march 2011
2007 Dow's Vintage Port
2011-03-21 16:57:25
March is such an interesting month; one day it’s sunny and warm, the next it’s cold and snowing! One thing is for sure: for a bitter winter-like day on the first day of spring, I need SOMETHING to keep my spirits up! So, I think… what could make my spring fever hold off a few more weeks until Mother Nature decides she’s ready? The answer: a deliciously rich and comforting glass of Port.
When I think of Port, many things come to mind. Tawny or Ruby? Vintage or reserve? But there’s one thing that always sticks out to me: the delicious, 100-Point, 2007 Dow’s Vintage Port. Produced only in years of exceptional quality, Dow’s Vintage Ports represent only a very small portion of the company’s total production; on average, only two or three times every ten years are the weather conditions adequately superior enough to allow for the making of Dow’s Vintage Port.
100 Points, Wine Spectator: "Amazing aromas of lilac, violet, crushed blueberry and mineral that turn to black pepper and spices follow through to a full-bodied, medium-sweet palate, with a long, chewy finish. Evolves to tar and asphalt. Really held back, yet powerful grip slaps you. This is mind-blowing in texture. The greatest Dow ever made. Best after 2022.”
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2008 JEAN CLAUDE BACHELET CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET
2011-03-28 18:07:18
Domaine Jean-Claude Bachelet is a rising star in the Cote de Beaune. The estate’s basic Chassagne bottling is made entirely from 50 year old vines in the lieu-dit Les Encegnieres, which is shared by both Chassagne and Puligny. Though it is a large vineyard, only a tiny piece of Les Encegnieres extends into Chassagne, just below the famous Batard-Montrachet. This prime source allows the Bachelet's to make an exceptional village bottling of uncommon richness. Allen Meadows (Burghound.com) wrote the following about the 2008: “The reserved nose features notes of earth, herb, citrus and floral nuances where the citrus and earth continue onto the rich, full, concentrated and muscular flavors that also possess a beguiling mouth feel and real finishing power. They don't call this a mini-Bâtard for no reason!” SO delicious!
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2007 O'Shaunessey Cabernet Sauvignon
2011-03-17 18:26:31
Betty O’Shaughnessy Woolls spent her childhood growing up in a rural farming community in Minneapolis. Her entrepreneurial spirit and love for food and wine fueled the transition from owner/teacher of a cooking school in Minnesota, to creating a winery in Napa Valley. In Napa, Betty fell in love with the exquisiteness of the land, the vineyards, and the ambiance of her surroundings. In 1990 she landed in Oakville with a plot of land, including vineyards and a home site. The estate vines are now over fourteen years old and have established deep roots on the 100-acre hillside property.
(95 Points) "The stunning 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and the rest Malbec and St. Macaire and Petit Verdot) is the finest Cabernet this estate has yet produced from their Howell Mountain holdings. A dense purple color to the rim as well as the exquisite bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, camphor, creme de cassis, smoke, and crushed rocks are followed by sweet fruit, gorgeous density, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a layered, multi-dimensional mid-palate and length. With no hard edges, this flawless wine should drink well for 20-25 years. One of the superstar estates of Howell Mountain, winemaker Sean Capiaux is the force behind these impressive reds." - Robert Parker
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