Opaque purple.
Aromas of clay/earth, black raspberry (both coulis and baked), licorice and a floral note. Deep. No obvious oak, despite 100% new oak aging. With some airtime - pepper and a medicinal nuance.
Round and packed in the mouth. Grainy/chewy. Black fruit and licorice riding through. Not showing any real complexity in the mouth, yet, but for the money this is a killer buy. Sock it away for 4-6 years, or longer.
This is really good action. 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Day 3 - Clay/earth/meal, blackberry/black raspberry sauce and licorice aromatics. Extremely concentrated in the mouth, with grainy/chewy tannin. It will be interesting to see how this develops with bottle-age.
$25
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Drylands, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2007
Platinum.
Pungent herb, grapefruit/lemon aromatics.
Intense entry, but lacking flavor drive in the mouth. Mineral/acid chew dominates the finish. Tasty ..
$15
Pungent herb, grapefruit/lemon aromatics.
Intense entry, but lacking flavor drive in the mouth. Mineral/acid chew dominates the finish. Tasty ..
$15
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Villa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve, Marlborough 2006
Platinum.
Pungent asparagus, citrus zest aromas. Pure, bracing.
Intense citrus/asparagus flavors in the mouth and huge, driving, mineral/acid structure. Nice textural (?) sweetness balances structural impact. This deserves its "Reserve" status, as it is NZ SB - squared. Front teeth coated in stony chew.
Day 2 - Similar nose with a nut character emerging. Shows a bit of (welcome) textural sweetness now. Flavor intensity more than matching stony chew. Great, resounding, length.
$28
Pungent asparagus, citrus zest aromas. Pure, bracing.
Intense citrus/asparagus flavors in the mouth and huge, driving, mineral/acid structure. Nice textural (?) sweetness balances structural impact. This deserves its "Reserve" status, as it is NZ SB - squared. Front teeth coated in stony chew.
Day 2 - Similar nose with a nut character emerging. Shows a bit of (welcome) textural sweetness now. Flavor intensity more than matching stony chew. Great, resounding, length.
$28
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills 2005
Light yellow.
Popcorn/truffle/sulfide/meal/lemon nose. Nothing fat or oaky here.
Intense truffle/sulfide, popcorn and lemon flavors with mineral/acid chew. Good length. This reminds me of much more expensive stuff from the Sonoma Coast, even Chablis.
Day 2 - Nut paste/sulfide action on the nose. Broader in the mouth and a bit abrasive too. Still, this provides a great mini-version of far more expensive action.
$20 PFG, especially for the $$.
Popcorn/truffle/sulfide/meal/lemon nose. Nothing fat or oaky here.
Intense truffle/sulfide, popcorn and lemon flavors with mineral/acid chew. Good length. This reminds me of much more expensive stuff from the Sonoma Coast, even Chablis.
Day 2 - Nut paste/sulfide action on the nose. Broader in the mouth and a bit abrasive too. Still, this provides a great mini-version of far more expensive action.
$20 PFG, especially for the $$.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Tablas Creek "Esprit de Beaucastel" Paso Robles 2005
Purple/red.
Deep, complicated nose - tree bark, anise, earth, red cherry jam and a load of spices.
Round with a good dose of textural sweetness (seems higher in alcohol than the 2004), with big red fruit (raspberry and cherry) coupled with a medicinal nuance and huge structure. More tannin here, it seems, than the 2004, with acid every bit as strong. Iron note late. Very young wine.
Day 3 - Not as fresh on the nose as the 2004 (just like day 1) - earthy, Bandol-central action - very deep. Round and sweet in the mouth, little structural impediment now. Light tannin in the finish, and seems to show a bit of heat. An enjoyable hybrid - Beaucastel/Saxum. The 2004 is better, largely because it is seamless, balanced. Never thought I'd say something like that...
$40 (44% Mourvedre, 26% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Counoise, 14.5% listed alcohol)
Deep, complicated nose - tree bark, anise, earth, red cherry jam and a load of spices.
Round with a good dose of textural sweetness (seems higher in alcohol than the 2004), with big red fruit (raspberry and cherry) coupled with a medicinal nuance and huge structure. More tannin here, it seems, than the 2004, with acid every bit as strong. Iron note late. Very young wine.
Day 3 - Not as fresh on the nose as the 2004 (just like day 1) - earthy, Bandol-central action - very deep. Round and sweet in the mouth, little structural impediment now. Light tannin in the finish, and seems to show a bit of heat. An enjoyable hybrid - Beaucastel/Saxum. The 2004 is better, largely because it is seamless, balanced. Never thought I'd say something like that...
$40 (44% Mourvedre, 26% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Counoise, 14.5% listed alcohol)
Tablas Creek "Esprit de Beaucastel" Paso Robles 2004
Deep red.
I'd be very hard-pressed to identify this as CA wine - seamless nose of clay/earth, cherry jam, toasted nut, licorice. Interesting, deep and not at all fruit-driven. No suggestion of alcohol.
Round, mouth-filling - surprisingly fresh flavors of red raspberry, spice and just a hint of earth. Acid-driven tannin clamps down pretty strongly in the finish, but red fruit flavor sails through. Almost saline finish, with a slightly baked fruit character emerging.
Day 3 - Deep, fresh aromas of raspberry and mint, with Bandol-like earth/licorice underneath. Then iron .. Very interesting, effortless, complexity. Nice depth in the mouth, with a grainy impression. Round, well-concentrated, nothing out of balance.
Love to see this again in 6-8 years.
A great contrast in style to other "West-Side" Paso wineries.
$40 (50% Mourvedre, 27% Syrah, 17% Grenache, 6% Counoise, 14.5% Alcohol listed)
I'd be very hard-pressed to identify this as CA wine - seamless nose of clay/earth, cherry jam, toasted nut, licorice. Interesting, deep and not at all fruit-driven. No suggestion of alcohol.
Round, mouth-filling - surprisingly fresh flavors of red raspberry, spice and just a hint of earth. Acid-driven tannin clamps down pretty strongly in the finish, but red fruit flavor sails through. Almost saline finish, with a slightly baked fruit character emerging.
Day 3 - Deep, fresh aromas of raspberry and mint, with Bandol-like earth/licorice underneath. Then iron .. Very interesting, effortless, complexity. Nice depth in the mouth, with a grainy impression. Round, well-concentrated, nothing out of balance.
Love to see this again in 6-8 years.
A great contrast in style to other "West-Side" Paso wineries.
$40 (50% Mourvedre, 27% Syrah, 17% Grenache, 6% Counoise, 14.5% Alcohol listed)
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Argyle, Pinot Noir "Reserve" Willamette Valley 2006
Light, filtered, red.
Cranberry and low-toned nut and meat aromas with air time. Red fruit character increasingly vibrant.
Creamy and round in the mouth, with tart red fruit and spice flavors. Quite enjoyable and lively, just lacks any sense of complexity or depth.
Day 4 - Vanilla and strawberry aromas, pretty attractive. Round, suave, fresh, red fruit flavors - completely satisfying on a basic level.
$30? Gift. Screwcap (tin liner)
Cranberry and low-toned nut and meat aromas with air time. Red fruit character increasingly vibrant.
Creamy and round in the mouth, with tart red fruit and spice flavors. Quite enjoyable and lively, just lacks any sense of complexity or depth.
Day 4 - Vanilla and strawberry aromas, pretty attractive. Round, suave, fresh, red fruit flavors - completely satisfying on a basic level.
$30? Gift. Screwcap (tin liner)
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