2001 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Syrah, 2001 Dead Arm, 2004 Callejo Crianza, 2004 Pintia & 2002 Baumard QDC

My brother made a one night stop to visit while traveling on business and I took advantage to organize a small wine tasting for him and a couple of our old hometown friends. I organized the tasting into 2 showdowns of wines from the same regions and years so we could compare the styles.

All wines were served in Riedel Vinum glasses and paired with several appetizers (Parmiggiano Regianno, jamon serrano, caramelized figs, brie cheese, etc.).

• 2001 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  This inky ruby colored wine started off slow. I did not decant any of the wines last night. The initially reticent nose opened more and more throughout the night into a cloak of black fruits that were rather serious, without the extravagance of other hyper ripe examples of Southeast Australian Shiraz. There is excellent mid palate coverage and ample fruit extract. There is a slightly coarse mouthfeel and excellent weight. The wine is balanced and offers just the right amount of acidity in the finish. The word that comes to mind when evaluating this wine is restraint. This is the type of Aussie Shiraz that proves that not all Southeast Australia shirazes are created in the same flamboyant borderline style that they are typically labeled with. Excellent.
  
  Este vino color rubí muy obscuro, reminiscente del color de la tinta china empezó la noche muy reservado. La inicialmente reticente nariz, abrió poco a poco durante la noche hasta ofrecer una capa de frutos negros serios sin la extravagancia de otros Shiraz del Sureste de Australia hiper maduros. Tiene muy buena cobertura del paladar medio y excelente corpulencia. Los taninos tienen un grado de arenosidad y el terminado ofrece una pizca exacta de acidez. La palabra que se me viene a la mente al evaluar este vino es moderación. Este es el tipo de Shiraz del sureste Australiano que comprueba que no todos los vinos de esa zona están elaborados en el estilo extremo con que los etiquetan.

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• 2001 Clarendon Hills Syrah Hickinbotham 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon

  Dark ruby color that is starting to show a little ageing. The nose is very attractive. Dare I say...European? Earthy blackberries, leather and a hint of caramel. In the mouth, it has full to medium body, dense and flavorful. There is a certain elegance to the textural sensation. Tannins exhibit a dusty character. This wine is more evolved than the 2001 Dead Arm tasted alongside it. I was very impressed with this wine in the first hour, but towards the end of the night, it started showing a tired finish and perhaps some sign of heat damage, so I downgraded it a bit.
  
  Color rubí obscuro que empieza a dar señales de edad. La nariz es muy atractiva. Me atrevo a decir un poco...europea? Blackberries, tierra, cuero nuevo y un punto de caramelo. En boca exhibe cuerpo de corpulento a medio, denso y sabroso. Hay cierta elegancia en la sensación de textura. Los taninos tienen una cualidad polvosa. Este vino está más evolucionado que el 2001 Dead Arm que tomamos junto con él. Este vino me impresionó gratamente durante la primera hora, pero hacia finales de la noche desarrolló cansancio en el terminado y olores de daño por temperatura, lo que me hicieron quitarle unos cuantos puntos.

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• 2004 Bodegas Felix Callejo Ribera del Duero Crianza 89 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  This wine suffered when compared with the 2004 Pintia tasted alongside it. When consumed on its own, this comes across as quite powerful and full bodied, but next to the 2004 Pintia it seems a bit "un-energized". Still quite pleasing and a bargain QPR.
  
  Este vino sufrió cuando se le compara con el Pintia 2004 que nos tomamos a su lado. Cuando se le bebe por su cuenta, se presenta poderoso y corpulento, pero junto al Pintia se le perceibe un poco desganado. Igual es un vino excelente con muy buena relación de precio-calidad.

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• 2004 Bodegas Pintia Toro Pintia 94 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  Inky ruby color. What a powerful, unapolegetic wine this is. This is Earl Campbell rushing towards the scrimmage line, not Gale Sayers. Very full bodied, tannic, dense and flavorful, it offers a complete Tempranillo experience3 that ends with a complex nose of cigar ash. My WOTN.
  
  Negro como la noche. Qué vino tan potente y sin fingimiento alguno de elegancia. Este es Earl Campbell corriendo hacia la línea de golpeo, no Gale Sayers. Corpulento, tánico, con mucho sabor, ofrece una experiencia de Tempranillo completa complicada con una atractiva nota de ceniza de puro. Mi vino favorito de la noche.

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• 2002 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru 91 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume Grand Cru

  Quarts des Chaumes is quite different than other more popular types of dessert wines such as Sauternes. Lighter, crispier, ethereal, offering delicate apricot and peach aromas and uplifting acidity. You can drink a lot of this and not be bothered by any cloyiness. Very nice.
  
  Quarts des Chaumes es un vino de postre diferente a otros má populares como Sauternes. Más ligero, jugoso y etéreo, ofrece notas delicadas de durazno y chabacano. Termina con una acidez refrescante. Uno puede tomar mucho de este vino sin empalagarse. Muy bueno.

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It was a great night of catching up with old friends. We ended at 3am and hardly slept at all, but it was worth it.