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Tasting Notes Blog - Printer-Friendly Version
-June, 2009
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009 WT062409-01. 08 RUEDA BLANCO, MARQUES DE RISCAL - (SPAIN) All verdelho. Very appealing freshness. Good and clear and crisp varietal statement. Some grassiness of sauvignon blanc complicated by musk. That’s Rueda verdelho. This has a richness and fullness too that marks several 08 Euro whites tasted to date./ Very flavorful. A good balance of plumpness and crispness. You CAN have all. Finely etched textural spiel. Very juicy. The first Rueda blanco to make an international hit. After all these years, I’ve never tasted a better vintage. 16.3. WT062409-02. 08 DOLOMITI PINOT GRIGIO, MEZZACORONA - (ITALY) There’s a sense of plumpness in the scent, but the aromatics are still restrained, albeit sleek. With air comes good grigio characteristics of apple, stone, and firm peach./ On the approach, more fullness than usual, with roasted grain and singed cream elements. Then the penetrating, racy, and cleansing acidity kicks in Very successful vintage of this perennial best buy. And better yet a couple of months from now. 15.5+. WT062409-03. 08 VENEZIE PINOT GRIGIO, CORTENOVA - (ITALY) Bolder, richer, plumper. Clearly from a warmer zone of NE Italy. Apple here too–riper apple./ The palate is less fat than the nose suggested. More acidity and more form. Not much flavor development yet. No problem. Give it a few months. 15.5+. WT062409-04. 08 MAIPE SALTA TORRONTES - (ARGENTINA) Full perfume, expressed with precision and clarity. Musk and rose. Lemon, melon, honey and spice. Rides the line between the muscat-leaning torrontes wines and those that bend toward gewurztraminer. Harmonious and beautiful./ Gewurz like tonic and rose. And gewurz like astringency. Drier than the nose suggests; in fact, fully dry. Long, tonic aftertaste. Great food wine. One of the best 08 torrontes wines, and reasonably priced too. 16.3. WT062409-05. 08 THE RUINS ROBERTSON CHARDONNAY-VIOGNIER - (SOUTH AFRICA) 74/26 ratio. Something of a brett-dekk complex. Hints of chardonnay apple and viogner flower get through./ Good, appley chardonnay basis. Delicate viognier flower. Soft, mild, easy. 14.2. WT062409-06. 08 TERRE DE CAUSAN ROSE, DOMAINE DE L’ESPIGOUETTE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Very pretty, very delicate strawberry aroma. Grenache? Already a nice, sweet fruit expression./ Mineral salts. And what else? Peels extracts. And something rooty too? I can’t pin it down. Gentian, maybe? Not much flavor intensity as of yet. Can’t track down this appellation. New one? 14.6+. WT062409-07. 08 COTES DU RHONE ROSE, DOMAINE DE LA MORDOREE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Intense aromas of apple, raspberry, strawberry, even pomegranate. And peppercorn. Very large scaled./ Again, intense and flavorful. Big, mouthful, mouthfeel, full power. A meal wine for sure. In keeping with the near Tavel like stature of this cuvee. Very popular with the group. 16.2+. WT062409-08. 08 RIOJA ROSADO, BODEGAS MUGA - (SPAIN) Bold and beautiful. Tempranillo berry-cherry. Grenache strawberry and body, strength. Full texture is obvious even to the nostrils. Dried berries and flowers overtones./ Yes, full bodied and textured. Nice grenache fruit sweetness. Strong and mealworthy. Big presence. Balanced and refreshing too. Very popular with the group. 16.4. WT062409-09. 07 CHIANTI, STELLINA DI NOTTE - (ITALY) Really rich and full for a straight Chianti. Both dark and dried cherries. Anise and peppercorn too. Wow!