BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

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92 Finca Flichman 2008 Dedicado (Mendoza). Dense, earthy and rich upfront, with bold black plum and berry flavors that hit the right chords. Feels slick, deep and polished, with blackberry, cassis, coffee and coconut flavors that feed into a simmering finish that runs for miles. An excellent blend of Cab, Malbec and Syrah to drink now and over the next five years. Evaton, Inc. —M.S. abv: 14.5% Price: $30 92 Flora Springs 2009 Trilogy (Napa Valley). A lovely wine, soft and charming, but far from simple. Although it has complex layers of cherries, blackberries, cassis and cedar, it also shows a fine structure of ripe, smooth tannins and supporting acidity. Drink now–2015 while it’s fresh and forward. —S.H. abv: 13.9% Price: $65 92 John Tyler 2008 Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley). A wonderful wine that’s rich and delicious. The raspberry and cherry fruit is dusted with exotic spices and finished with sweet, smoky oak. With its silky texture and good acidity, it’s a brilliant evocation of a warm part of the valley. —S.H. abv: 14% Price: $45 6 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2012 92 Marimar Estate 2010 Don Miguel Vineyard Albariño (Russian River Valley). Marimar’s first Albariño is unquestionably one of the best ever to hail from California. Made without oak, it’s modest in alcohol, giving it a light, transparent mouthfeel that transmits pure, bone dry flavors of peaches, grapefruits and guava, with a touch of Sauvignon Blanclike gooseberry and enough acidity to make the palate whistle. A real beauty, especially with Asian fusion fare. —S.H. abv: 13.5% Price: $32 92 Marimar Estate 2009 La Masía Don Miguel Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley). Is that a touch of botrytis on the nose? Or does that apricot come from the Rued clone of Chardonnay? Either way, this dry wine offers vastly complex layers of fruits, spices, minerals, white flowers and smoky new oak. It’s exotic, a Chardonnay that marches to a different beat and demands some understanding on the part of the taster. —S.H. abv: 14.3% Price: $35 92 Peter Lehmann 2006 Mentor Cabernet Sauvignon (Barossa). Full bodied and richly tannic, Lehmann’s 2006 Mentor is dark, chocolaty and intense, with further nuances of cassis and cigar box. The finish is chewy and juicy, simultaneously drying and mouthwatering. Drink 2015–2023. Hess Collection. —J.C. abv: 14.5% Price: $38 92 Quady 2010 Elysium Black Muscat (California). With nearly 20% residual sugar, this wine is enormously sweet in honey and black cherry flavors, balanced by brilliant acidity. It’s delicious and savory and so easy to like. For something unusual, try with a runny cheese, like a soft Gorgonzola. —S.H. abv: 15.1% Price: $21 92 Royal Tokaji 2007 Red Label Aszú 5 Puttonyos (Tokaji). Ebulliently floral on the nose, this decadently creamy Tokaji bursts with characteristic honey, peach preserve and dried fig sweetness. A streak of citrusy acidity adds balance, while subtle hints of caramelized sugar and tea leaves add twists to the long, honey-kissed finish. Wilson Daniels Ltd. —A.I. abv: 11.5% Price: $43/500 ml 91 Clone 7 2008 Reserve Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley). Shows all the hallmarks of a modern Napa wine of high quality. Although it’s quite dry, it’s rich in crushed ripe blackberries, in good allignment with smoky new oak. The tannins are smooth and complex, the acidity just fine. Really a lovely bottle of red wine, although a touch of superripeness may limit ageability. Editors’ Choice. —S.H. abv: 14% Price: $20
