Posts Tagged ‘scorched’
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
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!
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Tags: 2007, blackberry, blueberry, Cotes, delas, du, earth, esprit, france, freres, hazelnut, pepper, plum, purple, red, red wine, Rhone, ruby, saint, scorched, Southern, st, toast, white, wine
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Sunday, February 1st, 2009
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.
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Tags: 1er, 2004, beaune, black, Burgundy, burnt, chanson, cherry, cola, cote, cru, de, dill, Domaine, dominode, earth, et, Fils, france, garnet, jam, les, mushroom, noir, pere, pinot, premier, red, red wine, savigny, scorched, smoke, strawberry, tobacco, vanilla, wet, wine
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Sunday, February 1st, 2009
89 / A+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 04 Sep 2008
Classic lighter grenache color with a medium ruby core and a lighter garnet rim. The aromas are very spicy and floral with some candied cherry, fresh grape and a hint of dark scorched earth. Incredibly smooth in the mouth making it easy to drink. Cinnamon spice surrounds strawberries and cherries. Round in the middle with just enough acid to keep it fresh. The finish comes in strong with a huge red gummy bear kick and a touch of spicy cumin.
Grenache is a great wine for people who are looking for something not quite as heavy as a Cabernet, but that still packs an impressive punch of smells and flavors. Grenache can get pretty pricey (particularly from the South of France) so finding one in the $10 range is a rarity. Finding one in the $10 range that delivers with this quality fruit is unheard of. The grapes come from vines that vary in age all the way up to 80 years, which really gives some added fruit and spice. This is the perfect wine to bring to a friend’s house as it appeals to all drinkers; seasoned wine veterans and newbies alike. Plus who’s going to make fun of you for drinking wine that’s called the Bitch? (Also makes a great gift for the hostess with a sense of humor…)
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Tags: 2007, Australia, bear, bitch, candy, cherry, cinnamon, cumin, earth, floral, flower, fresh, garnet, grape, grenache, gummy, r wines, red, red wine, ruby, scorched, South, spice, strawberry, wine
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Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
91 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 03 Nov 2008
Dark ruby core with a lighter rim and a hint of garnet to the edge. Huge plum aromas with fresh black cherry juice surrounded by spicy cedar, nutmeg, raw oak and candied cinnamon. Spicy, rich and dark on the palate. A touch of mocha and cinnamon spice surround lush, juicy plum and blackberry. Medium to full bodied with solid ripe tannic grip. Lingering dark fruits with a touch of earth, scorched oak and coffee beans.
Not your average Merlot, this wine delivers quite a punch of fruit and power. It is good to see Napa producing Merlot of this quality again. Ignore the remarks in “Sideways.” This a great bottle of wine.
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Tags: 2004, beans, black, blackberry, california, candy, cedar, cherry, cinnamon, clement, Coast, coffee, earth, garnet, juice, merlot, mocha, Napa, North, nutmeg, oak, plum, red, red wine, ruby, saint, scorched, sideways, spice, wine
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Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
90 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Nov 2008
Medium ruby core with a pale pink rim highlighted with garnet. Deliciously smooth caramel and milk chocolate aromas are accented by light violet scents, all surrounding a dense core of ripe black cherries. Much bigger in the mouth than the nose implies with rich cherry fruit, dark scorched earth and silky milk chocolate flavors. Medium to full bodied with hints of baking spices and a long finish.
Not a typical Pinot Noir, this wine has a lot more power and body which make it great for drinking by itself, but also allows it to pair well with all kinds of foods from lighter appetizers to heavier meat dishes like burgers or t-bone steaks.
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Tags: 2003, Argentina, baking, black, Bodega, Bodegas, burger, caramel, cherry, chocolate, earth, garnet, meat, Mendoza, milk, noir, pink, pinot, red, red wine, ruby, salentein, scorched, spice, steak, violet, wine
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Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
92 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 17 Nov 2008
Medium ruby core with a touch of garnet to the rim. Complex, heady aromas. Light floral notes quickly yield to spicy fresh anise, earth and white truffles all surrounding a dark core of wild blackberry and strawberry. Very fruity on the front palate followed quickly by darker earth and truffle flavors. Creamy vanilla over black cherry in the mid palate leads to a long, lingering cream and spice finish underscored by dark scorched earth. Balanced and delicious.
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Tags: 2007, anise, black, blackberry, california, cherry, Coast, cream, eareth, earth, estate, floral, garnet, marimar, noir, North, pinot, red, red wine, scorched, smith, sonoma, spice, strawberry, truffle, vanilla, Vineyard, w.h.smith, white, wild, wine
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