Top Mid-priced Wines
Each of these bottles delivers the goods in spades, and if
you compared how good they are, against how much they cost, then you’d see that
each of them is a relative value. This
is the sweet spot where I find my most enjoyable drinking, because they perform
beautifully, but won’t break the bank.
Give one of these to your boss for Christmas or New Year’s, and there
would be no shame.
2006 Piaggia Carmignano Riserva - The nose showed
ripe black cherry, herbal fruit tea, leather, and dusty potpourri. On the palate, it was as soft as silk and
flowed effortlessly across the senses.
It was structured yet elegant with unmistakable Tuscan character and
flavors of black cherry juice, mixed herbs and sweet spices. The finish lasted, showing red fruits with
the slightest bitter character. The
Carmignano Riserva walks the line between sex appeal and restraint, and the
result is something magical. Give it an
hour to decant, and let this beauty dazzle you. (95 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!
2007 Vietti Barbera d'Asti La Crena -The nose showed
crushed blackberry and plum, along with a hint of undergrowth and a dark toasty
note. On the palate, a rich, velvety
wave of dark fruits swept across the senses with bitter dark chocolate. The
intense fruit and zesty acidity cloaked this wine’s imposing structure, which
was most noticeable on the long mouth-puckering finish. I am eager to see what
this wine will mature into. (94 points)
2009 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch - The nose was
massive, as aromas of wild berries, dry coco, vanilla, ginger spice and savory
notes filled the senses. On the palate,
it was medium to full-bodied with amazing focus to its intense red berry fruit
and spice. The masses of fruit slowly
gave way to show this wine’s structure and balance. The finish was long and clinging to the
palate, yet ultimately refreshing as the tannins faded away. I seriously enjoyed this structured Zinfandel
and am very happy to have more in my cellar, as I can imagine that it will get
even better with time. (93 points)
2009 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Senior Faß 6 -
The nose showed lime, green apple, white flowers and wet rocks. It was simple yet perfectly enjoyable. However, on the palate, this wine came to
life, with rich and concentrated grapefruit, sweet lemon curd, which then
turned to acid, minerals and stone--but then went back to sweetness into the
long citrus finish. This wine kept me
guessing what each new sip would reveal.
It was amazingly fresh and enjoyable. (93 points)
Top Shelf Wines
Sometimes the occasion calls for the best wines, and the
ones listed below are sure to please.
These are wines that some may refer to as “collectable.” However, I prefer to call them highly
drinkable. These are bottles that will
blow away the competition and leave no survivors. They may cost a pretty penny, but they’re
worth every red cent.
2006 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio
- The 2006 Il Poggio was Tuscany personified, as aromas of animal musk, spice,
wild berries and forest notes wafted up from the glass. On the palate, this wine showed wild red
berries and autumnal notes with a mouth-feel of pure silk. The finish was long in sour berry and spice.
(94 points)
2007 Arnaldo-Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni -
On the nose, this wine was a monster with raspberry, holiday spices and dark
forest notes. It verged on sweet, but
something animal about this Sagrantino pulled it back to reality. On the palate, a massive wave of
concentration was turned fresh by vibrant acidity, as blackberry jam,
pomegranate, cinnamon and herbs washed across the tongue like silk. The finish showed this wine’s intimidating
structure, as velvety tannin coated the mouth.
The Arnaldo Caprai 25 Anni is highly enjoyable now and will likely age
into something magical. (96 points)
2001 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Tb - At first, the nose showed black cherries with dark chocolate and
tobacco; however, as it opened up in the glass, aromas of herbs and seared meat
in a buttery crust filled the nose. It
was all at once a sweet and savory intoxicating bouquet. On the palate, it was full with a hint of
sweetness, as macerated cherry, rum raisin and Christmas spice lingered into a
long and pleasing finish. This may be
made in a rich and sweet style, but it still manages to glide effortlessly
across the palate with perfect balance and a graceful finish. (95 points)
Top Vintage Wines
If you’re anything like me, then it’s the older vintage
wines that truly make cellaring wine worthwhile. Don’t get me wrong; I love young wines, but
if there were a choice, I’d grab a 20+-year-old Barolo any day. These are all wines older than ten years that
truly made me stop and take notice in 2011.
1990 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Collina Rionda -
This wine was everything I ever wanted in a glass of Barolo. It was sweet yet sour, earthy yet fruity and
rich yet with razor-like focus. The nose
showed masses of ripe red berries with hot dried spices, gravelly moist earth,
mushroom and hints of green stems. On
the palate, this showed silky, sweet, ripe strawberry, yet it also had a savory
warmth, full of earth, menthol and leather strap on a beautifully structured
frame. It was amazing how young the
Collina Rionda seemed as silky tannin washed across the palate and soothed me
into a long, seductive finish that begged for the next sip. (98 points)
1990 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5°
- The 1990 Vega-Sicilia wowed me with its rich yet elegant personality. The nose showed cherry preserves and
cranberry with hints of clove, vanilla and burnt sugar. However, with how rich and young the nose
seemed, there was an underlying earthiness and hint of musky animal fur that
truly kept it interesting. On the
palate, it was elegant, with a velvety feel on the tongue as flavors of rich
red then black fruits and dusty spices assaulted the senses. The finish was long and turned from juicy to
sour as the fruit faded away. (96 points)
2000 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva - The
nose showed beautifully with ripe strawberry and potpourri; yet as the wine sat
in the glass, it turned darker and fuller with notes of candle wax, earth,
mushrooms and moist fall leaves. On the
palate, this wine was eloquent and soft at first but turned more tannic into
the finish. The senses were wrapped with
penetrating black fruit, followed by minerals and a taste of older wood, which
gave it a bit of a rustic feel. The
finish was laden with intense cranberry fruit, giving it a really nice sendoff.
This wine is just starting to show its
age, yet still has many more years to go before its structure truly softens.
(95 points)
