Bodega Septima Malbec 2014
Better on the second day, as the Septima 2014 Malbec felt tight on opening. Today, more generous notes of warm blackberries at peak ripeness, plums, boysenberries, dried violets and black licorice. The attack shows tart, high acidity, this wine begs to be paired with a grilled, well-marbled steak. The tannins linger under the acidity, a […]
William Hill Central Coast Pinot Noir 2014
I have liked ‘s Chardonnay more than their Pinot Noir, the 2014 Sonoma Coast evokes plums, grape jelly, brown sugar. This is an easy-drinking, uncomplicated, and slightly sweet California Pinot that leans toward jammy black fruit—it’s all black cherry at the core, with a touch of cola, and low levels of tannin. 14.5% ABV | […]
Aldelsheim Breaking Ground Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2014
Intensely perfumed, Aldelsheim’s commemorative 2014 Breaking Ground Pinot Noir is composed entirely of Chehalem Mountain Pinot Noir, 12% of which is from the winery’s estate. Sumptuous black cherries, black raspberry, underbrush, earth, and heirloom roses grace the nose. It’s ruby-hued and more opaque than is typical for Oregon Pinot—hinting at this wine’s concentration and depth. […]
Seed Paraje Altamira Malbec 2014
Luscious steeped blackberries, marionberries, and dusky Italian plums lie well beneath lighter, more enigmatic aromas of violets, dust, and dark chocolate shavings. Seed’s 2014 Paraje Altamira Malbec is mulberry-hued at the rim, and deliciously fresh. The nose echoes the palate, with saturating black fruit at the core, neatly hemmed in by mouth-coating, ripe tannins. It’s […]
Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine Lirac 2014
Generous, layered black fruit on opening: black cherries and blackberries held aloft by underbrush, anise and baking spice aromas. Composed of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, Domaine Lafond’s 2014 Lirac Roc-Epine is softly textured, a deep plunge into black fruit and velvety tannins—it’s entirely voluptuous, with no-hard edges, save for spice notes on the finish, […]
Domaine de Boède Les Grès 2009
Succulent notes of smoky plums, marionberries, figs, and camphor with perhaps more ethereal notes of incense, iron, and game. Given the nose, one expects this Langedoc blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan to be big-boned and brawny on the palate—it comes across as mid-weight, a good thing, I think, tempered by a healthy of […]
Seed Red Wine 2014
Pronounced, layered aromas of blackberries, plums, lavender and lilac, the 2014 Red is Seed Wine’s inaugural release and is composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 16 months on new French oak, this polished Argentine red exhibits fabulous purity of fruit at the core, cradled in fine, velvety tannins. […]
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-St.-Vivant 1999
Breathtaking, transcendant and pure, the 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-St.-Vivant is a woven tapestry of raspberries, cinnamon bark and fresh pastry, along with subtle touches of earth, underbrush, and lilting minerality. More diaphanous than the ’99 La Tâche or Richebourg, the words that this wine conjures are vibrant, ethereal, fine-boned and mineral-edged. This is […]
Herdade do Esporão Esporão Reserva 2013
A brawny, if slightly gamey and wild blend of Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Trincadeira, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 Esporão Reserva Tinto is all plums, spice, vanilla and earthiness. In the mouth, it really shows it’s heft, with equal doses of tart sour cherry and raw cranberry-esqe acidity dowsed in firm tannins and a bit of […]
Falesco Montiano Lazio IGT 2012
Subtle but not subdued, the 2012 Falesco Montiano is crafted from 100% single-vineyard Merlot. Sweet Italian plums, black cherries, underbrush, dust, worn leather, decaying rose petals and sandalwood lead into a wine that is fuller and a touch lusher than one might expect for an Old World Merlot. Fine, polished tannins aptly frame red and […]