https://www.wines.com/wineboard/ Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:10:14 +0000 MyBB https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-23096.html Fri, 06 Mar 2015 05:06:45 +0000 TheEngineer]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-23096.html
Medium bodied, mostly current and crisp red fruit on the mouth, lithe and elegant, sufficiently complex and always interesting. Great balance and good persistence. Never turn down a second, third, fourth,..glass (out of magnum).]]>
Medium bodied, mostly current and crisp red fruit on the mouth, lithe and elegant, sufficiently complex and always interesting. Great balance and good persistence. Never turn down a second, third, fourth,..glass (out of magnum).]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-23022.html Fri, 21 Nov 2014 04:37:27 +0000 TheEngineer]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-23022.html
Definitely a great texture on the mouth, smooth but you get the sense that it was not a typical vintage, fruit seems to be from a much cooler season, good fruit but lacking some vibrancy, some energy that the other vintages I've tried had. No doubt a decent wine, just not up to the standards of the others.]]>
Definitely a great texture on the mouth, smooth but you get the sense that it was not a typical vintage, fruit seems to be from a much cooler season, good fruit but lacking some vibrancy, some energy that the other vintages I've tried had. No doubt a decent wine, just not up to the standards of the others.]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22801.html Tue, 24 Dec 2013 04:30:40 +0000 TheEngineer]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22801.html
then the palate is something else too, great balance in the wine, with a good structure, perfectly to hang the wine one. berries, currrant, tobacco, coffee, just perfect at this point. If you have a case, start drinking but I'd love to see this in a few years too!]]>
then the palate is something else too, great balance in the wine, with a good structure, perfectly to hang the wine one. berries, currrant, tobacco, coffee, just perfect at this point. If you have a case, start drinking but I'd love to see this in a few years too!]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22790.html Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:31:46 +0000 TheEngineer]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22790.html .

However, unlike me, this wine is very impressive. ATt this time it was drinking extremely well, well constructured, smooth, suave, deep serious wine, deep fuits, deep color, and well deep. there is a lot of depth here. Opulent.

Cherries, berries, coffee, lush, smooth well integated. just lovely. I wish I had another bottle to try again in 5 years but this was showing so well right now. Now if only I was in Argentina wih this bottle at one of their steak houses and a hughe plate of meat in front of me.]]> .

However, unlike me, this wine is very impressive. ATt this time it was drinking extremely well, well constructured, smooth, suave, deep serious wine, deep fuits, deep color, and well deep. there is a lot of depth here. Opulent.

Cherries, berries, coffee, lush, smooth well integated. just lovely. I wish I had another bottle to try again in 5 years but this was showing so well right now. Now if only I was in Argentina wih this bottle at one of their steak houses and a hughe plate of meat in front of me.]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22585.html Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:34:02 +0000 TheEngineer]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22585.html
Been itching to find a good malbec since I've come back from South America a few years ago. This is as good as I've had in a while and the price was right (around $30 a bottle).

Rich, ripe deep dark smooth, and fleshy texture, lovely deep dark fruits and black berries, coffee, a hint of cinnanmon. dense flavours, well executed. Yet ripe adn rich but a lot of fun!]]>
Been itching to find a good malbec since I've come back from South America a few years ago. This is as good as I've had in a while and the price was right (around $30 a bottle).

Rich, ripe deep dark smooth, and fleshy texture, lovely deep dark fruits and black berries, coffee, a hint of cinnanmon. dense flavours, well executed. Yet ripe adn rich but a lot of fun!]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22319.html Thu, 31 May 2012 00:09:49 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22319.html
While I think the floral, reminiscent of Gewurztraminer aroma is the best part of this wine (couldn't keep my nose out of the glass), it also wins kudos for its crisp, bright citrussy/melon tastes with a medium bodied mouth feel.

Kudos also for the tremendous price for a wine of this quality - $10.00.

2011 Fabre Montmayou Torrontes Reserva]]>
While I think the floral, reminiscent of Gewurztraminer aroma is the best part of this wine (couldn't keep my nose out of the glass), it also wins kudos for its crisp, bright citrussy/melon tastes with a medium bodied mouth feel.

Kudos also for the tremendous price for a wine of this quality - $10.00.

