2011 Recuerdo Malbec Aliado
2009 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos
2011 Cave de Tain l’Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Les Nobles Rives
2012 Finca Flichman Paisaje de Barrancas
2009 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro
NV Georges Vesselle Champagne Brut Grand Cru
2010 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro
Mionetto Gran Rosé Prestige
Mionetto Cuvée Sergio Rosé 1887
These are miscellaneous bottles that were either samples, last minute bottles that replaced flawed bottles or bottles that were not included in a previous post.
2011 Recuerdo Malbec Aliado – $24.64
This 100% Malbec was aged 20 months in French oak and has 14.5% alcohol. The bottle is sealed with a natural cork.
The wine is a deep purple color. The suave and sophisticated nose has crushed berries, cocoa powder, violets, baking spices, licorice and dried underbrush. This has medium body with moderate tannins and very nice acidity. On the palate spicy berries and cocoa powder immediately jumps out with violets and underbrush coming in on the back end. The finish has nice length with some crushed stone minerals slipping in. This is an elegant, nicely balanced, food friendly wine, not an over the top, full throttle dynamo. This will reward some time in the cellar but it tastes great today with some air. (92 pts)
2011 Recuerdo Malbec Aliado
2009 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos – $11.39
Vintage after vintage, this is a favorite week night wine in my house. This may not have the most complexity out there, but it is generally loaded with flavor.
The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color. The very inviting nose has raspberries, smoke, vanilla, baking spices, cherries, fresh ground espresso beans, white pepper, and some dried herbs. This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and good acidity. On the palate the fruit and spice lead off with white pepper, dried herbs, and the coffee coming in later. The finish has nice length with a dark chocolate note joining the party. A very nice wine and an incredible value. This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (91 pts)
2009 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos
2011 Cave de Tain l’Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Les Nobles Rives – $16.99
The wine is a deep garnet color. The very appealing nose has blackberries, dusty minerals, freshly ground espresso bean, dried herbs, dry flowers and scorched earth. This has medium body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity. On the palate blackberries, espresso beans and dusty minerals quickly take over, slowly allowing dried herbs and cherries to slip in on the back end. The finish has very nice length with dried flowers and scorched earth adding great depth. This is on the young side and has a great future but it is hard to resist in its youth. This has 12.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (91 pts)
2011 Cave de Tain l’Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Les Nobles Rives
2012 Finca Flichman Paisaje de Barrancas – $16.14
This is a blend of 55% Syrah, 35% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mendoza region of Argentina. The wine was aged for 12 months in American (50%) and French (50%) oak barrels with an additional 6 months in bottle before release.
The wine is a deep, dark purple color. The intriguing nose has blackberries, baking spices, cherries, earthy underbrush, freshly ground espresso beans, dusty minerals, wildflowers and a touch of cedar. This has medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity. On the palate berries, spice, espresso beans and minerals jump out quickly with cherries and spicy oak coming in later. The finish has good length with dried earth and a floral note adding depth. This is an exceptional wine with great balance and depth. Stock up when you find it for under $20. This has 14.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (91 pts)
2012 Finca Flichman Paisaje de Barrancas
2009 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro – $18.99
This is a wine that I generally like in almost all vintages but it’s not a wine I hunt down. If I can find it at a good price I’ll grab a few bottles.
The wine is an inky ruby red. The sexy nose has black cherries, tobacco, blackberries, white pepper, dried flowers, mocha, vanilla and a touch of earthy underbrush. This has a fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity. Intense red and black fruit grabs your palate slowly allowing pepper and mocha to slip in. On the back end vanilla and some building earthiness enter the picture. The finish has good length and veers solidly into the earthy spectrum with just a touch of an herbal note coming into play. This has 15% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (90 pts)
2009 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro
NV Georges Vesselle Champagne Brut Grand Cru – $39.99
Light golden yellow color. Apples, pears, lemon zest, yeasty bread, orange blossoms on the nose. Nice pinpoint sized bubbles, labeled as Brut but is pushing the allowed RS to the limit if not slipping past. It was better on its own after lunch. Would be nice with spicy appetizers. (88 pts)
NV Georges Vesselle Champagne Brut Grand Cru
2010 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro
The wine is a bright ruby red color. The inviting nose has tart cherries, dusty minerals, mint, dried earth, baking spices, plums, white pepper and dried wildflowers. This has medium body with moderate tannins and very nice acidity. Tart cherries, dusty minerals and white pepper quickly take hold on the palate with plums, spice and a touch of mint coming in later. The finish has very nice length with a touch of dried earth and a nice floral note adding depth and complexity. This is on the young side, some cellar time or an hour in a decanter will be greatly rewarded. This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (91 pts)
2010 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro
Mionetto Gran Rosé Prestige – SRP $14.00
The wine is a bright salmon color with steady streams of pinpoint sized bubbles. The refreshing nose has strawberries, yeasty bread, lemon zest, orange blossoms and cherries. This has light body with crisp acidity and a touch of lingering sweetness. On the palate tart strawberries, lemon zest and cherries take over on the front end with yeasty bread coming in later. On the finish orange blossoms and cherries grab the spotlight. This is an easy drinking off-dry bottle of bubbles that would be a hit at a party with friends. (87 pts)
Mionetto Gran Rosé Prestige
Mionetto Cuvée Sergio Rosé 1887 – SRP $19.00
This has 11.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a standard sparkling wine cork.
The wine is a bright pink to copper color with persistent pinpoint sized bubbles. The sexy nose has cherries, strawberries, yeasty bread, lemongrass, stony minerals, orange zest and a hint of roasted nuts. This has a light body with crisp acidity, a hint of sweetness and great effervescence. On the palate tart cherries, strawberries and orange zest kick in quickly with yeasty bread coming in on the back end. The finish has nice length with mouthwatering acidity balancing out a touch of sweetness. This is extremely easy to sip. (89 pts)
Mionetto Cuvée Sergio Rosé 1887
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Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines. I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar. I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com. Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear. There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.
Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase. I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but always check out the sale and close out items when in a store. Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges. None of the prices include the sales tax.
All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.
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