/ The palate draws back some .Only medium bodied. Nicely balanced. Good acidity. Nose promises more fruit richness than palate delivers at this stage. That will likely come with a few months’ aging. The group liked its quality and potential. 16.0+. WT062409-10. 07 CALATAYUD GARNACHA OLD VINES ARCILLA, SAN GREGORIO - (SPAIN) Ripe fruit. Purple fruit. Young and a bit reductive. 07 freshness. Acts like a young 05./ Young, edgy, tight, reductive. Closed up and even a little challenging at present. Tannic too. I’d wait until winter to use this. The group liked its potential and bang for the buck. 15.0++. WT062409-11. 08 THE RUINS ROBERTSON SYRAH-CABERNET-VIOGNIER - (SOUTH AFRICA) Some animal. More brett than dekk. Dark fruit. Just a hint of viognier flower./ Good syrah raspberry flavors. Touch of viogner flower to taste too. Clear and clean fruited. Smooth. Good enough. 14.9. WT062409-12. BARBEITO CHRISTOVAO COLOMBO 10 YEAR OLD BOAL MADEIRA - (FORTIFIED) Wow! Sweet, intense, complex, powerful. Huge concentrate of date, nuts, toffee, wood./ Sweet and loaded. Fig, coffee, more nuts. Complex indeed. Wide, deep, powerful. And eminently well balanced. The complete boal. 18.4.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 WT061709-01. (08) VINHO VERDE, BROADBENT - (PORTUGAL) No vintage listed on the label, but most assuredly 08 from its character and its regional seal bestowed in 2009. Fresh and brisk. Appropriate light fizz and tingle. Green apple and pear. And floral highlights./ Soft, tingly, easy drinking. Only 9% alcohol. Enough acidity for freshness. Nicely textured. A summer quaffer all the way. Well liked by the group. 16.1. WT061709-02. 08 LA MANCHA CHARDONNAY, OPERA PRIMA - (SPAIN) Apple here too. Nice ripe-apple character of a mild-climate chardonnay./ A lot fuller and stronger than the Vinho Verde. A lot of extract, peel, press wine. The apple is so full and strong it’s almost like apple Jolly Rancher candy.. Good value. The group considered it such too. 15.0. WT061709-03. 07 PINOT GRIS, PAUL ZINCK - (FRANCE ALSACE) Classic apple, melon, and candle wax aromas. Rich, fleshy, creamy pinot gris demeanor./ Yes, clear fruit statement and waxy character. Lush and giving. Exceptionally good acid relief for Alsace pinot gris. That right and tangy fruit character of the vintage. 16.5+. WT061709-04. 08 LA MANCHA TEMPRANILLO, OPERA PRIMA - (SPAIN) Very dark fruit. Black plum. Hints of tobacco and smoke. Good tempranillo cherry-berry character./ A delicious flavor confirmation of tempranillo. Floral highlights. Fresh and juicy. Good acidity. Plenty of fruit plumpness and peels grip. Some tannin to shed. All thought this a real bargain. 15.9+. WT061709-05. 07 DOLCETTO DI OVADA ROCCO ROSSO, LA SLINA - (ITALY) Oh, sweet and spicy! Spiced cherry. Intense. Floral flair. Young and fresh and lovely./ Sweet, plummy, and delicious. Just succulent fruit at the core, with good acidity and light, fine tannic grip for framing. Finally, a dolcetto that aims to please now rather than impress for its potential. We see so few of these nowadays. Well liked by the group for the
