Reviews

Tea Review – Himalayan Nectar – Mint Lemongrass Green Tea

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 13:12:56 +0000

Himalayan Nectar - Mint Lemongrass Green Tea

Tea Score

Okay To Try

Bitter

4/10

Astringency

6/10

Packaging	2.5 out of 5.0 stars
Tea Bag Quality	1.5 out of 5.0 stars
Accurate Flavours	3.5 out of 5.0 stars
Infusing Rate	3.5 out of 5.0 stars

Detailed Review

Himalayan Nectar – Mint Lemongrass Green Tea

This one is a good and calculated combination of green tea, mint leaves extract and lemongrass extract and shreds.

crushed premium quality green tea leaves yet low time withering. Evident grassy notes with not much complex flavors and hardly enhanced tea components. Medium emerald to a little darker green color leaves. No signs of oxidation and great to consume on a regular basis. Mint has a dominant flavor in this common combination yet no dried mint leaves. Shredded lemon grass with subtle presence is just apt.

Pale to dark straw color when infused. Minty aroma with very late secondary lime hint. No tannins for produced by green tea component and the finish is all about Mint again.

Recommended Temp : 85-90 degree C
Steep Time : 3-4 min
Number of infusion: Strictly one. The second one will kill your mood and time.

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Wine Review – Trapiche Malbec 2015

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 08:52:31 +0000

Credits: https://www.instagram.com/minedinewine/

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Trapiche Malbec - Review Card

Wine Score

Recommended to try

Tannins

5/10

Acidity

4/10

Dry

6/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Semi-Hard Cheese
Creamy White Pasta

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

Heavy Chicken Salads with Lemon Zest
Well Done Lamb Steak

Detailed Review

Trapiche Malbec 2015
This beauty is all the way from Argentina . Trapiche is one of the award winning wineries in Argentina and famous for Malbec and its varieties. With the history of more than 130 years, Trapiche was one of the first wineries to get international reputation, specially in Paris.

100% Malbec
Appellation – Mendoza
Decanting – 1-2 hours
Serving Temp : 17-19 Degree C

Really deep and dense ruby. In bright light, violet reflections on the ring. Tears are strong and many in number. Clearly significant ABV.

Strong on nose. Amazing and complex aroma even from a distance. Clearly over ripen and black fruits. Black berries, plum and warm ripen grapes. Secondary, yet noticeable aroma of french oak, tobacco and black pepper. No floral but good herbs. Little tartness in the aroma too. Really complex.

Very well rounded, fleshy and mouthful. Good fruit extract and definitely requires decanting. Tannins are balanced, well structured and gives a good feel. 13.5 ABV, this one is almost full-bodied with an off-dry sweetness factor. Balanced, medium-low acidity, but bold. Clear notes of vanilla, oak, tobacco, dark chocolate, black current, black cherries, black berries. Tannins were not that grippy, nicely handled.

Try it with semi-hard cheese, well-done lamb with a thick sauce. For contrasting pairing, try it with heavy chicken salads with lemon zest and white sauce.

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Wine Review – The Chocolate Block, Vintage 2018

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 08:41:37 +0000

Credits: https://www.instagram.com/minedinewine/

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The Chocolate Block - Review Card

Wine Score

Highly Recommended

Tannins

6/10

Acidity

5/10

Dry

8/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Mushroom-based salad
Pure Cocoa Chocolate with No Sugar

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

Grilled Duck
Rare Steak

Detailed Review

The Chocolate Block, Vintage 2018
Let’s get to know about this not-so-conventional red wine, The Chocolate Block. This one is all the way from South Africa . The producer of this wine, Boekenhoutskloof, understands the Mediterranean climate and offers the best blended red wines with dominance of Syrah. Vintage 2019 has 71% Syrah but we bring the vintage 2018 for you.

Syrah 69%, Grenache 13%, Cinsault 9%, Cab Sau 8%, Viognier 1%
Region/Appellation : Western Cape/Swartland
ABV : 14.65%
Serving Temp : 18-20 Degree C

Deep dark and dense ruby. Strong tear on the wall, clearly full-bodied. The overall texture and structure looks complex and one cannot wait to go ahead on a tasting session.

