Opaque purple.
Toasty oak, menthol, figs, smoked ham and herbs on the nose.
Round, creamy in the mouth, just a hint of textural sweetness. Flavors follow from the nose, adding a note of tar. Acid-driven structure cuts into, buts does not kill, the finish. Despite listed 15.9% alcohol, I get no overt heat. This is RGS. Mike Officer is apparently a huge fan of Barossa Shiraz. But I get far more complexity here than most of the stuff I've had from Barossa.
Day 3- Less interesting on the nose - spicy/peppery/menthol - but more integrated. Really sweet in the mouth now. I think I'd drink this over the next 2-3 years.
$45
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Yangarra, Old Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale 2005
Purple.
Floral, black raspberry coulis aromatics. Suggestions of Andes mint, earth/meat and a medicinal nuance too.
Round and dense/grainy in the mouth. Raspberry and earth/medicinal flavors ride through slightly chewy mid-palate and finish. Serious Grenache. From a 60 year-old, sandy, vineyard. I'd guess there is some Syrah in this.
Day 2 - Andes Mint, front and center, on the nose. Really deep and layered in the mouth. Strawberry a flavor addition. Slight saline character contributes to grainy, concentrated impression. This is a stupid buy in serious Australian Grenache.
$25
Floral, black raspberry coulis aromatics. Suggestions of Andes mint, earth/meat and a medicinal nuance too.
Round and dense/grainy in the mouth. Raspberry and earth/medicinal flavors ride through slightly chewy mid-palate and finish. Serious Grenache. From a 60 year-old, sandy, vineyard. I'd guess there is some Syrah in this.
Day 2 - Andes Mint, front and center, on the nose. Really deep and layered in the mouth. Strawberry a flavor addition. Slight saline character contributes to grainy, concentrated impression. This is a stupid buy in serious Australian Grenache.
$25
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Alonso del Yerro "Maria" Ribera del Duero 2005
Purple.
Deep clay, barrel spice/toast, blackberry pie aromatics.
Round and creamy in the mouth, saturated, grainy impression throughout. Reminds me of a Pax Syrah in that sense. Not showing much in the flavor department, yet. Acid/tannin synergy reaches the front teeth in the finish. I always wonder if wines like this will ever deliver any complexity in the mouth. But it has nice purity and is obviously well-made (Stephane Derencourt - Bordeaux winemaker/consultant).
Day 4 - Licorice and an exotic blackberry/peach combination on the nose now - with an interesting, seemingly acid-driven, constriction in the mouth. Others might say mineral. Whatever it is, it's a lees-aging thing. Coats the front teeth. It will be very interesting to watch this develop over the next 7-8 years.
$60
Deep clay, barrel spice/toast, blackberry pie aromatics.
Round and creamy in the mouth, saturated, grainy impression throughout. Reminds me of a Pax Syrah in that sense. Not showing much in the flavor department, yet. Acid/tannin synergy reaches the front teeth in the finish. I always wonder if wines like this will ever deliver any complexity in the mouth. But it has nice purity and is obviously well-made (Stephane Derencourt - Bordeaux winemaker/consultant).
Day 4 - Licorice and an exotic blackberry/peach combination on the nose now - with an interesting, seemingly acid-driven, constriction in the mouth. Others might say mineral. Whatever it is, it's a lees-aging thing. Coats the front teeth. It will be very interesting to watch this develop over the next 7-8 years.
$60
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Villa Creek "Onda" Paso Robles 2005
Purple/red.
Aromas of oak toast, coconut, meat, cream, red raspberry coulis and a hint of mint.
Round, sweet and layered in the mouth. More textural interest than flavor action at the moment, but acidity seems to drive red fruit character deep into the finish. It must be the reasonably high natural acidity (from well-farmed, low-yield vineyards) on Paso's West side that always reminds me of Priorat.