same reason. Good price too. 16.3. WT061709-06. 07 FLEUR DE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Good, sweet pinot fruit. Cherry and tea. Light oak?/ Sweet and fairly substantial. Hint of a wood complex. Fruity and reliable. 15.8. WT061709-07. 07 BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR, LOUIS LATOUR - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Light black cherry and smoky, woodsy, earthy, feral notes./ Good acidity, bulk, tannin. The texture makes it mealworthy. 14.5. WT061709-08. 02 BARKAN RESERVE JUDEA PINOTAGE - (ISRAEL) Stewed fruit. Mushroom. New oak. Some redeeming fresh fruit qualities emerge. And no Cape horse! A little stalkiness of age./ Sweet and still useful. I could abide by this at the table. No bargain. And, really, past its prime. 14.2. WT061709-09. 08 CRISTOBAL 1492 FINCA LA PINTA MENDOZA MALBEC - (ARGENTINA) Good, open textured approach. Sweet black cherry fruit. Very revealing and appealing for its age. Spicy too./ Sweet, spicy, open, available. Good acidity and fine tannin to give structure and balance. Nice now! And will grow. 16.2+. WT061709-10. 04 BAROLO, VILLA ROSA - (ITALY) Compact red berry. Plus plum, dried berries, flowers, tar. Valid young Barolo./ Young and tight. Some tobacco and leather come forth on the palate. Good value, but only if aged another 2-3 years at least. 16.0++. WT061709-11. 07 MONTGRAS RESERVA COLCHAGUA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (CHILE) Sweet fruit and an attractive oak component. Blackberry, cassis, bitter chocolate, coffee. Pretty sweet and appealing stuff for young cabernet. Not the usual dark and sullen young cabernet type. Very enticing warm spices and toast oak character../ Enveloping flavors of sweet fruit and spices. Fine balance. Lots of current appeal. Some thought they
detected carmenere presence. That would explain the relative richness and pliancy of a two year old cabernet. Well liked by the group. 16.5. WT061709-12. 06 RAZOR’S EDGE MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ-GRENACHE - (AUSTRALIA) Sweet and rich grenache presence. Strawberry. Good oak component that’s well integrated. Dark fruited and well framed McLaren character. More frame and less fruit filling than a Barossa wine./ Plenty of oak spice in balance with the sweet strawberry fruit core and the good McLaren structure and power. The strength is an essential part of the overall
balance. 16.3+. WT061709-13. BARBEITO VERAMAR 5 YEAR OLD BUAL MADEIRA - (FORTIFIED) Good acidity on the nose–an attribute of fine madeira. Very nutty. Sweet and heady. Date, tea, caramel, apricot, coffee, even flowers. Shows the sophisticated, complex bouquet of a well crafted 5 year old./ Sweet but not at all sticky. The power and acidity balance the sweetness. Wood-nut complex of maturity. Great length. Really a fabulous 5 year old
Bual. And the price is nice. I’m impressed! 17.8. WT061709-14. 08 CARDWELL HILL WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT NOIR ROSE - (U.S.) Fresh, and still showing floral fermentation aromas. Sweet and lifting fruit aromas./ Good peels astringency for food. Quite full and strong. I’d prefer to let this fill out for a couple of months. 15.4+. WT061709-15. 07 CARDWELL HILL WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT NOIR ROSE - (U.S.) Sweet cherry pinot fruit. Very fresh still. And more accomplished now than the 08./ Yes, dry and very useful at the table. Good body supports that too. Hasn’t faded a bit. 15.9. WT061709-16. 06 CARDWELL HILL WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) 10 months in French oak, 25% new. Sweet, brandied pinot cherries. Touches of strawberry and raspberry too. And plenty of oak seasoning./ Lots of oak. But the fruit is sweet enough that the wood isn’t aggressive, dominant. The oak will settle in further as the wine ages. 16.0+. WT061709-17. 06 CARDWELL HILL RESERVE WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) 18 months in French oak, 30% new. Sweet and accomplished fruit with well integrated and sophisticated French oak. Dark fruit compote of good intensity and real elegance. Sweet and spicy oak./ This is quite oaky too, but the oak is more stylish and better integrated. Again, it will settle in as the wine ages in bottle another year or so. 16.4+. WT061709-18. 