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| 1998 - Prager Riesling Smaragd Weissenkirchen Klaus |
| Why is Riesling the greatest white wine grape? |
| Jul 04, 2009 |
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the Weissenkirchner vineyard
Because even in "difficult" vintages, the best producers make wines that not only last, but continue to gain complexity and depth.
This Riesling Smaragd (comparable to Auslese in Germany) from the tough 1998 vintage shows none of the high alcohol, and just the subtlest hint of the botrytis that plagued many of the best (dry) Austrian whites from this vintage. The only hint that this wine is over 10 years old comes from the beautiful, bright green-gold color.
The bouquet offers ever-changing yet delicate aromas of lavender, acacia honey, dried apricots and almonds. On the palate, a crisp, full entry, and flavors of apricot, honey, nectarine, and minerals. Though there is plenty of acidity (this would sing with almost any food), the wine's balance is uncanny, with a round and rich, almost saline quality and a long, juicy finish of unbelievable energy for a 10+ year old wine from a mediocre vintage.
This wine is compelling proof that Prager is one of the world's great masters of dry Riesling. If you find any of the very fine '06 vintage or the spectacular '07, I really hope you'll grab as much as you can afford--but please put a few bottles deep into the corners of your cellar, and forget about them for a decade or two!
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| 2005 - Catena Zapata, Bodegas Catena Alta Cabernet |
| now u know why Governors go down in Argentina! |
| Jul 01, 2009 |
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| This wine made me a believer in the magical powers of Argentina! They say the grapes are harvested @ 3100' & 3400' elevation but whatever the reason, it not only comes down from "on high" but will take u there quickly! This is an awesome wine that will only get better with age. You can drink now or cellar for a few years but do yourself (& ur friends) a favor and serve it at cellar temperature (55 to 60 degrees F.). You will be rewarded as the wine's complexity unfolds in your glass as it warms to room temperature! |
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| 2007 - Story, Herman Syrah, Nuts & Bolts |
| Jun 30, 2009 |
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Very dark red with a shiny pink rim. Thick, sweet, and fruit on the nose with elements of white pepper, cured meats, mushroom, spice, blueberries, liquer, and a touch of plum. The palate explodes with pepper & sweet tea. At 16.1% alcohol I thought the finish would be much hotter than it is, but it helps give it a tremendous length.
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| 2005 - Mission Haut Brion, La |
| Giant from the Barrell |
| Jun 30, 2009 |
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 One of the highlights of the Barrell Tastings in 2006, the entire Domaine Dillon was stellar. This is a monumental wine; a cornerstone of any serious cellar. I buy to enjoy and this is one of the most reliable purchases you can make. They have a stunning 2nd label, la Chapelle La Mission. |
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| 2006 - Rudius Syrah Alder Springs West Block |
| Jun 30, 2009 |
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Deep dark ruby core with a dull red rim. Aromas of saddle leather, all-spice, and cardamom followed by dark cherry, chocolate, and citrus zest. Earthy on the mid-palate with some truffle, candied red fruits, and dried herbs. Medium finish
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| 2006 - Novy Family Wines Syrah |
| Jun 15, 2009 |
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Tasted blind. Medium-dark red with a pink rim. Some purple tones with lots of spicy, crackling pepper. Some stemmy flavors on the palate (showing its youth) with good earth. Very nice!
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| 2007 - Terlato & Chapoutier, Domaine Shiraz / Viognier |
| Rhone Style blend, absolutely delicious! |
| Jun 15, 2009 |
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For QPR, this is a five-star wine! Medium red with lots of meaty syrah flavors complimented by pepper, cherry, cola, and dark fruits. VERY GOOD. The Viognier adds a lot to this blend and this wine has oodles of character. Think Rhone, not Australia. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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| 2006 - Turkey Flat Vineyards The Turk |
| The Turk is not a turkey |
| Jun 11, 2009 |
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| this was a nice (and reasonably priced) find at a new tapas/Moroccan bar in McLean, VA. Fabulous with chorizo/chicken/shrimp paella and three tapas appetizers ranging from sardines to lamb-stuffed sweet peppers. Sharp earthy/blackberry tones that shared the spices without fighting with them. Seductive nose to make you think you'd have it as an aperitif on other nights. Got to find a case now for home use. |
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| 2008 - Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir |
| Best thing this side of Taval |
| Jun 04, 2009 |
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| I ordered this rose as a fall back in the absence of a dry blush from the other side of the pond and was blown away by its depth and flexibility. Paired well with sauteed softshell crab as well as slow roasted veal at a top Boston restaurant. Now I've just got to find some. |
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| 2003 - Cogno Barolo Vigna Elena |
| May 28, 2009 |
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Medium red to an orange rim. Very shiny. Nose gaind more lift as I swirled the glass, revealing aromas of dark red berries and a pleasing, sweet old wood aroma (in a good way). Nice sweetness on the palate, not as intense as some Barolos I've had and it is still pretty tannic, but the balance here works. Nice.
