Very dark and deep. Black currants and dark cherries. Aggressive on the mid-palate but fruit-oriented and very approachable even at its young age. Good acidity for a warm climate wine. Black licorice and black pepper on the medium finish. More than just a pizza wine. After tasting a bottle, I went back and took the six bottles left on the shelf. If it appears again, I will buy more.
Medium deep yellow. Bright, fruit-oriented smells and a rich mouthfeel. Lemon curd and minerals. Lees contact rather than oak is giving this wine its complexity and flavor interest. Beautiful wine.
The 2018 WillaKenzie Chardonnay, in its sixth year, is now discounted at Plum Market in Ann Arbor and other places for about $15, half of its usual retail price.
Bright crimson, translucent. Even though it is nearing its 15th birthday, this wine still requires at least two hours of aeration to show its best. Cranberries, red raspberries, violets. Swirl and enjoy. Bright flavors on the palate: red berries, sour cherries and cinnamon. Very expressive in a graceful, elegant way. It's easy to identify the acid thrust that enlivens the wine, but the tannins are also there on the mid-palate and finish, delicate, lacey and full of ripe fruit flavors. One critic (Vinous) found the finish "Chambolle-like." I don't have that much experience with fine red Burgundy, but I find it heavenly.
I paid $15 at auction for this 2009. The current vintage can be found for about $20 a bottle--an incredible bargain.
Much darker than the Thalabert but conisistent with Crozes Syrah. More forward in aromas and flavors. Blackberries, cassis and pepper. Lots of black pepper. In fact, in the end, the black pepper ends up defining the wine and drowning out the fruit. One dimensional compared to Thalabert, but then what do you expect?
Medium light crimson, a solid cork and very little sediment. For an hour or so, the bouquet is a bit muted, but the flavors are classic Thalabert. The scents that emerge over time are well worth the wait. Red and black fruits, grilled tomatoes, a hint of black pepper. Acidity that keeps the lovely flavors moving down the tongue from front to back. Comes at you from many directions, twists and turns, highs and lows. Teases and pleases. Of course, it does not measure up to the 1983, 1990, 1988 or 1991, but it is still top of the line red Syrah from Crozes-Hermitage. I love it.
Maturity is reflected in the light to medium ruby color. Intense and expansive smells of ripe cherries, red berries and flowers. Sweet pie cherries on the palate along with touches of orange zest and spice. Velvety mouth feel Tannins are ripe and balanced by good acidity. Lovely, ripe finish. Irresistible.
Deep and bright. Lovely smells of fresh berries, red and blue, along with herbs and spice. Fuller bodied, it seems, than past vintages but just as friendly and open. Ventoux black pepper and spice on the mid-palate and finish. Never disappointing.
3 Messes Basses is made by the cooperative at Mont Ventoux and sells for about $12 a bottle. It is worth every penny and more. In the 2019 vintage, it is 60% Grenache, 20% Carignan and 20% Syrah.
Medium deep red. A bit thin on aromas and flavors at first but grows with aeration. Cherries, red berries, dark tones. Less floral, less chalky and a bit lighter in body than the Gigondas (although both are 14.5% alcohol). Flavors and complexity grow with aeration. A very enjoyable wine but I would still be willing to pay the extra price for the Gigondas.
Deep, medium dark ruby. Violets, dark cherries, baking spices, dark licorice tones. Firm tannins on the mid palate lead to cascading flavors of ripe blueberry fruit on the long and pleasure-packed finish.
Bright ruby, deep and dark. Classic Cabernet smells and flavors. Ripe and fresh. Red and black currants, mint and spice. Well defined flavors and a persistent finish. Tannins are ripe and accompanied by good red fruit acidity. Was a perfect match for Easter roast lamb dinner.
Cork is surprisingly intact for a wine of this age and there is no noticeable ullage. The color is brickish and very light, similar to the 1989 Chante Perdrix I enjoyed many times in my 60s and 70s. Light, delicate body and mouth feel, very much like a Pinot Noir. The smells and flavors are ethereal. Sweet and savory. Strawberries, dried and fresh, and spices galore: mint, cinnamon, nutmeg, warm tea. Sits so lightly on the palate but leaves so much pleasure. Gets better with every sip. Very much like the 1989 Perdrix and seemingly ageless.
