Deep red.
Toasted nut, savory meat/earth and suave oak spice nose. Crancherry/raspberry coulis underneath. Something here reminds me of Rioja.
Tightly wound and intense in the mouth, with a citrus character dominating. Nice breadth, stopping just short of textural sweetness. Serious acid structure, some might say mineral, cuts into the mid-palate flavor expression. Then the finish kicks in with chewy red fruit. Cranberry. Distinctive, interesting action. No need to drink soon.
Gift - $40?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Chateau de Fonbel, St. Emilion Grand Cru 2005
Purple.
Clay/earth, black raspberry, toast, licorice aromas. Concentrated, but subtle/refined.
Very light impression in the mouth, this will definitely disappoint people used to opulent CA wines. Intense mid-palate flavors of blackcurrant/blackberry and a minerality that attacks the tongue, then migrates to all the teeth. Not at all brutal or rustic, in fact, quite the opposite. Definitely built to improve in the bottle.
This is deepening as it airs.
$25 From the family that owns Ch. Ausone (roughly $1000/btl in 2005)
Clay/earth, black raspberry, toast, licorice aromas. Concentrated, but subtle/refined.
Very light impression in the mouth, this will definitely disappoint people used to opulent CA wines. Intense mid-palate flavors of blackcurrant/blackberry and a minerality that attacks the tongue, then migrates to all the teeth. Not at all brutal or rustic, in fact, quite the opposite. Definitely built to improve in the bottle.
This is deepening as it airs.
$25 From the family that owns Ch. Ausone (roughly $1000/btl in 2005)
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Hartford "Stone Cote Vyd." Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2004
Straw/light yellow.
Tight nose - mineral, light sulphide and a hint of lemon.
Round and slightly sweet initial textural impression, immediately set straight by a relatively strong acid/sulphide, chewy, edge. Caramel, lemon and rock/mineral flavors are intense, but very refined. Caramel and mint on the long, subtle finish.
No question, this is VGS. Pure.
$45
Tight nose - mineral, light sulphide and a hint of lemon.
Round and slightly sweet initial textural impression, immediately set straight by a relatively strong acid/sulphide, chewy, edge. Caramel, lemon and rock/mineral flavors are intense, but very refined. Caramel and mint on the long, subtle finish.
No question, this is VGS. Pure.
$45
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Sportoletti, Rosso, Assisi 2006
Red. Residual CO2 evident.
Red cherry, toasted nut/lava earth aromas.
Quite intense crancherry, iron, mineral action in the mouth. This has decent flesh but also a serious backbone. Acid thrusts tannin onto the front teeth. No way this won't improve with 3-5 years in the bottle.
This must be mostly Sangiovese.
$15
Red cherry, toasted nut/lava earth aromas.
Quite intense crancherry, iron, mineral action in the mouth. This has decent flesh but also a serious backbone. Acid thrusts tannin onto the front teeth. No way this won't improve with 3-5 years in the bottle.
This must be mostly Sangiovese.
$15
Rolf Binder "Heinrich" Barossa Valley 2005
Purple/red.
Black raspberry coulis, earth, licorice and peppermint aromatics.
Round and seamless in the mouth, with a middle-weight feel. Acid tamps down any textural extravagance. Raspberry flavor dominates. Mint flavor kicks in strongly in the finish.
Day 3 - More reticent on the nose now. Earth and some oak spice. Nice depth, though. Round and very creamy in the mouth. Raspberries and cream. Not particularly complex, but quite easy to enjoy.
$25 screwcap. 55% Shiraz, 30% Mataro, 15% Grenache.
Black raspberry coulis, earth, licorice and peppermint aromatics.
Round and seamless in the mouth, with a middle-weight feel. Acid tamps down any textural extravagance. Raspberry flavor dominates. Mint flavor kicks in strongly in the finish.
Day 3 - More reticent on the nose now. Earth and some oak spice. Nice depth, though. Round and very creamy in the mouth. Raspberries and cream. Not particularly complex, but quite easy to enjoy.
$25 screwcap. 55% Shiraz, 30% Mataro, 15% Grenache.
Veritas (Rolf Binder) "Heinrich" Barossa Valley 2001
Red/rust.
Nut, menthol, sea salt aromatics. Meaty/savory fruit underneath. Salami too.
Spherical in the mouth, with a saline/acid edge at the periphery. Menthol, licorice and red fruit flavors melded nicely with light tannin. An unusual inexpensive Aussie - this has actually developed in the bottle.
Day 3 - Huge menthol aromatic action now, with dried fig, cured meat and salt underneath. Still completely mouth-filling with fig, meat and saline flavors.
$20 on release. 40% Shiraz, 40% Mataro (Mourvedre), 20% Grenache.
Nut, menthol, sea salt aromatics. Meaty/savory fruit underneath. Salami too.
Spherical in the mouth, with a saline/acid edge at the periphery. Menthol, licorice and red fruit flavors melded nicely with light tannin. An unusual inexpensive Aussie - this has actually developed in the bottle.
Day 3 - Huge menthol aromatic action now, with dried fig, cured meat and salt underneath. Still completely mouth-filling with fig, meat and saline flavors.
$20 on release. 40% Shiraz, 40% Mataro (Mourvedre), 20% Grenache.
Friday, June 20, 2008
J.J. Prum, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Riesling, Kabinett 2002
Straw.
Spiced apple, white peach and wax aromas.
Slightly sweet, easy impression of peach/nectarine pit with good acidity (and some residual CO2) keeping things fresh. Light minerality kicks in on the very subtle, but long, finish. Fine flavors of apple/peach/nectarine hang on almost indefinitely. Fine mineral chew lightly coats the front teeth. Delicate stuff - very easy to miss it.
$25
Spiced apple, white peach and wax aromas.
Slightly sweet, easy impression of peach/nectarine pit with good acidity (and some residual CO2) keeping things fresh. Light minerality kicks in on the very subtle, but long, finish. Fine flavors of apple/peach/nectarine hang on almost indefinitely. Fine mineral chew lightly coats the front teeth. Delicate stuff - very easy to miss it.
$25
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