Robert Parker - Wine of the Day
March 12, 2010
02:00
2008 Elki Sauvignon Blanc
2008 Elki Sauvignon Blanc
Elki’s 2008 Sauvignon Blanc has an expressive bouquet of spring flowers, melon, grapefruit, and lemon-lime. Impeccably balanced, this pure, vibrant wine has a long, fruit-filled finish and should provide pleasure for the next two years. The Elqui Valley is a northerly, high elevation, cool-climate region which is just beginning to be developed. Early results suggest that Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah will flourish here. Importer: Bruce Schneider Selections, New York, NY
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $12-$18
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 11, 2010
02:00
2008 Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc
2008 Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc
Readers should not forget the delicious 2008 Sauvignon Blanc (100% Sauvignon). Aged in a combination of primarily stainless steel and about 28% French oak, it offers crisp, flinty grapefruit notes intermixed with fresh citrus and a hint of orange blossom. This fresh, lively mid-weight Sauvignon should be consumed over the next year. As the results attest, owner Cliff Lede, manager David Abreu, and up and coming winemaker Michelle Edwards are all obsessed with high quality. The ubiquitous Michel Rolland is also in the background for blending, consulting, etc. The 2007s appear to be stunning efforts. Tel. (800) 428-2259; Fax (707) 944-8020
Rating: 89 Estimated Cost: $19-$27
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 10, 2010
02:00
2007 Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay Canoe Ridge Estate Vineyard
2007 Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay Canoe Ridge Estate Vineyard
Half of the 2007 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay was fermented with native yeasts in 44% new French oak. It went through malolactic fermentation and was aged for 10 months sur lie. Medium straw-colored, on the nose it offers greater minerality and less tropical/fruity notes than the Indian Wells cuvee. On the palate it exhibits an elegant, more tightly wound personality with notes of butterscotch and baking spices emerging from this impeccably balanced effort. It will drink well over the next 5-6 years. Chateau Ste. Michelle continues to demonstrate that a winery can be large and quality-oriented at the same time. Their current collection is as good as or better than anything it has done in the past. Tel. (425) 415-3300; www.ste-michelle.com
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $19-$22
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 9, 2010
02:00
2008 Di Majo Norante IGT Sangiovese Terre Degli Osci
2008 Di Majo Norante IGT Sangiovese Terre Degli Osci
The 2008 Sangiovese Terre degli Osci is an incredibly delicious, full-bodied wine with gorgeous clarity and definition. Made in a bold, fruit-driven style, the wine offers terrific depth and a long, polished finish. This harmonious red is a knockout! Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. I can’t think of too many estates that can match Di Majo Norante for sheer value. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $7-$16
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
02:00
2008 Di Majo Norante IGT Sangiovese Terre Degli Osci
2008 Di Majo Norante IGT Sangiovese Terre Degli Osci
The 2008 Sangiovese Terre degli Osci is an incredibly delicious, full-bodied wine with gorgeous clarity and definition. Made in a bold, fruit-driven style, the wine offers terrific depth and a long, polished finish. This harmonious red is a knockout! Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. I can’t think of too many estates that can match Di Majo Norante for sheer value. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $7-$16
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 8, 2010
02:00
2004 Vina Herminia Rioja Crianza
2004 Vina Herminia Rioja Crianza
The garnet-colored 2004 Crianza spent one year in oak. Traditionally styled, it exhibits a nose of cedar, cinnamon, leather, and black cherry leading to a ripe, easy-going, savory wine for drinking over the next five years. Vina Herminia is owned by the Lustau group of companies. Importer: Christopher Cannan, Europvin; www.europvin.com
Rating: 89 Estimated Cost: $15-$16
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 7, 2010
02:00
2008 La Tour Carnet
2008 La Tour Carnet
Another sleeper of the vintage, this blend of 52% Merlot and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon was cropped at a low 33 hectoliters per hectare, and the harvest was accomplished between October 7-25. The 2008 may turn out to be the best wine of the modern era, but the 2001, 2005, and 2006 are very strong. The 2008 exhibits loads of cassis, lead pencil shavings, spice box, and hints of cedar as well as herbs in its complex aromatics. The wine possesses outstanding texture, superb purity, good freshness (because of higher than normal acids), and ripe, long tannin. It is almost an anomaly to have tannins this ripe with acids this crisp. Deep, rich, and full-bodied, the 2008 La Tour Carnet should evolve over the next twenty years. Bernard Magrez told me he had 35 people working on the triage tables. The vinification is very classic, somewhat Burgundian in style, with small wood fermentors, manual pigeage (punching down), and everything flowing by gravity with little exposure to oxygen or any traumatic force.
