ajbergren
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2015 Tardieu-Laurent Crozes-Hermitage Vieilles Vignes
5/29/2022 - ajbergren wrote: 91 Points
Deep brooding crimson colour with very high optical density and medium specular reflectivity. Aromas are strong in intensity, with rich dark fruits (plum, blackberry compote, and splashes of black raspberry), cocoa, and spicy herbs, along with a nice streak a salinity and brackish quality. Excellent complexity on the nose.
On the palate, rich full body and rounded texturing provide for a plush and heavy presence, without too much stickiness. Medium minus acidity and integrated tannins show just a bit of fine-grained bite on the back end. Good concentration and density overall. Flavours of mixed dark fruits on the attack, with support from spices and sous bois, which takes over toward the final transition. Nice midpalate here, and a very graceful array of flavours dances effortlessly across the palate. Not flashy, as this is still plenty elegant, but there is a confidence and honesty about it. There is some lingering aromatic florals along with some fennel that moves forward toward the finish, which has nice length and shows warm berry skins and some light notes of brackish leather. Overall complexity is medium plus, with plenty of intensity to go along.
This is an awesome bottle that is drinking really well. Balanced, refined and elegant, with a classic appeal. Excellent value and seems ready to drink. Awesome old world styling with a great personality.
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2010 Vietti Barolo Castiglione
3/18/2022 - ajbergren wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby red with a translucent appearance of medium optical density and very high specular reflectivity. Slight amber at the rim, but just. Aromas of red fruits and earthy spices.
On the palate, medium body with a rounded texture that shows integrated tannins. Medium acidity and decent density and concentration shows a richness across the palate. Flavours of cherry, grilled truffles, and floral notes on the attack. The midpalate shows a lot of evolution toward crushed tobacco leaves, with some clean smoke. The finish shows sour cherry and baked cherry pits with leather and grilled fruit skins on the generous finish. Overall intensity is high and complexity is medium or so.
Quite an elegant and lovely wine here, seemingly in a prime state at the moment. Really well made! Old world styling with a polished and refined character.
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2016 Domaine La Bérangeraie Cahors Cuvée Maurin
3/4/2022 - ajbergren wrote: 91 Points
Deep, saturated purple-red with very high optical density and dull specular reflectivity. Slow, thick tears. Aromas show a nice lifted profile, with a lovely array of fruit and earth. Blueberry, chocolate, and a verdant herbal undertone mixes with dried florals and dried red fruits in the background. Some noticeable volatile acidity, but under control for sure. The nose shows good intensity and medium complexity.
On the palate, fresh acidity combines with a juicy and forward profile to give a rounded entry with some electric tension shifting toward a grippy tannic profile toward the finish. Very strong evolution of textures. Tannins are indeed very present and firm, and thought not completely integrated, they do provide needed structure. Very dry, with ripe glycerin enveloping things. Full bodied and fairly dense, this is a pretty big style of red.
Flavours of cherry, blueberry, and other mixed fruits (plum, blackberry) on the attack, showing a quite forward profile. Still, there is earthy roasted herbs and some dried dirt notes underneath the fruit, along with cocoa powder and crushed tobacco. These evolve toward crushed leaves and sweet tobacco over time. The midpalate gives lots of dried fruits and dried forest floor, as things work toward a finish of leather, with some dill and toasty caramel lingering with decent length. Overall intensity is strong and complexity is at least medium plus. Very lovely transitions from fruit to more earthy tones across the palate.
This is a really nice wine. There is enough VA to notice, but not spoil anything, and perhaps in some respects adds a needed lift to an otherwise big and chewy wine. This is ripe and powerful, and yet well balanced and thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely speaks of the old world in many ways, with vivid fruit and terrior coming through, but is clearly very ripe and oaked in a seemingly modern way (though not at all overly done). This is well made wine with a good personality of its own.
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