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Sunday, January 27, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Results: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux
As a follow-up to yesterday's post and after attending Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux in NYC...2005 Red Bordeaux Top Picks:
Chateau La Conseillante (Pomerol)
Chateau Angelus (Saint Emilion)
Chateau Lascombes (Margaux)
Other Red Favorites:
Chateau Canon (Saint Emilion)
Chateau Canon-La-Gaffeliere (Saint Emilion)
Chateau Clinet (Pomerol)
Chateau Langoa Barton (St. Julien)
Chateau Leoville Barton (St. Julien)
Chateau d'Armailhac (Pauillac)
Disappointments:
Chateau Berliquet (Saint Emilion)
Chateau Figeac (Saint Emilion)
Chateau Du Tertre (Margaux)
Chateau Dufort Vivents (Margaux)
Chateau Clerc Milon (Pauillac)
2005 White Bordeaux Standouts:
Chateau Smith Haut-Lafite (favorite)
Chateau Carbonnieux
Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere
2005 Sauternes Standouts:
Chateau Doisy-Daene (favorite)
Chateau Guiraud
Overall Impressions:
Although there are some great wines, 2005 is not the "vintage of the century."
The Right Bank is more consistent than the Left Bank.
The Whites are more consistent than the Reds.
Some wines are unusually soft. Acidity makes all the difference.
It's gonna be expensive!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Unions Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux
Sadly, it has been quite some time since vino girl and winemonkey have tasted the fine wines of Bordeaux -- the horror (seriously)! Alas, today we venture to the Unions Des Grands Crus de Bordeaux in NYC to preview the 2005's. Stay tuned to these very pages for favorites, disappointments and general impressions of the latest and greatest from the left and right banks.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Holy Wine Makers on PBS Batman!
Fresh off the presses! See we told you it was closer than you thought!
For those that want more... and we know you do, mosey on over to http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=winemakerstv
And for those who aren't into links, no worries, we'll be putting more up in the near future.
Cheers!
For those that want more... and we know you do, mosey on over to http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=winemakerstv
And for those who aren't into links, no worries, we'll be putting more up in the near future.
Cheers!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Wine Biz Radio
So race fans, your fav-o-rite wine blog got a mention over at Sonoma's KSVY 91.3 FM radio show winebizradio.com, albeit not too recently, but we move slow during the holidays. So check us (and them) out.
We can be found on the segment that was aired December 3, 2007 about 26'30" into the program.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
High Octaine California Wine in Decline
Good news for those of us who don't appreciate wines with 16-17% alcohol with dinner – or anytime really. The British Telegraph reports that California winemakers are reversing the trend towards massive, boozy wines with in excess of 15% alcohol. Chalk this one up in part to snooty French Sommeliers working in American restaurants and turning their nose up at these California monsters. Notable critics (ahhh, ok, Mr. Parker) have been known to shower these high octane wines with praise but let’s hope the backlash sticks.Sincere apologies to those drinkers looking to match the glaze on their duck breast with the glaze in their eyes! Bottoms up!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Broadbentism: 1995 Screaming Eagle Cabernet
"The last of four consecutive vintages, I confess I had been prepared to pooh-pooh this cult of cults; I equally confess I thought all four wines were delicious. Naturally, because of its name, fabled reputation and tiny production, it commands a price that makes Romanee-Conti look like a bargain. Do I think that these prices are ridiculous? Of course, but as with Le Pin and other cult wines - they bear no relation to reality and I think that other more classic producers should just shrug their shoulders and get on with life. " At Waddesdon Manor. ****(*) - MB
Thursday, January 03, 2008
First complete Ornellaia vertical EVER in the U.S.
Ever want to know what wine writers do behind the scenes? Well too bad, because we are going to show you anyway. In an attempt to clear out a backlog of wine related mumbo jumbo, your favorite winemonkey was able to dig up this diamond in the rough. Salute!
ORNELLAIA VERTICAL NOTES
(First complete Ornellaia vertical EVER in the U.S.)
