ເຫຼົ້າແວງວັນພັກປີໃໝ່ຊາວອັນໜຶ່ງອັນສົດໃສ

The below reviews (some published previously) target a mixed bag of wines I tasted during this past year and recommend for drinking during any grand festive occasion, as well as for ringing the new year into action. All are produced in France and Italy, with the exception of one from South Africa. All were selected because of their overall quality and distinctiveness. On a subjective scoring level, they range between 94 and 98 points—although most are above 96 points. They vary in price from $25 to more than $300. Each includes plush fruit flavors that are well integrated with tannin and acidity. These are generally well balanced and harmonious wines, made with scrupulous attention to detail.

ມີຄວາມສຸກ.

ຝຣັ່ງ –

Château Angélus. Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé “A”. 2021.

From 50- to 90-year-old vines, this first wine of Angélus is unusual in the 2021 vintage for its predominance of Cabernet Franc (60%) over Merlot (40%) in the blend. Spooky deep plush aromas that include orange peels, tar, and beef jerky. A complex and integrated rodeo of aromas on the nose. Beautifully balanced in the mouth, with a hint of blueberries in a matrix that includes darker flavors of licorice and sage. Creamy tannins completely integrated with fruit flavors.

Château Croix de Labrie. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2021.

ຈາກ vintage blasted ໂດຍອາກາດຫນາວແລະ mildew, ເຄືອເກົ່າແກ່, ປະສົມອິນຊີ 90/5/5 ຂອງ Merlot / Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon ຍັງຄົງຮັກສາລັກສະນະຄວາມອ່ອນໂຍນແລະຄວາມສະຫງ່າງາມຂອງຊັບສິນ. ກິ່ນຫອມທີ່ອຸດົມສົມບູນປະກອບມີ raspberries, ຢານ້ໍາ maple ແລະ - ຫຼັງຈາກຫ້ານາທີໃນແກ້ວ - tar ແລະ treacle. ສີນ້ໍາຕານບາງຊະນິດໃນການໂຈມຕີ, mint ແລະ mocha ກາງ palate ແລະສໍາເລັດຮູບທີ່ທົນທານທີ່ສວຍງາມເຊິ່ງປະກອບມີ anise ແລະ mandarins. ອາຊິດສົດແລະສົດໃສ. Elegant ແລະສະລັບສັບຊ້ອນດ້ວຍ lilt Cabernet Franc ເປັນເອກະລັກທີ່ສະຫນອງເທວະດາລຶກລັບໃນຂວດຂອງ Croix de Labrie. Toujours élégant.

Château Petit-Village. Pomerol. 2021.

A 65/26/9 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon. From the plateau of Pomerol with ample clay, this wine is processed via gravity and sorted via density rather than optical means. Aromas are bright and focused and include maple syrup, cola, wild country strawberries, as well as some violets, ferns, oranges and mint. Flavors include dorp licorice, maple syrup. A full bodied and well-balanced wine with bright acidity, chestnuts and red cherries midpalate and a long finish with slight morels.

Château Beauregard. Pomerol. 2021. 95 ຄະແນນ.

ນີ້ 70/30 ການຜະສົມຂອງ Merlot / Cabernet Franc ແມ່ນຜະລິດອິນຊີ, ຜົນຜະລິດຕ່ໍາ. ມີຄວາມສົມດູນດີ, ມີກິ່ນຫອມສົດໆທີ່ມີ cherries ສີດໍາແລະສີແດງທີ່ອຸດົມສົມບູນແລະດອກໄມ້ທີ່ມີສີມ່ວງ. Midpalate ຂອງ cherries ສີແດງ, licorice ແສງສະຫວ່າງ, mocha ແລະ prunes. ໃນປາກ, ລົດຊາດຊ້ໍາຂອງຫມາກໄມ້ແລະ licorice ທີ່ມີອາຊິດສົດໃສ.

Château Monlot. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2021.

55/45 Merlot/Cabernet Franc ປະ​ສົມ​ຈາກ​ເຄືອ​ເຖິງ 40 ປີ​. ກິ່ນຫອມທີ່ອຸດົມສົມບູນ, ຮອບ, ເຜັດເລັກນ້ອຍ ແລະ ມີກິ່ນຫອມທີ່ເນັ້ນໃສ່ຢ່າງສວຍງາມ ເຊິ່ງລວມມີໝາກພິກໄທແດງ, ໝາກພິກໄທດຳ, ແມ້ແຕ່ໝາກກ້ຽງ. ຫມາກໄມ້ສີແດງຈາກທໍາມະຊາດໃນການໂຈມຕີ, ຄວາມສົ້ມອຸດົມສົມບູນແລະສົດໃສແລະ tannins midpalate ລຽບເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນກັບລົດຊາດຂອງ cherries ສີແດງ, ຫມາກໄມ້ປ່າເມັດສີດໍາ. ຄວາມຍາວທີ່ສວຍງາມແລະການສໍາເລັດຮູບຂອງ morels ແລະ mocha. ພິ​ຈາ​ລະ​ນາ​ການ​ຈັບ​ຄູ່​ກັບ steak sirloin ປຸງ​ແຕ່ງ​ໃນ​ໄລ​ຍະ​ການ​ເຜົາ​ໄຫມ້​.

