2004 Wine Enthusiast Top 100

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2004 Wine Enthusiast Top 100

Standartinė Vynai » 2005-01-06, 13:34:39

Ką tik Wine Enthusiast paskelbė savo 2004 Top 100. Dėl vyno nugalėtojo, norėtume pasakyti dar vieną pastabėlę-kiek žinome, jis užsukamas metaliniu kamščiu, kas įrodo, jog Stelvin kamščiai vis labiau įtvirtina savo pozicijas vyno rinkoje.
O 22 vieta- Antinori 2001 Villa Antinori yra ir Lietuvoje.

95 PlumpJack 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville); $58. Really first rate, fat, fleshy, flashy and sensual. Hard to exaggerate the beauty of the currant and cherry fruit, so ripe, polished and pure, and the sweet finesse of the tannins. In a few years the inherent structure will kick in, tightening the wine and guaranteeing it a long life.

95 Fuligni 1999 Brunello di Montalcino; $82. Anyone who loves great Sangiovese should snap up this star-quality wine. Always a personal favorite, the ā€™99 doesnā€™t disappoint. Itā€™s lively and electric, with structure equal to the Tuscan fort in which it was tasted. As for flavors, look for overflowing blackberry, cola, mocha and more. A wine that can probably last for 15 years.

95 Louis Roederer 1997 Brut (Champagne); $63. This Champagne is rounded, rich, and powerful, with a fine sense of the red fruits of Pinot Noir. There are also almond flavors, creaminess and warmth. There is a touch of austere minerality from the low dosage and the lack of malolactic, which means it will age well over 10 years.

94 Talley 2002 Rincon Vineyard Pinot Noir (Arroyo Grande Valley); $48. Just beautiful. Smoky oak, chocolate, cherry, vanilla, sweet herbs, lavender, thyme, oriental spice, just goes on and on. Huge, rich, balanced and so smooth, bursting with ripe, sweet fruit. Gorgeous tannin-acid balance, and such a delicate mouthfeel.

95 Bruno Rocca 1999 Rabajà (Barbaresco); $85. Extraordinary stuff. The aromas practically defy description, packed with smoke, tobacco, cigar box and cured meat, all wrapped around a deep, rich core of black cherries. Picks up even more complexity in the mouth, adding vanilla, plums and dates in an expansive, mouthfilling experience, thenā€”whamā€”the tannins hit home, sending you reeling and wondering when this wine will finally blossom. Great now, great 20 years from now.

94 Ridge 2001 Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains); $30. Amazingly intense and concentrated. Swamps the palate with pear and peach fruit, and a rich acidic structure. Oak plays a role in adding smoke, vanilla and sweet tannins. Long and penetrating, lush and vital. Combines power and subtlety in a rare way.

93 Numanthia-Termes, S.L. 2000 Termes (Toro); $21. Soft, deep and pure, and a significant step up from the fine-in-its-own-right ā€™99. The bouquet of blackberry, bacon and herbs is open and welcoming, while the smoky cherry and bacon palate is wonderful. Finishes sweet and easy, with warmth, size and fine tannins. So supple and rich, yet packed with stuffing. A New World masterpiece thatā€™s made for drinking over the next several years.

92 Chateau St. Jean 2002 La Petite Etoile Vineyard FumƩ Blanc (Russian River Valley); $20. Showy stuff. It starts off with grassy aromas modulated with vanilla and smoke. In the mouth, the citrus, sweet fig, melon and spice flavors are delicious, and are balanced with firm, citrusy acids. Made Chard-style, with a full-bodied oakiness, this is a wonderful wine.

95 Simi 2001 Landslide Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley); $33. This fabulously complex wine shows how you can merge power and nuance with the most complex and satisfying results. Cherries, dried herbs, vanilla and toasty oak, with ripe, lush tannins and great balance. Shows an exciting finesse throughout. Hard to exaggerate the quality. A perfect companion at the table.


93 Cockburnā€™s 2001 Quinta dos Canais Vintage Porto; $NA. The blackest, inkiest wine of the tasting, itā€™s incredibly rich and dense. Round and mouthfilling, packed with mixed berries and chocolate. The vintageā€™s flesh is obscuring the wineā€™s structure for the moment, but this should age magnificently. Drink 2011ā€“2040.

96 Louis Latour 2002 Corton-Charlemagne; $100. Immense power lies behind the initially seductive nature of this wine. It is powerful, ripe, complex, full of tropical fruits, and still at first it seems to be restraining this intensity. Give it 10 years and it will be mind-blowing.

96 Joseph Phelps 2001 Insignia (Napa Valley); $125. A triumph. Aged nearly two years in all-new French oak, this massive wine stuns with its superb balance. Manages the elusive challenge of reining in hugely ripe black currant, cherry and oak flavors and sweet tannins while keeping the palate impression soft and alluring, almost feminine. Just gorgeous right out of the bottle, but should develop effortlessly through the decade and beyond.

