pour, dark red and heavy in the glass, slow legs. Intense+ nose of dark berries, mocha, coffee, chocolate (12/15). Smooth but strong, round, intense, rather low tannins and acidity, dry with a sweet touch, berry flavours (11.5/15). Strong body, very well balanced, easy but not flat, decent oak, very good texture (7/10). Medium+ long mocha finish (7.5/10).
12+11.5+7+7.5(+50) = 88/100 - a very good wine.
I liked this one very much and would buy it again, very good qpr. Drink solo or pair with spicy beef dishes like Gulasch or Chili con Carne.

10/20/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Cape Blend made from 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet, 15% Pinotage, 23 months oak barrel aged (taken from the website). 12€/16USD in Germany.
Pop&pour. Ruby red colour, slow legs (14.5% vol.). Intense nose of cassis and berries, mineral freshness, cool, elegant, vanilla, oak, touch of mint (12/15). The palate is dry and adstringent, has medium+ tannins, medium acidity and intense berry flavours, strong (12/15). Very good balance, round but with character, strong body and pleasant texture (7.5/10). Long lasting dry finish with tasty berry notes (8/10).
12+12+7.5+8(+50) = 89.5/100 - very good / excellent
Improves over some hours, getting smoother and developing softer, sweeter aromas and more vanilla and berry notes. I liked it from the beginning to the end. This Bordeaux-ish blend has a very good qpr, super solo wine or pair with beef.

9/27/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Third bottle already, so good with lasagna, a lovely pairing. I love this sweet-spicy-fruity-dry mixup that probably only something like Primitivo or Negroamaro can provide. Dark and inky but still refreshing and somehow elegant, no heat. This is the taste of South Italy, excellent!

9/25/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

"VPD.Ortswein", this means one level below "Erste Lage"/"Grosse Lage" and one level above "VDP.Gutswein". An "Ortswein" should be a messenger of the terroir it comes from. In this case it is marl lime / chalk clay. Available for only 10€/13USD in Germany, which is a very good price for the quality you can expect here.

The eye sees a gem-clear silvergold with rather quick legs. 12.5% vol. Floral notes, peach, apricot, mineral freshness on the nose, medium intense (11.5/15). The palate offers a vivid mineral freshness, paired with floral/flowery notes, very interesting and to me unique so far. Some sweetness and apricot notes complete the very tasty palate (12.5/15). This light bodied wine shows an excellent balance between minerality, acidity, fruit and sweetness (8/10). The finish is long and floral again, dry and fruity, very good (8/10).
11.5+12.5+8+8(+50) = 90/100 - An excellent Riesling, lucky me I have 5 more bottles. Super qpr, perfect menu Riesling but I liked it very much on its own.

9/25/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Got this one as a present from a friend. He bought it because it was a recommendation from his local wine dealer. This wine/vintage recently won gold in an important German competition called "Mundus Vini". Gold equals 90+p. The wine is available for about 10€/13USD. Blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz & Castelao

The eye sees a dark red with an almost black core. The legs are slow, the wine is heavy in the glass (14.5% vol.). The nose offers generous aromas of ripe berries, dried fruit, rum raisins, woodground, mocha and a touch of vanilla oak. Port-like somehow (12/15). The palate is smooth, balsamic, initially sweet, followed by medium acidity and smooth medium(-) tannins and nice ripe berry notes. Dry but hardly adstringent, round mouthfeel (12/15). The body is muscular, strong but not overdone, very balanced and believable (8/10). This one finishes dry, sweet, long and tasty and leaves your palate with lots of dried fruit aromas (8/10).

12+12+8+8(+50) = 90/100 - I can confirm the rating given for this one, an excellent wine. I was suprised about the overall quality of it. The bottle looks great, a heavy bottle with thick glass and a perfect cork. The content is convincing, a very fine and expressive wine, reminds me a little of a light Port. I bought more.

9/5/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

I found some last 07 in an online store! :) So I again had the pleasure to have this one. Still very good, I will keep the remaining ones to get back to them over the next 2-3 years. Please refer to my prior notes for details.