Hosted by Leonardo Raspini, technical director & agronomist
3/13/07
General Notes
• Started very Italian
• Moved to BDX when Rolland came in (from LB to RB/Garagiste)
• Moved to more modern CA, forward style in more recent years
• More “Parkerized” with Tannin winning over Acid
1985 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
Made in Antinori family cellar
15,000 bottles
12-16 mos oak
Vines planted 1982
We liked it – stars for both of us
(J) Mint, damp earth, autumn leaves, tobacco, age, cherry, black tea, toast
Great complexity, zesty acidity, very layered, a lot of acid on finish, pretty, A, A, B+
(T) Firm, tight palate, zingy acidity, aged character, Italian edge, lean, minty, damp earth, peaking now, beautiful nose, pretty aromas, opens up black tea/earl grey, amazing
1986 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
Out of magnum – made a difference/helped
Made in Antinori family cellar
16-17 mos. Oak
Weather – dry at end of season
(J) dried fruit, prune/plum, rich, lots of good acidity over green, concentrated fruit, chocolate on finish, deep, dark, more oak, drinks better with time in glass, B+
(T) nutty, tobacco, mint opening up nicely, little green on palate, young vines still here, past peak - drying
1987 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
From ’87 on in San Guido Cellar
More Merlot in blend
(J) Gritty, chocolate, brine on nose. Sweet fruit, tobacco, spice, good acid, concentrated fruit, long tobacco finish, dry tannin, mint, exotic, B, B+, B+?
(T) Tad corked? Was it weather? Darker, extracted, age showing, almost amarone/port, deep, good rich palate but softer, long finish, PIPE TOBACCO, dry
1988 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
Slightly corked
(J) coffee, damp earth, cherry, some must on nose. Cherry, little must, drying tannin but acidity does come through, pretty, tobacco, dried leaves, dried out, pp, NR
(T) corked? A little funk? Dried out, questionable
1989 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
Weather not so good
Out of magnum
(J) I like this style bug headed downhill now. Sweet, toasty, earthy on nose. Charred, different on palate. Burnt flavors get in the way, tight, grippy, still some fruit in magnum, probably gone in 750, B+/PP
(T) firm, tight, decent grip, sweeter nose than previous wines, ripe, good intensity, a little burnt “Hamburger says”, finish a little burn?, smokey, char, past peak, drying out, drink now
1990 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$300
ROLLAND COMES ON THE SCENE, winemaker change
(J) Coffee, cherry mint, pipe tobacco on nose. Pretty, smooth palate with citrus-like acidity, vanilla, oak, attractive, not as dark on palate as some others, not as lush maybe but elegant, def. drying out but nice now. Star for me. A, B+, A, PP
(T) Ripe, rich, peppermint oil, really nice, more oak on palate
1991 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
CORKED, NR
1992 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$150
138,000 bottles
Demonstrates the vineyards according to Raspini
(J) Ripe, richer, ground coffee, good fruit on nose. Rich coffee, a little green on finish. Hole in middle? No depth/complexity, lacks character, acid overwhelms, dry/astringent. B+, B, B.
(T) Plain Jane, same ripe style, something missing/hole in it, complexity is down, acid is up, a bit nervy, B+, B, B+
1993 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
(J) Bordeaux styling (Pauillac/St. Julien!), coffee, rich, sweet fruit on nose. Led pencil, tobacco, classic BDX on palate. Very drinkable, I like it, starred it, but where is Italian terroir? A, A, B+
(T) Nice wine, shoe polish, carnation, good acid, better than ’92, BDX in style, St. Julien
1994 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
STYLE CHANGE
170 or 190,000 bottles
91% CS, 14% M, 5% CF
(J) Brighter fruit, vanilla, ripe, more “modern”, rounder, less personality thu middle, depth? “Pape Clement”, B+, B, B+
(T) Creamy, candied, nut, rich, deep, rounder than the rest
1995 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$250
200,000+ bottles
’95 and older merlot 15 – 17%
(J) Fresh, very dark fruit, blue/black berry, ink, vanilla, gritty tannin, huge but w/ good acid to back It up, B+, B, B+
(T) rich, creamy and forward style, some zing in nose, softer in front, good something with high acidity
1996 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$225
(J) Led pencil, nice berry fruit, big, grippy, dark, earthy, tannins take over acid, chocolate, rich finish, dense, tough to judge, B+?
(T) Similar nose to ‘93, shoe polish, musty? Soft in front again, comes up at the end with grip
1997 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$275
Selections cut back starting with 1997 – second label introduced
(J) blue fruit, fresh, vanilla, ripe, jammy, acid & alcohol, heady, crowd wower, easy to go back to, CA style, B+ or A?
(T) Style change again?, completely different, rich but “green”, spicy, Italian, a lot in there
1998 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$200
(J) dark berry, sweet fruit, needs time, layers, BDX style again, really nice on 2nd taste, huge tanning, oak, better than 1998 for me, star, B+ to A peak
(T) same style as ’97 perhaps “richer” good nose want to drink from the nose, BDX like again
1999 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
(J) Good fruit, complete wine, rich, concentrated, toast, black berry, good depth, Italian spice returns, good stuff, found, power & elegance, big, give it time, peak A, star from me
(T) still tight, young, not ready, save, really nice
2000 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$225
(J) licorice, dark fruit, some mint, plush, forward but well balanced, approachable, designed wine, tannin present, B, B, A?
