01 Sunday Sep 2013
Posted in Wine
Great fruitiness on the nose with hints of Cherry and Plums. The plum component gets a dose of dark currants and perhaps a vegetal thingy… Very smooth and rounded, this wine is balanced and the tannins are fine. This wine drinks beautifully by itself and will do so for another 6 years minimum. 91 points and at $27 it’s a 4 star offering.
19 Thursday Jul 2012
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Made from the Sangiovese grape, I was expecting something smaller, lighter, more agile. Wrong- a beautiful nose of fruit bouquet giving way to a generous helping of sour cherry meets grass. At 5 years of age, still fresh, young, tannic and cellar worthy. Excellent balance and a truly unique flavor have got me really excited about this wine. I am loving it….5 stars- hurrah. 91 points if I were a pro.
19 Thursday Jul 2012
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Little brother to Barolo, the Barbaresco’s are made from the Nebbiolo grape. You know how I love it!
A few extra swirls finally got this wine to give me the typical nose I was looking for, Nebbiolo all the way baby. Red fruits are predominant on the palate, with slightly green tannins protruding. Perhaps they will meld away, one can hope. A long finish and good acidity are a bonus here. This region is not known for aging potential like Barolo, but I think this wine can hang in there for another 10 years easy. Oh look, I finished my glass…. Yummy. 4 stars and 89 points.
19 Thursday Jul 2012
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A complete mix of grape varietals, this is a big hitter from the Rhone. A stewed fruit nose gives way to the most amazing floral hit on the palate. Oh, a 45 second finish to boot. The complexity of this wine is amazing, yet the fruit is somewhat subdued. I’m stumped, so much so that they are checking the bottle.
I’m waiting, patiently….. I so want this wine to rock my world, and so far- flowers.
Apparently the bottle is fine, just a little closed on the nose- Vinturi to the rescue and bingo…. Fig and earth come to mind, with black currants and rose mixing it up with the gentle tannins. I’m not sure how much collaring potential this wine has, but I think it’s a little young and could use another three years in the bunker before you pop a bottle.
The hard part—— 92 points and …… 4 Stars. I just can’t see 5 on this one for some reason. A very well made wine, but just doesn’t have what I need to push it over the hump.
19 Thursday Jul 2012
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Walk into any high-end steak house and this wine will be on the list. No doubt a quintessential California Cabernet from Napa Valley, I have high hopes for this one, but am concerned about its youth. Here goes.
Donkey? Earth? Not sure, but this nose is intriguing the hell out of me. Help…..
On the palate, a strong wine, and way too young. The tannins are good, but not overpowering, which allows the plummy taste to come through with some blueberry. I cannot make out any hint of imbalance, this is a well crafted wine, and the alcohol is non-intrusive. I think it’s a good wine, probably just a little too ordinary for me. For the buck, not enough bang unfortunately. I am torn between 4 stars for quality and 3 stars for its QPR. Being a rather pricy offering, I would cellar two or three bottles for at least five years, perhaps patience will be rewarded. Even though I may pass on this, I think it is worthy of 90 points.
19 Thursday Jul 2012
Posted in Wine
Before I taste this wine, I must say I love the label. It is the third wine in my Cali Kings flight. I already know it’s a “14.9%” wine. We all know what that means…
Somewhat muted on the nose- because it’s holding out for your palate. Whoosh, here it comes: jammy berry, Zin pepper, spice and a mouth puckering brace of tannins- all at once. Nice party trick folks, fool me with the fake to the nose and then a full wallop to the mouth. Good job hiding the alcohol though. Generally a really nice old vine Zinfandel that has more structure than most. I am dying to know how this is going to evolve as I foresee a long life ahead- perhaps 12 years??
I’m starting to make out some cherry, and a floral finish. Perhaps a trait of the vine age? I’m not sure how available this wine is, but I really encourage you to look for it. Its not typical Zin, but has certain good qualities of Zin that I like. I reckon 5 stars, and 90 points. A well made Zin.
19 Thursday Jul 2012
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A gorgeous nose of pure dark fruit that translates well to the palate. Strange as it may be, not many wines smell like they taste. Is this a good thing?
Purity is descriptor here, with some really delicious tannins to boot. The fruit has precision, with some plum? It’s hard to tell as the tannins, nice as they are, distract me.
Generally a decent wine that I believe has good collaring potential and will balance itself out over time. A unique Napa Cab that I want to give 4 stars to, and would guess at a 90 point rating.
18 Wednesday Jul 2012
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Dubbed “The California Kings” this is the first of three Cali wines in the flight at Vino Volo. I am serving a 4 hour delay in absolute misery… Leather chairs, soft music, charcuterie and tasting portions of some amazing wines.
On the nose- typical Merlot… Oh oh. Never mind, it all comes good. The initial palate is a smoothed out dark cherry that is somewhat muted, not so ‘in your face’. Very smooth, I must say, with a hint of dryness, a touch of heat and a good balance. Not built for the long run, this one is a very good effort for near term drinking. Weighing in at only 12.5%, I’m somewhat surprised. I can make out some oak, which may bother some hedonists, but it integrates well and adds smoothness. I am picturing this wine as a good Flank steak partner, it needs meat to come out and join the party. 4 stars because I like it and it’s a decent priced wine… Possibly an 89 pointer from the big guys. It’s time to get back into Merlot people, it was just a movie….
18 Wednesday Jul 2012
The last of my Pinot flight… Here goes.
Wow, cherry heaven on the nose. Big time, in your schnozzola with the bing cherries-loving it. I might be a little premature here, 5 stars. This thing rocks. Red raspberry meets cherry on the palate, with just a hint of tannins- yum. Extremely well balanced with an ever so slight tint of alcohol peeking out tells me this wine is ready for the long haul. 10 years minimum, with some secondary flavors possible, I hope anyway. I would love to revisit this one in 5 years and then later…
Thirty seconds…. 30 and counting on the finish, amazing. This, people, is a New World David- capable of slaying any Old World Goliath. A very large wine with great potential and a 93 pointer IMHO. Well done you guys….
18 Wednesday Jul 2012
Posted in Wine
My flight is delayed, awe shucks…. What a great excuse to visit Vino Volo, Washington Dulles’s wine bar in the departures area. Here I go with the West Coast Pinots.
I get cranberry and strawberry on the nose, lots of it, but in a nice way. On the initial palate- very interesting mix of cherry and strawberry with a firm set of tannins in the background. If you remember my previous post about my Pinot/tannin issues, you will recall that I have a hard time discerning them in this varietal. When I do, they are definitely there. So, having said that, this wine will age for several years, hopefully the heat of the alcohol will buzz off and allow us to enjoy this rather well made wine for at least ten years. A medium length finish is a bonus, helping to give this one 4 stars and potentially a 90 point rating. Me likey……..
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