04 BECHTHEIMER HEILIG KREUZ SCHEUREBE KABINETT, J. GEIL - (GERMANY) Nice and fresh. Good orange and black currant scheu impressions./ Quite dry. Racy. Completely fresh. Well balanced. Real scheu character, stylishly presented. Good body for table use now. Won’t fade fast. 16.4.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 WT061009-01. 05 BIERZO GODELLO, BODEGAS ORELLAN - (SPAIN) No longer perfumed of godello. Gone kinda toasty, a little honeyed. Kinda like an older Burgundy chardonnay. Pleasant, if no longer varietal./ Toasty, nutty taste too. There’s good body and a healthy dose of acidity. The aftertaste is long and positive. No longer varietal, but still useful. 14.3. WT061009-02. 07 SICILIA BIANCO, COLOSI - (ITALY) This is kinda toasty too, from both southern origins and age. In good enough shape still./ Again, warm and toasty. Exotic fruit and honeysuckle. An attractive tawniness. OK stuff. 14.5. WT061009-03. 07 ROERO ARNEIS, VALDINERA - (ITALY) Good, subtle arneis fruit-flower aromatic set. Loquat, stone fruits, pineapple. What a pretty wine! And unique too./ The palate is even fresher and more perfumed. Subtle yellow fruits, lemon, and straw. Great acidity, great balance. Good glycerol too. The complete arneis package. A good value in arneis. Very useful this summer. Liked by the group. 16.3. WT061009-04. 07 LEAPING HORSE CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY magnum - (U.S.) Oak and lemon. A bit heavy on the oak. It’s not subtle, not integrated; tends to dominate. Maybe it will settle in with a little more bottle age. But who ages jug wines?/ Again, the oak is just a little much. Plenty of citrusy acid. Perhaps acid adjusted. Wish more of these cheap chardonnays would go the low-oak or no-oak way. Are the makers trying to
prove a point
that one can produce oaky wines at a low cost? Or do market surveys tell them that this is what the consumer still wants? The group considered this a good value. 14.8. WT061009-05. 07 CLOS DU BOIS NORTH COAST CHARDONNAY - (U.S.) Now, this is much better oak application. It’s toasty, finer grained, textured. Seems barrel fermented. Smells like something more expensive./ Yes, soft, toasty, spicy oak. The fruit doesn’t supply much in terms of aromatics. A little apple and Juicy Fruit. However, its soft, smooth presence brings the oak into textural harmony. As does some malolactic creaminess.
Well
crafted; good value. Better than these used to be. Used to be more blatantly oaky, and sweeter too. Liked by the group and considered a good value. 16.1. WT061009-06. 07 A TO Z OREGON PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Cool and crisp Oregon style of pinot. Red cherry, peels, lapsang souchong tea, and some tar./ Yes, tar, and some brett too. Or is it just pinot’s fecal side? Lots of peels extract. Light oak-cedar spiciness. Plenty of acidity–no surprise. There have been better vintages of this. Riper vintages. The group liked it though. Will likely soften and sweeten up over time. 15.7+. WT061009-07. 07 SEBASTIANI SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Well, if this isn’t a showboat! Wow! Purple, velvety, deep, haunting, and properly cool Sonoma Coast take on pinot. Plenty of oak augmentation adds complexity, interest, entertainment. Sweet spices to season the fruit, which is irrepressible./ Sophisticated French oak aromas of Asian spices, incense. Smells and tastes like the $40 stuff. Sweet, smooth pinot approach.
