|
||
|
Tasting Notes Printer-Friendly Version
- June, 2006 |
Use your browser print function to print this page. |
|
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 WT062806-1. 05
VENEZIA-GIULIA PINOT GRIGIO, LE COSTE DE CICOLINA - (ITALY) Perfumed, high toned lime, apple, pear, and
stone fruits. Solid, creamy, dusky./ Sleek and mineraly, with good
balance and depth. Big boned. 15.2+. WT062806-2. 05
PANTHER CREEK MELROSE VINEYARD OREGON PINOT GRIS - (U.S.) Fresh and young. Melon, apple, metal, mineral,
peel. Red berries, currants, flowers. Wood?/ Great acidity. Racy
rather than plump. American power. Not much flavor interest yet.
Young. Give it a few months. 15.4+. WT062806-3. 04
SCHWEIGER UBOLDI VINEYARD SONOMA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC - (U.S.) Rich, full, strong, maturing. Good, racy aromas
of cat pee and canned grapefruit juice. Pineapple and passion fruit
too./ Full. Touch of oak spiciness. Lots of power. Smooth glycerol.
Bold. Liked this better than I had expected. I’m usually ready to
discard New World sauvignons of this age. Take it to the table with
pungent Tex-Mex fare. 16.2. WT062806-4. 04
OC CHARDONNAY, LAZY LIZARD - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN)
Tawny orange peel nose of an aging chardonnay. Not bad, but I’m
sure it saw better days./ Soft, mild, low acid. Watery too. 12.5. WT062806-5. 05
MACON-CHARDONNAY, DOMAINE TALMARD half bottle
- (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Wow! Brisk and bright and racy, with lots of
citrus. The enticing, rounded character of a barrel-aged wine, but
no wood aromatics./ Still tender in youth; acidity coated. Needs
time for this to pass and for more texture and depth of character
to form. I’m sure it will. Poised and lovely. 05 scores again. 16.1+. WT062806-6. 05
THE MAGNIFICENT WINE CO. COLUMBIA VALLEY WHITE
- (U.S.) 82% chardonnay, 8% gewurztraminer, 6% riesling, 4% pinot
gris. Round and full chardonnay foundation to the cuvee. Riesling
sets the aromatic pace, showing peach, mango, and flowers. This
is a surprise. Usually gewurz dominates this sort of combo. Very
racy./ Juicy, with scented riesling flavors. Also melon and quince.
Alsace scent and dryness, chardonnay bulk. Nice acidity and texture.
Cleverly conceived. Congruent, well executed. A sophisticated Conundrum.
16.0.. WT062806-7. 05
OC SYRAH ROSE, BEAUVIGNAC - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN)
Wow! Lovely, bright, delicate raspberry and strawberry, good-wines-we-brew
aromas./ Crisp and racy like the nose. Touches of cranberry and
rose. Tingly acid. Very, very neat and focused and pure and uplifting.
High toned. 16.0. WT062806-8. 05
COTES DU RHONE ROSE LA DAME ROUSSE, DOMAINE DE LA MORDOREE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Richer and fuller. Ripe, rich,
generous, vibrant. Good, reductive astringency common to Mordoree’s
young, early-bottled wines. Grenache power. A rose with lots of
material.. Tells it like it is./ Full, textured, lots of grape-peel
dry extracts. Lots of grip, mouth feel. Mouthfilling mealtime rose.
16.4. WT062806-9. 02
CHIANTI CLASSICO, CASTELLO DELLA PANERETTA
- (ITALY) Rich black fruit and fine oak. Some bouquet development.
Tar and leather. Surely an accomplished 02./ All confirmed on the
palate. Class oak. Dense and smoky-meaty. Rich and balanced and
well textured and fine. Must have made a very careful selection.
Expensive. 16.8. WT062806-10. 04
DOURO PRAZO DE RORIZ, QUINTA DE RORIZ
- (PORTUGAL) 40% each roriz and nacional, 10% each franca and barocca.
