Tasted blind. Drank over 2.5 hours. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of vanilla oak, cedar, ripe dark red fruit, black cherries, some savoury earth emerging. Developing. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13%), smooth medium tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of leather, savoury earth, black cherry, ripe dark red cherries, dark red plums, vanilla, cedar, slight bell pepper with more air. Long finish. Very good quality. With the ripe fruit character here, I was guessing this was a SuperTuscan Cabernet dominant blend. Just entering the nice drinking window now, this will continue to evolve over the next 4-5 years. Doesn't really show the elegance of the Margaux appellation though. Typically a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Aged in small oak barrels (30-40% new) for 18 months.
Poured through Vinturi into decanter and drank over 2.5 hours. Appearance is deep inky intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intnesity, with aromas of fruit cake, dark chocolate, cedar, blackcurrant leaf, blackberry, sweet spices, and graphite with more air. Developing. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), velvety smooth medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of concentrated blueberries, blackberries, blaccurrant, licorice, dark chocolate, cedar, sweet spices, slight graphite. Long finish. Very good quality. Very ripe and concentrated. Very commendable for a Chilean, with hardly any greenness on display here. Flavour profile still seems to be able to develop further, but I fear the acidity will not hold up. Drink up soon with short decant.
Tasted blind. Drank over 2.5 hours. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour with garnet edge. Long legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of licorice, sweet baking spices, white pepper, black cherries, raspberry jam. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (15.5%), medium+ tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of black cherry jam, raspberry jam, licorice, sweet baking spices, white pepper, slight minerality. Long lingering finish. Very good quality. Felt like a premium cult Australian Shiraz. Blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Touriga Nacional.
Pop and poured. Drank over 1.5 hours. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of earth, herbs, bell peppers, blackcurrant leaf, black plums, tobacco. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13%), firm grippy high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, black plums, earth, herbs, slight bell peppers, tobacco, cigarette ash. Long finish. Very good quality. Classic Left Bank Bordeaux feel. Stolid 1998 tannins in evidence. Tannins will probably outlast the fruit. Drink up over next 3 years. Unlikely to improve with further ageing.
Tasted blind. Pop and poured. Drank over 1.5 hours. Appearance is clear, pale intensity, garnet colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of earth, sour red cherries, chocolate. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), smooth medium tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of earth, sweet tea leaves, sour red cherries, slight chocolate. Long finish. Very good quality. Nothing too complex or mentally stimulating going on here, but the overall feel is just so elegant, classic, and balanced. So much like a very fine traditional Brunello. Drink and enjoy over next 2-3 years.
2006 Château Giscours 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Tasted blind. Drank over 2.5 hours.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of vanilla oak, cedar, ripe dark red fruit, black cherries, some savoury earth emerging. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13%), smooth medium tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of leather, savoury earth, black cherry, ripe dark red cherries, dark red plums, vanilla, cedar, slight bell pepper with more air. Long finish.
Very good quality. With the ripe fruit character here, I was guessing this was a SuperTuscan Cabernet dominant blend. Just entering the nice drinking window now, this will continue to evolve over the next 4-5 years. Doesn't really show the elegance of the Margaux appellation though.
Typically a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.
Aged in small oak barrels (30-40% new) for 18 months.
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2005 Neyen Espiritu de Apalta 91 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Poured through Vinturi into decanter and drank over 2.5 hours.
Appearance is deep inky intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intnesity, with aromas of fruit cake, dark chocolate, cedar, blackcurrant leaf, blackberry, sweet spices, and graphite with more air. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), velvety smooth medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of concentrated blueberries, blackberries, blaccurrant, licorice, dark chocolate, cedar, sweet spices, slight graphite. Long finish.
Very good quality. Very ripe and concentrated. Very commendable for a Chilean, with hardly any greenness on display here. Flavour profile still seems to be able to develop further, but I fear the acidity will not hold up. Drink up soon with short decant.
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NV Redheads Studio Return Of The Living Red 92 Points
Australia, South Australia
Tasted blind. Drank over 2.5 hours.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour with garnet edge. Long legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of licorice, sweet baking spices, white pepper, black cherries, raspberry jam. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (15.5%), medium+ tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of black cherry jam, raspberry jam, licorice, sweet baking spices, white pepper, slight minerality. Long lingering finish.
Very good quality. Felt like a premium cult Australian Shiraz.
Blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Touriga Nacional.
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1998 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Pop and poured. Drank over 1.5 hours.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of earth, herbs, bell peppers, blackcurrant leaf, black plums, tobacco. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13%), firm grippy high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, black plums, earth, herbs, slight bell peppers, tobacco, cigarette ash. Long finish.
Very good quality. Classic Left Bank Bordeaux feel. Stolid 1998 tannins in evidence. Tannins will probably outlast the fruit. Drink up over next 3 years. Unlikely to improve with further ageing.
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2009 Cerbaiona (Molinari) Rosso di Montalcino 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino
Tasted blind. Pop and poured. Drank over 1.5 hours.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of earth, sour red cherries, chocolate. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), smooth medium tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of earth, sweet tea leaves, sour red cherries, slight chocolate. Long finish.
Very good quality. Nothing too complex or mentally stimulating going on here, but the overall feel is just so elegant, classic, and balanced. So much like a very fine traditional Brunello. Drink and enjoy over next 2-3 years.
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