Opaque red.
Vinturi - great, youthful nose. Could be a current release. Red currant, subtle oak char/spice/hazelnut, red licorice and fresh herb. Great lift and depth.
Mouth-filling, expressive and deeply flavored. This is loaded, particularly for a wine with a listed alcohol of 12.5%. Ridiculously lively (perky, so to speak?) for a 14 year old, with no lack of intensity. This still has serious structure to boot. Hopefully I've got another bottle somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if this is even better with 10 more years in a good cellar. FK.
$40 on release.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Clos Marie "L'Olivette" Pic Saint Loup 2005
Deep red.
Vinturi - wild nose - wilted herbs, iron, liver, hazelnut sauce, savory meat/bacon, maple syrup and deep earth notes. RFG.
Round and plush entry. Seamless flow through the mid-palate, then strong acidity and moderate tannin really clamp down in the finish. Obviously needs time in the cellar. This is the "basic" bottling from Clos Marie and is probably raised in concrete.
$25. Like all other Clos Marie bottles I've had, this shows distinct N. Rhone Syrah characteristics. But I think it is almost entirely Grenache and Carignan.
Vinturi - wild nose - wilted herbs, iron, liver, hazelnut sauce, savory meat/bacon, maple syrup and deep earth notes. RFG.
Round and plush entry. Seamless flow through the mid-palate, then strong acidity and moderate tannin really clamp down in the finish. Obviously needs time in the cellar. This is the "basic" bottling from Clos Marie and is probably raised in concrete.
$25. Like all other Clos Marie bottles I've had, this shows distinct N. Rhone Syrah characteristics. But I think it is almost entirely Grenache and Carignan.
Christian Salmon "Vieilles Vignes" Sancerre 2008
Light yellow.
Low key nose of almond paste, pineapple, lemon. Better, deeper, as it warms.
Shows some initial textural sweetness that is cut nicely by a vibrant acid/mineral edge. The mineral/acid synergy builds, eventually coating the front teeth in "chew". Fresh herb character really shows in the finish (only hinted at in the nose). Nothing flashy here, but very satisfying stuff. Great at the table.
Gift - $25?
Low key nose of almond paste, pineapple, lemon. Better, deeper, as it warms.
Shows some initial textural sweetness that is cut nicely by a vibrant acid/mineral edge. The mineral/acid synergy builds, eventually coating the front teeth in "chew". Fresh herb character really shows in the finish (only hinted at in the nose). Nothing flashy here, but very satisfying stuff. Great at the table.
Gift - $25?
Friday, May 21, 2010
Domaine du Caillou "Quartz" Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2000
Deep red.
Vinturi - toasted hazelnut/black cherry sauce, earth, herbs, pepper, iron nose. Deep and very attractive.
Really loaded and plush in the mouth - great mid-palate flesh. Impression of black fruit jelly of the tastiest kind. Significant acid/tannin/mineral synergy hits the front teeth and shuts down the mouth late in the finish. This will be around for many years.
$50.
Vinturi - toasted hazelnut/black cherry sauce, earth, herbs, pepper, iron nose. Deep and very attractive.
Really loaded and plush in the mouth - great mid-palate flesh. Impression of black fruit jelly of the tastiest kind. Significant acid/tannin/mineral synergy hits the front teeth and shuts down the mouth late in the finish. This will be around for many years.
$50.
Marcassin, Marcassin Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2000
Deep, dull red.
Vinturi - sumptuous nose - earth/herbs/meat drippings/hazelnut/orange/black cherry coulis/cinnamon stick. Crazy. Vibrant and deep.
Round and mouth-filling. Slightly disjointed in the mid-palate (can't tell if it's alcohol or VA), but has great density and flesh to overcome it. Still has an acid/tannin/sulfide edge that really firms things up in the finish. This still needs several years in the cellar. Not at all a "monster", as some idiots would suggest. Nice orange action really perks this up, zest "chew" hits late and builds.
$125.
Vinturi - sumptuous nose - earth/herbs/meat drippings/hazelnut/orange/black cherry coulis/cinnamon stick. Crazy. Vibrant and deep.
Round and mouth-filling. Slightly disjointed in the mid-palate (can't tell if it's alcohol or VA), but has great density and flesh to overcome it. Still has an acid/tannin/sulfide edge that really firms things up in the finish. This still needs several years in the cellar. Not at all a "monster", as some idiots would suggest. Nice orange action really perks this up, zest "chew" hits late and builds.
$125.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Font de Michelle "Etienne Gonnet" Chateauneuf du Pape 2000
Evolved, dull red.
No Vinturi. Integrated nose - smoke, herbs, licorice, earth, fig.
Intense spice/earth entry. Actually a bit bound up, but far better than my last bottle. Vinturi might have helped. Seems like there's some stem inclusion here, but I could be wrong. Needs time, but this is obviously loaded with good stuff.
$40
No Vinturi. Integrated nose - smoke, herbs, licorice, earth, fig.
Intense spice/earth entry. Actually a bit bound up, but far better than my last bottle. Vinturi might have helped. Seems like there's some stem inclusion here, but I could be wrong. Needs time, but this is obviously loaded with good stuff.
$40
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Hirtzberger, Hochrain, Riesling, Smaragd, Wachau 2004
Yellow.
Deep, concentrated nose of grapefruit marmalade, white pepper, lentil. Wild.
Absolutely loaded middle-weight in the mouth. Intense marmalade and pepper flavors with equally intense acid/tannin/mineral chew carving through. Extremely long, tactile/chewy citrus/pepper finish. This is FK. Chew your way into tomorrow morning. Pepper goes to black.
$45
Deep, concentrated nose of grapefruit marmalade, white pepper, lentil. Wild.
Absolutely loaded middle-weight in the mouth. Intense marmalade and pepper flavors with equally intense acid/tannin/mineral chew carving through. Extremely long, tactile/chewy citrus/pepper finish. This is FK. Chew your way into tomorrow morning. Pepper goes to black.
$45
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