TNs: Unico/Henschke/Rousseau/etc.

Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva 1994:
This may very well turn out to be the greatest Unico ever. It certainly has the stuffing. Dark black fruit erupts from the nose- think black currant, think blackberry, plum, etc.- while around the explosion unfurls softer, more elegant touches- black truffle, vanilla wrapped cherries and smoke. Evolving with every sip and every minute this beauty reveals, on a bed of scorched earth and torn tobacco leaves, droplets of sweet fruit juxtaposed against dried fruit flavors- think dried cherries and Medjool dates. This could really be an epiphany wine for just about anyone. And it should only get better. 98+ points

Henschke Keyneton Estate 2003:
This is a neat wine. Glad to find one lying around to share with some folks who helped me move. A nice collection of toasty vanilla, wild blueberries, some ground spices, a little mint, graphite and crushed cloves. Overall the blue fruits were not over-done and the minty/eucalyptus flavors were enough in the background to give this wine a pleasant mouthfeel. Nice, but not overly complex. 88 points

Henschke Hill Of Grace 2001:
Interesting. Kind of unctuous in the beginning but turned elegant. Not anything like the '02, for example. I have one bottle left that I will try again soon for a confirmation of sorts. Anyway, mostly blue/black fruits, some white chocolate, mocha, spice, licorice and vanilla cream. Not a blockbuster. And really not their best effort. 90 points

Armand Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 2002:
This is one of my favorite wines in the world. This might be my favorite vintage of this wine too. The last time I had this wine I was with Bowden, Cornutt and the rest of the bunch at Aria in Atlanta. Their were so many great wines consumed that night (somehow no notes made there way here!) but this one might have been that night’s WOTN. I had to open another bottle after I moved into my new place- for science. Sappy pine cones, dark, plump cherries, blackberries infused with a touch of spiced cinnamon and a finish that screams flowers and wild strawberry. 95 points

Tenuta delle Terre Nere La Vigna di Don Peppino Prephylloxera Etna Rosso 2006:
This is a wine everyone should try once. And if you can’t get this one then you should at least try the Guardiola. Really good stuff. Especially tasty with the pizzas we had. Kind of like a hypothetical mix of Nebbiolo, Gamay and New Zealand Pinot Noir. Lots of rose petal, some pine forest notes, brambly cherries, cola and very pure mineral content. I think most everyone who tasted it dug it. 92 points

Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 1997:
A very dark core of fruit and still very powerful and masculine. Polished cherries, tar, rose and violets make up the bulk of what the wine felt like giving off this go 'round. It should have been decanted and it would have shown better but- what was there was impressive. Still a tike. 93 points

I’m a sucker for Barolo now, and the Bartolo Mascarello sounds like a winner.

Did you just open a ton of bottles and have at it, or was this a dinner event of some sort?

How’s the new pad, in the hoidy-toidy side of town?

Nice notes on some awesome wines John. I’m a big fan of most of the wines you mentioned, but the not too common note on the Terre Nere struck my attention. I find that these wines sometimes show hard and incredibly oaky and sometimes show like a theoretical blend of Taurasi and Burgundy with amazingly pure and lifted red fruit melded to volcanic character. I don’t think they made the wine you mention in 05, is it a new bottling for 06? When showing well, I think their wines are amazing for the price of admission, though I’ve had a couple of miserably tight and oaky bottles as well.

Love the 94 Unico when I had it (maybe 2 years ago?) A great wine, just a baby at the time, so much potential there.

I tried the '94 Unico around 4 years ago - so closed and tannic I figured maybe 8-10 years before having it again. Maybe it’s time to re-try. Thankfully, a Spanish friend who is close to the Alvarez family sells the '94 locally at a very good price…

These were over a period of time, basically a week I guess. The two Italians were with a bunch of folks from this BB at an offline in Atlanta.

My house is nice. I bought it because it is closer to Bowden.

Josh, the Terre Nere that I had is the first bottling I have seen. And it is on the high end price wise. I like most all of their wines but I feel like '06 (their whole lineup) was particularly good.

I’m glad that your stalking me…it make me feel good indise.

So you’ve had other 06’s John? I’ve been mulling picking up a mixed bag of them but was hoping to find some feedback first… and if you don’t mind, what was the tarrif on the 06 you had? I think I paid about $16 for the Calderara and $30ish for the Guardiola and Feudo bottlings in 05.

Mine was around $75 or so. But it could top out at $90 here. But prices suck in Atlanta. And yes I have had other (probably all) of the '06s.