VINTAGE BOTTLE TALK

2001 Clerico Pajana

2010-02-11T18:24:00.002-05:00

Nose is dark and brooding with chocolate, spice, menthol and tar
Palate shows cherry, menthol, cinnamon, floral, spice, and tar.
This is thoroughly modern and very pretty. Finish is long with cherry, spice tar and florals
94+points

2001 Roberto Voerzio Brunate

2010-02-07T07:51:00.000-05:00

Decanted 90 minutes
This jumps out of the glass with swet cherry, cinnamon, truffle, floral, mushroom and tar and transitions to a palate that is lush, layered and ethereal. Notes of cherry, tar trufle, spice, cinnamon and huge florals dominate the palate.
The finish is LONG.....really long and comes at you in waves and changing with every hit. Stunning!

97 points

2003 La Fleur de Bouard

2010-01-10T20:33:00.000-05:00

Decanted for 60 minutes, took a sip and knew it was not ready, it was tight and really lean with an almost green streak. After another 30 minutes in decanter it blossomed into a gorgeous wine.

Nose of cherry, chocolate, coffee, truffle, and spice.
Palate shows dark chocolate covered cherries, nutmeg, subtle coffee, with medium tannin and acid
Finish is medium+ that finishes strong and complex initially but morphs into a singular cherry note.

Really nice for the price point 91 points

2005 Villadoria Bricco Magno Vino da Tavola

2010-01-08T18:52:00.003-05:00

This wine just keeps on giving and giving. I have had 3 cases already and just ordered my 4th. I love this so much that I drive down to Buffalo and pay the duty.....I have never scored this under 90 points and it costs $11
100% Nebbiolo
Produced from Nebbiolo Grapes Grown and Vinified in Piedmonte. Aged in Barrique for Twelve Months.

Tasting Note:
Nose of cinnamon, black tea, plum, sour cherries, and tar
Palate is very svelte....dominated by plum, black tea, spice, tar, and an almost black cherry note
The finish is short to medium with no where near the complexity on the back end as the nose and palate...BUT....having said that....at the price this is unbeleivable...a total case buy 91 points

New Years 2009

2010-01-02T20:45:00.002-05:00

Wow...what a night
Had a 6 course menu:
Champagne crustini
Parmesano Reggiono drizzled with 12 yr old balsamic
Pumpkin Ravioli with sage brown butter sauce
Beef Tenderloin with red wine sauce
Creme Brulee
Charcouterie tray with 5 meats and 5 cheeses

Here is the lineup of wines we had:
NV R.L. Legras Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc. 92 points
2004 Latour Puligny Montrachet "Les Folatieres" 92 points
1998 Pecina Grand Reserva Rioja 92 points
2005 Bouchard Beaune Marconnets 93 points
1994 Dominus from Magnum 100 points
1995 Cos d'estournel 99 points
2007 Domaine des Haut Chassis "Les Galets" 92+

What an unbelievable night....we all went back and forth between the Cos and the Dominus.....both so unbelievably amazing. I have never had 2 more complete wines in front of me at the same time.
More detailed notes to follow. I had a video but am having some tech issues getting it uploaded

I'm back!

2009-12-31T12:46:00.001-05:00

Wow, a year has flown by and I have been very neglectful of this blog due to a variety of reasons.....all of which don't matter.
I will try to bring tasting notes and tasting event recaps as often as possible!

2003 Pintia

2009-12-31T12:36:00.003-05:00

1998 Guigal Cote Rotie "La Landonne"

2009-02-09T14:36:00.002-05:00

Nose of campfire, creosote, floral, subtle peach, olive, briar and pepper.
Palate shows scorched earth, olive, creosote and bacon fat....I am speechless....so weightless, ethereal, and balanced!
Finish is never ending.......I puposely waited 5 minutes and could still clearly taste the campfire, olive, and creosote........AWESOME! 100 points

1999 Chateau d'Armailhac

2009-01-24T09:26:00.001-05:00

Nose of spice, forest floor, leather, cedar, cassis and a real subtle hint of orange zest
Palate shows wet leather, tobacco, beautiful cassis and black currants with medium tannin and acid
Finish is medium with sweet tobacco, cedar, saddle leather, moss, wet leaf, and pure aged black raspberries.
I don't find this to be bretty at all.....this is complex aged bordeaux... 92points

1999 Chateau Beaucastel

2008-12-13T12:54:00.000-05:00

Drank this at a restaurant last night so this is all from memory...
Very complex nose...leather, cedar, vibrant fruit
Palate is complex and layered with a long finish.......great wine 93 points

1999 Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova

2008-12-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

This is my 6th bottle of this and it just continues to deliver....
Nose of blood, iron, smoked/cured meat, spice, savoury sour cherries and saddle leather
Palate shows iron, minerals, licorise, dried blood, tar, charcouterie, and sour cherries and strawberry creamsicle with medium tannin and medium + acid
The finish shows bitter shaved chocolate, wet leather, subtle pipe tobacco and blood, iron, soprassatta, and sour cherries. This is so layered and complex.....wow just such great wine. The finish comes in waves and keeps coming. 96 Points

2006 Les Vignerons d'Estézargues Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues La Granacha Vieilles Vignes

2008-12-02T17:21:00.004-05:00

nose of black raspberry, garrique, pommegranate and smoke
Palate shows tart red and black fruit with underbrush, herb de provence and medium tannin and medium+ acid
Finish is medium with pommegranate, garrique and blueberry

2004 Armand Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin

2008-11-23T21:31:00.001-05:00

This was tight and not giving a whole lot when opened. We decanted this for about 45 minutes and out came some nice beet, earth, pomegranate and minerals. This is very nice wine but you can tell this is from a bit of a leaner year.....the mid-palate is a bit thin but the finish lengthens with additional air. Nice pinot! 90 points

1989 Chateau Meyney

2008-11-22T13:00:00.002-05:00

Nose of mushroom, wet leather, earth, forrest floor, cherry and currants
Palate shows black currants, cherries, earth, moss, cigar box, spice, nutmeg, and sweet pipe tobacco with medium tannin and acid.
Finish is medium+ with tobacco, black fruit, leather, cedar and moss...
Wow..this is really integrated and seemless! 95 points

2003 Santa Brigida IGT

2008-11-17T19:15:00.001-05:00

Nose of strawberries, raspberies, iron and violets. Palate has such beautiful fruit.....red currants, raspberries and chocolate covered strawberries. The finish is medium+ with blueberry and some noticeable unintegrated acid that will hopefully resolve with some age. 91+points

1999 Pecina Rioja Reserva

2008-11-16T21:51:00.002-05:00

Dark ruby colour with a brick rim
Nose shows subtle vanilla, lush cherry, lavendar, strawberry, earth, cedar, and after about 1 hour in the decanter I get some butterscotch and toffee notes.
The palate shows pure red fruit....strawberries, iron, blood, red currants with medium tannin and acid.
The finish is long with forest floor, dried blood and pure red fruit. This is complex, layered and seamless....wow! 93+ points

2005 Domaine Rochevine Saint-Joseph

2008-11-09T17:04:00.001-05:00

Nose of cranberry, raspberry, smoke and garrique
Palate shows pomegranate, tart cranberry, raspberry, garrique, campfire, creosote with medium tannin and acid.
Finish is medium + with blueberry, smoke and herb De Provence but it is a bit simplistic with no real layers......This is nice Rhone though for the price.....$25.95 90points

2004 Ampeleia - IGT Maremma

2008-11-07T19:07:00.002-05:00

Amepeleia is 50% Cabernet Franc, 20% Sangiovese and 30% assorted indigenous grapes. The wine spent 16 months in French oak barrels, of which 40% were new.

