Enrico Fossi’s estate lies on the edge of Florence, in a place called Signa, which is technically called Chianti Colli Fiorentini. Fossi has been recognized for making quality wines with international varieties that can compete with France and California but still retain their Italian identity. Some have said that his Sassoforte is the best expression [...]
Archive for March, 2008
Enrico Fossi Sassoforte 1999
Posted in Italy, tagged Enrico Fossi, Italian Cabernet Sauvignon, Sassoforte on March 12, 2008 | 6 Comments »
Astor Wine & Spirits, New York
Posted in Retailers and Websites, tagged Astor Wine & Spirits, Biodynamic Wines, Natural Wines, New York Wine Store, Organic Wines, Wine Merchant on March 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Astor Wines is a great store. I have not been in years (and they have since moved to a new location), but continue to order from them online — their prices are very competitive — and they take great care in the packaging when shipping, wrapping each bottle in a nice little bubble wrap apron. [...]
Mastroberardino Radici Taurasi 2001
Posted in Italy, Recommended, tagged Aglianico, Italian Wine, Mastroberardino, Wine review on March 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Taurasi, one of Italy’s most admired and well-known red wines, is derived from the late-ripening Aglianco, a variety that has been cultivated in southern Italy for over 2,000 years. Taurasi is known for its capacity to age, as well as powerful structure and aromatic concentration. Mastroberardino’s single vineyard Radici Taurasi made its debut in 1986. [...]
Sean Thackrey Pleiades XV Old Vines Red
Posted in California, Recommended, Wine Makers, tagged Pleiades XV, Sean Thackrey, Wine, Wine review on March 8, 2008 | 5 Comments »
I love Sean Thackrey and his wines. This is one of the most interesting wines I have had this year. It is a NV assemblage of Barbera, Syrah, Carignane, Mourvedre, Petite Syrah, Viognier and more. Very complex, lots of personality, character, round and layered with great depth. A California wine with some old world characteristics [...]
Domaine des 2 Anes, Premiers Pas 2005
Posted in France, Value Pick, tagged Biodynamic, Carignan, Corbieres, Domaine des 2 Anes, Grenache, Natural Wine, Organic Wine on March 6, 2008 | 1 Comment »
A natural, biodynamic and organic wine. A blend of Carignan (80%) and Grenache (20%). Vibrant and dark purple in color. Stewed fruit, cherry, mineral and a little bit of barnyard on the nose — it’s odd as the nose brings to mind some very old memories from when I was a kid — and it [...]
2004 Cenit
Posted in Spain, tagged Cenit, Tinta de Toro, Vinas del Cenit on March 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Wine Exchange had a special offer last year on 2004 Cenit. At $19.99 a bottle it was more than 50% off what a lot of merchants offered as their retail price. I opened the second bottle last night of what I have on hand. Cenit is made from Tempranillo originating from 60-100 year old, [...]
Germain-Robin “Select Barrel XO” Alambic Brandy
Posted in California, Recommended, Spirits | Liquor, tagged Brandy, Cognac, Germain-Robin, Select XO on March 5, 2008 | 3 Comments »
A good friend came to visit last night. He loves Cognac so I had my bottle of Germain-Robin at the ready. We compared it against an Edouard III Cognac. It was far superior — so we pulled out a Macallan 17 and 25 year old Scotch as well as an Auchentoshan Three Wood — which [...]
2005 Killerman’s Run Shiraz
Posted in Australia, Recommended, Value Pick, tagged Australia, Kilikanoon, Shiraz on March 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Some merchants report that sales of Australian wines are down. Australian Shiraz made Alice Feiring’s top 10 overrated wines in a recent article she did for Men’s Style. Two or three years ago Australian Shiraz was probably neck and neck with California Cabernet in terms of demand — in part because it was a better [...]
Achaval Ferrer 2006 Malbec
Posted in Argentina, tagged Achaval Ferrer, Argentine Wine, Malbec on March 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
2006 Argentine releases are hitting the market and generating a lot of excitment. There are a lot of great wines and Argentina is loaded with great values. Lots of dark fruit — blackberry, blueberry, lingonberry and bosenberry — very ripe and forward with some vanilla. Medium to full body, lush and velvety texture. Initially, I [...]
