Red with brick rim.
Opened yesterday - integrated, complex nose - iron, garrigue, earth/hazelnut, cherry liqueur.
Round, mouth-filling with great textural sweetness. Shows cherry coulis, grilled/dried herb and brazil nut flavors. Significant, sneaky, acid/tannin chew creeps up on the front teeth keeping textural generosity in check.. This is not a monster wine at all, but delivers considerable pleasure on every front. Beautiful stuff and RFG.
$50 on release. 2000 was a great year for Grenache in the southern Rhone and that is very obvious here.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Pax "Obsidian" Knights Valley 2003
Opaque red.
Opened yesterday - deep Kalamata olive, melted black licorice, grilled meat, grilled herb, dried fig nose. Deep and saucy.
Low-toned palate impression, huge depth in the mid-palate is reined in a bit by seemingly strongish acidity. Not nearly as expressive in the mouth, but still quite a mouthful. It will be interesting to see if this gains the flavor complexity promised by the nose. But I think most folks won't quibble on this point.
$60. 100% Syrah.
Opened yesterday - deep Kalamata olive, melted black licorice, grilled meat, grilled herb, dried fig nose. Deep and saucy.
Low-toned palate impression, huge depth in the mid-palate is reined in a bit by seemingly strongish acidity. Not nearly as expressive in the mouth, but still quite a mouthful. It will be interesting to see if this gains the flavor complexity promised by the nose. But I think most folks won't quibble on this point.
$60. 100% Syrah.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Chateau Haut-Bergey, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux 2006
Deep red.
Opened yesterday - expressive nose of embers, campfire, blackberry, black raspberry and fresh earth.
Round, with very nice mid-palate coverage. In fact, acid/tannin synergy shows quite late, but makes up for lost time in the finish. Acid-driven constriction shuts down the front of the mouth. Just needs a few more years in the cellar (4-6?).
$35.
Opened yesterday - expressive nose of embers, campfire, blackberry, black raspberry and fresh earth.
Round, with very nice mid-palate coverage. In fact, acid/tannin synergy shows quite late, but makes up for lost time in the finish. Acid-driven constriction shuts down the front of the mouth. Just needs a few more years in the cellar (4-6?).
$35.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Torbreck "Run Rig" Barossa Valley 1999
Deep red.
Vinturi - very attractive, refined nose - fig, black raspberry, mole, earth/corn, oak spice and grilled meat.
Intense, but not at all heavy. Flavors of red fruit, game/sausage/bacon, leather and spice are driven by relatively strong acidity. Tannin is moderate and fine. Subtle, persistent length. Classy, delineated action. Exactly what many of us think Barossa can't do..
RFG.
$90 on release. 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier.
Vinturi - very attractive, refined nose - fig, black raspberry, mole, earth/corn, oak spice and grilled meat.
Intense, but not at all heavy. Flavors of red fruit, game/sausage/bacon, leather and spice are driven by relatively strong acidity. Tannin is moderate and fine. Subtle, persistent length. Classy, delineated action. Exactly what many of us think Barossa can't do..
RFG.
$90 on release. 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier.
Bastide Blanche "Fontaneou" Bandol 2007
Very deep red.
Opened yesterday - expressive nose - clay/earth, licorice, blackberry and fragrant wood spices.
Intense, but not as dense as some other vintages. Not necessarily a bad thing. Really nice mid-palate flesh and flavor expression. Tasting extremely well already, but it's hard to believe this won't benefit from 5-8 more years in the bottle..
$27. 100% Mourvedre, I think.
Opened yesterday - expressive nose - clay/earth, licorice, blackberry and fragrant wood spices.
Intense, but not as dense as some other vintages. Not necessarily a bad thing. Really nice mid-palate flesh and flavor expression. Tasting extremely well already, but it's hard to believe this won't benefit from 5-8 more years in the bottle..
$27. 100% Mourvedre, I think.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Rocca delle Macie, Riserva, Chianti Classico 2006
Red.
Opened yesterday - bright, lifted aromas of red cherry, earth, shoe polish and licorice. Very attractive.
Intense middleweight with enough textural "give" to keep it from being austere. Racy finishing acidity. Nimble and expressive.
Beautiful stuff and a great antidote for "thick" wines.. Variety = spice of life.
$25.
Opened yesterday - bright, lifted aromas of red cherry, earth, shoe polish and licorice. Very attractive.
Intense middleweight with enough textural "give" to keep it from being austere. Racy finishing acidity. Nimble and expressive.
Beautiful stuff and a great antidote for "thick" wines.. Variety = spice of life.
$25.
Macchiole "Paleo" Bolgheri 2001
Deep red/purple.
Vinturi - great nose - embers/camp fire/smoky oak/earth/cinnamon/licorice/fig/black cherry.
Intense entry. Packed middle-weight, but acid/tannin synergy really clamps down on flavor expression. Nowhere near maturity. Nose far better than a bottle several years ago though. Give this 5+ years in the cellar.
$50 on release. 100% Cabernet Franc.
Vinturi - great nose - embers/camp fire/smoky oak/earth/cinnamon/licorice/fig/black cherry.
Intense entry. Packed middle-weight, but acid/tannin synergy really clamps down on flavor expression. Nowhere near maturity. Nose far better than a bottle several years ago though. Give this 5+ years in the cellar.
$50 on release. 100% Cabernet Franc.
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