Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Ch. Lascombes from Margaux, France - Bordeaux. In less than five years this property has emerged as one of the appellation's up and coming stars thanks to the infusion of money from the American conglomerate, Colony Capital, as well as the braintrust that now oversees the winemaking, Yves Vatelot (of Reignac fame) and the internationally renowned oenologist, Michel Rolland. The dark plum/ruby-hued, open-knit 2003 offers a big, sweet nose of barbecue smoke, plum liqueur, creme de cassis, flowers, new saddle leather, and damp earth. Loads of black fruits, a full-bodied palate impression, low acidity, and a savory, expansive mouthfeel suggest it can be drunk in 2-3 years, or cellared for 15+. -Wine Advocate

Red Wine by Andrew Will from Yakima Valley, Washington. Blend: 48% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot The nose is a lovely blend of earth and fruit and is quite forward for such a young wine. The wine is medium bodied offset by depth and a sense of promise. This is a stalwart wine with well defined delicate shading. The fruit profile is red fruit with floral aromas mixed with a kind of earthy spiciness.

Red Wine by Andrew Will from Columbia Valley, Washington. Blend: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot At this point, it is a wine of bearing with pure fruit flavors and good structure, as well as a sense of self-possession and charm. This wine will undoubtedly need some time to show its promise.

Red Wine by Ch?teau Gruaud Larose from St-Julien, France - Bordeaux. This has the plump richness typical of Gruaud, its potent extract fragrant with blueberry and tobacco in a standoff between the green and black. The tannins are hidden behind all that fruit, not at all obvious, softed to chocolate scents. This shoud be at its best around 10 years from the vintage. -Wines & Spirits Plummy aromas, with leaf and tobacco undertones. Medium-bodied, with soft, silky tannins and a medium finish. Balanced and delightful already... -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Ch?teau Magdelaine from St-Emilion, France - Bordeaux. The world of wine is first nature to Edouard Moueix who grew up with many Bordeaux harvests. He has immersed himself in the family business over the last several years and is now the proprietor of Chateau Magdelaine. Chateau Magdelaine is an important vineyard both for Saint-Emilion and my family says Edouard, My goal is to let the great team of the Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix produce this very stylish and elegant wine, while communicating the uniqueness of this Estate. Blackberry, vanilla and cherry aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a fresh finish. Very pretty indeed. Love the length to this. Still tightly wound but should open nicely with bottle age. Elegant and refined. Fine winemaking. Best after 2007. -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by HdV from Carneros, California. Varietals: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon A seductive, complex nose of mature black fruit and spice tease the senses. In the mouth, layers of rich fruit flavors combined with cinnamon and peppery spices lead to a deep and vibrant finish. A wine of purity and density with elegant and soft tannins, Hyde Vineyards trademark acidity carries the wine from start to finish assuring its longevity. The 2003 HdV Red needs decanting at an early age or to be opened at least an hour before serving. The wine should continue to improve for another six to ten years. It will be a great addition to grilled steak, filet mignon, venison or quail.

Red Wine by Winemaker's Collection from Medoc, France - Bordeaux. This special project of the Bordeaux negociant, Bordeaux Millesimes (called Once Upon a Wine), and its proprietor, Dominique Renard, was originally labeled The Winemakers' Collection, Episode 1, but the name had to be changed. As I wrote last year, in each vintage, one of the world's greatest winemakers (Michel Rolland in 2005 and Denis Dubordieu in 2006) is chosen to focus on a single parcel of a given terroir, in this case, Chateau d'Arsac. Five-thousand cases will be produced in 2005, and everything, including viticulture, fermentation, upbringing, and bottling, is being controlled by the chosen winemaker who has full control over the winemaking team, the yields, the choice of fermenters, the style and type of barrels, the time in oak, and the manner in which the wine is bottled. Michel Rolland was fortunate to be chosen in 2005 as this is an exceptional vintage. It boasts classic richness, deep, smoky, black currant and sweet cherry fruit, a gorgeously opulent texture, decent acidity, high but sweet tannin, and a seamless, full-throttle mouthfeel. This stunning effort competes with some of Bordeaux's finest wines. It should age effortlessly for 15 or more years. -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 92-94

Red Wine by Ch?teau Duhart-Milon from Bordeaux, France - Bordeaux. The Rothschild family acquired Chateau Duhart-Milon, a 4e Cru in the 1855 classification, from the Castejas of Pauillac, in 1962. The property was named after the Sieur of Duhart, gun-runner to Louis XIV, who originally owned the property, and from the name of the little hamlet of Milon which separates the Duhart-Milon vineyard from that of Chateau Lafite. The vineyard covers 50 hectares and is planted with the classical cepages of Medoc: Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Cabernet Franc (20%), Merlot (21%) and a small amount of Petit Verdot. This cepage has always been traditionally planted at Duhart-Milon and a certain excess of it in the pre-war vintages might explain their slightly flinty hardiness. Full bodied, with firm tannins. The early tastings show signs of a wine with fine spicy and very ripe black fruit aromas. The mouth is structured with elegant tannins and great length. Good core of fruit, with silky tannins and a medium to long finish of licorice, smoke and berry. Very good red. Best after 2007.- Wine Spectator Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot

Red Wine by Justin from Central Coast, California. The 2005 Isosceles is dark purple with a slight crimson overtone around the rim. Aromas of boysenberry, leather, mocha, mint and cassis combine with light layers of caramel and vanilla resulting from the extended oak aging. A soft, fruit forward, elegant entry segues into a mid palate with length and complexity. Seamless, integrated tannins marry with ripe fruit, and flavors of coffee, butterscotch and hint of pencil lead on the finish of this wine. The 2005 Isosceles is very young, and will continue to evolve from now through 2025.

Red Wine by Conn Creek from Napa Valley, California. The pinnacle wine of Conn Creek, Anthology is an expressive, complex blend of Napa Valley's finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The 2004 Anthology offers red and black fruit aromas and spicy flavors with nuanced expressions of creamy oak and berry cobbler. A robust wine balanced with silky tannins. - Jeff McBride, Winemaker

Red Wine by Ch?teau Sociando-Mallet from Medoc, France - Bordeaux. Aromas of currant and leaves. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a caressing finish. Ends chewy. Best after 2009. Wine Spectator 90 points Sociando Mallet's big, extracted, rich, classic 2004 boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as aromas of charcoal, wet stones, cold steel, and abundant black currant and cassis fruit. This medium to full-bodied, structured, powerful wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring. It should last for two decades. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate 90 points Dark red with ruby highlights. Plum, redcurrant and a whiff of smoked meat on the nose. Supple and vinous, with very good spine and savory character. Notes of plum, currant, dark chocolate and licorice firmed by lively but integrated acidity. Finishes with broad tannins and good grip. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89 points

Red Wine by Falesco from Southern Italy, Italy. Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc grown in estate vineyards in Umbria. Marciliano has a profound dark purple color and exhibits complex aromas of tobacco and slate. This wine is a great representation of Cabernet when all of nature's forces are working together. Layers of fruit are evident on the nose and on the palate, while the tannins are expressive without being too aggressive. Here is a knockout wine from one of Italy's most talented enologists, Riccardo Cotarella, that delivers classic Cabernet green notes followed by bursting tones of blackberry, tobacco, toasted coconut flakes, apple pie crust and ... distant hints of black licorice. The aromatic complexity is stellar and so is the velvety mouthfeel; a genuine crowd pleaser. -Wine Enthusiast