It's only wine but I like it
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Reviews
Château Saint Roch De Laurens 2007, Ac Faugères
Languedoc, France$18.95
Loaded with ripe dark fruit, dried meat, herbs and smoke. Seductive with fine depth and structure. The syrah really shows here to my taste. A bit more pricey than other wines from the south of France, but worth the few extra $$.
Château Haut Selve Réserve 2010, Ac Graves
Bordeaux, France$27.95
Nicely balanced Graves here from the heavily hyped 2010 vintage. Ripe yet properly lean enough (this isn't Napa, you know). Fairly youthful still 7+ years on, with fresh acidity and bright slightly herbal fruit. Oak is nicely folded in save some notable bitterness on the finish (hence the sub 90-pt score). Drinking nicely now, but surely can hold several more years. Tasted Mar 2018.
Quinta Das Carvalhas Touriga Nacional 2011, Doc Douro
Douro, Portugal$21.95
A deeply coloured, big, ripe Touriga Nacional. Fine structure and acidity provide great balance to all the ripe fruit and oak plays a well-judged supporting role. No holes or gaps from start to finish, this is a superb bottle of Douro. Fine drinking now, but surely can hold at least a few more years. Decant for sediment. Tasted March 2018.
Tawse Sketches Of Niagara Riesling 2014, VQA Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$18.95
A fairly rich (for Niagara) Riesling, with citrus, peaches and more citrus. A bit sweeter than I expected, though the cool climate acidity keeps it from tasting cloying. A very fine and more than reasonably priced Riesling. though I do wish it was just a bit drier. tasted Dec 2016.
Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo 2006, Docg
Piedmont, Italy$49.95
A good Barolo here from Ratti, with a very mature flavour profile and a long finish. The flavours have moved into the dried fruit category with some oxidative notes creeping in that suggest that this red in perhaps just past its peak. Still, an enjoyable wine. Tasted June 2020.
Uccelliera Rosso Di Montalcino 2012, Doc
Tuscany, Italy$31.95
Not your everyday simple light Rosso, this Uccelliera is far more serious. Ripe flavours of sweet red cherries, with less of the tart fruit that one often finds in Sangiovese. Still, the finish has that endearing tell-tale acidity. Drink now or hold a few years. Tasted June 2016.
Finca Villacreces Pruno 2011
Ribera Del Duero, Spain$21.95
Densely fruited yet remarkably fresh and vibrant. Oak is well in check, fine acidity, well structured. Everything here is in excellent balance. Very nicely done. drinking well now but can easily hold a few years. Tasted Sep 2014.
Château Beauséjour Duffau Lagarrosse 2006, Ac St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé
Bordeaux, France$85.00
Notes for the 2008 vintage.
Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt were now consulting at the chateau. What strikes me about this wine is the balance. Sure, there is some oak but it so nicely folded into the deep ripe fruit (leaning more toward the red spectrum). Despite over 11 years of age, the tannin is still firm though not oppressively so and the acidity is spot on. A bit more complexity would have pushed my score even higher but this is a very fine right banker indeed! Will age another 10 years without issue. Glad that I have another bottle. Tasted April 2020.
Château Des Charmes St. David's Bench Vineyard Gamay Noir Droit 2012, VQA St. David's Bench, Niagara Peninsula
Ontario, Canada$16.95
I simply cannot fathom the 90+ scores for this wine. Simple red fruit, with a strong herbal note which reminds me of cool climate (read, unripe) cab franc. A bit thin (yes, I know is gamay) and short finishing. Maybe I don't get gamay (possible) or maybe there is bottle variation (I doubt it) but this failed to impress me.
On the second night, this showed better with more depth but no way this is a 90pt wine. Score upgraded to 87.
Tasted Oct 2015.
Château Du Cèdre Cahors 2009
Southwest, France$21.95
Very fine Cahors here, that has mellowed very nicely and is drinking well now. While Malbec isn't used much in Bordeaux these days, the comparison with a fine red Bordeaux seems most appropriate. This is all about balance, structure and finesse, not in your face over ripe fruit. Fine wine at its peak now but should how several more years. Tasted April 2017.