8/26/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Tasted at a winestore, a recommendation. Brand new label from a brand new winery. The new 2013 vintage instantly won "Grand Gold" at "Mundus Vini 2014" spring tastings. Usually I do not care about such things but I found that very remarkable. So I tried and was impressed. Usually this is not my wine style, those thick and muscular (14% vol.) south Italian reds with remarkable residual sugar (10g.). But this one is really great. So I bought some bottles and tried again. I can confirm my first impression. 100% Primitivo, 9€/12USD in Germany.

The eye sees a dark red with a purple-black core, slow legs, oily. Popo&pour: Instantly hits your nose with rich (medium(+) intense) aromas of bramble, blackberry, cherry, vanilla and earthy notes (13/15). The first thing you notice on your palate is the sweetness, which is immediately followed by a refreshing (medium) acidity and some typical spice. Red berry fruits and medium(-) tannins make this one very easy to drink and pretty delicious. Versatile, not simple (12/15). The strong body is well balanced, nothing too much or less (8/10). The finish is again sweet and spicy, but also dry and leaves a tasty berry flavour. Medium long finish (7/10).

13+12+8+7(+50) = 90/100 - This is an excellent wine, although usually not my style. But this one really convinced me. A real mouthful of beautiful south Italian Primitivo. Super qpr, a crowd pleaser. Matches perfectly with many Italian dishes, something you should really try.

8/25/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Often recommended, often mentioned: The "famous" Negroamaro "F" by Feudi di San Marzano. Available for app. 18€/24USD in Germany.
I got this 2009 as a present in 2013 and put it into my cellar. Finally I was too curious about it, so I drank it solo over two evenings.

The eye sees a dense purple with a black core. Thick like syrup with very slow legs, almost sticky in appearance. The nose immediately offers generous medium(+) intense aromas of bramle, cassis, cherry, woodground and balsamic notes, no alcoholic heat (12/15). The palate is unfortunately not as intense as the nose makes you think, but still medium intense. Medium(-) acidity, light & smooth tannins, balsamic, fruity (berries), ripe, warm, spicy, concentrated, tasty! On the other hand it is thick, sticky and not very refreshing, due to the lack of acidity. Not alcoholic at all (12/15). This full bodied and very muscular red has an almost grainy texture, is well balanced, rather sweet, and very easy to drink. To me it lacks a bit complexity (8/10). The finish is long, warm and fruity (8/10).

12+12+8+8(+50) = 90/100 - Surely an excellent wine but it didn't provide the the "wow effect" I was hoping for.
This is really heavy stuff and maybe a bit too heavy for me. As I said, to me it lacks freshness and complexity. Nevertheless a wine you can offer to almost everyone I guess, this is really an "open" wine and very food friendly. Pair with spicy Italian cousine and have fun.

8/25/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson wrote:

Bought because it has a reasonable price (10€/13$) and Parker gave 92p. It was advertised to be a "20€-league wine", I could not resist.

100% Tempranillo variety (Tinta de Toro), 14.5% vol.
Dark dense crimson red with purple reflections, slow legs, looking very good. A great nose of plums, vanilla oak, dark berries, wood and herbs, medium intense (12/15). Unfortunately the palate does not equal the nose. Harsh, acidity dominated, alcoholic, present medium(+) tannins, dark berries again, dry, adstringent (10/15). This medium-full bodied wine is off balance on the acidity side, lacking smoothness and roundness (6/10). The finish is good and fruity, way better than the actual taste (7/10).
12+10+6+7(+50) = 85/100 - A good wine in some aspects but overall not convincing and not my taste at all. I drank it over two days and there was no change, at least no positive one. Disappointing for a barrel aged Tempranillo, which is usually one of my favourite wine styles (e.g. Rioja Crianzas/Reservas). Needs more time? I am not sure...

Those Parker points are often misleading to me, he seems to have a different taste in wines (or whoever rated this wine). This one is - in my opinion - absolutely overrated. I have had way better Spanish reds for way less money. I do not understand the "hype" about this one.

