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Tasting Notes Printer-Friendly Version
- January, 2005 |
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Wednesday, January 26, 2005 wt012605-01. 2003
VINUM CHARD-NO-WAY WILSON VINEYARD CLARKSBURG CHENIN BLANC - (U.S.) Supple, discreet yellow fruits: golden delicious
apple, melon, peach. Mild mannered but somewhat vibrant./ Dry, tangy,
lively. Hints of stone and clove. Good varietal expression. Has
style, charisma, usefulness. Nice summer fare. 15.7. wt012605-02. 2004
WARWICK ESTATE PROFESSOR BLACK SIMONSBERG-STELLENBOSCH SAUVIGNON
BLANC - (SOUTH AFRICA) Bright and juicy.
Pear, gooseberry. Nice and ripe. No fluff. Sleek, tensile, enticing,
congenial. Unique, special. Why Cape sauvignon blancs are touted.
Nothing else quite like the best of them. As it airs, more aromatics
form. Grapefruit and grass. Decidedly complex and entertaining./Both
ripe and zingy. Crunchy, snappy, and penetrating. Complex and delicious
in both flavor and texture respects. Deserves its accolades (Spectator
Top 100). 16.7. wt012605-03. 2003
WHITEHAVEN MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC
- (NEW ZEALAND) Older. Ripe, ruddy, tawny. Sweet, round, and mellow
bouquet. Broiled grapefruit aroma is keynote. Also gooseberry and
bell pepper./ Yes, it’s broiled grapefruit sprinkled with powdered
sugar. Ordinarily, I don’t care for sauvignons with this much age
showing, but the broiled grapefruit aspect brings back pleasant
childhood breakfast memories. 15.5. wt012605-04. 2003
CHIANTI CETAMURA, COLTIBUONO - (ITALY)
Firm and strongly framed for a ripe vintage. Yes, grip and structure.
Dark fruit. Lots of purple plum peel. Full acidity./ Delicious currant
and berry fruit, plus fine herbs and peel extracts. And very fine
tannin. Good depth. Well crafted 2003 built to improve in bottle.
16.0+. wt012605-05. 2001
CARMIGNANO, VILLA DI CAPEZZANA - (ITALY)
Youthfully reduced still. Deep, dark ‘01 berriness lurks beneath.
Ripe mulberry and underbrush. Burly, full-blown; has oomph and plenty
to offer. Shows its cabernet sauvignon component./ Palate less reduced.
Lots of peel extract, grip, acid, tannin. Plenty of material here.
Age and aerate. Fine future. 16.4+. wt012605-06. 2003
CLOS DE LOS SIETE MENDOZA RED - (ARGENTINA)
(40% malbec, 20% each merlot, cabernet, syrah; by Michel Rolland)
- Sweet, ripe black fruit and spicy-toasty-charry oak. Enticing,
elegant, lovely. The Rolland hand shows. Class act./ Delicious ripe
fruit. Plus chocolate and garrigue-sous bois herb-spice range. Nice
glycerined roundness. A wine of fine balance and sense of proportion.
Fine craftsmanship. This wine continues to shine for me. Super value.
Put a 2000 Bordeaux Chateau label on it, and it would fly out the
door. Ought to regardless. 16.8+. wt012605-07. 2001
SEBASTIANI SONOMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON -
(U.S.) Seductive brown-spice barrel aromas. Cedar and milk chocolate
highlights. Full cassis cabernet fruit. Sonoma power and warmth.
Lots of cabernet black stuff./ Sweet spices and vanilla barrel contributions.
Medium-full. Fine race and acidity of 2001. Boy, is Sebastiani’s
winemaker crafting some fine reds lately! 16.7+. wt012605-08. 1999
TRINCHERO ESTATE NAPA VALLEY PETIT VERDOT
- (U.S.) Dark color./ Deep nose. Nice smoky, toasty, spicy oak.
Complex of dark ripe fruit, cedar, fine herbes, and game aromas.
Good varietal statement./ Good form, power, acid, and grip of 1999.
