93 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Jan 2009
Medium purple core with a pink rim. Big candied blackberry, raspberry and cherry fruit explodes on the nose, surrounded by cola and orange zest with a nice lifted rose petal note. Very floral on the front palate with roses swimming around orange and raspberry. Very young, with just a hint of oak spice coming through. Great complexity and balance front to back; great for drinking now, and will keep getting better over the next 3 - 5 years.
92 / A+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 29 Jul 2008
Bright, vibrant ruby in the glass. Explosive aromas of roses and violets surround red and black cherry fruits with a really great streak of flint and sweet leather. Bold in the mouth with great body and voluptuous tannins. Black cherry and plum flavors with a nice dusty, earthy accent. Lots of dark, roasted cocoa beans with bold highlights of dried anise and cinnamon spice. Long, lingering finish.
Argiano grows grapes in a very expensive and high quality region of Italy. They produce some outstanding high-priced beauties, and some of those grapes found their way into this fantastic bottle for a fraction of the price. $23 may not be cheap, but for wine of this quality out of Italy - it is a downright steal. This is perfect for any time you need to impress an Italian wine buff, and if you’re looking to dabble with $100 Italian wines, this one will get you there and save you 75 bones. 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 20% Syrah.
85 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 24 Dec 2008
Tiny bubbles with short persistence. Bright copper color with a touch of bronze. Fresh and clean aromas of peaches, baked apples and tons of spices - clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Spicy on the entry with dark cherry accented by fresh lemon and apple pie. A touch bitter on the finish. Somewhat short length of bubbles and flavors.
Truly a unique experience. This sparkling wine is made leaving the yeast from the secondary fermentation in the bottle so you get to disgorge it yourself right before drinking, ensuring it is as fresh as possible. An interesting style of wine, and in many ways more similar to a cider than a sparkling wine, but fun to open for friends. Made from 100% Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir).
90 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 16 Dec 2008
Gorgeous dark salmon color with tons of tiny, persistent bubbles. Dark cherry aromas with orange zest and a touch of slate with a faint lingering hint of honeyed toast. Great mouthfeel - smooth, creamy yet mouth filling bubbles. Dark cherry and strawberry flavors, sweet marzipan and Fuji apple all underlined by a bold mineral streak. Medium flavor persistence.
91 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Dec 2008
Dark purple core with a touch of fuchsia on the rim. Lots of coffee on the nose with some candied cherry, fresh herbs and a touch of smoke and chalk all surrounded by orange zest and cut roses. The coffee continues fairly strong on the front palate, though this is likely to fade and integrate with the fruit over the next couple of years as it ages. Sour cherries, earth and slate are matched by toasty oak on the finish. The tannins are fairly bold and chewy, yet well balanced. Give this one 3 or 4 years to calm down, and it will drink really well for a decade.
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Dec 2008
Dark purple core with a touch of garnet on the rim. Big floral aromas of violets and roses surround dark cherry and chocolate with a touch of sweet oak. Coffee on the front palate leads to a medium bodied wine with some bold tannins that smooth out on the finish. There is a touch of alcohol on the mid palate, but it is covered well by vanilla and dark cherries on the back.
A blend of about 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot.
90 / A
Tasted by Mike Supple - 05 Dec 2008
Medium ruby core with a bright rim. Charcoal and slate aromas over dusty roses, rich black cherry and a spicy touch of eucalyptus. Big tannins from the front all the way through the back palate. Dark cherry, plum and cassis are underscored by smoky charcoal. Coffee lingers on the finish. Still young and evolving; could get even better with age.
This is a blockbuster of a hidden gem that has managed to fly under the radar thus far. Complex enough to impress any Bordeaux connoisseur, yet priced right for just showing off in front of a few friends. A well made wine that is built to hold up for a while and will keep improving for a decade. Given the hype around the 2005 vintage for Bordeaux, many of the wines have skyrocketed in price, well beyond the value for what they deliver. Fortunately a few, like this one, remain accessible (for now…).
P.S. It’s pronounced “puh-TEET bock.”
91 / A
Tasted by Mike Supple - 11 Dec 2008
A pale salmon color in the glass, producing very pink foam. Strawberry and toast surrounded by yeast, coconut and gummy peach candy with a wild brine hint. Rich on the palate with aggressive mousse and nice bold acidity. Candied strawberries backed by dark raspberry lead to red delicious apples and a hint of caramel on the finish.
There is no better New Year’s resolution than to drink more sparkling wine - it is not only for special occasions! Finding a rose produced in the traditional method perfected in Champagne at this price is almost unheard of. A delicious, complex and rich sparkling wine that is, most importantly, affordable. 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir.
91 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 17 Nov 2008
Bright ruby core with a vibrant rim. Lots of violets and roses float over earth, caramel and ripe cherry aromas. Restrained and elegant on palate entry. Solid core of acidity from front to back. Strawberry with a hint of orange zest is followed by scorched earth and lingering vanilla oak. Smooth and fresh with a long, bright finish.
90 / A+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 04 Apr 2008
Nice deep pink color with a hint of salmon tint. Bright and fresh on the nose. Candied strawberries, raspberries and rose petals with an underlying hint of honey and cool minerality. Nice complexity on the palate. Big strawberry flavors followed by blackberry, raspberry and a touch of cherry. The terroir of Pomerol really comes through with a nice clay and chalk minerality leading to a lingering strawberry and honey finish.
This has amazing complexity for a rose, while maintaining good acid to keep it refreshing. Coming from an outstanding piece of Bordeaux (next door to Chateau Petrus - one of the most expensive and sought after wines in the world), this is a screaming deal. The perfect wine to drink all spring and summer by itself and with appetizers. Light enough to go with fish and vegetable dishes, yet bold enough to pair with meatier pork, chicken and duck. Made from 100% Merlot.
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