Quilceda Creek Galitzine Red mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
With respect to Washington producers, Quilceda Creek is in a league of it’s own. I found the Galitzine to have a slightly different profile than their flagship Columbia Valley Cabernet, which often has a unique fingerprint of soy and Asian spices. Even so, this Red Mountain Cab is exquisite and pristine. Notes of violets, graphite, […]
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio 2007
Roberto Voerzio’s Barolo Cerequio 2007 is pure seduction. Perfumed, there is a heady outpouring of rose petals, Madagascar vanilla, black cherries, Italian plum, tar, black tea leaves, and tobacco. The attack is forceful, though not without composure, boasting stunning power and a graceful, masculine energy. Taught, fine-grained tannins, and a structured core signifies long aging […]
Soldera (Az. Agr. Case Basse) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1999
One of the most profound Brunellos I’ve ever tasted, the Soldera Riserva 1999 has a nose that is both infinitely complex and pungent. Alluring aromas of dried rose petals, dark cherries, game, saddle leather, damp tilth, decaying leaves, anise, and sandalwood waft from the glass. Truly, it’s the iron fist in a velvet glove—incredibly intense […]
Ca’ Marcanda Gaja Bolgheri Camarcanda 2011
Garnet robed with a faintly orange rim, though still fresh and vibrant. Gaja’s Ca’Marcanda Ca’Marcanda is a deeply perfumed Bordeaux blend with the scent of wild lilacs, woodsmoke, espresso, and plums. From the stony Ca’Marcanda estate in the Bolgeri, this elegantly crafted red is silky and rich, with fully integrated oak. Dark, with a nice […]
2014 in Review
2014 was, for me, a monumental year. I have been very fortunate to have attended some fantastic industry tastings throughout much of the year. I’m also presently working my way through the WSET courses, studying wine and regions as much as my schedule allows. These wines were the highlights of my year, a tough list […]
Quintarelli Giuseppe Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 1998
Quintarelli’s Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 1998 seduces with aromas of plums, black cherries, black tea and baker’s cocoa and spice. One the palate layers of glycerol and fine tannin weave through attenuated notes of this peppery, wonderful spice accent that is evident on the attack and later, emerges on the finish, it is, in fact […]
Château Léoville Las Cases 1990
The 1990 Léoville Las Cases opens with primary aromas of Iodine, blood, minerals, graphite and black cherry. After sitting open for 2-3 hours it exhibits perceptibly sweet tertiary notes of orange peel, roses and baking spice. This is a dark, powerful Saint-Julien with impressive concentration and grip on the attack followed by notes pencil lead, […]
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
The 2004 Quilceda Creek is a stunning wine, with a nose that evolves to reveal layers of boysenberry, cassis, charcoal, dark chocolate, pain grillé and exotic spice. Truly, this is among the best of Washington, there is a reason why Quilceda has attained cult status. On the palate, massive structure is deceptively cloaked in silky, […]
Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2001
The Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2001 possesses a sublime, deep inner perfume of dewy meadow flowers, crushed raspberry, forest floor and pitched top-notes of pine and incense. Ruby and translucent, it’s incredibly fresh and vibrant with subtle complexity on the palate. Layers of wild red berries, iron, spiced crabapple and rose hips […]
Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée Les Genaivrières 2001
As with all Leroy wines, they possess a subtlety that is, at times, challenging to pinpoint. Elegant and refined, the Leroy Vosne-Romanée Les Genevrières 2001 is slightly brickish at the rim with fine flecks of sediment. It unfurls slowly, offering up arresting aromas of dried rose petal, dried leaves and wild strawberries. Silky, with fine […]