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Tasting Notes Printer-Friendly Version
- May, 2007
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Wednesday, May 30, 2007 WT053007-01. 06 LA YUNTA LA RIOJA TORRONTES - (ARGENTINA) Bright, tangy, tropical, delicate, discreet. Spicy-zesty. Showing peach, passion fruit, citrus, and grass. Suggestion of creaminess./ Racy, very vibrant. Fine varietal character. Perky, refreshing acidity. Quite the fruit and flower complex; hints at muscat and gewurz even. Fine torrontes character. Will improve over the coming months. 16.2+. WT053007-02. 05 KHAN KRUM BARREL FERMENTED CHARDONNAY, KHAN KRUM - (BULGARIA) True, crisp chardonnay apple-citrus with light touch of oak. Hint of lime. Good chardonnay dinner-wine strength./ Soft, easy, bright, able. Good texture. Meal-worthy. 15.2. WT053007-03. 06 KHAN KRUM TRAMINER, VINEX PRESLAV - (BULGARIA) Alluring barbershop bay-laurel face of traminer. Citrus peels, kumquat, flowers, and botanicals. Overall cool, ventilating, and large./ Full traminer botanicals flavors. Dry, crisp, tangy, lively. Long and tasty finish. 15.8. WT053007-04. 06 BALKAN HILLS TRAMINER, TARGOVISHTE - (BULGARIA) Brighter still. The rose and ginger faces of traminer. Full contrast./ Very bright and rosy. Cold cream, peach, flowers, juniper, vermouth. Spicy, zesty. Good acidity. Very long, generous, tasty finale. 16.3. The most talked-about wine of the evening. Everyone loved it and loved the value.. WT053007-05. 05 VENEZIE PINOT GRIGIO-VERDUZZO MASIANCO, MASI - (ITALY) Good and full pinot grigio base with verduzzo flair and fragrance hovering over./ Very full, zesty, spicy. Good acidity, bright and tangy. 16.0+. WT053007-06. 05 TOSCANA CENTINE ROSE, BANFI - (ITALY) Sangiovese, cabernet, merlot. Nice, bright strawberry rose aroma. Hints at cranberry, red currant, flowers, and spices too./ Sweet berry fruit flavors that last well. Good body, strength, and dryness for food. 15.3. WT053007-07. 05 CHATEAU BONNET, BORDEAUX ROSE - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) 50% cabernet franc, 25% each cabernet sauvignon and merlot. As fresh and bright as an 06. Currants and berries. Alert, alive, vigorous./ Fruit, acid, mineral salts, and some tannin grip. Cabernet franc red raspberry taste. Deep, dry, and refreshing. Good effort. Wise to use cabernet franc in the main. 15.9. Well liked by the group. WT053007-08. 00 SLIVEN REGION RESERVE MERLOT, DOMAINE BOYAR - (BULGARIA) Sweet, tawny, nutty. Vanilla, stewed fruits, caramel, cinnamon. Too old for my tastes./ Heavy, thick, chunky, muddled. Hot and bothered. Astringent and aging. Still drinkable at least. 12.8. WT053007-09. 00 SLIVEN REGION RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON, DOMAINE BOYAR - (BULGARIA) Somewhat tawny too but better preserved, maturing more gracefully. Logical for cabernet versus merlot of the same age and background. Shows some cabernet black currant./ Sweet and wholesome, with good cabernet depth, grip, and tannin. Sill serviceable. 14.5. WT053007-10. 05 CHIANTI COLLI SENESI, FATTORIA DELLA VITAE - (ITALY) Sangiovese, canaiolo, trebbiano, and malvasia. Wow! Classic, deep, dark-fruited, meaty, and fresh. The traditional Chianti cuvee, including the white grapes. Why have these been so widely rejected? Seems they have some of the same beneficial role as viognier in Cote Rotie and the Aussie cuvees. Malvasia, at least. They certainly help to brighten up this wine./ All confirmed. A nice balance of varieties on nose and palate alike. Freshness and good acidity. Fine frame and grip, focus and depth. A lovely Colli Senesi–just the right weight and style. 16.3+. WT053007-11. 