Community Tasting Note

JimHow wrote:

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - Deeply extracted. This one of two bottles recently shipped from California reminds me initially of a young Cap de Faugeres. Roasted, Amarone-like on the nose. Man, Spain can gain levels of concentration as extracted as anything in new world Bordeaux, if not more. Not saying that's good or bad, just an observation. I wonder how well this will age? If this were Bordeaux, people would be complaining that it is some Parkerized, Magrez sell-out. Great finish, as expected. Is the '04 Pintia more inky purple-colored? I say yes. I wonder what the oak situation is here, it is well done but might need a little more time to integrate. Unlike some Parkerized new-world right banker that ends up "thin in the 'mid-palate'" <rolls eyes>, though, this wine keeps building in complexity and depth. Is there a fine line between Cap de Faugeres and Bodegas y Vinedos Alion Ribera del Duero? Probably not. Nutty. Blueberries. If I felt this were going to age like a fine Bordeaux, I'd buy a case or two at the $55 "on sale" price at Premier Cru as I write this. By the end it is less Amarone-like, less volatile, less racy, more classy and substantial. This is a wild horse that needs to be lassoed. I'll buy (cautiously) a couple more bottles at the $55 "on sale" price at Premier Cru, but not the case or two. This seems to be a wine of eminence, but i'm not sure the case is yet closed. I'll give it 94 impressive points for the experience tonight, but I reserve the right to change that score up or down after I have those three extra bottles in the fifteen or so years ahead.... Rating: 94 points.

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