2011 Fabre Montmayou Torrontes Reserva]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22252.html Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:43:05 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22252.html https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22148.html Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:06:32 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-22148.html https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21844.html Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:55:18 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21844.html https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21843.html Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:37:04 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21843.html 2009 ACHAVAL FERRER MALBEC, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA is a great match for smoked, grilled or barbecued meats. 14.5% alcohol by volume. From high-altitude hills. Very dark purple. Totally opaque.

Layers of fruit, ripe and mellow, with mild, sweet tannins and a slightly peppery finish. Approachable now but could probably age a few more years without detriment. Nice match to the St. Louis ribs at a July 30th church fundraiser event. At home I paired it with thick-cut pork chops baked and seasoned with garlic salt and sage and moistened with extra virgin olive oil. The last five minutes of baking I added Rosenberg Danish bleu cheese on top of the chop. Side dish was fried green beans.

The wine is really quite delicious (IMHO). I liked it better at home than at the fundraiser but that may have been because it needed more aeration. I had planned to decant it but was hauling so much food and wine to the church that I decided to leave the decanter at home.]]> 2009 ACHAVAL FERRER MALBEC, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA is a great match for smoked, grilled or barbecued meats. 14.5% alcohol by volume. From high-altitude hills. Very dark purple. Totally opaque.

Layers of fruit, ripe and mellow, with mild, sweet tannins and a slightly peppery finish. Approachable now but could probably age a few more years without detriment. Nice match to the St. Louis ribs at a July 30th church fundraiser event. At home I paired it with thick-cut pork chops baked and seasoned with garlic salt and sage and moistened with extra virgin olive oil. The last five minutes of baking I added Rosenberg Danish bleu cheese on top of the chop. Side dish was fried green beans.

The wine is really quite delicious (IMHO). I liked it better at home than at the fundraiser but that may have been because it needed more aeration. I had planned to decant it but was hauling so much food and wine to the church that I decided to leave the decanter at home.]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21482.html Fri, 13 May 2011 05:14:42 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21482.html These were paired with three crostini--Kalamata olive tapenade with cheese, chick pea and garlic, and fresh pesto and Buffalo Mozzarella. I liked the Pascual Toso Malbec at our Malbec tasting in March but was neutral about the Brut sparkling wine which was 100% from Chardonnay grapes. I am particular about sparkling wines and usually prefer some Pinot Noir in the blend. The Montes Cherub Rose' I have had before and I don't feel any excitement about it but it did okay with the crostini.

The next course was Luigi's well-known she-crab soup with drizzled Sherry served with two white wines:
BODEGA NORTON TORRONTES, ARGENTINA and VINA SANTA EMA AMPLUS SAUVIGNON BLANC, CHILE. The Torrontes was aromatic and flowery. I liked it but my favorite Torrontes to date was a Santa Julia Late Harvest Torrontes. It was a better match to the soup I thought than the Sauvignon Blanc (an unoaked Chardonnay would also pair well.) Tasting the wines on their own, I prefered the Sauvignon Blanc as did most at my table. The first whiff (strong nose)was quite grassy and on the palate there was a little lemon but mostly grass or green vegetables--coming close to asparagus but not crossing the line as one New Zealand S.B. once did with the pyrazines. Refreshing acidity with some pungency. There seemed to be a little white peppercorn in the flavor profile also. I was thinking I would buy this if it cost under $18--The price was $15.40 so I ordered two bottles for later pick up.

The 2009 ACHAVAL FERRER MALBEC, ARGENTINA was poured for a dish of orange, yellow, and red bell peppers stuffed with Italian sausage served ala Pomodoro. I liked the Achaval Ferrer Malbec at our March Malbec tasting and had already ordered two bottles. 14.5% alcohol. Grown in the Mendoza region at high altitude. Some of the Mendoza Malbec has 100-year old vines on original rootstock. Irrigated by canals with water diverted from a river. Deep purple and opaque. Leggy on the glass. Smooth tasting. Pepper sensation which may have been integral to the wine or derived from the Italian sausage. Drying tannins come crowding in on the finish.