Wow! Total elderberry, sweet and smooth, spicy and fetching./ Explosive
purple fruit flavors. With blueberry and serviceberry nuances too.
Plum, licorice, tobacco, black olive. Call it complex? Rich and
well tuned. Good dryness, balance, tannin, acidity, grip, extract,
length. And more to come! 16.3+. WT062806-11. 04
CARINENA GARNACHA, ABRAZO - (SPAIN) Tar
and anise. Sweet grenache red fruit. Rugged, honest, earthy country
wine leanings./ Rustic. Some hard-press stemminess. Very tart. And
a little salty on the aftertaste. Has shown better. 13.8. WT062806-12. 01
RIOJA CRIANZA, BODEGAS LAN - (SPAIN) High
toned, oaky-fruity young crianza, lush and mannered. Burnished,
spiced cherry with understated suggestion of rosemary. Yes, a lovely,
total crianza experience of class, great fruit and just the right
degree of oakiness./ Good crianza level of fruit, with focus and
depth. Good 01 grip and acidity. Mouthfilling, balanced, well tuned,
well crafted. Textbook, traditional style. Oak vanillin on aftertaste.
A keeper. 16.2+. WT062806-13. 99
RIOJA RESERVA, BODEGAS LAN - (SPAIN) Here’s
the maturity, the charm and allure that comes with reserva age.
Fine oak and time in oak influences. Anise, wood, barrel bouquet,
power. Well extracted black fruits and cured meat nuances. Big,
bold, assertive, old time./ Medium bodied, which is just right for
a real, traditional reserva. Mellow complex of wood and fruit and
time in barrel. Vibrant acidity. Glycerined smoothness too. Very
fine tannin. Will continue to thrive. 16.4+. WT062806-14. 04
THE MAGNIFICENT WINE CO. COLUMBIA VALLEY RED
- (U.S.) 70% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 5% syrah. Stinky reduction.
Needs air and age. Shaking the bottle gives some relief. Black fruits
start to emerge: black plum and blackberry./ Yes, the shaking helped.
Sulphur alleviated on the palate. Sweet and smooth and polished.
Good Washington acidity, but there’s a bit much residual sugar overall
for my tastes Modern style. Could use more flavor definition and
intensity. 14.4.. WT062806-15. 03
ESTANCIA LUCIA RANGE RANCHES CENTRAL COAST SYRAH - (U.S.) Nicely polished oak veneer. Good California
syrah fruit–black raspberry, sweet, sleek, powerful. / Smooth, vanilla-coated,
ripe, sweet, dense fruit. Good acidity. Good craftsmanship. 15.9. WT062806-16. 04
COSTIERES DE NIMES, CHATEAU MAS NEUF -
(FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) 45% syrah, 25% grenache, 15% each cinsault
and mourvedre. Whoa! Big syrah nose of raspberry, peppercorn, and
lavender. Plum and cherry notes too. Ventilating aroma of 04. Cool,
classic Nimes./ Racy 04 syrah style. Great 04 vigor. Yes, classic
Nimes. Super value. 16.3. WT062806-17. 01
VACQUEYRAS, DOMAINE DE L’ESPIGOUETTE -
(FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Intense and focused, ripe black fruit preserves
with peels. Spiced, brandied fruits./ Big, tough, leathery, smoky.
Massive, almost port-like. Distinct Vacqueyras gaminess. 15.7. WT062806-18. 03
CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE, DOMAINE CHANTE CIGALE
- (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Oh, boy! Traditional style, but very rich
and fruity too. Intense grenache strawberry, ripe and sweet and
powerful. Very spicy-woodsy-gamy too. Lovely./ Full, sweet fruit
and full texture of acidity, tannin, extract, and sweet glycerol
of ripe fruit. All the size and mass and material one expects of
great Chateauneuf. Huge, really. 17.3+.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006 WT062106-01. 04
CHATEAU LA ROSE BLANCHE, SAINT EMILION
- (FRANCE BORDEAUX) 80% merlot, 15% cabernet franc, 5% cabernet
sauvignon. Ripe, primary black fruit aromas. Prominent merlot cherry,
lush and nicely burnished. Rose petal highlight./ Sweet, luscious
fruity. Lovely merlot and cabernet franc fruit and spice flavors.
