Some folks stopped by this week (people who have been coming to our shop since we opened) and commented on the fact that we never highlight the wines that we sample in the “back room” or display behind the counter. While I might disagree with the notion of “never” I do believe you can “never” showcase a great wine too much.
To make the masses happy here are some of our “Back Room Beasts:”
· 2005 Viader DARE Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): The DARE emits concentrated aromas of ripe black cherry, dark currant, cassis, tobacco and cedar notes with faint hints of caramel. On the mid-palate, the vibrant tannins and well-integrated oak flavors give the impression that the wine is lightly dancing over one’s taste buds. Firm tannins grace the finish (Unrated) ... $40
· 2003 Domaine Monperituis Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC (French Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre): Racy, with lots of red currant and raspberry fruit stitched with tangy mineral, grilled herb and subtle spice notes. There’s a nice feel through the lengthy finish. Drink now through 2017 (90 points in WS) ... $40
· 2000 Cennatoio Rosso Fiorentino IGT (Italian Cabernet Sauvignon): A good amount of blackberry and dark chocolate character with an underlying coffee flavor. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Slightly austere new wood but should come around (Unrated) ... $45
· 2003 Lorenzo Begali Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC (Italian Corvina/Molinara/Rodinella): Sturdy and young, with fresh red fruit, floral character on the nose and a good dose of spicy oak. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a firm finish. Only 1,000 cases made (90 points in WS)... $50
· 2006 John Duval Plexus (Australian Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre): On the palate, red and dark, black fruit combine with layers of spice. Intense and elegant, Plexus demonstrates ripe, fine tannins, an impressive concentration, and a seamless balance. Good for 8 to 10 years. (Unrated and hot) ... $50
· 2001 Marchesi di Barolo DOCG (Italian Nebbiolo): Aromas of dried meat and ripe fruit follow through to a full-bodied palate, with a peppery, light raisin flavor. Chewy yet ripe tannins. It goes on for a long time on the palate (91 points in WS) ... $50
· 2006 John Duval Entity (Australian Shiraz): Entity’s palate is rich and generous, with concentrated dark fruit and fine, ripe tannins. The finish is elegant and carries through with excellent fruit intensity. Enjoy it now or cellar it for 10 years (Unrated and hot) ... $50
· 2006 Mitolo G.A.M (Australian Shiraz): It has an aromatic array of roasted coffee, violets, lavender, pepper, Asian spices, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. In the mouth it is velvety-textured, deep, concentrated, opulent, and altogether hedonistic. It will evolve for 5 to 7 years and drink well through 2026 (95 points in WA) ... $55
· 2001 Paitin Sori Paitin Barbaresco DOCG (Italian Nebbiolo): This is a sumptuous, modern-styled Barbaresco with a complex and intriguing nose of crushed raspberries and sweet spices. On the palate the wine is packed with lush fruit, minerals, and tar, closing with an attractive balsamic note (91 points in WA) ... $55/bottle or $105/Magnum
· 2005 Lail Vineyards Blueprint (Napa Valley Meritage): The wine reveals dark notes of blackberries intermixed with vanilla, cacao and coconuts. In the mouth it is round with a pure attack and good balance finishing with well-integrated sweet tannins (Unrated) ... $55
· 2005 Long Shadows Saggi (Washington Sangiovese, Cabernet & Syrah): This Washington Super Tuscan offers delicate fig and baking spice aromas. Bright red fruit and dark cherries enhance the balanced structure. The long finish concentrated with a hint of pomegranate (Unrated) ... $57
· 2000 Cennatoio Etrusco IGT (Italian Sangiovese): The Etrusco uses a healthy amount of the property’s best Sangiovese, and it offers penetrating aromas of red currant fruit, resin, rosemary, and vanilla, a firm but fine-grained texture, and important length and continuity. Drink: Now through 2018 (90 points in WA) ... $60
· 2006 Daniel Schuster Omihi Selection (New Zealand Pinot Noir): Deeply colored, full bodied Pinot with complex, dark berry fruit aromas, and gamey/ spicy flavors in a long finish. The firm tannic structure will ensure continuing development of greater flavor richness for 5 to 7 years from vintage date (Unrated and very limited) ... $60/bottle or $225/Magnum (We received 2 of the 20 limited edition magnums for the US allocation. Each in a wooden box!)
