Powerful and Robust Reds Flashcards
Mas Estela - Vinya Selva de Mar - Emporda Spain 2006 $99
50 Grenacha 30 Syrah 20 Cariñena
Estate is more than 1000 years old.
$99
Catena Zapata - “Catena Alta” - Mendoza Argentina 2015 $69
Malbec.
$69
Historic family - Revolutionized Argentinian Malbec Introducing high altitude Vineyard sites. Aged for 18 months in French oak.
Fresh violets, concentrated plum, spices, rich, powerful, creamy, fresh. soft tannins.
MARTINELLI, “Giuseppe & Luisa”, Russian River Valley, California, 2016 $129
Zinfandel
$129
At the higher end of the alcohol spectrum, these Martinelli Zinfandels are powerful wines for sure, but I hasten to add that they are beautifully balanced and in terms of flavor, tannin and complexity, they represent the pinnacles of ripeness in every sense. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Zinfandel Giuseppe and Luisa is scented of dried mulberries, plum preserves and blueberry pie with suggestions of hoisin sauce, sandalwood and sautéed herbs. With generous black berry preserves and spice flavors on the very full-bodied palate, it is a mouthful of rich, plush, pure hedonism.
RIDGE VINEYARDS, “Pagani Ranch”, Sonoma, California, 2016 $86
Blend: 88% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet
$86
The 2016 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is excellent, offering up a lavish bouquet of ripe cherries, raspberries and sweet spices. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with an ample core of succulent, mouthwatering fruit structured around fine-grained, youthfully chewy tannins. Rich and concentrated, it’s balanced by mouthwatering acids. It should be well worth following for the next 10-15 years.
LAPOSTOLLE, “Le Petit Clos Apalta”, Valle de Colchagua, Chile, 2014
Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Carmenere-PV
$109
91 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “A different interpretation of the Apalta terroir through blending, the 2014 Le Petit Clos is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Carmenere, 28% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. It aged in new French barriques for eight months followed by a further 18 months with equal parts in new barriques, used barriques and 7,500-liter oak vats. There is a little less oak here and more Cabernet in the first vintage of this second wine in the Bordeaux style. It’s quite classical and faithful with the house style of ripe, concentrated and generously oaked wines. The palate shows plenty of tannins and oak-related flavors, spices, tobacco and roasted coffee. It ends with marked oak flavors.”
HILLINGER, “Hill 1”, Burgenland, Austria, 2013
Zweigelt-Merlot-Blaufrankisch-Cabernet, HILLINGER
$89
Smoky cherry and the slightest whiff of bacon make for an appetizing proposition. The palate is lively, peppery and full of juicy black and red cherries. The tannins have some grip and are in tune with the freshness. This is lively, just medium-bodied and invigorating.
Chateau Coupe-Roses “Minervois Cuvee Orience”, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2012
Syrah-Grenache
$59
Tasting : Very beautiful, black and fleshy, its nose is as interesting. Scents of oriental spicies and black fruits, which reminds us the arid landscapes of our magnificent area. In mouth, this very concentrated wine, with a nice acidity (which stimulate aromas), is going to match perfectly with not-too-cooked red meat.
This is the domaine’s luxury cuvée based on Syrah with 10% Grenache, made in barrels, about one-third of which are new. The Syrah comes from their best clay/limestone parcels high up on the plateau above the village. Orience has blacker fruit, with spice, earth, and elegance in spades. Yearly production averages 600 cases.
The oriental majesty of this wine main grape induces the semiotic invention “Orience”. Spicies abounds, rubs violetta flowers, black fruits and coffee. The structure is a maze of savory sensations that takes all the palate as its playing field.
There is stregth and vigor in its great wine. Terroir and grapes always tries to dominates but none of them manage to surpass the other.
This power exprimates itself in an incontestable sensorial aestetic.
The Orience cuvée is Château Coupe-Roses premium wine…It will improve with time in an appropriate cellar, for many years.
This wine will match with the oriental tajine, with grilled beef ribs and with all the casseroles of our peasant traditions.
Terroir : Mountain area in High-Minervois. South/South-West exposed plots. Between 200 and 350m of altitude. Magnesium clay uplands (Syrah), rocky uplands (Grenache).