Lush chocolate covered raspberries, cherries, subtle pyrazene, and spice on the nose.
The palate is lush showing raspberries, floral, pyrazene, cured meat and asian spice.
The finish is medium+ to long with very pure ripe fruit that is so gorgeous. The only drawback is that there has a touch of heat......but overall this is stellar.....92+points.
I would never have guessed that this was 50% Cabernet Franc......there was obviously some Bordeaux varietal but I would have thought that it was a tuscan sangio cab.sauv. blend.

2002 Chateau Langoa Barton

2008-11-06T19:33:00.001-05:00

Nose shows dark plums, cherries, pyrazene, and black currants
Palate shows dark cherries, subtle celery seed, plums, graphite, and black raspberry with medium tannin and acid.
Finish is dominated by pyrazenes, is a bit hot and not nearly as expressive or integrated as other bottles......all together this is a bit of let down from other bottles that I have scored as high as 94 points. 88 Points

2008-11-03T18:28:00.003-05:00

I was down in Buffalo with Joe and he crew for another great tasting! Here are the notes.

2005 Tinto Roa Crianza Ribera del Duero
Nose of coconut and dill......
Palate shows choolate, nuts, high tannin and high acid.
Finish has very nice fruit but there is some heat.....overall very nice. 90 points
2004 Tinto Roa Reserva Ribera del Duero
Nose of coconut, dill, espresso and chocolate
Palate shows gorgeous fruit.....wow! Complex notes of espresso, nuts, coconut and big tannin and acid.
Finish is long and complex....wow! 92+points
1999 Corteforte Amarone
Nose is vegetal with bitter chocolate, bright red fruit, spice and menthol.
Palate shows tart cranberries, chocolate, sour cherries with medium acid and medium tanning.
Finish has a touch of heat, with tart red fruit but it is simple with no layers. 87+ points
2005 Domaine de la Butte Bourgueil
Nose of pyrazene, cherry chocolate
Palate shows pyrazene, ink, chocolate, cherry, smoke with medium+ tannin and medium acid.
Finish is long with ink, subtle caramel and spice. 91 points
1999 Vina bosconia reserva Lopez 1999
This is terrible.....such overated wine!
Finish is all acid and tannin.....so bitter on the palate and finish 70points
2001 Manzone La Gramolere Barolo
Nose of tar, plums, sour cherries, fennel and cinnamon
Palate has big tannin and high acid with tar and black tea but this is simple.......no layers....where is the fruit?
Finish is medium and simple....... 89 points
1999 Guigal d'Apuis Cote Rotie
Nose of scorched earth, blueberry, smoke, olive and floral
The palate shows campfire, creosote, blueberry and olive tapenade
The finish is medium with smoke and blueberry......nice, but overated in my mind 91 points
2001 Mauro
Nose of coconut, dill, roasted coffee, blueberries, and blackfruit
The palate shows chocolate, blueberries, with medium+ tannin and acid.
The finish is long with roasted almonds, blueberries, coffee, chocolate and coconut on the back end....this is seamless wine! 96 points
2005 Chateau Monbousquet
Nose of burnt toast, caramel, coffee, toffee, subtle pyrazene and cherry.
The palate shows pyrazene, toffee, smoke, cherry and lavender.
The finish is really disappointing though.......it is a bit thin and nothing but really oak on the back and that is not even really that nice. Kind of feel like I chewed on a 2X4. 89 points
1999 Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova
Nose of charcouterie, iron, blood, minerals, spice, wet leather and licorice.
Palate shows gorgeous oregano, cured meats, iron, blood, roasted nuts, with medium+ tannin and medium acid.
Finish is long with chocolate, blood, earth and subtle red licorice 95 points
2004 Two Hands Ares
Ughhhhhhhh.....this is brutal! Not corked or off in any way....this is just bad!
Nose of purple skittles, palate is screaming with fake acid....finish is short, uninspiring and just plain terrible........nothing but alcohol bouncing around. $175....I would not pay $1.75 for this 70points

More Auction tasting notes - 2002 Hillside select is terrible

2008-10-27T12:32:00.001-04:00

1978 Chateau Latour
massive amounts of pyrazene on the nose..the bell peppers are ripping, celery seed.....not a tonne of fruit on the nose
Massive tannins on this wine....will these every fully integrate? There are some subtle fruit notes of cassis and moss but I am finding this a bit singular...not a lot of complexity.
Finish is medium but simple with nothing but pyrazene coming through... 89points.
1986 Chateau Margaux
This has such pure fruit, beautiful asian spice, violets and black currants. Medium + tannin with spicey black raspberries on the palate.
Finish is medium with some nice complexity on the back end. 93points
1970 Chateau Margaux
peculiar nose.....not getting lots but some mushroom and tea notes...this is tired on the nose.
Big tannins, dried black fruit and black tea notes on the palate. The finish is medium at best and not giving a whole lot....87 points
1994 Dominus
muted nose, no fruit on the palate and very subtle notes of dried paper.........not sure how they missed this....corked
1996 Dominus
Nose shows restraint and subtelty........mixture of creme de cassis, pencil lead, graphite and funk on the palate
Finish is long with beautiful complexity and layers of flavour...93+ points
1996 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva
This wine jumps from the glass.....tar, violets, anise.....spectacular nose.
Tannin are huge, acid is high.....fruit has faded.......
Finish is medium......nose is 97 points......wine is 92points
1996 Tenuta del Ornellaia
WOW.....nose is off the charts, this is high pedigree cabernet
Palate is also so complex........currants, cassis and a subtle charcouterie component....
Finish is long with lush, complex layered fruit.....almost classic 94+points
2002 Shafer "Hillside Select"
"oh dear god" my exact quotes when smelling this wine
nose is dominated by menthol, hi-c spiked vodka punch....
Palate is like stewed jam....the alcohol is so present....it dominates everything.
Finish is long with overt rubbing alcohol.......cannot find really anything good to say about it.....this was definetly not corked....no VA.......
100 points.....??????
IMHO this is just bad wine pure and simple. Glad others enjoy but give me a red cote du rhone anyday over this. 84points if I have to score it and that is generous.
1990 Leoville Barton
Very pretty nose, floral, currants, cassis, nutmeg
Palate shows some very nice breed with complex notes of earth, spice and fruit with a long complex finish 93+points
1997 Chapoutier Ermitage "Le Pavilion"
Nose of pepper, spice, garrigue
Massive fruit on the palate.....black cherries, smoke
Finish is long and so damn compex...awesome!!! 95+points
1996 Jaboulet Hermitage "La Chapelle"
Nose of smoke, spice, herbs but with lush black cherried fruit on top
Big tannins, huge black fruit,
Finish is long and very persistent with peppered cherries, smoke and hints of olive. 94+ points....almost classic
1997 Jaboulet Hermitage "La Chapelle"
Nose of tart red fruit on this nose.....very different from the 1996
Palate returns to form with black and red fruit mixed with an underbrush and classic herbed note.
Finish is equally long and complex......93+ points
1989 Chateau d'Yquem
Has a Tokaji esque nose with burnt honey and marzipan
Palate shows similar burnt note with subtle creme brulee and barbequed pineapple.
Finish is nice but not nearly as complext as other late harvest wines that I have had recently.......altogether disappointing.......91points.
2001 Domain Laflaive Chevalier Montrachet
rich nose, citrus infused....
palate shows almost a flinty aspect in addition to the overt citrus notes with acidity that is clearly out of whack.....piercing....not a lot of complexity.....this is not my cup of tea...... 87points
1999 Domaine Laflaive Batard Montrachet
nose of smoke, citrus.....a little better than the chevalier but the acidity is again out of whack...... 88+ points
1997 Borgogno Barolo
this is faded........the barolo je ne ce que is gone.....fruit is faded, character is gone....where is the cinnamon, where is the floral aspect, the tar, the anise, the sour cherries, the plum.........86points
1999 Domaine Henri Perrot-Minot Mazoyères-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Grand Cru
nose of caramel candied raspberries and cranberries....stunning nose!
Palate shows medium+ tannin with tart red fruits. The finish is medium with limited complexity. This does not have anywhere near the overall complexity of the DRC's but it is nice pinot noir. 90 points.
2005 Colgin IX Estate Syrah, Napa Valley
Nose shows ripe extracted fruit, stewed purple fruit
Palate is hot, with baked fruit and an almost fake acid component.....
82points....."this is swill" was my direct note.
1999 Chateau Montelena
Nose of pyrazene, dark fruit
Palate shows some very nice integration with some subtle forest floor and currants and cassis.....this is nice. 90+ points
1990 Chateau Rieussec
Burnt caramel apples on the nose
Candied fruit on the palate but there is some heat coming though and the finish is not showing any lush fruit.......89points

