Deep red.
Deep, intense, spicy, shoe polish, red cherry jam aromas. A totally different, thrilling, animal.
Ditto in the mouth, nothing facile here. Loaded, chewy, spicy, packed red and black fruit in the mouth. Structure is significant, with acidity driving significant (stem?) tannin. This rocks.
Day 3 - Now a deep, medicinal/dried herb, aromatic note. Tamer in the mouth now, and a bit flat, though still deep. Low SO2?
Still think this will benefit from short term (2-3 years) cellaring.
$20 - Another stupid deal.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Domaine de la Curniere, Vacqueyras 2006
Red.
Spicy cranberry/earth nose. More than a little Pinot-ish.
Broad, mouth-filling texture, with flavors matching aromas. Not incredibly complex, but many Burgundy lovers wouldn't mind this as a house wine. Acid-driven, tannic structure also reminds me of Burgundy/Oregon Pinot.
Day 3 - Ditto. Earth first now on the nose. Tasty. Simple.
$17
Spicy cranberry/earth nose. More than a little Pinot-ish.
Broad, mouth-filling texture, with flavors matching aromas. Not incredibly complex, but many Burgundy lovers wouldn't mind this as a house wine. Acid-driven, tannic structure also reminds me of Burgundy/Oregon Pinot.
Day 3 - Ditto. Earth first now on the nose. Tasty. Simple.
$17
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Las Rocas Garnacha, Vinas Viejas, Catalayud (Spain) 2003
Deepish red.
Hazelnut, grapefruit/orange zest, kirsch, deep raspberry coulis aromatics.
Still extremely vibrant in the mouth - crazy citrus zest pungency and a spicy ketchup undertone. Almost abrasive in its flavor intensity. Actually, it is abrasive, in a positive sense that may represent a new use of the term. Humorous as well - a big, thick, extended middle finger for those whose sole wine concern is "seamlessness".
Day 7 - All beets now, in a positive/earthy sense. Just a hint of oxidation setting in.
$15. Yes, this is a stupid value.
Hazelnut, grapefruit/orange zest, kirsch, deep raspberry coulis aromatics.
Still extremely vibrant in the mouth - crazy citrus zest pungency and a spicy ketchup undertone. Almost abrasive in its flavor intensity. Actually, it is abrasive, in a positive sense that may represent a new use of the term. Humorous as well - a big, thick, extended middle finger for those whose sole wine concern is "seamlessness".
Day 7 - All beets now, in a positive/earthy sense. Just a hint of oxidation setting in.
$15. Yes, this is a stupid value.
Chapoutier "Terra d' Or" Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence 1998
Deep, saturated, red.
Dense, packed nose shows some heat. Black fruit reduction, hints of menthol/black olive/fig and molasses. Carignan? Can't remember what's in this. Smells loaded, like a top-notch Priorat.
Quite intense in the mouth too, again, like Priorat. Acid/alcohol-driven intensity is somewhat simplistic/rustic. Slight burnt note. But this has great depth. Old vines must be involved here.
Day 4 - Burnt/flat nose (same as yesterday). Dead in the water.
$40-45 on release.
Dense, packed nose shows some heat. Black fruit reduction, hints of menthol/black olive/fig and molasses. Carignan? Can't remember what's in this. Smells loaded, like a top-notch Priorat.
Quite intense in the mouth too, again, like Priorat. Acid/alcohol-driven intensity is somewhat simplistic/rustic. Slight burnt note. But this has great depth. Old vines must be involved here.
Day 4 - Burnt/flat nose (same as yesterday). Dead in the water.
$40-45 on release.
Chante Cigale, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2007
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
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
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
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