74 / C-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 09 Jan 2009
Dark maroon core with a garnet rim. Prune and dried cherries with strawberry licorice and a cinnamon hint. Smooth entry on the palate. Soft with black cherry flavors and a hint of mocha on the finish.
This needs to be consumed immediately - starting to taste old.
88 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Apr 2008
Very bright in the glass with a thick purple core surrounded by a fuchsia rim. Fleshy and sweet in both the aromas and flavors. Sweet strawberry wraps around black cherry and blackberry with a nice hint of black pepper. The wine is smooth and soft as it enters the mouth bringing a smoky, gamy undertone of flavors to support the fruit.
This is the perfect wine for bacon cheeseburgers. Rhone wines bring a great punch of spice and smoke in to the fruit, and have a lot more structure and balance than Grenache or Shiraz from most New World producers. This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. The Grenache gives it good acidity and fruit-forward nature while the Syrah provides backbone and pepper spice. This is not an overly complex wine, but it’s a fantastic introduction into the blended styles that the Southern Rhone has to offer. The winery, Paul Jaboulet Aine, was recently purchased by a family famous for their Bordeaux (Chateau La Lagune), so look for some changes and even better quality in the upcoming vintages.
92 / A+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 29 Jul 2008
Bright, vibrant ruby in the glass. Explosive aromas of roses and violets surround red and black cherry fruits with a really great streak of flint and sweet leather. Bold in the mouth with great body and voluptuous tannins. Black cherry and plum flavors with a nice dusty, earthy accent. Lots of dark, roasted cocoa beans with bold highlights of dried anise and cinnamon spice. Long, lingering finish.
Argiano grows grapes in a very expensive and high quality region of Italy. They produce some outstanding high-priced beauties, and some of those grapes found their way into this fantastic bottle for a fraction of the price. $23 may not be cheap, but for wine of this quality out of Italy - it is a downright steal. This is perfect for any time you need to impress an Italian wine buff, and if you’re looking to dabble with $100 Italian wines, this one will get you there and save you 75 bones. 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 20% Syrah.
89 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 02 Dec 2008
Dark purple core with a fuchsia rim. Alluring, complex and spicy aromas of nutmeg, plum and black cherry around a hint of dark earth. Very easy entry on the palate. Plush and medium bodied with black cherry flavors accented by smoke, wet stone and blackberries. Medium acidity balancing out the rich fruit with a lingering dusty cocoa finish.
Throw a rack of lamb on the grill (yes, buy some lamb at your local grocery store, it’s delicious) and pour a tall glass of this wine. Rich, smooth and easy drinking with a good dose of spice and smoke makes this the perfect companion to grilled meats. A Portobello cheeseburger would stand up very well too, and the acid of the Malbec will cut right through the fat in the gooey swiss cheese that should be melting off it.
84 / C+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Jan 2009
Dark purple (almost black) in the core with a purple rim. Sour cherry aromas surrounded by dusty oak, toast, copper and some funky earth over darker cherry and cassis. Black cherry on the front of the palate with a heavy dose of toasted oak. Somewhat disjointed between the acid and the tannins. Lots of vanilla on the finish.
This is a second label of La Lagune, one of Bordeaux’s top Chateaux. Made from their younger vines. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.
89 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Jan 2009
Medium garnet core with a lighter rim. Very sweet aromas up front. Cola, black cherry and vanilla give way to lurking dark wet earth, smoke and mushrooms with an accent of strawberry jam. A touch of dill on the front palate with earth and black cherry fruit. Less overtly fruity than the aromas with more structure, dark scorched earth and burnt tobacco. Fairly high acid, and very well balanced overall.
This is a very nice wine, particularly for the 2004 vintage in Burgundy. Many of the wines are harsh and herbal, but this wine has great silky mouth feel and ripe fruit. The so-called “off” vintages are the best ones to find great deals in Burgundy. This is a great price for a well made Premier Cru wine.
91 / A+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 13 May 2008
Dark ruby and purple core with a bright ruby rim. Chocolate and fresh oak over rich dark fruit, crushed violets and a hint of spice and game. Orange zest and ripe red cherries on the front palate. Full-bodied with round tannins. Just a hint of black truffle and pepper spice over plum, dark cherry and a baker’s chocolate finish.
Incredibly complex for a Cotes du Rhone. Approachable now and will continue to improve for another 3-5 years.
88 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 13 May 2008
Inky black and purple core with a ruby rim. Prune juice aromas surrounded by black cherries, licorice and earthy notes. High acid on the front leading to a chewy black cherry mid-palate. A little out of balance with the acid, and a touch of alcohol on the back. Lingering sweet black cherries.
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