One of my favorite choices from the Veneto over the past few years has been the Ripasso from one of the most well-known producers in the region. The 2004 Secco Bertani Valpolicella does not disappoint. It offers a bit of the complexity that comes from the Ripasso method, but is still very fresh with good fruit.
The wine is also still very fairly priced at about $15, making it more in the value range that the comparable wines of Allegrini and Zenato have since soared past. At the same price I might prefer Zenato's Ripasso, but it is not worth the $10 more it costs in most stores these days. For a better value, the Bertani is definitely a winner.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
2001 Bodegas San Alejandro Las Rocas Vinas Viejas
My final bottle from a rare case purchase, this was a wine that took the wine world by storn a few years ago. The 2001 Las Rocas Vinas Viejas burst onto the scene with a 93 point rating from Robert Parker and a $12 price tag. Throughout the life of the case I saw this wine go from outstanding to merely decent, back to outstanding. This final bottle fell somewhere between the decent and outstanding. It still had a good amount of fruit, though it didn't blow me a way. For the price though, it was still a winner.
Even better, this original case was one of the first wines to turn me on to the great potential and value of Spanish wines. Las Rocas (both the regular cuvee and Vinas Viejas) has become a standby everyday drinker for me, and a wine a always recommend to anyone looking for a great value in Grenache.
Even better, this original case was one of the first wines to turn me on to the great potential and value of Spanish wines. Las Rocas (both the regular cuvee and Vinas Viejas) has become a standby everyday drinker for me, and a wine a always recommend to anyone looking for a great value in Grenache.
A couple of Cotes du Rhones
Over the past couple of weeks I had two very good Cotes du Rhones from the very good 2006 vintage. Robert Parker is now raving about the 2007s from the Southern Rhone, but these two prove that 2006 is no slouch.
First up was the Cotes du Rhone from Domaine de la Mordoree. This winery is of course known for its Liracs and Chateauneuf du Papes, but the Cotes du Rhone delivers every year and 2006 is no different. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, and Counoise, this is as complex a wine as you will find for around $12. It is deep and fairly robust for a Cotes du Rhone, and really quite a value.
Next up was the Cotes du Rhone from Domaine Grand Veneur. I had previously tasted the 2005, and found it still a bit tightly wound, but the 2006 had no such issues. From the opening on the first night, this wine was offering plenty of fruit as well as the typical southern Rhone garrigue. On the second night the wine was even better, with the everything in great balance. If the 2007 Cotes du Rhones are better than these offerings, I can't wait to try them all.
First up was the Cotes du Rhone from Domaine de la Mordoree. This winery is of course known for its Liracs and Chateauneuf du Papes, but the Cotes du Rhone delivers every year and 2006 is no different. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, and Counoise, this is as complex a wine as you will find for around $12. It is deep and fairly robust for a Cotes du Rhone, and really quite a value.
Next up was the Cotes du Rhone from Domaine Grand Veneur. I had previously tasted the 2005, and found it still a bit tightly wound, but the 2006 had no such issues. From the opening on the first night, this wine was offering plenty of fruit as well as the typical southern Rhone garrigue. On the second night the wine was even better, with the everything in great balance. If the 2007 Cotes du Rhones are better than these offerings, I can't wait to try them all.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
2005 Fanti Sant'Antimo Rosso
I've previously noted that we tasted the wines of Fanti at Vinitaly, and I finally opened up a bottle of the 2005 Sant'Antimo Rosso at home. This wine isn't one that will come out and wow you, but it is a great choice for an everyday Italian red.
2005 isn't a vintage that is at the top of the list from Tuscany but there are still quality wines from quality producers like Fanti. This wine definitely delivers some nice fruit and a good profile for a decent price. I look forward to getting the 2006 vintage here soon.
2005 isn't a vintage that is at the top of the list from Tuscany but there are still quality wines from quality producers like Fanti. This wine definitely delivers some nice fruit and a good profile for a decent price. I look forward to getting the 2006 vintage here soon.
UVA-GT weekend with Loudoun
Loudoun was in town for the Virginia-Georgia Tech football game recently, so of course that meant more wines came out from the cellar (especially Saturday night after the Virginia win).
Friday night I opened one of my older bottles, the 1998 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo. This isn't a real high-end producer, but was instead a value choice from this region purchased when I was just getting into collecting and looking for the best values around. This wine got good ratings from Wine Spectator, especially for the price. Finally opening it I wasn't too surprised, especially without giving it much time to open up. The wine was somewhat simple for a Barolo, but did open up eventually to show some nice fruit. It never wowed me, but it wasn't a bad wine.
Saturday night we started with the 1998 Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf du Pape. Again, this was a value choice from a great vintage, and again the wine was slow to open up fully. Once it did, it was again a good wine, but just not a wow. I actually think it could use a few more years, and for some of the higher-end 1998s I have I will continue to wait.