Good oak again. And varietal accuracy. A good value in Napa petit
verdot, which is hard to find at any price. 16.0+. wt012605-09. 2003
CAMPO DE BORJA BORSAO, BODEGAS BORSAO
- (SPAIN) (75% garnacha, 25% tempranillo) - Fresh, ripe, juicy,
frisky, vigorous, spicy. Aromas of strawberry and plum. Love it!
Great Spanish vintage!/ Lively and light-hearted. Both red and white
fruits. Fine acidity and light tannin contribute to a vivacious,
well-proportioned palate. Long strawberry grenache aftertaste. 15.8. wt012605-10. 2003
CAMPO DE BORJA TRES PICOS, BODEGAS BORSAO
- (SPAIN) (100% old vines garnacha) - More backward, subdued, aloof;
less eager than the Borsao. Solid, round, spicy black fruits, cocoa,
oak, cedar, oregano./ Intense, ripe, juicy, and spicy black raspberry
flavor. Quite the big boy. Commanding, really. Good, fresh, racy
acidity. Poise and balance. And depth. This will reward some patience.
16.3+. wt012605-11. 2002
VAUCLUSE PIGEOULET EN PROVENCE, HENRI BRUNIER
- (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Delicate red cherry, plum, and game scents./
Spice, black pepper, earth, and leather flavors. Delicate, taciturn,
dry. 14.1. wt012605-12. 2003
COTES DU RHONE CUVEE ROMAINE, DOMAINE LE GARRIGUE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Very sweet, ripe, smoky black
fruits with an undercurrent of legumes./ Rich and solid. Very ripe
fruit plus early stages of garrigue formation. Plenty of youthful
acidity and tannin. 15.3. wt012605-13. 2003
SHENANDOAH VINEYARDS SPECIAL RESERVE AMADOR ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) Fresh and primary, sweet and sassy--as intended.
Black raspberry, blueberry. Good oak vanilla and spices./ Sweet,
ripe raspberry fruit and vanilla barrel contribution. Easy appeal.
In keeping with the series, and, one of the best. 15.9. wt012605-14. 2003
SOBON ESTATE OLD VINES AMADOR ZINFANDEL
- (U.S.) Sweet apple-raspberry nose reminds me of a Dry Creek Valley
zinfandel. Amador contributes extra warmth and power. More structure,
density, and reserve than the above./ Sweet oak and fruit flavors.
Both ripe and cool. And succulent. Fine tannin, juicy acidity, balance.
Just right. A handsome, well-crafted zinfandel. Looks like a fine
Amador vintage. 16.5. wt012605-15. 2003
PENFOLDS BIN 2 SE AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ-MOURVEDRE
- (AUSTRALIA) There’s shiraz black pepper and other warm spices.
And mourvedre coolness and violets. Very perfumed. And nutty oakiness./
Solid black fruits. Plenty of oak. Herb and leather notes. Some
‘03 leafiness. Decent depth and reserve. 14.4. wt012605-16. 2002
SICILIA SYRAH, FEUDO ARANCIO - (ITALY)
Tar, anise, mint, vanilla oak. Raspberry, blackberry, grappa. Sweet
and ripe and lovely./ Balanced, fruity, vinous. Dense, hefty, generous.
Good oak and fruit. Great acidity. Varietal in a warm-climate way.
Good value. 15.5. wt012605-17. 2003
THORN-CLARKE BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ - (AUSTRALIA)
Very Barossa ripe. Warm spices, compact blackberry and plum fruit,
oak. A little leafy. Well extracted./ Medium bodied. Vigorous, spicy,
sweet concentration of fruit and oak. Drying tannins. 15.4. wt012605-18. 2001
PENFOLDS BIN 28 KALIMNA SOUTH AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ
- (AUSTRALIA) Huge volume and intensity of fruit well seasoned with
fine oak. Loaded, demonstrative, but still poised and elegant in
the usual Kalimna way./ Full of texture and material. Stuffed with
complementary fruit and oak. Big, chewy, loaded, balanced, fine.
