Wine tasting July 17, 2009

We had our tasting at Winepath's. Jimmy and Piroca are still on vacation. Present were Uncle-E, Winepath, Uncle-N, Lady-SEA and late and guest appearance of Lady-P. We blind tasted 5 wines. We had interesting wines with only one to be truly New World. We also went down to the Winepath's most technically advanced wine cellar to do barrel tasting as well as tasting some of his library wines of Ch. Winepath. I expect there may be a short report about this from Winepath himself.

1. Villa Poggio Salvi Brunello di Montalcino 1998, score=2+~3

Color is dark brown/garnet indicating some age. Nose has plum, powdered cocoa and mineral (iron). Palate is rather austere with plum and black cherry leading to assertive tannin which is bit mouth drying. Nice long finish. Good structures but bit short of fruit. The tasters thought French possibly Bordeaux or may be Rhone (Cotes de Castillon?). Then Italian specifically Nebbiolo came up, although no body thought this was Barolo. This was indeed a bit old Brunello 1998 from Villa Poggio Salvi.

2. Poesia Argentinian red 2005, Score=3

Color is nice dark granet. Nose, some thought, has smoky earthiness or funkiness. Palate is again rather austere but some layers of red and back fruits with nicely structured tannin and reasonably long finish. The tasters thought that this is European in origin or at least in style and felt that there was a cab component. Among the country of origin mentioned were Span, Rhone, Italian, Chilean and Argentinean.

This was indeed from Argentina, Bordeaux-style red made of Malbec (65%) and Cab Sauv.

WE gave 93: "Winemakers Helene Garcin and Patrice Leveque have coaxed a ton of character from 70-year-old Malbec and Cabernet vines, and the result is juicy but dark, with asphalt and tar aromas sitting in front of tight but generous black fruit (cassis and blackberry). Finishing notes of coffee, mocha and char leave you happy." ST and RP gave 90.

3. Greenock creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, score=3+

Color is nice dark garnet. Nose has some protein-related funkiness but also has plum and nice fruits. Palate is definitely new world with upfront fruit loading of sweet tasting fruit especially plum which leads to nicely integrated tannin and lots of oak-related tastes such as vanilla and caramel. The tasters thought this is Aussie Shiraz or at least Shiraz dominant mix despite there was no black pepper or meat juice. Some described this wine "Girls in mini skirts". Everything about this is very attractive and nicely done New World wine. Such a contrast from the previous two.

This happened to be indeed Australian wine but not Shiraz.

93 points Robert Parker: "The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, fashioned from 15-year-old vines that yielded one ton of fruit per acre, reveals classic, intense aromas of creme de cassis intermixed with loamy soil, new saddle leather, and vanilla notes. Aged in neutral French oak for 26 months, this beauty is one of the finest Cabernets Greenock Creek has recently made."

4. Finca Luzon Altos de Luzon 2005, score=2

Nose has faint burnt rubber/chemical note. Palate is semi-New World with some black fruit with mild tannin finishing the taste. Not extremely complex wine. The tasters had a difficult time deciding what this is. Uncle-E's suggestion was if wine defies the categolization, it must be from Spain and this was from Jumilla Spain.

winemaker's notes: "50% Monastrell Old Vines, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Tempranillo. Oak-influenced aromas of vanilla and baking spices, ripe blackberry, plum and boysenberry. Lush dark berry flavors with vanilla, cinnamon and clove accents. Finishes on a dark berry liqueur note, with subtle tannins and a good finish."

90 Points International Wine Cellar "Dark red. Suave, oak-spiced cherry and cassis on the nose, with a gentle vanilla undertone. Sweet dark fruit flavors are round and supple, with soft tannins building on the back. Picks up a spicy quality on the long, juicy finish. The fruit and oak work very well together."

5. Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Score=2+
This was ticky one. Nose has definitive funk (basement). Rather austere palate but nice red cherry with good tannin. All jumped to the conclusions that this was Bordeaux 2006 to be exact and that this must be from rather small unknown chateau. We are all wrong!! (as usual) This is Cali cab from Sequoia grove which we tasted previously.

WE 93

“Tasting Notes - Deep garnet in color with aromas of ripe cherry and blackberry with a bit of mocha and cocoa. The fruit intertwines lovingly with the oak, hints of which can be found in aromas of clove, black pepper and spice. The palate is rich and bold but the tannins are soft and supple creating an endless finish. The acid compliments the lushness of the fruit and gives structure and balance throughout the wine"