Saturday Tasting 12/9/06
Today I am hosting yet another consumer tasting. I am presenting interesting wines for the holiday gift giving/dining needs. The wines are as follows:
Joseph Drouhin Macon-Villages, 2005
Pale golden in color (as it should be).
Aromatically this wine has some lovely fruit aromas (nectarine, peach) with some fresh almond notes and an underlying spice quality.
On the palate: clean, fairly dry, medium-coating and juicy.
Somewhat lingering finish with all of the flavors coming together quite nicely.
Good wine. Good value at about $10.
(2)
Castello della Sala (Antinori) Chardonnay Umbria IGT, 2005
(This wine is barrel fermented in 225L French Oak)
Pale gold.
Aromatics are predominently oaky, but it is that sweet, mellow nuance of the French oak that I love; it is just so inviting. Some cinnamon and spice, as well.
Smooth and fresh on the palate with somewhat big flavors; mouth filling flavors of vanilla and lemon cream.
Lengthy finish that is elegant, somewhat dry and very pleasant.
Very good wine.
(2-2+)
Carmel Road Pinot Noir Monterey, 2005
Dark garnet in color.
Cherries dominate the nose, with some raspberry and smoky accents, as well.
Snappy and mouthfilling with loads of Bing cherry flavors; the smoky quality lingers and is obviously derived from the oak aging (7 months in French Oak).
Finish is dry, medium in length - good Pinot for cocktail parties - would prefer another with food, though.
(1+)
Paraiso Pinot Noir Monterey / Santa Lucia Highlands, 2003
Deep garnet color.
Sweet cherry flavors on the nose with some anise accents.
Smooth and supple on the palate - easy and juicy.
Loads of cherry and sweet raspberry flavors; supple through the finish.
Very friendly wine, another cocktail wine.
(1++)
Tenuta di Castiglioni (Frescobaldi) Toscana IGT, 2004
Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Sangiovese 30%
Deep red color.
Spicy, inky nose with deep black-raspberry fruit.
Very smooth on the palate with rolling tannins and a nice, medium-dry quality; good mini-explosion of fruit flavors.
Lengthy finish with more flavor.
Very, very good in my opinion.
(2+)
Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, 2003
Cab Sauv 85%, Merlot 11%, mix of Cab Franc and Petite Verdot
Very deep color - bold ruby red.
Herbs, cassis and briary black raspberry aromas.
Super supple and smooth mouth-feel; loads of flavor.
Very rich, velvety tannins, loads of black-raspberry and spicy cherry/chocolate flavors.
Medium-long, supple finish.
Very Good.
(2-2+)
Joseph Drouhin Macon-Villages, 2005
Pale golden in color (as it should be).
Aromatically this wine has some lovely fruit aromas (nectarine, peach) with some fresh almond notes and an underlying spice quality.
On the palate: clean, fairly dry, medium-coating and juicy.
Somewhat lingering finish with all of the flavors coming together quite nicely.
Good wine. Good value at about $10.
(2)
Castello della Sala (Antinori) Chardonnay Umbria IGT, 2005
(This wine is barrel fermented in 225L French Oak)
Pale gold.
Aromatics are predominently oaky, but it is that sweet, mellow nuance of the French oak that I love; it is just so inviting. Some cinnamon and spice, as well.
Smooth and fresh on the palate with somewhat big flavors; mouth filling flavors of vanilla and lemon cream.
Lengthy finish that is elegant, somewhat dry and very pleasant.
Very good wine.
(2-2+)
Carmel Road Pinot Noir Monterey, 2005
Dark garnet in color.
Cherries dominate the nose, with some raspberry and smoky accents, as well.
Snappy and mouthfilling with loads of Bing cherry flavors; the smoky quality lingers and is obviously derived from the oak aging (7 months in French Oak).
Finish is dry, medium in length - good Pinot for cocktail parties - would prefer another with food, though.
(1+)
Paraiso Pinot Noir Monterey / Santa Lucia Highlands, 2003
Deep garnet color.
Sweet cherry flavors on the nose with some anise accents.
Smooth and supple on the palate - easy and juicy.
Loads of cherry and sweet raspberry flavors; supple through the finish.
Very friendly wine, another cocktail wine.
(1++)
Tenuta di Castiglioni (Frescobaldi) Toscana IGT, 2004
Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Sangiovese 30%
Deep red color.
Spicy, inky nose with deep black-raspberry fruit.
Very smooth on the palate with rolling tannins and a nice, medium-dry quality; good mini-explosion of fruit flavors.
Lengthy finish with more flavor.
Very, very good in my opinion.
(2+)
Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, 2003
Cab Sauv 85%, Merlot 11%, mix of Cab Franc and Petite Verdot
Very deep color - bold ruby red.
Herbs, cassis and briary black raspberry aromas.
Super supple and smooth mouth-feel; loads of flavor.
Very rich, velvety tannins, loads of black-raspberry and spicy cherry/chocolate flavors.
Medium-long, supple finish.
Very Good.
(2-2+)
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