94 Quinta da Carvalhosa 2001 Campo Ardosa (Douro); $30. Matured in new oak, this shows how the Douro is capable of great elegance. Flavors of dark fruits balance dry tannins and spice. This wine will age, for 10 years or more.

94 Villa Creek 2001 Avenger (Paso Robles); $20. The first-ever wine from this West Side property, and a very great wine it is. A beautifully balanced Rhône blend with aromas of raspberry, cherry, sweet wood smoke and vanilla, it is extracted and jammy, but complex. Layers of oak, chocolate, cherry, cream and spices cascade across the palate. The finish is long and spicy-sweet.

93 Mayacamas 2002 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley); $20. One of the best Sauvignons of this or any vintage, a brilliant and evocative wine of great style and flair. Powerfully dry, with citrus, fig, apple and peppery spice flavors and a lush overlay of oak. Compelling for its intensity and complexity.

93 Bouchard Père & Fils 2002 Teurons Premier Cru (Beaune); $30. Silky, smooth wine with acidity and sweet strawberry fruits. This is a glorious ripe, silky smooth wine, packed with sweet strawberry fruits and acidity. Yet is also has a firm structure of dry tannins to give it ageability.

93 Whitehall Lane 2001 Merlot (Napa Valley); $26. Soft, gentle and seductive, with its cherry-chocolate, sweet green olive, vanilla and pecan pie flavors wowing the palate. Best are the tannins, which are rich and fine. They provide structure, while being sweet themselves. What a sensational Merlot. It deserves the best food you can rustle up.

93 Pessagno 2001 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands); $25. Fresh honey, peach, toast, mineral, cinnamon, spice and herb notes give pleasing complexity to this elegant wine. Itā€™s packed with flavor, richly textured, yet bright and firm on the finish, which ends with a refreshing citrus note. Great price for a wine of this quality.

92 Palacios Remondo 2001 Propiedad Herencia Remondo (Rioja); $25. The peak of the Palacios familyā€™s Rioja production, itā€™s gorgeous and aromatic. It has red fruit, flowers and handsome oak on the nose. The palate is smooth and chewy, with expressive plum, berry and apple skin flavors. Power-packed but balanced, offering a proper jolt and immediate drinkability.

92 Chandon NV Reserve Brut (Napa-Sonoma); $24. Delicate, refined and very dry. This is one of the more elegant bruts around, with a silky mouthfeel and very fine texture. Seems to float in the mouth, with gentle lime and vanilla flavors.

92 Limerick Lane 2002 Collins Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley); $26. A great Zin, rich and opulent. Floods the mouth with briary blackberry, blueberry, cherry, chocolate and pepper flavors that just take over the palate. Yet the wine is dry and balanced, with firm, ripe tannins. One of the best Zins of the year.

91 Antinori 2001 Villa Antinori (Toscana); $23. An excellent blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. The bouquet is loaded with sweet fruit, lushness and a deft dollop of oak. A masculine yet bright wine, with cassis, cherry and the works. Finishes fresh, with chocolate notes. A value in its price range.

95 Hewitt 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford); $75. An inaugural release from Chalone Wine Group, and an important one. Possesses the hallmarks of greatness, from the subtle but complex mingling of cassis, cherry, herb, tobacco, mint and dark chocolate flavors to the fabulously ripe, sweet tannins. Big and sturdy yet nuanced, this wine is gorgeous now and should last for many years in the cellar.

94 Castello Romitorio 1999 Brunello di Montalcino; $59. A glorious Brunello, one overflowing with the scents of leather, tree bark, cherry tomato, and black cherry. One taste confirms the nose, and at every checkpoint itā€™s full and rewarding. With its huge wingspan, thereā€™s flavor and texture at every turn. Hold for 3ā€“10 years.

93 St. Hallett 2000 Old Block Shiraz (Barossa Valley); $54. Nose has beautiful, permeating pine-needle, mocha and meaty aromas. In the mouth it boasts chewy tannins, cassis fruit and slatelike accents. Finishes long; a sexy wine overall, with a beautiful, mouthcoating feel.

92 Weingut Emmerich Knoll 2002 Loibner Ried Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd (Wachau); $45. From its explosive aromas of melon, spice, apricot and herb to its intense flavors of peach, melon and peppery spice, this wineā€™s quality is obvious. Rich and viscous in the mouth, with a long, dried-spice and mineral-laden finish, this is world-class dry Riesling.

94 Vall Llach 2000 Embruix (Priorat); $28. Inky-dark and dense, with exemplary cherry and berry fruit along with tons of earth, spice and terroir. At 15% itā€™s big, and you get more than ample blackberry and cherry fruit to chew on. The finish, meanwhile, is dark with espresso and leftover fruit. Big and boisterous, but right on the money.

