Alan’s July 7, 2007 Vintages Release Tasting Notes

Although I did not have the chance to taste too many wines from this release, there are one or two wines worth grabbing. The summer here in my part of the world has been sensational and barbeque is the obvious choice when cooking dinner. How nice that there are several wines this release that one can sip on while enduring the labourious task of barbequing and to match the foods that result.

965921 KUNDE ZINFANDEL 2002 Sonoma Valley $19.95
A zinfandel with a little age, from a producer known to specialize with this grape, selling for less than twenty bucks appears to be a deal. I think it is. It shows lots of bright cherry, boysenberry fruit and red raspberry ripple. There is a touch of earthy and spice notes to go along with the solid core of fruit on the palate. The fleshy character of Sonoma Zin is here, but it is far from being over the top. The palate and finish carry balanced notes of red currant, rhubarb and cherry cola.   Find this wine

32441 MATUA SHINGLE PEAK PINOT NOIR 2006 Marlborough, South Island N.Z $19.95
Nice mineral notes of limestone and shingle along with some cooked cherry and strawberry aromas. It is pleasant, medium bodied and clean. Supermarkets are starting to carry West Coast wild Salmon. Pop a couple of filets into a simple herb based marinade with a touch of sweetness and it should pair nicely with this Pinot. Find this wine

34371 TORLESSE OMIHI ROAD PINOT NOIR 2004 Waipara Valley, South Island NZ $22.95
This Pinot shows a darker robe along with a nose that features forest floor, dried mushroom, plum, rhubarb and beet. It is chunky and quite full on the palate. The finish leads to more notes of mineral, some lead pencil and just enough tannin to bury the fruit. I like this and I want to try it again to see if an hour or so in a decanter will expose more of the fruit. Maybe a grilled rib eye may have the same effect. Find this wine

971820 HUGEL PINOT NOIR 2003 Alsace $22.95
Rarely do I taste Pinot from this part of France and shame on me as this example has a pristine shine to its robe, the nose is full of floral notes of lavender and violets that are nicely combined with red berries and plum. The structure on the palate is tight and steely, there is plenty of sweet, almost jammy fruit, but there is a veil of tannin on the finish that suggests a year or two of rest in the cellar will reward ones investment nicely. Find this wine

35808 CHATEAU L'ENCLOS BONIS 2003 Saint-Estèphe $22.95
If one is looking to put away decent Bordeaux from a highly touted vintage without paying out a huge amount of cash, this might be a wine to consider. It shows off aromas of coffee, stewed plum, red cherry currant, blueberry and traces of iodine and sea air. The palate is tight, the tannins are dusty, but they allow the flavours of blackcurrant, red berries and red liquorish to peak through. The finish is thick and cloying, it shows a wine in balance, but in need of time away to evolve. Find this wine

712174 MAS DES BRESSADES CABERNET/SYRAH 2005 Vin de Pays du Gard $18.95
A classic wine to marry with the flavours of grilled red meat. It has plenty of dark fruit, a note of candy/toffee, blackcurrant and blackberry with a hint of coal dust and mineral. Ripe and chewy on the palate, a little tannin, but nothing that offends. Find this wine

708750 MAS DES BRESSADES CUVÉE EXCELLENCE 2005 Costières de Nîmes $16.95
Lots of currant, sweet oak, mint and wet stones on the nose. It is very new world in its profile, plenty of fat fruit, yet there is ample acidity to combat the fleshy structure. Find this wine

992271 BATASIOLO BAROLO CORDA DELLA BRICCOLINA 2000 Piedmont $59.95
A nose of burnt toast, walnut shell, mineral, dark chocolate, dark fruit and coffee beans. The fruit laden palate picks up the mocha notes along with the mineral and a dollop of stewed plum. Clearly it is not for current consumption as a layer of tannin creeps in and dominates the finish. It should be quite tasty in a few years down the road, but be patient. Find this wine

905265 TERRABIANCA CAMPACCIO 2003 Tuscany, $39.95
An explosive note of Ribena is backed up by aromas of wet soil, medicinal cherry syrup, and sweet red berries. The pate is focused on the blackcurrant flavours with a touch of cardamom and fennel. The acids are nice and lively. Tasty wine. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

BACK TO THE TOP