05 CHIANTI CLASSICO, BANFI - (ITALY) Fresh, dark, and right. These are always dark-fruited. Not as raw and tough as some previous vintages. But that problem was straightened out after 2001, if I remember right. Now the fruit is round and warm as well as black and concentrated./ Yes, loaded with black fruits and sweet, creamy vanilla. Not the raw oak extracts of the past; now the nice, smooth vanillin extracts. Both grip and richness. Fine structure, depth, length. Very flavorful. Best vintage yet here. 16.5+. WT053007-12. 05 TOSCANA SOLLE PINO SANGIOVESE-MERLOT, BANFI - (ITALY) Fresh, bright, young, sleek, floral. Merlot sweet cherry makes a strong case: full, lush, dense, and soft./ Fresh, young, warm, round merlot style. Nice and mild acidity. Plumps up steadily with airing. Surprising how much the merlot is influential. 15.6. WT053007-13. 06 BODEGA NORTON MENDOZA MALBEC - (ARGENTINA) Young and firm-cored. Nice, plump, meaty black cherry fruit around the core. Pure- and rich-fruited./ Sleek, sweetly fruity and flavorful young malbec. Cherry, nut, and mocha flavors. Good acidity. Round, ripe, and reliable. May prove Norton’s best malbec yet. 15.8+. WT053007-14. 05 CYCLES GLADIATOR CENTRAL COAST CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Well-formulated, sexy, alluring array of sweet cassis and wood spices./ Sweet and cassis-laden again. Good acidity. A potpourri of oak seasonings. Well crafted. Bound to win lots of medals...and hearts. 15.6. WT053007-15. 05 J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS PASO ROBLES CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Good 05 focus and form. A good vintage for Paso Robles since it cools down the normal overripeness that defines its cabernets. It’s still Paso for sure: smooth, warm, ripe, and supple. Plenty of caramelly oak and a nice floral accent./ Rich in the Paso style but not overly rich. Good fruit density, handsome oak, and 05 structure and balance. A good year for the region and for this wine. 16.4. WT053007-16. 04 SIMON HACKETT THE GATEKEEPER SOUTH AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ - (AUSTRALIA) Firm, solid, backward, dry. Plenty of smoky black fruits./ Sweeter and softer than the nose. Ripe and expansive. Some stem tannin edginess yet. Plenty of power and grip. Well balanced. 15.3. Well liked by the group, especially at its closeout price. WT053007-17. 06 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE COLUMBIA VALLEY GEWURZTRAMINER - (U.S.) Young still, showing some reduction and shyness. Airs to a pretty gewurz set of rose, orange peel, sachet./ Some sweetness, and a fine, racy edge to counter. Taut and penetrating. Good strength and depth. Still coming together. Will improve steadily over the months to follow. 15.8+. WT053007-18. 05 GEWURZTRAMINER RESERVE, PIERRE SPARR - (FRANCE ALSACE) Rich, lush, powerful, dense, significant. Full tonic range. Plus lychee, mango, ripe loquat. Almost late harvest in its lush, complex allure./ Full bodied, muscular, structured, and spiritous, as it should be. Indeed, authoritative. Tonic, spicy, rich yet dry, and long-lasting. The right stuff. 16.7.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 WT052307-01. 06 COTES DE GASCOGNE, DOMAINE DE PELLEHAUT - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) Full and tingly, chiseled. Really fills and etches the nostrils. Bright and fragrant of ripe apple, melon, gooseberry, and grapefruit pith./ Fat, young, juicy, round, supple. Lots of citrus peel taste and tingle--both lime and grapefruit. Fresh and prickly, racy-edged, with cleansing acidity. Touch of pith astringency. Classic. 16.0. WT052307-02. 06 LE G DE CHATEAU GUIRAUD, BORDEAUX BLANC - (FRANCE BORDEAUX) Full. Loaded with gooseberry and grapefruit and citrus peels. Bordeaux body, partly thanks to semillon. Both fat and zingy. Lovely, juicy, figgy, and pulpy. Exotic passion fruit note./ Young and exuberant. Pungent grapefruit and peel flavor. Very full, weighty, and vigorous, showing both race and stuffing. Rich, lingering body and taste. Spirited and complete.
