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 Mike Supple 's Wine Reviews
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| 2004 - Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet |
| Jan 12, 2009 |
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Dark purple/ruby core with a ruby rim. Fresh black cherry aromas backed by anise, cassis and a hint of spicy herbs. Easy entry on the palate with lush black cherry over wet stone, cassis and raspberry. Nice juicy finish.
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| 2005 - Poesia Pasodoble |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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| Dark ruby core with a lighter pink rim. Sweet
blackberry and cherry aromas up front are surrounded by smoke, soy
sauce, dried anise and a hint of barbeque ribs. Medium bodied in the
mouth with ripe fruit flavors of blueberry, black cherry and raspberry.
The tannins are fairly small and ripe, making this an approachable wine
that is ready to drink (but with enough oomph to last another 2 - 4
years). Nice lingering finish with a touch of Good & Plenty candy
licorice. |
| Argentina strikes
again by bringing one of the best values to the wine world. A blend of
34% Cabernet Sauvignon (for red fruit and structure), 33% Malbec (for
spice and acidity) and 33% Syrah (for rich, dark flavors and body). All
this fruit and power needs balance to keep the wine from going over the
top, and the acid in the Malbec does the trick. |
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| 2007 - Delas Freres Cotes du Rhone St Esprit |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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| Intense, dark purple core with a ruby and purple
rim. The aromas are bright and rich with plum and blackberry fruits
surrounded by toasted hazelnut, a smack of white pepper and a hint of
scorched earth. Fruity and lush on the palate with intense wild
blueberry surrounded by earth and white pepper. Medium bodied with
great balance of fruit, acid and tannins. This is an incredibly easy
wine to drink with a velvety smooth feel and a long, lingering finish
with a flair of vanilla. |
Delas
has done it again, hands down producing one of the best values from
France in years! 2007 is an outstanding vintage for the Rhone, and this
is an impressively complex wine that packs a ton of flavors. Despite
the complexity, it is restrained enough to sip by itself or match up
with all kinds of foods from cheeses to pastas to a big juicy burger.
The Delas Cotes du Rhone is always a great wine, but they have clearly
outdone themselves this year. Grab several bottles now to have on hand
for yourself and to impress any winos that may be coming to dinner. (If
you buy a bottle, drop me a line and I'll be there tomorrow!)
A
blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache. This just started to hit the
country, so if you don't see it in your local shop right away, ask for
it and come back. They make a lot, so there's plenty to go around! |
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| 2007 - Smith Wines, W H Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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Medium ruby core with a lighter rim. Ripe black cherry and wild
strawberry fruit aromas all surrounded by cooler notes of wet earth and
spicy cola. Very round on the entry into the mouth; smooth and silky.
Hints of game surround tons of ripe strawberry with a touch of charcoal
and dark earth on the finish. Great balance making this an easy
drinking, smooth Pinot all the way down.
Finding
value in Pinot seems to get harder every year, but W.H. Smith has put
together a Sonoma Coast Pinot in 2007 that over delivers for your
dollar. Made with grapes from four different vineyards in the Sonoma
Coast, this is a fantastic bottle. At about half the price of W. H.
Smith's single vineyard wines, this combines fruit and spice in an
easy-to-drink, smooth, elegant and delicious wine. This also happens to
be the perfect accompaniment to the foods on your table at Thanksgiving!
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| 2006 - R Wines Marquis Philips Roogle, Shiraz |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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Dark ruby core with a lighter pinkish/garnet rim. Spicy and medicinal on the
nose with some black fruits. Very fruity on the palate. A touch of heat
leading to a jammy, somewhat cloying sweet spicy finish.
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| 2006 - Hijos de Juan Gil, Bodegas Juan Gil |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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Dark purple core with a pink rim. Cranberry, tea and blackberry aromas with
a hint of sulfur and some toasty oak. Thin on the palate (in flavor) with
rather big tannins. Burnt licorice and black fruit flavors. Finishes gummy.
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| 2007 - Prinz, Fred Hallgartener Jungfer Riesling Kabinett |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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Pale lemon green in the glass. Ripe young apricot aromas with
very fresh and light notes of lime, wet stone and cantaloupe. Nice
sweet burst on the front of the palate that is quickly backed by great
acid and a tart lemon rush. Very crisp with just a hint of sparkle
showing how young it is. Nice minerality through to the finish with
lots of sweet and sour lemon/lime.
