Posts Tagged ‘coffee’
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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Tags: 2006, black cherry, blackberry, california, cedar, central coast, coffee, dark chocolate, j. lohr, los osos, merlot, milk chocolate, mocha, paso robles, purple, raspberry, red cherry, red wine, ruby, san luis obispo, spice, USA
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Monday, April 13th, 2009
92/A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 18 Jan 2009
Deep ruby core with a paler rim and slight garnet highlights. Clean fruit and spice aromas of plums, cinnamon and black cherry with a rustic earth, stone and leather quality, all accented by roasted coffee. Fairly full bodied in the mouth with intense flavors of smoky plums and roasted black cherries backed by spicy black pepper, coffee, nutmeg and baker’s chocolate with a hint of wild game.
This is an intense, complex wine. 2004 is sandwiched between two more critically acclaimed vintages. As a result, many great Provence wines from 2004 were overlooked, and this is a real hidden gem. While not a cheap wine, it is powerful and well balanced, and will impress any aficionado. Showing well now, but likely to continue getting better for another couple of years. A blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Tags: 2004, black cherry, black pepper, cabernet s, chateau d'estoublon les baux de provence, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, earth, estoublon, france, garnet, grenache, leather, mourvedre, nutmeg, plum, red wine, ruby, smoke, spice, stone, Syrah, wild game
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Saturday, February 21st, 2009
97 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 30 Jan 2009
Dark amber color in the core with a lighter brick red rim. Complex aromas pour out of the glass: brown sugar, bacon, black cherry, earth, black truffles, sweet tea and tobacco. The palate entry is incredibly smooth and the tannins are fully integrated into the wine. Flavors of coffee and toffee surround black cherry, brown sugar, bacon, smoky earth and wet stone with a lingering cherry and soy sauce note. The acid is relatively high, keeping the wine impressively fresh. The flavors linger on for quite a while.
The aromas and flavors seem to be fully developed at this point, and the earthy and spicy characteristics fully dominate the remaining fruit. While an impressive wine, it is likely on its down swing, so I would recommend drinking it rather than holding on to it for too much longer.
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Tags: 1985, amber, bacon, black, brick, brown sugar, Burgundy, cherry, coffee, conti, cote du nuits, drc, earth, france, grand cru, la tache, pinot noir, red wine, romanee, smoke, soy sauce, stone, tea, tobacco, toffee, truffle
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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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Tags: 2001, black, bordeux, brick, brie, chalk, chateau belair, cherry, coffee, earth, france, haut medoc, leather, red wine, rind, saddle
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Friday, February 6th, 2009
87 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 26 Jan 2009
Dark ruby core with a lighter brick rim. Ripe black cherry and cassis aromas with a vanilla bean, roasted oak and crushed violets. Lush and juicy on the front palate. Great acid from front to back. Black cherry, coffee, scorched oak and blackberry. Medium bodied with fine-grained tannins providing nice support. Finishes a little thick and jammy. Easy drinking and a great wine before, during and after dinner.
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Tags: 2005, Argentina, bean, black, blackberry, Bodegas, brick, cabernet sauvignon, cask, cassis, cherry, coffee, jam, Mendoza, oak, red wine, ruby, trapiche, vanilla, violet
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Thursday, February 5th, 2009
88 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 22 Jan 2009
Purple core with a bright ruby rim. Spicy nutmeg and cinnamon surround red cherry and strawberry aromas, followed by a black pepper punch. Smooth entry on the palate, building quickly to a full bodied wine with a solid tannic core. Scorched licorice and earthy flavors around black cherry, blackberry and burnt coffee on the finish. A bit tight when first opened, but really showed well after being in the glass for a while. I recommend a moderate decanting for early drinking. 100% Merlot from vines a minimum of 60 years old, aged in 100% new French oak.
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Tags: 2006, black, blackberry, Blend, bordeaux, chateau vieux taillefer, cherry, cinnamon, coffee, earth, france, licorice, merlot, nutmeg, oak, pepper, purple, red wine, ruby, saint emilion, spice, strawberry
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Monday, February 2nd, 2009
90 / A
Tasted by Mike Supple - 16 Jan 2009
Dark purple core with a bright ruby rim. Dark cherry and cassis aromas are surrounded by roasted oak and cinnamon with crushed stones, fresh ground coffee beans and a bright violet lift. Smooth entry on the palate with wet stones over bright cherry and plum. Medium to full bodied with great acid and tannins. A nice spicy fruit finish that lasts for several seconds. Delicious.
Martini consistently produces a Cabernet from Sonoma that over delivers for the price, and the 2006 is a hands down winner. Juicy and fresh with good structure, this is a wine that you can open for a group and keep pouring all night. Great acidity makes it easy to drink and pair with tons of different foods. Not too heavy to open before dinner, and can easily transition into any dish with cheese, tomatoes, beef, sausage, or eggplant. Also a great accompaniment for just kicking back in front of the TV and ordering Domino’s off your Tivo.
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Tags: 2006, bean, cabernet, california, cassis, cherry, cinnamon, coffee, fruit, louis, martini, north coast, oak, plum, purple, red wine, roast, ruby, sauvignon, sonoma, spice, stone, violet
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Sunday, February 1st, 2009
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 Oct 2008
Dark purple core with a violet rim. Spicy vanilla aromas surround milk chocolate, candied raspberry, fresh blueberry and a touch of licorice. The front palate is lush and bold with sweet blueberries leading to a juicy mid-palate. Full bodied with chewy yet approachable tannins. Dark roasted coffee, smoke and toasted oak linger on the finish.
Tons of flavor and complexity for the price. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (about 50%) and old vine Grenache and Syrah. Great for anyone just getting in to reds, yet it still has enough power and body to impress even the staunchest of Cabernet collectors. This wine also has enough tannin that it will continue to age well, and the oak should integrate into the wine over the next couple of years making it more lush and velvety. The toasted oak gets a little weighty on the back end but will be no problem enjoyed with some good rich foods. This is a unique wine and not imported to many places in the US, but it is worth seeking out and purchasing online!
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Tags: 2006, aix, anges, blueberry, cabernet, candy, chateau, chocolate, coffee, Coteaux, d'aix, des, en, france, grenache, licorice, milk, oak, paradis, provence, purple, raspberry, red, red wine, roast, sauvignon, smoke, spice, Syrah, terre, toast, vanilla, violet, wine
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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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Tags: 1995, black, blackberry, Blend, bordeaux, cassis, cedar, chateau, coffee, dried, dry, dust, earth, estephe, france, garnet, leather, mineral, mocha, montrose, oak, plum, red, red wine, ruby, saint, silk, spice, sweet, toast, tobacco, truffle, wine
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Sunday, February 1st, 2009
91 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 Dec 2008
Dark purple core with a medium purple/ruby rim. Smoky and rich with a core of spicy plum and wet earth minerality. Black cherries are surrounded by toasted nutmeg spice. Fruity entry on the palate with good tannic grip. Lush black cherry and plum fruits are balanced by great acidity. Smoky, stony and a touch of earth. Chewy finish with a touch of coffee on the finish.
Made of 50% Carinena, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Garnacha.
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Tags: 2004, Agricola, black, cabernet, carignan, carinena, castell, cherry, coffee, earth, falset, falset-marca, fruit, Garnacha, grenache, marca, mineral, montsant, nutmeg, plum, purple, red, red wine, ruby, sauvignon, smoke, spain, spice, stone, toast, wine
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