(T) ripe, plush, forward, stull good something, and firm/tight.
2001 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$160
(J) Italian spice back, more red fruit, round, forward, toast, good structure but is it green on the finish, B+
(T) Tighter, firm, ripe, plush frame, good structure, the most Italian of recent vintages
2002 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$160
(J) Extracted, contrived, this is what people mean when they say “made in the winery”, forward, what else can you say? No depth. B
(T) Extracted, man-made, yet tad green, B+, B, B+
2003 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$150
(J) designed, forward, fruity, vanilla, lacks depth, sweet fruit, still get green on end, a little weird on finish, B+, B, B
(T)Ripe, plush, forward, homogenized
2004 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
NOT YET RELEASED
(J) good fruit, nice ripeness, not over or under ripe, good acid, B+ or A for Peak Grade
(T) great vintage, ripe, brambly (obviously) yet good, strengthened (?) with good acid
2004 Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
SECOND WINE
(J) Cheesy, earthy, black fruit
(T) good intensity but cheese and green flavors
ORNELLAIA VERTICAL NOTES
(First complete Ornellaia vertical EVER in the U.S.)
Hosted by Leonardo Raspini, technical director & agronomist
3/13/07
General Notes
• Started very Italian
• Moved to BDX when Rolland came in (from LB to RB/Garagiste)
• Moved to more modern CA, forward style in more recent years
• More “Parkerized” with Tannin winning over Acid
1985 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
Made in Antinori family cellar
15,000 bottles
12-16 mos oak
Vines planted 1982
We liked it – stars for both of us
(J) Mint, damp earth, autumn leaves, tobacco, age, cherry, black tea, toast
Great complexity, zesty acidity, very layered, a lot of acid on finish, pretty, A, A, B+
(T) Firm, tight palate, zingy acidity, aged character, Italian edge, lean, minty, damp earth, peaking now, beautiful nose, pretty aromas, opens up black tea/earl grey, amazing
1986 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
Out of magnum – made a difference/helped
Made in Antinori family cellar
16-17 mos. Oak
Weather – dry at end of season
(J) dried fruit, prune/plum, rich, lots of good acidity over green, concentrated fruit, chocolate on finish, deep, dark, more oak, drinks better with time in glass, B+
(T) nutty, tobacco, mint opening up nicely, little green on palate, young vines still here, past peak - drying
1987 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
From ’87 on in San Guido Cellar
More Merlot in blend
(J) Gritty, chocolate, brine on nose. Sweet fruit, tobacco, spice, good acid, concentrated fruit, long tobacco finish, dry tannin, mint, exotic, B, B+, B+?
(T) Tad corked? Was it weather? Darker, extracted, age showing, almost amarone/port, deep, good rich palate but softer, long finish, PIPE TOBACCO, dry
1988 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
Slightly corked
(J) coffee, damp earth, cherry, some must on nose. Cherry, little must, drying tannin but acidity does come through, pretty, tobacco, dried leaves, dried out, pp, NR
(T) corked? A little funk? Dried out, questionable
1989 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
Weather not so good
Out of magnum
(J) I like this style bug headed downhill now. Sweet, toasty, earthy on nose. Charred, different on palate. Burnt flavors get in the way, tight, grippy, still some fruit in magnum, probably gone in 750, B+/PP
(T) firm, tight, decent grip, sweeter nose than previous wines, ripe, good intensity, a little burnt “Hamburger says”, finish a little burn?, smokey, char, past peak, drying out, drink now
1990 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$300
ROLLAND COMES ON THE SCENE, winemaker change
(J) Coffee, cherry mint, pipe tobacco on nose. Pretty, smooth palate with citrus-like acidity, vanilla, oak, attractive, not as dark on palate as some others, not as lush maybe but elegant, def. drying out but nice now. Star for me. A, B+, A, PP
(T) Ripe, rich, peppermint oil, really nice, more oak on palate
1991 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
CORKED, NR
1992 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$150
138,000 bottles
Demonstrates the vineyards according to Raspini
(J) Ripe, richer, ground coffee, good fruit on nose. Rich coffee, a little green on finish. Hole in middle? No depth/complexity, lacks character, acid overwhelms, dry/astringent. B+, B, B.