8/24/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Around 27€/35USD in Germany. This PN aged over 11 year and had no sediments. The cork was good but not perfect. I drank it over 2 days.
The eye sees a medium red with watery edges and brown reflections, slow legs, 14% vol. The nose is rich and complex, generous, with ripe plums, figues, amarena cherry, balsamic notes, red berries, marzipan, vanilla and a hint of leather (13/15). The palate feels a fine sweetness at the beginning, then refreshing acidity (medium+) and silky tannins (medium-) follow. Dry and fruity with aromas of red berries (12/15). Light(+) body but not thin, expressive, almost no alcoholic heat. Well balanced fruit, acidity and oak (which is very subtle) (7.5/10). Remarkable long and fruity finish (8/10).
13+12+7.5+8(+50) = 90.5/100 - An excellent wine and a super example for a great, elegant, strong and tasty German red. I guess it will keep up for some more years.

8/22/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Wow, what a wine! Really an Italian beauty and still one of my favourite wines. This Amarone was my pesonal wine-"ice-breaker" back in 2009. The current 2009 vintage is available for app. 27€/35USD here in Germany.

Eye: Dark and oily, deep red with brown relfections, heavy in the glass, very slow legs.
Nose: Pop&pour,overwhelming and generous nose of ripe figues, plums, rum raisins and amarena cherry. Vanilla, coffee, caramel. Rich, deep, balsamic, essential, wood, herbs and so much more. Intense(+) nose, almost no alcohol. 13/15
Palate: Starts quite sweet (vanilla oak & ripe fruit), then acidity and tannin kick in, both medium(+) intense. Powerful but fresh and elegant. Smooth, round, ripe, warm, fruity, balasamic, a touch of mint, figues and plums again. Complex, almost like the nose, bursting with flavour. 13/15
Body/Balance: A heavy & muscular wine but elegant and with finesse nevertheless, super balance. 8.5/10
Finish: Complex finish, very aromatic, long lasting. 8.5/10

13+13+8.5+8.5(+50) = 93/100 - An excellent wine!
Although a complex wine, this one is also good for beginners.

8/1/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson wrote:

Bottle #3. After opening I had a good feeling (still having the other 2 kind of flawed bottles in my mind). And it was better, but still somehow a disappointment. I drank it over three days, vacuumized. Was best on day two.
Eye: A lot of sediment but not as blurry as the previous two bottles. A dark and dense ruby-purple red with slow legs.
Nose: Cassis, blackberry, bramble, vanilla, medium intense, quite nice (12/15).
Palate: Something is wrong here, especially on day 1. Medium(-) intensity, too much acidity (and not the pleasant one that you would like rather a bitter one), some fruit, oak, very adstringent mouthfeel, medium(+) tannins (10/15).
Body/Balance: Medium(+) body, quite strong, off balance on the acidity side (bitter), un-round (6/10).
Finish: Medium finish, no highlights but good (7/10).
Given the vintage and the price this is a downer. 12+10+6+7(+50) = 85/100. I am not sure whether this one was flawed or not, I really can't say.
Anyway, Mahler-Besse stuff hasn't convinced me yet, neither this one nor the other one (Cheval Noir St. Emilion) I had so far. I don't think I will give it another try.

6/23/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

It gets better and better, my third bottle. Only 10€/13$, a steal! Great value, I need to get more.
Dense ruby red colour with a touch of purple. Intense fruity, spicy, herbal nose (12/15p.), strong, dry, fruity, dense and spicy palate, very pretty texture, medium acidity, medium tannins (12/15p.). Strong body, very good balance between oak (12 months), fruit and acidity (8/10p.), long fruity finish (8/10p.). Overall 12+12+8+8(+50) = 90/100. An excellent wine.

