Published in July 2009
Wines, Spirits and Beers published in the July 2009 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
Pascal Doquet 2002 Le Mont Aimé Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Chardonnay
- Online Exclusive
A light, floating style from a master of Chardonnay in a top vintage. Flavors of grapefruit, red apples and a fine, dry, tight finish balance beautifully between richness and a taut, dry character.
— R.V.
(7/1/2009)
Pascal Doquet 1998 Le Mesnil sur Oger Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Chardonnay
- Online Exclusive
Bone dry, but soft, this is a complete, rounded Champagne. It has plenty of the Chardonnay mineral character, with fine citrus zest and tight acidity. It is nowhere near mature, so keep for another two years. Impressive.
— R.V.
(7/1/2009)
Montes 2006 Folly Syrah (Santa Cruz)
- $95
Montes Folly is the benchmark by which all other Chilean Syrahs must measure themselves. Yes, it’s entirely New World in its approach, but how can you gripe about such a potent brew of balsam wood, tanned leather, licorice, mineral and monster black fruit? The palate is big but balanced by live-wire acidity, and even at 15% alcohol it’s harmonious. A real winner;…
— M.S.
(7/1/2009)
Kendall-Jackson 2007 Highlands Estates Camelot Highlands Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $30
Here’s a big, sumptuous, fat, oily Chardonnay, massive in tropical fruits, spices, minerals and smoky buttered toast. The creamy texture makes it feel especially rich. Aged in 57% new oak, it’s truly a decadent—but balanced—Chardonnay.
— S.H.
(7/1/2009)
Franz Hirtzberger 2007 Axpoint Smaragd Grüner Veltliner (Wachau)
- $74
A full-bodied, spicy style of Grüner that still keeps its sense of minerality and structure. The wine is fruity, its pear flavors dominant at first. But then the concentration and the freshness both deepen the taste and lift it at the same time. An impressive wine, epitomizing both rich Grüner and a taut, cool-climate character.
— R.V.
(7/1/2009)
Château Haut-Bergey 2007 White (Pessac-Léognan)
- $40
A truly grassy aroma leads to a fresh, herbaceous and crisp wine. To top its crispness, it also has some weight, wood flavors and a creamy core with a white pear texture. It could benefit from aging, at least three years, to bring out the inherent richness of the wine.
— R.V.
(7/1/2009)
Emmerich Knoll 2007 Ried Schütt Smaragd Riesling (Wachau)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
This is Knoll’s flagship wine, from the Dürnstein Schütt vineyard. It is powerful, intense stuff, a roll-call of ripe flavors, even in the difficult 2007 vintage. The wine brings out spice, yellow fruits, fresh apple skins and peppered grapefruit. The extra element is the complexity that goes deep into flavors that need to develop over several years.
— R.V.
(7/1/2009)
La Scolca 1995 Soldati Millesimato Riserva D'Antan Sparkling
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
This is an extraordinary wine with deep and delicate layers of yeast, wild berries, rose bud and smoky ash. There is a distinctive wood element that comes off as roasted almond and creamy butter, yet the wine is balanced and seductive to the end. You get personality and the highest quality of Italian sparkling wine.
— M.L.
(7/1/2009)
advertisement
What We're Tasting
2009 Russian River Vineyards Estate Grown
Rich flavors of cherries, persimmons, cola, anise and oak flood the…
Facebook Activity
advertisement
Twitter Activity