More Auction tasting notes

2008-10-24T21:32:00.002-04:00

1986 Chateau Lafleur
Fruit is much more persistent on this nose......lush chocolate covered strawberries and cherries.
The tannins are massive........the palate is thin......not sure what all the hub bub is about Lafleur given these two showings.......maybe they are not representative...... Confused very limited fruit...........Finish is short....86points
1959 Chateau Margaux
Intoxicating floral nose with noticeable pyrazene and cassis.
Palate seems to be drying out a bit......subtle notes of black tea, pyrazene and dark cherries.
The finish is long but not nearly as complex as I would have hoped for.....89points
1982 Chateau Ducru Beaucalliou
This nose is touching me in all the right spots Cool
Pure dark currant notes and a strong subtlety........you can smell the breed of this vintage and producer...asian spice and floral notes dominate.
Palate has pyrazene, bell pepper, celery seed, and big tannins.....the fruit though seems to be fading......
The finish is long with some cassis that comes in and out....I would drink this now for sure as the fruit will not outlast the tannin on this IMHO. 92+points

WOW....what a tasting!

2008-10-23T21:05:00.003-04:00

I attended the LCBO Vintages Auction tasting.....
Here are the first round of notes: They were done very quickly but I did my best into a dictophone.
Pol Roger non-vintage....they sabred a six liter bottle!
Not a tonne of bubbles on this...yeast, citrus, brioche, nose seems quite closed. Lemon citrus on the palate with blazing acidity.......Finish is medium to long in length but a bit simple. This is only a touch better than the Friexent Cava that I had last friday.......89points
1995 DRC Exchezeaux
Wow....beguiling nose of baking spice, pomegranate,
The palate shows lush cherry, nutmeg, earth, and violets
The finish is long, complex and layered and keeps coming with more and more......great pinot! 96 points
1998 DRC Grand Exchezeaux
Much sweater nose than the 1995.......sweat cherries, cranberry, spice, earth....very nice. The palate is a bit more tart and astringent and the finish is not nearly as elegant as the 1995 and much more subdued....92 points
1995 DRC Grand Exchezeaux
Wow......I can immediately tell that I am back into a 1995......such a complex nose....earth, spice, gorgeous sweet cherries and acacia flowers.
As one would think given the vineyard, this is not nearly as ready to drink as the exchezeaux...tannins are much more in play and not integrated as well.....but...this is a wine that is going places. The finish is has some very nice components, great fruit and forest floor but they are not integrated and seem to need some time to come together......93+points but higher in the future.
1989 DRC La Tache
:shock: :shock: OMG..........nutmeg, baking spice, cranberry, pomegranate, smoke and mossy earth.....you can literally smell the pedigree of this vineyard......Wow.....Wow.....
The palate shows precision red fruit that is so well integrated with the a dirty manure component that lingers behind the fruit.......
The finish is long and only ends when I taste the next wine.......so layered with an earthy fruit funk that makes me want to start to cry 98points
1989 Chateau Haut Brion
An amazingly subtle nose of blackcurrants, cassis, earth, tar, :shock:
The palate shows pure dark fruit with tar, minerals, graphite and cherries....this is so seemless......WOW! Tannins are still present as is the fruit so I think this will drink well into 2020.
Finish is endless and so many flavours going around in my mouth that I can't focus..... a full 60 seconds after drinking this I am getting dark sweet currants, smoke and road tar....the fruit is endless 98points
1989 La Mission Haut Brion
Did not think that a nose could get better than the Haut Brion but this is markedly better....this is more complex and nuanced...a more feminine version....such sweet tarry currants......so pure
This has an even stranger backbone of tannins than the Haut Brion.....seems like a wine that could even go another 20 years easy.
The palate is so bordeaux.....medium tannin, medium acid, medium alcohol and such purity and complexity that it is distracting. There is such gorgeous minerality wrapped in sweet integrated fruit.
The finish is never ending.......if I had not drank another wine I would still be tasting this wine as I am writing 24 hours later......unbelievable stunning bordeaux 99points
1961 Gruaud Larose
Nose of black tea and earth......virtually no fruit...
Palate is dominated by black tea.....this is over the hill IMHO......very little fruit left. This is over the hill.
Finish is singular and not long.............Interesting to taste a 1961 but IMHO, the Sociando mallet that I had from 1961 beat this. 86points
1985 Chateau Lafleur
Nose of cherries and smoke....nose seems rather closed.
The palate shows substantial tannin along with cherry and subtle chocolate notes. This is simple.......and uninspiring......
Finish is medium with very little going for it other that some cherry notes......this did not live up the hype.....88points

My cellar opening wine night

2008-10-18T23:37:00.002-04:00

Joe G, Greg O, Tim, Piper, my wife Leanne, Greg's wife Maureen and I had a killer tasting last night! Evening started with filet mignon over garlic potato mash in a shitake port reduction sauce! very tasty! Here are the wines:

