Tag Archives: 95 points

Numanthia 2015, Toro, Spain

09 Monday Nov 2020

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Last up at the 11th Virtual Tasting was this stunner. It did not appeal to many yet was my wine of the night even though I did not really enjoy drinking it. Let me explain….. This monster is a baby. It has so much complexity, depth and power that is hidden behind a huge tannic wall that it’s hard to coax anything out of it unless you have an aerator, a few days of patience or are willing to take my word for it and cellar some for another 4-5 years. The tasters noted the following:

Inky and nearly black.  Clove, grape hubba bubba, graphite, pencil shavings, creosote.  Very young with loads of tannins.  Cloves, blackberry, iced coffee.  Bitter finish.  Black currant, jam, tawny port like. Tomato.  Short to medium finish.

For me it had layers of anise, tar, black fruit, oak and teeth staining tannins. Great structure will hold this wine together till 2035, but I would cellar until at least 2025, giving a decent 10 year window of enjoyment. Pairing this muscular red with anything but the heartiest of Ribeyes would be foolish, it needs juicy, fatty meat to help cut the tannic grip. On night 2 it was starting to open up and on day 3 I doubled down on the black licorice/anise flavors. The tannins are finally starting to give way. This wine is going to be amazing and for $35 well worth buying a few for the cellar. 95 massive points from me and 5 stars only because I cannot give 6! It’s 100% Tinta de Toro, aka Tempranillo. Salut….

Chapelle Saint Theodoric Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Guigasse 2015, Rhone, France

18 Sunday Oct 2020

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The fourth wine of the #10 Virtual tasting was a home run for me. This $60 Grenache was silky smooth, layered with flavors, complex and had an amazing mouthfeel.

It was semi opaque and had a lighter purple shade in the glass. The nose was very fruity with notes of Cedar, prunes, black cherry, smoky meat, pepper and cinnamon. One taster also threw in ‘bug spray’. On the palate it was very smooth and tasted ‘cold’- in a sense that this wine was very focused and had a concentration of flavors. It was Moxie’s favorite wine of the night and she’s not a huge fan of the reds. The tannins are what I think she liked- very fine grained and well integrated leading to a not-so-dry mouthfeel that was complex, balanced and chock full of red fruits and spice. Prunes showed up on the medium length finish. This wine was astounding to me, my first truly remarkable CDP in forever. I think the 5 years of cellaring was the key to softening this wine and allowing the tertiary notes to begin their emergence. I rated this wine 19 points on my tasting scale, a monster effort that translates into 95 points in the real world. The pro’s went 94, not far off. I know sixty bones is a big step in the wallet but well worth it for an exceptional wine that I award 5 stars to. Drink till 2030. No pairing needed, delicious all by itself. Salut….

Vina Almaviva 2006, Puente Alto, Chile

16 Tuesday Jun 2020

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At 14 years of age this beauty is showing well in the glass.  Dark purple, opaque and leggy.  The cork was very soft so I had to pressurize it out, the corkscrew was going to crumble it otherwise.  On the nose I get blackberries, cigar box, plum and black licorice.  The initial palate is stunning- blue and blackberry ganache, cassis, leather, cedar and oregano.  Sublime tannins are ever present but very integrated.  The mid palate picks up some lapsang souchong tea, espresso and mocha.  The finish is finely balanced between the great tannins and a beautiful acidity that makes my jaw water on the long finish.  This is a sublime wine that has mellowed and matured to a great pinnacle.  Drink this wine by itself or pair it with char-grilled steaks and garlic mash.  95 points and 4 stars for this $140 blend of Cab Sav, Carmenere, Cab Franc and Merlot.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2010 (2020 tasting), Barossa Valley, Australia

24 Friday Jan 2020

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If you look at my previous reviews of this amazing Bella’s Garden, you will see some differences, and some similarities over the years.  This wine has evolved beautifully and the fact that I picked up extras is awesome, for me!

