Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Viticcio 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva

Very dark ruby red.

Cherry and plum smells, new oak vanilla.

Intense black cherry flavor, plum, mild oak in the long finish.

Very good full-bodied wine for $27.99/bottle. Rewards some airing.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Yalumba nv Museum Reserve Antique Tawny Dessert Wine

Orange/brown color.

Fresh made tea, walnut, and new oak smell.

Taste of sweet walnut pastry (not quite pecan pie), sugared ice-tea, surprisingly well-balanced with acid by the end.

Very good full-bodied sticky at $18.49/375ml.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Cascina Chicco 2007 Barbera d'Alba Granera Alta

Opaque, ruby red at the edge.

Smell of blackberry, cherry, a walk in the woods after a rainy autumn day.

Taste of fruity cherry and blackberry at the beginning, tart acid dominates finish.

Very good full-bodied wine, $22.99 / bottle.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Mollydooker 2010 McLaren Vale Verdelho "The Violinist"

Pale golden color.

Fresh clean smell, white peach, honeysuckle blossoms.

Fruity, dry, pineapple and citrus, food-friendly acid from the start, alcohol warmth in the long finish.

Excellent full-bodied white (the first dry white I've tasted for which there was no question that only "full-bodied" was appropriate) wine. $25.30 bottle.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Romano Clelia 2006 Fiano di Avellino Colli di Lapio redux

Two years ago I enjoyed a bottle and put a few away. Last year I opened one. Now, it's time to do so again.

Pale straw color, bubbles of petillance form on the glass.

Smell has developed with time! Peach and apricot, pear.

Dry fruit flavor, ripe pear, peach, petillant tingle in the mouth.

At purchase, this cost $19.99 / bottle, and I said I was a bit disappointed. Disappointed no more, this has benefited greatly from a bit of age.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Ca' del Monte 2005 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso

Deep ruby color.

Black cherry / plum smell.

Dark plum flavor, dark chocolate-covered cherries, fruity sweetness from start to finish.

Very good, full-bodied, $18.99/bottle.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Herm. Donnhoff 1989er Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese Nahe redux

Not quite a year since I last enjoyed this.

Orange color, tending brown.

Peach, orange smell, some diesel bus exhaust.

Tart tangerine flavor, plenty of fruit remaining, quite food-friendly fresh with acid. Coconut taste at end.

Past prime,I think, but still quite respectable, I still trust it for a few years.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Chateau des Jacques 2006 Moulin-a-Vent Clos de Rochegres

Dark indigo color.

Cherry blackberry smell, with quite a bit of oak.

Tart black cherry/berry flavor, oak far in the background.

Excellent full-bodied cru beaujolais, $35.64/bottle. Balanced. Fruit-forward, ebullient.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2007 Finger Lakes Gewurztraminer

Pale golden color.

Sweet baked apple smell. Gardenias.

Off-dry apple flavor, acid builds to the end.

Very good medium-bodied wine, if a little sweeter than I like in a Gewurztraminer. $19.47/bottle.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Chateau des Jacques 2006 Moulin-a-Vent Champ de Cour

Quite dark, nearly opaque, purple/red.

Cherry, blackberry smells. Oak hidden in the background.

Dry fruity cherry/blackberry flavor, mild oak in the finish.

Restrained medium-to-full-bodied wine, $35.64/bottle. Elegant.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Guado al Tasso 2008 Bolgheri Vermentino

A brief white-wine break from Moulin-a-Vent.

Light golden color.

Sweet honey smell, ripe apple, grapefruit.

Dry apple and citrus flavor, rich, clean and food-friendly by the end.

Very good medium-bodied bottle for $19.99.