Bright ruby with orangeish tones typical of Nebbiolo. Tar and roses, indeed! Very aromatic and very Nebbiolo. Dark cherries, rich and concentrated. Substantial skin tannins on the mid-palate provide flavor as well as structure. Plenty of acidity for balance. And then the dark cherry finish, which gets more sumptuous, concentrated and complex with every sip.
Deep and dark red. Has all the concentrated smells and flavors that I associate with Willamette Valley Pinot: cherries, pepper and spice. Sweet French oak balanced with orange zest acidity. Lots of complexity on the finish. I have had some excellent Oregon Pinots over the past several months, and this measures up nicely for quality and value.
Figs, nuts and eucalyptus honey. Rich and mellow with a pleasant bite on the finish.
Medium garnet, lighter than the 1985 Sociando Mallet beside it at the table. Smells and flavors, though, are much brighter and fresher. Red as well as black fruits plus some coffee, pencil shavings and spice. Ripe tannins and tangy acidity. Sparkling complexity on the long finish. The highlight of the evening and a good match for beef tenderloin with a mushroom wine reduction sauce.
The color has some bricking but is darker than the 1985 Poujeaux. Smells are a bit muted, but no one at the table found any hint of cork taint. Some pleasant red and black fruit flavors but also a bit muted and dry. I suspect this may have cork taint but slight enough that it does not show up in the damp cardboard smells usually associated with TCA.
Good deep Cabernet color. Well preserved fruit. Currants, berries, spice. More black than red fruits. Acid, tannin, fruit, oak in good balance. A bit of sediment on the last pour. Holding well with no sign of decline. This wine is in this week's WineBid auction with a reserve of $25.
Medium ruby with orangish tones typical of Nebbiolo. Red cherries, roses and licorice, as you might expect. Both red and black fruits. Acidity that makes it dance across the palate.
More red fruit acidity in this wine compared to Perbacco. Sleeker on the mid-palate but still plenty of rich cherry fruit. The strength and structure of a Barolo; yet, it's much more accessible than the last bottle I had a few years ago. Very good but may not have reached its peak.
After an hour or two of aeration, Perbacco is open and ready for business. Red berry fruit, rose petal and menthol. Medium bodied with lovely fruit, perfectly balanced between ripe tannins and fresh acidity.
Medium ruby, brighter and deeper than the Offerus even though it is three years older. Intense red and black fruits, leather and spice. Prominent acidity and the hallmark Thalabert finish that keeps the tongue tingling for minutes. This 1995 is not as good as others in the series, notably the 1983, 1990, 1988, 1985. But it is Thalabert, and I love it.
Medium deep garnet/ruby. The color is changing, but the wine is just as enticing as it was when I first tasted it 20-some years ago. Compared to the Spanish and Australian Syrah wines beside it on the table, it stands out for its crisp red berry berry acidity that comes across in the bouquet as well as the flavors. Black fruits and cassis too. A wine that just keeps getting better with every sip. 1998 was one of the early years for Offerus and it was available in my market for about $20. The price has gone up a bit since then, but is still a bargain.
Medium deep color, bricking a bit. Very expressive bouquet of red and black fruit, eucaplyptus and spice. Intense flavors of ripe berries, tobacco and menthol with good acidity. Drinking beautifully now and should hold or get better over the next few years.
Very dark, opaque. Quite a bit of sediment; You can tease some lovely floral aromatics from this wine, but on the palate it's dense and powerful. Ripe black and purple fruits and spices on an earthy, mineral background. The wine is significantly better, in my opinion, because of the Petit Verdot in the blend.
Medium light ruby, slightly lighter than the Sheldon. Lilting scents from the time the cork is popped. More aromatic than the Sheldon. Also sweeter than the Sheldon with less prominent tannins. It is three years older, of course. Slightly tart red berries, lovely acidity and a finish that just doesn't stop. Intense, delicate, powerful. Roma's V, I love you!
Medium light garnet, lighter around the rim. Not extremely aromatic compared to the Couloir Roma's Vineyard Pinot beside it at the table. Flavors though are intense, complex and delicious. Sour cherries and cranberries. Tannins on the mid-palate are ripe and lovely with plenty of intense acidity to balance.
The yellow gold color has darkened a bit but is bright and clear. Ripe apple, blood orange and orange zest on the nose. Round and rich in the mouth but with crisp acidity. Sweet and savory flavors on the mid-palate and finish. Perfect right now.
Purplish red, opaque. Very aromatic with a lush mouth feel. Blackberries, blue plums and cassis but also red berries and cherries. The contrast of red and black fruits adds some delightful tension. I detect a spicy, herbal component on the finish that is not really typical of any of the grapes used in the blend. It's an attractive trait, and I can see it becoming ever more prominent as the wine ages.
I bought this wine last summer, intending to try it to see if I should buy more. Unfortunately, I don't think it is still on the shelves of my local Costco.
Medium deep yellow. Tropical fruit at first but more apple and pear flavors as the wine warms and aerates. Minerals and spice. Medium acidity. Drinking beautifully now, but I don't think this is a 10-year Chardonnay.
Bright, medium deep ruby/violet. Enticing scents and flavors of cherries, sweet and sour, vanilla and black pepper. Bright and lively fruit. Adds another dimernsion to the meal. From my memory, this 2017 is substantially better tonight than it was when I last had it on February 22 of this year.
Dark ruby violet color. Dark cherries, black currants, flowers. Ripe fruit and oak. A touch of blood orange zest on the lush finish. This wine would not embarrass itself in a lineup of single vineyard Oregon Pinots selling for $50 and up.
Light yellow, bright and youthful despite its age. Aromas of lime, pineapple, spice and white flowers. A rich wine but oh so elegant. Silky mouthfeel and well delineated flavors of fruit, spice, minerals and toast. Long finish is punctuated by a distinct note of ripe apple.
On the second night, after being re-corked, this wine is even better..;and more what I expected. The color is deeper as a result of more exposure to air and the smells and flavors are also deeper and richer. Very aromatic: flowers, tropical fruit, honeysuckle and spice. Full on the mid-palate with a slight leesy effect. Again, the distinct note of ripe apple on the finish
Bright crimson, surprisingly deep for an 18-year-old wine. Bright cherries, red berries, violets, cassis. Round structure, well balanced for fruit, acid, tannin. Grainy tannins at first but with an hour of aeration, they seem to fade away, leaving full access to the lovely red berry flavors. Lots of spicy Mourvedre nuances on the long finish. I love it.
Bright medium dark crimson. Primary grapes for this wine are Carignan and Cinsult, but it still comes across to me as a very good Grenache-oriented wine. Fresh blueberries and strawberries plus fruit spice from the Carignan and Cinsault. Juicy and ripe with acidity that keeps me coming back for sip after sip. As an accompaniment to penne pasta with a rich tomato sauce, this is perfect.
Medium dark ruby, bright and clear. Fresh cherrry-oriented aromas typical of Barbera. Has good Barbera acidity but more tannic structure than the Fontanafredda Barbera I had last night. Delicious fruit tannins with the grip and spice of red and black raspberries
