Ruby red in colour with purple hues, the nose shows intense notes of red fruit, of cherries, blueberries, and black currants. The palate is well-balanced and complex, with sweet tannins and the ripe red fruit notes flavors linger on the finish.
Monthly Archives: June 2015
Myra Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, India
This deep red wine has come of age in fine oak barrels. Crafted with hand-selected grapes, it is medium-bodied and infused with rich currant flavours. It is best paired with simple flavours, lamb, tandoori preparations and mildly-spiced curries.
Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Chile
120 Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh, fruity wine dominated by tropical and citric fruit such as grapefruit, lime and lemon peel complemented by white peach notes and distinctive variety herbs increasing complexity and lifting fruity sensations, a very interesting aftertaste amid smooth fruit and fresh acidity with a lingering and persistent finish.
York Chenin Blanc 2014, India
The semi-dry Chenin Blanc is a blend of Chenin fermented in stainless steel tanks and oak barrels. It has unique aromas of fresh tropical fruits like guava, apricot and pineapple. The oak aged component of this wine gives it good structure and complexity with very balanced acids.
Yellow Tail Pink Bubbles NV, Australia
This sparkling rose has an appealing bouquet of wild strawberries, red cherries and sweet spice. The palate is full with cherries, tropical fruit flavours and sweet face. Fresh spritzy and crackling with vitality.
INDIAN WINE CONSUMERS CHOICE AWARDS- GOLDMEDAL WINNERS TASTING NOTES
Casablanca Spumante Sparkling Wine: Pale straw colour revealing its fresh and young character. A generous fruity nose of kiwi and grape fruit layered with lime and floral undertones. A light body on the palate reminiscent of pear and green apple with a predominant acidic structure ending with a smooth and lingering finish.
Charosa Reserve Tempranillo 2012: Dark ruby-red in color, the nose is filled with rich coconut, vanilla, chocolate and raspberry aromas. Medium-bodied with excellent concentration of warm red fruit flavors like raspberry, strawberry and plum.
Fratelli Chardonnay 2014: Straw coloured with light green reflections, the wine has citrus aromas of orange and lemon with subtle notes of white flowers. The palate displays freshness and minerality.
Fratelli Chenin Blanc 2014: Pale yellow with a bouquet of fresh tropical fruit aromas. The palate offers smooth and elegant acidity. Short contract with French oak enhances its elegance while adding to its mineral structure and complexity.
Grover La Reserve 2012: Powerful bouquet of luscious ripe red and black fruits with an exquisite hint of spice. This full bodied wine combines grace and splendour on the palate, the tannins are smooth and flavours intense with chocolate, coffee beans and vanilla.
Nine Hills Viognier 2012: Medium dry, this wine is crisp and refreshing and has notes of peaches, lychees and lavender.
Reveilo Syrah Reserve 2012: Barrel aged in French oak, the colour is brilliant ruby red with purple reflections. The fruity notes of raspberry and cherry are dominant, with a persistent woody character.
Reveilo Chardonnay 2013: Intense and persistent, it is dominated by fruity characters. Very evident are melon, pineapple, and lime notes accompanied with peaches and apricots.
Reveilo Nero D’Avola 2014: A medium bodied red wine with strong fruity aromas of cherry accompanied with some spicy notes of pepper and cinnamon. It is a young wine with a long finish.
Sula Red Zinfanel 2014: A luscious, jammy red Zinfandel redolent with blackberry aromas and cinnamon and plum flavours. Balanced, spicy, supple, delightful!
Sula Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2014: Abounding with aromas of lemon, honey and tropical fruit, this Late Harvest Chenin Blanc is not only a perfect close to a delicious meal, but also an elegant aperitif.
Sula Riesling 2014: Sula’s Riesling is a fruity aromatic wine with hints of green apple, grapefruit, peach and honey. Best enjoyed nicely chilled. Riesling is a versatile wine for pairing with food because of its balance of sugar and acidity.
Turning Point Shiraz Cabernet 2013: This wine is the perfect blend of crispy aromas from Shiraz and complexity from Cabernet Sauvignon. This medium bodied wine has elegant tannins, ending with a mix of woody and currant flavors.