What a treat! 17.0.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 wt011905-01. 2003
LUGANA SAN BENEDETTO, ZENATO - (ITALY)
2003 rich, plump. Soft, ripe, waxy yellow fruits. Yellow plums,
citrus, flowers. Fine clarity./ Rich, soft, plump, clear and generous
fruit. Nuts, stones, minerals, citrus peel. Luxuriant Lugana. 15.9. wt011905-02. 2004
SPY VALLEY MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC
- (NEW ZEALAND) Piquant gooseberry. Lemon-lime, grapefruit, cat,
grass. Zingy, racy, clear, nice./ Ripe, but with adequate cut, vibrancy.
Brash and piquant. Flavorful. Interesting aftertaste: starts tangy
and finishes plump. 15.7. wt011905-03. 2002
RED DIAMOND WASHINGTON CHARDONNAY - (U.S.)
Sweet oak vanilla and chardonnay apple and lemon. Fresh, minerally
Pac NW style./ Sweet and smooth butter-cream oak. Mild acidity.
Sweet and mild on the finish. 15.3. wt011905-04. 2003
COTES DU VENTOUX, LA VIEILLE FERME - (FRANCE
MEDITERRANEAN) Bright red fruit and garrigue. Primary, fresh, juicy,
piquant. Crisp for ‘03, but with a warm and ripe aromatic subset
too./ Juicy red fruit. Good full texture. Racy. Garrigue. Bright
and full of charm. Nice structure and depth. One of the best vintages
for this cuvee. 15.8. wt011905-05. 2003
COTES DU RHONE GRENACHE-SYRAH, SPIRIT OF THE WOODCOCK - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Bright, fresh, vivid fruits
and flowers. Right Bank cool. Feisty. Has a real aromatic punch.
Intense and juicy./ Intense and juicy indeed. Floral and fruity.
Dash of anise. Real vitality. Good juice. 16.2. wt011905-06. 2003
COTES DU RHONE VIEILLES VIGNES, DOMAINE DE L’ESPIGOUETTE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Wow! Intense berry and spice.
Very, very old vines concentrated. Vigorous, complex, brilliant./
Again, the richness of ‘03 with the concentration of old vines.
Fine tannins. Full race. Great aroma-flavor range. Real panache,
impact, depth. I thought the ‘01 was totally awesome. This is even
better. 16.6. wt011905-07. 2003
FLEURIE GRAND CRU PRESTIGE, GEORGES DUBOEUF
- (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Some oak? Bright Fleurie style of gamay, very
primary yet. Raspberry, cherry, cassis, banana. Vigorous, exotic,
enthusiastic./ Sweet, ripe fruit, with great texture, structure,
depth. Very fine tannin, extract, class. Impressive ‘03 majesty.
16.6+. wt011905-08. 2002
REX GOLIATH CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIR -
(U.S.) Sweet, sassy, spicy, sexy. Black cherry, cocoa. Cunningly
fashioned./ Sweet and sexy oak spices. Generous. Accurate, in fact,
total pinot. Well made, like all the Hahn wines. Now wonder it won
a lot of medals. 15.7. wt011905-09. 2002
BOURGOGNE HAUTES COTES DE NUITS, DOMAINE MONGEARD-MUGNERET - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) First-class pinot nose. More sophisticated,
less back-slope than before. Fine plum-dark cherry Cote de Nuits
style of pinot. Penetrating fruit infusion. Solid; plenty in reserve./
Good volume, balance, sweetness, acidity, tannin, succulence. Weighty,
structured. Great race and class. Best Mongeard HCDN yet. The Force
is with it. 16.6+. wt011905-10. 2002
SAVIGNY LES BEAUNE, DOMAINE MONGEARD-MUGNERET
- (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Fine oak and spicy black cherry of Savigny.
Cherry liqueur, vanilla, and cream. Then empyreumatic aromas of
hot stones, smoked meats, and oolong tea. Wow! All Burgundy all
the time!/ Sweet and lush and full flavored. Good, ripe fruit acidity.
Smooth, and already complete. Richly drawn, tightly knit, ripe,
and vigorous. Full-bodied. Most impressive rendition of this cuvee
yet. Great vintage for Mongeard! 17.2+. wt011905-11. 2001
CHIANTI RISERVA, DA VINCI - (ITALY) Toast,
dried cherry, dark fruit. Deep licorice, tar, and underbrush substrata./
Smooth and glycerined on the surface, but compact and closed in
at its core. Refined but rather unyielding yet. Good oak, good acidity.