92 Weingut Johannishof 2003 Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling SpƤtlese (Rheingau); $26. Stony and minerally on the nose, followed by gentler whiffs of honey, then finally broad, sweet flavors of ripe apples and pineapples. Mouthfilling and soft, but with balanced acidity and a long, complex finish.

93 Fisher 2001 Coach Insignia Chardonnay (Sonoma County); $32. This very complex wine is a blend of grapes from various parts of the county. It shows a myriad of flavors ranging from tropical tree fruits to limes and crisp, green apples, and has been well-oaked. The texture is creamy and opulent. Donā€™t chill it too much, because youā€™ll lose some of the high-end nuances.

94 J. Bookwalter 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley); $32. At first tight and a bit unyielding, it sends up little wafts of scentā€”cinnamon and spiceā€”before slowly broadening out with classic Bordeaux notes of lead pencil, cedar and graphite. Lean but not mean, this shows the grip and polish of very skillful winemaking, married to superb fruit. Classic black cherry and cassis, with the acidity and lean muscularity that distinguishes the best Washington Cabs.

91 Norton 2002 La Privada (Mendoza); $20. Nortonā€™s proprietary house blend features a sensuous mix of Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec, all from the scintillating ā€™02 harvest. This is one of the best wines Norton has made in ages, if not in its history. Tobacco, tar and chocolate aromas accent the deep, saturated bouquet. And the flavors and feel are pure New World in that ripeness and drinkability take precedence over complexity.

94 Neyers 2001 CuvĆ©e dā€™Honeur Syrah (Napa Valley); $45. From the Hudson Vineyard in Carneros, this is a very dark wine bursting with crème de cassis, chocolate, mint, smoke, vanilla and toast aromas. The flavors are similarly rich and unctuous, with great weight and a fabulous core of blackberries and spice. For all its size, it never loses its sense of balance and elegance.

94 Andrew Will 2002 Klipsun Vineyard Merlot (Red Mountain); $45. Is this the finest single-vineyard Merlot in the country? It certainly can stake a claim to that distinction, with its bright, dense, vibrant scents of berry and cherry, its muscular tannins and deeply concentrated fruit flavors enhanced with the dark notes of earth and iron from Klipsun soil and the relentless wind that toughens the grape skins. Decant this one early.

95 Palazzo Rosso 1999 Brunello di Montalcino; $75. The smoky bouquet is sleek and sly, with genuine leather and floral notes. Itā€™s very classy and already into its development. The fruit is pure and dark, and the finish is what some might call ā€?monster,ā€¯ which is a good thing. A winner with all the right stuff. Hold three to four years before drinking.

93 Andrew Murray 2001 Roasted Slope Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley); $32. For all its obvious power, this wine is elegant and stylish. The sweet cherry fruit is wrapped in a layer of lavender, thyme and sweet oak. The flavors coat the mouth and last for a long time. The underlying strength and staying power of this wine shows in the tannic finish. Best after 2007.

92 JosƩ Maria da Fonseca 2001 Domini Plus (Douro); $26. A finely crafted wine, offering ripe dark cherries and plums along with sophisticated acidity and tannins. This top wine from the joint venture between J.M. da Fonseca and Cristiano van Zeller has elegance as well as a fine tarry aftertaste.

93 Morgan 2001 Garysā€™ Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands); $35. Everybody wants grapes from this vineyard for its fabulous terroir, which usually yields wines of impeccable balance and lushness. This wine is light and delicate in structure, with beautifully firm acids and sweetly complex flavors of cherry pie, mocha and vanilla. Itā€™s a pleasure to sip.

93 Domaine de Villeneuve 2001 Vieilles Vignes (Châteauneuf-du-Pape); $32. From a biodynamic vineyard, this wine has pure, beautifully perfumed fruit. Aromas of herbs and wild flowers counterpoint the firm, huge, rich flavors, and ripe, black fruits. It is seductively ready to drink, but should age for at least 10 years.

93 Madrigal 2001 Petite Sirah (Napa Valley); $35. Starts off with rich aromas that are redolent of chocolate, coffee and black cherry. On the palate, itā€™s firm textured, framed in ripe tannins that highlight more cassis, earth, spice and complex herb flavors. Bright and long on the finish, this is a big, beautiful wine.

90 Warwick 2004 Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc (Simonsberg Stellenbosch); $18. Initially rather simple and sweet, offering ripe tropical-citrus fruit plus a round, soft feel, behind that veneer lurked an impressive wine. With time emerged Sauvignon Blancā€™s brighter citrus and grass tanginess, and much higher apparent acidity. Itā€™s full yet crisp, closing long with rich fruit and mild pepper notes. Grab now, but wait until 2005 to drink.

92 Sebastiani 2001 Merlot (Alexander Valley); $24. A wine that excites, not only for its deliciously gooey flavors, but for the restraint and subtlety of its structure. Those flavors are rich and extracted, ranging from black currants, fine coffee and the ripest black cherries to the sweet vanillins and toast contributed by oak. The tannins are a wonder, sweet and lush, and the finish grows even sweeter.

