Pale yellow.
Almond paste, poached apple and a leesy nuance on the nose.
Intense, mineral-laden entry, with pungent lemon, almond and crushed rock flavors. Huge, chewy finish that goes on and on.
Coats every tooth in the mouth.
Jesus - this is killer.
$50
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Brewer-Clifton, Pinot Noir, Ashley's, Santa Rita Hills 2005
Light red.
Bright cherry and earth/stem spice aromatics. Slight jalapeno, but nicely integrated.
Round, sweet, mouthfilling entry that nevertheless manages to be framed gently, on all sides, by good acidity and mild tannin. Alcohol is a bit elevated, but doesn't dam up flavor flow. Ethereal.
15.1% listed alcohol
$60
Bright cherry and earth/stem spice aromatics. Slight jalapeno, but nicely integrated.
Round, sweet, mouthfilling entry that nevertheless manages to be framed gently, on all sides, by good acidity and mild tannin. Alcohol is a bit elevated, but doesn't dam up flavor flow. Ethereal.
15.1% listed alcohol
$60
Monday, October 1, 2007
Guigal, Crozes-Hermitage, 1999
Purple/red.
Grilled herbs/wilted greens, smoke, fig jam aromatics.
Wilted greens, constricted, acid-driven structure that will give up more goodies with some air time.
Day 3 - This isn't giving it up, actually. The green note is now cooked and off-putting.
$18
Grilled herbs/wilted greens, smoke, fig jam aromatics.
Wilted greens, constricted, acid-driven structure that will give up more goodies with some air time.
Day 3 - This isn't giving it up, actually. The green note is now cooked and off-putting.
$18
Bastide Blanche, Cuvee Fontanieu, 2001 Bandol
Purple/red.
Deep menthol, blackberry, spices, clay/earth and even a suggestion of citrus skin on the nose.
Remarkably plush for such a deep Bandol. Much tighter in the mouth, but absolutely packed with flavor. This has to be one of the greatest values around. Cellar this for several more years
15.5 % alcohol on the label.
Earl Bronzo is a stud.
Day 3 - Deep black olive, prune and clay nose. Packed in the mouth (still) with a grainy concentration that is hard to find these days. Long and chewy. Anyone got a lamb shank?
$25? Just stupid.
Deep menthol, blackberry, spices, clay/earth and even a suggestion of citrus skin on the nose.
Remarkably plush for such a deep Bandol. Much tighter in the mouth, but absolutely packed with flavor. This has to be one of the greatest values around. Cellar this for several more years
15.5 % alcohol on the label.
Earl Bronzo is a stud.
Day 3 - Deep black olive, prune and clay nose. Packed in the mouth (still) with a grainy concentration that is hard to find these days. Long and chewy. Anyone got a lamb shank?
$25? Just stupid.
Arietta, Variation One, Napa Valley 2001
Purple/red.
Menthol, spicy black fruit and a high-toned whiff of VA.
Aggressive in the mouth, despite an early plush feel. The VA here must be quite high - and very distracting. I'm having a terrible time with these wines. Glad I dropped them.
Day 3 - Showing some textural sweetness now, but VA is still a distraction throughout the experience.
$75
Menthol, spicy black fruit and a high-toned whiff of VA.
Aggressive in the mouth, despite an early plush feel. The VA here must be quite high - and very distracting. I'm having a terrible time with these wines. Glad I dropped them.
Day 3 - Showing some textural sweetness now, but VA is still a distraction throughout the experience.
$75
Joan D'Anguera, "El Bugader", Montsant (Spain), 2001
Opaque purple/red.
Considerable oak influence on the nose, which manages to come off as attractive. Smoky, meaty, slightly green Cabernet influence adds to the aromatic complexity. Smells deep.
Relatively plush and quite concentrated in the mouth. Flavors of black fruits, oak spice, rocks and black olive. Tight, linear finish can't kill flavor flow.
From an area adjacent to Priorat, just outside of Barcelona. 70% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Grenache.
$40
Considerable oak influence on the nose, which manages to come off as attractive. Smoky, meaty, slightly green Cabernet influence adds to the aromatic complexity. Smells deep.
Relatively plush and quite concentrated in the mouth. Flavors of black fruits, oak spice, rocks and black olive. Tight, linear finish can't kill flavor flow.
From an area adjacent to Priorat, just outside of Barcelona. 70% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Grenache.
$40
Clerico, Barolo, Ginestra, 1996
Red with garnet rim.
Toasted oak/nuts, cherry, a balsamic nuance allied with a meaty/savory character on the nose. Well-integrated.
With air - fresh herbs and other stuff - genie out of the bottle.
Intense red cherry, spices and significant acid-driven structure in the mouth. Linear, as expected, but packed with flavor that is subtle, pure and long. This will be better tomorrow (and the day after).
One of my first "Come to Jesus" wine moments was tasting the 1985 vintage of this wine back in the early 90's.
Day 3 - Pure, cherry jam, charcoal (not from oak) and oak spice. Flavors centered on cherry jam, quite plush for Barolo, with acid-driven tannin impacting only the finish now.
$75
Toasted oak/nuts, cherry, a balsamic nuance allied with a meaty/savory character on the nose. Well-integrated.
With air - fresh herbs and other stuff - genie out of the bottle.
Intense red cherry, spices and significant acid-driven structure in the mouth. Linear, as expected, but packed with flavor that is subtle, pure and long. This will be better tomorrow (and the day after).
One of my first "Come to Jesus" wine moments was tasting the 1985 vintage of this wine back in the early 90's.
Day 3 - Pure, cherry jam, charcoal (not from oak) and oak spice. Flavors centered on cherry jam, quite plush for Barolo, with acid-driven tannin impacting only the finish now.
$75
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