Steven Spielmann
Steven Spielmann
With apologies for their necessarily narrow and artificial window on the wines in question. I had some more thoughts in re the tasting notes/wine aesthetics discussion which I'll try to post whenever the iron fist of real life stops pounding me.
Larmandier-Bernier Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs NV - pretty freakin' awesome. One of the deepest champagnes I've drunk; the tastes don't run out no matter how long you think about them. Precisely delineated; no makeup; some toast. Makes a statement. This is the entry level? Damn.
Castello Monsanto Cabernet Sauvignon "Nemo" 2001. Somewhere Alice F. wrote that Super Tuscans tasted good but had no sense of place, or something like that. You could argue that this one had a certain bitterness on the back end reminiscent of what you find in some Chianti, but I don't think that's enough to refute her. The nose on this is in the dictionary next to a picture of the grape I think - totally classic blackcurrant. Except for that slight bitterness in back the palate is silky and full of fruit but in good balance, not overextracted. (Big not huge.) I feel compelled also to mention a not-very-important menthol note. Cory should avoid this because of the grape and many of you will avoid this because it's, as Alice warned, rather generic, but it is nonetheless very delicious.
Larmandier-Bernier Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs NV - pretty freakin' awesome. One of the deepest champagnes I've drunk; the tastes don't run out no matter how long you think about them. Precisely delineated; no makeup; some toast. Makes a statement. This is the entry level? Damn.
Castello Monsanto Cabernet Sauvignon "Nemo" 2001. Somewhere Alice F. wrote that Super Tuscans tasted good but had no sense of place, or something like that. You could argue that this one had a certain bitterness on the back end reminiscent of what you find in some Chianti, but I don't think that's enough to refute her. The nose on this is in the dictionary next to a picture of the grape I think - totally classic blackcurrant. Except for that slight bitterness in back the palate is silky and full of fruit but in good balance, not overextracted. (Big not huge.) I feel compelled also to mention a not-very-important menthol note. Cory should avoid this because of the grape and many of you will avoid this because it's, as Alice warned, rather generic, but it is nonetheless very delicious.