dln646
Member #148,745 signed up 11/15/2010
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1995 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 890
3/14/2013 - dln646 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Near perfect looking, the wine is light with a garnet edge and some miniscule sediments.
Right away the 890 brings a substantial classic Rioja-nose. There's a bounty of dill, oxidized red apples and a trivial burnt minerality. From the oak there's charming aromas of vanilla and toffee. The depth and intricacy it produces is purely outstanding. Something about this wine communicates with my soul.
On the palate the wine is yielding and silky. There's some volatility there that I anticipate will go away with some air. In the rear of all classic Rioja characters underlies additional layers of nuanced notes of fruits and oak. The acidity is savory and sour, something that assist the flavors to deliver in a high volume. Engaging, the tannins are fabulously small and enthralling. Overall structure so graceful, nuanced and wispy. In a long aftertaste span, the wine whisper characters of black truffles and layered fruits.
This is a justly lingering wine in a style I completely worship. It will carry on developing for years to come. Potentially, the tannins will keep on mellowing into nano-like smooth grains, whilst the fruit stays intact. This is a minor upgrade to the 904. Mulling over the wines tradition and price, I can't help to think of Rioja Alta as enormous value. Pardon me, but this is fucking awesome. http://quaffable.org/?p=557
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1995 Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
1/30/2013 - dln646 Likes this wine: 95 Points
With a garnet-colored rim and a medium level ruby-colored core, Poggio di Sotto Riserva looks slightly more concentrated than recent Brunello-wines in the same tasting.
The nose is not excessively aromatic. In search of aromas I divulge classical dark cherry, sweet licorice, black truffles, Asian spices, herb mint and a floral perfume. Aromas listed are the ones that characterizes Poggio di Sotto Riserva, but there's even auxiliary depths with some oxidized red apples and black tea. Rather than of throwing a chorus in your face, it's a nuanced wine that plays a very subtle but complex melody, while still performing in the essence of its genre - Sangiovese.
Charm and finesse are two keywords on the palate. There's a pitch high acidity and a sexy elegance that a medium body plays a great part in. The tannin structure is truly ideal - slender, juicy and incredibly fine-grained. The flavor intensity, like the nose, doesn't bring too much volume, which is fine.
Poggio di Sotto Riserva is remarkably good, and in this condition probably nearing its absolute peak. The wine is somewhat shy, but unbelievably charming and full with finesse and personality. It's an honest wine with a inclusive formation, possibly one of the more personal wines I've drunk in a long time. What this wine brings to the table is freshness, elegance, balance and tannins to die for. Clearly a winner of tonight's tasting accompanied by wines such as Biondi Santi, Salvioni and Molinari. Absolutely exquisite! http://quaffable.org/?p=416
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1978 Château Cheval Blanc
12/9/2012 - dln646 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Continuing with Bordeaux notes, my third week of consistent blogging is done. Without doubt lacking some energy color-wise, the 1978 Cheval Blanc is routing towards a brown-garnet tinge.
The range of aromas on the nose is quite huge but, spaced out from the elegance of many other wines during the same tasting, pretty shady and slightly funky. I'm getting Kriek-cherries, figs, spice and green herbs. Subsequently comes a very clear coffee-grounds aroma jointed with notes of barnyard and Brett. While sitting in front of the label of Cheval Blanc, it's difficult to not like the aroma spectrum.
On the palate the wine certainly comes across as weighty. The wine has a smooth mouth-filling sensation. Grippingly the tannins, still, grabs hold of your palate, gums and teeth. It has some sort of dodgy flavor intensity that is faintly floral and perfumed while the acidity comes in and elevates the dark fruit. Throughout the palate and onto the finish, from the oak there's a heavy roasted chocolate character. Because the roasted oak finish, the after taste is very long.
This is a tough wine to evaluate. While the wine still comes across with great longetivity, the attention span seems kind of short. I cannot get my head around it, so for me at this price point it's not worth it. The wine is dark and strong but slender. Unless you're sure that you have cautiously cellared '78 Cheval Blanc's laying around, I suggest drinking these as soon as possible. It is still a wine of caliber and wonderful experience. http://quaffable.org/?p=552
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