Top 25 wines that I tried (broken down into country – but in no particular order) … there were hundreds of wines in the room but these are the ones that “spoke” to me and my palate (louder and clearer than the rest).
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Bersano 2010 Barolo Nirvasco, Italy ($29.95)
Good fruit, herbal, sour cherry and a little bit smoky; well-structured. (****)
Bersano 2007 Barolo Riserva, Italy ($76.95)
Rich, ripe and fruit driven with great spice and a dark fruit linger with pepper on the backend. (****+)
Fantinel 2014 Spumanti Prosecco Brut “One & Only”, Italy ($23.95)
Only 48,000 bottles are produced from this single vineyard offering: great minerality and freshness with citrus, mac apple and good acid balance – not your same old same old Prosecco here. (****)
Fantinel 2011 La Roncaia Refosco, Italy ($41.95)
2 years in barrel, 100% new but with very low toast has created a wine with coffee/mocha, black cherry, pencil shavings, boysenberry … a great marriage of fruit / spice and acidity. (**** ½)
Cesari 2011 Bosan Ripasso, Italy ($34.95)
Great aromatics of Ripasso lead to a palate of cocoa, mocha, spice and black cherry. (****)
Poggio al Tesoro 2010 Dedicato A Walter, Italy ($104.95)
7th release if this 10 barrel selection, special offering which is dedicated to the owner’s brother: herbal and olive aromas (trees are planted every 9 rows in the vineyard) great spice, tobacco and mineral – lovely. (****)
Castello di Querceto 2009 Romantic, Italy ($199.95)
A three grape blend of Petit Verdot (50%), Merlot (30%) and Syrah (20%) aged for 24 months (Merlot and Syrah) and 36 months (Petit Verdot) – meaty, gamey, cassis, white pepper with nice tannin grit and some anise seed on the mid-palate. Only 3000 Bottles produced. (****)
Farnese 2012 Edizone 14, Italy ($40.95)
Deep, rich dark fruit, smoky-mocha, plum and vanilla with hints of coffee on the lengthy finish. (****+)
Velenosi 2010 Roggio del Filare, Italy ($38.95)
Name of the wine means “Fire” and is made up of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese from 45 year old vines and aged 18 months separately in 1 year old barrels: deliciously red fruited with vanilla, cherry, plum and a touch of smoke, all with a licorice finish. (**** ½)
Velenosi 2011 Ludi, Italy ($52.95)
Made with Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot from 38 year old vines, aged 24 months in oak: mocha, chocolate, spice, blackberry and cassis … quite delicious. (****+)
La Gerla 2014 Poggio Degli Angeli, Italy ($23.95)
Sour cherry, raspberry, light and easy fruit with a touch of something herbal. (*** ½+)
Juan Gil 2014 Bodegas Ateca Honoro Vera, Spain ($15.95)
A light and easy Grenache aged only 2 months in oak from 50+ year old vines: fresh, lively and truly delightful – red fruit, deep rich and gorgeous, what the real draw here is the boat-load of cherry fruit on the mid-palate to the finish. (****)
Juan Gil 2014 Bodgeas Atalaya Laya Red, Spain ($14.95)
70% Garnacha and Tinto Rera with another 30% Monastrell aged 4 months in oak: mocha, cherry, strawberry, vanilla and a hint of white pepper. (****)
Juan Gil Bodegas Tridente Entresuelos, Spain ($17.95)
100% Tempranillo with herbal, tobacco and a little raspberry and smoke on the finish. (*** ½+)
Juan Gil 2013 Bodegas Ateca Atteca Old Vines Grenache, Spain ($24.95)
80+ year old Grenache aged 10 months, this is a true delight: rich dark fruit, plum, vanilla, and white smoke; the deep rich fruit caresses the tongue with flavour. (**** ½)
Renwood 2012 Zinfandel, Fiddletown, California ($24.95)
Plum, cherry, mocha-chocolate, cola all with a little sweetness but quite nicely balanced by the acidity. (****)
World’s End 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Crossfire, California ($166.95)
Rich cherry, plum, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla – very sweet fruited. (****)
Chappellet 2013 Mountain Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California ($54.95)
It says Cabernet blend on the label, but Merlot dominates at 43% with Cabernet Sauvignon being only 34% and even with the addition of Cab Franc (5%) it’s still only 39% in total … and don’t forget the Petit Verdot and Malbec in here as well – all aged 17 months in oak; smoky, cassis, hint of vanilla, plum, blackberry all with an elegant spiced finish. (****)
Miner 2011 Chardonnay, Wild Yeast, California ($51.95)
I’m a sucker for wild yeast and here’s a Chardonnay with 12 months in oak (30% new) both barrel fermented and aged and has gone through 100% malolactic fermentation: peach pit, apricot, pear, vanilla, yellow plum with creamed pineapple and butterscotch on the finish. (****)
Miner 2012 Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard, California ($59.95)
Light and delicate in colour with raspberry and strawberry, hints of tart cranberry and a white pepper on the finish – it’s clean and delicate with refreshing acidity. (****+)
Peter Franus 2013 Zinfandel, Brandlin Vineyard, California ($59.95)
Vineyard was planted in 1920: 90% Zinfandel with Mourvedre, Carignan and Charbono rounding out the rest of the grapes; it’s also dry farmed which (amongst other things) helps to concentrates the aromas and flavours in the finished wine. Layers of flavour including plum, black cherry, vanilla-cola, mocha and a mid-palate minerality that’s just “wow”-good, it closes off with a luxurious finish. (****+)
J. Lohr 2013 Petite Sirah, Tower Road, California ($37.95)
There’s also 3% Syrah in this wine, it’s bold and fruity: blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, all with a nice red fruit middle and a dry black fruit finish. (****)
J. Lohr 2013 Pinot Noir, Falcon’s Perch, California ($28.95)
Fruit for this wine comes from the cooler region of Monterey and 17% of the wine sees 3rd fill barrels to keep things fresh and fruit forward: lots of cherry yet really very delicate – it’s one of those by-itself Pinots you would happily just sit and sip on. (*** ½+)
Young Inglewood 2012 Right Bank Blend, California ($123.95)
Winery was bought in 2007 and the first vintage was 2009 … 61% Cabernet Franc, 36% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot spent 2 months in new French oak: smoky tobacco, blueberry skin, cassis and plenty of black pepper on the finish. (****)
Long Meadow Ranch 2013 Pinot Noir, Farmstead, California ($52.95)
The first thing that grabs you is the great acid and pepper note, then there’s the cran-cherry tartness and the mineral / floral backing – good fruit and great length. (****)
