Wine tasting on November 13, 2009

Present were Winpeath, Jimmy, Piroca and Uncle-N. Uncle-E was MIA. We blind tasted interesting 5 wines.  One of them, we deemed not quite drinkable.

1. Costanti Brunello di Montalcino 2003, score=2+

Color is dark garnet but lighter than typical California cab and had slight brown tinge on the rim indicating some age. Nose is pleasant with toasted oak, cedar but no funk. Palate is bit muted upfront with black fruit ending in firm tannin with reasonable long finish. Some tasters felt that this wine has an acidic edge. Winepath was decisive that this is Bordeaux. Others said "not French" since no basement nose was present and felt that this was in New World Style. There were some differences of opinion; Piroca thought this wine was very thin and not drinkable. Others felt this is not in our favorite style but certainly quite drinkable. Unfortunately, our old world wine connoisseur, Uncle-E was absent.


93 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$90/750ml list] Costanti’s 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is among the handful number of standouts in this vintage. The wine reveals lovely depth and purity. Fragrant aromatics meld seamlessly onto the palate, where layers of dark cherries, spices and toasted oak come to life in a very pretty expression of Sangiovese from Montalcino. There is plenty of volume and depth here to insure at least another decade of superb drinking. The 2003 Brunello saw malolactic fermentation in steel, after which it spent about 18 months in 350-liter French oak barrels followed by another roughly 18 months in 30-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. (Apr 2008)" 

93 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good bright, medium red. Complex nose offers redcurrant, dried flowers, leather and minerals. Velvety and pliant in texture, with a lovely restrained sweetness to the berry, spice and floral flavors. Wonderfully spherical, balanced wine with no hard edges. Offers an impression of volume without weight and spreads out subtly to saturate the palate. The tannins are sweet and fine. (Jul/Aug 2008)"

93 points Wine & Spirits: "Grown at the higher altitudes (up to 1,300 feet) of Costanti's estate to the east of the town of Montalcino, this wine expresses the vintage more quietly than the Calbello (recommended above). It feels lean and restrained when first poured, the notes of dried cherry and mint gently rubbing dark, umami tannins. It gains stature with air, those dark tannins reaching deeper to become savory and ferrous, the fruit brightening to show fresh strawberry and cherry. While tempting to drink now for its beauty, the wine should become more elegant in five to eight years. (Apr 2009)"
 

2. Mollydooker The Maitre d' Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, score=3


This wine dones a screw top which narrows down possible origins (mostly from Australia). Color is nicely dark. Nose is very pleasent with sweet fruits. Palate is loaded with fruit with a hint of sweetness (bit sugarfied or candied). Some of the description by our tateres includes "fig dipped in white chocolate". Mild well integrated tannin. After some deliberation, consensus was that this is Mollydooker and choices are between Maitre D' and Boxer. What the contrast from the prior wine.

I could not find the rating for 2008 vintage but 05, 06, 07 have been 91 and 92 by WA.

winemaker's notes:
"Powerful with an intensely varietal nose perfumed with violets, plums, cloves and a touch of menthol. Full-bodied and bursting with dark fruit, spice and herbs with a rich plum finish and fine dusty tannins. Simply stunning Cabernet.
Tasting Notes: "Mmmmm...delicious Cabernet characteristics of plums, blackcurrant, scorched earth and a touch of menthol on the edge. Hints of liquorice and spice make up the complex aroma profile. Plush fruits and sensual, silky tannins make this a Cabernet lovers delight. Layers of dark fruits, dark chocolate, spice box and perfect silky tannins. Superb depth and concentration as well as a super long finish puts the 2008 Maitre D’ into overdrive!"

3. Two hands somedays are diamonds Napa Cabernet 2006, score=2+~3

Color is nicely dark garnet with blue tinge. Nose is very pleasant with floral note. Palate is New World style with tons of fruits upfront leading to quite firm tannin. Good long finish. We like this one. The bule hue made some of us think of Malbec but consensus was well made California Cab.

This is from the two hands Napa valley. The main two hands winery is in south Australia. Althouhg I could not find the narratives, RP reportedly gave 88/100. We would have given at least 90.