Will improve through summer. Loved by the group. 16.8+. WT052307-03. 06 ALTO ADIGE PINOT GRIGIO,. TRAMIN - (ITALY) Wow! Tingly, rich, and full, with cool yellow and tropical fruit and flower extras. Ample, rangy nose./ Rich fruit and good acidity, though the acidity is still somewhat coated. Great development prospects for the next 6 months to a year. Scented and lovely in the mouth. Creamy textured. Shows both high altitude vigor and Collio-like body. Well liked by the group. 16.4+. WT052307-04. 05 PINOT GRIS, WOLFBERGER - (FRANCE ALSACE) Gold Medal - Colmar. Fresh, cool, nutty, waxy, full. That ventilating aroma of walnut husk–unique and attractive./ Rich honey and nuts taste. Also apple, melon, citrus. Good Alsace pinot gris viscosity. Cool walnut husk and bergamot airs at the finale. Will broaden out and take on more richness and textural play with age. 16.6+. WT052307-05. 05 PFALZ RIESLING ST. M, LOOSEN-CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE - (GERMANY) Full Pfalz riesling presence. Grain, nut, dried orange peel.. Large, powerful Pfalz riesling./ Dramatic 05 palate, loaded with stone and citrus fruits, nuts and grains. Some sweetness. Acidity still somewhat coated. Orange peel tang. Mineral saltiness. Fine depth. A lot of Pfalz riesling for the money. 16.2+. WT052307-06. 06 KAMPTAL ROSE, FRED LOIMER - (AUSTRIA) Good strength–not as much as a Med rose but more than the average German. Sweet berry fruit aroma. Plus dried flowers and rose hips./ Ripe-fruited, brisk, and dry. Crunchy, brittle, distinctive. Plenty of acidity and vigor. The alcohol provides a smoothness. Full and vinous base as well as fruity airs. Fine depth. A good, solid summertime rose, versatile at the table. Well
liked by the group. 15.8. WT052307-07. 05 CASTILLA Y LEON TEMPRANILLO ROSE, PANASCAL - (SPAIN) Warm, and showing some mellow development. Still-lively red fruit, especially strawberry./ The palate has some candied sweetness but also vibrant and tangy fruit acidity. A good value that will prove useful for the rest of spring and summer. 15.7. WT052307-08. 04 TOSCANA THE BLEND, POGGIOTONDO - (ITALY) 40% sangiovese, 30% merlot, 30% syrah. Sweet and soft for an 04. Black fruits and spices. Nice./ Oh, but the palate is all 04 style: dry, black, and contrite, with grip and tannins. Nicely focused fruit flavors and racy fruit acidity. But still stern, tough, austere. Will it soften with time? 15.6+? WT052307-09. 05 CHIANTI, PALLADIO - (ITALY) Fresh, juicy red and black fruits, including mulberry. Soft and stylish./ Firm, young palate display featuring big, tough black fruits and peels. Tannic yet. Needs air and age. 15.3++. WT052307-10. 03 DOLCETTO D’ALBA, BONGIOVANNI - (ITALY) 03 baked fruit. Spiced cherry, cola, biscuit. Powerful, regal, concentrated./ Sweet cookie and dried fruit flavors. Flamboyant, grand-scaled, well extracted, ambitious. Handsome and harmonious too. Certainly different. A wild ride. Says nothing about dolcetto and everything about 03. Enjoyed by the group for its eccentricity and audacity. 16.3. WT052307-11. 04 BARBERA D’ALBA TRE VIGNE, VIETTI - (ITALY) Big, black fruits, lots of power, and spicy oak. Boysenberry and bramble. Dense, full, muscular. All the markings of an upscale barbera./ Fully extracted barbera fruit and peel and well managed, well integrated new oak trimmings. Big, solid, handsome, commanding. Deep, fully-packed, authoritative. Power, grip, acid, tannin, in harmony. Long, lingering aftertaste. All it
