Snooth.com - recent reviews by RBoulanger

Charleston Sercial Madeira The Rare Wine Company NV

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:15:12 -0500

Name: Charleston Sercial Madeira The Rare Wine Company
Vintage: NV
Varietal: Sercial
Winery: Rare & Old Wines
Region: Portugal > Madeira
Price: $53.99
SnoothRank: 3/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 4.5/5
RBoulanger's Review: Maybe my favorite of the Rare Wine Company's trio.

Sercial, the driest of the 4 noble Madeira grapes makes almost searingly acidic wines. You can hardly detect the enormous amount of residual sugar because of the acid balance.

As posted on Snooth

Blandy Madeira Malmsey 5 Year Old

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:09:52 -0500

Name: Blandy Madeira Malmsey 5 Year Old
Vintage:
Varietal: Vermentino
Winery: Blandy's
Region: Portugal > Madeira
Price: $25.99
SnoothRank: 3/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 3/5
RBoulanger's Review: An ok Madeira with rich sweet fruit notes and good acidity.

You really owe it to yourself to try a vintage Madeira or at least something with proper age (say 15 years).

Starting with the (widely available) Blandy's 5 years series is like getting into beer via Bud or Miller Light.

As posted on Snooth

Sandeman Madeira Fine Rich

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:07:53 -0500

Name: Sandeman Madeira Fine Rich
Vintage:
Varietal: Madeira
Winery: The House of Sandeman
Region: Portugal > Madeira
SnoothRank: 3/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 3/5
RBoulanger's Review:

As posted on Snooth

Château Haut Lucas 2005

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:23:29 -0500

Name: Château Haut Lucas
Vintage: 2005
Varietal:
Winery: Château Haut Lucas
Region: France > Bordeaux > Côtes de Castillon
Price: $16.50
SnoothRank: 3/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 3.5/5
RBoulanger's Review: A decent 2005 right bank Bordeaux with jammy red fruit, plum and cherry flavors. Finish on mild tannins - a bit too dry and dusty for my liking.

As posted on Snooth

Le Gode Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2003

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:30:35 -0500

Name: Le Gode Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Vintage: 2003
Varietal: Sangiovese
Winery: Le Gode
Region: Italy > Tuscany > Montalcino
Price: $59.00
SnoothRank: 4/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 4.5/5
RBoulanger's Review:

As posted on Snooth

Panther Creek Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton District 2006

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:49:01 -0500

Name: Panther Creek Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton District
Vintage: 2006
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Winery: Panther Creek Cellars
Region: USA > Oregon > Willamette Valley > Yamhill-carlton
Price: $39.95
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 3.5/5
RBoulanger's Review: Wow, an Oregon Pinot Noi that I like - what can I say?

After many mixed experiences with unripe or just downright bizarre wines from Oregon, it's nice to have a very good one every once in a while. This attractive red had a lot of very fine oak on the nose at first - in fact it reminded me of my grandparents old dining room table with lots of nuanced and seasoned oak notes. It developed beautifully into a sumptuous combination of black cherry, earth, oak and a hint of brambly underbrush.

As posted on Snooth

Drouhin Puligny Montrachet 2006

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:37:26 -0500

Name: Drouhin Puligny Montrachet
Vintage: 2006
Varietal: Puligny Montrachet
Winery: Domaine Drouhin
Region: France > Burgundy > Côte d'Or > Côte de Beaune > Puligny Montrachet
Price: $57.99
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 4/5
RBoulanger's Review: A very solid and well made Puligny Montrachet with both weight and elegance. This wine is enjoyable now, but I'd really like to see what it's like in 2011 or 2012 with a little more time to allow the wood to integrate and the beautiful tertiary flavors to come out more.

As posted on Snooth

Courier Dry Creek Valley Cuvée NV

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:34:24 -0500

Name: Courier Dry Creek Valley Cuvée
Vintage: NV
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon; Petit Syrah; Merlot; Syrah
Region: USA > California > Sonoma County > Dry Creek Valley
Price: $22.00
SnoothRank: 3.5/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 4/5
RBoulanger's Review: Retasted recently and this wine is progressing nicely.

A lot more oak immediately upon opening than I remembered. After 20 mins in a decanter, the wine opens up to beautiful blueberry, black raspberry and even more blueberry notes aromas and flavors. The tiny amount of Petite Sirah is really coming across melded with the supple Cabernet. This blend should be great with a few more years age.

As posted on Snooth

Lyne et Jean Bernard Marchives Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir Domaine des Malandes 1999

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:28:13 -0500

Name: Lyne et Jean Bernard Marchives Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir Domaine des Malandes
Vintage: 1999
Varietal: Chardonnay
Winery: Lyne et Jean Bernard Marchives
Region: France > Burgundy > Chablis > Chablis Grand Cru
SnoothRank: 4/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 4.5/5
RBoulanger's Review: A stunning Grand Cru that delivers on Chablis' promise of "gout de pierre a fusil" (aka gunflint) melded beautifully with lemon and citrus elegance.

Yes, Chablis is still underrated.

As posted on Snooth

Chateau le Bonnat Rouge Graves 2005

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:51:36 -0400

Name: Chateau le Bonnat Rouge Graves
Vintage: 2005
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot
Winery: Le Bonnat
Region: France > Bordeaux > Graves
Price: $15.99
SnoothRank: 3/5

RBoulanger's Rating: 3.5/5
RBoulanger's Review: Solid inexpensive red Graves.

As posted on Snooth