Michael Loken

Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Peumo Vineyard Block 27 Carmenère 2010, Entre Cordilleras, Peumo, Cachapoal Valley

A nice mineral note is present to bring you into this wine. The flavour profile shows some tobacco and plum and finishes really nicely. This is a great example of what Chilean wines can be - not just cheap, sulphate laden reds.

Tasted blind at a Beefsteak & Burgundy Club event, May 2015.

Castello Di Neive Barbaresco 2011, Docg

Excellent wine, and very pleased that this is a regular list item at a reasonable price. The taste is rustic with lovely wood notes and a dry finish. This definitely needs a bit of time to open up, but if allowed, this wine will reward with flavours of currants, dried flowers and savory spices.

Avignonesi Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2011, Docg

Ruby red going to pink on the edges, the aroma displayed notes of cherry and red fruits. The wine was pleasant enough, but does not justify the price.

Tasted blind at a Beefsteak and Burgundy club event, Jan. 2015.

Famille Perrin Les Christins Vacqueyras 2012, Ac

This wine was really excellent with spicy pepper notes and ripe dark fruit flavours. The wine is quite warming with its higher alcohol content, but it was presented in a very controlled way. Extremely enjoyable.

Château De Nages J T Costières De Nîmes 2012, Ac

This wine hit above its price point. It was fruity, warm, complex and had a very long finish. The overall feeling when drinking this wine, however, was how composed and sophisticated it was. IT was smooth and easy to drink. A lovely wine when paired with a steak. A shame I only had one.

Abelis Carthago William Selection Crianza 2011, Do Toro

Big and powerful, this wine poured a deep purple, with no visual hints of age. Paired with lamb, it sang - but with the amount of noticable tannins it could have sat for another 10 years (drank Sept 28, 2019 at camp).

Anselmann Edesheimer Ordensgut Weissburgunder Kabinett Trocken 2012, Pradikätswein

Crisp and clean, this wine has a distinct aroma of pears and green apples. The taste is relatively light, but well balanced with a good finish. This is a well constructed and elegant wine; composed and controlled.

Podere La Vigna Brunello Di Montalcino 2008

This one comes off a bit funky with barnyard notes on the nose. The taste had notes of cedar, and bell peppers.

Tasted blind in March 2015 at a Beefsteak & Burgundy Club event.

Fabre Montmayou Gran Reserva Malbec 2011, Mendoza

Although the deep purple colour and oak on the nose gave indications as to what to expect, this was not a stereotypical Malbec. The structure of the wine was tight, and very Italian in feel. This was a more restrained, elegant wine compared to others of the same type.

Heartland Spice Trader Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Langhorne Creek