6/22/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson wrote:

9€/12$ in Germany. 85% Syrah, 15% Monastrell, 6 months barrique, 14.5% vol.
The eye sees a dense, dark ruby red with purple reflctions. Still a young wine. The nose is medium(+) intense, offers primary aromas of leather, bbq, herbs and cherry, secondary notes of minerals, vanilla, cassis and pepper. Slightly alcoholic (11/15p.). Unfortunately the palate is slightly alcoholic, too, but has has a good density and intensity on the palate, medium tannins, medium(+) acidity, cherry aromas, is spicy, dry and fruity (11/15p.). It is a full bodied and strong wine but a little off balance on the alcoholic and acidity side (6.5/10p.), the finish is dry and fruity, good length (7.5/10p.).
11+11+6.5+7.5(+50) = 86/100p. A (very) good wine but surely not my favourite. Needs another 2 years to improve, too young I think.

6/18/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Still and again an excellent Cali Cab. Signs of aging, brownish ruby red colour.
Intense cassis, bramble, cherry and vanilla-oak nose, balsamic, charming, smells so good! (12.5/15p.) Medium(+) intense, full, round, juicy, spicy and fruity palate with smooth medium tannins and medium acidity. Very good concentration. (12/15p.) Medium(+) body, very well balanced, strong with present but nicely integrated oak/tannins (7.5/10p.) and a very good, long, fruity finish (8/10p.). 12.5+12+7.5+8(+50) = 90/100
Love it, great qpr!

6/14/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Offered for 36€/48USD for three bottles. Regular bottle price is around 18€/27USD.
Medium golden-yellow, crystal clear. Initially rather muted, aromas improve with temperature. Nose of stones and minerals, vineyard peach, apple and citrus, light, fresh (11.5/15p.). The palate is very dry, hardly any residual sugar, fresh, clean, vivid, aromas of citrus and peach again, medium(-) fruit, medium acidity (11.5./15p.). Well balanced, clear structure, light bodied (7.5/10p.). The finish is lasting, dry, with a nice peachy aftertaste (7.5/10p.).
11.5+11.5+7.5+7.5(+50) = 88/100 - A very dry, very fresh Riesling. Not my favourite one but very good nevertheless. Do not serve too cold, maybe wait another 1-2 years until opening.

6/10/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Something out of the ordinary, a Merlot blend from Bulgaria. 10€/13USD in Germany. I came across this one while browsing 90p.+ wines in my favourite online wineshop.

66% Merlot, 12% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot. 12 months in oak barrels, 14.5% vol. (taken from the website).

The eye sees an ruby intense red with some purple and brown refelctions, slow legs. The nose explodes with cherry, bramble, vanilla , mineral and menthol aromas, a touch of leather and wood, followed by floral and herbal aromas, slightly alcoholic. A very Bordeaux-ish nose, great! (12.5/15p.) The mouth is starting with a round attack of fruit, acidity and spice, followed by well integrated tannins. Elegant with mineral notes. Also very much Merlot-Bordeaux in taste, slightly alcoholic. (11.5/15p.) The strong body shows a nice balance between fruit, medium tannins and medium(+) acidity, with acidity being dominant, some alcoholic heat. (7.5/10p.) The finish is dry, fruity and lasting, with remarkable tannins and acidity. (7.5/10p.) A very good or even excellent wine. 12.5+11.5+7.5+7.5(+50) = 89/100p.

Overall this one suprised me in a very positive way. A very Bordeaux-ish wine, could be mistaken if you did not know. A great example of high quality Bulgarian wines. Good for some more 5-7 years. I will buy this one again.

6/5/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

10€/13USD in Germany, 100% Syrah, 19 months french oak, 13.7% vol. The eye sees a dark and dense purple red with slow legs. Pop&pour, overwhelming nose of cassis, bramble, ripe cherries, leather, oak, vanilla, mocha, marzipan, liquorice, cedar, mineral freshness, herbal notes. A complex nose, medium(+) intense, excellent (13/15p.). The palate is juicy, dry, shows dense fruit, some elegant minerality, has tight but well integrated medium(+) tannins, medium acidity and some good spicy oak (12/15p.). Rather medium-full bodied, very well balanced, oak perfectly integrated, smooth and round (8/10p.) with a tasty, dry, fruity and medium long finish (8/10p.). Overall an excellent wine I think. A real mouthfull of expressive, spicy, fruity, smooth and tasty Syrah without being jammy or overdone. 13+12+8+8 = 91/100.
This is how I like Syrah, highly recommended!