(T) Plain Jane, same ripe style, something missing/hole in it, complexity is down, acid is up, a bit nervy, B+, B, B+
1993 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
(J) Bordeaux styling (Pauillac/St. Julien!), coffee, rich, sweet fruit on nose. Led pencil, tobacco, classic BDX on palate. Very drinkable, I like it, starred it, but where is Italian terroir? A, A, B+
(T) Nice wine, shoe polish, carnation, good acid, better than ’92, BDX in style, St. Julien
1994 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
STYLE CHANGE
170 or 190,000 bottles
91% CS, 14% M, 5% CF
(J) Brighter fruit, vanilla, ripe, more “modern”, rounder, less personality thu middle, depth? “Pape Clement”, B+, B, B+
(T) Creamy, candied, nut, rich, deep, rounder than the rest
1995 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$250
200,000+ bottles
’95 and older merlot 15 – 17%
(J) Fresh, very dark fruit, blue/black berry, ink, vanilla, gritty tannin, huge but w/ good acid to back It up, B+, B, B+
(T) rich, creamy and forward style, some zing in nose, softer in front, good something with high acidity
1996 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$225
(J) Led pencil, nice berry fruit, big, grippy, dark, earthy, tannins take over acid, chocolate, rich finish, dense, tough to judge, B+?
(T) Similar nose to ‘93, shoe polish, musty? Soft in front again, comes up at the end with grip
1997 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$275
Selections cut back starting with 1997 – second label introduced
(J) blue fruit, fresh, vanilla, ripe, jammy, acid & alcohol, heady, crowd wower, easy to go back to, CA style, B+ or A?
(T) Style change again?, completely different, rich but “green”, spicy, Italian, a lot in there
1998 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$200
(J) dark berry, sweet fruit, needs time, layers, BDX style again, really nice on 2nd taste, huge tanning, oak, better than 1998 for me, star, B+ to A peak
(T) same style as ’97 perhaps “richer” good nose want to drink from the nose, BDX like again
1999 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
(J) Good fruit, complete wine, rich, concentrated, toast, black berry, good depth, Italian spice returns, good stuff, found, power & elegance, big, give it time, peak A, star from me
(T) still tight, young, not ready, save, really nice
2000 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$225
(J) licorice, dark fruit, some mint, plush, forward but well balanced, approachable, designed wine, tannin present, B, B, A?
(T) ripe, plush, forward, stull good something, and firm/tight.
2001 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$160
(J) Italian spice back, more red fruit, round, forward, toast, good structure but is it green on the finish, B+
(T) Tighter, firm, ripe, plush frame, good structure, the most Italian of recent vintages
2002 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$160
(J) Extracted, contrived, this is what people mean when they say “made in the winery”, forward, what else can you say? No depth. B
(T) Extracted, man-made, yet tad green, B+, B, B+
2003 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
$150
(J) designed, forward, fruity, vanilla, lacks depth, sweet fruit, still get green on end, a little weird on finish, B+, B, B
(T)Ripe, plush, forward, homogenized
2004 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
NOT YET RELEASED
(J) good fruit, nice ripeness, not over or under ripe, good acid, B+ or A for Peak Grade
(T) great vintage, ripe, brambly (obviously) yet good, strengthened (?) with good acid
2004 Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Italy
3/13/07
SECOND WINE
(J) Cheesy, earthy, black fruit
(T) good intensity but cheese and green flavors
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Broadbentisms: Back by Popular Demand
And to start off the new year, a Champagne note from the noted wine sage.1911 Pol Roger
"Probably disgorged in the mid-1950s. First noted at a Pol Roger tasting in 1989: straw gold; soft, nutty, sound old bouquet and flavor, 'rather like a creamy old Chardonnay'. Next and most memorable, a bottle produced by Hugh Johnson for his first Bordeaux Club dinner: sipped reverentially but with immense satisfaction by the members on a perfect summer evening in Hugh's exquisite garden - I have a happy photograph, taken by Judy Johnson, of Harry Waugh, Jack Plumb (in straw hat), Neil McKendrick, John Jenkins, Hugh and myself. The wine had an excellent colour, very slight prickle, a touch of cloudiness towards the bottom of the bottle - so I declined a top up..." - MB
Happy 2008 From Drink The Good Stuff!
Drink The Good Stuff staffers started out the New Years Eve celebrations in style. First up was an excellent bottle of 1996 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill (John Kapon of Acker Auctions aint got nothing on us!). Bottle number 2 was a deeply flavored 1983 Chateau Latour with a considerable amount of life left in it.
There must be good things to come in 2008! Cheers.
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