Surprisingly
little tannic interference given the degree of oak presence. 16.8. WT061009-08. 08 TOSCANA SANGIOVESE, IL BASTARDO - (ITALY) Spicy. Very dark complexioned. Sweet, forward berry fruit and plenty of peels extracts. Another good vintage of this./ Yes, sweet and spicy. Are all the spices peels derived? I suspect some oak involvement. Really good acidity. Both rich and racy as usual. Fine value. Liked by the group. 16.2. WT061009-09. 05 SALENTO PRIMITIVO, CANTELE - (ITALY) Very dark complexioned for age and vintage. Rich, sweet, spicy fruit. True to varietal./ Yes, rich, spicy, fruity. Shows signs of oak or time in barrel at least. Well proportioned. A super value! Liked by the group. 16.4. WT061009-10. 06 TOSCANA BORGOFORTE, VILLA PILLO - (ITALY) Deep, oaky, complex, lush, lavish even. Upscale stuff. Dense and dark berries, anise, cedar, cigar box. I detect some Bordeaux varieties here./ Sturdy and youthful. Deep, dense, and well formed. Vanilla and warm spices mark class oak presence. The fruit is decadently lavish, inviting, nourishing. This would all be a little overwhelming if the wine didn’t have such
great
acidity too. Full bodied and long in aftertaste. Yet another Toscana find tasting like a wine twice its price. Liked by the group. 16.7+. WT061009-11. 07 LEAPING HORSE CALIFORNIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON magnum - (U.S.) Good oak. A little hint of Valley. Overall cool though. Even cool for Lodi (if it were still Lodi)./ The sweetness of Lodi-like fruit. Good acidity to balance Mild mannered and flavorful. Good quality 07 fruit, though it speaks little of the varietal. 15.0. WT061009-12. 07 MONTES CLASSIC COLCHAGUA VALLEY MALBEC - (CHILE) Dark, haunting malbec fruit. Strong, spicy oak presence. The oak and alcohol (14.5) are a little much. But, that’s Montes./ Yes, the power, the wood, and the sweet fruit simply surge forth. Montes reds are nothing if not large and garrulous. Dark berries, raisinettes, flowers. Long finish. Match with hot, spicy BBQ. 16.1+. WT061009-13. 06 COTES DU VENTOUX TERRASSES, CHATEAU PESQUIE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Cool and somewhat reductive. Young and solid. Aeration coaxes forth blackberry and boysenberry aromas and a hint of game./ The palate is more revealing. Introduces an attractive spiciness. Also bramble, fennel, and summer sausage. Stronger textural than flavor presence at this stage. This is really mouthfilling, wide ranging, full of textural
play.
Good future here. The group agreed. 16.4+. WT061009-14. 07 RIBERA DEL DUERO FINCA RESALSO, EMILIO MORO - (SPAIN) Young, dense, purple fruits. Serrano ham. Lots of sweet American oak: vanilla, coconut macaroon./ More sweet fruit comes out on the palate. And plenty more oak. Polished, classy, dense, and lasting. There’s a lot of fruit and oak material here for the price, which is also very reasonable for the DO. Liked by the group, especially those who favor oaky
wines. 16.2+. WT061009-15. 06 GUENOC LAKE COUNTY PETITE SIRAH - (U.S.) Nice, rationally imparted oak seasoning in tandem with that black, peppery character that is petite sirah. Really nicely oaked./ Yes, a balance of sweet oak, black fruit, and a slight citrus peel quality that is typical of this cuvee. One of the best vintages of an always-reliable series. Well liked by the group. 16.3+. WT061009-16. 06 HOPE THE RIPPER WESTERN AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ - (AUSTRALIA) Spiritous, oaky, highly scented, and dark. Dark berries, dark brown sugar, baked goods. Comes on with considerable force. Then reverts to enticement with the charming coolness and dryness of Western Australia shiraz./ Sweet oak flavors (vanilla, baking spices). Smooth fruit texture. Plenty of punch. Well balanced. Shows Western Australia shiraz equilibrium.
