Adam
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Reviews
Auntsfield Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011, Southern Valleys
Marlborough, New Zealand$32.95
New world fruit but with old world restraint and structure. Sour cherry, underripe plum with lots of toasted herbs dominate the palate. It's plush but with a beautiful backbone of acidity and fine grained tannins that give it a great mouthfeel and structure and long finish. Very nice.
4.0 Stars
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Antiche Terre Venete Amarone Della Valpolicella 2008, Doc
Veneto, Italy$33.95
Mocha, prune, and fig aromas dominate but a chemical / acetone / epoxy undertone contaminates a little. the palate brings some ripe dark cherry, proceeding to a slightly sour mid palate and eventually a slightly astringent and gritty but very long finish with fruit still present. It's on the low end of the Amarone price point but I'd say spend another $5-10 for an upgrade.
4.0 Stars
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Jacob's Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009, Coonawarra, South Australia
Australia$16.95
What a beautiful, if somewhat atypical cab. Aromas of blackcurrent, mint/menthol and eucalyptus with a nice fresh woodsy note (cedar, pencil shavings). A lot going on on the nose for $17. The palate is firm, sour cherry and mint tea with oak playing subtly in the background. In Jan 2013, the tannins still show a little bit of grit, but the finish is long and layered and integrated. I wouldn't guess this an ozzie cab on a blind tasting, but it's delicious nonetheless.
4.0 Stars
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Norman Hardie Unfiltered Niagara Pinot Noir 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$39.00
Just beautiful. Loads of fruit while avoiding the sweetness that's typical of new world pinots. Lot of interest in the earthy, smokey and spicy genre ... all layer on a lengthy, poised palate. Worth the indulgence.
4.0 Stars
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Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Napa Valley
California, Usa$45.25
A beautiful but overpriced cab. aromatics and palate revolving around a deep core of dark fruit supported by toasty mocha, herbs, and sweet earthiness. structure is great through perhaps not elegant. long finish. excellent accompaniment to steak but not worth $61 in my view.
4.0 Stars
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Tawse Estate Chardonnay 2009, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$34.95
I liked the depth and balance of this Chardonnay and in particular that the oak was so well integrated. Lots of minerality on the nose along with stone fruits. It's quite silky on the palate, with wet rock mineral and nectarine flavours followed by a hint of sweetness that gives way to a very pleasing and mouthwatering acidity. Nice wine.
4.0 Stars
Bonterra Merlot 2008, Mendocino County
California, Usa$19.95
A surprisingly restrained and sophisticated California merlot. The aroma's are gorgeous and nuanced with fruit core of cassis but also notes of dried fruit and intermingling smoke, mocha, herbaceous and floral notes. The palate medium bodied with cassis and an earthy smokiness and soft drying tannins. Nicely balanced by moderate acidity. Might be worth holding a few for greater silkiness but it's lovely now too.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Block 27 Carmenère 2008, Peumo Vineyard, Peumo, Cachapoal Valley
Rapel Valley, Chile$29.95
Dense and distinctly Carmenere without the excess char you get in lesser examples. It's aroma and flavour packed with great structure to stretch out the flavours and add nice complexity. the tannins are still a bit grippy (jan. 2014) and I would expect this to smooth out nicely with a bit more bottle age.
4.0 Stars
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Hecht & Bannier Côtes Du Roussillon Villages 2008, Ac
Languedoc, France$20.25
Reminiscent of Chateauneuf-du-pape and much cheaper. The nose is really quite incredible - lots of dark fruit, spice and dried herb character. Quite reserved in comparison to new world GSM, but still quite plush and with great complexity. A classy wine and a producer I will pay more attention to.
4.0 Stars
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Bel Echo Pinot Noir By Clos Henri 2012
Marlborough, New Zealand$22.95
Cherry, plum and earthy, peppery spice grace this wine with a beautifully subtle and layered complexity, all over a racy backbone of acidity, astringency and soft tannins. Gorgeous mouthfeel, long finish with such great contrast between the flavour and "angular" (to borrow from the apt review above) bitterness. Loved this wine.
4.0 Stars
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