Saturated purple.
Medicinal (iodine), (oak?) spice, dried fig, clove, slow-roasted meat, menthol and all sorts of other, teaser, "stuff" on the nose.
Black licorice, suave oak toast - whatever - this rocks. I seem to get a bit of heat in the mid-palate, even though this is listed at 14.2% alcohol. Nevertheless, this is packed with grainy flavor concentration, as usual. Menthol flavor shows late. I think we need some air time here.
This is a Pax bottling I'll buy any time.
Day 2 - Deeper on the nose, really huge in the mouth, with chewy tannin that you almost miss. 50% new oak, according to the website.
Day 3 - Deeper, chocolate-infused nose now, with the iodine element in the background. There's a saturation of aromas and flavors that basically mocks the Saxum's sweet/tart simplicity.
$50
Friday, December 7, 2007
Copain "Les Voisins" Syrah 2006 (McDowell Valley)
Purple.
My 10 year-old says Havarti cheese (she's onto something), blueberry cream and spice aromatics.
Round, creamy impression in the mouth, with blueberry flavor dominating. Relatively strong acidity kicks in around mid-palate. Finishes with chewy acid/tannin synergy. Very good density in the mouth.
Tasty New World/Old World hybrid.
$25
My 10 year-old says Havarti cheese (she's onto something), blueberry cream and spice aromatics.
Round, creamy impression in the mouth, with blueberry flavor dominating. Relatively strong acidity kicks in around mid-palate. Finishes with chewy acid/tannin synergy. Very good density in the mouth.
Tasty New World/Old World hybrid.
$25
Copain 2006 "Tous Ensemble" Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)
Light red.
Earth/nut, spice and light cranberry on the nose.
Bright and lifted in the mouth - cran/cherry and spice - pure and simple. Fairly strong acidity, yet this has nice textural sweetness. Decent length.
Everyday, tasty Pinot. A whopping 13.1% alcohol.
$25?
Earth/nut, spice and light cranberry on the nose.
Bright and lifted in the mouth - cran/cherry and spice - pure and simple. Fairly strong acidity, yet this has nice textural sweetness. Decent length.
Everyday, tasty Pinot. A whopping 13.1% alcohol.
$25?
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Havens "Black and Blue" Napa Valley 2002
Saturated purple.
Ground pepper, menthol, meat and black fruit aromas.
Plush, mouth-coating entry with pepper and meat repeating as well as fig/date flavors. A bit dis-jointed in the mid-palate, with tannin taking the upper hand. Cabernet greens make a subtle, yet substantive, appearance.
Solid stuff, but I wonder if it will knit together?
I think the blend is 50% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon
Day 5 - Figs, earth and black raspberry aromas. Still mouth-coating and plush, just a bit of heat, and much better flavor flow through the mid-palate. A eucalyptus nuance too. Tannin still fairly strong - I think this needs several more years in the bottle to strut.
$35?
Ground pepper, menthol, meat and black fruit aromas.
Plush, mouth-coating entry with pepper and meat repeating as well as fig/date flavors. A bit dis-jointed in the mid-palate, with tannin taking the upper hand. Cabernet greens make a subtle, yet substantive, appearance.
Solid stuff, but I wonder if it will knit together?
I think the blend is 50% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon
Day 5 - Figs, earth and black raspberry aromas. Still mouth-coating and plush, just a bit of heat, and much better flavor flow through the mid-palate. A eucalyptus nuance too. Tannin still fairly strong - I think this needs several more years in the bottle to strut.
$35?
Remizieres, Hermitage 1999
Purple/red.
Great nose of wilted greens, sausage/smoked salmon and integrated oak smoke/spice. Black pepper a late arrival.
Intensely flavored middle-weight, with flavors echoing nose. Structure is (front teeth) stout, but lets flavors ride through without a hiccup.
Day 3 - Nose now dominated by black fruit, earth and a medicinal note. Almost fat in the mouth, with spicy black fruit front and center, supported by sausage, wilted greens and earth.
$50 on release
Great nose of wilted greens, sausage/smoked salmon and integrated oak smoke/spice. Black pepper a late arrival.
Intensely flavored middle-weight, with flavors echoing nose. Structure is (front teeth) stout, but lets flavors ride through without a hiccup.
Day 3 - Nose now dominated by black fruit, earth and a medicinal note. Almost fat in the mouth, with spicy black fruit front and center, supported by sausage, wilted greens and earth.
$50 on release
Clerico, Barolo, Ginestra, 1997
Deep red.
Amaretto, savory meat, earth and deep cherry jam. Not particularly lifted, but not flat either. In fact, this reminds me a bit of successful stuff from the south of France (Clavel's Copa Santa).
Intensely flavored - cherry, embers, spice and a bit of heat. Structure seems primarily acid-driven with finishing tannic thrust. A late note of iron. All structure in the finish, killing flavor.
Day 3 - Here's another wine that has a melted butter/fruit component. In fact, this has a black cherry/raspberry confectionary character on the nose. Really round, packed and seamless, particularly for Barolo, with grainy tannin intruding late.
Interesting contrast to the '96.
$65?
Amaretto, savory meat, earth and deep cherry jam. Not particularly lifted, but not flat either. In fact, this reminds me a bit of successful stuff from the south of France (Clavel's Copa Santa).
Intensely flavored - cherry, embers, spice and a bit of heat. Structure seems primarily acid-driven with finishing tannic thrust. A late note of iron. All structure in the finish, killing flavor.
Day 3 - Here's another wine that has a melted butter/fruit component. In fact, this has a black cherry/raspberry confectionary character on the nose. Really round, packed and seamless, particularly for Barolo, with grainy tannin intruding late.
Interesting contrast to the '96.
$65?
Monday, December 3, 2007
Copain Roussanne James Berry Vyd. 2005
Pale yellow.
Having a hard time with the nose - understated - spiced peach/apple and a light sulfide note.
Round and mouth-filling, without being fat. Really packed with spiced peach/apple flavor, subtle vanilla and, again, a light sulfide, chewy finish which switches to canned peach. Very long - just sticks in the mouth.
At 13.8% alcohol, this is hardly a bruiser. The kind of wine you appreciate more the further you get into the bottle.
Day 2 - More open nose now. Vanilla, custard and ripe peach, like a refreshing dessert. More restrained in the mouth, absolutely delicious action.
$45
Having a hard time with the nose - understated - spiced peach/apple and a light sulfide note.
Round and mouth-filling, without being fat. Really packed with spiced peach/apple flavor, subtle vanilla and, again, a light sulfide, chewy finish which switches to canned peach. Very long - just sticks in the mouth.
At 13.8% alcohol, this is hardly a bruiser. The kind of wine you appreciate more the further you get into the bottle.
Day 2 - More open nose now. Vanilla, custard and ripe peach, like a refreshing dessert. More restrained in the mouth, absolutely delicious action.
$45
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