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| 2004 - Baglio di Pianetto Ramione |
| May 28, 2009 |
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I really like Nero d'Avola from Sicily for its ability to pair with a variety of Italian foods, and I liked this blend as well. 50% Merlot and 50% Nero d'Avola is medium red to red rim to clear on the outside. Intoxicating nose of deep red berries and a hint of raspberry liquer. Earthy on the midpalate with a bright, slightly tannic finish. Not a huge fruity wine, this one has character.
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| 1996 - Ceretto Barolo Bricco Rocche Brunate |
| Ceretto's Best Barolo in at least 35 Years! |
| May 26, 2009 |
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When Barolo is on, it may be my favorite wine. No other wine--not even Burgundy--can match its combination of richness, complexity and power with that ethereal, "light on its feet" quality that makes the wine feel weightless in the mouth, while marrying beautifully with food.
Sadly, for me, Ceretto's wines were never that wine, at least through most of the 80's and 90's. Too often thin, overly austere, and sometimes even slightly oxidized on release (!), they seldom merited their fame (or price!). But oh, that '96 Brunate.................
Though still very young, it has hit the first phase of maturity, when the tannins have begun to meld in, but there is still fruit from the bouquet thru the finish.
To smell this wine is to be put into such a stuper of pleasure and contentment that everything seems to stop--I (almost) didn't even need to drink it! I guess that's what the Italians mean by "Vino da Meditazione." At first, the bouquet reveals aromas of wild red berries, rose petals, and tar, but with air, hints of white truffles, mint, camphor, and almond nougat come through. On the palate (yes, I did finally succomb), a medium bodied entry of red berries, almond, truffles and mint showed none of the thin, sinewy, austere qualities of many Ceretto wines of the past. Just wave after wave of new flavors with every sip, and a laser sharp finish that lingered on and on.
So complex and complete a food was this wine, that it needed nothing else. Fortunately, our host paired it with a delicious grilled Tuna steak, served almost rare. The smoky, charry herbal flavors of the fish were perfect with the wine (like Pinot Noir and Salmon, Nebbiolo and grilled fleshy fish is a match made in heaven.).
It is impossible, if not just plain wrong, to assign a number to a wine like this, so I'll
steal a phrase from Steven Tanzer (used while describing another 1996), "the full Barolo experience, in 3D and technicolor!" WOW.
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| 2007 - Alfred, Domaine Chardonnay Goss Creek |
| May 26, 2009 |
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Really more like 3.5 stars. Green & gold with a mellow nose of soft oak and minerals. Palate is full of hazelnut & a slight hint of almonds, very full, and manages to pull off being crisp and rich at the same time. Nice!
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| 2006 - Stolpman Vineyards L'Avion |
| May 26, 2009 |
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90% Roussane and 10% Viognier. Pale yellow, this white Rhone blend fills the mouth with spice, honey, sweet floral notes. Quite delicious, it's a little hot on the finish, but this is a fine example of what the Central Coast can do with white as well as red Rhone varietals.
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| 2006 - Redbank Sauvignon Blanc Long Paddock |
| May 21, 2009 |
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Pretty delightful. Bright yellow / green, with strong notes of lemon and citrus peel on the nose. Incredibly refreshing, the bright citrus continues on the palate with Mexican lime and some really nice acid. Had me almost fooled for an unoaked Australian Chardonnay, but this is up my alley.
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