Deep old gold, nearly turning to copper. Apricots, coconut, honey--botrytis in spades. Very rich and fat on the palate, like apricot puree. I opened it to drink with an apricot tart, and it was a perfect match. One taster compared it to a German Trockenbeerenauslese, and I agree. Loads of pleasure in this little half bottle.
Deep and dark, almost opaque. The wine is aged in barrels used previously for the high-end Grange Hermitage. Good barrels, seaoned but still showing plenty of oak qualities. Black fruits, coffee, dark chocolate and sea salt. As the winery points out, it combines savory and sweet qualities. Still very young but has the texture, complexity and depth of a fine wine in or near its prime. A special wine but I am going to wait a few years before drinking my next bottle.
Deep, dark crimson with minimal bricking at the rim. Very spicy bouquet, vanilla and baking spice. Black raspberries, cassis, vanilla and a touch of coconut. Rich on the mid-palate with good balance of fruit, oak and alcohol. Slight attenuation on the finish but a very good wine that has aged well.
Light straw color. Riesling smells of apple, peach and petrol. Also has Riesling acidity and flavors. Residual sugar gives it a touch of sweetness but, for my taste, not at all unwelcome. I am looking forward to trying more bigLITTLE wines;.
Medium ruby. None of the blue or purple tones that indicate new oak maturation. Smells like Syrah--red and black fruits with a hint of spice and pepper. Same on the palate--unadorned Shiraz fruit, soft and accessible. I suspect that it might improve with a few years in the bottle, but there is no need to wait. It is very enjoyable right now.
Deep, dark Syrah color. Still youthful. Black raspberry, cassis, black pepper and toasted oak. Reminds me of the wines made in the laste 1980s by Australia's legendary winemaker Trevor Mast at Mount Langi Ghiran. Still has some tannin to lose but the acidity keeps it fresh and lively right now. Strong, likeable fruit.
Dark almost muddy color. Has darkened from white to rose to copper to dark red over the years. Lovely peach and honey smells and flavors. Bursting with life. 8.5% alcohol but loaded with acidity and sweetness--like a fresh picked Red Haven peach in late August. Too acidic to accompany dessert (pavlova with whipped cream and strawberries) but very refreshing as an after dinner treat. My last of 24 half bottles purchased many years ago.
Brickish color reflects the changes that have taken place over the last 34 years. The smells and flavors though get better with each passing year. Savory rather than fruity. Black fruits, cassis, black olives and cured meats. Rich flavors on the mid palate and amazing complexity. Acidity that brings the flavors into sharp focus. At least as good, maybe better than the bottle I had last year. Both the 1985 and 1988 are still going strong. The 1983 and 1990 are even better.
Deep gold. Deeper and darker than I remember from the last bottle. It may look overly mature but still has lots of life. Lemon creme, pears and sweet spice. Bracing acidity. A cascade of flavors that get richer and more enjoyable with every sip. Leaner and less complex than the 2012 but still very good.
Very dark. More purple than I am used to seeing. Blackberries, currants, cassis, vanilla. Tannins that give strructure but do not obscure the flavors. Warm and friendly on the finish. This wine might gain some complexity with a few years in the bottle, but it might also lose some of its charming Cabernet fruit. It's priced for every day drinking.
Deep crimson/ruby. Beautiful scents of violets, red and black fruits, Mourvedre spice. Rich fruit on the mid-palate, ripe fruit and skin tannins but no sign of new oak. Mellow red fruit finish. This cuvee now sells for $25 to $30 but is still good value at that price.
Light, bright straw. Smells of grapefruit, passion fruit, melon. Some textural richness on the palate that reminds me of a Bordeaux Blanc. Medium light citric finish.
Light brick color. The cork was difficult to remove. Has the smells of savory, mature Chateauneuf du Pape. I love it. Mellow but still full of life. Dried strawberries, compact and concentrated. Very concentrated. Long finish. Wish I had a few more.
Dark ruby purple which can be attributed to the skin color of the grapes rather than oak treatment. Exciting scents of fresh cherries, red and black fruits, iron. Fruity but not frivolous. Medium bodied. Dolceto is generally less acidic than Barbera but this wine has enough to keep me coming back for sip after sip. What I love best, though, is the pleasantly bitter finish, with notes of almonds and walnut husk.
It's too dark in the restaurant to note the color, but smells and flavors confirm that the wine is made by a staunch traditionalist (without barriques). Enchanting scents of red flowers, dark cherries, savory spices and black pepper. Very peppery. Seems approachable and elegant on initial sips, but the characteristic Nebbiolo dryness becomes more and more apparent as the meal progresses. Still very bold and tannic; should age well. Flavors follow me all the way back to our hotel. A special wine that is selling for $16.99 at Binny's in Chicago.
