BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

93
Marimar Estate 2008 Stony Block Don
Miguel Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River
Valley). The winery has been producing more and
more low-production block bottlings from their estate
vineyard. This one is entirely from the Dijon clone 115.
It’s soft, sweet and utterly captivating, a feminine wine
of enormous charm, with raspberry, cola and pomegranate
flavors, enhanced, of course, by smoky new oak. The
acidity is fine, and will protect the wine as it develops
over the next six years. —S.H.
abv: 14.7% Price: $47
93
Penfolds 2008 RWT Shiraz (Barossa Valley).
Full-bodied and richly textured, with Penfolds’
hallmark weight and structure on full display, the
2008 RWT shows a touch of the vintage’s characteristic
warmth, but only a touch. The cassis and blackberry
fruit is plush, velvety and superripe, ending with hints
of tobacco, mint and vanilla. It should drink well for at
least a decade. Treasury Wine Estates. —J.C.
abv: 14.5% Price: $150
93
Poet’s Leap 2010 Riesling (Columbia
Valley). From an especially cool vintage that
favored acidity and citrus, this Poet’s Leap is a pretty
wine, vibrant and full across the palate, with a mix of
apple and peach flavors. Clean and balanced, it adds nuances
of tea and finally a hint of honey in the extended
finish. Editors’ Choice. —P.G.
abv: 12.9% Price: $20
93
Quady 2010 Essensia Orange Muscat
(California). Absolutely delicious, an addictive
dessert wine. Brisk in acidity and clean in the mouth, if
offers fabulously sweet flavors of oranges, vanilla, honey
and buttered toast. Drink it with cheesecake and go to
heaven. —S.H.
abv: 15.4% Price: $25
93
Rodney Strong 2008 Symmetry Meritage
(Alexander Valley). Symmetry is Rodney
Strong’s most important red wine, the one they pull out
all the stops on. It’s usually a hit, and so is this 2008,
which is a blend of all five Bordeaux red varieties, but
primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s extraordinarily
rich in blackberries, plums, blueberries and cassis, with
a surprising meatiness, like beef tartare. The mouthfeel
is very soft, suggesting that this wine’s best days are now.
—S.H.
abv: 15% Price: $55
93
Wakefield Estate 2006 St. Andrews Cabernet
Sauvignon (Clare Valley). A perennial
favorite, Wakefield’s St. Andrews bottling shows how
good certain parts of Clare can be for Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2006 displays a masterful blend of cedar,
chocolate, mocha, cassis, baking spices and leather, all
wrapped in an elegant coat of dusty but supple tannins.
Drink 2015–2025. American Wine Distributors. Cellar
Selection. —J.C.
abv: 14.5% Price: $50
92
Atlas Peak 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Mount Veeder). Good for Atlas Peak for
holding this Cabernet for more than five years before
releasing it. It’s still tannic and young, with intense
blackberry, blueberry and cassis flavors that are dry and
spicy. Showing an elegant mouthfeel, it needs a little
more time. Hold until 2015, but it could develop over
the next decade. Cellar Selection. —S.H.
abv: 14.6% Price: $86
92
Dunham 2008 Lewis Vineyard Cabernet
Sauvignon (Columbia Valley). Tasty and
toasty, young and compact, this is a wine to cellar for a
few more years at least. The bright fruit flavors run from
berry to Bing cherry, not as dark as in some years, but vibrant
and crisp. The new oak is not yet fully integrated,
so give it some extra bottle age for optimal enjoyment.
Cellar Selection. —P.G.
abv: 14.1% Price: $75
92
Fess Parker 2009 Rodney’s Vineyard
Syrah (Santa Barbara County). Rich and
ripe in blackberry, cassis and smoked meat flavors, this
big, bold Syrah is fairly high in alcohol, but wears it well.
It has a full-bodied, warm mouthfeel, and is best enjoyed
over the next year or two. —S.H.
abv: 14.9% Price: $49
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