Again, well burnished. Attractive and approachable. Good mealtime
claret. 15.3+. WT062106-02. 03
CHATEAU DU HAUT CAILLOU, CANON FRONSAC
- (FRANCE BORDEAUX) 70% merlot, 30% cabernet franc. Rich and ripe,
luscious and lovely, big and serious. The hot vintage shows. Nice
toasty, spicy oak extras too./ Rich and ripe, powerful, and oaky.
Great acidity for 03, and fine tannin too. Good balance. Lots of
allure. Thorough. Commendable. 16.2+. WT062106-03. 03
CHATEAU MARJOSSE, BORDEAUX - (FRANCE BORDEAUX)
Full, with fine new French oak portfolio of aromas. Plenty of peel
extracts give lots of form. Dense, sweet core fruits. Purple fruit,
tea leaf, iron, spices, dusty tannin./ Highly extracted. Lots of
material. Chewy, and somewhat astringent. Long skin soak. Both peel
and stem tannins. An ambitious endeavor that will need some time
to sort itself out. 15.8++. WT062106-04. 03
CHATEAU BEAULIEU COMTES DE TASTES, BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) 55% merlot, 45% cabernet sauvignon.
Wow! Ripe, black, abundant. Rich oak vanilla and spice, ripe cherry,
plum, and currant fruits. High-toned, exotic cedar, perfume, and
eau-de-vie airs./ Claret dignity, grace, weight, and flow. Some
animal nuances. Lots of spice. Layers of flavors. Good acidity and
plenty of peel tannins. Lots of growth potential. 16.2+. WT062106-05. 03
CHATEAU SEGUR DE CABANAC, CRU BOURGEOIS, SAINT ESTEPHE - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) Full slug of new oak. Rich vanilla
frosting. Very rich and deep fruit. Currant, apple, raspberry. Big,
bold, and stuffed full. One class Saint Estephe./ Full, chewy, well
extracted. Fine tannins. Polished and fine. Definitely from the
gravel section near the estuary. A distinguished cru bourgeois.
16.4+. WT062106-06. 03
CHATEAU LA TOUR DE PEZ, CRU BOURGEOIS SUPERIEUR, SAINT ESTEPHE - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) Noble, deep, purple, floral. Fabulous
oak–the Grand Cru Classe sort with cedar cigar-box extras. Great
fruit finesse too. Wow! Way elegant, polite, refined for Saint Estephe!
And way deep./ Yes, silky claret styling for this appellation. Such
fine, fine tannin. Wonderful sense of harmony. Wow! One of the best
Saint Estephe crus bourgeois I’ve ever tasted! 17.0+. Well respected
by the group. WT062106-07. 04
PIESPORTER GOLDTROPFCHEN RIESLING KABINETT, VON KESSELSTATT - (GERMANY) Peach, pear, apricot, honey, flowers, and
sweetmeal. A proper and charming Goldtropfchen, stylish and well
delineated. Full 04 grip and texture./ Some edelfirne forming already.
It seems to come early in von Kesselstatt wines, maybe because they
don’t use sussreserve. Moderately sweet, with good acidity and extract
grip. Tightly focused, penetrating, deep, and handsome. Nice lemon
piquance and mineral savor. Both rich and racy. Yes, describes both
04 and Goldtropfchen. Long aftertaste. 16.5. WT062106-08. 04
ALSACE GENTIL, HUGEL - (FRANCE ALSACE)
Oh! Is this bright! Very crisp and racy green citrus fruit of pinot
blanc, with hints of riesling and gewurz zesty aromatics. Penetrating.