Allow for plenty of aeration time, or cellar a year or two.15.9+. wt011905-12. 2001
TOSCANA, VILLA ANTINORI - (ITALY) Very
dark colored and dark fruited. You can tell the cabernet and syrah
extras. Firm, toasty oak. Very deep, dark, even sinister. Now oak
vanillin. Sleek, sophisticated, elegant, racy. Loaded./ Balanced
in wood and fruit, sweetness and acidity. Fine, melted tannins.
Very well crafted. I can see the rave reviews. Class act. 16.8+. wt011905-13. 2000
VELLETRI RISERVA TERRE DEI VOLSCI, CONCORSIO VELLETRI - (ITALY) Long-in-cask mellowness as usual. Oak, sandalwood,
roasted nuts, chocolate, blackberry, spices, rust./ Good bouquet
development. Ease, fluidity, and suavity of a barrel-aged Latium
rosso. And that good Italianate acidity. 16.2. wt011905-14. 2001
RED DIAMOND WASHINGTON MERLOT - (U.S.)
Combo of oak, ripe, heavy fruit, and cool Pac NW merlot notes of
herbs and menthol. Plenty of goods here. But the vision has yet
to come into focus./ Ripe, sweet, explosive, generous. Even garrigue
nuances! A Med merlot from Washington?! 15.1. wt011905-15. 2001
RED DIAMOND WASHINGTON CABERNET SAUVIGNON
- (U.S.) Chocolate-chip cookie nose. Dark chocolate. Very ripe fruit:
black cherry and currant./ Sweet and ripe. Cookie flavor. Low acidity.
Literally sweet–very sweet for a cabernet. Boy, this Washington
winery really picks ‘em ripe! 14.7. wt011905-16. 2000
DAVID FROST GENE SARAZEN RESERVE PAARL CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (SOUTH AFRICA) Hefty, oaky, spicy. Black fruits, black
pepper, tobacco, olives. And no horse! Good statements of both oak
and varietal. Good grip, plenty of material. Powerful, garrulous,
coercive./ Smooth and sassy. Balanced, fruity, very generous, delicious.
Nice oak delicacy. Good winemaking here. A whale of a Cape cabernet.
16.4. wt011905-17. 2001
ZACA MESA SANTA YNEZ VALLEY SYRAH - (U.S.)
Good ‘01 and Zaca Mesa refinement. Firm. Herb, olive, underbrush.
Sadly, no viognier highlights showing this vintage./ Good varietal
character. But not much range and flair. I miss the Cote Rotie similarities
of past vintages. Good ‘01 acidity. 15.4. wt011905-18. 2004
THE WISHING TREE WESTERN AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ
- (AUSTRALIA) Cool Western Australia delivery. Mentholated freshness.
An innocent babe still./ Sassy, ripe, assertive. Sweet and uncomplicated.
Again, innocent. Lacks the wisdom of age. Good structure and depth,
so give it some time. 15.0+.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005 wt011205-01. 2004
LA MISION DE WM FEVRE VALLE CENTRAL SAUVIGNON BLANC - (CHILE) Cool, sleek yellow fruits. Bright, clean. Creamy
pear, citrus, minerals. Ripe and upfront fruit. Generous./ Bright,
tangy, very vibrant. Ripe yellow fruits, citrus, gooseberry. Nice
piquancy. 15.5. wt011205-02. 2003
ALSACE GENTIL, HUGEL - (FRANCE ALSACE)
Full, dry, Alsace-Hugel classic. Lovely riesling flowers, gewurz
rosewater. Totally harmonious, cool, poised./ Good power, concentration,
balance, dryness, astringency. Classic. 16.2. wt011205-03. 2004
BEAUJOLAIS VILLAGES NOUVEAU CHATEAU DE LA GRAND GRANGE, GEORGES
DUBOEUF - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Bright, fresh
banana-berry nose. Cranberry–a mark of the ‘04 Nouveaux. Settling
in. Calmer than the ‘04 Nouveaux in November./ Still a little tart
and astringent, but coming along, filling out. See again in March.