2005 Chateau de Chantegrive
This was the dinner wine so I forgot to take notes.....so from memory it had some very nice notes of tobacco and tar with a classic bordeaux medium tannin and acid. It was a touch simple but a great food wine. 88points
1998 Chateau Simard
Got give Joe and I some mad props on this wine.....we both called it blind! Greg O brought this blind and I guessed it as either a 1998 Chateau Simard or a 2000 Weinert Cabernet.....Joe on the other hand after saying "I know that you guys don't get the Chateau Simard up here, but, my guess would be 1995-1999 chateau simard" DUDE NAILED IT! Nose of black tea, leather, cedar, forest floor, moss and damp earth....the brett on this was ripping! Thankfully I am a brett hoe! Palate showed the same earthy characteristics with not a tonne of fruit and a little heat...... 88+points
2004 Quadrimendo
Joe and I popped this when we were getting dinner ready and then we all had it as the night progressed. Nose of menthol, spearmint, black cherries with a very simple palate that was thin......the tannins were so green on this wine. The finish was short, a bit hot and simple.....not sure how Suckling went 93 on this......this isn't going to get better IMHO either 86points
2002 Chateau Langoa Barton
Nose of asphalt, black currants, pencil lead, graphite, subtle floral notes, black cherry, cassis.......the nose is so sweet! The palate shows black currants, cassis, tar, with such juicy fruit! The mouthfeel is just so nice! Medium tannin, medium acid and a finish that is long with asian spice on the back end. 93+ points
1999 Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuovo
Nose of cured meat, tea, blood, iron, savoury sour cherries, tar and tobacco.....such a beguilling nose! The palate shows sour cherries, charcouterie, tar, tobacco, and subtle strawberry creamsicle. The medium tannin is so integrated and the medium+ acid is so beautiful and balancing! The finish was unreal, so long with leather, cigarbox and lush fruit!......others thought it could have been longer but for me this was touching me in all the right spots! This wine was sexy and sensual! 98points
2001 Gaja Conteisa
Nose of baking spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, tar, violets, and caramel apple. The palate has medium+ tannin and acid and shows plums, spice, nutmeg and sour cherries and is so subtly fabulous! The finish is long and elegant with layers of sex! Awesome wine! 96points
2003 Chateau Beaurenard "Boisrenard" single vineyeard
Nose of baked raspberry, briar, garrique, lavendar and salty licorise. The palate shows baked jammy red fruit, kirsch liquor, raspberry, minerals, smoke and very nice oak treatment. The finish is long but this baby needs more time.......the best is yet to come and some of the layers and subtlety of this wine will show itself in the next 5-15 years. 92points
2006 Pinotage Hidden Valey Stellenbosch
This had a very nice nose........rubber, tar, pepper, band aid and black fruit. The palate was not so enticing....it was singular with black fruit and high acid. The finish was short..... 87points

Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava intermezzo I sabered a bottle of cava off of my back deck!!!! This is great sparkling wine!

2000 Contado de Haza Ribera del Duero
Nose of leather, cedar, ass, moss, forest floor, brett and baked red fruit. The palate had high acid, medium tannin with cigarette ash, leather, cedar and wet wool. The finish was medium with cherry smoke, and ash. 90+points
2003 Poliziano Asinone
Nose of blood, iron, savoury umami, protein, meat, protein, black fruit, protein, and sweet tannin......I think there was protein The palate shows black tar, savoury fruit and massive tannin! The finish is a bit one-dimensional with lots of tannin......not sure what to make of this one......when the tannin is more manageable will there be fruit left??? 91+points
2003 Cabreo
Nose of green pepper, bitter chocolate and savoury dark fruit. The palate has sweet tobacco and lush fruit. It is layered, complex, rich, savoury and sweet! The finish is long with layers that keep coming! This is one that I would wait on......it is awesome now but it can only get better.......93points!
2006 Penninsula Ridge Riesling Icewine
Finished the night with some late harvest riesling from Niagara with some St. Agur blue cheese Nose of fresh cut strawberries, apple cider, tangerine and honey. The palate has mangoes, guava, strawberries, and papaya with great acidity. The finish is long and so pure with tropical fruits, honey and ripe mangoes.....it is so pretty! 95 points
Awesome tasting! The Canadian Crew with Piper and Joe G (from Buffalo, not Canada) ripped it up.......great night!

THE CELLAR IS DONE!!!!!!!! Check out the Video

2008-10-13T19:03:00.003-04:00

2005 Barbabelle

2008-10-13T18:58:00.003-04:00

Biodynamically and organically farmed, this Rhone blend of Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault sees no oak.
Nose of black cherries, tart cranberries and campfire.
The palate shows cranberries, cherries, smoke, and subtle strawberry with medium tannin and acid. This is a touch simplistic with little or no secondary flavours but..... it is rustic and an enjoyable everyday bottle of southern Rhone.
The finish medium and shows some spice and red fruit.
Overall, a very nice wine for everyday drinking. 87 points

THE CELLAR

2008-09-22T18:46:00.001-04:00

There will be a few days without posts here as I frantically put together the racking for my new cellar.......photos will come in the days to come.
STAY TUNED!

Castilla Y Leon - Toro

2008-09-18T08:39:00.002-04:00

In Toro, tinto di toro (tempranillo) must be at least 75% of the blend and there can be no Cabernet in DO wines. Location is west of Ribera del Duero but at lower elevations with predominantly alluvial soils. The grapes tend to be thicker skinned, earlier ripening with more colour and extraction.
Some characteristics of this region are aggressive oak treatment....much of it being in American oak. Tend to be medium + to hi in alcohol, medium+ to hi in acid (natural not acidified), medium+ to hi tannin. There are dominating oak aromas with roasted nuts, coffee, blue and black fruits. This is ripe, modern and very extracted!

Example - 2003 Pintia
Nose of chocolate, spice, black fruit and coffee.
The palate shows pure blueberry, espresso beans and crushed almonds with high tannin and medium+ acid.
The finish is long and layered......coffee, almonds, blueberries hit you in waves.....wow! 94 points

Region #3 Castilla Y Leon - Ribera del Duero

2008-09-16T20:31:00.003-04:00

Castilla Y Leon lies at a high altitude that provides large diurnal temperature swings.....100F days and 50F nights. The lower night temperatures allow the vines to go dormant which leaves a big supply of nutrients available for the rootstock during the heat of the day.....these cool nights also maintain fresh natural acidity
In Ribera del Duero they have what is called the "Duero Bake" There is a lot of chalk, limestone and minerality to these soils and it bakes and forms a hard crust during the scorching days. This crust keeps the moisture inside the soil and maintains acid levels even thought there are high sugar levels.
Example - 2003 Cyclo
Nose of coconut, vanilla, dill, and roasted coffee
The palate shows pure blueberry, coffee, nuts, medium+tannin and medium+ acid.
The finish is long with roasted espresso beans and almonds.....WOW 93+ points

Example #2 La Rioja

2008-09-15T20:50:00.002-04:00

Nose of tea and read fruit
Palate shows medium+ acid, medium tannin with cranberries, red fruit and nice balance.
The finish shows cranberies, sour cherries and pommegranite on the back end.
Very nice.....88+points

