Deep red/purple.
Opened yesterday - beautiful nose of herbs, toast, black raspberry, melted chocolate. Fresh, nuanced.
Round and luxurious in the mouth - all over the place - and yet has a firm spine of acid-driven tannin that slowly manifests itself.
Bright flavors of mint, tar and blackberry. Even shows a slightly saline aspect. This is RFG. Acid/tannin structure coats the front
in "chew". Only one bottle left - not touching it for at least 8-10 years..
$60 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Quinta do Vallado "Field Blend Reserva" Douro 2008
Saturated purple/red.
Opened yesterday - deep smoke, tar nose with black fruit submerged. A bit more nuanced yesterday when it showed some fragrant herb action.
Round and loaded in the mouth, slightly saucy/baked. Fairly strong acidity keeps this playing in the center of the mouth, despite its breadth. Very serious action. Finishing acid/tannin synergy is significant but reasonable refined. Interestingly, I think this was brighter and more complex yesterday without aeration. Nevertheless, extremely impressive dry red from the Douro.
$50 30% each Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), 20% Touriga Franca, 17% Tinta Amarela and 3% Sousao.
Opened yesterday - deep smoke, tar nose with black fruit submerged. A bit more nuanced yesterday when it showed some fragrant herb action.
Round and loaded in the mouth, slightly saucy/baked. Fairly strong acidity keeps this playing in the center of the mouth, despite its breadth. Very serious action. Finishing acid/tannin synergy is significant but reasonable refined. Interestingly, I think this was brighter and more complex yesterday without aeration. Nevertheless, extremely impressive dry red from the Douro.
$50 30% each Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), 20% Touriga Franca, 17% Tinta Amarela and 3% Sousao.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Remezieres "Cuvee Emilie" Hermitage 2000
Saturated red.
Vinturi - smoked meat/bacon, grilled and wilted herbs, tapenade, black pepper, coriander and roasted almond nose. A PFG meal.. Very composed/integrated.
Round, plush middle-weight in the mouth. Beautiful mid-palate flesh and density, with smoked meat and herb "inner-mouth perfume". Really saturated flavor pixel count - grainy. Acid/tannin structural synergy builds slowly to ultimately impede flavor flow in the finish, but this is brilliant for a middling vintage. I'd guess this will continue to improve for at least another 3-4 years and drink well for many more..
$45 on release. 100% Syrah.
Vinturi - smoked meat/bacon, grilled and wilted herbs, tapenade, black pepper, coriander and roasted almond nose. A PFG meal.. Very composed/integrated.
Round, plush middle-weight in the mouth. Beautiful mid-palate flesh and density, with smoked meat and herb "inner-mouth perfume". Really saturated flavor pixel count - grainy. Acid/tannin structural synergy builds slowly to ultimately impede flavor flow in the finish, but this is brilliant for a middling vintage. I'd guess this will continue to improve for at least another 3-4 years and drink well for many more..
$45 on release. 100% Syrah.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Grand Veneur "La Fontaine" Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2003
Yellow/gold.
Deep, fleshy aromas of mead, candied pineapple and butterscotch with lemon and light spice underneath.
Continues to unfold with air - lime, popcorn, hazelnut...
Very deep in the mouth, with a light oxidative note. Shows dessert wine-like density, but has an acid spine that keeps it light on its feet. Even manages to sprinkle some mineral "chew" on the front teeth. Wild, idiosyncratic white wine. My last bottle several years ago was also FK..
$50. 100% Roussanne. Tasted at 60F.
Deep, fleshy aromas of mead, candied pineapple and butterscotch with lemon and light spice underneath.
Continues to unfold with air - lime, popcorn, hazelnut...
Very deep in the mouth, with a light oxidative note. Shows dessert wine-like density, but has an acid spine that keeps it light on its feet. Even manages to sprinkle some mineral "chew" on the front teeth. Wild, idiosyncratic white wine. My last bottle several years ago was also FK..
$50. 100% Roussanne. Tasted at 60F.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Chapoutier "Les Varonniers" Crozes-Ermitage 2009
Deep red/purple.
Vinturi - fragrant, lifted nose of sexy wood/oak spice, blackberry coulis, hazelnut. All very discreet and beautifully perfumed. A late hint of greenness adds interest.
Immediately center-packed in the mouth. Has great density and mid-palate flesh, but tightly wound, and, literally, tasted down the middle of the tongue. Great "inner-mouth perfume" (Tanzer). What a beautiful wine already, and built to age for many, many years. FK. With additional air time, this expands to cover the whole mouth with grainy tannin and refined perfume. No sense of weight, ethereal. Holy shit.
