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2007 Clos de los Siete by Michel Rolland (Mendoza)
$ 15.99"There may be no finer red wine value in Argentina than this superb blend of 48% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 12% Syrah, and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged for 11 months, two-thirds in 100% new French oak and the balance in vat and bottled without fining or filtration. Opaque purple-colored, the wine coats the glass while offering up a superb bouquet of toasty oak, violets, mineral, black currant, blueberry, and black cherry. This is followed by a layered wine with gobs of ripe fruit, a plush texture, outstanding balance, and several years of aging potential (not that many buyers will be laying this down). This lengthy effort over-delivers and then some." 91 points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Issue 180 "Notes of black fruits, hints of tobacco and sweet spice come together in this blend of malbec, merlot, cabernet and syrah. It's juicy and round, the muscular structure holding the fruit in check. An ideal match for game. Clos de los Siete is Michel Rolland's project high up in Mendoza's Uco Valley." 91 points - Wine & Spirits, February 2009 "Clos de los Siete, the amalgmated product of Michel Rollands Uco Valley wine commune, is rich, round and ripe, with deep aromas and trimmings like polished oak and minerality. The wine is proper, medium to full in size, and full of blackberry, plum and cocoa. No hiccups, pure fruit and complexity make this stellar for the price." 90 points - Wine Enthusiast, August 1, 2009
"For an affordable taste of top-shelf Toro, this is where to start. Prima is the so-called second bottling from Maurodos, run by the lauded García family. It is easygoing and approachable, with handsome dark-fruit aromas backed by a smooth palate of black cherry, berry, chocolate and vanilla. Shows some creaminess on the finish, and very little of the heat and fire that can plague even the best wines from Toro. Drinkable now." 90 points - Wine Enthusiast, November 15, 2008 "Deep ruby. Smoky cherry and blackberry aromas are complicated by minerals and fresh flowers. Fresh and racy, with pure red and dark fruit flavors, fine-grained tannins and good tangy lift. A lively, sharply focused wine with lovely lingering sweetness." 90 points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Issue 139, July/Aug '08 "Led by the chestnut scents of oak, this young Toro finishes with candied cherry flavor. The ripe tone will make a good match for a steak." 90 points - Wine & Spirits, October 20"08 The 2006 Prima is 90% Tinta de Toro and 10% Garnacha aged for 12 months in seasoned French and American oak before bottling without filtration. Purple-colored, it offers smoky black cherry and blackberry aromas along with spice box and leather notes. Smooth-textured, savory, and mouth-coating, the wine has layered spicy black fruits and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. Drink it from 2010 to 2018." 89+ points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate #175 (AUG 2008)
2004 Brancaia Chianti Classico
$ 19.99"Grown at estate vineyards near Castellina and Radda, this is a sleek expression of sangiovese (blended with 5 percent merlot). It feels foresty and cool, with plump black raspberry flavors and exotic spice held firm by dense tannin. The structure is what's most apparent now, although with air those tannins begin to feel luxurious and strong, the fruit finely focused and lifted. A modern and well built normale-level Chianti Classico, this should be cellared for a few years, then served with braised pork shoulder." 92 points - Wine & Spirits, April 2008 "Consulting oenologist Carlo Ferrini oversees winemaking at Brancaia, which owns vineyards in the Chianti Classico and Morellino di Scansano zones. The Chianti Classico 2004 (95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot) saw 16 months aging in French oak. It presents a darker side of Chianti Classico, with black cherry and licorice notes that flow from its rich, weighty frame. Made in a plump, juicy style, it is sure to provide much pleasure now and over the next several years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2014." 89 points - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 171 "Medium-deep ruby. Slightly overripe dark plum and Bing cherry aromas are given welcome lift by a hint of volatile acidity. Lovely, fresher red fruits on the palate, with suave tannins and a lingering minerally, balsamic finish. I'm not sure this exhibits much territorial character or that I'd even pick it as a mostly sangiovese wine, but it's delightfully well made and will have plenty of admirers." 89 points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Aug 07