should be. Well priced for all it has to give. 17.2+. WT052307-12. 03 SICILIA FURAT, AJELLO - (ITALY) 25% each merlot, cabernet, syrah, nero d’avola. Oh, ripe and spicy! With great oak fragrances. Full, warm, lush, meaty, savory. Yes! All the range and amplitude of the 01 pushed by 03 extra ripeness./ Ripe fruit, dried fruit, dried cherry, citron, orange peel and pulp. Dense and well extracted. Spicy and nervy. Defines Sicily as a fine-wine source. 17.1. WT052307-13. 06 JUMILLA MONASTRELL CARCHELO, AGAPITO RICO - (SPAIN) Fresh, cool, dark, perky mourvedre fruit. Speaks for high altitude, cool nights./ Great race and purple fruit qualities of mourvedre. Vigorous, juicy fruit acidity, fine texture. Astonishingly accomplished for its age. And generous. Good winegrowing and winemaking here. This series continues to please. 16.3. WT052307-14. 05 CLINE ANCIENT VINES CONTRA COSTA MOURVEDRE - (U.S.) Cool, compact, finely tuned, etched, tight, elegant mourvedre. Juicy blackberries and black currants. Seems more Euro than the 04./ Sweet oak vanillin in contrast to purple mourvedre fruit. Racy, spicy, spiritous. Neatly done. Well liked by the group. 16.4+. WT052307-15. 05 VACQUEYRAS LES CHRISTINS, PERRIN - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) 80% grenache, 20% syrah. Tight but classic approach of a young Vacqueyras. Black fruit, black pepper, tar. Garrigue nuances sneak in after airing. Big, dense, backward, important, ambitious./ Extract, power, blackness. Lots of grip and material. Gigondas like concentration without the excess heat. Certainly a command performance by a classic young Vacqueyras
in need of cellaring. I like its poise and composure. 17.0+. WT052307-16. 05 CROZES HERMITAGE, ALAIN GRAILLOT - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Soars above the rest. All you could want from a young Crozes and young northern Rhone syrah. Flowers, raspberry, bacon, and pepper–white pepper!/ Zesty flavors of white pepper, briar, flowers, berries. Very fine tannins. 05 sense of completeness. Utterly noble. Great future. 17.8+. WT052307-17. 06 MOSCATO D’ASTI, BRICCO RIELLA - (ITALY) Sweet, racy aromas of apple, pear, and dried orange peel./ Full, ripe, tangy, lovely. Stone fruits and orange. More uplift than the 05. 16.3. WT052307-18. 00 OSBORNE LATE BOTTLE VINTAGE PORTO (bottled 2005) - (FORTIFIED) The nose is raw and powerful, the fruit hard and black, though deep-running. Airing yields more forgiveness and a seductive display of elderberry fruit and spicy oak./ Ah! Sweetness assuages all on the palate. Even the tannins are sweet. Plenty of black fruit and power. Dark chocolate, caramel, anise, and tar. Has the ambitions of a Vintage port. Will
reward aging too, though the sweetness offers current appeal. 16.8++. Wednesday, May 16, 2007 WT051607-01. 05 LEELANAU CELLARS TALL SHIP RESERVE MICHIGAN CHARDONNAY - (U.S.) Good apple and peel cool climate chardonnay aroma. Not much oak. Used to be much more. I like it better now./ Good grip. More from fruit extract than from wood. Quite full and strong. Real presence in the mouth. 16.0. WT051607-02. 05 BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR, ANTONIN RODET - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Bright and wholesome, tart, cool climate pinot fruit. That lovely purity of 05 pinot. With air, a softness emerges to surround the firm core fruit. Plenty of varietal expression./ Strikingly flavorful and deep. Good acid race. Reminds me somewhat of the Domaine Chene. Well balanced. Charming. Long, textured aftertaste. Best vintage yet. 16.4. WT051607-03. 05 MONTERRA MONTEREY MERLOT - (U.S.) Very bright, cool, dark fruited Monterey merlot style. Racy, zesty blackberry and black cherry aromas. Deep./ Good, cool composure. Fine tannin. Good acidity. Something reined in, something in reserve too. Attractive value and dinner wine. 15.8+. WT051607-04. 