Over the course of per week, I style a bunch of wine, normally with buddies, and virtually at all times with my spouse. Listed here are a number of the wines we tasted over the previous few weeks. These are wines that had been not despatched as samples—typically, I really paid for these wines (though a couple of have been given as presents).
NV Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut, France: Retail $25. Very Heavy Bottle (793g; 27.9oz). 50% Pinot Blanc, 50% Auxerrois. When this went on sale at my native H-E-B (I really like my H-E-B), I purchased a couple of bottles to serve my in-laws once they come over for dinner. At all times a stable wine and a stable deal at twenty bucks, that is loaded with tons of tree fruit and a superb acidity. It doesn’t damage that it’s from Alsace, my “dwelling” of kinds in France. Very Good. 89 Factors.
NV André Clouet Champagne Silver Brut Nature, France: Retail $50. 100% Pinot Noir. Zero Dosage (no additional sugar added). I’ve been a fan of the wines from Bouzy generally and André Clouet particularly for a few a long time now. And this wine is why. Daring, sharp, balanced, scrumptious. Yeasty and oaky on the nostril, it’s powerful to discern a lot fruit right here. The palate, nevertheless, has loads of pear and golden apple. There may be additionally that yeastiness and a driving tartness. Yowza. There are a couple of Clouets in Bouzy, they usually all appear to be spectacular. Wonderful. 92 Factors.
1997 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre, Rhône Valley, France: Retail $90? Accountable Bottle (599g; 21.1oz). 100% Syrah. Underneath cork. A pal, whom we had not seen eternally, was on the town and my spouse confirmed him into the cellar. He pulled out this. Whereas I usually don’t let simply anybody carry out such a maneuver, this man is aware of his wine (or no less than does a very good job pretending) and this wine wanted to be popped. The final time I opened this wine was almost a decade in the past in Philly (which, greater than possible, we additionally consumed with tonight’s visitor). Certain, it’s outdated, positive, it’s a bit stewed, however holy cow is it additionally scrumptious. Leather-based, smoked brisket, clove, and a touch of prune. Yowza. The palate is much more, with exceptional fruit, an astonishing acidity, and a end that lasts properly into time beyond regulation. Yeah, I do know, this wine just isn’t for everybody, however that’s simply high-quality; go away it for me. Excellent. 95 Factors.
2017 McIntyre Vineyards Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands, CA: Retail $30. Heavy Bottle (647g; 22.8oz). Agglomerated stopper. I actually don’t know how I got here throughout this bottle. I obtained it at a time that I used to be not preserving the perfect data (I believe I’ve that corrected, for essentially the most half), however since I had two bottles of this wine, I’m pretty assured that I acquired them as samples. Regardless, I appreciated this again after I first tasted it in 2019, and I prefer it much more now: yellow, on the verge of golden with some golden apple, a contact of lemon, oak (however removed from overdone), and hints of vanilla. The palate is just beautiful with nice fruit and tartness and several other layers price of intrigue. Actually very good. Wonderful. 92 Factors.
2012 Copain Syrah Weed Farms, Dry Creek Valley, CA: Retail $65? Very Accountable Bottle (495g; 17.4oz). Underneath cork. That is my final bottle of Copain, interval. However additionally it is the final bottle of the wines that had been made by Copain founder Wells Guthrie. Wells offered the vineyard to the Jackson Household in 2016 and properly, I’m unhappy to see this final “Wells” botle go. Fruity, even actually fruity on each the nostril and the palate with wild cherry and black raspberry predominant. The palate? Fairly near magical with oodles of fruit an loads of intrigue. Wonderful. 91 Factors.
2012 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia, Tremendous Tuscan, Italy: Retail $310. Heavy Bottle (622g; 21.9oz). 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot. When buddies come over, you by no means know what to anticipate. When your spouse’s pal exhibits up with a 2006 and a 2012 Ornellaia? He instantly turns into a “finest pal”. Yowza and Whoa. Fairly dry in shade and aromas with oodles of blackberry, plum, and spice on the nostril. Whoa. The palate is equally superb with earthy fruit, a unifying acidity, and a boatload of intrigue. Once more, I’m no Tremendous Tuscan knowledgeable, however holy cow, that is good. Excellent. 94 Factors.
2006 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia, Tremendous Tuscan, Italy: Retail $325. Heavy Bottle (621g; 21.9oz). 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Whoa. I’ve tasted however a handful of Orenllaias and on this night time I used to be fortunate sufficient to style two. This 2006, a basic mix of Bordeaux varieties, was wonderful. Darkish purple fruit of blackberry, plum, cigar smoke, and the slightest natural trace (mint? sage?). The palate is wealthy and lucious with all of that fruit and earth but in addition touches of anise and spice. Holy cow. Yeah, I don’t drink a ton of Tremendous Tuscans, however holy cow, that is the top of the style for a purpose. Yowza. Excellent. 95 Factors.
2009 Skewis Pinot Noir Lingenfelder, Russian River Valley, CA: Retail $50. Heavy Bottle (659g; 23.2oz). Underneath cork. It has been a minute since I’ve popped a Skewis and since I’m now underneath two complete circumstances left, these have gotten increasingly valuable. Treasured rhymes with scrumptious (I believe) and this bottle was definitely each. Nice, wealthy fruit with some vanilla and a touch of oak on the nostril and every of these traits had been on the palate as properly however accentuated. Extremely wealthy and layered, if I had tasted this blind, I’m positive I’d by no means have guessed that it was 15 years outdated, it’s simply wonderful. Extraordinary. 97 Factors.
WINE OF THE WEEK: One other fairly unimaginable week, I’ve to say, when it got here to our private consumption, with 4 of the wines rated at Excellent or larger. Whereas the Skewis Lingenfelder was transformational and the Jaboulet Cornas unimaginable (nonetheless that approach after almost thirty years!), it’s simply not “regular” for me to have a bottle of Ornellaia, a lot much less two. Thus, this week’s Wines of the Week are the 2006 and 2016 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia, one of many legendary wines in Tuscany.
What was your Wine of the Week?
