Straw.
Have to dig out the aromatics. Almost a beer nut quality initially (reminds me of certain Rieslings). Then we get hints of pear and almond. Other spicy stuff (quince?) too. Intriguing, needs some time. Pepper.
Then sweet, ripe, pear and lemon action in the mouth, with almond paste bringing up the rear. Quite fresh, not nearly as opulent and rich as the Clos St. Michel '06 (bottle age, vintage difference, or both?), but very nice stuff. Strong acidity/minerality drive the finish.
RFG
Day 4 - More immediate fruit on the nose now. Pear/almond/hazelnut. Nice, restrained, flesh in the mid-palate. Not as rich as the St. Michel '06, but classier, more vibrant. Could drink a lot of this.
$35
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Clos St. Michel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2006
Straw/ light yellow.
Almond, meal, spiced pear aromatics.
Deep, thick, impression in the mouth with a phenolic/mineral edge keeping everything well in bounds. Almond and ripe pineapple flavors, deep and long. Lots of mid-palate stuffing. PFG. Rich and vibrant - tough to pull off in CdP.
Day 4 - Honey, sauteed apple/pear, almond on the nose now. Similar to day 1 in the mouth, but showing the sauteed apple/pear from the nose. Still has a nice, chewy, edge that keeps it reasonably fresh.
$30
Almond, meal, spiced pear aromatics.
Deep, thick, impression in the mouth with a phenolic/mineral edge keeping everything well in bounds. Almond and ripe pineapple flavors, deep and long. Lots of mid-palate stuffing. PFG. Rich and vibrant - tough to pull off in CdP.
Day 4 - Honey, sauteed apple/pear, almond on the nose now. Similar to day 1 in the mouth, but showing the sauteed apple/pear from the nose. Still has a nice, chewy, edge that keeps it reasonably fresh.
$30
Monday, October 20, 2008
Havens "Bourriquot" Napa Valley 2001
Deep red.
Toasty French oak, toasted nut, herbs, iodine aromatics. Smells like good, refined, Bordeaux.
Deep and packed, again, in a refined manner, in the mouth. Acid edge surfaces in the mid-palate. Quite long. Herb/mineral/acid chew on the finish.
62% Cabernet Franc, 38% Merlot.
$35 on release
Toasty French oak, toasted nut, herbs, iodine aromatics. Smells like good, refined, Bordeaux.
Deep and packed, again, in a refined manner, in the mouth. Acid edge surfaces in the mid-palate. Quite long. Herb/mineral/acid chew on the finish.
62% Cabernet Franc, 38% Merlot.
$35 on release
Alion, Ribera del Duero 2001
Deep red/purple.
Earth, smoke, truffle (like Chard truffle/sulfide), almond aromatics. Subtle compared to the Condado. A late fig note.
Lighter and more refined in the mouth than the Condado. Middle-weight throughout, quite even in flow on the palate. This, too, is dominated by strong acidity and moderate tannin. Serious front-teeth constriction. No problem sitting on a bottle for another 5-7 years.
$45 on release
Earth, smoke, truffle (like Chard truffle/sulfide), almond aromatics. Subtle compared to the Condado. A late fig note.
Lighter and more refined in the mouth than the Condado. Middle-weight throughout, quite even in flow on the palate. This, too, is dominated by strong acidity and moderate tannin. Serious front-teeth constriction. No problem sitting on a bottle for another 5-7 years.
$45 on release
Condado de Haza, Ribera del Duero 2001
Deep red/purple.
Very attractive smoky oak/savory meat action on the nose. Deep.
Plush and filled-in, but simultaneously snappy with strong acidity. Earthy/mineral chew throughout. Not complex, but quite satisfying with the right stuff (grilled sausage).
$20 on release
Very attractive smoky oak/savory meat action on the nose. Deep.
Plush and filled-in, but simultaneously snappy with strong acidity. Earthy/mineral chew throughout. Not complex, but quite satisfying with the right stuff (grilled sausage).
$20 on release
Friday, October 17, 2008
Alban "Reva" Syrah 2004 (Edna Valley)
Opaque purple/red.
Toasty, smoky, bacon, hamhock, melted licorice nose with earth, pepper underneath. This showed a significant pepper/citrus character on Day 1 (10/15). Actually, still does, just takes longer to see.
Ridiculously suave/mouthcoating, achieved without effort. Packed start to finish. This has seemingly strong acidity and significant tannin, but the structure is obliterated by concentration. The front teeth finally feel some chew well into the finish.
All kinds of flavor in the mouth, incorporating all aromatic qualities.
16.7% alcohol and absolutely no sense of heat.
$80
Toasty, smoky, bacon, hamhock, melted licorice nose with earth, pepper underneath. This showed a significant pepper/citrus character on Day 1 (10/15). Actually, still does, just takes longer to see.
Ridiculously suave/mouthcoating, achieved without effort. Packed start to finish. This has seemingly strong acidity and significant tannin, but the structure is obliterated by concentration. The front teeth finally feel some chew well into the finish.
All kinds of flavor in the mouth, incorporating all aromatic qualities.
16.7% alcohol and absolutely no sense of heat.
$80
3 Rings, Shiraz Reserve, Barossa Valley 2004
Deep purple/red.
Caramel/praline, fig/date, earth - a total oozer/reduction sauce of a nose now.
Round and sweet texturally, extraordinarily so. A bit of alcohol intrudes throughout, as does a level of acidity that doesn't jibe well with the opulence here. But there's no denying the pure blackberry fruit that rides through it all. Also no denying a complete lack of flavor complexity. Extremely concentrated, with a definite saline impression.
This is actually day 3, opened on 10/15, at which time the wine was brighter, but also more dis-jointed
Nearly three years in barrel. Huge score in the Wine Advocate (98?), apparently hated by Raynolds of The International Wine Cellar.
$60, 16.5% alcohol
Caramel/praline, fig/date, earth - a total oozer/reduction sauce of a nose now.
Round and sweet texturally, extraordinarily so. A bit of alcohol intrudes throughout, as does a level of acidity that doesn't jibe well with the opulence here. But there's no denying the pure blackberry fruit that rides through it all. Also no denying a complete lack of flavor complexity. Extremely concentrated, with a definite saline impression.
This is actually day 3, opened on 10/15, at which time the wine was brighter, but also more dis-jointed
Nearly three years in barrel. Huge score in the Wine Advocate (98?), apparently hated by Raynolds of The International Wine Cellar.
$60, 16.5% alcohol
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