Deep red, rust rim.
Earth, smoke, grilled herbs (was wilted greens when opened 2 hours ago), candied cherry/black fruit and brick aromas. Smells a bit like old Bordeaux, but has many other things going on too. Getting cinnamon now ...
Plush entry, then grainy, slightly coarse tannin makes an appearance. Wilted greens, bacon and a blood/iron note. Still chewy, hitting the front teeth.
1993 was a terrible vintage in the Rhone - never know it from this (my last) bottle. Stupidly good.
$30?
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Sea Smoke, Pinot Noir, "Southing", Santa Rita Hills 2005
Bright red.
Bright red cherry/cranberry, floral, citrus, meal and suave oak spice aromas.
Intense, spicy red fruit entry - very much a racy middle-weight. Shows a touch of heat (14.7%). Acidity keeps flavors under wraps right now, but I'm sure this will expand in the mouth with cellar time. Very classy, perfumed stuff.
Day 4 - Additional fruit depth today, along with a suggestion of strawberry coulis. Alcohol still intrudes on the back end.
I'd guess this will integrate with another 3-5 years in the bottle.
$65
Bright red cherry/cranberry, floral, citrus, meal and suave oak spice aromas.
Intense, spicy red fruit entry - very much a racy middle-weight. Shows a touch of heat (14.7%). Acidity keeps flavors under wraps right now, but I'm sure this will expand in the mouth with cellar time. Very classy, perfumed stuff.
Day 4 - Additional fruit depth today, along with a suggestion of strawberry coulis. Alcohol still intrudes on the back end.
I'd guess this will integrate with another 3-5 years in the bottle.
$65
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Colombier Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2004
Light yellow.
Hints of pear, apple and meal on the nose.
Deep, sweet textural impression that is buffered simultaneously by mineral/acid chew.Hard to figure out what the flavors are - straw, smoky, unripe pear? The main focus is the textural impression of glycerin and acid/rock chew that doesn't seem to end.
This must be all, or mostly, Marsanne.
$27
Hints of pear, apple and meal on the nose.
Deep, sweet textural impression that is buffered simultaneously by mineral/acid chew.Hard to figure out what the flavors are - straw, smoky, unripe pear? The main focus is the textural impression of glycerin and acid/rock chew that doesn't seem to end.
This must be all, or mostly, Marsanne.
$27
Vinos Sin Ley, G-5 Garnacha, Puerta Bonita 2005 (Vinos de Madrid)
Deep red.
Reticent nose of raspberry/cherry liqueur and a loam/soil character.
Sweet textural impression, with raspberry/cherry front and center allied with a minerally structure that reminds me of stuff from Templeton Gap/Westside Paso Robles. No real complexity here, but it's very tasty, with very good length of flavor.
Synthetic cork (2-3 year death sentence).
$15
Reticent nose of raspberry/cherry liqueur and a loam/soil character.
Sweet textural impression, with raspberry/cherry front and center allied with a minerally structure that reminds me of stuff from Templeton Gap/Westside Paso Robles. No real complexity here, but it's very tasty, with very good length of flavor.
Synthetic cork (2-3 year death sentence).
$15
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Tardieu-Laurent, Rasteau, V.V., 2000
Purple/red.
Tarry oak spices, cola, black raspberry, garrigue and slightly medicinal aromas.
Deep and plush, initially, in the mouth. Broad and deeply flavored, with major structure (teeth-coating tannin) arriving late.
Not sure where this is headed - more giving fruit a couple of years ago?
$30
Tarry oak spices, cola, black raspberry, garrigue and slightly medicinal aromas.
Deep and plush, initially, in the mouth. Broad and deeply flavored, with major structure (teeth-coating tannin) arriving late.
Not sure where this is headed - more giving fruit a couple of years ago?
$30
Noellat, Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru, "Les Beaux Monts" 1999
Red.
Nuts, grilled herbs and a hint of citrus on the nose.
Vibrant, lifted citrus blossom/zest in the mouth. Light bodied, but loaded. Slight note of iron. Acid-driven structure hits sides of the teeth. This was actually opened yesterday - seems far fresher today.
A beauty.
$40
Nuts, grilled herbs and a hint of citrus on the nose.
Vibrant, lifted citrus blossom/zest in the mouth. Light bodied, but loaded. Slight note of iron. Acid-driven structure hits sides of the teeth. This was actually opened yesterday - seems far fresher today.
A beauty.
$40
Feudi di San Gregorio, Piano di Monte Vergine, Taurasi 1999
Opaque purple/red.
Charry, embers, sawn redwood nose. I don't think this is entirely from new oak. Idiosyncratic, but very deep.
Earthy, spicy, woodfire character repeats, front and center, in the mouth. Has great breadth and flavor impact. There's a primal black fruit aspect that I can't come close to identifying. Long, chewy finish. Tannin has an edgy quality that will be off-putting to many in this day and age.
Generally speaking, this is a wake-up call to New World, easy drinking folks. They will want to hate this, but there is simply too much going on not to love the stuff.
All Aglianico, a variety to be reckoned with.
$60
Charry, embers, sawn redwood nose. I don't think this is entirely from new oak. Idiosyncratic, but very deep.
Earthy, spicy, woodfire character repeats, front and center, in the mouth. Has great breadth and flavor impact. There's a primal black fruit aspect that I can't come close to identifying. Long, chewy finish. Tannin has an edgy quality that will be off-putting to many in this day and age.
Generally speaking, this is a wake-up call to New World, easy drinking folks. They will want to hate this, but there is simply too much going on not to love the stuff.
All Aglianico, a variety to be reckoned with.
$60
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