La Rioja

2008-09-12T18:49:00.003-04:00

Region #2 LA RIOJA
Name is derived from the river oja
Alta, alavesa, and baja are the three regions with the best grapes coming from the first two.
Alavesa - thin skinned tempranillo that is good for earlier drinking and has good fruit structure and finesse
Alta - thicker skinned and supplemented with mazuelo and craciano and typically makes the best wines from Rioja.
Baja - Grenache focused and very warm climate
Example - 2004 LAN RIOJA
Wow......powerful nose of roasted nuts, pyrazene and gorgeous new oak treatment
The palate shows ink, graphite, cour cherries and coffee......is this bordeaux?
The finish is very pretty....vanilla, coffee, and cherries.....wow....92+points

2005 Volver La Mancha

2008-09-11T19:29:00.003-04:00

Had a Spanish tutorial at the international sommalier of mystery's house in Buffalo where we broke down the major regions of spain and then tried a wine that represented it.
Region #1 Castilla La Mancha
This is the central plains of "la meseta". High, flat and hot.....largest DO in Spain. This region has baked summers and freezing winters and has some very good values. Made from tempranillo or cencibel as they call it. Typically shows moderate oak influence, medium to medium+ acid, medium to high tannin. Chameleon profile.....easy to miss in a blind tasting
Example...... 2005 Volver La Mancha
Nose of lavender, blueberry, thyme and marshmallow.
The palate shows herbs, blueberry and thyme with medium+ acid and medium+ tannin.
The finish is long with huge blueberry, leather, sweet tobacco, plum, dark chocolate and spice.....amazing wine for the price! 90+points

2004 Foradori Granto

2008-09-09T15:11:00.002-04:00

100% Teroldego
Nose of olive, thyme, blueberry, pyrazene, and chocolate
The palate shows blueberies, zambuca, and black cherrys with medium tannin and acid.
The finish is lush and long with blackfruit and milk chocolate on the backend.
Nice wine... 91+points

1997 Penfolds Grange

2008-09-05T19:02:00.002-04:00

96% Shiraz, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasted at the Toronto WLTV offline
Nose of mint, eucalyptus, dill, coconut, blackberries and mocha...the pyrazene comes through even with only 4%
The palate has plum, caramel, mint, eucalyptus, coconut with high tannin and medium acid.......this is pretty refined....
The finish just kills me......there is way too much alcohol bombing around.........there is some nice blackfruit and raspberry but $450.......come on.... 91+points

2002 Guyon Corton Clos du Roy Grand Cru

2008-09-04T18:00:00.002-04:00

Nose of spice, caramel, and cranberries......woah...lots of wood on the nose.
The palate shows beet, spice, cranberry, tart red fruits with high acid and medium tannin. The finish is where this wine goes down hill in a hurry.......it is thin and totally unresolved......88Points

2000 Silvio Grasso Barolo Pi Vigne

2008-09-03T08:55:00.002-04:00

100% Nebbiolo
This had a somewhat muted nose.......subtle plum and sour cherry notes.
The palate showed black tea, massive tannin and high acid but really little else.....very little of the things that you normally find in Barolo like floral notes, tar, cinnamon, anise etc.......
The finish is thin and not really complex at all..... 87 points
This wine travelled up to Toronto from Buffalo......travel shock?

1992 Caymus Vineyards Cabernet

2008-09-02T08:34:00.002-04:00

Nose of sweet cassis, currant and pyrazene
The palate had black currants, black tea, cassis, plum, dill, and very well integrated oak treatment.
The finish however, is really rather uninspiring.......rather short and simplistic......88 Points

1970 Chateau La Fleur Petrus

2008-09-01T09:45:00.002-04:00

Tasted this at the Fine Wine Reserve at a WLTV offline.
Nose of mushroom, sweet cherry and smoke.
The palate has soft tannin with cherry, black tea and wet earth.
The finish is medium in length with cigarette ash on the back end
Overall, an interesting wine but one that is half way down the downward slope in its evolution.........disappointing. 85 points

2006 Planeta Mocato di Noto

2008-08-29T17:35:00.002-04:00

100% Muscat
Tasted at the winery
Golden colour with peaches, raisin, fig, spice, apricot, honey vanilla and a beautiful botrytis character.
The palate has honey, candied ginger violets, and a subtle note of sesame.
The finish is long with apricots, floral notes and honey......wow!
92+points

2005 Planeta Burdese

2008-08-28T18:09:00.002-04:00

70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc
Tasted at the winery
Dark ruby red colour with notes of cocoa, pyrazene, wild cherry, leather, sour cherry, black currants and balsamic vinegar on the nose.
The palate shows vibrant black currants, cassis, dark chocolate, with medium+ tannin and Medium acidity.
The finish is medium+ and very nice pure black currants. 92Points

2005 Planeta Merlot

2008-08-27T18:08:00.002-04:00

100% Merlot
Tasted at the winery
Ruby red colour with green pepper, cherries, clack currant and candied violets....the pyrazene is ripping on this nose!
The palate is full bodied with ripe cherries black currants, medium tannin and medium acidity (which is shocking given the utter heat of the area....must be cool night but I didn't feel many of them when I was there.).
The finish is marred but higher than normal acid......a bit off putting......still 90 points but could have been much higher. 90Points

2005 Planeta Syrah

2008-08-26T07:14:00.002-04:00

100% Syrah
Tasted at the winery
Dark black in colour with spice, red currants, black pepper, sage and cinnamon on the nose. The palate has surprisingly high acidity......there are sweet berry notes and medium tannins.
The finish is long with very pure dark fruit and spice.
91Points

2005 Planeta Santa Cecelia

2008-08-25T08:41:00.002-04:00

100% Nero d'Avola
Tasted at the winery
Purple red colour with subtle violet hues.
The nose has wonderful notes of anise, red currants, floral notes and graphite. The palate has a gorgeous mixture of mint, blackfruit, cedar, ink and minerality.
The finish.....wow......long with plum and black licorice!
93+points!

2007 Planeta Cerasuolo Di Vittoria

2008-08-24T19:59:00.002-04:00

Made from Frappato and Nero D'Avola
Tasted at the winery
Ruby colour with black cherry hues
The nose shows cherries dipped in freshly ground pepper. The palate is big and juicy with bing cherries, spice, nutmeg, and very nice mouthfeel....the acid is a touch out of wack for me......
The finish is medium and a touch one dimensional with that singular cherry component coming though.....
87+points

2003 Travaglini Gattinara

2008-08-15T18:43:00.002-04:00

Clearly transparent and light ruby in tone.
The nose shows crushed rose petals, black tea, and a touch of licorice. The palate has a powerful attack of black tea and sour cherries and subtle floral components and high tannin and acid.
The finish is really quite nice....medium to long in length this has very nice sour cherry and roses on the back end that continue for at least 30-40 seconds. Wow.....I always knew this was good wine but damn.....92+points!
This is humming.....grab it while you can.