If
you're not familiar with German Rieslings, go grab a bottle of this
immediately and see what you're missing. It's the perfect pairing for
Thanksgiving foods. Just a hint of sweetness to the wine works
perfectly with the rich and sweet cranberry sauce, turkey, mashed
potatoes, et al. It's important to note that this is not a
heavy, sweet wine. The light sweetness on the front of the mouth is
quickly balanced by acid, and this is a very crisp, refreshing and
delicious
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| 2006 - Trapiche Broquel, Malbec |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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Dark purple core with a fuchsia rim. Alluring, complex and
spicy aromas of nutmeg, plum and black cherry around a hint of dark
earth. Very easy entry on the palate. Plush and medium bodied with
black cherry flavors accented by smoke, wet stone and blackberries.
Medium acidity balancing out the rich fruit with a lingering dusty
cocoa finish.
Throw a rack of
lamb on the grill (yes, buy some lamb at your local grocery store, it's
delicious) and pour a tall glass of this wine. Rich, smooth and easy
drinking with a good dose of spice and smoke makes this the perfect
companion to grilled meats. A Portobello cheeseburger would stand up
very well too, and the acid of the Malbec will cut right through the
fat in the gooey swiss cheese that should be melting off it.
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| 2007 - Souverain, Chateau Chardonnay |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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Medium lemon-green core with a bright, clear rim. Huge
aromatics in the glass. Lots of ripe green and yellow pear with a
tropical pineapple hint are all surrounded by plenty of toast, nutmeg
and wet slate. Toasty on the front palate with lots of new oak and
cream. A dense core of fruit reveals yellow apple, pear and bold lemon.
Rich and full bodied with great acidity and a spicy nutmeg and cream
finish.
If you have $16 and
love California Chardonnay then you simply don't need to look any
further. Tons of ripe fruit and lots of great spicy oak. Easy to drink
and sure to be a crowd pleaser in any social situation, making the
recent release perfect timing for holiday gatherings.
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| 2005 - Petit Bocq |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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Medium ruby core with a bright rim. Charcoal and slate aromas
over dusty roses, rich black cherry and a spicy touch of eucalyptus.
Big tannins from the front all the way through the back palate. Dark
cherry, plum and cassis are underscored by smoky charcoal. Coffee
lingers on the finish. Still young and evolving; could get even better
with age.
This is a
blockbuster of a hidden gem that has managed to fly under the radar
thus far. Complex enough to impress any Bordeaux connoisseur, yet
priced right for just showing off in front of a few friends. A well
made wine that is built to hold up for a while and will keep improving
for a decade. Given the hype around the 2005 vintage for Bordeaux, many
of the wines have skyrocketed in price, well beyond the value for what
they deliver. Fortunately a few, like this one, remain accessible (for
now...).
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| 9998 - Heidsieck Monopole NV Brut Blue Top |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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Golden yellow hues with lots of small to medium sized bubbles.
Toasty and rich aromas with hints of caramel and biscuit around yellow
apple, pear and a touch of lemon. Fresh and bright on the palate with a
nice mix of toast and fruit. Apple fruit is surrounded by lighter
toasty oak spices and a touch of white flowers, leading to a lingering
hint of butterscotch on the finish.
The
perfect way to start any holiday party. Very balanced flavors make this
easy to drink and a sure crowd pleaser for anyone who likes bubbly. Dry
and crisp - perfect to drink before dinner, but with enough body to
stand up to fish, shellfish, white meat and pastas with cream sauce.
Heidsieck & Co Monopole is one of the oldest Champagne producers in
France, and their decades of experience really come through in this
well made and well priced (for traditional Champagne) bottle. A blend
of approximately 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier.
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| 9998 - Schramsberg Mirabelle, Sparkling Rose |
| Jan 09, 2009 |
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A pale salmon color in the glass, producing very pink foam.
Strawberry and toast surrounded by yeast, coconut and gummy peach candy
with a wild brine hint. Rich on the palate with aggressive mousse and
nice bold acidity. Candied strawberries backed by dark raspberry lead
to red delicious apples and a hint of caramel on the finish.