Swells and tingles the nostrils./ Yes, very racy and full textured.
Juicy. Washes the palate clean. Best Gentil in a long while. 16.4. WT062106-09. 03
RIESLING, TRIMBACH - (FRANCE ALSACE) Good
edelfirne development. Mature-scented, but also extremely bright,
fresh, and clean feeling. Touch of brett–strange for Alsace./ Mature
flavors. Burnished texture. Good acidity. Well composed 03. 15.7. WT062106-10. 04
GEWURZTRAMINER, HUGEL - (FRANCE ALSACE)
Whoa! Thoroughly pomaded! Thick, balsamic, tonic. Rosewater and
glycerine, cold cream, lychee and orange peel./ Medium thick and
nicely ventilating. Pretty good acidity for gewurz this vintage,
and the welcome trace of astringency at the finale. Equilibrium,
balance, Hugel composure. 16.3. WT062106-11. 04
WATER WHEEL MEMSIE BENDIGO RED - (AUSTRALIA)
71% shiraz, 22% cabernet sauvignon, 7% malbec. Sweet, fruity, dark,
jammy. Raspberry and blackberry jam. Bitter chocolate, coffee, spices,
and eucalyptus./ Good and lush. Sweet and rich and full and jammy.
Great generosity and appeal. 16.0. WT062106-12. BOONES
FARM STRAWBERRY MARGARITA - (FRUIT) Intense
artificial strawberry nose./ And taste. With something leafy and
herbal I can’t put my finger on. But it sure isn’t agave. Unlike
the Mango Grove, this formula doesn’t cut it. 11.0. WT062106-13. KPHTIKH
TH TERRA CRETA OLIVE OIL 250ml - (POTPOURRI)
Folks liked this. Clean and clear, with a lightly aromatic olive
flavor. Nice grassy overtones. Just the right acidity restraint.
16.7.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006 WT61406A-01. 05
BERINGER CALIFORNIA PINOT GRIGIO - (U.S.)
Fresh, rich, plump, and real. Apple, melon, nut./ The varietal character
is genuine and profuse. Ripe and bright. Good acidity. 15.2. WT61406A-02. 04
MONTES SPECIAL CUVEE COLCHAGUA VALLEY MERLOT
- (CHILE) Very well endowed in American oak and merlot plump fruit
and tobacco goodies. Very bright and very plush and ostentatious
in the Montes style./ Flavors of black licorice and sweet oak vanillin.
Plenty of authority. Tannins to stay the course. 16.0. WT61406A-03. 04
COTES DU RHONE, KERMIT LYNCH - (FRANCE
MEDITERRANEAN) Rich enough, and very cool, sleek, and peels oriented
in the 04 style. Dark-fruited, with licorice snap and cigar box
airs. Seems like a good cellar candidate./ Smooth approach, good
acidity, fine tannin. Sweet berry core. Garrigue and summer sausage
additions. Nice floral air on exhalation. Good form and reserve.
Like the 04 Tuscans, these 04 French Med wines often seem dark and
sullen in the early stages, but I like their promise of future pleasures.
It’s really a shock drinking these 04s after the buxom, forthcoming
03s. 15.9+. WT61406A-04. 04
ALTO ADIGE PINOT GRIGIO, TIEFENBRUNNER
- (ITALY) Very nice, burnished, billowing varietal fragrance, while
sticking to the cool, high-altitude briskness. Vigorous, surging,
penetrating./ Good, soft pinot grigio plumpness of texture and good
high-altitude acidity. Bright and racy, ripe, lemon-drop flavor
with pinot gris patisserie creaminess. Fine effort, worth the premium.
16.4. WT61406A-05. 05
SWANSON NAPA VALLEY PINOT GRIS - (U.S.)