That’s when I like my late-vintage Nouveaux best. 15.4+. wt011205-04. 2003
SEBASTIANI SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR - (U.S.)
Sweet but cool, fresh pinot noir nose. Oak’s warm spices, toast,
and caramel. Ripe black fruits, smoked meat, and mushroom. And tea./
Sweet and sassy palate. Wood, tar, tea, cherry. Pinot ripe, fat,
and alluringly sweet. A bright, brash, cocky youngster. With a lot
going for it. ‘03 continues this wine’s strong run. 15.8+. wt011205-05. 2002
COTE DE NUITS VILLAGES LE VAUCRAIN, LOUIS JADOT
- (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Jadot style: confined, close-knit, sleek, stylish,
subtle, measured. Cote de Nuits plummy darkness, solidity./ Classic
beauties of Jadot pinot. Sooo well crafted. High-toned, racy, delineated.
Classic to both maker and vintage. Fresh and juicy pinot feels and
flavors. Lovely fruit acidity. Fine tannin. A gem. 16.4+. wt011205-06. 2002
SAVIGNY LES BEAUNE LA DOMINODE 1ER CRU, LOUIS JADOT - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Fuller, redder (Cote de Beaune).
Bright, ripe, focused Savigny cherry. Deeper and more brilliant
fruit establishing Premier Cru for sure. And the added toasty oak
complex it deserves./ Great, lavish oak seasoning. Fine structural
elements: acidity, extract, astringency. Fruit runs deep. A well-framed
keeper. 17.0+. wt011205-7. 2002
BURGESS NAPA VALLEY MERLOT - (U.S.) Smoky,
oaky, rich, ripe (Howell Mt.), deep. Both clarity and strength./
Oak and fruit in harmony. Powerful, direct, rich, and fine Burgess,
2002, and Howell Mountain representative. Better oak integration
than during a former era of Burgess reds. The oak doesn’t stand
apart, nor does it command. I like its spiciness: clove, cinnamon.
And the fruit is ample. 16.3. wt011205-8. 2001
BENZIGER SONOMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.)
Lush, bountiful cassis fruit. Prominent charry, spicy oak, raisinette,
walnut. Penetrating./ Sweet, ripe black fruits, especially black
currant. Oak toast and caramel. Chewy tannins. Good balance and
depth. 16.0+. wt011205-9. 2001
CHARLES KRUG NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
- (U.S.) Good oak and the usual old-time Napa cabernet warmth, dryness,
structure. Dark and classic. Like a Napa cabernet from the Sixties./
Bright, intense, and super Krug Napa cabernet classic. Definition,
clarity, power, dryness, frame. This is the way central Napa cabernet
used to be, before a Bordeaux or international style was superimposed.
This is a cabernet from a Mediterranean climate, including the tar
and leather components. They’re making great cabernets in Tuscany.
Why not use that as a model instead of Bordeaux? It’s a natural.
17.0. wt011205-10. FRANCAIS
PLAN PEGAU LOT 2003, FERAUD-BRUNEL - (FRANCE
MEDITERRANEAN) Sweet, ripe ‘03, almost California like. Big, soft,
direct grenache statement./ But it’s decidedly French on the palate.
Good acidity as well as sweetness. French structure and dryness.
Solid, generous red and black fruits and black pepper. Fine, penetrating
delivery. 15.7. wt011205-11. 2003
CORBIERES, CHATEAU PRAT DE CEST - (FRANCE
MEDITERRANEAN) Full, ripe, candied fruits, whiskey, and dates. Again,
the ‘03 nose is almost California like, the vintage was so warm./
Dark fruits, warm spices, and adequate acidity. Dry. Some tannins
to shed yet. 15.1+. wt011205-12. 2001
SAINT CHINIAN, CHATEAU VIRANEL - (FRANCE
MEDITERRANEAN) Good oak and cool, suave fruit in cooperation. Full
garrigue perfume, buoyancy. Overtones of eau de vie and flowers./
Aromas echo on the palate. Plus fine acidity, alcohol, and fruit
in balance. Handsome wine of depth and potential. 2001 stylishness.
