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Posts Tagged ‘raspberry’

2007 Alfredo Roca Pinot Noir

Monday, April 13th, 2009

88/A+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 Mar 2009

Medium ruby core with a pale pink rim. Very intense, youthful aromas of fresh cut violets, ripe cherry, blackberry and strawberry fruits. Good body with soft, ripe tannins and a great punch of acidity making the wine extra juicy on the palate. Round, rich black cherry, blackberry and raspberry are all underscored by a hint of wet earth.

Pinot Noir keeps going up in price due to worldwide demand, but the quality seems to continue to drop. I typically turn to Argentina for great values on spicy reds like Malbec, but the quality for the dollar on this little beauty blew me away. Balanced and light-bodied enough for just sitting around and sipping on a lazy Saturday afternoon or as a way to unwind after work while you’re waiting for the delivery guy to bring dinner.

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2007 Target Wine Cube Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz

Monday, April 13th, 2009

84/B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 21 Feb 2009

Medium ruby core with bright purple highlights. Fresh and juicy with red cherry, raspberry and blackberry aromas. Very smooth entry in the mouth. Nice acid makes it juicy. Medium bodied with lots of bright red fruit. Decent balance and a medium-length finish.

Not a wine to impress a bunch of wine geeks, but good enough (and worth the money) for just sitting around and enjoying the company or conversation. It’s kind of like bringing a 30-rack of Coors Light to a party: nobody will complain, because it’s free wine, but if you want to make an impression, bring another bottle along.

This wine was tasted from a 3.0L box, which is the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine. So the “B+” Value Grade is for the wine being priced at about $4.00/bottle.

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2006 La Posta Bonarda

Monday, April 13th, 2009

90/A-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 Mar 2009

Deep ruby core with color that stains the glass. Ripe black cherry and blackberry aromas are surrounded by smoky dried herbs and rich, roasted raspberry. Medium bodied with great acid on the palate. Very juicy fruit flavors of strawberry, black cherry and raspberry are surrounded by a complex smoked meat nuance. Lingering smoky fruit on the finish.

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2006 J. Lohr Fog’s Reach Vineyard Pinot Noir

Monday, April 13th, 2009

91/B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Mar 2009

Medium ruby core with a pale pink rim. Ripe and brambly aromas of wild blackberry and boysenberry are joined by spicy cola, red cherry and a hint of smoky peat. Soft entry on the palate, with restrained and elegant fruit. Strawberry and red cherry lead to raspberry on the mid-palate. Rather smooth and delicate with a floral note of rose petals and touch of earth on the finish. Smooth and very well balanced.

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2006 Pepperwood Grove Merlot

Monday, April 13th, 2009

88/B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 11 Mar 2009

Bright ruby color in the glass. Youthful aromas of raspberry, red cherry and blackberry with a touch of vanilla. A tiny hint of sugar on the palate makes the fruit very juicy. Lush raspberry and blackberry are supported by a hint of ripe tannins. The fruit is balanced fairly well by a little scorched earth and vanilla on the finish.

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2005 Terrabianca Campaccio IGT

Monday, April 13th, 2009

90/B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 13 Feb 2009

Medium ruby core with a wide garnet rim. Still very young, but the aromas are showing the wine is beginning to integrate and evolve. Spicy cedar surrounds sweet leather and dried herbs. Blackberry and black cherry fruit lurk beneath the spices and are accented by an edge of charcoal. Powerful, chalky tannins on the palate. Raspberry, red cherry and plum flavors mix with chocolate and a touch of smoky game. Wet stones and earth linger on the finish.

A blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.

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2006 Fattoria di Felsina Chianti Classico

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.

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2006 J. Lohr Los Osos Merlot

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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2002 Roederer Estate l’Ermitage Brut

Monday, April 13th, 2009

91/B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 24 Feb 2009

Medium lemon green color with tons of very persistent, tiny bubbles. Raspberry aromas flow from the glass and are quickly surrounded by biscuit, lemon, yellow apple and a touch of wet stone. Creamy entry in the mouth with a hint of raspberry followed by lemon and lime zest. The little bubbles fill the mouth, and the flavors linger with a touch of toast and vanilla.

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2005 Ken Brown “A” Cuvee Syrah

Monday, April 13th, 2009

91/B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 19 Feb 2009

Intense black and purple core with glass coating bright fuchsia color. Very intense aromas of black raspberry, black cherry and boysenberry syrup. Thick and jammy on the nose. Very different on the palate: much more refined and balanced with white pepper and earth around licorice, black cherry and a touch of game.

This is very much an Australian Shiraz on the nose but a Rhone Syrah on the palate. Only 272 cases produced.

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