sue hutchinson

Domaine De La Ville Rouge Inspiration Crozes Hermitage 2007, Ac

Syrah from red wine-tasing with C&F and D&B

Spicy (cloves/pepper) with vanilla and herbal (rosemary) aromas. Tannins strong but not gripping. Dense body.

Le Clos Jordanne La Petite Colline Pinot Noir 2008, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Twenty Mile Bench

Very similar to their more expensive Grand Clos: a feminine silky pinot with fragrant floral perfume and tastes of strawberry and licorice. (Their other "masculine" pinots smell of barn-yard/cat-pee ... apparently due to minerality: copper in the soil. Smelled this in Niagara Teaching College's pinot, too.) From the Niagara Wine & Chocolate Tour.)
Drink this year 2012 (advice from winery)

Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2009, Mendoza

Spicy (pepper) with leather and gamey scents. Powerful. Gripping tanins and a hot alcohol finish. Didn't much like (Argentina vs Chile taste test), but Faith said it got better after 45' decanting. Was better, too, with buffalo.

Nativa Single Vineyard Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Maipo Valley, Organically Grown Grapes

Rich dense body, tannins have a strong dry grip, strong oaky vanilla aromas with black currant.

Calvet Réserve Des Remparts Saint émilion 2007, Bordeaux

OK ... preferred the Shiraz from this tasting (Crozes Heritages) and the Pinot Noir (Cotes de Nuits).

Tar and berry. Velvety tannins, medium body, with a long velvety finish.

Bonterra Chardonnay 2010, Mendocino County, Organic Wine

Drink now

San Pedro 1865 Single Vineyard Carmenère 2008, Maule Valley

Earthy barnyard aromas contrast with a sour jewel-like (cassis? soy?) quality. Menthol and cherry flavours. Very nice with chocolate brownies! (Awful with buffalo steak in spite of bison recommendation.) Beat the Malbec in our Argentina VS Chile taste test.

Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages Nouveau 2011

Wine for Dummies recommended Beajolais Nouveau as an intro to pricier Burgundy wines. (Early release every Nov. 21)
Bottle looks different from this ... think I liked it better than the Drouhin BN but both were lovely fun.

Falchini Vigna A Solatio Vernaccia Di San Gimignano 2010, Docg

Nice crisp well balanced italian white from Tuscany. Not too acidic; very pleasant. Hint of menthol. Served as the appetizer at the TVC Chianti tasting.

Running Duck Fairtrade Organic Chardonnay 2010, Wo Western Cape

liked it: nice and easy, good alcohol, not too acidic; green apple and a flower note; great value for the price and organic too