Château Castigno Secret du Dieux Saint Chinian 2011
Colour: Clear medium ruby
Nose: Lower intensity nose, dates, ripe red cherry, touch of plum sauce, liquorice.
Palate: Dry, medium+ bodied, medium acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, red cherry, touch of pine.
Finish: Medium+ finish, spice and dark fruits.
Score: 76/100
Drinking well now, could also use a few more years in the cellar.
Bolla Le Origini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2009
Colour: Clear medium garnet
Nose: Surprisingly savoury nose, roasted red pepper, smoked meat, undertone of dried cherry, plum, and a touch of peppercorn.
Palate: Dry, medium-full bodied, medium+ acidity, medium tannins. Cherry, plum, integrated oak, Chinese five spice, hints of tobacco.
Finish: Long finish, soft plum.
Score:82/100
The roasted red pepper note caught me off-guard, surprisingly savoury and dry for Amarone, guessing more producer these days trying to go for a drier Amarone rather than an off-dry style.
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino 2011
Colour: Clear medium garnet
Nose: Cured meat, white-out, cherry, dried strawberry, raspberry, plum, and a touch salt.
Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, high acidity, medium tannins. Plum, cured meat, liquorice, cherry candy, touch of dry flower.
Finish: Long finish, touch of oak and salt.
Score: 84/100
Still needs a few more years to get things together, got good complexity and structure to back it up. While the 2011 is approachable now, I’d say cellar for at least 3-5 more years and check back.
Gundlach Bundschu Vintage Reserve Red 2012
Colour: Clear dark purple core
Nose: Strong liquorice, blackberry, blackcurrant, green leafy note, oil paint, hint of eucalyptus.
Palate: Full-bodied, medium+ acidity, high grippy tannins. Plums, black currant, black cherry, touch of green note again, mineral.
Finish: Long finish, plums and oak.
Score: 82/100
Prime example of really ripe crop, have decent complexity and structure for further development, the tannins needs to be soften up for another 5 or so years. Personally not my style.