by Ray Johnson | Jul 27, 2009 | Banyuls, Fortified dessert, France, Grenache, Roussillon
M. Chapoutier, Banyuls 2007 There’s lots of pruny complexity in the nose. In the mouth it is spot on, nuttiness and raisins tossed in molasses – yum. There was a touch of TCA in the first bottle tasted, described here but it wasn’t terribly...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 21, 2009 | Fortified dessert, Madeira, Malvasia, Portugal
Broadbent, Madeira, 10 Years Old, Malmsey nv This Malmsey has floral notes, minerality and a sense of the fortification. The mouth features a combo of toffee, sweetness and a balance of cranberries and acidity. The more time spent with this wine the more it grew on me...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 13, 2009 | Fortified dessert, Port, Portugal, Tawny Port
Dow’s, Porto, Boardroom, Reserve Tawny nv In the nose there is caramel and overt alcohol. In the mouth the same follows through though the often tolerated burn is a bit too much given the rather light concentration of flavor. Bottle by Symington Family Estates...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 19, 2008 | Banyuls, Fortified dessert, Grenache, Roussillon
Domaine du Mas Blanc, Banyuls, Rimage 2006 There are Port-like notes of dried and stewed fruits topped with a nutty piece of pastry. The wine tastes of sweet black fruits and chocolate, sweet but not overly so, tasty with some bittersweet chocolate. Mis par Docteur...
by Ray Johnson | Nov 19, 2008 | Fortified dessert, France, Grenache Blanc, Roussillon
Domaine Fontanel, Rivesaltes, Ambre 1998 This golden wine smells of citrus peel and nuts. In the mouth it like eating nuts and toffee, very sweet and viscous with acidity that offsets the richness and a little warmth from the fortification – a decadent value....
by Ray Johnson | Sep 17, 2008 | Banyuls, Fortified dessert, France, Grenache, Roussillon
Les Clos de Paulilles, Banyuls Rimage 2005 There are stewed fruits and raisins to smell while the mouth is a supple presentation of evolving fruit and moderate sweetness that is crying out for dark chocolate. The grapes are 100% Grenache Noir. Rimage derives from the...
