A bit of a random onslaught here, but there are some nice ones that deserved sharing. And here, I am finally switching over to a 5 star system, which I intend to be the final iteration in my ratings. Inspired by Broadbent, but still loosely anchored to the 100-point system. For those not in the know, "~" means "roughly" in math notation.
* - Good ~(80 - 84)
** - Very Good ~(84 - 88)
*** - Excellent ~(88 - 92)
**** - Exceptional ~(92 - 96)
***** - Outstanding ~(96 - 99)
****** - Perfection ~(99 - 100) (yes, that's six stars - blame Broadbent, but I like the idea of an only rarely used rating that signifies only the most rare and special of the very best)
France
Mumm, Brut, Cordon Rouge, Champagne NV
Excellent nose! A personality of blodd orange, apple, bread crust, and nuts. Excellent body and a good finish. Amongst the best NV Champagnes I've had. ***. [6/13/10].
Domaine de L'Oratoire St. Martin, Cuvee Prestige, Cairrane - Cotes du Rhone Villages 2006
Opaque ruby. Excellent nose with nice depth, though not very expressive. Cherry, blackberry, and currant, with hints of orange rind, sage/garrige/herbs, black soil, and black pepper. Full bodied and bold, with nice tone. Very high quality as usual for this domaine. Not very expressive, but this bottle may have been in travel shock. Another 5 years ahead of it. Decanted an hour, but approachable without. ***. [8/29/10]
Louis Jadot, Bourgogne 2007
Black cherry, raspberry, cloves, and pepper. Very good body, meatiness, and depth for a basic Burg. Very satisfying. Cote de Nuits fruit? Good value and character for $17. **. [9/3/10]
The following two were very kindly sent my way by a generous WLDG member, who wishes to remain anonymous. Thank you very much you-know-who-you-are!
Champy, Beaune 1er Cru 1995
275th anniversary bottling. Wonderful nose of accentuated stawberry, blueberry, and nice gamey undertones. Similar notes on the palate, the fruit more restrained, but still with lovely accentuation, and hints of fig on the finish. Lovely mature Burg, and may have somewhere to go yet. Obviously would have been well structured in its youth. May have up to 5 years left to give, depending on your preferences. ***. [11/17/10]
Michel Bouzereau et Fils, Bourgogne 2004
Darkening yellow/gold, but still bright. Good nose. Pinapple, ripe pear, honey, orange blossom, hints of stone fruits, butterscotch, a hint of oak, and hints of stone/mineral. There's a lot of good character and quality here. It is possible that this is a declassified Meursault (the domaine is based there). ***. [12/5/10]
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Les Jalets, Crozes-Hermitage 2006
Excellent nose of dark, plummy fruit, smokey earth/bacon, floral notes, and exotic fruits. On the palate, red cherry, blackberry, plum, meaty currant, and earthy mineral. Excellent body, tone, aromatics, and accentuation. Very pleasurable now, but great potential here for at least 5 or up to 10 more years. Really excellent wine, and a really excellent value at $20. ***. [1/1/11]
Italy, Spain, Portugal
La Lot, Pinot Grigio, Vigneti Delle Dolomiti (IGT) 2007
Citrus rind, white peach, and mineral. Rich and deep. Like a cross between Italy and Alsace. ***. [8/28/10]
Torres, Gran Sangre de Toro, Reserva, Catalunya 2004
60% Garnacha, 25% Carinena, 15% Syrah. Nose of barnyard, nectarine, red fruit, deep earth, and tobacco. Nice nose! Pure red cherry, juicy plum, a hint of tart blackberry, almost citrus-like acidity, tabacco leaf, gravelly earth, and a very nice note of wood. Wonderful, savory body. Highly traditional Spanish red, but interestingly tastes a bit like Tempranillo. The most unique Grenache blend I've had. Should drink gracefully for a couple more years. Tasted 7 times with fairly consistent notes. ***. [9/22/10]
Bartoli Giusti, Rosso di Montalcino 2005
Dark, pure red. Nice Montalcino nose, with all the things I love: citrus rind, herbs, tobacco leaf, and gravelly earth. On the palate, kirsch, blackberry, and plum, with citrus, hints of roses, hints of herbs, tobacco leaf, adn gravelly earth. Seems ripe and full on the "first attack," but thinner and more tart after that. Still, has the great aromatics I expect and love from Montalcino. Quality wine, problematic vintage. Oddly raiseny and oxidized on day 2. **. [9/18/10]
Campo Viejo, Reserva, Rioja 2005
Deep but clear ruby. Dense nose of leather, roses, and gravel. On the palate, cherry and dark plum, with roses, leather, a touch of tangerine rind, and gravelly earth. Nice, traditional Rioja. Should develop gracefully for a few more years. 100% Tempranillo. ***. [9/23/10]
Onix, Classic, Priorat 2007
Deep purple-red. Dense, aromatic nose of dark fruit and tobacco. Blackberry, cassis, plum, tobacco, floral vanilla, brier, tar, and distinctive slate/minerals (i.e., the famous "licorella" slate). Dense, and full-bodied with great palate presence, plus good acidity. Not a blockbuster. 50% Garnacha, 50% Carinena? ***. [11/6/10]
Churchill's, Late Bottled Vintage, Porto 2000
Black cherry, hints of strawberry, suggestions of blueberry, a hint of dark chocolate toward the finish, all with a note of prunes. Firm, classical, almost claret-like balance. Has some power behind it, and not yet at its peak. Will it age for another 20 years? Great value for $25. ***. [11/14/10]
United States
