Yellow. Shows residual CO2.
Nose of poached pear/peach, lentil, pepper.
Seems atypically powerful and deep for a federspiel. Really loaded with peach and pepper flavors. Great persistence - RFG. Bass and treble "interplay"..
$22. Tin-lined screwcap.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Vieux Donjon, Chateauneuf-du Pape 2000
Deep, dull red. Brick rim.
Vinturi - deep, loaded nose of grilled meat, smoke, grilled herbs. Cherry and ketchup in background. Could be confused with a ripe vintage Hermitage.
Round, sweet (texturally) and a bit oxidative.. Unfortunate. I assume an off bottle. But possibly better tomorrow. You never know.
Day 3 - Great sense of textural sweetness and density now without the oxidative aspect. Odd, but I've seen this occasionally with other wines. Still reminds me as much of the northern Rhone as anything else...
$50 on release
Vinturi - deep, loaded nose of grilled meat, smoke, grilled herbs. Cherry and ketchup in background. Could be confused with a ripe vintage Hermitage.
Round, sweet (texturally) and a bit oxidative.. Unfortunate. I assume an off bottle. But possibly better tomorrow. You never know.
Day 3 - Great sense of textural sweetness and density now without the oxidative aspect. Odd, but I've seen this occasionally with other wines. Still reminds me as much of the northern Rhone as anything else...
$50 on release
Clos des Papes, Chateauneuf du Pape 2000
Dull red, brick rim.
Vinturi - integrated, subtle nose of roasted nut, smoke, cherry liqueur, spicy ketchup and wilted herbs.
Round, mouth-filling and essentially at peak. Just an edge of acid/tannin synergy to frame luscious red cherry coulis, spice and herb flavors. Might improve slightly with another 2-3 years in bottle, but I'd start drinking this now..
$50 on release.
Vinturi - integrated, subtle nose of roasted nut, smoke, cherry liqueur, spicy ketchup and wilted herbs.
Round, mouth-filling and essentially at peak. Just an edge of acid/tannin synergy to frame luscious red cherry coulis, spice and herb flavors. Might improve slightly with another 2-3 years in bottle, but I'd start drinking this now..
$50 on release.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Paitin "Serra" Barbaresco 2007
Light ruby/garnet.
Opened 3 days ago - nose is still great - roasted hazelnut/almond, cherry jam, dried rose, leather...
Intense entry is simultaneously plush and rigid, thanks to great fruit concentration and serious acid/tannin synergy. Red cherry and spice flavors ride through it all. The real deal (and approachable now). Buy it and drink over the next 6-8 years.
$25. Stupid cheap.
Opened 3 days ago - nose is still great - roasted hazelnut/almond, cherry jam, dried rose, leather...
Intense entry is simultaneously plush and rigid, thanks to great fruit concentration and serious acid/tannin synergy. Red cherry and spice flavors ride through it all. The real deal (and approachable now). Buy it and drink over the next 6-8 years.
$25. Stupid cheap.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Domaine du Mas Blanc "Clos du Moulin" Collioure 2007
Saturated purple/red.
Opened yesterday - wild nose - acrylic paint (daughter Claire's contribution), cinnamon stick, salt water taffy, black olive, dark chocolate, grilled meat, prune, blackberry, A1 steak sauce... Incredibly complex. Obviously. And smells "dense" too. Loaded.
Round and mouth-filling with crazy cinnamon stick flavor immediately taking over and adding "edge". Much less precise in the mouth, but has real weight and density without being ponderous. This has gained in depth considerably over the last couple of years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it continue to improve for 4-5 more years and drink well for many more after that.
$28. A blend based on Mourvedre I believe. The south of France makes some of the world's most interesting, affordable wines.
Opened yesterday - wild nose - acrylic paint (daughter Claire's contribution), cinnamon stick, salt water taffy, black olive, dark chocolate, grilled meat, prune, blackberry, A1 steak sauce... Incredibly complex. Obviously. And smells "dense" too. Loaded.
Round and mouth-filling with crazy cinnamon stick flavor immediately taking over and adding "edge". Much less precise in the mouth, but has real weight and density without being ponderous. This has gained in depth considerably over the last couple of years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it continue to improve for 4-5 more years and drink well for many more after that.
$28. A blend based on Mourvedre I believe. The south of France makes some of the world's most interesting, affordable wines.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Pax "Griffin's Lair" Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2006
Opaque purple/black.
Vinturi - Loaded, deep nose of menthol, melted licorice, kalamata olive, fig paste, toasted oak and brine.
Round, extremely deep and quite suave in the mouth. Absolutely loaded flavor pixel count. Grainy tannin suffuse palate. Saline character repeats in the mouth. Creamy, dense entry and mid-palate. This is FK and bound to improve with a couple more years in bottle.
$50. This is my favorite bottling of CA Syrah. Need to get some of the newer versions from Donelan...
Vinturi - Loaded, deep nose of menthol, melted licorice, kalamata olive, fig paste, toasted oak and brine.
Round, extremely deep and quite suave in the mouth. Absolutely loaded flavor pixel count. Grainy tannin suffuse palate. Saline character repeats in the mouth. Creamy, dense entry and mid-palate. This is FK and bound to improve with a couple more years in bottle.
$50. This is my favorite bottling of CA Syrah. Need to get some of the newer versions from Donelan...
Monday, September 26, 2011
Clos des Papes, Chateauneuf du Pape 2000
Red with brick rim.
Opened yesterday - integrated, complex nose - iron, garrigue, earth/hazelnut, cherry liqueur.
Round, mouth-filling with great textural sweetness. Shows cherry coulis, grilled/dried herb and brazil nut flavors. Significant, sneaky, acid/tannin chew creeps up on the front teeth keeping textural generosity in check.. This is not a monster wine at all, but delivers considerable pleasure on every front. Beautiful stuff and RFG.
$50 on release. 2000 was a great year for Grenache in the southern Rhone and that is very obvious here.
Opened yesterday - integrated, complex nose - iron, garrigue, earth/hazelnut, cherry liqueur.
Round, mouth-filling with great textural sweetness. Shows cherry coulis, grilled/dried herb and brazil nut flavors. Significant, sneaky, acid/tannin chew creeps up on the front teeth keeping textural generosity in check.. This is not a monster wine at all, but delivers considerable pleasure on every front. Beautiful stuff and RFG.
$50 on release. 2000 was a great year for Grenache in the southern Rhone and that is very obvious here.
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