2004 Abrazo “Crianza”, 50% Garnacha and 50% Tempranillo, Cariñena, Spain.
13.5% alcohol, distributed by Heidelberg, $9.75. Tasted 11/22/2008.
Deep purple red. Sweet cherries and cedar with herbal dried parsley notes on the nose. Rather closed when first poured, it opens up with air and really starts to show off. Well-structured with good fruit, nice acidity, and firm velvety tannins providing a proper backbone to this old-world style red. There is decent complexity and a moderately long finish. Though drinking nicely now, a few more years of bottle age wouldn’t hurt it a bit. A good match with beef or lamb, and a great value! The Raymond Rating = 88 points.
2007 Mitolo “Jester” Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale, Australia.
14.5% alcohol, 20% of the grapes were left on drying racks for 6 weeks and 5 days in the traditional Amarone manner to concentrate flavor, $25.75. Tasted 12/21/2008.
Initially rather closed, the nose kept changing on exposure to air. At various times in the development of the nose, I detected aromas of black cherries, cassis, licorice, milk chocolate, black olives, menthol, and herbs. Very good fruit with soft velvety tannins and sufficient acidity and balance. This is a wine to drink slowly enough to watch it develop in the glass, or alternatively, decant to provide aeration. With its screw-cap, you don’t have to worry about possible cork-taint if you want to cellar this wine for a couple of years. The Raymond Rating = 89 points.
2004 Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon, 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, and 5% Merlot, Mendoza, Argentina, $34. Tasted 12/21/2008.
Beautiful nose of cedar, bright cherry fruit, earth, and cigar box aromas. I wanted to strap a glass of this wine under my nose so that I could smell it continuously. Very good fruit, balance, and complexity with a nice long finish. A real delight! This wine truly deserves its high score. The Raymond Rating = 94 points.