$60? 100% Syrah
Vinturi - fragrant, lifted nose of sexy wood/oak spice, blackberry coulis, hazelnut. All very discreet and beautifully perfumed. A late hint of greenness adds interest.
Immediately center-packed in the mouth. Has great density and mid-palate flesh, but tightly wound, and, literally, tasted down the middle of the tongue. Great "inner-mouth perfume" (Tanzer). What a beautiful wine already, and built to age for many, many years. FK. With additional air time, this expands to cover the whole mouth with grainy tannin and refined perfume. No sense of weight, ethereal. Holy shit.
$60? 100% Syrah
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Canon la Gaffeliere, St. Emilion 1998
Deep, slightly dull, red.
Vinturi - Awesome, totally sexy nose of fresh herbs, smoky oak/grilled meat with raspberry and hazelnut underneath.
Round and dense in the mouth - earth, herbs and raspberry raspberry repeating. No extraneous textural sweetness, mid-palate suffused with grainy tannin. This still has another decade or more to go. Killer action.
$50 on release?
Vinturi - Awesome, totally sexy nose of fresh herbs, smoky oak/grilled meat with raspberry and hazelnut underneath.
Round and dense in the mouth - earth, herbs and raspberry raspberry repeating. No extraneous textural sweetness, mid-palate suffused with grainy tannin. This still has another decade or more to go. Killer action.
$50 on release?
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Sandoval, Manchuela 2003
Deep purple/red.
Opened yesterday - nose of woodsmoke, earth, hazelnut, grilled meat and black fruit.
Nicely integrated.
Deep, with good life, especially for a 2003 (presumably very hot here too). Creamy black fruit, oak spice and earth/nut flavors. Excellent mid-palate density and sweetness countered by significant acid/tannin synergy in the finish. This is still young. Very impressive
$40 on release. 80% Syrah, 9% Mourvedre, 7% Bobal, 4% Tempranillo. From Victor de la Serna - one of Spain's top wine writers.
Opened yesterday - nose of woodsmoke, earth, hazelnut, grilled meat and black fruit.
Nicely integrated.
Deep, with good life, especially for a 2003 (presumably very hot here too). Creamy black fruit, oak spice and earth/nut flavors. Excellent mid-palate density and sweetness countered by significant acid/tannin synergy in the finish. This is still young. Very impressive
$40 on release. 80% Syrah, 9% Mourvedre, 7% Bobal, 4% Tempranillo. From Victor de la Serna - one of Spain's top wine writers.
Donelan "Kobler" Syrah, Green Valley (Russian River) 2009
Vibrant red/purple.
Vinturi - perfumed floral element immediately on the nose - then deeper blackberry and savory meat appear. Quite discreet though. Green spice too with air.
Intensely citric in the mouth, with a somewhat aggressive kick to the front teeth. Maintains very nice mid-palate flesh throughout, not to mention considerable life and lift. Electric action. An attractive green element in the finish too. Hopefully I've got a few more bottles of this.
$45. 90% Syrah (70% whole cluster), 10% Viognier from a very cool region (Iron Horse makes sparklers in Green Valley). 13.8% alcohol
Vinturi - perfumed floral element immediately on the nose - then deeper blackberry and savory meat appear. Quite discreet though. Green spice too with air.
Intensely citric in the mouth, with a somewhat aggressive kick to the front teeth. Maintains very nice mid-palate flesh throughout, not to mention considerable life and lift. Electric action. An attractive green element in the finish too. Hopefully I've got a few more bottles of this.
$45. 90% Syrah (70% whole cluster), 10% Viognier from a very cool region (Iron Horse makes sparklers in Green Valley). 13.8% alcohol
Monday, January 14, 2013
Sang des Cailloux "Lopy" Vacqueyras 1999
Deep, dull red.
Opened several hours ago. Nose of grilled/wilted herbs, tomato paste, pepper and earth.
Very intense initial impact in the mouth - deep and fleshy and simultaneously intensely tannic. This is a great bottle - many years of life ahead. Nuanced and powerful.
$25 on release. 13.8% listed alcohol.
Opened several hours ago. Nose of grilled/wilted herbs, tomato paste, pepper and earth.
Very intense initial impact in the mouth - deep and fleshy and simultaneously intensely tannic. This is a great bottle - many years of life ahead. Nuanced and powerful.
$25 on release. 13.8% listed alcohol.
Grand Veneur "Clos de Sixte" Lirac 2007
Deep purple/red.
