100% Albariño fermented & aged (3-6 mos on the lees) in s/s tanks; 14% ABV, 3.7 g/L R.S., 6.3 g/L T.A., & 3.2 pH; Bottled July 2018.
N: Apples, minerals, & a salinity? Flowers/perfume with swirling; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by BRACING (init very, VERY slightly spritzy) acidity which sets the parameters for the LONG, TANGY/swt (70:30) finish. VERY nicely done, particularly IF one appreciates richer style than typical for Rias Baixas. For now & through '21 without problem, + could well improve a tad for the next 6 mos or so. My EXC-/EXC. 92 pts ea Suckling & winealign.com , 91 Decanter (Panel, 7/1/19), 16 & 17/20 Jancis Robinson (Currin & Harding), + the ff'ing '19 Contest results: Golds @ TEXSOM Int'l, Vinalies Internationales, & International Virtus, and Silver @ Decanter's ’19 Int'l Wine Awards. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Collines de la Moure
N: Closed; Flowers slightly atop grapes with undertones of minerals?
P: Med body; VERY RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt ( threshold R.S.?) wonderfully counterbalanced by a crisp acidity which sets the tone into & through the LONG, balanced, tangy/swt finish with JUST enough very, VERY slight bitterness to encourage more food/wine. For now & through '19, poss into '20? VERY nicely done -- particularly @ this vendor's price! [Check with this vendor if interested in their **very** COMPETITIVE price!] My EXC-, arguably more for QPR.
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Pic St. Loup
Typically, 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah, & 10% Mourvèdre from 40 yr old vines grown in 18 ha of clay & limestone soils on scree slopes; "Hand harvested,completely de-stemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks where it is aged for 1 year;"
N: Attractively RIPE berries with notes of smoke; Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) fairly quickly met by astringent pucker which loses virtually ALL its snap by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitter/SWTNESS (40:60) to the DUSTY tannins. Although the tannins are swt, unless one can tolerate the relatively brief mid-P structure, this is probably going to need 12-18 mos of cellaring, then drinking for 3 yrs more? Nicely done in the style! My VG+/EXC-. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
N: Cherries, poss blk rasps, with undertones of pyrazines?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which DOES lose its bite by the LONG, poss very, VERY slightly faint finish with some quasi-bitter flatness. Otherwise nice, the finish disappoints. 13.5% ABV; My VG-, poss VG-/VG. 87 pts WE @ $19. [This vendor's $12.95 puts it in the top quartile of wine-searcher's listings.]
100% Tannat fermented in 150 HL cement tanks, then aged 6-12 mos on the lees in FR oak barrels & casks; 14.5% ABV, 5 g/L R.S., 5.2 g/L T.A., & 3.75 pH; Bottled August 2018; 6,500 cases imported.
N: Slightly closed; RIPE berries with undertones of minerals?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, poss very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a bitter/SWTNESS (40:60) & burgeoning richness (?) to the dusty tannins. LOTS of substance for the price, but NEEDS through '20 (POSS longer?) to sort itself out, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My EXC-, very likely more down the line. 92 pts Suckling, 91 pts WS, 90 ea WE @ $20 and Wine & Spirits, 16+/20 Jancis Robinson (Harding, 2/10/19), + the ff’ing ’19 Contest Results: “Great Gold” @ Int’l Virtus, Silvers @ Vinalies Internationales & Decanter’s World Wine Awards, & a Bronze @ TEXSOM Int'l. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
2018 Bodega Garzón Albariño Reserva
Uruguay, Maldonado
100% Albariño fermented & aged (3-6 mos on the lees) in s/s tanks; 14% ABV, 3.7 g/L R.S., 6.3 g/L T.A., & 3.2 pH; Bottled July 2018.
N: Apples, minerals, & a salinity? Flowers/perfume with swirling; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by BRACING (init very, VERY slightly spritzy) acidity which sets the parameters for the LONG, TANGY/swt (70:30) finish. VERY nicely done, particularly IF one appreciates richer style than typical for Rias Baixas. For now & through '21 without problem, + could well improve a tad for the next 6 mos or so. My EXC-/EXC. 92 pts ea Suckling & winealign.com , 91 Decanter (Panel, 7/1/19), 16 & 17/20 Jancis Robinson (Currin & Harding), + the ff'ing '19 Contest results: Golds @ TEXSOM Int'l, Vinalies Internationales, & International Virtus, and Silver @ Decanter's ’19 Int'l Wine Awards. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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2017 Ombré Collines de la Moure Rosé
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Collines de la Moure
N: Closed; Flowers slightly atop grapes with undertones of minerals?
P: Med body; VERY RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt ( threshold R.S.?) wonderfully counterbalanced by a crisp acidity which sets the tone into & through the LONG, balanced, tangy/swt finish with JUST enough very, VERY slight bitterness to encourage more food/wine. For now & through '19, poss into '20? VERY nicely done -- particularly @ this vendor's price! [Check with this vendor if interested in their **very** COMPETITIVE price!] My EXC-, arguably more for QPR.
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2017 Château La Roque Pic St. Loup
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Pic St. Loup
Typically, 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah, & 10% Mourvèdre from 40 yr old vines grown in 18 ha of clay & limestone soils on scree slopes; "Hand harvested,completely de-stemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks where it is aged for 1 year;"
N: Attractively RIPE berries with notes of smoke; Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) fairly quickly met by astringent pucker which loses virtually ALL its snap by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitter/SWTNESS (40:60) to the DUSTY tannins. Although the tannins are swt, unless one can tolerate the relatively brief mid-P structure, this is probably going to need 12-18 mos of cellaring, then drinking for 3 yrs more? Nicely done in the style! My VG+/EXC-. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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2015 Santi Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore Solane
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore
80% Corvina & 20% Rondinella grown in limestone, sand, & clay soils;
N: Cherries, poss blk rasps, with undertones of pyrazines?
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which DOES lose its bite by the LONG, poss very, VERY slightly faint finish with some quasi-bitter flatness. Otherwise nice, the finish disappoints. 13.5% ABV; My VG-, poss VG-/VG. 87 pts WE @ $19. [This vendor's $12.95 puts it in the top quartile of wine-searcher's listings.]
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2017 Bodega Garzón Tannat Reserva
Uruguay, Maldonado
100% Tannat fermented in 150 HL cement tanks, then aged 6-12 mos on the lees in FR oak barrels & casks; 14.5% ABV, 5 g/L R.S., 5.2 g/L T.A., & 3.75 pH; Bottled August 2018; 6,500 cases imported.
N: Slightly closed; RIPE berries with undertones of minerals?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, poss very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a bitter/SWTNESS (40:60) & burgeoning richness (?) to the dusty tannins. LOTS of substance for the price, but NEEDS through '20 (POSS longer?) to sort itself out, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My EXC-, very likely more down the line. 92 pts Suckling, 91 pts WS, 90 ea WE @ $20 and Wine & Spirits, 16+/20 Jancis Robinson (Harding, 2/10/19), + the ff’ing ’19 Contest Results: “Great Gold” @ Int’l Virtus, Silvers @ Vinalies Internationales & Decanter’s World Wine Awards, & a Bronze @ TEXSOM Int'l. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]
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