Coup de Foudre Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009

Date of Tasting: 21 August 2015

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 14.8%

Origin: California, USA

Appellation: Napa Valley

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR100

Web: http://www.coupdefoudrewine.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 93/100
Critics' Opinion: WS - 94/100, AG - 92/100, WE - 92/100, CT - 92/100

Appearance: Dark crimson.

Aroma: Oak essence. Sweet fruits aroma. Violet.  

Palate: Creamy, dense, and full. Smooth sweet tannins. Forward and fruity: ripe black fruits. A bit of spices. Long finish.

Surely Napa style of straight forward and flashy US cult Cabernet Sauvignon. Big, ripe, and sweet are the definition. So just pop now, why wait? Have something equally big to go along too. Roasted rack of lambs or venison will do, I suppose.

Kenzo Estate Asuka 2012 and Rindo 2012

Date of Tasting: 10 November 2015

Wine Type: Red

Origin: California, USA

Appellation: Napa Valley
Web: http://www.kenzoestate.com/

Strolling around Roppongi Hills while waiting for the time to visit Tempura Yokota, surely girls would enjoy the shopping moment. However, one like me who seems to have only either food or wine in mind. With some googling research, I found that there is a wine bar of Kenzo Estate within Roppongi Hills. Hence, I did not hesitate to pop by for a few glasses before dinner.

Kenzo Estate is a winery in California which has been developed since the very beginning of 90's by inspirational Capcom founder, Kenzo Tsujimoto. The first vintage available was 2005 which consisted of Rindo, Ai, and Murasaki. For the shop in Roppongi Hills, wines definitely are shipped directly from the estate. On the 1st floor, it is more like wine bar with retail corner. Wines by glass are available for tasting from 11am until late night. While dining area on floor 2 is opened from 5pm. For my short visit, I did try 2 types from their range: Asuka 2012 and Rindo 2012.

Both wines are pretty similar in structure: USA cult wines. But they are delicious. Asuka range consists mainly of Cabernet Franc whilst Rindo is Bordeaux blend. They are rather ready for enjoying at this early stage but should age pretty nicely. Personally, I may enjoy Asuka more with its beautiful perfume. Nevertheless, pricing of Asuka is 3 folds of Rindo. QPR wise, Rindo represents much better value. For Rindo, it gives mouth coating structure with bold tannins. Earthy, leathery, and mocha too. Anyway, the charm of aroma of blue fruits from Asuka cannot really be ignored.

Well, I have to say I do like this bar of Kenzo Estate. If I do have time to visit Tokyo next time, I will surely pop by again. They may only present their range of wine but they are indeed a delicious range which is rare and can be experiencing. Cheers!!!

Kenzo Estate Asuka 2012

Grape Varieties: 94.1% Cabernet Franc, 5.9% Merlot

Alcohol: 14.8%

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR300

Chubby Appreciation: 94/100
Critics' Opinion: CT - 93/100

Kenzo Estate Rindo 2012

Grape Varieties: 53.0% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.8% Cabernet Franc, 17.5% Merlot, 13.7% Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 14.8%

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR100

Chubby Appreciation: 92/100
Critics' Opinion: CT - 93/100

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2005

Date of Tasting: 6 April 2015

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 14.5%

Origin: Tuscany, Italy

Appellation: Bolgheri DOC

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR150

Web: http://www.ornellaia.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 95/100
Critics' Opinion: WA - 93/100, AG - 93/100, WS - 95/100, WE - 97/100, FS - 95/100, JS - 95/100, JR - 18.5/20, DC - 18/20, CT - 93/100

Appearance: Dark violet ruby

Aroma: Sweet violet and currant, exotic spices, black tea leaves

Palate: Velvety tannins and structure. Opulent but feminine. Dark fruits note and complexity persists lengthily.

Beautiful wine, this Ornellaia 2005 is. It is drinking wonderfully now and perhaps a decade more. If you have one, do not hesitate to pop up now and enjoy with red meat dishes. This is not the kind of big and powerful Super Tuscan bordeaux blend. On the other hand, it exhibits more of mouthwatering silky structure and finesse. Ones would enjoy it with a meal and ones would even be happy to sip it alone slowly through the night. I would be one of the later kind in the case. Salute to this beautiful craft!!!

Dominus Estate Christian Moueix Napanook 1994

Date of Tasting: 2 January 2015

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 14.1%

Origin: California, USA

Appellation: Napa Valley

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR300

Web: http://www.dominusestate.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 98/100
Professional Rating: WA - 99/100, WS - 91/100, FS - 95/100, ST - 97/100, JR - 17/20, CT - 95/100

Appearance: dark hue that tends towards garnet

Aroma: tobacco and smoke, mushroom, spice scents, and some black fruits

Palate: Medium-full bodied with so fine texture, thanks to well integrated tannins. Particular splendid mouth-feel with great depth of flavour. Ripe cassis, sage, and spices. Persistent and elegant.

Such a precious bottle. It would be extremely difficult to keep hands off the cork of any remaining bottles once you have experienced it. Striking perfume caught on the nose of everyone right at decanting. At this point, I was already stunned. Tannins have mellowed down nice leaving so fine and so smooth texture on the palate: seamless structure. Don't feel like having those big and bold Napa Bordeaux blend at all but elegant Bordeaux instead. Such finesse, it possesses. Drink now if you have them in cellar whilst it still shows the sexiness that would blow off your mind. This piece of art rocks. Cheers!!!!!!

Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2010

Date of Tasting: 9 September 2014

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: ~ 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 14.5%

Origin: Tuscany, Italy

Appellation: Toscana IGT

Expect to Pay: ~ THB2,000

Web: http://www.tenutasetteponti.it/
Chubby Score: 94/100
Value for money: 9/10
Professional Rating: WA - 96/100, WS - 94/100, JS - 96/100, CT - 93/100

Appearance: dark purplish ruby

Aroma: complex bouquet of ripe dark berries, black pepper, tobacco and graphite, and vinegar

Palate: exciting sweet red and black fruits and herbs. refined and supple. silky but masculine tannins and impressive length. 