Couvent des Jacobins. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2020.

An 85/10/5 blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from the first organic vintage from this château. Includes low-key aromas of silky dark fruit and black cherries. Deep, dark and complex in the mouth with bracing acidity that highlights dark fruit. Textured and rich mid palate and slight raspberries on the finish.

Château La Lagune. Haut-Médoc. 2021.

ການຜະສົມຜະສານທາງຊ້າຍຂອງ Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot ແລະ Petit Verdot ຈາກ Caroline Frey ມີກິ່ນຫອມທີ່ອຸດົມສົມບູນ, ລະອຽດອ່ອນ, ມີກິ່ນຫອມແລະຮອບທີ່ປະກອບມີຫມາກເຜັດສີດໍາ, blueberries ແລະ raspberries. ໝາກໄມ້ສີແດງ ແລະສີດຳທີ່ສົມດູນກັນດີ ແລະອ່ອນໂຍນ, ມີສານແທນນິນອ່ອນໆ ແລະຄວາມເປັນກົດທີ່ແຂງແຮງ. ສີຄີມແລະຝັນ. ລົດຊາດທີ່ກົມກຽວກັນຂອງໝາກເຜັດແດງ, ໂມຄາ ແລະ ມາຄາຣອນ midpalate ແລະມີສ່ວນປະສົມຂອງ After Eight mints ຢູ່ເທິງສຸດ. ຍາກທີ່ຈະຢຸດດື່ມ.

Château Grand Renouil. Canon Fronsac. 2015.

Aromas of smoke, treacle, nettle and ferns with a hint of orange rind and leather. Taste includes supple, astute tannins and semi minty flavors that are pronounced. A confident wine, slightly young and tanninc but with a whirlwind of mint, cherries, molasses and sweeping energy.

Château Fleur Cardinale. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2021.

ການຜະສົມຜະສານ 70/20/10 ຂອງ Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon ທີ່ມີອາຍຸເຖິງ 14 ເດືອນໃນໄມ້ໂອກຝຣັ່ງໃໝ່. ກິ່ນຫອມທີ່ມີສີຄີມທີ່ປະກອບມີ brownies, licorice, cherries ສີແດງແລະຫມາກໄມ້ປ່າເມັດສີດໍາ. ເຫຼົ້າແວງທີ່ໂດດເດັ່ນທີ່ມີສານແທນນິນທີ່ເຂັ້ມຂຸ້ນ ແລະອ່ອນນຸ້ມ, ຄວາມເປັນກົດທີ່ເຫຼື້ອມ ແລະ ປາກກາງຂອງໝາກໄມ້ສີແດງທີ່ລວມເຖິງ cranberries. ຈັບຄູ່ກັບເຕົ້ານົມເປັດປີ້ງຫຼື tajin Moroccan.

Dr. Jules Lavalle Réserve Héritage. Clos des Ormes 1er Cru. Morey-Saint-Denis. 2017.

Aromas of florals, chalk, raspberries and blackberries. Bright acidity melds with minerals and sleek red fruit, including red plumbs, mid palate. Light, powerful and pairs well with cream of pumpkin soup or a beef stew. Annual production is limited to 400 bottles.

ປະ​ເທດ​ອີ​ຕາ​ລີ -

Ipsus. Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. DOCG. 2015. 97+ points.

Delicate, silky wine with cherry and earth aromas. Like sipping clouds. Slight granularity as well as supple tannins. Quite a wonder.

Castello di Fonterutoli. Siepi 2020. Toscana IGT. 97+ points.

A happy medley of luscious aromas of red and black cherries, black berries and black pepper as well as some menthol. Superbly balanced tannins in the mouth with rich and luscious red and black fruit. Complex yet light. Somewhat ethereal and easy drinking.

Ricasoli. Roncicone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. DOCG. 2019.

From marine deposited soils comes this 100% Sangiovese wine with a generous set of billowing aromas, including earth, nuts, red plums, black berries and some tarragon. Balanced and generous in the mouth, this is a creamy and firm wine to begin an autumn main course with.

