Opus One, Napa Valley 2008
Impressive color: vibrant, dark ruby. Incredible nose: phenomenally heady and aromatic, with almost pungent black cherry, black berry, and meaty currant, with something like chocolate coated citrus peel, cured tobacco/black olive, cedary spice, rich leathery earth, and mineral, all with a lovely sense of tone. Such an amazing nose that it almost seems a pity to drink it. Same notes on the palate, with pungent, dark fruit supported by tart red fruit, wonderful citrus oil notes providing incredible tone, intense dark chocolate notes, cloves, and a long, long finish. Big and bold but penetrating and vivacious. Every sip impresses as much as the first. This wine is truly the sensibility of Mouton married to the raw power of Napa. A contender for the best Californian wine I’ve ever had, and in the same league as the great Bordeaux I’ve had. A revelation. Actually exceeds the hype! I am truly amazed. Will easily last another 15 – 20 years, maybe 25, maybe more. 5 Stars [8/23/14]
Penfolds, Bin 28 Shiraz, South Australia 2010
Dark ruby. Exceptional nose, dense, heady, tarry dark berry fruit, fresh, aromatic plum, gamey notes, a hint of cocoa powder, and dusty/leathery earth. Very full, dense, rich, penetrating palate, with lush, fruity blackberry and plum, balanced by tart red fruit and citrus, fig, generous chocolate, and dusty, slightly chalky tannin, with just a hint of sweet herb. Quite reminiscent of the Rhone. This has the balance to age for 10 – 15 years, possibly much longer, and should achieve a wonderful maturity. 4 Stars [7/30/14]
Darci Kent, Gruner Veltliner, Rava Blackjack Vineyard, Monterey 2010
Very, very good nose, somewhat reserved but deep and rich, with fresh orchard fruit, citrus rind, a hint of flowers, mineral, and sauerkraut. Similar notes on the palate, with fresh pear and peach, lime/citrus rind, plum/raspberry, a touch of flower nectar, and sauerkraut/saline notes, with lots of mineral, and generous, steely acidity. Full and rich in body with very nice texture. Should drink well for at least another 5 years. 3.5 Stars [3/8/14]
St Hallet, Gamekeeper's, Barossa 2010
61% Shiraz, 32% Grenache, 7% Touriga. Excellent, deep, almost Northern Rhonish nose, with dark fruit, sweet red fruit, citrus, floral notes, exotic stone fruit notes olive/tobacco leaf/herbs, pepper, stoney earth and mineral, all with smoked game notes; lovely aromatics. Similar notes on the palate, with dried cherry, blackberry, juicy plum, and generous citrusy acidity, with lots of pepper, and mineral. Big, ripe, and dense, but with excellent tone and aromatic personality. 5 more years, should be interesting when mature. For under $15, a smashing value! 3.5 Stars [3/14/14]
Cline, Mourvedre Rose, Contra Costa County 2011
Coral colored. Very good nose of meaty red berries, leathery earth, plum, sweet aromatic citrus, a touch of plum tomato, herbs, and mineral. Same notes on the palate, with tomato paste. Medium-full bodied, and rich in texture, with sweet citrus providing excellent tone. An excellent and unique rose. 3 Stars [4/13/14]
Colonia Las Liebres, Bonarda, Mendoza 2012
Dark ruby toward purple; some sediment. Very nice nose of dark juicy berries, a note of orange rind, a hint of tomato paste, sweet green/herbal notes, and a touch of dark chocolate, with mineral and leather. Similar notes on the palate: black cherry upfront, with blackberry, sweet raspberry, a hint of cassis, and juicy plum, with orange rind, a whiff flowers, rosemary, and toward the finish, dark chocolate, suede, and mineral. Juicy and lush but with excellent aromatics and acid tone; medium-full bodied. Somewhat lovely; I like it. Drink now or in the next 3 – 5 years. 3 Stars [6/9/14]
Gimenez Mendez, Las Brujas, Tannat, Uruguay 2011
Dark ruby, hinting at purple. Excellent, deep, heady nose of black fruit, touches of tobacco leaf and roses, lots of leather, dark cocoa powder, and tarry earth, all with a pronounced minerality. On the palate, dark chocolate covered dried cherry upfront, with sweet-tart raspberry, juicy plum and meaty currant, a touch of tender green tobacco leaf, leather, and toward the finish tarry/ashy earth/mineral, more dark chocolate and loads of formiddible, chalky tannin. Huge and fiercly structured, yet with rich texture; new world fruit meets uncompromising old world structure and expression of terroir. 5 more years at least, perhaps up to 10. Very impressive. 3 Stars. [8/30/14]
Chehalem, Chardonnay, INOX, Willamette Valley 2012
Clean and minerally on the nose, with sweet but low key pear and peach; rather like a Chablis; very nice. Full bodied, rich, and sweet on the palate, with dense apple, pear, apricot skin, and smoky mineral, all with a vein of sweet orange notes; a bit buttery toward the finish. Reminiscent of a Chablis, but has a bit too much residual sugar evident to be really exciting. Drink over the next 3 years. 3 stars. [10/18/14]
Oakridge, Local Vineyard Series, Chardonnay, Guerin Vineyard, Yarra Valley 2012
Rather wonderful nose of smoky mineral and dense, rich, wonderful orchard fruit, with toffee notes. On the palate, wonderful, rich, full, penetrating body and texture, with ripe pear, pineapple, white peach, apricot, raspberry, almost nutty/creamy notes and smoky stone/mineral. Really nice, but so bold that you can’t really drink a lot of it. Give it a few years to shed its baby fat. 3 Stars. [10/18/14]
Louis M Martini, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma 2012
Excellent, heady, rich nose of dark berries, saddle leather, tobacco, and dusty earth/cocoa, perhaps a touch of olive, all with tones of toasty oak and vanilla; almost like a Cotes-du-Rhone, actually. On the palate, black cherry, raspberry, cassis, a touch of plum tomato and orange rind, tobacco leaf/olive, leather, chocolate, earth, and oaky spice. Full bodied and rich, with its fruit a bit on the sweet side, but kept in balance by some Italianate acidity and by its nice earthy character. Excellent, penetrating finish. A very polished and modern update of the old school Martini style. However, too close to the sweet side to be really exceptional. Seems the vintage now determines how much of the old style comes through. Nonetheless, the style is really impressive, and it tastes much more expensive than it actually is. 5 to maybe 10 years ahead. 3 Stars [11/9/14]
Cousino-Macul, Isidora, Sauvigon Gris, Maipo Valley 2012
On the nose and palate, a sweet and somewhat aromatic but also somewhat deep personality of ripe pear and peach, lime, darker notes of gooseberry, floral notes and nectar, a vein of slightly steely mineral, undertones of spice, and a touch of sweet herbs/grass. Full bodied, with excellent presence, prominent citrus acidity, and a penetrating texture. The aromatics tease and linger on the finish. Like a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer. Drink over the next 3 years. 2.5 Stars [11/17/14]