Day 6 - Integrated, sumptuous nose. Round and sweet in the mouth, similar to day 1. In fact, almost exactly the same. I'll have to get another bottle or two for future reference.
34% Tempranillo, 33% Syrah, 33% Mourvedre
$50
Aromas of oak toast, coconut, meat, cream, red raspberry coulis and a hint of mint.
Round, sweet and layered in the mouth. More textural interest than flavor action at the moment, but acidity seems to drive red fruit character deep into the finish. It must be the reasonably high natural acidity (from well-farmed, low-yield vineyards) on Paso's West side that always reminds me of Priorat.
Day 6 - Integrated, sumptuous nose. Round and sweet in the mouth, similar to day 1. In fact, almost exactly the same. I'll have to get another bottle or two for future reference.
34% Tempranillo, 33% Syrah, 33% Mourvedre
$50
Palacios "Petalos" 2006 (Bierzo, Spain)
Purple.
Grilled meat, menthol, spice and a suggestion of citrus/pepper on the nose. Lower-toned earth/potato/blood action with air.
Round and packed in the mouth, with a building sense of sweetness. Earth/citrus/meat flavors are bright and intense. Chewy and long, with acidity driving the finish.
This is killer. How can you buy this with a crappy $/euro exchange for only $20? More "modern" in style than usual.
WTF? Every restaurant in the country should be pouring this by the glass.
Grilled meat, menthol, spice and a suggestion of citrus/pepper on the nose. Lower-toned earth/potato/blood action with air.
Round and packed in the mouth, with a building sense of sweetness. Earth/citrus/meat flavors are bright and intense. Chewy and long, with acidity driving the finish.
This is killer. How can you buy this with a crappy $/euro exchange for only $20? More "modern" in style than usual.
WTF? Every restaurant in the country should be pouring this by the glass.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Turley, Duarte, Contra Costa County, Zinfandel 2005
Light red.
Great nose - sumptuous and fresh - citrus/cranberry, earth, savory meat.
Round and sweet texturally. Slight heat. Red fruit character start to finish, slightly bumpy in the mid-palate. Better on the nose, but this may gain complexity in the mouth with bottle-age.
Day 3 - Interesting - color is now purple/red. Spearmint now shows on the nose. Round, sweet and creamy with really nice depth of red fruit coulis mid-palate flavors. One of the best Duarte bottlings I've had.
$35
Great nose - sumptuous and fresh - citrus/cranberry, earth, savory meat.
Round and sweet texturally. Slight heat. Red fruit character start to finish, slightly bumpy in the mid-palate. Better on the nose, but this may gain complexity in the mouth with bottle-age.
Day 3 - Interesting - color is now purple/red. Spearmint now shows on the nose. Round, sweet and creamy with really nice depth of red fruit coulis mid-palate flavors. One of the best Duarte bottlings I've had.
$35
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sokol Blosser "Estate Cuvee" Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2005
Light red.
Fragrant Pinot nose of red cherry/strawberry/cranberry. Then you notice the low-toned, savory, meaty, earth/underbrush action. Nice spice too.
Round, but a bit edgy and dis-jointed (residual CO2) in the mouth. Strawberry in the mouth, slightly chewy. This needs air, decanting recommended if you'll be drinking this soon.
Day 3 - Nose hasn't changed much, but this is now much suaver in the mouth. Savory meat, caramel and crancherry flavors - long. Mild, acid-driven structure frames everything nicely.
Gift - $40?
Fragrant Pinot nose of red cherry/strawberry/cranberry. Then you notice the low-toned, savory, meaty, earth/underbrush action. Nice spice too.
Round, but a bit edgy and dis-jointed (residual CO2) in the mouth. Strawberry in the mouth, slightly chewy. This needs air, decanting recommended if you'll be drinking this soon.
Day 3 - Nose hasn't changed much, but this is now much suaver in the mouth. Savory meat, caramel and crancherry flavors - long. Mild, acid-driven structure frames everything nicely.
Gift - $40?
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