Nose is brooding and dense. Rich and opulent nose gives you a whole bunch of aromas. Primary of course the ripe plums and dark fruits. Black berries, black olives, cocoa and mint. Light floral aroma, clearly from Cinsault. Not much herbs but clear signs of sweet tobacco.

Rich, heavy yet smooth. The complex blend of this red offers a burst of flavours but does not confuse at all. In fact the tannins contributed by Cab Sau are balanced and smooth. On the palate, its mouthful with red cherries, black olives, red currents and a little tart sensation. The significant cedar-wood characteristics are clearly from french oak. This one is matured in the barrel for 14-16 months. Its Dry and bold with not so grippy but enjoyable tannins. The finish is longer than regular full-bodied Syrah, with the good essence of cherry and chocolate.

Go for a congruent pairing with heavy red meat with a thick sauce. Try a grilled duck. Pure cocoa chocolate with zero sweetness will also complement this beauty.

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Wine Review – Meerlust 2016 Rubicon

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 08:33:56 +0000

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Meerlust 2016 Rubicon - Review Card

Wine Score

Highly Recommended

Tannins

5/10

Acidity

6/10

Dry

8/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Medium Cream and Soft Cheese
Heavy Cream Pasta

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

Venison
Game/Medium Rare Steak

Detailed Review

Meerlust 2016 Rubicon

Another one from South Africa . Meerlust is one of the most famous wineries in Western Cape, SA. This wine is a great blend inspired by Bordeaux, France. Typical and very famous french blend of Cab Sau and Cab Franc give its a good fruity boost and fragrant structure.

Cab Sau 49%, Merlot 28%, Cab Franc 20%, Petit Verdot 3%.
Appellation : Stellenbosch
ABV : 13.9%
Serving Temp : 16-19 Degree C

Great blend reflect complex and deep purple hue. Strong presence of ABV shows good legs.

Classic and native aroma of rich plum, clay, perfume, and sandalwood. Primarily dominated by dark fruits, this one has a creamy vanilla as a secondary aroma.

Very well balanced and distinguishable characteristics of every component. Rich mouthfeel, not very grippy tannins. Astringency introduced by Cabs handled very nicely. Dark plum, blackberries and black currents are dominant. Good french oaky flavour with vanilla shows minimum of 15 months french oak barrel contact. This one is bold and acidity is also above medium. Good earthy flavours introduced by Merlot and floral essence by Cab Franc. Super dry, and good tannic finish, but does not bother at all. Little cedar notes with pepper herbs touch and minerals. Strong presence and showcase of soil, terroir and blend.

Try it with noble cheese for sure. For meaty pairing, go with venison, game. For the best congruent experience, nothing better than medium rare steak with thick sauce.

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Wine Review – Meursault Les Grands Charrons 2017

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 11:07:07 +0000

Credits: https://www.instagram.com/vinotecaamour/

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Meursault Les Grands Charrons 2017 - Review Card

Wine Score

Must Try

Tannins

4/10

Acidity

8/10

Dry

7/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Vinegar dressed leafy salads
Light Cream Pasta

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

Tuna
ShellFish

Detailed Review

All the way from the very famous burgundy region of France , appellation Meursault. Vintage 2017 was the best in last 10 years for this terroir and for Chardonnay too.

Sparky bright straw, 100% rich Chardonnay by color. A strong presence on the wall with thin yet abundant legs. 13% ABV.

Very young and youthful. Citric, charming and full of vibrance in the nose. Apple, pear, peach, pineapple, white flowers and tropical aroma. Truly summer and refreshing.

Crisp on the palate and low tannins. Its bold and dry. Rich mouthfeel and rounded with a quickly disappearing finish. High on the acidity and good minerality. Vanilla oaky notes sometimes but not significant.

Clearly, tuna, shellfish, and vinegar dressed leafy salads. Something with good acidity for the balance.

Best served at 12-15 Degree C.