6/1/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

1 of 3 wines we had that evening. 20€/27USD in Germany, it was a present. I never had a VNdM but already some other Italian Sangiovese blends. I usually do not favour this style.

14% vol., 85% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 5% Mammolino, 18 months in barrique.
Eye: Bright garnet red with a brown touch, obvious signs of aging. Slow legs.
Nose: Liquorice, violet, amarena cherry, mint, herbal, medium intense, concentrated, balsamic. 11/15p.
Palate: Initially very muted, improved within 2 hours in the bottle, medium tannins, medium(+) acidity, soft, smooth, silky, discreet berry notes, herbal, elegant, cool. 11/15p.
Body/Balance: Light-medium bodied, well balanced, good texture. 8/10p.
Finish: Medium finish, dry, fruity, good length. 7/10p.

11+11+8+7(+50) = 87/100p. Overall a very good wine, but still not my style. Those Northern Italians are just too discreet and cool for me.

5/31/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

I already knew the small brother "Barbazul" which I liked a lot. This one costs twice but is it worth the money? 20€/27USD in Germany. A blend of Syrah(65%), Merlot(30%) and Cabernet(5%). 16%(!!!)vol.

Eye: Almost black, thick, inky, almost like port, very slow legs.
Nose: Incredibly intense, dried plums, cedar, sweet wood, herbs, ripe cassis, essential, fresh, no alcoholic heat. 12/15p.
Palate: Very juicy, concentrated, dried plums, ripe cassis, strong but still has a touch elegance, good medium tannic & acidity structure, a bit port-like, you would never recognize the 16% vol. 12/15p.
Body/Balance: An athlete, muscular, full-bodied, very good balance. 8/10p.
Finish: A good dry and fruity finish, long lasting, tasty. 8/10p.

12+12+8+8+(50) = 90+/100p.
An excellent wine for special events. A great solo wine also. Might be too much on the fruity side for some poeple but I love it. I find it amazing that you do not taste the 16% vol. but get a full, concentrated flavour. It is really a special one this Taberner. Try it!
In general I would go for Barbazul in the future as Taberner is a little too expensive to ultimatley beat its smaller brother. Maybe this will change while it ages and evolves an even more complex spectrum of aromas.

5/31/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson wrote:

Offered for 13€/18USD, the usual price in Germany is rather around 20€/27USD. Syrah/Grenache blend, mainly Syrah. 14.5% vol.

Eye: Dark purple red, slow legs, heavy.
Nose: Initially veeeeeeery muted, almost nothing. A touch of Syrah with spicy, meaty, leathery and smoky notes, wood, herbs, hardly fruit, some blackberries or cherries. After a while it improved but was still rather muted. 10/15p.
Palate: Initially also extremely muted, medium(+) tannins/acidity, spicy, some fruit but not much, herbal, cool, good texture, strong but not alcoholic. 10/15p.
Body/Balance: Strong body, very good balance. 8/10p.
Finish: Medium finish, still hardly fruit, dry. 7/10p.

10+10+8+7(+50) = 85/100p. A somehow good wine but not my wine. Too introvert, lacks depth, fruit and expression. I did expect much more here. Not the type of Syrah I like, nor what I have had so far. This one is different but in a way that I do not really favour. I guess you have to have it with food.
It is said to last and improve until 2020, we will see what time does to my remaining 2 bottles.

5/29/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Offered for only 8€/11USD, usual price in Germany is 10€+/13USD+. I ordered three, I should have ordered more... I was quite surprised by the great qpr of this one.

