Beautiful bright crimson. The aroma is enticing with fresh red berries and some floral tones. More of the same on the palate along with black and red currants and peppercorn-tinged strawberries. Not a simple wine but easy to drink and easy to like. I paid $5.69 at Plum Market in Ann Arbor.
Pale yellow, bright and clear. Citrus, pear and apple. Carneros elegance and lift. Has been matured in American oak but the oak smells and flavors are subtle and well managed. Medium bodied, medium acidity, smooth texture. I will be going back for more of this wine.
Ruby red but with some amber notes creeping in from the rim. Looks more mature than the bottle I had on June 1 of last year. Flavors are also a bit more mature than I remember, perhaps due to some bottle variation. Dark cherry, leather and spice. Medium light body and elegant mouthfeel. Barbera acidity keeps the flavors intense. Medium long, complex finish.
Dark color for a CDR; it is 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache. Beautifully enticing smells, even compared to the aromatic Franco Serra Barbera beside it at the table. Dark cherries, cassis, rosemary and thyme. More of the same on the palate along with back pepper and licorice. Ripe tannins with good balancing acidity on the mid palate and a lovely, lingering finish.
Beautiful bright ruby red. With Barbera, the appearance in the glass is almost worth the price of admission. Fresh berries, red and black, with earthy tones. Just ther right amount of rusticity. I could come back to this again and again.
Light ruby, clear and bright. Expansive aromas of wild flowers and fresh red berry fruit. Has the tartness of red raspberries shading to cranberries. Light bodied. Ample acidity to balance the ripe fruit. Pleasantly dry finish.
With sadness, I must report that Mary Elke closed shop in 2015, leaving only pleasant memories and stashed away bottles in the cellar. 2013, she reported, was a good vintage to lay away.
Dark color shading to amber with age. Beautiful nose of black fruit, currants, cassis, French oak. The label says the fruit, especially the Grenache and Mourvedre, comes from old bush vines, but the flavors lean more toward the fruity than the savory spectrum. Bold tannins and full body (14.5% alcohol).
Medium deep maroon color. Lovely smells of red and black currants, cassis and herbs. Black olives, meat and leather on the palate. Plenty of tannins but they are ripe and supple. Medium bodied. More acid than most Australian Shiraz.wines. Although it is already 17 years old, I suspect it will get even more enchanting over the next five to ten years.
