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Tasting Notes Blog - Printer-Friendly Version
- October, 2009
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 WT102809-01. 08 FOREFRONT SONOMA-NAPA SAUVIGNON BLANC - (U.S.) 67/33. By Pine Ridge. Full, sweet California style of sauvignon. Apple and pear. None of the tart and citrus fruits. A good California take./ Yes, good and sweet. Thankfully, without the high alcohol and the oak. Good acidity and a nice stony base. Pine Ridge’s first sauvignon is well crafted. No surprise. 16.0. WT102809-02. 07 CARDWELL HILL WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT GRIS - (U.S.) Some thought this getting old, but I enjoyed its over-ripe mango aroma./ Peach, pear, almond, tropics. Dry and fresh yet. Good body, texture, flavor. This has not lost its usefulness.. 15.7. WT102809-03. 07 TISHBI ESTATE SHOMRON CHARDONNAY - (ISRAEL) Wood and aged fruit, gone to grains and dried orange peel. / Quince, citrus, pineapple. Sweetish. Mild but adequate acidity. Quite powerful. Delivers in the mouth enough to prove still useful at the table. Not flasheurized flaccid. Has vitality, even elegance.15.4. WT102809-04. 08 KENDALL-JACKSON SUMMATION CALIFORNIA WHITE - (U.S.) They tell us it’s from Loire and Rhone varieties. Strange bedfellows. Now, let’s guess. Likely chenin blanc. Perhaps sauvignon blanc. Certainly some muscat–that’s the Rhone. Well crafted./ Sweet, plump, fragrant. Apple, melon, papaya, talc, musk. Mild acidity. K-J’s answer to Conundrum? Would like more acidity. 16.1. WT102809-05. 08 PIESPORTER MICHELSBERG RIESLING KABINETT, EWALD PFEIFFER liter - (GERMANY) Apple, flower, apricot. Something more than riesling in the suss-reserve. M-T? Or another aromatic cross? / Pleasant apple, pear, and yellow plum flavors. Soft for 08 and riesling–suggests some other varietal involved. I’m not complaining. It’s sweet and nice, and a good value for Mosel riesling in liter. Refreshing. Goes down easy. Liked by the group. 15.8. WT102809-06. 08 CONCANNON RIGHTEOUSLY LIVERMORE VALLEY ROSE - (U.S.) Says mostly Rhone varieties on the back label. But it smells like Bordeaux varieties. Full, strong, peels aromas. Cranberry, maraschino, tobacco. Nothing sweet and spicy and Rhone like about it./Very dry, austere. Dryness does not equal Euro, especially not Med Euro. Good acidity. Likely useful with food. 15.2. WT102809-07. 08 CHATEAU GRAND TRAVERSE OLD MISSION PENINSULA GAMAY NOIR - (U.S.) Dry, tart 08 red style. Austere. Peels. Hard to ripen the red fruit this vintage./ But the palate is sweeter and easier than the nose. The peels extracts offer good flavor profile. Add savor and spice. Very austere compared to Beaujolais. Popular with the group though. Maybe my Taster glass is too demanding. I can see their point. This has been a consistently good bottle year after year. With aeration, it does begin to exude a measure of charm. 15.3+. WT102809-08. 07 CHATEAU GRAND TRAVERSE OLD MISSION PENINSULA PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Cool pinot noir tart cherry and tea. Some wood. Beguiling aromatic nuances emerge with airing. Becoming literally complex./ Cherry, strawberry, blackberry, kola. Sweet and spicy. Complex indeed. Layers of flavors unfold as it airs. Good acidity, of course. The best rendition of this cuvee ever. Very popular with the group. 16.1+. WT102809-09. 08 SAN ELIAS COLCHAGUA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (CHILE) Strange; back label reads Valle Central but front label reads Colchagua Valley. I’ll go with the subset appellation. But who cares? It’s reduced for now, so no regionality evident. Must air and age./ Tight but right. As usual, less reduction evident on the palate. Fruit sweetness. No varietal character other than dark fruit. Time will tell. 13.6+. WT102809-10. 