Grapes : 90% Syrah 10% Grenache
Vinification : Manual harvest, Destemmed, 20 to 30 days maceration, very light filtration.
Ageing : 12 months in barrels.
M. CHAPOUTIER, “La Bernardine”, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, 2015
Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre,
$149
RP90Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
A blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 15% other varieties, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape la Bernardine is made in an approachable, charming style. Sandalwood and dried spices mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate features supple tannins and plenty of ripe black cherry fruit. Drink it over the next 5-8 years.
JD90Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Châteauneuf-Du-Pape La Bernardine is solid, and up with the best vintage of this cuvée to date. White pepper, Asian spices, and dried strawberry notes all emerge from this elegant, polished, impressively balanced Grenache that has fine tannin and a good finish. Drink it through 2025.
FAUST, “The Pact”, Napa Valley, California, 2014
Cabernet Sauvignon
$149
The 2014 Pact is full-bodied, powerful and rich with hallmark dark cherry, plum and tobacco flavors.
Suckling
A rich and layered red showing classic aromas of pure cabernet sauvignon from sweet tobacco and green olives to currants. Full-bodied, long and flavorful. Gorgeous red. Better in 2020.
DUNN, Napa Valley, California, 2002
Cabernet Sauvignon
$269
Full ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, graphite, mint and chocolate, plus a whiff of band-aid. Then surprisingly pliant and creamy for a Dunn cabernet, with accessible flavors of currant, licorice and milk chocolate. Finishes with rather suave tannins and some juicy acidity. Suppler than it appeared to be last spring when I tasted it from barrel, and considerably softer than the Howell Mountain bottling.
CHAPPELLET, Napa Valley, California, 2016
Merlot
$129
From its enticing aromas of black tea, cherry, cedar and smoke to it silky richness and long, complex finish, this wine shows why Chappellet loves mountain-grown Merlot. On the palate, a core of black cherry is encircled by layers of dark chocolate, currant, cassis and graphite, as well as oak-inspired hints ofvanilla, clove and spice.
Critical Acclaim
WE90Wine Enthusiast
There is 10% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot in this wine, which represents a refined and complex expression of the grape from a mountain site. Smoky oak meets black cherry, leather, dark chocolate and a touch of dried herb—flavors that accent a balance of tannin and structure. —V.B.
DOMAINE BARROCHE, “Pure”, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, 2015
Grenache
$185
Made with some of the oldest Grenache vines in CdP.
One of the most impressive barrel samples of this cuvée I can remember, the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Pure is always almost 100% Grenache that comes from a tiny parcel of sandy soils located right at the junction of the Grand Pierre, Pointu and Rayas lieux-dits. Partially destemmed, vinified in concrete and aged in a single, ancient foudre, this sensational-looking Châteauneuf du Pape dishes out incredible amounts of ripe cherries, blueberries, crushed rocks and crushed flowers. Big, full-bodied, thick and unctuous, it got a few expletives in the notes, and for all its size and weight, it stays lively, pure and even elegant. My money is on this beauty being one of the top wines in the vintage. (JD) (10/2016)
93-95 points Vinous
Lurid ruby. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh dark berries, cola, incense and potpourri, and a hint of smoky minerality emerges with air. Juicy, penetrating black raspberry, bitter cherry and lavender pastille flavors show superb depth and energy and stretch out to become sweeter on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and spicy lift on a long, sappy finish framed by velvety, slow-building tannins. For such a generous wine, there’s no lack of vivacity here.
MARQUES MURRIETA, “Gran Reserva Especial”, “Castillo Ygay”, Rioja, Spain, 2007
Tempranillo
$189
A living legend of Rioja, which has survived three centuries, destined to break records for its surprising vivacity of intense cherry color which gives an amazing complexity. Its nose exhibits an aromatic intensity which seduces us with its red fruits, floral notes of truffles, incense and spicy touches. It caresses the palate with satin texture. A Gran Reserva that shows strength, elegant bouquet, fruity intensity and impeccable balance.
The aromas of this show an amazing freshness of flowers and herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and violet. Then it goes to raspberry, candy and currants. Black licorice too. A truly great wine on the nose. Full-bodied, racy and linear. So polished. It’s like a red ruby. 86% tempranillo and 14% mazuelo in the blend. For release in September 2015. Great length and future. Give it three years or so. Or decant two hours in advance.
