Monthly Archives: December 2011

Penafiel Gran Resalte ’00

31 Saturday Dec 2011

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The big brother to my other two Penafiel’s, this one is a real beauty. The Gran Reserva from 2000 has aged beautifully and shows great Tempranillo character with some extra flavors kicking in. Smooth tannins are holding it together like a solid backbone, yet unobtrusive. Purple in color, it shows no signs of age, still fresh and vibrant. My guess is that the remaining bottles will last until 2016 at the least- 5 stars and potentially a 93 pointer if reviewed by the paid people. Sucha deal baby!

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Opus One, ’00

28 Wednesday Dec 2011

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Opus one 2000

Perhaps one of the more controversial California Cabernet’s, this bottle was the ringer in last night’s Bordeaux episode.  Having served Lynch Bages 1996, Duhart Milon 2000, I snuck this little gem in to the fray and the results were overwhelming.  A joint venture formed in 1979 between Robert Mondavi and Mouton Rothschild the Opus One is blended in the Bordeaux style using the finest California fruit.  Heavy on the Cabernet Sauvignon they have deftly added Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec to round out the wine and produce something that I could only describe as “Fruit Explosion Meets Old World Elegance”.

The first whiff and taste of this bottle brought a unanimous exclamation of “wow, very fruity”.  At eleven years of age, there is no end in sight for this wine, the tannins are soooo good, gently edging the mouthfeel and caressing the amazing fruit.  Secondary flavors are yet to come forth, but I can sense they are lurking.  The pro’s trashed this wine as overpriced and underperforming for the pedigree.  With an official score of 90, and a lofty price tag, it did not sell well.  I picked up a half-case from ‘my guy’ to keep him sweet- thus ensuring future allocations of what I really wanted.  I am really glad I did….  I am giving this baby 5 stars, only because there is no six, and I reckon the pro’s would re-rate it as a 93-94 point wine.  A true shocker that has definitely rewarded my cellaring patience.  I think I have one more bottle-yippee!

opus 1

Duhart Milon, ’00

28 Wednesday Dec 2011

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A Fourth Growth Bordeaux from the famed 2000 vintage, this wine was number two in last night’s line-up.  Served from Magnum, and right after the ’96 Lynch Bages, it held its own.  Duhart-Milon belongs to the fabled Lafite Rothschild group and has a tremendous pedigree.  Blending about 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Merlot has produced a balanced, smooth, fruity wine that is developing secondary flavors and showing it’s ageability with rounded tannins that are holding it together in a great form.  Typical Paulliac flavors of Tobacco, Cassis and Blueberries are enticing, yet non-obtrusive.  I did not get any acidity, which is interesting, as the wine has great structure with many years left on it.  I would think it is just now coming out of hibernation and will drink well until 2020 at the least.  Scored 90 by WS, I would give it 4 stars.

duhart milon rothschild

Lynch Bages ’96, part deux

28 Wednesday Dec 2011

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If you read my previous post on this wine from Thanksgiving you will remember that I was a little disappointed.  Last night we had some friends over and I dug deep into the cellar, really deep.  We kicked off the night with the 1996 Lynch Bages, and I was really happy.  What I was expecting was there, the depth, complexity, primary/secondary flavors, and the tannins are holding it all together quite nicely.  Interestingly enough, I opened a 2001 Lynch Bages at my parents house for Christmas dinner and was really crushed, it was missing everything; fruit, tannins etc- until I figured it out.  I was using the wrong glass.  They are not red wine drinkers and thus have no decent stemware to handle such a beast.  Last night’s bottle showed beautifully in the BAG (Big Assed Glass, see previous post in case you missed it).  What a difference the correct size and shape will make to the enjoyment of a decent bottle.  Definitely a 5 star wine, and considering the bottle variation from Thanksgiving, this one would merit 94 points from a pro, which I am not.

lynch bages 1996

Cantemerle ’01

18 Sunday Dec 2011

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You little beauty! I bought a case of this 2001 Bordeaux several years ago and have been patient- now, rewarded. Slight alcohol on the nose gives way to gorgeous cassis and cigar box notes. On the first taste, smooth as silk, no harsh tannins, and a mature finish showing what happens with wine as it evolves from fruit-baby to complex adult. Secondary flavors are in balance with primary fruit, with a middle aged backbone of tannins, not in your face, yet still present. Some blueberry is showing through, as is some tobacco. This is sooo totally my style of wine, I’m loving the 5 stars it gets and would imagine it deserves a 92 point pro rating.

