7/5/2010 - crimedog wrote:

Amazing value for Nebbiolo, could use 5 years.

10/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Really wonderful sparkling wine. Fruit was obviously (or hopefully?) oxidized a bit a la Salon since the bottle was a recent acquisition from the importer. Has more RS than a vintage Champagne but is delicious and complex.

10/21/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Opened at 8am, poured taste, recorked and put in wine fridge. Consumed at 8pm.

Lovely wine, great purity of fruit on the nose. Shows tell tale violet and tar.

Extremely tannic and acidic, as to be expected. I don't really mind personally but the fruit is still so primary that it is a shame to drink this now. Seamless transition with a long finish of tar.

Great bottle of wine but do yourself a favor and forget about it for 5 years.

7/10/2009 - crimedog wrote:

oxidized

5/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Showed good fruit and minerality but lacking distinct Meursault characteristics. Good structure still remaining. Good but lacking on the finish and complexity.

5/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Drank very much like a semi-mature Bordeaux, except drier. Liked it very much but I never would have guessed Italian.

5/9/2009 - crimedog wrote:

One of those wines where you empty your glass before you can stop yourself. Very pure fruit and refreshing acid, a joy to drink.

5/9/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Darker than expected for pure Sangiovese. Very good wine, shows french oak in a Bordeaux way. Keeping with it's heritage it's not a blockbuster though, thankfully.

5/6/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Trocken AP 5 142 04351 03 Alc 13%

Golden color. Mineral, pear, wintergreen. Savory/sweet nose. Med+ body, high acid, slight RS apparent on finish. Tart palate with citrus and mineral, great transition to finish with some interesting caramel flavors emerging. Would love to try this in 10 years.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Lemon, orange peel, little pineapple. Full body, med acid, high sugar. Peach, apricot, pineapple. Clean, medium finish. Not the best showing.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Floral nose, violets and mineral, lettuce? Med+ body and acid, high tannin. Very dry, food wine. Juicy black cherry, violets, mineral. Long finish with a little tobacco. Elegant and balanced, loved it.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Very dense nose, violet, mineral. Full bodied, high acid, med+ tannin. Dark, dense, charcoal, milk chocolate. Long finish, big but light on its feet. Needs time. 92+?

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Dark cherry, floral. Med+ body and acid, med tannin. Very polished, dark fruit, floral, dark chocolate, little spicy. Lively palate, good finish.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Dark ruby. Charcoal, chocolate, dark cherries. Full body, med+ acid, med tannin. Charcoal, vanilla, cedar, dark chocolate, dark fruits. Silky and long with alcohol coming out on the finish. Delicious, extracted, not my style.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Purple, ruby edge. Dark fruit, floral, little heat and funk. Full body, high acid, med+ tannin. Too young. Dark fruit, violets, dark chocolate. Med+ finish. 90+?

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Purple center, ruby edge. Floral, purple fruit. Full bodied, medium acid and tannin. Thick purple fruit, floral, mineral, chocolate, grainy med+ finish.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Light ruby. Black pepper, mineral, cranberry, armpit. Med body, med+ acid, med tannin. Cranberry, minerals, black pepper. Medium finish shows a little bit of heat.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Light orange color. Shy nose, red fruits. Tart raspberries, mineral, med body and acid. Long metallic finish with more raspberries.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Dark golden color. Sherry-like lemon, armpit. Med+ body, med acid. Sweet apricot/apple fruit, carmel comes around on the finish but more subtle than a lot of oaked whites. Long delicate finish with sherry notes coming out.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Smoked pear nose. Med+ body, med+ acid. Acidic backbone makes the wine feel lighter than it is. Peach, pear, creamy caramel on the med+ finish. Very interesting wine.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Perfumed, apple, sweat/funk. Med- body, med+ acid, crisp and a little short. Interesting.

4/22/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - April (De Tapas, Addison, TX): Minerals, apple, little toast on the nose. Medium bodied, med+ acid. Crisp apple, little toast, mineral, apricot. Dry finish with a pretty good length.

5/4/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Dark purple, stains the glass. Great thick fruit with some spices/herbs to add interest. Not the most complicated wine, but very satisfying. Terrific balance for such a big wine... Would be quite interested to taste again in 15 years.

4/16/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Deliciously funky, very pure fruit. Med+ acid but still very dry on the finish. Drunk over 2 nights, would love to see this in 5 years. Wish I had picked up more.