Turning Point Shiraz 2013: Menthol enhanced with a woody nose, followed by crispy aromas. The wine has a strong tannic feel without any harsh bitterness. The finish has woody and raspberry characteristics.
Vallonne Crimson Glory 2013: A medium bodied blend with notes of red fruits and spice that appear both on the nose and the palate. The presence of MAlbec has added complexity to this blend.
Vallonne Reserve Merlot 2013: This wine exhibits intense aromas of dark chocolate and cigar mixed with woody hints of vanilla and toast. Barrel ageing has enhanced these flavours with supple woody tannins and concentrated red fruit flavours.
Zampa Chene Grande Reserve 2013: Elegant aromas of blackberry, currant and ripe plums, complemented by charming hints of spices, vanilla, chocolate and roasted coffee beans. Dark fruit flavours with nuances of vanilla and cinnamon on the palate.
Indian Wine Consumers Choice Awards- Silver Medal Winners Tasting Notes
Charosa Resrve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012: Dark ruby red with complex aromas of ripe fruits, black olive, vanilla, eucalyptus, chocolate with a hint of sweet spice. On the palate this wine is rich and soft, expressing ripe fruits like plum and raspberry.
Chateau d’Ori Chardonnay 2012: Fresh and pleasant with a distinct nose of pineapple and citrus fruit, this excellent Chardonnay distinguishes itself with a memorable finish. The wine pairs equally well with poultry and paneer, fish and vegetables.
Fratelli Sette 2011: A great fusion of powerful Cabernet Sauvignon, roundness and richness of Cabernet Franc teamed with the fine, elegant floral notes of Sangiovese. The pleasant and refined notes of wood are well merged with the wine, adding a balanced vanilla flavour, silky tannins and a vibrant finish.
Grover Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection Red 2013: Fragrant perfumed aromas with elegant lingering dark fruits, spice, pepper. blackberry jam and violets. Well-balanced tannins.
Myra Reserve Shiraz 2013: Its medium-bodied palate has a soft finesse-filled tannin structure. Its gentle oak and vanilla nose and palate makes it a perfect complement for grilled meats and seafood and medium-spicy Indian food.
Nine Hills Chenin Blanc 2014: This medium dry, medium bodied wine is crisp and refreshing. It has light floral and fruity aromas with flavours of tropical fruits like peach, banana and pineapple.
Nine Hills Shiraz Rose 2013: Medium dry, this wine is crisp and refreshing. It is light to medium bodied with aromas and flavours of cherry and strawberry.
Reveilo Merlot 2014: An intense ruby colored, medium bodied wine with mouth filling flavours of ripe plums, black cherries and cassis complimented with spicy characters. Soft tannins and balanced acidity provide a remarkable structure to this wine.
Reveilo Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2013: The aromas from the overripe grapes are purely of raisin grapes, dry figs, honey and dry fruits like almonds and nuts. On the palate, the sweetness is perfectly balanced with acidity, resulting in a very pleasant velvety taste.
Reveilo Syrah 2014: Strong aromas of pepper, smoke and red berry fruits, which follow through on the palate, with notes of spice and flintstone. Soft complex tannins give this medium bodied wine a good finish.
Reveilo Cabernet Sauvignon 2013: An extremely powerful bouquet of aromas with notes of black fruit and green pepper. The tannins are sweet and smooth giving the wine a long and persistent finish. The wine has an appealing mouth feel and is nicely structured.
Reveilo Sangiovese 2014: An intense, ruby coloured wine with aromas of raspberry, cherry and spice. The palate is soft and fruity with finely textured tannins and well balanced acidity giving the wine a rounded and lingering taste.
Reveilo Grillo 2013: The wine greets you with a bouquet of citrus, lemon, orange and grapefruit. It is a medium bodied wine with crisp acidity and a long mineral after taste.
Sula Dindori Reserve Viognier 2014: Grown on the distinctive red soil of our Dindori estate, the reserve Viognier is showing exotic apricot and lychee aromas followed by a lengthy mineral presence and fresh acidity on the palate.