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Miros De Ribera ’01, part Dos

15 Thursday Dec 2011

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If you read my previous post you will remember that I am a huge fan.  Well, tonight reinforced my conviction on this wine.  This bottle was absolutely amazing.  Smooth like you wouldn’t believe, fruit, soft tannins and still lively.  The acid is a non-factor, the nose is is round, the taste- sublime.  I might think that there is some bottle variation, but WOWWSA.  On the nose, there is that extra little secondary flavor, the mouthfeel is gorgeous and the aftertaste goes on for a full minute.  To tell you how much I am loving this wine….  Patience in the cellar has truly been rewarded.   Still a 5 pointer and at least 92 points for this particular bottle.  I am speechless…….  Good night.

Columbia Crest ’07 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

10 Saturday Dec 2011

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Number 2 in our little party, always a good choice from the value-priced section.  These guys can pump out a tremendous quantity of reliable, tasty wines, year after year.  2007 was no exception, with a pro rating hovering around 90 and a price point of $13 make this an easy choice for many a party host.  Good fruit, decent tannins and a longer than expected finish give this wine street cred.  For me however, it is a little boring- blame that on the fact that I have had this wine and many like it until I’m blue in the face.  Given that, I have to award it 5 stars for consistency, QPR and the ability to be a crowd-pleaser.  I would definitely recommend and buy it again.

Castle Rock ’09

10 Saturday Dec 2011

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A few of my colleagues gathered for a little Christmas cheer upon our arrival in Hong Kong and this was the first of many bottles to be opened.  Very primary in fruit with a decent nose and mid-palate it offered no sign of aging potential.  A decent way to start out as it was not heavy, complex or overpowering.  Very reasonably priced, this one is a sure winner for informal drinking or large parties.  From a pro standpoint, perhaps an 82 rating but I’m giving it 4 stars for being a good QPR player.

Villa Mattielli ’07

10 Saturday Dec 2011

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My first foray into Amarone.  If you don’t know what that is, you should read this Wiki about the process of drying the grapes on racks and then fermenting the concentrated fruit to produce a rich, low-acid wine that normally measures in at 15% alcohol.  I got excited when I opened this bottle, but quickly came back to earth.  It lacked a nose, there was no richness and the alcohol bothered me.  I have had Ripassa wines, made when the partially aged Valpolicella is contacted with the lees of the Amarone, now that’s some good stuff.  I guess I was expecting the same type of full-bodied wine. Perhpas a few years in the dungeon will allow this thing to mature and get back on track.  For now, a mere 2 stars and perhaps an 88 rating….who knows, I might have had a bad bottle.

Garraud ’00

03 Saturday Dec 2011

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Another Moxie find, this one brings back some memories.  I first came across it’s sibling, Chateau Treytins at my local wine shop, buying up their ’95 and ’96 stock for about $16 per bottle.  This was an amazing find and one of my all time QPR (Quality Price Ratio) home runs.  The wine was beautiful, mature, full of fruit, great nose and the structure to withstand further aging.  When I tried to look for more, they were out, but the clerk recommended the Garraud as an even better alternative.  Same family, different grapes and composition.  Not as good.  Heavy on the Merlot, whilst the Treytins has more Cab Franc (you know how much I like the Franc).  I felt it was lacking something, just couldn’t pinpoint it.  I have had several vintages of this wine and can honestly say that it is a good effort, but my preference is for the cheaper one (Treytins).  However, the family make yet another wine, their top cuvee- L’Ancien.  Made predominantly with Merlot, from the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation, it is a true beaut.  I met the winemaker at our local, where he talked about the wine and signed my 2000 vintage.  It was really good.  I never took a picture of it, yet remember it as profound.  So there you have it, 3 good wines, relative inexpensive for Bordeaux and each with it’s own make up and character.  The Garaud ’00 for your info should get 3 stars and the pros gave it an average of 85 points.  Not bad.