Rating: (90-93) Estimated Cost: $23-$33
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 6, 2010
02:00
2006 Montcalmes Coteaux du Languedoc
2006 Montcalmes Coteaux du Languedoc
Tasted assembled from tank – and due to have been bottled in two lots, one in December and one in March – the Montcalmes red 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc is made up of around 60% Syrah, with the balance split evenly between Grenache and Mourvedre, and split roughly 70:30 between chalk and primarily cobbled soils. This displays seductively ripe and spice-tinged black raspberry, plum and cherry, along with mint chocolate and a hint of resin. While lacking the high-toned complexity and vivacity exhibited by the components of 2007 from cask, it exhibits enveloping richness, along with marvelous creaminess of texture. Suggestions of rosemary, cherry pit, dark chocolate, and toasted praline offer attractively bitter counterpoint, and for all of its caressing texture, this finishes with real grip. I suspect this will be worth following for at least 6-8 years. Frederoc Pourtalie – who inherited his family’s extensive Puechabon and Aniane vineyards just over a decade ago, but retains only their best fruit – displays the sort of ambition as well as vinous results one would expect on learning that he is a protege of nearby Grange des Peres’ proprietor Laurent Vaille. Some of Pourtalie’s cobbled, Chateauneuf-like, south-facing acreage in Aniane is capable of ripening Mourvedre – a favorite grape for him – by mid-September. Most of the estate’s Syrah – in northeast- and northwest-facing parcels of ochre-colored chalk resembling that at Mas Daumas Gassac – was planted by his father with an old, local selection in 1980. (A small portion of Syrah on cobbles is subject to a separate bottling, which I did not taste.) The reds here are marked by an absence of new wood, with small barrels 2-3 years old for Syrah and Mourvedre, and even older for Grenache. Pourtalie’s impressively promising, mineral-inflected, and refined 2007 vintage red lots – beautifully marrying richness with brightness and lift – had not been assembled when I tasted them in December, indeed some had only recently finished malo-lactic conversion. A Daniel Johnnes Selection; Importers include Michael Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300
Rating: (93-94) Estimated Cost: $31-$32
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 5, 2010
02:00
2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Murto Vineyard
2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Murto Vineyard
The 2006 Pinot Noir Murto Vineyard was sourced from a vineyard planted in 1978. It is medium ruby-colored with aromas of spice box, tobacco, cherry, and raspberry. Silky-textured and easy-going, it has plenty of succulent fruit, a forward personality and excellent length. Drink it now and over the next seven years. Jill and Brian O’Donnell purchased their property in 1992 and produced their first vintage in 1996. There are 16 acres planted plus contracted fruit from which the winery makes 5000 cases annually. www.bellepente.com
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $33-$39
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 4, 2010
02:00
2007 MontGras Quatro
2007 MontGras Quatro
The 2007 Quatro is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 25% Carmenere, and 15% Syrah. Purple-colored, it has a complex bouquet of cedar, spice box, black currant, blackberry, and a hint of blueberry in the background. This is followed by a layered wine with good depth and concentration with enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. Drink this excellent value from 2009 to 2015. Montgras produces wine under several labels (Montgras, Amaral, Intigra, and Ninquen) and a range of prices. Importer: Palm Bay International, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 362-9642; www.palmbay.com
Rating: 89+ Estimated Cost: $13-$17
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 3, 2010
02:00
2006 Terrabianca Campaccio Vino da Tavola
2006 Terrabianca Campaccio Vino da Tavola
The 2006 Campaccio (70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a pretty, nuanced offering redolent of crushed flowers, raspberries and spices. This medium-bodied wine presents gorgeous balance and finesse in an elegant, fruit-driven style. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016. These are the most complete, polished wines I have tasted from Terrabianca in a few years. As is typically the case, proprietor Roberto Guldener is among the latest to bottle, so virtually all of the wines were tasted from barrel samples. Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900
