2013 Château L'Evangile, France, Bordeaux, Pomerol, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$195.00USD

This is 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc from the difficult 2013 vintage.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose cherries, chocolate, tobacco and spice.  Nice texture.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with some cherries with some clay and spice notes.  The finish is a bit clipped.  A very nice effort for the vintage.  It may not have enough fruit to outlast the tannins.  drink over the next ten years.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  A nice wine to open with Ahi Tuna off the grill.  

2005 Château Clerc Milon, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$172.00USD

The 2005 vintage was excellent in Bordeaux and most are open and drinking well right now.  This wine showed wonderfully.  Ruby in color with some browning.  The nose is classic with cassis, char, tobacco, leather and cherries.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with some spice and a bit of dry earthiness.  Some complexity.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This wine is just about at peak (or maybe a bit past).  Drink these sooner than later.  It will be better with food.  Beef stew with roasted root vegetables would be a nice match.  

1997 Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

How long does a good, if not great, Chianti last?  This bottle was bought on release and cellared since.  The fill was just into the neck of the bottle.  Pop and pour (carefully).  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose was complex with cherries, slight dried cherries, forest floor and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Tannins integrated.  On the palate, this is fresh and vibrant.  Fully mature.  Ripe cherry and slight sour cherry fruit along with a bit of sandalwood.  Some depth and complexity.  Nice finish.  Blind I would have though about seven to ten years

2016 Haras de Pirque Albis, Chile, Maipo Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

A new wine for me.  This is an Antinori project in Chile.  A blend of 81% Cabernet sauvignon and 19% Carmenere.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with plums, black cherries, herbal notes and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this drinks well.  Black cherry fruit with slight rosemary note.  A bit bitter and drying on the finish.  This should drink well for another five to eight years.  Good on its own, this will work well with heavier foods.  Lamb chops and mashed potatoes would be a nice match.  

2019 Antinori Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This seemed to be a step above the 2017 although both were quite good. Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, dust, char and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries, tart cherries and slight chocolate notes.  Good finish.  This needs a few years of cellaring to hit peak though it drinks well now.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  A nice wine to match with Pasta with Bolognese sauce.  

2017 Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione , Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

This now carries a Gran Selezione status (and price tag).  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose has cherries, forest floor, dust and slight anise.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, bright cherry fruit.  Deep.  On the palate, cherries and slight plums with some underlying forest floor.  Good acidity.  Long finish. A very pretty Chianti.  It is drinking well but should continue to for another ten to fifteen years.  Better with food.  Ribolitte (Vegetable stew) would be a great dinner match.  

2019 Antinori Tignanello, Italy, Tuscany, IGT, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$130.00USD

One of the classic great wines in the Antinori stable.  It is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.  This was essentially pop and pour and which it showed well, it underperformed expectations.  It seems likely given the history of this wine that it needs more cellar time/air.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has dust, cherries, but also a slight aquarium note which can often mean poor storage conditions at some point in shipping or retail.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, nice cherry fruit with a tart finish.  Probably

2018 Antica (Antinori) Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Select, USA, California, Napa, Atlas Peak, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$58.00USD

Antica is the Antinori property in Napa.  It is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.  Ruby in color with purple swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this was tight at first, but kept opening all night.  Cassis, black cherries and slight tobacco notes.

2018 Antinori Villa Antinori Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a lot of earthy barnyard, but also some cherries, macerated cherries and tea leaves.  Medium bodied.  Tart acidity.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cherries with earthiness.  Nice finish.  Drinking well but the barnyard may be a bit much for some.  Drink over the next five years.  Better with food.  Bistecca alla Fiorentina or other steak dishes should work well.

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