Deep purple/red.
Suave, toasty marshmallow oak, macaroon and black fruit custard nose.
Intense and deep, with acid-driven structure framing deeply concentrated flavors immediately. Loaded, with a plush black fruit and oak spice mid-palate. Structure intermittently interrupts finish.
As good as this is, you wonder what a bit of Cabernet Franc, Graciano or Garnacha (or Malvasia) might do for this wine. Pesquera too.
$50 gift. 100% Tempranillo.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Pesquera, Ribera del Duero, 2005
Murky purple/red.
Broad/thick nose - coconut/black fruit custard, earth and suave oak spices.
Really covers the mouth, initially, then strong acidity and moderate tannin dive in. Pretty constricted in the mid-palate, presently, but flavors eventually wiggle out. Definitely needs a few years to strut. Opened yesterday.
$25
Broad/thick nose - coconut/black fruit custard, earth and suave oak spices.
Really covers the mouth, initially, then strong acidity and moderate tannin dive in. Pretty constricted in the mid-palate, presently, but flavors eventually wiggle out. Definitely needs a few years to strut. Opened yesterday.
$25
Hiedler "Thal" Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal 2006
Straw.
Smoky, popcorn/creamed corn nose currently dominated by sulfides. But actually attractive, particularly for white Burgundy people. Herbs and citrus/pear underneath. Sulfide character receding with air and warming.
Intense, bright flavors are all over the map - sulfide/skunk, lemon, fresh apple, fresh herbs. Jesus. Definitely has RS to fill in the mid-palate and extend the finish. But there's so much mineral/phenolic/sulfide "chew" you really don't notice. Wild, killer action.
$30, screwcap, 14% alcohol listed
Smoky, popcorn/creamed corn nose currently dominated by sulfides. But actually attractive, particularly for white Burgundy people. Herbs and citrus/pear underneath. Sulfide character receding with air and warming.
Intense, bright flavors are all over the map - sulfide/skunk, lemon, fresh apple, fresh herbs. Jesus. Definitely has RS to fill in the mid-palate and extend the finish. But there's so much mineral/phenolic/sulfide "chew" you really don't notice. Wild, killer action.
$30, screwcap, 14% alcohol listed
Yeringberg, Marsanne(67%)/Roussanne(33%), Yarra Valley 2001
Light yellow.
Delicate almond paste, pineapple and spiced apple nose. There's also a Marsanne "thickness" you can smell.
Bright lemon/pineapple lift, with a Syrah-like menthol/licorice undertone. Then almond paste and lemon on the long, minerally finish. Much fresher than you'd guess. Vibrant, in fact. Keeps changing too..
Very interesting, suave, action from a cool-climate region in Australia.
$35
Delicate almond paste, pineapple and spiced apple nose. There's also a Marsanne "thickness" you can smell.
Bright lemon/pineapple lift, with a Syrah-like menthol/licorice undertone. Then almond paste and lemon on the long, minerally finish. Much fresher than you'd guess. Vibrant, in fact. Keeps changing too..
Very interesting, suave, action from a cool-climate region in Australia.
$35
Monday, December 1, 2008
Quinta do Vallado, Douro "Reserva" 2003
Purple/red.
Grilled meat/toasty oak (though suave at this point) and dark chocolate nose. Deep, with a very intense, roasted, black currant jam undertone.
Very dense/concentrated, mouth-coating impression. Huge and chewy, but has essentially no delineation of flavor. Needs the lamb stew I had last night.
Day 4 - Deep, but is now a bit flat. Roasted in the mouth too. Hot vintage, best to drink this now.
$45. Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), both Tourigas, Tinta Amarela and Souzao.
Grilled meat/toasty oak (though suave at this point) and dark chocolate nose. Deep, with a very intense, roasted, black currant jam undertone.
Very dense/concentrated, mouth-coating impression. Huge and chewy, but has essentially no delineation of flavor. Needs the lamb stew I had last night.
Day 4 - Deep, but is now a bit flat. Roasted in the mouth too. Hot vintage, best to drink this now.
$45. Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), both Tourigas, Tinta Amarela and Souzao.
Montirius, Vacqueyras "Garrigues" 2005
Red/purple.
Clay/earth, black fruit custard and sexy oak spice nose. Deep, loaded.
Round, plush entry is simultaneously framed by mineral/acid/tannin structure. Chewy, but black fruit and licorice flavors sail on. Two tracks. VGS. Subtle garrigue notes (stem inclusion?) hit late. Packed, and needs of several years of cellaring.
$25
Clay/earth, black fruit custard and sexy oak spice nose. Deep, loaded.
Round, plush entry is simultaneously framed by mineral/acid/tannin structure. Chewy, but black fruit and licorice flavors sail on. Two tracks. VGS. Subtle garrigue notes (stem inclusion?) hit late. Packed, and needs of several years of cellaring.
$25
Yalumba "MGS" Barossa Valley 2004
Purple/red.
White pepper/juniper, earth, black fruit nose.
Zesty white pepper/juniper in the mouth, too. There's a citrus zest (orange) component as well as a bit of textural "give". Not fat, but not brutal either. Very tasty, very well-made. Francophiles would like this.
Day 4 - Deeper and savory aromatically, with juniper white pepper now lifting the tail end. Really good, vibrant action.
$28. 60% Mourvedre, 22% Grenache, 18% Shiraz
White pepper/juniper, earth, black fruit nose.
Zesty white pepper/juniper in the mouth, too. There's a citrus zest (orange) component as well as a bit of textural "give". Not fat, but not brutal either. Very tasty, very well-made. Francophiles would like this.
Day 4 - Deeper and savory aromatically, with juniper white pepper now lifting the tail end. Really good, vibrant action.
$28. 60% Mourvedre, 22% Grenache, 18% Shiraz
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