50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, and 10% ea Syrah & Clairette from 60 yr old vines yielding 36 Hl/Ha & grown in soils of pure silica, slate, sand, clay, & rolled pebbles; Harvested manually "& 100% scuffed, then macerated @ night in a cement tank - Classic bleeding wine Fermentation @ low temp;" 14.5% ABV
N: ATTRACTIVE flowers & minerals atop grapes
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt, acidity balancing into the HOLLOW mid-P; Fairly LONG, ult very, VERY slightly honied/bitter finish. Mid-P & somewhat "quick" finish a concern here. Might improve? 91 pts WA & 90 Vinous (Raynolds). [Now unavail @ the tasted $13.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows U.S. sources ranging from $16-$23.]
N: Closed; Hard to I.D.: poss grass, some minerality? Lemons with air/warmth? Intensity lurking?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by STRONG mid-P acidity which SLOWLY morphs into a fairly LONG, tangy, though otherwise somewhat nondescript finish. MAY be disjointed? Give 6-12 mos & POSSIBLY a stunner? [It DEFINITELY improved with the 3 hrs or so it had in my sm tasting glass.] 92 pts ea WA and Wine & Spirits, + Silver @'17 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards @ $18.99. [Now unavail @ this vendor's $15.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $18 & $24.]
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt balanced by STRONG acidity which slowly & fairly seamlessly transitions into quite a LONG, lip smackingly tangy, ult very, VERY slightly honied finish. DESERVES 6-12 mos, then drinking through '21 min, though tough to resist now -- assuming one LOVES high acidity. FABULOUS stuff! [Now unavail @ this vendor's tasted $21.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows 2 U.S. sites @ $22 & $24.]
From vines ave 30 yrs of age, yielding an ave of 37 Hl/Hectare, & cultivated "traditionally" in the sand & granite soils of steep terraced slopes; "Alcoholic fermentation at a low temp in new barrels (1/3) & in s/s tanks (2/3). 100% Malolactic." Aged in 100% new oak; 13.5% ABV
N: Closed; Some flowers, poss minerals? Lemons with air/warmth?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry (with very slight heat?) & ok frt met by a very slightly bitter structure, this morphing into a LONG, slightly honied, very slightly bitter finish. My 1st ever Condrieu, & based upon what is supposedly a STALWART example of it, apparently not a style I appreciate -- partic for the $? MIGHT improve with SOME addt'l bottle age? (It WAS showing more frt after 3 hrs or so in my sm tasting glass.) 95 pts WA, 94 Suckling, 92 ea WS & WE @ $68, & 16.5/20 (2x) Jancis Robinson. [Now unavail @ this vendor's $45.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows several U.S. sources @ $58-$67.]
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
100% de-stemmed grapes from the Les Pressonniers, Les Crais, Jouise, & Les Seuvrées parcels; 18 mos aging in FR oak barrels (20% new), with light & long, soft toast from the Allier, Jupilles, Fontainebleau, & Nevers forests; Unfiltered & unfined.
P: LM, poss Med, body; Almost swtish frt met by SOME mid-P pucker which pretty much resolves by the quite LONG, pleasant, VERY slightly tart/bitter finish. Aromas currently WAY ahead of the rest, which (hopefully) cellaring will resolve. 87-89 pts Vinous (Tanzer) & 16/20 Jancis Robinson. [As of early Feb '19, wine-searcher still shows 1 vendor @ $50.]
P: Med body; Almost swtish frt met by some astringent, mid-P pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, pleasant, albeit very, VERY stilghtly astringent finish. Deserves/NEEDS 9-18 mos, though likely could stand/BENEFIT from more because of the wine's EXCELLENT balance. Very nicely done for drinking into its 10th -- probably longer. 94 pts WS, 92 Suckling, & 89 WE @ $50. [NOW unavail @ this vendor's tasted $29.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows several U.S. vendors from $32-$40.]
