Friday, October 12, 2018

2013 DaVero Impossibile

The DaVero Winery is located right near Healdsburg in the wonderful Sonoma Valley, California. The founders of DaVero choose to keep some of the vineyards they inherited when they bought the property and have expanded with relationships with growers in nearby hillside areas. They believe that Sonoma (and in particular their area) is perfectly suited for Italian varietals. The thing that is great about their philosophy is that they want to use those varietals, but make then in the style that Sonoma makes distinctive. If you ever get to tasting in the Sonoma area, highly recommend that you make a visit here (book ahead) and make sure to get a jug of fresh filled red. Great for the price!

The Impossibile is not available except to Wine Club members. It is a blend of Montepulciano, Nebbiolo and Sagrantino. This is not a blend you would find in Italy. It has a lovely, floral nose, with deep berry and a hint of classic Montepulciano dust.

The color is a translucent light ruby. The taste is very young, this wine is going to go for awhile. It starts with a burst of blackberry and currant. Then the tannins wash over and carry to a nice finish. This is a nice wine and it will develop much more complexity over the next ten years.

I rate this wine a 93.

The DaVero olive oil is also great, especially the Meyer Lemon infused version.

WR

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

2004 Emilio Moro "Malleolus de Valderramiro" Ribera del Duero

Dark just shy of inky black, still slight shades of ruby on the edges. It is a cornucopia of spices with coffee and blackberry on the nose. Quite reserved at first and then it blossomed nicely.


Surprised at how youthful this wine comes out of the bottle, although I shouldn't be since the grapes are tempranillo from an 85 year young vineyard. For me tempranillo is a grape that always seems to be younger than it is when I drink it. It has an expressiveness and liveliness that is distinct.

This wine in particular starts with a hint of the coffee from the nose and then takes over you entire mouth, with tannins that are noticeable but rich combined with lovely dark berry flavors. The whole experience is a big whoosh of flavor that recedes very slowly with a delightful finish.

I rate this wine a 97. I think it still has many years to go, in fact I may have drunk it a bit young.

WA 98, WS 96 VN 93


WR

Sunday, October 7, 2018

2009 Araujo Estate Altagracia II

The Altagracia II has only been made twice in 2007 and 2009, effectively a seldom and perhaps never again to be offered third wine for Eisele Vineyard Estate, formerly Araujo, where the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet is the flagship wine. The Altagracia II gets some of it fruit from the Eisele vineyard but it also gets grapes from other Napa locations. The 2009 is predominantly Cabernet with some classic Bordeaux varieties added to the blend. 

This wine has a wonderful nose, rich earthy tones combined with dark berry fruit. 



It was slow developing in the glass, a bit closed at first. But after having a chance to develop a bit, it opened up with rich blackberry and spice, with nicely integrated tannins. It has a medium long finish with lovely dark fruit flavors.

I rate this wine a 94. I am sure that the Altagracia and the Eisele Vineyard Cab would be superb wines given the sorting process, but this is still a wine that I am very glad was made. Very enjoyable.  


WR

Saturday, October 6, 2018

2004 Domaine Tempier Bandol La Migoua

Domaine Tempier is the leading winemaker in the Bandol appellation, part of the overall Provence region. It is an area along the Mediterranean coast where to meet the requirements each bottle must contain at least 50% of the Mourvèdre grape. Typically wines contain much more than 50% with some Cinsault and Grenache as part of the blend. This 2004 is truly fresh as a daisy.

The nose is a lovely blend of raspberry, cherry and a lovely combination of spice and floral notes. Very nice nose. The color is dark ruby, translucent. The initial experience with the wine, even before a taste is genuinely outstanding. It leaves you wondering if it can live up to its billing. 



Fortunately, it does a vey nice job on the taste. it is quite fresh on the tongue, with strong dark fruit and leather. It holds its flavor and offers a very enjoyable mid-palate where even today the tannins show. The finish is very nice, although with a hint of bite that was a bit unexpected. 


This wine is excellent and I rate it 95.


WS 95 WA 92  








WR

Friday, October 5, 2018

2006 Luce della Vite Brunello di Montalcino


92 Points

Dark red color and surprisingly muted nose of dry brush, dried cranberry and tobacco. Decanted and let sit for an hour, but still closed on the nose. Even after two hours it still had not opened up fully.
The flavor is quite a contrast.

Plum and more cranberry rush out and then are followed by more traditional Brunello tightness of dirt and slight tannin bite through a long finish. It is a very classic Brunello and drinking quite well now, but I can imagine it lasting several more years quite nicely.

I rate this a 96. James Suckling noted wine writer with a focus on Italian wine gave it the knock out score of 100.

Excellent with a spicy Indian meal. Very nice to enjoy after the meal. 

WR

Thursday, October 4, 2018

2004 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragon Pianrosso Brunello di Montalcino

Ciacci has been a long favored name for Brunello's. 100% Sangiovese grapes, from the Pianrosso vineyard. The wine is a translucent dark ruby color. The nose is plum maybe slightly to prune with classic Brunello hints of dirt and sagebrush or dried plant. Very nice and expressive.

 
This wine is really drinking well. It comes with more plum, some cherry and still has a nice freshness to the fruit. It also brings along the Brunello bit of grittiness with leather. It has a nice long finish and is very satisfying in the way it all comes together.

After tasting on its own a bit, it was joined by a pasta with pesto sauce and it was a great compliment.

This wine is is very enjoyable and worth seeking out.

I rate it a 93.



WR