Schild Estate Barossa Grenache Mourvedre Shiraz 2012

Schild Estate Barossa Grenache Mourvedre Shiraz (GMS) 2012 (SKU 527549, WS90, $24.96)

I bought this along with the Ebenezer 2007 when I was browsing in the Australian wine section. The screw top was easy to open. The nose was fruity and the color was dark. It was another Australian fruit bomb but paired easily with a variety of Chinese food. I drank it over five evenings and tasted fine even on the last day. With Chinese braised stuffed duck, it was a good match. Wine Spectator gave it 90 points with a Smart Buy label and indicated it was good from 2014 to 2019. I think that this is a good general purpose dinner wine for immediate consumption or short term cellaring. There is ample stock throughout the LDB stores.

Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz Ebenezer 2007

Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz Ebenezer 2007 (SKU 528349, $39.99) I saw this wine again at the LDB store recently. I assume it was because the Wine Festival was here again and this year the Australian wines were featured. As it was tasted in November 2012 and was found to be not ready then, I thought this might be a good time to give it a second tasting. Upon opening the screw cap, the very strong and very fruity aroma again rushed out to my nose. After decanting it briefly in the glass, I proceeded to taste it with some baked ribs with barbeque sauce. That was a big mistake as the barbeque sauce and the strong Shiraz fought each other fiercely. I waited another day and tasted again with some braised duck and it was more palatable. In fact I waited another two days and tasted it with some Chinese New Year food and it was more mellow. My tasting panel found there was a slight "sourness" to the wine, but it was not spoiled. The reason for this unusual taste was probably due to incorrect food pairing. So in conclusion, the wine was still not ready and it should be paired with a good beef steak, some duck breast or lamb after decanting. There are 56 bottles at the 39th and Cambie store.

Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva Seleccion Especial 2009

Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva Seleccion Especial 2009 (SKU 91611, WS95, $39.99)

I was looking for an interesting wine for my Chinese take out dinner and saw the "Special Selection" offering from Muga. I tasted the regular Reserva version (SKU49254, WS88, $29.99) two weeks ago and found it very enjoyable. I could not believe my eyes when I found out that this slightly more expensive version was rated 95 points by Wine Spectator. When first opened, it gave a very pleasant fruity nose. Of course I decanted this heavy duty wine because of its age. After spending one and a half hours in the decanter, it was still tight. As it was a wine made from the Spanish tempranilllo grape blend, it tasted more dry than the usual grapes. Most of my tasting panel did not think that it was a 95 point wine and most would not pay $40 for it. I persisted and left the rest in the bottle and tasted it over the next two evenings. The wine actually held up quite well by displaying more fruit as time went on. I agreed that this is not a 95 point wine, but I think it has merits. Wine Spectator indicated that it is best from 2013 to 2025. So I may have opened the wine too early. At this price, I am willing to give it a few more years in the cellar and taste it again. As the Euro is dropping, I think the European wines will give us better value than the American wines in the next year or two. I cannot tell how much stock there is in the LDB system as the SKU does not show up in its website. I found a dozen bottles at the Cambie and 39th store on February 7, 2015.

Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Grand Estates 2012

Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Grand Estates 2012 (SKU 240093, WS90, $17.99)

I found this economical basic US red wine while shopping for something more interesting. Since Wine Spectator gave it 90 points, I thought I should give it a try. I tasted it with some Chinese style stuffed duck and it worked out well. The nose was just average but the palate was full. There was a lot of vanilla taste, suggesting that it was fermented in oak barrels. The finish was medium. It would probably be better paired with a nice juicy steak. Wine Spectator indicated it is best from 2014 to 2017. It is on sale at this price until February 28, 2015. After that it will be $19.99. With the rise of the US dollar, I think it is a good time to pick up a few bottles for your cellar and drink it over the next two to three years. There is ample stock in the LDB stores.