Nice fruit forward Champagne. Revealed lemon-citrus on the nose with a touch of a nutty backdrop. On the palete it was all citrus. Little if any lees component. I would call it simple if not for the purity and depth of fruit. For a sub $30 vintage Champagne, this is a must buy.
Dark color without a hint of discolor on the edges. On the nose it revealed an almost charred fruit characteristic. Full bodied with dark raspberry/cherry but with a sweat/oak component. Finish was shorter than anticipated.
(served blind). Dark, showing no age. At first whiff, I was thinking Aussie Cab. I got a sense of a candied cherry with black rasperry and oak on the back end. Upon tasting I got a mouthful of fruit and oak. The candied component paired with a licorice again lead me to believe Aussie. Only the wall of structure gave me hesitation. I really liked this but wish it had another 5 years on it to settle down. Very nice wine and a big suprise when revealed.
Cork looked ugly with mold on the top. The wine, on the other hand, looked as youthful as a 2000 vintage port. No bricking or browning on the edges, only deep garnet with a touch of clear on the edges. The fruit has settled a bit but the structure was still there with the acid leading to a good level of tannin. I can't believe how young this is showing, especially for a .375. A very nice wine but needing much more than the 2 hrs of air it had. Will try again sooner than later.
1996 Duval-Leroy Champagne Blanc de Chardonnay Brut 91 Points
France, Champagne
Nice fruit forward Champagne. Revealed lemon-citrus on the nose with a touch of a nutty backdrop. On the palete it was all citrus. Little if any lees component. I would call it simple if not for the purity and depth of fruit. For a sub $30 vintage Champagne, this is a must buy.
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2000 Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley 89 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Dark color without a hint of discolor on the edges. On the nose it revealed an almost charred fruit characteristic. Full bodied with dark raspberry/cherry but with a sweat/oak component. Finish was shorter than anticipated.
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1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(served blind). Dark, showing no age. At first whiff, I was thinking Aussie Cab. I got a sense of a candied cherry with black rasperry and oak on the back end. Upon tasting I got a mouthful of fruit and oak. The candied component paired with a licorice again lead me to believe Aussie. Only the wall of structure gave me hesitation. I really liked this but wish it had another 5 years on it to settle down. Very nice wine and a big suprise when revealed.
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1985 Graham Porto Vintage 92 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Cork looked ugly with mold on the top. The wine, on the other hand, looked as youthful as a 2000 vintage port. No bricking or browning on the edges, only deep garnet with a touch of clear on the edges. The fruit has settled a bit but the structure was still there with the acid leading to a good level of tannin. I can't believe how young this is showing, especially for a .375. A very nice wine but needing much more than the 2 hrs of air it had. Will try again sooner than later.
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