Posts Tagged ‘leather’
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
90 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple 22 Jan 2008
Dark ruby core with a garnet edge. Sweet raw honeycomb aromas are backed by black cherry and white truffle. Bold acidity once would expect from a nebbiolo on the front of the palate, just screaming for some food. Leather and earth notes surround black and red cherries from the front palate through the finish.
This is a very strong example of this grape. It can be incredibly tricky to grow and make, and many of the ones coming from Italy are bad and overpriced. The best examples are truly stunning, but so is the price tag. That being said, this one is a little bit pricey for what it is, but well worth it if you can find it on sale. This is one of those wines that pairs well with a lot of foods, particularly those with a lot of acid (think tomatoes) or cream and butter. It also has a good hefty bottle that will impress people before you even pour the wine. Sealed with wax, which I find annoying for opening, but looks nice.
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Tags: 2001, Ambullneo, barbara, Bien, black, california, cherry, earth, garnet, honey, honeycomb, leather, Maria, Nacido, nebbiolo, Nonno, raw, red, red wine, ruby, santa, sweet, truffle, valley, white, wine, Zito
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Saturday, January 31st, 2009
86 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 24 Sep 2008
Medium ruby core with a pink rim. There is a touch of Old World earth and barnyard (this is a good thing in moderation) to the aromas around a core of dark fruit. Blackberry and black cherry aromas are accented by a hint of sweet tea and leather. Light and easy drinking on the palate with good acidity. The black cherry flavors are supported by dark roasted coffee and cinnamon.
Spain offers a huge variety of wines and many compelling values. This is a perfect wine to help familiarize yourself with the Spanish style of winemaking, as well as the Tempranillo grape (this wine is 85% Tempranillo, and the rest Garnacha and Graciano). The bold acidity makes this a perfect wine for all kinds of foods, so grab a bottle, call some friends and get a Tapas cookbook. Light enough for hearty fish - think paella with scallops and mussels - yet spicy and rich enough to go with ham, beef and just about any soft sheep milk cheeses. Not a wine to age or use to impress big collectors, but something that is fun, goes with food and friends, and is produced in great quantity, making it easy to find around the world.
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Tags: 2004, barnyard, black, blackberry, caceres, cherry, cinnamon, coffee, Crianza, earth, Garnacha, grenache, leather, marques, red, red wine, Rioja, roast, spain, sweet, tea, Tempranillo, wine
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Saturday, January 31st, 2009
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 24 Sep 2008
Dark ruby (almost black) core with a brighter ruby rim. Lots of leather, earth and charred oak aromas over sweet cherry and cassis, with a hint of soy sauce. Smooth, easy entry onto the palate. Medium body and well balanced acidity. Ripe red cherry and blackberry fruits are backed by flavors of coffee, vanilla and a touch of earth. Cherries and fresh cream linger on the finish. Very fine grained tannins make this pleasant to drink now, but will also allow the wine to age for another 3 - 5 years.
This is a great value for Cabernet Sauvignon coming from Sonoma - and it has fortunately stayed largely out of the spotlight of the major critics…until now. Cab of this quality can easily run you up $40 or more, so finding this wine at half that price is a steal. There is plenty of body and fruit to satisfy all you monster Cab fans, yet the wine remains balanced and elegant enough to go very well with a meal. Just enough oak in the winemaking adds great complexity of flavors (coffee, soy sauce) that complement the fruit in the wine. This is a great bottle to pull if you are meeting your date’s parents for the first time. Everyone respects a good Cab, and this one clearly fits the bill.
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Tags: 2005, blackberry, cabernet, california, cassis, char, cherry, Coast, coffee, cream, earth, estate, kunde, leather, North, oak, red, red wine, ruby, sauce, sauvignon, sonoma, soy, sweet, vanilla, wine
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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.
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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
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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.
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Tags: 2005, acid, black, caramel, cassis, cherry, dark, dry, italy, leather, Montalcino, Placido, red, red wine, roast, Rosso, ruby, Sangiovese, table, truffle, Tuscany, vibrant
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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.
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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
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Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
92 / A+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 04 Aug 2008
Very dark inky purple core with a brighter purple and fuchsia rim. Dark rich fruit aromas of blackberry, raspberry and plum surrounded by milk chocolate, dried leather, wet clay and a hint of coffee. Much lighter on its feet in the mouth, with fresh, juicy red fruits, particularly cherry and raspberry. Great acidity makes this a fantastic food wine. Dark chocolate, coffee and hints of earth linger on the finish. Medium to full bodied with ripe, approachable tannins.
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Tags: 2004, Argentina, blackberry, Bodega, cherry, chocolate, Cicchitti, clay, coffee, earth, Gran, leather, Malbec, Mendoza, plum, raspberry, red, red wine, Reserva
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Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
89 / A
Tasted by Mike Supple - 04 Aug 2008
Medium purple/ruby core with a bright ruby rim. Leather and earth aromas jump out of the glass surrounded by dark black cherry and candied black licorice, all lifted by crush rose petals. Light and juicy on the front palate with ripe fruit and nice acid. Black cherries are accented by a touch of orange zest.
Easy to drink, easy to pair with food, easy to ask for a second glass.
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Tags: 2006, Avola, candy, cherry, earth, Gulfi, italy, leather, licorice, Nero, nero d'avola, orange, red wine, rose, Rossojbleo, Sicily, zest
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Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
90 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 May 2008
Dark maroon core with touches of brick on the rim and fine sediment in the glass. Dark aromas of wet earth, forest, black truffles and smoky leather surround ripe cassis and black cherry fruits. Very good acidity in the mouth. Again the earthy rich tobacco and leather flavors take a front seat surrounding bold red cherry and cassis with a nice dusty flint finish. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
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Tags: 2000, Blend, Cabernet Franc, cassis, cherry, Coastal Region, earth, flint, forest, leather, Meerlust, merlot, red, red wine, Rubicon, sauvignon, smoke, South Africa, Stellenbosch, tobacco, truffle
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Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
90 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 13 Aug 2008
Medium ruby-red core with a light brick tint on the rim. Black cherry fruit is surrounded by earth, charcoal, black truffle, wet stone, black licorice candy and molasses, all under a wisp of violets. Soft entry in the mouth, building to a soft, sweet medium body on the mid-palate. Sweet leather and dark earth support red cherries and cassis.
The harsh tannins from when it was younger have settled well, and it is drinking beautifully right now. This is a very well known winery and an excellent Cabernet if you need a bottle to impress somebody like a date’s parent.
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Tags: 1999, Beringer, cabernet, california, candy, cassis, charcoal, cherry, Coast, earth, leather, licorice, molasses, Napa, North, Private, red, red wine, reserve, sauvignon, stone, truffle, USA, violet
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