Posts Tagged ‘USA’
Monday, April 13th, 2009
92/B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Mar 2009
Dark, inky purple core with a glass-staining fuchsia rim. Gamy and meaty aromas of brown sugar glazed ham stalk over fresh herbal anise, dark blueberry and ripe blackberry fruits. Wild yet impressively restrained blueberry and huckleberry on the palate are backed by ripe black cherry. Thick and mouth filling with enough acid for balance. The dense fruit gives way to wisps of smoky ham and brown sugar on the finish.
A blend of 79.1% Petite Sirah, 9.5% Syrah, 9.1% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2.3% Valdiguié
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Tags: 2006, anise, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, brown sugar, ca, california, central coast, fuchsia, game, gamy, ham, herb, huckleberry, j. lohr, meat, meaty, petite sirah, purple, red wine, san luis obispo, smoke, Syrah, tower road vineyard, USA
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Monday, April 13th, 2009
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.
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Tags: 2005, black cherry, blackberry, cabernet sauvignon, california, carol, carol's vineyard, cedar, chocolate, creme de cassis, j. lohr, napa valley, north coast, petite sirah, purple, red wine, ruby, saint, st. helena, stone, toast, USA, vanilla
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Monday, April 13th, 2009
90/B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Mar 2009
Bright medium lemon core with a clear rim. Good intensity on the nose with bright lemon and lime softened by ripe yellow apple. The whole nose has a sweet orange blossom note lifting the aromas out of the glass. Very floral on the palate. Round and full-bodied yet with great balancing acidity. Oranges, lemons and limes are softened by the yellow apple. Just a touch of oak and cream rounds out the finish.
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Tags: 2007, arroyo seco, california, central coast, chardonnay, cream, floral, j. lohr, lemon, lime, monterey, oak, october night vineyard, orange, orange blossom, USA, White wine, yellow apple
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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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Tags: 2006, black cherry, blackberry, california, cedar, central coast, coffee, dark chocolate, j. lohr, los osos, merlot, milk chocolate, mocha, paso robles, purple, raspberry, red cherry, red wine, ruby, san luis obispo, spice, USA
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Monday, April 13th, 2009
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.
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Tags: 2006, baking spice, black cherry, blackberry, cabernet sauvignon, cassis, chateau ste michelle, columbia valley, herb, indian wells, nutmeg, pink, plum, red wine, ruby, sainte, spice, toast, USA, vanilla, Washington
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Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
88 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 25 Nov 2008
Medium ruby core with a garnet rim. Big aromas leap from the glass: cola, sassafras, fresh herbs and rich black cherry are accented by spicy clove and sweet tea. The flavors mirror the aromas, throwing in some juicy red raspberry popsicles. Big in the mouth with enough fruit and power to cover the 14.7% alcohol. Long, spicy finish.
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Tags: 2005, alcohol, benito, black, california, Central, cherry, clove, Coast, cola, garnet, grove, herb, juice, noir, pessagno, pinot, popsicle, raspberry, red, red wine, San, sassafras, spice, spring, sweet, tea, USA, Vineyard, wine
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Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
87 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 04 Feb 2008
Bright yellow core with a golden tint, thinning around the rim. Big candied lemon aromas are accented by cantaloupe, light toasted walnut and a hint of oak. Round and full in the mouth with a nice medium-bodied weight. A good amount of acid keeps it bright. Creamy lemons are surrounded by cantaloupe and yellow pear, leading to a nice cream and butter finish.
This is a good, but not great wine. Fun if you are looking for something you don’t see very often. NOT to be confused with the famous dessert Tokaji Hungary (which is generally made from a grape called Furmint). This wine is at its peak. Drink before 2009.
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Tags: 2003, acid, Ambullneo, barbara, Bien, bright, butter, california, candy, cantaloupe, core, cream, dry, full, gold, lemon, Maria, Nacido, Nonno, oak, pear, round, santa, table, tint, toast, Tocai, USA, valley, Vineyard, walnut, white, White wine, wine, yellow, Zito
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Monday, January 26th, 2009
88 / B
Tasted by Mike Supple - 29 Feb 2008
Dark ruby core surrounded by a lighter rim and a touch of garnet. Very fruit aromas of cassis, grape jam, plum and blackberry surrounded by spicy licorice and honey leading to a touch of earth. Light body on the palate entry with rich jammy fruit. Soft, round tannins make this ready to drink now. Raspberry and plum fruits lead to a hint of tea on the finish. (Tasted from magnum).
Drink now; not made to age.
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Tags: 2002, blackberry, Bonny, california, Cardinal, cassis, dark, Doon, earth, fruit, garnet, grape, honey, jam, licorice, plum, raspberry, red wine, rich, ruby, spice, table, tannin, USA, Zinfandel
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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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Monday, January 26th, 2009
88 / A-
Tasted by Mike Supple - 01 Sep 2007
Clear and bright in the glass with a lemon yellow core. Very fragrant; bold honeysuckle florals with big lemon, lime and orange zest followed by a touch of sweet yellow pear. The acidity is bright yet balanced on the palate. The bold citrus continues, but is matched well by a smooth creamy pear note and a touch of vanilla on the finish.
The blend varies somewhat each year, but is generally Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon.
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Tags: 2005, acid, balance, banilla, blanc, bold, bright, california, Caymus, chardonnay, citrus, clear, Coast, Conundrum, cream, floral, fragrant, honeysuckle, lemon, lime, Napa, North, orange, pear, sauvignon, Semillon, smooth, sweet, table, USA, viognier, white, White wine, yellow, zest
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