Tenuta di Ghizzano. Veneroso. Terre di Pisa Rosso. DOC. 2018.

An explosion of red fruit aromas with herbs—tarragon and rosemary. Also aromas of candy cane, peppermint and eucalyptus. Flavors include mushrooms, black pepper, spices and thyme. Long finish; beautiful acidity.

Podere Giodo. Brunello di Montalcino. DOCG. 2017.

The color of brick and Amarone. One sniff of these aromas of orange, sandpaper, plums, figs, mocha and a slice of eucalyptus and you are smitten. Saturated with emotional pleasure, there’s no escaping seduction from this glass. Flavors include caramel and cherries and figs in juice with zinging acidity and textured but subtle tannins. Pair with a shish kebab skewer that includes pineapple slices to match the acidity.

Fattoria Le Pupille. Saffredi. Toscana IGT. 2019.

A 70/26/4 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Petit Verdot. Rich red cherry and raspberry aromas—a bucket of red fruit and even orange rind. Balanced in the mouth, with flavors that include some molasses and oranges/mandarins on the finish. Complexity emerges after five minutes in the glass with herbs—sage and tarragon—as well as black fruit giving way to red fruit. Elegant tannins in this layer cake similar to a complex and soft Saint-Èmilion.

Fattoria Le Pupille. Piemme. Toscana Bianco. IGT. 2019.

Limoncello and Vin Constance on the nose; clean fresh aromas from this 100% Petit Manseng. Only 1,800 bottles produced for 2022. ‘Smells like pine forests on the Tuscan coast, with resin,’ added the winemaker Ettore Rizzi.

Biondi-Santi Tenuta Greppo. Brunello di Montalcino. DOCG. 2016.

This wine was made by pushing maturation of grapes, and includes a tense equilibrium not typical from a warm vintage. Potent aromas of black cherries, cassis, minestrone and ample herbs. Multiple layers that include flavors of licorice, morels and—after five minutes in the glass—figs and mocha. This balanced wine with clean acidity is a meal in itself.

Beba99. Tuscany. Vino Rosso Dalle Terre di Anghiari. 2019.

ຄິດວ່າ tapestry ຢູ່ທີ່ນີ້ - ກະທູ້ຂອງ luminescence. Bramble, holly, cherry, moss ຊຸ່ມແລະກິ່ນຫອມ strawberry; ປ່າໝອກທີ່ມີໝາກໄມ້ປ່າຕາມທາງ. ເຫຼົ້າແວງນີ້ເປັນເຄື່ອງປຸງລົດຊາດທີ່ສັບສົນ-ເບົາຄືກັບ Beaujolais, ເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າຈະລະອຽດອ່ອນ ແລະ ຫລໍ່ລື່ນກວ່າຫຼາຍໆຄົນ; ລະອຽດອ່ອນແລະອ່ອນໂຍນເປັນ Burgundy, ເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າເກົ່າແກ່ຫຼາຍກ່ວາບາງ. ລົດຊາດ Cherry ແລະ caramel ອອກມາຄ້າຍຄື fireflies ຈາກແກ້ວ shaken — brilliant, ແຂງແຮງ, ແຕ່ແສງສະຫວ່າງແລະ ephemeral. ນີ້ແມ່ນຄວາມງາມທີ່ບໍ່ສະອາດແລະບໍ່ສະອາດ, ເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າມີ tannins ຂັດ.

Cantina Terlan. Terlaner Primo Grand Cuvée. Alto Adige DOC. 2016.

ການຜະສົມຜະສານ 75/22/3 ຂອງ Pinot Bianco/Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc ທີ່ມີກິ່ນຫອມ, ອຸດົມສົມບູນ, ເປັນກົດ ແລະ ມີກິ່ນຫອມຂອງນໍ້າເຜິ້ງ ແລະເກືອ. ອຸດົມສົມບູນແລະສົມດູນກັນດີກັບລົດຊາດທີ່ປະກອບມີ pears ສີເຫຼືອງ, menthol ອ່ອນໆແລະນໍ້າເຜິ້ງບາງສໍາເລັດຮູບ.

SOUTH AFRICA –

Klein Constantia. Sauvignon Blanc. Constantia Valley. 2021. 95 points.

This screw cap bottle includes wine made from grapes grown above decomposed granite and Table Mountain Sandstone. Fresh aromas of lime, grapefruit and papayas. A beautifully creamy mouthful of green apple flavors, as well as some lime and gooseberries. Billowing but soft acidity with a slight kick on the finish. Pair with ceviche and lime or a dessert of slightly tart apple pie.