I tried the new release of this wine last night after hearing a tremendous amount of praise from a few co-workers. Another great wine from Ben Smith. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, creamy red fruit, raspberry, cherry, maybe even some red plum, great bittersweet chocolate, stemmy character, seamless integration of fruit, oak, and spice, with no earth to speak of. On the palate, dry, medium tannin, velvety mouth feel, reminded me of the great acai smoothies that my cousin Jason makes, with lingering spice and herbal character. Elegant wine that’s very well made and made me sit down and enjoy it.

Tags: 2006, Bel Canto, Cadence Winery, Red Mountain

I have had a few of the past five vintages from this Chateau and really liked each one. The 03 was exceptional, a lot less Old World than I anticipated. On the nose, youthful, loads of dark fruit, cherries, currants, blackberries, tobacco, leather, cedar, spice, some oak, some earth, and very California Cabernet-like. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, bright fruit, great cocoa component, some earth, medium tannins, medium acidity, medium alcohol, a silkiness to the mouthfeel, with great balance and length on the finish. Extremely impressive wine from the warmest vintage in Bordeaux in quite some time, which would explain the overt fruitiness.

Tags: 2003, Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac

I was really impressed by this wine. Amazing nose, moving toward bouquet, medium+ intensity, figs, meat, smoke, black tea, chalky earth, anise, clove, slight oak, and yes, loads of earth. On the palate, explosive cherry fruit, med+ tannin, medium acidity, tea, herbs, and licorice on a long structured and elegent finish. Wine Spectator gave this 88 pts, I thought it was more like a 90, and want to see how this evolves. I think it’s a flower just starting to open.

Tags: 2003, Brunello di Montalcino, Fattoria Dei Barb, Sangiovese

It’s getting harder and harder to find reasonable priced Priorat, a region in Spain southwest of Barcelona, know for it’s hill towns and old vine Cariñena and Garnacha. On the nose, youthful, earth, leather, cherry, strawberry, herbs and flowers, not oaky, and lots of earth. On the palate, dry, explosive fruit, med+ tannins, balanced with great acidity, and a very long complex finish dominated by spice. This will easily go ten years in the cellar and get more complex. Expensive but a definite treat. Josh Reynalds scored this 94 pts and it retails for all over the $70″s on different sites, I’ll beat anyone’s price.

Tags: 2004, Cariñena, Clos Martinet, Garnacha, Priorat, Spain

Not sure of the reason for the vintage variance in the Ribera del Duero, but it exists, I’m sure mother nature had something to do with how different these two wines were. I found the 02 to be brighter in both fruit and tannin. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, cherry, red currants, game, tobacco, definite earth, and med+ levels of oak, but layered enough to stand up to the oak. On the palate, dry, big time structure, big time tannins, lay this down and revisit in 7-10 years.

Tags: 2002, Ribera del Duero, Valbuena, Vega Sicilia

Another vertical sampling from the legendary producer from Ribera de Duero. I am scared to see how expensive the Unico has gotten. This Tempranillo had a very intriguing nose, moving toward bouquet, of medium plus intensity, smoked pork, dark berry, leather, tobacco, oak of the American variety, and a lot of earth. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium body, medium tannin, nicely structured, with a long balanced finish. Nice wine, but I bought the 97 for $75 a year ago, and thats just too much of a price jump.

Tags: 2001, Ribera del Duero, Valbuena, Vega Sicilia

I am revisiting this wine as I am trying not to spend that much and still drink well made wine. This Malbec got big scores from critics and ranks #1 in the number of bottles that I have sold at ambassador of wine. Should be about $10 in your retail store and anyone savvy enough to pour this ny the glass I have a lot of respect for. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, inky dar berry, wet earth, graphite, creme de cassis, some game, some oak, and slight earth, but overtly new world. On the palate, dry, medium tannin, medium alcohol, bright red berries, some spice, nicely integrated oak, and a nice finish. Nice wine especially considering how much I paid for it.

Tags: 2005, Argetina, Malbec, Mendoza, Pascal Toso

I love vertical samplings, mainly you see what mother nature does and how winemakers try to adapt. The 04 was certainly more opulent on the nose, of medium intensity, hay fruit loops cereal, meat, smoke, cherry, tobacco, leather, some oak, and definite earth. On the palate, dry, monstrous tannin, med+ acidity, the fruit is bright enough that this wine wine last a long time. I would like to see what this wine is like in seven years.

Tags: 2004, Bodegas Pintia, Tinto de Toro

The family that runs Vega Sicilia started this Toro project and has always been well received by both media and critics. Featuring the Tinto de Toro grape, one of many clones of Tempranillo. On the nose, youthful but muted, medium- intensity, wet earth, cherry, tobacco, spice, and hay, with some oak. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, medium+ tannins, just a massive wine on the palate, although the tannins are covering up the fruit a bit. Bright dark berries, leather, dirt, and a long spicy finish.

Tags: 2003 Bogedgas Pintia, Tempranillo, Tinto de Toro, Toro

This was a new wine to our market, scouted by the venerable Peter Dow of Cavatappi Distribuzione. 50% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache from the Denner and Booker Vineyards in Pasa Robles. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, mulberry jam, strawberry, game, white pepper, mint, paste, not earthy, and nicely balanced oak flavors. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, medium tannin, medium alcohol, big time presence, and a balanced long finish. Spendy for something I haven’t heard of before but that is all too common these day.

Tags: 2006 Villa Creek Cellars, Avenger, Pasa Robles