Purple/black.
Huge pool of aromas - toasted coconut, spicy/peppery jammy black fruit.
Sweet, loaded initial mouth impression, shows a bit of alcohol, but just a bit. All over the mouth, grainy extract and sweet fruit slugging it out. I need stuff like this every 2-3 months - is it going to get better in the bottle? Whatever.
Forgot - 16% alcohol
Day 3 - Nose completely melded now, no alcohol in sight. All kinds of things aromatically - mint, toast, black raspberry, earth ... Still huge in the mouth, with fresh red and black raspberry ruling. Still a hint of alcohol. Fun, deep stuff. Get laid.
$60? gift
Monday, December 31, 2007
Coudoulet de Beaucastel, Cotes-du Rhone, 2005
Purple/red.
Fresh, understated nose - clay, undifferentiated (currently) black fruit and spice. Or is that spicy fig?
I'd guess this was Spanish, certainly not, in my book, an insult.
Really round and packed in the mouth, with, again, a Spanish citrus note. So much for what I said about France and citrus a few days ago. This would have been a great tasting companion to the Las Rocas VV 2003. Acidity is the primary sructural force here, driving moderate tannin. Long, taut finishing flavor.
Buy this. The 1985 version was my intro to southern France, and it was a revelation/come to Jesus event.
20th anniversary?
Day 3 - A bit more expressive/melded nose now. Still vibrant, though. Very little has changed in the mouth. This will be around for many years. The wine's purity is a huge departure from efforts in the 80's.
$30
Fresh, understated nose - clay, undifferentiated (currently) black fruit and spice. Or is that spicy fig?
I'd guess this was Spanish, certainly not, in my book, an insult.
Really round and packed in the mouth, with, again, a Spanish citrus note. So much for what I said about France and citrus a few days ago. This would have been a great tasting companion to the Las Rocas VV 2003. Acidity is the primary sructural force here, driving moderate tannin. Long, taut finishing flavor.
Buy this. The 1985 version was my intro to southern France, and it was a revelation/come to Jesus event.
20th anniversary?
Day 3 - A bit more expressive/melded nose now. Still vibrant, though. Very little has changed in the mouth. This will be around for many years. The wine's purity is a huge departure from efforts in the 80's.
$30
Lafond Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, Lafond Vyd, 2003
Purple/red.
Now this is a great contrast to the Argyle - deep, dark fruit and toasted oak nose. The nose reminds me of a barrel-aged southern Rhone (Brusset, recently). Only much more suave.
Round and very filled-in. Serious, packed Pinot, no stems in sight. There is tannin here, but the flavor-stuffing just rides over it. This rocks.
Day 3 - Deep black fruit and nut liqueur aromas. But this still has a Pinot umami/textural plushness on the nose. Not over-ripe or over-extracted. Really good in the mouth, but I doubt it will develop into something profound.
$45? gift
Now this is a great contrast to the Argyle - deep, dark fruit and toasted oak nose. The nose reminds me of a barrel-aged southern Rhone (Brusset, recently). Only much more suave.
Round and very filled-in. Serious, packed Pinot, no stems in sight. There is tannin here, but the flavor-stuffing just rides over it. This rocks.
Day 3 - Deep black fruit and nut liqueur aromas. But this still has a Pinot umami/textural plushness on the nose. Not over-ripe or over-extracted. Really good in the mouth, but I doubt it will develop into something profound.
$45? gift
Argyle, Pinot Noir "Nuthouse" Willamette Valley 2004
Light red.
Bright red fruit (cran/raspberry/cherry) and herb/underbrush nose. A bit slutty/sumptuous too.
Really round and seamless, yet has nice framing acidity. Nice depth of fruit/spice, with no tannin to get in the way of the very long/extremely tasty finish. The slutty/sumptuous thing, fortunately, repeats in the mouth.
Screwcap - which is interesting. When I opened and tasted this an hour ago, there was nothing interesting going on.
PFG now.
Day 3 - Fresh sage on the nose now (memory thanks to Canela's porch 2 days ago). Not quite as bright in the mouth, but even longer on the finish. Seems to be filtered, so I'd drink this over the near term, for pure fruit/herb pleasure.
