Deep and dark. Red and black berries, underbrush and spice. Broad shouldered for a Barbera. High tannin, high alcohol (14.5%) and the high acid that is typical of Barbera. Perhaps a big too big for what I want in a Barbera, but the well delineated red and black fruit flavors carry through nicely to a long finish.
Deep Chenin Blanc gold. And Chenin Blanc is also present in the beautiful aromas and flavors. Fresh peach, pear, canteloupe and a bit of honey. A mineral edge on the finish. Fresh and lively with a leesy richness on the palate. Very dry and only 12% alcohol. We had La Caleche with pesto pasta, but I can't think of any meal that would not be flattered by this wine.
Light, bright yellow with green tints. Fresh and lively. Jalapeno, honeydew melon and lemon grass. Medium light body. Clean, persistent finish. Available for $6.99 at my local Trader Joe's, this is an excellent choice if you are looking for an every day, mid-week white.
Medium deep ruby. Bright color. Red fruit and spice. Primary aromas and flavors. Intense raspberry fruit flavors with tongue tingling acidity. I bought a case and will be in no hurry to drink up the remaining bottles.
I bought a case of this Maison Leroy Bourgogne Rouge 1990 on futures for about $149/case. For a particularly good vintage, that was a good buy even in the early 1990s. When the case was delivered, the wine had clearly been exposed to high temperatures, and some bottles had leaked. I registered a respectful complaint but did not demand a refund since I had gotten a good price for a wine that I really wanted to drink. Because I was aware of the damage, I drank the case more quickly than I might have done, and the wine was really pretty good, better than other Bourgogne Rouge wines from that vintage and others.
As often happens, the final lonely bottle sat in my cellar for 30 years, and I assumed it was probably dead. But when my Cellar Tracker Pro software informed me that the wine is now worth $253, I had to open the cork. There were no stains on the label and little or no ullage from the bottle. The cork was recessed but tight and difficult to extract--apparently a good seal after the initial trauma Who knows what this wine might have been had it not been exposed to heat during its youth? But what is in my glass does not disappoint at all.
Medium ruby, clear and bright. Looks as young as ever. The bouquet is slow to open, but intense flavors are apparent immediately and get even better as the wine airs. Small red berries and spice. The texture is what Pinot Noir is all about. Light on the tongue but with a tensile strength. Ripe fruit that is suprisingly youthful but with the complex nuances that come with long aging. My experience with fine red Burgundy is limited, but this bottle is probably the best I have had. I don't buy $250 wines, but I just drank one. No complaints.
Medium deep yellow. This wine requires warmer temperature than most Chardonnays. As it warms and aerates, the flavors come forth. Citrus, pears, almonds. Great acidity--almost too much at first before the wine warms in the glass. Then the flavors come through, mellow, rich and complex.
Deep crimson, much darker than I expect from Cairanne, but then the cuvee has 40% Syrah. Intense Southern Rhone bouquet from the moment the cork is popped. The Syrah makes its presence felt with dark fruits and black pepper but there is plenty of Grenache cherry and red berry. Medium weight. The tannic backbone is always present, but it is friendly, fruit-filled and balanced nicely by an acidic edge. Good fruit definition on the finish. The label says can be cellared for 10 years, and, at age 9, it is doing quite well. If I had more, I would be in no hurry to drink them.
Medium light straw. Bright and clear. Fresh, clean inviting smells and flavors. Lemons, lime zest, mint, honeydew melon and a bit of jalapeno on the finish. I am not big on the green bell pepper trait that occurs in some cool climate Sauvignons, but jalapeno adds some complexity and interest. At the price, I am a frequent buyer.
Medium light garnet. I gave this bottle about two hours' aeration, and it benefited greatly. My first sip after pulling the cork was ripe and pleasant. By the end of two hours, I was getting deep, concentrated, complex fruit flavors. Red cherries, raspberries, spice. Depth and concentration that comes from slow ripening in a well situated vineyard. Acidity that makes it dance on the tongue. I have had the 2007 vintage of this wine several times; this 2009 is much better.
