It's only wine but I like it
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Following (3)
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Reviews
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.
4.0 Stars
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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.
4.0 Stars
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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.
4.0 Stars
Carpineto Farnito Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Igt Toscana
Tuscany, Italy$27.95
What fine Cabernet this is! Superior complexity with nice ripeness, well-integrated oak and a long finish. The hints of sour cherries and the welcome acidity and hints of tartness remind me of sangiovese....or maybe that is just the character of Tuscany. Drinking nicely now, but no rush, this should hold for a few more years. Excellent and easily worth $28, Tasted Oct 2017.
4.0 Stars
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Schiavenza Broglio Barolo 2005, Docg
Piedmont, Italy$41.95
The 2004 vintage: A bit darker than expected, but with browning at the edges. Notes of sour cherries, dried fruit and hints of leather. Complex, and long finishing with some still notable tannin, even at nearly 16 years of age. I don't think that tannin even melts away. Fine Barolo here though a notch below top shelf. Drink now or can hold through its 20th b-day. Tasted May 2020.
4.0 Stars
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Terre Nere Brunello Di Montalcino 2005, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$42.95
Right from the first pour, you realize that this is not one of those Tuscan wines designed purely to impress certain critics. It isn't inky black from over-extraction or (legal or Illegal) addition of non-indigenous varieties. No, this is a Brunello, the way it is supposed to be. Notes of sour cherries, leather and earth, with a firm yet silky structure and no interference in the flavours or texture from over use of wood. In short, this is a delight to taste and quite reasonably priced. Drink now or hold up to 5 years.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Grand Vin De Glenelly Red 2009, Wo Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, South Africa$19.95
A concentrated Rhone+Bordeaux blend, at a fine stage of drinking. Fruit is ripe and complex without being overripe. A sheen of vanilla and mocha complete the picture. Therein lies my only, admittedly, small complaint: The oak s just a bit too prominent for me tastes. That said, this is most definitely not overoaked, that is just my personal preference. Tasted Jan 2016.
4.0 Stars
(0)V
Lavau Vacqueyras 2012, Ac
Rhône, France$25.95
A fairly big and very ripe Vacqueyras, veering a bit over the line. Baked red fruits, hints of prunes and the requisite black pepper/herbal notes that one often finds in the CdR. Certainly a good wine, but this would have scored higher had the grapes been a bit less ripe at harvest. Tasted June 2017.
4.0 Stars
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Le Fonti Di Panzano Chianti Classico Riserva 2011, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$33.75
Certainly not lacking in concentration, this CCR is on the riper side of the genre. Very good depth and complexity, but the ripeness seems to have taken away some of the vibrant Tuscan character that Chianti's often show. Still, this is a very good wine to be sure, but I'd err on the side of caution and drink sooner rather than later. There is a hint of oxidation creeping in that will increase in the future. Tasted Sept 2017.
4.0 Stars
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Castello Di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Bellezza 2012, Docg
Tuscany, Italy$39.95
Gran Selezione:is supposed to be the top tier in Chianti Classico but, in my experience, this category is the least authentic CC. Highly ripened and extracted fruit slathered in a huge amount of oak, to the point where any Sangiovese character is a mere wish. If I had tasted this blind and had been given 6 guesses at the where this wine was from, Tuscany would not have been on that list. Guess that you can tell that I did not enjoy this wine. Tasted oct 2020.
4.0 Stars
(0)V