Tag: super tuscan

Tenuta Poggio Verrano Dromos Maremma Toscana 2007, Chateau d’Armailhac Pauillac 2013, Château Rauzan-Segla Margaux 2013, Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2013

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Tenuta Poggio Verrano Dròmos Maremma Toscana 2007

Colour: Clear medium ruby core

Nose: Smoked meat, roasted red and green pepper, cedar, savoury, black cherry, blackberry, oak.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Juicy cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, cedar.

Finish: Medium+ finish, plums, mineral, oak.

Score: 83+/100

Exceptional nose, smoky and savoury, with a touch of green for extra depth. Concentrated dark fruit and integrated oak influence on the palate, with nice and soften tannins. This wine is exceptional value for $40CAD(Price does not affect score). Ready to be consumed now!

Château d’Armailhac Pauillac 2013

Colour: Medium+ purple core

Nose: Fresh rose which faded away, plum, sweat, oak.

Palate: Dry, Medium+ bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, blackcurrant, oak.

Finish: Medium- finish, dark fruits and touch of spice.

Score:76+/100

I suppose this wine is in its “dumb phase” at the moment, the nose fades away rather quickly, and the tannins still a bit tight. Not much to say about it. Would hold off for 2-3 more years.

Château Rauzan-Ségla Margaux 2013

Colour: Medium ruby core

Nose: Blackberry, violet, white flower, black cherry, smoke.

Palate: Dry, medium+ bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, light cherry candy, tobacco, oak.

Finish: Medium+ finish, oak, mineral, and a touch of savoury note.

Score:81+/100

Rather elegant wine, great balance of fruit and floral notes on the nose, with a touch of smoke. The palate carries a nice array of dark fruits, integrated oak, and tobacco note. The finish is decent length with a kick of savouriness on the back end. Very approachable now, but could also be cellared for few more years.

Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2013

Colour: Clear dark purple core

Nose: Dentist office, blackberry jam, vanilla, mint, green note.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, medium acidity, full tannins. Blackcurrants, vegetal, earthy, dark fruit jam.

Finish: Long finish, oak, plum.

Score: 79+/100

Not sure if it’s just this bottle, but the nose has a weird dentist office note. The rest are rather standard for higher priced Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, a big and powerful fruit, but a bit one-dimensional. Would be 80+ if it didn’t have that weird note on the nose. Drink now or cellar for 3 more years to soften the tannins. Would go wonder with a nice slab of steak!

Château De Lavernette Cuvée Jean Jacques De Boissieu Pouilly Fuisse 2013, Château du Tertre Margaux Grand Cru Classe 2013, Castello di Bossi Corbaia 2011, Raymond Usseglio Cuvée Impériale Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2013.

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Château De Lavernette Cuvée Jean Jacques De Boissieu Pouilly Fuisse 2013

Colour: Pale straw

Nose: Sour green apple, unripe peach, light yeast, floral, crushed stone.

Palate: Dry, medium-bodied, high acidity. Green apples, pineapple, mineral.

Finish: Medium finish, pineapple.

Score: 77+/100

Decent Pouilly-Fuisse, the nose shows a lot of sour fruits, and touch of yeasty/bready aroma. Mouthwatering acidity, showing true to the nose with green apples and pineapple note, touch of minerality as well. Should develop well with a few more years in the cellar.

Château du Tertre Margaux Grand Cru Classe 2013

Colour: Clear medium ruby core

Nose: Juicy plum, black raspberry, touch of barnyard and forest floor.

Palate: Dry, medium bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Plum, blackberry, strawberry, salt.

Finish: Long finish, savoury, and a touch of pepper.

Score: 79+/100
The 2013 vintage of Chateau du Tertre is still quite young, and the colour was surprisingly light. The nose and palate is rather simple, and the structure isn’t there to support it. Fruit dominate, doesn’t have the complexity of a good Margaux even at this age. Approachable now but hold till 2020, would expect a shorter drinking window.

Castello di Bossi Corbaia 2011

Colour: Clear medium ruby core

Nose: Red cherry, light rubber band note, potpourri, dried apricot, orange peel, black tea.

Palate: Dry, medium+ bodied, medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins. Red cherry, salt, plum, pressed flower.

Finish: Medium+ finish, touch of mineral.

Score:84+/100

Well-made super Tuscan, very attractive nose of floral and dried fruit elements. Great structure and balance on the palate, the dark fruits and floral notes shows decent complexity. Could use a few more years for the notes to fully harmonize. Would hold till 2019-2020.

Raymond Usseglio Cuvée Impériale Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2013

Colour: Clear dark purple core

Nose: Whiff of vanilla, strawberry gum, plum, touch of black currant leaf, pepper and touch of floral.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, medium acidity, medium+ tannins. Mandarin orange peel, plum, raspberry, tree sapling, blackberry.

Finish: Medium+ finish, tree sapling, pepper.

Score:80+/100
Not my style of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, I prefer a less fruity, and more rustic style, preferably with smoky and meaty notes. But this does show decent depth and potential, above average complexity. On the fruity side. Approachable now or hold for 3-5 more years.