07 LOUIS MARTINI SONOMA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) An enigma. Since the Gallo takeover, these have been oaky and showy and open knit, with Sonoma warmth. And this vintage should showcase such. Yet this wine is dark, serious, and almost ascetic in its reserve. Firm, spicy oak. Black fruit and peels. New winemaking direction? / The palate reveals some fruit sweetness and more open oak spiciness. But remains firm, and peels oriented. A departure from earlier directions under Gallo? I mean, I’m impressed, but this is not a wine to put in your supermarket shopping cart and take home to pop open and enjoy. Will reward cellaring. 16.5+. WT102809-11. 08 PUNTO FINAL MENDOZA MALBEC - (ARGENTINA) 50 year old vines. 3.6 tons per acre yield (low anywhere). 14.5% alcohol. Oh, yes, as the stats would presage, sweet fruited and full. A big explosion of sweet fruit and fruit pulp goodness./ Sweet and full on the palate alike. Lovely. Warm spices, kola, even flowers. Soft acidity but the power compensates. Demonstrative. Decisive. Won’t be denied. 16.5+. WT102809-12. 08 THORN-CLARKE TERRA BAROSSA BAROSSA SHIRAZ liter - (AUSTRALIA) Young and fresh. Smoke, menthol, dark chocolate./ Sweet and powerful on the palate. Young. Good acidity. Disoriented at this stage. Suffering from vertigo. Give it time to find its bearings. 15.3+. WT102809-13. 07 SOBON ESTATE COUGAR HILL AMADOR ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) There’s black Amador ripe zinfandel fruit under a lot of American oak. All will come together for sure./ Strong and oaky. Lots of vanilla. Sweet fruit for sure. Red berries. Needs time to integrate the fruit and oak. Nonetheless, there is class and beauty already evident here, even finesse. Popular with the group just as it is. And it will age famously. 16.5+.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 WT102109-01. 08 YELLOW & BLUE CAFAYATE TORRONTES liter - (ARGENTINA) Lightly scented. True to varietal but delicate. Fresh, floral. Spiced yellow berries and peach. Attractive./ Plenty of peach and more flowers. A bit dilute compared to the top renditions. 14.5. WT102109-02. 08 VIILE TIMISULUI PINOT GRIGIO. TRANSYLVANIA - (ROMANIA) Real grigio apple, citrus, wax, cream, and nut aromas./ Yes, varietal. Good acidity. Not as intense as the top grigios. Good. 14.8. WT102109-03. 07 MUSCADET SEVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE, SAUVION DU CLERAY - (FRANCE LOIRE) Crisp and light and lifted. Genuine, with green fruits, lees, and botanicals./ 07 and Muscadet softness, forgiveness. Good and fresh. A tender heart. Great value. 15.8. WT102109-04. 06 PINOT BLANC KRITT LES CHARMES, MARC KREYDENWEISS - (FRANCE ALSACE) Very appley. Pie apples. Bouquet elements of nuts and honey./ Rich, juicy, forward. Stone fruit galore. Sweet cream, nuts, honey. Very rich. And vibrant. 16.3. WT102109-05. 08 COTES CATALANES CHARDONNAY, NOVELLUM - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Crisp and cool and uplifting. Apple and orange. Suggestion of oak, but certainly nothing to intrude on the fruit./ Yes, flavorful. Both crisp and plump. Lots of taste and texture. As impressive as the desk and the trade show samples. Well liked by the group. 16.0. WT102109-07. 08 ALICANTE ROSE, YELLOW & BLUE liter - (SPAIN) Good, sweet, juicy, fresh fruit. Strawberry and cherry. A source for rose./ Both sweetness and acidity. You can have it both ways. Most meal-worthy. Well liked by the group. 15.9. WT102109-08. 