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Typically, 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, Clairette, etc. from vines 20 to 60 years yrs old grown in La Crau in soils of alluvial deposits, limestone, silica, & molasse (red clay) with galets roulés; Grapes are partially de-stemmed for traditional fermentation between 25-35 days in s/s & wood cuves (all temperature-controlled); The wine rests in cement tank for 10 mos, then another 12 mos in foudres. 2,100 cs bottled unfiltered
P: LM, poss Med, body; Almost swtish frt (straws?) met by mid-P pucker, which almost totally resolves by the very LONG, ult ALMOST swtish finish with notes of bitterswt choc. A *very* NICELY balanced style that, while approachable now, DESERVES another 1-2, then drinking into its 10th yr without problem. Lovely as this is, I'm not at all sure of the QPR -- unless, perhaps, one has the Napa AVA as a benchmark. 91-93 pts Vinous (Raynolds), 92 ea WS & Jeff Leve, 90 WA, 18/20 La Revue du Vin de France, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, 16/20 Gault & Millau, and 3*(*)/5 drinkrhone.com . [Now unavail @ the tasted $63.95, as of early Feb '19, wine-searcher still shows U.S. sources from $58 to a (skewed) $95.]
84% C.S., 8% Merlot, 4% P.V, 2% Malbec, & 2% C.F. from estate-grown Napa Valley vyds, harvested 9/16-10/13/14. "Grapes were sorted & cold soaked prior to fermentation. The wine was aged for 18 mos in 45% new oak barrels (55% FR, 45% AM) and 55% two-year-old FR & AM oak barrels before bottling in June 2016. The barrel coopers used included Ermitage, François Frères, Demptos (FR & AM), Canton (AM), and Barrel Associates (AM)." 14.5% ABV; 27,000 cases
P: MF, poss F, body; Almost swtish frt (VERY slightly hot?) QUICKLY met by an ALMOST lip smacking pucker which fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, still very slightly puckery, ult bitterswt finish. While tempting now (assuming you're a fan of high acidity), this deserves/NEEDS 18-30 mos then making its 10th yr... min. Very, VERY nicely done in a big, ripe, Napa style! :) 93 pts ea Suckling, WE @ $75, & Decanter (Panel), 92 ea Jeb Dunnuck & WA, 91 Vinous (Galloni), 87 Decanter (Brook), 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, & Silver @ '17 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards! [Now unavail @ the tasted $55.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows numerous U.S. vendors @ $60-$87.]
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Closed; Vanilla atop earth with pyrazines underneath? Intensity lurking?
P: MF body; ALMOST swtish frt (with SOME heat?) QUICKLY met by an almost lip smacking pucker which surprised me by pretty much resolving by the LONG, ult bitter/swt finish. NEEDS 'til '20/'21, *quite* poss more, then making its 15th... min. An *impressive* effort! :) [Now unavail @ the tasted $71.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows several U.S. vendors @ from $70-100.]
Unknown clone of Shiraz planted in 1894 in deep alluvial silt over red & brown earth & limestone, classed as a centenarian block by the Barossa Old Vine Charter; "Vine spacing 1.5m, Row Width 3m E to W Row Direction, ave yield 1-2 t/ha." 14.5% ABV
N: Jammy, toasty, yet with a mineral aspect; Intensity lurking!
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (very, VERY slightly hot?) met by some mid-P pucker which, fairly seamlessly, MOSTLY resolves by the quite LONG, ult very, VERY slightly bitterswt finish. MARVELOUS stuff which, while approachable now, DESERVES through '20 & will likely at least flirt with its 15th. 97 pts James Halliday, 95-97 WA, 93 WS, 92 RJonWine, 91 Wine & Spirits, and 90 ea The Wine Front & WE with a "Cellar Selection" @ $100. [Now unavail @ the tasted $77.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows 2 U.S. sources @ $90 & $100.]
2016 Château de Ségriès Tavel
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Tavel
50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, and 10% ea Syrah & Clairette from 60 yr old vines yielding 36 Hl/Ha & grown in soils of pure silica, slate, sand, clay, & rolled pebbles; Harvested manually "& 100% scuffed, then macerated @ night in a cement tank - Classic bleeding wine Fermentation @ low temp;" 14.5% ABV
N: ATTRACTIVE flowers & minerals atop grapes
P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt, acidity balancing into the HOLLOW mid-P; Fairly LONG, ult very, VERY slightly honied/bitter finish. Mid-P & somewhat "quick" finish a concern here. Might improve? 91 pts WA & 90 Vinous (Raynolds). [Now unavail @ the tasted $13.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows U.S. sources ranging from $16-$23.]
