Mike de Maria
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Following (11)
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Reviews (77)
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Reviews
Tessellae Louis Roche Old Vines 2011, Côtes Du Roussillon
Languedoc, France$17.00
Just what I want out of a Southern France wine - dark fruit and savoury flavours in harmony. Medium full bodied, with nice structure and acidity. It's like a bite of venison with an herbal savoury blueberry sauce in a bottle.
3.0 Stars
(0)V
Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Sonoma County
California, Usa$24.95
If you're a fan of oak and extract, you'll like this. Anyone looking for balance, fresh acidity, finesse....keep looking.
3.0 Stars
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Delaforce Touriga Nacional/Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Douro, Portugal$24.95
Harmonious, rich, balanced, pure, complex. This is a wonderful mix of styles and flavours that really comes together to make a delicious, balanced wine. Nothing overpowering. A mix of red and black fruits, followed by some spice and savory notes, and a streak of minerality to it on the finish. Lots of layers. Huge bang for the buck here.
3.0 Stars
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Tawse Gamay Noir 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$18.95
Fairly earthy, with nice acidity, and more complex than any other Ontario Gamay I've tasted. Actually went pretty well with chicken tacos with Mexican Rice and black beans.
3.0 Stars
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Viña Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Mendoza
Argentina$19.95
Very ripe. Dark fruits (black cherry), chocolate, coffee, and very noticeable alcohol. It's a very "new world" wine, that's actually quite good if you're into this style, but the alcohol takes it back a few notches for me. If it could sit at ~13% I think it would be a 90+ wine.
3.0 Stars
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Columbia Crest H3 Merlot 2007, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley
Washington, Usa$19.95
This is the 2nd bottle of H3 that I've tried. I drank the 1st bottle immediately after it was released was not very impressed. One year in the cellar and overall, again not that impressive. It was all oak, acid and tannin at first with the fruit very closed. It didn't improve much over the 2 hours it was open prior to and during dinner, but when I had about half a glass left, 3 hours after the bottle was opened, the fruit finally showed up and it was quite nice. I'd give it more time in the cellar to see if it might open up more.
3.0 Stars
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Ramosceto Lacrima Di Morro D'alba 2010, Doc
Marche, Italy$14.95
What a wonderful wine experience. This really is a different tasting wine and unlike most other reds. It is has a very interesting nose, with heavy perfumed floral notes and lychee (really). The palate gives the same flavours with nice fresh acidity a touch of nice tannin for structure and a pleasant finish. This wine might not be a "90" in the traditional sense, but the experience of tasting something new gives it a bump. Definitely worth checking out.
3.0 Stars
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Château Plaisance Cuvée Alix 2005, Ac Premières Côtes De Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France$24.95
Yummy mature french wine. Elegant and well balanced with cherry/plum mixing with leather/earth. Nice acidity, and refined tannins. This wine really evolved and opened up over the evening. It's not often you can get a solid (and mature) Bordeaux for under $30. Solid value.
2.5 Stars
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Finca El Encinal Crianza 2010, Do Ribera Del Duero
Ribera Del Duero, Spain$17.95
Generic, sweet, and commercial tasting. Tastes like it could have been made anywhere.
2.0 Stars
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Château De Beaucastel Coudoulet De Beaucastel 2006, Ac Côtes Du Rhône
Rhône, France$29.95
Kept this one in my cellar until now (Oct. 2011), and it's showing beautifully. Great flavour intensity, complexity and balance. It starts out with lots of herbal (Bay Leaf), and game/meat juice notes and flavours and even a slight medicinal note (but in a good way), with red fruits in the background but as it opens up, the red fruits come to the fore (especially cherry). It was delicious throughout the 2 hours that it was open and really enjoyable. If you've got any, don't hesitate to drink some now.
1.5 Stars
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