Saturday, December 10, 2005
GPCI for Dec 10th, 2005 at the LCBO
Chile
2003 Perez Cruz Carmenere reserve - $22.95
2003 Perez Cruz COT reserve (Malbec) - $22.95
GPCI - The wines from Perez Cruz have never failed before and they are reasonably priced too. The 2003 Perez Cruz reserve series can be usually consumed now or lay down for 3-5 years.
While tasting the Carmenere (the Merlot brother) we should expect sweet-bitter taste of dark chocolate, while the COT (Malbec) hints of plums and dark cherries.
2001 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon – $49.95
WS – 95 (!!!)
GPCI - It is not cheap, but worth the experience to someone who appreciates very high quality wine with all the right adjectives that comes along with its taste...
"At the foot of the Andres Mountains, this is the finest terroir for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile. "
WS-"Gorgeous nose of black currant preserves and freshly roasted coffee, with a powerful yet very silky palate of cassis, plum, blackberry, loam, mineral and dark chocolate flavors that glide through a superlong finish. Don't be deceived by its seeming accessibility though--there's some iron-clad structure underneath for the long haul as well... now through 2012"
US
2003 Landmark 'Grand Detour' pinot noir - $39.95
RP – 90
"absolutely spot-on pinot flavor -- bacon, cinnamon, beetroot -- with perfect balance and weight, and surprisingly good acidity. This wine puts to shame many red burgundies out there at several times the price http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/food/lonsford/3251283.html"
Spain
2001 Miguel Torres Gran Sangre de Toro reserve – $15.95
GPCI - I had the 1998 Gran Sangre and it's one of the better values Garnacha/Cariñena /Syrah blends.
2001 was an excellent vintage in Spain (got 90 in the Wine Report). It can usually lay down for 8 years (a GPCI of ~2 !!!).
"The grapes are grown in a region famous since the times of the Roman Emperor Augustus for producing the finest Mediterranean wines.
All the exuberant aroma traditionally found in an intense, ripe red wine, with a sensual background of fine spices in good balance with perfumed notes reminiscent of blackberries. Full, long finish on the palate. "
France
1998 Chateau Rocher-Bellevue-Figeac – $37.95
GPCI - 1998 was a good year on the right bank (a Merlot year). RP gave 88 to the 2000 vintage and compare it to the same level as the 2001 and 1998.
"In the antique village if Saint-Emilion, but on the border of the Pomerol area, Château Rocher Bellevue Figeac aligns its 7 hectares in a single piece in a knoll bearing the lovely name, shown on the land register, of "Bellevue". The natural factors combine with the beneficial influence of an entirely hand-picked harvest and the grapes hand-sorted, temperature controlled winemaking, long aging in new barrels for at least 1/3 of the vintage and rigorous selection of the vats when assembling the main wine. "
2003 Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-Du-Pape - $41.95
GPCI - A relatively good price for chateauneuf-du-pape from an outstanding vintage.
In other vintages, RP gave this estate 87-90 and assumed that the wines can lay down between 5-12 years. I would guess that this 2003 will be a good potential for drinking between 2008-2013.
2003 Mas des Bressades Cabernet Syrah - $17.95
A leading light in the Languedoc's ever increasing commitment to quality; this wine is richly intense, fragrant and seductive with well integrated oak and tannins and a sumptuous finish. An excellent match for stews and cheeses (14.5%).
A Cab-Syrah for ~$18 – worth the try.
Australia
2003 Wynns Coonawarra estate Shiraz - $19.95
GPCI - Wynns is a great value Shiraz that can be drunk now or lay down for 3-7 years. Their 2002 was very good (see my personal notes at http://gpci.blogspot.com/2005/11/gpci-personal-tasting-notes-more-every.html) and a 2003 is a good vintage as well.
2004 Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz Barossa Valley - $19.95
GPCI - This wine is going to be sold the minute it hits the shelves – make sure you’re up early this Sat.
WS - "Stewed plum and spciy meat flavors flow nicely through this gently rich, generous red, lingering with a touch of pepper as the finish persists. Drink now through 2010."
ST – 90
Medium ruby. Pungent, spicy aromas of cassis, dark cherry, licorice, espresso, violet and almost medicinal cracked pepper; a very pure expression of the variety. Firm, juicy flavors of black cherry, anise, dill, basil and rose petal. Finishes with velvety, slightly bitter tannins. This practically screams syrah.
Robert Parker 91 points.
Drink 2005-2010. The 2004 Woodcutters Shiraz is a 20,000-case cuvee aged completely in old wood. Pure blackberry liqueur intermixed with hints of charcoal, tar, and pepper jump from the glass of this soft, velvety-textured, opulent, fruit-filled Shiraz. Amazingly complex for its price, this lusty, appealing, hedonist’s dream is worth buying by the case.
Italy
2001 Colognole Chianti Rufina - $17.95
Not the Riserva or Oro (gold) version, but nice day-to-day wine - 95% Sangiovese 5% Colorino. Fruity yet with notes of vanilla.
2000 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico - $44.95
WS – 90
GPCI - Relatively expensive. yet, if you’re looking for a “high-end” Chianti experience that isn't about depth or power, but more about supple red fruit sculpted into fine form; then… ready to enjoy.