92 Mount Horrocks 2001 Cordon Cut Riesling (Clare Valley); $27/375 ml. A tremendous, sweet Riesling, unctuous but not cloying. Smells like ripe green apples; tastes like petrol at palate entry, but melts seamlessly into honey, floral and sweet chalk flavors. Winemaker Stephanie Toole says that it ā€?actually goes with dessertsā€¦it doesnā€™t fight with them.ā€¯ Amen, sister.

93 Beringer 2001 Private Reserve Chardonnay (Napa Valley); $35. Rich and concentrated, packed with flavors ranging from Golden Delicious apples through peaches, pears and ripe mangoes. The generous dose of oak provides a blast of vanilla and sweet tannins that are balanced with the fruit. This young wine also has acidic verve that will carry it through five years or more of aging.

92 Signorello 2002 Seta White Wine (Napa Valley); $25. This fabulous blend of SĆ©millon and Sauvignon Blanc approaches a great white Bordeaux in complexity and sheer deliciousness. Thereā€™s a lushness and intricacy to the texture beyond the ripe peach, lemongrass, fig and buttercream flavors. The result is balanced, elegant and harmonious, with great finesse. One of the best wines of its type in recent vintages.

96 Staglin 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford); $110. One of the best Rutherford wines of the vintage. Dramatically concentrated, everythingā€™s on steroids, but controlled and beautiful. Very ripe and plush, oaky and young, fabulously expressive. Flavors are of black currants, sweet cherries, vanilla, smoke. A perfect expression of youthful brilliance and ageworthiness.

93 Valsacro 2001 Dioro (Rioja); $36. This is a very new wine, but one worth getting if you like the modern style Spanish red. Made from 70-year old Tempranillo as well as some Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha, youā€™ll be digging into a massively roasted, well-oaked bruiser. Caramel, mocha and chocolate mix with full berry fruit to yield a wine of concentration and body. Thick and manly; mature and ready by 2008.

93 S.E. Chase Family Cellars 2001 Zinfandel (Napa Valley); $36. Another top-notch wine from this relatively new producer. This vintage is packed with complex, ripe black cherry, blackberry, plum, spice, toast, vanilla, coffee, chocolate and herb flavors, all supported by smooth, supple tannins. Itā€™s lush and long to the end.

94 Betz Family Winery 2002 La Serenne Syrah (Columbia Valley); $41. Dense and plush with exotic scents of roasted coffee, smoke, toast, cedar and blackberry jam, this is very young, showing mostly primary fruits and lots of new wood. But the ripe, sappy fruit, from an exceptional block in the Boushey vineyard, stands out, seamless and pure. Like a racehorse, this wine is sleek, powerful and perfectly proportioned. It offers immense enjoyment as soon as the cork is popped, but will go for a good 10 years in the cellar.

95 Paraiso Vineyards 2001 Wedding Hill Syrah (Santa Lucia Highlands); $45. One of the best Syrahs Iā€™ve ever had from this appellation, and right up there with Californiaā€™s best. Deep, dark and complex, it offers dramatic helpings of plum sauce, leather, blackberry, chocolate, coffee and oak flavors that donā€™t stop. The tannic structure is a wonder. Completely dry, yet with a fruity sweetness, itā€™s totally drinkable now and for the next few years.

95 Swanson 2001 Alexis Red Table Wine (Oakville); $50. A Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah blend off the estate. The winemaker says the Syrah brings complexity and backbone, although I donā€™t know that the Cabernet needs much help. But this is an extraordinary wine. Itā€™s richly sumptuous in chocolaty, black currant fruit, and soft as velvet, but without being cloying, due to the sweet tannins and bracing structure.

92 Concha y Toro 2001 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley); $29. This luscious Cabernet makes you think that the Stags Leap District came to the Maipo Valley and dropped off a few secrets before heading home. Gorgeous leather and black fruit mix on the burly nose, which is backed up by lead pencil, tobacco and cassis.

92 Louis Jadot 2002 Clos des Chênes Premier Cru (Volnay); $29. This Volnay is so intense, so seductive. It has great structure, too, deeply flavored and rich, with pure, sweet fruits.

94 Flowers 2001 Andreen-Gale CuvƩe Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast); $44. This is an intense, brilliantly focused wine that displays near perfect balance. The flavors are of fresh, savory lemondrop veering into spicy mango and are well oaked, while the acidity is superb, lending a steely tang to the richness. The finish lasts a full minute. This classic coast Chardonnay will hold and slowly become nutty and complex through the decade.

94 Jade Mountain 2001 Paras Vineyard Syrah (Mount Veeder); $50. As good as Jade Mountainā€™s ā€™02 Syrah is, this is considerably better, if complexity and depth are the yardstick. It begins with an impressive burst of white pepper, and then floods the mouth with the plushest blackberry and cherry flavors. Ultimately, itā€™s the tannins that strike you. Theyā€™re soft as velvet, sweet, and as intricate as an old tapestry.

