1996 Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva – (Rioja, Spain)
Medium red fading to pink at the rim. Beautiful nose of red fruits: raspberry, cherry, cranberry, some spice notes and a hint of vanilla. The red fruit follows on to the palate where the body is medium and formed by a noticeable tanginess. We just returned from a week in Sonoma so our palates needed to adjust to the acidity! Complex notes of tobacco and leather with black licorice tones keep you thinking. The long finish gives spicy cherry cola notes and a touch of anise. Probably more acidic than we would have preferred, but wonderfully complex so an overall excellent wine.
Excellent
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1997 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve (Napa, CA)
The 1997 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve reveals a medium dark red that fades towards the rim. A very expressive nose of cherry, blackberry, menthol, cigar box and earth keeps us coming back to the glass for another view of its evolution. The body, now at age 17, has mellowed back to medium, though we are sure it would have been quite full in its youth. Black cherry and currant dominates the palate that has a rich yet satiny mouthfeel that only ageing can deliver. Elegance trumps power in this fully mature wine. Medium acidity helps add to a long and lively finish. Not showing any signs of fatigue, this wine is at peak but could go at least 5 years longer and still deliver much pleasure.
Excellent
(2009 vintage available at Marquis (www.marquis-wines.com) and BCLD (www.bcliquorstores.com ) for $150; 1992 vintage available at Marquis for $350).
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2011 Lauren Ashton Cellars Roussanne (Columbia Valley, WA)
Delicious flavours of honeydew backed up with lemon zest and a nice acidity. Complex, rich and well-balanced, this is the best New World version of this varietal we have encountered.
Excellent
CAN $28 at the winery
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2003 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée
Garnet red, only a slight fade at the rim. Amazing notes of Kirsch, black cherries and herbal notes that meets your nose long before it gets to the glass. Big, powerful wine but very well balanced. Structural elements are still there but not needing any more time. Full body, black cherry, pine, herbs, floral notes and a slightly smoky element towards the end. Long, long finish. About as good as CdP gets. We would not worry about any impending senility, but when a wine tastes this good now, why wait?!
(Suggest decanting, the wine threw a lot of sediment).
Extraordinary
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2010 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs (Sonoma, CA)
Light gold colour with a fine, persistent bead. Very expressive nose of bread dough with a hint of caramel greets you well before your nose reaches the glass. With time a hint of wet cardboard develops, but not in a bad way, and adds complexity. The flavours of apple and lime join the brioche and yeast notes and are delivered in a rich texture and supported by notes of chalk and minerals. This wine shows its best when had with food and pairs very well with seafood and cream sauces.
Very Good
US$35 at the Winery
CAN$46 at Everything Wine
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2009 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera (Tempranillo)
Medium/dark red colour. Raspberry, leather, tobacco and dried herbs on the nose. Medium body, medium acidity, light tannins. Raspberry flavours follow through and are supported by herbal notes. Quite complex. Very sophisticated. I would wait a couple of years and expect to see further improvement over time.
Excellent
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Medium red fading to pink at the rim. Beautiful nose of red fruits: raspberry, cherry, cranberry, some spice notes and a hint of vanilla. The red fruit follows on to the palate where the body is medium and formed by a noticeable tanginess. We just returned from a week in Sonoma so our palates needed to adjust to the acidity! Complex notes of tobacco and leather with black licorice tones keep you thinking. The long finish gives spicy cherry cola notes and a touch of anise. Probably more acidic than we would have preferred, but wonderfully complex so an overall excellent wine.
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