04 SANTA EMA MAIPO VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (CHILE) Clearly an older wine’s nose. Vegetable and animal aromas rather than fruit. Oh, there’s some red currant here. An old-time Chilean cabernet style. Good depth and intensity for an 04./ Same range of tastes. Herbal, grassy. Old fashioned. Good with chimichurri. 15.2. WT051607-05. 05 LA PLAYA COLCHAGUA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (CHILE) Sweet, ripe, fresh, New Wave. Rich fruit and spicy oak savors. Cracked pepper, tobacco./ The herbal edge of Chile cabernet. Plenty of acidity and fine grained tannin. Rather firm at this stage. Give it some time. 15.5+. WT051607-06. 05 CONCHA Y TORO CASILLERO DEL DIABLO RESERVE CENTRAL VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (CHILE) Wow! Show Wine! Full, sweet, warm, strong, spicy, peppery, oaky. Good formula. Cabernet firmness keeps it honest./ Yes, fruit, frame, density, and tannin, plus all the nose’s aromatic embellishments. Deserves some aging. 16.1+. WT051607-07. 06 TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES MENDOZA MALBEC - (ARGENTINA) Wow! Fresh, primary, alert, deep, and spicy. Saturated with dark fruit. Peppery./ Lush, soft, sprawling mouthful. Ripe black currant, sweet oak, vanilla, chocolate. Tender core, with good acid etching and fine tannin burnish. Well executed. Can be served now; good future too. 16.0+. WT051607-08. 04 COTES DU RHONE, E. GUIGAL - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Handsome, striking black cherry and garrigue aromas. Firm 04 style, tart, dark, snappy. Peppery sausage. / Good dark fruit flavor of 04. Lively black raspberry, black pepper, and garrigue tastes. 04 acidity and some astringency still. Big contrast from 03. Will become steadily softer and more appealing over the coming year. 16.0+. WT051607-09. 04 COTES DU RHONE, CHATEAU MONT REDON - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) More open, ripe, developed, variegated. Spices and herbs. Dried and candied fruits, warm earth, baked goods. A little Chateauneuf, really. Shows a wide range of grape varieties./ Full extract and tannin. Chewy. A mouthful of textural delights. 16.1+. WT051607-10. 04 CAMPUS OAKS OLD VINE LODI ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) Sweet and raisined. Much more so than the 03. Shows the ripeness of the vintage. Appealing, though more overstated in ripeness than the average Lodi. American oak evident, especially the coconut aspect./ Sweet–literally. Very ripe and jammy raspberry taste. Strong, thick, syrupy, in-your-face, old-time American zinfandel. 15.5. WT051607-11. 05 SOBON ESTATE OLD VINES AMADOR ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) Fresh and crisp 05 styling. Tight, sleek, elegant, and quite sophisticated. Blackberry, black plum, black pepper. Old vines ripeness. Quite intense and strong too. Forthright Amador zin statement./ Full, extract laden, old vines production. The palate really delivers a punch of spicy zinfandel fruit in texture, body, and flavor. 16.2+. WT051607-12. 05 ROSENBLUM HERITAGE CLONES SAN FRANCISCO BAY PETITE SIRAH - (U.S.) Monolithic, brooding black fruits plus oak, dark chocolate, and bakery scents./ Spicy, brambly blackberry flavors galore. Chocolate too, and dark chocolate bitterness. Fruit sweetness foiled by plentiful tannin. 15.6+.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007 WT050907-01. 06 SEBEKA WESTERN CAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC - (SOUTH AFRICA) Fat style of sauvignon. Suggestions of pear./ Spicy, tropical, dry, decent. 15.0. WT050907-02. 