06 BOURGOGNE PINOT NOIR, PIERRE MOREY - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) Real pinot noir. Very pure and lovely. And rich enough, despite the cool vintage. Cherry, plum, nut, vanilla./ Good 06 acidity. Racy. Balanced. The 06 Faiveley tasted at a trade show earlier in the day came across with similar, positive impressions. Liked by the group. 16.2. WT102109-09. 08 VIILE TIMISULUI PETEASCA NEAGRA LA PULERE, RECAS - (ROMANIA) Dark, tart, and full. Dark berries, spiced cherry, and clove. Reminds me of a malbec./ Rich, with good form, grip, and fine tannin. Very flavorful. Cherry, blackberry, cedar, tobacco. The group was surprised and favorably impressed. 15.6+. WT102109-10. 05 COTEAUX FLAVIENS ANSATA, MARC KREYDENWEISS - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) 80% syrah, 10% grenache, 10% merlot. Exotic potpourri of fruits and berries and spices. The fruit is nice and sweet. Some oak toast and vanillin./ Rich fruit flavors and textures. Fine tannin. Good now and later. Liked by the group. 16.1. WT102109-11. 08 SICILIA NERO D’AVOLA-SYRAH, FEUDO SARTANNA - (ITALY) Full, fruity, dark cherry-berry nose. Tar and black licorice. Intriguing./ A little warm-climate ripe-fruity. But there’s good acidity. Useful now. 14.8. WT102109-12. 07 SICILIA NERO D’AVOLA CAMPO REALE, TENUTA RAPITALA - (ITALY) Sweet, warm, and spicy, cherry-oriented nero. Very bright fruit./ Flavorful, spicy. Compact black fruits. Some tannin still. 15.1+. WT102109-13. 05 SICILIA NUAR, TENUTA RAPITALA - (ITALY) Nero d’avola and pinot noir. Mature. Cooked plum, peppercorn, smoke, black licorice. Some toasty oak and bottle bouquet too. Good./ Soft fruit with a smoky patina. Good depth. Well textured. This is attractive now and will be even better if cellared another 6 months to a year. 15.5+. WT102109-14. J. K. SCRUMPY ORCHARD GATE GOLD KOAN ESTATE MICHIGAN ORGANIC HARD CIDER - (FRUIT) 6% strength. Good baked apple cider nose. Fresh and pure apple essences. Plus honey and warm spices./ Great flavor confirmation. The right balance of sweetness and acidity. Fine tuned, well delineated. Plenty of appeal. Good product, fairly priced. Too bad about the hokey name. 16.0. WT102109-15. 08 VIILE TIMISULUI FETEASCA REGALA, TRANSYLVANIA - (ROMANIA) Sweet and spicy-floral. Citrus, loquat, white peach, flowers. Reminds me of torrontes./ Nice and fragrant. Loquat, paw paw. Good acid verve. Stylish. Liked by the group. Both this and the red were favorites of ours in the 07 vintage. 16.2. WT102109-16. 06 MERLER KONIGSLAY-TERRASSEN RIESLING AUSLESE, KROTH - (GERMANY) 06 and auslese richness. Some fern forming. Mosel appley quality./ Sweet, with good Mosel lift and brightness. Enough acidity, especially for 06, and it’s no longer coated. Liked by the group. 16.3+. WT102109-17. 07 ROMANIA MUSCAT OTTONEL SPECIAL RESERVE LATE HARVEST LEGACY, MURFATLAR - (ROMANIA) High toned and scented. Certainly a muscat like set of flowers, stone fruits, and tropical fruits./ Sweet, soft, mellow. Flavorful. Citrus, honeysuckle, botanicals. Good tonic astringency making a proper foil. A textbook example. Many Pacific Rim applications. Very well liked by the group, especially for the price. 16.6.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 WT101409-01. 08 MATUA VALLEY MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC - (NEW ZEALAND) Subtle pear and gooseberry scents. Aeration brings citrusy brightness. A fine example./ The palate is nice and juicy. Good depth. Even some restraint still. Another attractive 08 NZ sauvignon. 16.0. WT101409-02. 08 CASTLE ROCK LAKE COUNTY SAUVIGNON BLANC - (U.S.) Grass and pear .Chummy Lake style./ Lake smoothness up front, followed by good acid zing. Subtle spring grass and pear flavors. Liked by the group. 15.0. WT101409-03. 