Saturated red/purple.
Fresh aromas - black raspberry/blackberry coulis, earth, (oak?) spice. Deep, but nice clarity too. Lisa says Canadian bacon and wintergreen mint. I'd go there too.
Ditto in the mouth, with stronger acidity than the '03 and not nearly as broad. Very good concentration, but I don't see this matching the '03 on the palate, ever. Nevertheless, this is very good action, and likely to be a favorite with N.Rhone lovers who don't enjoy "New World" opulence.
Day 3 - Still has great clarity and interest on the nose. Begins with some real flesh in the mouth, but quickly shuts down the front of the mouth with acid/stem chew synergy. Who knows, maybe this just needs 10-15 more years?
$65
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Pax Alder Springs Vyd. Syrah 2003 (Mendocino County)
Saturated purple/red.
Deep, melted licorice, menthol, dried fig aromas. Like smelling a reduction sauce in the pan - not fresh, but not cooked - with some lift.
Huge, mouth-coating impression. A very slight suggestion of alcohol, but the density, breadth and expressiveness in the mouth blows by it. Typical Pax grainy texture, with low acidity. The nose shows in the flavors that run the length of the court. I can see this adding nuance with even more bottle time, unlike the Mitolo.
This rocks, distinctive and loaded.
Day 3 - Low-toned, oozer of a nose - menthol/licorice/fig reduction. Almost identical in the mouth, massive, but shows some reasonable complexity. In complete contrast to the Mitolo. Great chewy, expressive, length.
16.3% alcohol
$60
Deep, melted licorice, menthol, dried fig aromas. Like smelling a reduction sauce in the pan - not fresh, but not cooked - with some lift.
Huge, mouth-coating impression. A very slight suggestion of alcohol, but the density, breadth and expressiveness in the mouth blows by it. Typical Pax grainy texture, with low acidity. The nose shows in the flavors that run the length of the court. I can see this adding nuance with even more bottle time, unlike the Mitolo.
This rocks, distinctive and loaded.
Day 3 - Low-toned, oozer of a nose - menthol/licorice/fig reduction. Almost identical in the mouth, massive, but shows some reasonable complexity. In complete contrast to the Mitolo. Great chewy, expressive, length.
16.3% alcohol
$60
Pintia, Toro (Spain), 2002
Red/purple.
Smoke/grilled meat, balsamic action, hazelnut and black fruit on the nose.
Round and mouth-filling, with an acid-edge that keeps things taut. Very good, but not great, density. Nice flavor flow through slightly constricted mid-palate. It seems obvious that 2002 wasn't among the best recent vintages for most of Spain, but the wines are far better than I expected. This is no exception.
Day 3 - Nose now simpler, deeper. Deep smoke/char and savory meat in the mouth. I'd drink this over the next 2-3 years.
$45
Smoke/grilled meat, balsamic action, hazelnut and black fruit on the nose.
Round and mouth-filling, with an acid-edge that keeps things taut. Very good, but not great, density. Nice flavor flow through slightly constricted mid-palate. It seems obvious that 2002 wasn't among the best recent vintages for most of Spain, but the wines are far better than I expected. This is no exception.
Day 3 - Nose now simpler, deeper. Deep smoke/char and savory meat in the mouth. I'd drink this over the next 2-3 years.
$45
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Mitolo "Savitar" Shiraz McLaren Vale 2004
Saturated purple/red.
Extremely dense nose - with a powdered cocoa element that reminds me of the '04 Amon-Ra Godolphin. A huge, aromatic, mass. Currently undifferentiated.
Huge breadth and depth in the mouth also, with a moderate saline/acid edge. Reasonably refined, but this is a bulk-based effort. Impressive, but what the hell are you going to do with it? I seriously doubt that any interesting complexity will develop with more bottle time.
Day 4 - Deep, huge and refined. No complexity, but not hard to enjoy.
$65
Extremely dense nose - with a powdered cocoa element that reminds me of the '04 Amon-Ra Godolphin. A huge, aromatic, mass. Currently undifferentiated.
Huge breadth and depth in the mouth also, with a moderate saline/acid edge. Reasonably refined, but this is a bulk-based effort. Impressive, but what the hell are you going to do with it? I seriously doubt that any interesting complexity will develop with more bottle time.
Day 4 - Deep, huge and refined. No complexity, but not hard to enjoy.
$65
Waterford "Kevin Arnold" Shiraz, Stellenbosch 2002
Deep red.
Smoky, meaty, slightly feral nose, but not crazy. Hazelnut paste and a medicinal note too. Far better than it sounds.
Deep, round entry, with a gamy, saline edge. Smoked meat permeates the mouth, with unobtrusive tannin framing everything.
If there's fruit here, I don't see it. Don't really miss it, either.
Not great, but this has personality ...
$30
Smoky, meaty, slightly feral nose, but not crazy. Hazelnut paste and a medicinal note too. Far better than it sounds.
Deep, round entry, with a gamy, saline edge. Smoked meat permeates the mouth, with unobtrusive tannin framing everything.
If there's fruit here, I don't see it. Don't really miss it, either.
Not great, but this has personality ...
$30
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Domane Wachau, Achleiten, Gruner Veltliner, Smaragd 2005
Straw.
Ripe pear, spice, slight pepper nose. A bit bodacious.
Opens with a suggestion of sweetness and perfectly ripened pear in the mouth. Quite deep, but reined in by chewy mineral/acid synergy. Not complex, but gets major points for ripe fruit and deliciousness.
$25
Ripe pear, spice, slight pepper nose. A bit bodacious.
Opens with a suggestion of sweetness and perfectly ripened pear in the mouth. Quite deep, but reined in by chewy mineral/acid synergy. Not complex, but gets major points for ripe fruit and deliciousness.
$25
Turley, Petite Sirah, Hayne Vyd., Napa Valley 1997
Purple.
Low-toned oak spice, meat/toasted nut aromas.
Round with a slight textural sweetness. Deep and chewy, but one-dimensional at the present.
$50 on release
Low-toned oak spice, meat/toasted nut aromas.
Round with a slight textural sweetness. Deep and chewy, but one-dimensional at the present.
$50 on release
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