16.2. wt011205-13. 2003
COTES DU ROUSSILLON, DOMAINE SARDA-MALLET
- (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Ripe, open, sweet, New World nature of
many 2003s. But there’s good acid freshness too. Black licorice
and garrigue. Red and black raspberries./ Yes, ripe to be sure,
but great French fruit acidity. Sleek, racy, well balanced. Good
strength. Sense of seriousness and sophistication. Nice. 16.4. wt011205-14. 2001
COTES DU ROUSSILLON VILLAGES MAS JANEIL, J&F LURTON - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Grapey, plummy, and reduced.
Orchid perfumes./ Oak and warm spices. Tannic. Young. Promising.
Not for present use, unless aeration makes a big difference. 15.8+. wt011205-15. 2000
BAROLO BRICCO ROSSO CASCINA BRUNI, GIUSEPPE VEGLIO - (ITALY) Very tarry, dense, meaty, compact. Sweet black
fruits, sandalwood, dried flowers, tobacco, spice cake./ Sweet fruit
and chewy peel extracts. Strong framing. Lots of material, all the
elements in balance. Concentration, fine tannin, richness, depth.
In all respects, loaded. It’s been a treat to taste some of these
2000 Barolos that don’t break the bank. 17.2+. wt011205-16. 2002
KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN SYBARITES CLARE-BAROSSA RED - (AUSTRALIA) (60% shiraz, 40% grenache) - Very dark./
Lots of American oak. Sweet, ripe, succulent fruit. Mint, flowers,
tobacco, spice, black cherry. Pretty big, pretty impressive./ Full
oak and sweet, soothing Barossa shiraz fruit, plus the extra strength,
ripeness, and glycerol of grenache. Plenty of astringent tannins
still. 16.0+. wt011205-17. BOONE’S
FARM APPLE BLOSSOM - (FRUIT) Apple and
fluff, cologne. Blossom indeed. And an almond note./ Light and spritzy.
Candy, perfume, blossom. Boone’s Farm Apple is baaack! With frills.
14.3.
Wednesday, January 5, 2005 wt010505-01. 2004
VILLA MARIA PRIVATE BIN MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC - (NEW ZEALAND) Citrus and hard water. Cool notes of
flowers, grass, lemon drop. No fat./ Dry, with some glycerol supplying
roundness. Acetic, lean, uncompromising. 15.2. wt010505-02. 2004
BABICH MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC - (NEW
ZEALAND) More ripe white fruits. Loquat and lemongrass. Zingy./
More gooseberry, more Loire like. Chipotle. Softer. More gracious.
Some residual sugar. 15.4. wt010505-03. 2003
CHIANTI, SAN CARLO - (ITALY) Smoky, ripe,
dried fruit. ‘03 sweetness and generosity. Nice fresh berry fruit
comes on later. Ripe raspberry, plum, pomegranate./ Sweet fresh
and dried fruits. Grip of peel tannins. Peppery, spicy aftertaste.
Well balanced. Generous and useful. Good value. 15.5. wt010505-04. 1999
CHIANTI RISERVA, SAN CARLO - (ITALY) Dense.
Long in seasoned cooperage. Wood, tobacco, tar. Big, bold, rancio.
Panettone./ Lots of cask maturity. Old-time, rustic. Sweet, ripe
fruit. 14.8. wt010505-05. 2002
SIDURI SONOMA PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Powerful,
leafy, tart cherry, green tea, wood. Rather austere, but the fruit
is sweet enough. Wood spices season nicely./ Heady, sweet. Bold,
high-extract style. Dried cherry, black cherry. Astringent tannins
though. Sends mixed messages. Maybe more time in bottle will give
it composure, a balanced presentation. 15.3. wt010505-06. 2002
REYNOLDS NEW SOUTH WALES MERLOT - (AUSTRALIA)
Sweet, warm fruit and light oak./ Sweet spices. No varietal character,
but a pleasant, soft, harmonious mouthful. 15.0. wt010505-07. 2002
REYNOLDS NEW SOUTH WALES CABERNET SAUVIGNON
- (AUSTRALIA) Much more varietal character. Blackberry and black
currant. Cabernet peel tones. And oak. And cedar./ Leather and oak
flavors. Leaner than the nose. Does it need more time? The merlot
is much more accommodating to the palate at present. That’s typical.