Here is some info from their website.
"Our passion for the Napa Valley emanated from a visit to California in the 90’s by the two hands, Richard Mintz and Michael Twelftree. At the time, the two proprietors were keen to learn as much as possible about the region, its terroir and the well known ability to grow cabernet sauvignon in this semi-maritime environment north of San Francisco. Of course, they were also keen to acquire greater knowledge of the US wine market and its consumer’s insatiable appetite for high end wine, so they journeyed across the great cities and restaurants of the vast and dynamic country to check it out.

In these early days they met many influential wine people of the USA, one contact leading to another. They barrel tasted at some of the most renowned wineries and took tours and vineyard walks at Araujo, Shafer, Harlan, Beringer, Opus One, Lagier Meredith, Spottswoode, Dalle Valle... and the list goes on. At each visit, Michael and Richard absorbed like sponges the idiosyncratic nature of the people, the dirt and the way they made wine.

Years later, in a position to obtain great fruit from vineyards across a number of micro climates of the Napa Valley, followed by an opportunity to work with one of the valley’s more well known winemakers at a world class winery - Outpost, the temptation was far too great to ignore. Hence the birth of Two Hands Napa in 2005.

It is our aim to emulate the success of the Two Hands Wines Australian business by producing cutting edge cabernet sauvignon wines of extremely high quality from distinctive micro-climates of the Napa Valley."

4. Susana Balbo Brioso 2006, score=3

This one came in a body-builder bottle. Color is nicely dark. Nose has some minerals and (nice) sardine smell. This is in New World style with loads of upfront black fruit leading to good firm tannin, may be too tannic. Spanish, Cali cab, Argentinian wines were suggested. This turned out to be Susna Balbo red (predominantly cab) from Argentina.

92 Points, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, 2008
"The limited production (600 6-packs) 2006 Brioso is composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. It was sourced from ungrafted vines with an average age of 27 years and aged for 14 months in 100% new French oak. Purple-colored, it has a fragrant nose of pain grille, mineral, earth notes, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. Surprisingly elegant for its size, on the palate it reveals notes of chocolate, tobacco, and leather in addition to layers of rich black fruits. It should evolve effortlessly for several years and be at its best from 2012 to 2026. Susana Balbo is one of Argentina's most respected as well as renowned winemakers."

90 Points, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 2009
"Bright red-ruby. Musky dark fruits, graphite, licorice, cedary oak and a whiff of earth on the nose. Dense and serious, with sweet currant, graphite and cedary oak flavors complicated by a saline soil character and a whiff of musky reduction. Dry, broad and lush on the back end; coats the palate without leaving behind any undue impression of weight. The ripe tannins build, suggesting that this should improve in bottle over the next several years."

Varietal Composition: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Vineyard Location(s): Agrelo, Altamira, Alto Agrelo
Average Vineyard Elevation: 3300 feet
Average Age of Vines: 27 years
Oak Regimen: 14 months in 100% new French barriques
Alcohol: 14.5%
Case Production: 600

5. Fort Walla Walla Cellars Merlot 2001, score=1

This one was a bummer. Color is dark garnet without brown color but nose is awful with burned hair and rubber with sewer gas. Palate is much better with well controlled fruit and well-integrated tannin but we could not see how one can enjoy this wine with this pungent unpleasant nose. We thought ths is from South Africa or Argentina or Spain but we just can not belive this one came from North America. RP (eRoberparker) reportedly gave 88 in 2003. Something must have happened in the past 6 years to develop this nose.

Wine Maker’s Tasting Notes
"Fort Walla Walla Cellars 2001 Merlot is dark and rich in color. Aromas of blackberry; cedar and mocha; highlighted by warm, toasty new oak, add smoky nuances to the wine. Full bodied and ample, the flavors reveal an intense cherry fruit, with a tinge of sweet spiced chicory. Mild tannins give the wine a firm but rich finish adding immensely to its enjoyment. Enjoy over an evening in front of a fire with a wide range of options for the next course."