4/4/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Delicious wine, great acidity and well made but a little light on the nose and not very complex.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Violet color, ruby rim with a dark center. Spicy, jammy fruit and toasty oak on the nose. Med+ body, med acid & tannin. "Modern" style but well made.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Very healthy dark ruby. Spearmint liquor, black cherry. Juicy, minty red fruit, med acid & body, very little tannin. Off putting flavors, very odd.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Dark violet. Sweaty, violets, dark cherries, campfire. Creamy body, dark fruits, violet, caramel, charcoal... long finish that slowly peters off with some butterscotch. Big wine but light on its feet.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Dark ruby. Spicy, perfume, red fruit. Good balance for the body, not particularly complex but well made.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Dark ruby. Spicy red fruits on the nose. Bold red fruits, little heat coming through, med+ acid and body, med tannin. Very good Syrah but tasted after Old World wines.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Beautiful ruby color with a watery edge. Black olive, a little meatiness, sweet cherries. Med body, acid, resolved tannins. Brambly fruit, olive, very nice finish with lingering earth. As it opened up more fruit came through, and then later I got some wild beef jerky notes on the nose. Excellent!

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Spicy red fruit, tobacco, exactly what I would expect on the nose. Medium body, acidity, tannin. A very good Gigondas.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Light golden color. Burnt hay, light apple. Full bodied, creamy and oaky palate, butterscotch, a little fruit, good acidity, long caramel finish. Very good for this style, which is not mine.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Nice golden color. Floral, apple, peach. Oaky palate, peach skin, apple. Nice transition from mid-palate to a medium finish. Good acid for a viogner, but too oaky for my tastes.

3/25/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - March (McKinney, TX): Nice light straw color. Mineral, sweet baked bread, low toast. Nice mouthfeel, med acid, nice persistent finish, good sweet fruit. Very nice bubbly, great cocktail sparkling.

3/21/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Very shy nose, but once warmed up surprising tropical notes emerged. Med bodied, but smooth and almost creamy mouthfeel. Extremely well made, perfect transition with no holes and a subtle long finish. Different flavors than anything I can remember trying, little bit of RS, great fruit with some mild rubber and spritzy lime on the finish. Very impressed.

2/11/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - February (Amici's): Dark ruby.

Smoky, rich cherries, little bit of funk which blew off, mineral.

Med+body, med acid, med tannin. Sweet cherries, mineral, ash. Med finish.

This had a tough act to follow. Good but not great tonight.

2/11/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - February (Amici's): Light ruby.

Sweet pure cherry, truffle-scented earth.

Med body, med+ acid, med+ tannin. Cherry liquor, earth, truffle, dirt. Little hot. Long finish. Great transition of flavors.

Too young for sure, and not as good as the last bottle I had. Will try more day 2.
edit: Didn't improve on day 2. Not bad, but more simple fruit without too much else.

2/11/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - February (Amici's): Dark ruby.

Rich cherry, vanilla/oak, custard, lush nose.

Med+ body, med acid, med tannin. Little hot, extracted, dark cherries, tar, vanilla. Med-long finish /w similar flavors. Nice but primary.

Curious what more time in the cellar will yield. As Michael put it, a great way to lure Nebbiolo virgins into these wines.

2/11/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - February (Amici's): Light brown color, similar to a tawny port.

Sweet, nutty nose. Also reminds me of a tawny port. Apricot?

Med+ body, med acid, low tannin. Walnuts, sweet apricot. Long finish, walnuts, again tawny like. Strange.

This was an experience and interesting to drink but not quite enjoyable. Would be interesting with antipasto but I have a hard time enjoying.

2/11/2009 - crimedog wrote:

DAWGS - February (Amici's): Surprised by the youthful color, obviously some bricking.

Smokey earth, cherries, bit of tar on the nose.

Med body, med acid, low tannin. Cherry, mineral, earth, smoke, dirt. Very good transition from mid-palate to finish, very nice subtle but persistent finish. Finish becomes ashy after 30-40 seconds.

Overall I was surprised by the youthfulness of this wine, if you are considering drinking I would recommend decanting and watching it evolve. The tannin is resolved by the fruit is not gone, a very good thing.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Botrytis, pineapple, peach. Viscous, good sweetness, good finish. Very nice.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Shy nose. Botrytis, pineapple, spice. Sweet. Nice finish. OK.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Shy nose, botrytis, pineapple. Spicy botrytis, pineapple. Long. Very good.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Nose is a little funky. Good acid, clean. Very nice.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Pineapple, botrytis. Thick, pineapple, spice. Good finish. Good.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Shy nose. Ginger, spice. Good.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Peach, pineapple. Not as sweet or viscous as others, higher acid. Citrus notes. Long, but slightly off-putting finish. OK.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Licorice, sweet cassis. Powerful but elegant. OK finish. Big tannins. Very good.

1/30/2009 - crimedog wrote:

Union Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (Dallas): Very dark. Violets, sweet cassis. Rich, young, good fruit, good structure. Impressive but primary.