Sula Brut Rose NV: A sophisticated, perfectly balanced bottle-fermented Rose sparkling wine. A blend of Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir grapes, this salmon pink palate-pleaser packs a million tiny bubbles in every celebratory sip.
Sula Brut NV: A blend of Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Sultana and Pinot Noir, this celebratory sparkling wine, made in the true methode champenoise style, is a creamy, complex nectar that goes down like a dream.
Sula Satori Merlot Malbec NV: A medium-bodied Merlot-Malbec blend with hints of black cherries and ripe red fruit. Well structured and smooth on the palate. “Satori” is a Zen term meaning “sudden enlightenment”.
Sula Sauvignon Balnc 2014: Herbaceous, crisp and dry, with hints of green pepper and a touch of spice at the finish, this wine is well balanced with good acidity.
York Sparkling Cuvee Brut NV: On the nose along with perfumed characters of lemons there are secondary characters of cheese and butterscotch. The 12 months less ageing gives it complex characters of cookies, cheese and cream on the palate.
Rioja – Spain’s Iconic Wine Region
Rioja – the home of the berry loaded, barrel-aged red wine made from Tempranillo and Garnacha – is one of Spain’s most important wine regions. Rioja was the very first Spanish region to be awarded DO status, back in 1933, and in 1991 became the first to be upgraded to the top-level DOCa. All top-end red Rioja is matured in new oak barrels; American oak is the preference, but many wineries use a mix of American and French oak. This contact with virgin oak is what gives Rioja wines their distinctive notes of coconut, vanilla and sweet spices. The amount of time that a Rioja wine spends in barrel shows whether it is categorized as Joven, Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva. Rioja Joven wines, which are intended for consumption within two years of vintage, spend little or no time in oak (jóven is Spanish for “young’). Rioja Crianza wines are aged for one year in barrel, and one year in bottle. Rioja Reserva wines spend a minimum of one year in oak, and cannot be sent to market until a full three years after vintage. Rioja Gran Reserva wines are the region’s very finest and most expensive wines. These undergo a total of five years’ aging, of which at least two years is spend in oak.
In Spain, wineries are commonly referred to as ‘bodegas’ though this term may also refer to a wine cellar or warehouse. For quite some time, the Rioja wine industry has been dominated by local family vineyards and co-operatives that have bought the grapes and make the wine. Some bodegas would buy fermented wine from the co-ops and age the wine to sell under their own label. In recent times there has been more emphasis on securing vineyard land and making estate bottled wines from the bodegas.
Charosa Selections Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Charosa Selections Sauvignon Blanc 2014– Bright straw yellow. Lively intense flavors of tropical fruits with gooseberry and orange flavors on mid palate. The palate is broad, balanced and quite rich with tropical fruit and a grassy mineral freshness.
Monkey Shoulder
In 2005 legendary Malt Master David Steward of William Grant & Sons decided to create the world’s first triple malt combining single malts from three of Speyside’s finest distilleries. The whiskey Monkey Shoulder is a mix of single malts from Kininvie, together with single malts from Balvenie and Glenfiddich distilleries, both owned by William Grant & Sons.
The term ‘ Monkey Shoulder’ has a bit of whiskey heritage. It’s a reference to a condition that maltmen sometimes pick up while working long shifts, turning barley by hand. This had the tendency to cause their arms to hang down like a monkey’s, so they nicknamed it ‘Monkey Shoulder’. Today, although working conditions have changed, the name Monkey Shoulder lives on as an affectionate tribute, to honour the hard graft of all the maltmen past and present.
This superb blend, has resulted in a smooth, creamy, supple and very malty Scotch which is superbly well neat, over ice or in whiskey cocktails. According to the Monkey Shoulder website: “Some say it tastes just like riding bareback on the wild moors of Scotland with a flame haired maiden on Christmas morning. Others agree it tastes like 007 wearing a tuxedo wetsuit.” This is whisky to be enjoyed! We can’t wait for Monkey Shoulder to launch in India soon!
