Featured Wines - August 2005

An artful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Carmenère (50%), the 2003 Guelbenzu Hoppe is well endowed with a dense, profound, nearly opaque royal robe, opulent fruit, and subtle but complex earth tones that recall top notch classified Bordeaux. The product of an excellent estate as well as one of Chile’s finest vintages in recent memory, the 2003 Hoppe is nothing short of masterful. The sensual scents of Cabernet and Carmenère play beautifull...

“Bold and beautiful,” is how one panel member described the 2003 Koehler Santa Ynez Chardonnay. One could stop there, but that would be cruel. Besides, only three words would drive the layout guys crazy. How would they format a mere three words? No worries, we can rectify that. Koehler’s Santa Ynez Chardonnay makes its appearance in a bright rich robe, with glints of golden sunshine. And like most serious Chardonnays, the Koehler begs for a littl...

The 1999 Macaw Creek Shiraz (78%) Cabernet (22%) is, perhaps, best described as an Australian rendition of great Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wine’s tremendous aromatic profile is the first sign that this Hooper Reserve is something special. Redolent with the scents of ripe blackberry, violets, and white pepper, its entrancing aroma can quickly fill a room with its breath. On the palate, the wine is truly sublime. Open knit and decadently rich, all t...

A deep hauntingly complex wine, the 2001 Pasanau La Morera is classic Priorat. This youthful red is wrapped in a deep noble robe that appears profound and impenetrable. Its aroma unfolds slowly, almost imperceptibly, until the enticement is complete: a combination of black fruits, angostura, and oriental spice tantalize the nose. Suave and sophisticated, the 2001 La Morera is velvety smooth on the palate – at least initially. Only after holding i...

“Oh my, this is good wine, and handsome, too” uttered one female member of the tasting panel to a chorus of bobbing heads. Indeed, the youthful, deeply colored 2002 Pasanau Ceps Nous Priorat is one fine specimen of a wine, and it tastes good, too. Redolent with the scents of black cherry and forest woodlands, the 2002 Ceps Nous intrigues with its comely aroma as well as its wealth of rustic, deep down flavors. Moreover, the Ceps Nous is rich in f...

Blessed with a blithe, gentle spirit, the 2004 Lurton Les Salices Viognier is both charming and flavorful. Light, but not lean, it possesses an attractive bouquet that conjures the intoxicating scents of flowers, apricots, pears, and a cachet of spice. Upon first impression, fruit manifests itself as the calling card of the 2004 Les Salices, but this is only the first step in the evolution of Viognier on the palate. Citrus, strength (Les Salices,...

A classic mature Napa Valley Chardonnay, the 2002 Rutherford Hill reveals enormous charm, flavor, and style, all of which are revealed persistently and progressively. In this regard, the 2002 Rutherford Hill Chardonnay acts more like a red wine than a white wine, but such is nearly always the case with well-bred Chardonnay; as it matures it takes on secondary and tertiary qualities that blossom with moderate aeration. Accordingly, the Rutherford ...