91 Coghlan 2009 Tourmaline Grenache Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley). This is a very rich, creamy wine. Fermented in stainless steel, the creaminess must come from lees aging. The flavors of orange and apricot jam and zesty lemon tart are dominant, but vital acidity also stars, giving the finish a spicy punch. —S.H. abv: 13.6% Price: $24 91 Joseph Drouhin 2009 Pommard. A solid wine, with plum skin and dry tannin textures. It does have the ripe fruit of 2009, attractive red fruits and juicy acidity. But it needs aging over at least three years to show its fruitiness. Dreyfus, Ashby & Co. —R.V. abv: 13% Price: $50 91 Kilikanoon 2009 Killerman’s Run Shiraz (South Australia). A terrific value, the 2009 Killerman’s Run Shiraz is full bodied, creamy in texture and endowed with a long, velvety finish. The dark berryblack cherry fruit is big, but balanced by notes of cedar, mocha, chocolate and vanilla. Drink it over the next few years. Old Bridge Cellars. Editors’ Choice. —J.C. abv: 14.5% Price: $20 91 Rodney Strong 2009 Reserve Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley). A lovely restaurantstyle Pinot Noir, showing lots of class and elegance, yet with enough modesty to step aside and let the food star. Dry and silky, it shows raspberry, cherry, red currant and cola flavors, accented with sweet, smoky oak. Suggested pairings include steak, lamb chops and grilled ahi tuna. —S.H. abv: 15% Price: $40 91 Royal Tokaji 2009 Mád Cuvée Late Harvest (Tokaji). For $20, this bargain basement Tokaji is pretty unbelievable. Abundantly floral and honeyed on the nose, it’s deeply concentrated on the palate, with layers of luscious figs and peaches, accented by lanolin and beeswax. Creamy and unctuous on the tongue, yet clean and fresh on the finish, with orangeinflected acidity that lingers. Wilson Daniels Ltd. Editor’s Choice. —A.I. abv: 9.5% Price: $20/375 ml 90 Atlas Peak 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley). Fruit stars in this young, rich Cabernet. It’s as good as young, drink-me-now Napa Cab gets, offering waves of blackberries, cherries, plums, sweet oak and spices that go on and on into long finish. The tannins are perfectly ripe, the acidity fine and brisk. —S.H. abv: 14.9% Price: $35 90 Buehler 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley). Good price for a Napa Valley Cabernet this distinguished. It’s rich and satisfying in blackberry, black currant and blueberry fruit, with a lovely coat of smoky oak. Shows lots of complexity, and the finish is dry and spicy. Could go the distance, but just to be safe, drink over the next six years. Editors’ Choice. —S.H. abv: 14.6% Price: $25 90 Finca La Mata 2009 Ribera del Duero. Packed tight with power and minty, earthy berry aromas that come with a dry dustiness. Feels ripe and proper, with a slight tannic grab and full but fresh flavors of wild berry, cassis, cocoa and oak. On the finish, chocolate and dry spice flavors take over, yielding a pleasant, complete whole. Drink now through 2015. Grapes of Spain. —M.S. abv: 14% Price: $22 90 Flora Springs 2010 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (Napa Valley). This bottling has been variable over the decades, but this 2010 shows fine form, a good sign coming on the heels of the excellent 2009. It’s richly oaked and flashy in pineapple jam, buttered toast and creamy, yeasty flavors. —S.H. abv: 14.1% Price: $30 <strong>Wine</strong>Mag.com | 7
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Page 19 and 20: long-lasting. This is a beautiful w
Page 21 and 22: It’s tannic, firm and ready for a
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Page 29 and 30: and lemon soda. There’s a sharp,
Page 31 and 32: texture, it revels in its fresh red
Page 33 and 34: Devo Enterprises Corporation. Edito
Page 35 and 36: 89 Cramele Halewood 2009 Kronos Lim
Page 37 and 38: y. Drink now-2015. The Triton Colle
Page 39 and 40: in a zesty, mouthwatering finish. D
Page 41 and 42: turns crisp and edgy on the finish.
Page 43 and 44: as more standard cassis and berry a
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Page 53 and 54: 87 Francis Ford Coppola 2009 Direct
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in blackberry and cherry fruit and
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86 Lava Cap 2009 Estate Barbera (El
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tain fruit. Ripe plums and cherries
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SPIRITS REMEMBER THE REPOSADO drink
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BEER STOCKING UP FOR SUMMER With su
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