The Bar Towel

Château La Croix St-Estèphe 2014 Probably my second St Estephe, ever. The black fruits (blackberry, cassis...) straddle a dry core of tea-like tannins and pencil shavings (cedar wood, graphite) with replays of dark cherry and oaky toast and vanilla. Dry herbality dominates at this stage. Has power,...

Viña Tarapacá Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon While the Gran Reserva Cab Sauv red from this producer gets accolades, this is the regular Reserva. Seems thin and light and almost dilute, the dryness of the Cab grape working against the lighter style. It's got some blackberry, dry herbals, hints of bitter...

Roche de Bellene Cuvée Réserve Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2018 Here's new release of Roche that seems to be selling very well, but it's not really that exciting. It does have a very pretty aroma of cherry and almost red floral, which both play out in the taste. The palate is a bit herbal, dry and leaning...

I haven't managed to keep a vintage ale longer than a year in a while. I did a three year vertical way back when and didn't find much benefit to the aging, so there isn't much incentive for me... Yes I bet a year on most of them is already very developed. Thomas Hardy's Ale being a notable exception.

... and Fullers Vintage Ale (2020) are not drinking well.... the roasted malt in Fullers this year makes the whole beer taste like a can of FAXE, Bavaria 8.6 or another Euro Strong Lager, there is no signature bready biscuity malt or marmalade character that we all love :o They're not bloody cheap ...

Brigaldara Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2016 Northeast Italian red! Definitely getting the ripe sweet wild strawberry along with deep black cherry, sweet red cherry and plum jam. Personally I get some tones of chocolate and mocha and hints of leather. Nose is sweet red berry and warm chocolate. B...

Quentin Jeannot Vieilles Vignes Santenay 2018 This Pinot Noir Burgundy, the first Santenay AOC wine I've tried definitely has more 'size' and power than lighter Burgundy Pinot Noir... the layering of flavors is a bit more bold than delicate and multi-layered. This one has some real heft in the body...

Plaimont Témoignage Saint Mont 2017

A super solid white for $15 from Southwest France (general area near Bordeaux.) As described, good value! I like the bit of gooseberry and herbs / pepper and the citrus.

Statti Greco Bianco 2019 Beautiful little Calabrese white. Not sure I've had this Greco Bianco grape before, this wine has delicate aromas of pear-like fruit, soft citrus and light sweet florals. Perfectly ripe aromatic melon. Has the finest light layer of gentle phenolic spice and gentle herbals. ...

Forstreiter "Gruuner" Grüner Vetliner 2018 A nicely-priced varietal white from the Kremstal, a select growing region northeast of the amazing city of Vienna. Lots of flavor to represent this grape well - pale sweet-tart orchard fruit, nice acidity and mineral and citrus. Floral dry herbal...

Condeminal Poncho Pampa Pinot Noir 2018 Rated a top-value Pinot Noir, this Argentine shines with good deep black cherry fruit, nice dry and lightly minty herbals, mineral and spice. Sweet-dry with fairly full palate and a little Burgundian beetroot on the finish. There's a bare hint of oaky vanilla...

Château Saint Nabor Chardonnay 2019 Got this for 10 or 11 bucks on clearout at Front & Spadina. Very respectable little Chard, has some fullness and isn't too syrupy, it's smooth. Got all that pale orchard fruit and a little spice and vanilla from the oak, bit of aciity and gentle green herbs a...

JaseWescott wrote:https://www.goodbeerhunting.com/sightli ... 5F5iYQ6EeE

That website pop-up of BLM.... ?

Benegas Lynch Estate Don Tiburico 2017 Got this on a whim, it's an Argentine Red blend that leads with Malbec, the big grape of France's Cahors plus typical straight up Left Bank Bordeaux grapes. It opens frankly a bit juicy and young, needing some air but there's already brushy herbals, and touche...

Michel Gassier Nostre Païs 2017 A big powerful and dry Southern Rhone red dominated by Grenache in the blend. Some warmth and structure from the well-integrated 15% alcohol. Nice dark berry and cherry, cassis and subtle mellow oak. Long smooth round finish with touch of black raisin. Typically soli...