Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Nicolas Potel from Burgundy, France - regions. Good medium red. Captivating tangy aromas of red cherry, rose petal and minerals. Concentrated, dense and lively, conveying an impression of subtlety and class. Quite broad and uncompromisingly dry. A seriously structured wine with intense, persistent sappy fruit and firm tannins. This should give pleasure on the early side but also age gracefully. -International Wine Cellar 92-94

Red Wine by Nicolas Potel from Burgundy, France - regions. Saturated ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, licorice, bitter chocolate and pungent spices. Offers a penetrating, sappy kirsch flavor on the palate, in a rather dense, powerful style. This is powerful without coming across as heavy. Finishes very long and spicy, with terrific freshness. -International Wine Cellar 92-94 Deep ruby. A strongly reduced nose gives up little but the well-muscled flavors are big, robust and very powerful and possess the class young Clos de Vougeot youthful austerity. This is very primary and awkward yet the quality of the raw material is clear and this should reward 10 to 15 years of cellar time. 91-94 points Burghound

Red Wine by Nicolas Potel from Burgundy, France - regions. Nicolas Potel is one of a new breed of vinificateurs who are redefining the meaning of negociant in Burgundy. With his father, the highly respected Gerard Potel, who was manager of a well-known domaine in Volnay, he began a negoce house in July 1996. Upon his father's sudden death in October 1997, Nicolas left the domaine and took over the negoce business full time. In January 1998, Nicolas began to purchase fruit and post-fermentation lots of wine from prestigious domaines. His own relationships with growers and the legacy of his father helped open doors to some of the greatest domaines, even those who normally sell little or nothing except under their own label. As early as 2000, Clive Coates MW was writing that Nicolas was already a super-star. Medium red-ruby. Tangy raspberry, mocha, coffee and minerals on the nose; needs a racking. Sweet, pure flavors of raspberry and minerality. This has more volume than the Clos-Saint-Denis but also seems quite reserved. -International Wine Cellar 91-93

Red Wine by Nicolas Potel from Burgundy, France - regions. Saturated, full red. Slightly sauvage but highly nuanced aromas of black cherry, licorice, minerals and game. Then juicy, fresh and firmly built, with intense black cherry and menthol flavors complicated by fresh herbs. Finishes with building tannins and very good length and lift. -International Wine Cellar 90-92

Red Wine by Louis Jadot from Burgundy, France - regions. Charred meat, black currant, and wet stone characterize the bouquet of Jadot's 2005 Clos Vougeot. Savory, salty, brightly-fruited and invigoratingly juicy on the palate, this displays more energy and acidity than I would have expected from the appellation. For all of the clarity and juiciness of this wine's fruit, grilled meat and stony earthiness combined with the emergence of formidable tannins and subtle but persistent cyanic and iodine notes to turn its formidably long finish somewhat austere. But this is going to result in an exciting rendition of its terroir if left in the dark for at least 6-8 years. -Wine Advocate 93-95 Good bright ruby-red. Black cherry, licorice, minerals and flowers on the expressive nose. At once powerful and juicy, with lovely floral perfume and lift in the mouth, along with a note of smoky oak. Not a particularly fleshy wine but focused and fine. Youthfully tight grand cru, with the firm structure for long evolution in bottle. -International Wine Cellar 91-94

Red Wine by Dom. Drouhin Oregon from Willamette Valley, Oregon. The 2004 Laurene is vibrantly seductive with aromas of fresh cherry & red berry, and a floral mix of cherry blossoms and rose petals. These sensations follow through on the palate, with added clove and spice character. Firm, layered tannins coat the mouth, but the real stars are the rich, velvety touch and well rounded, perrsistent finish. As the Laurene opens up, hints of blue fruit, cola & fresh undergrowth emerge. Similar to 2001 and '93 in finesse and sophistication, the '04 Laurene is full of life and promised much in the years to come. Enjoy now, and anytime over the next 8-12 years.

Red Wine by Faiveley from Burgundy, France - regions.

Red Wine by Hartford Court from Sonoma County, California. Vibrant black cherry, mineral, coffee and Asian spice aromas and flavors complement the fine grained, silky tannins that reflect the cool, coastal ridge terroir. 2005 is the inaugural vintage of Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir. Our Far Coast Vineyard is a cool site surrounded by redwood forests, almost two hours north of the Russian River on a Sonoma Coast mountain ridge. It is an area that some call the ?True Sonoma Coast'. Others would simply describe the distant vineyard site as ?the middle of nowhere'. Far Coast Vineyard sits just south of the Peay Vineyard at an elevation of about 900 to 1200 feet above sea level. The soils at this mountain site are well drained and import minerality and a strength of focus to the wine.

Red Wine by Craggy Range Winery from Martinborough, New Zealand. Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir is highly colored with bright ruby red in colour. Savoury spice notes are accented by perfumed aromas of violets, red cherry, blackberry and ruby grapefruit on the nose. Complex flavours of cherry, root spice, smoke and florals predominate the textural and creamy palate. The finish is long with redfruit and spice drawn out by the fine, silky tannin structure. Delicious with poultry, game and lamb dishes. Drink now through 2011.

Red Wine by Benton Lane from Willamette Valley, Oregon. This deep ruby colored wine exhibits classic aromas of cherry and blackberries, with complex underlying scents of plum, truffle, anise, cedar, and forest floor. Very ripe, fine tannins and balanced acidity create a rich, velvety texture that leads into an extremely long finish. The exquisite balance in this wine makes it a very versatile food wine.

Red Wine by Ata Rangi from Martinborough, New Zealand. The dream vintage of 2006 has produced a lively, fruit-expressive Pinot that reflects the strong Ata Rangi heritage. Selected barrel components kept separate during fermentation and maturation integrated unusually effortlessly on blending, immediately revealing a wine of deceptive power and grace - the ultimate reward for a winemaker, and the result of an exceptionally favorable season. Sleek, ultra-supple tannins support the vivid red fruits, fresh plum-stone and ripe black cherry notes. Dark chocolate and rose scents add intrigue and promise, as do the fine savory threads which run through the palate. Taut and restrained when young, this vibrant Pinot will in time reveal its wilder, earthier side, along with voluptuous fruit spun in a shawl of silky tannins. Consider decanting this wine when the wine is very young, for perhaps one hour before serving.

Red Wine by Archery Summit from Willamette Valley, Oregon. Scarlet red in color, the 2006 Premier Cuvee opens with lifted aromas of black cherries, rose petal, vanilla and a hint of savory spice. Pomegranate, currant floral notes notes mingle on the palate with mulling spices, anise, juicy plum and clean earth. The wine is sumptuous and bright with layers of mineral, flint and spice surrounding a seductive black cherry core. There is balance and good concentration; tannins are rich but restrained, revealing a wine with depth of flavor and clean lines. Succulent and focused, this wine is ready for enjoyment now, however may improve with proper cellaring over the next five to eight years.