Achaval-Ferrar Finca Altamira 2003 Malbec. Purple. How can a wine tqaste "purple"? It just does. Not gobby fruity like I feared, and the oak is pretty restrained. I tasted blueberry and a hint of tobacco. Definitely some nice fuzzy tannins. Very popular and WOTN for several people. Purple is the new Black! My score, a solid ***
Hess Collection The Lion 2003 Sacrificed to Infanticide, but...
Probably their oakiest cab-based wine, but the fruit is still really nice and there is some lovely aromatics. The mouthfeel is also lovely, rich, but with some fine gritty tannins (which I like) ***
Chateau L'Evangile Pomerol 1999 Picked up at BevMo and not perfectly stored by your's truly
Cork was completely intact but pretty well stained (no popup at the capsule, though) This was open and ready for business, though. I much preferred this to the Certan-Le-Napa (oops, Certan le May) I had earlier this Spring. Very funky when first opened, but it blew off and some nice black fruit peeped through. All the loveliness I expect from an adolescent Bordeaux-this was no longer primary fruit only, but tobacco and leather and herbs. Absolutely delicious and WOTN for me. I can't really afford to replace this bottle, but it is mighty tempting to pick up another. ****1/2
Quinta de Carolina 1999 An American couple discovered Portugal and fell in love. Much more primary fruit than the Pomerol, but this wine had layers underneath of tobacco and herbs and savoryness. Again, the oak was very restrained. Heresy as it may be, I continue to prefer rustic Portugese wines to almost every Spanish wine I've tried. Yum, and WOTN for some of my friends. (should probably have been drunk second in order. But, still lovely. Only 13% abv. ****