Bigger boy from a warmer clime. More alcohol, more body, more richness.
And some oak./ A rich, broad, wide-ranging mouthful of pinot gris
flavors and texture. Full alcohol and viscosity. An ample dry white
wine. 16.5. WT61406A-06. 05
OC PINOT NOIR, GEORGES DUBOEUF - (FRANCE
MEDITERRAEAN) Opens somewhat shrill and youthful, with vestiges
of secondary (fermentation) aromas. Then the primary varietal character
comes on. And going back to the wine an hour later, its suave pinot
personality is all the more in evidence./ From the start, the palate
shows more plentiful pinot richness than the nose, more sunny ripeness.
Race, vigor, and acidity are surprising for a Med pinot though.
Sharp and vivid pinot character. Really acts like a cool climate
pinot wine in a ripe vintage. Best of both worlds. Bargain. 15.9. WT61406A-07. 04
OC PINOT NOIR LES SALICES, LURTON - (FRANCE
MEDITERRANEAN) Oak aged. Shows a year’s more bouquet development.
Maybe more because of the time in oak. The dark peels qualities
of 04. Rather severe still. But there are nice perfumes of fruit
and oak./ Yes, nicely perfumed in the mouth too. Good acidity. Handsome
construction, fine depth. Typical of 04 rouges, this will appreciate
some time to allow it to plump up. 15.0+. WT61406B-01. 05
COSTERES DEL SEGRE CHARDONNAY, RAIMAT
- (SPAIN) Rich, ripe, mellow, perfumed apple aroma of a southern
chardonnay. Overtones of straw, nut, and minerals./ Flavors of honied
apple and citrus. Sweetly fruity and smooth. Adequate acidity. Enjoy
at the table or on the deck this summer. 15.7. WT61406B-02. 05
RIAS BAIXAS ALBARINO, LAGAR DE CERVERA
- (SPAIN) Rich, full, and heady, with billowing floral perfume of
the varietal./ Floral and perfumed in the mouth too, with layers
of lemon grass, tropics, and stones beneath. Cool, racy acidity
and glycerol thickness in harmony. Power-packed too. All in balance.
Enticing, vital, refined, classy. More ample than the fine 04. 16.7. WT61406B-03. 04
NAVARRA GARNACHA, ZETA - (SPAIN) From
a 40-50 year old vineyard near Pamplona. Very rich and heavy. Very
sweet fruit. Rugged power and feel. Big and lovely, pure grenache
aromatic set./ Sweet and flowing fruit. No tannin at all. Lots of
up front, present appeal, and good flavor depth to boot. You can
cool this one down for summer drinking. 15.9. WT61406B-04. 04
MONTSANT AFINUS GARNACHA G-2, VINOS SIN-LEY
- (SPAIN) Lovely, lilting Montsant take on grenache. This is high-altitude
grenache. Peppery black fruits and hints of chamomile, clove, and
nutmeg./ Fresh and full of fruits, berries, and flowers. Bright,
high-toned, lively acidity. Lots of uplift and alertness. 16.1. WT61406B-05. 04
TERRA ALTA SEXTO, HERON - (SPAIN) Fresh
oak and a breezy tonic coolness. High-pitched black fruits, including
brandied cherry. Terra Alta stylishness./ Sweet berries and currants
and bay-laurel tonic flavors. Oak spices too. All well integrated.
Good acidity, fine tannin, ample depth. Room to grow. 16.0+. WT61406B-06. 05
CIUDAD REAL CENCIBEL CARRIL DE COTOS, BODEGAS SAN ISIDRO - (SPAIN) Cencibel = tempranillo. Pre-phylloxera vines
80-120 years old. Very ripe, warm-climate fruit basis with special,
floral, sachet-like airs. Ripe black cherry and spices. / Sweet
currant fruit. Some cooling peels astringency to keep it refreshing.
