BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

90
Gundlach Bundschu 2009 Estate Vineyard
Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast). Ripe
fruit and new oak combine for lush, complex flavors
in this dramatic young Pinot Noir. It shows real flair in
the raspberry, cherry and cola flavors, with vanilla and
buttered cinnamon toast from aging in French barrels.
Easy to like now for its silky texture and long, pure spicy
finish. —S.H.
abv: 14.4% Price: $34
90
Joseph Drouhin 2009 Côte de Beaune-
Villages. A wine that reveals its rich, jammy
fruit slowly. When it arrives, the fruit is soft and generous,
with strawberry jam and red plum flavors. It also
has intense fresh acidity, a dry tannic core and aging potential.
Dreyfus, Ashby & Co. —R.V.
abv: 13% Price: $24
90
Occasio 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Livermore Valley). Occasio has made a restrained
and elegant Cabernet, alluring in its cola
spice—almost sarsaparilla—aromas. Then the wine
delves into dusty red and black fruit with ample structure,
and a vein of minerality cradled into one delicious
package. —V.B.
abv: 13.5% Price: $36
8 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2012
90
Penley Estate 2009 Phoenix Cabernet
Sauvignon (Coonawarra). Penley’s 2009
Phoenix offers classic cassis fruit, shored up by hints of
mocha, vanilla and menthol. It’s medium to full bodied,
powerful yet elegant, with tannins that are firm but not
unapproachable. Drink now–2020. Old Bridge Cellars.
Editors’ Choice. —J.C.
abv: 14.5% Price: $20
90
Rodney Strong 2008 Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon (Alexander Valley). Here’s a
fruity, soft, flamboyant Cabernet, packed with plum,
blackberry, black currant, licorice, dark chocolate and
spicy oak flavors. Delicious and savory, it’s probably
showing its best now, so drink up. —S.H.
abv: 15% Price: $45
90
Rubissow 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Mount Veeder). Shows the richness of
Mount Veeder fruit and also the Rubissow style, which
emphasizes massively extracted fruit. Just overwhelms
with jammy blackberries, cherries, mocha, licorice and
vanilla. The tannins are polished and pretty, being firm
yet soft at the same time. Give it a decant and drink
now. —S.H.
abv: 14.5% Price: $50
90
Salentein 2010 Reserve Malbec (Uco Valley).
Compact, concentrated and clean, with all
its components in place. The bouquet is dark with charcoal,
but bright with berry fruit aromas. The mouthfeel
is comfortable and balanced, with sweet berry flavors
offset by mild spice and proper oak. Soft tannins define
the finish; a fine Malbec that doesn’t overdo it. Palm
Bay International. —M.S.
abv: 14.5% Price: $19
90
Spice Route 2009 Pinotage (Swartland).
A forward, oak-inspired character leads the
nose with scents of vanilla and soft toast, but is supported
by the solid fruit core of blueberry, mulled boysenberry
and black plum guts. Attractive and rich in the
mouth, with a firm but accessible structure and lifting
acidity. Drink now–2015. Vineyard Brands. —L.B.
abv: 14% Price: $23
90
Stonegate 2010 Chardonnay (Napa Valley).
Good price for a Napa Chardonnay this
rich and balanced. It’s enormously ripe in pineapples,
oranges and golden mangoes, but grounded by zesty
acidity and a minerality that comes from the soil. Editors’
Choice. —S.H.
abv: 14.5% Price: $25