2007 Planeta Segreta Rosso

2008-08-15T08:37:00.002-04:00

Tasted at the winery
This blend of Nero d'Avola, Syrah and Merlot sees no oak and sports a ruby colour with notes of pyrazene, blackfruit, cherry, red currants, and bell pepper on the nose. The palate is full with black fruits, medium tannin and medium acidity that is well balanced.
The finish is where the wine kind of losses me....it is short to medium and doesn't show the complexity of the others that I have tasted here at Planeta. 87points

2006 Planeta Chardonnay

2008-08-14T19:41:00.002-04:00

Tasted at the winery
Golden yellow colour with notes of vanilla, nutmeg, custard, citrus and minerals on the nose. The palate shows spice, citrus, vanilla and very nice balancing acidity. The finish is long with very nice mineral notes and lemon custard. 92+ points

2007 Planeta Cometa

2008-08-13T20:42:00.005-04:00

Made from 100% Fiano, an indigenous grape to Sicily
Tasted at the winery
Deep straw colour with citrus, grapefruit, lychee, mineral and nutmeg on the nose.
The palate has some camomille flower, lemon, ginger and oregano with a medium+ length finish with hints of lemon gelatto. 91 points

2006 Tasted in Canada
I bought this bottle in Cefalu, a small ocean side town in norther sicily
Wow, this wine has so much oak, gold colour with vanilla and cream on the nose and palate....this wine was pushed way too far.......there is no varietal typicity in this wine.....it is all wood, as if the winemaker knew that the fruit was terrible........this is not good.....75points......
Not sure what to think.......guess vintage and where you buy the wine really does matter :)

2007 Planeta Alastro

2008-08-12T08:11:00.002-04:00

Straw yellow colour with a light greenish hue.
The nose shows plush white peach, subtle vanilla and citrus flavours.
The palate show lemon custard, lime, pineapple and subtle oak treatment but there is very nice balancing acidity........
There is a touch of heat on the finish that takes away from this wine but overall it is quite complex and at 10 euros.......a buy. 88+Points

2007 Planeta Rose

2008-08-11T19:53:00.003-04:00

Been on a desert island of sorts.....I am back!
This wine is 100% syrah and has a pale rose colour
The nose shows very nice floral components, strawberries, cherry and pomegranate with dried cranberries, strawberries and pomegranate on the palate. The fruit is very persistent and the finish is medium with moderate complexity. 90Points
At 8 Euros, this is a buy!

2007 Planeta La Segreta

2008-07-21T22:31:00.002-04:00

This was a great beginning to our tasting.....colour of straw with a nose of peach, mangoes, passion fruit, fresh strawberries, vanilla bean and apple. The palate was not quite as complex as the nose but still showed lime, peach and white cherries with high acidity and a medium length finish. 89points

Visit to Planeta

2008-07-20T21:06:00.003-04:00

My friend Rainer and I drove from Cefalu to the Menfi winery and were greeted by a very friendly staff person who had to fill in last minute for Ciara Planeta.....the tour was very informative and seeing the cellar holdings was mind blowing.....bottles of 1976 Romanee Conti, 45 Bordeaux plus all the back vintages and large formats of Planeta wines.....

The tasting room (which I will post a picture of later in the week with the wines) was very nice. The tasting notes will all come this week so stay tuned....

Off to Saskatcewan....

2008-07-09T12:47:00.002-04:00

I leave for Saskatoon tonight and will not be back until July 19....
expect some great content when I get back as I still need to write a long piece on my trip to PLANETA while in Sicily.
See you all soon......in the meantime, listen to the the wine!

Dante Rivetti Bricco de Neueis Riserva mini vertical

2008-07-08T21:53:00.004-04:00

1996
Nose of earth, plum, tobacco and pomegranate with sour cherry, licorice and plum coming through on the palate with....nice but a little ho hum. The finish is medium with some complexity. 90points
1997
This comes at you with black tea, sour cherries, plum, truffle, earth and fungus. The palate has subtle clove, with dominating notes of plum, tea and earth. The finish here is really an upgrade from the 1996...it is medium to long and has layers of complexity that linger. 92+points

2003 Cervoles

2008-07-07T17:58:00.001-04:00

Nose of hay, underbrush, dark chocolate, espresso and raspberry on the nose. Big tannin on the palate with mocha and red fruit. The finish though is underwhelming.........it is short with nothing but tannin bouncing around. 89points

2001 Fanti Brunello di Montalcino

2008-07-04T08:34:00.000-04:00

Wow.....this wine has a very interesting nose of olive, brine, smoked meat and blood with savoury oregano, black fruit and smoke on the palate. The problem with this wine is its finish........quite short and uninteresting and a big disappointment given the region, producer and vintage. 90 points

2003 Chateau Monbousquet

2008-07-03T09:18:00.001-04:00

This wine exhibits olive tapanade, campfire, creosote, smoked meat, cherry and maple toffee on the nose. The palate is really well integrated, very balanced with notes of cherry, olive, smoke, medium acid and surprisingly high tannin....the finish is long with plums and cherry's. Great wine.....94+points

2001 Sandrone Cannubi Boschis

2008-07-01T22:46:00.000-04:00

This is probably one of my favorite wines over the past 2 years.......
Nose of tar, violets, black tea, sour cherry and cinnamon (after a bit of coaxing). The palate has big tannin and high acid with plums, tar, black tea, and floral aspects....the finish is medium+ with subtle sour cherries and cinnamon. 94points
This is a wine that I have scored 100 points before and while a 94 point is hard to complain about, this bottle was just not bringing it like others have.....just did not have that special quality that it has had in the past....

2005 Pomum Shya

2008-06-30T19:18:00.000-04:00

This hits you with nibs, pyrazene, vanilla, oak, cherry and raspberries on the bouquet. The palate has ink, blueberry, blackfruit, minerals, with medium acid and medium+ tannin. The finish is medium+ in length and very nicely integrated fruit........nice wine. 91Points

2003 E.Guigal Cote -Rotie Brune et Blonde

2008-06-27T10:51:00.000-04:00

Wow......smoke, creosote, pepper, and olive tapenade on the nose with gorgeous raspberry, strawberry, pepper and smoke on the palate with medium acid and tannin. The finish is medium+ with nice lingering strawberry notes. 92+points

2004 Ridgeline Cabernet

2008-06-26T16:04:00.001-04:00

Instant note of petrol, dark black fruit on the nose with tar, fat, blackcurrants, cherry on the palate and medium+ tannin and acidity. The finish was medium but a bit meh...... 88+pts

2004 Cliff Lede Cabernet

2008-06-25T22:31:00.000-04:00

Nose of pyrazene, vanilla, eucalyptus and blackfruit with black currants, cassis, chocolate and coconut with medium+tannin and a touch of fake acid....the finish showed some heat, was really quite short and was disjointed....87+points

A tasting in Canada

2008-06-24T22:45:00.002-04:00

Had Joe G (the international Sommalier of Mystery - holding the decanter), Jen, Tim and my wife in for a tasting......Here was the lineup
2004 Cliff Lede Stags Leap
2004 Ridgeline Cabernet
2003 E.Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde
2005 Pomum Shya
2001 Sandrone Cannubi Boschis
2003 Chateau Monbousquet
2001 Fanti Brunello di Montalcino
2003 Cervoles

Notest to follow this week......stay tuned!

Raiser on the loose! Vergino at work!

2008-06-20T13:42:00.002-04:00

Etna Bianco

2008-06-19T09:32:00.003-04:00

2005 Murgo Cabernet

2008-06-18T22:31:00.004-04:00

Sicilian Chardonnay from Murgo

2008-06-17T19:17:00.002-04:00

This is a video that I made while in Sicily....more to come!

