Platinum.
Pungent, lifted, green, grapefruit zest aromatics. New Zealand SB poster child nose. Not at all a bad thing.
Full and fresh in the mouth. Maybe some kiwi action in the mouth, really delicious. RS? - who cares? Great balance.
AZ should end up being the biggest importer of NZ SB on the planet, given the climate in the larger metro areas.
Stupidly refreshing/stupid value.
$15?
Monday, July 30, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Mitolo "Savitar" Shiraz McLaren Vale 2003
Opaque purple/red.
Smoke and sulfide skunky nose, deep, far more attractive than it sounds. Black raspberry now noticeable (after first sip).
Creamy, plush, structured entry, as odd as that sounds. Simultaneous impressions that are, nevertheless, discrete. Great power here, but wears it gracefully. A slight saline note with air.
Day 3 - Smoky, meaty thing now. Saline nuance still there. Smells loaded. Packed in the mouth, grainy tannin omnipresent, with a textural sweetness beneath it. This will be around for many years.
$50
Smoke and sulfide skunky nose, deep, far more attractive than it sounds. Black raspberry now noticeable (after first sip).
Creamy, plush, structured entry, as odd as that sounds. Simultaneous impressions that are, nevertheless, discrete. Great power here, but wears it gracefully. A slight saline note with air.
Day 3 - Smoky, meaty thing now. Saline nuance still there. Smells loaded. Packed in the mouth, grainy tannin omnipresent, with a textural sweetness beneath it. This will be around for many years.
$50
Carlisle Russian River Valley Zinfandel Carlisle Vyd. 2002
Deep red.
Lifted, crushed red and black raspberry, earth and spice nose. Fresh, great nose.
Sweet, creamy entry, raspberry repeats in the mouth. Great depth of fruit, seamless and spunky throughout. Acid-driven structure frames flavors without intruding. Just lacks significant complexity ...
Need to latch onto a few bottles of Two Acres and Three Birds.
Day 3 - A bit more integrated in all respects, but also a bit less lively. Drink it.
$35
Lifted, crushed red and black raspberry, earth and spice nose. Fresh, great nose.
Sweet, creamy entry, raspberry repeats in the mouth. Great depth of fruit, seamless and spunky throughout. Acid-driven structure frames flavors without intruding. Just lacks significant complexity ...
Need to latch onto a few bottles of Two Acres and Three Birds.
Day 3 - A bit more integrated in all respects, but also a bit less lively. Drink it.
$35
Shirvington Shiraz McLaren Vale 2002
Opaque black/purple.
Lifted pine/juniper forest, clove, chocolate, cinnamon aromatics. No sign of heat.
Creamy/confectionary in the mouth - impossibly so. But this has an edge of acidity and fine tannin that quietly frames flavors of black raspberry jam, juniper and spice. Again, 16% alcohol is barely noticed (tasted at 63F). Black raspberry finish doesn't end. Not wildly complex, but this has a fineness that many Euro-sluts will miss.
This seems to be getting better (more refined) with bottle age.
Day 3 - Still laying down flavor in a ridiculous fashion. Not an everyday wine, but we all need something like this every month or so. Huge bonefest.
$60
Lifted pine/juniper forest, clove, chocolate, cinnamon aromatics. No sign of heat.
Creamy/confectionary in the mouth - impossibly so. But this has an edge of acidity and fine tannin that quietly frames flavors of black raspberry jam, juniper and spice. Again, 16% alcohol is barely noticed (tasted at 63F). Black raspberry finish doesn't end. Not wildly complex, but this has a fineness that many Euro-sluts will miss.
This seems to be getting better (more refined) with bottle age.
Day 3 - Still laying down flavor in a ridiculous fashion. Not an everyday wine, but we all need something like this every month or so. Huge bonefest.
$60
Pax Alder Springs Vyd. Syrah 2003 (Mendocino County)
Opaque purple/red.
Integrated nose of (oak?) spice, menthol, licorice, black raspberry and citrus/pepper.
Deep in the mouth, plush and seemingly low in acidity, but has a lifted character most likely from stem inclusion. Grainy tannin makes its presence known, but does not impede (mainly menthol and licorice) flavor flow. Alcohol is barely noticed - 16.3% listed on label.
$50
Integrated nose of (oak?) spice, menthol, licorice, black raspberry and citrus/pepper.
Deep in the mouth, plush and seemingly low in acidity, but has a lifted character most likely from stem inclusion. Grainy tannin makes its presence known, but does not impede (mainly menthol and licorice) flavor flow. Alcohol is barely noticed - 16.3% listed on label.
$50
Friday, July 27, 2007
Dow's 1994 Vintage Porto
Deep red.
Brandy/Frangelico dominant nose, pudding fruit underneath.
Huge palate impression that is not crazy sweet. Alcohol reasonably integrated. Deep, but not showing its full hand yet. All nut liqueur today.
Wet week here, coolish and humid. So it was time for Porto - sneak preview to Fall/Winter.
Day 3 - This really hasn't changed - I'm thinking this is an off bottle. Closer to Tawny in style. Other bottles have been mind-bendingly complex.
$45? (375mL)
Brandy/Frangelico dominant nose, pudding fruit underneath.
Huge palate impression that is not crazy sweet. Alcohol reasonably integrated. Deep, but not showing its full hand yet. All nut liqueur today.
Wet week here, coolish and humid. So it was time for Porto - sneak preview to Fall/Winter.
Day 3 - This really hasn't changed - I'm thinking this is an off bottle. Closer to Tawny in style. Other bottles have been mind-bendingly complex.
$45? (375mL)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Domaine de la Janasse "Chaupin" Chateauneuf du Pape 2001
Deep red.
Another nicely integrated nose - though this is tilted more in the oak spice direction. Nice pool of black raspberry fruit, with a touch of Amarone-like truffle/earth.
Really deeply-fruited in the mouth. Cherry/raspberry jam and earth that again resembles new-wave Amarone. Broad and mouth-coating. Almost miss the substantial cheek/front teeth chewy structure. This will improve will several more years also.
Had an oxidized sample of this at HdR in May. Cork blows.
$70
Another nicely integrated nose - though this is tilted more in the oak spice direction. Nice pool of black raspberry fruit, with a touch of Amarone-like truffle/earth.
Really deeply-fruited in the mouth. Cherry/raspberry jam and earth that again resembles new-wave Amarone. Broad and mouth-coating. Almost miss the substantial cheek/front teeth chewy structure. This will improve will several more years also.
Had an oxidized sample of this at HdR in May. Cork blows.
$70
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