Bright ruby red. Vibrant cherry and red berry backed by spice and black papper. The tannins are soft but the Barbera acidity is present in full force to keep the flavors rich, lively and persistent. This wine ordinarily sells for about $15, but,I bought it for less than half that price through Dave Russo's MegaBev Wine Buyer's Alert. At either price, it's a bargain.
Bright ruby red. Blackberries, blueberries and plums with dark chocolate on the mid palate. Full bodied and full flavored. Enough acid to tease the back palate. I liked it enough to come back for bottles of the 2020 when I saw them offered on the shelf, and I will reach for it again with every day meals..
Medium to light color with amber forming at the rim. Mature and lovely. Scents of red berries, flowers (fresh and dried) and forest floor. Red raspberries, cranberries--fresh and ripe. Excellent acidity with hints of citrus zest on the long, lovely finish.
Medium deep garnet. Aromas of violets and fresh strawberries leading to flavors of black licorice, spice and leather. Full and rich on the palate. A bit of austerity at this stage from the tannins but pleasing finish featuring fruit and minerals.
Beautiful bright ruby color. Cherries, red raspberries. Excellent balance of ripe fruit, tannin and acidity. Sits lightly on the tongue but leaves a lasting impression. The pasta was rich; the wine was elegant but not at all overshadowed.
Dark crimson color, bright and youthful. Dark cherries but also some bright red fruit tones. Ripe fruit with lively acidity. Just the right amount of earth and forest floor with white pepper on the long finish. At $36 AU, this is an excellent value
Medium dark garnet. Minimal bricking. Entrancing bouquet of red and black fruits, flowers, eucalyptus and white pepper. Lovely ripe fruit with savory tones. Finesse rather than power. Has aged beautifully and is not finished yet. Ranks very high on my all-time list.
Deep and dark for a Pinot Noir. Black fruits, minerals, spice, pepper. Pleasant warm smells and flavors. Drinking beautifully now, but I don't see it fading away any time soon
Deep and dark for a Pinot Noir. Very similar to the Carrick beside it at the table. As for aromas and flavors, the two wines are very different. The Gibbston strikes me as cool, the Carrick, warm in both smell and taste. Red raspberries, strawberries, minerals. Spicy, peppery finish. Deep, concentrated flavors with potential for aging.
Bright ruby, considerably lighter than the Mt Difficulty. Red berries, dark cherries, spice. Lighter on the tannins, good acidity on the ripe fruited finish. I like the depth and complexity. This could match up with salmon or lighter dishes as well as the lamb shanks on the table.
Very deep and dark for a Pinot Noir. A big wine that matches up well with the lamb shanks on the table. Strawberries, boysenberries and spice. Ripe tannins on the mid-palate and good Pinot acidity on the finish. A very enjoyable wine but doesn't measure up to the North Canterbury Pinots tasted at Greystone Winery (see below) or Pegasus Bay.
Medium deep ruby, darker than the Vineyard Ferment. Greater intensity, more tannin with acidity and concentration similar to the Vineyard Ferment. Ripe red berry fruit with complex, savory flavors that will undoubtedly develop even more with cellar aging. Sells for $135NZ (about $80US) at the cellar door.
Medium deep ruby. Slightly funky aromas but more intense at this stage than the Waipara Hills. Cherries, red plums, black tea and oak.Good tannin/acid balance. Some unexpected complexity on the finish.
Medium deep ruby. Aromas of dark cherries, violets and spice. Medium intensity. I like the hints of white pepper/citrus zest on the finish. A good value at $10 to $15 a bottle.
Medium garnet. Bright red fruit, mint and toasty oak. Bright acidity, citrus zest on the finish. Subtle nuances on the finisgh as the wine develops over the course of the meal. A good value at $15 to $20 a bottle.
Bright, medium deep crimson. Looks like a traditional Cotes du Rhone Villages. And the smells and flavors also match up. Grenache (70%) strawberry with darker fruits from the Syrah (30%). Clean, well defined fruit with a white pepper finish. Perhaps a bit sweeter than a CDR Villages, bur, in a blind tasting, I would have a hard time distinguishing it from a high quality Cairanne or Valreas
For the current vintage of this wine, the winemaker describes it as a "bright cardinal red." As an avid St. Louis Cardinals' baseball fan, that is enough to attract my attention. One sniff and sip convinced me that it is indeed worthy of wearing Cardinal red.