06 BONTERRA LAKE-MENDOCINO SAUVIGNON BLANC - (U.S.) Brisk, pungent grapefruit aroma. Rich and racy both–that’s Lake County sauvignon. And full, quite strong–that’s Mendocino sauvignon. Nice./ Citrus, white peach, capsicum. Fat and racy both. Both plumpness and cut. Delicious. 16.4. WT050907-03. 06 ELDERTON UNWOODED BAROSSA CHARDONNAY - (AUSTRALIA) Brisk but very strong, which detracts from the refreshment of an unwooded chardonnay./ Despite the lack of oak and time in oak, there’s a certain toastiness, nuttiness. The acidity is mild and the alcohol high. Attribute that to Barossa. 15.0. WT050907-04. 06 SEBEKA WESTERN CAPE CHARDONNAY - (SOUTH AFRICA) Wood toast, wood char./ Sweet oak chips extracts, and vanilla. Burnt-wood taste. Someone said it smelled like a burned-down wood building. Sweet too. Double Bubble aftertaste. 13.0. WT050907-05. 05 SAINT VERAN, MATTHIEU DE BRULLY - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Nice, sweet, ripe, toasty fruit. I’d guess some barrel aging but probably be wrong. Ripe, sun-soaked Burgundy chardonnay can give that impression. And there’s lovely fruit ripeness here./ Tropical fruit and grain flavors. 05 ripe acidity–marked contrast from the more malic 04s. Soft, easy-flowing, nice. Has depth and charm. 16.2. WT050907-06. 05 CHABLIS CHANFLEURE, LOUIS LATOUR - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Cool, nutty, stony, chalky. Great transparency, clarity, precision. Tingling, dazzling, pure Chablis expression./ Finely balanced and totally clean and clear Chablis chardonnay experience. Just lovely, well composed village Chablis without winemaker complications, embellishments, interferences. 17.0. WT050907-07. 04 TREANA MER SOLEIL VINEYARD CENTRAL COAST VIOGNIER-MARSANNE - (U.S.) 61/39. We’re tasting this at a younger stage than either the 02 or 03. This wine seems to be taking off since we started featuring it. The 02 was around for better than a year before we spotlighted it, and now we’re seeing the 03 followed by the 04 in under six months. Being younger, the viognier is more in command, the marsanne relatively
unformed
yet but supplying a rich foundation. Very racy, with a surprising grapefruit note, as well as peach, mango, passion fruit, and flowers. Now guava comes on strong and clear and lovely. A complex nose, for sure./ Rich and variegated palate, both aromatically and texturally. Wide-ranging viognier flavors, plenty of marsanne body. A special freshness to both varietals. I’ve loved all three vintages and will enjoy tracing this one’s evolution. 17.4. WT050907-08. 06 PEPPERWOOD GROVE S. E. AUSTRALIA RIESLING - (U.S.) Fresh, lithe, and unabashedly New World fruity. Flowers and peach. Coolness./ Soft and peachy. Mild acidity. Nice, sweet lemon-lime flavors. Yes, reminds me of Mountain Dew. 15.2. WT050907-09. 05 MOSEL-SAAR-RUWER ESSENCE RIESLING, S. A. PRUM - (GERMANY) Slate and walnut terroir aromas. And bright, tangy citricity. Large and concentrated./ Again, large-scaled. Mild acidity. Some wet plaster and boden tones. From heavier soil at the base of the slopes? Or is sulphur still muddying this up? I thought this got favorable reviews. Not an impressive showing this evening though. 15.0+? WT050907-10. 04 WEHLENER SONNENUHR RIESLING KABINETT, S. A. PRUM - (GERMANY) Showing considerable maturity, edelfirne, diesel. Some nice peachiness and stylishness too./ Low acid, especially for 04. Again, some aromatic development already. Bright flavors and good depth. Reliable. 15.8. WT050907-11. 05 BURG LAYER SCHLOSSKAPELLE SPATLESE, JOHANNES EGBERTS - (GERMANY) Grassy aroma of several of the hybrids. Crisp and racy like a sauvignon too./ Soft, mild.. Low-key red-currant flavor intensity. Adequate spatlese sweetness. OK for the price. 15.0. WT050907-12. 