Last night Warren was in and he brought in a couple of old world whites and a handful of new world reds. It’s always fun to taste a wide range of products, so let’s get started.
Champagne Cuvee Michel Brut
This certified organic bubble is a pale yellow gold hue. I can’t comment on the perlage because the wine had been travelling with Warren all day and (as is almost always the case when I get to taste Champagne) it was not as sparkly as it was when freshly opened. That’s easy to look past when the quality of wine is as fine as this one. It had a yeasty strawberry and cantaloupe nose on a backdrop of fresh baked brioche. The blend is Meunier and Chardonnay and I also get hints of baked lemon and chocolate ice cream. The attack is tangy fresh and yeasty. It’s a big mouthful of aching acidity. That tartness buoys the big fruit and carries it through to the finish. Lush. +759555 $$ – low $$$ Very nice.
La Bastide St. Dominique Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2011
Light clear golden green. A blend of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Picpoul, I smell hot steel, a hint of petrol with peaches and lime skin as well. Elegant clean attack that opens to soft round fruit and firm citrus acidity. Mouth-filling and savoury. Dry, but so slick in the mouth, finishing long and way behind the molars. +736312 $$$ 6 packs. Wonderful.
Matisses Central Valley Carmenere 2012 (3rd label of Casa Marin in Chile)
Deep velvet ruby. Cooked caramel, black cassis and vanilla muffin. Lush firm dry attack that opens to yummy dark fruit. Very ripe and delicious. Good savoury finish. Fun. +720453 $ Go find it!
Alpha Crucis McLaren Vale Titan Shiraz 2012
Black ruby velvet. Delicate fresh oak notes on the nose, jammy black plum, red currant with blackberry, blueberry undertones. Dense, inky attack with juicy delicious acidity over clean carmellized fruit. Delicious and elegant. A tooth-stainer. Rich and compelling with a long even finish. +754407 $$ 91pts from The Wine Advocate (that’s good.)
Alpha Crucis McLaren Vale Titan Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Black ruby ink. Rich, lush black fruit. Plum, Saskatoon berry and fairy feathers. Dark lush attack of blackberry madness and purple plum skin that opens to medium weight tannins and heavy, dense fruit. Rich and spell-binding. The finish covers the whole palate and lingers changing faces at every turn. +764588 $$ The Wine Advocate gives this 89pts while Mr.James Halliday gives it 95 pts. You decide!
Sisters Run McLaren Vale GSM 2012
This is the latest vintage of a wine that has been a crowd favorite at BiBO. Pretty deep ruby satin. Lovely red fruit nose of plum, currant and raspberry. Nice, sweaty, salty notes and a soft touch of baby powder. Fresh, lush, fruity attack opening to dry, firm tannins and velvety, long lasting fruit. Clean, bright acidity and a long chewy finish. +748711 $$ 90pts Wine Advocate
That was a great tasting, which makes my job of choosing wines for the bar even harder. When I got home I was spoiled again as my son opened a bottle of:
Poderi di Luigi Einaudi Dogliani 2011
This is the ultimate expression of Dolcetto. Dark glistening ruby. Rhubarb, black licorice and forest floor. Wild cherries and cherry jam. Big juicy attack of wild fruit and bright acidity. The tannins sneak out from the deep cherry notes enveloping the palate with chewy goodness. It’s dry and yet mouth-watering. I know this bottle came from City Cellars, but check the liquor connect product finder at http://www.liquorconnect.com/Pages/default.aspx
That’s how my day went yesterday. I hope yours was just as good.
thedirtonwine 