Jammy nose, blueberry pie and plums. The palate starts with sweet blueberry compote and plum, adds a tart zing of raspberry on the mid-palate, and ends with a flourish of vanilla and brown sugar. Sweet tannins and tart acids give it balance. Drink with portobello mozzarella burgers. Recommended. 87 points.
Cherry stones, vanilla, and cola show on the nose. The palate leads with black cherry and strawberry, with a tart raspberry twist. Some vanilla comes through on the mid-palate. The finish favors the tart over the sweet. Mouth-feel is soft, tannins mild. Drink with bacon-wrapped pork medallions. Recommended. 87 points.
This floral delight is made entirely from Frapin's Grande Champagne vineyard, from a blend of 40-50 year old reserves. White flowers and loads of caramel waft up from the glass. Opening with caramel, vanilla, coffee, and a touch of heat, it explodes on the palate with a remarkable blend of
Smoke, white flowers, and sweet cucumber show on a very delicate nose. The same flavors show on the palate, with spanish orange peel, candied lemon peel, and black pepper. The agave shines through, sweet and clean, with an undercurrent of smoke. This is shockingly smooth, bite-free, a pure sipping Mezcal
Pour vigorously, decant, wait, or cellar for a decade or more. Don't pop and pour. If you do, you will be punished by vegetal wine loaded with oak. Give it a day or more, though, and the wine changes completely. Cassis, vanilla, and a touch of mint show on the
This is a big mouthful of wine, but bright and fresh, not jammy. The nose has aromas of blackberries and wood smoke. Blackberries lead on the palate, followed by smoke, vanilla, and bacon, which lingers with blackberries and vanilla on a lengthy finish. Acids are bright, tannins firm and slightly
Put a small green pepper between fresh blueberry pie and cherry pie, and you'll get the aromas coming from the glass. The palate is similar, leading with sweet blueberry pie filling and vanilla-flavored crust, moving toward the same in cherry on the mid-palate, and ending with a touch of green
Cabernet for barbecue, and more. The nose shows black currant and tobacco leaf. The palate opens with black currants, plums, and vanilla. It adds cherry and spice box on the mid-palate, followed by a clear hit of eucalyptus. Tannins are dusty, acids zingy. Drink with dry rubbed brisket. Recommended. 88