05 MONTES COLCHAGUA VALLEY MERLOT - (CHILE) Deep, complicated aromas of oak and merlot. Clear and cool cherry expression, plus thyme and tobacco. Oak and fruit in good harmony./ The aromas are all confirmed–and intensified–on the palate. A broad, mouthfilling, flavorful experience. Everything in balance too. 16.3. WT050907-13. 06 MONTES COLCHAGUA VALLEY MALBEC - (CHILE) Large, round, nutty, oaky. Bitter chocolate. Some youthful resistance./ Palate more giving. Sweet cherry and vanilla flavors. Not much varietal character yet–missing the tar and licorice. Hot and strong at this stage. Needs some rounding, some mellowing, some filling out. Give it a few months. 15.4+. WT050907-14. 06 SEBEKA WESTERN CAPE CABERNET-PINOTAGE - (SOUTH AFRICA) 65/35. Certainly pinotage present. Black fruits and horsehide./ Again, the horse. Warm fruits. Good cabernet tannins give some attractive mouthfeel. Good acidity offers brightness. Some tannin and good depth. 15.6. WT050907-15. 06 SEBEKA CAPE BLEND WESTERN CAPE SHIRAZ-PINOTAGE - (SOUTH AFRICA) 60/40. Sweet, warm climate shiraz. Jammy. Simply stated./ Smoky, spicy black fruits. Sweet and nicely balanced. Has fruit but no varietal clarity–maybe that’s the point of the cuvee. Fine tannin and a sense of balance. Handsome. 15.5. WT050907-16. 06 SEBEKA WESTERN CAPE SHIRAZ - (SOUTH AFRICA) Sweet and simple. Some varietal character evident./ Yes, syrah bacon. While aromatically simple, it at least shows good fatness nicely cut by acidity, and welcome textural interest. 14.0. WT050907-17. 05 BONTERRA MENDOCINO ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) Warm, spiritous, deep. Low key fruit still./ Tart red fruits and some spiciness. Fine tannin. Extended finish. Needs time to fill out. 15.5+.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007 WT050207-01. 06 NEWHAVEN MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC - (NEW ZEALAND) Sweet, pungent grapefruit and gooseberry with tropical flairs. One of the most generous and tropical NZ sauvignons out there. Huge, rambunctious nose./ Pineapple, peach, citrus, cat, capsicum, gooseberry. Very pungent indeed. Tender acidity. 15.9. WT050207-02. 05 TALBOTT KALI HART MONTEREY CHARDONNAY - (U.S.) Plenty of oak toast and char in the Talbot tradition. And the Monterey citrus and acidity./ Soft, creamy, nutty. Lots of malolactic and toasty oak. Still coming together. 15.5+. WT050207-03. 05 (OOPS) VALLE CENTRAL CARMENERE - (CHILE) Cool and clear fruit statement. Sweet New World fruit, licorice carmenere note. Promises good Chilean acidity./ And there is indeed good acidity and fine tannin. Herbs galore, pomegranate essence, tobacco, black earth, spice. True carmenere. 15.5. WT050207-04. 05 (OOPS) VALLE CENTRAL CARMENERE-MERLOT - (CHILE) 70/30. Dark and hearty. Spicy. Nice focus./ Soft, smooth, and accessible, with plenty of large blackness. Plenty of acidity and verve. Delightful, and food worthy. 15.7. WT050207-05. 06 (OOPS) VALLE CENTRAL CABERNET FRANC-CARMENERE - (CHILE) 84/16. Nice, cool, snappy cabernet franc with adequate ripeness. Nutty, spicy, peppery flairs./ Good cabernet franc acidity. Fine tannin. The cabernet franc gives structure. A racy palate that invites food. 15.6+. WT050207-06. 05 CHATEAU KSARA RESERVE DU COUVENT BEKAA VALLEY RED - (LEBANON) 40% syrah, 30% each cabernet franc and sauvignon. Neat stuff. Unique. Very spicy oak and ripe, vigorous fruit. Some raisin, some lacquer, some menthol, and some herbal liqueur like Benedictine./ Exotic flavors, strong of clove and offering a hint of cinnamon too. Wild stuff. 16.0. WT050207-07. 