June 24, 2012

NYC Wine Tasting Group, The Modern, NYC

Absidis Brut Cava NV DO Cava (Spain) — 40% Xarel.lo, 30% Parellada, 30% Macabeo
Emendis is so named after the first woman recorded as living on our estate -centred on a Manor House in the Castellet and Gornal area (Penedès, Barcelona) and of which there is written record dating back to 1186. This Project is our personal homage to the continuing history of these lands that we continue to work in the traditional manner handed down from generation to generation. The Valles family, which has grown wines on this land for generations, have now put the project in the hands of a young team with particular expertise in their areas. Winery

2011 Pinot Grigio Rosé, Bacaro Veneto (Italy) – Pinot Grigio grape
Pinot Grigio is known for making white wine, but if you let the juice sit with the skins long enough, it will take on that very rosé color. This Venetian wine is all too friendly in its fruit-forwardness and once you’ve experienced its gentle touch of sweetness, you’ll have a hard time saying no. Astor Wines

2010 Domaine Vindemio Cotes du Ventoux Imagine Rhone Valley (France) – Blend of Syrah and Grenache grapes
An absolutely outrageous value and a great wine in its own right, the equal part blend of Syrah and Grenache, the 2010 Vindemio Imagine, is also aged completely in concrete casks, This is an amazing wine, displaying notes of meat juices, spring flowers, black raspberries, blackberries and cassis. Full-bodied, unctuously textured, rich and full, but with remarkable purity and freshness, this is a terrific effort from proprietor Jean Marot. Drink it over the next 5-7 years, although it could actually last a lot longer. Rated 95 The Wine Advocate

2004 Linne Calodo Outsider Paso Robles (California) – Blend of Zinfandel, Mourvedre and Syrah grapes
The 2004 The Outsider (380 cases) is a Syrah-dominated blend produced from north-facing slopes. It reveals surprisingly high acidity for a wine of such great fruit and richness. Beautiful black raspberry, black cherry, earth, licorice, pepper, and incense aromas are followed by an opulent, rich, fleshy, vibrant, well-delineated wine that should drink well for at least 7-8 years. Rated 92 The Wine Advocate

2007 Cedro do Noval Douro Valley (Portugal) – Blend of 30% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinto Cao, and 35% Syrah grapes
The 2007 “CEDRO DO NOVAL,” Noval’s second wine, is 30% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinto Cao, and 35% Syrah (hence, the use of the Duriense rather than Douro appellation). This has resolved well since my last look at it, the Syrah becoming much more fragrant (and a little funky) and the fruit opening. It now has a bright, succulent and juicy finish. It is beautifully structured, too, and built to hold well in the cellar. It is worth extending its drinking window a bit. Note that while it is approachable, it is not yet at peak. If you like its somewhat funky style, it is bargain priced. Rated 90 The Wine Advocate

2008 Mas Belles Eaux Les Coteaux Languedoc (France) – Blend of 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre grapes
Peat, blond tobacco, rosemary, kirsch, plum paste and black raspberry preserves on the nose of Mas Belles Eaux’s 2008 Languedoc Les Coteaux presage a comparable complexity on a firm but juicy palate suffused with a mixture of salt, iodine, crushed stone, cherry pit, rosemary oil, and smoky black tea, all reflecting the sort of diversity and pronounced mineral nature of flavors from Caux soils. The resinous aspect of the finish here doesn’t obscure the purity of berry fruit or keep the wine from delivering energy and genuine refreshment – on the contrary, it’s part of the invigoration. I suspect that this outstanding value will continue to reward attention for at least 3-4 more years. Rated 91 The Wine Advocate