Popped and poured, followed for the course of the evening. Served blind. Light straw colour in the glass. On the nose, heavy citrus notes of lemon and lime zest, crushed rocks, and with air gaining further depth by way of peach, light florals and a seemingly a touch of oak. There were also some gooseberry notes, which had me thinking Sauvignon Blanc for a moment. On the palate, nice crisp acidity, with strong tastes of citrus, mineral and a touch of vanilla rounding out the long finish. Quite a bit of residual sugar present, which made this a very difficult wine to pin down.
Popped and poured, followed for approximately 30 minutes. Deep ruby in the glass. On the nose, notes of cherry and pepper are predominant, with a touch of earth and mineral notes, adding a touch of complexity. On the palate, this really falters; tastes of pepper, underripe cherry and cranberry, which are very bitter and unpleasant. The finish is moderate, although, on this one, I wished it was short. Not recommended.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Decanted approximately 1 hour, served blind. Deep purple in the glass, with strange floating particulate, which has been previously referenced here. On the nose, very reticent, offering up notes of black cherry, some herbs, and cured meats. Over the course of the evening, this did not get any more expressive. On the palate, met with a wall of structure; heavy tannin, moderate acidity. Finish is moderate, and a touch bitter and astringent. Based on the strange particles in the wine, I have marked this as "flawed".
Decanted approximately 1 hour, served blind. Deep purple in the glass. On the nose, red berries; raspberry, strawberry, pyrazine, light herbal notes, light underbrush, with accents from the oak of caramel, vanilla and light coffee. On the palate, this seems loaded with pyrazine, with some moderate acidity that contrasts the ripe fruit and a touch of drying tannin on the moderate finish. Overall, a nice wine in its own right, but a poor value for the money.
Decanted approximately 30 minutes. Deep purple in the glass, served blind. On the nose, this bursts from the glass, with notes of roasted plums, coffee grinds, nice funk/barnyard notes, slate, herbs and a touch of graphite. There is a quite a bit of oak on this wine, but it seems there is enough substance to integrate with a bit more of time, and even at this juncture, it is tastefully done. On the palate, fairly approachable at this time, showing some drying tannin on the moderate length, savoury/gamey finish, that is accentuated by a nice lift of acidity.
Double decanted a few hours prior to service. Deep inky purple in the glass. On the nose, blue and black fruits, light citrus, florals, pepper, a touch of olive, crushed rocks and fresh picked herbs. On the palate, like notes, very round ripe fruit, light drying tannin on the moderate finish, however, this seems slightly deficient in acidity, although, I believe this was served too warm. If trying again, I would pop and pour, and serve at cellar temperature.
South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Peninsula, Constantia
Double decanted a few hours prior to service. Deep amber colour in the glass. On the nose, caramelized pineapples, lychee, fresh cut strawberry, burnt sugar, herbs and spice. On the palate, nice tropical fruits, caramelized sugar, with a slight bitterness on the long finish, lifted by a nice streak of acidity.
2009 Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Popped and poured, followed for the course of the evening. Served blind. Light straw colour in the glass. On the nose, heavy citrus notes of lemon and lime zest, crushed rocks, and with air gaining further depth by way of peach, light florals and a seemingly a touch of oak. There were also some gooseberry notes, which had me thinking Sauvignon Blanc for a moment. On the palate, nice crisp acidity, with strong tastes of citrus, mineral and a touch of vanilla rounding out the long finish. Quite a bit of residual sugar present, which made this a very difficult wine to pin down.
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2010 Domaine Manoir du Carra Juliénas 85 Points
France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Juliénas
Popped and poured, followed for approximately 30 minutes. Deep ruby in the glass. On the nose, notes of cherry and pepper are predominant, with a touch of earth and mineral notes, adding a touch of complexity. On the palate, this really falters; tastes of pepper, underripe cherry and cranberry, which are very bitter and unpleasant. The finish is moderate, although, on this one, I wished it was short. Not recommended.
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2004 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Flawed
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Decanted approximately 1 hour, served blind. Deep purple in the glass, with strange floating particulate, which has been previously referenced here. On the nose, very reticent, offering up notes of black cherry, some herbs, and cured meats. Over the course of the evening, this did not get any more expressive. On the palate, met with a wall of structure; heavy tannin, moderate acidity. Finish is moderate, and a touch bitter and astringent. Based on the strange particles in the wine, I have marked this as "flawed".
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2009 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri
Decanted approximately 1 hour, served blind. Deep purple in the glass. On the nose, red berries; raspberry, strawberry, pyrazine, light herbal notes, light underbrush, with accents from the oak of caramel, vanilla and light coffee. On the palate, this seems loaded with pyrazine, with some moderate acidity that contrasts the ripe fruit and a touch of drying tannin on the moderate finish. Overall, a nice wine in its own right, but a poor value for the money.
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2007 Ruffino Modus Toscana IGT 92 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Decanted approximately 30 minutes. Deep purple in the glass, served blind. On the nose, this bursts from the glass, with notes of roasted plums, coffee grinds, nice funk/barnyard notes, slate, herbs and a touch of graphite. There is a quite a bit of oak on this wine, but it seems there is enough substance to integrate with a bit more of time, and even at this juncture, it is tastefully done. On the palate, fairly approachable at this time, showing some drying tannin on the moderate length, savoury/gamey finish, that is accentuated by a nice lift of acidity.
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2009 Creation Wines Syrah 91 Points
South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay
Double decanted a few hours prior to service. Deep inky purple in the glass. On the nose, blue and black fruits, light citrus, florals, pepper, a touch of olive, crushed rocks and fresh picked herbs. On the palate, like notes, very round ripe fruit, light drying tannin on the moderate finish, however, this seems slightly deficient in acidity, although, I believe this was served too warm. If trying again, I would pop and pour, and serve at cellar temperature.
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2002 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 93 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Peninsula, Constantia
Double decanted a few hours prior to service. Deep amber colour in the glass. On the nose, caramelized pineapples, lychee, fresh cut strawberry, burnt sugar, herbs and spice. On the palate, nice tropical fruits, caramelized sugar, with a slight bitterness on the long finish, lifted by a nice streak of acidity.
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