$45? gift
Bright red fruit (cran/raspberry/cherry) and herb/underbrush nose. A bit slutty/sumptuous too.
Really round and seamless, yet has nice framing acidity. Nice depth of fruit/spice, with no tannin to get in the way of the very long/extremely tasty finish. The slutty/sumptuous thing, fortunately, repeats in the mouth.
Screwcap - which is interesting. When I opened and tasted this an hour ago, there was nothing interesting going on.
PFG now.
Day 3 - Fresh sage on the nose now (memory thanks to Canela's porch 2 days ago). Not quite as bright in the mouth, but even longer on the finish. Seems to be filtered, so I'd drink this over the near term, for pure fruit/herb pleasure.
$45? gift
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Pax Syrah "Cuvee Keltie" North Coast 2005
Deep purple/red.
Licorice, menthol, spicy fig. Intense, deep.
Saturated black fruit and spice in the mouth, with slightly grainy tannin immediately evident. A hint of cheese. Not at all a blockbuster. Very long chewy/grainy finishing flavors that include jalapeno.
I think this is 100% whole cluster, neutral oak aged.
$75
Licorice, menthol, spicy fig. Intense, deep.
Saturated black fruit and spice in the mouth, with slightly grainy tannin immediately evident. A hint of cheese. Not at all a blockbuster. Very long chewy/grainy finishing flavors that include jalapeno.
I think this is 100% whole cluster, neutral oak aged.
$75
Friday, December 28, 2007
Feudi di San Gregorio, "Serpico", Irpinia (Italy) 2001
Saturated purple/black.
Deep black fruit (raisin, blackberry) and allspice aromas. Attractive and intense.
Much more giving in the mouth than my last bottle, almost creamy, with serious acid/tannin synergy hitting later. There's a baked (in a positive sense) character to the fruit as well as a charry notion that may not be oak derived. This is loaded.
Seems obvious that this benefits from great winemaking.
Opened 4 hours ago. 100% Aglianico
Day 3 - For lack of a better word - "rocky" nose. Others talk about lava/volcanic aromas. Whatever it is, it smells like nothing else. Utterly packed in the mouth, huge, spicy black fruit with an intense, grainy tannic backbone. Flavors just drive on and on.
Killer
$50
Deep black fruit (raisin, blackberry) and allspice aromas. Attractive and intense.
Much more giving in the mouth than my last bottle, almost creamy, with serious acid/tannin synergy hitting later. There's a baked (in a positive sense) character to the fruit as well as a charry notion that may not be oak derived. This is loaded.
Seems obvious that this benefits from great winemaking.
Opened 4 hours ago. 100% Aglianico
Day 3 - For lack of a better word - "rocky" nose. Others talk about lava/volcanic aromas. Whatever it is, it smells like nothing else. Utterly packed in the mouth, huge, spicy black fruit with an intense, grainy tannic backbone. Flavors just drive on and on.
Killer
$50
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Brusset, "Hauts de Montmirail", Gigondas 2000
Deep red/purple.
Oak smoke/grilled meat, sauteed mushroom/onion aromas. Plum underneath.
Intense, grainy, packed entry. Center-loaded, with slightly rustic structure coating the front teeth. Doesn't give up much flavor in the mouth, only iron in the finish. This is one burly dude. Black raspberry shows with a bit of air.
We'll see what airtime does, but this seems to need many more years in the bottle.
Day 4 - Like a spicy black fruit pudding aromatically, with char and oak spice notes thrown in. Ridiculous. Still very deep in the mouth, but showing a sweetness that reminds me a bit of really packed Chateauneuf. Huge structure now an afterthought.
$30 on release
Oak smoke/grilled meat, sauteed mushroom/onion aromas. Plum underneath.
Intense, grainy, packed entry. Center-loaded, with slightly rustic structure coating the front teeth. Doesn't give up much flavor in the mouth, only iron in the finish. This is one burly dude. Black raspberry shows with a bit of air.
We'll see what airtime does, but this seems to need many more years in the bottle.
Day 4 - Like a spicy black fruit pudding aromatically, with char and oak spice notes thrown in. Ridiculous. Still very deep in the mouth, but showing a sweetness that reminds me a bit of really packed Chateauneuf. Huge structure now an afterthought.
$30 on release
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