Not much more to add, really (esp. at this late hour).
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2002 Trespass Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (4/8/2011)
My first Trespass cab and I was impressed. Picked this up at auction in the last few months for ~$40, which was a really nice buy. The tannins are almost fully resolved but the fruit is hanging in and there are some tertiary elements beginning to show, as well. For my tastes, I’d guess this is at peak. A delicious mid-weight cabernet that was enjoyable on its own but also paired well with grilled beef. (91 pts.) -
2007 Sottimano Barbera d’Alba Pairolero - Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d’Alba (4/8/2011)
Expected a bit more, honestly, given the review by Galloni. All in all, a pretty good Barbera that’s a touch modern in style, but I’d choose Vietti’s entry level bottles (the d’Alba or the d’Asti) over this. May show some improvement with another year or two in the cellar, but I wouldn’t expect extensive development. (88 pts.) -
2002 Scherrer Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Scherrer Vineyards - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (4/8/2011)
Just a step off of my previous bottles (I’ve had 6 at this point, I think), but still a very fine cab. Really, there is no better example of impecable balance between ripe CA cabernet fruit and elegant structure in the <$50 category. Geez, get on the mailing list and support these good people already.
(91 pts.)
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2008 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (4/8/2011)
I’m not a huge pinot fan, but this really hit the spot. “Medium+” fruit, mostly reds (cherry, touch of cranberry, maybe even pomegranite in there). A little spice, but not much, as this is all about its fruit without being jammy or overdone in any way. Really a great QPR for $25. (89 pts.) -
2003 Fattoria La Lecciaia (Pacini) Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (4/8/2011)
Solid wine - sporting a fairly classic Brunello flavor profile for not a lot of $. Clean and well-made…it won’t blow your doors off, but sure makes for a nice mid-week bottle for <$30. (90 pts.) -
2006 Jean Edwards Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (4/8/2011)
Took 90+ minutes to come around, after a fairly tight opening. Better than my previous bottle, with more complexity at this point. Still a medium bodied cab, with sweet cherry and baking spice as the prominent flavor components at this point. Enjoyable enough, but missing a “wow” factor to make we want to seek out more. (90 pts.) -
N.V. Astoria Prosecco Cuvée Lounge - Italy, Veneto, Venezie IGT (3/20/2011)
Extremely light, innocuous, even relatively pleasant with cheeses and berries. Would not go hunt it down, however.
(86 pts.) -
2005 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (3/20/2011)
Drank at dinner last week. This is showing extremely well, having evolved nicely since my first bottle 1.5+ years ago. It’s the '06, just with more spice and some cedar. Great QPR for ~$35 in wine shops (less so at $90 in the restaurant).
(92 pts.) -
2007 Piaggia Carmignano Il Sasso - Italy, Tuscany, Carmignano (3/20/2011)
Not as good as the '06, which we opened a few weeks ago. A touch muted, and missing the vibrant fruit and delineation of its older sibling.
(88 pts.) -
2007 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain (3/19/2011)
Very lovely blackberry, plum, and black currant, with faint vanilla in the finish. This hints at the complexity that will certainly appear with 3-4 years of cellaring. A major QPR at $36 locally. (92 pts.) -
2007 Pedemonte Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford (3/19/2011)
Beautiful on opening, but it lost a bit with 1+ hrs of air. I don’t think it shut down, as much as just faded. I will drink my others in the next 2 years, without decanting. (89 pts.) -
2007 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon CrossBarn - USA, California, Napa Valley (3/19/2011)
Nice wine in the $30-35 price range for Napa cab. Fruit forward, with a pleasant mix of reds and blacks, some pepper/oak spice on the mid-palate, and a surprising (and nice) level of acidity. Ready for immediate enjoyment with just a bit of air, but I bet it will hold up well for the next 4-5 years. (91 pts.) -
2004 Fratelli Revello Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (3/19/2011)
A bit on the simple side. I wouldn’t hold this in the hope of seeing improvement. Drink now with simple dishes. (87 pts.)
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