Search results for: 'model a one plot'

Sourced from vineyards in Bolgheri and in the neighboring area of Bibbona, mainly planted on dark soils full of lime and clay. Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese ferment and macerate separately for around 15 days. After 12 months of aging in oak, they are blended and then aged for several months in the bottle before release.

92 Points! Stacks of toasted nut, candied citrus and pineapple aromas on the nose, plus a touch of melted butter. Quite full-bodied thanks also to the mutually reinforcing ripeness and fine tannins. Nice stony minerality and some saltiness at the long finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2020 Esprit is a blend of Mataro, Grenache and Cinsault. This has earthy mulberries strung up on a rachis of spicy tannin: fine-boned and tuned into the higher spice flow. It is pure, as all the Spinifex wines are. - Erin Larkin, robertparker.com

With the small amounts produced, the years of aging needed to produce each bottle and the centuries of experience crafting sake, Kikuhime has become one of the most renowned and sought after sake in the world, prized by chefs and restaurants for its nuanced pairings, and by collectors who enjoy the subtleties that develop over the years. 

BY or “Brew Year” references that unlike the extended aging for most Kikuhime this Daiginjo is released in the same year it was brewed to showcase its vibrancy. A complex, bold and dry sake. Has the fresh melon notes associated with highly polished sake, but contrasted by a big structure and chewy texture that broaden the flavor and make it exceedingly complex. Pairs beautifully with a broad range of food, excellent with simple preparations of white fish and vegetables but bold enough to pair with fatty tuna, pork and richer flavors.Can be consumed now to enjoy vibrant fruit or if aged will continue to develop earthy tones.

Region: Ishikawa Prefecture

Quality Grade: Daiginjo

Seimaibuai: 50%

Nihonshu-Do: N/A

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

Alcohol: 17.5%

94 Points! The 2008 Lynch Bages is brilliant stuff as well as a textbook Pauillac. Revealing a still youthful ruby/purple color as well as impressive notes of graphite, cedar pencil, cassis, tobacco, and obvious minerality, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, polished tannins, and a concentrated, layered texture. Jean-Charles Cazes described the vintage as late and great for Cabernet Sauvignon, and this beauty has classic Cabernet flair in spades. Powerful yet also fresh and elegant, it benefits from a decant and will continue drinking beautifully for another 20-30 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! The 2008 Lynch-Bages is deep in color with minor aging on the rim. The nose is well-defined but demands coaxing, almost reluctantly revealing blackberry, briary, tobacco and mint aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm but fine tannins, lovely black fruit laced with tobacco and spice, dense and grippy. This is beautifully proportioned on the finish. Superb. Tasted at the Lynch-Bages vertical at the château. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

Maclean's Nose Blended Scotch Whisky, blessed with a splendid West Coast character, offers a unique value proposition. With a high malt content of 70% – a percentage usually associated with much pricier labels – and a considerable proportion drawn from ex-Sherry casks, this whisky delivers premium quality and exceptional flavor at an unbeatable price. Further fortified by its eco-friendly packaging, the whisky is non-chill filtered and displays a natural color, contributing to its authenticity. Holding an ideal 46% ABV, the whisky is part of an initial release of 25,000 bottles, and is now making its mark across the United States. Colored burnished gold, it evokes a delightful surge of burnt citrus peel, sea salt, bonfire, nectarine syrup, and lime marmalade. The palate is taken on a flavourful journey – puffed rice, homemade rice pudding, and citrus, culminating in a whisper of Ferrero Rocher. The lingering taste of burning heather and smoked praline on the finish accentuates its excellent value. Maclean's Nose offers an indulgent Scotch experience that doesn't compromise quality for price.

Built on the bedrock of the iconic French liqueur Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne, Joseph Cartron has been producing benchmark fruit liqueurs in Burgundy since 1882. Over time, the Cartron range has expanded to over 40 expressions as well as the world’s first Burgundian vermouths.

Local Burgundian fruits are used whenever possible, sourced from farmers with whom the Cartron family has built relationships over generations. When producing expressions from fruits or botanicals not endemic to the region, Cartron seeks out the very best varieties from all over the world. Depending on the expression, ingredients are either cold-macerated in stainless steel or hot-macerated in Cartron’s humble alembic copper pot still. All liqueurs are produced with a base of neutral alcohol derived from sugar beets and naturally sweetened with crystalized sugar; the blanc and rouge vermouths are made with Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, respectively. Maceration time and technical nuance, sugar content, and final ABV all vary, tailored to best feature the individual agricultural delights Cartron has sought to celebrate since its inception.

100 Points! Extremely aromatic with red currants, blackcurrants, spices, iodine, paprika and subtle hints of white pepper. Fresh flowers, fresh sage, lavender and some pine needles and sandalwood. Medium-bodied with perfectly integrated tannins that go on for minutes with refined and harmonious fruit that integrates beautifully into the wine, giving it a weightless structure that shows class and verve. Endless balance and length. It’s so balanced that you could drink it now but it will age for decades. A blend of 75% carmenere, 18% cabernet sauvignon and 7% merlot. Best after 2028. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Aromatically complex and intriguing, this offers a spiced plum pastry note that melds with petrichor, pine, dried violet and cocoa powder elements. The palate is round and richly textured, with Szechuan peppercorn accents to the concentrated black cherry, plum and cassis center. Everything comes together harmoniously on the finish and lingers, with present but integrated tannins. A stunner that should develop nicely in the cellar. Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2040. - Wine Spectator

From ancient Barbera vines planted in 1930! 

