Published in September 2004

Wines, Spirits and Beers published in the September 2004 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

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Bodegas Roda 2001 Cirsion Red (Rioja)

Editors' Choice

Price $200

Dark as night, pure as silk, and rich as a sultan. This one wine defines the best of the new wave; a great high-end product from a perfect vintage. It’s intense, spicy, racy and still soft enough to wrap yourself around. Licorice, crushed peppercorn, chocolate, espresso and blackberry are just some of what you can pull from this baby. Cellar a few years then explore. — M.S. (9/1/2004)

points

Louis Jadot 2002 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Pinot Noir (Gevrey-Chambertin)

Price $140

This is one of the great Burgundies of 2002. It shows the power of the year, with huge black fruits and dense tannins. But it also shows the charm, with ripeness that promises a precocious development as well as long aging. — R.V. (9/1/2004)

points

Louis Latour 2002 Chardonnay (Corton-Charlemagne)

Price $100

Immense power lies behind the initially seductive nature of this wine. It is powerful, ripe, complex, full of tropical fruits, and still at first it seems to be restraining this intensity. Give it 10 years and it will be mind-blowing. — R.V. (9/1/2004)

96-100

points

Shakers Rose Flavored Vodka

Price $33

Exquisite pastel pink hue. Opening whiffs pick up an intense aroma of uncut red roses; aeration deepens the floral perfume and adds traces of rosewater and berries. Palate entry is delicate, floral, perfumed and off-dry; at midpalate a definite grainy sweetness enhances the rich rose-petal flavor. Finishes gently floral and clean. — P.P. (9/1/2004)

96-100

points

Vincent Van Gogh Coconut Flavored Vodka

Price $30

The coconut essence in the first whiffs is astonishingly authentic; time in the glass deepens the richness/oiliness of the coconut meat fragrance. Palate entry is dry to off-dry and delectably creamy/oily; at midpalate the coconut meat flavor reaches its peak freshness and soft bitterness level. Ends semisweet, viscous and creamy. — P.P. (9/1/2004)

96-100

points

Charbay Rum

Price $34

The opening nosing picks up piquant aromas that are a cross between rum from sugar cane juice and 100% agave Tequila; aeration allows a mildly floral, dry and bittersweet bouquet to appear. Palate entry is bittersweet, brown sugar and cocoa bean-like; at midpalate the luscious sugar cane-molasses taste dominates. Concludes beany and very cocoa-like. A must-have for… — P.P. (9/1/2004)

points

Joseph Drouhin 2002 Grands Echézeaux Pinot Noir (Echézeaux)

Price $179

A dark, immensly tannic wine at this stage, this has firm, powerful dry fruit. It is still just feeling its way at this stage, a wine that can last 15–20 years at least. — R.V. (9/1/2004)

points

Quilceda Creek 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

Cellar Selection

Price $80

This is an almost-pure, Champoux Vineyard Cabernet, the best of the best. It’s extremely aromatic, rich and textured, tight and dense. As it slowly opens it reveal layer upon layer of black fruits, mineral, salt and lovely, evanescent hints of herb. It does not show its 14.9% alcohol except for a slight bit of heat in the finish. Very, very young; Quilceda Creek… — P.G. (9/1/2004)

2009 Monte Pinadillo Ciranza

Black fruit, raisin and minerally aromas combine to create a formidable…

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