Our final wine was the 2001 Giuseppe Quintarelli Primofiore. Quintarelli's Amarone and Valpolicellas are legendary, but also quite expensive, with the IGT Primofiore less expensive and easier to find. The wine is mainly the typical grapes of the Veneto, but adds a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. My personal opinion was that the wine wasn't so good Saturday night with the Cab dominating the profile, by Loudoun loved it. The next night was a different story though - the wine seemed to have come into balance and was wonderfully complex with a great mix of flavors. I think the younger vintages I have will continue to age a while and hope that they end up with this great balance and complexity as well.
Friday night I opened one of my older bottles, the 1998 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo. This isn't a real high-end producer, but was instead a value choice from this region purchased when I was just getting into collecting and looking for the best values around. This wine got good ratings from Wine Spectator, especially for the price. Finally opening it I wasn't too surprised, especially without giving it much time to open up. The wine was somewhat simple for a Barolo, but did open up eventually to show some nice fruit. It never wowed me, but it wasn't a bad wine.
Saturday night we started with the 1998 Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf du Pape. Again, this was a value choice from a great vintage, and again the wine was slow to open up fully. Once it did, it was again a good wine, but just not a wow. I actually think it could use a few more years, and for some of the higher-end 1998s I have I will continue to wait.
Our final wine was the 2001 Giuseppe Quintarelli Primofiore. Quintarelli's Amarone and Valpolicellas are legendary, but also quite expensive, with the IGT Primofiore less expensive and easier to find. The wine is mainly the typical grapes of the Veneto, but adds a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. My personal opinion was that the wine wasn't so good Saturday night with the Cab dominating the profile, by Loudoun loved it. The next night was a different story though - the wine seemed to have come into balance and was wonderfully complex with a great mix of flavors. I think the younger vintages I have will continue to age a while and hope that they end up with this great balance and complexity as well.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Catching up - Italy
I'll admit this first wine probably deserves more space than I'm going to give it, because the 2000 Ciacci Piccolomini Fabius Sant'Antimo was incredible. Ciacci is best known for their Brunellos, but they also make a couple of other international styled wines, one of which is this Sant'Antimo. The Fabius is 100% Syrah, and is a great example of how this international varietal can reach great heights in Italy. I absolutely loved this wine, and would love to get more of other vintages. It had aged quite well, and in my opinion was at an optimal point in its life. I really, really recommend this wine.
The other Italian was also from Tuscany, but this time it was a blend. The 2004 Brancaia Tre is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet and from an exceptional vintage. This IGT Toscana is the entry-level wine from this producer and is a decent price that delivers some great quality. We got to taste the entire Brancaia lineup at Vinitaly, and they are making great wines all around. The Tre allows anyone to try their wines without spending too much.
I'll have one last catch-up entry coming soon that will detail the wines drank this past weekend when Loudoun came to visit for the UVa-GT football game. Needless to say, there were some good treats pulled from the cellar, especially to celebrate the big UVa win Saturday night.
The other Italian was also from Tuscany, but this time it was a blend. The 2004 Brancaia Tre is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet and from an exceptional vintage. This IGT Toscana is the entry-level wine from this producer and is a decent price that delivers some great quality. We got to taste the entire Brancaia lineup at Vinitaly, and they are making great wines all around. The Tre allows anyone to try their wines without spending too much.
I'll have one last catch-up entry coming soon that will detail the wines drank this past weekend when Loudoun came to visit for the UVa-GT football game. Needless to say, there were some good treats pulled from the cellar, especially to celebrate the big UVa win Saturday night.
Catching up - Spain
I've had two nice inexpensive wines from Spain recently - one an old favorite, and one a totally new choice.
The old favorite was the 2005 Las Rocas Calatayud Garnacha. A Robert Parker favorite, this winery burst onto the scene a few years ago with its Vinas Viejas earning mid-90's scores and priced under $15. This 2005 was their regular bottling, but it still delivers a great example of Spanish Garnacha for a small price. Not an overwhelming wine, it is a good everyday drinker much like the La Garrigue Cotes du Rhone I just wrote about.
The new wine was the 2005 Vilosell Costers del Segre. I was not familiar with this region or the wine, but once again it was an inexpensive Spanish selection from importer Eric Solomon that earned rave reviews from Parker. Made from mainly Tempranillo, this blend was more on the modern side, but not overly so. Again, for the price of about $15, it delivered plenty of pleasure for a nice weeknight quaffer.
The old favorite was the 2005 Las Rocas Calatayud Garnacha. A Robert Parker favorite, this winery burst onto the scene a few years ago with its Vinas Viejas earning mid-90's scores and priced under $15. This 2005 was their regular bottling, but it still delivers a great example of Spanish Garnacha for a small price. Not an overwhelming wine, it is a good everyday drinker much like the La Garrigue Cotes du Rhone I just wrote about.
The new wine was the 2005 Vilosell Costers del Segre. I was not familiar with this region or the wine, but once again it was an inexpensive Spanish selection from importer Eric Solomon that earned rave reviews from Parker. Made from mainly Tempranillo, this blend was more on the modern side, but not overly so. Again, for the price of about $15, it delivered plenty of pleasure for a nice weeknight quaffer.
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