With our main course of sliced tournedos of beef tenderloin with a Malbec redution, Portobello mushroom risotto and sauteed green beans we had two red wines--MONTES PURPLE ANGEL, CHILE and 2008 GUARACHI FAMILY CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. The Purple Angel is a blend of Carmenere with a little Petit Verdot--usually about 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot. The Petit Verdot is added for extra acidity. It is given French oak aging for 18 months in new barrels and the winery recommends cellaring for ten years. I was in the minority at my table in not caring for this wine. Part of my pour went to another at my table. She remarked that it was a great pairing with the pepper spice on the beef tournedos. More to my palate tastes was the 2008 GUARACHI FAMILY CABERNET SAUVIGNON from NAPA VALLEY. It was quite nice and approachable now to my surprise. It was priced at over $50 and I don't buy much Cabernet anyway so passed on purchasing it even though I liked it.

Our dessert, a new item on the Luigi's menu, was Lemoncello Mascarpone Mousse Cake with fresh and pureed berries (I think blackberries but I'm not sure.) Really tasty and I'll probably order it again this summer (perhaps with Moscato). It was paired with MONTES LATE HARVEST GEWURZTRAMINER, CHILE. I liked the Gewurz which is only produced when natural botrytis occurs. I considered ordering two bottles but then decided I would rather spend the money on German Riesling Auslese and I don't drink dessert wines frequently anyway. My only order was two bottles of the Sauvignon Blanc which I will drink this summer. Fun evening and a sellout with a limit of 48 people (we had one empty seat at our table from someone who coudln't make it.) I hope this will encourage Nick to do more wine dinners at Luigi's.]]> These were paired with three crostini--Kalamata olive tapenade with cheese, chick pea and garlic, and fresh pesto and Buffalo Mozzarella. I liked the Pascual Toso Malbec at our Malbec tasting in March but was neutral about the Brut sparkling wine which was 100% from Chardonnay grapes. I am particular about sparkling wines and usually prefer some Pinot Noir in the blend. The Montes Cherub Rose' I have had before and I don't feel any excitement about it but it did okay with the crostini.

The next course was Luigi's well-known she-crab soup with drizzled Sherry served with two white wines:
BODEGA NORTON TORRONTES, ARGENTINA and VINA SANTA EMA AMPLUS SAUVIGNON BLANC, CHILE. The Torrontes was aromatic and flowery. I liked it but my favorite Torrontes to date was a Santa Julia Late Harvest Torrontes. It was a better match to the soup I thought than the Sauvignon Blanc (an unoaked Chardonnay would also pair well.) Tasting the wines on their own, I prefered the Sauvignon Blanc as did most at my table. The first whiff (strong nose)was quite grassy and on the palate there was a little lemon but mostly grass or green vegetables--coming close to asparagus but not crossing the line as one New Zealand S.B. once did with the pyrazines. Refreshing acidity with some pungency. There seemed to be a little white peppercorn in the flavor profile also. I was thinking I would buy this if it cost under $18--The price was $15.40 so I ordered two bottles for later pick up.

The 2009 ACHAVAL FERRER MALBEC, ARGENTINA was poured for a dish of orange, yellow, and red bell peppers stuffed with Italian sausage served ala Pomodoro. I liked the Achaval Ferrer Malbec at our March Malbec tasting and had already ordered two bottles. 14.5% alcohol. Grown in the Mendoza region at high altitude. Some of the Mendoza Malbec has 100-year old vines on original rootstock. Irrigated by canals with water diverted from a river. Deep purple and opaque. Leggy on the glass. Smooth tasting. Pepper sensation which may have been integral to the wine or derived from the Italian sausage. Drying tannins come crowding in on the finish.

With our main course of sliced tournedos of beef tenderloin with a Malbec redution, Portobello mushroom risotto and sauteed green beans we had two red wines--MONTES PURPLE ANGEL, CHILE and 2008 GUARACHI FAMILY CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. The Purple Angel is a blend of Carmenere with a little Petit Verdot--usually about 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot. The Petit Verdot is added for extra acidity. It is given French oak aging for 18 months in new barrels and the winery recommends cellaring for ten years. I was in the minority at my table in not caring for this wine. Part of my pour went to another at my table. She remarked that it was a great pairing with the pepper spice on the beef tournedos. More to my palate tastes was the 2008 GUARACHI FAMILY CABERNET SAUVIGNON from NAPA VALLEY. It was quite nice and approachable now to my surprise. It was priced at over $50 and I don't buy much Cabernet anyway so passed on purchasing it even though I liked it.