Liked by the group. 16.3+. WT061009-17. 06 MUSCAT RESERVE, FREY-SOHLER - (FRANCE ALSACE) Remarkable. Eau de vie like intensity of perfume. Deep citrus peel character. Overtones that strike me as both sweet and mineral-salty. Flowers and botanicals. Cool and melodic. Unique in the annuls of Alsace muscat./ Again, suave citrus oil perfumes and plenty of both spice and tonic overtones. Good acidity for 06, and muscat’s cleansing bitter finale. Much
different
from the 05, and more than a year younger in freshness. 17.0+. WT061009-18. 05 NACKENHEIMER SCHEUREBE SPATLESE, BINZ - (GERMANY) A unique and special face of scheu. Remarkably fresh. Sweet aromas of orange and mango./ Spatlese sweet. Mild acidity of scheu. Lovely flavor concentration. Young; this has baby fat still. Would have guessed it an 07. Love its future. I think more acidity will be revealed as the wine ages. Liked by the group. 16.3+.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 WT060309-01. PROSECCO BRUT, CAPOSALDO - (SPARKLING) Oh! Good apple, pear, melon, flowers, and dough aromas. Sweet and sassy and tingly./ Palate reverberates with the same. Adds peach and lemon. Lovely flavor melange. On the soft side of brut. Forms a delicious equilibrium, really. Fresh, friendly, enticing. I could down lots of this. 16.3. WT060309-02. 08 SALMON CREEK CALIFORNIA PINOT GRIGIO - (U.S.) A little heavy and stinky; I think it’s due to sulphur. Clears some with air./ Some wet wool–yes, that’s sulphur. Dry. Not very rich for California grigio. Or sulphur suppressed. Air and age. 12.5++. WT060309-03. 08 SANTA ALICIA RESERVE MAIPO SAUVIGNON BLANC - (CHILE) Good set of pungent grass, gooseberry, and pink grapefruit sauvignon aromas. One of the best 08 Chile sauvignons yet. Or maybe they’re all improving with time./ Yes, sweet up front followed by racy acid foil. Somewhat dilute though. 15.7. WT060309-04. 07 FAIRVIEW ESTATE COASTAL REGION SAUVIGNON BLANC - (SOUTH AFRICA) Attractive sauvignon crisp, citrusy fruit. Good now and will improve further./ Yes, real sauvignon character here. That Cape sauvignon softness. Very flavorful. Clearly a nice value. 15.5. WT060309-05. 08 CHATEAU ST. JEAN SONOMA GEWURZTRAMINER - (U.S.) Rose, orange blossom, and orange water. Flowers and botanicals. Very pretty gewurz nose./ The palate confirms, and adds peach, tea, and 5-spice powder. The classic gewurz point-counterpoint of smooth glycerol and edgy astringency. A touch of residual sweetness? Or am I being fooled by the glycerol? Nicely fulfilled already for such a youthful gewurz. Will
surely improve further too. CSJ knows gewurz. 16.1+. WT060309-06. 08 SALMON CREEK CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Sweet cherry and black tea. True to varietal. Sweetens further with airing./ Yes, real pinot identity. Wow! This is a bargain! Full pinot flavor. The real deal. Everyone was impressed. 16.2. WT060309-07. 08 SICILIA SANGIOVESE, PRIMATERRA - (ITALY) Well, this is cool, bright, and true sangionvese of central, not southern, Italy demeanor. Plump cherry and sweet plum, with good acid edge too./ Fat, soft, and gentle but not too warm. Really could use a little more acidity for frame and foil. Medium finish. Good. 15.7. WT060309-08. 07 SALENTO PRIMITIVO, VINOSIA - (ITALY) Wow! Sweet and spicy. Very zesty. What is this? There’s something balsamic as well as spicy. Ah! I’ve got it. Green peppercorn!/ Oh, yes, green peppercorn all over the place. I mean, zinfandel has a peppery side, but this cousin has its own, unique personality. Fine tannin, grip, and balance. Presents a cool demeanor. Lovely texture. 16.2+. WT060309-09. 07 SICILIA LA SEGRETA, PLANETA - (ITALY) 50% nero d’avola, 25% merlot, 20% syrah, 5% cabernet franc. Lovely oak suavity with sweet, racy fruit, and a light tinge of leather. This is a complete package that balances the varietal melange, the oak, and the feral side. All sweet and ripe to a T./ Yes, ripe and wholesome 07 fruit, ideal oak complement, and fine tannin. Again, the sense of harmony. This is extremely