Good warm-climate effort. 15.2. WT61406B-07. 05
YECLA CARRO, BODEGAS SENORIO DE BARAHONDA
- (SPAIN) 50% monastrell, 20% syrah, 20% tempranillo, 10% merlot.
Sweet vanilla oak in abundance. Firm blackberry basis and gamey
note./ Sweet and fruity. Generous and ripe berry flavors. Proper
firm structure of youth. Good combo of southern Spanish warmth and
generous strength with good acidity from high altitude and cool
nights. Even handed. 15.4. WT61406B-08. 05
YECLA MONASTRELL, BODEGAS SENORIO DE BARAHONDA
- (SPAIN) Warm, compact, measured, elegant. Nice light oak burnish.
Yes, there’s a lot of finesse here for the DO. Aromas of black fruits,
nuts, olives, and tobacco./ Fresh, young, flavorful. High-toned
mourvedre in the southern setting it enjoys. Visions of Bandol.
Structurally, it’s still pretty tight. Some months’ aging required
to fill it out. 16.0+. WT61406B-09. 05
RIBERA DEL DUERO VIZCARRA ROBLE, BODEGAS VIZCARRA RAMOS - (SPAIN) Roble Americano for sure. Vanilla, coconut,
dill. Plenty of plump red and black fruits underneath waiting to
surface./ Oak still dominant on the palate too. Ripe, expressive,
dramatic fruit volume beneath. A simmering giant. 16.3+. WT61406B-10. 05
TERRA ALTA LUDOVICUS, VINOS PINOL - (SPAIN)
35% garnacha, 30% tempranillo, 25% syrah, 10% cabernet. Strong,
full, bright, young, loaded. Deep fruits, roasted and dried./ Big,
round, classy, seductive, extreme. Sweet, young, and powerful. Real
structure, balance, depth. Well poised. Fine. 16.8+. WT61406B-11. 04
TERRA ALTA CRIANZA PORTAL, VINOS PINOL
- (SPAIN) 30% each merlot and cabernet, 20% garnacha, 10% each syrah
and tempranillo. Powerful, roasted, nutty. Dark and deep. High altitude
refinement and coolness about it too./ Rich, strong, deep, and dense.
Hefty and powerful indeed. Exotic flairs. Fine oak seasoning and
time-in-oak complexity. Plenty of fruit and fruit tannin. Complete,
balanced young wine with a fine future. 16.7+. WT61406B-12. 01
MONTSANT 6 VINYES, LAURONA - (SPAIN) Very
fine and fragrant French oak spices and perfumes. Runs very deep.
Old-vines assertiveness, intensity. Nice bouquet forming around
the edges of the fruit-oak mass. Special./ Delicious, sweet berry
fruit flavors complemented with lovely, sophisticated oak seasonings.
Concentrated, focused, complex range of aromas and flavors. Great
01 structure. Super. For now and later. 18.0. WT61406B-13. 03
TORO LIBRANZA, BODEGAS MATARREDONDA -
(SPAIN) All tempranillo. Good light oak vanilla and spices. Deep
tempranillo fruit with the darkness and density of the Toro clone.
Lovely floral flair too–tempranillo at its best./ Very rich palate.
Lots of fruit, melted tannins, fine balance of all the elements.
Worth the price. 16.7. WT61406B-14. 02
CASTILLA Y LEON, BODEGAS MAURO - (SPAIN)
Lots of vanilla and lots of vanilla-extract spirit. Very, very sweet,
rich, plummy nose./ Rich and well textured. Variegated in feels
and flavors. Plum, chocolate, mocha, tobacco, underbrush. Powerful.
Attractive. Good future. 17.0+.
Wednesday, June 7, 2006 WT060706-01. 05
TREBBIANO D’ABRUZZO, CALDORA - (ITALY)
Somewhat restrained to start, still settling in after its journey.
