88 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Apr 2008
Very bright in the glass with a thick purple core surrounded by a fuchsia rim. Fleshy and sweet in both the aromas and flavors. Sweet strawberry wraps around black cherry and blackberry with a nice hint of black pepper. The wine is smooth and soft as it enters the mouth bringing a smoky, gamy undertone of flavors to support the fruit.
This is the perfect wine for bacon cheeseburgers. Rhone wines bring a great punch of spice and smoke in to the fruit, and have a lot more structure and balance than Grenache or Shiraz from most New World producers. This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. The Grenache gives it good acidity and fruit-forward nature while the Syrah provides backbone and pepper spice. This is not an overly complex wine, but it’s a fantastic introduction into the blended styles that the Southern Rhone has to offer. The winery, Paul Jaboulet Aine, was recently purchased by a family famous for their Bordeaux (Chateau La Lagune), so look for some changes and even better quality in the upcoming vintages.
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!
91 / A+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 10 Nov 2008
Intense, dark purple core with a ruby and purple rim. The aromas are bright and rich with plum and blackberry fruits surrounded by toasted hazelnut, a smack of white pepper and a hint of scorched earth. Fruity and lush on the palate with intense wild blueberry surrounded by earth and white pepper. Medium bodied with great balance of fruit, acid and tannins. This is an incredibly easy wine to drink with a velvety smooth feel and a long, lingering finish with a flair of vanilla.
Delas has done it again, hands down producing one of the best values from France in years! 2007 is an outstanding vintage for the Rhone, and this is an impressively complex wine that packs a ton of flavors. Despite the complexity, it is restrained enough to sip by itself or match up with all kinds of foods from cheeses to pastas to a big juicy burger. The Delas Cotes du Rhone is always a great wine, but they have clearly outdone themselves this year. Grab several bottles now to have on hand for yourself and to impress any winos that may be coming to dinner. (If you buy a bottle, drop me a line and I’ll be there tomorrow!)
A blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache. This just started to hit the country, so if you don’t see it in your local shop right away, ask for it and come back. They make a lot, so there’s plenty to go around!
89 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 25 Dec 2008
Golden yellow hues with lots of small to medium sized bubbles. Toasty and rich aromas with hints of caramel and biscuit around yellow apple, pear and a touch of lemon. Fresh and bright on the palate with a nice mix of toast and fruit. Apple fruit is surrounded by lighter toasty oak spices and a touch of white flowers, leading to a lingering hint of butterscotch on the finish.
The perfect way to start any holiday party. Very balanced flavors make this easy to drink and a sure crowd pleaser for anyone who likes bubbly. Dry and crisp - perfect to drink before dinner, but with enough body to stand up to fish, shellfish, white meat and pastas with cream sauce. Heidsieck & Co Monopole is one of the oldest Champagne producers in France, and their decades of experience really come through in this well made and well priced (for traditional Champagne) bottle. A blend of approximately 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier.
90 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Jan 2009
14k gold color. Medium sized bubbles with a medium persistence. Very toasty aromas with roast hazelnut over a touch of caramel and pear. Tons of minerality up front with toasted brioche over green apple, pear and citrus zest. High acid on the mid palate with mouth-filling bubbles. Lingering toast and caramel on the finish.
As this wine ages, the fruit is fading and the nutty, toasty and caramelized flavors are coming forward. A real Champagne drinker’s Champagne.
84 / C+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Jan 2009
Dark purple (almost black) in the core with a purple rim. Sour cherry aromas surrounded by dusty oak, toast, copper and some funky earth over darker cherry and cassis. Black cherry on the front of the palate with a heavy dose of toasted oak. Somewhat disjointed between the acid and the tannins. Lots of vanilla on the finish.
This is a second label of La Lagune, one of Bordeaux’s top Chateaux. Made from their younger vines. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.
89 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Jan 2009
Medium garnet core with a lighter rim. Very sweet aromas up front. Cola, black cherry and vanilla give way to lurking dark wet earth, smoke and mushrooms with an accent of strawberry jam. A touch of dill on the front palate with earth and black cherry fruit. Less overtly fruity than the aromas with more structure, dark scorched earth and burnt tobacco. Fairly high acid, and very well balanced overall.
This is a very nice wine, particularly for the 2004 vintage in Burgundy. Many of the wines are harsh and herbal, but this wine has great silky mouth feel and ripe fruit. The so-called “off” vintages are the best ones to find great deals in Burgundy. This is a great price for a well made Premier Cru wine.
90 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Jan 2009
Pale lemon yellow core with a clear rim. Candied lemon zest aromas surrounded by jasmine, sweet herbs, wet stone and a touch of cantaloupe. Soft entry on the palate with sweet white peach balanced by a zesty core of lemon. Medium acidity with tons of minerals under the fruit. Medium length with a clean, crisp finish.
100% Sauvignon Blanc (somewhat rare for this region as you often fine Semillon blended with it). Delicious right now, but enough acid and body to hold for a little while. Drink over the next 2 - 3 years.
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