Light yellow.
Deep bass aromas - corn tortilla, peach & spice. PFG.
Deep, loaded palate impression leavened beautifully by sneaky acidity and some mineral/phenolic (sulfide?) action that hones the mid-palate and finish. Side-teeth chew. RFG.
$35? Gift from Colin Waite.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Albino Rocca "Brich Ronchi" Barbaresco 1999
Red, rust rim.
Vinturi - sexy cherry jam, woodsmoke/oak spice, roasted herb and earth aromas. Savory.
Nice breadth in the mouth, particularly for Nebbiolo. Manages to have a plush mid-palate as well as serious acid/tannin spine. Flavors express nicely. Finishing note of iron. Huge structure becomes apparent with extended air time. Beautiful wine in need of several more years of bottle-age, though it drinks reasonably well now...
$50 on release.
Vinturi - sexy cherry jam, woodsmoke/oak spice, roasted herb and earth aromas. Savory.
Nice breadth in the mouth, particularly for Nebbiolo. Manages to have a plush mid-palate as well as serious acid/tannin spine. Flavors express nicely. Finishing note of iron. Huge structure becomes apparent with extended air time. Beautiful wine in need of several more years of bottle-age, though it drinks reasonably well now...
$50 on release.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Andrew Will, Ciel du Cheval Vyd., Red Mountain 2007
Red/purple.
Opened yesterday. Deep oozer of a nose - Andes mint, fresh earth and a massive pool of black cherry compote. Better than yesterday - seemed a bit flat then.
Round and packed, seamless, completely mouth-filling, plush. Flavors echoing nose express quite well. Not wildly complex yet, but I don't think many will quibble. Structure is in the background, but acidity and fine tannin quietly coat the teeth in refined chew. This really didn't do much for me yesterday, but showing very well now. Give it some air..
$55. 45% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Opened yesterday. Deep oozer of a nose - Andes mint, fresh earth and a massive pool of black cherry compote. Better than yesterday - seemed a bit flat then.
Round and packed, seamless, completely mouth-filling, plush. Flavors echoing nose express quite well. Not wildly complex yet, but I don't think many will quibble. Structure is in the background, but acidity and fine tannin quietly coat the teeth in refined chew. This really didn't do much for me yesterday, but showing very well now. Give it some air..
$55. 45% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Archery Summit "Arcus Estate" Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2006
Red.
Opened yesterday. Subtle, lusty nose of underbrush, fresh herbs, red cherry coulis and sexy oak spices.
Round, sumptuous entry with significant acidity immediately keeping one foot on the floor. Flavor (red cherry, spice, underbrush) and structure running on two tracks. Acid/tannin synergy really clamps down on the side teeth, but flavors sail on. RFG. This would be an interesting ringer in a Burgundy tasting. Long, subtle mineral/chew finish.
$60? Gift from the Padres
Opened yesterday. Subtle, lusty nose of underbrush, fresh herbs, red cherry coulis and sexy oak spices.
Round, sumptuous entry with significant acidity immediately keeping one foot on the floor. Flavor (red cherry, spice, underbrush) and structure running on two tracks. Acid/tannin synergy really clamps down on the side teeth, but flavors sail on. RFG. This would be an interesting ringer in a Burgundy tasting. Long, subtle mineral/chew finish.
$60? Gift from the Padres
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Beaucastel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2005
Red.
Vinturi - low-key nose - attractive woodsy/earth/spice action with pepper and red cherry/raspberry underneath. Harmonious.
Round with considerable textural sweetness, particularly for Beaucastel. Manages to be packed with flavor and quite structured
without being ponderous or rustic. Relatively light touch, which I now think of as typical for these guys. Reminds me a bit of the Grange des Peres in this sense. Tannin builds as the wine sits, finishing with Mourvedre's iron notes. Nowhere near maturity, but drinking well already. Beautiful stuff.
$55? Not sure what the blend is in this vintage, but Beaucastel typically uses more Mourvedre than most CdP producers.
Vinturi - low-key nose - attractive woodsy/earth/spice action with pepper and red cherry/raspberry underneath. Harmonious.
Round with considerable textural sweetness, particularly for Beaucastel. Manages to be packed with flavor and quite structured
without being ponderous or rustic. Relatively light touch, which I now think of as typical for these guys. Reminds me a bit of the Grange des Peres in this sense. Tannin builds as the wine sits, finishing with Mourvedre's iron notes. Nowhere near maturity, but drinking well already. Beautiful stuff.
$55? Not sure what the blend is in this vintage, but Beaucastel typically uses more Mourvedre than most CdP producers.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Vega Sicilia "Unico" Ribera del Duero 1986
Deep red.
Fragrant, sexy, spicebox, grilled meat, citrus, fruitcake nose.
Intensely flavored, lively middle-weight. Acid-driven with mild tannin. No sign that it is near its peak. It is quite difficult to articulate how great some of these wines are. They just are.
$Lots ? Courtesy of Mike Irwin on his 71st birthday. Like an incredible old Bordeaux on the nose - crazy, integrated, effortless complexity.
Fragrant, sexy, spicebox, grilled meat, citrus, fruitcake nose.
Intensely flavored, lively middle-weight. Acid-driven with mild tannin. No sign that it is near its peak. It is quite difficult to articulate how great some of these wines are. They just are.
$Lots ? Courtesy of Mike Irwin on his 71st birthday. Like an incredible old Bordeaux on the nose - crazy, integrated, effortless complexity.
Termanthia, Toro 2003
Saturated purple.
Nose of spice box, brooding black fruit (dried fig, black raspberry), wax and licorice.
Extremely dense, but not heavy. Refined tannin builds with air time. Not yet complex in the mouth, but loaded to the hilt and in need of many years in a good cellar. The juxtaposition of incredible concentration and refinement is remarkable..
$150. 100% ungrafted, old vine Tempranillo.
Nose of spice box, brooding black fruit (dried fig, black raspberry), wax and licorice.
Extremely dense, but not heavy. Refined tannin builds with air time. Not yet complex in the mouth, but loaded to the hilt and in need of many years in a good cellar. The juxtaposition of incredible concentration and refinement is remarkable..
$150. 100% ungrafted, old vine Tempranillo.
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