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Wine Review – Terres d’Arce Cornas 2015

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:56:54 +0000

Credits: https://www.instagram.com/vinotecaamour/

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Terres d'Arce Cornas - Review Card

Wine Score

Highly Recommended

Tannins

7/10

Acidity

5/10

Dry

6/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Garlic mushrooms with cream sauce
Full Cream Cheese

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

Rich Meat – Lamb
Heavy Pork

Detailed Review

Terres d’Arce Cornas

Rhone valley Terroir and cornas appellation, this Syrah is produced from vintage 2015. Though, this is one of the smallest appellations in the very famous Rhone Valley, its the most significant place for the Syrah.

Dark and dense red with deep purple rings. Legs are strong and showing boldness. Look-wise, mid-high ABV.

Strong and earthy nose with a clear signs of graphite and flinty soil. The primary aroma is dark fruit plum, ripe blackberry, and far away from the floral aroma. Secondary aroma comes from herbs, spices, and terroir. Black olives, pepper, and stone.

The taste and palate feel are not at all different from look and nose. Full, complex, rich, and grippy. Tannins are tight, the same as olives. Bold and kind of full-bodied. Dry enough to make you feel bitterness and mid acidic. Clear vanilla oaky and spice. Woody and leather sensation with a long finish. This one requires a good decanting and a place in shelf for later consumption.

Heavy and rich meat like lamb and pork. Don’t try the contrasting pairing if you are new and don’t wanna waste it. Congruent one to enhance the overall experience is what we recommend.

Decanting: 1-2 hours
Temp: 15-17 Degree C.

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Wine Review – Chateau Les Ormes Sorbet Medoc 2011

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:44:29 +0000

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Chateau Les Ormes Sorbet Medoc - Review Card

Wine Score

Recommended to try

Tannins

8/10

Acidity

6/10

Dry

8/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Full cream cheese
Creamy Pasta

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

Grilled Beef
Pork Belly

Detailed Review

Chateau Les Ormes Sorbet Medoc

Their family history and heritage come all the way back from 1764, even before the french revolution. Chateau Les Ormes Sorbet was one of the very early and first wine estates in Bordeaux to bottle and sell their own wines.

The world-famous French wine region Bordeaux and the sub-region Medoc, the 8th generation of the Boivert family is proudly owning and producing the finest quality wines.

The cork has a great impact of the wine. Deep red and almost indelible. The wine in the glassis dark brick red with deep purple hues on the ring. Tears on the glass are significant and loud.

not much deviating from the looks, the aroma are strong and dark. Primary aromas are clearly over-ripe dark plum, black currant, and blackberries. Secondary are earthy and strong reflection of terroir. Wet leafy forest and tobacco, green tea, and mushrooms. No herbs but certainly black pepper.

BOLD AND TOUGH! This is something to rather keep and let it mature in the bottle. Very high tannins and strong grip. Super dry and mouthful. Medium-high body with 13.5 ABV, this feels full body and pretty heavy. The wine does not compromise in the acidity as well. Medium to high acidity and complex structure required at least 1-2 hours of decanting. Great combination of cabernet sau , cab franc and merlot.

Typical red with high tannins goes for a congruent pairing to intensify the flavors. Standa true for Medoc reds. Go for veal, beef and pork with fatty sauce to balance the tannins. Full cream cheese is a nice option for a tasting session.

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Wine Review – Golden Sparrow – Rubicone

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:18:47 +0000

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Golden Sparrow - Rubicone - Review Card

Wine Score

Must Try

Tannins

5/10

Acidity

5/10

Dry

8/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Spicy pasta
Medium Creamy Salads

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

Goes well with barbecues
Rich fish
Veal oysters in a creamy sauce

Detailed Review

Critter Wine – Golden Sparrow straight from Italy!

Grape varieties: 100 % Sangiovese

Origin: Italy,

Terroir – Emilia

Appellation – Rubicone

Beautiful and bright red leaning towards shiny purple. The looks are lean with some transparency that feels light and refreshing.

intense bouquet with dedicated hints of young red fruits. Red berries, violets and Pomegranate being major. Not much acidic effect in the nose but the secondary aroma of good age oak is significant.