Our dessert, a new item on the Luigi's menu, was Lemoncello Mascarpone Mousse Cake with fresh and pureed berries (I think blackberries but I'm not sure.) Really tasty and I'll probably order it again this summer (perhaps with Moscato). It was paired with MONTES LATE HARVEST GEWURZTRAMINER, CHILE. I liked the Gewurz which is only produced when natural botrytis occurs. I considered ordering two bottles but then decided I would rather spend the money on German Riesling Auslese and I don't drink dessert wines frequently anyway. My only order was two bottles of the Sauvignon Blanc which I will drink this summer. Fun evening and a sellout with a limit of 48 people (we had one empty seat at our table from someone who coudln't make it.) I hope this will encourage Nick to do more wine dinners at Luigi's.]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21398.html Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:16:59 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21398.html https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21397.html Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:11:52 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21397.html https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21396.html Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:09:54 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21396.html https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21362.html Fri, 01 Apr 2011 01:50:10 +0000 ]]> https://www.wines.com/wineboard/thread-21362.html 2009 SEPTIMA MALBEC MENDOZA, ARGENTINA had dark fruit flavors and soft tannins on the back end.

2009 KAIKEN MALBEC, MENDOZA (Kaiken is a condor bird) From the Montes Alpha winery family. Smoother than the Septima.

2009 DONA PAULA ESTATE, MENDOZA Smoothest of the first three wines. More red fruited than the first two with raspberry suggestions. From mountain fruit. Uses French and American oak barrels. From Southern Wines. I am considering buying one or two bottles of this at the FWS discounted price.

2008 CATENA MALBEC. I have had Catena wines previously and thought this was nice but wasn't tempted to buy any.
I'm a fan of the Catena Alta Chardonnay from Adrianna Vineyard at a high altitude.

2009 ACHAVAL FERRER MALBEC. More complexity--some found chocolate notes in the wine. We are back to dark fruits in this flavor profile. I expect to order two bottles after I check the discounted price.

2009 PASCUAL TOSO RESERVE MALBEC. We are on a roll now. Another one I want to purchase. Heady nose. This tasted good with the pulled pork and barbecue sauce but was still very refined--not overbearing. I really liked this both on the nose and in the mouth. Will describe some of these better after I taste them at home.

I believe the final Malbec I tasted was a Catena Alta or Catena Reserve but I didn't take any notes. BTW, Laura Catena has a new book out on Argentinian wines, food, and culture.]]> 2009 SEPTIMA MALBEC MENDOZA, ARGENTINA had dark fruit flavors and soft tannins on the back end.

2009 KAIKEN MALBEC, MENDOZA (Kaiken is a condor bird) From the Montes Alpha winery family. Smoother than the Septima.

2009 DONA PAULA ESTATE, MENDOZA Smoothest of the first three wines. More red fruited than the first two with raspberry suggestions. From mountain fruit. Uses French and American oak barrels. From Southern Wines. I am considering buying one or two bottles of this at the FWS discounted price.

2008 CATENA MALBEC. I have had Catena wines previously and thought this was nice but wasn't tempted to buy any.
I'm a fan of the Catena Alta Chardonnay from Adrianna Vineyard at a high altitude.

2009 ACHAVAL FERRER MALBEC. More complexity--some found chocolate notes in the wine. We are back to dark fruits in this flavor profile. I expect to order two bottles after I check the discounted price.

2009 PASCUAL TOSO RESERVE MALBEC. We are on a roll now. Another one I want to purchase. Heady nose. This tasted good with the pulled pork and barbecue sauce but was still very refined--not overbearing. I really liked this both on the nose and in the mouth. Will describe some of these better after I taste them at home.

I believe the final Malbec I tasted was a Catena Alta or Catena Reserve but I didn't take any notes. BTW, Laura Catena has a new book out on Argentinian wines, food, and culture.]]>