Posts Tagged ‘dark’
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
91 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Feb 2008
Inky dark ruby core with a bright ruby rim. Rich blueberry fruit aromas are countered by nice slatey minerality, smoky *lardon*, and a hint of vanilla cream. The font of the palate is dominated by blueberries and boysenberries. The mouthfeel is impressively round and balanced, and much more restrained than your average overblown Barossa Shiraz. Soft and supple, this beauty is ready to bring home and pop the cork tonight.
Not the typical big jammy South Australia Shiraz. Not the wine if you are looking for an explosive fruit bomb to drink by itself, but rather a more stylish, elegant wine that would go well with powerful, meaty foods.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2005, Australia, Barossa, Binder, blueberry, boysenberry, bright, core, cream, dark, dry, fruit, Heysen, lardon, mineral, red, red wine, rich, Rolf, ruby, Shiraz, slate, smoke, South, table, valley, vanilla, wine
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Monday, January 26th, 2009
92 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 19 Feb 2008
Very dark purple in the glass with a bright fuchsia and pink rim. This wine is spicy and dense in the nose with anise, new oak and vanilla over big ripe blueberry and blackberry. Dark earth, toffee and a touch of smoky game underlie the fruits. In the mouth this is a lush, round wine with great mouthfeel. Dark, jammy fruits make this wine distinctly Aussi Shiraz, but the balance of the acid and tannin keep it from getting too hedonistic. Rich bittersweet chocolate and vanilla notes linger in the toasty, creamy finish.
More typically Australian with the huge, powerful fruit and color that will stain your teeth (probably not the best way to impress on a first date). With all that fruit though, they manage to make a wine that is well balanced and good to drink. A bit powerful for most foods, but nice fruit and easy to enjoy while sitting on a couch or just hanging around.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2005, acid, anise, Australia, Barossa, bittersweet, blackberry, blueberry, Bogan, bright, chocolate, cream, dark, dense, earth, fruit, fuchsia, game, jam, Kaesler, oak, pink, purple, red, red wine, Shiraz, smoke, South, spice, table, tannin, toast, toffee, valley, vanilla
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Monday, January 26th, 2009
88 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 29 Feb 2008
Dark ruby core surrounded by a lighter rim and a touch of garnet. Very fruit aromas of cassis, grape jam, plum and blackberry surrounded by spicy licorice and honey leading to a touch of earth. Light body on the palate entry with rich jammy fruit. Soft, round tannins make this ready to drink now. Raspberry and plum fruits lead to a hint of tea on the finish. (Tasted from magnum).
Drink now; not made to age.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2002, blackberry, Bonny, california, Cardinal, cassis, dark, Doon, earth, fruit, garnet, grape, honey, jam, licorice, plum, raspberry, red wine, rich, ruby, spice, table, tannin, USA, Zinfandel
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Monday, January 26th, 2009
92 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 03 Oct 2008
Intense inky purple core with just a glimmer of a fuchsia rim. Massive aromas of bacon, roast coffee, toffee, blackberry, white licorice, violets and a hint of truffle. Soft and full on the front palate. Sweet dark fruits: raspberry, blackberry, cassis. Round and full on the mid-palate without getting weighty. Good fresh anise flavors spice up the finish with roasted earth and dark chocolate notes.
This is a big, young wine, so I had it sit around open for about 12 hours before tasting it, giving it time to breathe. While it weighed in at 14.25% alcohol (according to the label - and given the legal margin of error here putting .25% is ridiculous) it managed to stay very impressively balanced. This is a great example of what Syrah can be when not made in a heavy, jammy, Australian manner.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2005, Alesia, anise, bacon, barbara, blackberry, california, cassis, chocolate, coffee, County, dark, earth, Fairview, fruit, fuchsia, Highlands, licorice, Lucia, purple, Ranch, raspberry, red wine, roast, santa, sweet, Syrah, toffee, truffle, USA, violet
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Monday, January 26th, 2009
88 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 17 Mar 2008
Dark black and ruby in the core with a thinner pink rim. Plum, black cherries, sweet tobacco, mushroom and heavy black licorice on the nose. Smooth, with a lush entry and mouth feel. Sweet dark plum and blueberry are supported by a nice touch of wet earth. There is a nice build of tannins and acid on the finish that would make this wine stand up very well to hearty, meaty dishes. 14% Alcohol By Volume
Alejandro Fernandez typically only works with Tempranillo. There is some good spice to this wine, but he has more impressive offerings.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2002, acid, Alejandro, black, blueberry, Bodegas, cherry, Crianza, dark, dry, earth, Fernandez, hearty, La, licorice, lush, Mancha, meat, mushroom, pink, plum, red, red wine, ruby, smooth, spain, sweet, table, tannins, Tempranillo, tobacco, Vinculo
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 18 Mar 2008
Deep ruby core with a vibrant rim. Dark cherry, cassis, black truffle and roasted leather aromas. Smooth entry on the palate. Nice acid on the mid-palate. Caramel and black cherry linger on the finish.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2005, acid, black, caramel, cassis, cherry, dark, dry, italy, leather, Montalcino, Placido, red, red wine, roast, Rosso, ruby, Sangiovese, table, truffle, Tuscany, vibrant
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
84 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 18 Mar 2008
Medium ruby core with a touch of garnet in the rim. Very perfumy with flowers and fresh herbs over darker charcoal and black cherry. Soft and round in the mouth with a nice lingering dark fruit finish. A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2004, black, Blend, charcoal, chateau, cherry, Costieres, dark, dry, flower, france, fresh, fruit, garnet, grenache, herb, Lamargue, mourvedre, Nimes, perfume, red, red wine, Rhone, round, ruby, soft, Southern, Syrah, table
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
86 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 18 Mar 2008
Bright purple core with a ruby rim. Light plum and dark cherry aromas. Chewy tannins on the mid palate leading to a black cherry finish.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2000, barbara, black, bright, Calfornia, Central, cherry, chewy, Coast, dark, light, Longoria, plum, purple, red wine, ruby, santa, Syrah, tannins, USA
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Sunday, January 25th, 2009
84 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 18 Mar 2008
Dark ruby core with a pink and orange rim. Milk chocolate and smoky aromas over red cherry and raspberry. Soft entry in the mouth. Easy drinking red cherry with an earthy mineral finish.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2004, cherry, chocolate, dark, domani, earth, easy, ecco, italy, milk, mineral, orange, pink, raspberry, red, red wine, ruby, smoky, soft, Venetto
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
