Posts Tagged ‘cocoa’
Monday, April 13th, 2009
91/A
Tasted by Mike Supple - 13 Feb 2009
Dark ruby core with a wide ruby rim, accented with flecks of garnet. Fresh and young on the nose with sweet herbs and leather around plum and dark cherry. A sweet ripe raspberry note yields to red cherry and a faint, lingering hint of earth. Bold ripe tannins are balanced well by lots of acid and tons of dark fruit. Plum and black cherry are backed by earth and cocoa powder with a touch of wet stone on the finish. Very well balanced and great mouthfeel. Another winner from Felsina.
Click here for full grades section.
Tags: 2006, black cherry, castelnuovo berardenga, cherry, Chianti, Classico, cocoa, earth, fattoria di felsina, garnet, herb, italy, leather, plum, raspberry, red cherry, red wine, ruby, Sangiovese, stone, Tuscany
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
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.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2006, Avola, blackberry, cedar, cherry, chocolate, cocoa, earth, feudo principi di butera, italy, leather, nero d'avola, pink, plum, red wine, ruby, Sicily, vanilla, violet
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
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.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2006, anise, argiano, bean, black, cabernet, cherry, cinnamon, cocoa, confunditur, dust, earth, flint, italy, leather, merlot, non, plum, red, red wine, roast, rose, Rosso, ruby, Sangiovese, sauvignon, spice, Syrah, toscano, Tuscany, violet, wine
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
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.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2006, Argentina, black, blackberry, broquel, burger, cheese, cherry, cocoa, dust, earth, fuchsia, lamb, Malbec, meat, Mendoza, nutmeg, plum, portobello, purple, red, red wine, smoke, spice, stone, swiss, wet, wine
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
93 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Dec 2008
Dark ruby core with a bright rim. Smells like hot caramel dripped over wet slate with dark red cherry and cassis fruit, spicy anise and a touch of oak. Smooth entry on the palate. Medium to full bodied with big, round tannins. Dark cherries and roasted earth flavors on the mid-palate. Very smooth and elegant in the mouth with a long, silky finish accented by orange zest and cocoa powder. Better to let it age for a few more years, but starting to be approachable now. Will last another 15 years easily.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2005, anise, bordeaux, caramel, cassis, chateau, cherry, cocoa, earth, france, julien, oak, orange, pierre, powder, red, red wine, roast, ruby, saint, slate, spice, st-julien, wet, wine, zest
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
90 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 19 Dec 2008
Dark ruby/purple core with a ruby rim. Raspberry, cocoa powder and orange zest on the nose followed by cooler blueberry notes with a touch of graphite, earthy violets and spicy vanilla. Sweet entry on the palate with ripe cassis, black cherry and blackberry dominating. Medium bodied with fairly bold tannins through the finish. Touch of charcoal and plenty of toasted vanilla and oak join the sweet fruits on the finish. Not quite enough acid to balance the fruit, making it just a touch cloying.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2004, atlas, black, blackberry, blueberry, cabernet, california, cassis, charcoal, cherry, Coast, cocoa, earth, graphite, Napa, North, oak, orange, peak, powder, purple, raspberry, red, red wine, ruby, sauvignon, spice, toast, vanilla, violet, wine, zest
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
93 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 11 Feb 2008
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Sangiovese. Deep purple core with just barely a hint of a bright ruby rim. Dark aromas of black cherry and blackberry are lifted by light floral aromas, cinnamon, cocoa powder and leather. Full bodied on the palate, with bold yet very ripe and round tannins. Black licorice, blackberry and plum are backed by leather, graphite, vanilla and milk chocolate. The finish is rich, long and bold with a nice cassis note. Deep and complex, this should continue to develop in the bottle for the next couple of years, and the high, balanced acid and full tannins matching the power of the fruit should allow this to easily age another 10+ years.
Wines made from a blend of grapes not typically grown in Italy are becoming more popular, and are known as Super Tuscans when produced in Tusany (and given the Italian government’s approval). This is simply a fantastic wine. Tastes great young, but will age for a while. Can be drunk on it’s own, but like most Italian wines should really be enjoyed with a meal. Try something with tomato sauce or some good fat to it like dry salami.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2004, Agricola, black, blackberry, Blend, bold, bright, cabernet, Camartina, cherry, cinnamon, cocoa, dark, deep, dry, floral, graphite, italy, leather, licorice, m, plum, powder, purple, Querciabella, red, red wine, ripe, ruby, Sangiovese, sauvignon, table, tannin, Tuscany, vanilla, wine
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
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.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2005, Agricola, bold, bright, cabernet, chalk, cherry, Chianti, Classico, cocoa, dense, dry, dust, earth, Greve, italy, metallic, pink, purple, Querciabella, red, red wine, ruby, Sangiovese, sauvignon, sour, subdue, table, tannin, tobacco, Tuscany, wine
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
91 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 25 March 2008
Dark ruby on the core with a lighter pink rim. Sweet cocoa powder surrounds bright red cherries, plum and strawberries on the nose with a darker leather and dried mint note leading to a touch of sweet tobacco and blueberries. Very smooth entry on the palate. Round, ripe fruit tannins on the mid-palate. Good overall balance with black cherry, leather and truffle flavors backed by dark toasted oak. The wood tannins build on the back palate leading to a lingering finish of cherry and spicy vanilla.
Ready to drink now or over the next 5 years. Good acid, so drink this bad boy with any tomato-based pasta dish. The tannins from the oak will probably carry it longer, but the fruit will likely fade.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2004, acid, blueberry, bright, Campaccio, cherry, cocoa, core, dry, fruit, IGT, leather, light, mint, oak, pasta, pink, plum, powder, red, red wine, ripe, ruby, smooth, spicy, strawberry, sweet, table, Terrabianca, toast, tobacco, tomato, truffle, vanilla, wood
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
85-88 / NA
Tasted by Mike Supple - 01 Apr 2008
Medium ruby core with a pink rim. Vanilla, cocoa powder, oak, red cherry and a touch of flowers on the nose. New oak on the front of the palate. Notes of clay under raspberry and cherry with a dark toast and bitter chocolate finish. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
This wine is not yet released from the winery, thus it has no price or value grade.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2007, bordeaux, chcolate, cherry, clay, Clerc, cocoa, france, Milon, oak, Pauillac, raspberry, red wine, vanilla
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