Ripe red berries, plums and spice. An exuberant experience in the nose and in the mouth. Acidity that creates almost a tart impression. Teases the taste buds and leaves a long, satisfying after taste. This Barbera usually sells for $25, but I purchased it during a special sale at D&W in Kalamazoo two years ago. The current vintage is now on sale for $14.98 at Plum Market in Ann Arbor, but you will have to go on a wait list to get some. If it's anything like this 2019, it is well worth the wait.
Medium deep yellow. Lovely smells of ripe apple, honeydew melon and white peaches. The wine was fermented in French oak barrels, 9% new, but the aromas seem oriented more toward fruit than oak. Like an Oregon Chardonnay on the tongue: intense flavors of lemon cream and minerals. Great texture. Clings to the tongue and sparkles with energy.
Deep ruby red. Red cherries, pomegranates, dried flowers, spice and a bit of black pepper. Pure Pinot fruit, ripe and well defined. Silky texture with good acidity to frame the flavors. Grows in the glass.
Bright, translucent ruby red. Cherries, berries--fresh and lively. Smooth texture with ripe fruit and bright acidity. Medium long and flavorable finish.
Deep, dark crimson. A big wine, full bodied and highly extracted--not at all what I expect from a Ventoux. The alcohol is too high (15%) for me, and the flavors are hot and somewhat bitter. 75% Grenache but none of the friendly tones of Southern Rhone Grenache.
Second night: Hey, I was too tough on this wine last night. Tonight, I can smell the cherries and taste some ripe Grenache fruit on the finish. Maybe it just needed air. Or maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention. I still get some alcoholic heat, but there is enough acidity to keep it fresh. For the price, though, ($15.49), I prefer Ventoux from Famille Perrin ($6.79) and 3 Messes Basses ($10 to $12).
Medium deep crimson. Enticing bouquet of cherries, blueberries, violets and Provencal herbs. Mourvedre showing. On the palate, the Grenache is doing its part: ripe strawberries and white pepper. Fills the mouth with pleasure. Old vine nuances on the long finish. Now nearing the end of its second decade, this Cairanne is still going strong. Sadly, this is my last bottle.
Medium deep red, surprisingly similar to the beet root slices in a plate beside it on the table. Mulberries, red and black currants, cassis, chocolate. A good level of acidity. Not a blockbuster. Lovely finish featuring ripe, well defined fruit.
Bright crimson. Dark cherry, strawberries on a background of peppery spice. Very much a traditional Cotes du Rhone, heavy on the Grenache. Lovely ripe smells and flavors that develop and grow with the flavors of the dish. A wine I would gladly buy in quantity if it were available in my marketing area.
Still deep and dark after more than three decades in the bottle. Black raspberries, cherries, black olives and those distinctive Thalabert minerals. Enough acidity to keep the fruit fresh and lively. Makes the tongue dance and sing. I have been drinking Thalabert since the 1979 vintage, and this 1991 is one of my favorites. Better than the 1995 we had in December, but not quite as good as the 1983 we had in October, 2023.
Bright ruby red. Smells and flavors of red berries, cherries, violets and black pepper. A good structure of ripe tannins and fresh acidity. Peppery finish. Works beautifully with acorn squash filled with cranberries and pecans.
Medium light ruby, bright and clear. Strawberries, raspberries, a touch of pepper. Ripe but well defined flavors framed by fresh acidity. Drinks well with food, even beef tenderloin in a mushroom/Cabernet sauce. Yes, it;s fun, but that doesn't mean it's simple.
Deep and dark; looks younger than its years. Old time smells and flavors of blackberries, currants, cassis and vanilla. American oak? A broad shouldered 1980s Cab. Slightly rough on the mid palate but a compelling finish with suggestions of balsamic and pomegranate.
Medium lemon yellow compared to a medium dark gold with the Rock Station. The bouquet is not Carneros, of course, but it has some of the Carneros elegance plus beautiful complexity and depth. Apples, lemon custard, minerals. Great acid structure to support the ripe fruit flavors.
Medium light garnet, slightly murky just as I described the bottle consumed in 2016. Perhaps this is because the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered; I find no negative effects on the smells and flavors. The bouquet may not be as floral or intense as the previous bottle, but the enthralling flavors of ripe wild strawberries gliding across the tongue from front to back are just as intense and persistent. Silky Pinot texture and ample acidity to delight the senses. A very special wine.
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