Opened several hours ago. Nose of citrus peel, cracked pepper, hazelnut and earth. Vibrant. Would guess this to be Central Coast CA Syrah in a blind tasting.
Deep and lifted in the mouth - even a bit aggressive in its initial bright citrus flavor impact. Tightly wound thanks to strong acidity. Shows deeper black fruit, tomato and iron flavors late. Acid/tannin synergy coats the front teeth - chewy.
$25. 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre
Opened several hours ago. Nose of citrus peel, cracked pepper, hazelnut and earth. Vibrant. Would guess this to be Central Coast CA Syrah in a blind tasting.
Deep and lifted in the mouth - even a bit aggressive in its initial bright citrus flavor impact. Tightly wound thanks to strong acidity. Shows deeper black fruit, tomato and iron flavors late. Acid/tannin synergy coats the front teeth - chewy.
$25. 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre
Santa Duc, Gigondas 2009
Deep red.
Opened several hours ago. Nose of tomato/ketchup, bright raspberry, garrigue, pepper, wood (oak?) spice and earth. Nice integration of seemingly incompatible components. Continues its aromatic display the longer it sits in the glass - notes of iron/blood/rust late.
Round and mouth-filling, with impressive concentration and grainy tannic structure. Shows some heat in the mid-palate. Powerful follow-through into the finish. Tannin builds incrementally. Definitely worth cellaring for 6-10 years..
$28. 15.5% listed alcohol. Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault (as spelled on the label)
Opened several hours ago. Nose of tomato/ketchup, bright raspberry, garrigue, pepper, wood (oak?) spice and earth. Nice integration of seemingly incompatible components. Continues its aromatic display the longer it sits in the glass - notes of iron/blood/rust late.
Round and mouth-filling, with impressive concentration and grainy tannic structure. Shows some heat in the mid-palate. Powerful follow-through into the finish. Tannin builds incrementally. Definitely worth cellaring for 6-10 years..
$28. 15.5% listed alcohol. Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault (as spelled on the label)
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Clerico "Ginestra" Barolo 1999
Deep red, some rim evolution.
Vinturi - sexy nose of Frangelico, cherry liqueur, dried herbs and a hint of grilled meat.
Deep, powerful and intense immediately - absolutely packed mid-palate in terms of flavor, flesh and intense acid/tannin synergy. Wildly structured, but manages to display Tanzer's "inner-mouth perfume". This is absolutely incredible wine and isn't even close to maturity. Stunning. Buy it if you can find it.
$75 on release.
Vinturi - sexy nose of Frangelico, cherry liqueur, dried herbs and a hint of grilled meat.
Deep, powerful and intense immediately - absolutely packed mid-palate in terms of flavor, flesh and intense acid/tannin synergy. Wildly structured, but manages to display Tanzer's "inner-mouth perfume". This is absolutely incredible wine and isn't even close to maturity. Stunning. Buy it if you can find it.
$75 on release.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Tikves "Barovo Vyd" Macedonia 2010
Saturated purple/red.
Opened yesterday - deep nose - earyh/hazelnut, dried strawberry, blueberry.
Round entry, plush initially then significant acid/tannin constriction that hones mid-palte through the finish. Excellent concentration. PFG and a reminder of how much potential we are still not aware of...
25$ 50% Vranec, 50% Kratosija (? and very cool = potential)
Opened yesterday - deep nose - earyh/hazelnut, dried strawberry, blueberry.
Round entry, plush initially then significant acid/tannin constriction that hones mid-palte through the finish. Excellent concentration. PFG and a reminder of how much potential we are still not aware of...
25$ 50% Vranec, 50% Kratosija (? and very cool = potential)
Talbot, St. Julien 1986
Deep red center, slight rust rim.
Mellow, great, integrated nose - menthol, grilled meat/pepper steak, black currant and other "stuff"..
Round suave and mouth-filling - at its peak. Still has excellent mid-palate flesh and flavor. Beautiful, complex wine. This certainly demonstrates why cellaring pays dividends with wines worthy of it. Just like friends or lovers ;)
$75/magnum (as this was) on release? Courtesy of Tony Vickers - a very generous friend.
Mellow, great, integrated nose - menthol, grilled meat/pepper steak, black currant and other "stuff"..
Round suave and mouth-filling - at its peak. Still has excellent mid-palate flesh and flavor. Beautiful, complex wine. This certainly demonstrates why cellaring pays dividends with wines worthy of it. Just like friends or lovers ;)
$75/magnum (as this was) on release? Courtesy of Tony Vickers - a very generous friend.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Artadi "Pagos Viejos" Rioja 2004
Opaque, saturated red.