2003 Perez Cruz Carmenere reserve - $22.95
2003 Perez Cruz COT reserve (Malbec) - $22.95
GPCI - The wines from Perez Cruz have never failed before and they are reasonably priced too. The 2003 Perez Cruz reserve series can be usually consumed now or lay down for 3-5 years.
While tasting the Carmenere (the Merlot brother) we should expect sweet-bitter taste of dark chocolate, while the COT (Malbec) hints of plums and dark cherries.
2001 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon – $49.95
WS – 95 (!!!)
GPCI - It is not cheap, but worth the experience to someone who appreciates very high quality wine with all the right adjectives that comes along with its taste...
"At the foot of the Andres Mountains, this is the finest terroir for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile. "
WS-"Gorgeous nose of black currant preserves and freshly roasted coffee, with a powerful yet very silky palate of cassis, plum, blackberry, loam, mineral and dark chocolate flavors that glide through a superlong finish. Don't be deceived by its seeming accessibility though--there's some iron-clad structure underneath for the long haul as well... now through 2012"
US
2003 Landmark 'Grand Detour' pinot noir - $39.95
RP – 90
"absolutely spot-on pinot flavor -- bacon, cinnamon, beetroot -- with perfect balance and weight, and surprisingly good acidity. This wine puts to shame many red burgundies out there at several times the price http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/food/lonsford/3251283.html"
Spain
2001 Miguel Torres Gran Sangre de Toro reserve – $15.95
GPCI - I had the 1998 Gran Sangre and it's one of the better values Garnacha/Cariñena /Syrah blends.
2001 was an excellent vintage in Spain (got 90 in the Wine Report). It can usually lay down for 8 years (a GPCI of ~2 !!!).
"The grapes are grown in a region famous since the times of the Roman Emperor Augustus for producing the finest Mediterranean wines.
All the exuberant aroma traditionally found in an intense, ripe red wine, with a sensual background of fine spices in good balance with perfumed notes reminiscent of blackberries. Full, long finish on the palate. "
France
1998 Chateau Rocher-Bellevue-Figeac – $37.95
GPCI - 1998 was a good year on the right bank (a Merlot year). RP gave 88 to the 2000 vintage and compare it to the same level as the 2001 and 1998.
"In the antique village if Saint-Emilion, but on the border of the Pomerol area, Château Rocher Bellevue Figeac aligns its 7 hectares in a single piece in a knoll bearing the lovely name, shown on the land register, of "Bellevue". The natural factors combine with the beneficial influence of an entirely hand-picked harvest and the grapes hand-sorted, temperature controlled winemaking, long aging in new barrels for at least 1/3 of the vintage and rigorous selection of the vats when assembling the main wine. "
2003 Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-Du-Pape - $41.95
GPCI - A relatively good price for chateauneuf-du-pape from an outstanding vintage.
In other vintages, RP gave this estate 87-90 and assumed that the wines can lay down between 5-12 years. I would guess that this 2003 will be a good potential for drinking between 2008-2013.
2003 Mas des Bressades Cabernet Syrah - $17.95
A leading light in the Languedoc's ever increasing commitment to quality; this wine is richly intense, fragrant and seductive with well integrated oak and tannins and a sumptuous finish. An excellent match for stews and cheeses (14.5%).
A Cab-Syrah for ~$18 – worth the try.
Australia
2003 Wynns Coonawarra estate Shiraz - $19.95
GPCI - Wynns is a great value Shiraz that can be drunk now or lay down for 3-7 years. Their 2002 was very good (see my personal notes at http://gpci.blogspot.com/2005/11/gpci-personal-tasting-notes-more-every.html) and a 2003 is a good vintage as well.
2004 Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz Barossa Valley - $19.95
GPCI - This wine is going to be sold the minute it hits the shelves – make sure you’re up early this Sat.
WS - "Stewed plum and spciy meat flavors flow nicely through this gently rich, generous red, lingering with a touch of pepper as the finish persists. Drink now through 2010."
ST – 90
Medium ruby. Pungent, spicy aromas of cassis, dark cherry, licorice, espresso, violet and almost medicinal cracked pepper; a very pure expression of the variety. Firm, juicy flavors of black cherry, anise, dill, basil and rose petal. Finishes with velvety, slightly bitter tannins. This practically screams syrah.
Robert Parker 91 points.
Drink 2005-2010. The 2004 Woodcutters Shiraz is a 20,000-case cuvee aged completely in old wood. Pure blackberry liqueur intermixed with hints of charcoal, tar, and pepper jump from the glass of this soft, velvety-textured, opulent, fruit-filled Shiraz. Amazingly complex for its price, this lusty, appealing, hedonist’s dream is worth buying by the case.
Italy
2001 Colognole Chianti Rufina - $17.95
Not the Riserva or Oro (gold) version, but nice day-to-day wine - 95% Sangiovese 5% Colorino. Fruity yet with notes of vanilla.
2000 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico - $44.95
WS – 90
GPCI - Relatively expensive. yet, if you’re looking for a “high-end” Chianti experience that isn't about depth or power, but more about supple red fruit sculpted into fine form; then… ready to enjoy.