· 2004 Ernie Els Cirrus (South African Syrah): Rich and dark, with lots of blackberry, espresso and mineral flavors and a long, velvety finish. Showy, but balanced and pure. Only 500 cases made in partnership with Silver Oak (91 points in WS) ... $64
· 2004 Long Shadows Pedestal (Washington Merlot): Opaque purple in color, it offers a classic perfume of pain grille, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry from Michel Rolland. It’s followed by a rich, intensely flavored wine with depth, concentration, and length (94 points in WA) ... $65
· 2004 Chateau Pontet-Canet AOC Grand Cru (French Cabernet/Merlot): Shows beautiful aromas of crushed berries and currant, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with lovely currant, licorice and mint. Long and caressing (93 points in WS and #34 out of the Top 100) ... $70
· 2001 Le Gode Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (Italian Sangiovese): Very pretty blackberry, violet and light vanilla aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Only 500 cases made (91 points in WS) ... $70
· 2001 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (Italian Sangiovese): It presents a very dark color along with more classic profile in its expressive nose and nuances of tobacco, sweet cherries, tar and minerals. Drink from 2009 to 2021 (92 points in WA) ... $75
· 2001 Cennatoio Archibaldo IGT(Italian Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon): Blackish in tonality, weighty and mineral on its expansive nose and ample palate and endowed with a full load of peppery and tobacco-laced black fruit flavors on its long, firm finish through 2018 (92 points in WA) ... $75
· 2001 Colombini Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG (Italian Sangiovese): Loads of raspberry, toasty oak and tar on the nose lead to a full-bodied palate that’s chunky and impressive, with lots of everything. A big, powerful wine. Best after 2010. 1,000 cases made (94 points in WS) ... $85
· 1999 Rocche dei Manzoni Vigna d’la Roul Barolo DOCG (Italian Nebbiolo): It opens with a delicate, expressive nose with nuances of flowers, spices, smoke and earth. It is rich and dense on the palate, where it offers super-ripe fruit and notable concentration, with outstanding length and overall balance. Drink over the next 25 to 30 years (92 points in WA) ... $85
· 2000 Rocche dei Manzoni Vigna d’la Roul Barolo DOCG (Italian Nebbiolo): It presents chocolate, caramel, and nutmeg sensations in a muscular, structured format of good intensity and important continuity. Drinks well through 2018 (92 points in WA) ... $85
· 2001 Rocche dei Manzoni Vigna d’la Roul Barolo DOCG (Italian Nebbiolo): It reveals phenomenal balance in its layers of dark cherries, violets, tar, new leather, sweet toasted oak and mentholated, balsamic overtones that develop in the glass. Drink 2013 - 2026 (95 points in WA) ... $85
· 2006 Glaetzer Amon-Ra (Australian) Shiraz: The wine is a thick, glass-coating, purple/black in color. The aromas cover a wide range of scents including smoke, vanilla, pepper, Asian spices, espresso, blueberry, and chocolate (97 to 100 points in WA) ... $90
· 2004 Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Full-bodied and powerful with velvety tannin, fabulous intensity, and stunning aromas of smoked herbs, charcoal, chocolate, creme de cassis; it’s a rich, voluptuously textured wine (94 points in WA) ... $90
· 2004 Phillipe Melka Metisse (Napa Valley Meritage): Seductive with hints of violet, vanilla and dried herbs. A Bordeaux styled wine exhibiting pure elegance, fabulous dark fruit, an attractive freshness as well as intensity. It is luscious, rich, and opulent. Gorgeously integrated acidity, alcohol and sweet tannins. Decanting highly recommended (Unrated) ... $100
· 1999 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG (Italian Sangiovese Grosso): Aromatic and fruity, with hints of flowers and perfume. Very generous. Full-bodied, with silky and caressing tannins and a long, long finish (95 points in WS) ... $135
· 2004 Pahlmeyer Red (Napa Valley Meritage): Well-focused on a rich, vibrant core of ripe blackberry and wild berry fruit. Elegant, balanced, well-structured, ending with a long, complex finish that’s trim and tight. Best 2009 through 2015 (93 points in WS) ... $135
· 2000 Pianpolverre Soprano Barolo Riserva (Italian Nebbiolo): Dark ruby in color, with intense aromas of ripe plum, coffee, cedar and cigar box. Full-bodied, with glorious dried fruits, vanilla and coffee on the palate. Chewy and rich on the finish. Layered and generous. Ultra rich and beautiful. Hard not to drink now. Best after 2009 - Only 800+ cases produced (95 points in WS) ... $160
· 2005 Chateau Teyssier Le Dome AOC Grand Cru (French Merlot/Cabernet Franc): Exhibits notes of blueberries, raspberries, menthol, and graphite along with terrific fruit, medium body, superb palate penetration, good acidity, and ripe tannin (94 points in WA) ... $250 (NFD)
· 2003 Bond (Harlan Estate) Vecina Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Deep and brooding, the aromas bring to mind a walk through a forest. Now a whiff of bay laurel, then pine cone and rich, mulchy humus, and hovering over all are ripe blackberries and oodles of caramelized new oak. This one should live for many years - EXTREMELY LIMITED (96 points in WE) ... $260 (NFD)
· 2004 Bryant Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): The 2004 exhibits a deep opaque purple color as well as a big, blackberry and floral-scented perfume offering notes of Creme de Cassis, spice box, & licorice. Beautifully opulent, full-bodied, and forward, it should drink well now, yet age through 2021 - EXTREMELY LIMITED (95 points in WA) ... $500 (NFD)
These wines are all great in their own special way but are not for everyone … just because they received a great review/score or their price points are at a certain level does not mean you will like them. Read about the tasting notes, ask questions, study the vintages or, at the very least, as us about these unique bottles … that’s our job! We do the research and you get the enjoyment (now or 20 years from now). They are all in limited supply so if you are interested, act now!
As a special thank you we are offering you 10% off any of these bottles (Except those marked NFD) through the end of the month by just mentioning this blog entry!
Happy drinking and/or happy collecting!
Michael
(Not to say we told you so but: The new wines from John Duval have met with rave reviews from our staff and our guests. These gems were highlighted last spring and we ended up selling more of the 2005 Entity and Plexus than any other retailer in Kansas City. In September, the reviews were released and, not that we rely on or wait for someone else to confirm our choices but WS and WA validated our reccomenations with 91+ point scores. By the time they did this, we were almost sold out of both versions. Please don't make the sme mistake so many made last time. We have the 2006 versions and we'll be one of the few shops to get the eserve Entity laster this month or early next Month)