Eye: Rather light ruby red, medium-slow legs.
Nose: Initially mineral and graphite notes, followed by vanilla, oak, herbs, cedar, tabacco, leather and dark berries (cherry, cassis). Light nose, not too expressive but very nice. 11,5/15p.
Palate: Intense, elegant, smooth, fresh, herbal, fruity and dry, ripe cherry, backbone has robust medium tannins and medium acidity, good texture. 11,5/15p.
Body/Balance: Medium body, not heavy, not complex (but not boring either), very well balanced, easy to drink. 8/10p.
Finish: Medium(+) finish, lasting berry taste, pleasant. 8/10p.

A very good, almost excellent wine. 11,5+11,5+8+8(+50) = 89/100p. If it had a little more depth and complexity it would be even 90-91p. Improved over 3 hours in the open bottle. Decanting not necessary, just open the bottle some time before drinking.
Has the quality to last for more 3-5 years and might even improve. A very good vintage this 2009, so they say. I will try to get more of this.

Comparable to Baron de Ley's Reserva, which is a little more expensive but also a tick stronger in my opinion. A wine you can offer to many guests, a "crowd-pleaser". Liked it much better than the 2009 Luis Canas Crianza.

5/24/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Tasted at a Bordeaux tasting in a wine store. 30€/40USD in Germany.
Bottle was open for about 3 hours when we arrived.
Eye: Dark ruby red with purple reflections, slow legs.
Nose: Intense, herbal, barnyard, leather, vanilla, wood, cassis. 12,5/15p.
Palate: Medium(+) tannins and acidity, strong, present, elegant, good texture, cassis, adstringent, good fruit. 12,5/15p.
Body/Balance: Strong body, very well balanced, tannins, fruit and acidity are well integrated. 8/10p.
Finish: Good length, fruity, adstringent, lasting. 8/10p.
Very very nice, an excellent wine. 12,5+12,5+8+8(+50) = 91/100p.
This wine has only one problem: The price.

5/24/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

It was a present brought over from Südtirol. 15€/21USD in Germany.
100% Gewürztraminer, 14,5% vol.
Eye: Medium intense golden colour, clear, slow legs.
Nose: Slightly lactic (banana) after pop&pour, rose, ripe peach, lychee, medium intense, improved with temperature. 12/15 p.
Palate: Medium(+) intense, good texture, rose is dominant, lychee, spicy, hints of peach, medium acidity. 11/15 p.
Body/Balance: Well balanced, spice and acidity are balanced by a decent undertone sweetness, medium(+) body, heavy for a white. 7/10 p.
Finish: Medium(+) finish, spicy again, good length, peachy and dry. 8/10 p.
A very good wine overall. 12+11+7+8(+50) = 88/100p.
I prefer the Gewürztraminer from Kellerei Kurtatsch (Cortaccia), which is the more typical, spicy and fruity Gewürztraminer. And it costs less.

5/24/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Still and again great qpr. Bottle opened for 30 mins before the dinner (falafel) was ready. Smooth and balanced on the palate, not overdone nor too discrete. Goes along very well with Mediterranean dishes. I like it a lot and so did 90% of the people I have offered it to. 90/100 p.

5/19/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

18€/24$ in Germany. Merlot50, Cabernet40, Petit Verdot10, 13.5% vol.
Eye: Deep purple red, slow legs.
Nose: Initially a little closed, after bottle was open for 2 hours it developed very nicely. Medium (+) intense nose of ripe cassis, warm but elegant, mint, vanilla, wood, herbs, graphite, multi layered and complex. 12,5/15p.
Palate: Nicely integrated tannins, smooth, full, round, medium acidity, elegant, dark berries. 12,5/15p.
Body/Balance: Medium(+) body, well balanced. 8/10p.
Finish: Medium(+) finish, lasting, good fruit. 8/10p.
Great qpr, very tasty! A good example for a well crafted Bordeaux at a very fair price. Don't be afraid offering this one to wine-pros, it is very good stuff! Good now and probably for the next 5-7 years.
12,5+12,5+8+8(+50) = 91/100p.

