Medium deep gold. Rich Chenin Blanc bouquet: ripe pears, apricots, wild flowers and a bit of honey. Easy going on entry, then gets richer, more complex and more concentrated as it travels down the palate. Lots of pleasure now, and I am sure it will get even better for those who have the patience and the time to wait.
Bright and color with an inch or more of bricking around the edges. No sign of oxidation! Clean and bright smells and flavors. Black fruits, ripe and lovely. Lifted bouquet of mint and aromatic spices. The texture is what amazes me the most: silky smooth, as light and as powerful as a fine Pinot Noir. Fabulous finish.
Typical deep, dark Shiraz color. Very aromatic and more oriented toward the fruit rather than the oak aging. Black berries, plums, anise seed and mint. Some black pepper tones emerge with aeration. Vibrant on the tongue, more acid and less sweetness than you would expect from a stereotypical Barossa Shiraz.
My local Trader Joe's sold out quickly, but staff assured me that more is on the way. I hope so.
Medium ruby. Freshly picked cherries and strawberries, mushrooms, earth and a hint of coriander on the finish. Medium body, vibrant acidity and maybe a bit too much tannin on the mid-palate for my taste. The finish leaves a pleasant and long-lasting impression.
Bright medium ruby. From the first sniff, I get powerful smells of fresh berries, red and black, on a background of aromatic herbs and a touch of eucalyptus. Fresh and enticing. Ripe fruit up front, supple tannins in the middle, mouthwatering finish. Blackcurrants and blue berries on the palate. If you have any of this, I see no reason to wait. It is delicious and inexpensive enough to drink frequently.
Bright crimson, deeper than most Chateauneufs of comparable age. Raspberries, strawberries, peppercorn and vanilla. Ripe fruit up front, then supple tannins on the mid-palate and a slightly warm (14.4%), deep fruited finish
Medium deep gold. Wonderful smells--white flowers, ripe pears, apples, minerals and a touch of honey. Good fruit/acid balance and a long, delightful finish. More aromatic than the 2017 Dijon Clone Chardonnay from Willamette Valley Vineyards we had last week but not quite as creamy or complex on the palate. No complaints, though, this is a fabulous wine.
Medium deep ruby. Intense smell and flavors of cherry, pomegranate, red flowers and vanilla. Medium body, medium plus acidity, 13% ABV. Tannins are noticeable but oh so ripe and delicious.
Deep, deep gold, almost copper colored. Yes there is oxidation but also some pleasant fruit and floral smells and flavors. Rose petals on the nose. Dried figs and apricots on the palate with a pleasant finish. Slightly salty; not as sweet or spicy as I expected. Actually, seems more like a well aged Pinot Gris than a spicy Gewurztraminer. Definitely old but definitely alive.
Medium yellow gold. Enchanting scents that carry over beautifully into the flavors. Ripe pear, white peach with peel, toasted coconut and a touch of honey. Sleek texture with bright acidity and lush fruit flavors. Long, vibrant finish.
The color is tawny of course: deep brick with some amber at the edges. Intense but elegant bouquet developed through 10 years or more in the barrel. Ten years refers to the average but with a Taylor Tawny, you can count on a little exaggeration to the up side rather than the down side. Very fine oak frames the complex flavors: ripe red fruits, toasted nuts, chocolate, figs and citrus zest. Very smooth, very long. When I visited Taylor Fladgate about a decade ago, I was particularly impressed with the 20-Year Tawny, and it is undeniably a giant step up. For the price, though, and for more frequent drinking, I am happy with this 10-Year-Old Tawny.
Medium deep garnet. Rich and creamy, as expected but so complex: dates, figs, nuts, maple sugar, toffee, coffee, dark chocolate, orange peel. Great acidity to cut through the sweeness and lead to a profound finish.
Bright garnet/ruby. Good depth and saturation. Intense fruit on the nose and on the palate. Red fruit, hints of tobacco and black pepper. Great balance. More like Pinot Noir than Temperanillo. I have had several bottles of this over the past five years, and this is probably the best.
Medium deep violet/ruby. Enticing bouquet of black raspberries, flowers and spice. Much of the same on the palate: dark cherries, cloves with white pepper on the finish. Deep fruit, ripe and delicious. Energetic mouth feel that awakens and teases the taste buds. I paid $12.49 for this bottle at D&W in Kalanazoo in March of 2019. More recent vintages have been more expensive.
Medium deep yellow. Pears, lemons, minerals. Medium bodied. Crisp, elegant, subtle. Full range of flavors on the long, satisfying finish. Seems to be in its prime but has the acidity to keep for at least another year or two. I bought at auction for $15.
Medium beet red. Bright with minimal signs of age. In fact, it is just coming into its own. Nebbiolo-like bouquet of rose petals and dark cherry. Same on the palate, and also some Nebbiolo-like black licorice. Tannins that braced earlier bottles have faded away, leaving delectable fruit and mouth watering acidity. An excellent Barbera; reminds me of the Nizza Barbera I had last week.
Medium yellow. Red Haven peaches and canteloupe. Good balance of sweet fruit and bright acidity. Subtle oak. According to the label, the wine is made by ASV Wines from organic fruit. The winery is located in Monterey's Arroyo Seco region, and I suspect at least some of the grapes come from there. For $5.99, it will grace my dinner table again.
Medium dark ruby. Black berries, black currants, coffee and vanilla. Tannins are soft and there is enough acidity to add freshness. 71% Cab, 29% Shiraz. The Shiraz fills doughnut hole in the middle. A great value.
In the center, the color is quite saturated--bright red with bluish tints. The garnet/orangeish tones of Nebbiolo are noticeable around the rim. With aeration, I get beautiful floral scents--violets and roses--mixed with red and purple fruits. Firm, grippy trannins and concentrated fruit that clings to the palate. Iron and spices, white pepper on the finish. Savory rather than sweet, almost tart in its acidity. Delicious.
This is the entry level red from Le Piane. I paid $17for it in November, 2018 at Eataly in Chicago. Other Boca wines from Le Piane are usually priced at $40 and up. I'm sure they are even more spectacular.
Bright red, medium dark. Fresh, fresh, fresh aromas of violets and red fruit. Fruity but very dry on the palate. Essence of red raspberries, red plums, spice and black pepper. Intense flavors that seem to hit all the taste buds. Hard to quit sniffing and sipping.
