This is another one of those wines I cellared for a few years (purchased July 2007) ... it was a screwcap wine but I still held it upside down in a box. Interesting thing about screwcap wines that sit on their cap for a length of time is they seem to develop a sediment in the cap similar to opening a paint can lid ... this one developed that kind of silt. The result of this sludge-like formation is that it makes the first pour and swig very chewy, and the wine lacks a certain clarity, instead it has a very cloudy look to it, even after let it stand upright for most of the day. But these are easily forgivable things when a wine is tasty - and this one really was. The nose was a spiced-chocolate with cinnamon, cassis and black raspberry. The palate was just as intriguing and changed with time in glass, starting out with cassis, blackberry and white pepper; an hour later an interesting herbal quality developed along with a hint of blueberry. Tasty and terrific wine ... so tasty and terrific in fact that I can't remember what I had for dinner.
Showing posts with label Petit Verdot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Petit Verdot. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Monday, January 25, 2010
Ironstone Moan - Barrica much Sleeka (California & Chile)
Another two-fer night and sadly one of the wines was just not up to snuff. I started with the Ironstone 2003 Cabernet Franc; I knew there was a problem the moment I pop the plastic cork. As I poured the aromas coming up from the glass were familiar and yet I did not want to believe it was what I was smelling. In the glass I swirled and sniffed. Then swirled and sniffed again. Medicinal smells filled with an abundance of alcohol, I looked at the label, only 13.5% - not enough that one should notice. The longer it sat the less it smelled like wine and the more I was reminded of Vodka and then it hit me ... rubbing alcohol. Being a trooper I did taste it and it was no better.
Looking for another bottle to open I found this Santa Carolina 2004 Barrica Selection 2004 Petit Verdot. It's rare to see a Verdot alone, which is probably why I bought it. I checked the label on this one and spotted a whopping 14.5% alcohol, but this was not apparent on the nose of this 6 year old wine, instead I was greeted by pepper, spice and hints of cocoa. As the wine gained more exposure to the air blackberries and cassis emerged to mix in with the pepper and spice; alas the cocoa disappeared but it still remained a very tasty wine.
Looking for another bottle to open I found this Santa Carolina 2004 Barrica Selection 2004 Petit Verdot. It's rare to see a Verdot alone, which is probably why I bought it. I checked the label on this one and spotted a whopping 14.5% alcohol, but this was not apparent on the nose of this 6 year old wine, instead I was greeted by pepper, spice and hints of cocoa. As the wine gained more exposure to the air blackberries and cassis emerged to mix in with the pepper and spice; alas the cocoa disappeared but it still remained a very tasty wine.
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