Extremely sexy nose of toasted hazelnut, wilted herbs and black fruit.
Round, delineated middle-weight in the mouth - really beautiful textural dimension that is both plush and packed with acid/tannin structural backbone. Killer. Loaded. Best over what? The next 20 years? Whatever. Just stupid and a reference point for people in the industry like me. Balanced and loaded in every department.
$75. 100% Tempranillo.
Extremely sexy nose of toasted hazelnut, wilted herbs and black fruit.
Round, delineated middle-weight in the mouth - really beautiful textural dimension that is both plush and packed with acid/tannin structural backbone. Killer. Loaded. Best over what? The next 20 years? Whatever. Just stupid and a reference point for people in the industry like me. Balanced and loaded in every department.
$75. 100% Tempranillo.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Westerly "Cote Blonde" Happy Canyon, Santa Barbara 2008
Deep red.
Middleweight nose of menthol, tapenade, smoke, light citrus and spice.
Round and mouth-filling, with an incremental acid edge cutting through. Very enjoyable, but lacks density/depth.
$35. From Feast in Tucson. 87% Syrah, 13% Viognier
Middleweight nose of menthol, tapenade, smoke, light citrus and spice.
Round and mouth-filling, with an incremental acid edge cutting through. Very enjoyable, but lacks density/depth.
$35. From Feast in Tucson. 87% Syrah, 13% Viognier
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Colpetrone, Sagrantino, Montefalco 2007
Deep red.
Opened yesterday - smoke, wilted herbs, ash, black cherry nose.
Intense - loaded to the front of the mouth. Flavors mirroring nose except for herb component. Significant acid/tannin synergy builds and ultimately shuts down the front teeth. Flavors flow through structural impediments though. Interesting and built for years in the cellar.
$30. 100% Sagrantino.
Opened yesterday - smoke, wilted herbs, ash, black cherry nose.
Intense - loaded to the front of the mouth. Flavors mirroring nose except for herb component. Significant acid/tannin synergy builds and ultimately shuts down the front teeth. Flavors flow through structural impediments though. Interesting and built for years in the cellar.
$30. 100% Sagrantino.
Henschke "Keyneton Euphonium" Barossa 2009
Purple/red.
Vinturi - moderate intensity nose shows nice depth - fig, black raspberry, earth/toasted nut and fresh herb aromas. Integrated.
Round with beautiful textural sweetness well-buffered by sneaky acidity. Sneaky length too. The kind of wine that grows on you. Really nicely done and should drink well for several more years.
$40. 61% Shiraz, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc
Vinturi - moderate intensity nose shows nice depth - fig, black raspberry, earth/toasted nut and fresh herb aromas. Integrated.
Round with beautiful textural sweetness well-buffered by sneaky acidity. Sneaky length too. The kind of wine that grows on you. Really nicely done and should drink well for several more years.
$40. 61% Shiraz, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Sans Liege "Sancha" Marsanne, Derby Vyd., Paso Robles 2010
Light yellow.
Slightly chilled. Nose of ripe pear, lemon flesh and quince.
Round and completely mouth-filling. Great density without being heavy and shows textural sweetness buffered beautifully by mineral/tannic chew. Quince and pear flavor action. RFG. Mineral chew really coats the front teeth. Buying more of this.
$38 from Feast in Tucson.
Slightly chilled. Nose of ripe pear, lemon flesh and quince.
Round and completely mouth-filling. Great density without being heavy and shows textural sweetness buffered beautifully by mineral/tannic chew. Quince and pear flavor action. RFG. Mineral chew really coats the front teeth. Buying more of this.
$38 from Feast in Tucson.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tardieu-Laurent, Cote Rotie 2003
Deep red.
Vinturi - sumptuous nose - savory smoked meat/bacon, grilled and wilted herbs and root veg. Smells like Caldo Verde.
Broad and fairly dense in the mouth. Excellent mid-palate flesh, but does lack a bit of lift. Very hot vintage.
Nice smoked meat flavor follow through in the finish. Grainy tannin covers the mouth. Not sure where this is headed though.. Find some good duck and drink this thing.
$60 100% Syrah (I think)
Vinturi - sumptuous nose - savory smoked meat/bacon, grilled and wilted herbs and root veg. Smells like Caldo Verde.
Broad and fairly dense in the mouth. Excellent mid-palate flesh, but does lack a bit of lift. Very hot vintage.
Nice smoked meat flavor follow through in the finish. Grainy tannin covers the mouth. Not sure where this is headed though.. Find some good duck and drink this thing.
$60 100% Syrah (I think)
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