15.1+. wt010505-08. 2000
FOLIE A DEUX NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
- (U.S.) Very heavy in the oak. Sweet oak and fruit./ Full vanilla
and sweet spices oak flavors. The fruit has a hole in the middle–2000
vintage nature. Less oak dominant on the palate. Not bad. 15.6. wt010505-09. 2001
FOLIE A DEUX ESTATE PRIVATE RESERVE NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Much finer oak approach here. French versus
American? Vanilla, milk chocolate, and fine Oriental spices. Very
suave oak and class Napa Valley cabernet fruit. Fine./ Very spicy,
classy. Sweet for 2001, but has the vintage’s framing. Delicious,
really. Refined, polished smooth. Good balance gives it present
appeal. 17.6. wt010505-10. 2001
FOLIE A DEUX AMADOR ZINFANDEL - (U.S.)
Heavy in toast and warm spices. Sweet, generous, impressive./ Sweet,
spicy, foxy lady. Good acidity and alcohol play nicely with the
fruit sweetness to achieve balance. Fine tannin too. Good value.
16.6. wt010505-11. 2001
CAMPUS OAKS LODI ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) (Gnekow
Family) - Sweet Valley fruit with oak overlayment. Raspberry zinfandel
character./ Sweet and simple. Generous, dark, ripe. Good power.
Direct Lodi appeal. The good acidity distinguishes it from a Central
Valley zin. Wine of place, albeit humble. 15.1. wt010505-12. 2002
BEAULIEU VINEYARD NAPA VALLEY ZINFANDEL
- (U.S.) Bell pepper. Lean. Not a patch on the ‘01./ Spicy oak.
Sweet and spicy. Easy. Some Napa refinement to the texture, but
little Napa class to the aroma and flavor profile. 13.2. wt010505-13. 2003
CASTLE ROCK DRY CREEK VALLEY ZINFANDEL
- (U.S.) Apple-raspberry aroma of Dry Creek Valley zin. Vibrant,
expressive, simple, direct, fresh, and good./ Sweet, and true to
its origin. Juicy fruit acidity too. Claret style. Well balanced.
Shows ability to please. Great buy. 15.9. wt010505-14. 2001
RODNEY STRONG ESTATE KNOTTY VINES SONOMA ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) Powerful, stalwart, frank, dry, concentrated.
Briar and spice. Real old-vines Sonoma stuff./ Power and glycerol.
Pungent, able, mealworthy. Classic old-time Sonoma zin. Impressive.
Best Rod Strong zin I’ve tasted in some time. 16.1. wt010505-15. 2002
MARIETTA SONOMA ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) Powerful,
roasted, lush, eager, giving./ Sweet and strong. Dry, strident,
insistent, chewy. Dry Creek Valley style, sweetness. Good acidity
too. Frank DCV zin statement. 15.8+. wt010505-16. 2002
RIDGE THREE VALLEYS SONOMA RED - (U.S.)
(76% zinfandel; plus carignane, mataro) - Like the other 2002 Ridge
zins I’ve tasted, very ripe, almost roasted fruit. The old vines
really pumped it up this vintage./ Again, roti in style. Nicely
textured and well balanced though. I wonder how it will age? 15.4 wt010505-17. 2001
CHATEAU DES CEDRES, CADILLAC - (FRANCE
BORDEAUX) Apricot, cool melon, toast. Sweet, succulent, thick, loaded./
Thick, rich semillon with some sauvignon-muscadelle lift. Apricot,
sultana, almond. Really loaded in the 2001 sense. Needs time. 16.5++. wt010505-18. 2002
CHATEAU HAUT VALENTIN, CADILLAC - (FRANCE
BORDEAUX) As at the Tasters Guild eve dinner, this is a pineapple-coconut
semillon delight. Also apricot, kumquat, fig, honey. Very sweet
and succulent./ Yes, sweet, thick, loaded, luxuriant, liquoreuse.
Fresh, juicy fruit acidity too. Total 2002. Great future. 17.0+.
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