Nearly black in the glass and somewhat surprising with it’s lack of legs considering the monster 15.5% alcohol. On the nose it’s very rich with dark plums, black berries, cinnamon stick.  The palate is lush, rich, layered and delightful.  Dark fruits meld with extremely well integrated tannins, deft oak and syrupy cassis.  The mid palate is gorgeous, bright dashes of those black fruits with a great mouthfeel which balances the tannins with a touch of acidity.  This wine is young at 9 years.  Primal fruit is still in full force with a great structure which will assure a long cellaring potential and the possibility of tertiary flavors evolving.  The finish is long, filled with blackberry reduction and black tea.  There’s a nice hint of vanilla on the back end.  Great wine.  95 points. 5 stars for this $75 jewel.  Drink till 2035.  Salut….

Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2010, Barossa Valley, Australia

20 Saturday Jan 2018

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You know you’re in for a bombastic treat when the label says Shiraz and the wine comes out inky in color and very dense.  The nose is delightful- full of plum, espresso, cedar plank, elderberry syrup and a vanilla hint.  On the palate it is more restrained than I was expecting, more silky, smoother, with much more depth.  This is indeed a powerful wine, but in a more stately fashion.  It shows the dark fruits I mentioned plus a really tight knit tannic structure that couples with the acidity to give an amazing mouthfeel.  The elderberry syrup component really kicks in on the mid palate, it is so silky smooth.  The finish is long, and full of fruit.  The tannins are perfectly in sync and do not overpower the flavors.  This is a delicious wine that has aged nicely and will continue to do so for many years.  Drink with pretty much any grilled meat or all by itself.  Beware the well hidden 15.5% alcohol, it may sneak up!  The pros went big on this wine, which was WS #3 wine of the year in 2012, I can see why.  95 points and 5 stars for this treat that comes in at $75, if you can find it.  Drink till 2024 at the least.  Ps.  I originally bought 2 bottles, and then another six afterwards.  See my other two posts on Bella’s Garden.  Salut….

 

Chateau Guiraud 2006, Sauternes, France

02 Saturday Sep 2017

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Gold, but a lighter shade.  It looks waxy when I swirl the glass, which bodes well for a dessert wine.  On the nose it is sublime- apricots, honey, candied pineapple.  On the palate this wine is super smooth, somewhat oily in texture and really delicious.  I get yellow stone fruits- apricots, peach jam and some honey on the initial attack.  The mid palate is silky but I just realized I sense no acidity whatsoever.  Glycerin comes to mind when trying to describe the texture I feel on the mid palate.  The finish is somewhat dry with a hint of tannins and now I see the emergence of some acidity.  Well played Mr. Winemaker, it all comes together right at the end and makes sense.  The finish has great fruit notes- in addition to the apricots, there are some almond hints, orange zest and a pineapple streak.  Lovely.  This is a generous dessert wine that has a nice unctuous texture, plenty of fruit, a nice mouthfeel and the ability to age for decades.  It is young but really enjoyable now.  Drink till 2035 easily.  95 points.  I paid $28 for a half bottle – 5 stars.   It was my dessert after grilling the most massive Tomahawk steaks ever.  Salut….


Clarendon Hills Piggott Range Syrah 2006, McLaren Vale, Australia

30 Friday Jun 2017

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It was three years ago that I reviewed the 2006 Piggott Range Syrah from Clarendon Hills.  I was blown away and am continuing to enjoy their wines.  I bought a bunch of different wines from the winery and have been watching their evolution for some time now.

This time around this wine still shows a nearly inky black color, with no signs of aging.  On the nose I get -“Oh my”.  Seriously, my first whiff was heavenly.  Thick plums, blackberry syrup and a touch of oak.  It’s making my mouth water before I have even tasted it.

