Opaque Purple.
Opened yesterday - nose is simultaneously deep and wildly perfumed - strawberry/fig coulis, citrus blossom, earth, licorice, camphor. Killer.
Great breadth in the mouth, but no textural sweetness. Citrus character amplified in the mouth, becoming increasingly "zesty" in both flavor and feel as you move into the mid-palate and finish. Shows multiple layers, with plenty of depth to balance strong acidity. Really distinctive, interesting CA Syrah that should get even better with extended bottle aging. RFG.
$45? Gift.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Bielsa, Garnacha, Vinas Viejas, Campo de Borja 2009
Saturated purple.
Opened yesterday. Nose of the freshest boysenberry/raspberry coulis imaginable with citrus blossom lift and light earth. Complex, deep and ridiculously attractive. This was crazy yesterday too.
Round, packed and deep with a textural sweetness that is again, crazy (This is $10). Loaded start to finish, no hiccup anywhere. I can see this benefiting from 2-3 years in the bottle and drinking well far longer than a $10 bottle has any right to. This has to be the greatest wine bargain I've ever seen. TFK.
$10! The '08 was killer too.
Opened yesterday. Nose of the freshest boysenberry/raspberry coulis imaginable with citrus blossom lift and light earth. Complex, deep and ridiculously attractive. This was crazy yesterday too.
Round, packed and deep with a textural sweetness that is again, crazy (This is $10). Loaded start to finish, no hiccup anywhere. I can see this benefiting from 2-3 years in the bottle and drinking well far longer than a $10 bottle has any right to. This has to be the greatest wine bargain I've ever seen. TFK.
$10! The '08 was killer too.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
FX Pichler, Gruner Veltliner, Kellerberg, Smaragd 2002
Yellow.
Extremely deep earth/lentil, grapefruit marmalade and pepper nose. There's a marrow/meaty richness too, strange as that sounds.
Huge bass notes of marmalade and earth are leavened by treble note of pepper and moderate acid/tannin/mineral chew. Just ridiculous. Somehow refined in the finish, which doesn't seem to quit, and mirrors everything in the nose. Worth every cent and then some.
$75
Extremely deep earth/lentil, grapefruit marmalade and pepper nose. There's a marrow/meaty richness too, strange as that sounds.
Huge bass notes of marmalade and earth are leavened by treble note of pepper and moderate acid/tannin/mineral chew. Just ridiculous. Somehow refined in the finish, which doesn't seem to quit, and mirrors everything in the nose. Worth every cent and then some.
$75
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Tortochot, Mazy-Chambertin 2006
Red.
Opened yesterday. Very pretty nose of strawberry, red cherry, savory earth and suave oak. Floral notes too.
Deceptively light in the mouth, with nice coverage and a light tannic edge. Herbs, earth and red cherry flavors dominate. Subtle length. Very finely rendered. One of those wines you love more every time you go back to it.
$80.
Opened yesterday. Very pretty nose of strawberry, red cherry, savory earth and suave oak. Floral notes too.
Deceptively light in the mouth, with nice coverage and a light tannic edge. Herbs, earth and red cherry flavors dominate. Subtle length. Very finely rendered. One of those wines you love more every time you go back to it.
$80.
Achaval-Ferrer "Quimera" Mendoza 2006
Saturated purple.
Opened yesterday. Blackberry, clay/earth, licorice, fig nose. Deep.
Full, round entry. Slightly grainy and quite concentrated. Really packed, in fact. Earth and black fruit flavors. Chewy finish with very nice length. RGS. Can only improve with 5-6 more years in the bottle.
$30. 34% Malbec, 32% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc.
Opened yesterday. Blackberry, clay/earth, licorice, fig nose. Deep.
Full, round entry. Slightly grainy and quite concentrated. Really packed, in fact. Earth and black fruit flavors. Chewy finish with very nice length. RGS. Can only improve with 5-6 more years in the bottle.
$30. 34% Malbec, 32% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc.
Tablas Creek "Cotes de Tablas" Paso Robles 2007
Deep red.
Vinturi - lifted crushed raspberry, cherry, earth and spearmint nose.
Round and mouthfilling with restrained textural sweetness thanks to relatively strong acidity. Cherry jam and spice finish restricted a bit by acid/tannin synergy. Wildly tasty, though, and in need of a few years in the cellar.
$25. 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Counoise. 14.8% alcohol. Tin-lined screwcap.
Vinturi - lifted crushed raspberry, cherry, earth and spearmint nose.
Round and mouthfilling with restrained textural sweetness thanks to relatively strong acidity. Cherry jam and spice finish restricted a bit by acid/tannin synergy. Wildly tasty, though, and in need of a few years in the cellar.
$25. 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Counoise. 14.8% alcohol. Tin-lined screwcap.
Monday, August 2, 2010
DeLille "Harrison Hill" Yakima Valley 1994
Red with some rim evolution.
No Vinturi. Beautiful nose - grilled nuts, hot bricks, spicebox, red cherry, herbs and a bit of pepper as it airs. Effortless complexity.
Round, mouthfilling, mature middle-weight. Integrated, evolved spice, herb, earth and cherry flavors are nicely framed by moderate acid/tannin synergy. Wonderful stuff, with ineffable action that can only come with serious cellar time. A very good example of why Cabernet has the reputation it has.
Day 2 - still killer and even more integrated. Really beautiful wine.
$? Gift from David Winkler. 13.3% alcohol.
No Vinturi. Beautiful nose - grilled nuts, hot bricks, spicebox, red cherry, herbs and a bit of pepper as it airs. Effortless complexity.
Round, mouthfilling, mature middle-weight. Integrated, evolved spice, herb, earth and cherry flavors are nicely framed by moderate acid/tannin synergy. Wonderful stuff, with ineffable action that can only come with serious cellar time. A very good example of why Cabernet has the reputation it has.
Day 2 - still killer and even more integrated. Really beautiful wine.
$? Gift from David Winkler. 13.3% alcohol.
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