08 ORVIETO CLASSICO, BIGI - (ITALY) Hint of lemon and nut. Pretty understated at this young stage../ The flavors are not forthcoming either. Good acidity. Too young. 15.0+. WT101409-04. 08 CASTLE ROCK BARREL FERMENTED CENTRAL COAST CHARDONNAY - (U.S.) Very woody. American oak. The fruit is hidden./ But, as is often the case, the wood is better absorbed on the palate. Plenty of sweet fruit to soak it up. OK, especially for oak lovers. Better oak-fruit harmony to come. Liked by the group. 15.2+ WT101409-05. 06 BOURGOGNE LES PERRIERES, DOMAINE MAURICE ECARD - (FRANCE BURGUNDY) On the 06 lean and crisp side, but the pinot expression is attractive and genuine. Some brett. Some oak./ Light and lean and tart 06 style. But welcome with food, and maybe better with time. 15.5+. WT101409-06. 06 APOLLONI WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Mellow and upscale wood approach. One can sense the fruit too. Good quality oak and pinot fruit./ Good ripeness. Mellow. Balanced. Upscale. Liked by the group. 15.6+. WT101409-07. 08 CHIANTI, GABBIANO - (ITALY) Sweet and dark fruited. Spicy too. Licorice./ Good fruit quality confirmed. Spicy-fruity, flavorful. Acidity and grip are 08 styled and welcome. A good take on this wine, though it’s usually pretty reliable anyway. 05 and 02 have been the only letdowns in the new millennium. Liked by the group. 15.8+. WT101409-08. 07 YARDEN MOUNT HERMON GALILEE RED - (ISRAEL) Sweet, candied, boiled fruits. Yum! Both black and red fruits. Attractive gamy aspects./ Sweet and mild, with bright black fruit character. Extra lift and focus to the fruit on the palate. Good acidity too. Well crafted. Everything fits together right. We’ve enjoyed past vintages too. Reliable. 15.7. WT101409-09. 07 WOLF BLASS YELLOW LABEL SOUTH AUSTRALIA CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (AUSTRALIA) Sweet, ripe oak and fruit. Spicy too. Enticing overall. No cabernet bearish nature./ Yes! Very rich melange of oak, blackberry, peppercorn, leather, and balsamic, ventilating elements. Good grip. Positively alluring for cabernet and 07. Good value. 15.9+. WT101409-10. 05 RIOJA RESERVA TEMPRANILLO, BODEGAS CAMPO VIEJO - (SPAIN) 18 months in barrel, 18 months is bottle. Still on the shy side. American oak vanilla and coconut. A nice balance of oak and fruit. No excesses. With aeration come blackberry, boysenberry, cedar, and tobacco./ Very smooth and well balanced. Young and quite undeveloped for a reserva. I think the relatively short term in barrel accounts for this. Gives
less
maturity and more fruit appeal. Maybe the all tempranillo cuvee accounts for its youthful demeanor too. And the finesse. Another unique and solid vintage in this series. Well liked by the group. 16.4+. WT101409-11. 05 CIRO RISERVA DUCE SAN FELICE, LIBRANDI - (ITALY) A touch of reduction, which is unusual for a riserva. Cranberry. Sweet fruit too./ Rich, spicy, and warm palate. Hint of iodine. Smooth and sweet and balanced. Black fruits, tar, and tobacco. Less oak and time in oak than usual. Say, that’s the way the Taurino Salice riserva tasted too. Something to do with the vintage? Or the banker? Already attractive and
without
excesses. Undoubtedly will develop well in bottle. Liked by the group. 16.2+. WT101409-12. 07 COTES DU RHONE, KERMIT LYNCH - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Sweet 07 fruit. Sweet and smooth, soft and plummy. Fig and rose. Spice too./ Very spicy. Almost oaky-spicy. The more it airs, the more complex it becomes. Yes, the fruit is sweet, but the acidity is good too. Boy, from chummy to complex in two minutes. That’s amazing! More range, richness, and depth than usual for this cuvee. Elegany, impressive, and...very
useful.
