Review: ***+ $$ Vega Escal Priorat, Spain, 2005 - GOOD VALUE

Find prices and retail availability for Vega Escal Priorat.

By way of background, opening thoughts: From the Priorat area of Spain, land of long-lived and often more costly red wines, comes this modestly priced offering that has achieved some recognition.

Original tasting and review : This is Vega Escal Priorat, Spain, 2005, a blend of 60% carignan, 30% grenache and 10% shiraz, finished at 14.5% alcohol.

In the glass: Vega Escal is black burgundy, still purple at the edge, opaque from within a quarter inch of the edge.  Black madness. 

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows brilliant, bold and lifted black fruit, carrying some oak.  From the aroma, seems like this will be aggressive, rich and potent.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact a round, silken, almost shimmery full mouth feel of perky fruit.  Think very ripe, rich blackberry.  The follow-up to the sip are little strands of tannins and acids leaving their calling cards in your cheeks and along the back of your tongue.  Just enough liveliness mixed with the deep fruit suggests Vega Escal Priorat is ready for drinking now, in the sixth year since vintage date. 

In summary: Overall, rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for its balanced intensity, creating a good value wine indeed.

Following long decant, two days kept cool in partially filled bottle:   Soft black cherries on the nose.  Palate is consistent with rich blackberries and a touch of oak.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  (If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.)  

Find prices and retail availability for Vega Escal Priorat.

Review: **+ $ E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone, Rhone, France, 2004

Find prices and retail availability for Guigal Cotes du Rhone .

By way of background, opening thoughts: E. Guigal has made an entry-priced Cotes du Rhone that I was quite a fan of in a prior vintage, 2003.  Today, we will explore a later vintage, 2004, which has seen a full seven years of cellar time since vintage.  I have high hopes.

Original tasting and review : This is E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone, Rhone, France, 2004, finished at 13.5% alcohol.

In the glass: Guigal's CdR is a deep mahogany, showing brick at the edge. 

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows deep fruits, hints of freshness, hints of vegetable.  From the aroma, seems like this will be soft and rich.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact both clean fruity up front, but also with a hint of old world bramble and texture.  Shows full-ripe raspberry as a prime fruit element. 

In summary: Overall, rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, holding up well after so many years.  This 2004 vintage held up to age slightly better than the 2003.  Yet, as with the 2003, I do believe this would have fared better in the brilliance of its youth. 

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  (If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.)  

Find prices and retail availability for Guigal Cotes du Rhone .

** $ Chateau la Guillaumette, Bordeaux, France, 2003 - Wine Tasting and Review

Find today's prices and retail availability for bargain Bordeaux blends.


By way of background: The Chateau la Guillaumette from Bordeaux, France, is produced from 65% merlot and 35% cabernet sauvignon grapes grown on the clay and chalk right banks of the Garonne River.  Aged in French oak, the 2003 vintage is finished at 13% alcohol.  

Original Review, February, 2010:

In the glass: Chateau la Guillaumette shows as deep, dark, muddy purple in the glass, with hints of brick at the edge, opaque to within a half inch of the edge.

On the nose: Poured with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, this value-priced Bordeaux blend carries walnut shells and background fruit to the nose. 

On the palate: The first element on the palate is a balanced, mostly old world, red fruit wash across your tongue and palate.  Some bramble notes follow on as bright red currants ride the acids into the roof of your mouth.

And the finish: Is clean, bright but quick.

In summary: Overall, pleasant enough mid-weight experience; better considered with food. Rates two stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale. Can't see that any aging above the current eight years would improve things.

Winelibrary was more enthusiastic than I, awarding 89 points and reporting, "This medium to full bodied offering displays well balanced berries, spice, plums and even a hint of chocolate. Perhaps our favorite of our latest selection of Bordeaux under $15, this is a winner without a doubt!"


Following a four-day decant under vacuum in partially-filled bottle:  Still a red berries and plum aroma with hint of something else - must be those walnuts.  Now the palate is a mid-red, actually slightly oxidized red currant flavor.  Somewhat fewer acids, but still a bright red experience overall.  Does not seem to be hungering for more age.
-------------------------------

Updated review, a year and a half later, August, 2011, now 8 years from vintage date:  Consistent color, much brick at the edge.  A little bit of broccoli comes along with the walnut now on the nose.  Sweet fruit blends on the palate with definite vegetable elements.  Pleasant enough, but now on the verge of being too tired with its age to be worth further age.  Drink up if you have it.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine reviewed at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.

Find today's prices and retail availability for bargain Bordeaux blends.

Review: ***** $$ Cameron Hughes Lot 213 Meritage, Napa Valley, CA, 2008 - BEST VALUE

Find prices and retail availability for Cameron Hughes meritage.

By way of background, opening thoughts:  Cameron Hughes is a negociant, a wine producer who obtains grapes and/or wines from various locations, seeking to create a high-value offering.  The Napa meritage here was blended with a base of Havens merlot along with some petit verdot.

Original tasting and review : This is Cameron Hughes Lot 213 Meritage, Napa Valley, CA, 2008, finished at 14.7% alcohol.  The blend is 81% merlot and 19% petit verdot.

In the glass: Deep burgundy, turning almost opaque about an inch from the edge of the glass.

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows slight cream, cinnamon and cedar along with ripe plums.  From the aroma, seems like this will be bold and chewy. 

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact soft, spicy and oaked, dripping sweet, sandy tannins along your cheeks.  Red and black fruits intermingle, in this base of structured soft tannins.  Keeps feeding sweet fruit into your cheeks for a minute or more, while still remaining clean and fresh. 

In summary: Overall, dreamy, silty, seductive experience rates an astonishing five stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, standing out for its shimmery power.  I see so few five star wines, it is a delight to see one come from this creative negociant.  Awesome best value.

Following long decant, full day kept cool in partially filled bottle:  Consistent aroma, light elements of motor oil appear.  Still nicely mingled fruits, sandy tannins and sweet, gentle acids.  What a keeper!

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  (If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.)  

Find prices and retail availability for Cameron Hughes meritage.

Review: *** $$ Cameron Hughes Lot 233 Cabernet Sauvignon (Haras de Pirque), Maipo Valley, Chile, 2008

Find prices and retail availability for Cameron Hughes cabernet sauvignon.

By way of background, opening thoughts:   Cameron Hughes is a negociant, a wine producer who obtains grapes and/or wines from various locations, seeking to create a high-value offering.  The cabernet sauvignon here was acquired from Chile already bottled.  It is clear from the cork that the maker is Haras de Pirque.

Original tasting and review : This is Cameron Hughes Lot 233 Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile, 2008, finished at 14.9% alcohol.

In the glass: Deep violet, opaque to within a half inch of the edge. 

On the nose: Poured cool with a brief decant and swirled vigorously, shows bright chocolate and sandy plums.  From the aroma, seems like this will be tangy, bold and aromatic.  

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact bold and still raw plums, yielding young tannins, acids and alcohol along with the primary fruit.  Can settle nicely with some decanting or further age.  Finish is noted in the acids at the back of your mouth. 

In summary: Overall, rates two stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, with a plus for future promise.  Has the stuffing to be a three star wine someday.

Following a one-hour decant:  The palate has mellowed to rounded aromatic violets, with a bright surrounding acid sheen.  Migrates to three stars.  Needed the air.  Following long decant, full day kept cool in partially filled bottle:  Deep bright plums and violets on the nose.  Rounded and bright on the palate.  Held up nicely. 

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  (If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.)  

Find prices and retail availability for Cameron Hughes cabernet sauvignon.