Tasting Notes On This Page
Elyse Winery and New Finds
: Spanish
Extravaganza
Elyse
Winery New Releases and New Finds
September Wine Festival,
Friday, September 15, 2006
Tasting Notes and scores by Wine Merchant’s
Jamie Bronk. The rankings are based on customer’s favorites as
measured by their purchases.
Konrad Pinot Noir Marlborough, NZ 2004 - 93 Points
Rank 1st $23.99
Serious Pinot Noir. Bursts of cherry and red berries, big rich
tannins, long finish. Bold dry effort with some Burgundian
overtones..
Redmud Chardonay, S. Australia 2005 -
88 Point
Rank 8th $12.99
Clean, crisp apple and some white peach. Bring out nice
Chardonnay varietal taste. Good effort.
Armani Pinot Grigio, Italy 2004 - 89 Points
Rank 9th $14.99
Pinot Grigio from Valdadige exhibits great depth of flavor, some
citrus notes and a nice oily richness. Some floral notes
compliment this wine..
Black Pearl ORO, South Africa 2003 - 92 Points
Rank 4th (Tied) $23.99
Black fruit and licorice pop out of this well knit wine. Sweet
oak and tobacco humidor notes. Nice spices on finish.
Elyse Chenin Blanc 2005 - 92 Points
Rank 5th $15.99
Touches of honeysuckle and sweet floral notes, followed by sweet
lemon citrus notes. Sweeter in taste than most dry Chenin
Blanc. Great as an aperitif or with dessert.
Elyse Pinot Noir Wild Horse Valley 2004 - 94 Points
Rank 3rd $45.99
Brooding dark black cherry and black bery with some touches of
raspberry. Rich and bold. Touches of boysenberry round
out the punch bowl of fruit flavors. Great effort!
Elyse Petite Sirah Rutherford 2004 - 89 Points
Rank 7th $36.99
Dry dark fruit flavors, licorice and scorched earth. Very
tight tannins needs time in the bottle to relax from its strong
opening.
Elyse Nero Misto 2004 -
92 Points
Rank 2nd $27.99
Cranberry, red and black berries release out of this cornucopia of
grapes. Like great stew or soup, give this time in the bottle
to meld the flavors or decant early. You will be rewarded.
Elyse Zinfandel Eagle Point Ranch, Mendocino
2004 - 94 Points
Rank 4th (Tied) $32.99
Black pepper and spice on the bouquet. Cinnamon, sweet nutmeg and
blackberries. Dark and big. Great!
Elyse Zinfandel Morisoli Vineyard 2004 - 93 Points
Rank 6th $36.99
Lots of white pepper and cinnamon. Big red fruit, red
raspberry. Soft long finish with fine tannins.
Spanish Extravaganza
September 19,
2006
Tasting Notes and scores by Wine Merchant’s
Jamie Bronk. The rankings are based on customer’s favorites as
measured by their purchases.
Notes included in this tasting that were
already reviewed in the "Hot New Wine Regions of Spain" class are
not presented here. The wines are listed but only including
their rank and price. To see the notes on these wines, follow
this link : Additional Spanish Wine Reviews
Bodegas Juan Gill Higos 2004 - 91 Points
Rank 1st $19.99 (Wine Advocate 90
Points)
1005 Monastrel (Mourevedre) - Dark brooding purple fruit gushing
with blackberries and boysenberries. Well structured tannins
frame this big offering. Some scorched earth and mint add a
nice earthy component.
Remulluri Blanco 2002 -
93 Points
Rank 13th (Tied) $36.99 (IWC Stephen
Tanzer 90 Points)
Rousanne, Marsanne, Chardonnay, Muscadel and Grenache Blanc.
Interesting nose of sweet pea and green melon. Notes of sweet
oak and chalky loam. This wine tastes of well aged Burgundy or
great Italian Friuli blends. Try this, it is great!
Borsao Rose 2005- 87 Points
Rank 13th (Tied) $8.99 (Wine Advocate
87 Points)
Dry strawberry and rhubarb notes. Touches of Provencal
lavender create a great quaffing foodie wine. Almost bone dry
yet rich with sweet red fruit flavors.
Bodegas Muga Riserva Rioja 2002- 91 Points
Rank 3rd $21.99 (Wine Advocate 90
Points)
Spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, new leather humidor, some earth.
Classic Rioja terroir. Soft yet spicy. Will age gracefully.
Vall Llach Embriux Priorat 2003 - 92 Points
Rank 9th $28.99 (Wine Advocate 93
Points)
Rich black licorice and black fruits. Brambleberry and dry
boysenberry. Big Zin lovers will love this one. Great
richness and long silky tannins on a very long lasting finish
Numanthis Termes Toro 2003 -
92 Points
Rank 13th (Tied) $22.99 (Wine
Advocate 90 Points)
Red raspberry, red currant and black currant. Serious tannins
create a well structured wine. Cellar for best results.
Vina de Cinit 2004- 93+ Points
Rank 10th $48.99 (Wine Advocate 92
Points)
Red licorice and black and red currant. Most left back
Bordeaux can only wish they were this good. Great classic
wine.
Venta Mazzaron 2003 - 90 Points
Rank 2nd $13.99 (Wine Adovcate 90
Points)
The little brother of the Vina de Cinit. 100% Tempranillo.
Hints of cherry and sweet oak frame this classic Spanish wine.
This is the hallmark of most Rioja yet it is from Jumilla. It
exhudes more delicate fruit flavors and the wood treatment is very
miniscule so that it brings out more of the luscious fruit.
Bodegas Zabrin Garnacha de Fuego 2005 -
93 Points
Rank 6th $8.99 (Wine Advocate 89
Points)
It's always great to smell the bouquet coming from old vine
Grenache. These 60 to 80 year old vines from loamy soil
deliver a tour de force richness of forward fruit and terroir
minerality.
Las Brisas Rueda 2004 - 90 Points
Rank 8th $9.99 (Wine Advocate 87
Points)
A blend of Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viura. Taste of rose petal
and melon kiss. This sweet, luscious, citrusy wine that is
loaded with floral nuances which layers the palate with mouth
watering acidity.
Marques de Gelida Cava Brut Reserva 2001 - 89 Points
Rank 7th $11.99
This is our go to sparkler because it possess great amounts of fresh
clean balanced acidity, mouth tickling mousse of fine bubbles, some
sweetness makes this a great match with Asian and spicy foods.
Pirineos Mesache Blanco 2004 Rank
10th $11.99
Castilo de Monjardin Chardonnay Unoaked El
Cerezo 2004 Rank 13 (Tied) $10.99
Finca de Arantei Albarino 2004
Rank 14th $19.99
Los Dos Old Vine Grenache 2004
Rank 12th $8.99
Bodegas Fontana Mesta Tempranillo 2004
Rank 4th $7.99
Labastida Crianza 2002
Rank 5th $13.99
Pirineos Parraleta 2002
Rank 15th $14.99
