Medium deep lemon yellow. Melon, lime, pears, honey, white flowers. Medium body with a rich mid-palate. Chardonnay softens the Chenin Blanc, which in turn adds an acidic edge and some interest to the Chardonnay. At $10 to $15 a bottle, this is an excellent value.
Deep and dark. 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, and the wine is a good expression of both grapes. Red berry Grenache, black fruit Syrah. Some blue plums on the palate and black pepper spice on the finish. Ripe, forward fruit but with some firm tannins from the Syrah. Drinks well with or without food. And even though it goes down very well right now, I think it will also imprive with a few years in the bottle. For $4.99, a steal.
I have had young bottles of Tahbilk Marsanne at barbecues in Australia, and it is always one of my favorite whites, fresh and lively and a welcome change from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling. This 1992, at 8 to l0 years of age was too oxidized for me, sharp and acidic like a Fino Sherry. Tonight, at full maturity, it is still clearly oxidized but showing qualities I like.
Very deep golden brown. Toast, dried apricots and roasted nuts. The body has filled out, and the flavors are richer than I remember them from a decade ago. Medium acidity and an interesting, medium long finish. I have a few bottles of the 1998 Tahbilk Marsanne, that I suspect might be drinking even better right now.
Still deep and dark with some bluish tints, probably from the Mourvedre. I don't think much new oak was used at Sainte-Anne at this time. Cherries, berries, Mourvedre spice and violets. Bold flavors, reminds me of a good Gigondas. Lovely ripe, red berry finish that lingers for several minutes. The 2004 Saint Gervais was over the hills a year or two ago; the 2005 has plenty in the tank.
Mature, deep color but bright and clear. Cool climate acidity and energy. Lemon peel, apples and honey. Compared to the WVV Dijon Clone Chardonnary from Oregon beside it at the table, it is equally energetic but less creamy in texture. More like Chablis than Beaune Burgundy.
Medium deep with some orange tints. Early aging (the first six months) for Perbacco is in new oak barriques, but the oak influence is not easily detectable. The bouquet is slow to develop but is typical of Piedmont Barolo. Fruity and meaty with a hint of flowers on the bouquet. Big in the mouth. Dried berries, cinnamon, cloves and black licorice. Deep and concentrated. Tannic presence of a Barolo, but the fruit shines through as the wine airs in the glass. 2009 was not a great vintage in the Piedmont, but this Perbacco is showing well and may even improve over the next few years.
Deep lemon yellow. Intense smells and flavors of honey, lemon cream, apples, butter and toasted coconut. Rich mouth feel combined with incisive acidity.
Bright ruby, no sign of barriques. Beautiful floral bouquet typical of fine Nebbiolo. Also cherries and aromatic spices. Nebbiolo dryness on mid-palate followed by fresh red fruit flavors. Tannin and acidity well matched, and the wine is drinking well right now though I suspect that some of the best fruit qualities are still being obscured by tannins.
Deep, dark ruby. Forward bouquet from the beginning, even compared to the Thalabert. Red fruit as well: red raspberries, cherries and spice. Not as much black pepper. Medium weight and body although the alcohol content is 14.5% compared to Thalabert's 13%. More alcohol, more ripe fruit, less acid. A good representative of Australian Shiraz.