On the first taste- super smooth introduction to some delightful plums, cassis and blackberry pie.  This wine is powerful, yet not jammy.  I have always said that Clarendon Hills does Aussie wines in a French style, hence the name Syrah versus  Shiraz on the label.  The latter from Downunda usually indicates a big jammy thing.  The Syrah style is more elegant, less in your face, but they can still be powerful wines- like this one.   The extraction is near perfect here with lots of fruit, but not overly done.  The mid palate is more cassis but with a touch of enticing heat popping up.  The finish is a continuation of the black fruits with a touch of tannins.  This wine is 11 years young and shows no sign of letting up.  The transformation has begun and there are tertiary flavors starting to evolve.  This wine has the backbone and structure to last a fair while, probably till 2030 in my mind.  I’m serving it up with Filet Mignons and grilled leeks plus a creamed Kale dish.  It would certainly rock a leg of lamb grilled to a pink center with a charred edge.  I think this wine has improved and I am giving it 95 points, my previous tasting being so different!  The pros range this one from 92-98, an amazing score.  It’s currently running $150, which is an astronomical price, but it is a holiday weekend and I am grilling Filets!  5 stars because this wine is just so awesome.  Salut….

Chateau Sigalas Rabaud 2010, Sauternes, France

22 Monday May 2017

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Dark golden yellow.  Honey, apricot jam and grilled pineapple on the nose. The initial tastes are very waxy, oily and full of apricot. This wine is super smooth with balanced acidity, botritized fruit and a delicious flavor profile.  Heaps of apricot jam fill the profile with tertiary flavors of honeysuckle and bee pollen filling in on the mid palate.  The finish shows great tannic structure with a very gentle acidity.   I’m shocked about the tannins on this dessert wine, but they lurk- ever so gently.  This is a solid wine that will last decades.  Drink now till 2030.  It can be found for $25 per half bottle and gets 95 points from me.  5 stars for sure and probably one of the finest dessert treats I have had in a long time.  Salut….
Chateau Sigalas Rabaud, Sauternes, France

Torbreck The Steading 2003

05 Sunday Feb 2017

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I have been sitting on this one for a long time.  While setting up to cook some Steak au Poivre I decided I needed a heady Australian to accompany us, this one happened to be next in line in my kitchen chiller.  Unfortunately the cork crumbled so I had to decant it through a wire mesh to filter out the bits.

At first glance, the wine has a certain amount of bricking and is not very clear.  Age will do this to a wine, I hope it is still okay.  The first whiff is incredible, very Bordeaux-like.  Cassis, leather, plum and spicebox.  I am intrigued as to what it beholds. Remember, this bottle is 13 years old…

Amazing, smooth, calculating.  This wine is gorgeous!   Plum, pepper, tobacco, a touch of oak and some violet.  The mid palate is svelte, with extremely tight tannins swirling around the precise acidity, coupled with nuances of blueberry pie and more leather.  The finish is great, mid length and a continuation of the story.  This wine is drinking beautifully.   A blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mataro and 20% Shiraz, it combines the finesse of a Rhone wine with the power of Aussie fruit.  Beware the well hidden 14.5% Alcohol, which has probably been a key to why this wine has held together so well and been able to develop tertiary flavors.  A gem.  95 points from me and I wish I had more.  The critics were mixed about this wine on release, ranging from 89 to 93 points.  Just goes to show you what a little time in a dark, cool room will do.  I found it online for $50, well worth it for a big occasion.  5 stars from me, Salut….

torbreck the steading

San Felice Campogiovanni docg Brunello Di Montalcino Tuscany Italy 2010

17 Saturday Sep 2016

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Run, don’t walk to your local wine shop if you have any desire to taste a delicious Brunello.  I don’t have notes on this wine as I drank it at a company hosted dinner and thought it would be rude to whip out the ole iPhone and ignore the boss for the sake of a review.  I will say that I took away some main points- it is textbook Sangiovese that is drinking on pointe, the flavors are rich and balanced, the acidity and tannins are right where they need to be and the wine was a superb accompaniment to the Lamb chops with mint sauce.

Good Brunellos will evolve and in their evolution will take on Pinot Noir characteristics reminiscent of aged Burgundy.  This wine is on the path and I am super excited for it- the trail is well marked and it has the backbone, stuffing and correct components to get there and provide years of pleasure.  While it drinks beautifully now, it will no doubt be an amazing wine in another 10 years and more.  The pro’s gave this one huge scores and I will do so as well.  96 was the highest and WS gave it 95.   I concur and given its $40 price tag this wine is a steal and worthy of 5+ points.  Salut….

san felice campo giovanni brunello di montalcino 2010