well crafted–no surprise for a Planeta wine. Very long aftertaste. The group was impressed. 16.7+. WT060309-10. 07 CHATEAU HAUT PLANTEY DECLERQ CABERNET SAUVIGNON, HAUT MEDOC - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) Dark cabernet fruit, but also cabernet in need of more ripeness. Leafy cabernet. It showed this face in the 06 vintage, to a lesser extent. With airing comes a dollop of sweet cassis./ Yes, kinda green fruited. Not harsh though. Good acidity of course. Good cabernet build. Just lacks a ripe enough fruit basis. Well liked by
the Europhiles nonetheless. They consistently enjoy greener claret than I do. I suppose this will flesh out some with bottle age. 15.2+. WT060309-11. 05 CHRISTIAN MOUEIX MERLOT ENCORE, BORDEAUX - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) Aromas of plum, wood smoke, brett, cooked vegetables, and evergreen. A weak representative of a fine vintage. More like an 06 or 07./ Woody, angular, and hard to penetrate. Again, the brett. Tart too. Green tannins. In 05? This is without much joy at present. Will it improve with age? 14.8+? WT060309-12. 07 NEIL ELLIS STELLENBOSCH PINOTAGE - (SOUTH AFRICA) Very woody. Spicy-woody. It pretty well covers the fruit character, but not entirely./ Spicy oak, toasty oak, mocha, and jerky. Good substance, intensity of character. But the wood and wood tannin still stand out. Once they’re resolved, this will make a fine bottle. Age at least another year. 15.8+. WT060309-13. 06 CARINENA GARNACHA IA, VIRGEN DEL AGUILA - (SPAIN) Deep, black, sultry berry aromas. Some strawberry too. A sweet, almost syrupy fruit concentrate. Some nice warm spices to augment./ Sweet and savory. Delicious fruit fulfillment, delivery. Mighty tasty. 15.9. WT060309-14. 07 CASTILLA TEMPRANILLO, TORRE DE BARREDA - (SPAIN) 6 months in oak. Good and fresh 07 tempranillo expression. The varietal character is clear, and it seems northern enough. Berry fruit up front; zesty oak spices behind./ Fine textured. Good fruit-oak harmony. Sweet and spicy aftertaste. This certainly delivers enough intensity and complexity to warrant the price. Nice stuff! 16.4. WT060309-15. 07 BERNKASTELER KURFURSTLAY RIESLING SPATLESE, HIRSCHBACH - (GERMANY) Peach, apple, orange, kumquat, flowers. An attractive, spicy cedar and spruce element too. Sweeter and fuller than the kabinett tasted a couple of weeks ago./ The palate adds camphor and more evergreen. Medium sweet. Acidity still coated. Charming and accomplished for the price. 15.7. WT060309-16. 07 SANTA ALICIA LATE HARVEST LIMARI VALLEY MOSCATEL half liter - (CHILE) Spicy, sweet, and right. Lush, silky aromas of peach, apricot, lychee, papaya, mango, and lemon curd. Orange peel overtones suggest muscat alexandria. Very complex and concentrated./ Yes, there’s total flavor confirmation. Plus the palate reveals botrytis tones: honey, pollen, tea, tobacco. Really saturated. Creamy, rich, and sweet, with
good acid foil to balance it all out. One of the best values in its genre. 17.8. WT060309-17. 04 NACKENHEIMER SPATBURGUNDER TROCKEN, BINZ - (GERMANY) Good, dark, northern pinot character. Cherry, pitch, strong tea. Real pinot richness./ And good acidity makes it eminently mealworthy. On the sleek, elegant side of pinot, as cool climate pinots are apt to be. No signs of old age; in fact, I’m sure aging has improved it and more aging will improve it further. Liked by the group. 16.1+. WT060309-18. 03 ZELTINGER SCHLOSSBERG RIESLING SPATLESE, SELBACH - (GERMANY) Wonderful, golden tones of peach and orange. A lovely 03 Mosel at a lovely stage./ Savory, well extracted, Zeltinger full. Sweetness, acidity, and slatey terroir are in ideal harmony. Really good acidity for the vintage, and it’s not all that coated at this stage, so the wine is ready to enjoy. It will become even more complex with additional
bottle age. 16.8+.
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