Bright, medium ruby. Very aromatic: violets, rose petals, dark cherries, anise seed. At 10 years, the smells and flavors are clean, bright and fresh. Very fruit forward but not at all simple. Has the depth and complexity that you expect from Nebbiolo. It's on my buy list.
Very dark. Black berries, dark cherries and layers of black licorice. Full bodied and rich, almost like a Ripasso in its fruit concentration. Drinking well now but enough acid and tannin to carry it for many years.
I bought this wine from Wall Street Journal Wines as a Montepulciano Challenge--three bottlers of La Chiamata and three bottles of Roma Rosso. Both were very good, but I think my vote goes to the Roma. Here are my notes for the Roma:
Deep, dark and bright. Very aromatic from the time the cork is popped. Dark cherries, black berries with a touch of cinnamon and dark chocolate on the finish. Good concentration, this is a serious wine. Plenty of acid, plenty of tannin--maybe a bit too much for current drinking.
Medium dark ruby red. 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan. Syrah elegance showing. Black raspberries, currants, cassis. Rich texture, concentrated flavors. Dark chocolate/black pepper on the fruit driven finish. This is what I expect from a Cotes du Rhone, and it is very hard to find today at this price point.
Wow! This wine, at 27 years of age, just shouts freshness. Cherries, black and red, as well as strawberries, blue plums spice and pepper. More acid and more tannin than the Vieux Donjon but still with a savory/sweet Chateaueuf profile. This has much to recommend it, and two of us rated it as Wine of the Day until we went back for a second go at the Vieux Donjon. In terms of aging, 1998 was a controversial Southern Rhone vintage (too ripe for some critics), but these are two wines that have aged admirably.
Bricking moving in from the edges. Deep, layered fruit, ripe and lovely. Fairly low acidity for a Chateauneuf but that makes it taste even more luxurious. Salty, savory notes frame the ripe, luscious middle.
Some rusty tones in the medium maroon color as to be expected. Ripe strawberries and spice very reminiscent of traditional Southern Rhone wines. Great texture. A wine that seduces you rather rather than bowling you over. Has matured well but probably isn't going to last as long as a traditional Chateauneuf du Pape.
Dark Shiraz tones in color, smells and flavors. Mulberries, blackberries, spice and black pepper.Best's has some of the oldest and finest Shiraz vineyards in Australia, and all the good Shiraz traits come through in this unique sparkling wine.
Rusty ruby/garnet Nebbiolo color. Glorious scents of flowers and wild berries. Cranberries, tart cherries, delicate but intense and powerful. Rose petals, violets, herbs, forest floor. Has been aged 12 to 24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels. Barolo with a mineral edge and lighter tannins. No apologies; this is a special wine.
From a 1500 ml bottle. Dark ruby red. Expressive bouquet. Red and black cherries, some herbal tones. Low tannin, high acidity typical of Barbera. Well balanced for drinking right now.
The color is much lighter, of course. Brickish red. The bouquet has less fresh fruit and more earthy, autumnal scents. Leaner on the mid-palate but with a tensile strength like a fine Pinot Noir. Savory, salty nuances that linger so beautifully. This is the magic that only comes with age and only with the few wines worth aging. Reminds me a lot of some of my favorite Domaine Thalabert (Paul Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage) wines from the 1980s.
Deep and dark, looks young for a 20-year-old wine. Strong black fruit smells and flavors--blackberries, black raspberries, menthol, some floral tones. and French oak spices. We have had this wine several times over the past decade, and it has evolved a bit but still has the same black fruit Shiraz personality.
Deep, dark and bright. Very aromatic from the time the cork is popped. Dark cherries, black berries with a touch of cinnamon and dark chocolate on the finish. Good concentration, this is a serious wine. Plenty of acid, plenty of tannin--maybe a bit too much for current drinking.
I bought this through a special offered by Wall Street Journal Wines through an ad in the Sunday New York Times.
Deep gold, not much darker than the younger wine beside it. The nose is much more expressive: wildflowers, lemon, honey, yeast and minerals. Very rich on the mid-palate--lemon curd, creme brulee. Clean, mineral driven finish. A real treat.
Probably because bidders were leery of a nine-year-old Chardonay, I got this bottle and another for $15 each on WineBid.
Medium deep gold, bright and clear. Needs some warmth and aeration to open up. Honeydew melon, guava, citrus and, finally, some savory tones on the finish. Still lacks the lemon curd, honey flavors that developed in the 2017. They will come, I assume, if I have enough patience.
Deep and dark. Blackberries, blue plums, cassis, chocolate and vanilla. Full bodied (14.5%) but not overly okay. 73% Cabernet with Shiraz that admirably fills the mid-palate. with a Rich texture. This is a good example of Barossa Cabernet Shiraz even it it lacks the nobility (and price) of Coonawarra fruit. For $5.99, of course, it is an excellent value.
Very dark maroon color. One year in large seasoned oak barrels and then six months in stainless steel before bottling. Exotic scents of violets, wild blueberries, huckleberries, spices and minerals. Full bodied but delicate, nuanced flavors that coat the tongue. Deep, concentrated finish.
Brilliant maroon, vlolet color. Has all the entrancing smells of Nebbiolo at its best: roses, cherries, black raspberries, black licorice. Fresh, vibrant flavors dance on the tongue with acidity that keeps you coming back for sip after sip. Plenty of tannins from both grapes, but they provide a structure that enhances rather than blocks the fresh fruit flavors. A good match for almost any food.
At $18 to $22 a bottle, L'Informale may be a bit pricey for every day use, but for "informal" or even "formal" occasions, the quality is hard to beat.
Brilliant gold, light for a 9-year-old Chardonnay. White flowers and fruit on the bouquet. Rich, buttery texture with flavors of toasted brioche and honey with a spicy, slightly citric edge typical of Pouilly Fuisse. Beautiful finish
Deep ruby. 80% Grenache, but the red berry and black pepper traits typical of Grenache are not as prominent as you might think. 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre produce darker tones of black and blue berries, blue plums and cassis. Firm tannins but sleek texture on the mid-palate and finish. Beautiful now but will probably improve.
