Posts Tagged ‘toffee’
Saturday, February 21st, 2009
97 / B-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 30 Jan 2009
Dark amber color in the core with a lighter brick red rim. Complex aromas pour out of the glass: brown sugar, bacon, black cherry, earth, black truffles, sweet tea and tobacco. The palate entry is incredibly smooth and the tannins are fully integrated into the wine. Flavors of coffee and toffee surround black cherry, brown sugar, bacon, smoky earth and wet stone with a lingering cherry and soy sauce note. The acid is relatively high, keeping the wine impressively fresh. The flavors linger on for quite a while.
The aromas and flavors seem to be fully developed at this point, and the earthy and spicy characteristics fully dominate the remaining fruit. While an impressive wine, it is likely on its down swing, so I would recommend drinking it rather than holding on to it for too much longer.
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Tags: 1985, amber, bacon, black, brick, brown sugar, Burgundy, cherry, coffee, conti, cote du nuits, drc, earth, france, grand cru, la tache, pinot noir, red wine, romanee, smoke, soy sauce, stone, tea, tobacco, toffee, truffle
Posted in Tasting Notes | 2 Comments »
Sunday, February 1st, 2009
89 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 22 Jan 2008
Dark purple core with a vibrant pink rim. White and black truffles support the nice wet earth edge to this leather, black cherry and blackberry beast. Sweeter fruit on the front palate is met by nice minerality in the middle. Long finish of dark cherries and toffee.
Another good example of an Italian wine made in California. These guys know what they are doing. Good quality for the price, and 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: 2002, Ambullneo, barbara, barbera, Bien, black, blackberry, california, cherry, earth, leather, Maria, mineral, Nacido, Nonno, pink, purple, red wine, santa, sweet, toffee, truffle, valley, Vineyard, white, Zito
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Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
90 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 25 May 2008
Dark ruby core surrounded by a bright rim. Very bold caramel coated raspberry fruit aromas are backed by darker cassis, sweet dried tobacco and a spicy punch of cedar. Dark and thick on the palate. Ripe cassis and blackberry fruits are underscored by a dark wet earth tone and a streak of minerality leading to the long toffee, toast and charcoal finish. Rich and complex with a solid backbone of approachable tannins.
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 25% Syrah.
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Tags: 2004, argiano, blackberry, cabernet, caramel, cassis, cedar, charcoal, earth, italy, merlot, mineral, raspberry, red, red wine, ruby, sauvignon, solengo, spice, sweet, Syrah, toast, tobacco, toffee, Tuscany, wine
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Monday, January 26th, 2009
92 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 19 Feb 2008
Very dark purple in the glass with a bright fuchsia and pink rim. This wine is spicy and dense in the nose with anise, new oak and vanilla over big ripe blueberry and blackberry. Dark earth, toffee and a touch of smoky game underlie the fruits. In the mouth this is a lush, round wine with great mouthfeel. Dark, jammy fruits make this wine distinctly Aussi Shiraz, but the balance of the acid and tannin keep it from getting too hedonistic. Rich bittersweet chocolate and vanilla notes linger in the toasty, creamy finish.
More typically Australian with the huge, powerful fruit and color that will stain your teeth (probably not the best way to impress on a first date). With all that fruit though, they manage to make a wine that is well balanced and good to drink. A bit powerful for most foods, but nice fruit and easy to enjoy while sitting on a couch or just hanging around.
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Tags: 2005, acid, anise, Australia, Barossa, bittersweet, blackberry, blueberry, Bogan, bright, chocolate, cream, dark, dense, earth, fruit, fuchsia, game, jam, Kaesler, oak, pink, purple, red, red wine, Shiraz, smoke, South, spice, table, tannin, toast, toffee, valley, vanilla
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Monday, January 26th, 2009
92 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 03 Oct 2008
Intense inky purple core with just a glimmer of a fuchsia rim. Massive aromas of bacon, roast coffee, toffee, blackberry, white licorice, violets and a hint of truffle. Soft and full on the front palate. Sweet dark fruits: raspberry, blackberry, cassis. Round and full on the mid-palate without getting weighty. Good fresh anise flavors spice up the finish with roasted earth and dark chocolate notes.
This is a big, young wine, so I had it sit around open for about 12 hours before tasting it, giving it time to breathe. While it weighed in at 14.25% alcohol (according to the label - and given the legal margin of error here putting .25% is ridiculous) it managed to stay very impressively balanced. This is a great example of what Syrah can be when not made in a heavy, jammy, Australian manner.
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Tags: 2005, Alesia, anise, bacon, barbara, blackberry, california, cassis, chocolate, coffee, County, dark, earth, Fairview, fruit, fuchsia, Highlands, licorice, Lucia, purple, Ranch, raspberry, red wine, roast, santa, sweet, Syrah, toffee, truffle, USA, violet
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Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
88-91 / NA
Tasted by Mike Supple - 01 Apr 2008
Medium purple/ruby core with a bright ruby rim. A touch of anise and black cherry with some green herbal and toffee aromas. Great entry onto the palate. Chewy dark blackberry and plum. A little thinner on the mid-palate, but good power and lingering fruits in the finish.
This wine is not yet released from the winery, thus it has no price or value grade.
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Tags: 2007, anise, blackberry, bordeaux, Canet, cherry, france, herbal, Pauillac, plum, Pontet, red wine, toffee
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Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
88 - 91 / NA
Tasted by Mike Supple - 01 Apr 2008
Bright purple core with a violet rim. Earthy cassis and black cherry aromas. Toffee on the front palate followed by dark roasted fruit and a touch of clay. Nicely balanced with impressive depth for the vintage, and smooth, ripe tannins.
This wine is not yet released from the winery, thus it has no price or value grade.
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Tags: 2007, Blend, bordeaux, cassis, cherry, clay, Dominique, earth, france, red, red wine, St-Emilion, toffee
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Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
91 / A
Tasted by Mike Supple - 22 Aug 2008
Purple and ruby core with a flashy pink rim. Roasted, toasted marshmallow, buttered toffee and baking spice aromas surround loads of dark cherry and blackberry with lingering crushed rose petals. Toffee and mocha flavors on the front of the palate build around juicy, fruity black cherry and plum. Medium to full bodied with lots of ripe, approachable tannins. Creamy vanilla on the back end with a toffee finish.
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Tags: 2005, Andrew, blackberry, cherry, Columbia, marshmallow, mocha, plum, red wine, rose, Ross, spice, toast, toffee, USA, valley, vanilla, Washington
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