The three Don Melchors were good as always as well. All were still young - they haven't moved much at all since we tried them about 2 years ago. Speaking of yound wines, the 1998, 1999 and 2001 Brunellos we tried one night were all really young, and tannic as hell, even with extended decanting.
- 2002 Kilikanoon Cabernet Sauvignon Blocks Road - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (3/19/2010)
Notes from second night. Deep brick, almost purple in colour, with lots of redfruit and toast on the nose. Pretty full bodied on the smooth, fruit-forward palate, with not many tannins to speak of. It's a nice enough wine, but tastes more like a shiraz/cab blend than a straight cabernet to me - not a lot of varietal character here. But a concentrated, well balanced, mouthcoating wine, though lacking any 'soul'. This was a bit better on the second night, with more blackfruit coming out. A solid, though fairly unidimensional wine. (B/B+) - 2000 Domaine St. Benoit Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grande Garde - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (3/17/2010)
This was much better than I was expecting. I don't know the amount of mouvedre in the wine, but it really stood out, in a good way. It had that lovely, earthy and leather note that this variety provides. Medium bodied, old school, and a burgundian styled CDP - very smooth, silky, sophisticated and elegant. Drinking really well now, but should last a few years. (A-)
- 1999 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (3/11/2010)
Had this a few days ago with two other Brunellos (1998 and 2001). All of the wine showed a lovely wild berry (mainly red fruit) nose and palate, but showed a lot more tannin than I was expecting. This wine started out lovely - medium-full bodied, nicely concentrated - but the tannins clamped down pretty hard, even after a 3 hour decant. If you have some, wait on it - 3 years minimum. (A-) - 2002 Pfaffenheim Gewurztraminer Steinert - France, Alsace, Westhalten, Alsace Grand Cru AOC (3/7/2010)
Had this tonight with a curried pork stew dish. Lovely, classic Alsace gewurtz here, with a lvely rose petal nose, and a thick, fairly rich, off dry palate with lots of tropical fruit and a hint of botrytis. Nice balance, drinking well now. (A-)
- 2003 Tua Rita Bolgheri Perlato del Bosco - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri (3/3/2010)
Hazy notes from a few days ago. This had an absolutely gorgeous nose, but the palate just didn't match this effort. The wine was a little angular, with some dryness and healthy acids: it really screamed for food, and I'm sure it would have performed much better with some pasta or meat. A nice earthy note was nice on the medium-bodied, slightly rustic palate. (B+) - 2005 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M. - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (3/3/2010)
Had this a couple of days ago. No notes, but this was a pleasant, if unidimensional wine. Some meaty notes on the palate, which I always love in my sryah/shiraz, but I thought it was basically a solid, very smooth, nicely textured wine - just rather simple. (B+) - 2003 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor (Private Reserve) - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (3/3/2010)
Had the 2004, 2003 and 2002 last night. Didn't take notes, but this was a remarkably consistent and excellent trio of wines. Each weren't quite ready for prime time, even with extending decanting. Blackberries with a slight hint of mint and tar on the noses, and a concentrated, structured similar profile on the full bodied palate. Hard to pick a favourite, although the 2002 was drinking best, but the 2004 was my favourite by a nose, even though it was the most tannic right now. It's not a crime to drink these now, but they have a lot of time left in them, as they have considreable tannins and still a hint of oak. I'd score all these vintages in the 92-93 point range. Great stuff! (A-) - 2003 Philippe Delesvaux Coteaux du Layon St. Aubin - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon (2/20/2010)
A light golden colour, with a light nose of rotten fruit (in a nice way), and a wooly mineral note. Definitely off-dry on the medium-full bodied palate, with apricots, pineapple, orange, pear, lime and red apple. Quite viscous on the palate, but not heavy; medium long finish. Good balance, although a touch more acidity would be nice. Almost dessert wine in style, but not quite. Lovely wine right now, but it could last a few more years I suspect. (A-)
- 2006 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Estate Old Vine Ribbon Ridge - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge (2/18/2010)
Medium brick in colour, with a lovely nose of earthy cherries, barnyard and mushroon. Medium-bodied flavours of more earthy cherries. chocolate, and sandalwood. There's a lovely silky texture and elegance to this wine, especially for a 2006: lovely OR pinot. (A-)
