1. Burge Family Winemakers Garnacha 2003, score=2+Color is dark ruby. Nose is nice with black fruits, cedar with hints of chocolate and caramel. Palate is predominantly black fruits with good tannin and long finish. We thought this to be in Bordeaux style but it is a new world wine (no funk and too much fruits). We guessed this to be mostly Cab Sauv or Bordeaux blend but we were wrong again. This is from Burge Family Winemarkers from Australia and it is made out of Garnacha/Grenache (92% Grenache and 8% Mourvedre from 10- to 80-year-old vines). RP gave 92. We have been fooled before by Alto Moncaya and other Garnacha wines made in this style. Piroca continues to bring Garnacha and we continue saying it is Cali Cab.
2. Barbourseville Octagon 2004, score=2+Nose has black cherry and some funk (Piroca thinks wet basement but I think it is sweaty foot smell derived from malolactic fermentation). Palate is complex but restrained like Bordeaux with nice tannin but rather short finish. Piroca and Winepath were convinced that this was Bordeaux and Uncle-E thought this was Italian. Actually, some time ago, Uncle-E brought Octagon to the tasting (either 04 or 05). At that time, we all thought it was Northern Italian (i.e. Piedmont) wine. I think that among the red wines from Northern Virginia, Octagon especially 04 is the best wine. This one tasted wonderful especially on our back deck on a nice sunny weekend but it did not taste as good as I remembered. In any case, this is the flagship red meritage from Barbourseville. Quoting from their website; “A proprietary blend driven by Merlot, with elements of Reserve Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The constituents are vinified in different lots, using the same method. Fermentation in stainless steel tank for 5-7 days, macerated for 10-20 days depending upon the varietal. Aged 12 to 14 months in new Gamba barriques of the most select French oak, air-dried a minimum of 3 years before coopering, laid down in bottle for an additional six months before release.”
3. L'aventure Estate Cuvee 2005, score=3+Color is black. Nose is distinctively plumy. The consensus was that this must be a syrah just by the color and nose. Palate is mostly black cherry and plum with smooth mouth feel and relatively long finish and nice firm tannin. We say syrah or syrah blend from California or Australia. RP 94 and he said, “The blockbuster 2005 Estate Cuvee (52% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot) exhibits an inky/blue/purple color as well as sumptuous aromas of charcoal, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, truffles, pain grille, and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity, fabulous richness, a multilayered texture, and a stunningly long finish, it possesses a Bordeaux-like weight. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 10-15."
4. Familia Mayol Quatro Primos Mendoza 2005, score=2Nose is floral but has hints of sulfa and mint. Palate is somewhat sugarfied fruits taste, weak mid palate and finish. Our consensus was syrah or syrah blend or Cab, Malbec blend. Quoting from E. Joseph Wine, “ Familia Mayol is among Argentina’s new wave of cutting edge wineries. Quatro Primo, a blend of Malbec 55%, Syrah 35%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5%, Bonarda 5% is their top offering. You can expect a rich, concentrated wine showing blackcurrant and plum fruit enhanced by notes of chocolate. It is smooth and well balanced ending with a long finish. You can also squirrel some away for a few years.”
5. Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon 1995, score=2This one was tasted without cover since it arrived late in the tasting with Uncle-E. It must have been a nice wine but it certainly passed its prim. Nose is rather closed and the palate is bit flat and fruits are mostly gone with mild nice tannin. It is rather old wine and I do not know exactly but there must be some Merlot mixed in.
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