Some fresh-cut apple and pear aromas, piquant lime highlight, and
good mineral base./ Ripe and racy on the palate. Lively lime piquance
with stony underlayment. Great acidity. Plenty of flair and expression
after it warms in the mouth. Enjoyable and food-worthy for the summer.
15.3. WT060706-02. 05
MUSCADET SEVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE, CHATEAU LA CARIZIERE - (FRANCE LOIRE) A right proper Muscadet that has both
its brisk and its tender properties. Nice set of the usual botanical
aromas–subtle flowers, herbs, peels, and roots. Good body this vintage;
exceptionally full in its class./ Rich, deep palate for Muscadet.
And already accomplished. Bold and succulent, relatively speaking.
Tender fruit core with veins of brisk acidity. Good sur-lie vigor
and burnish. Looks like it’s going to be a lovely Loire white vintage.16.0. WT060706-03. 05
RUEDA VERDEJO NAIA, BODEGAS NAIA - (SPAIN)
Well, if this isn’t the showboat!! Full and zesty. Grass and pink
grapefruit and mineola pulp. Floral perfumes. Touch of capsicum
too./ Zesty, with lots of wide-ranging citrus flavors, including
juice, pulp, and peel. Some cat too. Sage and clove tinges. Fullness,
presence, length. 16.3. Well liked by the group. WT060706-04. 05
CLOS LA CHANCE ESTATE CENTRAL COAST SAUVIGNON BLANC - (U.S.) Mild, warm, southern style of sauvignon blanc.
Adequate briskness. Middle of the road–not too brisk, not too plump./
Full and mellow, with just enough zing to avoid heaviness, cloy.
Stylistically, right in the middle of the sauvignon blanc spectrum.
Consequently, rather boring. 14.8. WT060706-05. 04
NORTON MENDOZA CHARDONNAY - (ARGENTINA)
Woody and toasty, with some nice oak vanilla. The fruit is losing
its edge of freshness./ But, gosh, the palate is nice and lively
still. Nice citricity. Well balanced and attractive to the taste
right now. 15.0. WT060706-06. 05
NAVARRA GRAN FEUDO GARNACHA ROSE, JULIAN CHIVITE - (SPAIN) Very pretty strawberry chiffon grenache rose
aroma. Very delicate notes of cherry, cotton candy, fig, and rose
petals./ Mild-flavored, subtle. Solid, vinous, fresh, with good
grip and good depth. Dry. Bright. Good acidity. Right. 15.7. WT060706-07. 05
RIOJA ROSE, BODEGAS MUGA - (SPAIN) Fresh
and pretty aroma of strawberry, raspberry, and flowers. Penetrating.
Bolder than the Chivite./ Full flavored and full bodied. Great acidity
countering plenty of fruit richness. Intense yet stylish, pedigreed.
A generous rose of tremendous appeal. 16.3. Well liked by the group. WT060706-08. 05
CLOS LA CHANCE CENTRAL COAST ROSE - (U.S.)
Fresh, with a uniquely chalky sort of feel in the nostrils. What
is it? Tannin? Extract? Fresh. Suggestions of cranberry and flowers.
Plump and New Worldly./ Slightly sweet. Milder acidity than the
Spanish roses. Not as aromatic and flavorful. That burnished texture
detected on the nose persists through the palate and gives good
mouthfeel. 15.3. WT060706-09. 04
CAMPO DE BORJA VINA BORGIA, BODEGAS BORSAO
- (SPAIN) 100% garnacha. Wow! Tremendous rush of cherry and berry
aromas! Fine, uplifting freshness to the fruit. Crisp scent of acidity./
Great fruit flair and purity and precision of tastes. Very juicy,
crunchy, mouthfilling. Lip-smackin’ good! What a deal! 16.0. Very
well liked by the group. WT060706-10. 04
RIOJA, BODEGAS SIERRA CANTABRIA - (SPAIN)
Tight. That’s characteristic of this wine in youth. But this 04
is tighter than the buxom 03 at the same stage. Nice oak vanillin.
