Saturday, December 13, 2008
Dec 08 - Insiders
Hi everyone,
As some of you may have noticed, Vintages have introduced a new on-line service (see more details at http://www.vintages.com/ ).
I reviewed the various offerings and here are a few wines that caught my eyes:
Italy - 2000 RUFFINO DUCALE ORO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA (3L) - $125 (was $189)
GPCi - the 2000 wasn't as good as the 1999. BUT this Chianti Classico is great. paying $125 for 3 litters of wine at that quality is a no brainer (it's like paying $31 a bottle of an excellent Chianti). A perfect first wine in a party. can serve 20 glasses.
France - 1968 DE MONTAL ARMAGNAC - $99 (was $155).
GPCi - so many times I know people who look for a special b-day wine gift. People who were born in the late 60s will have a challenge finding good wines from these years. So although my Armagnac knowledge is little, I think it could be a nice present to someone who turned 40 this year.
Spain - 1996 ARTADI RIOJA PAGOS VIEJOS - $79 (was $118)
GPCi - I love the 1996 vintage in Rioja. The vintage wasn't highly rated by Parker (gave it 85), but all of the wines I tried form this vintage were very good and this Artadi (a very known a appreciated producer) seems to keep "the tradition". It received 93 by WS.
Spain - 2004 MAS DOIX DOIX COSTERS DE VINYES VELLES - $79 (was $114)
GPCi - RP gave it 98 (!). This wine is from the small and prestigious region Priorat (south-east part of Spain. near Penedes). These wines usually cellar for 15+ years. That's a great buy for the cellar.
Italy - 2001 BROVIA BAROLO ROCCHE - $49 (was $80)
GPCi - IWC gave it 92-93. It's a great vintage for Barolo. A great producer. If Barolo is your thing (Ken F?), you won't find a better bargain with that quality.
France - 2003 DOMAINE BOIS DE BOURSAN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CUVÉE DES FÉLIX - $49 (was $79).
GPCi - A CdP at the $80 category that are reduced to the $50 are a "must" for any CdP collector. Cuvee De Felix is the Domaine higher end series CdP. WS gave it 94, IWC gave it 92 and RP gave it 91. I'd buy 3-5 bottles.
France - 2004 DOMAINE FONT DE MICHELLE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CUVÉE ETIENNE GONNET - $49 (was $75).
GPCi - Another highly rated CdP (WS=93 ; IWC=93). same as above recommendation.
Australia - 2004 PENLEY ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE - $39.95 (was $54).
GPCi - A bit on the expensive side, but this is a "top notch" Cabernet. Got 92 by RP. Will easily compete with the 3 digits cab from California.
Italy - 2001 IL FEUDUCCIO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO RISERVA URSONIA - $25 (was $38.70).
GPCi - A very good Montepulciano Riserva from the excellent 2001 vintage for $25, what's not to buy here? RP gave it 91. I'd buy 3-6 bottles.
As some of you may have noticed, Vintages have introduced a new on-line service (see more details at http://www.vintages.com/ ).
I reviewed the various offerings and here are a few wines that caught my eyes:
Italy - 2000 RUFFINO DUCALE ORO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA (3L) - $125 (was $189)
GPCi - the 2000 wasn't as good as the 1999. BUT this Chianti Classico is great. paying $125 for 3 litters of wine at that quality is a no brainer (it's like paying $31 a bottle of an excellent Chianti). A perfect first wine in a party. can serve 20 glasses.
France - 1968 DE MONTAL ARMAGNAC - $99 (was $155).
GPCi - so many times I know people who look for a special b-day wine gift. People who were born in the late 60s will have a challenge finding good wines from these years. So although my Armagnac knowledge is little, I think it could be a nice present to someone who turned 40 this year.
Spain - 1996 ARTADI RIOJA PAGOS VIEJOS - $79 (was $118)
GPCi - I love the 1996 vintage in Rioja. The vintage wasn't highly rated by Parker (gave it 85), but all of the wines I tried form this vintage were very good and this Artadi (a very known a appreciated producer) seems to keep "the tradition". It received 93 by WS.
Spain - 2004 MAS DOIX DOIX COSTERS DE VINYES VELLES - $79 (was $114)
GPCi - RP gave it 98 (!). This wine is from the small and prestigious region Priorat (south-east part of Spain. near Penedes). These wines usually cellar for 15+ years. That's a great buy for the cellar.
Italy - 2001 BROVIA BAROLO ROCCHE - $49 (was $80)
GPCi - IWC gave it 92-93. It's a great vintage for Barolo. A great producer. If Barolo is your thing (Ken F?), you won't find a better bargain with that quality.
France - 2003 DOMAINE BOIS DE BOURSAN CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CUVÉE DES FÉLIX - $49 (was $79).
GPCi - A CdP at the $80 category that are reduced to the $50 are a "must" for any CdP collector. Cuvee De Felix is the Domaine higher end series CdP. WS gave it 94, IWC gave it 92 and RP gave it 91. I'd buy 3-5 bottles.
France - 2004 DOMAINE FONT DE MICHELLE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE CUVÉE ETIENNE GONNET - $49 (was $75).
GPCi - Another highly rated CdP (WS=93 ; IWC=93). same as above recommendation.
Australia - 2004 PENLEY ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE - $39.95 (was $54).
GPCi - A bit on the expensive side, but this is a "top notch" Cabernet. Got 92 by RP. Will easily compete with the 3 digits cab from California.
Italy - 2001 IL FEUDUCCIO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO RISERVA URSONIA - $25 (was $38.70).
GPCi - A very good Montepulciano Riserva from the excellent 2001 vintage for $25, what's not to buy here? RP gave it 91. I'd buy 3-6 bottles.