Rating: (89-91) Estimated Cost: $27-$41
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
02:00
2006 Terrabianca Campaccio Vino da Tavola
2006 Terrabianca Campaccio Vino da Tavola
The 2006 Campaccio (70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a pretty, nuanced offering redolent of crushed flowers, raspberries and spices. This medium-bodied wine presents gorgeous balance and finesse in an elegant, fruit-driven style. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016. These are the most complete, polished wines I have tasted from Terrabianca in a few years. As is typically the case, proprietor Roberto Guldener is among the latest to bottle, so virtually all of the wines were tasted from barrel samples. Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900
Rating: (89-91) Estimated Cost: $27-$41
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 2, 2010
02:00
2008 Domaine des Aubuisieres (B Fouquet) Vouvray Cuvee de Silex
2008 Domaine des Aubuisieres (B Fouquet) Vouvray Cuvee de Silex
Bernard Fouquet’s 2008 Vouvray Cuvee Silex was not picked until October 8 (and then at over 13% natural alcohol) and it shows in a wine whose combination of ripeness, hint of botrytis, and brightness puts me in mind of 1996. Lychee, yellow cherry, Mirabelle, quince, and narcissus in the nose lead to a musky, subtly oily, chalk-inflected, honeyed, yet incisively zesty palate. This combines richness and palpably high extract with cut and invigoration in a way that only Chenin (and then only in the Central Loire) can. Its 6 grams of residual sugar perfectly set off the yellow fruits and hint of honey in this wine’s long finish. This formidably-concentrated yet elegant wine is worth following for at least half a dozen years. That’s assuming the screw-caps used in bottling for the U.S. cuvee since the 2007 vintage are up to that challenge. In other markets, you’re out of luck, because Fouquet normally bottles this extraordinary and otherwise ageworthy cuvee with a plastic stopper, to which I attribute the loss of aromas in my bottles of 2005 after a couple of years. The latest installment of what is surely the consistently best value in its appellation, Importer: Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800
Rating: 92 Estimated Cost: $15-$19
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
March 1, 2010
02:00
2008 Bodegas Berroja Berroia
2008 Bodegas Berroja Berroia
The 2008 Berroioa is a blend of 90% Hondarribi Zuri, 6% Folle Blanche, and 4% Riesling raised in stainless steel. Medium straw-colored with a slight amber tint, it exhibits an enticing nose of spring flowers, mineral, apple, and anise. Round on the palate with good acidity, the wine has excellent grip, balance, and length. It is an excellent value in Txakoli for drinking over the next 1-2 years. Bodegas Berroja was founded in 2001 by Jose Angel Carrero. The estate owns 37 acres of vineyards in the province of Bizkaia in Basque country. Importer: Patrick Mata, Ole Imports, New Rochelle, NY; www.oleimports.com
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $18-$23
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
February 28, 2010
02:00
2007 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee
2007 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee
The dark ruby-colored 2007 Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee offers up a superb bouquet of smoke, cinnamon, rose petal, cherry, and cranberry. Spicy, expressive, and medium-bodied on the palate, it displays a racy personality marked by savory flavor, vibrant acidity, good depth, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. Drink this tasty effort through 2017. Domaine Serene’s first vintage was 1990, so the upcoming harvest will be their 20th. Consistent high quality has been a benchmark of the winery and the 2007s will do nothing to change that. Ken and Grace Evenstad were kind enough to show me their first two vintages of Domaine Serene Pinot Noir, 1990 and 1991. Both wines were made by Ken Wright. Both have reached their peak, the 1991 a bit more advanced than the 1990, but they are both beautiful for current drinking. They are just two more examples of how well-made Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from strong vintages can drink well for 20+ years. Tel. (503) 864-4600; www.domaineserene.com
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $27-$40