Deep-seated and elegant fruit statement. Spiced and smoked meat
extras. Finely wrought 04./ Fine wood spices and rich fruit flavors.
Significantly full, dense, and deep. Great acidity. Both fruit and
oak tannins. All in balance. Needs time for fulfillment. A fine
value if cellared until winter. 16.0+. WT060706-11. 02
NAVARRA GRAN FEUDO, JULIAN CHIVITE - (SPAIN)
70% tempranillo, 25% garnacha, 5% cabernet sauvignon. Spicy oak–more
than I would expect from a non-crianza/reserva. Spiced, baked fruits
and herbed green olives./ Nicely proportioned. The texture and tannin
are fine-grained and chewy. A bit of 02 leanness, but serviceable.
15.6. WT060706-12. 01
NAVARRA RESERVA GRAN FEUDO, JULIAN CHIVITE
- (SPAIN) Fine oak and more accomplished fruit ripeness of a superior
vintage here. Nutty-spicy, barrel-aged seasonings. Tobacco note./
More depth and grip here. Full of fruit and oak flavors and some
evolving barrel and bottle bouquet. Layers of burnished red fruits,
air-dried meats, and herbed green olives. 16.2 WT060706-13. 05
NORTON MENDOZA MALBEC - (ARGENTINA) Young
and very spicy and vigorous. Black fruit, peppercorn, balsam./ Again,
the vigor of young malbec. Cherry, cracked black pepper, anise.
Fine, youthful form of varietal statement.15.5+. WT060706-14. 03
CHATEAU HAUT PASQUET, BORDEAUX - (FRANCE
BORDEAUX) 75% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot. Ripe and sweet and
open-knit 03 style. Plump fruit and woody patina./ Rich and plump
and flavorful and balanced palate. Delightfully accessible. You
can take it to the dinner table now or cellar for a year or two
for greater resolution and accomplishment. 15.7+. WT060706-15. 03
CHATEAU TOUR BELLEGRAVE, HAUT MEDOC -
(FRANCE BORDEAUX) Even better than the last time I tasted it, and
I loved it then! Big-time sweet oak vanilla and baking spices coupled
with sweet black currant cabernet fruit. Fine./ Rich and fine again.
Sweet cabernet and merlot fruit statement at just the right degree
of ripeness. Simply a lovely Haut Medoc. No surprise; this is from
Chateau Arnauld, owned by Francois Theil of Chateau Poujeaux. Superb
Left Bank claret value! 16.2+. WT060706-16. 02
CHATEAU ANEY, CRU BOURGEOIS, HAUT MEDOC
- (FRANCE BORDEAUX) Good cabernet dark berry nose. Nice, soft oaky
patina. Intense, seductive, ripe, and deep, with a touch of floral
essences./ Good softness and richness. An 02 that is beginning to
emerge from its tannic stage. Well tuned, well wrought, well poised.
Useful now, with much more bouquet, complexity, and range to come
after 2-3 years in the cellar. 16.4+. WT060706-17. 05
THE WINNER’S TANK LANGHORNE CREEK SHIRAZ
- (AUSTRALIA) Sweet, open, ripe garrulous Aussie fruit statement,
plus vanilla oak. Very appealing. Forthcoming, welcoming./ Sweet,
strong, candied, open, easy. Pure hedonism--mindless pleasure. Rather
hot on the aftertaste due to high alcohol (15.5%!). 15.7. WT060706-18. 04
LENGS & COOTER THE VICTOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ - (AUSTRALIA) Cooling menthol aroma, with light oak,
black raspberry, and black currant. A comfortably composed, harmonious
presentation./ Both sweet and cool, like a chocolate mint. Nice
balance of fruit sweetness and racy acidity. Suave and lush, deep
and intense. Lots to like here. One of the best vintages of The
Victor. Possibly the best. Very inviting to drink now. 16.3.
|
|
|
|