King Estate, Pinot Gris, Signature Collection, Oregon 2006
Excellent, fruity, floral nose. Pear pinapple, nectarine, floral nectar, and stone/mineral. Alsatian in style, with wonderful fruit and body, and a sense of poise. Can last another 4 years. ***. [6/4/10]
Louis M Martini, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, Napa 2005
Opaque ruby. Excellent, expansive nose of dark fruit, tobacco, leathery earth, and a hint of floral vanilla. Can smell it from a foot away! A classic Martini nose. Black cherry, blackberry, currant, hint of vanilla, tobacco, and leather. Full bodied, a touch ripe for Martini, and could hope for a bit more structure, but has the classic Martini balance that will allow it to age for another 10 years or more. ***. [6/12/10]
Bostock Winery, Cimarron, Monsoon Red, Kansas Settlement, Cochise County, Arizona 2008
A blend of number of mostly Italian grapes, led by Zinfandel and Barbera. Medium-dark ruby red. Very good nose. Raspberry, blackberry, pie cherry, currant, hint bitter herbs, and earth / wet gravel. Medium-full bodied, with good acidity. Like a cross between Southern Italy and Bordeaux. Very fine effort, very good character. **. [7/31/10]
Au Bon Climat, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara 2008
Wonderful nose of dark red fruit and clove. Blackberry, succulent strawberry, floral notes, cloves, and earth. A touch of Califorina ripeness but otherwise reminds me of Clos Vougeot. Best California Pinot Noir I've had, and reasonably priced at $25. ***. [8/5/10]
Bogle, Petite Sirah, California 2001
From my cellar. Medium purple/ruby. Expressive, attractive nose. Blackberry, blueberry, juniper, and mint, with some glycerin showing. Some nice maturity showing, but has lost its youthful pleasure. Not really in decline, just in a different stage. Will go on for a few more years, and may yet develope a maturity to rival its youth. **. [8/29/10]
Alexander Valley Vineyards, New Gewurz, Gewurztraminer, Mendocino County 2008
Good, classic GT nose. Ripe pear, honey, apricot, orange blossom, and nutmeg. Dry, full bodied, and viscous. Like Alsace with California ripeness. Impressive. ***. [12/29/10]
Ballentine, Zinfandel, Block 9, Napa Valley 2001
Dark red, with perhaps a hint of brown. Takes 20 minutes or so to open. Lovely nose! On the nose and palate, a personality of raspberry, dried currant, hints of roses, with Napa's leathery and tobacco-hinted earth, all with some glycerin showing. This is somewhat low key but a lovely, mature wine, and an excellent demonstration of Zinfandel's mature style. ***. [12/27/10]
Southern Hemisphere
Penfolds, Riesling, Bin 51, Eden Valley 2007
Pear, prominent citrus, red apple, roses/petrol, honey, steely acidity, mineral, and grass. Aussie ripeness with lots of acidity. Best day 2. ***. [7/3/10]
Bodega Neuquen, Malma, Merlot, Patagonia 2005 (Argentina)
Dark red. Nice nose. Black cherry, raspberry, cassis, and hints of briar, leather, vanilla, and oak. Full bodied, and rich. Like a cross between an Argentine Malbec and a Napa Merlot. Very interesting. ***. [8/6/10]
De Martino, Nuevo Mundo, Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec, Reserva, Isla de Maipo 2007 (Chile)
Dominant blackberry notes, with cherries and currants, and oak on the finish. Like a cross between Argentine Malbec and Napa Cab Sauv. Ripe, dense, and hedonistic. A really pleasurable drink. 50-50 blend, organic. ***. [8/8/10]
Kirkland, Signature, GSM, Barossa 2004
Black cherry, blackberry, currant, tar, cloves, and herbs. Full bodied, rich, and dense, but elegant. Very much Rhone in style (like a good Vacqueyras or Gigondas). A seriously good wine, and an awesome value for $13. Seems to be in a good place, so drink now. ***. [9/12/10]
Elsa Bianchi, Torrontes, Mendoza 2008
Fresh peach, grapeskin, floral nectar, and generous black pepper. Great fruit and aromatics! A unique and exciting wine. Tasted 3 times with consistent notes, the first taste from a bottle that had been open 4 days with no decline at all! ***. [11/17/10]
Coldstream Hills, Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley 2007 (Australia)
Light red, almost dark pink. A pretty, deep nose of earth, roses, and dark strawberry. On the palate, a nicely accentuated character of dark strawberry, with sweet cranberry, some black cherry, roses, a hint of orange rind, coffee, and earth. This is a very pretty, nicely earthy wine. Evolves rapidly in the glass, behaving variously like Burgundy, New Zealand PN, and Oregon PN. An eye-openner for what Australiann PN might be capable of. **. [12/16/10]
Unusual Roses
Colombelle, Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne 2008
Rose. 60% Tannat, and 20% each of Cab Sauv and Merlot. Raspberry, strawberry, and impression of dark berries and plum, aplle, and a hint of leather. Unique character for a rose. ***. [6/18/10]
Domaine de Figueirasse, Gris de Gris, Vin de Pays du Sables du Golfe du Lion 2009
Grenache Gris. Light salmon. Nice nose of fresh fruit. On the palate, lots of fresh strawberry, with watermelon, apple, citrus, a hint of plum, and abundant mineral. Medium in body. Very unique style of rose. **. [9/10/10]
Cline, Mourvedre Rose, Contra Costa County 2008
Raspberry, apple, plum, cloves, spice. A bit aromatic, nice fruit, with a bit of dark richness. Good body. Quite a good rose. **. [10/4/10]