The group was mightily impressed. 16.2+. WT101409-13. 06 VACQUEYRAS, DOMAINE DE LA TOURADE - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Sweet, dark, and spicy Vacqueyras with intrigue and substance. Old-Worldly. Blackberry, mushroom, tobacco, and game. Vacqueyras–what a great appellation! No two alike. Deep scented. Some oak in play?/ Spice, perfume, haunting depth, intrigue, allure. Good acid, grip, sweetness, balance. Very long aftertaste. The wine of the tasting for me. Well
liked by
the group too. 16.7+. WT101409-14. 07 WOLF BLASS YELLOW LABEL SOUTH AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ - (AUSTRALIA) Good American oak and sweet shiraz fruit. Very pleasing presentation./ Classic, sweet South Australia shiraz fruit. Balsamic and peppery. Very flavorful. Fully as alluring as the cabernet. Good vintage for this Wolf Blass pair, though they’re always presentable. 16.0+. WT101409-15. 08 IRONSTONE OLD VINE LODI ZINFANDEL - (U.S.) Sweet, dark, classic Lodi zin. Spicy enough fruit it doesn’t need oak enhancement. But a little oak toast and caramel seasoning doesn’t hurt./ Old vines richness. Fruity and lush and enticing. Sweet, cooked strawberry flavor. Sometimes Lodi zin is more about strawberry than raspberry. A wine of place at a very handsome price. Wow! Surely rivals the good 07. 16.1. WT101409-16. 07 VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE RIPASSA, ZENATO - (ITALY) Ripasso sweetness without raisin. Maybe that’s why they call it ‘ripassa’. Light oak seasoning is a pleasant addition./ Yes! Rambunctious. Sweet and full Zenato style, without raisin. Black fruits and hoisin sauce. Good example of the Zenato take on all styles of Valpolicella. Liked by the group. 16.6+. WT101409-17. 08 ORVIETO CLASSICO ABBOCCATO, RUFFINO - (ITALY) Very toasty and nutty. Apple tones, and stone fruits. Very expressive./ Dry for an abboccato. Rich though. A nice surprise. 15.8.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 WT100709-01. 08 DANCING BULL CALIFORNIA SAUVIGNON BLANC - (U.S.) Crisp and rising aromas of grass and pear. Encouraging./ Lemon, lime, grass, zest. Sweet-tart. Good acidity. 15.3. WT100709-02. 08 VENTISQUERO RESERVA CASABLANCA SAUVIGNON BLANC - (CHILE) Fat and lush and appley. Something like a sauvignon gris./ Maturing. Showing some woody elements that might not be of oak origin. 15.0. WT100709-03. 08 CELLAR #8 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIR - (U.S.) Beringer’s Cellar #8 is the old Italian Swiss Colony facility at Asti, south of Cloverdale, in northern Alexander Valley. And these continue to be wines of place. Yes, real pinot noir in the warm northern ALV setting. Dark and fruit driven, with the body and grip of the locale’s wines./ Blackberry, raspberry, jam. Intense and dramatic. Soft and sweet, with blackberries
galore. A pinot of place. 15.8 WT100709-04. 01 MEERLUST STELLENBOSCH MERLOT - (SOUTH AFRICA) Lots of dried fruit, game, mushroom, and oak to the developed bouquet. Full material of 01./ Full, meaty, mature flavors. Developed fruit bouquet and plenty of wood seasonings. Assertive. Good with hearty fare. Could serve this often for its maturing and its bargain-basement closeout price. 16.0. WT100709-05. 06 CLOS ROBERT CENTRAL COAST CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) A warm spiciness that’s unusual for a Central Coast cabernet. San Benito? There’s snappy blackberry and black currant here too though. And other dark fruits./ Tremendous fruit: blackberry and raspberry. Great intensity. Rich, sweet, and easy. Succulent, really. No resistance at all. Good coastal acidity. Very flavorful. Much different from the more
structured 05, which was of North Coast origins, if I remember right. 16.2. WT100709-06. 07 AQUINAS NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Restrained, understated fruit. Cedar, underbrush, tobacco./ Firm, peppery, Napa stylish. Needs several months to open up. 16.0+. WT100709-07. 07 RUTHERFORD RANCH NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - (U.S.) Crisp, bright, snappy black currant fruit with a complex of alluring oak overtones. Napa stylishness./ Yes, those seductive oak flavors of chocolate, caramel, and baking spices. And plenty of black currant fruit. This is back to the style, quality, and appeal of the 05 and 04. And it’s accessible sooner than the 05 was. 16.3+. WT100709-08. 07 JACOB’S CREEK SE AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ-CABERNET - (AUSTRALIA) 07 tight structure. Expressive black cherry and black raspberry fruit. A little contrite in form still./ Vinous. Some grip. Liked by the group, mainly because it isn’t overly sweet and oaky like a lot of Aussie reds. 14.5+. WT100709-09. 