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Posts Tagged ‘cedar’

2005 Terrabianca Campaccio IGT

Monday, April 13th, 2009

90/B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 13 Feb 2009

Medium ruby core with a wide garnet rim. Still very young, but the aromas are showing the wine is beginning to integrate and evolve. Spicy cedar surrounds sweet leather and dried herbs. Blackberry and black cherry fruit lurk beneath the spices and are accented by an edge of charcoal. Powerful, chalky tannins on the palate. Raspberry, red cherry and plum flavors mix with chocolate and a touch of smoky game. Wet stones and earth linger on the finish.

A blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.

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2006 Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon

Monday, April 13th, 2009

90/A-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Feb 2009

Deep ruby and purple core with a wide ruby rim. Vanilla, fresh oak and a touch of earthy aromas surround a bold core of cassis, blackberry, black cherry and plum. Lush and fruity on the palate entry with a solid core of ripe and approachable tannins. Creamy vanilla surrounds plush cherry and blackberry with a touch of smoke. Spicy cedar lingers on the finish.

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2005 J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Monday, April 13th, 2009

90/B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Mar 2009

The wine is an opaque deep purple in the glass surrounded by a tiny bright ruby rim. Warm, rich and opulent aromas of blackberry and chocolate are wrapped in crème de cassis and accented by a touch of wet stone. Black cherry and cassis jump on the front of the tongue, and are nicely balanced by the acid. Ripe, soft tannins support the body yet make it approachable now. A touch of cedar and toasty vanilla come in on the finish.

A blend of 77.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22.5% Petite Sirah. Aged for 18 months in 100% new French Oak barrels.

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2006 J. Lohr Los Osos Merlot

Monday, April 13th, 2009

90/A-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 10 Mar 2009

Dark ruby core with purple highlights, surrounded by a bright ruby rim. Intense, fruity nose of ripe blackberry, raspberry and red cherry wrapped in rich milk chocolate. Lush entry onto the palate: juicy red and black cherries with ripe raspberry are supported by roasted coffee and dark chocolate. The tannins are fully yet ripe and approachable, supporting the fruit through the finish. A touch of cedar spice leads to lingering cherry and mocha on the finish.

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2006 Feudo Principi di Butera Nero d’Avola

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

88 / A-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 16 Feb 2009

Medium ruby core with just a hint of pink on the rim. Full, fruity aromas of blackberry, sweet plum and black cherry underscored by leather, cocoa and a touch of dusty earth. Lush on the palate with bold acid making it a great food wine. Just a few very ripe tannins and a nice medium body. Spicy plum and black cherry fruits are matched by earth, violets and sweet leather with lingering vanilla, chocolate and cedar on the finish. Very easy to drink; lush and tasty.

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2004 Havens Bourriquot

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

91 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 16 Jan 2009

Dark ruby core with a medium rim. Cola and black cherry aromas are surrounded by fresh new oak, all underscored by burnt charcoal and a hint of crushed violets. Smooth entry on the palate with ripe red and black cherries accented by sweet marjoram and other herbs. A touch of dark earth on the mid-palate gives way to spicy cedar on the finish.

70% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot.

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2007 Los Vencejos Malbec

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

90 / A-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 21 Jan 2009

Inky purple core with a bright fuchsia rim. Dark boysenberry with blackberry notes on the nose, followed by a touch of mint, light toasty oak, nutmeg and cedar spice all surrounded by violets and crushed stone. Dark and thick on the palate with juicy blackberry, blueberry and crème de cassis flavors. Medium (+) acid with medium ripe/fine tannins. A touch of smoke, vanilla and baker’s chocolate join the dark fruit on the finish. Still very young and primary, but with enough fruit and structure to age. Drinks well now, and should go at least another 5 years.

Made from 100% Malbec. Aged for 15 months in new (65%) and second use French oak barrels. 1439 bottles produced.

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2005 Achaval Ferrer Finca Mirador

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

90 / B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 13 May 2008

Dark core with a pink and purple rim. Liquid caramel around a thick dark core of black fruits with a cedar spice aroma. A bit thin on the front palate, but builds in body on the mid-palate with nice acid. Sweet cherry and lots of floral notes. Spicy and silky with great balance. Long finish.

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1995 Chateau Montrose

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

93 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 23 Dec 2008

Deep ruby core with a touch of garnet on the rim. Lots of rich earth, coffee and cedar spice in the aromas, surrounded by sweet plum, cassis, dried tobacco, dusty minerality and toasty oak. Beautifully silky entry on the palate. Medium to full bodied. Great to drink now, but still has nice supporting tannins through the back. Blackberry, plum, cassis, cedar, leather and tobacco flavors are all balanced very well. Medium length finish with mocha and black truffle joining the fruit.

I let the wine sit in my glass for a good 45 minutes, and it kept opening up. This is delicious now, and will continue to be at peak drinking for another 10 years.

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2005 Chateau St Jean Cinq Cepages

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

90 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Dec 2008

Dark purple core with a lighter fuchsia rim. Oak and vanilla aromas float over rich black cherry, cassis and raspberry with dark charcoal, spicy cinnamon and a hint of eucalyptus. Smooth entry on the palate, quickly building to a full bodied wine. Lots of tannins, yet very well integrated and balanced. Cedar and cinnamon are layered over plum and cassis leading to a chocolate, spice and fruit finish. Decant a couple hours and enjoy it now or put some in the cellar and let it keep getting better for several years.

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