90 Union de Cooperatives Vinicoles de Samos 1999 Nectar Vin de Paille Muscat (Samos); $20. Brown sugar, honey, caramelized nutsā€”what comforting, warming scents waft from the glass. Itā€™s plump but not overly sweet, more nutty and honeyed, with citrusy notes that give it a sense of structure. Made from sun-dried Muscat grapes, then aged in oak for three years.

94 Longoria 2002 Mt. Carmel Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Rita Hills); $50. A great success, a great wine that seems to epitomize this appellation. Brimming with cool-climate acidity, firm and steely in texture, but lush and seductive. The cherry, mocha and cinnamon flavors go on forever, massive yet balanced and harmonious.

93 Byron 2001 Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Maria Valley); $40. Dark in color, immense in structure, deep in flavor, this is a blockbuster. The deep color only hints at the intense flavors of sweet black cherry, mocha, roasted coffee, smoky oak, sweet tobacco and Oriental spices. As big as it is, itā€™s a silky wine that glides across the palate. With Chinese roast duck, a marriage made in heaven.

92 Pol Roger NV Extra CuvĆ©e de RĆ©serve Brut (Champagne); $35. Pol Roger has hit the bullā€™s eye with this yearā€™s release, which boasts smoky, toasty, spicy aromas and rich, mouthfilling flavors of red berries, citrus and minerals. Creamy and mouthfilling, with a long, luscious finish.

92 EOS 2001 Cupa Grandis, Peck Ranch Vineyard Block P7 Petite Sirah (Paso Robles); $40. With this thick, dark wine, the folks from EOS have pumped up the volume. Itā€™s super soft and supple, with velvety tannins and lots of black cherry, coffee, chocolate, herb, spice, vanilla, toast and earth flavors. The wine also has some high-toned qualities that bright up on the finish.

92 Sineann 2003 Pinot Noir (Oregon); $30. The best Oregon bottling ever from this exceptional producer. Spectacular, ripe, plush aromatics open into plummy, jammy, purely varietal fruit. But there is more, a textural complexity that incorporates light herb, leaf and vanilla notes. This has it all, and offers every bit as much pleasure as any of the single-vineyard bottlings.

92 Mauro 2000 Viño de la Tierra de Castilla y LeĆ³n; $32. Sweet and rich, with aromatic notes of barbecued meats, blackberry and wild flowers. Quite bold and chewy, but with an acidic middle that preserves balance like an angel. For the maximum in terms of plum, blackberry and licorice, this one delivers the goods. Itā€™s mouthfilling and delicious, with tannic structure and a chocolaty smoothness.

93 Shafer 2001 Merlot (Napa Valley); $39. As the 2001s come out the reds are looking good; this Merlot is evidence of the vintageā€™s quality. Itā€™s intense and concentrated, with laserlike blackberry, cherry and coffee flavors that are so ripe, theyā€™re practically sweet. Yet it is a dry, balanced wine, notable for the quality of its tannins.

93 Robert Mondavi 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville); $40. Darker and riper than Mondaviā€™s Napa Cabernet, with the blackberries veering into currants, and newer, smokier tasting oak. Quite dramatic, in the tension of its fruit, oak, acids and tannins. Young and flashy, and will easily age through 2015.

92 Beaulieu Vineyard 2001 Tapestry Reserve (Napa Valley); $40. A lovely wine, one that winemaker Joel Aiken says is more accessible than Private Reserve, but the tannins suggest ageability. Rich and full-bodied, with black currant, chocolate, coffee and herb flavors. With a steak, itā€™s fine now, but will develop easily for many years. A blend of four Bordeaux varieties.

94 Château Saint-CosmĆ© 2001 CuvĆ©e Valbelle (Gigondas); $53. This wine is all about potential. At present, with the powerful tannins and layers of wood, the fruit is only showing early signs of richness. But over time, this is going to develop into a superb wine, powering through from the tannins to enormous, concentrated dark fruits and layers of herbal flavors.

93 Hall 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley); $35. So good, so balanced and so tasty. Just bursting with sweet ripe currant, cherry and mocha flavors that are complemented with velvety smooth tannins and an elaborate overlay of good oak. Yet it possesses all-important elegance and finesse.

93 Navarro 2002 Cluster Select Late Harvest GewĆ¼rztraminer (Anderson Valley); $25. Outrageously sweet and delicious, a wine that blows your mind with the first sip. Itā€™s powerful in apricot, banana flambĆ© and vanilla cream flavors, with a viscous texture that stains the glass with glycerine. Dessert in a glass.

91 Felton Road 2002 Pinot Noir (Central Otago); $43. This emerges from the bottle in a slightly reduced state, but the off aromas fade quickly, replaced by smoky, dense fruit scents. Black cherries and plums predominate, yielding exciting layers of fruit and finishing with extraordinary persistence.