"The 2004 Caro is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Malbec. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 80% new. Purple-colored, it has a classy perfume of wood smoke, spice box, pencil lead, black currant, and black cherry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegantly styled with a smooth texture and silky tannins. The fruit has excellent depth and concentration. It should evolve for 4-6 years and drink well through 2025." 93 points - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 174 "This blend of cabernet sauvignon and malbec yields little more than black fruit and oak until air reveals a totally different character. Scents of violets, tobacco and tart fruit come forward, while the firm tannins hold fast. An opulent wine for the cellar, from the joint venture between Catena and Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite)." 93 points - Wine & Spirits, February 2008
2005 Nicolas Catena Zapata Malbec Adrianna Vineyard Mendoza
$ 109.99"The 2005 Malbec Adrianna Vineyard was also aged for 18 months in new French oak. Opaque purple/black, it is more expressive aromatically as well as more structured than the Nicasia cuvee. Opulent on the palate, it is dense and extracted with gobs of spicy black fruits and enough structure to unwind for another 6-8 years. Drink this lengthy effort from 2015 to 2030." 97 points - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 180 "A bold, rich, toasty style, with plenty of roasted vanilla and mocha notes up front, followed by a solid core of fig bread, blueberry compote and crushed blackberry fruit. The long finish is filled with licorice and toast. A big wine, but not overwhelming. Drink now through 2011. 200 cases imported." 93 points - Wine Spectator, April 30, 2009 "Adrianna is a higher-elevation, higher-acid single-vineyard Malbec, and its a component of the otherworldly Argentino blend. On its own, its fresh, healthy and sturdy. The nose offers smoky, jerky, rubber and black-fruit aromas, which are backed by exotic herb, plum and boysenberry flavors. Firm, delicious and finely structured. Drink now through 2012." 93 points - Wine Enthusiast, August 1, 2009 "This malbec grows at Catena's highest vineyard, at 4,800 feet in the Uco Valley; it's also the coldest, which shows in the crisp texture of the wine. The aromas of violets and cherries are generous, the flavors spiced with black pepper and a light touch of cinnamon. Its impressive structure will carry it eight years or more, though it can be enjoyed today with rosemary lamb chops." 93 points - Wine & Spirits, February 2009
2005 Carmin de Peumo Carmenere Rapel Valley
$ 109.99"The Carmin de Peumo is the winery flagship and a candidate for Chiles finest wine. The 2005 Carmin de Peumo Carmenere (I reviewed the 2003 in Issue 171, there was no 2004 produced) is a blend of the best parcels in the Peumo Vineyard. It spent 20 months in French oak and was bottled without fining or filtration. Purple/black in color, this profound effort gives up an amazing aromatic array of wood smoke, scorched earth, leather, espresso, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. This leads to an opulent, extraordinarily rich, nearly over the top, sumptuous wine with deeply hidden structure, exceptional balance, and which manages to remain light on its feet despite its immense power. It can be enjoyed now but will be so much better in 5-7 years. It is a tour de force!" 97 points - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, Issue 179 "The second release of this great carmenère is less voluptuous than the first (2003), but that shyness hides a wine that will only improve with time. It's tense and firm, with a structure based on powerfully concentrated ripe red fruit and spice. Acidity frames the muscular structure. Ignacio Recabarren produces Carmín from a selection of vines planted in the early 1980s on alluvial soils in Peumo, one of Chile's best carmenère terroirs." 96 points - Wine & Spirits, October 2008 "Driven and pure, with remarkably supple tannins guiding the black currant, plum, graphite and melted dark licorice notes. Picks up additional loam and coffee notes on the finish, but stays fine-grained and stylish despite its weight. Also contains Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2009 through 2015. 1,000 cases made." 94 points - Wine Spectator, August 1, 2008
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