There
is no better New Year's resolution than to drink more sparkling wine -
it is not only for special occasions! Finding a rose produced in the
traditional method perfected in Champagne at this price is almost
unheard of. A delicious, complex and rich sparkling wine that is, most
importantly, affordable. 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir.
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| 2005 - Passopisciaro |
| Jun 27, 2008 |
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Bold ruby red core with a slightly lighter ruby rim. Fresh aromas of
raspberries, milk chocolate, orange zest with a touch of white flowers, dusty
slate and caramel. Amazing entry and mouthfeel. Silky doesn’t really even begin
to describe it. Fantastic acidity is balanced very well by the fruit and ripe
tannins. This wine has the smooth feel of a well-made Pinot Noir. Raspberry and
cherry fruits with a touch of fresh anise, black truffle and orange zest. Long,
smooth finish.
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| 2005 - Dona Paula Malbec Seleccion de Bodega |
| Jun 27, 2008 |
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Black core with a vibrant purple and fuchsia rim. The nose overflows with creme de cassis, blueberry syrup, black cherries, sweet vanilla & cedar spice, all surrounded by lighter floral notes and a touch of sandalwood. The entry onto the palate is bright and fruit full of lush raspberries, red and black cherries over a hint of sweet tea, dark chocolate and cinnamon. Full bodied with round tannins that are very well integrated. This wine is young and will continue to improve for another 5 or so years, but it is beautiful now as well.
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| 2004 - Terrabianca Campaccio IGT |
| Mar 26, 2008 |
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Dark ruby on the core with a lighter pink rim. Sweet cocoa powder surrounds
bright red cherries, plum and strawberries on the nose with a darker leather and
dried mint note leading to a touch of sweet tobacco and blueberries. Very smooth
entry on the palate. Round, ripe fruit tannins on the mid-palate. Good overall
balance with black cherry, leather and truffle flavors backed by dark toasted
oak. The wood tannins build on the back palate leading to a lingering finish of
cherry and spicy vanilla."
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| 2002 - Fernandez, Alejandro El Vinculo Crianza |
| Mar 18, 2008 |
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Dark
black and ruby in the core with a thinner pink rim. Plum, black cherries, sweet tobacco, mushroom and heavy
black licorice on the nose. Smooth, with a lush entry and mouthfeel. Sweet dark
plum and blueberry are supported by a nice touch of wet earth. There is a nice
build of tannins and acid on the finish that would make this wine stand up very
well to hearty, meaty dishes.14%
ABV
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| 2002 - Colonial Estate, The Semillon Expatrie |
| Mar 18, 2008 |
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Medium gold color with a bright rim.
Rich aromas of yellow pear with a sweet beeswax and honey note around vanilla
and lemon. Very round, mellow and approachable on the palate. Great balance of
fruit and acidity. Lush pears and golden delicious apples with a hint of
honeycomb. Long, lingering finish.13% ABV
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| 2006 - Marquis Philips Sarah's Blend |
| Mar 14, 2008 |
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Purple core with bright ruby notes in the rim. Brambly dark fruit aromas and
bold earthy accents make this very rich and full of fruit. On the palate there
is a hint of caramel coming in behind the dark fruits and spicy white pepper.
Medium-bodied with good balance and a lot of rich, powerful fruit lead to a very
long finish supported by the spice and touch of oak.
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| 2005 - Aromes de Pavie |
| Mar 12, 2008 |
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Dark ruby in the core, intense and almost black in the middle; bright ruby red
rim. A full, rich nose of orange zest, blueberry, wet clay, black licorice,
black cherries, cassis and a nice hint of slate. The palate entry is powerful:
the fruits are impressively soft for such a young wine, and the bold ripe
tannins build through the mid-palate. Blueberry and red cherry flavors circle
around dark earthy notes. Starting to be approachable now, and should build in
complexity over the next 5 - 7 years
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| 2006 - Panarroz Red |
| Mar 12, 2008 |
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Black and purple core with a raspberry red rim. Smoky on the nose with some
bright rustic qualities; salty and briny like the beginning of a waning tide.
The fruit is a little reductive, with aromas of baby powder, roses and black
cherry underneath. Dark plum and cherry on the front palate with a metallic
nickel and earthy note. Fairly high acidity and medium to full bodied. The briny
aromas disappear completely on the palate, leaving the baby powder and thick
jammy fruit
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