92 Marilyn Remark 2001 Wild Horse Road Vineyard Grenache (Monterey County); $45. This Grenache tastes old-viney, with amazingly dense, concentrated flavors of black cherry fruit and nuances of smoky coffee that hit the palate with force and last through a long finish. Theyā€™re wrapped in rich, sweet tannins, and finish with lively pepper and acidity.

94 Castello de Camigliano 1999 Brunello di Montalcino; $55. Stately and complex, with fabulous structure and purity of fruit. The nose builds to an alluring peak, offering leather, cherry tomato and plum along the way. In the mouth, the wine is strong and balanced, while at the end thick legs cling to your glass as it fades away like silk.

93 Mas de Daumas Gassac 2002 Vin de Pays de Lā€™Herault; $50. This big wine, the grand vin from Daumas Gassac, is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon plus more typical Languedoc varieties. It shows structure, elegance and power. Flavors of dark plums and black fruits are layered with wood. Considering the poor vintage, this doesnā€™t miss a moment of richness. Ideally age for 10 years or more, but will be drinkable after 5.

94 Kendall-Jackson 2001 Stature Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley); $60. I could imagine drinking this wine throughout an entire four-course meal and it making everything, from salad to steak and dessert, better. Itā€™s fabulously rich, dry, acidic and complex. The Santa Maria Valley is famous for the tropical fruits and spices this wine shows in spades.

93 Elio Grasso 1999 Ginestra Vigna Casa MatĆ© (Barolo); $53. Turns the neat trick of being big and mouthfilling yet not heavy, packing in spiced prune and date flavors wrapped in dark chocolate and tar. The finish shows this wineā€™s true potential, ending with big fruit, big tannins, mouthwatering acids and great length.

95 Schramsberg 1998 J. Schram (Napa County); $80. Ultrarefined, superelegant, the superlatives go on and on. Pours clear and bright, with the most subtle and inviting aromas, all dough and smoke and custardy vanilla with that tease of strawberry. So silky and light on the palate, and perfectly dosed to a smooth dryness. You will find youthful acidity and scour on the finish, suggesting a wine fully capable of aging. Drink now through 2010.

94 Frogā€™s Leap 2001 (Rutherford) Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley); $65. This blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Cabernet Franc is extraordinarily rich and amazingly balanced for such a big wine. Stands out even in its pedigreed Rutherford neighborhood. Dense in blackberry, cranberry, sour cherry and oaky flavors. Firm in tannins. Great now but will develop through 2010 and beyond.

93 Woodward Canyon 2001 Estate Red Wine (Walla Walla); $55. A lovely estate wine, from Walla Walla fruit, that is a blend of 50% Cab Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and the rest Cab Franc. Wild yeasts add some gamy complexity, and every effort is made to ripen the grapes at sensible alcohol levels. This is a vin de garde, with subtle textures, grip and very well-managed tannins that set up a lingering, resonant finish.

94 Poggio Antico 2001 Madre Cabernet-Sangiovese (Toscana); $64. One sniff delivers heavenly aromas of liqueur, plum and licorice. This 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet represents the Super Tuscan concept at its best. The fruit is dynamite, the oak front and center, and the aging potential great. Hold for about five years then unleash an avalanche of class and flavor.

92 Antinori-Matte 2001 Albis Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley); $53. The inaugural wine from the joint venture between Piero Antinori and Haras de Pirque owner Eduardo Matte is, as might be expected, a rich, bruising, forceful red. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Carmenère and it exudes deep charcoal, smoke and black-fruit aromas. Next in line is a smooth but heady palate of cassis and herbal notes. The finish is oaky with a hint of coconut. A worthy new entry into the high-end Chilean sweepstakes.

94 Domaine Antonin Guyon 2002 Corton Clos du Roi; $65. A superb wine, which is dominated by enticing aromas of sweet fruit. Flavors of sweet strawberries mingle gracefully with soft, rich tannins.

93 Jean-Claude Boisset 2002 Bressandes Premier Cru (Beaune); $NA. A very rich, concentrated wine that combines black fruits, dark tannins and sweetness. Hints of wood only give structure. The potential is thereā€”give this 10 years at least.

91 Penfolds 2001 Magill Estate Shiraz (South Australia); $50. Round, plush and hedonistic, the Magill barely falls on the conservative side of ā€?over the topā€¯ this year. Deep aromas of vanilla bean and meat segue to a blackberry-and-vanilla ride on the palate. Long and luscious on the finish; really quite sexy overall.

94 Henschke 2001 Mount Edelstone Shiraz (Eden Valley); $70. My resolution for 2004: To mount a campaign for Mt. Edelstone appreciation, as this excellent wine is always overshadowed in the U.S. by its better-known, smaller-production sibling, Hill of Grace. Mt. Edelstone is a consistent, fabulous wine at a fraction of HOGā€™s price. This vintage shows penetrating spearmint, bread flour and perfectly ripe red plums on the palate; in perfect balance; it finishes long and red.