5/16/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Oaked Carignan/Mourvedre/Syrah blend, 14,5% vol., only 7€/10$.
Eye: Dark red with purple reflections, slow legs.
Nose: Warm, deep, herbs, leather, dark cherry, initially a little alcoholic heat, wood, vanilla, complex. 12/15p.
Palate: Acidity dominant - medium(+), medium tannins, strong, warm, dry, dark berries again, menthol, interesting, different. 11/15p.
Body/Balance: Full bodied, acidity dominates fruit and tannins, but still very good. 7/10p.
Finish: Medium finish, dry and fruity, good grip on the end palate. 7/10p.
Not the usual stuff, very interesting and good. Open bottle 30min prior.
12+11+7+7(+50) = 87/100p.

5/16/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Offered at a supermarket as special deal, 6€/9$ per bottle. I took three, wish I had taken more...
100% Riesling, off-dry, 10.5% vol., screw cap.
Eye: Pale golden yellow, clear as a gem.
Nose: Medium(+) intense, fresh, vivid, white peach, apple, minderalic, decent sweetness. 11/15p.
Palate: Medium(+) intense, apricot, fresh, mineralic, decent medium sweetness covered by decent medium acidity, charming. 11/15p.
Body/Balance: Very good balance, light body but full flavour. 8/10p.
Finish: Medium(+) finish, mineralic/stone, fruity, sweet. 7/10p.
Very good wine, perfect with salads and fish or poultry. Typical off-dry Mosel Riesling, not too sweet, great qpr! Will surely improve over time.
11+11+8+7(+50) = 87/100p.

5/5/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Known as Jabali, this one is called Agoston here in Germany. Only 6€/9$ for this tasty wild boar.
A perfect bbq and tapas wine and a dangerous one - it is so tasty and so easy to drink, the bottle will be empty very quickly! Charming from neck to bottom, offering an intense and full bouquet of plums, vanilla, leather and cassis. The Syrah is very present. The taste is smooth, full, round, a little sweet, fruity with some acidity and makes you want more. A well balanced summer-red with a very tasty finish. Great qpr! Go get some for your summer bbq party, you can also serve it a little chilled.

5/5/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

Day 2 drinking, it obviously needed that day to improve.
More intense nose now, showing clearer berry notes and only little alcoholic heat, warmer, cinnamon. 11,5/15p.
Clearer palate, smoother, more fruit, intense now. 11,5/15p.
Body/Balance remain 7/10p.
Finish improves with more length and fruit. 7/10p.
11,5+11,5+7+7(+50) = 87/100p. Very good.

5/5/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson wrote:

13€/20$ in Germany.
Pop&pour.
Eye: Clear ruby red, watery edges, slow legs.
Nose: Discrete, cherry, leather, wood, floral, alcoholic heat, a little closed even after 2 hours in the decanter, not very impressive but good. 11/15p.
Palate: Discrete, adstringent, dry, medium(-) fruit, cool, elegant, medium(+) acidity and tannins, not overly intense. 10/15p.
Body/Balance: Medium body, well balanced with focus on the acidity. 7/10p.
Finish: Medium finish, dry, adstringent, little fruit. 6/10p.
Again and still not my type of wine. To me this one lacks concentration and length. 11+10+7+6(+50) = 84/100p.
Surely a good wine but as it is not mine I wouldn't buy it again. Still I am not fascinated by those cool & elegant Northern Italians but maybe I am just not ready for them. Or it needs more decanting. Will get back to it tomorrow.

5/1/2014 - Nik Lasse Seimsson Likes this wine:

7€/10$ in Germany. Cabernet/Carmenere, barrel aged, 14.5% vol.
Eye: dark purple red, slow legs.
Nose: dark berry fruits, vanilla, wood, leather, mocha, sweet, intense, complex, tasty. 12/15p.
Palate: good texture, round, full, decent sweetness of ripe berries, a little spice, medium(+) tannins, medium acidity, versatile. 12/15p.
Body/Balance: Well balanced, full bodied, almost no alcoholic heat. 8/10p.
Finish: Medium(+) long finish, tasty, dry but fruity. 7/10p.
Awesome for the price, great value, a pleaser with almost no edges but not boring at all.
12+12+8+7(+50) = 89/100