France, Bourgueil, Domaine du Mortier 2011, Cabernet Franc, 12.5% Alc

Bourgueil, across the river from Chinon is in the Loire River valley.  Continental climate with maritime influences.  

Bright, clean, and clear in appearance.  Med body and intensity med ruby color.  

I first smell meat, raw, and red.  There is something floral as well, and very present.  Lilies.  Madonna/Easter in full bloom.  This is a sexy wine and utterly appropriate for Valentine's Day. Red berries, earth, and pepper, anise, wood, tarragon, and baking spices.   left field notes of dijon mustard.

Healthy tannins, med+

Med alcohol

Drink now but will benefit with aging.  

I love this wine.  Great price, great buy.  

Spain, Ribera del Duero, Tempranillo, Torredores 2012

Ribera del Duero Spain (MAP). Continental and Mediterranean climate, hot summer cold winter.  Soil: silt, clay, sand (alluvial). Slopes in West are gypsum, marl, limestone.  In the East it is marl, clay, and limestone.  Flat and rocky.

Note: Crianza= age 2 years, 12 months in oak. Reserva = age 3 years, 12 months in oak.  Gran Reserva = 5 years aging 2 years in oak.

Super bright clear full bodied appearance.  Intense ruby/purple.  Earthy plum, red berry fruits.  high acid, med tannin, dry and med+ astringency.  Sour cherry finish w/ chocolate and sour apple.
Feels young.  Would improve with age

Italy, Gattinara, Nebbiolo, Rossomarconi, PGI

Red table wine made from nebbiolo of Gattinara, Italy. 12% Alcohol
Gattinara: NW Italy Piedmonte, MAP. DOCG 1990.  South facing slopes.  Continental climate.  Iron-rich gravely soil, volcanic with carbonate, calcium and magnesium.  Rich in tannin and acid, great for aging.  Rich rustic garnet, aromatic, red berries, pepper, and violets. 

Delicious, balanced, and ready to drink.
Med body clean, clear, bright. Garnet red.  Clear berry finish.  Easy to drink and not overwhelming in any direction.  Violets and pepper notes halfway through the glass.
acid/tannin/alcohol feels balanced and smooth, nice fruit berry nose.

Spain, Rueda, Vevi 2011, Verdejo

Verdejo, Spanish white grape.  Vevi in Rueda. Map.

An indigenous varietal known to be fruit floral and dry crisp and bright.  

I guessed it was a sauvignon blanc.  It seemed similar.

It was bright, clear, a clean golden yellow greening at the edge.

Creamy, acid, green, mineral, like bone.

lemon green, youthful, green fruit and floral.  med acid, melon and grass.

France, Beaujolais Crus, Morgon, 2012, Gamay

Granite hills.  Continental.  Part of the Rhone but directly below Burgundy.  Morgon being one of the 10 areas noted for the best gamay wines.  

Bright, med body, clean and clear.  med crimson towards purple.  

A soft dry strawberry/raspberry and pepper notes.

Fresh ripe sweet fruit...sour

strawberry, raspberry, pepper, tart cherry, oak tannins, strong acids... unripe purple.

one solid note consistent.  

France, Cabernet Franc, Chinon 2006 and 2002

France. Chinon in the Loire Valley Appelation issues. MAP.  In Tourraine. grouped with Bourgueil, which is across the river, as separate.  Two types soil: gravelly Loire River bank.  Producing fresh and lively fruit reds of berry, licorice. other rich in tuffeau jaune which produces spicier, and richer wines with animal flavors like leather and fur.

Porous gravelly soil Tuffeau. sedimentary, yellowish fragile made from sand and marine fossils.

Noteworthy of Loire Valley soil.  It is extremely porous and absorbs water readily  The rock then releases the water slowly.  Maritime, atlantic influenced climate. 

2006

Clean, Clear, med ruby, youthful. Acidic, bitter, and med tannin. med alc, med body. cedary, longbitter finish.


2002

Clean, Clear, med garnet and body, intensity med+.
Prune, spice, raw meat, well developed nose, pronounced intensity, developed.
Dry acidic tannin. med alc, med body, must, anise. tobacco, pepper, meaty, grapeseed bitters. coppery, very good, tobacco leaf
Delicious.

Spain, Duero River, Bodegas Vevi Golden1954

Viscous heavy brown.  Sweet syrup.  Med amber.  Nutty prune, fully developed.  Hi alcohol. Full bodied, no tannin.  over ripe fruit, nuts, great concentration, long finish.  Very good, drink now, in prime.  

Italy, Puglia, Negroamaro, Torre Nova

Is it corked?

Negroamaro, Puglia.  

Opaque. Med+ intensity, med tawny.

Heavy wine, coats glass evenly

Pruny fig, nutty, earthy, barny, raisin, pepper, citrus, med intensity, oxidized

smells fully developed

Sweet and sour.  low tannin, hi acid, med+ alcohol

Smells developed

sour citrus, med acid, dry.  Bitter pith. med finish, astringency lingers.

I can see how someone may think this is corked, but it wasn't.  It was sour though and a bit oxidized nutty and funky, barnyard funky.

I enjoyed it.