06 PILLAR BOX PADTHAWAY RED - (AUSTRALIA) 50% shiraz, 42% cabernet, 8% merlot. Sweet, racy red fruits with touches of green herbs and balsam./ Black cherry flavor. Smooth, polished. Fine tannin and acidity. 15.2. WT050207-08. 06 THE BLACK CHOOK SOUTH AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ-VIOGNIER - (AUSTRALIA) 94/6. Reduced still. Floral, purple, turned in. With air, viognier charms tell, and there’s a cola note. / Floral on the palate too. And not just viognier. Violets–that comes from red fruit and reduction. fine tannin. Sweetish and easy fruit forms with aeration. Nice softness. Decant vigorously for current service. 15.9+. WT050207-09. 05 COTES DU RHONE, KERMIT LYNCH - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Meaty, substantial. Best filled KL CdR yet. Some herbal afterthoughts./ Ripe, lively black fruits with a racy edge. Garrigue nuances. Spirited and charming. 15.6. WT050207-10. 01 GIGONDAS LES HAUTS DE MONTMIRAIL, DOMAINE BRUSSET - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Full, warm, robust, spicy, oaky. Big and rangy. Burly, brooding, smoky, earthy, and meaty. I guess that just about describes Gigondas!/ Large and warm for 01. Some 01 raciness shows though. The bouquet is well developed, the fruit ripe, dense, and black. Serve this summer with BBQ for save for hearty winter fare. 16.5. WT050207-11. 03 CROZES HERMITAGE LES JALETS, PAUL JABOULET - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Sweetness and ripeness of 03. Nice wood spices. Lots of raspberry, blackberry, and plum./ Good acidity, race, coolness, and flow for the vintage. Fine tannin. Very long. Fabulous. Best Les Jalets yet. 16.9+. WT050207-12. 05 PIESPORTER GOLDTROPFCHEN RIESLING KABINETT, VON KESSELSTATT - (GERMANY) Some reduction. Round and peachy Piesporter Gold behind it./ Crunchy red currant and yellow fruits. Good extract and lots of depth. The acidity is still coated. Handsome potential here. 16.4+. WT050207-13. 05 LONGUICHER MAXIMINER HERRENBERG RIESLING SPATLESE, CARL-SCHMITT-WAGNER - (GERMANY) Wow! Crisp, upper Mittel Mosel raciness.All the floral beauties preserved by reductive winemaking./ Yes, floral and juicy. Round, ripe pear flavors. Pear eau de vie. Lots of upper Mosel flair, lithe disposition. Auslese concentration, fine structure, great class and depth. The acidity is still coated. Nonetheless, this
wine shows the makings of a fine future. 17.5+. WT050207-14. 05 MOSEL-SAAR-RUWER RIESLING SPATLESE, SELBACH-OSTER - (GERMANY) Very peachy, grapey, deep, and textured nose. Fabulous./ Very rich and juicy, crunchy. Full extract and lovely sweet-acid balance of 05. Racy, generous, yielding. Delicious. Lip-smackin’ good already. 17.0+. WT050207-15. 05 BERNKASTELER BADSTUBE RIESLING SPATLESE, SELBACH-OSTER - (GERMANY) Wow! Big Bernkasteler green-grape flair, tingle. Fully extracted. Deep, with citrus peel extras./ Big, rich, flavorful, juicy, broad, ample. In fact, loaded. Full class. Full-force goodness. 17.2+. WT050207-16. 05 RUDESHEIMER MAGDALENENKREUZ RIESLING SPATLESE, JOSEPH LEITZ - (GERMANY) Wow! Golden Rheingau glories. Full citrus and peel extracts. Plus apricot and loquat. Great concentration. Auslese like. Powerful, but also sleek and full of subtleties./ Yes, full of golden citrus and peel and grains and stones. And honeyed yellow fruits. Silky smooth, with richly coated acidity. Dense, striking, sensational. 18.0+. WT050207-17. 05 UNGSTEINER HERRENBERG RIESLING SPATLESE, KURT DARTING - (GERMANY) Dense, powerful, thick, and loaded with extract. Peach and apricot, warm grain sweetmeal./ Yes, massive, chewy, full. Loaded with material. All the power and presence of the south, of Pfalz. Fine structure and depth. Big-time future. 17.8+. |
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