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
February 27, 2010
02:00
2007 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon
I am also including their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, a 290,000-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest the other Bordeaux varietals. An exquisite value, this is a seductive, fleshy, fruity wine with excellent texture, body, and balance. Lots of cassis as well as silky tannins characterize this top bargain pick! Drink it over the next 5-7 years. Tel. (800) 321-WINE
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $10-$18
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
February 26, 2010
02:00
2006 Luciano Sandrone Barbera d'Alba
2006 Luciano Sandrone Barbera d'Alba
The 2006 Barbera d’Alba is a jewel. The wine sparkles with layers of vibrant dark fruit intermingled with sweet toasted oak, showinf outstanding length, purity and above all else, tons of class. This is a delicious wine from Luciano Sandrone. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2014. This is a very strong set of entry-level wines from Luciano Sandrone, one of Piedmont’s top growers. In a region full of outspoken, colorful producers, Sandrone remains soft-spoken and rather shy, but his wines speak for themselves rather eloquently. Importer: Vintus LLC, Pleasantville, NJ tel. (914) 769-3000
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $22-$42
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
February 25, 2010
02:00
2006 Colpetrone Montefalco
2006 Colpetrone Montefalco
The 2006 Montefalco Rosso is a beautiful entry-level red from the Montefalco appellation. A blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Merlot, this juicy red offers tons of fruit along with pretty notes of leather, herbs and earthiness that add complexity. The estate’s Rosso is aged in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. Colpetrone is part of the Saiagricola group of wineries that includes La Poderina in Montalcino and Fattoria del Cerro in Montepulciano, both leading properties in their respective regions. The wines of Colpetrone are equally outstanding. Oenologist Lorenzo Landi interprets Sagrantino in a rich, full-bodied style. Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $20-$27
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
February 24, 2010
02:00
2007 Waters Winery Interlude Red Wine
2007 Waters Winery Interlude Red Wine
The 2007 Interlude, a blend of 55% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Cabernet Franc, aged in 25% new French oak for 14 months. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up an attractive perfume of cedar, spice box, cassis, and black currant. Plush on the palate, it has ample ripe fruit, good balance, and a fruit-filled finish. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 6-8 years. Jason Huntley calls the shots and Jamie Brown makes the wine at Waters Winery, one of Walla Walla’s finest new producers. Tel. (509) 525-1590; www.waterswinery.com
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $25-$27
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
February 23, 2010
02:00
2008 Marquis Philips Shiraz
2008 Marquis Philips Shiraz
The 2008 Shiraz offers up aromas of cigar box, damp earth, smoked meat, bacon, and blueberry. Packed with flavor on the palate, it is full-bodied, round, and altogether pleasure-bent. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. With veteran vigneron Chris Ringland now in charge of the winemaking, I can state unequivocally that this is the finest collection of Marquis Philips wines since the label was started in 2000. Nevertheless, these wines will be controversial because all but one of the non-Roogle wines is over 16% alcohol. The small but vocal crowd of Australia bashers will have a field day taking these wines to task as they do with the Mollydooker wines (which seem to sell out anyway). Ringland is concerned about flavor and balance which is what these wines are all about. Those seeking low alcohol, subtlety, and finesse should of course look elsewhere. Those who want a big mouthful of sensual pleasure should read on. The Roogle Series is meant to be a bargain-priced introduction to the Marquis Philips upper level wines. The Marquis Philips wines are predominantly sourced from McLaren Vale while the Roogle wines are multi-regional. Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (805) 278-9095
Rating: 91 Estimated Cost: $12-$22
Categories: Wine Blogs in English
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