2005 Yering Station Shiraz Viogner

2008-06-16T09:28:00.002-04:00

Nose of fat, pepper, and tell tale fake acid note of lemon spritz......
The palate shows lemon, blueberries but the mid palate is so hollow and there is a tonne of heat. This wine has so obviously been acidified that it is almost un-scorable......the finish too is all alcohol.....feel like i have just swished Listerine.......
Bad wine....no other way to score it...
77points.....and that is being kind.

1990 DRC Echezeaux

2008-06-15T20:44:00.002-04:00

Wow.....what a treat
Sat on the deck of good friend.....couldn't believe when he pulled this out!!!
Didn't take notes but I was so floored by the amount of fruit in this 18 year old burgundy.....there were black and red fruit with secondary notes of leather, cedar and a finish tha was unending.....this is world class wine.....score.....hard but this was unreal......gotta be 98 or 99 points!!!!

An update.....

2008-06-08T00:36:00.002-04:00

I am at one of the best Agrituismo's on Sicily located right at the base of Mount Etna ( i can hear it boming right now as it is active). The wine scene here has been great....some real great values and high end wines. I will give a much more in depth note on my visit to Planeta last week...needless to say it was spectacular and a real insight into what this region can do. The highlight was the 2005 Planeta Santa Cecilia Nero D'Avola......serious juice.
I'll put another note up when I get to austria.

I am off.........to Sicily!!!

2008-05-29T11:30:00.002-04:00

I am off on vacation to Sicily and will return on June 14th with many tasting notes and stories. I will be visiting Planeta Winery on June 3rd and will have a full article about that visit when i get back.......

2006 Peninsula Ridge Riesling Icewine

2008-05-29T07:27:00.001-04:00

Nose of mangos, pineapples, fresh ripe strawberries, honey and apricot. The palate explodes with peaches, honey, ginger, clove, nutmeg, marmalade and has beautiful balancing acidity.
Great wine! 96 Points

2004 Emelio Moro Ribero del Duero

2008-05-28T21:40:00.002-04:00

Nose of vanilla, coconut and espresso with dark coffee, blueberry, oak, vanilla, candied raspberry, and an almost rioja-esque feel. The tannins are big and the acid is high but it is well integrated.....where this wine falls off is the finish, it is medium to short and really illustrates the difference in pedigree from wines like Terreus, Pintia and Numantia.....90Points

2003 Cabreo Il Borgo

2008-05-27T23:32:00.002-04:00

The Cabernet in this blend really shows through with bitter chocolate, pyrazene, oregano oak and ripe licorice on the nose. The palate shows blood, iron, dark plums, chocolate, orange rind, black cherries, cassis, mineral, ink, graphite, cigarbox.....so balanced.
The only thing that this wine lacks in a long and complex finish.....it is medium and a bit one dimensional. For me, great wine has got to have finish...92+points

1986 Chateau Haut Bages Liberal

2008-05-26T21:52:00.002-04:00

Nose of currants, cassis, pyrazene, cigarette ash and minerals.
The palate shows big fruit for a wine of this age.........black currants, cassis, cedar, tobacco with medium tannin and medium acid. The finish is medium with some very nice fruit.....
Old Bordeaux is in a class by itself....so elegant. 90+points

1970 Chateau La Fleur Petrus

2008-05-26T07:01:00.002-04:00

Popped and poured.....medium amount of sediment
The nose showed black tea, sewer, swamp, pomegranate and pyrazene.
The palate had notes of cheese, tea, cherry, cedar and tobacco with a short to medium finish. After being open for 2+ hours it did start to show more fruit but this is a bottle that was interesting more from an educational level as it was my first really aged right bank Bordeaux..... 86+points

2001 Terreus Castilla y Leon

2008-05-25T18:21:00.002-04:00

This is an eye opener! Nose of blueberry, coconut, vanilla, spice, espresso, mocha, toffee....such pure fruit.
The plate has cinnamon toast crunch, coffee, chocolate with beautiful oak treatment.....so rich, ripe, complex and layered with medium+acid and tannin.
The finish is spellbinding.....so long, it leaves and comes back with caramel Starbucks machiatto! Stunning! 97 Points

1989 Chateau Lynch Bages

2008-05-25T18:17:00.002-04:00

Wow....what a nose.......cassis, graphite, ink and pyrazene. The palate just takes off with notes of cocoa, cassis, blackcurrants, pencil lead, ink, minerals and leather with medium tannin and acid.....it is seem less and so elegant and balanced. It has soul!
The finish is long and complex.....95 points

1999 Casanova di Neri Cerretalto

2008-05-21T14:21:00.002-04:00

I had the 1997 a few months ago and it was unreal so i was pumped to try this!!!
Nose of herbs, sour cherry, smoked meat, plum, raw meat and tar. The palate showed nice roasted espresso bean, creosote, tar and plums..........but.....
The finish was short and a bit simplistic......damn, what a let down!
This bottle is not where near the 1997.... 91PTS

2000 Chateau Gruaud Larose

2008-05-20T19:07:00.004-04:00

When a friend opened this up at a recent tasting I was giddy with excitement.....great vintage, great producer....
Gave it an hour to open up and we had to add a few bottles in between as it was no where near ready....Here is the note after 3 hours in the decanter:
Nose of pyrazene, spice barnyard, black currants, creosote, ink.....this is a really complex nose....
The mouthfeel of this wine is sensuous.........but there is a tonne of depth........and the finish is medium at best......
Wow....what a disappointment after a nose like that?!?!?! I was thinking 96-98Points after the nose..... Final Score - 91PTS

1990 Chateau Simard

2008-05-19T18:23:00.002-04:00

Nose of funk, sweat, currants, leather, cedar and pyrazene.
The palate has notes of bell pepper, cherry, radish, celery seed.......it is smooth elegant but a bit one dimensional.......
The finish is where this bottle has really diverged from others that I have had....it is shorter and not as complex.
88PTS

2001 Dominus

2008-05-15T20:30:00.002-04:00

Had this after a huge tasting that included 2004 Mouton and Haut Brion and Bric al Fiasc, 2005 Clod vouget etc.......
This was really green......wow...nothing like the bottle I had at my 30th birthday.
This must be hitting a dumb phase as it was showing nothing but broccoli and green pepper....none of the lush fruit and leather that I have gotten in other bottles...... 87PTS

1997 Dominus

2008-05-14T18:23:00.003-04:00

Had this this past weekend at the one year memorial celebration of the passing of a good friend.
From Magnum:
Such an inviting nose......currants, tobacco, cassis, leather.......
The palate is so well balanced with beautiful fruit......cassis, blackcurrants, black raspberries and secondary flavours of sweet tobacco, leather, cedar and spice........The finish........oh mama.....so long and complex....this was stellar wine...... 96PTS

1996 Chateau Rayas Reserve

2008-05-13T20:58:00.000-04:00

Light intensity, brick red with notes of minerals, sweat, and
cranberries. The palate had floral notes, cranberries, olive tapanade,
minerals, spice, kirsh liqour, herb, juicy red fruit and just an
amazing mouthfeel......the finish is long, complex, balanced with
perfume, spice and minerals on the backend....Awesome wine! Classic! 97PTS

