Wine List

Wine Advocate

90

Tenuta San Guido’s 2008 Guidalberto is a very pretty wine laced with mineral-infused dark fruit. This is a decidedly smaller scaled, lithe Guidalberto that impresses for its overall balance and finesse. The structure of the 2006 and the exuberance of the 2007 are missing, but the 2008 offers superb drinkability and pleasure today and over the next few years. Dried flowers, licorice and new leather add the final nuances of complexity on the finish. The 2008 Guidalberto is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Most of the fruit comes from vineyards that are separate from those used for Sassicaia, although Guidalberto always includes some barrels that don’t make it into the top wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2015. (Antonio Galloni)

Made by Ausone's proprietor, Alain Vauthier, this attractive, round, pretty wine is soft and generous, with loads of blueberry and raspberry fruit as well as hints of incense and crushed rock. It should drink well for a decade or more. Drink: 2010 - 2020

Rating

95

Release Price

$45

Drink Date

2005 - 2019

Reviewed by

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Issue Date

26th Apr 2004

Source

152, The Wine Advocate

The flagship offering, the 2001 Numanthia, is fashioned from a 70-100 year old Tinta de Toro vineyard planted at a 2300 foot elevation. After a 28 day maceration, the wine undergoes malolactic in barrel, is aged 19 months in new French oak, and is bottled without fining or filtration. The spectacular, opaque purple-colored 2001 offers an explosive nose of melted licorice, barbecue smoke, blackberries, creme de cassis, camphor, and graphite. Full-bodied with gorgeously rich, concentrated fruit, a layered texture, and tremendous purity, it can be drunk young, but should hit its prime in 1-2 years, and last for 10-15.  

Tasting note: The nose is quite similar to that of the Fuées except that here there is a bit more oak influence. As is almost always the case, the mouth feel is less refined but more muscular with good power, volume and punch to the medium-bodied flavors that finish with excellent length. This should also amply reward up to a decade of cellar time.

Rating

89

Release Price

$60

Reviewed by

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Source

147, The Wine Advocate

The regular Cote Rotie is a 10,000-bottle cuvee aged in barrique (of which 30% is new), with 15% stems utilized during the fermentation. It enjoys a cold maceration in barrel, a technique common in both Burgundy and Cote Rotie, and recently implemented in Bordeaux. The sexy, friendly 2000 Cote Rotie is one of the vintage’s finest examples. A deep ruby color is followed by sweet, expansive aromas of black fruits, white flowers, pepper, and spice box. With low acidity, gorgeously textured, plump flavors, and an easygoing, sensual finish, it can be drunk now and over the next decade.