Outside of Vietti’s famed Scarrone vineyard and a small patch owned by Elvio Cogno, these may very well be the oldest Barbera vines in the Alba zone! What a treasure. And the wine? A true vinous treasure in its own right. The Montaribaldi Barbera d'Alba Dü Gir 2020 is delicious liquid history, a concentrated, powerful, intense, yet totally balanced Barbera from these ancient vines.

 There’s a reason we love Barbera around here. Well, several reasons but the first is the wine’s combination of deep, inky fruit, bright perky acid and very soft tannins. This wine is electric, delivering these deep, dark black fruit flavors on a punchy, bright platform, enhanced by a kiss of new French oak and delivered via soft, almost imperceptible tannins, leaving only a trail of delicious berry fruit in its wake. A complete joy to drink and an absolute gem with all Italian foods, it’s the most versatile, compatible Italian red on the dinner table that we’re aware of…and did we say it was damn fun to drink?

Blending vintages of our high rye mash bill to achieve this flavor profile at 115-116 plus proof was a very rewarding challenge for us. There is a delicate balance between creamy mouthfeel, tannins and sugars that comes into play that makes the end result magical. Older vintages have more evaporation which means a higher concentration of fats and sugars per ounce which gives them a nice creamy mouthfeel as well as caramel and honey goodness. They also have more tannins because alcohol has been in contact with the wood for longer. A lot of what some perceive as alcohol burn is actually a harshness due to tannins. This can counterbalance the benefit gained by the high concentration of lipid esters insulating your pallet from alcohol heat. There needs to be enough of the older bourbon for the oak flavors and mouthfeel, but also some younger ones to cut back on the tannins and bring in some delicate fruit and caramel flavors.

2021, 2020 and 2017 San Francisco World Spirits

Double Gold Winner!

The Castello di Castellengo’s Coste Della Sesia ‘Rosso della Motta’ has a shocking price, in the best possible way. It’s very inexpensive, but it’s also very serious. What it’s best at is how much joy it unfurls compared to so many other Alto Piemontese reds that have forgotten wine is also to be enjoyed; to be fruity and merry. It’s made entirely from Nebbiolo grapes harvested from 70 to 80-year-old vines planted between 300-350 meters on the rolling hills of marine sand and clay. To keep the fruit profile upfront during its two-week natural fermentation in steel, Magda keeps the temperatures maxed out at 22° C. It’s then aged on lees for 24 to 30 months in concrete without racking before a light filtration at bottling. With only 40 mg/L of total sulfur, added only at bottling, its years of refinement under all the natural bacteria, yeast and microorganisms that survived and even grew in fermentation make this a truly authentic wine, at a great price.

96 Points! The 2023 Chardonnay Shale and Stone, from Truchard in Carneros, is all class. Apricot, lemon confit, marzipan, tangerine peel, tropical fruit and a kiss of French oak grace this exotic, dynamic Chardonnay from Frog's Leap. Airy and gracious, with stunning balance, the 2023 is fabulous in every way. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

91 Points! A dense and toothsome mix of blueberry preserves, wild blackberry and cassis lies at the core. Offers details of cumin, rosemary and sage, with dusty tannins, plus violet and black pepper accents. There's a whiff of eucalyptus on the long finish. Drink now through 2036. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! Powerful aromas of dark cherry, strawberry jam and crushed star anise make for a hedonistic nose on this bottling. The palate ranges from black cherry to baked berry, with cardamom and more star anise as well as a firm tannic frame standing in the background. - Wine Enthusiast

93 Points! This affordable bottling will satisfy the hunt for an herbaceous, fresh Pinot Noir. A lighter hue in the glass, this wine offers aromas of eucalyptus, potpourri and peppercorn on the nose. The palate is very zesty with bay leaf and tart red fruit flavors. - Wine Enthusiast

94 Points! Complex and aromatic, with dried honeysuckle, lanolin and honeycomb notes that complement the core of mango, peach and citrus. There are plenty of spice, smoke and litsea oil details, along with hints of toasted green tea and fresh acidity on the finish. Drink now. - Wine Spectator

92 Points! The enticing aromas of orange blossoms, chamomile and toasted baguette pull you into this very attractive and juicy sparkling wine with a discreet mousse on the medium-bodied palate. Moderate acidity for this appellation with a touch of salty minerality. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

90-92 Points! Unwinding in the glass with notes of pear, white flowers, fresh bread and mint, the 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé Les Raidillons is medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with tangy acids and chalky grip on the saline finish. This should turn out well. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

92 Points! Light, green-tinged yellow. Mineral-accented aromas and flavors of candied orange, pear, white flowers and ginger. Juicy and precise, presenting lively citrus and orchard fruit flavors underscored by chalky minerality. Dry and incisive on the finish, which shows outstanding clarity and persistence. - Josh Raynolds, Vinous

92 Points! A step up, the 2021 Saint Joseph Le Lombard Blanc is more rounded and complete, with beautiful honeyed quince, spice, and dried herbs in a medium-bodied, round, supple package that's already a joy to drink. - Jeb Dunnuck