France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of toasted oak, chocolate, ripe dark cherries and blackberries. Developing. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol, medium tannins, full body. Pronounced flavor intensity, with flavours of vanilla oak, chocolate, ripe dark cherries, blackberries, licorice, spice. Long finish. Only started to open up after about 2 hours slow-ox in the bottle. I thought it was a Spanish Tempranillo-Grenache blend. Very good quality. Probably just entering its drinking window now. Give this another 5 years and it could be even better.
Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of soy sauce, licorice, raisins, and a slight herbal touch. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, high alcohol, medium+ tannins, full body. Pronounced flavor intensity, with flavours of soy sauce, licorice, raisins, and slight herbs. Long finish. I guessed this was a Ripasso. Good quality. Drinking well now. I don't think this will last more than 3 years as the acidity is worrying. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Croatina. Grapes air dried before vinification.
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium- intensity, with aromas of licorice, cassis, and blackcurrant leaf. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol, high tannins, full body. Medium flavor intensity, with flavours of licorice, cassis, blackcurrant, black pepper. Medium+ finish. I guessed this was an Aussie Cabernet-Shiraz blend. Acceptable quality. I somehow think this is now in some sort of sleeping phase. Would probably not have been so closed 2-3 years ago, and hopefully it is just going through a dumb phase now.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of toasted oak, sweet blackcurrant, dark cherries, leather. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, firm medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of sweet blackcurrant, dark cherries, tobacco, spice and leather. Medium finish. Good quality. Was nice on pop and pour. But became quite shut down after 1 hour+ in the bottle. Drink up now, I don't think this can last much longer.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, leather, earth. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, tobacco, leather, and earth. Medium finish. Good quality. Probably drinking as good as its going to get. Drink up.
2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of toasted oak, chocolate, ripe dark cherries and blackberries. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol, medium tannins, full body. Pronounced flavor intensity, with flavours of vanilla oak, chocolate, ripe dark cherries, blackberries, licorice, spice. Long finish.
Only started to open up after about 2 hours slow-ox in the bottle.
I thought it was a Spanish Tempranillo-Grenache blend.
Very good quality. Probably just entering its drinking window now. Give this another 5 years and it could be even better.
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2006 Manara Guido Veneto IGT 90 Points
Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT
Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of soy sauce, licorice, raisins, and a slight herbal touch. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, high alcohol, medium+ tannins, full body. Pronounced flavor intensity, with flavours of soy sauce, licorice, raisins, and slight herbs. Long finish.
I guessed this was a Ripasso.
Good quality. Drinking well now. I don't think this will last more than 3 years as the acidity is worrying.
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Croatina. Grapes air dried before vinification.
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2006 Yalumba The Retreat The Menzies 87 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium- intensity, with aromas of licorice, cassis, and blackcurrant leaf. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol, high tannins, full body. Medium flavor intensity, with flavours of licorice, cassis, blackcurrant, black pepper. Medium+ finish.
I guessed this was an Aussie Cabernet-Shiraz blend.
Acceptable quality. I somehow think this is now in some sort of sleeping phase. Would probably not have been so closed 2-3 years ago, and hopefully it is just going through a dumb phase now.
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2002 Château Bournac 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of toasted oak, sweet blackcurrant, dark cherries, leather. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, firm medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of sweet blackcurrant, dark cherries, tobacco, spice and leather. Medium finish.
Good quality. Was nice on pop and pour. But became quite shut down after 1 hour+ in the bottle. Drink up now, I don't think this can last much longer.
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2000 Château Haut Breton Larigaudière 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, leather, earth. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol, medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavor intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, tobacco, leather, and earth. Medium finish.
Good quality. Probably drinking as good as its going to get. Drink up.
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