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Posts Tagged ‘chalk’

2006 Querciabella Chianti Classico

Monday, April 13th, 2009

91/A-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 13 Feb 2009

Dark ruby core with a tiny garnet rim. Sweet black and red cherry fruits lurk under bright, expressive wild flowers, a touch of sage and ripe plum. Chalky and bold tannins support the body of the wine. A core of dark chocolate, earth and minerals are surrounded by sweet black cherry and plums. Chewy and full-bodied with a long, lingering mocha finish.

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2001 Chateau Belair, Haut-Medoc

Friday, February 6th, 2009

84 / C

Tasted by Mike Supple - 26 Jan 2009

Medium brick red core with a lighter rim. Saddle leather and Brie rind over red cherry and cool earth. Earthy on the palate entry with sweet black and red cherries on the mid-palate. Just a touch of Brie with a chalk and coffee finish.

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2005 Les Tourelles de Longueville

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

90 / B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Jan 2009

Black/purple core with a ruby rim. Rich aromas with warm, toasty oak and vanilla surrounding ripe blueberry, sweet eucalyptus, plum and grape Big League Chew Gum. Great entry on the palate with dark black cherry, blackberry and blueberry leading the charge. Full bodied with full, chalky tannins. Toasty, charred oak and blackberry on the finish with a touch of minerality.

This wine is a second label of the famous Bordeaux estate Pichon-Longueville Baron. A blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc.

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2006 Clos Manou

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

91 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Dec 2008

Dark purple core with a touch of fuchsia on the rim. Lots of coffee on the nose with some candied cherry, fresh herbs and a touch of smoke and chalk all surrounded by orange zest and cut roses. The coffee continues fairly strong on the front palate, though this is likely to fade and integrate with the fruit over the next couple of years as it ages. Sour cherries, earth and slate are matched by toasty oak on the finish. The tannins are fairly bold and chewy, yet well balanced. Give this one 3 or 4 years to calm down, and it will drink really well for a decade.

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2005 Querciabella Chianti Classico

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

86 / B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 11 Feb 2008

95% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium density purple and ruby core with a thinner pink rim. Bright red cherries are surrounded by cocoa, tobacco, dusty earth and light metallics on the nose. In the mouth the flavors are somewhat more subdued. Fairly bold tannins, though somewhat coarse and green. Sour cherries, cocoa and chalk lead into the medium length finish.

Too many Chiantis are associated with cheap, bulk wine. Querciabella is a very solid producer, although their 2005 is not as good as most vintages. On the plus side, it is not over priced.

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2007 Chateau Le Gay Festival Rose

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

90 / A+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 04 Apr 2008

Nice deep pink color with a hint of salmon tint. Bright and fresh on the nose. Candied strawberries, raspberries and rose petals with an underlying hint of honey and cool minerality. Nice complexity on the palate. Big strawberry flavors followed by blackberry, raspberry and a touch of cherry. The terroir of Pomerol really comes through with a nice clay and chalk minerality leading to a lingering strawberry and honey finish.

This has amazing complexity for a rose, while maintaining good acid to keep it refreshing. Coming from an outstanding piece of Bordeaux (next door to Chateau Petrus - one of the most expensive and sought after wines in the world), this is a screaming deal. The perfect wine to drink all spring and summer by itself and with appetizers. Light enough to go with fish and vegetable dishes, yet bold enough to pair with meatier pork, chicken and duck. Made from 100% Merlot.

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2007 Lagrange Saint Julien

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

85-88 / NA

Tasted by Mike Supple - 01 Apr 2008

Medium ruby with a purple and fuchsia rim. Light aromas of cherry, plum and clay surrounded by sweet floral notes. Thin on the front palate. Better on the mid with notes of orange zest and black cherry. Fairly bold chalky tannins on the finish.
68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot.

This wine is not yet released from the winery, thus it has no price or value grade.

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2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

93 / A

Tasted by Mike Supple - 07 Jan 2009

Dark purple core to the edge of the glass – almost no rim. Rich, dense fruit aromas swarming from the glass. Dark plum, cassis and blackberry surrounded by chocolate, caramel, cinnamon and nutmeg spices, a touch of coconut and a light violet lift. Silky entry in the mouth building quickly into a full bodied wine. A big mid-palate with lots of ripe tannins. A thick core of plum, black cherry and cassis fruit is accented by baker’s chocolate and spicy cinnamon with a touch of chalk in the finish. You can drink this now, but it will easily improve in the bottle and last another decade or more.

While not a cheap wine, this still gets an A for value when put in comparison with other Napa wines of this quality. Most of the other wines from Napa that are this complete go for over $100, and most of the Cabs in the same price range are of inferior quality. This bottle is a surefire winner to impress any Cabernet snob (collector, enthusiast, etc).

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