Wow! The light red is the word for this one. Good and easy! Light-bodied and delicate! Tannins are very soft, low on acids, super dry, and not much texture. The finish is quite lasting but not at all grippy. This one is a summer red for sure. No too complex, not too rich, not much herbs or spices but certainly enjoyable.

It will go well with barbecues, rich fish, and veal oysters in a creamy sauce. If you are from Italy, you’ll love it with spicy pasta.

Serving Temp – 17-18 Degree C

Decanting – 15 Mins

Alcohol – 12% ABV

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Wine Review – Napolean Port Wine No. 7

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:07:40 +0000

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Napolean Port Wine No. 7 - Review Card

Wine Score

Only For Experience

Tannins

3/10

Acidity

2/10

Dry

3/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Dark chocolate
Low sugar brownie
List item

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

Spicy Indian sea water fish curry
Med-High Spicy Lamb
List item

Detailed Review

Napolean Port Wine No. 7
The great wine from the famous place Goa, India
This is one of those unconventional, yet historic wines that are not too fancy and exquisite, But in demand all the times.

THIS COSTS LESS THAN $2. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!

Original Portuguese wine recipe coming out of Goa. This place was once colonized by Portugal and the great drink recipe was never taken out. Port wines are often referred as dessert wines because they are sweet and Fortified. Wine base is fortified with other alcohol, Brandy in this particular case.

Dark brown and plum hues. Tear are thick and strong. 14% ABV.

Not too complex as it’s not aged too much. Very little or no exposure to barrel resulting in no herb, spice frag. Clear dark grape and overripe plum fragrance. The secondary aroma is sweet.

Really easy and simple on the palate. Absolutely off-dry(needless to say). Really sweet, low on acid, low on tannins(low grape extract). Nothing much to explain. The finish is lasting and really strong even in the nose due to its high ABV.

Must be paired with dark chocolate/low sugar brownie. More than pairing, this one is all about sitting quiet or having an east chit-chat just before bedtime. If you really want to have a contrasting pairing, try spicy Indian seawater fish curry. The flavors will balance each other.

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Wine Review – Barbaresco Valeirano 2007 – La Spinetta

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 09:57:22 +0000

Credits : https://www.instagram.com/tommasomassagliasommelier/

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Barbaresco Valeirano - Review Card

Wine Score

Must Try

Tannins

8/10

Acidity

7/10

Dry

8/10

FOOD PAIRING RECOMMENDATIONS

Vegans

Italian pasta topped with cherry tomato
Medium Creamy Mushrooms

Meat & Sea-Food Lovers

garlic grilled lamb(well done)
Grilled Fish

Detailed Review

Barbaresco Valeirano 2007 – La Spinetta

Grape varieties: 100% Nebbiolo

Origin: Italy, Treiso

Soil: Calcareous

Vinification:

Alcoholic fermentation for 7/8 days in temperature-controlled tanks, malolactic fermentation in oak

Aging: This wine rest for 20/22 months in entirely new medium toast French oak barrels then transferred to stainless steel vats for 3 months, in the end, aging in bottle for an additional 12 months with no filtration and no clarifying.

Complete Wine Profile

Dense red to violet, this one looks really complex. Tears are good in numbers showing a good body and alcohol. 14.5 ABV it is.

Again the complexity on the nose as well. Strong plums, black cherry, blackberry, leather, earthy and significant reflection of soil type. Clear vanilla oaky secondary aroma.

Very well-rounded palate. Barolo-like perfume of truffle and marzipan plush, seamless and very rich, showing a note of balsamic and finish with a tooth dusting tannins. Full-bodied, high acidic, dry, and grippy tannins, this one required good decanting and storage. The wine shows some herb notes of pepper and star anise.

Try this one with authentic Italian pasta topped with cherry tomato and a thick saucy texture. Mushrooms go well but nothing can beat when paired with garlic grilled lamb(well done).

Temp – 15-17 Degree C.

Decanting – 2-3 hours

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