04 RIOJA CRIANZA ABANDO, SANTIAGO IJALBA - (SPAIN) Compact, with rich fruit depth and toasted hazelnut to the fore. Airing brings Asian spices and hoisin sauce. Plenty of oak too. Expressive and unique./ Young, with fresh, tangy red fruit and a judicious dollop of American oak. Should develop nicely. 16.0+. WT100709-10. 07 VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO SUPERIORE VIGNETO RAFAEL, TOMMASI - (ITALY) 60% corvina, 25% rondinella, 15% molinara–more or less the classic proportions. 15 months in Slovenian oak. Engaging sachet nose. Flowers and spices. Sweet, spiced cherry, clove, peppercorn, cola, and tea. Unique./ Smooth and well balanced. No tannin on the scene. Fine, spicy savors. Yes, unique and seductive. Have never had another quite
like it. Has some ripasso qualities. Well liked by the group. 16.6. WT100709-11. 06 MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO, CANTINA ZACCAGNINI - (ITALY) Wow! Sweet and powerful, with ripe, really black fruit. Black plum, black olive, smoke. The usual good stuff here. Maybe more than the usual. Oodles of aromatic intensity and depth./ Ripe, sweet, and dried fruits. Large. A classic Zaccagnini MdA. Mild tannins, so very smooth. Well balanced. Yes! This is such a fun DOC because of the huge variation of
styles and qualities. They really ought to make a Classico zone, setting aside the higher-elevation, lower-yielding hillside vineyards. Liked by the group. 16.7+. WT100709-12. 06 COSTIERES DE NIMES LES ENFANTS TERRIBLE, MAS CARLOT - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) 50% mourvedre, 50% syrah–daring. Yes, shows the blackness of each varietal. Syrah black raspberry, mourvedre loganberry and cracked black pepper. Impressive fruit delivery, substance./ Brambly flavors more compact and confined. But not tannic. Well poised. The group liked its future. 16.0+. WT100709-13. 07 MINERVOIS LA BASTIDE, CHATEAU COUPE ROSES - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) 07 fruit delivery coupled with Coupe Roses and Minervois discretion. Savory, ripe fruits with a lush border of rosemary. Surprisingly, it’s less yielding than the 05, but maybe it’s at an earlier stage. Good grip, depth, and vigor./ Oh, boy! The palate’s more revealing! Lots of garrigue–the herbs, the spices, the peppercorns. Elegant, flowing,
layered, balanced. No tannin. Now that’s a different picture on the palate, more in keeping with the vintage. The group was equally appreciative of the palate. Nose needs a few months to open up. 16.2+. WT100709-14. 07 COTES DU RHONE, DOMAINE D’ANDEZON - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Wow! Pepper, other spices, peels. Dark, plummy, spicy./ Sweet and spicy. Peppery. Some garrigue. Sweet but buoyant. Ripe, forceful black fruits. Good acidity. Mild tannin. Nice now. Well liked by the group. 16.2+. WT100709-15. 06 COTES DU RHONE LES ABEILLES, JEAN-LUC COLOMBO - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Supple, with a touch of chocolate./ Better than the 05. Still a bit angular. 15.0+. WT100709-16. 06 COTES DU RHONE, CHATEAU MONT REDON - (FRANCE MEDITERRANEAN) Well, this is a CLASSIC Cotes du Rhone. Yes! Dryness and form. Spicy, deep, and hauntingly complex. Gives but does not gush. Old time stuff without any rusticity./ Delicious combo of complex flavor range, balance, and intrigue. It gives, but holds back too, leading me on to explore deeper and longer, to want to keep some in the cellar and explore
the wine over the coming 3+ years. Because the acidity is good and the tannins fine. This estate has not succumbed to modernity, overripeness, new oak, and special cuvees. Admirable. Well liked by the group. 16.5+. WT100709-17. 07 R WINES LUCHADOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA SHIRAZ - (AUSTRALIA) Very woody nose. Coconuty American oak. The fruit is dense and sweet. Raspberry jam and dark chocolate./ Sweet fruit and oak vanillin, but, thankfully, no wood tannin. The palate’s less oak dominated. Treacly finish. Needs time for oak integration. 15.9+. WT100709-18. 08 ALBANA DI ROMAGNA BACIAMI, LE ROCCHE - (ITALY) Spicy, with nuts and cold cream aromas. The nuts are typical, but where did the rose-bergamot come from this vintage? Markedly different from the 07. Likely all vintage-accountable though./ Apricot and tropical fruit flavors. Good juiciness and extract. Flavorful. Good acidity. Low alcohol (9%). 15.8+.
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