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2016 Sigalas Aα
Greece, Aegean, Cyclades, Santorini
Unoaked 75/25 :: Assyrtiko/Athiri; 13.5% ABV
N: Closed; Hard to I.D.: poss grass, some minerality? Lemons with air/warmth? Intensity lurking?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by STRONG mid-P acidity which SLOWLY morphs into a fairly LONG, tangy, though otherwise somewhat nondescript finish. MAY be disjointed? Give 6-12 mos & POSSIBLY a stunner? [It DEFINITELY improved with the 3 hrs or so it had in my sm tasting glass.] 92 pts ea WA and Wine & Spirits, + Silver @'17 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards @ $18.99. [Now unavail @ this vendor's $15.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $18 & $24.]
Addendum: Enjoyed this more on 12/30/2017.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2016 Domaine Andre Neveu Sancerre Vieilles Vignes Le Manoir
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre
"Produced from 50 yr old vines planted in limestone pebble soils"
N: Slightly closed; Minerals SLIGHTLY atop grass? Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt balanced by STRONG acidity which slowly & fairly seamlessly transitions into quite a LONG, lip smackingly tangy, ult very, VERY slightly honied finish. DESERVES 6-12 mos, then drinking through '21 min, though tough to resist now -- assuming one LOVES high acidity. FABULOUS stuff! [Now unavail @ this vendor's tasted $21.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows 2 U.S. sites @ $22 & $24.]
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 E. Guigal Condrieu
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu
From vines ave 30 yrs of age, yielding an ave of 37 Hl/Hectare, & cultivated "traditionally" in the sand & granite soils of steep terraced slopes; "Alcoholic fermentation at a low temp in new barrels (1/3) & in s/s tanks (2/3). 100% Malolactic." Aged in 100% new oak; 13.5% ABV
N: Closed; Some flowers, poss minerals? Lemons with air/warmth?
P: MF body; RNDISH entry (with very slight heat?) & ok frt met by a very slightly bitter structure, this morphing into a LONG, slightly honied, very slightly bitter finish. My 1st ever Condrieu, & based upon what is supposedly a STALWART example of it, apparently not a style I appreciate -- partic for the $? MIGHT improve with SOME addt'l bottle age? (It WAS showing more frt after 3 hrs or so in my sm tasting glass.) 95 pts WA, 94 Suckling, 92 ea WS & WE @ $68, & 16.5/20 (2x) Jancis Robinson. [Now unavail @ this vendor's $45.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows several U.S. sources @ $58-$67.]
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Domaine Maume-Marchand-Tawse Gevrey-Chambertin Village
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
100% de-stemmed grapes from the Les Pressonniers, Les Crais, Jouise, & Les Seuvrées parcels; 18 mos aging in FR oak barrels (20% new), with light & long, soft toast from the Allier, Jupilles, Fontainebleau, & Nevers forests; Unfiltered & unfined.
N: VERY fragrant smoky earth, poss bacon, atop minerals & berries (plums?)
P: LM, poss Med, body; Almost swtish frt met by SOME mid-P pucker which pretty much resolves by the quite LONG, pleasant, VERY slightly tart/bitter finish. Aromas currently WAY ahead of the rest, which (hopefully) cellaring will resolve. 87-89 pts Vinous (Tanzer) & 16/20 Jancis Robinson. [As of early Feb '19, wine-searcher still shows 1 vendor @ $50.]
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Cantine Giacomo Ascheri Barolo
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
N: Vanilla with flowers & undertones of tar
P: Med body; Almost swtish frt met by some astringent, mid-P pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, pleasant, albeit very, VERY stilghtly astringent finish. Deserves/NEEDS 9-18 mos, though likely could stand/BENEFIT from more because of the wine's EXCELLENT balance. Very nicely done for drinking into its 10th -- probably longer. 94 pts WS, 92 Suckling, & 89 WE @ $50. [NOW unavail @ this vendor's tasted $29.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows several U.S. vendors from $32-$40.]
