Deep purple/red.
Deep, fresh plum, spice/pepper and eucalyptus. Lifted and packed. Liqueur character to the fruit - wildly deep.
Sweet, creamy entry that is immediately buffered by powdery tannin (driven by good acidity that mostly flies under the radar). Tannin/acid synergy kicks in significantly on the finish, but does not kill flavor follow-through.
Interesting contrast to the d'Arenberg Magpie a couple of days ago - no question this wine has seen acidulation - but here the tannin is far more refined and works in tandem. Ironically, this may be the result of filtration. There is certainly a purity to this wine.
60% Mourvedre, 25% Grenache, 15% Shiraz
$30?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape 1999
Red, rust rim.
Blood/iron, dried herbs (oregano?), vivid cinnamon stick, and cherry jam on the nose. There's other stuff too, but I can't figure it out yet. Definitely get the sense that there are aromatic "layers" to this wine. Thrilling, actually.
Spicy herb/garrigue action in the mouth, savory and smooth. Very harmonious and concentrated, nothing excessive. Tannin hits relatively late, providing real finishing chew. Long iron and herb finish.
The best '99 CdP I've had in some time.
Day 5 - Still singing. Now showing cherry jam and a spicy ketchup note that I often get from Las Rocas Old Vine Garnacha.
$40
Blood/iron, dried herbs (oregano?), vivid cinnamon stick, and cherry jam on the nose. There's other stuff too, but I can't figure it out yet. Definitely get the sense that there are aromatic "layers" to this wine. Thrilling, actually.
Spicy herb/garrigue action in the mouth, savory and smooth. Very harmonious and concentrated, nothing excessive. Tannin hits relatively late, providing real finishing chew. Long iron and herb finish.
The best '99 CdP I've had in some time.
Day 5 - Still singing. Now showing cherry jam and a spicy ketchup note that I often get from Las Rocas Old Vine Garnacha.
$40
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Zind Humbrecht Rangen Gewurtztraminer "Clos St. Urbain" 2002
Copper/gold.
Thick, heady aromas of roasted/singed orange marmalade, floral liqueur and a suggestion of sauteed onion. No question botrytis is in play here.
Very sweet palate-impression, with considerable alcohol lift which is not abrasive (acid seems quite low). Orange marmalade and intense roasted spice flavors coat the mouth and linger ... Really exotic and full-bore.
A bruiser (16% alcohol and indice 2 - which means this actually has little residual sugar) that would be great with duck (fat).
Day 4 - Hasn't changed much. Now notice some tannin chew in the finish that helps manage the wine's "sweetness".
$70
Thick, heady aromas of roasted/singed orange marmalade, floral liqueur and a suggestion of sauteed onion. No question botrytis is in play here.
Very sweet palate-impression, with considerable alcohol lift which is not abrasive (acid seems quite low). Orange marmalade and intense roasted spice flavors coat the mouth and linger ... Really exotic and full-bore.
A bruiser (16% alcohol and indice 2 - which means this actually has little residual sugar) that would be great with duck (fat).
Day 4 - Hasn't changed much. Now notice some tannin chew in the finish that helps manage the wine's "sweetness".
$70
Monday, May 28, 2007
Castello di Argiano (Sesti) Brunello di Montalcino 1997
Red with amber rim.
Brett (game/slight horseshit) and toasted nut aromatics. Red cherry/cranberry underneath. Sounds strange, but there's also a savory meat character here.
Round and generous, but treads lightly, with acid-driven tannin that frames flavors from the mid-palate on. This reminds me very much of Burgundy, even has a mineral chew in the finish that hits the front teeth.
Not as pristine as a bottle a year ago, but still quite interesting/satisfying.
$60
Brett (game/slight horseshit) and toasted nut aromatics. Red cherry/cranberry underneath. Sounds strange, but there's also a savory meat character here.
Round and generous, but treads lightly, with acid-driven tannin that frames flavors from the mid-palate on. This reminds me very much of Burgundy, even has a mineral chew in the finish that hits the front teeth.
Not as pristine as a bottle a year ago, but still quite interesting/satisfying.
$60
La Spinetta Barbera d'Asti Superiore "Bionzo" 2003
Deep red/purple.
Aromas of toasted oak, black licorice, very deep black fruits/fruit liqueur, Amaretto and a floral note.
Quite intense and center-packed, no fat here. Licorice and spicy black fruit with great follow-through - runs the whole court.
Very nice acid/tannin synergy that gives great, finely knit, structure.
This should drink well for at least a few more years.
$37
Aromas of toasted oak, black licorice, very deep black fruits/fruit liqueur, Amaretto and a floral note.
Quite intense and center-packed, no fat here. Licorice and spicy black fruit with great follow-through - runs the whole court.
Very nice acid/tannin synergy that gives great, finely knit, structure.
This should drink well for at least a few more years.
$37
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch 2006
Platinum.
Pungent citrus peel, grass, slight jalapeno and some cat piss. Very cool, intense, lifted aromatics. Smells like a NZ SB.
Vibrant, but very light impression in the mouth. Mineral/stone chew on the front teeth. Label says 12% alcohol - funny, as the palate reminds me of Federspiels from Austria. Very precise, driving flavors that mirror the nose.
Great summer wine. Also very useful for re-calibrating your mouth during a big red tasting.
$14
Pungent citrus peel, grass, slight jalapeno and some cat piss. Very cool, intense, lifted aromatics. Smells like a NZ SB.
Vibrant, but very light impression in the mouth. Mineral/stone chew on the front teeth. Label says 12% alcohol - funny, as the palate reminds me of Federspiels from Austria. Very precise, driving flavors that mirror the nose.
Great summer wine. Also very useful for re-calibrating your mouth during a big red tasting.
$14
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Algueira Ribeira Sacra (Spain) 2004
Red.
Gamey, spicy nose, hint of red fruit. Smells like something from the Languedoc.
Medium to light-weight impression, acid-driven, with little oak-influence showing (label says 12 months in French).
Iron, light red cherry and spice in the mouth. Intriguing. I imagine food-pairing geeks would love this.
100% Mencia, and completely different from anything I've had from Bierzo.
Day 3 - This has deepened considerably - now doing the meat and potato skin thing I've gotten from Palacios' Petalos bottling.
$23
Gamey, spicy nose, hint of red fruit. Smells like something from the Languedoc.
Medium to light-weight impression, acid-driven, with little oak-influence showing (label says 12 months in French).
Iron, light red cherry and spice in the mouth. Intriguing. I imagine food-pairing geeks would love this.
100% Mencia, and completely different from anything I've had from Bierzo.
Day 3 - This has deepened considerably - now doing the meat and potato skin thing I've gotten from Palacios' Petalos bottling.
$23
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