94 Parusso 1999 Bussia Vigna Fiurin (Barolo); $70. Unabashedly modern in style, with layers of menthol and toast surrounding immense depths of dark fruit. Plum, black cherries and tar fill the mouth with a texture thatā€™s simultaneously rich and supple, silken yet velvety. Picks up more oak-induced notes of maple syrup and coffee on the finish.

94 Rudd 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville); $75. Classic Oakville, detailed and refined, powerful in fruit and tannins; assertive and authoritative, yet manages to be graceful and elegant. A fulfilling wine, balanced and harmonious. Clearly has the stuffing to enjoy a ripe old age. Drink now through 2015.

94 Nickel & Nickel 2001 John C. Sullenger Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville); $75. A stunning Cabernet, rich, pure and powerful. Blackberries, currants, oak and sweet fresh herbs flood the palate. Itā€™s a tannic wine, with a hard-edged mouthfeel, but the tannins are so sweet, itā€™s tempting to uncork now. Drink right away, or age for 10 years and let it develop magic.

93 Ceretto 2000 Bernardot (Barbaresco); $67. Somewhat confusingly, Cerettoā€™s estate wines from Barbaresco are now bottled under the name Bricco Asili, with Ceretto only in small letters. But the quality is in the bottle. Smoky, meaty aromas give way with air to dried cherries, leather and a touch of citrus. Darker notes of asphalt and chocolate join in on the palate, which is big, muscular and chewy without being overdone. Finishes long, picking up flavors and a texture akin to cocoa powder.

93 Williams Selyem 2002 Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley); $69. Most tasters loved the huge complexities of this ripe, dense young wine. They praised its massive cherry and cocoa flavors that flirt with overripeness, and the smooth, silky texture. Another taster, however, found it super-oaky and clumsy. Likely to soften and knit together with a few hours of decanting, or aging through 2007.

93 Casanova di Neri 1999 Brunello di Montalcino; $70. Rich almost to the point of chunky; aromas of coffee and new oak announce its New World style, and then come blackberry, chocolate and smoked-meat flavors. This wine is probably shocking to the old guard, but if tastes this good, drink it.

93 Branson Coach House 2002 Rare Single Vineyard Coach House Block Shiraz (Barossa Valley); $75. Aromas are broad and profound, with very ripe fruit, and pretty biscuit and black pepper accents. The palate? Cassis, pepper, plum and meat. Firm in the mouth, with fine tannins, and its flavors grow darkerā€”olive, earth, pepperā€”through the long finish. Has substance, class, restraint and perhaps best of all, holding power. Sexy as all get-out now, but we'll probably say the same thing in 2010.

93 Castello Banfi 1999 Poggio alle Mura (Brunello di Montalcino); $75. Banfiā€™s single-vineyard Brunello shines in ā€™99. Itā€™s ruby/purple in color, with lush black-fruit aromas accented by vanilla, violets and licorice. Made in the so-called modern style, but with fine tannins and body. Some firm oak pops up late in the game, but if given a few years, that should be integrated. Good teeth on the finish suggest ageability.

94 Duckhorn 2001 Estate Grown Merlot (Napa Valley); $82. Graceful, delicious, complex and drinkable. Super-oaky, with vanilla, toast and wood spice, but the massive cherry and blackberry fruit easily absorbs it. The tannins are rich and ripe, forming a dusty coating that carries sweetness through the finish. Beautiful, extraordinary Napa Merlot.

92 J. & F. Lurton 2002 Chacayes Malbec (Mendoza); $75. This is what full-force, high-elevation Malbec is all about. The color is opaque, the nose a potent brew of herbal mint, blackberry and earth. With layers of warmth and depth on the finish, this wine represents the bigger is better school of thought.

94 Canalicchio 1999 Brunello di Montalcino; $75. Rock solid, with a pure nose that exudes leather, coffee, charred beef and lots of prime red fruit. From the plum and cherry flavors riding the surface to the wineā€™s deepest depths, thereā€™s nothing not to like. As a whole, this one is Brunello like it should be: lively, racy and fun. Hold for several years for best results.

94 Dominus 2001 Red Table Wine (Napa Valley); $109. As good as the 2001 Napanook is, this wine is more intense. The fruit is lusher, the oak newer, the control more complete, but the kicker is the tannins. Theyā€™re powerful and dusty, and conceal the flamboyance, for now. Needs time; hold until 2010 and beyond.

94 Joseph Drouhin 2002 Clos de Vougeot; $110. A huge wine, packed with chunky fruit. Flavors of black fruits, and sweet and sour acidity pierce the firm tannins. It is dense, dark, brooding, and has great potential.

