With the weather already getting colder, I thought I’d pull some of these newly acquired, hearty robust wines from the cellar to see how they’re drinking.
2006 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino:
I’ve posted on this wine before and was eager to try it again after somewhat mixed results last time. This wine is compelling, if for no other reason than it’s price. From the excellent 2006 vintage, this is $31 for a Brunello. The quality and stuffing is in this wine, and for those that care (I don’t) the estate is organically farmed.
The wine is deep, purplish black in the glass. The aroma from the wine is always generous; with dark fruits, spices, sweet pipe tobacco and leather. In the mouth, the wine is not nearly as complex. It’s primarily driven by fruit, and without food – which should be a “no-no” for Italian wine in general, it’s blisteringly tannic. The tannins are slightly astringent and even a little bitter and it shortens the finish of the wine. I recommend decanting this one for at least an hour before trying it. Further, let it cellar for 2-3 years before trying it. I’m betting on this one though, because it seems well put together. Approx 90-93 points.
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| The 2006 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino |
2005 Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa:
This wine is not for the faint of heart, pure and simple. It’s unapologetic Napa Cabernet, and 100% at that. It’s black in the glass, with classic cabernet aromas of dark fruits: plums, blackberry, cassis. It’s got an underlying shaley-minerality flavor to it. The vineyard is adjacent to an old cemetary in Napa, and the secondary characteristics of this wine never cease to give me pause. Nevertheless, it’s so delicious and worth the high tariff. Decant now for an hour, or try in about 3-5 years. This will age well for the next 10-15 years without breaking a sweat if properly stored. I always manage to open one of these around Halloween – a bit earlier this year. Delicious! Approximately 93-97 points.
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| 2005 Napa Valley Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
Ci Vediamo!
Uh, dude, you have a high number of New World wines for a Tuscan vine blog! :^)
A fellow B'ville fan.
Man cannot live on Cibo and Vino alone! I'm an equal opportunist. And speaking about Barboursville, I'm itching to open that Octagon this fall. If it sings, I'll be begging you to back up the truck.