1998 Seghesio Omaggio Sonoma Pinot Noir

2008-05-12T09:40:00.002-04:00

All oak, no fruit, no finish.....this is over the hill bruised, oxidised with no complexity........DEAD.....no score

1985 Jaboulet-Vercherre Les Follatieres Puligny Montrachet

2008-05-11T17:13:00.002-04:00

Bought this from a private collector and brought it to Buffalo for a tasting with my crew....
Nose of bruised apples and rancid walnuts..........this wine is clearly oxidized.....in addition, it is CORKED....
Really sad....was looking forward to a mature white burgundy but this is the wine game...... :(

2004 Mouton Rothschild

2008-05-09T07:27:00.002-04:00

Was at an LCBO tasting last night and had some beauties.....
This was the showstopper though!!! I have had it before but this time was way better.
Nose of spice, blackcurrants, cassis
The palate was so elegant! Great mouthfeel with cedar, pipe tobacco, cassis, currants and medium acid and tannin. The finish was long with sweet candied cigars..... 94+PTS

2003 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montalcino Asinone

2008-05-07T09:09:00.001-04:00

I have posted on this wine before here so if you want more in depth tasting notes have a look.....this wine was ridiculous! Easy 94PTS.....so complex.....so delicious with meat, savoury fruit and a long finish!

1999 Casanova di Neri Teunta Nuova Brunello di Montalcino

2008-05-04T01:09:00.001-04:00

Wow......this wine took my breath away....
No notes.....all that I can say is that when I drank this I was like......this is classic wine....
97PTS.....buy this if you can!!!!!!!!

1995 Chateau Ferriere

2008-05-02T12:58:00.003-04:00

Had this in Toronto at the Fine Wine Reserve with Tim.....following this we drank the 2000 Pavillion Rouge that I posted yesterday.
We also got the meet Steve Thurlow, education director of WSET.....dude teaches MWs!!!!

Floral nose with vanilla, pure black fruit and pyrazene
Palate shows black currants, cassis, floral, sweet cherry, pipe tobacco, cigar box, great mouth feel, pure velvet! Medium tannin and acid
Finish has lovely fruit, notes of acacia and currants...94pts

2000 Pavillion Rouge du Chateau Margaux

2008-05-01T22:54:00.002-04:00

Whoa........serious wine alert!!!!
So dark....colour of Aussie Shiraz....
Huge black fruit, beautiful oak treatment....can tell this is a huge vintage as it holds the fruit so well... as the wine opens up there are violets and acacia on the nose with hints of leather and spice. I also get some citrus, almost orange peel on the nose with time.
The palate has massive gorgeous black fruit, currants, cassis, huge fruit, medium acid, medium velvety tannin, cedar, sweet tobacco.
Finish is long, very long with sweet tobacco, black fruit and cigar box.
95points

Retro..... 1988 Chateau Latour

2008-04-30T18:12:00.002-04:00

No vino tonight for me but I wanted to make sure that there was a new tasting note up for you guys so here it is.....my wife and I had this in 2006 for a special occasion.
Amber to the rim, this wine displays all of the tell tale aromatic characteristics of Latour with leather, cocoa, nutmeg, cassis and black currents. The palate has subtle black currants and cassis with licorice, vanilla, pencil lead and earth. The finish is long and complex. This is my type of wine.......totally emotional.....totally sensual. 95+pts

2005 Chateau Pesquie Le Terrasses Cote du Ventoux

2008-04-29T18:49:00.006-04:00

70% Grenache and 30% Syrah
This wine has lovely nose of smoke, creosote, black olive tapanade, rhubarb, cranberry and pepper. The palate shows kirsch liqour, strawberry, smoke, creosote and black pepper with medium+ acid and medium tannin. The finish is touch acidic for me but it medium with kirsch and finely ground black pepper. This is a steal of a wine at $14........ 90+PTS

2003 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva

2008-04-28T20:24:00.002-04:00

Nose of coconut, vanilla, and nice oak. The palate shows blueberries, blackberries, leather, tar, sour dark cherries and tobacco with medium+ acid and tannins. The finish is medium with dark fruit and subtle pepper. 90+PTS

2004 Volnay Nicolas Potel Vielles Vigne

2008-04-26T09:44:00.002-04:00

Nose of sweat, earth, celery, cow manure, and floral. The palate has intense fruit......beets, cranberries, saline, brier, minerals, smoke, green tobacco with medium + tannins and medium acidity....this is a touch angular for me. The finish is medium with tart cherries. 91PTS

2001 Seghesio Barolo "La Villa"

2008-04-25T18:53:00.000-04:00

Nose of plums, black tea, licorise and spice. The palate shows the tell tale tar and violets as well as sour cherries and anise with massive tannins and high acidity. The finish is medium and not quite as complex as I like to see on really great Barolo........I also failed to get any whif of my favorite part of great Barolo.....Cinnamon. This and the shorter finish makes this a very good Barolo but certainly not a great one.....I have been spoiled by Luciano Sandrone......DAMN THAT MAN!!!! 91PTS

2002 Moss Wood Pinot Noir

2008-04-25T11:02:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week.....has been a busy one.
Had a tasting on Wednesday night with my wine boys Tim and Greg and I brought this wine that I bought at the winery 4 years ago while in Western Australia. Here is the note:
Powerful nose of beets, cranberries, tart red fruit, minerals and subtle pepper. The palate has lovely strawberries.....pure strawberries with beets, spice, pepper, sour cherries, tea and pomegranate with medium+ acid and medium tannin. This is so smooth! The finish is long with tart red fruit and strawberries that continue to linger for over a minute......Great wine.....sad it is my last bottle and that I have to fly 16 hours to get any more.... 93PTS

2000 Pelissero Long Now

2008-04-21T18:58:00.000-04:00

Drank this a few weeks ago at a tasting in New Jersey...
Nose of Plum, licorice, sour cherries
Palate of Cherries, anise,damp cigar, tar, flowers, balanced and a long finish
93+pts

Here was my review on the last bottle a few months ago.
Nebbiolo Barbera blend
Garnet colour with leather, cedar, tobacco, damp earth, plum, and wet leaf on the nose. The palate shows coffee, black fruit, tar, anise, thyme, cigar box leather with medium tanning and high acidity and a lush mouth feel. The finish is long with hints of bitter chocolate.....great wine! 94PTS

2000 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. 5 Puttonyos

2008-04-20T09:54:00.000-04:00

Deep rusty orange colour
The nose showed charred oranges, honey, lilacs, and lots of great botrytis character. The palate there was such beautiful citrus notes of tangerine, apricot, and even a touch of caramel with very nice acidity and balance. The finish was medium + was nice lingering caramelised citrus notes. 93PTS

2002 Cullen Diana Madeline

2008-04-20T09:48:00.000-04:00

I bought this at the winery when I was in Western Australia in 2005......such a beautiful place Margaret River and Cullen was a fantastic winery so I was really excited to open this, their top cuvee, for a cooking class at the Old Prune.
Green muted flavours, mould, wet cardboard.......say it with me.........CORKED!
What a downer, I brought this all the way from the other side of the world, cellared it for 3.5 yeas and then this.....such is wine......