95 Cosentino 2001 M. Coz Meritage (Napa Valley); $120. This fabulous wine stuns in every respect. Itā€™s sweet in black currant, plum, mocha and oak flavors, yet retains a balanced dryness. A stiff backbone of acidity provides life and zest, but the intricate tapestry of tannins has a soft, aged feel. Voluptuous in the mouth; will age and likely improve beyond 2010.

95 Wenzel 2001 Saz Ruster Ausbruch (Burgenland); $120/375 ml. Apricot and orange marmalade scents presage this wineā€™s viscous sweetness, but the wine also boasts incredible precision and clarity to its flavors. Dried apricots, honey and citrus all come together in a complex swirl that never seems too heavy or cloying. Finishes with a hint of bergamots (the flavoring in Earl Grey tea). A blend of Furmint and Gelber Muskateller.

97 Bodegas Roda 2001 Cirsion (Rioja); $200. Dark as night, pure as silk, and rich as a sultan. This one wine defines the best of the new wave; a great high-end product from a perfect vintage. Itā€™s intense, spicy, racy and still soft enough to wrap yourself around. Licorice, crushed peppercorn, chocolate, espresso and blackberry are just some of what you can pull from this baby. Cellar a few years then explore.

96 Dr. Pauly Bergweiler 2003 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Eiswein (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer); $175. Absolutely incredible eiswein, with finely etched flavors of pear and pineapple that flow across the palate like fruit syrup borne on light-footed acids. Stunningly sweet, but with great balancing acidity and a finish that lingers for minutes.

93 Bruno Giacosa 1999 Le Rocche del Falletto (Barolo); $175. It seems Giacosaā€™s wines are often difficult to taste young, which leads us to wonder later whether we havenā€™t underestimated them. Relatively unexpressive on the nose, this wine reveals only hints of leather, cherries and citrus peel. But in the mouth, the quality is evidenced by a gradual building of intensity to a crescendo on the finish, where dried cherries, underbrush, mushroom, leather and citrus explode into dazzling length and intensity.
Vynai
 
Pranešimai: 172
Užsiregistravo: 2004-01-06, 14:27:59
Miestas: Vilnius

Standartinė Pinotas Nuarycius » 2005-01-06, 18:27:48

Uzmetus aki matyti, kad naujasis pasaulis triumfuoja. Napa, Oregonas, Cile, Australija, etc...

94 Joseph Drouhin 2002 Clos de Vougeot - 1997 metu derliaus si vyna galima gauti Vyno Klube, jei kas norit ir negailit >200lt :)

Concha y Toro 2001 Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon - sitas monstrinis Ciles gamintojas gerai pavaro ir savo pigesnese serijose. Pvz, jo Casillero del Diablo tiek Merlot, tiek CS yra vieni geriausiu savo kainos ribose IMHO. Kazkaip nepamenu ar importuoja ka nors is brangesniu seriju, gal kas zinot?

Kito Burgundijos monstro Boisset vynas taip pat isitryne i topa. Deja, priesingai nei Concha y Toro, Bosset begediskai pardavineja kruva visai silpnu vynu po tuo paciu brand name...
Pinotas Nuarycius
 

Standartinė Vynai » 2005-01-06, 22:30:05

Labai gaila, kad Bennet neveža į Lietuvą nei Concha y Toro Terrunyo, nei Marques de Casa Concha serijų, kurių vynai nuolat pakliūna į įvairius šimtukus, o jų mažmeninė kaina Europoje nesiekia ir 15 EUR...
Vynai
 
Pranešimai: 172
Užsiregistravo: 2004-01-06, 14:27:59
Miestas: Vilnius

Standartinė stra-vynoklubas » 2005-01-08, 21:36:35

idomu del Villa Antinori 2001.
WS jį vertina tik 87 balais. tačiau taip pat pozityviai.
Šį vyną Gero skonio ringe degustavome rudenį. Jis nepasirodė kažkuo ypatingas: juodieji serbentai, švelni vanilė, truputį karsteli, poskonyje jaučiasi alkoholis. Nieko panašaus į amerikietiškus aprašymus. Sunkiai galėčiau jį priskirti geriausių pasaulio vynų 25-tukui. Gal Antinori taiko dvigubus standartus??
(tikėtina, kad po Jūsų info paskelbimo) klubo parduotuvėje jau buvo klientai, kurie reikalavo 2001 metų itališko vyno, nes "tai labai geri metai". metai neblogi, tačiau 1999 buvo gerokai geresni ir 2000 neprastesni už 2001. tame regione gal tik 2002 metų nereiktų labai garbinti.
stra-vynoklubas
 

Standartinė eugenijus » 2005-10-26, 02:44:17

[quote="Pinotas Nuarycius"]

94 Joseph Drouhin 2002 Clos de Vougeot - 1997 metu derliaus si vyna galima gauti Vyno Klube, jei kas norit ir negailit >200lt :)

quote]

brangininkai! :twisted:
eugenijus
 
Pranešimai: 23
Užsiregistravo: 2005-10-21, 02:34:28
Miestas: pasaulis


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