Simply beautiful and gorgeous at excellent price comparing to many other Super Tuscan and Bordeaux. Wonderfully crafted. It was rich and structured. Sleek and sexy but enormous at the same time. Long live ahead so you better stock up. Salute!!!!!!

Chateau La Croix Saint Georges Pomerol 2008

Date of Tasting: 16 May 2014

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 14%

Origin: Bordeaux, France

Appellation: Pomerol Controlee

Expect to Pay: ~ THB2,000

Web: http://www.josephjanoueix.com/
Chubby Score: 91/100
Value for money: 5/10
Professional Rating: RP - 93/100, WS - 91/100, JR - 16.5/20, DC - 16/20, CT - 90/100

Appearance: deep ruby

Aroma: perfume of plum, blackberry, raisins, coffee, spices, and oak

Palate: long and lingering black fruits on the palate. big and velvety tannins. a touch of sweetness and vanilla to finish. round and well balanced. minor touch of heat at the finish.

Simply said a well made wine with opulent and pureness by Jean-philippe Janoueix. It can be powerful but acidity plays its role to balance well. Long and deep. Pretty good food wine. Enjoy it for a decade or more. Cheers.

Fattoria Le Pupille Saffredi Maremma 2004

Date of Tasting: 24 March 2014

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Alicante

Alcohol: 14.0%

Origin: Tuscany, Italy

Appellation: IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)

Expect to Pay: ~ THB4,000

Web: http://www.fattorialepupille.it/
Chubby Score: 94/100
Value for money: 8/10
Professional Rating: WA - 96/100, AG - 96/100, WS - 97/100, WE - 95/100, JR - 18.5/20, CT - 94/100

Appearance: crimson red

Aroma: redcurrants in the aroma pool of spices, vanilla, and rose

Palate: meaty body of a big guy, strong and powerful. fine sweet and noticeable tannins. earth, tobacco, oak, and leather also present. elegant Super Tuscan. ripe red cherry and plum on the main palate. 

This is a beautiful wine. It possesses the power of cabernet sauvignon as well as the aroma of merlot. The sophisticated but yet subtle tannins are lively and dazzling. It is pretty much enjoyable but I suspect that a few more years of cellaring should do it a good job as grains of tannins are still there. It should live wonderfully for at least a decade to go. I shall return to this Saffredi next year to see how it develops.

Gaja Ca'Marcanda Magari IGT 2009

Date of Tasting: 26 January 2014

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 14.5%

Origin: Tuscany, Italy

Appellation: IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica)

Expect to Pay: ~ THB1,500 - THB2,500

Web: n.a.
Chubby Score: 90/100
Value for money: 5/10
Professional Rating: WA - 92/100, WS - 92/100, FS - 92/100, CT - 91/100

Appearance: deep and dark garnet/violet

Aroma: ripe cherries and plums with floral and cloves notes and hint of coffee and dark chocolate

Palate: full, big, and rich on the body. Fine tannins. A little sweet dark berries and spices of Merlot characters. A touch of oak and bitter dark chocolate. Long length on the finish.

I don't think it is quite there just yet. The bottle seems to shut itself down though showing some promising characters. Fruits do not just yet exhibit wonderfully. I shall keep the rest for a few more years before another examination.

Chateau Poupille Cotes de Castillon 2009

Date of Tasting: 3 December 2013

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 14%

Origin: Bordeaux, France

Appellation: Cotes de Castillon

Expect to Pay: ~ THB1,000 - 1,500

Web: n.a.
Chubby Score: 90/100
Value for money: 6/10
Professional Rating: CT - 91/100

Appearance: deep ruby

Aroma: black fruits, wood, and spices

Palate: sweetness from ripe fruit notes with the unmistakable characters of Merlot. fine tannins but undissolved. pleasant long finish with silky touch of medium-full body. some spices and gentle oakiness.

I personally love this wine. It may not be an extraordinary but it is sure an outstanding one to have during a family dinner, even to impress friends during a meal. This was the first time for me to taste a wine from Castillon region and it was a special one from a biodynamic farm indeed. It definitely produces top wines with elegance and yet classic. If fruit forward with a touch of wood and fresh acidity style is what you are looking forward to, this one perhaps will not be a disappointment. At this stage, it shows splendidly both texture and palate. Chateau Poupille 2009 shall be wonderful to drink with joy during the next 5 years. Definitely, the one to be enjoyable. Raise your glass!!!!

Le Pauillac de Latour 2003 by Chateau Latour

Date of Tasting: 19 November 2013

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: ~ 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot

Alcohol: 13%

Origin: Bordeaux, France

Appellation: Pauillac

Expect to Pay: ~ THB3,000 - 5,000

Web: http://www.chateau-latour.com/
Chubby Score: 92/100
Value for money: 5/10
Professional Rating: WA - 91/100, WS - 88/100, JR - 16.5/20, CT - 90/100

Appearance: bright ruby

Aroma: tar, cocoa, spices, and berries

Palate: medium-full body with fine and integrated tannins, berries and vanilla, mild oak, round and smooth with structure, medium on the finish

Seriously, this third wine is no joke. It is pretty delicious and seductive. I cannot imagine how good the first wine would have been. Le Pauillac de Latour 2003 is at the peak of its life now and should be fading out during the next few years. If you have some, drink up (I wish I have some in stock). A friend of mine brought this bottle for the night and there were three of us drinking during the course in which none of us denied the love in it. This is simply a charming little big boy.