Sunday, March 10, 2013

Anderson's Conn Valley "Right Bank" Napa Valley 2010

Deep red/purple.

Opened yesterday - beautiful nose of herbs, toast, black raspberry, melted chocolate. Fresh, nuanced.

Round and luxurious in the mouth - all over the place - and yet has a firm spine of acid-driven tannin that slowly manifests itself.
Bright flavors of mint, tar and blackberry. Even shows a slightly saline aspect. This is RFG. Acid/tannin structure coats the front
in "chew". Only one bottle left - not touching it for at least 8-10 years..


$60 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc.

Quinta do Vallado "Field Blend Reserva" Douro 2008

Saturated purple/red.

Opened yesterday - deep smoke, tar nose with black fruit submerged. A bit more nuanced yesterday when it showed some fragrant herb action.

Round and loaded in the mouth, slightly saucy/baked. Fairly strong acidity keeps this playing in the center of the mouth, despite its breadth. Very serious action. Finishing acid/tannin synergy is significant but reasonable refined. Interestingly, I think this was brighter and more complex yesterday without aeration. Nevertheless, extremely impressive dry red from the Douro.


$50   30% each Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), 20% Touriga Franca, 17% Tinta Amarela and 3% Sousao.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Remezieres "Cuvee Emilie" Hermitage 2000

Saturated red.

Vinturi - smoked meat/bacon, grilled and wilted herbs, tapenade, black pepper, coriander and roasted almond nose. A PFG meal.. Very composed/integrated.

Round, plush middle-weight in the mouth. Beautiful mid-palate flesh and density, with smoked meat and herb "inner-mouth perfume". Really saturated flavor pixel count - grainy. Acid/tannin structural synergy builds slowly to ultimately impede flavor flow in the finish, but this is brilliant for a middling vintage. I'd guess this will continue to improve for at least another 3-4 years and drink well for many more..


$45 on release.   100% Syrah.