Pale straw.
Talc, nut, apple, lemon/lime and nectarine aromas. Vibrant, expressive and interesting.
Very nice mineral/fruit entry, with good flesh (probably some well-judged residual sugar) buffered by mineral acid chew.
Extremely well-balanced and satisfying.
All of $14
Screwcap
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Four Vines Tempranillo "Loco" 2005 Paso Robles
Deep red/purple.
Creamy, low-toned nose of maple syrup, spice and black raspberry.
Round, creamy and a bit confectionary - very "Paso" (see Linne Calodo "Martyr" note). Great breadth in the mouth, with very nice, harmonious lingering flavor. Acid/tannin clamp down ever so slightly in the finish. Not likely to gain much in the bottle, but this should be very satisfying for 4-5 more years at least.
Good to see a concentrated Tempranillo - too many weak New World examples.
$35
Creamy, low-toned nose of maple syrup, spice and black raspberry.
Round, creamy and a bit confectionary - very "Paso" (see Linne Calodo "Martyr" note). Great breadth in the mouth, with very nice, harmonious lingering flavor. Acid/tannin clamp down ever so slightly in the finish. Not likely to gain much in the bottle, but this should be very satisfying for 4-5 more years at least.
Good to see a concentrated Tempranillo - too many weak New World examples.
$35
Monday, May 14, 2007
Sierra Salinas "Mira" Yecla (Spain) 2000
Deep red.
Oak spice, smoke, date/fig, cranberry and grilled meat nose - suave, integrated.
Intense attack, almost too crazy, slight alcohol and saline spice character. Absolutely no fat here, structured to the hilt, but not hard. Intensely flavored, probably just needs to air a bit.
I've not seen this bottling in subsequent vintages. Based on Monastrell no doubt.
Day 2 - Still wildly intense and very bound up in the mouth.
$35
Oak spice, smoke, date/fig, cranberry and grilled meat nose - suave, integrated.
Intense attack, almost too crazy, slight alcohol and saline spice character. Absolutely no fat here, structured to the hilt, but not hard. Intensely flavored, probably just needs to air a bit.
I've not seen this bottling in subsequent vintages. Based on Monastrell no doubt.
Day 2 - Still wildly intense and very bound up in the mouth.
$35
Takler Regnum 2003 (Hungary)
Opaque purple/red.
Moderately intense, but deep nose of oak spice/smoke, smoked meat and figs.
Quite intense in the mouth, with alcohol driving sweet black fruit character throughout. Unfortunately, this seems hot from start to finish. Acid/tannin synergy clashes with the alcohol as well. This may integrate with a couple of days of air.
Listed 15.5% alcohol.
37.5% each Cab Franc & Merlot, 10% Kekfrankos, 15% Cab Sauvignon
Day 4 - Alcohol still there, but slightly more integrated. Palate impression creamier and longer. But this is still spiky/disjointed. This doesn't do it for me.
$60
Moderately intense, but deep nose of oak spice/smoke, smoked meat and figs.
Quite intense in the mouth, with alcohol driving sweet black fruit character throughout. Unfortunately, this seems hot from start to finish. Acid/tannin synergy clashes with the alcohol as well. This may integrate with a couple of days of air.
Listed 15.5% alcohol.
37.5% each Cab Franc & Merlot, 10% Kekfrankos, 15% Cab Sauvignon
Day 4 - Alcohol still there, but slightly more integrated. Palate impression creamier and longer. But this is still spiky/disjointed. This doesn't do it for me.
$60
Remelluri Rioja Blanco 2004
Pale, bright yellow.
Mellow, low key nose of oak spice, slight petrol, citrus (lemon/lime), and hazelnut.
Bright citrus and slightly chewy sulfide/mineral action in the mouth. Long, subtle, tactile finish.
There's nothing fat about this - quite racy. This would be very interesting to watch over several more years. Not yet showing much palate complexity, but I think it's just a matter of time.
A blend of 5 white varieties, I think. Chardonnay, Moscatel and Viognier among them.
$40
Mellow, low key nose of oak spice, slight petrol, citrus (lemon/lime), and hazelnut.
Bright citrus and slightly chewy sulfide/mineral action in the mouth. Long, subtle, tactile finish.
There's nothing fat about this - quite racy. This would be very interesting to watch over several more years. Not yet showing much palate complexity, but I think it's just a matter of time.
A blend of 5 white varieties, I think. Chardonnay, Moscatel and Viognier among them.
$40
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Linne Calodo Martyr 2005 Paso Robles
Deep red.
Forward red cherry, black raspberry, red licorice and oak spice nose. This smells like (good) candy. Great contrast to the "Hubris".
Round and sweet in the mouth in a way that seems distinctly Paso, until you taste Tablas Creek or L'Aventure.
Spherical wine, utterly seamless, with great lingering flavor. Shows slight heat that should integrate over time.
On the other hand, I don't see how this will improve a great deal in the cellar.
I understand that 2005 in Paso was a year of enormous yields, even with a good deal of fruit-thinning.
$95
Forward red cherry, black raspberry, red licorice and oak spice nose. This smells like (good) candy. Great contrast to the "Hubris".
Round and sweet in the mouth in a way that seems distinctly Paso, until you taste Tablas Creek or L'Aventure.
Spherical wine, utterly seamless, with great lingering flavor. Shows slight heat that should integrate over time.
On the other hand, I don't see how this will improve a great deal in the cellar.
I understand that 2005 in Paso was a year of enormous yields, even with a good deal of fruit-thinning.
$95
Rolf Binder "Hubris" 2004 Barossa
Deep red/purple.
Deep, plush nose of creosote, char, mint and black fruit.
Round, slightly saline impression in the mouth. No fruit bomb, as slightly grainy tannin and acid keep raspberry, plum and prune flavors from getting out of hand. There is a lot going on here - earth/peanut/creosote/fresh raspberry ....
Great core of flavor and very nice length.
I asked Binder about this wine at Hospice du Rhone last weekend. He indicated 2004 was special, and that he loves Mataro (Mourvedre).
60% Shiraz, 40% Mataro
$37
Deep, plush nose of creosote, char, mint and black fruit.
Round, slightly saline impression in the mouth. No fruit bomb, as slightly grainy tannin and acid keep raspberry, plum and prune flavors from getting out of hand. There is a lot going on here - earth/peanut/creosote/fresh raspberry ....
Great core of flavor and very nice length.
I asked Binder about this wine at Hospice du Rhone last weekend. He indicated 2004 was special, and that he loves Mataro (Mourvedre).
60% Shiraz, 40% Mataro
$37
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