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Typically, 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, Clairette, etc. from vines 20 to 60 years yrs old grown in La Crau in soils of alluvial deposits, limestone, silica, & molasse (red clay) with galets roulés; Grapes are partially de-stemmed for traditional fermentation between 25-35 days in s/s & wood cuves (all temperature-controlled); The wine rests in cement tank for 10 mos, then another 12 mos in foudres. 2,100 cs bottled unfiltered
N: Slightly closed; Garrigue/smoke atop berries? Intensity lurking?
P: LM, poss Med, body; Almost swtish frt (straws?) met by mid-P pucker, which almost totally resolves by the very LONG, ult ALMOST swtish finish with notes of bitterswt choc. A *very* NICELY balanced style that, while approachable now, DESERVES another 1-2, then drinking into its 10th yr without problem. Lovely as this is, I'm not at all sure of the QPR -- unless, perhaps, one has the Napa AVA as a benchmark. 91-93 pts Vinous (Raynolds), 92 ea WS & Jeff Leve, 90 WA, 18/20 La Revue du Vin de France, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, 16/20 Gault & Millau, and 3*(*)/5 drinkrhone.com . [Now unavail @ the tasted $63.95, as of early Feb '19, wine-searcher still shows U.S. sources from $58 to a (skewed) $95.]
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Napa Valley
USA, California, Napa Valley
84% C.S., 8% Merlot, 4% P.V, 2% Malbec, & 2% C.F. from estate-grown Napa Valley vyds, harvested 9/16-10/13/14. "Grapes were sorted & cold soaked prior to fermentation. The wine was aged for 18 mos in 45% new oak barrels (55% FR, 45% AM) and 55% two-year-old FR & AM oak barrels before bottling in June 2016. The barrel coopers used included Ermitage, François Frères, Demptos (FR & AM), Canton (AM), and Barrel Associates (AM)." 14.5% ABV; 27,000 cases
N: Somewhat closed, but SEEMS ripe, rich, & deep; Intensity lurking!
P: MF, poss F, body; Almost swtish frt (VERY slightly hot?) QUICKLY met by an ALMOST lip smacking pucker which fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, still very slightly puckery, ult bitterswt finish. While tempting now (assuming you're a fan of high acidity), this deserves/NEEDS 18-30 mos then making its 10th yr... min. Very, VERY nicely done in a big, ripe, Napa style! :) 93 pts ea Suckling, WE @ $75, & Decanter (Panel), 92 ea Jeb Dunnuck & WA, 91 Vinous (Galloni), 87 Decanter (Brook), 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, & Silver @ '17 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards! [Now unavail @ the tasted $55.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows numerous U.S. vendors @ $60-$87.]
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Closed; Vanilla atop earth with pyrazines underneath? Intensity lurking?
P: MF body; ALMOST swtish frt (with SOME heat?) QUICKLY met by an almost lip smacking pucker which surprised me by pretty much resolving by the LONG, ult bitter/swt finish. NEEDS 'til '20/'21, *quite* poss more, then making its 15th... min. An *impressive* effort! :) [Now unavail @ the tasted $71.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows several U.S. vendors @ from $70-100.]
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Elderton Shiraz Single Vineyard Command
Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Unknown clone of Shiraz planted in 1894 in deep alluvial silt over red & brown earth & limestone, classed as a centenarian block by the Barossa Old Vine Charter; "Vine spacing 1.5m, Row Width 3m E to W Row Direction, ave yield 1-2 t/ha." 14.5% ABV
N: Jammy, toasty, yet with a mineral aspect; Intensity lurking!
P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (very, VERY slightly hot?) met by some mid-P pucker which, fairly seamlessly, MOSTLY resolves by the quite LONG, ult very, VERY slightly bitterswt finish. MARVELOUS stuff which, while approachable now, DESERVES through '20 & will likely at least flirt with its 15th. 97 pts James Halliday, 95-97 WA, 93 WS, 92 RJonWine, 91 Wine & Spirits, and 90 ea The Wine Front & WE with a "Cellar Selection" @ $100. [Now unavail @ the tasted $77.95, as of early Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows 2 U.S. sources @ $90 & $100.]
Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue