Yellow.Some residual CO2.
Nose of lentil, pepper, poached pear and lemon zest. Smells far deeper than any federspiel I've had before.
Ditto in the mouth - broad and deep with a nice citrus/pepper lift that slices through. Citrus and pepper on the long, lively, finish. Light citric mineral chew on the the front teeth. Atypically powerful? Probably, but it's PFG all the same.
$23. Tin-lined screwcap.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Huet "Le Mont" Vouvray Sec 2010
Light yellow.
Opened yesterday. Nose of fresh pineapple, light marzipan, poached pear and a floral note. Interesting.
Intense pear, Meyer lemon, mineral/talc/powdered stone flavors include a sweet peach nuance. Crazy cool. Extremely vibrant, intense, acid-driven character clamps down on the front teeth. This is strikingly lean, complex, stony stuff. RFG and maybe better tonight because it's had a day of air-time.
$30. Dry Chenin Blanc.
Opened yesterday. Nose of fresh pineapple, light marzipan, poached pear and a floral note. Interesting.
Intense pear, Meyer lemon, mineral/talc/powdered stone flavors include a sweet peach nuance. Crazy cool. Extremely vibrant, intense, acid-driven character clamps down on the front teeth. This is strikingly lean, complex, stony stuff. RFG and maybe better tonight because it's had a day of air-time.
$30. Dry Chenin Blanc.
Raul Perez "Vico" Bierzo 2008
Red/purple.
Vinturi - earth/pepper/truffle/sexy oak spice/grilled meat. This does, in fact, show a light citrus note as well... More bass than the El Brozal though. Also extremely attractive..
Round and densely packed, with some textural sweetness. A bit simpler than El Brozal in the mouth, showing potato/earth/spice flavors and significant acid-driven structure. Interestingly, this too finishes with citric chew on the front teeth. Huge bang for the buck with both of these Spanish wines.
$30. 100% Mencia
Vinturi - earth/pepper/truffle/sexy oak spice/grilled meat. This does, in fact, show a light citrus note as well... More bass than the El Brozal though. Also extremely attractive..
Round and densely packed, with some textural sweetness. A bit simpler than El Brozal in the mouth, showing potato/earth/spice flavors and significant acid-driven structure. Interestingly, this too finishes with citric chew on the front teeth. Huge bang for the buck with both of these Spanish wines.
$30. 100% Mencia
El Indiano "El Brozal" Rioja 2009
Saturated purple/red.
Vinturi - fabulous nose - sumptuous, low-toned notes of earth/hazelnut/savory meat/blackberry coulis juxtaposed with citrus zest/blossom treble lift. RFG.
Round, loaded and seamless with a light grainy tannic character. Reminds me of something from Pax/Donelan in its palate impression. Vibrant citrus/pepper lift ultimately wins out in the mouth. Considerable acid/tannin synergy hits the front teeth but does not kill flavor flow.. This is killer and should age extremely well. Buying more if I can nab it.
$40. 80% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 10% Garnacha.
Vinturi - fabulous nose - sumptuous, low-toned notes of earth/hazelnut/savory meat/blackberry coulis juxtaposed with citrus zest/blossom treble lift. RFG.
Round, loaded and seamless with a light grainy tannic character. Reminds me of something from Pax/Donelan in its palate impression. Vibrant citrus/pepper lift ultimately wins out in the mouth. Considerable acid/tannin synergy hits the front teeth but does not kill flavor flow.. This is killer and should age extremely well. Buying more if I can nab it.
$40. 80% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 10% Garnacha.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Saint-Damien "Les Souteyrades" Gigondas 2007
Deep red.
Vinturi - deep nose of fig paste, earth, hazelnut, chocolate and (oak?) spice. Shows some alcohol lift.
Quite deep in the mouth, but does show some alcohol almost immediately that interrupts flavor flow. In fact, this comes across as a middleweight, thanks to alcohol/acid/tannin synergy. Hopefully more expressive/integrated tomorrow.
$65.
Vinturi - deep nose of fig paste, earth, hazelnut, chocolate and (oak?) spice. Shows some alcohol lift.
Quite deep in the mouth, but does show some alcohol almost immediately that interrupts flavor flow. In fact, this comes across as a middleweight, thanks to alcohol/acid/tannin synergy. Hopefully more expressive/integrated tomorrow.
$65.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Exopto, Rioja 2005
Saturated purple/black.
Vinturi - imploded black fruit (dried fig, blackberry, black raspberry), earth and sexy oak spice notes on the nose. Black raspberry and hazelnut emerge, slowly, with air.
Intense, saturated palate-impression, but comes across as quite refined. Seamless entry to finish flavor action as is the structural profile. Suave winemaking.. Loaded and still very young. I 'd guess this will drink well in 6-7 more years and last for many more.
$65. 60% Graciano, 30% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha
Vinturi - imploded black fruit (dried fig, blackberry, black raspberry), earth and sexy oak spice notes on the nose. Black raspberry and hazelnut emerge, slowly, with air.
Intense, saturated palate-impression, but comes across as quite refined. Seamless entry to finish flavor action as is the structural profile. Suave winemaking.. Loaded and still very young. I 'd guess this will drink well in 6-7 more years and last for many more.
$65. 60% Graciano, 30% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Coulon "Boisrenard" Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1998
Dull red, brick rim.
Vinturi - cherry liqueur, dried herbs, grilled meat, hazelnut nose. Integrated.
Initially shows some roundness and huge cherry liqueur mid-palate flesh. Significant palate constriction appears in the finish, coating the side teeth in chew. Some celery/veg too. This stuff seems to need several more years in the bottle to get "there". Or some bacon. Interesting.
$50 on release.
Vinturi - cherry liqueur, dried herbs, grilled meat, hazelnut nose. Integrated.
Initially shows some roundness and huge cherry liqueur mid-palate flesh. Significant palate constriction appears in the finish, coating the side teeth in chew. Some celery/veg too. This stuff seems to need several more years in the bottle to get "there". Or some bacon. Interesting.
$50 on release.
Bastide Blanche "Estagnol" Bandol 2003
Deep red.
Vinturi - another integrated, but wild, nose - blood/iron, allspice, nutmeg, blackberry/peach cobbler, clay/earth. WTF?
Round and densely packed. Slowly reveals major palate-pixel density that builds, coating side teeth in tannic chew. Not exactly fresh, but not cooked either. Serious, loaded wine from a producer I love. Needs something dead. Raw or rare.
$25. As always, a stupid deal. Based on Mourvedre, may be 100%. Not sure though.
Vinturi - another integrated, but wild, nose - blood/iron, allspice, nutmeg, blackberry/peach cobbler, clay/earth. WTF?
Round and densely packed. Slowly reveals major palate-pixel density that builds, coating side teeth in tannic chew. Not exactly fresh, but not cooked either. Serious, loaded wine from a producer I love. Needs something dead. Raw or rare.
$25. As always, a stupid deal. Based on Mourvedre, may be 100%. Not sure though.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Valdicava, Brunello di Montalcino 2004
Very deep, saturated red.
Vinturi - very deep, low-toned nose - cherry coulis/liqueur, toasted hazelnut, fresh earth with a spice "lift". A bit of iron/game too...
Lean, intense entry with cherry, spice, leather and iron flavors leading. Has enough mid-palate flesh to ward off a massive wall of tannin/acid synergy that hammers the front teeth. Extremely concentrated. Continues to improve with additional airtime. Wild stuff. We'll see what it's like tomorrow..
Day 2 - charcoal, cherry coulis, earth and spice nose. Iron a subtle background note now. Seems a bit more vibrant today. On the nose anyway - palate has lost a step. Imagine this will benefit from cellar time, but not exactly a sure bet..
$100.
Vinturi - very deep, low-toned nose - cherry coulis/liqueur, toasted hazelnut, fresh earth with a spice "lift". A bit of iron/game too...
Lean, intense entry with cherry, spice, leather and iron flavors leading. Has enough mid-palate flesh to ward off a massive wall of tannin/acid synergy that hammers the front teeth. Extremely concentrated. Continues to improve with additional airtime. Wild stuff. We'll see what it's like tomorrow..
Day 2 - charcoal, cherry coulis, earth and spice nose. Iron a subtle background note now. Seems a bit more vibrant today. On the nose anyway - palate has lost a step. Imagine this will benefit from cellar time, but not exactly a sure bet..
$100.
Donelan "Cuvee Christine" Syrah, North Coast (CA) 2009
Saturated purple/red.
Opened yesterday. Nose of earth/olive/fig/mole/blackberry coulis/citrus zest/pepper/wilted herb. Deep and very interesting.
Round and mouth-filling. Saturated palate-pixel impression, as usual, but more refined tannin. Really follows through with smoky black fruit, licorice and earth/citrus/pepper flavors. Long finish features citrus/pepper interplay. Dense and lively, with significant acid/tannin synergy hitting the front teeth. Best over the next 8-10 years I'd think.
$45. Donelan is the new name for the Pax wines of old.
Opened yesterday. Nose of earth/olive/fig/mole/blackberry coulis/citrus zest/pepper/wilted herb. Deep and very interesting.
Round and mouth-filling. Saturated palate-pixel impression, as usual, but more refined tannin. Really follows through with smoky black fruit, licorice and earth/citrus/pepper flavors. Long finish features citrus/pepper interplay. Dense and lively, with significant acid/tannin synergy hitting the front teeth. Best over the next 8-10 years I'd think.
$45. Donelan is the new name for the Pax wines of old.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Chateau de Trinquevedel, Tavel (Rose') 2010
Vibrant pink/red.
Musky spiced strawberry/cranberry/grapefruit nose shows a bit of herb action too. Lively, fresh.
Really spicy, initially "sweet" red fruit flavors in the mouth, with an attractive, aggressive, stem "chew" allied with solid acidity. Really lifted/perfumed.. Finishes decidedly dry, with mineral and tannin chew coating the front teeth. Red raspberry, herb and mineral flavors run long. This is killer rose' from a very consistent producer. My first bottle was at Nonni's in Tucson years ago.
$17.
Musky spiced strawberry/cranberry/grapefruit nose shows a bit of herb action too. Lively, fresh.
Really spicy, initially "sweet" red fruit flavors in the mouth, with an attractive, aggressive, stem "chew" allied with solid acidity. Really lifted/perfumed.. Finishes decidedly dry, with mineral and tannin chew coating the front teeth. Red raspberry, herb and mineral flavors run long. This is killer rose' from a very consistent producer. My first bottle was at Nonni's in Tucson years ago.
$17.
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