90/A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Feb 2009
Deep ruby and purple core with a wide ruby rim. Vanilla, fresh oak and a touch of earthy aromas surround a bold core of cassis, blackberry, black cherry and plum. Lush and fruity on the palate entry with a solid core of ripe and approachable tannins. Creamy vanilla surrounds plush cherry and blackberry with a touch of smoke. Spicy cedar lingers on the finish.
90/B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Mar 2009
The wine is an opaque deep purple in the glass surrounded by a tiny bright ruby rim. Warm, rich and opulent aromas of blackberry and chocolate are wrapped in crème de cassis and accented by a touch of wet stone. Black cherry and cassis jump on the front of the tongue, and are nicely balanced by the acid. Ripe, soft tannins support the body yet make it approachable now. A touch of cedar and toasty vanilla come in on the finish.
A blend of 77.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22.5% Petite Sirah. Aged for 18 months in 100% new French Oak barrels.
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.
90/A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 Mar 2009
Deep ruby core with a bright pink rim that stains the glass. Dark black cherry and plum aromas are accented by baking spices, a touch of fresh herbs and smooth, warm vanilla. Easy entry on the palate with great mouth feel and intensity of flavors. The tannins are very smooth and support the wine without getting in the way of your enjoying it. Spicy nutmeg and vanilla add a nice punch to the blackberry, cassis and black cherry fruits. Just a hint of toast lingers on the finish.
If you’re looking for a young, smooth, easy drinking Cab that packs all the flavor and complexity without the severe tannins, then this is your wine. Juicy and rich, yet smooth and ready to go. It has the body to last another 4 or 5 years, but who has that kind of patience? The rich fruit begs to be paired with a burger or steak, but you’ll want to grab more than one bottle of this because once the food is gone, the smooth texture and balanced flavors will keep you refilling your glass until the last drop disappears.
89/B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 29 Jan 2009
Dark purple core with a bright ruby rim that stains the glass. Big aromas of blackberry and blueberry are lifted from the glass by a crushed rose petal note, all surrounded by dark wet stone, game and a touch of smoke. Very floral on the palate with dark charcoal and chocolate notes rushing in around ripe blackberry. Great acid on the mid-palate and a spicy, creamy, nutmeg and vanilla finish.
The acid core of this wine screams for food while the dense, dark, smoky fruit says “whatever you eat, make steak and put it on the grill.” Garnacha (Grenache) is the staple of the Calatayud region in northeast Spain. Recent developments in winemaking (fermenting in steel, aging in new oak) have changed the local style to a more robust, clean and powerful red. The Atteca is a great example of this style, and by using old vines (80-120 years) they get intensity of flavor while maintaining fantastic balance. Grenache of this intensity from just a few miles further northeast (such as Chateauneuf du Pape) would easily cost twice the price.
92/A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 18 Jan 2009
Deep ruby core with a paler rim and slight garnet highlights. Clean fruit and spice aromas of plums, cinnamon and black cherry with a rustic earth, stone and leather quality, all accented by roasted coffee. Fairly full bodied in the mouth with intense flavors of smoky plums and roasted black cherries backed by spicy black pepper, coffee, nutmeg and baker’s chocolate with a hint of wild game.
This is an intense, complex wine. 2004 is sandwiched between two more critically acclaimed vintages. As a result, many great Provence wines from 2004 were overlooked, and this is a real hidden gem. While not a cheap wine, it is powerful and well balanced, and will impress any aficionado. Showing well now, but likely to continue getting better for another couple of years. A blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.
88/B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 Mar 2009
Bright ruby core with a garnet rim. Rich spicy plum aromas are mobbed by sweet candied violets, cassis and a touch of green tea and dried cherries. Plums and nutmeg spice dominate the palate. Ripe, round tannins provide plenty of support for the fruit. Finish of plums and black cherries.
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.
87/A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 08 Mar 2009
Deep ruby color in the core with a lighter pink rim. Very youthful in the glass with fresh blackberry and cherry surrounded by a touch of currant leaf, toast and mocha. Rich black cherry and cassis flavors fill the mouth, supported by a touch of leafy greens. Bold tannins fill the mid palate and the finish lingers with flavors of toast and black cherry.
87/B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 22 Feb 2009
Medium ruby color in the glass from the core all the way out to the rim. Very spicy aromas with a nice punch of white pepper around dark blackberry, boysenberry and a sweet touch of caramel. Fairly substantial in the mouth with very juicy blackberry and raspberry fruits, again accented by the white pepper. Low tannins and good acidity make this easy to drink right now and able to go with many types of foods from a burger to ribs to pizza.
A blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.
88 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 16 Feb 2009
Medium ruby core with just a hint of pink on the rim. Full, fruity aromas of blackberry, sweet plum and black cherry underscored by leather, cocoa and a touch of dusty earth. Lush on the palate with bold acid making it a great food wine. Just a few very ripe tannins and a nice medium body. Spicy plum and black cherry fruits are matched by earth, violets and sweet leather with lingering vanilla, chocolate and cedar on the finish. Very easy to drink; lush and tasty.
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